Wang Fugui understood my meaning and smiled, "So, you still don't know Lin Han's objective?"
"I really don't know."
I genuinely didn't know Lin Han's objective and was willing to admit it frankly.
"Then I'll tell you. I believe once you know, you'll definitely consider Lin Han a threat and cooperate with me."
"Tell me first, then."
Perhaps I had been threatened too many times, but now I could face threats with equanimity. Lin Han had indeed done something remarkable, and it was related to Gao Ji.
Gao Ji had a setup in the domestic antique market, encompassing auction houses, antique appraisal, and related industries. There were two main objectives: First, to possess sufficient capability to contend with organizations like "Logical Paradox" that targeted him. Second, to facilitate blackmail and control over the Schemer he favored. It was like how he threatened me, which was by no means baseless.
This investment cost over 3 billion yuan, which, relative to Gao Ji's total assets, was only about 2%. Crucially, at the critical juncture, this investment was registered in Hong Kong and managed by the Gao family.
After Gao Ji's death, this management right should have fallen to Gao Xiaozhi. However, after Gao Ziyan took over the Gao family, Gao Xiaozhi made a decision. He quietly sold this equity, obtaining some operating funds. He didn't want to be utterly defeated and harbored hopes of a comeback. Yet, under the dual suppression of my senior sister and Gao Ziyan's team, Gao Xiaozhi's side crumbled. Just yesterday, he was once again tricked by my senior sister. The situation was dire, his family members abandoned him, and in the ensuing property dispute, he was reported, likely facing the rest of his life in prison. Finally, Gao Xiaozhi leaped to his death from the Gao family's office building.
Now, both my senior sister's and Gao Ziyan's teams had to focus their attention on the issues left behind by Gao Xiaozhi. His equity would, for various reasons, flow into the pockets of Gao Ziming or Gao Ziyan.
If Gao Ziming held 51% of the equity, he could become the head of the Gao family without a will. In that case, Gao Ziyan's position as head of the family might be fleeting. The struggle between the two sides was exceptionally fierce. Now, the 2% equity that Gao Xiaozhi sold to the mainland could become a key factor.
Initially, I had a clear understanding, but after listening, I became more confused. All along, I thought Lin Han knew clues about this 2% equity, but judging by Wang Fugui's attitude, the person who possessed the 2% equity was Lin Han.
Now, my senior sister, the "femme fatale," had planned ahead. Because of this potentially needed 2%, her focus shifted from using Lin Han to deal with me, to directing all her killing intent towards Lin Han.
To confirm my suspicions, I asked Wang Fugui, "You mean this 2% equity is in Lin Han's hands?"
"Yes. Aren't you scared?"
Scared? What was there to be scared of? Was this a matter of fear? I frowned and continued to ask Wang Fugui, "Did you use your brains when you assessed Lin Han's value?"
Wang Fugui's expression soured slightly, but he genuinely didn't understand. "What do you mean by that?"
"Do you know how much it would cost to buy Gao family's 2% equity?"
"We don't know the price Gao Xiaozhi sold it for back then, but the lowest estimated value is 3 billion." "It seems you're not entirely clueless? My wife is indeed wealthy, but selling the Lin family only yielded a few hundred million. How could she afford it?"
"Don't you have money?"
"I do. Since I returned from Hong Kong, I haven't seen my wife. 3 billion isn't 30 yuan. Wouldn't you notice if funds were being moved?"
Wang Fugui was stunned. Da Huang, standing nearby, interjected, "Sister needs five million, and I arranged the acceptance for her. Thirty billion? She couldn't get that. You're using this absurd reason to deal with her. Big brother, when you scheme and harm people, please use your brain! You're a Schemer!"
No, I couldn't mess around with these pawns here any longer. Learning that my senior sister was using this reason to target Lin Han made me uneasy.
"I want to talk to Cao Qian."
"You're the one who's been caught now. You have no right to negotiate with us."
They could hear me outside. I didn't want to waste any more time with Wang Fugui. I shouted loudly, "Madam Xiao, if you can hear me, make your move."
"Who is Madam Xiao? Xiao Zi'an, when did she arrive?"
Wang Fugui knew nothing, and I didn't explain. I waited quietly. Seeing my silence, Wang Fugui raised the remote control for the mechanism and said fiercely, "Since you don't want to cooperate, I'll have to execute the second plan."
