Chapter 243: No Way Down? I’ll Build My Own

Gu Shengsheng hadn’t yet figured out what to say. Then, Lu Shijing said, "The International Taxation Investigation Bureau. It has nothing to do with Shengsheng."

He then produced a work ID and said, "I used to work there. I rarely go anymore, but I’m still a member."

Gu Shengsheng: "??!" ’Wait, did I just run into a real powerhouse? This Lu Shijing guy is so strange; he seems to have his hands in everything.’

Gu Shengsheng had already found it a little suspicious that he could build his business to its current scale, seemingly without breaking a sweat.

Most importantly, he seemed to have ties to everything. ’I’m getting more and more curious. How on earth did this man get to where he is today?’

She used to think Lu Shijing was merely a man of complex methods, but now Gu Shengsheng realized it was likely far more than just that.

Be that as it may, he had gotten her out of a tight spot.

At least the police were no longer fixated on this issue. Otherwise, Gu Shengsheng would have had no idea how to explain herself.

An officer took the ID to be verified. He returned a short while later, beaming.

"Well, we thought Miss Gu had ties to those organizations. Since you’ve had no prior contact, it was all very strange, and we were considering whether to launch a full-scale investigation."

"It was just too bizarre. If it were Mr. Lu, it would make sense. The Ministry of State Security has a file on him; we’ve been briefed on him before."

"You two are married, so it’s perfectly normal for you to have been exposed to this sort of thing before."

"..."

The junior officers chattered amongst themselves as Gu Shengsheng nodded, not saying a word.

’Lu Shijing... there’s really something about him. He’s becoming more and more unfathomable. If this hadn’t happened, I might have gone my whole life without ever knowing this side of him.’

After giving their statements, Gu Shengsheng and Lu Shijing stood up. Gu Shengsheng said, "Officer Zhang, you came a long way to get here. Why don’t the three of us go grab a meal together?"

Lu Shijing immediately cut in, "That won’t be necessary. Officer Zhang doesn’t need to eat with us. There’s plenty of work to do back at the station."

"We wouldn’t want to trouble Officer Zhang."

As Lu Shijing said this, Zhang Lianqing smiled. "That’s right."

"But there really isn’t much going on today," Zhang Lianqing added. "I rarely get to come here. Since Miss Gu is a Rui City local, why don’t you show me around!"

Gu Shengsheng happened to feel that she was always troubling Zhang Lianqing.

She nodded and said, "Sure! I know a great place nearby—beef hot pot. It’s getting chilly tonight, and it’ll be perfect to warm us up."

As she spoke, Gu Shengsheng started to make a reservation.

Lu Shijing said, "I don’t want to eat." He said it petulantly, his eyes full of challenge as he looked at Zhang Lianqing.

Gu Shengsheng gave him a strange look. "If you don’t want to eat, then go back to the hotel. Officer Zhang and I will go."

Then, she turned to Zhang Lianqing. "Let’s go. We’re friends, after all. It’s about time I showed you around a bit."

Lu Shijing: "..."

His face darkened several shades. He stood rooted to the spot, just watching the two of them chat and laugh together.

’Damn it. She didn’t even give me an out.’

’So he’d just have to make his own.’ He quickened his pace to catch up.

Gu Shengsheng asked, "? I thought you didn’t want to come?"

Lu Shijing gave her an infuriatingly smug look and said, "Now I do."

Gu Shengsheng: "..." She couldn’t be bothered to deal with him. Besides, she had made the reservation for three people anyway.

Zhang Lianqing chuckled. "Mr. Lu, your personality is quite mercurial."

"Not as much as yours," Lu Shijing retorted.

Gu Shengsheng felt a strange tension building between the two men.

’If this keeps up,’ she thought, ’it’s not like we absolutely have to have this meal.’

When they arrived at the restaurant, Gu Shengsheng led the way inside. Lu Shijing, however, hung back to take a phone call.

Gu Shengsheng gestured for the owner to come over so they could order.

The owner looked at them and said with a smile, "Miss, you and your boyfriend make a lovely couple."

Of course, the person standing next to Gu Shengsheng was Zhang Lianqing.

Lu Shijing, who had just hung up the phone, overheard this. He immediately inserted himself between them, taking his place in the middle and pulling Gu Shengsheng to his side.

"This is my wife," he declared.

The proprietress was suddenly a little embarrassed. She looked at Zhang Lianqing and said, "Oh, my apologies, my apologies."

"It’s fine," Zhang Lianqing said with a gentle smile.

When he wasn’t on duty, he was always mild-mannered. His work required him to be sharp and stern far too often.

At the table, Gu Shengsheng simply buried her head in her food while Lu Shijing and Zhang Lianqing started drinking.

The two men hadn’t seemed to get along at all at first, so Gu Shengsheng couldn’t quite figure out why they had started drinking together.

It was as if they were competing. Without exchanging a single word, one would down a glass, and the other would immediately follow, making sure his next drink was bigger.

Just watching them made her head spin.

A moment later, Zhang Lianqing checked his phone. "Pei Zuo turned himself in," he said. "Shengsheng, you were right."

"Mm," Gu Shengsheng nodded. "A smart person would choose to surrender. Pei Zuo committed too many crimes and made too much money. People like him are the most afraid of dying."

"So, compared to dying abroad and vanishing without a trace, surrendering at home is the better option. At least he has a chance to make a comeback someday."

Then Gu Shengsheng asked, "Were the artifacts donated?"

"Yes. Most of the artifacts they obtained were pieces never before seen in the country. Some were likely excavated, while others were probably repatriated from overseas."

"So, you’ll probably have to stay in Rui City for a while to help with the appraisals."

Gu Shengsheng nodded. "No problem."

It was a simple enough task for Gu Shengsheng.

Then Lu Shijing said, "As it happens, I have a project here, so I’ll also be staying in Rui City for a few days."

"Officer Zhang, you’ll be heading back to Beijing City soon, won’t you? After all, this is a special case for you. I imagine you didn’t go through the official application process to come here."

It was true. Zhang Lianqing was indeed leaving the next day. He had come in such a hurry that he hadn’t filed the proper application.

"Mm-hm," he nodded. "I’ll be leaving in the next few days."

"That’s fine," Gu Shengsheng said with a smile. "We can just see each other again back in Beijing City."

As the three of them were talking, a person in a small red cap appeared in the restaurant, handing out flyers.

The person saw the three of them and walked straight over. "You’re not from around here, are you?"

"Please take a look at our local initiative, the Rui City Student Aid Network. It’s a program that helps children from impoverished families go to school. Kind people like you can make donations through it."

"Help the children from our mountains build a better future!"

In the kind of high-end restaurants they usually frequented, they would never encounter solicitors like this, but this place was located in a bustling downtown area.

Gu Shengsheng had only intended to give the flyer a passing glance, but then she realized the organization was quite famous.

She said, "Oh, it’s the Rui City Foundation. I’ve heard of it. My friend, Yu Xi, told me about you before. Your organization is very well-known."

The person with the flyers beamed. "Yes, yes! You mean Chen Yuxi from Beijing City, right? We’ve never had the pleasure of meeting that great philanthropist in person."

"But she has helped so many children from the mountain regions! You all know each other, right?" His eyes lit up. "You must all be great philanthropists! Our Rui City Foundation needs your help!"

With that, he produced even more informational materials.