After office hours had long passed, Rui Xiaodan was still at her desk, finalizing a case report. This was a side case stemming from the investigation of the "Mawang Gang," involving the sale of counterfeit currency. The investigation revealed no direct connection to the Mawang Gang. Once finished, she filed the report and other related documents in a case folder, locking it in her drawer. She then took out an envelope from another drawer, packed her bag, and locked the office door behind her.
As she descended the empty staircase, she took out her phone and called Ding Yuanying. "Sweetie, you've been cooped up at home for days. I'm taking you out for a change of scenery... I'll be there soon." Unbeknownst to her, "Fatty" Zhao Guoqiang and Captain Lei Jianfeng were around the corner, reviewing case files, and overheard her.
Zhao Guoqiang teased, "Sweetie... Oh, that's so sweet."
Rui Xiaodan, embarrassed, smiled and continued down the stairs.
Zhao Guoqiang called after her, "A smile isn't enough. You owe us a meal! We've been waiting for this one."
Rui Xiaodan paused, "Again? Didn't I just treat you?"
Zhao Guoqiang laughed, "That was for surviving the tough case. This one's for the 'sweetie'."
Rui Xiaodan chuckled, "Alright, alright, I'll treat you."
Leaving the police station, she crossed the street to a jewelry store. At the counter, she handed over a receipt and 650 yuan to the clerk, who retrieved a red velvet jewelry box. Satisfied after checking its contents, she left and took a bus to Jiahe Garden Community.
Ding Yuanying's life had been turned upside down by a new project. These days were the busiest and most stressful since he moved to the ancient city. He had been delving into every possible source—magazines, advertisements, websites—to understand the audio industry, analyzing and researching information, and developing a business plan for Wangmiao Village's economy.
Rui Xiaodan rang the doorbell, and Ding Yuanying opened the door, looking worn out. He had a half-smoked cigarette in his left hand, his face haggard, hair disheveled, and eyes bloodshot. He was more fatigued than the previous day, both physically and mentally drained, and it had been six days since he last tidied up or washed the teaware. Rui Xiaodan had been coming over each evening to clean up his place, which now bore no resemblance to his usual neat and minimalist style. A thin layer of dust covered the audio system, TV, and coffee table, tea stains marred the once-clean teaware, and the bed was a mess of blankets. His study was cluttered with audio industry materials, two laptops were running, and a laser printer was printing documents from the internet.
Rui Xiaodan gently brushed his hair and said, "Look at you, wearing yourself out like this." She then pulled a delicate glass frame from her bag, containing a photo of her and her German Shepherd on the mountain, enlarged.
Ding Yuanying took it and said, "This is great, really great."
Rui Xiaodan also took out the red velvet jewelry box and handed him a small oval jade pendant on a necklace. "I had this made at the jewelry store. It's not expensive, but it's for you."
The light green pendant had the character "法" (law) engraved on the front and "October 9, 1996," on the back. The jade was meant to ward off evil, but the character had an unmistakable implication. Ding Yuanying smiled faintly, "Judicial principles presume innocence, but here I am, presumed guilty before doing anything."
Rui Xiaodan put the necklace around his neck. "Sometimes you need to be reined in. Wear it for three days, just as a symbol. Tuck it under your shirt so no one will tease you."
The printer finished, and Ding Yuanying went to the study to extinguish his cigarette and place the framed photo beside his computer, organizing the printed documents. Rui Xiaodan tidied the room, made the bed, cleaned the teaware, and dusted the furniture, restoring the apartment to its usual cleanliness, save for the study's additional documents.
After tidying up, Rui Xiaodan sat on the sofa in the study and noticed Ding Yuanying rubbing his temples, frowning. "Does your head hurt?"
Ding Yuanying nodded.
"Lie down, I'll give you a massage."
Ding Yuanying lay on the sofa, and Rui Xiaodan sat beside him, massaging his head. "Is there a chance for this project?"
Ding Yuanying said, "Possibly. Wangmiao Village has produced speakers and cabinets before, but we'll need your and Ouyang Xue's help. Right now, we need Ouyang Xue's name as a nominal shareholder."
"Why?" Rui Xiaodan asked.
Ding Yuanying explained, "Once things start rolling..." He habitually tried to sit up when explaining.
Rui Xiaodan gently pushed him back down, "Just explain while lying down."
Ding Yuanying continued, "Once we start, without legitimate control, the situation could get out of hand at a critical moment. The nominal shareholder must have a cultural background, financial capability, and equal status. Ouyang Xue fits these criteria. If the dividends under her name go to her and the losses to me, with a promise that she won't face any financial losses due to company actions, she should accept."
Rui Xiaodan asserted, "Ouyang wouldn't accept such hidden benefits."
Ding Yuanying replied, "The sample speakers must reach Europe by next June, less than eight months from now. The Beijing International Audio Exhibition is every three years, with the next one on May 15, 1998, eighteen months from now. These are critical deadlines in the plan, so time is tight. We need to get Ouyang Xue's agreement quickly, or adjust the plan immediately. Without this settled, we can't proceed."
Rui Xiaodan said, "Ouyang will help if she can. Talk to her and see what she thinks."
Ding Yuanying said, "You arrange a time."
Rui Xiaodan tidied his hair again and stood up, "Why wait? Let's go now. I just wanted to take you out for a bit."
So, Ding Yuanying shut down the computers and printer, put on a jacket, grabbed his cigarettes and lighter, and the two locked the door and headed downstairs. They hailed a taxi to the Venus Hotel.