昨天 by 風弄 Chapter 27
Yesterday by Feng Nong.
Still as lavish and luxurious, the place is the same small villa of NiLuo. People have said that this is where there is the finest wines, the most entertaining music, the most exquisite interior decoration, one would be fortunate to receive an invitation. Listening to the floating music rising and falling inside the house, I walk through the door. The scene that day, when due to not having an invitation, I toughened my scalp and entered the house, flashes through my mind.
The wines are still the finest, the interior decoration is as before, novel and tasteful, NiLuo definitely did not lose his love of renovating places. What has decreased, is the number of guests. Such a sumptuous party, attended by only a few guests, only brings about a particularly bleak atmosphere. The whims of society, warmth or coldness, who wouldn"t sigh?
Once I entered the house, I couldn"t help but inhale deeply, wanting to heave a huge sigh. But someone immediately pats my shoulder.
"ShengSheng." I turn my head. NiLuo is holding a winegla.s.s, swaying slightly. A slight smile on his lips just like before, no decrease in his air of eliteness. Looking at him, I suddenly lose my will to sigh.
"NiLuo, thanks for the invitation." I smile slightly. NiLuo beckons the waiter and serves me a gla.s.s of wine.
"I"m very happy that you"re able to make it." Those words carry a tone of gratefulness and sincerity. In this world, there are few that would send coal during a snowstorm, but many that would throw stones at one who falls down a well.
"I have always attended your parties." NiLuo smiles looking at the small number of guests:
"My ego made me throw this party. I wanted to find out how many friends I really have, fortunately, I actually have a few." I raise my head to take a look, a few guests are gathered together chatting leisurely. All familiar faces.
"You"re a good person. That time when Huang enterprise was in a difficult position, luckily you did not keep my faults in mind, and lent my dad a helping hand."
"When did I?" NiLuo says: "Honestly speaking, there was huge reason why I helped out that day, definitely not because it was Huang enterprise."
"But because of Rong enterprise?"
"That"s right." I shift my gaze:
"No matter the reason, you still did a favor for Huang enterprise."
"That"s why you"re here today to repay the favor?"
"You won"t accept?" NiLuo shrugs his shoulders:
"How can I not? I"m not a fool."
"That"s good, within the next month, Huang enterprise will not withdraw from GuiDe"s fund."
"ShengSheng," NiLuo warns me saying: "A lot of big financial groups are risking their life to withdraw their existing funds, in order to avoid heavy losses if GuiDe were to really collapse without a moment"s notice."
"Don"t tell me you"re recommending that I join the panic and make a run on the bank?"
"No." NiLuo says: "With your a.s.surance, the pressure on me is suddenly lightened. But, this type of risk, I definitely need to let you know."
"NiLuo, such sincerity and honesty is really inconsistent with your style." I shake my head: "Don"t tell me that after not having seen you for some time, you have been reborn, getting rid of your ruthlessness a hundred percent?"
"If it was anyone else, of course if I could fool, I would. But because it"s you ......... "
"What about me? You"re still keeping that matter in mind?" NiLuo suddenly becomes extremely serious:
"ShengSheng, there is someone that loves you, more than life, you"re really blessed." My expression becomes slightly unnatural:
"Who loves me more than life? You? Then my helping you is all the more fitting."
"I only remember, right on this staircase, there was someone, whole face drenched in blood grasping me firmly telling me not to report to the police, sealing off any leaks." NiLuo raises his hand and points to the staircase. My fingernails suddenly pierce my palm. I sneer:
"Looks like I worried for nothing, with support from Rong enterprise, how could you be in any trouble?"
"ShengSheng, I"m very grateful for your concern." NiLuo, seeing my intention to leave, holds me back saying: "YuJiang is a good friend of mine, I don"t want to see him go through life suffering."
"Go through life suffering? Isn"t he wildly successful, in high spirits?" I quickly turn around: "These unfavorable rumors, this scheme to control the market, don"t tall me he has no part in it. Within this month, probably taking advantage of the wind and waves, to gobble up a number of businesses. NiLuo, you"re not afraid that I would spill the beans?"
"Spill the beans? You wouldn"t."
"I will!" I down the red wine in one gulp. I put down the gla.s.s and glare unyieldingly at NiLuo"s questioning look. I stride out the door.
The night breeze is cool and refreshing, I might as well wind down the car window, letting the breeze blow on my face. Yet another deception. YuJiang"s deceptions will never cease. Before, he deceived me, now, he deceives the public. In the financial world, any bit of trivial information can cause an avalanche. So the one that arranges the trap, naturally is fully aware of the key moment from which to reap the profits. But .........
The corner of my eyebrow suddenly jumps, I step on the brakes abruptly, stopping by the side of the road. The car following behind me, due to my unexpected action, angrily honks at me as it whizzes by.
If I use the information in my hands, and figure out the connections, and in collaboration with major business partners, we could easily take this as an opportunity to launch an attack on Rong enterprise and GuiDe. The possibility of destroying YuJiang"s everything, makes my heart start to beat rapidly.
