Ling Wei let out a heavy sigh as she ended the call with Hong Yi. Defeated, she leaned back in her office chair, pinching the bridge of her nose. Suddenly, warm hands settled on her shoulders, offering a much-needed massage.
Opening her eyes, she was met with the gentle smile of a woman, her features soft and inviting.
"You look like you could use a break," the woman observed, her voice laced with concern.
Ling Wei simply nodded, too drained to speak. Reaching out, she took the woman's hand and pressed a soft kiss on the back of it, a wordless expression of gratitude and affection.
"Is it all about the company again?" the woman inquired, her voice a soothing balm.
Ling Wei could only manage a weak nod. She pulled the woman closer, seeking comfort in her presence. "It's not just the company," she finally confessed, her voice raspy. "It's Hong Yi too. He's… unpredictable right now, and I'm worried."
"Unpredictable?" the woman echoed, her brow furrowing slightly. "What do you mean? Did you two have another fight?"
A flicker of frustration crossed Ling Wei's face. "Not exactly a fight," she sighed. "It's more like… we disagree on how to handle things. He wants to take this whole inheritance battle public, use the media to their advantage."
The woman's smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "Public? That sounds risky. What about the family's reputation?"
Ling Wei let out a humorless chuckle. "Our reputation is already taking a hit, Ruo Xi. The news about the inheritance is out, and everyone's speculating. Hong Yi thinks we should control the narrative before things get messy."
Ruo Xi, Ling Wei's girlfriend -a beta , squeezed her hand gently. "He might have a point," she said cautiously. "But going public could backfire. What if it makes them look bad?"
Ling Wei shook her head. "That's what Hong Yi's hoping for, I think. He wants to expose our uncles' greed, make them look unfit to inherit Dad's company."
Ruo Xi pursed her lips, her mind racing. "It's a gamble," she admitted. "But if it works, it could secure Zenith for you, Hong Yi and Hao Yu"
Ling Wei sighed again, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "I just wish we could all be on the same page," she confessed. "Ever since he had an argument with Father and left home, everything went downhill." She turned towards Rou Xi. "It's been four years, Ruo Xi. In these four years, he never came home or contacted any of us. We all could only see him after Dad passed away."
Ruo Xi squeezed Ling Wei's hand sympathetically. "I know it's hard, Ling Wei. It must be especially painful for you, considering how close you were to your brother."
Ling Wei nodded. "We were inseparable growing up. I don't understand what happened. The argument they had seemed so trivial at the time."
Ruo Xi pondered for a moment. "Did they ever say what they argued about? Maybe there's more to the story than we know."
Ling Wei shook her head. "No, they never spoke about it again. Father became distant after that, and my brother...well, he just disappeared."
"Maybe he had a reason behind that," Ruo Xi offered cautiously. "Whatever reason it might be, is it more important than his family to him?"
Ling Wei stood up from the couch, her voice tight with anger. "He abandoned us, Ruo Xi! Four years. Not a single call, not a message. We lost Dad, and he couldn't even be bothered to show his face until the funeral. Family is supposed to be there for each other, through thick and thin."
Ruo Xi stood up as well, placing a hand on Ling Wei's arm. "I understand your anger, Ling Wei. It's a betrayal, and it hurts. But sometimes, there are things we don't know, things that might explain his actions, even if they don't excuse them."
Ling Wei scoffed. "What explanation could justify leaving his own family in the dark for four years? Dad was sick, Ruo Xi. We all needed him, and he wasn't there."
"Maybe that's the reason," Ruo Xi said softly. "Maybe whatever happened was so difficult, he couldn't face you or Dad. Maybe he felt helpless or ashamed."
Ling Wei stared at Ruo Xi, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. "Are you saying we should just accept this, pretend everything is okay?"
"No," Ruo Xi replied. "But there's a difference between accepting and understanding. Maybe if you tried to reach out, to hear his side of the story, you could find some closure. Even anger needs an outlet, Ling Wei. Would you rather bottle it up forever, or try to talk to him?"
"It's not like I'm not trying, Ruo Xi," Ling Wei said, her voice thick with frustration. "Hong Yi hasn't been answering any of my questions directly. He just leaves. Even today, he left without answering."
"May be a direct approach is not working why don't you try to contact his friends" Ruo Xi suggested. "His friends huh they are too much loyal to him they won't speak a single word" Ling Wei replied sarcastically. "Even that Pei Xin, he always runs away when he sees me just to avoid conversation with me"
"Well then there is only one thing we can do now" Ruo Xi said after thinking so much.
"Try observe everything he does in a day like where he goes who he meets or what he is doing"
"Maybe a direct approach isn't working," Rou Xi suggested. "Why don't we try contacting his friends?"
"His friends, huh?" Ling Wei replied sarcastically. "They're too loyal to him. They wouldn't speak a single word. Even that Pei Xin, he always runs away when he sees me, just to avoid conversation."
Rou Xi frowned. "Well, then there is only one thing we can do for now," she said after a thoughtful pause. "Try to observe what he does in a day. Where does he go? Who does he meet? What's he doing?"
Ling Wei's eyes narrowed. "Maybe you're right. I can arrange someone who can follow his every move."
"And the question is," Rou Xi began, "who's going to do that job? Whoever it is, they need to be loyal to us."
"Jing Hao," Ling Wei said excitedly.
Rou Xi's brow furrowed in confusion. "My brother?" she questioned.
"Well," Ling Wei explained, "Your brother just completed his MBA. I can appoint him as Hong Yi's personal assistant. Plus, he's family, so loyalty isn't an issue."
"But Wei Wei," Rou Xi interjected, using Ling Wei's nickname, "My brother is an Omega, and Hong Yi is an Alpha."
Ling Wei, however, seemed undeterred. "Look," she said, her voice firm, "I know it's not ideal. But Jing Hao is smart and capable. He can handle himself, and besides, it's temporary. We just need someone to observe Hong Yi discreetly. Jing Hao would never do anything to jeopardize himself or your family."
"Ruo Xi, Jing Hao's safety is my responsibility," Ling Wei assured her, her voice firm with conviction.
Relief washed over Rou Xi's face. Seeing her friend so determined eased some of her anxieties. "Okay, fine," she conceded. "I trust you."
"Thank you, Ruo Xi. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Ling Wei smiled gratefully and pulled Rou Xi into a warm hug. Placing a comforting kiss on her forehead, she pulled back and said, "Great. Then I'll make a call to Jing Hao right away. See if he can join me in today's board meeting."
Ling Wei pulled out her phone and dialed Jing Hao's number. While the phone rang, a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "This might be even more fun than I anticipated," she murmured under her breath, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"Jing Hao?" she asked as the phone rang. "It's Ling Wei. Listen, I need you to come to the office right away. There's something important we need to discuss."
She listened intently for a moment, then a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "And yes," she continued, a playful lilt in her voice, "wear your best suit. You're attending today's board meeting with me."