Chapter Forty-Nine: The Photograph

That blurred yet glaring photograph, taken late at night after overtime, drove like a venomous ice needle straight into the softest part of Yu Ling’s heart. In the picture, Zhao Chen’s profile—bearing a sense of respect and serenity she had never witnessed—was paired with a woman of extraordinary bearing standing shoulder to shoulder with him. These images flashed repeatedly in Yu Ling’s mind, each recurrence bringing a sharp pang of pain and a cold panic.

She had no idea how she made it back to 1601. Zhao Chen was still waiting downstairs, just as he had countless times in the past, taking her heavy commute bag and opening the car door for her. He even acutely noticed her pale complexion and unusual silence, asking with concern, "What is wrong, Lingling? You look so pale. Is overtime wearing you out?" His warm palm instinctively reached for her forehead.

Yet Yu Ling violently jerked her head away as if scalded, avoiding his touch. She curled up in the passenger seat, turning her face toward the rapidly retreating streams of light outside the window. Her voice was muffled, thick with a heavy nasal tone and an unmasked exhaustion: "It is nothing... just a bit sleepy." She dared not look at him, fearing she would lose control and give in to the urge to interrogate him, and even more terrified of catching any trace of guilt or evasion in his eyes.

Zhao Chen’s hand hung suspended in mid-air, a trace of imperceptible gloom and... injury flashing in the depths of his gaze? Silently, he withdrew his hand without pressing further, merely turning up the car’s air conditioning. Gentle, soothing light music flowed through the cabin, yet the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

Upon returning to the apartment, Yu Ling walked straight into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. The warm stream of water washed over her body, yet it failed to dispel the coldness and chaos gripping her heart.

The scenes from the photograph alternated with the glowing silver box in the study and the label reading "Gu Family - Nirvana Project - Core Key Alpha," playing like an endless nightmare. Deception, danger, another woman... an overwhelming terror and grievance surged over her like a freezing tide, nearly drowning her.

She looked at her own pale, haggard face in the mirror, her eyes filled with bewilderment and agony. This "home"—the haven that had once brought her infinite warmth and safety—now felt like a massive, ornate cage filled with lies and unknown threats. She even began to wonder whether this "home" itself was merely part of a meticulously woven illusion crafted by that man.

The next day was Saturday. Having spent the entire night awake, Yu Ling stepped out of her bedroom with dark circles bruised beneath her eyes. The living room was filled with the aroma of breakfast. Zhao Chen, wearing a small whale apron, was placing golden sunny-side-up eggs and crispy toasted bread onto the dining table. Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a scene that was warm and picturesque, yet utterly incapable of touching Yu Ling’s frozen heart.

"Lingling, you are awake? Eat it while it is hot." Zhao Chen looked up, a gentle smile gracing his face, though his eyes concealed a trace of cautious observation.

"Mm," Yu Ling responded softly, pulling out a chair to sit down. She picked up her knife and fork, but the food tasted like ash. Lowering her gaze, she mechanically sliced the food on her plate, deliberately avoiding Zhao Chen’s eyes. The living room was filled only with the faint sound of cutlery clinking against porcelain, the silence acting like an invisible wall dividing them.

Watching her obvious evasion and the heavy dark shadows beneath her eyes, Zhao Chen tightened his grip slightly on the coffee cup he held. He remained silent for a moment, set the cup down, and softened his voice further: "Lingling, did... something happen last night? Are things at work not going well? Or perhaps..." He paused, his amber eyes locking onto her intensely, "...did someone upset you?"

That final half-sentence was asked with extreme caution, carrying a probing undertone.

The hand with which Yu Ling held her knife and fork abruptly froze! Her fingertips turned white from the sheer pressure. Someone upset her? That woman by the café entrance? Was he testing her to see how much she knew? Or was he... feeling guilty because of wrongdoing?

A rush of cold fury instantly surged to her head! She snapped her head up, her reddened eyes staring directly at Zhao Chen. Her lips parted, and the words "Who is that woman?!" were right on the tip of her tongue!

Yet, at the very moment the words were about to escape, the screen of Zhao Chen’s phone lying on the dining table lit up. A work email notification popped up, its header flashing several English words with stark clarity—"Nirvana Phase II Review." The Nirvana Project! The Phase II Review!

These words acted like a basin of ice water, dousing the burst of anger within Yu Ling and leaving behind only a bone-deep fear and powerlessness. Interrogate him? Tear off the pretense? Before a man who wielded such vast secrets and power, before his "Nirvana Project" that concerned the life and death of a commercial empire, her anger and grievances appeared so insignificant and laughable. That woman at the café was perhaps merely an insignificant cog in his complex world.

An immense wave of exhaustion and a sense of total, crushing despair seized her instantly. The fire in her eyes quickly extinguished, leaving behind only hollow bewilderment and coldness. She lowered her head once more, avoiding Zhao Chen’s probing gaze, her voice hoarse and hollow: "It is nothing. Just tired." Pushing aside her untouched plate, she stood up. "I am going to the study to find a book to read."

With that, she refused to look at Zhao Chen any longer, turning and walking swiftly toward the study, closing the door behind her as though fleeing a plague.

Seated at the dining table, Zhao Chen watched Yu Ling’s virtually untouched breakfast and her hurried, panicked retreat. The gentle smile on his face vanished completely. He stared intently at the closed study door, deep within his amber eyes swirling a heavy gloom, anxiety, and the pain of being shut out. The hand resting upon his knee curled tightly into a fist.

Inside the study, Yu Ling pressed her back against the cold wooden door, panting heavily. Her heart hammered wildly in her chest, accompanied by the lingering terror and dread of having narrowly escaped disaster. She had almost lost control just then! She had almost hurled that photograph right into his face!

No! She could not act on impulse!

Until she saw through his true facade and possessed enough strength to protect herself, tearing down the pretense would only plunge her into even greater danger!

She needed to calm down. She needed a distraction. She needed to do something to subdue these emotions that felt ready to explode.

Her gaze swept around the study. The massive bookshelves were lined with various volumes, ranging from financial management and world literature to professional texts featuring complex formulas on their covers that she could not comprehend at all. Eventually, her sight settled upon the large, wheeled filing cabinet placed against the wall.

This cabinet was reserved exclusively for Zhao Chen’s use and was kept locked at all times. But today... Yu Ling’s gaze fell upon the side of the cabinet—stuck inside that tiny keyhole appeared to be... a silver key? Furthermore, the cabinet door did not seem to be fully shut, leaving a narrow, faint gap behind!

Her heart gave a violent leap! "Not shut tightly" again? Just like the door to the study that eventful morning!

A massive temptation and a reckless, desperate impulse gripped Yu Ling once more! Could that mysterious cabinet conceal more secrets regarding his identity, the "Nirvana Project," or even... the woman?

Holding her breath, as though pulled by an invisible thread, she walked step by step toward the towering filing cabinet. With fingertips trembling imperceptibly, she gently rested her hand upon the cold metallic door.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled hard!

The cabinet door slid silently apart to both sides!