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your-local-hoemie · 2 years ago

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HELLO 🐢ANON BACK AGAIN WITH ZHONGLU BRAINROT THUS TIME YIPEE

Okayokay so imagine like immortal!reader who went into like a deep sleep/coma after the archon war to like recover and everything. So after zhongli retired (i forgot how many yrs after the archon war) reader finally wakes up and gets so confused coz their lover morax is dead?? But reader recognizes him (hes standing right infront of them) so theyre even more confused now and why is his name zhongli?? Either way reader jumps into his arms and hugs him and asks him what happened and everything so theyre reunited and happy now 🥰 and zhongli almost comung to tears coz hes so happy that readers alive 😞😞 all this time he thought they were dead T-T and they kinda live as retired gods in liyue enjoying their "mortal" life together ughhh so cute like an old married couple

OH MY GOD YES IM SCREAMING, CRYING, GIGGLING, KICKING AND ALL OF THE RESTVDHFJFJDJFJFKIFIG!!!!! 🙏🙏🙏

Watch me get too carried away with the angst because I love putting myself through pain.

Warnings: mild angst, fluff, Zhongli being a simp, gn!reader, not proof-read.

Characters: Zhongli.

It had been a long, grueling battle.

You had fought tirelessly next to your lover, Zhongli. Throughout the day, the entirety of the war.

He often spoke about his displeasure in you doing so but the thought of him possibly getting hurt, or worse, terrified you.

So after your complete disregard for your own safety. You finally struck down the last of the enemies as the war slowly came to an end, only to notice how badly injured you were.

Once Morax came across your broken and bloodied body, he swears it’s the closest he’s ever come to breaking.

Even after all the lives he’s had to take, the blood spilled in his name.

You were the one thing he couldn’t handle losing after this long, gruesome nightmare.

After he carried you back to the safety of your small, hidden cottage where you would both spend your time drinking tea and talking about your future together in Liyue before the war started, he tentatively cared for your wounds and watched over you every chance he could.

He obviously knew that you were immortal. he also knew that occasionally, if you were hurt or sick, you'd fall into a regenerative sleep.

So when you remained unconscious for a few weeks, he wasn't worried. After all, a few weeks in his eternity meant nothing. Though he'd be lying if he said he didn't miss you beyond words.

After weeks turned into months and months turned into years, his hope of ever seeing your soft gaze soon vanished as his time was becoming more and more occupied with rebuilding the land he once ruled over with you by his side.

When the last wall was built for the last house for the now growing population of Liyue, he had to make the decision to move on.

So with one last visit to the cottage, now hidden away even more by overgrown shrubbery, he placed what he thought would be his final kiss on your cheek along with soft begs of forgiveness and apologies, he finally mustered up the strength to walk out the worn down door one last time.

Now, many, many years later, hidden away in that same cottage now completely overgrown and reclaimed by the wilderness, you finally forced your eyelids to open and take in the almost blinding rays of sunlight streaming in from the cracks in the walls as vines hung down and gently caressed your skin.

Slowly sitting up, you took in the scene around you. This was definitely not how you remembered your home looking.

How long had you been asleep? Where was your beloved? What if he was still on the battlefield? All of these thoughts rushed through your mind as you forced your stiff bones to support your weight as you stood up faster than what you should of.

Now fully conscious, not to mention disorientated, you ran out of the small abode to scan the area for any signs of Morax only to find something that confused you even more.

Nothing. You found nothing of the chaos and bloodshed that you remembered so vividly, only the soft touch of grass beneath your feet and the cool summer breeze caressing your skin.

Turning around in a daze, you examine your once cozy and welcoming home only to find it now crumbling and overgrown with plants and wildlife

If this had been any other time you would have found the scene to be enchanting, but as the realization of how long you had been asleep slowly started to hit you, you couldn't help but feel your heart start to race with anxiety and questions.

Taking a deep breath, you gathered your thoughts as best as you could and decided to go to the closest village you remembered.

Needless to say, after walking for around 40 minutes, you were more than a little shocked to see the village now being a very large and very populated city.

"Excuse me, are you alright?"

Looking around with a confused expression you locked eye's with what appeared to be a guard of some sort.

"Y-yes um, would you mind telling me where I am?"

"Liyue harbor of course! Home of the great Geo Archon and Teyvats largest trading supply lines!"

Hearing the formal title of your seemingly lost lover you couldn't help but pry the poor soul from your confused questioning.

"Geo Archon? Morax? Would you know where I could find him? we know each other and-"

"I'm sorry, you must be new here. Morax was killed not too long ago…”

After hearing those words leave his mouth your mind suddenly went blank.

Not only had you been asleep for what seemed like centuries but now you’ve just found out that the love of your life, Your other half had not only died but was also murdered.

Not saying anything else, you took your leave and started walking aimlessly through the city streets that now felt even more foreign that what they did before.

You did your best to try and take in your new surroundings and find out just how long you had been unconscious for but the looming grief that wrecked your heart just seemed to get worse with every mention of Morax.

After spending a few hours aimlessly walking around the harbour you decided that all you needed right now was to process your thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, you say yourself down on a wall that overlooked what seemed to be the centre of a market place that was now silent of any busy citizens as the moon rose up above the horizon highlighting the buildings with a soft glow.

The only signs of life left now were a handful of fishermen packing up their boats for the night and a small tea house that overlooked the street leading ti the harbour that was occupied by two sails men that were selling fish at the dock earlier and-

You feel your heart stop in your chest as you lean forward to take in the silhouette of a tall man with posture matching that of a plank of wood and a very familiar looking rat tail.

There’s no way. It’s impossible. You just found out he died in front of all of Liyue harbour’s citizens just months earlier.

You were so convinced that it was just the grief making your mind go fuzzy that you got up and decided to walk and find a place when you heard him speak.

“Ah, yes. This tea is superb as always”

You swear you dug your heels so hard into the ground that it left a mark in the stone beneath you.

“Morax..?”

The man froze solid in place at hearing his old name come from such a familiar voice that he could of sworn it was just his ears playing tricks on him.

Hesitating for a moment, you took a step closer to him as his deep golden eyes widened at the sight of you now draped in the soft glow from the tea house.

“Y/N…? It can’t be”

Through your vision that’s now blurred with tears you could see him stand up before slowly walking down the steps towards your figure before speaking words that could barley be heard over the gentle breeze.

