An'an looked at me with a very complicated expression. She didn't know what I was going to tell her, but she could sense from my expression that this was no small matter... My feelings were just as complicated, because for me, this was an adventure... If An'an told Cao Jinbo about my intentions, it would undoubtedly be a disaster. I was just gambling, gambling that An'an was kind-hearted, gambling that she was sincere towards me.
After a long silence, I finally spoke, “You should have heard that Ye Zhi disappeared for a year. She was involved in a shipwreck in Thailand… That’s the official conclusion of the Thai authorities… But the truth is far more complicated than that… I won’t go into details yet; you can use your imagination.”
An An first stared blankly, then suddenly shook her head and replied, "I'm sorry, I can't make that connection."
"You're unwilling to accept... and you're unwilling to demonize Cao Jinbo..."
After a brief pause, I whispered, "I remember Cao Jinbo took you to Thailand many times... I believe you know he has connections there... and these connections were built up during his early drug trafficking activities in Thailand... This is clearly organized crime... and this kind of power can be completely manipulated with money... Therefore, the shipwreck that Ye Zhi encountered in Thailand was orchestrated by Cao Jinbo at the behest of local thugs... He had this motive because Ye Zhi refused his offer to invest in the Cangshan Villa project; subsequently, he made an improper deal with another core leader within the Binjiang Group... I don't know the specifics of their transaction, and I won't speculate... but in this process..." During the process, Cao Jinbo used the most extreme methods… If Ye Zhi hadn't been incredibly lucky, she would no longer exist in this world… It was from that time that Cao Jinbo began to rise to power. He not only successfully invested in the Cangshan Villa project, but also deepened his ties with the Binjiang Group. In recent years, he has also co-invested in several high-quality overseas projects of the Binjiang Group, making a fortune… All of this is verifiable… Before this, he was just a local gangster. What merit did he possess to be able to bind himself to the giant ship of the Binjiang Group? …The only explanation is that he had leverage over this core executive, which allowed him to do whatever he wanted… And this leverage was the evidence that they conspired to frame Ye Zhi…”
An'an was completely stunned. Her lips trembled slightly, and she couldn't speak for a long time... During this process, I also lit a cigarette for myself... Even though I already knew the truth, I still couldn't calm down when I talked about it again.
As she finished her cigarette, An'an finally spoke. She whispered to me, "Like most people, I've always lived in a peaceful environment. Even if there's scheming and conflict around me, it's just minor squabbles… So, I really find it hard to imagine that these things you're describing actually happened to me, and that they're so vivid and real, not at all like fabrications."
"I'm even more panicked now, I don't know what to say to you... I apologize on his behalf... No, this isn't something an apology can solve... It sounds like his actions have ruined your life!"
"Yes, this is definitely not something that can be solved with just an apology... so I need your help."
An'an looked up at me, her face full of confusion.
I took a deep breath and then said to her in the most serious tone, "The reason Cao Jinbo was able to threaten this core executive of Binjiang Group is because he has kept evidence of the murder of Ye Zhi... He is a cautious person, and most people would never have the opportunity to access this evidence, but you are different... He must trust you very much and care about you very much... Therefore, I hope you can find this evidence from him, and then I will hand it over to the public security department to seek justice for Ye Zhi and let Cao Jinbo get the retribution he deserves... Why should good people live such a hard life, while someone as wicked as him can enjoy such a good life outside the law?!"
After I finished speaking, I looked at An'an expectantly, hoping she would agree to my request.
A struggle appeared on her face, but she finally replied to me in a very firm tone, "I'm sorry... I can't hurt him... I can't send him to jail with my own hands... Although I want to leave him... I'm also grateful for everything he's given me... Even though he's done all sorts of evil things, he's never hurt me. I really can't do this... Please understand me!"
My heart sank instantly. I sighed, looked at An'an with sincere eyes, and after a long while, said softly, "Of course I understand how you feel, but this decision is truly foolish... You're not only helping me, but also yourself... Calm down and think about it. If Cao Jinbo's crimes are exposed, can you really escape responsibility? Everything he gave you was illegally obtained, and you're already an insider. If an investigation starts, you definitely won't be able to escape responsibility... So, you can only save yourself now. You must personally send Cao Jinbo to jail. Only then will public opinion and the law be on your side... An'an, you're a smart woman; you must understand the stakes here!"
An'an's expression softened slightly, and just when I thought she would change her mind, she said to me through tears, "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I can't convince myself to do this... I can stop loving him, and I can leave him... But I can't hurt him... I'm just an ordinary woman. I don't have such a great sense of justice. I only know that he's good to me, so I can't hurt him... So, I really can't help you!"
"And what about yourself?...Are you even giving up on yourself?"
"I will return everything he gave me."
"Aren't you going back?... Because he won't let you go... You can only save yourself now!"
If, then
"It was your idea that made me wish I had never come."
I lowered my head and scratched my hair hard. I felt helpless... But this is the kind of An'an I admire... This is not justice, but it is not betrayal either... Since she will not betray Cao Jinbo, she will not betray me either... I know she has a very strong moral compass in her heart, which allows her to have her own judgment and persistence.
...
Just then, we heard a sound next to us. An'an and I turned around at the same time and saw a water bird jump into Erhai Lake and disappear in the blink of an eye.
I looked back again, and everything was pitch black, just like my mood at that moment... If An'an is unwilling to help, who else can I turn to for help?
(End of Chapter)
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