"Hello, big bro." Jian Suilin's youthful, clear voice came through the phone. "Where are you now?"
"I'm at school." "Come to the company immediately."
"Huh? Now? I have class in a bit." "Right now. Immediately. Come to the company."
He hung up and waited at the office for Jian Suilin. About forty minutes later, he walked in bundled up in a thick coat, bringing a chill into the room.
While removing his scarf, he asked, "Bro, what's so urgent?"
Jian Suilin picked up the documents with a puzzled look, flipping through a few pages before his expression turned grim.
"This..."
Jian Suiying glared at him.
"What happened? Explain it to me clearly, word for word!"
Jian Suilin replied in a low voice, "Brother, these... I don't know."
"You don't know!" Jian Suiying rose abruptly, his hand flying out to slap him across the face.
control the risks? What the hell are you even good for?!"
"He didn't settle it—he gave those three people fifty thousand each, then sold all three properties!"
Jian Suilin's face turned ashen. "Brother, are you sure? Did you contact Brother Yu?"
"With everything so obvious, I don't need to contact him to know that kid is definitely hiding. Right now, I just want to figure out
if you had a hand in this." Jian Suiying narrowed his eyes at his half-brother, his gaze filled
scrutiny and suspicion.
It connected shortly after. His aunt's voice sounded cheerful. "Oh, Sui Ying." "Auntie, I can't reach Bai Xinyu. Do you know where he went?"
"Oh, him? He's off to his aunt's place in Australia. Said it's warmer there."
Jian Suiying snorted coldly. Just as he'd expected, he'd run off.
"Do you know his number there?"
"Sure, let me find it for you." The sound of rustling papers came from the other end as his aunt casually asked, "Why are you looking for him, Suiying?"
Jian Suiying fell silent for a few seconds, unsure how to broach the subject.
it's all thanks to you guiding him. Otherwise, who knows where he'd be messing around now."
Jian Suiying felt a wave of pain in her heart. The words she wanted to say stuck in her throat, and she couldn't get them out.
His aunt had a weak heart and couldn't handle shocks. He simply couldn't bring himself to tell her that her son had swindled him out of three houses and fled. He feared it would kill her.
"Ah, I found it. I'll text it to you." "Okay..."
After hanging up, Jian Suiying sank wearily into his chair, head bowed, eyes gently closed. Moments later, the text alert sounded. He received the message from that international number.
Jian Suiying tossed his phone aside and stared at Jian Sui Lin, who dared not breathe. "Not a single fourth person must know about this."
Jian Suilin nodded quickly.
"I'll look into this thoroughly."
Jian Suilin's head drooped lower and lower.
"If I find out you and Bai Xinyu teamed up to deceive me, Jian Suilin, I'll make sure you never set foot in the Jian family home again."
Jian Suilin remained bowed, his expression hidden. Jian Suying's anger still simmering, she flung her hand dismissively. "Get out."
After Xiao Lin left, Jian Suiying chain-smoked several cigarettes in silence.
Jian Suiying felt restless, with no desire to linger in the office. He flipped through the phone directory, found Xiao Zhu's number,
and arranged to meet him at a hotel.
Once, exhausted, he'd fallen asleep at the office instead of going home. When he woke up hours later, he found Xiao Zhu sitting in a chair with the floor lamp on, paper and pen in hand,
and pen, intently scribbling something.
Jian Suiying tiptoed over. The kid startled awake, tried to hide it but couldn't, and Jian snatched the
paper away.
Jian Suiying hadn't meant to mock him, just tease him a bit. She hadn't expected the boy to be so sensitive, and felt a twinge of pity.
ruffled his hair, "What are you doing up so late? Go to sleep."
Xiao Zhu carefully folded the paper and tucked it into his pocket before curling up beside Jian Suiying to sleep.
Since Jian Suiying couldn't bring himself to disturb his aunt, he had to swallow this bitter pill alone. And though he
said he'd get to the bottom of things, without catching Bai Xinyu, he had no way of knowing whether Jian Suilin was involved.
Neither his heart nor his head wanted Jian Suilin to be involved—otherwise, he feared he'd beat the boy to death.
As for getting back the money Bai had swallowed, Jian Suiying had given up hope.
To mitigate the damage caused by this incident, he could only promise to allocate
to plug the hole in his connections.