Old Li also lost his composure. He checked the old man's breathing and heartbeat, confirming that the old man had passed away. Tears streamed down his face. His former superior, comrade-in-arms, and brother who had been through thick and thin with him had finally left first!
Wei Haihong had lost his mind. Grabbing Zhou Xuan's hand, he kept saying, "Brother, why didn't you save my dad? Why didn't you save him... why didn't you save him..."
As he spoke, his voice gradually faded. After all, he knew that Zhou Xuan didn't need his orders; he would do everything in his power to save the old man. Judging from his sorrowful appearance, he didn't want the old man to die, and he knew he couldn't save him either. In the end, he wasn't a god, and even a god has times when he is powerless to change the situation.
Hearing the cries, the guards outside rushed in, especially the old man's bodyguard, who placed his hand on the old man's carotid artery to check it, and his face immediately turned pale.
Chaos erupted in the hall. Wei Haihong was unable to control himself. His bodyguard, Ade, called the Wei family members one by one to inform them, especially the Wei brothers, Wei Haihe and Wei Haifeng. The old man's status was extraordinary, and they needed to report to higher authorities.
At this moment, everyone was busy with their own affairs. Zhou Xuan sat alone on the sofa, his heart filled with grief. The old man's body had already been carried to the bed by the bodyguards and was waiting for orders. He was the only one sitting in the living room, lost in thought.
The old man's sudden departure was undoubtedly related to his visit to discuss Fu Yuanshan. Although Zhou Xuan knew that the old man's lifespan was nearing its end, he wouldn't think that way. He might think it was because of him. Moreover, the old man's sudden departure and the matter of Fu Yuanshan made him feel a sense of emptiness and uncertainty. Perhaps, Wei Haihe and he had become enemies because of this.
At that moment, even Old Li forgot about Zhou Xuan, busy with the old man's funeral arrangements. Zhou Xuan paused for a moment, then got up and went home alone.
At this moment, Zhou Xuan suddenly felt that this place was not really his home, but just a home he stayed in the capital for the sake of his friends. If he could, he really wanted to go back to his hometown and live a carefree life. The treacherous life in the capital was not very happy. He used to live to make money, but now he had long since moved beyond that stage.
But how could Zhou Xuan be satisfied if he didn't rescue Fu Yuanshan?
But now that the old man is gone, who can take over this matter for him? Old Li, but Old Li is a veteran of the military, and his son Li Lei also belongs to the military. Military and political affairs are usually difficult to interfere with. Small matters are fine, but for something like Fu Yuanshan's case, which has probably already become a big deal, it is difficult for him to get involved.
Wei Haihe was caught in a pincer movement. For the sake of his future and the power he already held, he certainly couldn't make a move. As a politician, he couldn't have it both ways, so he had to consider his own situation first. From the phone call he overheard, Zhou Xuan knew that Wei Haihe had already made Fu Yuanshan the scapegoat.
Fu Yuanshan was ultimately fine because Wei Haihe understood that Fu Yuanshan hadn't used a single penny of the money for himself. Instead, he had used it to purchase high-tech equipment for the Municipal Bureau, all for the sake of the Bureau. Therefore, he couldn't be imprisoned. However, Wei Haihe's opponent was also powerful, and he had seized on this point. His goal was to take down Fu Yuanshan, who was Wei Haihe's most important pawn. The purpose of this matter was to eliminate Fu Yuanshan. It wouldn't be easy to harm Wei Haihe, but as long as Fu Yuanshan's position was removed, then victory would be achieved.
There is only one way to protect Fu Yuanshan: Wei Haihe must step forward and take responsibility for this matter. However, doing so will definitely have an impact on Wei Haihe, at least on his career.
Would Wei Haihe do that? The answer is no. When Zhou Xuan came before, he had already sensed Wei Haihe's intentions, which is why he risked the old man's life.
The Wei family was in chaos. Zhou Xuan stayed there for a while, then went home alone. No one noticed him. When he got home, Fu Ying was waiting for him. As soon as she saw him, she asked, "Zhou Xuan, how did things go? What did the old man mean?"
Zhou Xuan could barely lift his eyebrows, and said weakly, "Yingying, I'm so tired, I'm going to sleep for a bit!"
