Chapter 104: What a Thrilling Auction

Chapter 104: Now That Was One Satisfying Auction

In the few seconds the phone rang, Lu Rong’s mind raced.

Scenes from the interrogation room flashed through his mind.

But no matter how much he reviewed them, he couldn’t find any oversights.

Lu Rong’s partially anxious heart relaxed, and he answered the call.

The person on the other end said, “Mr. Lu. Someone is competing with us for that piece of land in Kowloon City District!”

Lu Rong replied succinctly, “Raise the bid.”

Due to being legally compelled to appear by the police, he couldn’t attend the auction in person and had temporarily entrusted the task to a renowned auction house proxy bidder.

But now, it seemed this bidder’s competence was questionable—was such a trivial matter really worth calling about?

Lu Rong said, “The budget I gave you should be sufficient.”

The bidder spoke hesitantly, “Mr. Lu, your budget is maxed out. The other party suddenly bid 2.4 billion HKD. If you want it, you’ll need to increase your bid.”

Lu Rong calculated the funds he had available.

His budget for buying that land was 2 billion HKD. The Lu family had taken a major financial hit because of Lu Qian, and he couldn’t scrape together more funds at the moment.

Since the person competing with him could suddenly push the price to 2.4 billion HKD, it meant they undoubtedly had deeper pockets.

Should he give up on that land?

But that land was right next to Kowloon Bay, adjacent to two typhoon shelters, and had a ferry pier.

Its location was far too important.

In a couple of years, the government would undoubtedly make it a development priority. If he could secure it and hold on until the development was complete, the Hong Kong government would have to think carefully when dealing with him, and even the mainland government would be more cautious from then on.

He couldn’t give up.

He had to up the bid!

“Raise it to 2.6 billion HKD,” Lu Rong said.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the police officers in the observation room, who had turned up the volume and were listening intently, let out a collective gasp.

Though they didn’t know what Lu Rong was competing for, they sincerely hoped he wouldn’t get what he wanted.

But 2.6 billion HKD—it was an astronomical sum.

Who in Hong Kong could possibly come up with that much money at once to outbid someone like him?

He said 2.6 billion HKD as casually as if it were 26 bucks.

·

In the interrogation room.

The bidder on the other end of the phone went quiet for a moment. Then, after about 30 seconds, he spoke even more hesitantly, “Mr. Lu, there’s only one bidder left now. They’ve offered 3.1 billion HKD. Are you still going to compete?”

Lu Rong’s temple pulsed.

There weren’t many people in Hong Kong who could lay their hands on that much cash. Gu Youming was one of them.

But the former richest man, Gu Youming, had already planned to pull out of Hong Kong.

The only one left was Jian Ruochen.

Suddenly, Lu Rong understood why Jian Ruochen had toasted him and why he had made those comments.

But it was too late.

Only now did he realize that the police’s purpose in summoning him wasn’t to extract information from him at all. It was to keep him tied up and figure out his real game!

Lu Rong’s breathing became slightly hurried.

Holding the phone, he stared fixedly at Jian Ruochen: “You want to compete? Aren’t you afraid I’ll drive up the price?”

Jian Ruochen smiled: “Go ahead. Drive it up as much as you want. If you drive it up, I can always bow out. Let’s see who flinches first. The land next to Kowloon Walled City is worth rolling the dice on.”

He paused, his honey-colored eyes gleaming, “But you should think carefully—if the price reaches 10 billion HKD, I can afford it. Can you?”

2.6 billion HKD was already all Lu Rong could currently scrape together.

He didn’t dare raise the bid any further.

He was willing, but his funds fell short.

Lu Rong clenched his jaw so hard it seemed he wished he were sinking his teeth into Jian Ruochen’s throat instead.

Something that was right in his hands was gone just like that!

He had been playing his cards right all this time just to secure that land.

It was crucial to his future plans, to whether he could forge ties with the mainland government.

And now it was gone!

Lu Rong was both furious and resentful, his heart sank.

On the other end of the phone, the bidder was still urging him: “Mr. Lu, the auctioneer has called the bid once. If you can still raise the bid, you need to do it now.”

“No need,” Lu Rong said, suppressing his seething anger as he hung up.

He gripped his cane tightly, letting the carvings bite painfully into his palm.

Jian Ruochen’s eyes sparkled with laughter. “Thanks for letting me have it.”

He sat calmly in the chair opposite the interrogation room.

Thanks to the old phone’s leaky speaker, everyone had been all ears.

What an exhilarating auction.

In the observation room.

The officers who had been watching intently let out a collective sigh.

In the past, when they encountered situations like this, they couldn't even get to the truth, and even if they did, they had to grin and bear it.

“Consultant Jian is truly something else.”

“He’s rich, good-looking, has a great personality, and he’s a good person.”

