Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Redemption?
Huo Feng’s Villa — Evening
The rain outside came down quietly, beating rhythmically against the tall windows of the study.
Huo Feng stood by the glass, one hand tucked in his pocket, the other holding his phone loosely. His expression was unreadable, but a faint line of tension carved itself between his brows.
He had been staring at the message for minutes now.
The sound of the door opening broke the silence. Yue Ning entered, balancing a tray with several dishes in her hands. The warm aroma of food spread faintly through the room.
"Mr. Huo," she called softly.
Huo Feng turned, his gaze softening at the sight of her. "You didn’t have to bring that yourself," he said, gesturing for her to set it down.
"It’s fine," Yue Ning replied with a gentle smile. "You haven’t eaten all day."
She placed the tray on the nearby table, but when she turned, she noticed his expression which was calm on the surface, yet heavy with something else.
"What’s wrong?" she asked quietly.
Huo Feng’s thumb brushed over his phone screen before he answered. "Director Zhou sent me a message."
Yue Ning blinked in surprise. "Director Zhou? After everything?"
Huo Feng gave a small, humorless chuckle. "Relax. He didn’t come to beg for forgiveness. He sent me a warning."
"Warning?" she echoed, frowning as she stepped closer.
Without a word, he handed her the phone. The message glowed faintly in the dim light.
Her eyes moved across the text: They’re making a move tonight. Director Liu and Director Peng plan to leak falsified overseas records under your name.
Yue Ning looked up sharply. "Why would he—after all he’s done try to help you now?"
"People change when guilt eats them alive," Huo Feng answered simply. "Zhou wants redemption, even if it’s too late for him."
She frowned. "And you believe him?"
"I don’t have to believe him," Huo Feng said, placing the phone aside. "I already have Ah Si tailing the two directors. Whether Zhou is sincere or not... we’ll know soon."
He sank into the chair beside the table, running a hand through his hair. "I want all this to end tonight, Ning. Tomorrow is Xiao Yan’s birthday. She deserves a peaceful day. She might not say it, but I know she’s worried about the issues."
Yue Ning smiled faintly, her tone warm but firm. "Then let’s make sure she gets one. Whatever it takes so she doesn’t have to worry anymore."
Their eyes met—a silent agreement passing between them. For a moment, the storm outside seemed to ease.
Then Huo Feng’s phone rang. It was Ah Si.
He answered immediately. "Boss, I’ve arrived," Ah Si’s voice came through, with a hushed whisper. "Liu and Peng are here. They’re meeting a broker from overseas. Looks like a data transfer deal. What are your orders?"
"Don’t stop them," Huo Feng said, voice calm and low.
There was a pause. "Sir?" Ah Si called out to make sure he heard rightly.
"Let them complete the transaction," Huo Feng continued. "Yue Ning will handle the evidence after. I want everything compiled before dawn."
Ah Si exhaled, understanding dawning in his tone. "Understood, Boss. I’ll stand by."
When the call ended, Yue Ning tilted her head. "You’re really letting them go through with it?"
"Of course," he said quietly. "If you want to catch a snake, you wait for it to slither out of hiding."
He turned back toward the window, the reflection of the rain flickering across his sharp profile.
Yue Ning, meanwhile, activated her system silently. A faint blue shimmer glowed in her eyes for a split second before vanishing.
Streams of encrypted data filled her invisible interface—surveillance feeds, transaction trails, and digital communication patterns.
On the surface, she had a tablet in her hands, but in reality, the system was the one doing the work.
The system’s AI voice echoed softly in her mind.
[Tracking Subject: Director Liu. Accessing encrypted correspondence.]
[Progress: 37%... 64%... 91%... 100%]
Yue Ning’s lips curved slightly. Within minutes, she had visual confirmation—the two directors meeting a foreign broker, transferring falsified documents under Huo Feng’s name. The evidence was stacking perfectly.
Across the room, Huo Feng sat back down. He didn’t notice the glow fading from her eyes. He simply saw Yue Ning typing rapidly on her tablet.
"Be careful," he murmured, glancing her way. "Don’t get dragged into their mess."
"It’s a little late for that, Mr. Huo," she replied softly, eyes still fixed on her screen.
Hours passed without them realising.
At exactly 10:47 PM, Ah Si’s voice came through again, crisp through the earpiece. "Boss, the transaction’s complete. They just handed over the drive. I have everything recorded."
"Good," Huo Feng said. "Return immediately."
He hung up and turned to Yue Ning. "You can start compiling."
"Already done," she said with a quiet smile. "You’ll have the report ready before sunrise."
Huo Feng raised an eyebrow. "That fast?"
She shrugged lightly. "Call it intuition."
He didn’t question it further. He had learned long ago that Yue Ning’s efficiency defied logic.
As the night deepened, the rain grew heavier. Lightning flashed once, briefly illuminating the study.
Yue Ning’s screen displayed the compiled data. The transaction codes, hidden audio clips, even CCTV stills of Liu and Peng exchanging the falsified files. The system’s seal of authenticity ensured the evidence was unbreakable.
’Host, Would you like to distribute collected evidence to major media and corporate oversight agencies?’
Yue Ning hesitated for only a moment before nodding.
Within seconds, the files were automatically mirrored across multiple secure channels... online watchdog forums, legal boards, and a few discreet business news outlets.
When the transmission was complete, Yue Ning let out a small sigh and leaned back. "It’s done."
Huo Feng closed his eyes briefly. "Good work."
"Do you think Song Kai will act again after this?" she asked quietly.
He opened his eyes, his expression cold and unreadable. "He will. Men like him don’t stop because their pawns fall. They just find new ones."