Chapter 745

News of Xu Jijun's death quickly reached Lin Dongfan's ears.

Translation: "The news of Xu Jijun's death quickly reached Lin Dongfan's ears."

News of Xu Jijun's death quickly reached Lin Dongfan's ears.

At 2 a. m., Wu Zhou was hit by a torrential rain.

Translation: "At 2 a. m., Wu Zhou was hit by a torrential rain."

At 2 a. m., Wu Zhou was hit by a torrential rain.

Lin Dongfan stood by the window with his hands behind his back, his mind unable to calm for Along time; this was destined to be a sleepless night. The youthful days he spent studying at Jianglan Zhengfa University flashed through his mind like slides.

Translation: "Lin Dongfan stood with his hands behind his back by the window, his mind unable to calm for Along time; this was destined to be a sleepless night. The youthful days he spent studying at Jianglan Zhengfa University flashed through his mind like slides."

He stood by the window with his hands behind his back, his mood unable to settle for Along time; this was destined to be a sleepless night. The youthful days he spent studying at Jianglan Zhengfa University flashed through his mind like slides.

At the same time,

Translation: "At the same time,"

At the same time,

At the interrogation point of the Central Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission, the lights in the interrogation room were also unusually harsh.

Translation: "At the interrogation point of the Central Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission, the lights in the interrogation room were unusually harsh."

At the investigation point of the Central Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission, the lights in the interrogation room were unusually harsh.

Li Mingtang sat at one end of the long table, holding a freshly printed copy of the list. Rain pattered against the windows, as if providing accompaniment to the impending storm.

Translation: "Li Mingtang sat at one end of the long table, holding a freshly printed copy of the list. Rain pattered against the windows, as if providing accompaniment to the impending storm."

Li Mingtang sat at one end of the long table, holding a freshly printed copy of the list. Rain pattered against the windows, as if providing accompaniment to the impending storm.

Three people sat opposite him.

Translation: "Three people sat opposite him."

They were respectively Wu Zhou Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Zhang Peiyuan, Executive Vice Mayor Shen Jianguo, and Director Zhao Mingyuan of the Development and Reform Commission.

Translation: "They were Wu Zhou Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Zhang Peiyuan, Executive Vice Mayor Shen Jianguo, and Development and Reform Commission Director Zhao Mingyuan."

They were respectively Wu Zhou Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Zhang Peiyuan, Executive Vice Mayor Shen Jianguo, and Development and Reform Commission Director Zhao Mingyuan.

These three men, who had held real power in Wu Zhou for twenty years, now had ashen faces, their shirt collars open, sweat beading on their foreheads.

Translation: "These three figures, who had held real power in Wu Zhou for twenty years, now had ashen faces, their shirt collars open, sweat beading on their foreheads."

"Gentlemen," Li Mingtang pushed the list forward, his voice eerily calm: "Does this list look familiar to you?"

Translation: "\"Gentlemen, \" Li Mingtang pushed the list forward, his voice eerily calm: \"Does this list look familiar to you? \""

Zhang Peiyuan trembled as he picked up the list.

Translation: "Zhang Peiyuan trembled as he picked up the list."

After just a glance, he collapsed into his chair.

Translation: "After just a glance, he collapsed into his chair."

The list densely recorded every transaction, every project, and every division of spoils over the past twenty years—time, place, amount, and the people involved—so detailed it was despairing.

Translation: "The list densely recorded every transaction, every project, every profit split over the past twenty years—time, place, amount, and handlers—so detailed it was despairing."

"How… how did this come about?" Shen Jianguo asked in a hoarse voice.

Translation: "\"How... how did this come about? \" Shen Jianguo asked in a hoarse voice."

"Xu Jijun gave it to me," Li Mingtang said. "Or rather, he bought it with his life."

Translation: "\"Xu Jijun gave it to me, \" Li Mingtang said. \"Or rather, he bought it with his life. \""

"Xu Jijun?" Zhao Mingyuan's pupils narrowed: "He isn't…"

Translation: "\"Xu Jijun? \" Zhao Mingyuan's pupils contracted: \"He isn't... \""

"He's dead," Li Mingtang interrupted. "He committed suicide yesterday evening at the Jin Gang dock. Before dying, he gave the password to this list to Lin Dongfan."

Translation: "\"He's dead. \" Li Mingtang cut him off: \"Just yesterday evening at the Tianjin Port dock, he committed suicide. Before dying, he handed the password to this list over to Lin Dongfan. \""

The interrogation room was deathly silent.

Translation: "The interrogation room fell into a deathly silence."

