Faced with yet another soul-searching question from her daughter, Zhang Liping's heart was on the verge of collapsing.

Why abandon her daughter? Zhang Liping also asked herself this in her heart, she really regretted it too. She wanted to know why she had abandoned her daughter in the past and why she had been so vain.

Although Yi Anguo wasn't wealthy and the family conditions weren't very good, to be fair, Yi Anguo wasn't very attentive to the family, but he was still quite nice to her. He never yelled at her, let alone hit her.

Moreover, Yi Anguo was a hardworking and honest man who could endure hardships, doing laundry, cooking, shopping for groceries, and mopping the floor—all of these he could do at home.

If she hadn't left Yi Anguo back then, even if they couldn't live a life of luxury, they at least wouldn't be very poor. At the very least, they could live happily together as a family, and her daughter wouldn't suffer or resent her, interrogating her soul like this.

"Xin Yi! Mom is sorry, mom isn't a good mom!" Zhang Liping said, crying.

"Xin Yi! How are you doing now? Has your dad found you a new mom?"

"Is your new mom not treating you well? If you want to come to mom, mom will come get you. No matter how hard it is, mom will make sure you have a good life."

...

"No need, my dad treats me very well. Being by his side, my life is very happy. Whenever I want something, Dad always gets it for me." Yi Xinyi said.

"I just don't understand—my dad is so good, so rich, why did you leave him?"

"Did you find someone better than my dad after you left?"

Besides crying and saying sorry, Zhang Liping couldn't say anything else, not knowing what she should say to her daughter.

"Xin Yi! Where are you now? Can mom come to see you?" Zhang Liping finally pleaded.

"Mom hasn't seen you in years, mom really wants to see you. Seeing that you're living well would put my mind at ease."

"If you really wanted to see me, why haven't you ever come to see me all these years, waiting for me to call and contact you?" Yi Xinyi asked.

"If I never call you, would you never miss me?"

"Mom tried to find you, but you had moved, and your dad changed his phone number. Mom tried calling your dad's number, but couldn't get through, couldn't find you." Zhang Liping explained.

"These are just excuses. Did you try calling the phone at Auntie's house? Have you called the phone at Uncle's house next door?" Yi Xinyi demanded again.

"I did, but couldn't get through. No one answered." Zhang Liping said, feeling a bit guilty and powerless.

Truthfully, Zhang Liping did call, and indeed no one answered at the time. Later, she lacked the courage to try again.

After all, she had already separated from Yi Anguo. Calling Yi Anguo's elder sister and cousin's house felt a bit uneasy, fearing they would blame her for leaving Yi Anguo.

After hanging up the phone, Yi Xinyi's eyes were red from crying. She walked up to Yi Anguo and said.

"Dad! Can I tell my mom our home address and let her come here to find me?"

Yi Anguo hesitated for a moment before ultimately nodding and saying, "Of course you can!"

"Dad! I want a cellphone. I promise I won't use it to play games or let it affect my studies." Yi Xinyi hesitated a bit and said.

Yi Anguo nodded and said, "Alright! Dad trusts you; you're a good, obedient child."

After Yi Xinyi returned to her room, Hu Jing sighed and said, "Xin Yi is quite pitiful being abandoned by her biological mother since childhood."

"But if her biological mother comes and doesn't want to leave, what then? You wouldn't soften and let her stay out of nostalgia, would you?"

"What are you talking about! Some things are over and done with; there's no going back down the road. There's no such thing as a regret pill in the world; things that have happened can't be treated as if they never did." Yi Anguo said, smiling.

"Even if she genuinely wants to stay, it's because Xin Yi is her daughter, but it's long surpassed anything related to me and will never concern me in the future."

Whether in past life or present, Yi Anguo had long moved on from that woman—no hate, no love, just two utterly unrelated people.

Unbeknownst to Zhang Liping, Yi Anguo had become a person she couldn't reach. She's not interested in national affairs or social hot topics; even when watching TV, she doesn't watch news programs. Yi Anguo seldom appeared in the news media, so she was unaware of his changes.

After learning her daughter's address, she merely thought the place was easier to find with some fame. She assumed her daughter and her father lived in nearby rented housing, completely unaware they lived in a villa within that luxurious complex.

Zhang Liping immediately applied for a few days of leave, hurriedly taking a bus to Shenzhen, eager to see how her daughter had grown.

Meanwhile, Yi Anguo arrived at Hualong Investment Group. With 2010 about to come to an end and 2011 approaching, Hualong Investment Group had to quickly set its investment and development plans for the coming year.

This year's investment targets and profits had both exceeded tasks, and nearing year-end, everyone was busy compiling 2010's investment reports, so the atmosphere was relaxed.

Yi Anguo proceeded to the International Oil Futures Trading Project Investment Department.

Compared to other departments, the atmosphere here was relatively tense, with everyone fully focused on their computer screens, observing the K-line graphs for the international oil futures trading market, and analyzing the next step in price trends.

"Everyone, what conclusions have you reached regarding next year's international oil futures trends after your research and observation?"

Yi Anguo glanced at the international oil trend K-line graph on the big screen, smiling as he asked everyone.

"Chairman! Based on the current trend of international oil futures prices, I personally believe it will steadily rise after the new year, breaking the $100 per barrel mark shouldn't be a problem," said a deputy general from the International Oil Futures Investment Department.

"Give more specifics! International oil futures prices are significantly influenced by external factors. Changes in international relations could greatly impact price fluctuations."

"Currently, considering various circumstances, next year's international economic forecast seems favorable, coupled with the Middle East and North Africa events influencing sustained international oil price increases."

"Personally, I believe from January to May next year, international oil prices may reach above $110 per barrel."

"But specifically, circumstances depend on how the international situation changes next year."

"If any major incident occurs, it could greatly affect the international oil price trend."

Yi Anguo nodded and said, "Good analysis. Does anyone else have different opinions or views?"

Subsequently, several executives from the Investment Department expressed varying opinions and perspectives, but everyone agreed that at the beginning of the year, international oil futures prices would rise, breaking the $100 per barrel mark without any dissent.

"Since everyone agrees that at the beginning of next year, international oil futures prices will rise, breaking the $100 per barrel mark is a given." Yi Anguo concluded.

"Then let me share my personal view!"

"Early next year, the US will definitely deploy troops to Libya because Gaddafi will successfully anger the US. Not only will he anger the US, but also the five major nations of the United Nations will vote to authorize military action against Libya."

"Libya is also a major oil-exporting country, therefore, the Libyan war will lead to a significant rise in international oil prices."

"So, my target price for international oil futures after the new year is $125 per barrel. $110 per barrel is simply too conservative."

"Chairman, are you sure the Libyan issue will become so severe next year? Will the UK and the US indeed deploy troops against Libya?" The executives present from the International Oil Futures Investment Department couldn't help but discuss in surprise.

"Of course, this matter is already brewing, isn't it? The day it erupts is merely a matter of sooner or later." Yi Anguo said confidently.