After one night, Xiao Su seemed to have gained sudden enlightenment. Full of enthusiasm, she dragged him into watching plenty of educational materials that didn't require too much physical effort.
The two of them watched adult videos until midnight. Xiao Su was the first to give in and fell asleep.
The next morning, she emerged as a graduate.
Su Muzhi's mood value skyrocketed, while her stamina value plummeted.
"You did that on purpose last night."
Su Muzhi curled up under the covers. Her body felt sore and weak, lacking any strength.
"Get some rest, Xiao Su."
Jiang Linyuan set a bowl of millet porridge on the nightstand beside the bed.
As far as Xiao Su was concerned, he'd already held back quite a bit last night.
"Heh, so you're going to see Shen Wanyu today?"
Su Muzhi wrapped herself in the blanket and wriggled like a caterpillar toward the edge of the bed.
"I'm not going. I'll stay here with you."
Jiang Linyuan shook his head.
"At least you have some conscience."
Su Muzhi snorted, glanced at the millet porridge, and opened her mouth.
"Feed me."
"Do it yourself."
Jiang Linyuan looked at Su Muzhi and sat down beside her.
This woman was terrifying—what sounded like a command somehow came across as an adorable pout instead.
Su Muzhi stared at him. Seeing he really had no intention of moving, she narrowed her eyes with a smile.
"Getting tired of me already? That's a quick change of heart."
"My heart doesn't just take dumps wherever it pleases, so stop trying to guilt-trip me."
Jiang Linyuan held his phone, not even looking up.
Seeing his dismissive attitude, Su Muzhi scooted closer and poked her head in.
"Are you chatting with someone?"
Zero sense of personal space, Xiao Su! Well, fine—they'd already had zero-distance contact, so lacking distance was normal.
"Just searching for some info."
Jiang Linyuan didn't bother hiding it. He was looking up information about Haile Biotech.
Even if he was chatting with someone else, there was no need to keep secrets from Xiao Su. Hilarious—she already knew he was planning to build a harem.
What was the point of hiding things anymore? Fear of this, fear of that—that would only bring a bad future.
"Why are you suddenly interested in these companies?"
Su Muzhi glanced at the screen, which displayed a long list of corporate names.
"Planning for the future, you know."
Jiang Linyuan replied without looking up. Su Muzhi just figured he was cooking up some mischief again. She picked up the millet porridge and sipped it slowly.
Pharmaceutical company, Haile Biotech...
Surprisingly easy to find. It used to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of a group called the Xu Corporation.
The group's CEO had carved it out as bargaining chip and given it to his ex-wife during their divorce. That was about three or four years ago.
Now it was a mediocre little company. The CEO was named Zhang Zhu—the ex-wife in question.
This doesn't add up. It's completely different from what I deduced! What does this have to do with the Department Head?
"Xiao Su, have you heard of a company called Haile Biotech?"
Jiang Linyuan turned to Su Muzhi and asked.
"No. Why?"
"It's the company that the Xu Corporation's CEO gave to his ex-wife during their divorce."
"I know about the Xu Corporation. Didn't it collapse ages ago?"
Su Muzhi twisted her head to look at Jiang Linyuan and continued.
"That CEO started in real estate, grew big and strong, then single-handedly ran the group into nearly two trillion in debt before getting arrested. That's the one."
"Did the Department Head have any connection to this group?"
Jiang Linyuan pressed further.
Su Muzhi raised an eyebrow.
"Heh, no idea."
Damn it! [Heart Slave]'s cooldown wasn't up yet.
Let me ask someone else.
Jiang Linyuan immediately messaged Shen Guoguo.
"Guoguo, do you know about the Xu Corporation?"
A moment later, Shen Guoguo replied.
"I do. When that group imploded, Dad's face was rarely that grim."
Oh? This involved the Future Father-in-Law?
"What does that have to do with Uncle?"
"I don't know much. Dad used to have a pretty good relationship with him and helped him out a lot. Later, he probably felt cheated and got angry."
Getting angry was normal. Single-handedly racking up nearly two trillion in debt was insane.
Jiang Linyuan stared at Shen Guoguo's reply, but his confusion wasn't fully resolved.
How far apart were these connections?
The Future Father-in-Law and the Xu Corporation's CEO had some work dealings, and Haile Biotech belonged to the ex-wife. How could these pieces possibly fit together?
"Oh, right, Brother Jiang, aren't you coming to see Sister Wanyu today?"
While Jiang Linyuan was thinking, another message from Shen Guoguo popped up.
Hmm, this meant the Department Head hadn't gone to Jinling?
"Is the Department Head at home right now?"
Jiang Linyuan asked.
"Yeah, Sister Wanyu seemed to notice the starry sky projector was missing. She asked me about it, and I told her I didn't know, just like you said."
"When are you coming over? I feel like Sister Wanyu's acting a little weird."
No need, Guoguo. The Department Head could tell you were lying without even using mind reading.
But wait—the Department Head hadn't gone back to Jinling?
Haha, the timeline had changed!
"Guoguo, bring the Department Head to me. I'm not feeling well today."
Jiang Linyuan glanced at Su Muzhi in bed. There was no way he could leave her alone to go find the Department Head.
"Not feeling well? Did you stay up late again? You need to keep warm in winter. Where are you? I'll bring Sister Wanyu to see you."
Guoguo, you really are full of maternal instincts.
Jiang Linyuan sent Shen Guoguo the address, then turned back to take care of Xiao Su.
The mysterious shareholder girl didn't have a clear connection to the Department Head, but there was still some link.
Worst case, when the Department Head came, he could just ask and hit her with a [Heart Slave] to clear everything up!
...
Meanwhile.
Living room.
"Sister Wanyu, Brother Jiang is sick."
Shen Guoguo cautiously approached Shen Wanyu, who was sitting on the sofa.
"Should we go see him?"
Shen Wanyu shot her a glance.
"He's faking it."
"Even better if he's faking it—that means he's healthy! We can go find him and hang out together!"
Shen Guoguo didn't care at all.
Shen Wanyu was silent for a moment, then sighed.
"Let me ask you one more time. Did he take my starry sky projector?"
"No!"
Shen Guoguo answered instantly.
Shen Wanyu stared at her for a long time. The two locked eyes in a standoff.
"Fine. I'll go with you. I'm just going to get my things back. If you want to play with him, go ahead."
Seeing the sincere look on Shen Guoguo's face, Shen Wanyu sighed.
I should have never let you watch it.
He actually just snatched it away? What a caveman move.
With that thought, she pulled out her phone and made a call.
"Mom, I'm not coming back to Jinling today. Take care of yourself at home."
"Someone's keeping you company? Aunt Zhang? Fine, got it."
"Jiang Linyuan? Didn't meet Shen Pingyan. Gotta go."
Aunt Zhang, huh. If only Mom could learn a bit of her ruthlessness.
Cut ties cleanly with an ex-husband.