Chapter 26: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
Chapter 26: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
People crowded the Huangbu Riverbank as the night painted a picturesque scene.
Ma Chuan stood early in a corner beneath the Pearl Tower, holding a document folder. He didn’t care to hide the text printed on it.
Eight PM hadn’t arrived yet, nor had Yu Jiayong appeared.
Li Zian, Yu Meilin, and Kun Li positioned themselves not far from Ma Chuan. They could see him clearly, yet they were hardly noticeable. All three wore caps and face masks, covering their faces completely. Kun Li held a digital SLR camera, pretending to photograph the river view.
“Zian, let’s talk,” Yu Meilin broke the silence among them.
Such a simple sentence made Li Zian feel oddly uncomfortable. In these four years, Yu Meilin had never initiated a conversation with him first.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Just casual talk,” Yu Meilin looked at Li Zian, her eyes probing his like she wanted to uncover secrets hidden within his gaze.
Li Zian understood what casual talk meant, but he couldn’t find a topic to start.
“You read fortunes quite accurately. ‘Uncovering two little men from the surname Yu’—how did you figure that out? And the Hexagram Interpretation was really interesting. Was it just words you made up, or did it carry special meaning?” Yu Meilin sounded genuinely curious.
Li Zian shook his head. “That’s hard to explain. Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand.”
The corners of Yu Meilin’s lips lifted slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with his answer.
She waited for Li Zian to speak further, but he remained silent.
Li Zian truly couldn’t explain it. How could he tell her a Great Sluggish Cauldron lived inside him? The company president would probably think he was insane.
“Yu Jiayong’s here,” Kun Li suddenly announced.
Li Zian and Yu Meilin turned their attention toward Ma Chuan.
Yu Jiayong had indeed arrived, his head wrapped in gauze making him stand out in the crowd.
He limped his way toward Ma Chuan, tightly gripping a briefcase.
Ma Chuan looked nervous. One hand slipped into his pants pocket.
Li Zian spotted Ma Chuan’s movement and pulled out his mobile phone. Ma Chuan’s WeChat voice call request appeared on its screen. He tapped to answer.
Yu Jiayong’s voice came through immediately. “Ma Chuan, you’ve got nerve. You dare to blackmail me?”
“Section Chief Yu, don’t say such nonsense. This isn’t blackmail. What you asked me to do was illegal. If caught, I’d end up in prison. I can’t do it for free, can I?” That was Ma Chuan’s voice.
Kun Li aimed her camera lens at Yu Jiayong and Ma Chuan. Zooming in, she pressed the shutter.
“I told you to take pictures! Why steal the files instead? Why do something so stupid!” Yu Jiayong swore angrily.
“My mobile phone’s camera function is bad. Things wouldn’t be clear. Besides, with so many pages, staying long in President Yu’s office risked being caught. So I just took the folders. Do you still want them or not?” replied Ma Chuan.
“Let me see the stuff first.”
“Then give me the money.”
“Damn it! You think I’d stiff you?” Yu Jiayong shoved the briefcase into Ma Chuan’s arms, then snatched the folder from Ma Chuan’s hand.
“Section Chief Yu, what’s the combination?” Ma Chuan tried but couldn’t open the briefcase.
Yu Jiayong answered impatiently, “Stupid! Opening it here would reveal our shady deal for everyone to see.”
“But I need at least a look at the money!”
“Zero, zero, zero, zero,” Yu Jiayong snapped. He opened the document folder and flipped through the files inside casually.
Ma Chuan finally opened the briefcase too. Stacks of money filled its interior.
Yu Jiayong slammed the lid shut. “Not a single penny short. Take the money and get lost. But if you breathe a word of this, you’ll cough up every cent AND end up behind bars.”
“Section Chief Yu, don’t worry. My lips are sealed. I’m out of here.” Ma Chuan turned and walked away, briefcase in hand.
Yu Jiayong slipped the files back into the folder, then headed back the way he came.
“I’ll tail him,” Li Zian ended the voice call and pursued.
“I’m coming too.” Yu Meilin hurried to match Li Zian’s pace.
He hadn’t planned on her joining him, but refusing felt awkward.
“I’ll wait here for Ma Chuan. You two be careful,” Kun Li reminded them.
The streets swarmed with tourists. Though Yu Jiayong moved slowly, staying visible in the crowd proved difficult. Yu Meilin, being too lady-like to push through people, began falling behind.
Li Zian simply took her hand and pulled her along.
Yu Meilin gave a gentle tug but couldn’t free herself. Li Zian held firmly, walking faster.
“I’m not trying anything. Just worried about losing sight of him,” Li Zian explained.
Yu Meilin’s lips moved silently. Nothing came out.
A husband holding his wife’s hand was perfectly normal. But when Li Zian took her hand, he felt the need to justify it.
His explanation tasted bitter. Hearing it left its own sourness.
Yu Jiayong walked another stretch, then paused roadside.
Li Zian and Yu Meilin also stopped not far away. The constant flow of foot traffic provided good cover.
“What if Yu Jiayong hails a taxi?” Yu Meilin sounded nervous; unaccustomed to this scene.
