Chapter 56#

Yao Shuwen was Zhao Chengqiang’s lawful wife.

This woman ran her own company in the United States. Though she was close to fifty, she had taken excellent care of herself and carried herself with refined poise. She wore a beige suit with a pearl brooch that was understated yet luxurious.

She must have been a beauty when she was young—one could still see traces of gentle elegance in her features. When Zhao Chengqiang was carrying on with Zhao Xue’s mother, he was extremely cold toward his own family. Yao Shuwen raised the child alone, enduring hardship in China until Zhao Chengqiang was killed. She then immediately emigrated to the United States with her assets.

Originally, Jin Yan had lost contact with her, but one of Guan Feng’s subordinates happened to have overseas business dealings and came into contact with someone from her company. Back then, Jin Yan and Jiang Qin’s family were bitter enemies of Zhao Chengqiang, yet they shared a mutual sympathy with this unfortunate woman and had even eaten together several times. After learning that Jiang Qin had been arrested, Yao Shuwen was deeply reluctant to return to H City, a place full of painful memories, but after much consideration she still came.

After many years apart, Jin Yan smiled as soon as he saw her and complimented her, “Sister Yao, you look full of vitality—getting younger and younger with age.”

Yao Shuwen shook her head and laughed. “How could I compare with you young people? President Guan, no need to say anything—Comrade Xiao Jin is even more handsome and dashing than before. Do you men just never age?”

Everyone except Guan Feng laughed obligingly.

“But Jin Yan, you really don’t look well. Been feeling overheated lately?”

Jin Yan’s eyes darkened. “We still don’t know when Jiang Qin will get out…”

Yao Shuwen comforted him. “That day will come sooner or later. Don’t rush. If there’s anything you need help with, just tell me—I’ll do my best.”

She said it casually, as polite courtesy. After all, they hadn’t seen each other in many years, and the bond was limited. But Jin Yan hadn’t invited her here merely to catch up, and her words had actually struck right at his intention.

They got into the cars to head to the hotel. Guan Feng’s status was far beyond Yao Shuwen’s; he sat calmly in the RV with Hellen, so Jin Yan had Yao Shuwen ride in his own car. Along the way, he explained the recent events in detail and finally sighed. “The court date has been set—Wednesday the week after next. After hearing rumors, Zhao Xue tried to flee to F County, but I caught her and brought her back.”

At the mention of Zhao Xue, Yao Shuwen clenched her teeth slightly.

Jin Yan pretended not to notice and continued. “If only someone could provide some evidence favorable to Jiang Qin. But after all these years, where can we find evidence?—Sigh.”

The hotel they booked was a property under Jin Weiguo’s name. As soon as they entered, a courteous attendant led them to a VIP private room. Zhao Xue had already been brought in through the back door, tightly bound. Her hair was disheveled as she sat on the sofa, with two men in black standing guard on either side, expressionless.

Pulling out a chair, Jin Yan smiled and said, “I never thought she looked like Zhao Chengqiang anyway. Sister Yao, take a look—does she resemble her mother?”

Zhao Xue’s mouth was gagged, so she could only make muffled sounds, glaring at Jin Yan with hatred. Yao Shuwen looked at the young face before her and let out a long sigh.

As if amused, Jin Yan asked Guan Feng, “President Guan, if someone dared to betray you by colluding inside and out, how would you deal with them?”

Guan Feng lowered his head to flip through the wine list. After a while, he instructed Hellen, “Have them open the champagne I left here last time.” He tossed the list into her arms and added casually, “—Put him in a sack and throw him into the ring river.”

“Can’t you be a little more creative?”

“…Chop him up, put him in a sack, and throw him into the ring river.”

Jin Yan snapped, “You have no sense of environmental protection at all! Do you think the ring river is your personal trash can?”

Guan Feng tilted his head innocently.

After giving instructions to the attendant, Hellen turned back and smiled. “If anyone dared to leak matters of the Guan family, we wouldn’t even need President Guan’s order. We’d just book them a one-way ticket to France for a ‘business trip,’ and someone there would take care of everything. As for someone like Miss Zhao, dealing drugs inside the company—that’s even more serious. Our people wouldn’t dare let such filth reach President Guan’s ears. We’d make sure there wouldn’t be even a trace of bones left…”

Zhao Xue’s face drained of color. She suddenly began struggling violently, making furious muffled sounds.

After pondering for a moment, Jin Yan shook his head. “Jiang Qin hates it when I do violent, bloody things. This time, let’s not spill blood.”

Zhao Xue twisted desperately, but she was bound too tightly to jump off the sofa.

