Chapter 90 (1/2)
Answer
Once all the information was sent out, Shi Jin settled in to wait with anxiety.
So far, Xiang Aoting and Shi Weichong were the only ones who hadn’t given him a reply. Shi Jin wasn’t worried about Xiang Aoting, but as for Shi Weichong…
Lian Jun reached out and flicked Shi Jin’s forehead, waking him up from his thoughts. “Aunt Lu sent me a file,” he said. “It’s a video of the head of Tarantula’s B city branch talking with Xu Jie about the transaction. Do you want to watch it?”
Shi Jin came back to himself and saw that he’d lost their game of mahjong long ago. “I’m sorry, my mind was wandering again,” he said, embarrassed.
“It’s okay.” Lian Jun took the tablet out of his hand and passed his own tablet over, motioning towards a newly downloaded video. “Recording the transaction process is taboo in the underworld, so we need to delete this video immediately after watching it in order to avoid damaging Tarantula’s reputation.”
Shi Jin nodded his understanding. He looked at the file icon, taking a moment to prepare his mind before tapping it.
It was obvious that the video had been recorded in secret. It was taken in a small, dimly lit private room in a restaurant or somewhere similar. Xu Jie was in sight, sitting on a single sofa on one side, part of her face covered with a silk scarf. A man could be heard talking to her, but the owner of the voice was not visible in the frame.
【Ms. Xu, you’re just an ordinary businesswoman, so you may not understand what kind of existence Annihilation is in our world. The target you designated, Shi Jin, is rumored to be the lover of Annihilation’s leader, Lian Jun. Even Tarantula has to think twice before touching him.]
Xu Jie’s tone was unyielding: 【Don’t try to string me along—just tell me the price, I’ll give you as much money as you want.]
【Money? Ms. Xu, it seems you have some kind of misunderstanding. For an organization of our caliber, money is just a number that increases every day. The wealth you’ve worked so hard all your life to accumulate might be less than the profit we make from a single batch of goods. If you’re going to negotiate with us with such an insincere attitude, then I’m sorry but I have to ask you to leave.]
This was almost like slapping her in the face, and Xu Jie’s expression darkened. However, just as Shi Jin thought she was about to burst, she calmed down and took out a document from her bag, pushing it forward on the table. 【My apologies, I was just in too much of a hurry. Of course, I know that you can’t be short of money, so I prepared this instead.]
A puzzled expression crossed Shi Jin’s face.
Lian Jun paused the video and explained, “Aunt Lu told me that the document Xu Jie took out was a form to transfer shares from Ruixing. Most likely, she offered up all the shares Shi Weichong has given her.”
Ruixing’s shares? Seriously?
Shi Jin was dumbfounded. “Is she crazy?” he asked incredulously. “She’s letting a criminal organization gain a stake in Ruixing? Does she think that Ruixing is developing too smoothly?”
There were many enterprises that had seen rapid growth when their sails were filled with the swift and violent winds of organizations operating outside the law. However, no multinational corporation at Ruixing’s level had ever taken the initiative to seek such connections.
No stupid bosses would be able to develop their companies to that level. They knew that while joining with underworld organizations would gain them exorbitant profits and convenience in the short term, in the long run, they would be unable to avoid getting dragged into the feuds and disputes of the underworld.
This was why when major organizations set up businesses to make money, they tried to conceal the connection as much as possible. And yet, Xu Jie wanted to let Ruixing be branded with Tarantula’s involvement? Did she have a death wish?
“I think she’s too confident in Shi Weichong; she believes that he’ll definitely be able to regain that portion of the shares.” Lian Jun had seen too many people like Xu Jie who would stop at nothing to fulfill their selfish desires, so it was easy for him to understand what she was thinking. He explained, “She doesn’t hold a lot of shares; even if she gives them away, it won’t shake Shi Weichong’s position in the company. In addition, Ruixing’s current development goal is to shift its business focus to China, so being associated with Tarantula would be quite beneficial for Ruixing at the moment. If you don’t consider the follow-up issues, Xu Jie’s move actually isn’t completely stupid.”
Shi Jin frowned at his words. “Does she really think criminal organizations are that simple? The most troublesome thing about cooperating with the underworld is dealing with the follow-up.” Tarantula wasn’t a herbivore. Wanting a predator to spit out the meat it had already swallowed? Dream on.
“Which is why her move can only be regarded as not ‘completely stupid.’ She was able to achieve success due to Shi Xingrui’s support and her son’s excellence, but it gave her an exaggerated impression of her own ability. Criminal organizations aren’t going to be bogged down by feelings or easily manipulated like Shi Xingrui and Xu Chuan. She won’t be able to handle them.” Lian Jun’s tone was cold, as if he had already seen Xu Jie’s end.
“It feels like she’s not completely rational anymore…” Shi Jin replayed the video, his frown not easing. He wasn’t in a good mood.
He was an outsider and Ruixing had nothing to do with him. But, when he recalled that Ruixing was something that belonged to the original ‘Shi Jin,’ that it was made by ‘his’ father, and that Shi Weichong was working so hard to protect it, yet Xu Jie was being dumber than a box of rocks and giving it away so easily… he still felt very angry.
In the video, the person who was talking to Xu Jie took the document and flipped through it, then let out a breath in surprise. At this, Xu Jie visibly relaxed, to the point of revealing a triumphant smile on her face.
Shi Jin’s face darkened. He almost pulled out his phone to call Shi Weichong and have him take a good look at exactly how insane his mother was!
Lian Jun noticed his ugly expression. “Don’t worry, Aunt Lu won’t want those shares. After all of this is over, I’ll buy them back in your name. Ruixing will stay in your family,” Lian Jun appeased him.
