On the day of graduation, I was dragged by my rich father to get the certificate

Special Assistant Wu nodded in understanding: "Ever since his stroke five years ago, Old Master Mu has been bedridden and rarely sees guests. Even if you, as Master Si, were to visit..."

"He won't tell." Si Yehan sneered. "The Mu family was able to rise because of the Nangong family's fall. How could he dig his own grave?"

The office fell into a brief silence. Si Yehan walked over to the wine cabinet and poured himself another glass of wine. The amber liquid gleamed dangerously under the light.

Suddenly, he paused and a name flashed through his mind - Murray.

"Mu Rui..." Si Yehan's lips curled up in an almost imperceptible arc. "The eldest daughter of the Mu family, no, now I should say 'young master'."

Special Assistant Wu was visibly stunned. "You mean... the Mu family's 'only son'?"

Si Yehan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pulled out his phone and flipped to the name "Mu Rui" in his address book. The screen showed that their last contact was two weeks ago. Mu Rui had sent a message asking about the progress of their collaborative project, to which he replied with a brief "Read."

"Make arrangements. I need to see Mu Rui." Si Yehan suddenly said, a calculating look in his eyes.

Special Assistant Wu was a little surprised: "Young Master, haven't you always..." He stopped mid-sentence, but his meaning was clear - hadn't Si Yehan always avoided contact with Mu Rui?

"For the sake of the account book, some sacrifices are necessary." Si Yehan's voice was eerily calm. "Besides, hasn't she always wanted to get close to me? Give her this chance."

That night, the entire top floor of Hai City's most upscale Pearl Hotel was booked out. Beneath the crystal chandelier, Si Yehan, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, quietly awaited tonight's special guest.

The elevator doors opened, and a tall figure emerged. He wore a custom-made dark blue suit, his short hair neatly combed back, and walked with a firm, powerful gait. At first glance, he appeared to be a graceful and elegant gentleman. But Si Yehan knew that beneath the suit was a woman's body—Mu Rui, the eldest daughter of the Mu family, who had fashioned herself into this state just to get close to him.

"Ye Han." Mu Rui walked to the table, his surprise barely concealed in his deliberately lowered voice, "I didn't expect you to take the initiative to ask me out."

Si Yehan stood up and gestured for a seat. "Long time no see, Mu... Rui." He paused deliberately on the name, observing the other person's reaction.

Mu Rui's eyes lit up for a moment, then he regained his calm demeanor as a business elite. "Is it about the West City project? I've already had the team prepare all the information."

"Not entirely." Si Yehan gestured for the waiter to bring the wine. "Let's eat first. We have plenty of time to talk."

The dinner went smoothly. Si Yehan, uncharacteristically, took the initiative to inquire about Mu Rui's recent situation, even praising some of her business insights. Every time he smiled, he could see the flash of surprise and fascination in Mu Rui's eyes.

"You know what?" Si Yehan suddenly said after three rounds of drinks, "I've been thinking about my childhood lately."

Mu Rui paused slightly: "When you were a child?"

"Well, I remember you were always running after me back then."

Mu Rui looked a little flustered. Si Yehan continued, "You were wearing a skirt and two ponytails back then."

Murray's face instantly turned pale with embarrassment, and the knife in her hand accidentally touched the plate, making a crisp sound. "That...that was a long time ago," she said with forced composure, but her voice was already a little unsteady.

Si Yehan gently swirled his wine glass, letting the silence stretch for a few seconds before suddenly changing the subject: "By the way, how's your grandfather doing?"

This sudden question made Murray visibly relieved: "It's still the same. The doctor said the chances of recovery are slim."

"What a shame." Si Yehan's tone was not filled with regret. "I remember that Mr. Mu once managed our Si family's finances. He was a very meticulous man."

Murray nodded: "Grandpa has always been proud of that experience."

Si Yehan's eyes gleamed. "Speaking of which, I've been sorting through the Si family's old files lately and discovered that some records from over twenty years ago are incomplete. I wonder if Mr. Mu still has some of that information from back then?"

Mu Rui's expression became wary. "I'm not sure about this. After Grandpa got sick, he stopped talking about many of the past events."

She seemed to realize something.

Seeing this, Si Yehan didn't ask any further questions. But at this moment, Mu Rui suddenly reached out and gently touched Si Yehan's hand on the table.

For Gu Wan and Nian Nian, Si Yehan didn't react strongly and leave like he usually did. Instead, he avoided her under the pretext of getting a wine glass.

"Ye Han." Her voice almost turned back into a female voice, but she quickly suppressed it.

Si Yehan didn't answer. He just took a sip of his wine and pretended nothing had happened.

Fortunately, Si Yehan's misogyny had been cured six years ago—that night with Gu Wan. Otherwise, he would have been overwhelmed by Mu Rui's aggressiveness.

"Yehan, I... I don't know, I just... " Mu Rui saw Si Yehan's expression change and he started to speak incoherently.

Si Yehan wore a faint smile and ignored her words, "Mu Rui, we've been working together for over six years now."

"Um."

"So we should be friends, right?"

"Friend!" Murray was surprised, then said excitedly: "Yes, of course!"

"I have a project I'd like to work with you on?"

This was the first time Si Yehan took the initiative to seek cooperation with her.

"What...what kind of cooperation?" Murui tried hard to control his voice from shaking.

Si Yehan leaned back in his chair, his eyes darkening. "For example, could you help me find some old items your grandfather kept? In return..." He paused, "I could consider acquiring the Southeast Asian market rights that Mu Corporation has always desired."

Murray's eyes lit up, but soon became hesitant: "Grandpa's things are locked in the secret room of the old house. Without his permission..."

"I believe that with your ability, you will always be able to find a way."

"But you have to agree to one condition."

"What conditions?"

"I haven't thought about it yet. I'll tell you when I do."

"Deal!" Si Yehan raised his glass. "For our... cooperation."

As the two wine glasses clinked in mid-air, a complex emotion flashed across Si Yehan's eyes. He knew he was playing with fire, casually promising a condition to a woman who loved him but couldn't have him.

But in order to find out the truth about the Nangong family, for Gu Wan, for Nian Nian, and for himself, he had no choice. After all, he only had three months.

After dinner, Si Yehan personally walked Mu Rui downstairs. As Mu Rui got into the car, still immersed in the evening's surprise, Si Yehan's phone rang.

It was a message from Gu Wan: "Are you coming back tonight? I made your favorite noodle soup."

Si Yehan looked at the screen and quickly replied, "I'll be right back. Wait for me."

Looking up at the taillights of Mu Rui's departing car, Si Yehan's eyes turned cold.

This dangerous game has just begun, and he must act carefully - he must use Mu Rui's secret to get close to the Mu family, but he must not let her discover his true purpose, and he must not let Gu Wan know what he is doing.

"For the truth..." he muttered to himself, turning and heading for his car. The night wind blew the corners of his clothes, and his back cast a long shadow under the neon lights, lonely and resolute.