Chapter Ninety: The Killer Is Released from Prison

After returning to Silver Dragon, Tan Xue did not even stop to rest before placing an overseas call across the Pacific. The man Chu Dong had told her to contact, a fellow named George, replied in very short order, and his answer left her, already worn thin in body and spirit, even more at a loss.

“George, can you tell me what problems this will cause if it goes on?”

Tan Xue’s understanding of Silver Dragon was only skin-deep; the things beneath the surface were merely what Chu Dong had revealed to her in fragments.

“Boss once instructed me that Silver Dragon Group has certain matters it is not yet willing for the outside world to know. They involve some irregular conduct by leaders from the older generation. If any of that is exposed, it will bring unimaginable disaster. Now there is a buyer aggressively accumulating Silver Dragon stock. If the holdings exceed five percent, the board must be reconvened and the seats reset. By then, Silver Dragon’s accounts will have to be made public, and some of the money’s sources and destinations will be laid bare. Even if the old chairman is not held accountable, it will certainly affect the company’s image and interests. I just looked into it, dear Madam Boss. A few days ago, what happened to the Boss already drove the company’s stock down by more than three percent. If those irregular dealings also become known, it could easily be thirty percent or even more. And that is still the optimistic estimate. Even a suspension of trading would be perfectly understandable. If what I am saying comes true, Silver Dragon will have no choice but to go bankrupt or be auctioned off.”

Once George started talking, he could not stop, repeatedly emphasizing the gravity of the situation. Especially when he addressed her as Madam Boss, with that peculiar emphasis, it was almost impossible not to laugh. But Tan Xue was in no mood to smile now.

“What should I do now?” She truly had no idea what to do, or rather, like a feverish patient seeking medicine from every source, she was flailing about like a headless fly. She had once taken pride in her advanced education abroad, but now even she was beginning to suspect it had long since been eaten up by rice.

“Dear Madam Boss, forgive me, but I cannot give you an answer right now. This kind of matter must be decided by the Boss himself. Great George is helpless as well.”

George’s tone had also grown somewhat despondent.

“Oh, thank you.” What else could Tan Xue say? The only remaining hope was still “living it up” in the detention center. She had gotten out, but now she had no way to deal with the upheaval at the company.

“Dear Madam Boss, you are far too polite. It is George’s great honor to serve you. Good night! Sweet dreams!” He had forgotten the time difference too. It was broad daylight in China, yet he was already saying good night.

“Good night!” Tan Xue hung up, both amused and exasperated. Her willow-shaped brows rose. “Where on earth did Chu Dong find this treasure?”

Unconsciously, the way she addressed Chu Dong had already changed from “bastard” to his name, which counted as real progress.

“Is it serious?” Li Youlan had not caught everything clearly, but seeing Tan Xue’s expression, she knew the situation was very bad.

“Yes. It looks like Silver Dragon has run into a real test.” Tan Xue lost interest in the delicious chicken soup too. After only a few sips, she pushed it aside.

“Hurry up and get that bastard out to clean up the mess. Why do I feel like this whole thing happened because of him?” Li Youlan was helpless as well. “Xiao Xue, should I talk to my dad and see if he has any way to help?”

Tan Xue shook her head. She understood that the fewer people who knew about this, the better. It was not that she did not trust Li Youlan or her father; it was simply that even if the Heavenly Bright Group stepped in to help now, the final outcome would still be impossible to predict.

After thinking it over and over, there was still only Chu Dong to turn to. Early the next morning, Tan Xue hurried to the detention center and waited for visitation hours.

Chu Dong had also heard that Tan Xue had arrived very early. The moment they met, he joked that she must have missed him.

Tan Xue had no mind to fuss over such things. Whether Chu Dong listened or not, she poured out everything George had said, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.

He said nothing. Chu Dong thought quietly for several minutes, and to Tan Xue, those minutes felt extraordinarily long.

The fingers lightly drumming on the table fell still. Chu Dong lifted his head. “Xiao Xue, when you get back, call George and tell him this is what I said: starting now, gather our people and begin a gamble on the internet.”

“A gamble? Gamble again?” Tan Xue’s eyes widened. She had become almost colorless at the mere mention of gambling.

“Heh. Not like the last time.” Chu Dong smiled gently. “This time it is a real gamble between us and them. Tell George to watch closely and take in every order the retail crowd throws out, no matter how large or small, to create the impression that we are afraid. That way, they will think we are trying to stop them from taking over Silver Dragon. Once that impression takes hold, they will drive the stock price up even more aggressively. George should be able to handle the rest. Even if he cannot, I should be out by then.”

“Just like that?” Tan Xue was not entirely ignorant. This would indeed send Silver Dragon’s stock soaring, but it would also make it far harder for the speculators to accumulate shares. If the other side was not well funded, they should soon abandon this farce. But if they achieved their goal and, regardless of consequences, exposed Silver Dragon’s secrets, then the remaining time would become a countdown to bankruptcy.

“Just like that. The rules of the game are set by the strong. Trust me, I am the one who makes the rules.”

His confidence was absolute. In Chu Dong’s tiger-like eyes there seemed to be a terrifying light, an authority that compelled submission.

Tan Xue stared, stunned. “Is this really the little brother who used to bully me the most? That little punk who, in my foolish confusion back then, stole my precious first kiss?”