“It really is… Celestia it really is you!”

Without a second thought, you ran up to him and the your arms around his waist before sobbing into his chest (heh breakdown boobies)

Not saying another word he kneeled on the ground holding your shaking body in his strong arms, not even bothering to hold back the tears running down his cheeks.

“I.. I thought you were dead! Everyone told me you were killed and I-”

“As did I, my love. I thought I lost you many centuries ago and that I lost the blessing of seeing your smile once more”

You both stayed like that for a while longer as he held you close to his chest as physically possible, almost as if he feared that the second he let you go, you’d disappear again.

When you both recovered from the shock of finding each other after believing you’d lost the other one for eternity, “Morax” took you to a quiet place away from the city and explained everything that had happened since you fell asleep all those centuries ago and how he’s retired from being an archon to simply live as “Zhongli”

“I can’t believe you still remember me after all that time”

“How could I forget, love? Every second I spent without feeling your hand in mine was far worse than any tragedy I’ve bore in my lifetime”

“I suppose I’ll have to get used to calling you zhongli now, huh?”

You both let out a soft laugh while Zhongli wrapped you tightly in his embrace.

Times might be very different to what they were but you have all the time in the world to adjust, and you can rest assured that the love of your life won’t leave your side ever again for the rest of eternity.

“I love you, Morax”

“Forever and always, my dear~”

AAAAHAJDLEIDODODEDJDIR WHY DID I ALMOST CRY WRITING THIS HNGGGGGGGFGG IT’S SO BAD

My creative juices became a waterfall and then a whole ass tsunami. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t missed staying up until literally 5am to write about my boys T-T

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aishangotome · 1 month ago

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Personal Branch (Yi Yu): #2 Stigma (污名) Part 1 | Beyond The World 世界之外

Enjoying Time Off (享受休息时间)

Stigma - Level B Side Quest Clear your name and dispel the stigma. Background You are an orphan who entered a prestigious university's business school through your own hard work. After graduating, you started working at a financial company. Just as you were preparing to showcase your talents, you were accused of a financial crime and face imprisonment. Even if you can post the hefty multi-million-dollar bail within five days, it's only a temporary reprieve from freedom. In reality, you've never done anything wrong. You were pushed forward as a scapegoat by your superiors, and the company has unequivocally abandoned you, an orphan with no connections, choosing to protect your superior instead.

After assuming the identity for this mission, I found myself standing on a bridge.

Vehicles sped past me, and on both sides of the bridge, the city lights shone brightly.

This was West City, the most prosperous city in West Continent, and the place where the financial industry first took root and developed most extensively in the world.

Here, there were countless celebrities and wealthy magnates who spent money like water, but there were also people like me, forced into a corner and with no way out.

The day I was made a scapegoat, I was fired from my company. Business school wasn't cheap, and I still had student loans to repay after graduating.

Now I only have a meager amount of savings, not even enough to pay next month's rent.

Of course, if I'm really sentenced to prison, I won't have to worry about rent...

I carefully walked down the bridge, following the flow of traffic.

I originally planned to take public transport back to my current rented apartment to think about countermeasures, but suddenly, the public phone booth on the roadside caught my attention.

The faint feeling of being scratched by a hard piece of paper still lingered on my shoulder blades, and that person's voice seemed to echo in my ears.

"Call me if you encounter any problems."

I finally understood why Yi Yu had treated me so specially on the Boreas. Did he recognize me?

But in his mind, I should be dead. Wouldn't he find it strange that someone had come back to life, and even hadn't aged at all?

Or did he just see me as someone who looked exactly like me and treat me differently because of transference?

Thinking about these questions, I unconsciously walked into the phone booth, picked up the receiver, and dialed the number I had long memorized.

Phone: Beep… Beep…

It took almost a minute for the call to be answered.

Yi Yu: Who is this?

I suddenly felt inexplicably nervous.

Me: It's me.

The breathing on the other end seemed to soften, then suddenly quicken.

Yi Yu: Where are you?

Me: West City.

I glanced at the steel and concrete bridge spanning the river not far away, recalling its name from the received information.

Me: In a public phone booth under Zhonglu Bridge.

Yi Yu: Wait for me there.

Yi Yu: Don't go anywhere.

Yi Yu: I'll be there soon, very soon.

The rain outside was getting heavier and heavier.

There was no place to shelter from the rain nearby. I stood in the phone booth, watching the raindrops slide down the transparent plastic walls, the lights in the distance all blurred in the rain.

"Beep beep—"

I looked up and saw a black car with its hazard lights flashing, parked on the side of the road.

The car door opened, and a slender man stepped out, looking up at the phone booth where I stood.

Our eyes met across the rain, half a street, and the plastic walls.

He stared at me blankly, even forgetting to open his umbrella.

The rain poured down like a waterfall, and his hair was quickly soaked.

I couldn't help but open the door of the phone booth, and the sound of the rain instantly engulfed the world.

At this moment, Yi Yu opened the umbrella and ran towards me.

He handed me the umbrella in front of the phone booth, then took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around me, taking back the umbrella from my hand and shielding me as he led me towards the car.

If you don't count that encounter and mismatched acquaintance on the ship, this was the first time I'd seen him since he was seventeen.

He had indeed grown much taller, his shoulders broad enough to shelter me beneath him.

I turned my head to look at him. Those lead-gray eyes were seriously focused on me, seemingly unchanged from before.

I couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke his face, wiping away the raindrops that had slid from his hair.

Me: Yi Yu....

He closed his eyes briefly and stopped walking, embracing me tightly in the rain.

The umbrella was completely tilted towards me, and his body was soaked, but he seemed not to notice.

He held the umbrella with one hand, and used the thumb of his other hand to wipe away the water that had somehow welled up in the corner of my eye.

Then, like a devout follower, like a child who had finally found home, he buried his face in the crook of my neck.

Yi Yu: Auntie...

Yi Yu: You still remember me.

He murmured softly.

After leaning into each other for a moment in the rain, I couldn't help but push him away slightly.

Me: Let's get back in the car.

Me: You'll get sick if you stay out like this.

He gave me an extremely bright smile.

Yi Yu: Okay.