Shi Jin was even more upset. “Why should you bleed money for… No, I’ll buy them! Didn’t Shi Weichong and the others transfer Dad’s deposits and real estate back to me? It should be enough to buy back the shares… Wait—so, ultimately, wouldn’t I end up paying for Xu Jie’s commission to harm me?”
Lian Jun was a little amused by his offended appearance. Pinching his cheek, he said, “Tarantula is risking their business credibility by helping us put on this play, and they deserve some additional reward. So, it’s not that we’re paying for Xu Jie’s commission, we’re paying Tarantula to play with Xu Jie, and you’ll also get Ruixing’s shares as a bonus. In fact, aren’t you making a profit?”
When it was explained like that, Shi Jin instantly felt refreshed. Just as his sour expression was about to melt away, however, he paused—wouldn’t they still need to spend money? He grabbed Lian Jun’s hand and squeezed it hard, saying fiercely, “Don’t try to dress it up—our family is obviously losing out here!” Originally, Lian Jun was only supposed to pay Tarantula a “service fee”, but now they would need to cough up another sum of money to buy the shares!
Lian Jun took advantage of the situation to hold his hand and asked, “You’re saying I’m making our family lose money?”
Shi Jin jolted in shock and rushed to explain, “No, it’s not you, it’s me who’s making our family lose money, I…” He trailed off; as he spoke, he came to the realization that he was indeed the reason for the loss, and the words died in his throat.
If not for the whole issue with Xu Jie, Lian Jun wouldn’t have to pay Tarantula anything! And, looking at things in terms of money, it was Lian Jun who’d been paying for everything since the beginning. They’d been living together, but the place they lived belonged to Lian Jun, it was Lian Jun who was feeding and clothing him, and he had never even given Lian Jun ever a dime of his own money to cover the household expenses… Aren’t I the definition of a bottom feeder?
Unable to sit still at that revelation, he paused the video again and rushed back to their room without a word. He dug up a certain courier package he hadn’t opened since receiving it and took it back to the study. Then, he forcefully opened the box and poured out the passbooks and real estate certificates and other similar documents into Lian Jun’s lap, who watched on with an indescribable expression.
“Here, for the family budget,” Shi Jin said with all seriousness. A little unsatisfied, he added, “Even though I didn’t personally earn any of this, but… Anyway, take it for now. I’ll give you more when I start work later on.”
Lian Jun looked at his expression, looked at all the stuff pushed into his arms and lying on his lap, recalled their conversation, and finally figured out what had Shi Jin all tangled up. His heart warm, he put the documents on the coffee table beside him, then stood up and enfolded his lover in a hug. “Okay, then I’ll wait for you to become the breadwinner,” he replied, smiling.
But I don’t think I’ll ever be able to snatch the breadwinner position from you… Shi Jin thought as he hugged Lian Jun back, well aware of his own earning power. Mournful, he poked Xiao Si in his mind: “You’re right—I really am just a pretty face supported by Lian Jun.”
Xiao Si awkwardly comforted, < It’s okay, I’ll help you make money, JinJin. If we work hard together, I’m sure we’ll be able to earn enough to support Darling! >
“Xiao Si, you are such a good system,” Shi Jin said, deeply moved.
Xiao Si smiled bashfully. < As your daddy, it’s only right that I provide for you. >
Shi Jin: “…Thank you, but all of a sudden, being Lian Jun’s little trophy husband doesn’t seem half bad.”
Xiao Si: < …… >
After that, Shi Jin was in a much better mood and was able to watch Xu Jie sell Ruixing without a single fluctuation in his heart.
As soon as the shares were offered, the head of Tarantula’s B city branch immediately accepted Xu Jie’s commission and the two began to discuss the particulars.
Xu Jie must have already thought about how to deal with Shi Jin, so she gave her requirements as soon as the other man finished speaking: 【I want him kidnapped, tortured, and killed. If possible, I hope that you can let me torture him myself.]
Torture me personally?
Shi Jin’s hand reaching for the water glass paused; missing the glass, he accidentally knocked it to the floor.
Lian Jun bent over to help him pick up the glass, wiped up the spilled water, and poured him another drink. As he glanced at the tablet in Shi Jin’s hand, his eyes were cold.
The branch head was obviously surprised. 【You want to do it yourself?] he confirmed.
【Yes, I must do it with my own hands,] Xu Jie replied, firm.
The other side didn’t want to agree. 【Letting the client to participate will increase the risk. And isn’t it better to leave torture to professionals? Whatever you do probably won’t be as effective.]
Xu Jie’s tone turned meaningful. 【You think so? Then I’ll just need to practice until it is. After a while, won’t I become professional enough?]
Perhaps the malice filling her voice was too strong, but the branch head didn’t speak for a moment. Shi Jin and Lian Jun, watching the video, were also silent. They exchanged glances, both of them reading the same thought in each other’s eyes—at this point, Xu Jie had already gone completely crazy.
In the end, the man said he would consider allowing Xu Jie to participate, and that he would give her Tarantula’s reply in three days, and Xu Jie agreed; the video ended there. Shi Jin stared at the dark screen of the tablet with an unseeing gaze, lost in thought.
Lian Jun didn’t disturb him. He held the teenager’s hand, feeling the pulse throbbing in the wrist under his fingers, offering quiet companionship.
Suddenly, the ringing of a mobile phone broke the silence. Shi Jin snapped out of his thoughts and reached for his pocket. Seeing that the incoming call was from Xiang Aoting, he picked up straight away: “Fourth Brother.”
{I’ve finished reading through the information,} Xiang Aoting began, his voice a little raspy. {Xiao Jin, do you really plan to go up against Big Brother?}
“Fourth Brother.” Shi Jin stifled a sigh. “The decision isn’t in my hands. Whether we end up confronting each other isn’t up to me, but up to him.”