Chapter 832: The Shadow of Conspiracy

The shootout in Shanghai and Wei Zhengxing’s suicide were both completely omitted from media coverage.

Manager Ma approached after finishing the call and reported.

“Boss there’s no CCTV footage of Wei Zhengxing entering the hotel.”

“Just as we expected. Of course they’d get rid of it. A force capable of disguising someone of Wei Zhengxing’s stature as a suicide wouldn’t make such a careless mistake.”

“And…”

Manager Ma hesitated for a moment.

“It’s alright, go ahead.”

“Rumors are circulating in Beijing that Chairman Hu Jintao and Chairman Jiang Zemin have met.”

“Really? Any idea what they discussed?”

“No, we haven’t been able to find out that much.”

Well, if I were Jiang Zemin I wouldn’t have missed this opportunity either.

Many people witnessed my altercation with Wei Zhengxing. I even grabbed him by the collar and threatened to kill him.

It was only natural to view me as a prime suspect, no, to frame me as one.

“It’s reasonable to assume Wei Zhengxing was behind the assassination. I wonder who enticed him?”

“The intelligence team shares a similar view. They believe someone familiar with Wei Zhengxing’s personality incited him to arrange the assassination. It seems that after the failure they killed Wei Zhengxing and planned to pin the blame on you, Boss.”

This is getting complicated. I pressed my fingers against my temples and let out a small sigh.

“For now, it seems our only option is to wait and see if Bo Xilai can uncover anything.”

Would the surviving assassins really provide any meaningful testimony?

“Let’s wait a bit longer.”

I don’t have a habit of relying on uncertainties but right now there’s no other choice.

* * *

“Ye’er! My dear child.”

Ye Xianping used a term of endearment usually reserved for small children, warmly welcoming his granddaughter whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Ye Xiaotong opened her arms and embraced Ye Xianping.

“How’s your health, Grandfather? Why have you lost so much weight?”

“It’s just a part of growing old. What joy is there for an old man? Just living to see my granddaughter’s face like this.”

After making a lighthearted joke Ye Xianping led Ye Xiaotong into the living room.

His residence seemed overly modest for someone who once held significant influence in Chinese politics.

Seated, the two caught up on recent events.

“How’s the business going? Is there anything I can help with?”

“Yes, business is fine.”

“I never expected that friend Xi Jinping would fall from grace like that. Especially after all the effort you put in, Xiaotong.”

“It’s not over yet. It’s not over until it’s over.”

Ye Xianping nodded in satisfaction at Ye Xiaotong’s words.

“Right, it’s not over until it’s over. But if there’s nothing I can help with, what brings you here? What’s the occasion for this visit?”

“Grandfather.”

“Haha. What kind of story is my dear child about to tell that makes her call me so sternly!”

Unlike Ye Xianping who laughed easily Ye Xiaotong didn’t smile at all.

“Why did you do it? You shouldn’t have done that to me. I didn’t know anything…”

At Ye Xiaotong’s reproachful words the smile vanished from Ye Xianping’s face.

“What are you talking about? What did I do to you, Xiaotong?”

“My father. You knew, didn’t you? Who my father is and you used that…”

As the topic of her father came from Ye Xiaotong’s lips, Ye Xianping’s face filled with rage.

“Who is it! Who dared to say such things to you!”

“Grandfather!”

“Xiaotong! You have no father! You are a Ye! My granddaughter!”

It was the first time. Never in her life had Ye Xiaotong seen her grandfather angry with her.

Ye Xiaotong was taken aback by this unfamiliar sight but Ye Xianping didn’t stop.

“Xiaotong. You are the only bloodline of our family. So it doesn’t matter who your father is or isn’t. Do you understand what I mean?”

“But you used me…”

“Who says that! Who said I used you, Xiaotong? Who dared to say such a thing? Tao! Tao!”

Tao, who had been waiting outside, rushed in at Ye Xianping’s call.

“You called, Elder?”

“What the hell are you doing!”

“……”

“Who did Xiaotong meet? What did they talk about for her to speak to me like this?”

Tao didn’t answer Ye Xianping’s question. Ye Xianping’s face grew even more furious.

