Secretary Liang worked with astonishing efficiency, securing buyers within just over two weeks. Jian Suiying endured the pain in her liver and sold off pieces from her collection.
The four vehicles brought in over ten million in cash, which was immediately poured into the project—not a single penny left over.
Even someone like Jian Suiying, a big shot used to spending money without batting an eye, found his hands trembling from the sheer volume of cash flowing out these days. Money only
flowing out without coming in—it would be strange if he didn't feel the pinch.
He gritted his teeth and pushed through, filling each day to the brim. One day, he drove past Li Yu's school.
It was scorching hot, around 98 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Jian Suiying cranked the car's AC to 73 degrees, only to find himself parched and sweaty.
. Passing by the school, he pulled over and bought a drink from the small shop beside the old gate.
Now he had no reason to come here anymore, and Li Yu wasn't here either.
He lingered a few moments longer, watching the school gate and the young faces coming and going, then gulped down the rest of his drink, turned, and got into his car.
He had thought that with these two sources of funding, he could weather the most difficult times. But the newly implemented national real estate
suddenly increased his transaction costs, plunging him back into trouble.
Just then, Jian Suilin texted him, asking after his well-being with some perfunctory pleasantries. Reading it, Jian Suying felt a surge of anger
His head was about to explode.
The other end fell silent.
One day after work, he received a call from Li Xuan, who hadn't been in touch for ages.
Jian Suiying hung up. Li Xuan kept calling, persistent and relentless, until Jian Suiying finally grew annoyed and pressed the call button.
Li Xuan's icy voice came through the phone. "Is my brother with you?"
Jian Suiying had intended to retort sarcastically, but he was too exhausted to speak today. He simply lacked the energy for verbal sparring.
Instead, he replied curtly, "No." "Then where is he?"
" Your brother's gone missing, and you're asking me? How would I know? We split up ages ago." Jian Suiying felt a pang of unease as he recalled
about Li Yu dropping out of school, and a pang of unease gripped her heart.
Li Xuan pressed urgently, "You have news of him?"
"That's all I know. I'm busy. I don't want to get involved in your Li family's affairs. And don't call me again
me, especially about Li Yu."
"Jian Suiying!" Li Xuan called out before he hung up. "Jian Suiying, if you see him, please tell
him to contact me. My mother misses him terribly."
Jian Suiying's Adam's apple bobbed up and down before he finally managed a single word: "Okay." As he walked toward the parking lot, his heart felt heavy.
He hadn't realized Li Yu and his family had reached this point—that he'd stopped going home altogether. Where could he be now?
Jian Suiying sighed softly. All he wanted now was to go home and sleep.
He'd finished work late today, and the parking lot was nearly empty. Just as he neared his car,
a van suddenly started its engine and opened its doors. Five or six people leaped out, all staring at him.
The leader spoke with surprising politeness: "Young Master Jian, our boss, Mr. Li, would like to invite you over for dinner."
" Oh? Which Mr. Li?" Jian Suiying feigned ignorance. Only Li Wenyao would resort to such low-life tactics.
a clueless fool.
"Young Master Jian should know which Mr. Li. Young Master Jian, please get in the car."
Jian Suiying calmly considered the situation and decided he couldn't go.
Therefore, he couldn't go.
Jian Suiying replied coldly, "I'm unavailable today."
The leader replied, "Young Master Jian, don't make this difficult for us. We only follow orders—we don't reason. Making things hard for us only makes things hard for yourself."
Jian Suiying pulled out his car keys and unlocked his door.
The men watched him tensely, poised for action.
Jian Suiying knew the distance was too short for a getaway attempt. Locking the doors again, he instead remotely opened the trunk.
The leader watched him in confusion.
Jian Suiying tossed his briefcase into the trunk from a distance, then ordered, "Close the trunk." The man, confused, stepped forward and slammed the trunk shut.
Jian Suiying stood calmly in place. "I won't go with you. What do you plan to do?"