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December 15, 1990, Friday, 8:30 p.m., downtown Los Angeles.

Liu Wenzheng had just come out of a Chinese restaurant, carrying a takeout box in his hand.

This restaurant was owned by one of his fellow villagers. He would come here once or twice a month, both to support the business and to collect "consulting fees"...

The restaurant owner wanted to expand, but needed a permit from Liu Wenzheng's association for "coordination."

It was drizzling, and there weren't many pedestrians on the street.

Liu Wenzheng walked to his black Mercedes-Benz and was about to take out his keys when he suddenly froze.

The driver's side window is broken.

He looked closer and found that it wasn't just broken, it had been smashed, with shards of glass scattered on the seat.

"Damn it..." Liu Wenzheng cursed, thinking it was some thug who did it.

He immediately took out his phone, ready to call the police.

However, at that moment, a figure emerged from the alleyway across the street.

The man was wearing a black hoodie, the hood pulled low so his face was obscured, and he was walking very fast.

Liu Wenzheng didn't pay attention and continued dialing.

Suddenly, the man turned a corner and walked straight toward him.

Liu Wenzheng subconsciously looked up, but before he could see clearly, the man had already walked three meters away and pulled something out of his pocket.

It's not a knife, it's a gun.

It was a pistol equipped with a silencer.

Liu Wenzheng's mind went blank. He wanted to run, but his legs felt like they were nailed to the ground.

“You…” He only managed to utter one word.

A flash of gunfire followed by a very soft "pfft".

Liu Wenzheng felt a chill on his forehead, and then he knew nothing more.

He fell to the ground, the takeout box fell to the side, and Mapo Tofu was scattered all over the floor.

The man in black didn't even look, turned around, and quickly walked into the alley and disappeared.

The whole process took less than ten seconds.

……

At 9:05, a patrol car passed by, and the police saw Liu Wenzheng lying next to the car.

"Something's up!" The young policeman stopped the car, put his hand on his gun, and cautiously approached.

Another veteran police officer got out of the car, glanced at the camera, and pressed the radio: "Headquarters, there has been a shooting on 7th Street in the city center. One person has been shot in the head and needs an ambulance and on-site support."

The ambulance arrived ten minutes later. After examining the patient, the doctor shook his head: "He died on the spot. The bullet entered through the forehead and exited through the back of the head. He definitely couldn't have survived."

The scene was quickly cordoned off.

The homicide detectives arrived half an hour later. The detective in charge was Mike Rodriguez, a man in his forties of Latino descent who had been committing homicides for over a decade.

"The identity of the deceased?" Mike asked.

The young policeman handed over the wallet: "Liu Wenzheng, 52 years old, lives in Beverly Hills, lawyer."

"A lawyer?" Mike looked at the body. "A revenge killing? Or a robbery?"

"My wallet wasn't stolen, and my watch is still here. It wasn't a robbery. There were no signs of ransacking in the car either."

The forensic doctor's initial examination at the scene stated: "The bullet caliber was approximately 9 millimeters, and the range was very short, no more than three meters. The shooter was professional; one shot was enough to kill, clean and efficient."

"Where's the surveillance?"

"There are no surveillance cameras on this street. There are some at the intersection, but they are too far away and the images are not clear."

Mike crouched down to examine the body.

Liu Wenzheng's eyes were still open, and he looked very surprised, as if he hadn't expected to die.

“Check his social connections.” Mike stood up. “Lawyer, living in Beverly Hills, he must have enemies.”

……

The news spread the next day.

The Los Angeles Times' social section headline reads: "Former Chairman of Chinese Elite Association Shot Dead in Street."

The report stated: "Liu Wenzheng, 52, founder and former chairman of the National Chinese Elite Association, was shot and killed in downtown last night. Police have preliminarily determined it to be a targeted murder, and there are currently no suspects."

The association's office was in complete disarray.

Vice President Lin Yuzhen, the woman who contacted Foresh earlier, convened an emergency council meeting.

