Chapter 9: Liao Wenjie

Half an hour was more than enough for Tang Wanwan to reach the scene.

Looking out, the security department from Datang had already brought the situation under control.

"Miss!"

Seeing Tang Jianing step out of the car, someone immediately rushed forward to greet her.

"Have they been found?"

"Yes, we found them!"

The guard waved his hand, and two bruised and battered figures were dragged forward.

"Tang Jianing, our Liao family hasn't provoked you, has it?"

Looking at Liao Wenjie, who was filled with fury, Tang Jianing shook her head and stepped a little closer.

"You killed Chi Ziqi, didn't you?"

The single sentence caused Liao Wenjie’s complexion to turn deathly pale.

"Logically speaking, even the police haven't set their sights on me. How did you find out?"

A look of confusion and disbelief flickered in Liao Wenjie’s eyes. Only the Chi family knew about this, and they had taken over eight million from him over the years; they had no reason to leak this. No matter how he looked at it, Tang Jianing had no reason to suspect him.

"Your father did a good job; the crime scene was handled cleanly."

"But the Chi family never pursued their daughter’s death all these years, and considering that building was beyond their means to afford, there were too many loopholes."

To be fair, the aftermath of the crime scene was handled quite cleanly. However, Tang Jianing’s way of thinking differed from the police. She did not need highly definitive evidence to identify a murderer. As long as there were no logical flaws in the deduction, questioning the parties involved directly was the simplest method.

"I suppose I was outplayed."

Liao Wenjie shook his head with a bitter smile, sighing as he looked at the trembling head of the Chi family beside him. Some things were destined from the moment they happened. He had indeed considered disposing of the entire family of three back then. After all, only the dead could keep secrets!

But the impact of a mass murder case would have been too great, and time had been too tight. Being able to stage the crime scene as a home invasion robbery was already an achievement. Plus, being able to control them with money had made Liao Wenjie abandon the idea of killing them.

However, as the sole heir of the Liao family, Liao Wenjie quickly regained his composure.

"The police have no evidence. At the latest, President Tang will be released in a dozen hours or so."

"Let me go, and I am willing to offer thirty percent of the Liao family's shares and twenty million in assets."

"Keeping me won't do you any good. As long as you let me leave the city, all of this is yours!"

Liao Wenjie had not been unprepared over the years; his long-term operations in Shancheng had been a contingency plan for incidents like this. The moment the police gained any traction, he was ready to activate his arrangements and flee the country. He never expected that, despite all his calculations, the ones arriving wouldn't be the police, but the heiress of the Datang Group.

"From a business perspective, this price is indeed enough to buy a life."

"It's just that I’m a kind-hearted person, and I can't bear the thought of a young girl lying cold and dark in a morgue."

After saying this, Tang Wanwan turned around.

"There are four hours until dawn. I don't care what methods you use, I want the evidence before sunrise."

The chilling voice extinguished the last shred of hope in Liao Wenjie’s heart. The security personnel, who had been simmering with rage over this matter, dragged the two men toward a dark corner.

The desolate screams made Tang Jianing stretch, and she turned her gaze toward Seventh Master.

"Tell everyone to disperse and go back to prepare for the matters in the East District."

"Thank you, Miss!"

Seventh Master cupped his hands and signaled for his subordinates to retreat. Once most of the people surrounding the bathhouse entrance had left, only Steel Cannon remained, also bruised and battered. From his twisted arm, it was clear that the security team had been truly ruthless.

"Now, it’s time to talk about our business."

Seeing Tang Jianing’s eyes fixed on him, Steel Cannon forced a smile.

"M-Miss, this is really a misunderstanding!"

In truth, Steel Cannon felt quite wronged. He rarely paid attention to underworld news, spending most of his time playing cards in parlors. When Liao Wenjie approached him and offered three hundred thousand, he had absolutely no idea the bounty came from the Datang Group. Had he known, even if he were the bravest man alive, he wouldn't have dared to shelter Liao Wenjie for thirty thousand.

Tang Wanwan stared at Steel Cannon. The air remained silent for a long time before she spoke again.

"Datang Group has been operating honestly in recent years. Did that make you forget how President Tang built this empire?"

"I couldn't forget, I wouldn't dare! Miss, I really didn't know that bounty was from Datang!"

Between the pain and the fear in his heart, cold sweat dripped down Steel Cannon’s face.

"Datang really isn't interested in domestic affairs; we just want to run our business honestly."

"Even when looking for someone, I followed the rules and issued a bounty, right?"

Hearing Tang Jianing’s words, Steel Cannon quickly chimed in.

"Miss, I really know I was wrong! I won't do it again!"

"Please spare my life, I will leave Shancheng immediately!"

Watching Steel Cannon’s reaction, Tang Jianing shook her head.

"I recall there is a plot of wasteland next to the abandoned warehouse in the East District. That’s yours, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is in my possession!"

"Eight hundred thousand. How about you transfer the land to me?"

Although that area in the East District was still empty, anyone hoarding land there knew that development was only a matter of time.

"Miss, if you want it, I won't charge you a cent!"

"Eight hundred thousand. It's settled!"

Tang Jianing glanced at Steel Cannon and pulled open the car door.

"Let today's matter end here."

"Thank you, Miss!"

Honestly, watching the car start up, Steel Cannon collapsed onto the ground. He wasn't losing money at eight hundred thousand; he had only spent a little over three hundred thousand to acquire it. But once the East District was developed, that plot would be worth at least two million. However, to appease Tang Jianing’s anger, this small loss was nothing.

The car stopped outside the company gates, and Tang Jianing walked toward the brightly lit investment department.

"Miss!"

Zhou Lü was supervising the investment department to ensure the upcoming acquisition procedures faced no legal issues. Seeing Tang Jianing arrive, he quickly stood up to greet her.

"Sit down. When dawn breaks, I need you to find a few reporters and have them wait in front of the Criminal Investigation Building."

"The news that Liao Wenjie has been caught for murder must be spread as quickly as possible."

Zhou Lü nodded, fully understanding Tang Jianing’s arrangements. This type of acquisition was nothing new for Datang, and the team was extremely seasoned. As the night faded and sunlight hit the ground, two cars pulled up in front of the Criminal Investigation Building.