Trapped in the Same Day for a Thousand Years: A Plot to Steal a Fortune and Take a Life

Welcome to Trapped in the Same Day for a Thousand Years, produced exclusively by Feilu Novel Network, written by Sang Ze and narrated by Wang Xiaomo and Lao He.

Wu Chen had a good impression of Lu Guangnian. The man was generous and loyal, never sweated the small stuff, and would do anything for a friend.

He had used plenty of illegal methods while building his fortune, but Wu Chen did not care about that.

For a long stretch, Wu Chen had enjoyed helping people. He had even donated all his savings to an orphanage. Since everything reset each day, the money he gave away would be back the next morning. It made no difference to him.

During the previous thousand years of repeating days, Wu Chen had helped Lu Guangnian more than once and changed his fate. He could never see the results—there was no future in a resetting timeline—but it was an entertaining way to pass the time.

Lu Guangnian had a serious problem. It had nothing to do with business, but with himself and his family.

Lu Guangnian had made his fortune through demolition projects. He had gotten into plenty of disputes when he was young, and in his twenties, he had once taken a knife meant for a friend. That was when his troubles began.

He had been twenty-six. Stabbed five times, he had nearly died in the hospital.

He spent three months there. When he was discharged, the doctor told him plainly that he might have great difficulty having children.

The doctor was right. Lu Guangnian had been unable to father a child ever since. He tried everything, even going abroad for IVF, without success. It was also why he divorced his first wife.

As his career flourished, having no children became the one thing that weighed on him.

He was extraordinarily successful in business, with excellent connections and a fine reputation. The friend he had taken a knife for was still his closest friend and right-hand man. Everything seemed perfect, which only made that one regret loom larger.

He had been with many women and tried many things, but nothing worked until he met Liu Caixiu.

Liu Caixiu had been one of his many mistresses, yet three months after they met, she became pregnant. The child was born without trouble. It was a boy.

Lu Guangnian had a paternity test done, too. The boy was indeed his biological son. At last, his life felt complete. That was why he doted on his wife so much.

It was precisely because Lu Guangnian spoiled Liu Caixiu rotten that she had developed such an overbearing temper. She dared offend anyone, confident that he would indulge her as he always had.

But Wu Chen's investigations during the thousand-year cycle had revealed that Lu Guangnian's son was not his biological child. It had all been a scheme to seize a billionaire's fortune—a scheme for money that could end in murder.

Before Lu Guangnian married Liu Caixiu, everyone in the East Sea Business Circle knew he could not have children.

A tycoon with no heirs and no one to inherit his fortune was bound to be talked about. So Liu Caixiu and her so-called cousin set their scheme in motion.

Liu Caixiu's cousin was named Liu Ligang. He came from Liu Family Village in Sishui Town, Erma County, Donghai City.

In truth, Liu Ligang was not Liu Caixiu's cousin. They had no blood relation at all. They simply came from Liu Family Village and shared the surname Liu.

Liu Ligang was five years older than Liu Caixiu. He was the one who had brought her out of the village and taken her to a bathhouse to work as a prostitute.

After Liu Caixiu had cosmetic surgery, Liu Ligang moved on to more lucrative arrangements.

Under Liu Ligang's direction, Liu Caixiu became the mistress of several bosses. Eventually, Liu Ligang made a connection with one of Lu Guangnian's relatives. He spent a great deal of money to get Liu Caixiu introduced to Lu Guangnian, who was desperate for a cure and changing women every day.

That was how Liu Caixiu approached Lu Guangnian and became pregnant. But the child was Liu Ligang's, not Lu Guangnian's.

To this day, Liu Ligang was publicly known as Liu Caixiu's cousin. He worked for Lu Guangnian and had become a trusted employee.

In private, however, the supposed cousins were lovers.

Wu Chen even knew that Liu Ligang had long wanted to kill Lu Guangnian. Then Liu Caixiu and his son could inherit the estate. Liu Caixiu had stopped him, though.

It was not because her conscience had troubled her. The child was too young, and her position was not secure enough. She feared she could not outmaneuver the old hands at Lu Guangnian's company.

