Chapter Thirty-Five: This is My Responsibility
Cheng Yin clicked on the details, and the remarks section read "First Repayment". She stared at that name for a long time, then suddenly realized that she hadn't seen Xu Chen for five months.
The numbers on the calculator jumped around as Cheng Yin checked her debt details one by one.
My phone vibrated. It was an email from Lin Shirong: "The deadline for quarterly tax filing is this Friday. Please send me your bank statements from last month."
The sunlight outside the window was blinding, and Cheng Yin squinted at the computer screen.
The printer hummed as Cheng Yin organized the tax filing materials and prepared to deliver them to Lin Shirong's office.
"Accountant Cheng!" Xiao Zhang from the finance department rushed in, flustered. "The tax bureau people are here! They say they need to audit the accounts for the entire last year!"
The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy.
Three tax officials sat at one end of a long table, thick ledgers spread out in front of them. Lin Shirong stood by the window, his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses as calm as ever, but Cheng Yin noticed that his left hand was unconsciously turning his wristwatch.
"Ms. Cheng Yin?" The leading official looked up. "We are from the Inspection Department of the Haojiang Tax Bureau. We need your cooperation in understanding some matters."
Lin Shirong suddenly walked over and handed her a document: "This is a backup of the general ledger for the entire year of last year." He said in a low voice, "Don't be nervous, just tell the truth."
Cheng Yin opened the file and her fingertips touched a note tucked inside: "Someone reported that the Li Group is laundering money and that their accounts are fraudulent, but they insist they know nothing about it."
"Ms. Cheng, did you handle this cross-border fund transfer record?" The official pushed a document towards her.
Cheng Yin examined it carefully and nodded: "Yes."
"Please explain the purpose of this 20 million transfer."
Cheng Yin recalled, "It was Mr. Li's investment in Canaan Island; there's a contract on file." She pulled out a photocopy from the folder, "This is the agreement signed by both parties."
The officials exchanged a glance and continued to press for other accounts.
Cheng Yin answered fluently, and every transaction was documented.
Two hours later, the leading official closed his notebook.
"Thank you for your cooperation." He stood up. "However, some issues require further verification. Please have Director Lin and Ms. Cheng come to the tax bureau at 9:00 AM tomorrow."
A crack finally appeared in Lin Shirong's expression: "Does it really take that long?"
"Routine procedure," the official smiled. "The Li Group's accounts are complex; we're just following orders."
The finance department staff looked at each other in bewilderment.
He Jingwen pouted, "Can you finance department staff stop wearing such long faces? Dong-ge will handle anything, come and eat!"
Cheng Yin recalled the Hong Kong media article from last week titled "Loan shark king secretly flirts with accountant at banquet, revealing intimate dance," which included a photo of her dancing with Lai Yiu-tung at a banquet.
Lin Shirong's office door was tightly closed. When Cheng Yin knocked and entered, he was quickly destroying computer files.
"Who reported it?" Cheng Yin asked directly.
Lin Shirong adjusted his glasses. "I don't know." He paused, "But they know a lot about our fund flows and specifically target the gray areas."
What she did was make these numbers appear legitimate and compliant.
"I'll go tomorrow," Lin Shirong suddenly said. "You should ask for leave."
Cheng Yin shook her head: "I did the accounting."
"Cheng Yin." Lin Shirong unusually called her by her full name. "This isn't a routine tax audit." He lowered his voice. "They don't want a fine; they want her."
"Does Li Yaodong know?"
Lin Shirong nodded: "We just spoke on the phone." He hesitated for a moment, "He asked me to take you home first."
The black Mercedes drove towards Li Yaodong's mansion, and Cheng Yin watched the street scene rushing past the window.
Macau remains as bustling as ever, with tourists queuing outside casinos, couples taking photos in front of the fountain, and vendors hawking pork chop buns... No one knows that a storm is brewing within the Lai family group.
At the same time, the atmosphere at the Lin residence was equally somber.
The sandalwood prayer beads in Old Master Lin's hand suddenly broke, and the beads rolled to the ground. The servants hurriedly went to pick them up, but the old man raised his hand to stop them.
"Li Yaodong has arrived," the butler announced in a low voice.
Li Yaodong strode into the study, his black suit making his face appear even more somber. Before Old Master Lin could speak, he said directly, "The accounts are fine; someone set this up."
Old Master Lin raised his eyelids slightly: "Who are they after?"
"Me," Li Yaodong sneered, "but I messed with Cheng Yin and Lin Shirong."
Old Master Lin slowly stood up and walked to the window. The setting sun cast a long shadow of him. "Dongzai, you've worked hard to get where you are today." He turned, his eyes sharp. "Was it worth it for a woman?"
Lai Yiu-tung's jawline tightened: "She's innocent."
"Innocent?" Old Master Lin sneered. "Why would a top student like her, a certified public accountant from Ernst & Young, willingly falsify your accounts?" He pressed closer to Li Yaodong. "Because you bought her for 870,000!"
Li Yaodong's fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "That's not how it is."
"What is it?" Old Master Lin suddenly slammed his hand on the table. "What can she gain from following you besides danger?" His voice lowered. "I've investigated her. Both her parents are dead, she lives with relatives, and she finished university on scholarships... A girl like that should have a bright future."
"I will protect her," Lai Yiu-tung finally said, "and I will absolutely not implicate Sai-wing."
Old Master Lin shook his head: "You can't save him." He sighed, "Dongzai, I watched you grow up. I still remember how you struggled in a pool of blood at the dock when you were eighteen." The old man's eyes were filled with complex emotions. "Now, for a woman, you want to repeat the same mistake?"
