# Chapter Nine:
A few seemingly calm days passed, but beneath the surface, hidden currents were moving powerfully. Lin Feng spent most of his time in his new safe apartment, which had turned into a temporary operations center. It wasn't a luxurious office befitting the heir of the Lin Group, but a practical space with soundproof walls and encrypted communication systems, where he could think and plan away from prying eyes.
Before him on the screen was a brief report prepared by Zhao Fu about Jiang Yu. The report wasn't comprehensive yet; investigating someone's life deeply required time and resources, but the initial findings were both interesting and alarming. The report indicated that the small financial consulting firm run by Jiang Yu, "Golden Bridge Consulting," had been experiencing severe financial difficulties over the past six months. The company had lost two major clients and accumulated some short-term debt. There was no direct evidence of Jiang Yu's involvement in any illegal activities or connection to any trap set for Lin Feng, but his desperate financial situation was enough to heighten Lin Feng's suspicions.
"A desperate man might do anything..." Lin Feng muttered to himself, his fingers tapping lightly on the polished desktop. Was Jiang Yu just an opportunist trying to exploit the situation for his own gain, offering real information in exchange for a potential future reward? Or was the financial situation just a cover, and he was actually working for Chu Fan or another party, offering poisoned bait? The possibilities were still open. The information Jiang Yu provided seemed accurate and consistent with what Mei Lin had uncovered, but the motive behind providing it remained ambiguous and suspicious. Lin Feng sighed, feeling the weight of the decision. Ignoring the information was a risk, but trusting it blindly was an even greater risk.
His train of thought was interrupted by a faint alert sound from the encrypted communication device. It was a message from Mei Lin. He opened it quickly, his eyes scanning the brief text:
"Confirmation of the existence of the Horizon Oasis project and Phoenix International as registered entities. Some financial transactions between them and subcontractors on the project have been detected. However, accessing the details of contracts or internal accounting records of Tian Long or Phoenix is proving extremely difficult. The digital and physical firewalls are very strong, and the information is fragmented and distributed. There is no direct evidence linking Phoenix to fraudulent operations or to employees Li Wei and Zhang Hao so far. I need more time, or a more specific starting point to penetrate their defenses. I will continue trying cautiously."
Lin Feng felt a slight pang of frustration. He had hoped for a faster breakthrough, but he also knew that confronting a giant like Tian Long wouldn't be easy. Mei Lin was one of the best information hackers he knew, and if she was facing difficulty, it meant Chu Fan had secured his defenses well. It wasn't surprising, but it was a reminder of the reality of the challenge he faced. He replied with an equally brief message: "Proceed with caution. Your safety is the priority. Inform me of any developments immediately."
He closed the communication device and went back to looking out the large glass window overlooking a part of the bustling city skyline. The investigations were progressing slowly, and the risks were increasing. He felt like he was walking a tightrope over a bottomless abyss. Every step had to be calculated precisely.
At that moment, his personal phone rang – not the encrypted one, but his regular phone, which he had rarely used recently. He hesitated for a moment before looking at the caller ID. His features froze slightly when he saw the name: Grandpa Lin Chen.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his slightly racing heart. He hadn't spoken directly to his grandfather since leaving the hospital. He knew this call was inevitable, but he hadn't expected it so soon. He answered in as calm and respectful a voice as possible: "Grandpa."
Lin Chen's voice came through the phone, sharp and cutting as usual, devoid of any warmth or pleasantry. "Lin Feng. Where are you? And why haven't you answered your father's calls?"
"I'm fine, Grandpa. I've been busy with some personal matters," Lin Feng replied cautiously, choosing his words carefully. "I didn't want to bother you with unimportant details."
"Personal matters?" Lin Chen scoffed. "Is selling your shares in the group's companies and liquidating some of your real estate properties considered a personal and unimportant matter? Is hiring your own lawyer without consulting the family lawyer considered a personal matter? Is your deliberate neglect of your duties towards the group considered a personal matter?"
Each word was like a hammer blow. Grandpa knew everything. Lin Feng hadn't expected anything less; his grandfather's information network was vast and powerful. He felt a chill run down his spine, but he maintained his calm tone.
"Grandpa, after the recent incident, I realized I needed some time to re-evaluate things and sort out my priorities. The decisions I made were necessary to ensure my financial and personal independence at this stage."