Wu Chen had once kidnapped Liu Caixiu and Liu Ligang together and extracted everything from them in a single day. So he knew exactly what had happened. "Your son is Liu Ligang's child. He and Liu Caixiu aren't cousins. They aren't related at all. They've been lying to you. You've noticed your son doesn't look like you, haven't you?"

That was the first thing Wu Chen whispered into Lu Guangnian's ear. He spoke quickly. He knew Lu Guangnian had long noticed that the boy resembled neither him nor Liu Caixiu much. But with a paternity test already done, Lu Guangnian could only keep his doubts to himself.

Lu Guangnian had heard rumors over the years, too. He was much older than Liu Caixiu, which already invited gossip. Add in his long history of infertility and a son who looked nothing like him, and the whispers were inevitable. They had become a thorn in his side.

"Liu Caixiu's original name was Liu Lijun. She and Liu Ligang both came from Liu Family Village in Sishui Town. They aren't related.

"Liu Ligang brought her out of the village, and it's true that she worked as a prostitute.

"Liu Ligang deliberately arranged for her to enter your life.

"Everyone in Donghai knew you couldn't have children. They planned the whole thing. I know you can't believe me, but it's the truth.

"You should know who the boy looks like.

"If you don't believe me, ask Liu Caixiu where she was yesterday afternoon.

"She went out with Liu Ligang. You can imagine what they did.

"It's easy to check. Have someone get yesterday's security footage from Yunxiu Company. See whether they took the stairs to avoid being seen.

"You could also ask Liu Caixiu directly. I think she'll tell you she was at the company all day, that her cousin can vouch for her, and that they were alone in the office the whole time. You've noticed things that didn't add up before, haven't you? But they always backed up each other's stories.

"Because you think they're cousins, it never occurred to you that they might be lovers. That's exactly what they've been counting on."

"I had a paternity test done."

Only after Wu Chen had said all that did Lu Guangnian turn his head slightly and speak into Wu Chen's ear. His face remained blank, giving nothing away.

"A paternity test can be faked. This was a setup. Don't you understand?

"They planned it. Of course they knew you'd get a paternity test.

"While Liu Caixiu was pregnant, you gave her ten million yuan to help her through the pregnancy. Remember?

"That money passed through Liu Ligang's hands. Every cent went to the doctor who issued the paternity report. You can look into it if you don't believe me.

"Didn't that doctor leave the hospital soon after your paternity test?

"In fact, you could bluff her about it."

Wu Chen went on at length.

If it had been nothing but his word, what he said would not have had this effect.

It worked because Lu Guangnian had already sensed something was wrong.

But the supposed family relationship between Liu Caixiu and Liu Ligang, along with the old paternity report, had kept him from figuring out where the problem lay.

Everyone watched Wu Chen whisper to Lu Guangnian, utterly bewildered.

Li Ruobing was baffled as well. How had the atmosphere turned so tense all of a sudden?

She knew Lu Guangnian's temperament. What she did not know was Wu Chen.

At last, Wu Chen finished. He patted Lu Guangnian on the back, returned to his seat, and gently swirled the wine in his glass. Then he turned to watch, his expression calm.

Lu Guangnian slowly turned toward his wife, Liu Caixiu, his face expressionless.

They had been married for years. Liu Caixiu knew him.

Whenever Lu Guangnian's face went blank and his feelings disappeared from view, it meant he was straining to hold back his anger.

Lu Guangnian had had a terrible temper when he was young. He wanted to succeed, so he had forced himself to change. This was how he controlled his emotions.

"Wh-what's wrong?

"Honey?"

Liu Caixiu asked uneasily.

She had no idea what that pretty boy had said to Lu Guangnian.

Neither did anyone else. They were all intensely curious. A confrontation had plainly been about to erupt.

But Wu Chen's whispered words had not only stopped Lu Guangnian from going after him; they had put Lu Guangnian in a strange mood. The atmosphere had turned eerie.

"Where did you go yesterday afternoon?" Lu Guangnian asked without expression.

"I...

