Chapter 763

Three days later.

It was another night of hazy darkness.

Some were frenetically exerting masculine vigor in bed, while others threw themselves wholly into work.

Lin Dongfan belonged to the latter.

He sat in the study, the next quarter's R&D budget report for Guoyun Technology spread before him, yet he hadn't turned a page for Along time.

He repeatedly replayed in his mind the details from the daytime review meeting:

Zhao Tianyu's face that seemed cheerful but was actually arrogant, those flashy yet hollow technical parameters, and finally that meaningful remark, "The conditions are negotiable."

And, the information that Yu Youwei had uncovered earlier:

Zhao Tianyu's connection to multiple 'accidental casualties' in Place, the property of unknown origin under Xu Lili's name, and the suspicious fire at Yang Qing's home.

These fragments spun in his mind, gradually piecing together a vague yet dangerous outline.

His phone vibrated once.

It was an encrypted message from Yu Youwei: "Xu Lili entered the top-floor suite of the Four Seasons Hotel at 8 p. m. tonight and has not left. The registrant is listed as 'Mr. Wu,' which turned out to be Zhao Tianyu's assistant."

Lin Dongfan's eyes grew solemn.

He replied: "Keep watching, but keep your distance. Look into this 'Mr. Wu's' other movements, especially any overlap with the review experts."

Understood.

He put down his phone, Lin Dongfan rose and walked to the window.

The courtyard in the night was very quiet, only a few ground lamps casting a soft glow. Chu Lingxi should already be asleep; I wonder if she dreamed of those lush green K-line charts tonight.

Thinking of that innocent sweetie who only wanted to prove herself.

Lin Dongfan's stern expression softened a bit, but was immediately replaced by gravity—Zhao Tianyu's reach had grown too long; today at the venue he openly probed, and privately who knows how many hidden pieces he's placed. Xu Lili is merely a pawn on the surface; how many more lurk in the shadows?

More importantly—why would Zhao Tianyu go to such lengths to target Chu Lingxi?

If it were merely to influence the project review, there are many ways.

Direct bribery, interest exchange, even threats would be far more efficient than going through Chu Lingxi, a housewife clueless about business.

Unless…

Does Chu Lingxi have some other value?

Or perhaps Zhao Tianyu's goal goes far beyond the project?

Lin Dongfan recalled Yang Qing's warning: "The case I looked into… possibly involves people from Jingcheng."

Could Zhao Tianyu be a pawn of the old magnates from Jingcheng?

If so, this contest would no longer be a simple business rivalry, but a more complex and dangerous power struggle.

The study door was gently pushed open.

Chu Lingxi came in wearing pajamas, rubbing her eyes: "Honey, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Soon.

Lin Dongfan turned, the gravity on his face instantly turning into a gentle smile: "Had a nightmare?"

No, I just woke up and realized you weren't there.

Chu Lingxi walked over, naturally embracing his waist and pressing her face to his chest. Over the past three days, following Xu Lili's advice, she had leveraged up, but instead of gaining meat, she suffered a massive loss of three million in just three days! Not only did she give back the little she had earned, she also lost her original principal.

The huge loss weighed on her heart like a massive stone.

She wanted to tell Lin Dongfan but dared not.

It wasn't fear of being scolded; she knew Lin Dongfan wouldn't yell at her, only comfort and pamper her. Yet precisely because of that, she often felt like a useless little thing.

She didn't want to be a useless little thing.

Just woke up and found you weren't there.

Chu Lingxi buried her face in Lin Dongfan's chest, her voice muffled, still unwilling to admit the loss.

She could smell the faint aftershave on him, mixed with the distinctive scent of paper and ink from the study.

That scent soothed her, yet also made her feel guiltier.

Three days, a loss of three million!

That number was like a red-hot branding iron, searing her consciousness; each breath she felt that burning pain.

She merely wanted to prove she wasn't a waste who only spent money.

She just wanted her husband to be proud of her once, as he admired Ye Jiaying, who navigated the business world with strategic skill.

But now…

Yet she had messed things up, turning herself into a huge joke.

"What's wrong?" Lin Dongfan keenly sensed her off mood, gently lifting her chin: "Your eyes are so red—did you cry?"

Chu Lingxi hastily shook her head, trying to force a smile that looked worse than crying: "No… I just didn't sleep well."

Lin Dongfan stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly asked: "Lost again?"

Chu Lingxi's body tensed.

That subtle reaction did not escape Lin Dongfan's eyes.

Lin Dongfan sighed, took her hand and led her to sit on the sofa, his tone gentle yet unyielding: "Tell me, exactly how much did you lose?"

"'Not… not much…' Chu Lingxi still wanted to struggle."

"'Lingxi.' Lin Dongfan gripped her hand: 'We're husband and wife. No matter what happens, you must tell me. Money isn't important, but I'll feel heartache seeing you bear this pressure alone.'"

Those words were like a key, finally turning open the tightly shut door in Chu Lingxi's heart.

Tears welled up unexpectedly.

"Three million…" she sobbed, voice breaking: "Lili said… said that teacher was really good, told me to leverage up… said I could surely break even… I, I just…"

She couldn't go on, her whole self drowned in regret and fear.

Three million is not a small sum for her.

Although Lin Dongfan gave her plenty of pocket money, such a loss still frightened her.

More importantly, she felt utterly stupid—clearly knowing nothing, yet dreaming of getting rich overnight, and ended up as meat on someone else's chopping block.

Lin Dongfan listened quietly, without interrupting, merely patting her back gently.

When she had almost finished crying, he then pulled out a tissue and handed it to her: "Wipe yourself, then tell me exactly what happened."

Chu Lingxi lightly wiped her tears.

She haltingly described how Xu Lili enthusiastically recommended that private-equity bigwig, how he confidently insisted the market would surely rise, how she opened five-times leverage under his guidance, and how she was forcibly liquidated overnight……

"He said… said this was just a technical correction, telling me to add margin, otherwise I'd be liquidated……" Chu Lingxi's voice grew softer: "But I… I have no money……"

Lin Dongfan's gaze gradually turned cold.

He wasn't angry at Chu Lingxi for losing money, but at the so-called 'teacher' and Xu Lili's collusion. This was no normal investment advice—it was a meticulously designed trap! First they offered small profits to hook people, then they urged the naive to add leverage, and finally they precisely 'misjudged,' leaving investors with total loss.

What's worse, they clearly figured out Chu Lingxi's personality: strong-willed, not wanting to always rely on her husband, eager to prove herself.

Thus, after the loss, her first reaction was not to seek help, but to try to bear it herself.

Even……

She might try every means to raise money to recoup.

If he hadn't discovered it in time, what would happen next?

Would Xu Lili 'kindly' lend her money?

Or would she introduce a 'more formidable' teacher to take her into bigger games?

"Lingxi."

Lin Dongfan took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady: "Listen to me, this isn't your fault. You've run into a professional scam—they make their living doing this."

"I… am I too stupid?" Chu Lingxi burst into tears again.

"Not stupid."

Lin Dongfan looked at her seriously: "You're just too pure, too quick to trust friends. That's not a flaw, it's a strength. It's just that in this world, not everyone deserves your trust."

He pondered briefly.

Lin Dongfan played along: "Don't worry about losing three million. As your husband, I'm a tycoon worth hundreds of billions—this amount is nothing. If Xu Lili comes to you again tomorrow, just go along with it…"