Chapter 129: Premonition

The car entered the residential compound and pulled into the garage of Zheng Yi’s villa. Zheng Yi instructed her domestic helper to lock the garage door from the inside, then led Kang Ning up to the second floor.

Zheng Yi told Kang Ning to make his own tea, then went into her bedroom to change into a loose dress. She soon emerged, clutching her handbag, and hurried into the study on the other side of the hall. It appeared she was off to fax something to Fang Xiong.

Kang Ning felt a surge of urgency. He had a premonition that these documents were significant and could prove vital to Du Jianwu’s investigation. He was determined to get his hands on them, so watching Zheng Yi head into the study made him anxious.

However, looking at the unsuspecting Zheng Yi, Kang Ning hesitated. He knew that if he obtained the material and handed it over to Du Jianwu, it could bring unnecessary trouble or even harm to the innocent Zheng Yi.

After a moment of deliberation, Kang Ning made his choice. He hurried to the corner of the staircase, opened the wall-mounted box containing the second floor's electrical control panel, and flipped the main breaker to the off position. He quietly closed the box, quickly returned to the living room, sat down, and picked up his teacup, sipping it nonchalantly.

In the study, Zheng Yi had just inserted the document into the fax machine. Before she could even dial, she realized it wasn't working. "What’s going on..." she called out in surprise. "Xiao Ning, come in here and help me take a look. Why isn't the fax machine working?"

Kang Ning responded and quickly stepped into the study, feeling deeply ashamed in the face of the guileless Zheng Yi. He bowed his head and pretended to fiddle with the Sanyo fax machine for a while before straightening up and saying, "It’s out of power. Could it be a temporary outage from the electric company?"

"That shouldn't be," Zheng Yi replied. "We would have been notified if there was an outage, and besides, this neighborhood rarely loses power." She stepped out of the study and pressed the switch for the crystal chandelier in the living room; seeing it didn't light up, she accepted Kang Ning’s explanation.

Kang Ning went down to the first floor and saw the living room television was still on. He immediately went back upstairs and told Zheng Yi, who was drinking tea on the sofa, "The first floor has power. I suspect the main breaker for the second floor has tripped."

Zheng Yi set down her cup and said, "Is that so? Xiao Ning, could you trouble yourself to check the main switch at the stairwell? I need to use the washroom first."

Kang Ning deftly flipped the main breaker back on and quickly returned to the study. Using the copier function on the fax machine, he made a copy of the document currently in the tray. He carefully tore off the copy, quickly folded it, and tucked it into his pocket, then placed the original back into the tray. Just then, Zheng Yi entered the study to find Kang Ning crouched on the carpet, checking the power outlet of the fax machine.

"There! I think it's working fine now."

Kang Ning stood up and smiled at Zheng Yi. He noticed the low neckline of her loose dress and deliberately let his eyes wander. He then put on a deadpan expression, which so annoyed Zheng Yi that she chased him all the way to the sofa before letting him off.

Flushed and in high spirits, Zheng Yi returned to the study and dialed the fax number for Fang Xiong’s company in Shenzhen. "Old Fang, I’m about to send it. Give me the signal... What? Burn the original? You... Alright, I’ll burn it after I send it... Yes... Yes... When are you coming back? Yes... Oh, I remember! Just give me the signal!"

Kang Ning sipped his tea while listening intently. After the fax machine beeped, he couldn't help but inwardly admire Fang Xiong’s caution. He thought that if not for his quick thinking, this important material might have vanished before his eyes.

After finishing the fax, Zheng Yi came to the living room coffee table. She bent down to pick up the lighter from the lower shelf. Her fair, full bosom caught Kang Ning’s eye again, making him feel as though he might have a nosebleed.

Zheng Yi straightened her slender waist and, realizing she had been exposed again, indignantly smacked Kang Ning on the head with the lighter. Seeing him curl up on the sofa in an exaggerated display of pain, she giggled and ran into the bathroom.