“Chairman Liu is gone, we must remain calm.” Lin Yuzhen forced herself to stay composed. “First of all, we must maintain a consistent public stance: Chairman Liu was an outstanding leader who served the Chinese community, and his passing is a great loss.”

"What did the police say?" a council member asked.

"They say they're investigating, but there aren't any leads," Lin Yuzhen said in a low voice. "I've heard rumors that the FBI might get involved."

"why?"

"Chairman Liu... some of your business dealings may involve sensitive areas."

The conference room was quiet.

Everyone knows that Liu Wenzheng is not only the chairman of the association, but also has many shady "side businesses".

"So what do we do now?" someone asked.

“Keep it running,” Lin Yuzhen said. “The association cannot collapse. Next week’s charity gala will proceed as scheduled, but it will be changed to a memorial service for Chairman Liu. We should invite the media to create a buzz.”

"Is Mr. Gan still extending an invitation?"

Lin Yuzhen's face darkened: "Don't mention him. The last important person Chairman Liu had contact with before his death was him, and it even caused an unpleasant incident. The police may investigate this lead."

"You mean Mr. Gan..."

“I didn’t say that,” Lin Yuzhen interrupted, “but the police will investigate all possibilities.”

……

In the homicide squad office, Detective Mike is organizing clues.

“Liu Wenzheng has a very complicated social network,” his partner Carter said. “Lawyers, the former chairman of an association, and the de facto controller of three companies. His list of enemies could fill a page.”

"Who have you had a conflict with recently?"

“The most obvious example is Su Ninggan, the boss of Lemon Technology.” Carter handed over the folder. “Three months ago, Liu Wenzheng tried to recruit Su Ninggan into the association, but was refused, which led to an unpleasant situation. Su Ninggan publicly criticized the association, and Liu Wenzheng retaliated, resulting in a war of words between the two.”

"Where's the motive?"

"It's possible that Liu Wenzheng's harassment went too far and angered Su Ning. But Su Ning is the world's richest man. If he wants to kill someone, does he need to do it himself? He can just hire someone."

"Check the recent movements of Suning and Gan."

“We investigated,” Carter said. “On the day of the incident, Suninggan was in a meeting at the Santa Monica headquarters and had dinner with several executives that evening. He has a complete alibi. His security team also has records; no one left.”

“Then it wasn’t him who did it himself,” Mike said. “But it was probably someone he hired.”

"The problem is there's no evidence. Besides, would someone of Su Ninggan's stature really kill someone over something like this? It's not worth it."

Mike thought for a moment: "Check the association's finances. Who benefits from Liu Wenzheng's death?"

"This makes it even less likely to be Su Ninggan! After all, the two have no business dealings whatsoever."

"Hmm, it seems to be Liu Wenzheng's enemies. According to the investigation, his business practices are not standardized."

"Then let's follow this line of investigation."

……

On the third day after the incident, two FBI agents arrived and went directly to Mike.

“Detective Rodriguez, we’re taking this case.” The leading FBI agent showed his badge. “It involves national security.”

“National security?” Mike frowned. “Liu Wenzheng is just a lawyer. At most, he might get involved in immigration fraud. How does that involve national security?”

"We cannot disclose details. But please hand over the case files to us."

"I need instructions from my superiors."

“We’ve got it.” The FBI agent produced a document. “This is a coordination order from the Department of Justice.”

After reading the documents, Mike sighed and said, "Fine! Here's the information. But I must remind you, this is a murder case, not an espionage case."

"We know how to handle it."

The FBI took away all materials, including on-site photos, evidence, and investigation reports.

Carter was furious: "They're just stealing the case like this? We've been working so hard on it for three days!"

“The FBI’s involvement shows that things are very complicated,” Mike said. “Liu Wenzheng may not just be a lawyer; he may be involved in intelligence activities, money laundering, or… who knows.”

"Should we still investigate?"

"Investigate, but keep a low profile. The FBI doesn't want us involved, so we'll cooperate on the surface, but keep an eye on things privately."

