"Since you are all here, I have a few words I'd like to say to you," Old Madam said to Zhao Hui and the others.

They nodded and sat up straight.

Old Madam cleared her throat and said in a clear voice, "Thanks to the head office setting the tone."

"So many people came today, and I don't even recognize half of them; it's giving Old Dai plenty of face."

"I know there are still many rumors outside, saying all sorts of things. They're nothing more than claims that Old Dai took bribes and committed suicide to escape punishment."

"They don't know, but you should understand. My husband and I have been in the industry for thirty years; what amount of money haven't we handled?"

"What kind of schemes haven't we seen?"

"It's just that we ourselves don't have much of a demand for material things, which is why we haven't been tripped up by desire."

"I firmly believe that Old Dai did not do anything illegal or undisciplined, and he died from..." Old Madam choked up slightly, "...a pure accident."

Chen Cheng felt a stir in his heart; Old Madam was trying to seal the verdict and didn't want these Senior Apprentice Brothers in front of him to dig into the accounts.

"Teacher, those are all rumors. People who truly understand Director Dai won't believe them, so don't take them to heart," Xie Zhiyuan said, feeling guilty about Director Dai's death and speaking up to comfort her.

Only now did Chen Cheng get a hint of what was going on. A bank? Teacher Ouyang? Four students? It felt familiar, but something was off.

Old Madam couldn't hold it in any longer; tears streamed down, and she said in a choked voice, "Thank you all... for organizing the memorial service for me."

"It's been so many years since you graduated, and you still haven't forgotten... our teacher-student bond."

"Among the four of you, Xie Zhiyuan is the best at making money," before Xie Zhiyuan could feel proud, Old Madam continued, "The flaw is that he is too clever."

Xie Zhiyuan's expression immediately fell.

"Su Jianren may seem unreliable on the surface, but he is actually a person of genuine character."

Su Jianren pursed his lips and smiled.

Huh? Su Jianren?

Chen Cheng understood everything now. Isn't this City of the City?

Chen Cheng had only read the original work, but now, what was unfolding before him was too different, which was why he hadn't been able to figure out which drama Teacher Ouyang was from.

In the original work, Teacher Ouyang was an old man, but here it had become an old woman.

Xie Zhiyuan was not called Xie Zhiyuan either, but Xue Zhiyuan.

Zhao Hui was a branch manager at a bank, Su Jianren was at the same bank, and Miao Che was in the audit department.

Only Xie Zhiyuan had started his own business and went into trusts.

Old Madam looked at Zhao Hui, who was sitting next to Chen Cheng, "Zhao Hui is the most like Old Dai."

"Miao Che has the greatest vision!"

"In the blink of an eye, you have transformed from green youths into capable leaders."

Old Madam looked at Chen Cheng, then at Xie Zhiyuan and Su Jianren, and continued, "Today, taking Old Dai's situation as an occasion, I have a few words of advice for you."

"Teacher, please go ahead," Su Jianren replied.

"You all have your own responsibilities," Old Madam looked at Zhao Hui, "Bank executives must, above all, be able to withstand temptation."

Chen Cheng glanced at Xie Zhiyuan, then at Zhao Hui, and almost couldn't hold back a laugh.

Old Madam was pointing at Zhao Hui.

In the original work, it was Xie Zhiyuan who used a honey trap on Zhao Hui, finding a woman who looked almost exactly like Zhao Hui's late wife to lobby him, and Zhao Hui ultimately couldn't withstand it.

"Because with a flick of your fingers, you hold the assets of thousands of households. Yes, the livelihoods of the common people."

"Therefore, you must adhere to principles, have foresight, and be good gatekeepers."

"Remember what I said to you: you all walked into your positions wearing clean white shirts. No matter how much you cherish them, shirts will eventually turn yellow or black; that is a natural law."

"But just because they will turn yellow or black, you cannot mess around or act recklessly from the very beginning."

