Chapter 484: Should Have Known Better Than to Do Something Pointless

Honey, what's wrong?"

Gu Kailai stirred beside Bo Xilai, rubbing her eyes.

She asked as Bo Xilai rose from bed.

"Ah, Zhou Yongkang is coming. Go back to sleep. I'll meet with him."

"The Minister of Public Security? At this hour? How rude."

"Seems urgent. Sorry for waking you. Get some more rest."

"No, I should get up too."

Bo Xilai reluctantly nodded.

"Then please prepare some drinks for us."

Watching Gu Kailai head out, he stepped into the dressing room.

As he changed from his pajamas into casual wear, his mind wandered.

Zhou Yongkang could be rude at times but he'd never shown up unannounced this late before.

"What could be so urgent? His voice sounded desperate…"

Though uneasy about meeting without knowing the situation, he had no choice.

Stepping into the living room, he noticed the previously quiet mansion had grown lively.

After having the staff prepare drinks, Gu Kailai came to Bo Xilai's side.

"Honey, do you still have no idea what this is about?"

Bo Xilai nodded slightly with a worried expression.

"No. Even in emergencies, he's not the type to suddenly call and show up at this hour. Something feels off."

"We'll find out when he arrives. Let's wait."

Bo Xilai nodded and caught his wife Gu Kailai's gaze.

Unlike his unease, she remained perfectly composed.

Shortly after.

Zhou Yongkang arrived at Bo Xilai's residence.

"Welcome, Minister."

Gu Kailai greeted Zhou Yongkang before Bo Xilai could.

"Ah, Kailai! It's been a while. How have you been?"

"Thanks to you, Minister."

"Haha, nonsense! Your reputation reaches beyond Dalian all the way to Beijing."

"Welcome, Minister Zhou Yongkang."

Bo Xilai cut into their conversation.

"It's been a while. Must be over half a year since we've met face to face."

"Yes, our last meeting was that dinner with President Jiang Zemin."

"Let's not stand here. Please, come inside."

"Yes, let's do that."

Bo Xilai and Gu Kailai led Zhou Yongkang to the reception room.

The three sat down at a table already laden with drinks.

Several drinks were shared in an apparently cordial atmosphere.

"So what brings you here at this hour, Minister?"

Gu Kailai was the one who broke the peaceful facade.

She met Zhou Yongkang's eyes and asked boldly.

"You know it's rude to visit at this hour, Minister. Yet you came anyway. There must be a reason."

"Haha, Kailai, still as direct as ever. Yes, let's get to the point."

Forcing a generous smile, Zhou Yongkang pulled out a binder.

He handed it to Bo Xilai with a nod.

"Read this. We'll talk after."

Bo Xilai opened the binder.

Gu Kailai leaned in to read along with Bo Xilai.

Zhou Yongkang watched them while drinking alone.

"Minister, what is this?"

"These are special articles set to run in American and British newspapers tomorrow."

"…Why are they meddling in another country's affairs?"

Bo Xilai frowned as he set down the papers.

Gu Kailai immediately picked them up and began reading carefully.

Massaging his temples as if nursing a headache, Bo Xilai asked Zhou Yongkang:

"Why bring this to me?"

"You're not involved with this?"

"What? What connection would I have with Wanda Group?"

"Let's not keep secrets between us."

Bo Xilai fell silent, merely moving his lips. Zhou Yongkang asked sharply:

"Is any of your influence or money tied to Wanda Group's illegal outflows?"

"What are you saying? Why would I do such a thing?"

"Answer me, Bo Xilai. I'm not here to arrest you. I'm here to save you."

Just then, Gu Kailai looked up from the papers.

"Save Bo Xilai? What do you mean by that?"

"I heard there's another special article being prepared about Bo Xilai. And you, Kailai, are at the center of it."

"Me? What could I…"

"Enough excuses. If this continues, I'll have to step away from this matter."

"…"

Sighing deeply, Gu Kailai set down the papers and said:

"Yes, Wang Jianlin and Bo Xilai are close. But we have nothing to do with the currency smuggling. Why would we risk taking on such a task? If anything needed doing, I'd handle it myself."

Cold words finally emerged from Gu Kailai who'd been playing innocent.

After persistent questioning finally brought honest answers, Zhou Yongkang sighed.

"I understand you manage Bo Xilai's finances, Kailai. That's enough. I'll try to block the article about Bo Xilai through negotiations."

"…Can it be blocked?"

Bo Xilai asked anxiously. Zhou Yongkang downed his drink in one gulp.

"Difficult or not, we must block it. But you'll have to sacrifice one thing. Give up Wang Jianlin."

Bo Xilai answered after a pause:

"…That's impossible."

"Then you'll fall to hell with Wanda Group? Once foreign media raises these suspicions, we'll have no choice but to investigate."

"Is this President Jiang Zemin's will?"

Zhou Yongkang slowly shook his head.

"I haven't even reported this yet. But the President can't protect you either. This is too big. So you… no, the Princelings must abandon Wang Jianlin for you to survive."

When Zhou Yongkang spoke firmly, Bo Xilai's eyes widened.

"Who's behind this? Who in China dares to pull this kind of stunt against us!"

"If you're willing to abandon Wang Jianlin, I'll tell you. Otherwise, I can't help you anymore. I can only tell you one thing: Wanda Group made a huge mistake with this person. He's determined to bring down Wang Jianlin."

Zhou Yongkang smirked as he refilled his glass.

"What mistake could warrant this?"

"They tried to kidnap his family, I hear. I don't know the details. That's all I know."

"Why not just arrest him?"

"Haha!"

Zhou Yongkang suddenly burst out laughing.