……

In the association's office, Lin Yuzhen received a phone call.

“Vice President Lin, this is FBI Agent Johnson. We need to talk to you about Liu Wenzheng.”

"Anytime is fine." Lin Yuzhen's voice trembled slightly.

"We're downstairs now."

Five minutes later, two FBI agents sat down opposite Lin Yuzhen. "Besides being the association chairman, what other identity does Liu Wenzheng hold?"

"It's a lawyer..."

“Ms. Lin, we know that Liu Wen is working for certain foreign forces,” the agent said directly. “If you cooperate, we can guarantee your safety. If you conceal anything, you may become the next target.”

Lin Yuzhen's face turned pale: "I...I don't know the specific details. Chairman Liu does have some international business, but I'm only responsible for the association's daily affairs."

"What international business?"

"It mainly involves helping some companies invest in the United States and assisting with negotiations. I don't know the specifics; Chairman Liu handles it all personally."

"Was there any technology transfer involved? Or intelligence gathering?"

"I don't think so," Lin Yuzhen said uncertainly. "But Chairman Liu does know a lot of people, including some retired military personnel and government officials."

After two hours of questioning, the FBI agent finally said, "We will continue our investigation. In the meantime, please cooperate and do not leave Los Angeles."

"Am I in danger?" Lin Yuzhen asked fearfully.

“It’s hard to say.” The detective stood up. “The person who killed Liu Wenzheng was very professional; they might be a professional assassin. If you know anything you shouldn’t know, you’d better tell me.”

Lin Yuzhen slumped into a chair.

……

With the FBI's involvement, the media began to speculate.

The Washington Post published an in-depth report: "The covert struggle behind the death of a Chinese association leader?"

Although the article does not contain direct evidence, it suggests that Liu Wenzheng may have been involved in intelligence activities, and his killing may have been a "cleansing of house."

The New York Times was more cautious, but its headline was intriguing: "Questions Amid Gunfire: Business Dispute or Political Murder?"

Rumors are rampant in the Chinese community.

Some say Liu Wenzheng offended Taiwanese gangsters, others say he was embroiled in factional infighting, and still others say he was silenced by American intelligence agencies because he knew too much.

The most outrageous rumor is that Suning hired someone to commit murder because Liu Wenzheng possessed "evidence" that Lemon Technology was transferring technology overseas.

The rumor spread very quickly, and some people even called Lemon Technology to threaten them.

At the Santa Monica headquarters, Su Ning looked at the newspaper, expressionless.

Robert reported: "Boss, there are a lot of rumors going around, some saying you hired someone to commit murder. Do we need to issue a statement to clarify?"

“No need,” Su Ning said. “The more we try to clarify, the more confused things will become. The police and the FBI are investigating; let’s wait for their results.”

"But the impact is very bad. Some clients are starting to worry that cooperating with us will cause them trouble."

“Then let them worry,” Su Ning said. “The innocent will clear themselves. Liu Wenzheng has a lot of enemies, and his death is only a matter of time. It just so happens that he got into trouble right after my conflict with him, so some people want to pin it on me.”

"The FBI might come and question us."

"Let them come. I'll cooperate with the investigation, but I won't say a word more."

Sure enough, two days later, FBI agents arrived.

It was still in the office, with the same two agents.

“Mr. Gan, thank you for taking the time.” Agent Johnson said politely.

"Of course," Su Ning said. "I also hope the case will be solved soon."

"What is your relationship with Liu Wenzheng?"

“It’s okay,” Su Ning said. “He wanted to recruit me into his association, but I refused. That’s all.”

"Are there any financial dealings?"

"No."

"Have you ever threatened him?"

“No.” Su Ning paused. “But I said that if he harasses me and my family again, I will take legal action. This is not a threat, but a legitimate warning.”

What were you doing on the day of the incident?

"Meetings at headquarters, dinners with the team in the evening. My assistant can provide a complete itinerary and a list of witnesses."