Li Yaodong suddenly looked up, his eyes like knives.
Grandpa Lin remained unmoved: "Think about what you can give her. Money? She doesn't care. Safety? You're barely able to protect yourself right now." He paused, "Or do you think she truly enjoys this life of constant fear?"
The sound of the garage door opening startled Li Yaodong awake.
Cheng Yin walked in, carrying a thick ledger. "I've checked all the suspicious transactions," she said, putting down the ledger. "There are three entries that need to be redone, which should be finished by tomorrow morning."
Looking at her calm face, Li Yaodong suddenly asked, "Why did you come to Macau?"
Cheng Yin paused for a moment: "Xu Chen's debts..."
"If it weren't for the debt," Li Yaodong interrupted her, "would you have come?"
The question was too direct, and Cheng Yin's eyelashes trembled.
If Xu Chen hadn't been in debt five months ago, and if Li Yaodong hadn't appeared, where would she be now?
Maybe he's still working overtime at his small office in Wushan, maybe he's already saved enough money to open his own small shop, maybe... In any case, he's not here, standing in front of the most dangerous man in Haojiang, falsifying accounts for him.
"No," she answered honestly.
Li Yaodong's eyes darkened, like a candle flame extinguished by the wind. He approached Cheng Yin, his fingers tracing her cheek, the touch icy cold. "If you had to choose now," he said in a low voice, "to leave, or to stay, what would you choose?"
Cheng Yin looked up at him. Li Yaodong's eyes, in the darkness, took on a deep amber hue, churning with emotions she couldn't decipher.
For five months, he taught her to speak Cantonese, took her dancing, and shielded her from bullets... but he never gave her a real choice.
"I don't know," Cheng Yin finally said, "but I'll go to the tax bureau tomorrow."
Li Yaodong's hand suddenly tightened, gripping her chin so hard it hurt slightly: "Why?"
"Because I did the accounting," Cheng Yin said calmly. "It's my responsibility."
This answer made Li Yaodong feel a tightness in his chest.
It was all about responsibility, debt, and her damned principles! He abruptly released her hand, turned and walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of whiskey and drank it all in one gulp.
"Pack your things," he suddenly said. "Someone will take you to Yingzhou tomorrow morning."
Cheng Yin stood still, not moving: "What do you mean?"
"That means you've been fired." Li Yaodong said with his back to her.
Cheng Yin's breath hitched for a second.
Fired? What about those five months? A deal? An employment? Looking at Li Yaodong's stiff back, she suddenly understood something.
"You're afraid you can't protect me," she said softly.
Li Yaodong's shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly. Cheng Yin walked up to him and took his wine glass: "I don't need your protection."
"Cheng Yin!" Li Yaodong finally exploded, "This is not a game! The tax bureau has powerful backers. They don't want money, they want you! Do you understand?"
Cheng Yin nodded. "I understand." She even smiled. "That's why I'm even more determined to go."
Li Yaodong's expression was as if he'd been punched in the chest. He grabbed Cheng Yin's shoulders with such force it felt like he was about to crush her bones: "Why?"
"Because..." Cheng Yin thought for a moment, "you want me to live like a normal person," she looked up and stared directly into his eyes, "so my decision is final."
He suddenly pulled Cheng Yin into his arms, holding her so tightly it was as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones. Cheng Yin could feel his heartbeat, fast and heavy, vibrating like a drumbeat in her ears.
"Idiot." Li Yaodong's voice choked in his throat, "You're a fucking idiot."
Outside the window, the rain was pouring down and thunder was booming.
The phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence of the moment.
Li Yaodong released her and answered the phone.
It was He Jingwen, his voice so loud even Cheng Yin could hear: "Brother Dong! We found out! The whistleblower is that King from Canaan Island's younger brother! He said he'll make you pay with your blood!"
Li Yaodong's eyes instantly turned cold: "Where is he?"
"The investigation is still ongoing, but things have been settled with the tax bureau. Tomorrow..."
"Continue the investigation." Li Yaodong hung up the phone and turned to Cheng Yin, "Don't go to the tax bureau tomorrow."
Cheng Yin shook her head: "I have to go."
"Cheng Yin!"
"I did the accounting, I know it best," Cheng Yin said calmly. "And..." she paused, "I want to go."
These three words struck like a heavy hammer, leaving Li Yaodong speechless.
She thought. Not "should", not "must", but "thought".
She stays because she wants to; she will leave because she wants to.
And he, Li Yaodong, could not give her any constraints.
"Okay," he finally said, his voice hoarse, "but on one condition."
Cheng Yin raised an eyebrow.
"Don't work tonight." Li Yaodong took her ledger. "Have a drink with me."
In front of the liquor cabinet, Li Yaodong poured two glasses of whiskey. Cheng Yin took one, took a small sip, and felt the strong liquor burning her throat.
Seeing her frown, Li Yaodong asked, "First time drinking it?"
Cheng Yin nodded halfway, then shook her head: "I drank tequila before..."
Li Yaodong picked up her cup, took a sip, and then suddenly leaned down and kissed her lips.
The heat of the whiskey flowed between their lips and teeth, deeper and more intense than any kiss.
"Is it still spicy?" Li Yaodong asked in a hoarse voice as they parted.
Cheng Yin's lips glistened with moisture, her eyes slightly unfocused: "...Mmm."
Lai Yiu-tung kissed him again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