"My friend, if I could do that, would I be sitting here now? You think I want to investigate a Princeling? Do you know what political fallout that would cause?"

"…What kind of person could make you speak like this?"

Gu Kailai, who had been quietly listening to Zhou Yongkang and Bo Xilai's conversation, spoke up:

"So if we give up Chairman Wang Jianlin, we won't be harmed? Is that right?"

Bo Xilai turned his head. His voice held shock as he called out:

"Honey!"

"Wait a moment."

"Yes, I promise that. Not a single line about Bo Xilai will be published."

"…"

When Zhou Yongkang spoke firmly, Bo Xilai clamped his mouth shut.

Instead, Gu Kailai continued questioning:

"I understand. Do you know about the special article they were planning to run about us?"

"I don't know the details. But I know that once it breaks, not even President Jiang Zemin – no, not even your father-in-law could stop it. Have you committed some great crime?"

Bo Xilai involuntarily looked at Gu Kailai.

Zhou Yongkang noticed the issue lay with Gu Kailai rather than Bo Xilai, but pretended not to notice and continued:

"That's not important. We can judge whether it's a crime or not."

The awkward atmosphere lightened somewhat after another drink.

"The Princelings won't step in if there's an investigation into Wang Jianlin?"

"…"

"Yes. We won't take any action."

Gu Kailai answered instead of Bo Xilai, who kept his mouth shut.

But Zhou Yongkang needed Bo Xilai's confirmation.

"Bo Xilai."

When Bo Xilai remained silently stubborn, Gu Kailai jabbed his side.

"…Understood. I'll gather opinions at the next Princeling meeting to ensure no action is taken regarding him. I can't speak for what others might do."

"That's fine. As long as you don't move, I don't care what others do."

Before their conversation could end, Gu Kailai cut in:

"Who is it?"

"Do you know Dream High Investment?"

"Of course. The American investment firm?"

"Its real owner is Korean. James is just a figurehead CEO. No, that's not right – he handles everything, so he's not just a puppet."

Bo Xilai seemed to know already as he nodded and said:

"Is it that person? Kim Mu-hyeok or whatever? I've heard he's particularly close with Premier Wen Jiabao."

"So you knew. Kim Mu-hyeok, he's the one who made this move."

"…You're telling us to give up Wang Jianlin because that person moved?"

"You're quite dense. Where do you think those articles came from? CEO Kim Mu-hyeok, that's who."

Bo Xilai's face hardened.

"The article about me too… Did that come from him?"

Zhou Yongkang nodded.

"How dare… How dare he!"

Bo Xilai slammed the table in blazing anger.

Even as glasses fell and bottles rolled, he didn't stop.

But not Gu Kailai. She maintained her composure, eyes downcast as if deep in thought.

Zhou Yongkang knew these were the truly dangerous ones.

Having sorted her thoughts, Gu Kailai spoke:

"You can't handle him either, Minister? What if we investigate Dream High?"

Zhou Yongkang frowned and shook his head.

"Even now, Standing Committee members are trying to set up meetings with Dream High's James Han. Now imagine if an investigation into Dream High began. They'd immediately withdraw all business from China. Then all foreign capital would flee China. That's Dream High's current standing."

"For just that reason?"

Zhou Yongkang snorted and met Gu Kailai's eyes.

"Just that? China is opening its markets to attract investment from America and Europe for economic growth. And you want to throw that all away?"

Gu Kailai bit her lip hard.

"You're smart, you'll understand. In today's China, money is power. That's why Standing Committee members are meeting with James Han, who's just the head of one American investment firm."

"So we should just take this lying down? Have you forgotten whose son Bo Xilai is?"

"I know. Bo Yibo's son, right? So what? You think Bo Yibo can stop this?"

Gu Kailai, who had been fiercely pressing, fell silent.

"This is what happens when you do pointless things. Or at least pick your targets better. If only Wang Jianlin hadn't tried to kidnap that person's family, things wouldn't have gotten this big."

"No… Who in his family?"

"Cheon Ji-young. She came to China for filming and nearly got kidnapped by the Triads. And Wanda Group's Vice Chairman Liu Lifeng ordered it."

"He's trying to destroy Wanda Group for just that reason? Is he insane?"

Tired of the repeated conversation, Zhou Yongkang sighed.

They just don't get it. This is why dealing with those sheltered by parental influence was exhausting.

"What can we do? We have no choice but to back down now. So don't get any strange ideas. This is a warning."

Neither Bo Xilai nor Gu Kailai responded.

But Zhou Yongkang didn't press further.

"I'll be going now. Things are about to get busy. See you next time."

Silence hung heavy in the reception room for a while.

Even after Zhou Yongkang left, Bo Xilai and Gu Kailai kept drinking.

Deep humiliation marked their faces as they continuously refilled their glasses.

* * *

I didn't wake until nearly lunchtime.

Stepping out of my room after drinking water to ease my throbbing head,

"Boss, you're up?"

I nodded at Manager Ma. Despite my upset stomach, I craved coffee.

"Manager, please have them send up a hot coffee and toast."

After ordering breakfast, I checked the time.

In six hours, all Murdoch Group owned newspapers and broadcasts in America and Britain would simultaneously release their allegations about Wanda Group.

Manager Ma brought the room service toast and coffee to the table.

"Any calls while I was asleep?"

"The trailer van you ordered will arrive at Nansha Port today."

"Perfect timing."

I picked up my coffee cup while biting into the toast.

"No other schedules today, right? Please prepare for Ji-young and me to visit Nansha Port."

I hope Cheon Ji-young smiles when she sees the trailer van I specially prepared.