On the afternoon of the third day after Lu Jiaxin learned about the money laundering at Wan Sheng Bank, Nie Jingwen was taken away by the police. Subsequently, financial and entertainment newspapers and magazines all published this explosive news. And in any newspaper or magazine featuring Nie Jingwen, it always included the couple together.
Lu Jiaxin and Nie Zhan were going to work when they were blocked by news and gossip reporters at the company entrance. A reporter squeezed to the front with a microphone and loudly asked, "Miss Lu, regarding the money laundering at Wan Sheng Bank, as a shareholder, you also have an unshirkable responsibility. Now that the bank is under investigation and so many shareholders are losing everything, as a shareholder you should give them an explanation."
Lu Jiaxin wasn’t planning to go directly into the company. Hearing this, she stopped, looked at the questioning reporter, and said, "The shares of Wan Sheng Bank were transferred to Mr. Nie Jingwen the year before last. Aren’t you reporters usually well-informed? How come you’re not doing your job this time?"
The reporter didn’t know about this matter and didn’t see it in the materials, feeling he’d been tricked.
Another reporter asked whether, if Wan Sheng Bank went bankrupt and had to liquidate, she and Nie Zhan would lend a helping hand.
Lu Jiaxin didn’t answer this question and immediately turned around and went into the company. It was also because she had an important meeting today; otherwise, she wouldn’t have come these days, as she couldn’t avoid the storm fast enough, let alone walk into the line of fire.
With Nie Jingwen’s arrest, Nie Manlin and Zhang Lanlan were panic-stricken. They sought out Nie Zhan, hoping he could use his connections to bail Nie Jingwen out.
Nie Zhan brought a lawyer to try and bail him out, but with the matter so widely known throughout Hong Kong, the police also had to consider public opinion pressure, so they did not agree to release him.
In a state of panic, Nie Manli approached Lu Jiaxin, begging for her help. Everyone knew she had good connections in the Mainland, and although Hong Kong hadn’t yet returned, Su Heyuan had close ties with many government officials, and she and Su Heyuan were sworn siblings (as stated publicly).
Lu Jiaxin didn’t know how deep the matter was and felt that rashly getting involved could drag her in. She said, "Auntie, Ah Zhan is already looking for someone. Please be patient and wait."
Nie Manli was crying as she spoke, "I can’t wait any longer. I don’t even know what kind of suffering Jingwen is going through inside. Jiaxin, Auntie is begging you, please rescue our Jingwen."
Lu Jiaxin felt rather helpless: "Now even the police won’t allow bail, which shows how complicated this matter is. But don’t worry, Auntie, Ah Zhan and I will make every effort to help Big Brother."
After much persuasion, she sent the person back.
Sighing, Lu Jiaxin called Nie Zhan, "Auntie just came to see me, begging me to find someone to bail out Big Brother. I’ve just sent her away. In the current situation, it’s better not to let him go to the hospital!"
Nie Zhan was now working at the company during the day and going to the hospital straight after work. Worried that Old Master Nie wouldn’t be able to take the shock if he heard the news, he also arranged four bodyguards. Zhang Lanlan was able to control her emotions, but Nie Manli was not and was presently too emotional to visit Old Master Nie.
Lu Jiaxin told him, "The situation is now so widely known that everyone in Hong Kong knows about it. No matter how much you try to prevent it, you can’t hide it. Ah Zhan, if possible, it’s better to send Grandpa abroad or to the island where Mommy is staying."
If they went abroad, they could perhaps keep it a secret, but in Hong Kong, she felt it was impossible. The doctors and nurses might not say anything, but the patients at Recuperate Hospital and their visitors had no obligation to keep it secret. Moreover, the Nie Family also had quite a few enemies who wouldn’t pass up such a great opportunity.
Nie Zhan shook his head and said, "No, sending Grandpa abroad now would definitely make him suspicious. Let’s keep it from him for now; once Big Brother is out, it won’t matter if he knows."
Lu Jiaxin wasn’t as optimistic: "The police have now secured concrete evidence of Wan Sheng Bank’s money laundering, and Big Brother, as the company’s legal representative, cannot escape. You can help as much as you can, but don’t break the law."
News from Su Heyuan indicated that Wan Sheng Bank laundered money for numerous criminal groups, and Nie Jingwen, as the chairman, could not escape legal punishment. They could only help hire the best lawyers and offer assistance after the fact, and they could look after him when he was in prison, but she did not allow Nie Zhan to interfere with judicial fairness. Otherwise, she would flip.
Some things could be done, but some couldn’t be touched, as crossing the line could lead to uncontrollable consequences.
Nie Zhan nodded and said, "Rest assured, I won’t touch anything illegal."
With so many people watching the case, how could he possibly interfere? Although his relationship with Nie Jingwen was close, it wasn’t to the extent that he’d break the law for him.
"It’s good that you know."
Facts proved that Lu Jiaxin wasn’t worrying needlessly. A week after the incident, Old Master Nie went downstairs for a walk in the hospital and overheard two people discussing the matter at the stairway. After finding out about Wan Sheng Bank’s money laundering and Nie Jingwen’s arrest, he fell straight down.
By the time Lu Jiaxin got the news, the hospital had issued two critical condition notices. When she arrived at the hospital, Nie Zhan was sitting on a chair outside the operating room. Sitting next to him, she tried to comfort him, "Ah Zhan, don’t worry, Grandpa will be fine."
Old Master Nie indeed had many issues, but Nie Zhan was raised by him, received the best education, and was even given Wansheng Real Estate. For this reason, she could understand why Nie Zhan always followed him. Because before she and the child appeared, Old Master Nie was the closest and dearest person to him in the world.
The surgery lasted over eight hours, and when the doctor came out, he told Nie Zhan, "The surgery was very successful, but whether he can wake up depends on the old gentleman himself."
With one surgery after another, Lu Jiaxin felt that the probability of Old Master’s body holding up was very low, given his age. But seeing Nie Zhan’s expression, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Lu Jiaxin said, "You should just stay in the hospital for the next few days, and I’ll handle the company’s matters for now. If there’s anything I can’t deal with, I’ll call you then."
For the companies under Nie Zhan, like Wansheng Real Estate and Wansheng Hotel where she was the second largest shareholder, she could handle company matters just with her second shareholder status, aside from her identity as Madam Nie.
With Old Master not yet out of danger, Nie Zhan indeed felt uneasy: "Jiaxin, it will be hard on you in these few days."
Lu Jiaxin said, "Don’t ever say such distant words again, or I’ll get angry."
The next day at noon, Lu Jiaxin received a call from Ah Hu: "Madam, Old Master passed, he just passed five minutes ago."
Lu Jiaxin’s heart skipped a beat; she had been hoping for a miracle, but unfortunately, luck was not on their side this time: "How’s your boss doing?"
Ah Hu softly said, "Old Master woke up before he passed and talked with Master for quite a while. After Old Master left, although Master is very saddened, he seems to be handling it well."
Lu Jiaxin guessed that before he passed, Old Master Nie might have told Nie Zhan to help Nie Jingwen keep Wan Sheng Bank safe, and then take care of Nie Manlin.