In the master bedroom of the Zhan family's residence.
Wei Yumeng's sneeze drew Zhan Mohan's attention. He put down the tie he was about to fasten and went to the large bed.
"You've caught a cold... no wonder you kept sneezing last night."
Wei Yumeng sniffled, her delicate brows furrowed, seemingly annoyed by the sudden cold.
A discernible worry flickered in Zhan Mohan's eyes. He knelt on the bed, his long hand reaching out to place his palm on Wei Yumeng's forehead, then testing his own temperature.
"No fever, that's the only silver lining."
Ever since Wei Yumeng lost so much blood that she almost didn't survive, Zhan Mohan had become exceptionally attentive to even the smallest of Wei Yumeng's ailments.
"A cold is also unfortunate... Oh well, I need to get up and go to work." Wei Yumeng, her voice thick with a nasal tone, wrinkled her delicate nose and grabbed a tissue uncomfortably.
Zhan Mohan held Wei Yumeng's shoulders, lifted her, and placed her back on the bed. He shook his head.
"I'll call in sick for you. Don't go to work today. What if your cold gets worse?"
"It won't!"
Wei Yumeng quickly covered Zhan Mohan's mouth. She didn't want to jinx it; a small cold could still be troublesome.
"In any case, you're staying home today."
Zhan Mohan still wouldn't agree to Wei Yumeng going to the company. He tidied his tie and hadn't walked a few steps before he heard Wei Yumeng muttering behind him.
"When you go to the company, I'll sneak out!" Wei Yumeng, still under the covers, lifted a corner of the blanket and poked out a fluffy head, but couldn't see Zhan Mohan.
"I'm here." A teasingly low male voice sounded from above Wei Yumeng's head. Zhan Mohan shook his head helplessly, unbuttoned a few buttons of his shirt, and removed his sapphire blue cufflinks.
"Aren't you going to the company?" Wei Yumeng was startled. She widened her beautiful eyes and asked.
"I've already asked Fang Xun to bring the work home. I'll stay home with you today."
Seeing Wei Yumeng's surprised expression, Zhan Mohan's thin lips curved into a pleased arc. He was one step ahead, how could he not understand her intentions?
Wei Yumeng lazily said "oh" and lay back down under the covers. Her plan to sneak to work had failed before it even began.
Fang Xun was quick. The doorbell soon rang, and he entered the study with a stack of documents.
"Thank goodness I'm not Assistant Fang. You, as CEO, are quite the troublemaker." Wei Yumeng clicked her tongue in admiration and glanced at Zhan Mohan, saying softly.
"The CEO's wife is sick, so the CEO naturally has to work from home. Changing the subject won't help. Drink your cold medicine quickly."
Zhan Mohan ruthlessly exposed Wei Yumeng's true intentions and pushed the bowl of dark liquid towards her.
"It smells so bitter."
Wei Yumeng knitted her brows. The bitter smell was not pleasant. She sighed and looked up at Zhan Mohan.
"You only need to take one dose. I asked Dr. Su, and the medicine he prescribed is a sure cure."
Zhan Mohan's handsome brows twitched. His gaze fell on the bowl of cold medicine, and he shook his head, pulling a piece of fruit candy from his pocket.
"It's just a little cold, I'll be fine in a few days anyway." Wei Yumeng grumbled about the doctor's words, closed her eyes, braced herself, and drank the medicine, her face contorting in discomfort.
After finishing breakfast, Zhan Mohan elegantly wiped his lips and got up, heading towards the study.
There was an unusual amount of paperwork these days. Zhan Mohan put on his black and gold-rimmed glasses and sat at his desk, diligently reviewing documents.
Wei Yumeng, not having to go to work, felt a bit bored. She picked up a stack of documents and began to read them slowly.
However, as she flipped through them, they all seemed to be from the same corporation.
"Have the cooperation projects with Feng Group increased so much recently? Or has it always been like this?"
Wei Yumeng's expression was puzzled. She picked up another document, and upon seeing the buyer and seller column, she wasn't surprised to find Feng Group's name again.
Feng Group, that was the family that had been so enthusiastic towards her...
Wei Yumeng recalled the enthusiastic demeanor of the Feng couple and Catherine's smiling face, and a strange emotion welled up in her heart.
The passionate Feng family had visited her every few days while she was hospitalized. If she hadn't seen their group's documents today, she would have almost forgotten...
"We did give Feng Group many cooperation projects as a gesture of gratitude before. More have been added recently at Feng Group's own request."
Fang Xun appeared at some point with another pile of documents and provided an explanation.
"What is the reason?"
Zhan Mohan looked at the documents in his hand with a meaningful gaze. The workload had indeed increased significantly in the past few days.
"Feng Group is undergoing a power struggle within the company. Miss Catherine personally requested our staff to increase cooperation projects, and they are all to be handled by her subordinates."
When Catherine made her request, Fang Xun had already sent people to investigate within Feng Group, thus obtaining this discreet information.
After all, family matters were not to be aired publicly. No matter how fierce the internal war within Feng Group became, it would not be easily revealed to outsiders.
"It seems she needs to borrow Zhan's strength to solidify her position in this power struggle."
Zhan Mohan stated nonchalantly, tapping his fingers on the table, the rosewood surface emitting a dull sound.
Wei Yumeng fell into thought. Catherine was young and lacked experience, thus needing to leverage Zhan's influence to strengthen her own position.
Gaining cooperation with Zhan Group would be like adding wings to her dragon in her pursuit of power, making her eager to increase cooperation projects with Zhan Group.
"However, did the Feng couple really die?" Wei Yumeng posed the question, recalling the evening news she had seen that day. At the time, her heart had sunk like a heavy stone.
That unprecedented feeling made her uneasy.
"Fang Xun, what about the boarding manifest you were investigating that day?"
Zhan Mohan was also reminded of that night by Wei Yumeng. He had instructed Fang Xun to investigate, but amidst their busyness, they had forgotten about it.
"It was sent to you the next day. Please take a look." Fang Xun said respectfully.
Zhan Mohan retrieved the message and indeed found a picture sent by Fang Xun in the records from a few days prior.
Wei Yumeng's heart tightened. She sat beside Zhan Mohan and looked at the boarding manifest of the flight that had crashed, flight number Y1035, with him.
There were over two hundred passengers on the plane, enough to make one's eyes swim. Every time she saw a name starting with "Feng" or "Song," Wei Yumeng would involuntarily hold her breath.
The boarding manifest was quickly scanned. Wei Yumeng subconsciously met Zhan Mohan's gaze, her large eyes wide.
"The Feng couple's names are not there. They didn't board!"