Chapter 1234: At Wit's end
Chapter 1234: At Wit's end
Night.
After 11 pm.
The four people in the Presidential Suite stopped arguing after the phone call.
"It’s late. You all can continue to chat. I am going to take a shower.” Zhang Longjuan looked at the time and walked towards the bathroom gracefully. When she walked past Dong Xuebing, she leaned over and kissed his forehead suddenly.
Dong Xuebing was surprised.
Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaomei were shocked.
Zhang Longjuan laughed and pinched Dong Xuebing’s cheeks lightly. “This is your reward for worrying for me. Haha…” She was touched by Dong Xuebing getting mad with State Security’s leader because of her.
“Huh?” Dong Xuebing touched his forehead.
A lipstick stain was imprinted on his forehead.
Dong Xuebing tried his best not to blush. He knows Zhang Longjuan’s character. She is direct and open. Kissing on the cheeks and foreheads is nothing overseas.
Zhang Longjuan laughed and walked away. “I am going to take a shower.”
The bathroom door closed, and they could hear Sis Zhang whistling and kicking her heels aside. She seemed to be undressing.
Dong Xuebing quickly wiped the lipstick stain with his sleeves.
Shen Xiaoyan said. “I need to go out for a while. Xiaomei, take care of Ms. Zhang. Oh, tell Mr. Dong about our mission. Since the Chief agreed to let Mr. Dong follow us, he should know what we will do. We cannot afford anything to go wrong.”
“I understand, Sis.”
“Be careful.”
Shen Xiaoyan left the Presidential Suite.
Only Dong Xuebing and Shen Xiaomei remained in the living room. They could hear water sound from the bathroom. Sis Zhang had started her shower.
Dong Xuebing asked. “What mission is it?”
Shen Xiaomei sat opposite Dong Xuebing and said. “We came here to infiltrate a gambling ship.”
“Are you referring to those gambling ships that operate in international waters?”
“Yes.”
Dong Xuebing frowned. “Such activities are not secret. Why are you all so secretive?”
Shen Xiaomei paused for a second and said. “We don’t care if it is an ordinary gambling ship. But this gambling ship is different. The scale is much bigger and more like a cruise ship.”
“A gambling cruise ship?”
“Yes. It is the biggest illegal gambling ship in this area. The money involved is huge. It isn't easy to get on board. They will verify all guests’ identities. This is why the high-ups asked Ms. Zhang to do this mission. We cannot get on board without her official identity. Can you remember we stopped at a commercial street this morning? My sister went there to register for Ms. Zhang. This is the first step. The gambling ship operators will check Ms. Zhang’s identity, and we will be searched before we can get on board.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Their scale and operation are quite big.”
Shen Xiaomei replied. “This mission is not about the illegal gambling activities on board. We need to identify the boss behind the ship. This gambling ship appeared in Hong Kong a few months ago and suppressed all its competitors. We do not know who the boss is and where he is from. But we did receive information that this gambling ship might be engaging in spy activities. It is closely related to some foreign powers. Almost all the guests on board are big shots. You should know the consequences if they are engaging in spy-related activities. Many big shots are involved, and the higher-ups must keep this mission confidential. That’s why they only send us.”
Dong Xuebing understood.
This is a serious matter if foreign organizations are involved. State Security must treat this seriously.
“What do you need to do?” Dong Xuebing asked.
Shen Xiaomei replied. “Infiltrate, investigate, and confirm the person's identity behind the scene.”
“That’s all? You all don’t need to do anything else?” Dong Xuebing looked at her.
“Yes. We are the vanguard and not there to do anything. We have to confirm the illegal activities before State Security takes action. This might be a long mission, and the higher-ups cannot decide the next action.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“We should be fine if we are careful.”
“Ok. I understand the mission, but why did you all get Ms. Zhang to participate in this mission? I believe State Security have businessmen working for them.”