"That way, in three days' time, they would become black shirts."

Chen Cheng looked at Old Madam. Teacher, life is just one white shirt; no matter how much you cherish it, it will change color. White, gray—if you don't wash it diligently, it will naturally turn black.

"We still have to cherish it very, very much," Old Madam continued.

"You understand what I mean, right?" Old Madam scanned Zhao Hui and the others.

Zhao Hui and Miao Che both nodded.

Su Jianren's eyes were red and bloodshot. "We understand what you mean, and we haven't dared to forget."

"Mom~" Old Madam's son, Dai Bin, walked over and interrupted everyone.

"The guests have almost all left."

Old Madam looked at them, "Alright, let's stop here for today. It's getting late, so everyone hurry back."

She looked at Chen Cheng, "Since you're back, get to know your Senior Apprentice Brothers."

"Yes, Teacher," Chen Cheng exchanged glances with the others, "I'll see you home first. Senior Apprentice Brothers, I'll visit another day."

"Hmm," Teacher Ouyang nodded readily.

Dai Bin helped Old Madam walk in front, with Chen Cheng, Zhao Hui, and the others following behind.

Suddenly, a woman with red hair and glasses walked up to Teacher Ouyang and said, "My condolences, Teacher Ouyang."

Teacher Ouyang was in a daze, and the people behind her were stunned as well.

The reason Chen Cheng was stunned was that he recognized this woman.

Isn't this Gao Qilan?

Su Jianren's eyes went wide.

Similar! Too similar!

Too much like Zhao Hui's late wife, Li Ying.

The woman did not linger under everyone's gaze; she nodded to Teacher Ouyang and then carried the flowers into the memorial hall.

Zhao Hui took out sunglasses and put them on to hide his shock.

Chen Cheng looked at Xie Zhiyuan, then at Zhao Hui; their expressions were different.

But there was clearly no shock on Xie Zhiyuan's face, as if he had seen a dead old classmate; instead, there was a trace of mockery and playfulness.

Chen Cheng understood; this was likely the sugar-coated bullet Xie Zhiyuan had arranged for Zhao Hui.

But this sugar-coated bullet was actually Gao Qilan.

Gao Qilan with her gold-rimmed glasses had truly stunned time back then.

Oh, wait, now she is called Zhou Lin!

"Is my vision failing me? Huh?" Su Jianren asked the three of them in disbelief.

In fact, this sugar-coated bullet was not just aimed at Zhao Hui, but also at Su Jianren.

During their university days, Su Jianren had also liked Li Ying, who was in the same class, but in the end, Li Ying chose Zhao Hui.

Chen Cheng shook his head inwardly; that's really something, finding a "white moonlight" to use as a honey trap.

Who could withstand that?

Chen Cheng didn't pay any more attention to the four of them, walked over to Teacher Ouyang, and supported Old Madam, "Teacher, I'll take you home."

Old Madam patted Chen Cheng's hand, "You go back too." Recalling the debate with Chen Cheng, a slight smile appeared on her face, "Come to my house another day and tell me in detail about the actual situation in the Ugly Country."

Chen Cheng understood; Old Madam was in a bad mood, "Yes, Teacher, then I'll come to see you another day."

Old Madam nodded, and Chen Cheng helped her into the car.

"Goodbye, Teacher."

Old Madam waved her hand, "Hurry back."

Chen Cheng watched the car drive away with a deep gaze; Old Madam was still formidable.

She used the teacher-student bond to pressure Zhao Hui and Miao Che not to dig into the matters where Dai Qixing was suspected of violations.

Chen Cheng was not within their system, and having received a favor from Old Madam, he naturally wouldn't meddle in other people's business.

But it was still necessary to have an idea of what was going on, so he took out his phone and sent a message.

He hadn't watched this show, and from the current developments, it was very different from the original work.

He didn't even know who Dai Qixing was at all.

To know what was really going on, he could only ask someone to investigate.