The Art of Teasing - Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Although the Wen and Lian families had severed ties because of Lian Huaijin's matter, with the Wen family being in the wrong and having little face before the Lian family, being thin-skinned simply wouldn't do when out conducting business. Moreover, from Wen Li's perspective, while she couldn't handle this matter alone, her paternal cousin was in trouble, and her Third Uncle had come to her for help — she absolutely couldn't stand by and do nothing. Normally when nothing was amiss, she naturally avoided the Lian family; when there was business, she couldn't avoid them.

Her Third Uncle wasn't someone who easily accepted losses. Even after taking such a severe tumble, he was still calculating every angle. The fact that he dared scheme like this meant there was still some way to handle the matter; they just needed a few people who could shoulder the responsibility to come in and close the net. She estimated her Third Uncle had originally planned to use Wen Zhengyu as bait, with Wen Shishu coming in to wrap things up. But since he used Wen Zhengyu as bait, if Wen Shishu wanted to protect him, she'd inevitably have to give up the benefits of closing the net.

Although Wen Li looked down on Wen Shiyi for scheming against his own family, she wouldn't speak ill of her uncle before outsiders. She simply relayed what her Third Uncle had asked her to pass along to Lian Xin.

While Lian Xin held no goodwill toward the Wen family because of Wen Shiyi, he had seen with his own eyes that Wen Li treated Wen Zhengyu well, and Wen Li was an upright person who conducted herself properly. Therefore, when they sat down together over a matter, he was willing to exchange a few words with her.

Early that morning, the Old Madam had called him about Wen Shiyi's return.

After hearing Wen Li's account, he turned to Ye Ling and said, "CEO Ye, tell us in detail."

Ye Ling spoke unhurriedly. "Yesterday I went to meet those three. They knew Wen Shiyi has an exceptionally wealthy older sister abroad, knew the family owned the highly valuable Old Family Mansion, knew Zhengyu has a very substantial inheritance to claim, that it's a wealthy merchant household. They said if cash isn't enough to cover it, we could use the mansion or antiques as trade. Their objective is money. The family bodyguards also put them on alert — they asked in turn whether I had other background connections. However, they didn't seem afraid, saying they also had connections domestically, but when I pressed, they wouldn't reveal their sources." Ye Ling was thoroughly unimpressed with these three henchmen. Whether Wen Shiyi had other background connections — wasn't that something they should have investigated before lending him money? And now they were asking her about it.

Ye Ling continued, "I had Zhan Cheng retrieve the home surveillance footage and send it to the police station. Facial recognition scanning identified them — these three are overseas Chinese with foreign citizenship. They travel frequently between domestic and international locations on business visas. Their documentation shows they work for an international trading company. The loan contract Wen Shiyi signed lists two repayment accounts, one overseas and one domestic. The domestic account is registered under a microcredit company. I've already sent people to investigate this credit company."

"Judging by their methods, the boss behind them probably has some influence, but isn't the kind of figure who can show his face openly." Seeing Wen Zhengyu's contemplative expression, Ye Ling explained, "Anyone with even a modicum of real ability can earn this kind of money anywhere. Setting aside everything else, buying a plot of land or doing some intermediary trading is steadier money than this. Running this kind of extortionate loan sharking not only makes enemies, but if discovered, becomes leverage that can drag down an entire nest." Her tone softened as she decided to lay it out plainly for Wen Zhengyu. "Whether we follow the vine to the melon and uproot the whole operation, or let the other side trade benefits for leniency, depends on their boss."

Wen Zhengyu understood. Those with real power wouldn't come to run loan sharking operations, but those without any ability couldn't operate a transnational loan sharking ring like this either. So these people belonged to that stratum — capable enough to lean on certain connections, but not reliable enough to depend on firmly.

