Do You Suspect Me? Then Can This Ring Be Cashed Out?

It wasn't a diamond ring, but a uniquely designed, somewhat antique-looking plain band.

Jian Ning froze.

[This is...?]

"This is the token of the Huo Household's mistress." Huo Si's voice was low and serious. "Even if you still call me your cousin-in-law, even if you're still thinking about how to make money..."

"But, Jian Ning, this ring can mobilize all of Huo Group's liquid assets."

"Wear it, and it'll be more useful than that supplementary card."

Jian Ning nearly stopped breathing.

[Mobilize... all... liquid assets?!]

[How is this a ring?! This is clearly the key to the world!]

[Huo Si, you're using money to corrupt my soul! But... I'm willing to be corrupted!]

Jian Ning practically shot out his hand to grab it.

"Put it on! Put it on right now! Whoever doesn't wear it is a puppy!"

Huo Si chuckled and slowly slid the ring onto Jian Ning's ring finger.

It fit perfectly.

The moment the ring settled into place, Huo Si kissed him.

This time, there was no hesitation, no testing the waters.

Only utter possession.

"Stamped and ringed."

"Jian Ning, you won't be able to escape me for the rest of your life."

The night was gentle.

Jian Ning looked at the ring on his finger and grinned like an idiot.

He had thought this was the end of happiness.

Yet early the next morning, the production crew suddenly received a notice—

Filming for the variety show was suspended.

Because something had happened at Huo Group headquarters.

An anonymous report had been sent to the China Securities Regulatory Commission, accusing Huo Group of leaking major trade secrets. The source of the leak pointed to none other than—Huo Si's most trusted bedmate.

Jian Ning had not even fully awakened before Su Mo's call blew up his phone.

"Jian Ning! Look at the news! Someone exposed you as a corporate spy! They said you got close to Huo Si just to steal Huo Corporation's confidential documents! Huo Corporation's stock is plummeting, and the board wants to impeach Huo Si!"

Jian Ning was so frightened that he nearly dropped his phone.

[A corporate spy?!]

[I only know how to gossip. What the hell do I know about trade secrets?]

[Who is it? Who's messing with us?]

Huo Si stood before the floor-to-ceiling window with his back to Jian Ning, speaking on the phone.

His back was as straight as ever, but Jian Ning sensed an unprecedented gravity from him.

He turned around and looked at Jian Ning.

For the first time, there was no amusement in his eyes.

"Jian Ning." Huo Si spoke in an unreadable voice. "Did you touch that document?"

The morning sunlight was somewhat harsh, but the temperature in the room had dropped to freezing.

Huo Si stood against the light before the floor-to-ceiling window. Those eyes that usually carried a hint of teasing or indulgence were now unfathomable, coldly fixed on Jian Ning.

"Jian Ning, I'll ask you one more time. Did you touch that confidential document or not?"

Jian Ning's heart abruptly clenched.

He looked at Huo Si's stern face, while the system's frantic warning in his head made his skull throb.

[It's over, it's over! Is this old bastard really suspecting me?]

[Sure, I love money. Sure, I'm greedy. But I earn it honestly! How could I steal documents to sell for money? Am I the kind of person who'd throw away a watermelon for a sesame seed?]

[Huo Si, you actually don't believe me? Yesterday you were calling me sweetheart—not that you actually did—and today you're calling me a corporate spy?]

Jian Ning's nose stung as grievance surged through him. Without another word, he pulled the plain band, which he had barely worn long enough to warm up, off his ring finger and slammed it heavily onto the table.

"Whether I touched it or not, don't you know perfectly well?"

With reddened eyes, Jian Ning's voice trembled with stubbornness. "Since you suspect me, take this ring back! We're breaking up! Even if you take back the island, we're still breaking up!"

"And another thing! Give my gold trash can back! I earned that with my own ability!"

[Wuwuwu, my island! My liquid assets! My dream of marrying into wealth! It's shattered, all shattered!]