Yi Yu first helped me into the passenger seat, then got into the driver's seat after closing the umbrella.

The water from the umbrella dripped onto his seemingly high-quality leather shoes, but he didn’t care.

He looked like a reckless youth today, even more impulsive than he was in his real adolescence.

I found a dry towel in the car and handed it to Yi Yu. He wiped his hair while looking at me.

Yi Yu: Where does Auntie want to go?

Me: Don't call me Auntie. I'm not... your auntie anymore.

In fact, I never was. The relationship we had was just something I made up back then.

I didn't know how Yi Yu had recognized me, how he understood this bizarre situation that looked like resurrection. Nor could I explain it to him.

Me: I don't want to hide anything from you.

I took the towel from his hand, gestured for him to lean closer, and began to dry his hair in the car.

Me: But... I can't explain it to you either.

Yi Yu: It doesn't matter.

Yi Yu: You're back, that's all that matters.

Yi Yu: So where do we go now?

Me: Actually, I have nowhere to go.

Me: Although I rented a place earlier, I don't have enough money to pay next month's rent, and I don't know anyone else...

Yi Yu: Then stay at my place for now.

Before I could ask for help, Yi Yu interrupted me.

Yi Yu: I live alone anyway. We can just live together like before.

Yi Yu: You can move out whenever you want.

Those lead-gray eyes looked at me, clear, gentle, with a hint of sadness and unease.

Yi Yu: Did you know?

Yi Yu: I've been looking for you.

Yi Yu: ...I almost went crazy again.

He reached out and embraced me completely.

Yi Yu: This time, even if it's just for a while, stay by my side.

I followed Yi Yu back to his home.

It was a high-end apartment in the city center, kept very tidy, which made it seem a bit lacking in warmth.

On the way back, Yi Yu bought me some new clothes. After I changed, I came out of the room and found Yi Yu bustling about in the kitchen.

Hearing my footsteps, he turned his head to look at me.

Yi Yu: There aren’t many ingredients left in the house. How about we have noodles?

I nodded. Only then did I realize how hungry I was.

Yi Yu: You’ll have to wait a bit. I’ll make them soon.

I sat down at the dining table, watching Yi Yu skillfully cooking the noodles in the kitchen. In no time, he had prepared a pot of noodles, with a fragrant aroma filling the air.

He ladled out two bowls, placing one in front of me.

Yi Yu: Try it.

Of course, it was delicious. Yi Yu knew my preferences, and clearly, even after this long time for him, he hadn't forgotten them.

Me: Do you live alone?

Yi Yu: Not anymore.

He looked at me with a smile.

Yi Yu: I picked up a great treasure from the street.

I didn't know how to respond, so I hastily changed the subject.

Me: What are you doing now?

Me: Why did you appear as the "ship owner" on the Boreas last time? I remember you studied economics.

Yi Yu: It's a bit complicated. I'll tell you later.

Yi Yu: What about you? What kind of trouble did you run into?

His gaze fell on my slightly damp hair.

I explained the current situation of this identity to him.

Me: ...In short, I need to pay 30 million in bail within five days, or I'll be taken into custody.

Me: But I didn't do those things at all. I can't be detained. I have to find a way to clear my name.

Yi Yu: Oh? Is that how it is?

Yi Yu's expression became serious, then he gently patted my shoulder.

Yi Yu: I believe you can definitely solve this.

Yi Yu: And I can also help you.

Yi Yu: I work in finance now.

Yi Yu: While I can’t directly solve this problem for you, providing some references or introducing you to people in the industry is no problem.

Me: That's great!

Me: But what do you do?

Yi Yu: I work as a trader at a securities firm. Although the work is tiring, the income is pretty good.

Me: Then why did you pretend to be the "ship owner" back then? And who were those people who picked you up when you left?

He smiled at me faintly.

Yi Yu: That's confidential for now.

Yi Yu: You need to get a good night's sleep, get some rest. There will be plenty of opportunities to tell you later.

The next day when I woke up, Yi Yu had already prepared breakfast.

He was sitting at the table, drinking a glass of milk, watching me.

Yi Yu: What are your plans for today?

Me: I'm going to investigate the securities firm where I used to work to see if I can find any evidence to help clear my name.

Yi Yu: They must have already dealt with the relevant witnesses and evidence. Those people wouldn't leave any loopholes for themselves.

It's worth a try. Besides... I don't have any other options right now.

Yi Yu: Do you want me to drive you? My workplace isn't far from that securities firm.

Me: Okay. Thank you, Yi Yu.

Yi Yu got up and tidied the dining table, then took out the new overcoat he bought for me yesterday from the wardrobe and draped it over me.

Yi Yu: There's no need to thank me.

His eyebrows were lowered, and his lead-gray eyes looked very gentle.

The securities firm where I used to work was called "Rongtong Finance." It was an established financial company with businesses in securities, funds, insurance, and investment mergers and acquisitions.

My position was assistant to the fund manager, and my main job was to handle various miscellaneous tasks for the fund manager.

According to the system's information, I learned that my supervisor, using insider information and personal connections, colluded with several listed companies to manipulate stock prices for profit.

It was because this behavior was discovered by the regulatory authorities that I became the scapegoat, and Rongtong Finance accused me of illegally manipulating securities market prices.

This was simply an undeserved disaster. Anyone with a little knowledge would know that the company wouldn't hand over such a huge amount of capital to a novice with little experience to control.

But the people at Rongtong Finance fabricated all kinds of evidence, leaving me with no way to defend myself.

Yi Yu parked the car in front of Rongtong Finance.

He turned his head to look at me, somewhat worried.

Yi Yu: Are you sure you'll be okay? Should I go in with you?

Me: I'll be fine. Go to work, you'll be late.

I smiled at him.

Me: I haven't had the energy to look for a new job these past few weeks, so I have no income and have to rely on you to support me.

Yi Yu leaned over to help me unbuckle my seatbelt.

Yi Yu: Alright. Call me if you run into any problems. Remember my number.

Me: Okay.

After getting out of the car, I watched Yi Yu leave, then walked towards the entrance of Rongtong Finance.

Guard: Please show your work ID.

Guard: .....

Me: Please, can you make an exception?

Guard: .....

No matter what I said, the security guard wouldn't let me in. More security guards were gathering from other directions, so I had to temporarily give up and leave.