Ye Ling went on, "This matter involves international and foreign-related elements, so we must proceed cautiously. However, because Mr. Wen Shiyi exists, we have a ready-made victim. The loan contracts in those three's hands, in black and white, are ready-made evidence. Just Wen Shiyi's matter alone involves a sum of fifty million US dollars. This case is sufficiently large."

Lian Xin thought for a moment, then said, "The victim and the evidence are both in place. Let's report it to the police and open a case first." He addressed Wen Li, "You and Xiao Yu are the victim's family. You go file the report. I'll handle what comes after with Ye Ling."

Victim's family! Wen Zhengyu's eyes went wide as she stared at Wen Li in astonishment: There's this kind of maneuver!

She reconsidered immediately. They had even confiscated Wen Shiyi's documents, and there was video footage used as a threat. In certain respects, this was indeed extortion, and Wen Shiyi had indeed become a victim.

She suddenly understood why Wen Shiyi could be sold for money. He was the thread, the vine to follow to find the melon. Through him, they could report to the police and open a case, then legitimately dig out the loan sharking ring behind it all.

Once the loan sharking ring was dismantled, naturally there'd be no need to repay the debt.

A transnational syndicate this large — they'd dig up a considerable amount of money. If there were protectors or umbrellas behind them, then this would be leverage against those protectors and umbrellas. If those protectors or umbrellas were public officials, it would further involve abuse of position...

If Ye Ling or her Second Aunt had to handle this alone, perhaps there would be risks. But now with Ye Ling, her Second Aunt, plus Lian Xin, matters were indeed much more secure.

Wen Zhengyu's gaze swept over Ye Ling, Wen Li, and Lian Xin. She said, "Since the police are already involved, does that mean the people Second Aunt provided won't be needed after all?"

Lian Xin laughed. "You could say that."

Wen Li kicked Wen Zhengyu under the table and hurriedly said, "They can still run errands and handle trivial matters." She finished speaking and smacked her forehead. "How did I end up with such a foolish cousin like you." She raised a finger to poke Wen Zhengyu's forehead. "Everyone says you're in a rush to sell yourself out, and you still don't believe it." She addressed Lian Xin, "As her cousin, keep a closer eye on her." She pointed at Wen Zhengyu. "Aside from buying paintings, I don't dare let her go out alone to negotiate business."

Lian Xin burst out laughing. He and Grandmother worried every day, but at least there was someone guarding Wen Zhengyu who worried even more than they did.

After his laughter subsided, he spoke to the thoroughly exasperated Ye Ling with a double meaning. "CEO Ye, you have your work cut out for you."

Wen Zhengyu looked at all three of them, her embarrassment turning to irritation, yet she didn't know where she'd misspoken. In the end, she just lowered her head and sulked in silence. She truly didn't want to sit with the three of them, for fear it would make her feel her IQ was deficient. But Wen Shiyi's matter — she...

Wen Zhengyu felt even more vexed.

Ye Ling patted Wen Zhengyu's hand and explained, "A transnational syndicate this large will definitely have legitimate businesses on the surface as cover. The police will only investigate and deal with the illegal income. These legally operating businesses can still continue to operate. Once the entire syndicate is dismantled and corporate heads are arrested, seizing the opportunity to take over those legally operating businesses on the verge of bankruptcy — even just reorganizing and selling them would yield a considerable income. We're so actively assisting the police investigation and case handling precisely for these benefits. Yet when it's time to divide the spoils, you want to kick your Second Aunt's people out."

"With your Second Aunt's people involved, plus Wen Li managing things, Lian Xin and I can attract less attention. With more people stirring the pot, even if they want to make a move, they'll have to weigh things more carefully."