"What is the second plan?"
"Kill you. That way, your clever wife will come out for revenge."
With that, Wang Fugui actually pressed the switch. The entire basement began to hum, and the wall started to move. The space we were in grew smaller and smaller, quickly becoming as narrow as the staircase. The wall then pressed against the flush toilet, which resisted for a moment under the immense pressure of the moving wall before shattering with a snap.
Da Huang's expression changed, and he moved further away. The shattered toilet was still being pushed towards us by the wall. At this point, Da Huang and I were in a situation akin to being squeezed through a narrow crevice, the space becoming tighter and tighter. Soon, we wouldn't even be able to turn around, and we'd be crushed into a pulp.
"Brother Da Huang, why are you so far away from me?"
"I don't want to be mashed up together with you. When my son comes to pay respects to me, he'll have you to thank as well."
The situation was tense, but hearing Da Huang's words, I couldn't help but smile. Then, I turned my body to face the moving wall, which would allow me to hold out for another minute.
At the critical moment, the iron door opened. Xiao Zi'an, disguised as Susie, knocked Wang Fugui unconscious the moment he turned around. Then, she snatched the remote control and pressed the pause button.
At this moment, Da Huang and I were facing the moving wall, our noses almost touching. The cramped space made us both gasp for air. Fortunately, Xiao Zi'an slowly lowered the enclosing glass with the remote. Da Huang and I escaped. I saw a look of near-death relief in Da Huang's eyes and smiled, patting his shoulder.
Da Huang flung my hand off his shoulder and said loudly, "Go away! You scared me to death! My wife almost remarried with our son."
"Madam Xiao, your rescue was indeed a bit slow."
"It's all because of you."
"How is it my fault?"
"Among these pawns, the Spade represents a Schemer of the Stanislavski system. This Ten of Spades is an actress, so she knows some self-defense. If I had left her outside, she might have counter-killed me."
Hearing Xiao Zi'an say this, I felt a bit awkward. "I thought leaving the girl outside would make it easier for you."
"The time would have been the same."
I understood Xiao Zi'an's meaning. The time would have been the same. If she had subdued Wang Fugui outside, she would have had to deal with the actress inside. The space was small, and it was uncertain who would win in a fight under those circumstances.
"What happens next?"
"Let's call the police first."
Hearing me say this, Xiao Zi'an nodded. "Then let's go outside and help the real Susie up. We'll have the police arrest him too."
"Okay!"
The three of us left the corner cafe. While no one was around, we lifted the unconscious Susie out of the trunk. Then, Da Huang and I, one on each side, supported the unconscious Susie back to the corner cafe. Xiao Zi'an took off Susie's suit and changed back into her own clothes. She would remove her makeup in the car before joining us.
Originally, the actress and Wang Fugui had been knocked unconscious by Xiao Zi'an and were lying on the ground. But when we returned, we found blood flowing from beneath their bodies.
"Oh no!"
We dropped Susie on the ground and rushed over to check the injuries of the actress and Wang Fugui. The assailant was formidable. They had likely used a very sharp knife, slitting the throats of the deceased with a single stroke.
A killer had taken advantage of the brief time we were out to murder Wang Fugui and the actress without hesitation.
"Brother Da Huang, hide."
"Hide? Hide from what?"
"Go to the basement through that winding staircase you just came from." Da Huang didn't quite understand but trusted me and immediately ran towards the staircase we had come out of. Shortly after he hid, I saw two police officers break through the door. One checked the injuries of the actress and Wang Fugui, while the other pointed a gun at me and shouted, "Don't move, hands up, against the wall."
As soon as I raised my hands, the experienced officer pushed me against the wall and handcuffed me. "Xiao Zhang, go check if there's anyone else. I'll take this one to the police car first."
The officer pushed me into the police car and drove off without waiting for his partner. I watched the officer driving from the rearview mirror. He was wearing a mask, and his features were somewhat familiar. Finally, my gaze fell on his rough, sturdy fingers.
"Do we know each other?"
The officer removed his mask and smiled. "Long time no see, Tang Nan."
"Wu Sheng. So, this is a setup?"
"We'll talk slowly on the way. Right now, I need to take you to the landlady."
"Who is the landlady?"
"Mei Hua 9, the landlady."