The country entrusted me to buy an aircraft carrier, Hou Liangping, do you dare to investigate?

The smile on the woman's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a chill. "Who I am is not important. What's important is that I know what you want."

Hou Liangping was startled. Did this woman know about Huang Feipeng?

"What do you mean?"

As the woman spoke, she pressed her body completely against Hou Liangping's, the soft touch sending a surge of heat through him.

"Come on, tell me, what's bothering you so much?" The woman's voice seemed to have a magical quality, making Hou Liangping involuntarily want to confide in her.

"It was... a man named Huang Feipeng..."

Amidst the noise of the bar, Hou Liangping recounted his grievances with Huang Feipeng to Su Fei in detail, including how he investigated Huang Feipeng, how he was repeatedly tricked by him, and his inner resentment and anger...

Sophie listened quietly, nodding occasionally and offering a word or two of comfort, but most of the time, she simply looked at Hou Liangping with eyes full of sympathy and understanding, as if trying to soothe his inner pain.

"That Huang Feipeng is a real bastard!" Sophie said indignantly after hearing Hou Liangping's story. "Don't worry, I know a lot of people. I'll check his background for you tomorrow. I don't believe he's really clean!"

"Really? Thank you, Sophie..." Hou Liangping looked at Sophie gratefully. Under the influence of alcohol, he felt that the woman in front of him was so understanding and trustworthy.

"What are you thanking me for? Come on, let's drink!" Sophie picked up the bottle and poured Hou Liangping a full glass of wine.

The two drank and chatted, one glass after another, their bodies drawing ever closer...

Under the dim light, Hou Liangping's shadow stretched long, mirroring his gloomy and confused mood. He mechanically downed the wine in his glass, but the bitter liquid could not extinguish the raging fire of anger burning within him.

"Zhao Shanhe, it's Zhao Shanhe again..." Hou Liangping growled through gritted teeth, his mind replaying the glaringly intimate scene between Zhong Xiaoai and Zhao Shanhe at the party.

"Damn it, does he even deserve it?!" Hou Liangping slammed his wine glass against the wall, shards of glass flying everywhere, just like his shattered heart.

"Bang bang bang!"

A knock on the door interrupted Hou Liangping's anger. He opened the door irritably and saw Su Fei standing there, forcing a weak smile.

"Why are you here so late?" Hou Liangping stepped aside to let Su Fei into the house, his tone tinged with weariness.

Sophie walked into the house, placed the thermos on the table, turned to look at Hou Liangping, and said with a hint of heartache in her eyes, "How did you get yourself into this state? Look at you, all unkempt, you look like a homeless person."

As she spoke, Sophie picked up a tissue from the table and gently wiped the remaining wine stains from Hou Liangping's lips. The faint scent of perfume wafted into his nostrils, bringing Hou Liangping a sense of peace.

"I'm fine, it's just a little wine." Hou Liangping grabbed Su Fei's hand, stopping her from wiping herself, and looked at her with a complicated expression. "It's so late, aren't you afraid to come here..."

"What are you afraid of?" Sophie retorted, her tone slightly provocative. "Afraid your wife will see when she gets back?"

Hou Liangping gave a wry smile and said self-deprecatingly, "She's probably busy with her Mr. Zhao right now, how could she have time to care about me?"

“You just care about her too much.” Sophie sighed softly and pressed Hou Liangping down on the sofa. “Here, have some hangover soup. Don’t hurt yourself.”

Hou Liangping did not refuse, taking the hangover soup that Sophie handed him and drinking it slowly. The warm liquid flowed down his throat into his stomach, dispelling some of the chill, but it could not warm his cold heart.

"Sophie, tell me, why did she do this to me?" Hou Liangping put down his bowl, looked up at Sophie, his eyes filled with pain and confusion. "I asked myself if I had ever been devoted to her. I was even willing to give up everything for her, but what did she do in return? Is this how she repays me?"

Sophie listened quietly without saying a word, only looking at Hou Liangping with gentle eyes, as if silently comforting him.

“I was so stupid, really…” Hou Liangping laughed self-deprecatingly. “I always thought she truly loved me, but in the end, I realized that it was all just wishful thinking on my part.”

"She doesn't love me at all; she only loves my power, my status, and my background..."

"Enough!" Sophie suddenly interrupted Hou Liangping, her tone tinged with anger. "Stop deceiving yourself! Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are? Do you think you're a savior? Do you really think you can change the world?"

"Let me tell you, you are nothing! You are just a pathetic wretch, a pathetic wretch blinded by power and lust!"

Sophie's words struck Hou Liangping like a series of thunderclaps, jolting him awake. He looked at the woman before him, who was usually so gentle and considerate, now acting like an angry lioness, and was filled with shock and bewilderment.

"Sophie, you..."

"What's wrong with me?" Sophie approached Hou Liangping, looking at him sharply. "Am I wrong? Look at yourself now, where is the spirited person you used to be?"

"Is it worth it to torture yourself into this inhuman state for a woman who doesn't love you?!"

Sophie's words were like daggers, leaving Hou Liangping speechless. He slumped helplessly onto the sofa, his eyes vacant, as if he had lost his soul.

Seeing Hou Liangping like this, Su Fei's heart softened, and her tone became gentler: "Liangping, I know you're upset, but you can't just give up on yourself like this. You still have a lot to do, and a lot of responsibilities to shoulder."

"Have you forgotten your ideals? Have you forgotten why you joined the anti-corruption bureau in the first place?"

Sophie's words brought a glimmer of light to Hou Liangping's bewildered eyes. He struggled to stand up, but Sophie grabbed him.

“Look at me, Liangping.” Sophie cupped Hou Liangping’s face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “I know you still have justice in your heart, you still have conscience. You can’t let hatred and despair consume you like this.”

"If you want revenge, if you want to bring down Huang Feipeng, I can help you. But you have to promise me that you will pull yourself together, that you will stand up again, and that you will become the spirited Hou Liangping you once were!"

Sophie's voice was gentle yet firm, like a powerful force flowing into Hou Liangping's body. Looking at the beautiful woman before him, a flame of hope ignited in his heart.

“Sophie…”