"Wen Shiyi dared to lure them back here because he was counting on your Second Aunt's strength and the Lian family's strength. He used you and your mother's dowry to set up this scheme. The Lian family certainly wouldn't sit back and do nothing. And since there's profit to be made here, once we've taken our share of the benefits, we can't very well go after him to death again. This way, he sheds his debts, and after we've reaped substantial profits, he might even come asking us for more benefits." In such a large transaction, every link in the chain was money. As long as he could maneuver, there were plenty of places from which he could extract advantages. The reason Wen Li had him under watch was precisely to prevent him from causing more trouble. Right now, all he had eyes for was money and himself, with no regard for anyone else. If the stakes were high enough, him turning around and selling them out was entirely possible. Him behaving himself and being protected as a victim was the least troublesome route for everyone. Otherwise, once the police had opened a case, if he reversed his testimony claiming he wasn't a victim and wanted to withdraw the case, and the other side manipulated things a bit from within, should the investigation continue or not? Even the police would be put in a difficult position. Wen Shiyi could use family ties to harm Wen Zhengyu; by the same token, as family, not only could they claim they feared for his personal safety and needed to protect him, they could even claim he had mental illness and send him for forced treatment in a psychiatric hospital, and no one would interfere. Now that Wen Shiyi was in Wen Li's hands, how to handle this was up to Wen Li and Wen Zhengyu to decide.

After finishing their discussion and lunch, Wen Zhengyu and Wen Li went to report to the police. Once they'd filed the report, the police would need to take Wen Shiyi's statement.

Ye Ling estimated Wen Shiyi would try to stir up some mischief at this juncture and went along as well.

The moment Wen Shiyi saw their formation, he understood the matter was already being handled. He told the police he wanted to speak with his family before giving his statement, and called Wen Zhengyu, Ye Ling, and Wen Li into the bedroom.

Facing Ye Ling and Wen Li, there was no need for him to beat around the bush. He came straight to the point. "How much are you giving me?"

Wen Zhengyu desperately wanted to go find out how she could completely sever father-daughter ties with Wen Shiyi.

Ye Ling said, "At most five percent."

Wen Li remained noncommittal.

Wen Zhengyu didn't want to give Wen Shiyi a single cent, but the one speaking was Ye Ling, and Ye Ling always had her own judgment in doing things, so she held her tongue.

Wen Shiyi said, "Too little."

Ye Ling replied, "Fine then, I'll tell Grandfather the whole story in full detail. We'll stay out of it. The Old Master's health is still adequate — he can take the blow. As for whether you can take it, you know better than anyone."

Wen Shiyi remained perfectly composed, entirely unthreatened. He asked, "How will you deliver? What if you renege afterward? I want to see the money first."

Wen Zhengyu stood up, opened the door, and went straight to the police officers waiting in the living room. With utmost courtesy, she inquired, "May I use my home surveillance footage to file a report?"

The officer nodded. "Naturally."

Wen Zhengyu nodded back. "It's like this. Mr. Wen Shiyi inside, in collusion with a transnational syndicate, has been extorting and defrauding me." As she spoke, she took out her phone and pulled up some photos. "The phone has timestamps on the photos. This was the previous occasion when Mr. Wen Shiyi, in cahoots with others, came to defraud and seek to obtain our family mansion. It failed then, and now he's back, working with different people, causing chaos at my home. Just this morning, there was a physical altercation at my house — they were driven out by our family bodyguards, and afterward they remained lingering outside our gate, refusing to leave... The surveillance cameras installed in my home captured all of this."

Wen Shiyi let out a roar. "Wen Zhengyu—" He charged out of the room.

The officers, seeing this, immediately moved to block him, shouting, "What are you doing! Squat down, hands on your head, squat!" Without the bodyguards needing to intervene, the police had Wen Shiyi pressed to the ground.

Wen Shiyi said rapidly, "Misunderstanding, this is a misunderstanding. It's just a quarrel between father and daughter. All of this was said in anger. Let me talk with her again, just talk again. We're biological father and daughter — I couldn't possibly harm her."

Wen Zhengyu added another sentence. "You caused my mother's death."

The officers turned their heads in unison toward Wen Zhengyu. This involves a homicide now. They produced handcuffs and secured Wen Shiyi tightly.

