After Eight Years Of Marriage, You're Asking Me For A Divorce - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

When Lin Sinian arrived at the office in the afternoon, Zhao Xiaotong judged from his expression that the situation was not severe.

After all, extortion and threats were common for Lin Sinian—for someone working in the public security, procuratorial, and judicial system, especially those handling criminal and economic cases, being threatened was a routine part of the job. Not only wealth and life were at stake, but family and friends could also be endangered.

Lin Sinian specialized in economic cases, particularly cross-border smuggling, syndicate fraud, corruption, and bribery. Years ago, when he was still leading the Public Prosecution Office, he handled a bribery case involving a state-owned enterprise director. Less than a week after receiving the files, someone orchestrated a car accident on his way to work. A two-meter-high truck swerved through a crossroads. If it hadn’t been for a taxi next to him forcibly changing lanes, Lin Sinian would have been the unfortunate victim.

In those years, corporate executives were bold and reckless, often rising through life-and-death struggles, and assassination attempts were not uncommon. Under Lin Sinian’s leadership, two prosecutors from the Public Prosecution Office had sacrificed their lives during criminal investigation and evidence collection.

Zhao Xiaotong didn’t dare to be negligent and thoroughly investigated the Lu family. Lu Jingyao was only the general manager of a manufacturing subsidiary of the Zhonglian Petrochemical Group. His father, Lu Jiancai, was indeed unwell, having just undergone a coronary bypass and was currently in a nursing home. Therefore, she didn’t view Lu Jingyao and this energy group as a serious threat, but this time, she didn’t grasp the special nature of the situation.

“You personally deleted the original copy of the photo, and the memory card was burned, but the photo was transmitted over the internet via a mobile phone, so residual traces may remain. I checked the police station; the old phones and laptops were kept as evidence. Unless someone inside the police department interfered, no one should have been able to find it,” Zhao Xiaotong said. “If we need to investigate the police department, should you call Bureau Chief Zhang?”

Lin Sinian said: “I already called him. He is investigating. I trust him.”

Zhao Xiaotong probed: “Then how do you want to handle the Lu family? Lu Jingyao’s small manufacturing company has many loopholes. We have materials on tax evasion, false accounts, illegal contracts, and environmental issues.”

Lin Sinian gestured for her to sit down: “No rush. Contact Lu Jingyao tomorrow and tell him to arrange a time for me to meet his father. If I’m going to talk, I will only discuss this matter with Lu Jiancai. He is not qualified to speak in front of me.”

“Understood.”

“Find out which bank is lending to the Lu family, get me the contact information for their branch manager, and prepare a box of tea leaves. I’ll pay a visit to see if we can buy the Lu family some time and get a loan extension. Continue investigating the source of the photo. You have only three days. If I still haven’t found the source after visiting the bank, it will be difficult to handle.”

Zhao Xiaotong understood. As long as the environmental qualification was not issued, the Lu family had one more day of interest to pay. The Lu man, driven to desperation, was now biting Lin Sinian, but he was actually worried about cash flow. Since the environmental issue couldn’t be touched, they could only apply for a loan extension first. This would at least relax the Lu family’s nerves and buy her time to track down the source of the photo.

Lin Sinian had his own strategy for dealing with threats and extortion. The younger version of him would not have been so circuitous. He would have given some incriminating material to the Industry and Commerce Bureau, then filed a report with the police, first approving an arrest warrant to detain Lu Jingyao. Then, by giving the police a hint to be slightly rough during the interrogation, he would use the incriminating materials as leverage for negotiation—essentially fighting fire with fire. You want to threaten and extort? Then you must ensure you have no dirt on yourself, or the Procuratorate can find loopholes in minutes. A large energy company like Zhonglian Petrochemical could certainly not withstand a thorough investigation.

Why was Lin Sinian holding back this time? What was he considering?

As the number one secretary, Zhao Xiaotong greatly admired her immediate superior. She never questioned Lin Sinian’s decisions. If he adopted a circuitous strategy, he definitely had his own considerations. She couldn’t figure it out because she wasn’t looking at the problem from Lin Sinian’s height. One day, she would understand his intentions.

Lin Sinian took out an invitation: “We have an event at home on Saturday—my husband and I’s wedding anniversary. Feel free to come for dinner.” He smiled at the end: “I don’t want to put such pressure on you right before I leave, but just hold on a little longer.”

Zhao Xiaotong was grateful: “You’ve always looked out for me. Thank you, I will definitely be there.”