[System, hurry up and check how much a ticket to Africa costs. I'm running away!]

Huo Si looked at the lonely ring on the table, and the coldness in his eyes suddenly froze for a moment.

He strode over to Jian Ning in a few long steps.

Jian Ning instinctively retreated, but Huo Si grabbed the back of his head and pressed him into that familiar embrace scented with agarwood.

"Mmph! Let go—"

Jian Ning was just about to struggle when Huo Si lowered his head, his lips brushing against Jian Ning's ear.

There was no expected scolding, only an extremely low, soft sigh, barely more than breath.

"Fool."

"Don't speak. There are cameras."

Jian Ning's body stiffened instantly.

[Cam... cameras?!]

Huo Si's fingers gently soothed his back, but the words coming out of his mouth were icy and ruthless, just loud enough to be recorded by any potential listening device in the room.

"Jian Ning, the evidence is conclusive. Stop trying to deny it. Since you refuse to admit it, come to the company with me and explain everything in front of the board."

But where Jian Ning could not see, Huo Si picked up the ring from the table and firmly slid it back onto Jian Ning's finger.

Then he clasped Jian Ning's hand tightly.

Jian Ning froze.

He felt the pressure around his finger while listening to Huo Si's cold lines.

Understanding struck him all at once.

[Holy shit! So he's acting?!]

[There are cameras installed at home? Who has that kind of power? That old witch Liu Mei?]

[You scared me to death! Huo Si, could you discuss the script beforehand next time? My poor heart nearly stopped!]

Jian Ning immediately threw himself into the role. He shoved Huo Si away and cried out hoarsely.

"Fine, I'll go! An honest man has nothing to fear from shadows! Huo Si, I misjudged you! I misjudged you, wuwuwu..."

An hour later, in the top-floor conference room of Huo Group.

The atmosphere was suffocatingly grim. Gray-haired shareholders and directors filled both sides of the long conference table. Every one of them wore a dark expression as they watched Jian Ning being led in by Huo Si, their eyes full of contempt and fury.

"President Huo! Is this the little celebrity you've been keeping?"

An old man in a Zhongshan suit slammed the table and roared, "Blinded by beauty! You leaked the group's core data for an actor like this, causing the stock price to hit its limit down! You've disappointed us too much!"

"That's right! He must be sent to prison!"

"And President Huo, you can't escape responsibility for this either! We propose suspending you from your position!"

Amid the chorus of condemnation, a woman seated in the corner slowly raised her head.

It was none other than Liu Mei, whom they had not seen in a long time.

Although she had been arrested before, insufficient evidence—and someone posting bail for her—had left her out on bail pending trial. She looked somewhat haggard now, but the triumphant delight in her eyes could not be hidden.

"Ah Si." Liu Mei spoke with false concern. "Don't blame the uncles for being angry. You brought a wolf into the house yourself, after all. We investigated it. The hacker IP that stole the files was sent from Jian Ning's phone. The evidence is ironclad. Are you still going to protect him?"

Huo Si sat at the head of the table, expressionless, his fingers tapping against the tabletop now and then.

Without him saying a word, the air pressure in the entire meeting room became terrifyingly low.

Jian Ning stood beside Huo Si with his head lowered, appearing to tremble.

In reality—

[System: Ding! Data tracking complete.]

[Truth reconstruction: Liu Mei bribed the villa's cleaning lady to implant a microchip in your phone charger, forging the IP address. The financial backer behind her is Huo Si's business rival—Zhao Group.]

[Counterattack items: An audio recording of the transaction between Zhao Group and Liu Mei, along with the cleaning lady's transfer records, have been sent to the host's phone.]

Jian Ning nearly laughed aloud when he saw the evidence in his mind.

[Liu Mei, Liu Mei, you went from the ICU straight to the karaoke bar. You really don't know how the word "death" is written.]

[You want to take me down with such a low-level trick? Don't you know I have hacks?]