Wen Shiyi felt the blood rush to his head. He shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting! Your mother died in childbirth. She died giving birth to you."

Wen Zhengyu felt as though a knife had been stabbed into her heart. She kept her face taut and used the steadiest voice she could manage. "Although over twenty years have passed, finding the witnesses from back then wouldn't be difficult, and it's not impossible that physical evidence still remains. The people who took care of Mother in those days were arranged by Grandmother. Finding them again wouldn't be hard. How my mother was sent to the hospital and how she passed away — the hospital would also have records. You caused my mother's death. The Lian family demanded the return of my mother's dowry, and the Wen family also paid compensation of equivalent value. It was agreed that this estate would be inherited by me. Your business went bankrupt and you needed money. But you caused my mother's death, and you absconded with funds, leaving Grandfather and me bankrupt to repay your debts. Grandfather and I were both unwilling to give you any more money, so you colluded with a transnational syndicate to cause trouble at my home. I'm not certain whether you truly owe loan sharks, but you most definitely intended to defraud me of the inheritance my mother left behind." After she finished, she looked at the officers. "I want to file a report. The amount involved is more than fifty million US dollars. My mother's estate is not that small."

The officer asked, "How much?"

Wen Zhengyu replied, "I don't know. I haven't calculated it specifically. Aside from a catering group company, there's also a food company. There's a commercial building in the city center — I hold shares in that shopping mall as well. There are also several office buildings, over a hundred apartments, three old hundred-year residences with double and triple courtyards and garden views, plus shares..." She gave a rough accounting of her assets.

The room fell utterly silent.

Ye Ling and Wen Li both stared at Wen Zhengyu, dumbfounded. Both of them knew Wen Zhengyu had the dowry her mother left behind, but seeing how Wen Zhengyu still had to rely on side income to make ends meet day to day, they'd always assumed Wen Zhengyu was quite poor.

Wen Shiyi was also stunned. This was far more than he had estimated...

The officers remained silent for a long moment before recovering. Then sudden understanding dawned. No wonder!

With her having so much money, and Wen Shiyi having lost money in business, him trying to get some money from her wasn't anything extraordinary. So even as her biological father, there was both motive and plausibility. One officer said, "Your possessing so much in assets doesn't prove the suspect intended to defraud you of that entire amount. The amount that can currently be confirmed is fifty million US dollars, so we'll open the case based on that figure. If you have evidence proving the amount is greater, you may come find us again. Oh, right — what about this claim that he caused your mother's death?"

Wen Shiyi hastily cried out, "There's nothing like that... she was pregnant and fell down herself, which led to massive hemorrhaging, and she passed away."

Wen Zhengyu said, "It was just the two of you in the courtyard. You had an argument. When you left, she was lying in the courtyard, hemorrhaging, and ultimately died despite treatment. What happened during that time cannot be dismissed just because you say it had nothing to do with you." She fixed her gaze on Wen Shiyi for a long moment, then turned to the officers. "It's a case over twenty years old. I don't know if it can still be reported. What I'm reporting now is this loan sharking case."

Ye Ling and Wen Li exchanged a look, neither knowing what to say.

And so, the victim shifted from Mr. Wen Shiyi to Miss Wen Zhengyu.

Mr. Wen Shiyi was taken away by the police, and moreover, what he now needed to consider wasn't how to carve out a share of the benefits for himself, but rather how he would strenuously prove that he truly was threatened by loan sharks and had not participated in extortion.

Given the way he had set up this scheme, playing both sides and constantly stirring up trouble — not to mention anyone else, even Wen Zhengyu didn't believe he was innocent.

After Wen Zhengyu finished giving her statement, she went with the police to her home to retrieve the surveillance footage. Once everything was done, physically and mentally exhausted, she burrowed into Ye Ling's arms, not wanting to say a single word, not wanting to move a single muscle.

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