Back in the living room, Kang Ning had brewed fresh tea for her. Zheng Yi sat down, replaced the lighter, and grumbled discontentedly, "Old Fang is really something. Why burn the original? He’s always so secretive. When he gets back this time, if he doesn't give me a reasonable explanation about the factory, I’m not going to let it go."

Kang Ning wasn't too concerned. "Perhaps the documents are important. One has to be careful with trade secrets."

"I don't care what kind of secrets they are. I never look at his things, just to save myself the headache."

Zheng Yi sipped her tea elegantly, then suddenly recalled what Fang Xiong had said earlier and smiled at Kang Ning. "Old Fang said he is traveling from the Shenzhen company to Nanning, Guangxi, tomorrow, apparently for some 'ASEAN Economic Seminar.' In November, the heads of over a dozen ASEAN countries will be in Nanning for some exposition. He said the business opportunities are infinite and he can't afford not to go. He even told me quite arrogantly that he was elected as a director of the National Youth Entrepreneurs Association last month. Honestly, I don't care about his titles; the more he has, the less I get to see him!"

Kang Ning deeply understood Zheng Yi’s loneliness and resentment, but not knowing how to comfort her, he chatted aimlessly until she burst into laughter. Seeing that it was getting late, he bid her farewell. At the same time, a bad premonition surfaced in his mind. For some reason, Kang Ning felt a vague sense that an invisible crisis was slowly closing in on him.

Zheng Yi, whose mood had just improved, felt a sense of loss as she saw Kang Ning stand up to leave. She shook her head, stepped forward to hook her arm into his, playfully flicked his straight nose, and walked him downstairs.

"Do you want me to drive you?"

Zheng Yi looked tenderly into Kang Ning’s eyes, gently biting her full lower lip.

Kang Ning gave a mischievous smile. "No need. I’ll just walk out and catch a taxi. Brother Gao is waiting for me for dinner! Besides—you’re dressed like that and you dare to offer to drive me? That’s like delivering me straight to prison! Alright, goodbye!"

Leaning against the gate, Zheng Yi watched Kang Ning’s retreating figure for a long time. When she finally understood the meaning behind his words, she scolded him with feigned anger, her face turning bright red. She stood rooted to the spot, unwilling to move, her heart thumping uncontrollably.

Kang Ning walked out of the compound and hailed a taxi to the city center. He found a small printing shop, took the copy from his pocket, and read it. He then carefully tore off the portions containing phone numbers and other identifying details, checked to make sure no other traces remained, and handed the rest to the clerk.

After confirming the copy was correct, he paid the clerk a yuan, folded the A4 paper, tucked it into his pocket, and left. He tore the fax copy into shreds and tossed them into a roadside trash can, calling Gao Qinghua as he walked.

"Big Brother, have you eaten?"

"You rascal, why aren't you back in Chengdu yet? What are you still doing there?" Gao Qinghua asked with dissatisfaction.

Kang Ning thought for a moment and replied, "I had intended to leave tonight, but I hadn't said goodbye to Brother Du and you, and I felt it would be impolite to just slip away."

"Haha! You thick-skinned brat, how are you so shameless? Get back here. If you annoy me, I’ll beat you every time I see you!" Gao Qinghua retorted, helpless.

Kang Ning laughed. "That’s scary! Alright, I’ll head back tonight! But I’ll tell you this: I went to the new factory this afternoon and happened to find something of Brother Du’s. Since you both looked down on it and didn't want it back, I just threw it away. I’m off! Goodbye!"

Kang Ning hung up the phone and walked to a nearby shop to buy some gum. No sooner had he paid than Gao Qinghua called back. The aggressive tone was gone, replaced by an incredibly warm voice: "Little Brother, where are you now? I’ll drive over to pick you up right away!"

Kang Ning gave him a location and hung up. He waited at the agreed-upon street corner, and within five minutes, Gao Qinghua pulled up in the newly restored jeep.

