Risk sharing
The note left by Lin Jing weighed heavily on Jiang Mo's heart like a feather, both incredibly light and incredibly heavy. "Foundation," "special audit," "overseas fund flows"—these unfamiliar financial terms, spoken by Shen Zhiyan's mother and strangely connected to her own predicament, seemed fraught with danger.
She took a picture of the note and sent it to Shen Zhiyan via encrypted software, without adding any of her own speculations, only adding the message: "Left by your mother."
After sending the message, she sat in the darkness of the living room, without turning on the lights. The neon lights of the city outside the window could not dispel the chill in her heart. Lin Jing's warning meant that Shen Huaiming's actions had gone beyond simple threats and smears, entering a more complex and dangerous realm. And she seemed to be unwittingly drawn into the core of this war between father and son, or rather, between two sets of values.
Shen Zhiyan's reply arrived half an hour later, and its content was more somber than usual:
[Received. Information credibility assessment: High. This matter is complex and involves a gray area in cross-border financial regulation. We need to discuss this in detail in person.]
His decision not to elaborate further in the encrypted channel speaks volumes about the sensitivity of the issue.
During a break from filming the next day, the two returned to the quiet reading area of the library. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting beams of light into the dusty air, while the shadows cast by the bookshelves isolated them from the outside world.
“My mother…” Shen Zhiyan spoke first, his tone carrying a complex sense of deliberation, “Being in the system, she is more sensitive to the boundaries and risks of certain rules than my father and I.” He pushed up his glasses, his gaze falling on a point in the void, “The fact that she left this sentence means that she believes the foundation’s actions have crossed the red line, and… may affect me, and those related to me.”
Jiang Mo listened quietly without interrupting.
“That foundation,” he continued, lowering his voice, “is nominally a charitable organization, but I suspect it’s one of the channels through which my father conducted some…not-so-compliant capital operations. The so-called ‘special audit’ is likely not an official action, but rather his internal cleanup of traces, or a prelude to an attack by external adversaries.” He paused, looking at Jiang Mo with sharp eyes, “Whether it’s the case or not, once problems arise in the audit, everyone or every project associated with the foundation could be dragged into the vortex.”
This includes the laboratory donation he rejected, and also... the endorsement deal that had once extended an olive branch to her.
“So, when he asked me to be his spokesperson, it might not just be to recruit me or sow discord between us,” Jiang Mo analyzed, feeling a chill run down her spine. “It could also be… that he wanted to use me as a ‘related party’ that could be discarded at any time to divert attention when necessary?”
“The probability is not low.” Shen Zhiyan gave a calm and brutal assessment. “In his risk assessment model, your weight is far lower than that of the fund’s stability and the safety of the capital.”
These words were like an icicle, piercing through all previous speculations about "suppression" and "warnings," revealing a more naked and ruthless capitalist logic beneath. In Shen Huaiming's eyes, she was never an equal opponent, not even worthy of being a target, but merely a tool to be used or discarded.
A chill ran down her spine. She realized that she was facing not just a doting father, but a ruthless player in the game of capital.
“You…” Jiang Mo looked at Shen Zhiyan, wanting to ask, “What do you plan to do?” but swallowed the question back. This was not just his problem, but also hers.
Shen Zhiyan seemed to see through her thoughts. He was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was slow and resolute: "In recent years, my father has become increasingly... aggressive in his capital expansion. He believes that as long as the result is correct, the means can be ignored. I cannot agree with that." He tightened his grip slightly on the bookshelf. "This time, he has crossed the line."
This was the first time he had so clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with his father's behavior in front of Jiang Mo, even using the word "crossing the line".
"and you……"
“I will continue investigating.” Shen Zhiyan interrupted her, looking at her with unwavering determination. “I will uncover the foundation’s shady dealings and seize the initiative. But there are risks.” He paused, his tone more solemn than ever before. “Once we begin, it means we are officially standing on the opposite side of him, and we may face an even fiercer backlash. You… can choose to withdraw.”
He gave her the choice. This wasn't just polite talk; it was a rational assessment based on the principle of shared risk.
Jiang Mo met his gaze but didn't answer immediately. She thought of the fright her parents had suffered, Lu Yan's vicious accusations, and his steady, warm hand in the darkness. Retreat? Retreat to where? Her family, her career, and the last vestiges of her unyielding pride—there was nowhere left to retreat.
She suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with a sense of recklessness and bitter self-mockery: "Teacher Shen, do you think I can still remain unscathed? From the moment your father noticed me, I've been on your side." She took a deep breath, her tone becoming serious and firm, "Rather than passively taking a beating, I'd rather take the initiative. What do you need me to do?"
Shen Zhiyan looked at her, his eyes behind his glasses seeming to flash with complex data, ultimately settling into a clear light with a hint of warmth. He didn't say "thank you," but instead went straight into cooperation mode:
“First, Ms. Linda’s connections in the entertainment industry and media can help track down any undercover publicity and fund flows related to the foundation. Second, you yourself need to be more vigilant about your safety, especially your information security. Third…” He paused, “We need to share information and develop a unified response strategy.”
“No problem.” Jiang Mo readily agreed. “I’ll handle the communication with Linda. As for information sharing…” She took out her personal phone and, in front of him, uninstalled several social media and shopping apps that might pose security risks. “From now on, this number will only receive calls from stored contacts. All important communications will go through an encrypted channel.”
Her decisiveness and execution drew a barely perceptible hint of approval from Shen Zhiyan.
As they left the library, the sun was setting. The golden-red afterglow spilled into the corridor, lengthening their shadows.
“I will send you the preliminary information I have on the foundation and ‘Mingyan Capital’ as soon as possible,” Shen Zhiyan said.
“Okay.” Jiang Mo nodded. “I will also get Linda to start taking action.”
The two parted ways at the end of the corridor, heading in different directions. No more words were exchanged, but a strong alliance based on shared risk had been silently forged. They were no longer observer and observed, nor simply program partners, but comrades-in-arms about to dive into the deep sea side by side.
Jiang Mo returned to her apartment and immediately contacted Linda, briefly explaining the situation (omitting the specific details of Lin Jing's warning). Linda gasped on the other end of the phone, her professional instincts instantly activated:
"Got it! I'll use my connections to find out what's going on with that foundation right now! Damn it, they're trying to pull the dirty tricks on us!"
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Mo felt a long-lost excitement, a sense of proactive engagement. She went to the balcony, watching the new leaves of "Lu Gen" sway gently in the evening breeze, and was about to send an encrypted message to Shen Zhiyan to get a sync with Linda's reaction.
Her phone vibrated first; it was a message from Shen Zhiyan, the content of which made her blood almost freeze instantly:
I just received a call; my father suffered a heart attack and has been rushed to the hospital. His condition is unknown. I need to get back immediately.
The message was followed by a screenshot of flight information, indicating that the flight would take off in an hour.
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