Hearts and Minds

Outside a police station in one district of Youcheng, evening.

The blue and red lights atop the police cars had long been switched off. Under the darkening sky, the gray-white police station building looked somewhat solemn.

Chen Xingfeng strode out through the main entrance with a livid expression, followed by Li Xiulin, whose eyes were red-rimmed and hair slightly disheveled. She no longer possessed her usual polished poise.

Her designer suit was wrinkled, and her makeup had run, clearly showing that she had been through quite an ordeal.

Being taken away by the police for "disturbing public order," questioned, lectured, and finally having to rely on her husband to pay a fine for her release—this was an unbearable humiliation for Li Xiulin, who had always considered herself upper class and cared deeply about appearances.

And, unsurprisingly, she blamed that humiliation on Hua Yin once again.

"It's all him! That ungrateful bastard!"

The moment she was out of the police station's sight, Li Xiulin's suppressed fury and grievance erupted, her voice shrill.

"If he hadn't been so heartless, insisting on handling things by the book and having Xiaoxu arrested, how would I have... how would I have ended up in that kind of place? How would I have... been treated by the police..."

As she spoke, tears welled up again, mixing with the remaining mascara and streaking two miserable trails down her face.

"I'm his mother! What was wrong with going to him for an explanation? And he actually... actually had someone call the police and arrest me! That unfilial bastard! Animal!"

Chen Xingfeng was already overwhelmed by the string of problems—his business being obstructed, his son detained, and his wife causing trouble. Listening to Li Xiulin's endless complaints and curses now made his anger flare even hotter.

"Enough!"

He abruptly stopped and turned to roar at Li Xiulin.

"Haven't you embarrassed us enough already?!"

"You went to that dump and caused a scene?"

"Were you afraid people wouldn't know our family has a son who 'attacked a Special Affairs Bureau agent,' and a mother who got invited by the police for tea?!"

Li Xiulin froze at his shout, then became even more aggrieved and furious. "Chen Xingfeng!"

"You're yelling at me?"

"You're blaming me now?"

"If you weren't so useless that you couldn't settle things with the Special Affairs Bureau, how would Xiaoxu still be stuck in there?"

"How would I have to suffer this kind of humiliation?!"

"I'm useless?"

The veins on Chen Xingfeng's forehead throbbed furiously. "If I'm useless, how did I get you out of that dump?"

"If I'm useless, how have you lived in luxury all these years?"

"Li Xiulin, try being reasonable!"

"You were the one who insisted on going after Hua Yin!"

"How many times did I tell you that brat isn't the same anymore?"

"He's with the Special Affairs Bureau! He has authority now! What good does it do you to go head-to-head with him?!"

"Then what do you suggest? Just watch Xiaoxu end up with a criminal record? What will happen to him in the future?"

Li Xiulin cried out, "I'm his mother! If I don't stand up for him, who will? All you care about is your business, your reputation! Do you even care about this son at all?!"

"I don't care about my son? Do you know how many connections I've called in and how much money I've spent for him?!"

Chen Xingfeng let loose as well. "Yes! I care about business, and I care about appearances!"

"Without business, without money, what would you use to live the life of a rich lady?"

"What would Xiaoxu use to attend private school and drive sports cars?!"

He pointed at Li Xiulin, his finger trembling with emotion. "You!"

"You ignored Hua Yin all those years, and now that something's happened, you suddenly remember you're his mother?"

"What the hell were you doing before?!"

"Now you've completely offended him, and there's no room to mend things! Are you happy now?!"

Those words were like a sharp blade, stabbing viciously into the corner of Li Xiulin's heart she least wanted to confront.

Her sobs came to an abrupt halt. The color drained from her face, and her lips trembled as she tried to argue, only to find that she had nothing to say.

The years of neglect and deliberate estrangement seemed painfully clear and shameful under her husband's accusations.

"You... you..." She pointed at Chen Xingfeng, her chest heaving violently.

"What about me?" Chen Xingfeng waved a hand wearily, his face full of irritation. "Get yourself a taxi home! Calm down! The company has things to deal with. I'm leaving first!"

With that, he no longer looked at Li Xiulin's pale face. He turned and strode toward the sedan parked by the roadside, opened the door, and drove away in a cloud of dust, leaving Li Xiulin standing dumbly in the cold wind outside the police station, alone and utterly bedraggled.

Starwind Trading Company, CEO's Office.

Beyond the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows lay Youcheng's bustling streets, neon lights glittering amid an endless stream of traffic.

But Chen Xingfeng had no mind to appreciate the view.

He loosened his painfully tight tie and dropped heavily into his broad leather executive chair, feeling his temples pound.

His family was a complete mess. His son was still being held by the Special Affairs Bureau, his wife was a constant source of trouble, and the money he had spent trying to pull strings and grease palms had flowed away like water with little to show for it...

Irritation and a deep sense of helplessness engulfed him.

