When the door closed behind Chen Yong, silence settled back into the office like a thick perfume.
Chen Zhenyu didn't look at anyone. He simply walked back to his armchair, poured another drink, and only then raised his gaze toward Li Wei.
—Now then... —he said in a low but clear voice—. Tell me everything.
Li Wei didn't ask for clarification. He knew exactly what the old man meant.
He began recounting the events with the cold precision that defined him: the arrival at the auction, the surveillance, the items Bai Xue had observed, the young master's excessive bidding. Then the blackout. The three attackers. How he protected Chen Yong. The injury. The loss of the book.
He didn't leave out relevant details, but neither did he add emotion.
Zhenyu listened in total silence—no interruptions, no expressions.
When Li Wei finished, there was a pause. The businessman slowly swirled the amber liquid in his glass, watching it.
—And the book? —he finally asked—. Did you notice anything?
Li Wei shook his head.
—No. It was old, damaged. I didn't sense any energy, no visible inscriptions. Nothing.
Zhenyu narrowed his eyes. He watched Li Wei for a few seconds longer than necessary.
—Hmm... —he murmured, without confirming or denying anything—. Very well.
Silence fell again.
Finally, the businessman stood up.
—I'm giving you an order —he said, walking toward him—. From now on, help him. With whatever he wants to do.
Li Wei raised an eyebrow, not fully understanding.
—With anything?
Zhenyu smiled, but it was a sharp smirk.
—Yes. Whatever it is. Let him act... but you'll report to me. Everything. Always.
Li Wei nodded slowly.
—Understood.
—You may go —Zhenyu added, returning to his drink.
Li Wei turned around without another word.
And as he exited through the same door he'd entered, he realized the old man hadn't said everything he knew.
But he also understood something else.
He now had permission to move. And to observe. From the inside.
The hallway outside the VIP lounge was nearly empty. Just a few warm lights on and the faint echo of background music. Li Wei walked unhurriedly, until an urgent voice called out from behind.
—Li Wei!
He turned. It was Chen Yong.
His face was still tight, eyes red, but now accompanied by a different energy. Dryer. Sharper.
—I need your help —he said bluntly.
Li Wei didn't answer. He just looked at him.
—I want... revenge on that woman —the young master continued—. I can't let her humiliate me. I want her to suffer. I want her to know who she messed with.
Silence.
—And I want to know who that guy was with her —he added—. I need to know everything. Name. Address. Whatever.
Li Wei observed him for a few seconds, unblinking.
—Are you sure?
—I've never been more sure of anything in my life —Chen Yong growled—. Will you help me?
Li Wei narrowed his eyes. His boss's orders still echoed in his mind.
—Yes —he finally said—. I'll help you.
But in his mind, the real question lingered:
Who would he really help?