Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Rong Yuan hadn't actually gone to take that period costume photo, so of course he "didn't remember" who Lin Xiaotang was. But since arriving here, he had heard from his second aunt that his phone had been temporarily left with a friend he went to take photos with, which was why it wasn't lost—that friend was Lin Xiaotang.

But why would this person's sister show up here? They weren't even in the same city.

Gu Shenhan also thought of this and said, "Sorry, my wife doesn't remember much about the past. Is there something you need from him?"

Lin Xiaomei said, "Rong Yuan, are you really married?"

Rong Yuan felt that the way she looked at him was like a needle picking at threads, poking and gouging into him. Though the needle tip was fine, it made his whole body cold. So he instinctively became cautious: "Do we know each other?"

Lin Xiaomei said, "I'm Lin Xiaotang's sister. How could we not know each other? We've met before. I want you to go see my brother."

"See your brother? Why?"

"Ever since he went to the seaside to take photos with you, he's been acting strange. He won't study, won't find a job, stays home all day acting paranoid, and keeps saying there are ghosts."

"Then you should take him to the hospital, not come to my wife." Gu Shenhan wrapped his arm around the visibly frightened Rong Yuan. "An An, let's go. Home."

"Wait!" Lin Xiaomei said. "Rong Yuan, don't you remember anything about you and Xiaotang?! You were so close with him. He almost died saving you! How can you treat him like this? Didn't you say you'd be together forever? Just because you married a rich man, you just ignore whether he lives or dies?!"

Each word was an accusation. The hospital was already crowded, and her shouting drew the attention of everyone around.

Lin Xiaomei said, "Have you no conscience? If it weren't for him, would you even be standing here?!"

Rong Yuan's face went pale as he replied, "But my second uncle said a lifeguard at the beach saved me."

After waking up, he had indeed asked about this, wanting to know who saved him so he wouldn't forget the gratitude. His second uncle said it was a lifeguard and that he had already thanked the lifeguard, so he didn't ask further.

"Don't listen to his lies! He just said that to marry you off to a rich man! My brother was so good to you! Shameless!"

"Shut up!" Gu Shenhan said. "I warn you, stop slandering my wife. If you really cared about your brother, what have you been doing all this time? Coming now? There are records of the beach rescue. If it wasn't your brother who saved my wife, expect a court summons! An An, let's go."

Rong Yuan was drenched in cold sweat. Upon hearing this, he quickly fell into step behind Gu Shenhan. But his mind was in turmoil, and for a moment, he didn't know which issue to worry about first.

Once in the car, he took out his small blanket again but couldn't open it, his hands trembling.

He had always thought the original Rong Yuan and Lin Xiaotang were just friends, nothing more. Could it be otherwise?

If so, then... what was this all about? What would Gu Shenhan think?

Gu Shenhan started the car, driving with one hand while holding Rong Yuan's hand with the other: "Don't panic. It's okay."

Rong Yuan said, "Honey, I really don't know. I didn't..."

Gu Shenhan said, "Don't be nervous. If what she said were true, with someone like her, she would have come demanding benefits long ago. Why wait until today?"

"What do you mean? I don't understand."

"She clearly came looking for trouble. If she were a sister who cared about her brother and really wanted to find her brother's good friend to help, would she act like that? Asking for a favor so arrogantly and impatiently—she's either stupid or malicious. She's not here for her brother, so don't be afraid."

"Then what is she here for?"

"The psychiatric evaluation at the procuratorate is probably unavoidable. I guess someone sent her to test you or to stir up discord."

No one knew better than Gu Chengzhi that nothing disgusted Gu Shenhan more than disloyalty. If he were convinced that Rong Yuan had someone else in his heart, then this marriage wouldn't work, and he would pressure Rong Yuan in return.

This move was insidious, but if successful, it would be a heavy blow to both him and Rong Yuan. It was very much Gu Chengzhi's style.

Rong Yuan still felt a bit shaken: "Did I say anything I shouldn't have just now?"

Gu Shenhan said, "No. You did well. Remember, from now on, if you're unsure or don't understand, don't respond. Leave the rest to your husband."

Rong Yuan nodded, holding his small fleece bag, still uneasy. If the original Rong Yuan had gone out to take photos with Lin Xiaotang, did that mean Lin Xiaotang was trustworthy?

But why did he have such a sister?