“Tao!”

“I apologize, Elder. I cannot say anything without the Boss’s permission.”

“Tao, you dare!”

“Grandfather!”

Just then Ye Xiaotong raised her voice, interrupting Ye Xianping.

“Did you send Tao to spy on me or to protect me?”

“What are you saying…”

“I’ve known for a long time that you were receiving reports about where I go and what I do through Tao. Still, I thought it was because you cared about me. But now I’m not so sure. I don’t know if you cherish me or if you’re doing this for yourself.”

Ye Xianping, his momentum broken by Ye Xiaotong’s words, called out to her forlornly.

“Xiaotong…”

“I thought a lot on my way here. How should I bring this up to Grandfather? Will he be upset if I say it like this? But you’re angry. I wasn’t going to go to my father. I was just curious about the person who brought me into this world.”

Emotions overwhelmed Ye Xiaotong and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Don’t give Tao any more orders. From now on Tao will live as a shadow that exists for me. I’m grateful you sent Tao to me.”

“Xiaotong, my child.”

“Grandfather. I’m thinking of going to Korea. I want to meet that person myself and make my own decision. I feel like I have to. Otherwise, I’ll regret it forever.”

Ye Xianping, startled, grabbed Ye Xiaotong’s hand.

“What are you saying? Go to Korea? What for?”

“Even if you try to stop me I’m going. If you’re going to stop me, you might as well kill me here and now. That’s the only way you’ll stop me.”

Ye Xianping knew all too well that Ye Xiaotong was stubborn.

But to say she’d rather die than be swayed. Ye Xianping could only gape, unable to utter a word.

“I heard you used me to manipulate my father. You shouldn’t have done that. If you loved me you shouldn’t have done that.”

“My child, I just wanted you to give up on him. I was afraid you’d regret it…”

“I regret it now. Why didn’t I use the power I had to find out for myself? I hate myself for just believing your words and doing nothing.”

Once again, large teardrops fell from her eyes.

Ye Xianping was at a loss seeing her like this.

“Xiaotong.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t live in Korea. Even if I meet my father I won’t acknowledge him as such. Still, I want to know. That’s what natural bonds are, right?”

“……”

“Grandfather.”

They say no parent can win against their child.

If that’s true between parents and children, how much more so with a granddaughter who was the apple of his eye? Ye Xianping, despite his iron will, couldn’t bring himself to say anything harsh as he looked at her tear-filled eyes.

“Sigh… Then let’s make a promise. Promise me you’ll come back even if you meet him.”

“Yes, I promise. Have I ever broken a promise to you, Grandfather?”

Just like when they were young Ye Xiaotong and Ye Xianping interlocked their pinky fingers tightly, Ye Xianping nodded.

“Alright. Xiaotong, you were always a good granddaughter.”

Smiling brightly despite her tears Ye Xiaotong rose from her seat.

“I’ll take my leave for today. I’ll come visit again after I return. And don’t give Tao any more orders. He’s my person now. If you don’t like that then take him back.”

“No. Tao made his own choice so now he’s your person. That’s enough for this old man. You’re learning to have your own people. You’re truly my granddaughter.”

“Thank you, Grandfather. And I love you.”

Ye Xiaotong left her last words for Ye Xianping and turned around.

“Tao. Let’s go.”

Tao bowed deeply to Ye Xianping and followed Ye Xiaotong.

After leaving Ye Xianping’s house Ye Xiaotong got in the car and asked Tao.

“What happened with the Wei Zhengxing incident?”

“It’s been neatly wrapped up. But the Shanghai faction’s movements are unusual.”

As if she had never cried her face turned cold as Ye Xiaotong narrowed her beautiful brows.

“The Shanghai faction? Not the Princelings?”

“Yes. They’ve placed an exit ban on Boss Kim Mu-hyeok.”

“Ha. That crazy old codger.”

Ye Xiaotong immediately grasped what Jiang Zemin was thinking, sighing in exasperation.

“Things are getting interesting. So, that person, Kim Mu-hyeok? Did he return to Korea?”

“No. He sent his younger brother back to Korea but he’s still in China. However, we can’t confirm his location.”