"Say something!" The old man in the Zhongshan suit pointed at Jian Ning. "Have you gone mute? Admit that you stole it!"

Jian Ning sniffed and slowly raised his head.

This time, the "grievance" and "fear" on his face had vanished, replaced by a disdainful smile as though he were looking at idiots.

"Stole it?"

Jian Ning pulled out his phone and waved it around.

"Uncles and aunties, do you have some misunderstanding about my net worth?"

"Huo Si gave me an unlimited supplementary card, gifted me an island, and even gave me a ring that can mobilize the group's funds."

Jian Ning raised his hand, showing off the simple yet immensely powerful band on his ring finger.

"I have a husband worth hundreds of billions waiting for me in bed, mountains of gold and silver waiting for me to spend, and I'm supposed to steal a document that can only sell for a few million?"

"Is there water in my brain, or is there water in yours?"

The entire room erupted.

Everyone stared at the ring, their eyes practically falling out of their sockets.

That was... the token of the Huo Household's mistress?! Huo Si had actually given it to him?!

Liu Mei's expression changed drastically. "You... you're talking nonsense! You must have stolen that ring!"

Jian Ning sneered and lightly tapped his phone screen.

"Whether I stole it or not, why not ask President Huo? But before that, I also have a 'gift' for all the shareholders."

"If you don't listen to this recording, you may still be wiping the ass of the person who has been counting money for you."

As Jian Ning pressed play.

Liu Mei's familiar, vicious voice rang through the conference room speakers.

"President Zhao, don't worry. As long as we pin the crime on Jian Ning, Huo Si will definitely panic. Then you can take the opportunity to acquire Huo Corporation's stock... After it's done, I want ten percent of Huo Corporation's shares..."

A deathly silence fell.

Liu Mei suddenly shot to her feet, trembling all over as she pointed at Jian Ning. "You... where did you get that recording?!"

Jian Ning innocently shrugged, then turned toward Huo Si, who had remained silent and watched the show all along. He blinked.

"Honey, how did I do? I didn't embarrass you, did I?"

Huo Si finally stopped tapping the table.

He rose to his feet and unhurriedly adjusted his cuff. His gaze swept over everyone in the room before settling on Liu Mei's ashen face.

"You did very well."

Huo Si wrapped an arm around Jian Ning's waist, a bloodthirsty cold smile curling at his lips.

"Now that everyone has heard clearly."

"Assistant Lin, call the police. This time... don't let her get out again."

A long-planned coup against Huo Si instantly crumbled under Jian Ning's cash-powered logic and the system hack.

The shareholders looked at one another. The few old men who had cursed the loudest earlier now had faces as red as monkey butts. They lowered their heads to drink tea, pretending that nothing had happened.

The police arrived quickly and took Liu Mei away once again.

This time, real prison awaited her.

After everyone had left the conference room, only Huo Si and Jian Ning remained.

Huo Si turned around and looked at Jian Ning.

"What did you call me just now?"

"...Honey?"

Huo Si stepped closer, trapping Jian Ning between himself and the conference table.

"At home just now, who said he wanted to break up? Who said he wanted to return the ring to me?"

Jian Ning's guilty eyes darted everywhere.

"Th-that was just me cooperating with your act, wasn't it? It was necessary for the plot! Necessary for the plot!"

[Come on, don't drag up old history! Wasn't my performance just now awesome?]

Huo Si reached out and gently stroked Jian Ning's lips, his gaze dark.

"Acting?"

"Jian Ning, some things cannot be said, even in an act."

"As punishment..."

Huo Si glanced at the tightly shut conference room doors, then at the wide conference table.

"Right here, finish saying the heartfelt words you left unfinished."

Jian Ning's eyes widened.

[Here?!]

[This is a conference room! There are secretaries and special assistants outside!]

[Huo Si, you beast! You may have no shame, but I do!]

Huo Si lowered his head and kissed away his protest.

"Don't worry. The soundproofing is excellent."