President Wang: "Oh my, Yunchen, you don't need to visit me every day. Look at you, bringing so much wine. I can't possibly drink it all."
Ou Yunchen: "Leader, this is globally limited edition. Look, it's engraved with a number."
President Wang: "888? Lucky number! Lucky number!!!"
Ou Yunchen knew this would appeal to President Wang. He glanced at the Buddha statues displayed in his home and wondered if anyone would mistake him for being pious.
Ou Yunchen: "Leader, I'm here today because I genuinely need your help."
President Wang: "Let's discuss it with Yan Shizong present."
It was clear that President Wang did not trust Ou Yunchen and had no intention of helping him, let alone with the small request Ou Yunchen had in mind.
Ou Yunchen: "Why don't you take a look at this bottle of wine?"
President Wang pretended to be nonchalant, glancing at a huge metal box. It looked dilapidated on the outside, but upon opening it…
President Wang quickly walked over and closed it.
President Wang: "Is this real?"
Money could buy many things, but some things were priceless, like specimens…
Ou Yunchen: "Merely the hide of a Liger cub…"
President Wang: "You know, if you had been like this earlier, you wouldn't have had to suffer so much."
Ou Yunchen: "I am willing to atone with my entire life, if only you would help me."
President Wang: "Go on."
President Wang carefully opened the box, marveling at the exquisite item.
Ou Yunchen: "Leader, I heard Yan Shizong wants to open an online casino? And he's found capital that can offer loans directly online without any obstacles?"
President Wang: "I refused."
Ou Yunchen: "But he approached me."
President Wang glanced at Ou Yunchen, but he didn't believe him.
Ou Yunchen: "He said that if I act as a guarantor for that part, he'll give me this amount…"
Ou Yunchen wasn't lying. That capital had already been bribed by Ou Yunchen. Yan Shizong thought he was dealing with someone else, but it turned out to be Ou Yunchen all along.
Seeing President Wang's disbelief, Ou Yunchen produced the cooperation agreement Yan Shizong had sent. If President Wang didn't believe him, he'd surely recognize Yan Shizong's signature.
President Wang: "This much for you?"
Ou Yunchen: "I haven't agreed yet. I haven't seen you involved in this deal, so I'm not at ease."
President Wang: "Do you think I would do such a thing?"
Ou Yunchen: "Yes, yes. I also felt something was amiss, so I told him we should discuss it further."
The more President Wang looked at the profit-sharing ratio, the more displeased he became. He usually didn't receive such a large sum.
Why was Yan Shizong giving Ou Yunchen so much? It made it seem like he was being excluded.
Ou Yunchen: "However, honestly, if you don't make the final decision, I don't think he'll be able to go through with it."
President Wang: "I told him to shut it down within a week, or I'll deal with him severely."
Ou Yunchen gave him a thumbs-up, praising President Wang for his integrity.
Ou Yunchen: "But is Yan Shizong someone who gives up easily? Look at how he treated me…"
President Wang: "He dares?"
Ou Yunchen: "Yes, yes. I agree. I should probably refuse him then…"
Ou Yunchen sighed, which piqued President Wang's concern.
President Wang: "What? Reluctant to part with the money?"
Ou Yunchen: "No, no, how could that be? I just… sigh…"
President Wang: "Say it!"
Ou Yunchen: "Yan Shizong threatened me. If I don't cooperate with him, he'll release these videos online."
As he spoke, Ou Yunchen pulled out his phone and showed it to President Wang.
The video was from the night Ou Yunchen was humiliated. Everyone else was pixelated, but Ou Yunchen was clearly visible.
President Wang: "I didn't order this!"
Ou Yunchen: "Of course, I know. Yan Shizong secretly recorded it…"
President Wang: "Seeing as you're being sensible, I'll warn you. Don't get involved with online casinos. Otherwise, I won't help you either!"
Ou Yunchen: "I came to ask for your help precisely because of this. He won't leave me alone, and I can't do anything…"
President Wang: "That's Yan Shizong for you. He won't stop until he achieves his goal!"
Just then, President Wang's phone rang.
—President Wang on call—
Yan Shizong: "You're having people investigate me?"
President Wang: "I'm giving you a warning. Today is the second to last day of the week."
President Wang: "If you don't shut down the online casino tomorrow, I will truly take serious action!"
Yan Shizong: "You'll take action? Let me tell you, don't provoke me! When Yan Shizong sets his mind to something, he always accomplishes it!"
President Wang: "I said no, and I mean no!"
Yan Shizong: "Do you think I don't know Ou Yunchen is with you? What, you think with him now, you don't need me anymore?"
President Wang: "What are you talking about!"
Yan Shizong: "Let me tell you, I'm not someone you can just use and discard! You just wait!"
—Call ended—
Ou Yunchen immediately saw that President Wang had not gained the upper hand. Yan Shizong was like a mad dog. Ever since all the evidence was destroyed, he had become so audacious that he feared nothing.
Ou Yunchen couldn't miss this opportunity to add fuel to the fire. He was the only one who could continue to provide money to President Wang.
After all, Yan Shizong had used President Wang's connections to secure many good projects, but he hadn't told President Wang about any of them, pocketing all the profits himself.
It was clear that Yan Shizong intended to use this opportunity to break free from President Wang. A man who wouldn't be re-elected was no longer of any use to Yan Shizong!
Ou Yunchen was speaking highly of Yan Shizong, afraid that President Wang might actually abandon this newfound friend.
Unexpectedly, another voice message arrived on Ou Yunchen's phone.
It seemed to be a recording. Without a second thought, Ou Yunchen clicked to listen.