He stayed in the office and waited until noon. He finished the tea, then he made himself comfortable at Ba’s desk and started going through his things. Xiao-Xiao had said something about how Ba didn’t keep List-relevant information in his office, but surely since he was in his office now, there had to be something somewhere. He went through the files at the desk first, then went through the computer—neither had particularly incriminating information, but he was finally getting to see all these deals that Ba had been hiding from him. It wasn’t nearly as exciting as he thought it would be.

He went through the bookshelves next, paging through each book, getting familiar with the contents. Again, nothing obviously incriminating but at the very least enlightening regarding Ba’s character—they were all business books, strategy books, philosophy books; all things that one could use to become a better businessman. Xingyu wished he had this much time to look through Xiao-Xiao’s books as well.

There was a knock at the door. “President Liu, Director Sun is here for you.”

Xingyu put the book he was holding back into its place and then returned to the desk. “Send her in.”

Laoma came through the door. She looked tall, elegant, untouchable; though she had always been reasonably warm toward Xingyu, there was never a point at which Xingyu felt any kind of motherly love from her. Still, she had always been preferable to time with Ba.

“Laoma. Have you had lunch?”

Laoma froze a few steps in. She looked at Xingyu, then at the body laying at his feet, then at Xingyu again. It was the most emotion he had ever seen on his laoma’s face. He leaned back in his father’s chair and propped up his feet on the desk.

“Xingyu—”

He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Xingyu, what have you done?”

“Ba always told me to take what I wanted. That was the essence of becoming his heir. If I wanted something, it was mine. Nothing and no one should get in my way of getting it. And, well.” He delicately lifted his shoulder. “I wanted the presidency. It’s mine now, isn’t it? Exposing me now would ruin the company and everything the two of you worked for.”

His laoma just stared at him.

“In any case, I don’t trust you as far as I could throw you. Xiao-Xiao is good to take your role now, isn’t he? I recommend you retire.”

“Did—did the two of you plan this?”

Xingyu laughed. “Xiao-Xiao, conspiring with me? You must be kidding.”

Laoma moved closer, her steps cautious. She stopped in front of her husband’s body and knelt. There was a strange expression on her face—almost like sorrow. But a woman like Laoma wasn’t capable of emotions like sorrow. “You don’t understand how serious this is.”