Chapter 158 What friends?

The smoky atmosphere of Lao Wang's barbecue stall was still thriving, the aroma of cumin, chili peppers, and grease dominating the air. But at the third greasy folding table, the atmosphere seemed to have been slowed down.

In front of Yu Ling, the insulated food box with the cute Shiba Inu printed on it was empty, with only a little trace of amber honey left.

The plate was piled with cleanly peeled shrimp shells like a small mountain, and next to them were a few fresh shrimps that Zhao Chen had just peeled, still steaming.

In front of Su Xiao, the grilled bamboo skewers were piled higher. She was gnawing on a string of grilled steamed bread slices viciously, as if they were Gu Qianqian's bones, but her eyes were scanning back and forth between Yu Ling and Zhao Chen's faces like searchlights.

Yu Ling didn't touch the freshly grilled skewers. Her red eyes had lost their raging flames, settled into a cold, sharp scrutiny.

Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the bank statement that Su Xiao had placed on the table - cold paper, clear numbers, and the payment record of the "Miss G Charity Foundation".

"Gu Qianqian..." Yu Ling's voice was very low, with a hoarseness and cold hatred of someone who had survived a disaster, "He bribed Zhang Wei to put the stolen core code into my USB flash drive, framed me, and almost ruined my reputation. I was despised by everyone..." With every word she spoke, her fingertips drew an invisible mark on the receipt.

Lidya Su swallowed the steamed bun in his mouth, took a gulp of ice beer, nodded vigorously, and said with a voice full of relief: "Yes! The evidence is irrefutable! Beat her to death! Let her also taste the feeling of being pointed at by thousands of people!"

Yu Ling's gaze didn't linger on Gu Qianqian's evidence. She slowly lifted her eyes, passing over the pile of bamboo skewers and the plate of greasy fried dough twists on the table, and landed on Zhao Chen, who was sitting next to her.

Zhao Chen was slowly taking off his disposable gloves. There was some red oil on his bony fingers, but he was not in a hurry. He took a tissue and wiped it carefully bit by bit, his movements calmly and gracefully.

There was no extra expression on his face, and his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses were calm. Only when Yu Ling looked at him did he slightly tilt his head to meet her gaze with a gentle, inquiring look.

In Yu Ling's eyes, this tranquility seemed to be covered by a thick layer of fog.

"Gu Qianqian is the mastermind, the evidence is irrefutable." Yu Ling spoke quietly, her voice clear enough to penetrate the clamor, each word striking Zhao Chen's nerves. "What about the original situation? What about the 'debt document' that was mailed to me? The document clearly bearing Zhao Chen's name, showing his company's bankruptcy and astronomical debts?"

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes locked with Zhao Chen's, not allowing him to avoid her. "That document looks like ironclad evidence. The time, the seal, the legal provisions, the amount of the debt... the details are so detailed that it's breathtaking."

Yu Ling choked up at the following words. Those desperate days when she was deceived, betrayed, and moved out of Genting Highlands with a broken heart, surged into her heart again like a cold tide, making her throat tight.

Su Xiao instantly became energetic, forgetting to eat the skewers in his hand, his eyes widened, and he slammed the table hard:

"Yes! Zhao Chen! That thing looks more realistic than the one made by Gu Qianqian! Where did it come from? Don't tell me it was also photoshopped by Gu Qianqian! If she had that kind of skills, she would have gone to Hollywood to be a special effects artist!" She spoke loudly, attracting curious glances from the tables next to her.

Zhao Chen wiped his hands without a pause. He wiped his last finger with the tissue, then crumpled it into a ball and tossed it precisely into the trash can at his feet. He picked up the unopened bottle of cold beer on the table, placed the tissue over the bottle mouth, and with a soft click, the cap popped off, his movements smooth and natural.

He first refilled the half-empty glass in front of Yu Ling with cold beer, which foamed up, then filled Su Xiao's glass, and finally poured himself a glass.

After doing all this, he looked at Yu Ling again, his eyes frank and his tone calm as if he was discussing what to have for breakfast tomorrow:

"Oh, that." He picked up his beer glass and took a sip, the cool liquid sliding down his throat. "It's my friend's company. They had some cash flow problems a while ago, and they were very anxious, so they came to me for advice. The document he brought was a draft debt settlement plan, and he wanted me to help find any loopholes or areas where he could mediate."

He put down his wine glass and tapped his slender fingers lightly on the greasy tabletop, as if recalling:

"He left in a hurry that day and probably forgot to take it with him, so it ended up on my study table. And then... maybe you stumbled upon it?" He looked at Yu Ling, his eyes filled with just the right amount of helplessness and apology. "I'm sorry, Lingling, I misunderstood you. The company is now... well, it's recovered, everything's fine."

Friends? Business is struggling? Drafting a plan? Left it on the table?

Su Xiao's mouth opened into an O shape, his jaw nearly dropping on the skewers. This explanation... sounds quite reasonable? But it also feels a bit strange! A strong sense of absurdity washed over him once again.

She looked at Zhao Chen's sincere (?) face, then at Yu Ling's tightly pursed lips, and felt like a badger jumping up and down in a melon field but still unable to touch the flesh!

"Friend?" Yu Ling raised the corners of her lips in an extremely subtle, cold arc, her eyes as sharp as a knife.

"What friends? The kind that register an offshore company in the Cayman Islands? The debtor on that document is clearly registered in the Cayman Islands!"

Her voice was not loud, but it was like a thunder, striking precisely at the fog of "ordinary friends not being able to make ends meet" that Zhao Chen tried to create!

Lidya Su gasped, her eyes instantly lighting up! Yes! The Cayman Islands! She was so furious she hadn't looked closely, but Lingzi remembered! The Cayman Islands! It's a tax haven! It's a playground for capitalist tycoons! What does it have to do with "ordinary friends having trouble with cash flow"?!

"Holy crap! Cayman Islands?!" Su Xiao was so excited that he almost jumped up from the plastic stool. "Zhao Chen! Which of your friends is so awesome? Opening a company in the Cayman Islands? And they're 'struggling with cash flow'? Doesn't the number he's struggling with cash flow have to have a dozen zeros after it?! Can you help him 'take a look'? Do you understand it?!"