Rong Yuan was confused. Thinking that Lin Xiaotang might have been scared because he realized the person pulled from the sea wasn't the original Rong Yuan but him, he felt even more anxious.

But as Gu Shenhan had predicted, the procuratorate approved the Fei family's application for a psychiatric evaluation.

Generally, psychiatric evaluations are done for defendants. That the Fei family managed to get this far showed they had put a lot of thought and effort into it.

The evaluation was scheduled for Monday morning.

Rong Yuan didn't sleep well that night. When he woke up, his head still ached. He thought nothing would happen—Gu Shenhan wouldn't let him down—but he was still scared. He had even asked Teacher Dolphin what questions were asked in psychiatric evaluations.

He memorized everything he could. Things like: When is National Day? What is nine-year compulsory education? And so on.

Seeing he was still uneasy, Gu Shenhan comforted him on the way: "It's okay. Although I can't go into the evaluation room with you, I'll be waiting outside. Also, no matter what they say, don't get agitated or scared. Keep your emotions stable. Answer whatever they ask. If you're unsure, you don't have to force an answer. You can say you don't remember or don't know. You have the right to do that, understand?"

Rong Yuan nodded: "Mm."

Soon, the car arrived at the local forensic psychiatric evaluation center. An invisible oppressive feeling hit him, and Rong Yuan hesitated to move.

Gu Shenhan took his hand and led him inside. Xiao Ke followed behind.

Someone suddenly called out from behind: "Xiao'an Gege!"

Rong Yuan turned around. It was Yan Yu and Liang Zheng.

Yan Yu ran over and said, "We're here to keep you company too. My brother had work and couldn't get away, so it's just us two. Don't be scared."

Rong Yuan smiled: "Thank you."

He looked at Gu Shenhan: "Honey, can you take me to the restroom for a moment?"

Gu Shenhan had just finished registering their information and took him without a second thought. But Rong Yuan didn't actually need to use the restroom.

Gu Shenhan asked, "What's wrong?"

Rong Yuan asked, "Can you hold me?"

He was still a little scared.

Gu Shenhan pulled him into his arms, hugged him tightly, and gave him a kiss on the forehead: "Don't be afraid."

Then he took something out of his pocket and placed it in Rong Yuan's palm: "Hold this when you're nervous."

Rong Yuan looked—it was a small lighter that Gu Shenhan always carried, only the size of a thumb, very delicate, engraved with an eagle. It still held the warmth of Gu Shenhan's palm.

Gu Shenhan said, "No matter the result, everything will be fine. Don't be nervous."

Rong Yuan nodded and put the lighter in his pocket.

After that, the doctor asked him to get a brain MRI first before going to the evaluation room.

He had to take out all metal objects on him. Gu Shenhan was still allowed to accompany him at this point, so he led Rong Yuan into the scanning room.

But after they came out, Rong Yuan was taken away alone by a doctor.

The doctors were three men and one woman, scattered around the evaluation room.

As soon as Rong Yuan sat down, he couldn't help feeling nervous and trembling.

"Don't be afraid," the female doctor said. "Just like you would with anyone else. Go ahead, tell us your name, age, occupation, education, and marital status."

"Rong Yuan, twenty-one. Unemployed. Bachelor's in arts. Married."

"Where do you live?"

"Cuixi Yuan."

"How were your grades during school? Did you get along well with classmates?"

"Grades... sorry, I don't really remember. I guess I got along okay with classmates, but I don't really remember."

"Have you ever been in a fight or been bullied?"

"If that time at the horse ranch counts, then yes. I don't remember anything else."

"Do you have a history of encephalitis, epilepsy, severe liver or kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or head injury with loss of consciousness?"

"...I don't quite understand some of the things you're saying."

"For example?"

"Like the ones you mentioned – encephalitis, epilepsy, hyperthyroidism? What are those?"

"..."

Several doctors had been observing and taking notes, and at these words they all paused at the same time.

At this point, another doctor said: "There are currently seven people in this room. Can you specifically point out where they are and what they're doing?"

Rong Yuan felt a chill when he heard this. He looked around and said: "Aren't there only five people in this room? I'm here for a psychiatric evaluation, and you four are the doctors doing the assessment."

The doctor asked: "How many men and how many women are in the room?"

Rong Yuan said: "Four men and one woman."

He had already figured out from Teacher Dolphin why Gu Shenhan didn't believe he could have a baby. Because here there are only two genders, and only women can have babies.

