Chapter 1201: Sudden Change

Pessimists love life more than optimists, because they know the immense risk of living, that storms can strike at any moment.

Zhao Fusheng was neither a pessimist nor an optimist. His rebirth made it impossible for him to be easily pessimistic or optimistic, but he understood that sometimes people really should think positively. After all, if even hope is lost, then life truly has nothing to look forward to.

"What exactly is going on?"

After seeing Chen Shijie off, Dong Chenxi returned to the office and saw Zhang Qian leaving in a hurry. Somewhat puzzled, she asked Zhao Fusheng.

Clearly, everything that was happening had left her at a loss.

Zhao Fusheng gave a bitter smile and explained helplessly, "I suspect that Tong Zhenbang's embezzlement and his attempt to cooperate with us was discovered by the Mr. Li behind him. The two sides probably had a conflict, and Chen Shijie likely took over. That's why he said he'd be handling the investment company from now on."

Dong Chenxi was taken aback, then frowned slightly. "So what do you mean..."

Clearly, things had gone beyond their expectations. No one had imagined that in just over a month, the situation would change so drastically, and Tong Zhenbang would be in trouble.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled. "Actually, for us, there's no loss. Tong Zhenbang's money was probably taken by Mr. Li. Judging by Chen Shijie's attitude just now, that Mr. Li still wants to continue cooperating with us."

This was the conclusion he had carefully considered. Since Tong Zhenbang was dead, if Mr. Li didn't intend to continue the cooperation, Chen Shijie wouldn't have shown up here. Moreover, Chen Shijie's note had already made it clear that this Li still planned to use him for money laundering.

That being the case, a great weight had been lifted from Zhao Fusheng's mind.

As for whether there would be danger, Zhao Fusheng didn't think too much about it.

A long time ago, when he met Chen Shijie, they had a conversation.

How should one spend one's life?

How should Zhao Fusheng live his life? Love himself, love his family, love the world. This wasn't due to some inspirational鸡汤, but purely Zhao Fusheng's own inner truth.

Living in a daze, in wealth and splendor, as an accomplice to evil—that's one kind of life.

Living honestly, meekly, in constant insecurity—that's also a life.

Roaming the world, making a name, achieving success—that too is a life.

Zhao Fusheng was also an ordinary man who craved wealth, power, vanity, and beautiful women. But his experience of two lifetimes allowed him to understand more precisely what he wanted. So he felt that one should at least live freely—ruthless when necessary, gentle when needed, do more good deeds that don't betray one's conscience, earn more money, see more of this beautiful world, and take in the scenery around him. That was the life he should live.

On the premise of ensuring his own safety and a good material life, Zhao Fusheng didn't mind doing a little extra good to keep his spiritual world pure.

So, after judging that what Chen Shijie was doing was a good thing, Zhao Fusheng decided to help him within his means.

At the very least, he wouldn't let Chen Shijie go astray.

After all, who knew what trauma the guy had suffered in this operation? In his previous life, although he held a high official position, he had taken the wrong path.

"What about the money?"

Dong Chenxi asked Zhao Fusheng. Clearly, she wasn't as relaxed as he was.

"Return it." Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said solemnly, "As I said, let their boss come talk to me himself!"

Since Chen Shijie had told him to force Mr. Li to show up, Zhao Fusheng decided to go all out and bet on that Mr. Li's greed.

Dong Chenxi was silent for a long time. She felt her boss must be crazy now; if not, how could he make such a decision?

That was one hundred and fifteen million US dollars.

Not to mention the original one hundred million that Tong Zhenbang had invested, the so-called dividend of fifteen million US dollars would have to be advanced by Future Investment.

In other words, that money was Zhao Fusheng's own. Now he was going to use it as bait for Mr. Li. If the other party pulled out, it would all be for nothing.

"I object. This is too risky." Dong Chenxi directly stated her opinion. In her view, Zhao Fusheng's move was unnecessary. Even if he wanted to force Mr. Li to appear, he didn't need to take such a risk.

Zhao Fusheng was silent for a moment, but he didn't agree with Dong Chenxi. He shook his head. "Some things have to be done by someone."

He paused and smiled. "Besides, I believe in human nature. Especially this Mr. Li, who in this situation still wants to repair our relationship. He won't refuse my request."

Dong Chenxi fell silent at once; she couldn't refute Zhao Fusheng's words. In fact, aside from being somewhat risky, if Zhao Fusheng's plan succeeded, it would indeed work out that way.