The technology of this era is relatively underdeveloped, making it very easy for a company to fabricate physical evidence such as telegrams and documents.

As an ordinary employee, it was not easy for me to find evidence to prove my innocence or the other party’s guilt, especially without being prepared.

Since I couldn't get into the company, I could only try to get clues from people I knew.

I first tried to call my former colleagues to get some information about Rongtong Finance.

But without exception, perhaps fearing to fall into the same predicament as me, every call I made was quickly disconnected.

This wouldn't work. I had to enlist some help.

I arrived at a café at the time we had agreed on over the phone.

The person meeting me was a former colleague from Rongtong Finance, like me.

Although we weren't very close before, he was the only person who was willing to answer my calls and provide me with information.

Former colleague: Fighting them will be very difficult!

Because he had already heard a brief summary of the situation from me on the phone, my former colleague started talking non-stop as soon as he sat down.

Former colleague: Although I don't know the inside story, I suspect that they received wind of the investigation at least three months ago and began looking for a scapegoat and fabricating evidence.

Former colleague: They chose you because they saw you have no background, no relatives or friends to rely on.

Former colleague: You're on your own, and you can't afford a professional lawyer in this field, so you definitely can't fight them.

Former colleague: I might sound discouraging, but that's just how this industry is, the weak can't win against the strong.

Former colleague: The kid who joined the company with you has a manager dad at another securities firm. That's why they didn't choose him to take the fall.

Me: But even with a manager dad, what can he do in this situation?

Former colleague: He can do a lot. At least he could hire a good lawyer in the industry for you!

Former colleague: And do you think they can really do those things without leaving any evidence at all?

Former colleague: It just depends on whether they still have the ability to protect themselves and whether anyone wants to thoroughly investigate them.

Former colleague: If a more powerful bigwig takes action, the entire Rongtong Finance might go under!

Former colleague: The little tricks those fund managers pulled would just be a case of the whole company going down and getting caught for a lot more, and then nobody would have the time or energy to frame you, and wouldn't your name be cleared?

Former colleague: You might not have a manager dad, but maybe you can find a financial tycoon to marry in this period, and he'll save you!

Me: .....

Seeing my displeased expression, he shrugged.

Former colleague: Just kidding, but there really isn't a good solution to this, and I don't have any information to provide.

Former colleague: I thought about it, and if this happened to me, I'd probably just accept my fate.

Former colleague: Anyway, good luck!

Although this former colleague couldn't provide any useful clues, his words gave me some ideas.

First, I could find a lawyer.

Although I didn't have the money or resources to hire a famous top-tier lawyer, what about a young lawyer who needs a high-profile case to build their reputation?

Also, I could continue to investigate other illegal activities of those fund managers.

If I successfully found evidence and reported it, the regulatory authorities might investigate their market manipulation and framing of me during the verification process.

After returning home, I read through several newspapers I bought on the street.

And I called every law firm that might be interested in my case, using the numbers in the business law section.

As long as they showed willingness to take on the case, I would immediately begin further communication with them to screen for a reliable lawyer.

I repeated this several times, and by the time Yi Yu came home from work, I had contacted the fourth lawyer.

Seeing Yi Yu push open the door, I made a "shush" gesture to him and pointed at the phone in my hand.

Yi Yu understood and nodded, taking the groceries he just bought and closing the door behind him.

About half an hour later, I finished my call, and Yi Yu came out with soup and food.

I sat down at the table, and Yi Yu sat down opposite me.

Yi Yu: Drink the soup first. It's been simmering since this morning. It's just right now.

Yi Yu: You're in touch with lawyers? Why are you suddenly looking for a lawyer?

I told Yi Yu about my conversation with my former colleague and joked—

Me: Unfortunately, I don't have a manager dad, and I don't have a financial tycoon husband, only a nephew who's an ordinary trader.

Yi Yu's chopsticks paused slightly, and he looked up at me, his gray eyes deep.

Yi Yu: You still think of me as a kid?

Me: Of course not. And you're already very impressive, earning a high salary on your own and living in such a high-end apartment at such a young age.

Yi Yu gave a soft "hmm."

Yi Yu: But would you really marry a financial tycoon you don't know, just to have him save you? Like that person said?

Me: Of course not. How could I marry someone I don't know for something like that?

Me: Besides, this scenario of accidentally meeting a financial tycoon, marrying him right away, and then having him solve a big problem for you probably doesn't happen in real life...

Yi Yu: Hmm.

Yi Yu: But I remember when you were in Dawn City, you really liked being a reporter? Why did you suddenly switch to finance?

Me: Well, I wanted to try something new?

Yi Yu: I see.

Yi Yu: I was wondering if maybe back then and now, you were using two different identities. Two unrelated identities.

He said it so casually, but I was startled.

Even though the rules restricted me from revealing any information about "instances," "games," or "missions," Yi Yu's perceptiveness often amazed me.

But he quickly changed the subject.

Yi Yu: Do you need lawyer recommendations? Because of my work, I also know some lawyers.

Yi Yu: If you don't have enough money for lawyer fees, I can pay them first. I still have quite a bit of savings.

Me: ...Okay, please recommend some.

Actually, after the phone consultations, I had already chosen a suitable lawyer and scheduled a meeting. But there was no harm in consulting more people.

Yi Yu: Alright, I'll give you their contact information after we eat.

After dinner, I helped Yi Yu wash the dishes.

Yi Yu turned his head, looking at me gently and reassuringly.

Yi Yu: Don't worry too much.

Yi Yu: I asked some friends today, and I also consulted with lawyers. I can at least raise the bail money before the deadline, so you won’t have to go to jail.

Yi Yu: Even if we can’t find evidence to prove your innocence, we can find a lawyer to delay the trial using various methods.

Yi Yu: You can continue living as you are now, doing whatever you want. Life in all aspects won’t be affected.

Me: Okay, I’m not worried.

Not worried at all. Although life won’t be affected, the mission won't be completed, and I’ll have to stay here.

Yi Yu had only learned about my situation last night, and today he was telling me he could raise the three million bail.

Even with his high income, it wouldn't be easy for him to do that.

But in that case, I could have more time to think of a way to prove my innocence.

Me: Thank you. I’ll try to find a way to clear my name as soon as possible and pay you back.