"Your independence?" Grandpa's voice rose slightly, carrying a clear threatening tone. "Have you forgotten who you are, Lin Feng? You are the heir to the Lin Group! Your independence comes from the group, not away from it! These actions of yours are reckless and irresponsible. They harm the reputation of the family and the group. Do you think I will allow you to destroy everything we have built with these childish actions?"
Lin Feng felt the pressure mounting. It wasn't just displeasure; it was a direct threat. He knew his grandfather wasn't joking. One word from him could freeze all his remaining assets or cut off any support from the family.
"Grandpa, I don't intend to harm the family or the group," Lin Feng said, trying to buy some time. "All I ask for is some time and space to understand what happened to me and who is behind it. Once things become clear, I will return to assume my responsibilities."
"Who is behind it?" Grandpa retorted sharply. "Are you still insisting on these delusions? The incident was just an unfortunate accident. The police have closed the investigation. Don't make excuses for shirking your responsibility! You have one week to come to your senses, cancel the appointment of this lawyer, and return to your office in the group. Otherwise, you will face consequences you will definitely not like. Is that clear?"
Lin Chen didn't wait for a reply. He hung up abruptly, leaving Lin Feng staring at the phone in silence, the harsh voice of his grandfather still ringing in his ears. He felt a mixture of anger and helplessness. Anger at his grandfather's absolute control, and helplessness before his power and influence. He knew that challenging his grandfather directly would be suicide, but backing down now meant giving up everything – the chance to uncover the truth and seek revenge, and any hope of building his own life away from the family's shadow.
Lin Feng sat down again, feeling exhaustion wash over him. The pressure was coming from all directions. Chu Fan was lurking in the shadows, the investigations were slow, and now his own family was tightening the noose. He needed a bold move, a step that could shift the balance of power or at least distract his enemies and give him some breathing room.
He considered the available options. Jiang Yu's information was still from an unconfirmed source, but it was the strongest lead he had so far. The "Horizon Oasis" project and "Phoenix International"... If this was the front Chu Fan was using for his fraudulent operations, exposing it would be a devastating blow to him.
But how could he expose it without conclusive evidence and without endangering himself and his sources? He thought about Mei Lin's suggestion about needing a more specific starting point. Perhaps focusing on one of the involved employees, Li Wei or Zhang Hao, was the solution. An intensive and covert investigation into one of them might reveal a loophole, physical evidence, a mistake that could be exploited.
But that too would take time, and his time was running out quickly due to his grandfather's ultimatum. He needed something faster, something that would create a stir, however small.
An idea crystallized in his mind, a risky but potentially effective one. Leaking vague information. Not a direct accusation, but just a hint, a seed of doubt planted in the right place.
He contacted Zhao Fu again via the encrypted line.
"Zhao Fu, I have a new and highly sensitive task," Lin Feng said in a calm and firm voice. "I want you to find a way to leak simple, anonymous information to a specific financial journalist, someone known for their in-depth investigations and independence... perhaps someone like 'Liu Ming' from the 'Financial Times Weekly'. The information must be very vague, just a hint about a possible internal audit or suspicions about inaccurate valuations related to an unknown foreign investment company called 'Phoenix International' and its connection to some major real estate projects in the new development zone. Don't mention Tian Long, Chu Fan, or any other specific details. Just pique the journalist's curiosity so they start digging themselves. Most importantly, the leak must be untraceable back to us in any way. Can you do that?"
Zhao Fu was silent for a moment, then replied confidently: "I will find a safe way, sir. It requires some arrangements, but it can be done."
"Good. Start immediately. I want this seed planted as soon as possible. It might lead to nothing, but it might also create some ripples we need."
Lin Feng ended the call, feeling a mixture of relief and anxiety. He had taken another step in the dark, a step that could backfire. But he could no longer remain defensive. He had to start moving the pieces himself, even if his moves were risky.
He stood again by the window, looking at the twinkling city lights below. They looked beautiful and peaceful from this height, but he knew that beneath this glittering facade, there was a complex web of conflicts, conspiracies, and conflicting interests. And now, whether he liked it or not, he had become an integral part of this web, trying to navigate it cautiously, looking for a way out, or perhaps... a way to change the rules of the game entirely. The weight of his decisions felt immense, his sense of isolation was profound, but a flicker of defiance and determination still shone in his eyes. The battle had just begun.