“I keep a very low profile. Even if you are going to worship me now, could you at least be a little restrained about it?” Chu Dong had somehow returned to being fully roguish.

“Worship you, my foot!” Tan Xue, having received her instructions, was far more spirited than before. Even if she did not know how things would end, she now seemed to have a backbone.

George was once again awakened in the middle of the night by a call from the Madam Boss, but this time he was nowhere near as cocky as he had been before. He listened obediently to Tan Xue’s instructions, then loudly declared, as if making a vow, that the great George would certainly complete the mission.

The elites of the Sturgeon Fund were indeed formidable. Barely two hours after taking over, the opponent on the other side of the globe could already feel the pressure.

“Sir, something is off. Silver Dragon has definitely noticed us. We are having a very hard time absorbing shares now. A sudden group of people appeared, and their order placement is even faster and more precise than ours. Every sell order that just came out was snatched away. Look here, we cannot even keep up with the speed of our own orders.”

Rows of computers filled the room, and many people were busy at work. But just now, they had suddenly discovered that they could no longer obtain Silver Dragon’s stock. Most of them stopped what they were doing. A supervisor-like man was making a report and asking for instructions.

“Idiots. If we cannot buy low, then place higher bids. I do not believe Silver Dragon is an iron block. Once I enter Silver Dragon’s board of directors, just watch how I deal with that kid.”

Wang Dongliang was still Wang Dongliang. This time, he felt the case at the arena might not cause Chu Dong much harm at all. At worst, it would only create a few more headaches. Last time he had even arranged for someone to strike at Viyata while he lay on his sickbed, hoping to frame Chu Dong for it, but thanks to the Development Zone police’s vigilance, they never found an opening. So he had turned to exploiting the chaos and buying up Silver Dragon stock, hoping to use it to strike at Chu Dong.

But his perfect plan had been seen through by the alert Chu Dong. Up to now, he had only managed to acquire less than two percent, and that had infuriated him.

In truth, it was not entirely his subordinates’ fault. Silver Dragon had weathered the financial crisis intact, and its stock had always been relatively stable. Coupled with steady profits, most shareholders intended to hold for the long term, so the acquisition had gone poorly. And now, with the Sturgeon Fund intervening, Wang Dongliang’s takeover plan had become even harder to carry out.

Just as Wang Dongliang had anticipated, the law did not speak for a handful of people. With the support of the vast majority, the second hearing passed almost like a formality. Chu Dong was convicted of negligent assault and sentenced to one year of execution outside prison. In this way, public opinion was appeased, and Chu Dong, the man who had injured someone, was also punished. The one million in compensation he paid for the injured party was barely even mentioned.

And so Chu Dong walked out of the detention center in grand style. Ever discreet, he avoided the reporters waiting to swarm him. He could not return to Flying Reed Hotel, where many “devoted” journalists were still lingering, nor could he go back to the Tang family’s gated community, which was now crawling with paparazzi.

With no other choice, and with the help of Strong, Tan Xue, Little Jade, Li Youlan, and Chu Dong all moved into a villa rented in the development zone.

That evening, Strong and Rat also came to welcome Chu Dong home and treat him to a proper reception. Chu Dong’s mother had already learned about the matter online and called to check on her son. Chu Dong talked his way through it with half-truths and bluster.

Under pressure from the Beijing side, Zhao Baode had already left. The room was full of young people, and there was much less restraint in what they said.

“Sister-in-law, since Big Brother Dong is out today, shouldn’t we prepare something for a cleansing bath or something? Do the brothers need to help?” Strong was now even bold enough to joke with Tan Xue. In the past he had always found her too cold and had never had the courage to speak to her. This time, he had finally seized the chance.

“Mind your own business. Watch it, or one day you might go in yourself, and whether you ever come back out will be another matter.” Tan Xue’s temper seemed to make a sudden one-hundred-eighty-degree turn. She was smiling, not angry at all.

“Pah, pah, children should not speak ill omens. By the way, where is this beauty from, and how old is she?” Strong turned his head and went after Li Youlan.

“That one is a leftover woman. No need to ask,” Chu Dong said, lying on the sofa with a wineglass in hand, while Little Jade energetically massaged his shoulders. What a life.

“A dog’s mouth cannot spit out ivory. If it has nothing to do with you, then shut up and stay out of it.” Li Youlan had seen enough of the world not to miss what Chu Dong meant.

“Sister Lanlan, my brother-in-law says you are a holy maiden. Why are you angry?” Little Jade stopped her hands and asked Li Youlan with blinking, wide eyes.

“He can still praise me? He meant I’m just left over. If he were really going to praise me, the sun would have to rise in the west,” Li Youlan explained to Little Jade.

“Oh, I get it. That means Sister Lanlan is left over and no one wants her, right? Sister Lanlan, you are so smart.” Little Jade praised her with an expression of pure admiration.

“Hahaha...” The whole room erupted in laughter.

Li Youlan pulled Little Jade to her side. “Stay away from him. Don’t let him corrupt you.”

When a killer reemerges in the underworld, it is bound to set countless maniacs dancing in frenzy. Chu Dong, who had been confined for nearly half a month, now had abundant energy. Some people were going to be in trouble again.