Only the sound of rain outside grew louder and louder.

Translation: "Only the rain outside grew louder and louder."

"What about Li Zhenyang?" Zhang Peiyuan suddenly asked. "How much does he know?"

Translation: "\"What about Li Zhenyang? \" Zhang Peiyuan suddenly asked: \"How much does he know? \""

"Li Zhenyang knows even more than what's on this list," Li Mingtang said, standing up and walking to the window, his back to the three men. "He's in Hong Kong now, but he can't escape."

Translation: "\"Li Zhenyang knows even more than what's on this list. \" Li Mingtang stood, walked to the window, and turned his back to the three: \"He's in Hong Kong now, but he can't escape. \""

Saying this, Li Mingtang turned around.

Translation: "Saying this, Li Mingtang turned around."

His gaze was like a blade.

Translation: "His gaze was like a blade."

He stared straight at the three of them and said: "You now face only two choices: either cooperate voluntarily, confess and assist the investigation to seek leniency; or put up a stubborn resistance while we solidify the evidence chain, after which…"

Translation: "He stared straight at the three opposite him: \"You now face only two choices: either cooperate and confess, seeking leniency, or resist stubbornly while we solidify the evidence chain—then... \""

He didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Translation: "He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear."

Zhang Peiyuan closed his eyes and let out Along sigh.

Translation: "Zhang Peiyuan closed his eyes and let out Along sigh."

"I'll speak," Zhang Peiyuan finally said, his voice sounding ten years older: "Starting in 1999, the three thousand mu of land in Wu Zhou's development zone…"

Translation: "\"I'll speak, \" Zhang Peiyuan finally said, his voice sounding ten years older: \"Starting from 1999, the three hundred mu of land in Wu Zhou's development zone... \""

The interrogation began.

Translation: "The interrogation began."

At the same time, the presidential suite of Wu Zhou Hotel.

Translation: "At the same time, the presidential suite of the Wu Zhou Grand Hotel."

Lin Dongfan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of the study, gazing at the rainstorm outside.

Translation: "Lin Dongfan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of the study, watching the violent rain outside."

His phone lay on the table, its screen showing a message received ten minutes earlier: "The scene at Jin Gang has been surveyed, and nothing was found."

Translation: "His phone lay on the table, the screen showing a message received ten minutes earlier: \"The Tianjin Port site has been surveyed—nothing found. \""

The sender was Lao Ba.

Translation: "The sender was Lao Ba."

Lin Dongfan stared at that message for Along time, then picked up his phone and dialed Lao Ba's number.

Translation: "Lin Dongfan stared at that message for Along time, then picked up his phone and dialed Lao Ba's number."

"No evidence left at all?" he asked.

Translation: "\"No evidence left at all? \" he asked."

"None," Lao Ba replied, his voice tinged with helplessness: "They acted professionally, leaving not a trace. When our people arrived, they found only two pools of blood—no shell casings."

Translation: "\"None. \" Lao Ba's voice held helplessness: \"The other side acted professionally, leaving not a trace. When our people arrived, they found only two pools of blood—not even a shell casing. \""

"What about Chen Dong?"

Translation: "\"And Chen Dong? \""

"He's withdrawn; our people are tailing him."

Translation: "\"He's withdrawn; our people are tailing him. \""

"Keep close, but don't startle the snake."

Translation: "\"Keep close, but don't scare the snake. \""

"Understood."

Translation: "\"Understood. \""

The phone hung up.

Translation: "The call ended."

Lin Dongfan put down his phone, walked to the liquor cabinet, and poured two glasses of whiskey. He set one on the table and held the other in his hand.

Translation: "Lin Dongfan hung up, walked to the liquor cabinet, and poured two glasses of whiskey—one set on the table, the other held in his hand."

He walked to the window, raised his glass, and faced the rainstorm outside.

Translation: "He walked to the window, raised his glass toward the violent rain outside."

"Old Xu, farewell."

Translation: "\"Old Xu, take care. \""

Having said that, he tipped his head back and drained the glass.

Translation: "Having said that, he tipped his head back and drained the glass."

The fiery liquor burned his throat, the sensation spreading down to his stomach.

Translation: "The fiery liquor burned his throat, the sensation spreading down to his stomach."

Xu Jijun is dead.

Translation: "Xu Jijun is dead."

That former classmate, former rival, former Mr. G—his four‑year flight ended just like that.

Translation: "That former classmate, former rival, former Mr. G, thus ended his four‑year life on the run."

Former G Xiansheng.

