The Cold White Moonlight Desires Me Every Day - Chapter 39

Ruan Tang didn’t go home; she went straight to the office and pulled strings to start the search.

After the cocktail party ended, Gu Hewan also rushed to the company. Upon hearing the situation, she frowned. “It’s alright. As long as we find her before the news spreads, it won’t become a major problem.”

“I hope it goes smoothly…” Ruan Tang murmured, her unease growing.

Neither of them went home that night, staying in the office to rest while waiting for updates from their subordinates.

But no news of Ni Yunshi’s whereabouts arrived. The next morning, as they opened the office door to get breakfast, they overheard an unexpected rumor.

“Did you hear? President Ni’s ex-boyfriend, the one who helped her embezzle company funds, showed up at the party yesterday!”

“Of course I heard! They can’t even reach President Ni now!”

“I also heard our company might be facing some financial issues. Do you think the two incidents might be…”

“Might be what?! Have you finished your work? Gossiping this early in the morning!”

A group of people whispering in the corner fell silent as Ruan Tang’s sharp rebuke cut through the air.

The area instantly became as quiet as a graveyard.

The commotion had ruined Ruan Tang’s appetite. She turned and returned to her office. Gu Hewan sighed softly and went out alone to fetch lunch.

Initially, they thought the rumors were just gossip about romantic relationships.

But in just one day, the rumors intensified dramatically.

By the next night, they had completely shifted to “Bai Mei’er CEO Ni Yunshi flees with company funds,” with some people even claiming to have witnessed her escape.

“The staff seem to genuinely believe President Ni has absconded,” Li Xiao observed, offering a measured assessment of the situation.

Ruan Tang’s expression darkened further. She took a deep breath, struggling to compose herself before saying, “It doesn’t matter. They’re just rumors…”

As long as the finance department kept the situation under wraps and they brought Ni Yunshi back, the rumors would collapse on their own.

Even if there were accounting irregularities, they could investigate further.

Just as she was thinking this, a knock sounded on her office door.

“Come in!” Ruan Tang called out.

But it wasn’t Gu Hewan who entered. Instead, it was the project team’s accountant, followed by members of the project’s oversight committee.

Did my mouth just jinx me…?

Ruan Tang’s face darkened.

At the same moment, a member of the oversight committee asked the question that had been weighing on her mind:

“Miss Ruan, did you see Miss Ni after the cocktail party?”

As the words fell, the finance officer beside them lowered his head, looking utterly guilty.

“What’s this really about?” Ruan Tang repeated, her question unchanged.

Seeing that Ruan Tang remained unmoved, the supervisory team placed an investigation file on the desk. “Ni Yunshi is suspected of embezzling public funds. This is evidence of her falsifying accounts.”

As Ruan Tang flipped through the file, she realized the contents were identical to what she had seen on Gu Hewan’s phone during a quiet moment at the cocktail party.

“Shishi has the flu and is resting at home,” Ruan Tang replied, her eyes lowered.

“Is that so?” The supervisor raised an eyebrow. “Then could President Ruan please make a call? Let President Ni confirm this herself?”

“Her throat is hoarse. She can’t speak,” Ruan Tang said dismissively, without looking up.

The supervisor’s expression turned icy, his voice rising sharply. “Is she unable to speak, or is she simply not at home at all?!”

Snap!

The file folder slammed shut.

“I said she’s at home, and she’s at home! Does the project team no longer respect my authority?!”

Ruan Tang’s head snapped up, her gaze piercingly cold, her voice ringing with authority.

“I’m warning you! This isn’t about who shouts the loudest! With my guarantee, she has no credibility within the Shaoshang Group? Do you think I have none either?”

The reprimand, coupled with the sharp questioning, sent a chill down the supervisor’s spine.

After all, Ruan Tang’s cultural media company was exceptionally well-managed and highly profitable, serving as an invaluable and cost-effective promotional channel for the group’s other industrial subsidiaries.

“President Ruan, the missing funds aren’t a small matter. You need to consider the consequences of your words carefully,” the supervisor said, his tone softening but still carrying a warning.

“My words carry far more weight than yours. I don’t jump to conclusions and falsely accuse people before all the facts are in,” Ruan Tang retorted, glancing at Li Xiao.

Understanding the signal, Li Xiao immediately ushered the supervisor out.

The office door closed again, leaving Ruan Tang alone in the vast space. Only then did a flicker of panic finally surface in her eyes.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong!

Even if Ni Yunshi’s phone had gone unanswered when Bai Mei’er’s assistant called a few days ago, at most, people would have wondered where she’d gone.

The fact that this had immediately led to suspicions of embezzlement meant something must have happened at the banquet.

If the incident at the banquet were to spread, rival companies would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to exploit it in online media, rather than the project team discovering it first.

With this thought, Ruan Tang immediately picked up her phone.

Half an hour later, Li Huai’s resume and employment history were delivered to her.

Just as I suspected!

Large corporations never rehire individuals with criminal records.

Li Huai was currently working as a waiter at a small restaurant—he hadn’t returned to the Shaoshang Group at all!

The Gu Family had hosted the banquet. Who within the Gu Family, with the authority to grant access, would have allowed Li Huai to enter?

The answer was on the tip of her tongue when the door suddenly creaked open.

Ruan Tang looked up to see Gu Hewan returning from a business meeting.

“Everyone’s gone to lunch,” Gu Hewan chided, setting down a shopping bag she’d been hiding behind her back. “But you always insist on staying at your desk. Here, I brought back your favorite meat buns from that place you love.”

The savory aroma of the buns filled the air, tempting the senses.

Yet Ruan Tang remained unmoved. “If I don’t handle things personally, I might be kept in the dark.”

With a soft thud, the file landed on the desk.

Gu Hewan’s gaze immediately fell on the resume’s contents. When she looked up, she met Ruan Tang’s probing stare.

“Yes, I was the one who let that man into the cocktail party,” Gu Hewan admitted readily, nodding.

“You still believe Ni Yunshi is innocent regarding the financial issues. If I hadn’t arranged for someone to lay the groundwork, you’d probably think I was just making things up.”

“If you really wanted to warn me, you could have told me privately. Why make such a public scene?” Ruan Tang retorted, unconvinced.

“I never expected him to travel through time. I’m sorry. I originally planned to have him wait in the lounge…” Gu Hewan lowered her head, her eyes rimmed with red, her voice soft and apologetic.

Ruan Tang’s anger instantly dissipated.

After all, Gu Hewan was her savior and the key to her comeback.

Moreover, Ni Yunshi hadn’t fled because of the company’s financial troubles.

At the time, Ruan Tang had suddenly realized Ni Yunshi’s consciousness had been replaced, and she had reacted with hostility and disbelief, driving her away.

Finally, Ruan Tang sighed. “Anyway, let’s put everything else aside for now and focus on finding him.”

The most urgent task was resolving the biggest problem.

As she spoke, Gu Hewan suddenly looked up, her face brightening with a smile of redemption. “He’s already been found!”