The current Xiao Zi'an is hard to reconcile with her past self. The former Xiao Zi'an, around 40 years old, had sallow skin and looked like a woman of that age. The current Xiao Zi'an is completely different, fashionable, beautiful, and in good shape, resembling a magazine cover girl. Even if there are some facial resemblances, the stark contrast makes it easy to overlook the similarity.
"Are you really Xiao Zi'an?" Lin Han found it hard to believe, seeing no resemblance to the person she knew. Despite Lin Han's keen observation skills, she detected a faint familiarity but would have dismissed it herself.
"A figure can be faked, but this face is real," Xiao Zi'an replied with a smile. Lin Han, without hesitation, reached out and touched her face. Turning to me, she said, "It's real."
This naive Lin Han made me laugh. "Alright, I wouldn't lie to you. I'm sorry, Mrs. Xiao, I didn't want to reveal your identity, but I'm in big trouble now."
"I understand. Tell me, what can I help you with? I'll do my best."
I explained the situation in detail. Xiao Zi'an pondered for a moment and then asked Chang Dachun, "Could it be them?"
"It's possible, perhaps even likely."
A private equity fund manager had approached Chang Dachun, mentioning a private equity project related to Xiao Zi'an's son. After Xiao Zi'an's staged death, her custody and guardianship rights had transferred to Chang Dachun.
This private equity fund's primary business involved donations to children in need, disaster-stricken areas, and long-term sponsorship for impoverished and ill individuals. In addition, the fund invested in stocks within the medical, technology, gold, and liquor sectors to sustain its extensive national relief efforts.
"Sounds like a good thing?"
"My son will own 10% of this fund's equity upon reaching adulthood. The fund manager specifically informed me about this."
"Which company initiated this fund?"
"We've investigated. It involves six companies, spread across the country, and none of them are publicly listed. We can't ascertain the true owners."
"And the origin of the initiative?"
"A commercial bank in your hometown."
...
At this point, I had a general understanding and turned to Lin Han, "This should be the 30 billion yuan between Old Tie and me."
Lin Han looked puzzled, "If that's the case, there shouldn't be any losses. Medical, technology, and liquor are all future growth sectors, and gold is also guaranteed not to lose money."
"The question is, does this money still belong to us now?"
Hearing me say that, Lin Han chuckled, "If you're out of money, I'll support you."
"It's not about that!"
"I don't think this is Ke Yingying's doing," Xiao Zi'an said.
"Why not?"
"Honestly, this feels more like Ning Caishen's modus operandi. But Ning Caishen is dead. Perhaps the person behind this is that 'Second Generation Vixen' Cao Qian."
"Her?"
Mentioning Cao Qian, Lin Han's displeasure was evident. "Why is this woman so persistent, always disturbing my life?"
"It's just speculation! It might not be her!"
When I said that, Lin Han got angry. "Are you defending your senior sister now?"
"I'm not defending her!"
"You are defending her. Your senior sister wouldn't easily swindle your money; you gave it to her."
Lin Han's words also made me angry. Why would I give money to Cao Qian? I looked at Lin Han with displeasure. "Lin Han, aren't you being unreasonable?"
Chang Dachun also chimed in, "Little sister, you're in the wrong here."
"Yes, you're all right, and only I am wrong."
With that, Lin Han turned and left. As she was leaving the ward, she encountered Yu Xiaoluo and Luo Bo. Upon seeing Lin Han's demeanor, Yu Xiaoluo followed her out.
After Luo Bo entered, Chang Dachun, to conceal Xiao Zi'an's identity, smiled and said, "Then I won't disturb you. Wife, let's go."
"Alright!"
When Luo Bo entered, Xiao Zi'an was by my bedside, much closer than Chang Dachun. This was natural, as we were discussing matters.
However, Luo Bo was no ordinary person; his observational skills were exceptional. After Xiao Zi'an left, arm in arm with Chang Dachun, Luo Bo said, "Are you very familiar with this woman?"
"She's quite familiar with everyone, a natural at striking up conversations," I replied cautiously, sensing Luo Bo's wariness.
"I don't think so. She feels like The Schemer."
The more serious Luo Bo sounded, the more vigilant I became. But I couldn't explain it now. If I did, Luo Bo would suspect me too, and I didn't want so many people to know about Xiao Zi'an's new identity. So, I feigned helplessness and said, "I don't know. I've been 'sealed' and my mind isn't working well."