Just then, the secretary's internal line rang. "President Chen, President Wang from Dawnlight Technology has arrived. He's in the reception room."

Dawnlight Technology was an important partner Chen Xingfeng had recently been trying hard to secure. If he could win their raw-material supply contract, it would be crucial to Starwind Trading Company's future development.

But the other party had remained ambiguous in attitude and harsh in its demands.

Chen Xingfeng took a deep breath, forced himself to pull himself together, straightened his suit, and restored the shrewd, confident smile he habitually wore in the business world before heading for the reception room.

After exchanging pleasantries, taking their seats, and having several rounds of tea, they soon got down to business.

Sure enough, President Wang still refused to budge on the contract details and pricing, hinting that other competitors had offered more favorable terms.

Chen Xingfeng cursed inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged as his mind raced to find a way to break the deadlock.

Then inspiration struck. He thought of Hua Yin, and of the Special Affairs Bureau.

A bold, even risky, idea surfaced.

He leaned back slightly, lifted his teacup, gently blew away the foam, and suddenly adopted a casual yet meaningful tone.

"President Wang, cooperation is about sincerity and the long term."

"As for the price, Starwind has already offered very sincere terms."

"Of course, business also depends on resources and connections."

He paused, looked at the other man, and casually remarked, "To be honest, there's been a little trouble at home lately, but it's being handled."

"My eldest son, Hua Yin, is young and hot-blooded. He joined the Special Affairs Bureau and recently made a small contribution. Young people sometimes act impulsively, and he had his younger brother... Sigh, family matters. Let's not bring it up."

He deliberately kept things vague and stopped at just the right point, while placing particular emphasis on "Special Affairs Bureau" and "made a contribution."

Sure enough, President Wang's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.

To ordinary people, especially businessmen, the Special Affairs Bureau was mysterious and powerful, representing influence and energy from another level.

Having someone in the family who worked for the Special Affairs Bureau—and had even "made a contribution"—carried far deeper implications.

Watching the other man's reaction, Chen Xingfeng added more fuel to the fire, his tone carrying a helpless sort of pride. "That kid has always been independent and had his own ideas."

"Now that he's joined the Special Affairs Bureau, he's so busy that he's never around."

"As his father, I can't even get involved if I want to show concern."

"All I can do is try not to cause him trouble and keep things in order at home and at the company."

His words both implied that Hua Yin was valued and capable within the Special Affairs Bureau.

At the same time, they distanced him from any suspicion of profiting from that connection. Just as he said, he did not want to "cause him trouble," making the relationship seem all the more genuine, low-key, and powerful.

President Wang pondered for a moment, and the smile on his face became noticeably more sincere. "Oh?"

"President Chen has that kind of connection in his family?"

"No wonder you carry yourself so remarkably, President Chen."

"The Special Affairs Bureau... those are pillars of the nation. Truly impressive."

Then he shifted the subject. "As for the price, it's not entirely non-negotiable."

"The key is the stability of the partnership and its future potential."

"I think President Chen is an honest man, and Starwind Trading Company has maintained a good reputation over the years..."

The atmosphere of the negotiations that followed visibly eased.

President Wang was no longer as aggressive as before and made concessions on several terms.

In the end, the two sides reached a preliminary agreement that was quite favorable to Starwind Trading Company.

After seeing President Wang off, Chen Xingfeng returned to his office and shut the door. The smile vanished from his face instantly, replaced by a complicated mix of emotions.

There was the secret delight of using an information gap to achieve his goal, but also a faint unease and... guilt.

He knew he was borrowing influence—Hua Yin's influence, the very influence Hua Yin might disdain or even despise.

It was risky. If he were exposed, or if Hua Yin reacted badly, the consequences could be severe.

But a businessman's instincts and his pursuit of profit overwhelmed everything else.

He looked out at the scenery beyond the window, his gaze gradually turning firm and profound.

"After all... the blood relationship is there, and outsiders don't know the real situation."

He muttered to himself as if trying to convince himself. "I'm only borrowing his name. I'm not making him do anything. Yes, that's all."

He picked up the phone and called the legal department. "Draft the contract with Dawnlight Technology as soon as possible. Use the terms we just discussed..."

Before long, the entire Starwind Trading Company became busy.

Chen Xingfeng temporarily cast his family troubles aside and immersed himself in the prospects of profit the new contract might bring.

What he did not know was that news of his "son who had made contributions at the Special Affairs Bureau" had already begun quietly circulating within a small circle.

At the same time, the Special Affairs Bureau's internal information-monitoring network was not entirely oblivious to the movements of the ordinary world.

Youcheng's waters had never contained only the undercurrents of the supernatural world.

The desires and calculations of ordinary people likewise wove themselves into an unseen web.

When you encounter ads asking things like "Are you a real person?", simply ignore and close them. Do not scan QR codes or send text messages!