“But as the boss, if I get sold out and don’t even dare to make a move, it won’t look good if word gets out. Those who know will say I listen to my wife; those who don’t might say I’m timid and afraid of trouble. That reputation wouldn’t sound nice.”

Jin Yan thought for a bit, then clapped his hands. “I’ve got it! Sister Yao happens to be here. By old customs, Zhao Xue should even call you ‘Aunt.’ Why don’t we hand her over to you? What do you think?”

Anyone with eyes in the room could tell that this had been Jin Yan’s plan all along. He had invited Yao Shuwen all the way back from the United States—surely not just for a meal.

Someone like Zhao Xue, who sold drugs and embezzled money within a boss’s company, would inevitably face death under any leader. She must have known that, and perhaps had already prepared herself mentally—if she really died, she might even think of it as a heroic sacrifice.

So Jin Yan wouldn’t let her die. He would give her to Zhao Chengqiang’s lawful wife, and there would naturally be days ahead that were worse than death.

Yao Shuwen hesitated slightly and didn’t respond at once. After a pause, she smiled and said, “Jin Yan… you called me back from so far away just to dump a bargain daughter on me? I can’t afford to acknowledge such a capable daughter. If you have something to say, explain it to me clearly first.”

Hellen gave a look to her subordinates and silently led several people out.

After the door closed again, Jin Yan sat down by the table and said lazily, “Sister Yao, we’ve known each other for so many years—I won’t hide it from you. Jiang Qin has suffered a lot inside. I want to get him out as soon as possible.”

Yao Shuwen remained cautiously silent.

“The key to this case is the difference between intentional homicide and accidental killing, and how severely the charge of dumping the body will be sentenced. To clarify these issues, we hired an entire legal team. If this were an ordinary person, they’d have been acquitted and released long ago. But you know the political climate in H City right now—Jiang Qin’s case is being deliberately obstructed by people above. To protect him, we need some absolutely solid, undeniable favorable evidence.”

Jin Yan lit a cigarette. “The authenticity of the evidence aside, the key is that the person presenting it must be extremely convincing—so convincing that the court has no choice but to accept it.”

Yao Shuwen laughed bitterly. “But I’ve been away from H City for so many years. I really don’t want to get dragged back in…”

“Sister Yao,” Jin Yan said, “I know you don’t lack money, but everyone has a price in their heart. As long as I have it, I can give it to you.”

At first, Yao Shuwen thought he was joking. “Jin Yan, don’t tease me. Is that something you can joke about? If I wanted all your assets, would you give them too?”

“I would,” Jin Yan replied calmly. “All of Shixing Entertainment. All the real estate and shares too. I’ll transfer the bank accounts into your name directly. Tomorrow, when the bank opens, I’ll take care of it.”

Yao Shuwen was genuinely startled.

“I don’t ask for much. First, you appear in court. Second, your testimony. Zhao Chengqiang deserved to die—you won’t be going against your conscience.”

Guan Feng held his champagne glass, leisurely flipping through a magazine, seemingly deaf to everything happening in the room.

Zhao Xue continued struggling and making meaningless sounds, but no one paid her any attention now.

“…I lack nothing. I just want to live my own life far from this place,” Yao Shuwen said tactfully. “Jin Yan, you know how deep the waters were in Zhao Chengqiang’s case. Back then, I struggled so hard just to pull myself out of that quagmire…”

Jin Yan listened silently. After a long while, he gave a brief smile.

That smile looked rather strange, and Yao Shuwen froze at once.

“By the way, you haven’t met my and Jiang Qin’s son yet, have you? The one Zhao Chengqiang almost got killed. He’s grown up now—extremely intelligent and exceptionally good at chess. Yesterday he just finished some China–Korea Go tournament and took second place. This morning, when I went out, I even saw him in the newspaper.” Jin Yan suddenly called toward the door, “Hey! Has Li Meng arrived?”

From outside came a hurried reply. “Yes, yes! Young Master just went downstairs to eat some cake! Should we call him back now?”

Before the words even finished, rapid footsteps sounded in the corridor. After a flurry of movement, people greeted him one after another. “Oh! The little crown prince is back!”

Yao Shuwen had no idea what Jin Yan was up to and narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

The door opened, and Li Meng rushed in, hugging a small snow-white lamb, its tail wagging. He completely ignored Young Master Guan and Yao Shuwen. As soon as he entered, he rushed over and asked, “Dad! Did you go see Jiang Qin this morning? How is he?”

Jin Yan snatched the silly little lamb from his arms and tossed it to a subordinate to take out and feed. Irritated, he said, “Jiang Qin’s fine. He even asked how your chess is going. Isn’t there another match tomorrow? Do what you’re supposed to do and don’t make Jiang Qin worry, understand?”

