Chapter 827: If Only I Hadn

Li Ye ended the conversation, stepped out of Room 501, and Old Liu immediately asked another investigator.

“Old Sun, you’ve got Gu Jianqi’s mobile phone, right?”

“Yes, but according to Li Ye, we can’t access its call records—we need Gu Jianqi’s friend to go to the telecom company to check...”

Old Liu took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes hard: “As long as we can check it, we’ll go talk to Gu Jianqi later.”

“It won’t be easy to talk to him.”

Old Sun also rubbed his face, then said: “During the chaotic years, Gu Jianqi was famous for being stubborn—he endured all kinds of pressure and never broke. Now we’re not even in China; if he refuses to cooperate, we’re truly stuck.”

Old Liu stretched his neck, then suddenly asked: “Do you think Li Ye and Gu Jianqi have a grudge? He didn’t say it outright, but I feel he resents Gu Jianqi for getting in the way...”

“How could he not resent him?”

Sister Zhang said: “This time, Li Ye used his Hong Kong connections to raise funds, took on the hot potato for Jingqi Motorcycles, and negotiated the introduction of a new project with Mitsubishi—”

“How hard is it for us in foreign trade to close even one project? Yet Li Ye and Liu Muhan and a few other young people—”

“They’ve already handled two, but listen to what others say: old-timers like Gu Jianqi just point fingers and drag everyone down...”

“Sister Zhang, stop with the side remarks—we all know how capable your Liu Muhan is,”

“But this incident has caused too much damage...”

“What does ‘damage’ have to do with us? Imagine you two are going out for a stroll—can a weak woman like me tie you up?”

Old Sun and Sister Zhang began arguing.

Because Secretary Han was from Old Sun’s system, while Liu Muhan was Sister Zhang’s person, and since Secretary Han was dead, Liu Muhan should logically bear responsibility—

but after questioning the inspection team tonight, almost everyone said it had nothing to do with Liu Muhan—it was Gu Jianqi’s fault.

Although Old Sun also supported Li Ye, Gu Jianqi and Secretary Guo were on his side—if all the blame fell on his team, he’d have no excuse when they returned home!

“Enough, enough—we already agreed to focus on the issue, not the person. First, find out the cause of Secretary Guo’s death, then hand over the case to the Japanese side and go home.”

In the end, Old Liu stopped the argument—Secretary Han’s body was still in Japanese hands; they had to resolve this quickly, and settle accounts later.

“Let’s rest for a bit—we haven’t slept since the night before last, I can’t hold on anymore.”

Old Sun collapsed onto the bed, exhausted, and immediately fell asleep without care.

We’re all human—you can’t wear down an eagle without first wearing yourself down.

Old Liu and the others didn’t rest long, because by the time Li Ye finished being questioned, it was already dawn, and they checked the call records as soon as work started.

“Here are the call records from the night before last—but it’s strange: it’s a Japanese number, yet Secretary Han told me Gu Lao was going to make an important call back to China...”

Old Liu took the telecom company’s official record sheet and looked at Sister Zhang.

Sister Zhang immediately called over Liu Muhan and several foreign trade staff to confirm it was indeed a Tokyo local number.

Then it was time for Old Liu and the professionals to act.

“Hello, this is Dongyang Financial Services. Hello, we have two transactions with your company and would like to check the details.”

“Sure, please provide your identification information.”

“Gu Jianqi and Guo Huai...”

“Sorry, there’s no record for Gu Jianqi... Guo Huai’s futures commission has already been closed.”

In less than half an hour, Old Liu and the others extracted a string of explosive facts from this number.

The number belonged to Dongyang Financial Services, and Secretary Guo had indeed had a transaction there—but it had already been liquidated.

Old Liu’s face turned grim; Old Sun clenched his teeth.

Two million eight hundred thousand—gone in an instant. Even if you had money to burn, it would take ages to burn through that much.

“Take Gu Jianqi with us—we’re going to see this for ourselves.”

Because Liu Muhan and the others had obtained Dongyang Financial Services’ address, Old Liu’s team found it without much effort.

When the car arrived, Gu Jianqi’s expression changed visibly.

He didn’t know where he’d slipped up—how had the investigation team found the place so quickly?

But now that it was too late, he could only force himself to go upstairs with them.

Yet once inside the financial services company, Gu Jianqi noticed none of the staff who knew him were present—almost everyone there were locals from Tokyo.

Liu Muhan stepped forward and translated: “Hello, we’re here to inquire about a transaction. Here are our passports.”

Old Liu handed over Guo Huai’s passport; the staff quickly brought a file folder and pulled out a thick contract.

“This is our contract. According to its terms, your futures commission has been liquidated...”

Old Liu frowned at the thick contract—it was bilingual Chinese-Japanese, but far too lengthy; checking every clause would take forever.

Li Ye, who understood economics, had come along this time. He immediately told Liu Muhan: “Ask them to point out the liability waiver clauses.”

“Liability waiver clauses?”

Liu Muhan hesitated, then translated it to the staff.

The staff member paused, then skillfully flipped to several sections and pointed them out to Liu Muhan.

Liu Muhan and Xiao Hu studied them carefully for ten minutes, then helplessly shook their heads to Old Liu and the others,

indicating the money was gone for good.

At that moment, Gu Jianqi suddenly asked Li Ye: “How did you know there’d be liability waiver clauses?”

Li Ye replied coolly: “It’s standard practice for Western financial firms—if they give you a massive contract for a small transaction, it almost always contains such clauses.”

Gu Jianqi opened his mouth, voice hoarse: “Isn’t that fraud?”

Li Ye shook his head: “It’s not fraud—it’s just that profit or loss is entirely your own responsibility... For example, during this stock crash, if you’d bet on a decline, you could’ve made ten or even dozens of times your investment.”

Everyone froze, clearly doubting Li Ye’s words.

After all, the TV had been full of news about people jumping to their deaths—how could anyone make dozens of times their money?

But the Dongyang employee said: “This gentleman clearly understands. If you’d shorted on Friday, you’d have made at least twenty times.”

Gu Jianqi burst into tears.

Only now did he understand regret—regret for opposing Li Ye. If he’d only listened to Li Ye’s advice back then, wouldn’t he be rich now?

“Oh, here are some of Mr. Guo Huai’s personal items—would you like to take them back?”

As everyone was stunned, the Dongyang employee pulled out a small envelope and smirked as he asked Old Liu and the others.

Old Liu took the envelope, opened it, and found photographs inside.

He was puzzled, but after a closer look, his face flushed crimson.

The photos were taken in a hot spring at a brothel—showing Gu Jianqi and Guo Huai, along with several pale, bare-skinned women. By mainland standards, the content alone would warrant criminal charges.

Wo ni ma~

Old Liu frantically shoved the photos back into the envelope—but with so many eyes watching, how could he hide them in time?

Li Ye pursed his lips, unable to suppress a wry smile.

But as he shook his head, he noticed Chu Yunling watching him from behind the blinds of a distant office.

Li Ye glanced once, then turned his head away.

Chu Yunling immediately lowered the blinds, as if she’d never seen Li Ye.