Shen Xiaomei replied. “Ms. Zhang has a green card, and her businesses are overseas. Not many people here know her, and she can get on board without any worries. Most importantly, Ms. Zhang started her business from a casino and is good at gambling.”
Is Sis Zhang good at gambling?
Dong Xuebing had heard about it but had never seen it.
Shen Xiaomei told Dong Xuebing some details and what they would do.
Dong Xuebing listened to Shen Xiaomei, and the water sound stopped. Zhang Longjuan finished showering. He asked. “I got one more question. Why did Ms. Zhang agree to do this mission.”
Shen Xiaomei shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Are you hiding something from me?”
“I don’t know.” Shen Xiaomei hesitated and said. “Ms. Zhang spoke to the higher-ups, and I don’t know what they discussed. You should ask her.”
The bathroom door opened.
The living room suddenly smells good.
“Haha… what do you want to ask me?” Zhang Longjuan walked out in a bathrobe. She was smiling as she dried her hair with her towel.
Dong Xuebing asked. “I heard about this mission. It is dangerous. Why did you agree to do it?”
Dong Xuebing knew Zhang Longjuan had been unwilling to get involved in State Security missions.
Ring… ring… ring… Zhang Longjuan’s phone rang.
Zhang Longjuan took her phone and said. “Let me answer this call first. Hello, it’s me… Yes… I understand… I will think of a solution soon. Stall them for me. Yes… Don’t worry. I will settle it.” She threw her phone on the table and sat on the couch.
Dong Xuebing looked at her. “Sis Zhang.”
“I got nothing to hide. Haha… I believe Old Xu had told you.” Zhang Longjuan lit a cigarette. “My company does have some cash flow problems. Yes. I am facing some serious cash flow problems, and my company is facing bankruptcy. I applied for a loan, but it is not approved yet. I tried to borrow money from my family, but I told you before. I had separated my business from my family and had clashed with them. They are willing to help me with one condition. They want my company’s shares which I cannot agree to.”
Dong Xuebing frowned. “How is this possible? You have so many assets.”
Zhang Longjuan replied. “The bigger your company is, the bigger the impact of cash flow issues. My company is facing bankruptcy and might be bought out. This is common. I am at my Wit’s end. My company can continue running because I borrowed from my friends.” She looked at the safe. “The five million USD in the safe is from selling my house and cars.”
“You sold your house?” Dong Xuebing was shocked.
“Haha… yes. I mortgaged everything I have.” Zhang Longjuan replied nonchalantly.
Dong Xuebing could tell Sis Zhang was on the verged of bankruptcy. “This…”
Shen Xiaomei was shocked. She did not expect Sis Zhang to be in financial difficulties.
Zhang Longjuan laughed. “I am penniless now. If my company close down, I will be in serious debt. I can never repay the debtors in my life. If that happens, I will look for you. Are you going to take care of me?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Stop joking.”
“I am not joking. This might be the end for me.”
“How much do you need? I might be able to help.”
Zhang Longjuan looked at Dong Xuebing and laughed. “You are a civil servant. How much can you have from your salary?”
Dong Xuebing thought for a second and said. “I should have tens of million. I can transfer to you tomorrow.”
Tens of million RMB?
Shen Xiaomei was shocked.
Zhang Longjuan was also shocked. “You have tens of million RMB?”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “I won the lottery.”
Zhang Longjuan laughed. “You surprised me again. But thanks for the offer. Your money is not enough.”
“How much do you need?”
“At least two hundred million.”
“I will give you fifty million RMB first and will think of a way to get the remaining.”
Zhang Longjuan looked at Dong Xuebing and smiled. “I am talking about USD and not RMB.”
Two hundred million USD?
That is over a billion RMB!
Dong Xuebing took a deep breath.
After listening to their conversation, Shen Xiaomei wants to jump out of windows. They were talking about tens of million RMB and above.
Ms. Zhang is a businesswoman, and it is normal.
But Dong Xuebing can lend her fifty million RMB without hesitation.
Who the hell is he?
Shen Xiaomei felt she could not join their conversation.