Li Meng argued, “But you said this tournament has political implications—if I do well, it can affect Jiang Qin’s treatment in the detention center. Otherwise I would’ve gone with you to see him this morning…”

“Mm-hmm, the treatment’s very good. Very good.” Jin Yan brushed his son off perfunctorily, then asked, “Why didn’t you greet anyone when you came in?”

Guan Feng lifted his head gracefully.

Li Meng said expressionlessly, “—Hello, the person who lost to me by thirty stones.”

Guan Feng: “…”

If the timing weren’t wrong, Jin Yan would have hugged Li Meng immediately and said, My child! You’ve avenged your father!

At this point, Yao Shuwen already sensed something was off. Before she could get up and leave, Li Meng had turned back and looked at her curiously.

Just one glance.

“Hello, Auntie!” Li Meng wagged his tail politely.

Yao Shuwen’s lips trembled, but no sound came out.

Jin Yan glanced at her expression and gave a smile of unclear meaning, then beckoned to the attendant. “My son likes sweets. Bring one of each of your signature desserts. Do you have goat’s milk? Bring him a glass to go with it.”

The attendant moved quickly. Within minutes, he brought a heavy tray piled high with desserts. Li Meng had been hungry all day from playing chess. As soon as he smelled the food, his soul practically left his body, and he pounced on it, drooling.

“Li Xiao Meng just turned sixteen this year,” Jin Yan said, watching him bury his face in the plate, smiling. “He looks a lot like Jiang Qin, doesn’t he?”

Yao Shuwen’s face changed. Her slender fingers gripped her handbag tightly.

“Exceptionally high IQ, photographic memory, loved chess since he was little. I didn’t let him play before because I was afraid it would interfere with his studies. A while ago, when I was inside and Jiang Qin had no time to manage him, he signed himself up for the Three Kingdoms Go Players Challenge. He beat four Korean 6-dans in a row—TV stations even came to interview him.”

Despite his effort to restrain himself, Jin Yan’s tone still carried a trace of parental pride.

Yao Shuwen’s breathing quickened. “Is that so…”

“When he was just born, his brows and eyes looked exactly like Jiang Qin’s. Other babies were all wrinkly like little monkeys, but his skin was white like jade. There was even a diaper commercial that wanted him as a baby model, but Jiang Qin thought it would be too high-profile and refused.”

“When he was seven or eight, his face gradually rounded out and didn’t resemble Jiang Qin as much. But that’s good too—Jiang Qin’s features are too sharp. If a child looked like that, he wouldn’t be cute. Look at him now—his facial lines are still very soft, almost like a little girl. Who knows if that’ll change in a few years.”

Jin Yan took a sip of tea and caught, out of the corner of his eye, Yao Shuwen trembling slightly.

“…Jin Yan, you just said… what is this child’s name?”

“Li Meng—like ‘lemon.’ When the surrogate was giving birth, it was very dangerous. I went to a temple to draw lots, and the abbot bestowed the surname. Later, we came up with over a hundred given names and couldn’t decide, so we went back to draw lots again. The abbot saw a lemon tree in the courtyard and said, ‘Then call him Li Meng.’”

Yao Shuwen was dazed for a long time before murmuring, “You’ve raised him so well.”

“Li Xiao Meng is Jiang Qin’s life. When he was little, Jiang Qin quit his job and stayed home for several years just to teach him hand in hand.” Jin Yan paused. “I’ll only ever have this one child. Everything Jiang Qin and I have belongs to him. Sister Yao, if not for our sake, then for the child’s—please help us one more time.”

Yao Shuwen turned her face away, as if she could hardly bear it. At that moment, Li Meng was gulping down goat’s milk. Hearing something, he asked with his mouth full of foam, “What are you talking about?”

Jin Yan smiled and let his gaze slide toward Yao Shuwen.

Li Meng immediately turned to her. “Auntie, what are you talking about?”

“…Nothing,” Yao Shuwen said, her voice slightly distorted as she hastily covered it up. “Your dad just wants me to help with—help with a small favor. It’s really nothing…”

“Oh,” Li Meng said innocently. “Then will you help, Auntie?”

Jin Yan’s expression was calm. He toyed with a cigarette in his hand but showed no intention of lighting it.

Yao Shuwen buried her face deeply into Li Meng’s shoulder, gritting her teeth without a sound. She stayed like that for so long that Li Meng unconsciously shifted, wondering how to escape and go back to eating. Then he suddenly heard her muffled voice say, “—Yes. I’ll help.”

Jin Yan placed the cigarette on the table and let out a long, almost inaudible sigh of relief.