Chapter Eighty-Nine: Turbulence Without End

“Come on, come on!”
Lan was nearly half-dragged out of the courthouse by Xue, who kept looking back toward the empty corridor. By the time they reached the front gate and faced the crowd of reporters who refused to disperse, tears were still streaming down Xue’s face. Only under the protection of Zhao and Lan was she able to get into the car.

Just as Zhao was about to comfort her, a call came through from the capital.

“Good work, kid. You handled this beautifully. I’d say you’ve made a name for yourself all at once. At first I was furious that Lan called you away with a single phone call, but now it looks like our Tianming Group may get a little attention too. By the way, ask her whether she’s taken a liking to that young man. I think he’s not bad either. Bring him back next time so I can meet him. And tell Lan it’s time she came home. Hasn’t she had enough fun yet?”

The call was from Lan’s father, who had also been watching the live stream online.

“Understood, Mr. Li. I’ll be sure to pass it along. Don’t worry.” Zhao was pleased with himself as well, though he still did not claim the credit. “If I’m honest, this defense wasn’t my achievement alone. That young man Chu is something of a prodigy, and there was also a female officer who helped quite a bit...”

The moment Lan heard Zhao mention Mr. Li, she fell instantly silent and became very obedient, sitting still without a word, as though afraid he might call her to the phone.

Instead of going home, Xue went straight to Silver Dragon. Chu had been absent these past few days, and without someone to steady the company, it simply would not do. However poor her mood, she still had to force herself to come here.

“Miss, the finance director came looking for you just now. It seemed to be something important,” Mei reported as soon as they returned to the company.

“Ask him to come in,” Xue said absently, then went into the office with Lan.

The finance director arrived quickly, light on his feet, wearing a smile.

“Miss, I’d like to report on Silver Dragon’s stock over the past few days. It had fallen by three percent a few days ago because of the negative rumors, but since yesterday afternoon it has risen sharply. It has not only recovered to its original level, it is still climbing, and there is every sign that it may surpass its previous all-time high.”

The moment he came in, he delivered the news like a cheerful announcement.

“Oh. Good. Keep it up. Anything else?” Xue no longer felt any joy at the thought of rising stock prices. Even if she were made the richest person in the world right now, she would not feel there was anything to celebrate.

Lan could tell that her friend had no mind to deal with such matters at the moment, so she took charge and sent the finance director away, despite the bright smile still hanging on his face.

“Xue, don’t be like this. I think that bastard has luck on his side and won’t come to any harm. Didn’t you see how everyone reacted today? Uncle Zhao’s defense was brilliant. Don’t worry, all right?” Lan poured her a cup of water and coaxed her carefully.

“Ah... let’s hope so. But who knows whether the presiding judge will think the same way? I just feel that things aren’t so simple. I can’t help worrying,” Xue said weakly. Her spirits were low, her voice soft. She had also slept badly these past two days, and before long, leaning against the sofa, she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Lan shook her head helplessly. It seemed her friend’s heart had already been quietly taken away by Chu. She draped a coat over Xue, turned off her phone, and even unplugged the landline before quietly leaving the room.

After instructing Mei outside not to let anyone disturb Xue for the time being, she finally departed in peace.

Chu, by contrast, was very at ease, not at all like a man in prison. He was always smiling, looking as though he had no troubles whatsoever. Zhao had come to see him and apologized for involving Xue and Lan on the stand.

“It’s nothing. Since the other side said it that way, you were only forced to respond. It’s all small stuff anyway. Better to put your energy elsewhere. By the way, how are Silver Dragon’s stocks doing now?” Chu had a careful calculation in mind; in his thoughts, many things were linked layer upon layer.

“At first they dipped a little, but they climbed back up very quickly. They should be soaring by now, heh heh.” Zhao had naturally heard the news as well.

“Since when?” Chu remained as calm as ever. When handling matters, he never had that casual air about him.

“They started rising the day before the trial. After the trial began, they shot up even more. It looked like several days in a row of upper-limit gains.” Zhao only knew that much; after all, he was not a specialist.

“There’s a problem.” Chu frowned.

“A problem?” Zhao had been in high spirits, and now he did not understand him.

“Yes. Uncle Zhao, go back and tell Xue to come see me. I have something I need to tell her.” Chu knew that not a single bit of carelessness was allowed now. If someone took advantage of Silver Dragon’s trouble to buy up its stock, and the holdings reached a certain amount, the balance of power on the board would change. If a newcomer then took over and demanded full disclosure of the accounts, the old deficit left behind at Silver Dragon would no longer be hideable. If that situation truly came to pass, it would be no less disastrous for Silver Dragon than the sky falling.

“All right. I’ll tell her as soon as I get back. Don’t rush.” Zhao had been through enough in Tianming Group to recognize at once, from Chu’s grim expression, that the matter was no small one.

By the time Xue came to visit Chu, it was already the afternoon of the second day. Each day’s visitation had a quota; it was not possible to see whomever you wanted, whenever you wanted.

