Gu Changming couldn't figure it out. He hadn't been back in the country long and had always acted diplomatically, so it seemed unlikely he had made any enemies.
At that moment, Zeng Jing called again, sounding even more frantic than before: "Gu Changming, did you offend someone? Is someone targeting you? Do you realize the severity of this situation? Your career is ruined..."
Zeng Jing's incessant talking made Gu Changming even more furious.
He yelled into the phone, "I don't need you to remind me!"
After shouting, he hung up the phone.
Gu's father anxiously asked, "Changming, what did you do out there? Beijing is full of powerful people. We should be low-key. Clearly, someone is targeting our family."
Gu's mother also urged, "Son, say something."
Gu Changming racked his brains. Aside from Meng Ning and Fu Tingshu, he hadn't offended anyone recently.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
The sudden sound startled the whole family. Gu Changming steadied himself and went to open the door.
Seeing the law enforcement officers outside, his expression changed slightly, but he tried to remain calm. "Can I help you?"
The officers showed their identification and said, "Is Gu Delin at home? He is suspected of illegal activities. Please come with us."
Hearing that they were there for him, Gu's father's face turned pale with fear.
Gu Changming glanced at his father but couldn't do anything except watch as he was taken away by the officers.
As he was led out, Gu's father shouted, "Changming, you have to save me! Changming..."
"Changming's father..." Gu's mother ran after them, frantic with worry.
The sudden disaster left Gu Changming in a daze.
That night, Gu Changming was like an ant on a hot pan, making countless calls for help. However, all those who used to flatter and call him brother were now making excuses to avoid him.
Furious, Gu Changming threw his phone. His mother, crying continuously in the living room, kept urging him to think of a way to get his father out.
The issues with the Gu family's factory were real. They were in the food business, and if harmful substances were detected in their products, it would be a devastating blow. Losing their credibility would mean they could never recover.
Soon after Gu's father was taken away, the news spread. Business partners came knocking, demanding compensation, and kept banging on the door.
Gu Changming hid at home, too afraid to go out, only daring to peek through the peephole at the commotion outside.
The doorway was crowded with people demanding their money back.
His mother was scared to tears but didn't dare cry out loud. That night, both mother and son were on edge, their nerves stretched to the breaking point. Any slight noise made them jump like frightened birds.
Debt collectors kept calling the home
phone, so Gu Changming had to
unplug it.
As dawn approached, the people
demanding money finalIly left. Gu's
mother, exhausted, fell asleep, while
Gu Changming sat on the living room
sofa, feeling dazed.
After some time, there was another
knock on the door.Just as Gu
Changming was starting to feel
drowsy, he was jolted awake
His heart raced as hegot up and
peered through the peephole.
Standing outside wais Zeng Jing.
Gu Changming quickly opened the
door. Before Zeng Jing could say
anything, he pulled her inside and
swiftly shut the dooor.
His cautious behavior left Zeng Jing
momentarily stunned.
Gu Changming asked, "What's the
situation at the firm now?"
Zeng Jing regained her composure
and said, "This morning, the landlord
came to demand that we terminate
the lease and move out immediately.
The families involved in the
molestation and divorce cases you
handled are protesting with banners
at the firm's entrance.
In the molestation case, Gu
Changming had helped the
perpetrator escape justice for money.
Unable to bear the humiliation, the
victim had recently committed
suicide by jumping off a building.
In the divorce case,a husband who
had been abusing his wjife was sued
for divorce. During the custody
battle, Gu Changming had fabricated
evidence of the wife hlaving a mental
illness and argued that,as a full-time
housewife without income, she was
unfit to care for thechild. The court
ultimately awarded cuIstody to the
husband.
The husband only wanted custody to
spite his wife and did not truly care
for the child. After obtaining custody,
he left the child with the elderly
grandparents,who, unable to
properly supervise the child,
tragically lost the child in a car
accident. The child's mother, unable
to bear the pain, tooksleeping pills
and committed suicide.
In both tragedies, Gu Chlangming
was an accomplice. Now, with the
victims' families protesting, his
reputation was in tatters, and he
faced potential legal consequences.
Zeng Jing's words left Giu Changming
pale and slumped on the sofa in
despair.
Suddenly, he exploded in anger,
"Who organized those families to
protest? Who exposed my affairs
abroad? Zeng Jing, you're the only
one who knew about this in the
country. Did you betray me?"