The lawyer Yi Yu recommended was named Yu, said to be a senior lawyer working at a top-tier law firm called "Lidan."

He had eagerly scheduled a detailed meeting with me after receiving my call, but I had already made an appointment with another lawyer this morning, so I had to postpone Lawyer Yu's invitation.

This lawyer's surname was Guo, he had only been in the industry for three years, and he had recently joined a well-known law firm, precisely at the stage where he needed to make a name for himself.

In yesterday's call, I felt that he would be a suitable partner.

Guo Xiang: Hello, my name is Guo Xiang.

Guo Xiang: I've basically understood your situation. It's difficult, but not entirely impossible. I like working on challenging cases.

Me: Then what do you think I should do now?

Guo Xiang: We need to push for a reinvestigation of this case as soon as possible. That would help us secure clues and evidence. The longer the time drags on, the worse it will be for you.

Me: How do we push for a reinvestigation?

Guo Xiang: I considered that yesterday. The best way would be to start from your end and produce strong evidence proving that the previous investigation results were wrong. Then apply for a reinvestigation.

Guo Xiang: But according to what you said, you yourself don't have much evidence, so that approach has a low chance of success.

Guo Xiang: The only argument you can make is that you were inexperienced at the time and, according to industry norms, wouldn't be in charge of that level of work.

Guo Xiang: Another method is to report other illegal or non-compliant behaviors of Rongtong Finance and those fund managers, which could indirectly lead to a reinvestigation of them.

Guo Xiang: After all, you worked there. You should know some of their illegal activities, right?

Guo Xiang's ideas coincided with what I had thought. However, after vaguely recalling my identity settings, I couldn't find any corresponding information.

Me: I need to go back and think about it.

Guo Xiang: Alright, then let's go back and work separately. If there's any news, we'll call each other as soon as possible.

Guo Xiang and I walked out of the restaurant. The sky outside was gloomy, and there was a faint rumble of thunder in the clouds.

Guo Xiang: Where do you live?

Me: Near Linjiang in the Xiling District.

Guo Xiang: You actually live there. That's the most expensive area in the whole city! It seems you're doing quite well, better than I thought.

Me: No, I'm staying at a friend's place.

Guo Xiang: I see... I'll try my best to delay the court hearing, and we'll go to court after we've got more evidence to prove your innocence.

Guo Xiang: But you'll have to find a way to come up with the bail money yourself. Thirty million isn't a small amount, after all.

Me: I probably don't have to worry about that. That friend of mine said they've already prepared it for me.

Guo Xiang: ...You have a really good friend!

As Guo Xiang finished speaking, a gust of wind blew across the street, and fine rain began to fall.

Guo Xiang: I don't have any other appointments today. Since it's raining, I'll give you a ride home. We can discuss the details of the case on the way.

Me: No need, my friend said he’ll come pick me up.

This morning, Yi Yu asked me about the restaurant's location and the approximate duration of the meeting, saying he would come to pick me up.

While Guo Xiang was speaking. a silver-gray car pulled up in front of the restaurant.

Yi Yu opened the driver's door, holding a black umbrella, and walked slowly towards me.

Guo Xiang: Is that your friend?

Me: Yes.

Guo Xiang: I also want a friend like that...

At this point, Yi Yu had already reached me.

He nodded slightly to Attorney Guo, then turned his head to look at me.

Yi Yu: Shall we go?

Me: Yeah.

Me: See you later, Attorney Guo.

I nodded goodbye to Attorney Guo. Yi Yu held the umbrella over to my side, shielding me as he helped me into the passenger seat, then walked around to the other side of the car to get in.

The air and streets had become damp and wet. Rainwater streamed down the car windows, and the windshield wipers worked incessantly.

It was raining and rush hour. The traffic was especially heavy, and there was a long line of cars stretching ahead, seemingly endless. Our car also came to a halt.

Yi Yu: Did you eat anything earlier?

Me: No, just coffee.

Yi Yu: Then what do you want to eat? We can buy something on the way.

Me: Nothing in particular.

I turned to look at him.

Me: Yi Yu, you also work in the financial industry. Do you know what illegal or non-compliant behaviors fund managers might engage in?

He turned his head, smiling as he looked into my eyes.

Yi Yu: There are many, what area are you interested in knowing about?

Me: At Rongtong Finance, where I used to work, and those fund managers who framed me, what other illegal activities might they be involved in? Besides the one they pinned on me.

Yi Yu: The simplest and most common is rat trading.

Me: Rat trading?

Yi Yu: Fund managers control large amounts of raised capital, and they naturally have the ability to drive up stock prices.

Yi Yu: But this money doesn't belong to them, and their commission income from successful investments is limited.

Yi Yu: So, at this point, fund managers might engage in rat trading to seek personal gain.

Yi Yu: For example, a mutual fund manager knows that they will use the fund's money to buy a certain stock.

Yi Yu: Then, they can first use their own money to buy a large amount of that stock at a low price. These stockpiled stocks are their personal rat trading account.

Yi Yu: When the mutual fund’s money enters the market, the stock price will inevitably rise due to the large amount of buying.

Yi Yu: And then, they can sell the previously accumulated stocks, clear their rat trading account, and profit from it.

Yi Yu: This way, regardless of whether the funds they manage ultimately make a profit or how much commission they receive, they are guaranteed to make money.

Me: I see.

Me: So, could the fund managers at Rongtong Finance also be engaged in rat trading...?

Yi Yu looked at me with a smile.

Yi Yu: What do you think?

The traffic ahead began to move slowly. Yi Yu turned his head, looking ahead, and gently pressed the accelerator.

Yi Yu: Have you ever wondered why those fund managers would engage in illegal trading with such huge risks?

He glanced at me again, his lead-gray eyes gentle and lingering, with a hint of a smile.

Yi Yu: Things that make people willing to take great risks often involve equally significant profits.

The rain stopped, and Yi Yu rolled down the car window. The fresh, slightly damp air rushed in.

Yi Yu: Is it cold?

Me: No, this is quite nice.

To avoid interrupting Yi Yu’s driving, I leaned back in my seat, thinking about what he had just said.

Funds are generally divided into two types: private equity and public equity. The department I worked in managed mutual funds, which in simple terms means funds raised from the general public.

