"Have you noticed the problem points?" <An Nuan> didn't give <Ye Jinghuai> too much time and asked her directly.
"They are all contracts signed by <Chang Deyue>."
"What else?" <Ye Jinghuai> prompted.
It seemed there were still key points to grasp. <An Nuan> calmed herself down and read through it again.
She suddenly had an epiphany, "They are all for purchasing construction materials."
"Right," <Ye Jinghuai> nodded, "I've checked the contract dates. They were just a week after the land purchase for Huatan International, before contractors were decided. Yet these materials were already being purchased, no small amount either. If it wasn't an urgent project, then someone needed money badly."
"You mean these are...fake contracts?"
<Ye Jinghuai> nodded, "If I'm not wrong, <Chang Deyue> approves contracts below 50 million. So they split this 100 million into three to bypass your father's authorization."
<An Nuan> quietly listened, truly stunned by <Ye Jinghuai>'s mental prowess.
He didn't even work at Anshi, how did he understand its operations so well?
"So the key now is, as long as we can prove these fake contracts have nothing to do with my father, many things can be easily resolved," <An Nuan> concluded.
<Ye Jinghuai> nodded.
"Then my priority is to investigate the counterparts of these contracts and subpoena them to testify, to obtain valid evidence."
"I've arranged for <Qin Jiang> to do it already," <Ye Jinghuai> stated plainly.
<An Nuan> stared at him blankly again.
"There should be a definite reply early tomorrow morning."
<An Nuan> just looked at <Ye Jinghuai>.
She knew he wasn't what outsiders saw.
But she didn't expect him to be so capable to this extent...
She struggled to stay calm. She said, "The whistleblower <Wei Daguo> who accused my father, I find him very suspicious too. He was supposed to have fled, why did he suddenly come back? I suspect someone instigated him secretly."
"Don't worry, I've planted moles around him already. Any shred of evidence will be obtained as soon as there are any tricks."
So whatever she could think of, <Ye Jinghuai> had considered too.
"So, Miss An, are you still angry?" <Ye Jinghuai> asked her.
"When was I angry?" <An Nuan> retorted.
She just found <Ye Jinghuai> a little childish, that's all.
She assumed whatever <Ye Jinghuai> gave her would be womanly accessories and jewelry that she had zero interest in.
She never expected he had done so much for her.
Silently, just getting things done.
If only he was less ostentatious, she wouldn't have said those hurtful words.
It was still <Ye Jinghuai>'s fault for showing off.
If he didn't flaunt himself and confessed plainly, would she have said those things?!
Thinking it through, the little unpleasantness wasn't her fault at all.
"In other words, would Miss An be willing to sleep in the same bed with me?"
"Don't take liberties, <Ye Jinghuai>."
"With everything I've done for Miss An, doesn't she have the slightest thought of showing gratitude?"
"...It's still for your own sake." <An Nuan> barely squeezed out a reason.
<Ye Jinghuai>'s expression clearly changed.
"We're in the same boat now. If I go down, how could you be safe?" <An Nuan> said matter-of-factly.
<Ye Jinghuai> smiled faintly.
At least she saw his attractive lips curve up for a second.
He suddenly bent down, his face nearing hers.
<An Nuan> froze.
As if petrified, not moving an inch.
Whenever <Ye Jinghuai> took the initiative to get close, it would always make her...pulse race.
His long fingers lifted her chin. His eyes peered into hers as he enunciated, "Is it so hard to admit that I like you?"
At that moment <An Nuan> only felt her heartbeat.
Thump after thump.
Pounding intensely.
What did he mean by...
Making her admit that he liked her...
Yes.
She just refused to believe <Ye Jinghuai> had genuine feelings for her.
She was afraid of being deceived.
Yet now, she suddenly felt an inability to retreat.
"<An Nuan>, what exactly have you gone through to become who you are now?" <Ye Jinghuai> didn't force <An Nuan> to answer.
Because he couldn't compel her anyway.
He just desperately wanted to know what earth-shattering events the 22-year-old <An Nuan> went through.
To change her so drastically from beginning to end.
"You can investigate me," <An Nuan> said directly.
"You think I haven't?" <Ye Jinghuai> raised a brow.
Precisely because he found nothing, that was why he asked.
<An Nuan> fell silent again.
Rendering <Ye Jinghuai> silent too.
He said, he kept compromising after all.
Always compromising when it came to <An Nuan>.
She just...didn't believe him.
"Whether to sleep with me, you decide for yourself. I won't force you," said <Ye Jinghuai>. He got up from the sofa and went straight to bed.
<An Nuan> watched <Ye Jinghuai>'s figure.
She previously thought him childish.
Now she felt he seemed a little hurt.
Her throat moved slightly.
This devil incarnate really had an iron grip on one's heart.
If there came a day...
She might really die by his hands.
<An Nuan> still got up to leave.
Exiting the room.
<Ye Jinghuai> looked in the direction of the door.
His expression extremely unpleasant.
He gave her a choice yet she really chose to leave?!
Didn't she see he was just trying to maintain a gentlemanly demeanor?!
Didn't she see he was already in bed waiting for her?!
This woman <An Nuan>!
This ungrateful...
The door was suddenly pushed open.
<Ye Jinghuai>'s facial expression remained.
The moment he saw <An Nuan>, it instantly reverted to normal.
<An Nuan> couldn't help laughing slightly, pretending not to notice.
She said, "I'm bringing my laptop in to copy those three documents you found. That way I won't need to dig them out again tomorrow."
Meaning she only left to finish up the work.
That was why she rejected sleeping with him.
"Whatever you like," came the expected petulance.
Not one bit less.
<An Nuan> really couldn't bring herself to expose <Ye Jinghuai>.
She swiftly copied and archived the files, closed her laptop, and headed for the bathroom.
Towards their shared bathroom.
The corners of a certain someone's lips visibly curved up.
<An Nuan> showered quickly. After bathing, she casually slipped under <Ye Jinghuai>'s covers.
The two started out lightly leaning against each other.
Then <Ye Jinghuai> pulled <An Nuan> into his embrace.
<An Nuan> truly didn't dare resist, afraid of touching his wounds.
She nestled against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.
Somehow, it gave her a sense of security.
<Ye Jinghuai>...was really gradually corroding her nerves.
Making her completely accept, even trust his existence.
