You're dumping me, huh? Fine, then I'll just pick up the school beauty and make her my wif

Jiang Che reached out and patted Lu Ziang on the shoulder: "I can't help it, brother. I'm doing this for safety's sake. After all, I don't know whose side you're on."

"It's better to say something sooner rather than later. I'm not a child, I don't like to guess."

Lu Ziang's lips twitched slightly.

In Jiang Che's eyes, all his suffering and torment during this period could be summed up in three words: self-inflicted.

"So, Lao Jiang, when did you find out I was one of the old man's men?" Lu Zi'ang asked.

"Let me think... it was probably the day after you hacked the USB drive."

Lu Ziang was stunned. The next day?

Isn't that almost two weeks ago?

In other words, starting from the day after he deciphered the USB drive, Jiang Che had already found out all his secrets.

All the probing, all the verbal exchanges, all the subtle probing he thought was flawless—

Jiang Che watched his performance knowing the answer all along.

Lu Ziang was immediately speechless.

"So everything you said to me later was intentional?"

"Which words?"

"It's just that kind of nonsense about casually looking at financial statements, not having any important data on the USB drive, and not being used to storing paper documents."

"You clearly know everything, but you pretend you don't know anything, making me anxious and worried."

Jiang Che chuckled: "I can't help it, it's just that your expression is so funny every time you try to probe me, I just can't resist, bro."

Lu Ziang's face darkened.

"Alright, let's get down to business." Jiang Che's joking expression vanished. "What's the situation with the old man right now?"

Lu Ziang quickly composed himself and said seriously, "The old man has been collecting evidence of Liu Wei's shady dealings with Jinye Group. He has obtained some evidence so far, but some crucial evidence is still missing."

Jiang Che was naturally familiar with Jinye Group; it was just a subsidiary of Ye's Group.

It seems Liu Wei really has gotten involved with Ye Yunjin.

What constitutes crucial evidence?

"Direct records that prove Liu Wei illegally transferred assets using Zhenyuan Group's accounts."

Lu Ziang said seriously, "The evidence we have at present can only prove that he had this intention, but we have not yet obtained the specific flow of funds and the operation path."

Jiang Che nodded: "I can help with that."

"you?"

"I have some information about Ye Yunjin in Gangcheng, as well as their plan to use Jiangsheng Group's Southwest Branch to transfer 3 billion yuan of project funds."

"If these can be linked with the evidence on Liu Wei's side, they should form a complete chain of evidence."

Lu Zi'ang's expression immediately brightened with joy: "Are you serious?"

Why would I lie to you?

Jiang Che briefly explained the information provided by Lin Zhengyang.

Regarding Ye Yunjin and Zhou Yazhi's collusion to launder money using three shell companies and Gangcheng Yingheng Capital, and their plan to transfer 3 billion yuan of Jiangsheng Group's project funds into their personal accounts.

Of course, there might also be something going on between Ye Yunjin and Liu Wei.

Lu Ziang remained silent for a long time after listening.

"If these things are true, then the whole matter is more serious than my father and I anticipated."

"If Ye Yunjin and Liu Wei join forces, their target will definitely not be just Jiang Sheng Group."

"Their target is the entire business district of Beijing," Jiang Che said, uttering the second half of the sentence that Lu Ziang hadn't said aloud.

"right."

"So we have to hurry. When you get back, tell the old man that I can provide him with the information I need anytime, but there is one condition."

"What are the conditions?"

"I won't interfere in Liu Wei's matter," Jiang Che said. "I'll only provide intelligence; the actual purge will be left to the old man himself."

Lu Ziang nodded: "This was originally a matter for the Liu family. The old man didn't want others to discipline his son."

"There's one more thing," Jiang Che added. "Even though you've revealed your identity, you still need to keep it a secret from now on."

Lu Ziang didn't understand the meaning behind Jiang Che's move. "Why is that?"

Jiang Che sneered, "Of course, it's to prevent Liu Wei's spies from noticing."

A name immediately flashed into Lu Zi'ang's mind: "You mean Gu Yanzhou?"

"Yes, and Ye Qingru too."

"Although she has been expelled from school, the Ye family still has some connections in Beijing. It cannot be ruled out that Ye Qingru will take revenge with the help of Liu Wei and the Ye family."

"That's true."

"..."

The two chatted for a few more minutes about the details, and then left the restroom one after the other.

Su Qinghe sat on a bench by the playground and saw Jiang Che and Lu Ziang walking towards her one after the other. So she got up and went over to them.

The young couple met soon after, and Jiang Che reached out and ruffled her hair: "Were you waiting impatiently?"

"It's alright, only about ten minutes, not too long."

Su Qinghe habitually snuggled into Jiang Che's arms, her gaze shifting between Jiang Che and Lu Ziang. "Have you two finished talking?"

"We're done talking." Jiang Che put his arm around her waist. "Let's go, I'll take you to get something good to eat."

Su Qinghe smiled at Lu Ziang and asked, "Would you like to come along, Lu?"

Lu Ziang shook his head: "I won't bother you anymore, I'm going back to my dorm to catch up on some sleep."

He had been under immense mental pressure from being ignored by Jiang Che for some time, and now that he had finally spoken his mind, all the accumulated fatigue came rushing back.

"Then you should get some rest." Jiang Che waved his hand at him.

Lu Ziang nodded and then quickly left the playground.

After he had walked away, Su Qinghe looked up at Jiang Che and asked, "He admitted it all?"

"Yeah, he confessed everything before I even said anything, which saved me a lot of trouble."

"It's much faster than I expected." Su Qinghe calculated the time. "I thought he could hold on for another two days."

"He said he was so scared that he was about to have a nervous breakdown, and if he kept going, he was afraid he would die suddenly."

Su Qinghe reached out and poked him in the waist: "You, you make people run around in circles, and then you expect them to say thank you."

"I call this helping him build mental fortitude."

"Nonsense."

The two walked out of the school gate talking.

The autumn wind swirled ginkgo leaves past her feet, and Su Qinghe leaned her face against Jiang Che's shoulder.

"Ah Che, what do you think Ye Yunjin and the others will do next?"

"I don't know," Jiang Che said, "but Ye Qingru's dismissal will definitely anger Ye Yunjin."

Are you scared?

"What's there to be afraid of? We'll deal with whatever comes our way." Jiang Che gripped her hand tightly. "Besides, if we gather all the evidence from Old Master Liu's side, Liu Wei will be half-dead."

"Without Liu Wei as an ally, Ye Yunjin's strength will be greatly reduced."

Su Qinghe nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

She trusted Jiang Che's judgment.

The two walked side by side on the Ginkgo Avenue, the fallen leaves rustling under their feet.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the two of them.