That"s right, YuJiang is certain that I won"t reveal his secret, he still does not think I would take advantage of him. I might as well leak out the inside story secretly, and together with the numerous rivals of Rong enterprise, destroy the legendary Rong enterprise once and for all.
My whole body suddenly feels burning hot. Taking YuJiang and flinging him under my feet, no longer letting him circle arrogantly all around me. I can"t say it"s not overwhelming.
I rush back to Huang enterprise and turn on the light in the office. I anxiously turn the place upside down looking for data, afraid that the opportunity would flash by. Taking advantage of this opportunity in a mad rush is not an easy thing. I dial HongBing"s number. I"m probably waking her up rudely when she is sleeping blissfully in the arms of her husband.
"h.e.l.lo?" A sluggish voice, comes through in a blur, I can picture HongBing"s sleepy, eyes not fully open expression, as she picks up the phone.
"HongBing, come quickly to the office, I need an a.s.sistant desperately."
"Boss?"
"I know it"s late at night, but I will give you one month of vacation. You are the most capable, come quickly." I put down the phone quickly and start to sort out the data at hand. Most importantly I want to find out the inside story, of how Rong enterprise will be able to profit from this. Without profit, YuJiang will definitely not engage.
In the middle of my hopeless struggle, HongBing finally arrives. I heave a sigh and say immediately: "Find the calculations for the European GDPs for the past two years, and also find the newly released government budgets. I also want to know all the major clients of GuiDe bank." HongBing replies wide-eyed:
"Boss, don"t tell me you"re sleep walking."
"Don"t speak nonsense, hurry up, hurry up."
"A list of GuiDe"s major clients, how are we going to find that?" I mutter to myself for a moment, raising my head to say:
"Do as much as you can, I know you"re not the FBI, but just give me whatever you can find." HongBing grimaces and immediately got to work. This young maiden has a strong point, once she gets to work, it"s like starting up a machine, definitely won"t conk out halfway. We hustle through most of the night, completely drained. Finally we figure out the general idea. Both HongBing and I were sporting dark circles under our eyes, looking at the files on top of the desk.
"It will soon be dawn." I see HongBing quietly looking at her watch, so I can"t help but ask:
"Is someone waiting for you?" HongBing pursed her lips in a smile, her face suddenly glowing. I sigh, such a lucky young lady. "Go on home. You"re officially on vacation starting today." HongBing sneaks a peek at me saying:
"That vacation ........ "
"I"ll extend it one more month."
"Wa!" HongBing jumps to her feet, full of excitement, giving me an air kiss.
"You"re the world"s best boss." She picks up her small leather handbag and runs off cheerfully.
"Ai ......... " I can"t help but smile bitterly, facing the mountain of files on the desk.
YuJiang"s scheme is really too complicated. After looking through data for the whole night, I can only faintly feel that the fake rumors are connected to the approaching meeting of the European economic ministers. Maybe he obtained some high level insider information, so in order to gain even more profit, he decided to cause the market to drop beforehand. In a flash, ten thousand changes can take place in the complicated market, anything could happen.
But there is one thing for certain. I only need to immediately publicize what I"ve discovered, and YuJiang"s plan would be wrecked. Even further, it may possibly lead to an avalanche, taking the shape of a sudden peal of thunder, leaving one no time to cover one"s ears, dragging Rong enterprises into destruction. This, is not an impossibility.
I clench my fist unconsciously. YuJiang has always been calm and composed, standing way up high. Even before I helped to seize Rong enterprise, he was just quietly spying on the side, never once showing a hard-pressed behavior.
If I could take him down .......... if I could take everything in his hands and let them vanish like smoke, disperse like clouds ........ if I could cause him to shed tears bitterly in front of me, wander about dejectedly, look at me with desperate eyes ...........
There is a hazy voice urging me to hurry. I grab the phone, and dial the number of the famous french economist, MaiFu. This is the best person to spread the news. One word from him on TV and I can imagine YuJiang and NiLuo looking at each other in dismay. Although he should still be in bed, but this type of news, is worth being rudely awakened for.
The call goes through, the voice that comes through is clearly a little angry:
"Do you know how early it is?" The plan was to immediately reveal over the phone that GuiDe bank"s unfavorable rumors are just all smoke and mirrors. But right when I open my mouth, my throat suddenly feels as if it is stuffed with a cotton ball, unable to spit out a single word. All the chaotic thoughts, suddenly stops at the moment right before I was about to take action. Like in a brilliant film about the mob, right at the moment of life and death, bullets flying in all directions, right at that critical thrilling moment, a power failure.
What would happen to YuJiang? After I do this, what would happen to YuJiang? I suddenly realize. My heart imagines that YuJiang"s downfall would bring me a hundred percent satisfaction, but when it comes time to meet face to face, would I be able to take it? YuJiang"s face appears before my eyes. He asks me softly:
"ShengSheng, you won"t regret?"
