Some things, indeed, are beyond Sister Hong's reach.
Just like the footage Fan Zhijie captured back then, if it had surfaced earlier, it might have cost Fan Zhijie his life!
But if the timing was right, it could cost others their lives!!!
To protect Fan Zhijie, Ou Yunchen transferred him to Young Master Lan.
A missing proprietress and an abandoned, closed restaurant served as the perfect hiding place.
Fan Zhijie wasn't there just for free food, lodging, and board. He intended to compile all the information regarding Yan Shizong and the higher-ups from back then.
The power of a paparazzo extends far beyond snapping a few photos and then fabricating a sensational report.
Sometimes, when used properly, it can even lead to historic moments!!!
Fan Zhijie: "Mr. Ou, I found it!!!"
Ou Yunchen leaned over Fan Zhijie's dilapidated computer, an old, trusted companion that had been gathering dust for a long time.
Even booting it up took over ten minutes, let alone searching for files within it.
Fan Zhijie opened a photograph. The resolution of photos from that era was truly poor, but even so, it was evident that the two individuals in the picture were Yan Shizong and Chairman Wang.
Fan Zhijie: "When Chairman Wang was running for election, Yan Shizong was the financial backer, helping Chairman Wang pave the way through many connections..."
Fan Zhijie: "And this one, it's a photo of the president of a certain bank taking numerous briefcases to the Wang family's residence. Those likely contained cash!!!"
Fan Zhijie: "This is a photo of Chairman Wang meeting with the president of the Film Association. It's said that the distribution of some films required Chairman Wang's approval..."
Fan Zhijie explained to Ou Yunchen, one by one, his past "heroic deeds" of capture, all of which were secrets that could not be spoken.
Ou Yunchen gradually pieced together the complex relationships involved!
It was clear that Yan Shizong had helped Chairman Wang to power, continuously provided financial support to the Wang family, and always found ways to help the Wangs profit in various forms.
Therefore, when Yan Shizong's murder case occurred, the first people they contacted were the Wang family. To silence Yan Shizong, they had no choice but to help him cover up the truth, find a scapegoat, and expedite his execution!
Ou Yunchen patted Fan Zhijie on the shoulder. It seemed their secret team had not been working in vain all these days.
***
A few days later, the Wang family received a package.
Wang Ziran: "Who sent it?"
Servant: "I don't know, it was slipped through the door crack."
Wang Ziran: "Give it to me."
The package, which should have gone to Chairman Wang, was intercepted by Wang Ziran.
He opened the bag and looked inside. Some old, printed photographs were neatly arranged within.
Wang Ziran took them out and examined them. He recognized his father and mother, and he could tell that it seemed to be a young Yan Shizong. Given his exceptionally short stature, even guessing led him to this conclusion.
Madam Wang was tending to her flowers and plants in the garden. Seeing Wang Ziran walking towards the house while looking at photos, she called out to him.
Madam Wang: "Watch where you're going!"
Wang Ziran didn't hear her and nearly tripped over a water hose.
As the photos scattered on the ground, Madam Wang hurried over.
Madam Wang: "I told you to watch where you're going, and you..."
Madam Wang quickly bent down to pick up the photos and snatched the one from Wang Ziran's hand.
Madam Wang was extremely tense. She glanced around, then pulled Wang Ziran inside the house.
Madam Wang: "Where did they come from?"
Wang Ziran: "What are those?"
Madam Wang: "Don't ask, where did they come from!!!"
Wang Ziran: "The... the housekeeper said they were slipped through the door crack."
Madam Wang: "Did anyone else see them?"
Wang Ziran: "I opened it."
Madam Wang: "Pretend you didn't see them! Understand?"
Wang Ziran reluctantly mumbled "Oh" and was quickly pushed outside by Madam Wang.
It wasn't until evening, when Chairman Wang returned home...
Madam Wang quickly pulled Chairman Wang into the house and instructed everyone not to disturb them, then locked the door from the inside.
Chairman Wang: "What's so urgent that you had to call me back? I still need to prepare for tomorrow's inspection of the company."
Madam Wang took out the photos from a locked drawer and handed them to Chairman Wang.
Chairman Wang and Madam Wang's expressions were almost identical as they looked at the photographs. They were both terrified, as if afraid of someone lurking nearby.
Chairman Wang: "How did they get here?"
Madam Wang: "Wang Ziran said the housekeeper found them and they were slipped through the door crack."
Chairman Wang: "These photos prove nothing..."
Madam Wang: "How can they prove nothing? Look at the people in these photos, they are all for our..."
Madam Wang gestured for Chairman Wang to look at the large mural on the wall. Behind that wall was an empty room.
There was no door or window. Inside were stacks and stacks of cash and piles of gold bars.
Many valuable calligraphy works and jewelry were hidden away in that hidden room, untouched by sunlight.
Chairman Wang: "Photos are not evidence. If this person wanted to kill us, they would have released them already. They must be here to intimidate us."
Madam Wang: "Who could it be? Besides those involved, who else would know!!!"
Chairman Wang: "Don't worry, let's wait and see. Whoever sent us these photos will definitely come looking for us again."
Madam Wang: "Should we tell Yan Shizong? Tell him to keep his mouth shut?"
Chairman Wang: "You remind me. I do need to tell him to rein it in. He's been entirely focused on Xio lately, and I don't know why he's so fixated on such a small entertainment company!"
Madam Wang: "Xio? Ou Yunchen's Xio?"
Chairman Wang: "Yes, this Ou fellow does a lot of business."
Madam Wang's face grew even more grim. She recalled the day her brother, Zhou Shenghua, met Ou Yunchen at the Wang residence. That man, by some means, had managed to make her brother stop targeting his ATL...
Madam Wang, trembling, wondered whether she should voice the suspicion in her heart.
Chairman Wang: "What's wrong?"
Madam Wang: "You... do you remember when I told you my brother let ATL off the hook?"
Chairman Wang: "I remember. You also said Ou Yunchen was quite capable."
Madam Wang: "Guess what, he, he, he might have Xie Hongtian's USB drive?"
Chairman Wang leaned back, thankfully supported by Madam Wang.
Chairman Wang: "Why didn't you tell me!"
Madam Wang: "I only found out that the USB drive had reappeared when Xie Youlin used it to threaten my brother into targeting ATL..."
Chairman Wang: "It's not surprising that Xie Youlin had that USB drive. Perhaps Xie Hongtian left it to him. But how could Ou Yunchen possibly have it!"
Madam Wang: "Perhaps he stole it from Xie Youlin. Otherwise, how could Xie Youlin, after being imprisoned, make my brother let ATL go..."
Chairman Wang: "I knew that thing should have been destroyed!!!"
Madam Wang: "That was to help you with your election back then..."
Chairman Wang: "Everything has been calm for so many years... It seems I can't run for re-election. I need to step down quickly."
Madam Wang: "What if Ou Yunchen is threatening you?"
Chairman Wang: "How would I know what's on that USB drive? But the fact that he could find these photos proves that what he has could really be the end of me!!!"
Madam Wang: "Let's run. Let's flee abroad and never come back."
Chairman Wang: "Run? How can we run? How can we move all that stuff in the room!!!"
Madam Wang and Chairman Wang looked at the wall again, sinking into despair. The treasures they had moved in, risking their necks, were now impossible to move.