Shen Weilan immediately called Xi Heng back. Once connected, she went straight to the point: "Even if you manage to find Jingfeng, what does it matter? Our two teams are like oil and water."
Xi Heng chuckled. "Have you forgotten what I told you before?"
Shen Weilan paused, her brow furrowing slightly. "Are you referring to the plan to bring the members of the JY team under your wing?"
"Yes. That is exactly why I came to City A to find Jingfeng."
"What does one have to do with the other?" Shen Weilan asked, puzzled.
Xi Heng explained, "I received word that Jingfeng is ill and is currently recuperating in City A. My purpose in coming here is to get him to hand over all the elites of his team to me."
Shen Weilan was slightly stunned. Jingfeng was ill? Although they had always been rivals, learning of his illness left her with an uncomfortable feeling. Perhaps it was a respect for talent?
"Xi Heng, aren't your appetites a bit too large?" Shen Weilan actually disapproved of his approach. Since Jingfeng was already sick, wouldn't it be kicking a man while he was down for Xi Heng to pressure him into handing over his team?
"I want our team to be number one in the world," Xi Heng continued. "Actually, for Jingfeng, his team will inevitably dissolve once he is gone. If they all join our LH research team, it would be for the best for everyone."
Shen Weilan remained silent; she still could not bring herself to agree with his methods.
"Alright, Weilan, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up. Remember to pick me up at the airport tomorrow."
"Mm." After hanging up, Shen Weilan tried to return to her work, but Xi Heng’s words filled her mind, making it impossible to focus. After a moment, she dialed Shen Huaibei’s number. "Brother, help me look into someone. His name is Jingfeng."
Setting aside the fact that they were rivals, she genuinely admired him. If he was ill now, she hoped she could be of some help.
There was a long pause on the other end before Shen Huaibei replied, "Why are you looking for this person?"
"A friend asked for help," Shen Weilan said vaguely. "Just look into it for me, please."
"I have a lot of patients recently and no time to look into this. We’ll talk about it another time."
Shen Weilan could hear the polite refusal in his tone, which caught her off guard. Aside from murder or arson, when had her brother ever refused her? However, she didn't press the issue. "Alright, then. I won't disturb your work. I'll find someone else to help."
Shen Huaibei couldn't help but add, "Weilan, instead of spending time on this, you should resolve your own matters first. Don't worry so much about a friend's affairs."
"I can't. I gave my word, so I have to follow through."
Shen Huaibei said nothing more and ended the call.
"Brother is acting really strange," Shen Weilan muttered as she listened to the busy signal.
Since her brother couldn't help, she had other options. She reached out to her best friend, Ye Xuxu. Her family owned a detective agency with thousands of branches worldwide; back in school, she had been dubbed the "Detective Princess" by their classmates.
"Oh my! So the great Miss Shen finally remembered me? I thought my phone had broken—it hasn't made a sound in ages!" As soon as the call connected, Ye Xuxu began with a biting, sarcastic tone.
Shen Weilan chuckled. "Miss Ye is a busy woman, how could I dare to disturb you easily?" Since graduating from university, Ye Xuxu had gone to Country M to manage her father's firm; it had been several years since they had last met.
"Spare me! You never come to the temple without a reason. Speak your mind—I’m heading out to go clubbing in a bit."
It was evening in Country M—perfect for a night out.
Shen Weilan said, "I need you to help me check on a man named Jingfeng. He is here in City A."
Ye Xuxu replied, "He’s already in City A? Why not get your brother to look into it? I thought you were asking me to look into someone abroad."
"My brother is just too busy lately."
"It’s not like your brother has to do the investigating himself; he could just send someone. I suspect he just doesn't want to deal with you; he’s probably still angry about you marrying Gu Yunze."
Ye Xuxu hadn't returned to the country in years, nor did she follow domestic news. Apart from her occasional contact with Shen Weilan, she had no connection to anyone back home. Naturally, she didn't know that Shen Weilan’s marriage to Gu Yunze had reached its end.
"No, my brother is just legitimately busy."
"Hmph, deny it all you want." Ye Xuxu curled her lip. "I’ll call my people in the country later and have them find out where this Jingfeng is for you."
"Alright, thank you."
"Forget it. Don't be so polite with me, it’s weird." Shifting topics, Ye Xuxu added, "By the way, how are things with you and Gu Yunze? Are you pregnant yet? Being a stepmother isn't easy, is it?"
Shen Weilan fell silent instantly. Back then, she had been insistent on marrying Gu Yunze, and Ye Xuxu had been one of those who tried to talk her out of it, but she had been too stubborn.
Shen Weilan exhaled slowly. "You were all right back then. I paid the price for my recklessness."
To Ye Xuxu, this result was inevitable. In that relationship, Shen Weilan had been the subordinate one, always led by the nose by Gu Yunze. Given enough time, even the most foolish person would wake up, let alone Shen Weilan, who had simply been blinded by "love" for a while.
"It’s okay. As long as there are no children, there’s still time. Wishing you a rebirth, Shen Weilan, my bestie."
Once there was a child, things would change. Shen Weilan would be tied down by the child and permanently entangled with Gu Yunze.
"Thank you."
"Alright! I’m off to the club. I’ll make sure my people back home take care of that task. When I return to the country, we’ll go clubbing and pick out some male models together."
Shen Weilan laughed. "Mm, okay."
Ye Xuxu was all talk. She wouldn't actually pick out male models now; she claimed that for someone as young and beautiful as her, picking out male models would just be a waste on them. She wanted to wait until she was sixty—she wanted those male models to learn just how hard it was to earn money.
After hanging up, Shen Weilan had no heart for work. She closed her laptop and left the apartment. The hour was still early, so she went for a walk in the garden.
The apartment complex’s garden was beautifully landscaped and featured several pavilions for residents to rest. Shen Weilan had walked for a while when she suddenly stopped. Her gaze fell on a pavilion not far away. A man and a woman were sitting on a bench with their backs to her. Although she couldn't see their faces, their silhouettes looked very familiar.
She was sure they were old acquaintances! But the man’s hairstyle looked a bit dated, and with his drab clothing, he was clearly a middle-aged man. The woman, however, was quite fashionable—clearly a young girl. A young girl sitting together with a middle-aged man—the stench of an affair was practically overflowing.
Shen Weilan arched a brow. She wasn't one for gossip, but since the spectacle had been delivered to her doorstep, she felt she would be doing herself a disservice not to take a closer look. She moved toward the pavilion, crouching low to avoid being spotted.
As she drew closer, the voices of the people in the pavilion reached her ears. Shen Weilan held her breath, her pupils constricting in shock.
It was them?