Zhao Fusheng himself knew that what he was doing was indeed very risky.

But the problem was, he couldn't bear to watch Chen Shijie continue to go undercover like this, nor could he bear to see more police officers sacrifice themselves.

Though he couldn't be a soldier serving the country, a thing like valor always excites and then commands respect in men, whether in the lofty halls of power or among the common people suffering at the bottom of society. In everyone's life, there are moments inscribed with the word 'valor.'

Zhao Fusheng was a man too, so he very much hoped to display his own valor in a way that was uniquely his.

In November 2004, the capital saw its first snowfall.

Snowflakes fell slowly and sparsely onto the ground, occasionally lingering among the branches, and could stay for a moment on the ground, but upon touching a person, they instantly turned into water stains.

Walking out of the Future Group building, Zhao Fusheng wiped the snow off himself, looked up, and then sighed.

In his view, Chen Shijie's plan was fundamentally a gamble.

Because Xingli's entry into the country would certainly be very secretive; if they were to catch him red-handed, a major battle would inevitably break out, putting Chen Shijie in great danger.

It is said that once a young person's mind becomes active, all kinds of thoughts come flooding in,不分好坏, and they often act with the sole aim of achieving their goal.

This kind of eagerness for quick success exists in every youth, because they are young and crave recognition.

That is why young people all need education.

Fortunately, Zhao Fusheng was not a youth, so for Chen Shijie's risky plan, Zhao Fusheng intended to help patch it up.

More importantly, Zhao Fusheng needed to make Chen Shijie understand that sometimes people should value their lives a bit more.

Of course, this was his own idea, and he needed to discuss it with Cao Jianguo. That was also why he had sent Zhang Qian to meet Cao Jianguo.

Zhang Qian hadn't taken the car, presumably for secrecy. Zhao Fusheng drove the car home himself.

After waiting at home for over two hours, Zhang Qian finally returned.

"How did it go?" Zhao Fusheng asked Zhang Qian.

Zhang Qian gave a wry smile and explained, "Cao Jianguo and the others haven't been able to contact Chen Shijie for a long time. They only know that recently, that group had a gang fight, and several important figures from the group have gone missing."

Clearly, 'gone missing' probably meant they were dead.

"What does Cao Jianguo think?" Zhao Fusheng continued.

Zhang Qian didn't speak; instead, he took out a phone and said to Zhao Fusheng, "This is an encrypted phone. You can talk to him on it."

Zhao Fusheng nodded, didn't pay it much mind, took the phone, and dialed a number stored in it.

"Chairman Zhao, sorry for having to communicate with you this way," came Cao Jianguo's voice from the other end soon after. It was audible that he seemed very tired, even his voice carried a sense of exhaustion.

"Director Cao, there's something I need to report to you. Here's the thing: from what Chen Shijie left for me today, I think he plans to..." Zhao Fusheng then explained his guess that Chen Shijie intended to use himself as bait to lure Mr. Li into the country and catch them all in one net. Finally, he said helplessly, "I think this is too risky. If he's not careful, he might end up getting himself caught."

Cao Jianguo was silent for a long time. Clearly, Zhao Fusheng's words made him realize the seriousness of the problem.

After a long while, Cao Jianguo said in a deep voice, "What do you suggest?"

Zhao Fusheng let out a long sigh upon hearing this. He had truly been afraid that Cao Jianguo would say Chen Shijie's plan was the best option; if that had happened, he would have been really disappointed.

A superior who doesn't value his subordinates' lives—Zhao Fusheng truly dared not continue cooperating with Cao Jianguo.

"My idea is this..."

Zhao Fusheng slowly laid out his plan and finally said, "If I transfer this sum of money to them, I believe that barring any accidents, he will take the initiative to meet me. Then you can..."

Cao Jianguo clearly hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to propose such a plan. He hesitated for a long time before saying, "In that case, wouldn't you be taking a risk?"

He wasn't stupid. Although Zhao Fusheng's suggestion seemed feasible, one must not forget that if Mr. Li safely made it to the capital, it would shift the risk from Chen Shijie to Zhao Fusheng's Future Investment. To be honest, Cao Jianguo didn't want Chen Shijie to get into trouble, nor did he want to implicate Zhao Fusheng.

"It's hardly a risk," Zhao Fusheng said calmly. "You just need to change the timing and location of the operation."

Cao Jianguo was taken aback; he keenly sensed that Zhao Fusheng's words carried a deeper meaning.