None of them know what a "Ge'er" is!

The doctor then asked: "In your life, who is your favorite person?"

Rong Yuan suddenly felt shy and answered quietly: "Gu Shenhan. He is my husband."

The doctors exchanged glances and continued asking questions.

"According to the records, on the day of the incident you strongly resisted Fei Wenxi because you thought he was going to take your chastity, correct?"

"Not take away, but destroy."

"What's the difference?"

"There is some difference. Taking means he... he..." Rong Yuan felt it was hard to speak. "He actively forced me to do things only married couples do. Destroying means he just wanted to ruin my reputation, not that he... he wanted to do that."

"Do you think losing your purity by taking off your clothes is more important than your life?"

"Yes."

The room went silent for a moment, and even the sound of writing stopped.

After a moment, the doctor asked: "What are you holding in your hand now?"

Rong Yuan honestly opened his palm: "It's my husband's lighter. I'm a little nervous here, so holding it makes me feel better. Is it okay?"

He asked very cautiously, looking a bit weak, pitiful, and helpless.

The doctors had seen plenty of patients, but they still softened a little, saying: "It's fine, you can keep holding it."

Rong Yuan nodded: "Thank you."

The female doctor asked: "Does your husband usually require you to be faithful to him, not talk to strangers, or tell you that if you don't protect your reputation he'll abandon you?"

Rong Yuan shook his head: "No. My husband doesn't do that. I myself think I should be more careful about my reputation."

Another male doctor asked: "Who taught you to do this?"

Rong Yuan said: "It was my mother. But I don't really remember; I think it was, probably."

The female doctor asked: "Do you miss your mother?"

Rong Yuan lowered his eyes and nodded. When the doctor asked again, his eyes got a little red.

The doctor continued taking notes and asked: "Have you learned fighting skills? The defendant said you resisted quickly and looked like you knew what you were doing."

Rong Yuan said: "Maybe I did learn some. After falling into the water, I haven't been able to remember things from before."

The doctor said: "Then what do you remember?"

Rong Yuan said: "I remember my name and age. I also remember how to write, but I'm not very good at it. I also remember horse riding and embroidery. These are probably things I enjoy."

The doctor said: "You seem to like some old-fashioned activities. Can you tell us what else you can do?"

Rong Yuan thought hard...

The evaluation process was extremely long. Rong Yuan stayed seated in the chair the whole time.

He kept holding that lighter. He answered whatever the doctor asked. If he didn't know, he would even ask the doctor to explain.

If he really didn't understand, he would ask the doctor to borrow paper and pen, and ask if he could write it down, since his phone had been taken away when he came in. He said he could ask Teacher Dolphin or his husband after he got out.

Anything he wrote down could help with the assessment, so of course the doctors wouldn't refuse his request.

And when they lent him paper and pen, they saw him write down the questions stroke by stroke. For characters he didn't know how to write, he would just draw a circle.

He was the kind of good student every teacher loves: polite, earnest, obedient, eager to learn, and not disruptive.

But his way of thinking was truly strange.

What's more, he could lie.

His emotional stability and ability to lie made it harder for the doctors to make a judgment.

Gu Shenhan and the others were waiting outside. Every now and then, Gu Shenhan would get up and go out for a cigarette.

Liang Zheng said to him, "Be careful, you'll get a headache if you smoke too much."

Gu Shenhan opened the box and found he had run out. He crumpled the pack and tossed it away, asked Yan Yu to get him a bottle of water from the car.

At that moment, Xiao Ke said, "The tax auditors have arrived."

At the office of the general manager for Lianshan Group's Furong Hotel in Central China, Gu Chengzhi was also waiting for Rong Yuan's evaluation results.

He knew Rong Yuan might not be diagnosed with a mental illness, but the result wasn't important—what mattered was the process. Rong Yuan's thinking was clearly flawed, and he was certain of that. He wanted Rong Yuan to suffer the consequences of speaking recklessly.

Just then, his secretary hurried in, saying, "General Manager, the tax auditors are here."

Gu Chengzhi frowned. "What are they doing here?"

The secretary said, "They said they received a tip-off about tax evasion, and they're here to conduct an inspection."

Gu Chengzhi snorted. "When has our hotel ever failed to pay taxes on time?"