…

Lin Sinian finished reading the documents in his office. He texted Xiao Yanxiu saying he was working overtime and wouldn’t be home for dinner. It was almost ten o’clock when he finished. The driver picked him up, and at the front gate, he ran into Xiao Yanping, who was just leaving.

Lin Sinian didn’t know he had returned to the country today. He had never been close with this gloomy and eccentric brother-in-law; the last time they met was during the New Year. He heard that Xiao Yanping had recently finished joint development work on a flight simulator in Europe. The two met on the steps. Xiao Yanping walked past as if he hadn’t seen anyone, but Lin Sinian had to initiate the greeting. The man was Xiao Yanxiu’s only younger brother, now essentially his own brother. Lin Sinian was an only child and only had this one brother-in-law.

“It’s rare for you to be back. Why don’t you stay the night? Your brother can take you to work tomorrow morning,” Lin Sinian said.

Xiao Yanping stepped back a couple of paces: “We’ve been talking all evening. I won’t stay.”

He wouldn’t even offer a smile. Any fool could tell he disliked Lin Sinian.

Xiao Yanxiu quickly followed him out, speaking to his husband: “You’re back. Why so late?”

Lin Sinian smiled radiantly and exchanged a kiss with him: “The Public Prosecution Office gets worse every year. I still have to revise their poorly written opinions. We’ll have to talk about the standards for hiring sooner or later.”

Xiao Yanping interrupted: “Why don’t you just hire fewer people through connections?” He gave a sarcastic smile.

Before Lin Sinian could speak, Xiao Yanxiu warned softly: “Xiao Yanping.”

“Brother, it’s not the first day you know I hate politicians,” Xiao Yanping said coldly.

“Sinian is family. Show some respect!”

Seeing that he was about to scold him, Lin Sinian quickly intervened: “It’s alright. He just flew for over ten hours; he must be tired. Let the driver take him back. Be careful on the road, and text your brother when you get home. Don’t worry about staying.”

This minor incident wasn’t enough to spoil Lin Sinian’s mood; he just considered Xiao Yanping to be too straightforward.

Xiao Yanxiu apologized again for his brother’s behavior: “He’s spent too much time abroad and isn’t used to the domestic environment. Don’t take it personally.”

“He’s your brother. Why would I hold a grudge?”

“You are too generous, Sinian. How can you be so good?”

In the past, Lin Sinian would have simply thought he was sweet-talking, and on a good day, he might have taken the compliment to heart. But having just come from reviewing the Lu family files and being slighted by Xiao Yanping, Xiao Yanxiu’s words didn’t resonate.

He thought self-deprecatingly, Only Xiao Yanxiu would call me good, kind, and generous. The Procuratorate says I’m strict, ruthless, and demanding; the police say I’m stubborn, uncooperative, and rigid; criminals say I’m cunning, cruel, and heartless… No one has ever called Mr. Lin a good person.

Xiao Yanxiu thought he was this good to everyone, but he wasn’t; he was only good to Xiao Yanxiu.

“Will he be coming on Saturday?”

“He said he’s going back to Europe on Saturday morning. Forget it. I’m already satisfied that he didn’t miss the wedding day.”

Lin Sinian felt a little guilty: “I’ll go talk to him.”

Xiao Yanxiu wouldn’t be truly happy if Xiao Yanping didn’t come.

Lin Sinian had an appointment with the bank manager the next day. He finished his visit as quickly as possible and found Xiao Yanping’s apartment in the city center.

Xiao Yanping opened the door looking sleepy, clearly still jet-lagged. His expression soured even more when he saw Lin Sinian. He blocked the door, not intending to let him in, so Lin Sinian had to talk to him from the doorway.

“Your brother hopes you will come to the dinner party on Saturday. Just show your face if you can,” Lin Sinian said in a softer voice.

Xiao Yanping scoffed: “Dinner party? Since when does a family dinner of the Xiao family require an invitation from a man named Lin?”

Lin Sinian didn’t get angry: “Your brother and I marrying was our personal choice; no one forced anyone. You don’t have to accept me as a family member, but you can’t change the fact. Xiao Yanping, we are not children. Don’t say childish things.”

Xiao Yanping shot him a glance, then stepped aside, gesturing him to enter. Lin Sinian figured his manners prevented him from arguing at the door.

