Chu Yuxuan was puzzled. Chu Zhiqing didn't have time to explain and hurriedly made a phone call: "Where are Ye Yongsheng's mistress and his cousin right now?"
The person on the other end replied, "It's been raining heavily today, they haven't gone out and are at home."
Chu Zhiqing instantly had a bad feeling. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I've been keeping an eye on them, no unusual activity… Oh, wait, in the afternoon, it seems their internet went out, and they called three repairmen. Other than that, nothing happened."
Chu Zhiqing's frown deepened. "Go check it out!"
After hanging up, Chu Yuxuan asked, "What's going on?"
Chu Zhiqing sighed, "The core of the Ye family's business is Yongsheng Investments. On the surface, this investment company doesn't seem highly valued, but behind the scenes, they have secret contracts with many of the companies they've invested in, giving them a much larger stake. This not only helps with tax avoidance but also gives them control over many small and medium-sized enterprises. The profits are enormous."
After pondering for a moment, Chu Yuxuan smiled lightly. "No wonder you gave up on the overseas project grandpa offered and decided to go all out against Ye Yongsheng. Stirring up internal conflicts in the Ye family so you can focus on taking down Ye Yongsheng? If you can take control of this company, the number of your followers in Jiangcheng's business world will probably double, right? Plus, with their lifeblood in your hands, they'll be utterly loyal to you."
Chu Zhiqing didn't deny it and continued, "Yongsheng Investment's president is Ye Yongsheng's mistress, and his cousin is the chief accountant. The two have been having an affair for years. Now that Ye Yongsheng is in trouble, they've become even more brazen, secretly cashing out. So far, they've funneled out more than a billion. I spoke to them a while ago, promising a large sum of money as long as they signed the acquisition contract and helped me. I'd figure out a way to deal with the remaining board members. They readily agreed and signed on the spot, but now, something doesn't feel right."
Chu Yuxuan thoughtfully said, "You suspect that they didn't actually betray Ye Yongsheng but are helping him launder money in preparation for the future?"
"There's that possibility. With Ye Yongsheng in jail and his board members divided into two factions, even if he gets out, he's now a fugitive and can't publicly run things. His only option is to escape abroad with the money."
Chu Yuxuan found it hard to believe. "You said his mistress and cousin have been secretly involved for years. Could he have predicted his own downfall and set things up in advance? And with his wealth, taking only a billion seems like he's settling for too little."
The two exchanged a glance, both arriving at the same conclusion.
Chu Yuxuan said, "If his mistress and cousin didn't betray him, there's only one explanation: Ye Yongsheng has been guarding against his own old brothers!"
Just then, Chu Zhiqing's phone rang.
"Chairman, bad news! I knocked, but no one answered, so I broke in. I searched the whole place and—"
"Get to the point!"
"I, I found their bodies in the freezer! It must have been those three repairmen—"
Before the person could finish, Chu Zhiqing hung up, closed his eyes tightly, and said in a heavy tone, "I understand now. I know why Ye Yongsheng risked an escape!"
Chu Yuxuan asked, "They're dead?"
Chu Zhiqing nodded. "It must have been Chu Haoran! That brat didn't want those two to keep working for me and acted too hastily, forcing Ye Yongsheng into a corner!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the phone rang again. Seeing an unfamiliar number, Chu Zhiqing frowned and answered.
"Old friend, how have you been lately? Haha…"
It was Ye Yongsheng!
Chu Zhiqing wasn't surprised and sneered, "How considerate of you, calling to report after your escape. I'm doing great, thank you. That juicy Ye family business you left behind is quite satisfying—I'm devouring it with pleasure."
"Old Chu, you've done me dirty!" Ye Yongsheng growled through clenched teeth. "I'm giving you a heads-up: clean your neck and wait for me! Oh, and remind that nephew of yours. Does he really think I don't know how Tianyi died? Both of you, get ready to pay with your lives!"
"Sure, go ahead and try. Just don't get caught by the police again in a couple of days. Kill a prison guard, and even a god couldn't save you."
There was a cold snort on the other end before the call was cut off.
At that moment, Ye Yongsheng was aboard a luxury yacht, having just finished a relaxing bath and changed into fresh clothes. After calling Chu Zhiqing, he turned to face several old comrades kneeling before him, his expression vicious.
"Brothers for decades, and now you want me dead, huh? Have you forgotten who pulled you out of that little mountain village? Without me, Ye Yongsheng, you'd still be chopping wood and herding sheep!"
One of the board members gritted his teeth and looked up at Ye Yongsheng. "Old Ye, Chu Zhiqing threatened my family. I had no choice! Agreeing to work for him was just a stalling tactic. I've been trying to find ways to help you!"
"Don't give me that Chu Zhiqing excuse!" Ye Yongsheng snapped. "For five years, you've been plotting with the others to kick me out of the board, haven't you? You tried every trick to get control of Yongsheng Investments, saying you were the ones I could trust most, that the core of the company should be managed by you. Did you think I was a fool?"
Caught in his lie, the board member panicked before suddenly resigning himself to fate. He glared at Ye Yongsheng. "You were our leader, yet you guarded against us like we were thieves! You'd rather give the core company to a sl*t than let us touch it! Do you know how much that hurt us?"
"Ye Group is mine!" Ye Yongsheng roared. "If I give it to you, you take it. If I don't, don't even think about it!"
Lighting a cigarette, he took a few calming puffs before sneering. "We've been brothers for years, so I'll let you die knowing the truth. That 'sl*t' isn't my lover; she's my half-sister. And my 'cousin' isn't even my cousin—he's my brother-in-law! I placed them in the company years ago to guard against you lot! Trying to rebel? Look at yourselves! Do you think you have what it takes?"
In this world, most relationships can endure hardship but not prosperity.
Back when they were starving, even if they had only a small piece of bread, they'd split it and share. Not one of them would have kept it for themselves.
Yet now, when they are all wealthy beyond measure, greed has consumed them.
The tragedy of human nature lies in this very truth.