Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“The underground godfather in South America? When did this happen?” Huo Shaoheng squinted. His eyes were fierce and as dark as obsidian. He was familiar with all the conglomerate families around the world, and if the He’s were truly that powerful in South America, there was no way he didn’t know. This was one of the important parts of his job.
Zhao Liangze flipped through the file and said, “It should’ve been in the last few years. It’s said that the He’s have always been discreet, but when He Zhichu joined the largest law firm in the United States as partner seven years go, the He’s finally surfaced in South America.”
Huo Shaoheng tapped the file and shook his head. “This doesn’t convince me of anything; continue investigating. If the He’s are really that powerful, there is no way there is no information about them at all. That much wealth and their sphere of influence isn’t established in a day. It doesn’t add up.”
Zhao Liangze was sure he had already investigated thoroughly and finally saw all the missing bits when Huo Shaoheng pointed them out. He took the file back with shame and looked up to whisper, “Yes, Chief.”
Huo Shaoheng looked up at him to remind him when he saw his despondent look. “Also, if the time matches up, the year the He’s surfaced was the same year we rescued Nianzhi.”
“Oh? Right! Could this be a connection?!” Zhao Linagze instantly got excited. “Can the He’s really have something to do with Nianzhi?!”
Huo Shaoheng kept quiet and stared fixedly at the computer. He opened a secret program and entered a password to open the page for South America. Although it was only a map, it had been specially processed by national software—as soon as he entered the relevant data, it became a compilation map of all the powerful conglomerate families on Blue Planet. This was a precious secret weapon of the Special Ops. In the past, all the names labelled in South America were of Latin origins from the descendants of elite Spanish and Portuguese colonists. As for the He’s, they had only risen in South America in recent years but had already occupied half of the continent. Moving the cursor north to Central America, and continuing up, Huo Shaoheng arrived to the small countries along the Caribbean coast. Barbados was included and Gu Yanran’s family was one of the conglomerates there. Of course, they were not as impressive as the He’s. “I just want to know how a so called discreet clan evaded the Special Ops’ detection seven years ago and suddenly became the underground godfather of South America.” Huo Shaoheng thoughtfully made a note on map with the cursor; he pointed to Barbadoes and said, “Investigate Gu Yanran’s family like how you’re checking the He’s.”
“Roger, Chief!” Zhao Liangze accepted the command loudly and hurried out carrying the file. When he emerged from Huo Shaoheng’s office, he saw Yin Shixiong sitting lazily with one foot on his desk. Yin Shixiong looked like a slacker. Zhao Liangze said contemptuously, “Big Xiong, what’s up with you? Are you in heat but unable to find a mating partner?”
“Yeah right! You’re the one looking for a mating partner!” Yin Shixiong shot back at Zhao Liangze. “Speaking of getting busy, I overheard what you said to Mr. Huo in the office.” He pointed in the direction of the room.
Zhao Liangze hugged his file and sat down behind the desk, shrugging his shoulders. “So what if you overheard? Are there secrets between us?” After all, what Zhao Liangze knew, Yin Shixiong also had to know and vice versa. This was work protocol and a necessity. They worked for the Specials Ops and there was no information that was only known to one person due to precaution and balance of powers. This was a double insurance: if someone perished in action, the others could continue with work.
“Of course there are secrets.” Yin Shixiong snorted and huddled over to Zhao Liangze to whisper, “For example, you never told me that you like the older sister, but got entangled with the younger sister instead.”
“Y-y-you…Stop speaking nonsense!” Zhao Liangze nearly jumped out of his chair and stuttered a warning to Yin Shixiong. “Don’t speak so casually about this sort of thing! Otherwise you be careful that I don’t tell your future wife of all your shameful habits!”
“What shameful habits? What should I be afraid of? How can men not have a few bad habits.” Yin Shixiong stood up without worry and looked at Huo Shaoheng’s office, wanting to go in.
Zhao Liangze caught up and grabbed his collar. “Are you sure? Then I’ll tell your future wife which Playboy model you like to masturbate to—”
“Shut your mouth!” Yin Shixiong flushed instantly and warned him fiercely. “How did you know?! This is my privacy! Not my work! You can’t speak nonsense!”
Zhao Liangze bent over in laughter, “So you really have one?! I was just teasing you!”
Yin Shixiong realized he had been played by Zhao Liangze and kicked him hard in the shin before storming to Huo Shaoheng’s office without looking back. He slammed the door shut behind him.
Huo Shaoheng calmly looked up from behind the desk. “What is it?”
“Mr. Huo, I have an idea but I’m not sure if I should say it or not.” Yin Shixiong saw that Huo Shaoheng’s expression was normal so he shouldn’t have overheard all the nonsense Zhao Liangze was spewing outside. His flush faded.
“Then you can can come back when you’ve thought it through.” Huo Shaoheng looked at the door to signal Yin Shixiong the way out.
Chuckling, Yin Shixiong didn’t turn to leave but walked up to Huo Shaoheng’s desk and said quietly, “Mr. Huo, we’ve been investigating many things but there hasn’t been much result. Have you actually thought about going through Nianzhi directly?”
Huo Shaoheng had indeed considered this before, but Gu Nianzhi’s memory was a major obstacle. They wouldn’t need to work so hard tracking things down if she could remember what had happened before she turned 12, but her brain would experience great pain every time she tried to recall the past. The most serious incident had happened when she was going through full body convulsions during hypnosis and had almost passed out. Since then, Huo Shaoheng never mentioned hypnosis as a method to recall her memory and Chen Lie, who had suggested it in the first place, never dared to say anything again. Whenever Gu Nianzhi went to see the psychiatrist, it was only for routine exams.
“As for Nianzhi’s memories, you can just pretend that they’ll never be recovered. So stop thinking about going through her.”
Yin Shixiong quickly explained, “I know we can’t use hypnosis to recall her memories, but we can try other methods!”
“What other methods?”
“For example, we can methodically tell her the facts we know and observe her reaction. We aren’t trying to recall her lost memories, but help trigger things she should be familiar with in the first place. In time, maybe it can have a positive effect on her!” Yin Shixiong was an expert on the heart, not the mind. For humans, certain things were carved into the heart even if the memory was lost. It would always inadvertently express itself.
Huo Shaoheng nodded thoughtfully. “That makes sense; go on.”
With Huo Shaoheng’s encouragement, Yin Shixiong became more excited. “So, with what happened recently, didn’t we figure out that He Zhichu might have known Nianzhi from before? We can reveal this possibility to Nianzhi then ask her if He Zhichu had any strange reactions when she was together with him. If there’s anything, it’ll help us investigate clearly and help Nianzhi find her family!”
Huo Shaoheng glanced at Yin Shixiong. “When was Nianzhi ever together with He Zhichu? Be careful with what you say.”
Yin Shixiong backtracked. Jesus Christ! He was just using an expression, how did Mr. Huo see it that way? Opening his mouth to defend himself, Yin Shixiong looked up to see a growing frown on Huo Shaoheng’s lips and decided to accept the criticism, “Roger, Chief. I wasn’t clear with my words. What I meant was, if there was any difference when she interacted with He Zhichu privately.”
Huo Shaoheng reluctantly conceded that, this guy may not have purposely said that. Huo Shaoheng no longer latched onto Yin Shixiong’s use of expression and contemplated for a few minutes before nodding slowly. “We can give it a try.”
“Great” Yin Shixiong rubbed his palm together. “How about I go be the first to give it a go?”
“Give what a go?” Huo Shaoheng glared. “Nianzhi is in bedrest for these two weeks. I’ll be the one to go ask her.”