“If you ask me, if you want to see the police dominate at a crime scene, look for Detective Guan. If you want to see the police have our backs in the interview room or interrogation room, it’s Consultant Jian!” After saying this, the person didn’t forget to flatter Chen Jincai, adding with a laugh, “And when it comes to taking down suspects and catching fugitives, of course, it’s Sir Chen.”

Chen Jincai curled the corner of his mouth, holding the statement form and pretending to swat him with it. “Cut the crap, pay attention.”

Inside the interview room.

Jian Ruochen said, “So you used the videotape to manipulate the building explosion case to throw the police off, all for the sake of securing this land?”

He straightened his expression and questioned, “What about the people injured in the bombing case? Did you even give them a thought?”

Lu Rong was boiling inside, his internal fury raging, but he pasted on a smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lu Rong’s lawyer stood to the side. After the shock of the $3 billion+ figure, he had already begun to consider backing out.

In this chaotic, rebuilding era,

money is power.

With money, you can buy anything.

He thought of his wife, his children, everything at home. He was even afraid that if he provoked Jian Ruochen again, he’d get jumped by thugs after work.

These rich folks are capable of anything.

He’d seen it too many times in his years of practice.

Lu Rong was one of them.

But asking him to betray his boss was even more impossible.

Because Lu Rong was a hypocrite, ruthless and cutthroat.

Jian Ruochen asked a few more questions, but Lu Rong kept giving the same canned responses like “I don’t know” or “I haven’t heard of it.”

He wasn’t angry. If Lu Rong wouldn’t talk, he’d just keep asking the same questions over and over.

This person’s face was thicker than a city wall, and his mouth was harder than diamond. With someone like this, you can’t rely on interrogation techniques—you just have to drag it out until we get hard evidence.

Four hours later.

Guan Yingjun rushed back to the West Kowloon Region Police Station, dusty and sweaty.

A sheen of sweat covered his forehead, his back was soaked through, and he was radiating heat as he headed straight for the Major Crimes Unit interview room.

Chen Jincai was outside the video room taking a breather, a cigarette held between the fingers of his left hand. He had just taken a puff when he met Guan Yingjun’s gaze.

He choked, coughing violently, and had to thump his chest a few times with his right hand before catching his breath. He laughed and scolded, “Damn, you walk like a ghost!”

Guan Yingjun glanced sideways at the closed door of the interview room. “Didn’t I tell you to watch his back?”

Chen Jincai chuckled. “Me watch his back? You have no idea how hard he got under Lu Rong’s skin. If anything, he’s the one looking after me.”

As soon as the words were spoken, a tendon on the side of Guan Yingjun's neck bulged slightly.

Chen Jincai felt unnerved by his gaze and, thinking he wanted a cigarette, handed him one. “It's a sweet, flue-cured Platinum Marlboro.”

Guan Yingjun pushed it away. “I don't smoke anymore.”

Now, no matter how frustrated he felt, the thought of Jian Ruochen could instantly calm him down.

He said, “I've got work to do.”

Guan Yingjun pushed open the door to the interrogation room, pulled out the chair next to Jian Ruochen, and sat down. He tossed the signed statement in front of Lu Rong. “Mr. Lu, Zhuo Yawen has accused you of bribing him with a sports car in exchange for the execution footage. Do you have anything to say?”

Lu Rong smiled. “I'm not aware of this matter. Zhuo Yawen might be desperate and randomly accusing people.”

He had been discreet—Zhuo Yawen's car was won in a public lottery, and their interactions were brief, with no one knowing the details.

Lu Rong turned to his lawyer, who finally broke his long silence. “If you have evidence proving my client's guilt, then please proceed with charges. Without sufficient evidence, the police cannot hold him for more than eight hours for questioning. My client wishes to leave.”

Guan Yingjun threw a photo in front of Lu Rong. “This is Pu Yongsheng. He's now bedridden and unable to speak.”

“At least those working for Lu Qian were willing participants in their crimes—they knew exactly what they were doing. But you enticed a father of two into committing a crime without his knowledge.”

Guan Yingjun's tone was icy. “You're even worse than Lu Qian.”

Lu Rong slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

If Jian Ruochen was the one at the West Kowloon Region Police Station who best knew how to provoke him, then Guan Yingjun was the one who knew exactly how to strike a nerve.

In his entire life, he had never hated anything more than being compared to Lu Qian!

Even dead, Lu Qian still managed to annoy him!

Lu Rong could no longer maintain his facade.

He had come today hoping to see the officers at the West Kowloon Region Police Station scrambling around like headless chickens.

Instead, he was the one who had ended up worse off.

He really wanted to kill Jian Ruochen, this stumbling block.

Leaning on his cane, Lu Rong hobbled out of the West Kowloon Region Police Station, unable to maintain even a semblance of gentlemanly composure.

