Chapter 98 — Let's Die Together

"It wasn't certain before, but now it's certain enough," Wang Pu sneered. "Zhitao, take a look at this fine girlfriend you picked. If it weren't for her, your father wouldn't have ended up like this. Haha!"

"Dad, what on earth is going on? What does it have to do with Jiajia?" Wang Lin asked in bewilderment.

"President Wang, what exactly happened?" Huang Shu also looked up, asking in confusion.

"Zhou Yanning—this little bitch—sent every last one of our smuggling ledgers over the years straight to the police!" Wang Pu seized Zhou Yanning by the collar and roared. "I schemed for everything, but I never imagined it would end like this!"

"Dad, you're saying Zhou Yanning reported you? That can't be right," Wang Lin said, not quite believing it. "Jiajia isn't that kind of person."

"Isn't? What more proof do you need—I saw it with my own eyes. You think it's false? Do you have to wait until your father's dragged off by the police before you believe it?" Wang Pu glared at his son, exasperated by his failure to live up to expectations—every day, nothing but squabbles with others over a few women.

"This—" Wang Lin still wanted to say something, but seeing his father's furious, frantic look, he shut his mouth.

"President Wang, you mean... the whole thing has been exposed?" Huang Shu asked, alarmed and uncertain.

"Exactly. By now the police have probably surrounded my house. Lucky I found out in time—otherwise I wouldn't even have had the chance to discuss my last affairs with Zhitao and you," Wang Pu said, shaking his head.

"President Wang, what do you plan to do now?" Huang Shu sighed. This day had come after all.

"What to do? Youcai, from now on Zhitao is in your hands." With that, Wang Pu pulled two documents from his briefcase. "I've already drafted the statement. As of yesterday, I resigned as chairman of the board of Wang's Century Heroic Group and transferred all my shares to Wang Lin's name. And I formally appoint you president of Wang's Century Heroic Group. Also, that man Guo Jianchao is quite capable—he can bear great responsibility. I hinted to him earlier that I intended to step down. I trust that you and he will assist Zhitao well."

"President Wang, you—" Huang Shu was deeply grieved. "How about I just confess to all these crimes myself?"

Wang Pu, deeply moved, patted Huang Shu on the shoulder. "Youcai, I understand your intentions. My trust in you was not misplaced. But these matters aren't something you can take the fall for. Even if you did, the police aren't fools—in the end it would still lead back to me. Better that I confess to everything and keep you clear of it."

"President Wang—" Huang Shu wanted to say more, but Wang Pu cut him off.

Wang Pu waved his hand. "Youcai, from now on, Zhitao is in your care."

"Rest assured, President Wang. I will look after Zhitao and make certain he achieves even more than you did," Huang Shu said with a solemn nod. "Wang's Group will reach glory in Zhitao's hands."

"Good, then I can rest easy." Wang Pu nodded, then turned to look at the stunned Wang Lin and spoke with tender, loving affection: "Zhitao, Dad has to go now. From here on, follow Youcai. Be good, grow up to be a righteous man, and run our family's group well."

"Dad, what are you saying?" Wang Lin said anxiously. "If something happens to you, what will Mom and I do?"

"Be good, listen to me," Wang Pu sighed. "Even if nothing happens to me this time, there will come a day when I grow old. You have to learn to grow up too. Besides, with Uncle Huang looking after you, I can rest easy."

"Dad—" Wang Lin was, after all, still a boy barely in his teens, and his eyes reddened at once. "All right, Zhitao, be a man and don't cry. As long as you live well and carry the family business to greater heights, I'll be satisfied," Wang Pu said, waving his hand.

"Dad, rest assured, I will avenge you!" Wang Lin said through gritted teeth.

Smack! A slap landed across Wang Lin's face. Wang Pu glared at him and scolded: "Avenge? Avenge what? It's the court that sentenced your father—are you going to take revenge on the court? Fool!"

"Then—" Wang Lin had thought his father would be pleased by his vow of vengeance, but never expected this.

"Your father did wrong. Even if I'm sentenced to death, I have no regrets—it's what I deserve," Wang Pu said angrily. "The money I've saved for you is enough for you to live on. Even if you accomplish nothing your whole life, you'll never want for food or clothing. But never do anything illegal again, and don't get into pointless fights with others. Don't let women ruin the important things!"

"Dad, I—" Wang Lin had been nodding all along, but at the last words about women, he felt a pang of defiance. "Dad, did you really see Zhou Yanning do that?"

"Youcai, have someone bring a bucket of cold water," Wang Pu said, without answering, directly instructing Huang Shu.

"Yes." Huang Shu nodded, picked up the intercom on the table, and pressed the talk button. "Bring a basin of cold water in here."

Before long, a henchman in black carried a basin of cold water in. Seeing Wang Pu, he immediately said respectfully: "Master, Young Master, Brother Huang."

"Mm, wake her up for me," Wang Pu said with a nod, quite pleased with the man's proper order of greetings. He pointed at Zhou Yanning on the floor, then stepped aside himself.

"Yes," the man in black replied, then raised the basin and poured it over Zhou Yanning's head. Splash—one basin of water drenched Zhou Yanning like a drowned rat.

Zhou Yanning let out a startled "Ah!" and woke, sneezing several times before she managed to raise her head.

"Damn you, you bitch. Speak—who sent you?" Seeing Zhou Yanning awake, Wang Pu immediately demanded with a ferocious look.

"Kill me or torture me, do as you please. Why ask so much?" Zhou Yanning gave a faint sniff and said coldly.

"Stubborn wench, still talking tough," Wang Pu said, and flung a cup of tea from the table into Zhou Yanning's face.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Wang Lin cried out in alarm.

"Son, at a time like this, you're still being softhearted over a pretty face? Didn't you hear what she said? That's as good as a confession from her own lips," Wang Pu said, looking at Wang Lin with a helpless, exasperated air.

"Jiajia, are you lying to me? Tell me!" Wang Lin looked at Zhou Yanning anxiously. "Tell me you were just playing with us. How could you be so foolish? Isn't this just asking for trouble?"

"Wang Lin, everything your father said is true. I'm the one who reported him. I wanted your Wang family to fall," Zhou Yanning said, her expression turning cold as she sneered. "Who told him to use Yang Ce to threaten me? I love Yang Ce. For him, I'd even be willing to die. I've been lying to you all along—I never liked you at all."

"What?" Hearing Zhou Yanning's words with his own ears, Wang Lin stood frozen on the spot, staring at her dumbly. "You—you—"

"What about me? Your Wang family is finished—that's the price of your evil," Zhou Yanning said without a trace of fear. "Kill me."

Wang Lin stared at Zhou Yanning in a daze, unable to accept the reality before his eyes.

"Hahahahaha—" Wang Pu suddenly burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhou Yanning asked, bewildered.

"Yang Ce—it's for Yang Ce, is it?" Wang Pu was laughing so hard he was trembling.

"So what if it is?" Zhou Yanning suddenly felt a deep sense of foreboding, yet could not put her finger on what was wrong.

"Bring Yang Ce in here!" Wang Pu slammed his hand on the table and ordered the man in black who had just entered.

"Yes, Master," the man in black said.

"What? Yang Ce is with you?" Zhou Yanning was startled. Sure enough, her bad premonition had come true. She had said that only because she thought Yang Yongjin might turn up here. After all, Wang Pu was about to be finished, with no time even for himself, so why would he go back to make trouble for Yang Juehuan?