Xiao Yanping disliked houses with yards, opting instead for a penthouse apartment. The entire apartment was modernly decorated. The wallpaper was a dark Mayan grey, and the floors were made of light-colored glazed tiles. This glaze was a special polished material with rich, colorful textures, giving it an antique tile charm. The entrance opened into an open-plan kitchen. Four or five dozen crystal wine glasses hung inverted over the bar, resembling a magnificent crystal chandelier.

Lin Sinian looked up. The countless facets of the crystal reflected light, infinitely and dazzlingly reflecting his face in the faint golden mirror-like surface. The word Eternity flashed in Lin Sinian’s mind, making his gaze narrow before shifting to a wall of wine bottles—another vibrant, fragrant world. This was a hypnotic apartment, living only in intoxication, living only in a dream.

Lin Sinian asked for a glass of ice water. Xiao Yanping thought he was being pretentious.

Lin Sinian explained: “Work habit. I try not to touch alcohol during the day. The requirements are stricter now. It’s only acceptable at private gatherings on weekends.”

Xiao Yanping swirled his whiskey and asked: “If my brother asked you to drink, would you still refuse?”

Lin Sinian kept silent. Xiao Yanping smiled and watched him accept the glass of whiskey.

Xiao Yanping found him even more hypocritical: “When my brother first returned to the country, he invited a government official to dinner, someone from the Industry and Commerce Bureau. The official was sent straight to the hospital for an IV after leaving the table. These officials pretend to be gentlemen, but they are all people who eat others without spitting out the bones.”

Lin Sinian replied: “The atmosphere was indeed poor in the past.”

“Is it better now?”

Lin Sinian couldn’t answer him. Xiao Yanping sneered and downed his drink.

Xiao Yanxiu had endured a lot of hardship after returning to the country, and Xiao Yanping felt it wasn’t worth it. He grew up abroad, spending most of his life overseas, and was very unaccustomed to the environment back home. Lin Sinian was a typical politician, the kind of person he most detested. He didn’t understand why Xiao Yanxiu loved this hypocritical, arrogant, and cold-blooded man. Even if Xiao Yanxiu found a beautiful, empty-headed vase—who would only be vain and noisy—it would still be better than Lin Sinian.

“I advised my brother that developing abroad was perfectly fine; we were already doing very well in the US. But he wanted to come back. He was born here, unlike me; he still has feelings for this place. It’s his hometown, and he always has the right to return. I don’t object. But people like you are not worthy of him.”

“Meeting your brother is my good fortune.”

“You’re already the Deputy Chief Prosecutor, and you have a powerful father. What kind of person can’t you get? Is it still not enough? People like you are always greedy. You want this and that. You got power, you got money, what else do you want?”

Lin Sinian dared not refute him. Perhaps Xiao Yanping was a better judge of character than his brother.

Xiao Yanping was very impatient. He suddenly threw his glass, which shattered with a loud crash: “If you dare to scheme behind my brother’s back or dig a pit for him, I will fight with all my might to make you pay. See if I dare!” Shards scattered on the floor. The brother-in-law held the sharp, broken glass base, pointing it at his own brother’s husband.

Lin Sinian didn’t doubt his determination. The Xiao brothers were raised by a single mother. Their mother died young, and the brothers relied on each other, maintaining a very close relationship until Lin Sinian appeared. Xiao Yanping immediately voiced his objection. He had seriously discussed it with his brother many times, even arguing. He cared about his brother’s reputation. When Xiao Yanxiu married Lin Sinian, most people still felt Xiao Yanxiu was marrying above his status. Xiao Yanping had heard bad comments. He believed his brother was not careful with his reputation and would eventually be ruined by Lin Sinian.

Xiao Yanping was right. Lin Sinian was greedy. He wanted Xiao Yanxiu, and despite already having power and wealth, he also wanted Xiao Yanxiu’s genuine heart. His life had been too smooth. There was nothing he wanted that he couldn’t get, and even things he hadn’t thought of, others eagerly offered to him. He was accustomed to it and didn’t see it as greed. Over time, he had forgotten that such good fortune didn’t exist in the world; no one could truly have it all.

Lin Sinian couldn’t dwell on this, nor think too deeply about it.

“Still come and show your face on Saturday. At least, it’s better for us to appear to be getting along peacefully, or else it’s always your brother who will be distressed. Just do it for his sake.” He gave Xiao Yanping the gift he brought: “I bought some pastries from Mingyue Tower. Your brother loves them, and I guess you won’t dislike them either.”

The whiskey was finished, and he left this terrifying apartment.