If a fund performs well, the fund manager can indeed gain both fame and fortune, but it doesn't seem to warrant taking such enormous risks...

Me: Yi Yu.

Yi Yu: What is it?

Me: Could you take me to the trading floor of Rongtong Finance? I want to investigate some things.

Yi Yu: Their trading floor should be closed by now.

Yi Yu: The trading floor is closed on weekends. How about I accompany you there next Monday?

Me: Aren't you working on Monday?

Yi Yu: I've accumulated a lot of annual leave that I haven't used.

Yi Yu: It'll be a good time to take a break.

Me: Okay, let's go to the market together and see what looks fresh.

Yi Yu and I went to a market near home to pick out some fresh meat and vegetables.

That evening, Yi Yu prepared the meal, and I washed the dishes with him.

Yi Yu: What's the deadline for paying the bail money? The day after tomorrow?

Me: Yes, the day after tomorrow, this Sunday.

Yi Yu: Relax a little.

He took the last bowl from my hand, placed it in the sink, and started washing it seriously.

Yi Yu: I've already prepared the money. Tomorrow, we'll meet your lawyer and pay the bail.

Yi Yu: Then on Monday, we’ll go to Rongtong's trading floor together. Maybe we’ll find some clues there.

Me: Okay.

The next day, Guo Xiang had prepared the relevant documents for paying bail, so I went to the regulatory agency with Yi Yu, and the procedures were completed quickly.

This way, I could remain free before the formal trial, and I had ample time to investigate and gather evidence.

After leaving the regulatory agency, Yi Yu went to get the car, and Guo Xiang said goodbye to me in front of the building.

Guo Xiang: What does your friend do? He transferred out thirty million without batting an eye.

Me: He's also in finance.

Guo Xiang: He must be very talented, then? If he can give you such a large sum of bail money without hesitation, could he help you in other ways?

Guo Xiang: There should be others in the industry who know about Rongtong Finance’s dark secrets. Could he help us get some leads from people who can provide new information?

Me: He's just an ordinary trader. It wasn't easy for him to raise this much money. He doesn't have that much influence.

Guo Xiang: I see...

As he was speaking, Yi Yu's car pulled up.

Me: Thank you for your help, Attorney Guo. I'll get in the car now. We can talk another day.

Yi Yu was smiling at me after I got in the car.

Yi Yu: Do you want to go somewhere to relax? The weather is nice today.

Me: I still want to continue gathering and organizing clues.

Me: The trial is in three weeks, and I'm not sure if Attorney Guo can help me buy more time.

Yi Yu smiled helplessly, leaned over to help me fasten my seatbelt, and then started the car, driving us home.

Yi Yu: Why didn't you consider the lawyer I recommended?

Me: I did consult with Lawyer Yu, but I had already scheduled time with Attorney Guo before that, and I think he's a good fit for this case too.

Yi Yu: Alright. But do you want to go out for dinner tonight? I don't feel like cooking today.

He's such a grown-up, so why does it feel like he's throwing a tantrum? But, considering how tired he is every day after work, I guess it’s understandable.

Me: Okay, let's go out to eat tonight.

The restaurant Yi Yu took me to was hidden in the bustling city. Both the ambiance and the food were excellent.

As we drove home after eating, Yi Yu asked me how I felt.

Yi Yu: What did you think of the restaurant?

Me: It was nice, but I still think your cooking is better.

Yi Yu’s lips curved into a smile as he looked at me.

Yi Yu: You’re flattering me.

Yi Yu: But I like it when you flatter me.

Early Monday morning, Yi Yu drove me to Rongtong Finance’s fund trading floor.

Here, the entire financial industry was in its nascent stages.

Although development was rapid, various financial products were far from as widespread as in later generations. Securities and funds were still novel concepts to many people.

However, since everything was done through offline trading, the trading floor wasn't exactly empty, just relatively quiet compared to the stock trading floor.

Dressed in a new dress and wearing the pearl necklace with white gemstones that Yi Yu had picked out for me, I entered the trading floor arm in arm with Yi Yu, who was in a formal suit.

We looked like a typical wealthy family from West City.

A salesperson in the distance saw us and his eyes lit up. He quickly walked towards us.

Fund salesperson: How may I help you today?

Me: I'd like to see what funds you recommend.

Fund salesperson: Is this for family financial management and investment?

Fund salesperson: What are your preferences? Preserving and growing wealth, or high-speed growth? A family like yours usually opts for a more stable investment approach...

The salesperson handed us each a brochure, launching into a detailed recommendation of each fund.

As I flipped through the information, one page featured a portrait of the fund manager who had framed me, with his name listed below—Jin Kete.

Me: What do you think of this fund?

I pretended to ask Yi Yu. Yi Yu leaned in to look at the brochure in my hand.

Yi Yu: Looks good, but I wonder if the fund manager is reliable.

Hearing this, the salesperson immediately began to introduce Jin Kete.

Fund Salesperson: Manager Jin is a highly experienced fund manager. He's been recognized as one of the "Golden Managers" by "Financial Weekly." This is his second time on the list...

Me: "Golden Manager" by "Financial Weekly"?

Fund Salesperson: It's a very prestigious recognition in the industry, held every three years. Those who are included are professional managers acknowledged by the industry and with excellent investment performance.

Me: When was this most recent ranking?

Fund Salesperson: Just last month.

Yi Yu: Hmm... We don't understand this stuff very well. Let's look at this Manager Jin's past fund performance. Can you provide that here?

Fund Salesperson: Of course. Please wait a moment.

The salesperson temporarily left, and I could faintly hear someone speaking on the phone in the back—

Fund Salesperson: ...They're big clients, definitely wealthy, and not very knowledgeable about funds...

Fund Salesperson: I guarantee, based on my years of sales experience, that lady's necklace looks like the one I saw at that auction I attended with a client...

Fund Salesperson: ...Yeah, yeah, feel free to come over and take a look when you have time...

The call seemed to end there. A moment later, the salesperson returned with a printed document.

Fund Salesperson: Here's Manager Jin's fund performance from recent years. You can take a look.

The data showed that every fund had performed exceptionally well.

But I noticed that Jin Kete launches an average of five funds every year, but three years ago, there were only two, and only one a year ago.

This didn't make sense. It was very likely that the salesperson was deliberately hiding data from funds that didn’t perform well.