Jian Ruochen stood in the break room and drank five glasses of water before his dry mouth finally felt somewhat relieved.

In all his life, he had never had to talk for five hours straight—today, he experienced it firsthand.

Guan Yingjun took out a cool mint candy, unwrapped it, and pressed it against Jian Ruochen's lips. “No one's here. Quick, eat it.”

Jian Ruochen's tongue curled around the candy and swept it into his mouth. He mumbled hoarsely, “What's the deal with Zhuo Yawen? Is the building explosion case closed?”

“The building explosion case isn't wrapped up yet, but Zhuo Yawen is cooperating.” Guan Yingjun filled a thermos with warm water, added some mint, and explained everything on the way to the office.

It turned out that when Zhuo Yawen's daughter accidentally won the sports car, Zhuo Yawen had no idea it was a “gift” specially prepared for him by Lu Rong.

It was only after he had driven the car around for a few days, showing it off and even taking his daughter out for a spin—all while being photographed by Hong Kong media and making the newspapers—that Lu Rong found an opportunity to meet him and explain where the car really came from.

Guan Yingjun led Jian Ruochen into a single office, closed the door, and sat down next to him on a small sofa. He continued in a low voice, “Lu Rong threatened Zhuo Yawen with charges of corruption and bribery, forcing him into obtaining the footage of Lu Qian's execution under the pretext of wanting to see how his enemy died.”

“The hostile relationship between Lu Qian and Lu Rong was well-known throughout Hong Kong. Zhuo Yawen believed it and, hoping to keep the peace, agreed to help Lu Rong.”

Jian Ruochen crunched the mint candy loudly. “What about the building explosion case? Did he know about that either?”

“He says he didn't know,” Guan Yingjun said. “Zhuo Yawen said Lu Rong contacted him, telling him the videotape had been accidentally leaked and the West Kowloon police had seen it, and claimed he could help fix everything. Zhuo Yawen agreed, unaware that his actions would harm so many people.”

As he said this, Guan Yingjun took out a videotape. “I'm not great at detecting lies, so I made a copy of the interrogation footage of Zhuo Yawen. Liu Qishang told me to bring it back for you to check out.”

“Play it,” Jian Ruochen said, leaning back in the small sofa and watching the tape intently, not blinking once.

Guan Yingjun's interrogation style was distinct—stern and imposing, making even the senior inspector tremble a few times.

Jian Ruochen touched his lip and said, “He wasn't lying.”

Zhuo Yawen didn't know his actions would harm others.

Pu Yongsheng also had no idea one decision of his would lead to so many families losing everything and his own daughter losing a limb.

They were all blinded by life's small temptations and troubles, and fell for the devil's temptation.

Lu Rong manipulated hearts and minds, pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

He caused so many deaths and ruined countless lives, yet he had the audacity to tell all the police officers with a straight face: “I didn't know.”

Jian Ruochen lowered his gaze, feeling that snatching Lu Rong's “prized possession” right in front of him was still too lenient.

If only he could bring Lu Rong to justice.

But he was too cunning, leaving no evidence.

A witness's one-sided accusation couldn't serve as grounds for prosecution.

He was now almost certain that the death of “Jian Ruochen's mother” years ago was anything but simple.

Whether it was caused by Lu Jingchen or Lu Rong, he was going to get to the bottom of it—otherwise, he would feel he had failed the woman who gave him life.

Five hours of intense mental focus would be too much for anyone.

After thinking for a while, Jian Ruochen ended up falling asleep on Guan Yingjun.

Guan Yingjun looked up, his gaze settling on the closed office door before him.

He wished for the day he could open that door and let everyone understand what they meant to each other.

Then Chen Jincai wouldn't say things like, “It's more like he's the one protecting me.”

Their colleagues at the station knew where to draw the line and wouldn't make jokes about a friend's partner.

But Guan Yingjun knew it was still too early.

Jian Ruochen's career and life were just beginning. He didn't want anyone at the station gossiping about Jian Ruochen—at least not until Jian Ruochen made Senior Inspector...

Or even became Commissioner.

Guan Yingjun gently stroked Jian Ruochen's cheek, his thumb brushing over it twice, then picked him up and laid him down flat. He helped him take off his shoes, covered him with a small blanket, and used Jian Ruochen's phone to message Butler Luo that he was safe. After that, he sat down to organize the files for the building explosion case.

Zhuo Yawen and Pu Yongsheng were cooperative, which was a good thing.

But the real culprit who set up the gas canisters and detonated the building was still at large. That person might hold irrefutable evidence of Lu Rong's involvement.

Even if they didn't pursue the bomber, they still needed to find whoever approved Jiang Hanyu's counterrevolutionary society.

He had obtained all the information on the professors and university administrators at Hong Kong University.

Reviewing it would take some time.

He couldn't let Jian Ruochen go through it page by page—it would be too hard on his eyes.