Li Wei stared at the digital clock on his desk: 4:37 AM. Less than 36 hours until the flight that would claim his parents' lives. The Family Bonds ability thrummed through his veins, letting him sense his parents sleeping peacefully at home.
[Current Quest Status: "Save the Parents"
Time Remaining: 35 hours, 23 minutes
Current Success Rate: 12%
Suggestion: Stop brooding and start acting!]
"Show me my options," Li Wei muttered, spreading documents across his desk.
[Available Resources:
- 100 Points
- Family Bonds Ability
- 20 Years of Future Knowledge
- One (1) Very Concerned System
- Basic Corporate Access
Note: Still can't shoot fire. Just checking if you were hoping for that.]
The Singapore merger documents glowed under his desk lamp. In his past life, he'd reviewed these a thousand times after the crash, searching for answers. Now he could see what he'd missed – the shell companies, the hidden debts, the careful trap designed to look like an opportunity.
[Quest Hint: Sometimes the best way to save someone is to remove their reason for leaving...]
Li Wei's eyes widened. "The regulatory filing. Show me their last quarter's report."
He pulled up the Singapore company's financial statements, seeing them with new eyes. Twenty years of experience let him spot the discrepancies immediately.
[Host's Intelligence Check: Passed!
Business Acumen: Actually being useful
New Task Generated: "Paper Trail of Tears"]
Working through the night, Li Wei compiled evidence of financial irregularities, creating an anonymous tip package for Singapore's regulatory authorities. But it wouldn't be enough on its own.
[Warning: Sun rising. Also, your coffee is cold.]
As dawn broke, Li Wei accessed the private records his position as Deputy Director allowed. There – the small shareholdings his father had acquired as a show of good faith. Technically, Li Wei had authority to manage them.
"System, analyze the impact if these shares were sold right now."
[Calculating Market Impact:
- 3% immediate stock price drop
- Trigger automated trading alerts
- Create minor panic among other investors
Probability of Merger Disruption: 45%
Still not enough, host.]
Li Wei smiled grimly. "What if news of the sale leaked first?"
[Oho! Host showing strategic thinking!
New Achievement Unlocked: "Market Manipulator"
Warning: Arguably illegal, but definitely clever]
He picked up his phone, dialing a number he'd memorized from his past life – a hungry young financial reporter who'd later become famous for exposing corporate scandals.
"Ms. Zhang? This is anonymous source. I have a story about irregularities at Singapore's largest tech merger..."
[Task Update: Dominoes beginning to fall
Current Success Rate: 35%
Suggestion: Push harder!]
Over the next twelve hours, Li Wei orchestrated a cascade of carefully timed events. The reporter's story hit morning news sites, highlighting "anonymous concerns" about the merger. When trading opened, the automated sale of Li Industries' shares triggered exactly the panic he'd predicted.
By noon, Singapore's regulatory authorities had received his anonymous tip package. By two, they'd announced an emergency audit.
[Quest Progress:
- Market Chaos: Achieved
- Regulatory Intervention: Initiated
- Parent's Flight: Still scheduled
Warning: Father approaching your office!]
Li Jing burst in, face tense. "Wei, have you seen the news?"
"About Singapore? I've been analyzing the reports since they broke." Li Wei gestured to his desk covered in documents. "Father, I found something concerning."
For the next hour, he led his father through the evidence – not all of it, just enough to seed serious doubts. He watched understanding dawn in Li Jing's eyes.
[Family Bonds Ability Activated:
Detecting: Parental pride, growing concern, decision pending...]
"If these allegations are true," Li Jing said slowly, "the merger..."
"Could destroy us," Li Wei finished. "We need to distance ourselves immediately. Before the audit results."
His father's phone rang – Singapore authorities requesting an emergency meeting. Virtual, of course.
[Quest Update:
Critical Moment Approaching
Father's Decision Matrix: 87% leaning toward cancellation]
"Cancel my flight arrangements," Li Jing told his secretary. "And call the board. Emergency session in one hour."
Li Wei felt the golden thread of his Family Bonds pulse with his father's agitation. He gentled his voice. "Father, you taught me to trust my instincts in business. Right now, every instinct says to run."
[Emotional Manipulation Check: Passed
Using future business wisdom while sounding young and earnest: Impressive
Parent Survival Probability: Rising!]
The emergency board meeting lasted three hours. Li Wei presented his analysis, watching the growing alarm on elderly faces as they realized how close they'd come to disaster. The vote to cancel the merger was unanimous.
His mother called during the meeting.
"Xiao Wei, what's this I hear about Singapore? Your father just cancelled our trip!"
The relief nearly broke his voice. "The deal was bad, Mom. Really bad. I'll explain everything at dinner?"
[QUEST COMPLETED: "Save the Parents"
Reward: 500 Points
Bonus Achievement: "Butterfly Effect Master"
Note: Preventing death by preventing flight by preventing merger by preventing... you get the idea.]
That night, watching his parents enjoy dinner in their favorite restaurant – the dinner they'd never had in his past life – Li Wei felt the full weight of his success. They were safe. He'd done it.
[Current Status:
Parents: Alive
Timeline: Altered
Host: In desperate need of sleep
Suggestion: Maybe celebrate AFTER a nap?]
But as he watched them laugh together, Li Wei's mind turned to his next task. Saving them was just the beginning. Now he had an empire to rebuild, enemies to destroy, and a Phoenix bloodline to awaken.
His phone buzzed – Song Kai, asking about lunch tomorrow.
[New Quest Generated: "Revenge Served Cold"
Warning: Temperature may vary with Phoenix abilities]
Li Wei touched his pendant, feeling its warmth. Tomorrow, he would begin planning his revenge. Tonight, he would simply enjoy having his family back.
[System Note: Host getting sentimental again. But this time... perhaps it's justified.]
The pendant pulsed warmly in agreement.