The secretary cautiously added, "They said they're checking you for tax evasion; the hotel is just a secondary target."

Hearing this, Gu Chengzhi sat up straight. "What did you say?"

The secretary repeated, "The tax inspectors are here to check your personal taxes. They're coming up now."

"How many people?"

"Four, three men and one woman."

When Gu Chengzhi heard "three men and one woman," he had a strange thought about the evaluation center.

By then, the four inspectors had already come upstairs. The leader knocked on the door, politely but loudly, and asked, "Is this General Manager Gu Chengzhi's office?"

Gu Chengzhi's mouth twitched. He took a couple of deep breaths to suppress his anger, then signaled his secretary to open the door.

He then stood up and greeted them with a smile. "Sorry for the delay, gentlemen. Please, have a seat."

The leader, named Lin Yue, didn't respond to the pleasantries. He flashed his badge and placed the tax inspection notice in front of Gu Chengzhi. "Manager Gu, based on clues from a tax-related case tip-off, our bureau will legally inspect your personal and the hotel's tax situation. Here is the notice. Please sign and acknowledge receipt."

Gu Chengzhi took it and glanced over it. His smile remained, but the corners of his mouth flattened slightly. "Who would do something so petty? Director Lin, you know our hotel has always followed the law."

Lin Yue said, "Yes, that's why we're just going through the motions. Inspecting the hotel is secondary; checking you personally is the main purpose. Now, Manager Gu, please provide the transaction records for all your bank accounts over the last three years, including debit cards, credit cards, Alipay, and WeChat."

Gu Chengzhi said, "That's a lot of information. I need time to gather it."

Lin Yue replied, "Oh, it's not that complicated. Everything's digital these days. Just open the apps and show us the electronic records."

Gu Chengzhi stood motionless, his face dark.

Lin Yue glanced around the office, unhurriedly, and said in a conversational tone, "I heard that Fei Wendong of Haihe Trading had been facing cash flow problems, but that problem has recently been resolved. Manager Gu, have you heard who helped the Fei family out?"

"How would I know about that? Although he has business dealings with Lianshan Group, the group is more than just hotels."

"Indeed. When business gets big, problems can pop up in unexpected places without being easily noticed. Manager Gu, you've been interested in the smart home project lately, right?"

"Where did you hear that, Director Lin?"

"Just a rumor. But I do have accurate information that you personally invested seventy million in that project. Even though it didn't work out, that seventy million was indeed once invested under your name. I'd like to know if all taxes were paid on that seventy million.

According to tax records, there seems to be a discrepancy. Also, you own three properties under your name, but your reported income doesn't match the total value of those properties."

The more Gu Chengzhi heard, the darker his expression became.

He did indeed have three properties, one purchased recently in a private deal less than a month ago. That property was originally intended for him and Yang Shixin. He couldn't believe they knew about that—they'd clearly done their homework.

Lin Yue continued, "I've also seen some online complaints and tips about certain hotels offering special discount rooms each month. But the discount comes with a drop in service. Guests check in without being registered, no records kept, and refunds can't be processed through the booking platform's app.

Manager Gu, if guests don't register and just stay without any issue, where does that money go? Doesn't that behavior harm the interests of other shareholders?"

Another inspector, like an emotionless machine, repeated, "Manager Gu, please provide your cards, Alipay, and WeChat records. You have a total of eight debit and credit cards. Also, please have your finance department provide the hotel's account books, accounting vouchers, bank statements, both corporate and personal, for the last three years."

Gu Chengzhi gritted his teeth. He didn't need to think twice about why these people had suddenly shown up to audit him!

The worst part was he had no choice but to cooperate.

He signaled his finance department to prepare the documents while mentally reviewing his recent transaction history.

He had indeed given the Fei family a sum of money, but it hadn't gone through his accounts or under his name.

What else? Suppressing his anger, he pulled up his bank records, growing more irritated the more he thought.

Then, the entire morning was spent in his office being scrutinized and interrogated by four people.

They scrutinized every entry, not missing a single cent. They were especially strict on transfer records. However, his large transactions were not in his personal accounts.

Lin Yue asked, "Who is Feng Xian?"

Gu Chengzhi stiffened slightly but laughed it off. "I'm not really sure. I meet so many people and process so many transfers in a year; I can't possibly remember everyone."

Lin Yue said, "But you transfer money to him every month."

Gu Chengzhi replied, "That might be