I looked at Yi Yu, feigning hesitation.

Me: Honey, I'd like to look around a bit more. My cousin recommended a fund to me last time I was home.

Yi Yu turned his head, a gentle smile in his eyes, but he still played along.

Yi Yu: Of course, it's your call. If you're not sure, we can look around a bit more. Or we can just buy a little bit here, too.

Hearing this, disappointment was evident on the salesperson's face.

Fund Salesperson: How about you wait a little longer? Manager Jin works not far from here. I can ask him to come over and personally explain his investment strategies to you.

Fund Salesperson: Perhaps he can also recommend some customized products for you...

Me: No thanks. We have other plans today.

With Jin Kete about to come, I couldn't stay any longer.

The salesperson scratched his head and hurriedly handed us each a business card.

Fund Salesperson: Here's my card. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions... Can I have your contact information?

Yi Yu: My surname is Yi.

I listened carefully and realized that he didn't give the number he had told me before.

Yi Yu and I left the trading floor and stood on the sidewalk beside the entrance.

Yi Yu: You wait here for a moment. I'll go get the car.

Me: I'll go with you.

Yi Yu smiled at me, then looked down at my feet -- to look more like a wealthy socialite from West City, I had specially worn a pair of trendy stilettos.

Yi Yu: You wait for me.

Me: Okay.

I wrapped my shawl around myself and stood by the street lamp, waiting for Yi Yu's return, when a group of people walked up and stopped in front of me.

Leading them was none other than Jin Kete himself. He was followed by two assistants.

Jin Kete was the leader of the group, and he was followed by two assistants.

Jin Kete: I thought you should be in jail by now.

Jin Kete: So, you managed to raise the bail money? How?

Jin Kete: But no matter what method you used, you don't belong here, a financial criminal like you.

Jin Kete looked at me arrogantly, pointing at the guards standing stiffly not far away.

I told myself that Jin Kete's threat was just a bluff. I couldn't let his intimidation affect me.

Me: The real criminal is you, not me. You can't control what I do.

Jin Kete sneered.

Jin Kete: This time, I can choose not to argue with you. But if I find out you continue to slander me, you will meet my lawyer.

He took a step forward. Unwilling to be too close to him, I took a step back.

Jin Kete: In fact, I'm already being lenient. I have more evidence of your crimes. If you get on your knees and beg me, I might consider not exposing you.

...You mean you have more crimes to frame me with, right?

I stopped engaging with him, lowered my head, and ignored him, hoping these people would leave before Yi Yu returned.

While I want to clear my name and send these guilty people to jail, I didn't want him to see me in this disheveled state.

A car horn sounded from the end of the street.

Jin Kete's two assistants immediately whispered a few words to Jin Kete, on alert, Jin Kete sized me up with a cold laugh, then led his people into the trading floor.

I looked up and saw the silver-gray car pulling up on the roadside, the window rolling down, and I met Yi Yu's gray eyes.

Yi Yu got out of the car and walked towards me, took my hand and helped me into the passenger seat.

The car started, and we didn't speak the whole way until the car entered the garage of our apartment building and stopped.

Me: ....Is the "Golden Manager" title from "Financial Weekly" very important in the industry?

Yi Yu: Yes, it's very important because the "Financial Weekly" awards are highly regarded.

Yi Yu: If you can be chosen as a "Golden Manager," you can use that to promote yourself, gain more recognition, control more funds, and advance your career, reputation, and wealth.

Yi Yu: But if the manager on the list fails to maintain the title in the next award year, the resources they can control will definitely decline significantly. It's considered a Waterloo.

Me: Jin Kete's performance hasn't been good for the past two years, so he engaged in illegal trading to maintain his "Golden Manager" title?

Yi Yu: Possibly.

He leaned over and unbuckled my seatbelt, then reached out and pulled me into his arms.

I was caught off guard, burying my face in his chest, his clothes smelling clean and freshly laundered.

Yi Yu: How could they make you worry and be so upset.

Yi Yu: How could they treat you this way.

I heard him sigh softly in my ear.

Yi Yu: You know what? Your eyes were red the whole time you were talking to him.

Me: I'm fine.

Me: I will send them to prison someday.

Yi Yu: I know.

Yi Yu: I just want you to rest against me for a moment.

Yi Yu rested at home for two days, accompanying me while I organized the various clues.

In the afternoon, I sat at Yi Yu's desk, organizing the information related to Rongtong Finance, while Yi Yu sat nearby reading the newspaper.

Suddenly the phone rang. Yi Yu reached over me and picked it up.

Yi Yu: Hello?

He turned his head to look at me.

Yi Yu: It’s Attorney Guo.

I took the phone from Yi Yu and immediately heard Guo Xiang's voice, barely able to contain his excitement.

Guo Xiang: I have to say, you're really lucky!

Me: What is it?

Guo Xiang: Are you at home? I'll come over and we can talk in person!

I glanced at Yi Yu, and he nodded.

Me: Okay, I’m home.

About half an hour after I hung up, Guo Xiang knocked on Yi Yu's door.

Yi Yu opened the door and welcomed him in.

Yi Yu: Thanks for all your hard work. I'll make some tea.

Guo Xiang thanked him and hurriedly sat down in front of me.

Guo Xiang: The assistant to a partner at Lidan Law Firm came to see me just now and gave me some materials. He said it would be helpful in my investigation of Rongtong Finance.

Me: Lidan Law Firm?

Guo Xiang: Yes, Lidan is one of the two top law firms in the West Continent, even more influential than my current firm.

That name sounds familiar… Right, the lawyer Yi Yu introduced me to works at this law firm.

Guo Xiang didn’t notice my expression and eagerly pulled out a brown paper bag from his briefcase.

Guo Xiang: Take a look at these materials!

I took the materials and was shocked after a brief glance.

This was an investigation report targeting Jin Kete and the others. It detailed, in particular, Jin Kete's extravagant daily spending habits, gambling addiction, and use of illegal drugs.

If everything written here was true, then his expenses were far beyond what his normal income could cover.

Yi Yu’s words from yesterday resurfaced in my mind—everything seemed to become clear.

Besides engaging in rat trading, Jin Kete and the others probably had other illegal means of amassing wealth to fund their lavish lifestyles.

At the same time, this pursuit of personal gain affected their investment returns.