“He hasn’t left China?”

Ye Xiaotong asked back with a surprised look.

“No, he’s still in China.”

“How bold can he be? He’s not a man without plans so he must have something up his sleeve.”

“What should we do?”

Ye Xiaotong pondered Tao’s question for a moment.

“Since I received a gift I should help out. What’s Chairman Hu Jintao doing?”

“I heard that after meeting with Chairman Jiang he called for an emergency meeting. We don’t know what they’re discussing.”

Ye Xiaotong gazed out the window at Beijing’s tall buildings for a moment then slowly opened her mouth.

“No one knows about my involvement, right?”

“Yes. Team A doesn’t even know of the Boss’s existence.”

Ye Xiaotong nodded and said.

“We need to burn that team. Throw them out as bait.”

When no immediate response came Ye Xiaotong slowly turned her head to look at Tao.

A beautiful smile graced her face but her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

“Why? Do you think I’m being too cruel?”

“…No.”

“Boss Kim Mu-hyeok survived. Then he deserves the appropriate treatment. Even if I don’t help he’ll survive on his own but if I help it’ll be easier. I can also make a good impression in Korea.”

“Understood.”

“Connect the team’s traces to the Shanghai faction and pass it to Chairman Hu Jintao’s side.”

“Understood. I will do that.”

Ye Xiaotong turned back to the window and muttered to herself.

“Korea… I’m looking forward to it.”

In her mind, the existence of Team A had already vanished.

Instead it was filled with thoughts of Korea where she would soon be going.

* * *

Three days had passed since Wei Zhengxing’s death.

I had turned off all my mobile devices to prevent location tracking.

I contacted Bo Xilai using an untraceable satellite phone.

— Hello.

“Bo Xilai. It’s Kim Mu-hyeok.”

— Ah, Boss. Where are you?

Bo Xilai greeted me warmly upon hearing my voice.

‘Why is this guy acting like this?’

According to the atmosphere in Beijing I’d heard about he shouldn’t be welcoming me so warmly.

Putting aside my doubts I answered for now.

“I can’t tell you that. I can tell you that I’m hiding in a safe place.”

— Ah….

“Can you tell me what’s going on?”

— For now, it seems Wei Zhengxing will be internally dealt with soon. It looks like it will end as a suicide.

“Really? That’s unexpected. I heard that the Shanghai faction was trying to frame me. But they’re concluding it as a suicide?”

According to the information that came in yesterday, I was told that the Shanghai faction was going all out to frame me as the suspect.

Of course, in a situation where internal information couldn’t be accessed I could only obtain limited information but that didn’t mean it was false.

— It turns out that Wei Zhengxing was the mastermind behind your assassination attempt.

“How do you know that?”

I too had anticipated that Wei Zhengxing was behind my assassination.

But I didn’t expect it to be revealed so quickly.

— Evidence poured out during the investigation into Wei Zhengxing’s death. A suicide note was also found. It seems he killed himself out of fear of your revenge after the assassination failed. Ah, the exit ban on you has been lifted too.

Good news kept pouring in. But things were resolving too easily.

In times like these, one had to be more suspicious and doubt everything.

“……A suicide note was found, you say?”

— Yes, that’s correct.

“What did it say?”

— I don’t know that much. But I heard the note contained a statement about ordering your assassination. And Chairman Hu Jintao personally ordered your exit ban to be lifted.

The loose ends were being tied up too neatly as if someone had planned it.

“I understand for now. Let’s talk in detail when we meet. I’ll return to Shanghai right away.”

— Yes, let’s talk in detail then.

I put down the satellite phone and fell into thought.

‘There aren’t many people who could help me and resolve things so easily.’

It wasn’t my enemy, for sure. If it were my enemy they would’ve used this opportunity to take me down.

I went through the list of people in my head, eliminating them one by one.

How much time had passed? After taking a few deep breaths, I called for Manager Ma.

“Manager Ma. Check if my exit ban has been lifted and prepare to return to Shanghai.”

“Understood.”

I have a hunch but I can’t be certain yet. It was too hasty to judge with the information I currently held.

For now, it was time to return to Shanghai and make a move.