"I won"t regret." The answer I gave that day was quick and also firm. As long as I could run away from where YuJiang was, anything was worth it. I don"t regret? Really? I ask my heart gently. I do regret. Not for the sake YuJiang. But only because of the harrowing pain I felt when I was all alone, missing him.
I clench my jaw tighter and tighter. Curses had started to come through the phone. I hang up the phone *ka cha*. Disappointment ..........
Like fighting a war without the smoke of gunpowder, YuJiang is like the exceptional ace described in books, not needing to take any action, and already pushing me into a corner.
"You won"t regret?" YuJiang"s voice reverberates repeatedly in my ear. One night, he hugged me in his arms asking: "How can I ease the pain, I beg you to teach me. ShengSheng, I beg you to teach me."
Hot and cold currents are running back and forth through my body. When they meet, it"s like a spark to gunpowder, blowing me up leaving no trace of my ashes. The longing carved in my bones, breaches the dam at this moment, taking me under. I can"t break free, and start to dial the number for Rong enterprise with trembling hands. I know I shouldn"t do this, I can"t stop myself, just like a drug addict experiencing a sudden relapse.
The call connects. I expected the machine to answer the phone, but unexpectedly I immediately hear a voice. Deep, calm ............ It"s like I heard the morning bell and evening drum, stiffening immediately on the chair. After a long time, I come back to my senses and quickly wanted to hang up the phone.
"ShengSheng .......... is it you?" YuJiang"s soft sigh floats into my ear. In a split second, it"s as if I see him alone in the kitchen of Rong mansion, back towards me, worrying; I also seem to see him lying quietly beside me, sweetly sleeping; I also seem to let him grab my hand questioning: ShengSheng, why are you crying?
I hear his voice! Just listening to his voice, I feel like I have returned from the dead. I"m unable to stop the bitterness in my throat.
"YuJiang." I foolishly say: "The person who framed me in Malaysia, is YuTing."
"I know." I"m immediately shocked, but a moment later, I understand:
"The detective also contacted you, otherwise, how would he know of our bad blood with YuTing, relying on just one photo to solve the case?" YuJiang calmly says:
"That"s right, I"m acquainted with the detective you hired, and also gave him many clues." I suddenly think of something, cold sweat streaming down:
"YuJiang, could it be that before I boarded the plane, you already knew that YuTing wanted to harm me?" YuJiang says without the slightest hesitation:
"That"s right, I knew. I have always kept my eye on things involving you." I gulp a mouthful of cool and refreshing air:
"You watched me get framed?"
"ShengSheng ......... " YuJiang pauses before saying in his deep voice: "At that time, I wanted to destroy you. Listening to you say that you wouldn"t regret it, I really wanted to destroy you." I suddenly feel my throat become extremely hoa.r.s.e, filled with friction and bitterness. I should be raining curses without restraint, but YuJiang"s bitter suffering seeps into my ear, actually causing my heart to start twitching in pain. I grip the table to stop my hands from shaking endlessly. I force myself to calm down, asking:
"Then why did you save me?" The other side becomes silent. For some reason, my heart suddenly tightens. As if the thing that I"ve been thirsting for, for many years, is almost before me. I hold my breath and waited a long time. But there is no answer from the other side. I ask: "YuJiang, why did you want NiLuo to leak the inside information on GuiDe to me? What do you still want? To test how much impact you have on me? To see if I would keep it a secret for you?" Or, are you doing this to confirm that I still love you deeply, unable to betray you?
"ShengSheng, why do you not suspect that I"m deceiving you? Scheming to trap you, intentionally letting NiLuo leak the information to you, so that you wouldn"t withdraw the funds urgently." YuJiang"s tone suddenly turns bitterly sarcastic, unbearably pained: "Don"t tell me that in your heart, I"m not a vicious and treacherous person, reaching to the peak of perfection? Each and every thing I do, I do it with a hidden intention, all a false display of affection."
"Of course I suspect. Because no matter when, I"m always in a disadvantageous position, being played by you like an ant." I sneer.
"ShengSheng, why do we always have to be so hostile?"
"It"s you who forces me."
"I force you? When? Where?" I roar into the phone:
"All the time! Everywhere!" After shouting out loud, I realize that I have lost control of myself. I close my eyes and force myself to calm down my fiercely beting heart. YuJiang is silent for a moment before saying coldly:
"Since it"s like this, why did you make this phone call?" This one question stabs precisely into my weak spot, seizing me with terror. YuJiang says: "Everything is perfectly fine. The one that is stirring the pond of spring water, is you." He hangs up the phone.
I stare blankly, still holding the receiver. YuJiang"s voice is still reverberating in my ear. Why then did you make this phone call? Why then do you stir this pond of spring water? I don"t understand. I don"t know. I can"t find any explanation.
I slowly lean over the small mountain of doc.u.ments. I clutch my chest, but I"m unable to stop the pain.