To maintain their position as "Golden Managers" in Financial Weekly's rankings and to continue acquiring resources to raise funds, they had to boost the profitability of the funds they managed through illegal transactions.

I had no doubt that the person who provided this information possessed even stronger evidence. After all, this document was almost outright stating their illegal profit-making methods.

Me: Why would they give us this information?

Guo Xiang: I suspect that some big shot in the industry wants to take down Rongtong Finance.

Guo Xiang: I've been hearing rumors that Lidan Law Firm is acting as a legal counsel for a mysterious giant corporation called Rebirth.

Guo Xiang: But they probably see someone like Jin Kete as a small fry, not worth their time and effort. So they just handed this information over to me, since they know I'm investigating.

That was likely.

I thought for a moment and told Guo Xiang about the principle of rat trading and my speculation.

Guo Xiang: That makes a lot of sense. Let’s investigate further along this line of thinking. It would be great if we could find their rat trading accounts.

Me: Jin Kete and the others certainly wouldn’t use accounts under their own names for rat trading. We don't have the authority to investigate, so finding them won’t be easy.

Me: Besides, we don't necessarily have to obtain definitive evidence. Perhaps I could analyze the trading data of the funds they managed before…

Me: If there are significant anomalies, coupled with this information comparing income and expenses, it should be enough grounds for a successful report.

Guo Xiang rested his chin in his hand, deep in thought.

Yi Yu knocked on the doorframe and walked in, carrying a tray of tea.

Yi Yu: Attorney Guo, you've been working hard recently.

He smiled gently and nodded at Attorney Guo.

Yi Yu: Would you like to stay for dinner tonight?

Guo Xiang: No, no, you're too kind.

Guo Xiang: We’ve basically discussed everything we need to. I’ll be going now, I’ll be going now.

Guo Xiang neatly packed his briefcase, put on his hat, and left.

With only Yi Yu and me left at home, I couldn't resist sharing the good news from the afternoon with him.

Yi Yu: Congratulations on your new progress.

Yi Yu looked at me with a smile.

Yi Yu: If you win the case against those who framed you at Rongtong Finance, what kind of compensation and remedy will you seek?

Me: Of course, I'll demand an apology and compensation from them, and that they clear my name and bring them to justice for their crimes.

Yi Yu: Is that all that would satisfy you?

Me: Yes.

The phone rang again at this moment. I answered it, surprised to find that it was my former colleague from the café.

Former colleague: I heard you paid the bail?

Me: Yes... How did you know?

Former colleague: It's all over Rongtong Finance. It seems like Jin Kete's assistant spread the word.

Former colleague: They're saying you don't know who you've hooked up with, that you have an inappropriate relationship with them, that's how you got the money for bail.

I glanced at Yi Yu beside me—the person I supposedly had an "inappropriate relationship" with. He was looking at me, his expression caught between laughing and crying. The colleague's voice was loud, so he must have heard.

Me: It's just a rumor. A friend helped me raise the money.

Former colleague: Yeah yeah, I know, I understand. I just called to give you a heads-up.

Me: Okay, thank you.

I hung up helplessly, and then I suddenly received a notification—

New stigma added: Maintaining an inappropriate relationship with someone.

Me: ....

I was dumbfounded.

This mission requires me to clear all the charges and stigmas against me, so... does this count too?

Time was pressing, and I could only put aside the "Maintaining an inappropriate relationship with someone" alert for now. The urgent priority was to clear my name of the financial crime accusations.

For the next week, Guo Xiang and I continued to delve into the data.

The materials were numerous and disorganized, requiring a lot of time to sort through.

Although we couldn’t find Jin Kete's rat trading accounts, the information we obtained was enough to prove Jin Kete's misconduct and his likely involvement in illegal activities at work.

We confidently submitted the evidence to the regulatory authorities.

Guo Xiang: It usually takes about a week for a response, but we don't have much time left. I'll still try to postpone the court hearing for you.

Me: Okay, thank you.

Guo Xiang: I hope everything goes well!

But things were taking a turn for the worse.

A week later, we received a reply that our report was rejected due to insufficient evidence. At the same time, our request to postpone the court hearing was also denied.

And now, only one week remained until the trial.

If the trial proceeded under these circumstances, I would most likely be found guilty. In that case, I would truly have to serve the sentence before I could even consider clearing my name.

Yi Yu had taken time off work to stay home and help me find a solution.

Yi Yu: It’s okay. I know some people who might be able to help us delay the court hearing. I contacted them before, so there should be news in the next couple of days.

I shook my head.

For me, all of this was just a mission. But for Yi Yu, it was real life, his unrepeatable life.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. The help Yi Yu was seeking came at a cost, and he would have to repay it with something of equal value.

How could I let him spend a lot of time, money, and favors to help me with my personal affairs?

Me: I don’t want to cause you any more trouble.

Hearing this, Yi Yu just smiled, then gently pulled me into his arms.

Yi Yu: But I want to be the one to solve all your problems.

His shoulders were broad and strong, completely enveloping me, reminding me that I was embracing a grown man.

Me: Yi Yu...

Yi Yu: Without you in this world, how utterly boring everything would be.

Our eyes met, and he slowly leaned closer to me.

I looked up at his face, his lead-gray eyes capturing mine.

For a moment, I forgot to react, just watching him. He sighed softly and reached out to gently stroke the side of my face. Then, he pressed his cheek against mine.

I felt his breath so close. He was holding me gently, and I could even feel his heartbeat.

"Ding dong—"

The phone suddenly rang.

Yi Yu took a breath and released me slightly. I gathered myself and managed to step away to answer the phone.

The receiver picked up a voice I wish to have never heard –

Jin Kete: I heard the trial is next week? Good luck to you.

The other end of the line was filled with his cold laughter, and then the line disconnect.

The rejection of the report and the denial of the trial postponement, it was him.

This phone call was just him gloating over my efforts.

I put the phone down, got up from the sofa and looked at Yi Yu.

Me: I’m going out for a while. I need to go see Guo Xiang again and think of other ways, I can’t just sit here and wait for it.

Yi Yu also got up.

Yi Yu: I’ll go with you.

Me: No, you don’t need to.

Me: Let me think about it myself first. We still have some time.

I took a step forward and hugged him.

Part 2

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