Several days later, deep into the night, outside a dark and damp warehouse.

Two sedans stopped at the entrance. From the first car emerged Zhang Moyun and four bodyguards; from the second car came Xu Yi, Cheng Chuan, Zhang Fengming, and Li Jinxiong.

Zhang Moyun, surrounded by the group, walked toward the warehouse with a cold expression. Xu Yi quickly stepped to his side to follow.

Zhang Moyun asked, “Where was she found?”

Xu Yi replied in a low voice, “She ran to Hubei. We found her in a county town below Jiangcheng. She has a cousin there.”

Zhang Moyun patted his shoulder. “Well done. The police don’t know, do they?”

Xu Yi answered, “Ding Chenmo arrived in Jiangcheng one step behind us. Perhaps he’ll find out in a few days.”

“No matter. That man is like a stubborn stone in an outhouse—no need to deal with him. I’ll put pressure on his superiors.”

The group entered the warehouse. A dim yellow lamp hung from the ceiling. Two loyal workers stood guard over a disheveled woman wearing casual clothes and pants, sitting on the ground. Even in her fallen state, a quick glance revealed her beautiful face and graceful figure.

Zhang Fengming brought over a chair. Zhang Moyun sat down directly facing her, the group standing in solemn silence.

Zhang Fengming cursed, “Damn it, you stinking bitch! Zhang Dong is here, why are you still acting like a corpse? If Zhang Dong hadn’t said we couldn’t touch you, fuck, I’d be the first to kill you!”

Zhang Moyun raised his hand, stopping his agitated cursing. Zhang Moyun spoke with what could be called gentleness, “Liu Ying, how have I, Zhang Moyun, wronged you? Not only did you swallow my money, you even dared to mess with my son? Hmm? Tell me, I really can’t figure it out.”

Liu Ying on the ground raised her head. With tears in her eyes, she turned her face slightly, smiled bleakly, and said, “You haven’t wronged me. You just look down on me. People die for wealth, birds die for food—it’s only natural. And I’m not the only one who took money. Li Minghui, Zhao Yan—they all took some too. But you’re going after just one woman. Zhang-ge, how truly heroic of you!”

Li Minghui and Zhao Yan were the actual managers of Furida. Li Minghui was even Zhang Moyun’s fellow townsman. These two men had now been suspended by Zhang Moyun.

Zhang Moyun grabbed a stool from the ground and threw it at her. Liu Ying was knocked down, groaning.

“You were the ringleader!” Zhang Moyun roared. “Temptress—truly a temptress! I never should have recruited you to Fu Ming. You’ve corrupted all my brothers!”

Liu Ying smiled lightly and said, “Yes, I’m a temptress. Your brothers are all good people, all corrupted by me, haha.” She casually glanced at the several people beside Zhang Moyun.

Cheng Chuan, who had been silent all along, said, “Chairman, don’t waste so many words on her. What happens next—do we turn her over to the police, or…”

Zhang Moyun was silent for a moment, then asked, “Have the accounts been thoroughly checked? How much did they embezzle?”

Cheng Chuan’s voice grew slightly hoarse, “Over ten million.”

“Over ten million…” Zhang Moyun stood up and slapped Cheng Chuan across the face. “It’s all my money! So much money, and you, as Chief Financial Officer, didn’t discover it! What use are you to me!”

Cheng Chuan’s face was full of guilt and remorse. Choking up, he said, “Their accounting was too well hidden. I didn’t catch it—my abilities were insufficient…” Suddenly his knees went weak and he knelt down. “Yun-ge, all these years, you entrusted the finances to me, yet I failed to guard them properly. I accept any punishment without complaint!”

A group vice president who was usually capable, stern, and authoritative was now crying like a child.

Zhang Moyun was so angry he panted heavily, pointing at this once-closest brother. Finally, he let out a long sigh and said, “Get up. If I can’t even trust you, who can I trust?” Then his gaze bore into Liu Ying like lightning. “Only she is new. I knew it—professional managers recruited from outside can’t be trusted! How many enterprises have been ruined by people like this.”

Li Jinxiong, eyes red, helped up the disheartened Cheng Chuan.

Zhang Fengming stood to the side, lamenting disappointedly, “Ai! Old Cheng, how could you be so confused!”

Zhang Moyun sat back down in his chair, seeming to roughly calm his emotions. He said, “We can’t report this to the police. With Fu Ming’s current situation, if a major financial scandal gets out, none of us will survive—the company will collapse directly. Liu Ying, let me ask you—where did all that money go?”

Liu Ying answered, “That money—the bulk of it is naturally in my hands. Chairman, I think the same way—our Fu Ming cannot have any negative news come out. If I spit out all the money, can this matter be settled? Can I leave?”

Zhang Moyun sneered, “Whore, you still dare to negotiate conditions with me?”

He seemed to make up his mind, stood up, and walked toward the door. The group quickly followed. Zhang Moyun beckoned, and Xu Yi approached. He whispered, “I don’t care what methods you use—make Liu Ying give back the money. The group desperately needs money right now.”

Xu Yi nodded gravely, his expression serious. “I understand. Chairman, once we get the money back, what should be done with her?”

Zhang Moyun glanced at him and said lightly, “She dared to touch my son and disturb my ranks—do you think I’ll let her go? Once Fu Ming catches its breath, we’ll turn her over to the Economic Investigation Brigade.”

Xu Yi’s expression relaxed, and he nodded. “That’s good then.”

Zhang Moyun smiled, patted his shoulder, and said, “Worried I might impulsively commit murder? Don’t worry, I’m not that foolish. You found her, so you get first credit this time. I know what’s what.”

Xu Yi smiled silently.

The group got in their cars and left. Zhang Fengming and Cheng Chuan lagged behind at the rear. Both simultaneously turned back to look at Liu Ying on the ground.

Liu Ying smiled with unclear meaning. The two men turned their heads back with expressionless faces.

——

Another month passed.

At the Zhang family villa, in Zhang Moyun’s study.

Li Jinxiong and Zhang Moyun sat facing each other. Li Jinxiong accepted the USB drive the other handed him, but his expression was hesitant. “Yun-ge, what’s on this?”

Zhang Moyun smiled slightly and said, “Over this past month, your son has been brooding over losing a voice recorder. This USB drive contains something else, but its effect should be about the same as that voice recorder. A-Chan entrusted it to his son for safekeeping, so I’m entrusting it to his father.”

Li Jinxiong roughly guessed what it was and stammered, “Why me?”

Zhang Moyun looked at him calmly. “Because among those around me now, the only ones I can completely trust are you and Xu Yi. And you—you’re my brother.”

Li Jinxiong stared with his tiger-like eyes, but his eye sockets reddened slightly. “How long should I keep it?”

Zhang Moyun stood up, gazing out the window, and answered, “In a month, once I sell off the futures and Fu Ming’s debts are paid, you give this to Ding Chenmo.”

“Why don’t you give it to him yourself?”

“I have a copy here too.” Zhang Moyun smiled faintly. “I now have four bodyguards following me wherever I go. Perhaps by then… your copy won’t be needed. It’s just a precaution.”

Li Jinxiong understood and said angrily, “They wouldn’t have that much nerve!”