"Sealed?" Luo Bo asked with a frown.
"Yes!"
Luo Bo was an atheist. The concept of a natural-born criminal made him uneasy, but he would surely scoff at such metaphysics.
"If you don't want to do it, then don't. What's all this nonsense?"
I knew he would react this way and sighed, "I know you don't believe it, brother-in-law. Just assume I don't want to do it."
"Even if you don't want to do it, I have to remind you, this woman might be from the 'Southern Faction'!"
"She's from the 'Southern Faction'?" This time, I was genuinely surprised. Why would Luo Bo suspect that?
"Mmm!"
He sounded very certain. I couldn't let him have this misunderstanding. I said loudly, "Impossible, absolutely impossible." I knew Xiao Zi'an's identity; how could she have become a schemer of the 'Southern Faction'? This misunderstanding must not persist, or it would cause significant trouble for Xiao Zi'an later.
"It's just a guess. In any case, this woman is very mysterious, and her identity is fake," Luo Bo said pensively.
"Brother-in-law, you investigated her?"
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"She might be the next to die," Luo Bo sighed.
"What do you mean? A serial killer?"
Luo Bo shook his head, indicating he wasn't entirely sure. Before I fell unconscious, hadn't Luo Bo gone to Sichuan? There, through an informant named Wu Sheng, Luo Bo had learned about the activities of several schemers. These schemers were all from the 'Southern Faction', including 'Jin Nu', 'Tang Huang Tang', and 'Chi Bao Le De Xiao Zhu Gui'.
Hearing these nicknames, I was dumbfounded and asked with doubt, "Are you sure the name is Chi Bao Le De Xiao Zhu Gui?"
"Yes!"
"Brother-in-law, are you sure these names aren't online handles but actual schemers?"
"They are indeed schemers. Do you know about the counterfeit money trap Ning Caishen set up back then?"
"I know!"
"After Cao Qian and Cao Shi broke this scheme, it went dormant for a while. Then it resurfaced, but this time the schemer wasn't Ning Caishen, but this 'Jin Nu' I mentioned."
...
A counterfeit money trap? Indeed, when I went to Sichuan, I heard Ke Yingying mention on the private jet that manufacturing counterfeit currency required four elements. Completing these four elements would result in counterfeit bills indistinguishable from genuine ones.
At that time, the scheme was broken, and Ning Caishen was arrested. Among the four elements, the most difficult one, the intaglio printing machine, went missing. It vanished without a trace. I presume Luo Bo is telling the truth; 'Jin Nu' must have stolen the intaglio printing machine and continued counterfeiting using Ning Caishen's former techniques.
"Alright, I admit that 'Jin Nu' might be related to schemers. What about 'Tang Huang Tang' and 'Chi Bao Le De Xiao Zhu Gui'? They don't sound like schemers either!"
"It's said that 'Tang Huang Tang' is a retired old man, primarily operating in the medical field, dealing with various medical scams. 'Chi Bao Le De Xiao Zhu Gui' engages in online fraud, both male and female, and claims to be a contact on the dark web, dealing in drugs, assassinations, and organ trafficking. Furthermore, everyone knows 'Xiao Zhu Gui' is a virtual online alias; no one knows his true identity."
"Since no one knows his true identity, has 'Chi Bao Le De Xiao Zhu Gui' faked his death?"
"No, the 'Southern Faction' issued an obituary."
"They still dare to issue an obituary?"
"The 'Southern Faction' is quite complex. The reason for issuing an obituary is primarily to declare war?"
"War? Against whom?"
"Cao Shi, the Greedy Ghost."
"What?"
My mind felt completely blank. How could the 'Southern Faction' be at odds with Old Gui?
"You don't understand, do you?"
"Yes, it feels rather inexplicable."
"It's because of you!"
"Because of me?" I pointed to my nose and asked.
"Yes, because of you!"
Luo Bo was very certain, but my mind was in a complete fog. I had been unconscious, still struggling to come out of a metaphysical daze. How could these people's deaths be related to me? Moreover, this was the first time I was hearing these names. Even if they considered me an adversary from the 'Southern Faction', I didn't know them at all.