At the safe house in Nanjing, I kept all devices powered off and watched how the situation unfolded.
The shootout in Shanghai wasn’t reported at all, and Wei Zhengcheng’s death also never appeared in the dia.
After finishing a call, Manager Ma approached and reported,
“Boss. There’s no CCTV footage of Wei Zhengcheng entering the hotel.”
“As expected. Of course they erased it. A group capable of staging a man like Wei Zhengcheng’s death as suicide wouldn’t make that kind of mistake.”
“And...”
Manager Ma hesitated briefly.
“It’s fine. Go on.”
“There are rumors that Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin t in Beijing.”
“Really? No information on what was discussed?”
“No, we couldn’t get that far.”
Well, if I were Jiang Zemin, I wouldn’t miss this opportunity either.
Plenty of people had witnessed my confrontation with Wei Zhengcheng.
I had even grabbed him by the collar and threatened to kill him.
It was only natural that I would be treated as the pri suspect—
No, pushed into that role.
“It’s reasonable to assu Wei Zhengcheng was behind the assassination attempt. The question is—who lured him into it.”
“The intelligence team thinks the sa. Soone who knew his personality well provoked him into arranging the assassination. And when it failed, they killed him and tried to fra you as the culprit.”
What a ss.
I pressed my fingers into my temples and let out a quiet sigh.
“For now, we have no choice but to wait for Bo Xilai to find sothing.”
Would the surviving assassins give any aningful testimony?
“Let’s wait a bit longer.”
I didn’t like relying on uncertainty—
But right now, there was no other option.
* * *
“My dear child! My little one!”
Ye Xianping greeted his granddaughter with overwhelming warmth, even using terms ant for a small child.
Ye Xiaotong opened her arms and embraced him.
“How’s your health, Grandpa? Why have you lost so much weight?”
“That’s just what happens with age. What joy does an old man have? Seeing his granddaughter is enough.”
With a light joke, Ye Xianping led her into the living room.
His residence—once ho to a man who wielded imnse political influence—was surprisingly modest.
They sat and spoke about recent matters.
“How’s your business? Do you need any help?”
“No, everything’s fine.”
“I didn’t expect Xi Jinping to fall like that. You put in so much effort, Xiaotong.”
“It’s not over yet. It’s not over until it’s over.”
Ye Xianping nodded with satisfaction.
“Right. It’s not over until it’s over. But if you don’t need help, why have you co?”
“...Grandpa.”
“Ha! What is it that my little one calls so seriously for?”
Unlike his relaxed smile, Ye Xiaotong didn’t smile at all.
“Why did you do that? You shouldn’t have done that to . I knew nothing...”
At her trembling words, the smile vanished from his face.
“What are you talking about? What did I do to you?”
“My father. You knew who he was. And you used that...”
The mont the topic ca up, anger flashed across his face.
“Who told you that nonsense?!”
“Grandpa!”
“You have no father! You are a Ye! You are my granddaughter!”
It was the first ti she had ever seen him angry.
But he didn’t stop.
“You are the only bloodline of this family. Who your father is doesn’t matter. You understand?”
“But you used to influence him—”
“Who said that?! Who dares say I used you?! Tao! TAO!”
Tao rushed in imdiately.
“Yes, sir?”
“What the hell have you been doing?!”
“....”
“Who did Xiaotong et? What did they say to make her like this?!”
Tao remained silent.
“TAO!”
“I’m sorry, sir. I cannot say anything without my boss’s permission.”
“You dare—!”
“Grandpa!”
Ye Xiaotong cut him off.
“Did you send Tao to monitor —or to protect ?”
“What are you—”
“I’ve known for a long ti that you receive reports through Tao. I thought it was because you cared about . But not anymore. I don’t know if you love —or if you’re just using .”
His montum faltered.
“Xiaotong...”
“I thought about it a lot before coming. How should I bring this up? Would you be hurt? But you got angry. I never said I’d go to him. I just wanted to know who gave life.”
Tears fell.
“Don’t give orders to Tao anymore. He’s my shadow now. Thank you for sending him to .”
“My child...”
“I’m going to Korea. I’ll et him myself—and decide.”
He grabbed her hand in shock.
“Korea? Do you even know what kind of place that is?”