Kang Ning opened the door, got in, and looked at Gao Qinghua’s expectant face. Feeling a bit annoyed, he sarcastically remarked, "I only learned today how snobbish people can be. And we’re brothers-in-law, too! Tsk, tsk, in this day and age, human hearts are not what they used to be, and social mores are declining!"

Gao Qinghua didn't seem to mind. As he drove, he asked cheerily, "How’s the car? Not bad, right?"

"I almost forgot. You need to pay me back the few thousand I spent modifying this car. Brother, you have a 'gold-plated rice bowl' (a secure government job), but if I don't work for a day, I don't eat for a day. How unfair this society is!" Kang Ning complained dramatically.

Gao Qinghua ignored him entirely. He drove to the crossroads near the western suburbs driving range and stopped, immediately asking Kang Ning for the money: "Little Du said your million should be split into three parts. How about this: you pay me a flat figure—three hundred thousand will do. You and Little Du can figure out his share yourselves!"

Kang Ning broke into a sweat. He opened the car door and threatened, "Say that again? Say it again and I’m walking!"

Gao Qinghua laughed heartily. Seeing Du Jianwu’s beat-up car pull up and stop beside them, he got out to greet him, with Kang Ning following close behind.

Du Jianwu turned off his headlights and invited them both into his car to talk. Kang Ning opened the rear door and climbed in first, leaving Gao Qinghua shaking his head. He truly hadn't expected Kang Ning to maintain such deep wariness at all times.

"What good stuff did you bring me?" Du Jianwu turned around and smiled at Kang Ning.

Kang Ning stopped joking and handed the copy to Du Jianwu.

Du Jianwu turned on the interior light and read it carefully. His expression grew increasingly grave. Finally, he turned back to thank Kang Ning with emotion, then asked seriously, "Where did you get this?"

"I won't tell you! The content is handwritten, so you can easily identify the person. I can, however, give you a lead: early this morning, I happened to see someone like a Secretary General or something in front of the municipal government building." Kang Ning was determined not to reveal any information that might implicate Zheng Yi, so he firmly refused to answer Du Jianwu’s question.

Du Jianwu’s eyes brightened. With gratitude, he shared a brief update: "Thank you for the lead last night and your tremendous assistance, and even more for this material tonight. I believe this case will have a resolution within two months. Early this morning, a joint investigation team from the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Public Security flew urgently to Chongqing. By noon, they had mobilized forces from other regions to seal off Fang Xiong’s factory. This involves three coastal customs offices and certain powerful figures in Leijiang. It is now confirmed that the dozens of high-end cars stolen from Taiwan, along with the large quantity of smuggled goods imported through fake approvals, internal collusion, and under-reporting, total over 230 million. This is a rare, major case! Don't worry, Little Brother, we will be closing the net soon. You have a share of the credit in this!"

Kang Ning’s expression dimmed. "No matter what, it won't bring back Sister-in-law Meilin! Sigh—Brother Du, I still have to thank you. I went to Fang Xiong’s factory this afternoon and thought to myself: if you really wanted to deal with me, I wouldn't be able to escape even if I grew two pairs of wings! I am increasingly finding that the power of the dictatorship is terrifying!"

The three fell silent, all feeling quite heavy-hearted.

After a long while, Du Jianwu put on a forced smile to comfort Kang Ning: "That business with your case isn't worth us wasting our energy on. Once I finish the case on hand, I will definitely help you with all my might. Alright, I must head back immediately; your intelligence is too important."

Seeing Gao Qinghua and Kang Ning about to get out of the car, Du Jianwu quickly called them back: "Wait, I’ve drawn out a 200,000 informant reward. You two take it!"

Kang Ning stepped out of the car and turned back to issue a stern warning to Du Jianwu and Gao Qinghua: "Split it yourselves; it has nothing to do with me! But I must warn you: if you mention anything about a million to me again, I will sever ties with you!"

Gao Qinghua and Du Jianwu looked at each other and burst into a hearty laugh.