“Do you know the exact amount?”
Xie Qian’s question made Detective Luo’s eyes flicker even more, his voice dropping to a whisper as if he were a thief, “Exactly ten thousand, in US dollars!”
Ten thousand US dollars, at this year’s exchange rate, was over eighty thousand Huabi. Even in the economically prosperous Modu, that was no small sum. No wonder they could hire a journalist to stir up trouble for Wen Ying.
The dirty water didn’t splash on Wen Ying, and the journalist’s report didn’t cause any serious damage. Instead, it boosted *Galaxy and You*’s sales yet again. That ten thousand dollars was like the enemy paying for Wen Ying’s book signing promotion.
Even so, Xie Qian was still furious.
This time, it didn’t amount to much, but who knew about next time? If they didn’t do something, wouldn’t it just encourage Zhao Dong’s bad behaviour?
Xie Qian was convinced Zhao Dong was targeting Wen Ying, and now with evidence to back it up, he wasn’t giving Zhao Dong any chance to explain.
Before retaliating against Zhao Dong, Xie Qian first cautioned Detective Luo, “You managed to find out about the foreign payment, so you must have your own methods. I won’t ask how you did it, but you’d better be careful not to cross any lines. If something happens, it’ll be hard for me to bail you out.”
Without some special means, there was no way to access the journalist’s account records. Though Detective Luo had failed repeatedly in business ventures, he was a true professional as a detective, with access to unconventional methods ordinary people couldn’t touch.
This was a double-edged sword, capable of aiding Luo’s investigations but also inflating his ego.
No matter the profession, once someone’s ego gets too big, they’re doomed to fall, sooner or later.
Detective Luo was uneasy himself, or his eyes wouldn’t have been darting like that.
Whatever he thought privately, on the surface, Luo remained the tough guy who never backed down, “If something happens, I don’t need anyone to save me. I have my professional ethics and won’t rat out my clients.”
Xie Qian let out an “oh,” “My mistake. So you’re not scared at all. Can you find out the detailed information on that remittance account?”
Luo’s eyes widened, “Just now you told me to be careful—”
“I told you to be careful not to get caught. Getting caught would be a hassle, and I can’t just let you die. But since you’ve already gone ninety-nine steps, one more won’t hurt.”
Since he’d already investigated this far, he might as well dig deeper. That was Xie Qian’s logic.
Luo mentally cursed Xie Qian as “heartless Xie the skinflint,” but then Xie Qian casually handed him a large envelope.
Inside were several stacks of cash, which Xie Qian said was for Luo’s operational expenses. Luo swore he wouldn’t bend for a pittance, but if that pittance became stacks of cash, well, bending wasn’t so bad. If Boss Xie had needs, Luo could not only bend his waist but break a leg for Xie’s amusement.
No, no, no, he wasn’t succumbing to money’s temptation. He’d just found a patron who appreciated his talents.
“Alright, I’ll give it another go.”
With the operational funds, Detective Luo was full of energy, leaving like a gust of wind.
Money’s power was limitless. Luo didn’t let Xie Qian down, quickly uncovering the detailed information on the remittance account.
To Xie Qian’s surprise, the sender was Zhao Dong’s sister, Zhao Xi.
Honestly, if the account holder had been someone Xie Qian didn’t know, he wouldn’t have been so shocked.
Not knowing would’ve been normal. Knowing was the odd part.
After all, few people were as foolish as Zhao Dong, so blatant and undisguised. Xie Qian’s scholarly mindset struggled to align with Zhao Dong’s.
Xie Qian told Wen Ying about it, and she didn’t overcomplicate things, “So it’s Zhao Xi. Didn’t expect that little girl to hold such a grudge.”
If a problem could be handled simply, there was no need to make it complex. Whether it was Zhao Xi or Zhao Dong didn’t matter; the Zhao siblings could be seen as one in certain contexts.
Wen Ying recalled a chance encounter at a restaurant where Zhao Dong barely glanced at her, clearly deeming her unworthy of his time now that he’d climbed higher. That suited Wen Ying fine. She didn’t care how Zhao Dong and his ilk viewed her. Their dismissal made it easier for her to quietly build her strength.
She hadn’t expected Zhao Dong to move on while Zhao Xi still held a grudge against her.
Why would Zhao Xi go to the trouble of targeting Wen Ying? Clearly, she was still bitter about the “stealing Xie Qian” feud.
Zhao Xi’s mindset was disrespectful to Xie Qian.
