Xi Jiayi descended the staircase when a maid appeared at the foot of the steps.
"Second Miss, lunch is ready."
She nodded lightly. Having arrived at the Qin mansion early that morning without so much as breakfast, hunger gnawed at her, though she hid it behind her usual composure.
When she entered the dining hall, however, Xi Jiayi slowed in surprise. Every seat around the long polished table sat empty. Only the servants lingered, waiting in silence.
Her gaze swept the vacant chairs, then softened with a subtle release of tension. She had braced herself for the cold scrutiny of Song Huifei, or the mocking remarks of the youngest son, Qin Jiahao. Instead, the emptiness offered something rare—quiet.
She allowed Butler Wen to guide her to the head of the table.
"Second Miss, please," Butler Wen said with steady courtesy as he gestured to the prepared dishes. Unlike the others of the household, he never wavered in addressing her with dignity.
Xi Jiayi ate quietly. Despite her hunger, her movements remained refined. By the time she set down her chopsticks, her plate was spotless, not a grain of rice left behind.
Standing beside her, Butler Wen began to speak, his tone careful. "Madam Song and the Young Master left earlier. They went—"
"I've finished," Xi Jiayi interrupted softly, placing her napkin aside. "I'd like to rest."
Though polite, her words carried reluctance, a clear refusal to hear about the family that had rejected her. She rose from her chair, her posture poised but distant.
Butler Wen pressed his lips together. He had intended to say more, but at the look in Xi Jiayi's eyes, he let the words die. Still, as a loyal servant of the Qin household, it was his duty to keep her informed. He hesitated, torn between obligation and respect.
Xi Jiayi turned, walking toward the staircase without looking back.
Just as she vanished from view, a young servant hurried into the hall and leaned close to Butler Wen, whispering urgently.
The steward's expression darkened at once. His calm dignity gave way to grim resolve as his gaze shifted to the staircase where Xi Jiayi had disappeared.
"Prepare the First Miss's quarters," Butler Wen ordered, his voice low but firm. "She will be returning home."
The dining hall stirred to life as servants scattered to obey, the once still mansion filling with hushed urgency.
Upstairs, Xi Jiayi closed her door, unaware that the silence she had briefly cherished was already beginning to fracture.
---
The emergency meeting began on time. The boardroom, with its long polished table and cold white lights, carried a tension that made every cough and shuffle sound louder than it should.
Qin Yichen stepped in with calm authority, Secretary He Zhenyu a step behind. Though filling in for Qin Haoyu, he held himself with the ease of someone born to lead.
"Let's begin," he said simply, and the room obeyed.
Directors launched into reports, but Qin Yichen quickly noticed the inconsistencies. Figures that had matched earlier audits were suddenly altered. Competitor strategies were described in suspicious detail—as if someone within their own company had shared intelligence.
"Director Liu," Qin Yichen's voice cut evenly, "your report doesn't align with the numbers I reviewed this morning. Care to explain?"
The man faltered, muttering about clerical delays. Others rushed to nod along, too eager to smooth it over. Qin Yichen caught the exchange in silence, his sharp gaze moving across the table. Too quick. Too practiced.
The rest of the meeting was filled with half-answers and proposals that sounded strangely aligned with their rivals. By the time it adjourned, Yichen's suspicions had hardened into certainty.
As the room emptied, Secretary He Zhenyu leaned close. "Second Young Master, you look troubled."
Qin Yichen's jaw tightened. He gathered the reports into a neat stack, his voice low. "There's a leak. Not one mole… at least two. Maybe more."