"I was at the company."

Liu Caixiu's expression was plainly unnatural. Lu Guangnian's eyelid twitched.

"I was in the office the whole time with my brother. We spent the afternoon discussing a promotional plan.

"Hm?

"Honey, why are you asking me this all of a sudden?"

Ordinarily, a person answering such a question would not volunteer so much detail. She already sounded defensive.

Yet Lu Guangnian had not accused Liu Caixiu of anything. He had only asked a simple question.

"You and your cousin were at the company the whole time?" Lu Guangnian asked.

"Of course. We were in the office until we got off work. Ask my brother if you don't believe me," Liu Caixiu said.

"I already did. I asked him casually this morning."

Liu Caixiu's face changed sharply at Lu Guangnian's words.

"He told me you two went out to meet a client yesterday afternoon. You weren't at the company."

In fact, Lu Guangnian had never asked Liu Ligang. Wu Chen had suggested bluffing her to see whether she would lie.

A man who had reached Lu Guangnian's position was no fool. He knew how to draw the truth out of someone.

Deep down, Lu Guangnian did not want to believe Wu Chen. He did not even know where the man had come from or when Li Ruobing had gotten a boyfriend. But none of that mattered now. What Wu Chen had told him mattered too much. He had long suspected something was wrong with the supposed cousins, though he had never been able to pinpoint it.

He had guessed that Liu Caixiu might be secretly helping Liu Ligang line his pockets. That was no great matter to Lu Guangnian, so he had turned a blind eye. But his doubts had never gone away, and there was much he could not explain. He was willing to test what Wu Chen had told him.

"Haha, really?

"Th-that's what my brother said?

"He must have remembered it wrong."

Liu Caixiu was genuinely panicking. She and Liu Ligang had sneaked off together so many times that they could not possibly have agreed on a story for every occasion. Yet they had gotten away with it for years.

Because Lu Guangnian had never questioned their supposed relationship as cousins, they had grown reckless.

"He remembered it wrong? Then I'll call him now and ask," Lu Guangnian said.

"R-right. Oh! I remember now. We did go out to meet a client yesterday afternoon, but we got back around two or three. After that, we stayed in the office discussing the promotional plan."

Liu Caixiu had changed her story again.

Veins stood out on Lu Guangnian's forehead.

"Honey, why are you asking me all this?

"That pretty boy insulted me. Aren't you going to stand up for me?

"Don't you love me anymore?

"Don't you love me and our son?"

Liu Caixiu suddenly grew agitated and pointed at Wu Chen, trying to shift the focus.

Smack! The slap rang out so sharply that everyone present almost felt it on their own cheeks. Liu Caixiu flew sideways, landing two meters away. Her head struck a decorative planter, and blood immediately ran from her forehead and the corner of her mouth. A vivid red handprint swelled across her face.

Liu Caixiu was stunned. So was everyone else. Lu Guangnian was famous for doting on his wife. How could he suddenly strike her so hard in public, as though he hated her? Even Li Ruobing was startled. She could still vividly remember how Lu Guangnian had pleaded with her in private not to make things difficult for Liu Caixiu.

Li Ruobing shot Wu Chen a sidelong glance. What on earth had he said to Lu Guangnian?

"Take Madam home."

Lu Guangnian still showed no expression. He turned to his bodyguards and instructed them, "Don't let her leave the house. Give her time to reflect on what she's done."

"Yes, boss."

Two bodyguards went over, hauled the stunned Liu Caixiu to her feet, and supported her as they led her out.

Lu Guangnian looked at Wu Chen again but said nothing.

He took a deep breath, then turned back to the room. Gesturing with his hands, he put on an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I've embarrassed myself in front of you. I spoiled my wife, and she doesn't know how to behave. We've ruined your dinner. I'm sorry. Truly."

Lu Guangnian pressed his palms together and gestured to the room, nodding toward every table he could see as he apologized.

People often called someone a person of standing.

This was what it meant to have standing.

"Boss Lu, you're too polite."

"Please, Boss Lu, take care of your business. We're fine."

People around the restaurant immediately spoke up.