Xie Qian was a living person with his own will, free to choose his friends. Zhao Xi’s actions treated him like a coveted doll, something she had to possess because she liked it, regardless of Xie Qian’s wishes.
A teenage girl being so domineering was surely the result of the Zhao family’s indulgence.
“This matter, Zhao Dong might not even know about. But why is Zhao Xi back in the US?”
Wen Ying asked casually, and after some thought, Xie Qian told the truth, “Zhao Dong sent Zhao Xi to stay with that woman, living closely with her children.”
“That woman” referred to Xie Jinghu’s mistress.
Wen Ying’s heart sank. Zhao Dong was making big moves, likely tied deeply to Xie Jinghu’s mistress through mutual interests. Zhao Dong was also close to the He family, so He Zhen—
“Can’t we do something to stop them?”
Zhao Xi causing occasional trouble was no big deal to Wen Ying, but the tightening alliance between the Zhao siblings, the He family, and Xie Jinghu’s mistress was too disadvantageous for Xie Qian.
“Putting that aside, Zhao Dong sent Zhao Xi to live with your dad’s mistress, and your dad’s investing in Zhao Dong’s business in Huaguo. Isn’t that a way of transferring assets? I recall your family disapproves of your dad’s behaviour. If we had evidence…”
Could they secure more shares?
Wen Ying was quite fond of the “share transfer agreement” Xie Qian’s uncle had prepared.
Xie Qian was nearing 18, soon able to control his Jinhu shares, which thrilled Wen Ying.
Unbeknownst to her, due to Jiashin Film Company’s ownership, Xie Qian and Xie Jinghu had signed a separate betting agreement. If Xie Qian didn’t win the bet, even at 18, he couldn’t exercise his shareholder rights.
“I’ll think about how to handle this.”
To expose Zhao Dong and Xie Jinghu’s dealings, they needed a decisive blow. Xie Qian hadn’t planned to act so soon.
With Zhao Dong acting as Xie Jinghu’s frontman, Xie Qian only needed to keep tabs on him. He’d already figured out Zhao Dong’s character. If he took Zhao Dong down, Xie Jinghu would just find another pawn, forcing Xie Qian to start over. But with Zhao Xi targeting Wen Ying, Xie Qian couldn’t pretend it didn’t happen.
The Zhao siblings’ persistent hostility toward Wen Ying was a risk Xie Qian couldn’t take.
He’d rather Xie Jinghu find a new pawn and start over than risk Wen Ying’s safety.
…
While Xie Qian was making his decision, Zhao Dong, on a whim, checked the accounts and discovered his sister Zhao Xi’s little stunt.
An unusual remittance expense.
Feeling uneasy, Zhao Dong called and interrogated Zhao Xi. Upon learning the truth, he was furious, “Are you out of your mind? I sent you back to the US to do serious work, and you spent ten thousand dollars to mess with someone? I’ve built a reputation my whole life, and I have an idiot sister like you!”
The money was spent, and if it had worked, Zhao Dong wouldn’t have been so mad. But it was spent for nothing. Wen Ying wasn’t affected at all, and the papers said her book was selling like wildfire. It was like using Zhao family money to fund Wen Ying’s promotion. Zhao Dong was sick with rage.
Zhao Xi, never one to hold back, let her thoughts pour out, “I just can’t stand her. I’m being sent back to the US to suck up to others, while she’s in Huaguo, becoming a famous author and screenwriter, getting closer to Xie Qian as classmates and friends!”
Why should she?
Zhao Xi felt deeply wronged, “I don’t like Zhuo Chen at all. He’s nothing like Xie Qian. He can’t compare. I don’t like Sara Zhuo or Zhuo Yue either. That mother and daughter have such a superiority complex, treating me like an idiot, thinking I don’t notice. I want to go back to Huaguo. I don’t want to stay with the Zhuo family. I’m going back, and if you want to cut my allowance, go ahead!”
Wasn’t the Zhao family’s money enough to spend?
Zhao Xi had been pampered since childhood, but now she had to live under the Zhuo family’s roof, and her resentment had long been brewing. Zhao Dong’s scolding was the final straw. Zhao Xi went all out, declaring that if her brother dared cut her card, she’d shamelessly live off the Zhuo family. After all, she was a minor. If her brother wasn’t ashamed, neither was she.
If he didn’t cut her card, she’d not only hire people to trouble Wen Ying this time, but she’d do it again.
As long as she lived, she’d keep stirring things up unless Zhao Dong let her return to Huaguo.
