The richest man's parents were kidnapped, and his adorable son captivated the entire family.

It was late at night when I got home.

The rented room was lit only by a small desk lamp, its yellowish light spilling onto the table and shrouding the scattered photos and old objects on the floor.

Xie Yumin knelt on the carpet, holding a photograph in her hands. It was taken a few years ago when she took Mengmeng to the park.

On a sunny afternoon, a little girl sat on a swing, her eyebrows curved, her lips curved in a smile, and her hands were raised high as if to embrace the whole world.

Her fingers slowly traced the adorable smile on Mengmeng's face, but her heart ached as if it were being ripped open by a sharp blade. The smile in the photo was so carefree, but in reality, this child was embroiled in an abyss of power struggles, lies, and public opinion.

Xie Yumin closed her eyes, and the vague words Chen Bo had whispered to her that day suddenly surfaced in her mind: "Mengmeng's identity is special, and she's involved in too many things... It's related to the Gu family's past... Knowing too much won't do any good..."

She suddenly opened her eyes, and the words "Gu family history" struck her heart like a short but dazzling match lit in the darkness.

She tried hard to recall, searching her mind for clues she had previously overlooked.

A few weeks ago, while researching for the merger, she glimpsed an archive titled "The History of the Gu Family and the Maintenance of Ancestral Property" in a corner of the Gu family archives.

At the time, she was busy sifting through business data and didn't pay much attention. Looking back now, that might have been one of the clues to the truth.

Uncle Chen's hints, the renovation records of the ancestral home Jingyuan, and Mengmeng's true background—these seemingly scattered fragments suddenly connect with each other, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle being pieced together one by one.

Her hand trembled slightly, but she pressed down on the corner of the photo, forcing herself to calm down.

"Mengmeng's background... may be hidden in the Gu family's dusty historical archives, those family secrets, old agreements, and even scandals that outsiders will never see."

She murmured to herself. Her eyes gradually cleared from confusion.

She knew it was an extremely dangerous road, but also the only one that might lead to the answer.

As the night wind rose outside the window, casting swaying shadows of the trees, she had already quietly devised a plan.

The next day, Xie Yumin dressed neatly, put on simple makeup, and was dressed in a proper and dignified manner.

She entered the office, her expression calm, and in a gentle tone reported a new project to the department head. The project was titled "Feasibility Study on the Historical and Cultural Value Excavation and Potential Revitalization of Jingyuan".

This was a "pretend" she had carefully prepared for the entire night.

She spoke with conviction and provided ample evidence, starting with the historical significance of Jingyuan as the birthplace of the Gu family, then moving on to the need for the extension of the Gu family's current corporate culture strategy, and finally to how to use "cultural heritage" to reshape the brand's positive image, thus providing a warm and insightful way to address the public opinion crisis that the Gu family is currently facing.

Finally, she wrote in the "Materials Required for Research" section, attaching a request for historical archives including renovation drawings, housekeeper's log, family activity records, and records of interior structural changes, on the grounds that she wanted to "fully understand the architectural background and extract symbolic elements for revitalizing the design."

Throughout the entire process, her tone was calm, her gaze was firm, and every word she uttered was perfectly crafted.

The proposal quickly passed the initial review by higher management.

The next step is to obtain access to historical archives.

The person in charge of this area was Wang Defa, the head of the archives department, an extremely cunning old fox.

Xie Yumin did not act rashly.

She spent two days observing Wang Defa's interactions with his subordinates and visitors, gradually figuring out the man's personality through casual conversations in the break room, the "catchphrases" he used when asking about borrowing materials, and his interactions with them.

He appears serious on the surface, but is actually shrewd in everything he does. He always keeps something in reserve, never offending anyone, but he never does anything for nothing.

Moreover, he is very concerned about his image and likes to be praised as "professional, experienced, and a loyal family man." He is also addicted to high-end cigarettes and alcohol, especially a certain imported cigar and a certain vintage of Maotai liquor.

But how could his salary possibly support such extravagant hobbies?

The only ways these people make money are by extorting and demanding bribes.

Xie Yumin used to hate people who did this, but now she is somewhat glad that this person gave her an opportunity.

Although the cigarettes and alcohol looked expensive, Xie Yumin gritted her teeth, went home, and took out her savings. After weighing the options in her mind for a long time, she finally turned around and walked into the high-end cigarette and alcohol store that she had never set foot in before.

A few days later, Wang Defa was reviewing forms at his desk in front of the archives. A well-dressed young woman with a respectful smile gently knocked on the door.

"Manager Wang, thank you for your hard work. I'm here to submit the paperwork for verifying the research materials. Also, this is just a small token of my appreciation. Don't you always say that good cigarettes can help people concentrate on researching?"

She placed the exquisitely packaged wooden box on the corner of the table, her smile neither humble nor arrogant, her voice gentle, carrying a hint of cautious flattery, but not in a way that made anyone uncomfortable.

At this moment, her hand clenched slightly on the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white—that was the entirety of her half-month's food expenses.

At that moment, she risked her dignity and principles, all to get one step closer to the truth.

Fortunately, she was well-prepared, and Wang Defa really liked these things.

She quickly passed this small test.

The moment Xie Yumin stepped out of Wang Defa's office, her steps were steady, but her back was slightly stiff. Only when the elevator doors closed behind her did she seem to finally emerge from underwater, letting out a long breath. Her palms were covered in cold sweat, her knuckles white from clenching her fists so tightly that she almost lost the strength to carry the file folder.

She raised her hand and gently covered her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. Those last twenty minutes felt like an entire play with no retakes; her tongue was tied in knots, and her heart was in her throat. She had to understand, anticipate, and follow every subtle change in the other person's gaze and tone, without revealing the slightest flaw.

The elevator descended slowly, and the mirror reflected her profile. Her face was calm, with a professional smile on her lips, but her eyes were like a suppressed storm beneath a blade.

"Disgusting," she said coldly to herself.

But the next second, she forced herself to calm down and took a deep breath. Now that she had the key, she had to push the door all the way in.

She quickly washed her hands in the downstairs break room, the lingering smell of tobacco from the paper bag still clinging to her fingertips. Instead of returning to her workstation, she sent Wang Defa a message: "Brother Wang, it's all thanks to your help! The project's progress is entirely due to you! Once I have some research findings, please review them immediately!"

Less than half a minute after the message was sent, the other party replied instantly with an emoji that said "Brother, it's my duty," along with the caption, "Come visit often in the future, Xiao Xie is so sensible!" His tone was incredibly warm, as if he were the one who had been invited into Gu Family Garden.