The moment she saw Chu in his prison uniform, Xue’s eyes reddened again.

“What are you doing? Am I not perfectly fine? Don’t worry, I won’t leave you a widow. At worst, in another three or five years I’ll be a true hero again.” Chu instinctively reached into his pocket, only to remember there was no cigarette there anymore. He set his hand back on the table and smiled at Xue.

“Go to hell. It’s bad enough just looking at you,” Xue snapped, though the fact that he could still joke around made her feel much more at ease. “Uncle Zhao said you had something to tell me?”

“Oh? If there’s nothing, then it seems getting to see you is rather difficult. Not even a little thought for me?” Chu had never before seen Xue look so fragile since meeting her again. Something tender seemed to strike him in the heart, though his mouth remained as irreverent as ever.

“If you’re not going to say it, I’m leaving.” She shot him a look, yet did not move an inch.

“I heard Silver Dragon’s stock is skyrocketing right now?” Chu dropped his teasing act and went straight into the matter.

“Bad news makes it fall, good news makes it rise. What’s wrong with that?” Xue genuinely did not see anything unusual.

“Of course something’s wrong. First, the timing. The stock started rising before our trial even began, and after the trial it went into a frenzy. Haven’t you noticed anything off here?” His tone held no reproach. He knew she had been through a great deal these days and did not want to add to her burden.

“Oh, really? I truly hadn’t thought that far.” Xue gathered herself a little and withdrew her gaze, which had been checking whether his clothes fit properly. “Are the clothes uncomfortable? Shall I have someone remake them for you?”

“Heh, silly girl. Don’t concern yourself with the clothes. When you go back, have someone check who exactly has been buying up Silver Dragon stock recently. Even if they’re all small investors, don’t be careless. Call a man named George directly. Write down the number: ********.” Chu still was not reassured. He felt certain someone was stirring trouble behind the scenes, and that this person had considerable resources. Stuck here, he had no way to wield his strength, so he hurried to make the next arrangements.

“How am I supposed to put it? Just say you told me to call?” Xue hesitated. She had never asked anyone for help before, much less a stranger.

“Heh, that works. But I think if you say you’re the boss’s wife, he’ll work even harder.” After giving his instructions, Chu’s unruly expression returned.

“Bah. Be careful you don’t bite your tongue off,” Xue said. She had only just adjusted to his seriousness, and now he had changed faces again. It was truly exasperating.

Visitation time was limited. Although Xue felt she had barely said a few words, seeing that Chu was in good shape still put her somewhat at ease. Better safe than sorry. Even if she thought Chu was being a bit alarmist, she still followed his instructions and, once back at Silver Dragon, dialed the number he had given her.

“Oh, my God. Who could be so cruel as to wake the great George from his dreams?”

A London-inflected voice came over the phone, languid and lazy, making it sound as though the man on the other end was no diligent sort.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Xue only then remembered the time difference. “Chu told me to call you. He said he wanted me to ask you for a little help. I don’t know whether you have time.”

“Chu?” The other side still sounded a little dazed, or perhaps he was simply unfamiliar with the name, because he repeated it with some uncertainty.

“Yes. Don’t you know him?” Xue had never been so embarrassed. She was inwardly annoyed; if this was Chu’s idea of a joke, she would skin him alive.

“Did he tell you anything else?” George asked after a moment, cautiously.

“He said, he said...” Xue tried to remember what else he had said. “Oh, he said that if I told you I was the boss’s wife...”

“Oh, my God!” The voice on the other end immediately burst out with something that sounded half like delight and half like a scream. “May I ask, dear Madam Boss, whether the great George is at your service at any time? Please, give your orders!”

Xue was a little stunned. Was the phrase “boss’s wife” really so magical? Though confused, she still told George the matter Chu had entrusted to her during their first call.

“Okay, okay, okay. Madam Boss, rest assured. The great George will not let you down. I guarantee the task will be completed.”

From the phone alone, one could hear the sound of his heels snapping together as though he were standing at attention.

The call had ended for quite a while, yet Xue was still somewhat lost in thought, so much so that she did not even realize when Lan came in.

“Xue, what are you thinking about now?” Lan had ordered chicken soup from a restaurant and brought it over in an insulated container. Lately Xue had been pushing herself too hard, and Lan had come to nourish her a little.

“Huh?” Xue jumped. Seeing that it was Lan, she let out a breath. “You little brat, you scared me. I’m fine.”

“Didn’t you just go see that guy today? Did he make you mad again?” Lan’s opinion of Chu had changed quite a bit by now, but she still felt that calling him a bastard or that guy was more comfortable.

“No, really, no.” Xue opened the insulated container and carefully sipped the still-boiling chicken soup with a spoon. Suddenly, the phone on the desk rang, and her hand jerked; the soup nearly spilled.

“Madam Boss, this is no simple matter. I’ve found that the vast majority of the stock is flowing to the same place. It seems the boss’s worry has indeed come true.”

Before Xue could say a word, George’s voice came through. This time he did not mention any great George or anything of the sort. It was clear the situation had become serious.