“If he hails a taxi, we do the same and tail him. Heavy traffic won’t let him get far,” Li Zian replied.
Yu Meilin looked at him, silent momentarily. “Bringing you back to Shanghai this time… it feels like you’ve changed dramatically. How do you know all this?”
Li Zian gave a bitter smile. “When have you ever really known me?”
Her lips trembled again, wordless.
Guilt settled in her heart.
Truthfully, Li Zian couldn’t easily explain. Had he not inherited Ji Da’s Fangshi Esoteric Arts, had the Great Sluggish Cauldron not possessed him, he probably wouldn’t have this newfound confidence, let alone predict events. Circumstances change people slowly. But ability transforms them quickly.
He’d stayed low-key, but his ability demanded exposure!
Just then, a Rolls-Royce sedan glided near, parking by the curb. The rear window lowered. A young man leaned out.
Li Zian and Yu Meilin focused onto the face instantly. Both recognized him: Yu Jiahao.
Li Zian snapped several photos with his mobile phone.
“Get the goods?” Yu Jiahao asked.
Yu Jiayong handed him the document folder. “Got ‘em. Second Young Master, see for yourself.”
“Well done. Get in. Check it on the way,” instructed Yu Jiahao.
Yu Jiayong walked around to the sedan’s other side. Opening the door, he climbed inside. The car drove off.
“I suspected it was him. Disgusting!” Yu Meilin spat.
“Seems he knew about your Yun Di copper mine. But why?” Li Zian mused aloud.
Yu Meilin thought hard before answering. “I don’t know yet. I need to figure it out. Let’s go back.”
Turning around, Li Zian headed backward. He had held Yu Meilin’s hand while chasing—a necessity then. Now, even a pretext for a touch vanished.
For Xiaomei’s sake, he’d maintain this plastic couple relationship temporarily.
Neither spoke along the journey. Approaching their original spot, Yu Meilin finally said, “Zian… thank you for tonight.”
Li Zian froze slightly, then answered, “You’re welcome.”
Well, she did show some gratitude.
Kun Li approached them. “Who did Yu Jiayong meet?”
Yu Meilin stated plainly, “It was Yu Jiahao.”
Kun Li cursed angrily. “Disgusting! What’s he trying to pull?”
“Discuss it after we return.” Yu Meilin walked ahead.
Li Zian glanced toward the corner where Ma Chuan stood, still gripping the briefcase.
Ma Chuan walked over, offering the case to Li Zian, bitterness sharp in his voice. “That damned Yu Jiayong! He only gave two hundred thousand! Guarantee he pocketed the other three hundred grand!”
Li Zian cracked the case open, peeked inside, then handed it to Yu Meilin.
“Why give it to me?” Yu Meilin questioned, puzzled.
Li Zian leaned near her ear and whispered softly. “Evidence.”
Yu Meilin finally understood, accepting the briefcase.
Straining his ears, Ma Chuan heard nothing. He didn’t dare lean closer, watching longingly instead.
Li Zian shifted his gaze to Ma Chuan and offered him a faint smile. “Yu Jiayong’s quite the character. Promised five hundred grand, slips you just two. He’s gambling you’ll keep silent. If you demand the money, whatever you collect is yours.”
Ma Chuan gaped, disbelieving. “Really? It’s all mine if I get it?”
Li Zian placed a hand on Ma Chuan’s shoulder, sounding fiercely supportive. “You gambled your future to earn this cash! How’s it fair if you don’t get it? Demand it fearlessly. However much you reclaim becomes yours.”
Fortified by Li Zian’s words, Ma Chuan declared excitedly, “Got it! With your blessing, Lord An, I’m confident! I’ll definitely make Yu Jiayong pay. No money? I’ll kill him!”
Li Zian responded calmly, “I heard nothing. We won’t report you or press charges. Leave now.”
“Thank you, Lord An! Thank you, General Manager Yu!” Ma Chuan bowed deeply toward Li Zian and Yu Meilin before turning away.
Li Zian called after him. “Remember to show up at work tomorrow.”
Ma Chuan whirled back, surprised. “I… I can still come to work?”
Li Zian said simply, “Of course.”
“On it! From now on, General Manager Yu and Lord An give the orders. Ma Chuan obeys!” Performing another deep bow, Ma Chuan finally departed.
Yu Meilin’s brows furrowed slightly. “Zian, someone like him? We let him go, sure, but letting him work again? What is the New Star Company—some catch-all?”
Li Zian replied steadily. “Ma Chuan’s a true scoundrel. Owe him tens of thousands? He’ll truly risk conflict over it. Yu Jiayong’s no saint either. Let the dogs rip at each other. Besides, Ma Chuan’s sharp. A villain, yes, but some tasks need villains. Keep him as your guard dog. Hold leverage against him. He won’t dare betray you.”
Yu Meilin stared at Li Zian, perplexity in her gaze. Was this man still the youth from Crescent Moon Village back home?
“Never expected someone as devious as you,” Kun Li remarked bluntly.
Li Zian smiled faintly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Kun Li rolled her eyes at him.
Seriously thick-skinned.