Lu Guangnian rose and offered a few more courtesies.

"Enjoy yourselves, everyone. Everything ordered here tonight is on me, Lu Guangnian.

"Order whatever you like."

As he spoke, Lu Guangnian signaled to the nearby restaurant manager to send two bottles of Moutai to every table. This was a Chinese restaurant, so he ordered baijiu. Whether anyone drank it was beside the point; the gesture mattered.

"Oh, Boss Lu, you're too generous. Really."

"Boss Lu..." A few more people stood up.

"Sit, sit. Please, enjoy your meals. I'm truly sorry about today. My apologies."

Lu Guangnian motioned downward for them to sit, apologizing to the room once more.

Only after everyone sat down did he return to his guests.

There were only five or six of them. They had come in with Lu Guangnian and then spent several minutes watching the drama unfold.

At their head was a balding man in glasses, around sixty years old. He wore a suit and had the air of a refined gentleman.

"I'm sorry, my friend. I've kept everyone waiting and made a spectacle of myself," Lu Guangnian said first.

"Old Lu, what was that about?" The balding man stepped closer and asked quietly.

"Ah, don't ask. My good-for-nothing wife." Lu Guangnian waved a hand and said no more.

In fact, no one there could easily work out what had happened from Lu Guangnian's exchange with Liu Caixiu. They had only talked about where she had gone with her supposed brother yesterday. No one would leap from that to the idea that they were lovers, let alone guess the details. They certainly would not imagine that Lu Guangnian's son was not his own.

That was why Wu Chen had whispered to Lu Guangnian. The same problem, handled in different ways, could produce very different—even opposite—results.

Wu Chen could have laid everything out in public. He could have revealed even more and made Liu Caixiu fall apart on the spot. But that would have made Lu Guangnian his enemy. Given Lu Guangnian's wealth and status, the story would have made the news: a billionaire tricked into raising another man's son. A headline like that would have shaken the country. Lu Guangnian would have been humiliated not only in Donghai, but before the whole nation.

Wu Chen considered Lu Guangnian a connection worth making, so there was no need to expose it all.

Given a choice between making an enemy and earning someone's gratitude, Wu Chen naturally chose the latter.

"Please go upstairs ahead of me. Have them bring out the food. I have some private business to attend to. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

"I'll be up shortly."

"And you—" Lu Guangnian turned to his assistant. "Xiao Zhou, look after them. Make sure they have everything they need. I'll be up in a moment."

"Don't worry, boss."

The assistant agreed and gestured for Lu Guangnian's important guests to follow him.

Lu Guangnian escorted them as far as the stairs, speaking quietly with the balding man along the way.

Li Ruobing sat down. With one hand resting on her wineglass, she gazed steadily at Wu Chen.

"Is there something on my face?

"Why are you staring at me?"

Wu Chen smiled as he asked, then tipped his head back and took a sip of wine.

Li Ruobing tilted her head, still staring at Wu Chen as though she really meant to find something on his face.

"Ruobing, I'm sorry. I owe you an apology, truly. I've told her so many times, but I never thought she'd bother you again."

Lu Guangnian had returned after seeing his guests upstairs and was apologizing to Li Ruobing once more. His explanation was not really for her, but for everyone else present. Hitting his wife was humiliating, but it was still better than letting the whole world know he had been cheated on.

Lu Guanglin did not know whether Li Ruobing knew about what Wu Chen had said.

"Lu, you're too polite."

Li Ruobing replied.

Lu Guangnian turned to Wu Chen again.

"Let's talk outside."

Wu Chen spoke before he could say anything.

Lu Guangnian paused, then nodded. "All right."

Wu Chen got up and walked toward the door with Lu Guanglian.

Li Ruobing turned to watch the two of them leave, her expression shifting again. They could already go off and talk alone? What on earth had Wu Chen just said to make someone like Lu Guangnian willing to speak with him in private?

And what else did they need to say that they had to keep from her?

Li Ruobing was not usually a curious person, but right then, her curiosity was eating her alive.

That concludes this episode. Please keep listening!