Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
âIt wasnât the real Yamaguchi Aiko?â Zhao Liangze and Yin Shixiong were both in shock. âMr. Huo, what is this conclusion based on?!â
âNothing, as of now.â Huo Shaoheng clenched his fist and supported his chin. Then, he extracted the pictures of both Yamaguchi Aiko and Yamaguchi Youko, and placed them side by side on the computer screen.
âLook. Donât they look alike?â Huo Shaoheng asked both of them to move closer to the screen. âYamaguchi Youkoâs case â I think you guys still remember that one?â
âOf course.â Yin Shixiong waved immediately. âBut I thought she had an accident in Japan? We all thought that she was murdered by the Yamaguchi-gumi...â
âJudging from the things now, it might not be.â Huo Shaoheng turned his gaze to the screen. âWe merely heard about the accident. Did anyone go to the scene of accident? Do we have pictures as evidence? Did anyone manage to check her family? Nope, we didnât.â
âTrue, Yamaguchi Youkoâs lead ended with the accident. Moreover, we were convinced that the Yamaguchi-gumi murdered her. Therefore, we were content with just that, instead of having a thorough check.â Remembering that mission, Zhao Liangze asked, âSo... Mr. Huo has doubts now? Perhaps this Aiko is Youkoâs younger sister? Itâs no big deal that sisters look alike, right?â
âThat is possible, too.â Huo Shaoheng nodded. âSo we really need to check on Yamaguchi-gumi properly now.â
âBut their security is way too strict...â Zhao Liangze frowned. âIf I remember correctly, we tried to hack into their internal system. However, we were discovered within a short time, and our men had to poison themselves in order to avoid going through torture and interrogation.â What he meant was, had they landed in the hands of Yamaguchi-gumi, theyâd be better off dead. And this was precisely the reason Huo Shaoheng went deep into thought and waved for them to leave the room. âLeave the office now. Iâll think it through.â
âYes, sir.â Upon leaving Huo Shaohengâs office, Yin Shixiong and Zhao Liangze went back to their respective desks. Zhao Liangze scrolled casually through the headlines online. Seeing how Prime Minister Douâs family was treated, he commented relentlessly, âThis Prime Minister Dou. He really lost his mind all because of power. How could he have collaborated with Japanâs Yamaguchi-gumi? I dare say, even the politicians in Japan dare not do this.â
Yin Shixiong sprawled on his desk and said lazily, âPower drives people crazy, especially a position as high as that. He did not have anyone stopping him. It was very likely that he just wanted to make use of Yamaguchi-gumi for a while, but he did not expect that he would have to sell his soul if he wanted a deal with the devil.â
âWell said!â Zhao Liangze applauded, but he was shocked to see that Yin Shixiong did not look happy. Puzzled, he asked, âWhatâs wrong with you? Bad mood?â
Yin Shixiong shook his head, full of images of Yamaguchi Youko. âLittle Ze, why do you think Youko wanted Nianzhi that time?â They knew that Gu Nianzhi got hit by the arrow once, and that stuff came from none other than Yamaguchi Youko.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âYou feel that that incident was on purpose instead of a coincidence?â Zhao Liangze raised his eyebrows. âBut I have always felt that it was a coincidence...â The son of a wealthy man wanted to get his hands on some aphrodisiac, and Yamaguchi Youko happened to have some, so she sold it to him.
âBut think about it; such an expensive and rare drug, and it fell so coincidentally into the hands of that particular wealthy boy? Now, that already isnât normal. It felt like she was purposely trying to wait for him to take the bait.â Zhao Liangze began to think about it seriously. He rose from his desk, folded his arms, and paced around the office, analyzing the situation with Yin Shixiong. âIf what you said is true, then thereâll be a problem. Yamaguchi Youko or Yamaguchi-gumi â why would they want to go against Nianzhi?â
âYou think sheâs connected to Yamaguchi-gumi in some way?â Yin Shixiongâs expression darkened further. âWouldnât that mean that she would definitely not be able to be together with Mr. Huo?â Other considerations aside, if Gu Nianzhi really had a connection to Yamaguchi-gumi, then even if they fell deeply for each other, they wouldnât be able to be together.
âBig Xiong, youâre exaggerating things. Not necessarily having a connection, but perhaps a victim of Yamaguchi-gumi?â Yin Shixiong hit the table, snickering. âAnything is possible. One has to be daring enough to make assumptions and careful enough to obtain relevant evidence.â
âTrue, that.â Zhao Liangze was obviously relieved. âI was so worried...â
âForget, leave it to them. Even General Ji isnât saying anything anymore. Would our words matter? Looking for Nianzhiâs father and knowing his background is more important for us right now.â Yin Shixiong turned his computer on and began searching for information on Gu Nianzhiâs background again.
Right at that moment, he received an email. After glancing through it casually, Yin Shixiongâs mind sprang to attention, his eyes bigger than ever. âCome here quick, Little Ze!â His voice even sounded different.
âWhat about coming over there? What do you want again?â Zhao Liangze rolled his eyes at Yin Shixiong, refusing to head over to his desk.
âCome here, quick!â Yin Shixiong was about to panic. âA really crazy email just arrived from South America!â
âWhat? The people who were sent to check on He Zhichuâs background?â Zhao Liangze ran over quickly and stood behind Yin Shixiong, looking at his computer screen. The email was short. It contained only one sentence: âThe name of Gu Yanranâs father is Gu Xiangwen as well.â
Now it was Zhao Liangze who was panicking. âWhat the hell?! Gu Yanranâs father is Gu Xiangwen as well?! Doesnât that mean that she and Nianzhi are biological sisters?! But they are not blood-related!â He only realized when he was done panicking and asked, âDidnât they go there to check on He Zhichu? Why did they send information on Gu Yanran?â
Yin Shixiongâs fingers began dancing on the keyboard. âI was feeling puzzled as well. Iâll ask.â He continued, âThis annoying person. Would it kill him to type another sentence?â Of course, he was merely ranting. In their line of work, it was really possible they could die if they were to type another sentence.
After sending the email, Yin Shixiong forwarded the email to Huo Shaoheng. Shortly after, the door to Huo Shaohengâs office opened. Huo Shaoheng came out from the door, looking solemn. âWhatâs going on? Why did the check move to Gu Yanran?â This piece of information relinked a clue from a long time ago.
âWe were puzzled as well, Mr. Huo, so I just sent a reply to ask.â Yin Shixiong showed Huo Shaoheng his correspondence.
Huo Shaoheng glanced and nodded. âInform me once they reply. Also...â he paused. âCheck Gu Yanranâs DNA again.â They had tested it previously, and it showed no connection between her DNA and Gu Nianzhiâs. But now they were linked up again by having the same father.
âBut Mr. Huo, are you sure that Gu Yanranâs father, Gu Xiangwen, is the same person as Gu Nianzhiâs father, Gu Xiangwen?â Zhao Liangze, being a computer expert, had the logical mind of a computer programmer. He thought about things deeply and in a sophisticated manner.