Thus: "That former classmate, former rival, former G Xiansheng, thus ended his four‑year life on the run."

Lin Dongfan couldn't say what he was feeling at that moment.

Translation: "Lin Dongfan couldn't say what he felt right now."

Anger? Regret? Or relief?

Translation: "Anger? Regret? Or relief?"

Perhaps all three.

Translation: "Perhaps all of them."

He set the empty glass on the table, picked up the other, and took another sip.

Translation: "He set the empty glass down, picked up the other, and took another sip."

……

Translation: "……"

We need to keep the ellipsis as is? Probably just "……". We'll output same.

The next morning.

Translation: "The next morning."

In an upscale villa district of the capital, Chen Dong's car slowly entered the underground garage. He parked, but instead of getting out right away, he sat in the car and smoked a cigarette.

Translation: "In an upscale villa district of Jingcheng, Chen Dong's car slowly entered the underground parking garage. He parked but didn't get out right away, instead sitting in the car and lighting a cigarette."

Halfway through the cigarette, his phone rang.

Translation: "Halfway through the cigarette, his phone rang."

"Have you arrived?" an aged voice asked from the other end.

Translation: "\"Have you arrived? \" an aged voice came from the other end."

Chen Dong replied respectfully: "I've arrived, sir."

Translation: "Chen Dong replied respectfully: \"I've arrived, sir. \""

"Come up; I'm waiting for you in the study."

Translation: "\"Come up; I'm waiting for you in the study. \""

"Yes."

Translation: "\"Yes. \""

Chen Dong stubbed out his cigarette, got out of the car, and walked into the private elevator.

The elevator goes straight to the third floor of the villa.

He stepped out of the elevator, walked down the carpeted hallway, and came to a heavy redwood door. He knocked three times softly, and the door opened from inside.

The person who opened the door was a woman in her fifties, wearing plain home clothes. She nodded at him, then withdrew silently.

Chen Dong walked into the study.

The study was large, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on three walls, filled with all kinds of books. By the window stood a wide redwood desk, behind which sat an old man.

The old man looked to be in his eighties, with white hair, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and was reading a document.

He wore a navy-blue Zhongshan suit, sat upright, and had an elegant, scholarly demeanor.

This is the "Teacher" — the predecessor of Lin Zhenhua.

The true behind-the-scenes architect of Wu Zhou's twenty-year interest network, he is not only the backing behind the Xu family, but also the supporter behind Li Zhenyang.

"Sit."

The Teacher said without looking up.

Chen Dong sat in the chair opposite the desk, keeping his back straight.

After a few minutes, the Teacher set down the document, took off his glasses, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Cleaned up?" the Teacher asked.

"Very clean." Chen Dong replied cautiously: "The scene has been cleaned, leaving no trace. The bodies of Xu Jijun and Su Jin have also been disposed of."

The Teacher nodded satisfactorily: "What a pity, Xu Jijun is a rare talent. If he had listened to me, he wouldn't have ended up like this."

"But he betrayed you." Chen Dong said.

"Yes, he betrayed me." The old man sighed, then said: "Once a person has feelings, they become weak. Xu Jijun, for Han Jinling, could give up everything. This is his strength, and also his fatal flaw. A man who should have achieved great things was instead entangled by love."

Saying this, the Teacher rose and walked to the window, hands behind his back, gazing at the pleasant scenery outside.

He asked again: "Any news from Lin Dongfan's side?"

"He handed the list over to the Inspection Team; Wu Zhou has already begun its dragnet." Chen Dong reported: "Zhang Peiyuan, Shen Jianguo, and Zhao Mingyuan have all spoken, revealing much. The scope is wide, possibly involving..."

"Could it involve me?" The Teacher turned, smiling slightly: "Chen Dong, how many years have you followed me?"

"Twenty-three years." Chen Dong said.

"Twenty-three years." The old man lamented: "Time flies. In these twenty-three years, I've helped how many people, blocked how many others' paths—I myself can't even recall."

He walked back to the desk, took out a kraft paper file folder from the drawer, and handed it to Chen Dong.

"Inside are some people's leverage." The Teacher further instructed Chen Dong: "Take it, use what should be used, suppress what should be suppressed. The fire in Wu Zhou must not spread to Jingcheng."

Chen Dong took the file folder; it felt heavy in his hands.

"Old Leader, what if we can't suppress it?" he asked.

"If we can't suppress it, we cut our losses." The Teacher put his glasses back on, eyes sharp: "Some pawns should be abandoned if needed, but the core few must be kept."

"Understood."

Chen Dong rose, preparing to leave.