“Even if you try to stop , I’ll go. If you really want to stop —kill here. That’s the only way.”
He knew her stubbornness.
But to say she’d rather die—
He couldn’t speak.
“I heard you used to move him. If you love , you shouldn’t have done that.”
“I just wanted you to give up... so you wouldn’t regret it...”
“I regret it now. I regret not finding out myself.”
More tears fell.
“Don’t worry. I won’t stay in Korea. Even if I et him, I won’t accept him as my father. But I still want to know. That’s... only natural, isn’t it?”
“....”
“Grandpa.”
No parent can win against their child—
And ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) no grandfather could withstand a granddaughter like this.
“...Fine. Promise you’ll co back.”
“I promise. I’ve never broken a promise to you.”
They hooked pinkies, like when she was little.
“You’ve always been a good granddaughter.”
Smiling through tears, she stood.
“I’ll go now. I’ll co back after.”
“And don’t give Tao any more orders. He’s mine now.”
“...No. He chose you himself. Then he’s yours. That’s enough for .”
“Thank you. I love you.”
She turned away.
“Tao. Let’s go.”
After leaving, she got into the car.
“What happened with Wei Zhengcheng?”
“It’s been cleanly handled. But the Shanghai faction is moving strangely.”
Her face turned cold again.
“The Shanghai faction? Not the Princelings?”
“Yes. They’ve placed a travel ban on Kim Muhyuk.”
“...That crazy old man.”
She imdiately understood who was behind it.
“So? Did he leave China?”
“No. He sent his sister back, but he’s still here.”
“He didn’t leave?”
She was surprised.
“He’s still in China.”
“...He’s got guts. He’s not foolish—so he must have a plan.”
“What should we do?”
She thought briefly.
“I received a gift—so I’ll return the favor.”
“What about Hu Jintao?”
“He called an ergency eting after eting Jiang.”
She looked out at Beijing’s skyline.
“No one knows I’m involved, right?”
“No. Team A doesn’t even know you exist.”
She nodded.
“Then burn the team. Use them as a sacrifice.”
No imdiate answer.
She slowly turned, smiling—but her eyes were cold.
“What? You think I’m being cruel?”
“...No.”
“Kim Muhyuk survived. Then he deserves proper treatnt. He’ll survive on his own—but with my help, it’ll be easier. And I can take so credit in Korea.”
“Understood.”
“Connect the team’s traces to the Shanghai faction—and pass it to Hu Jintao’s side.”
“Yes.”
She turned back to the window.
“Korea... I’m looking forward to it.”
Team A had already disappeared from her mind.
Only Korea remained.
* * *
Three days passed since Wei Zhengcheng’s death.
All traceable devices remained off.
Using an untraceable satellite phone, I contacted Bo Xilai.
— Hello.
“Bo Xilai. Kim Muhyuk speaking.”
— President! Where are you?
His tone was... surprisingly warm.
What’s with him?
“Can’t say. But I’m sowhere safe.”
— Ah...
“How are things progressing?”
— Wei Zhengcheng’s case will likely be concluded internally... as suicide.
“Really? That’s unexpected. I heard the Shanghai faction was trying to tie to it.”
— It’s been confird that Wei Zhengcheng ordered the assassination attempt.
“...How?”
— Evidence surfaced during the investigation. A suicide note too. It seems he feared your retaliation after failing.
“And my travel ban?”
— Lifted. Personally ordered by Hu Jintao.
Everything was resolving too easily.
Too cleanly.
“...A suicide note?”
— Yes.
“What did it say?”
— I don’t know the details. But it supposedly admits ordering the assassination.
Soone had tied everything up neatly—
Too neatly.
“...Understood. Let’s discuss the details in person. I’ll return to Shanghai.”
— Yes. We’ll talk then.
After hanging up, I fell into thought.
‘Soone capable of helping —and resolving things this cleanly...’
There weren’t many.
But one thing was clear—
They weren’t my enemy.
Otherwise, they would’ve used this to destroy .
After eliminating possibilities one by one, I finally called Manager Ma.
“Check if my travel ban is lifted. Prepare—we’re going back to Shanghai.”
“Understood.”
I had suspicions.
But no certainty.
And with what I had now—
It was too early to decide.
For now—
It was ti to move.
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