Do you know what illegal activities Liu Wenzheng might be involved in?

"I don't know. I have no business dealings with him whatsoever."

The questioning lasted an hour, but the FBI didn't get any information out of them.

Before leaving, Agent Johnson said, "Mr. Gan, please feel free to contact us if you remember anything."

"must."

……

A month later, the case made no progress.

There was no news from the FBI, and no leads from the police.

The murderer seemed to have vanished into thin air.

No fingerprints, no DNA, no witnesses, and the silhouette captured by surveillance cameras was too blurry to identify.

Liu Wenzheng's cell phone and computer were taken by the FBI, but reportedly no direct leads were found.

Lin Yuzhen took over as chairperson of the association, but the association's reputation was ruined, a large number of members left, and activities could not be organized.

The main problem is that this worthless association has offended the world's richest man, and these small fry dare not offend Suning.

They originally joined this association hoping to expand their network and gain benefits, and now they are in such an awkward situation, which is not what they wanted.

At this point, the media also lost interest and turned to other news.

The case was gradually forgotten and became an "unsolved mystery".

……

Three months later, in the homicide squad office.

Detective Mike looked at the case file, which was stamped "cold case".

"Is that all?" Carter was unwilling to accept it.

“The FBI classified it as ‘potentially involving national security, and the investigation is restricted,’” Mike said. “We don’t have the authority to investigate further.”

"So the murderer is getting away with it?"

“Maybe.” Mike closed the file. “In these kinds of cases, the killer is a professional, leaves no trace, and has a clear target. It’s either a revenge killing or a cover-up. Liu Wenzheng is the kind of person who does both.”

"Who do you think did it?"

Mike thought for a moment: "I don't know. Maybe some foreign power he works for thinks he's unreliable. Maybe a client he cheated has had enough. Or maybe... some big shot he harassed doesn't want to be bothered by him anymore."

"Suning Gan?"

“There’s no evidence,” Mike said. “Besides, given Suning Gan’s intelligence, he wouldn’t choose to kill Liu Wenzheng after he had a public falling out with him. It’s too obvious.”

"So it's a coincidence?"

“Maybe, maybe not.” Mike stood up. “That’s it for this case. We have other cases to investigate.”

A year later, Liu Wenzheng's case was completely forgotten.

The association was disbanded, and Lin Yu-chen returned to Taiwan.

The Chinese restaurant that Liu Wen used to frequent had a new owner.

The bloodstains on the street corner had long been washed away by the rain.

Occasionally, someone would bring it up, but only as a topic of conversation: "Remember that former association chairman who was shot and killed? To this day, no one knows who did it."

Suning's life continues as usual.

Lemon Technology continued to develop, Pacific Capital continued to invest, and the children gradually grew up.

Once, when Forrest came to California, the two brothers talked about this over dinner.

"Brother, Liu Wenzheng's matter... really has nothing to do with you, right?" Fores asked cautiously.

Su Ning glanced at him: "What do you think?"

“I don’t think so,” Fores said. “There are too many ways to deal with him; there’s no need to kill him.”

“That’s right,” Su Ning said. “Many people in this world die because of their own greed and stupidity. Liu Wenzheng is one of them.”

"But the murderer..."

“Who the murderer is is not important.” Su Ning cut his steak. “What is important is that this incident teaches everyone a lesson: In America, don’t think that you are safe just because you have an association or know a few people. True safety is about obeying the law, having real power, and not messing with the wrong people.”

"Are you saying that Liu Wenzheng messed with someone he shouldn't have?"

“He offended a lot of people,” Su Ning said. “He was just one of them, and he couldn’t take it anymore.”

Fores asked no more questions.

Outside the window, the Los Angeles night remains vibrant.

The gunshots in the street have long since faded away, but the questions that remain may never be answered.

In this city, stories begin and end every day.

Liu Wenzheng's story has come to an end, in the most sudden way.

As for who the murderer is? Perhaps only the darkness knows.

But the night is silent.

...(End of chapter)