“Very well.” Sun Yue seemed to be finishing. “The rest of you will be able to catch her up on everything else.”

“Yes, ma’am,” came a chorus of voices.

“You’re all dismissed.”

Xiaokai stepped to the side so the line of secretaries could file out of the room. Sun Yue sat at her desk.

“Xiaokai. Come in.”

He approached her desk but didn’t sit down.

“I trust everything went well?”

“Yes.” He didn’t bother to add that there were never any issues with Bai Xue.

“Good. I have something to discuss with you.” She gestured to the seats in front of her desk. “Sit.”

He sat.

“Xingyu’s return has raised some problems that we didn’t anticipate.”

Xiaokai raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

Sun Yue went to her computer and clicked a few things, likely accessing whatever information she needed to pass onto Xiaokai. “Someone is accessing List resources using Xingyu’s name.”

“Excuse me?”

She leaned back in her chair now, folding one leg over the other. Where Liu Baiyan’s office was all dark colors and solid, heavy furniture, Sun Yue’s was sleek and modern, all white and gold and bright; the surface of her desk, supported by a brass frame, was crystal-clear glass, displaying in its entirety her long maroon dress and glittering gold shoes. That was Sun Yue—always ready to drop into some expensive party, if need be. Other than sleepwear, Xiaokai had never seen her dress any other way. After Xiaokai’s exclamation, she took a moment to rearrange the way the fabric fell across her legs, waiting for Xiaokai to compose himself. When she determined she had waited long enough, she said, “Whoever it is, he’s been using Xingyu’s identity. He has an identification card, as well. Since Xingyu has only made the one public appearance since his return, it isn’t common knowledge what he looks like now, so pretending to be him was apparently very easy.” Sun Yue twisted her wedding band around her finger. “I want you to figure out who it is and what their intentions are.”

“Me? Why not Liu Xingyu? He was the one who was careless enough to get his identity stolen.”

“It isn’t worth his time.”

Liu Xiaokai gritted his teeth. “You mean to say that his training is more valuable than all the time I dedicate to this company.”

“Don’t try to have this argument now, Xiaokai.”

“Was this your decision or Liu Baiyan’s?”

“Does it matter?”

His lip curled. “It matters to me.”

“Learn to get over it. Your father and I are a unit, just as you and Xingyu will be a unit when you take our place.”

“Don’t remind me.” Xiaokai stood. “I’ll take care of it. Just send me whatever information I need.” As he turned to go, though, Sun Yue had one more thing to say:

“Did Bai Xue say anything to you?”