Knowing Zhou Xuan's personality, how could he be at ease if he didn't resolve Fu Yuanshan's situation? Therefore, Fu Ying immediately tensed up. Zhou Xuan's expression was too peculiar, and since the rest of the family didn't know about this, Fu Ying hadn't told them either. Sensing that something was wrong with Zhou Xuan, she immediately said, "Then you should rest for a bit. I'll go run you a bath!"
Logically speaking, Jin Xiumei, the mother-in-law, would not let Fu Ying do anything. But her son looked very tired, and besides, it was a small matter like taking a bath. It could even help her son and daughter-in-law get closer, so she did not object.
Zhou Xuan returned to his room in a daze, took off his shoes, and lay down on the bed. Fu Ying didn't advise Zhou Xuan to wash his face and clear his mind, but asked worriedly, "Zhou Xuan, what's wrong? Is Brother Fu's matter difficult to resolve?"
Zhou Xuan shook his head, muttered "The old man is gone," and then covered his face with the blanket again.
Fu Ying was taken aback at first, not understanding the meaning of "the old man is gone," but then she realized and asked, "The old man...is he gone?"
Zhou Xuan didn't answer, but just twitched his body. This action made Fu Ying understand immediately, and she felt confused. When even the old man couldn't solve Fu Yuanshan's problem, then they could only leave it to fate. Sometimes, money isn't everything. Zhou Xuan was willing to spend any amount of money, but what they wanted now wasn't money, but to remove Fu Yuanshan from his high position and to cut off Wei Haihe's arm!
In her confusion, Fu Ying had no other choice. Feeling both pain and pity, she gently stroked Zhou Xuan's head. In Fu Ying's tender love, Zhou Xuan gradually drifted off to sleep. Only in front of Fu Ying could Zhou Xuan feel relaxed and without pressure.
But pressure is pressure, and in his sleep, Zhou Xuan dreamt that Fu Yuanshan appeared before him, handcuffed and shackled. Startled, he woke up and cried out, "Brother Fu, Brother Fu..."
When he woke up, Fu Yuanshan was nowhere to be seen. Only Fu Ying hugged him and comforted him, "Zhou Xuan, don't worry, we'll look for him again tomorrow. It doesn't matter if it costs more money!"
Zhou Xuan then realized that it was pitch black all around, with only a few stars shining outside the window; it must have been late at night.
Suddenly feeling isolated and helpless, Zhou Xuan hugged Fu Ying in the darkness and began to sob. Fu Ying was so frightened that she could only tremble. Zhou Xuan would never show such weakness in front of her, not even when his life was in the most danger. But now, she felt that the man she loved most was so pitiful, isolated and helpless.
Fu Ying pressed her cheek against Zhou Xuan's face and said softly, "Zhou Xuan, don't think so much. There are many unsatisfactory things in this world that you can't force. After we resolve Brother Fu's matter, how about we go back to the countryside to live? If you don't want to, we can go to New York. As long as you want, as long as you're willing, we'll go to the ends of the earth. I'm willing to do anything!"
After a while, Zhou Xuan slowly stopped and remained silent for a long time before saying, "Yingying, I'm so tired, I'm really so tired!"
"Then don't think about anything, just get a good night's sleep, okay, go to sleep!" Fu Ying coaxed Zhou Xuan like a child, and after a while, Zhou Xuan's breathing became heavy, and he fell asleep again.
That night, Zhou Xuan kept waking up from nightmares, only to fall asleep again with Fu Ying's gentle comfort. He was tormented and tormented by these nightmares.
Fu Ying truly felt Zhou Xuan's helplessness and despair, and was heartbroken all night. The next day, Zhou Xuan developed a high fever and started talking nonsense, which really frightened Fu Ying and her family.
They called a doctor to their home for a checkup. After the examination, the doctor said it was because he was too tired and needed rest and recuperation. Jin Xiumei was terrified, as Zhou Xuan had never been like this before.
Zhou Xuan was ill for several days, suffering from fever and delirium. It wasn't until the fifth day that he finally regained consciousness. Then, thinking about Fu Yuanshan, he immediately asked Fu Ying, "Yingying, how is Brother Fu? How is he?"
Although Fu Ying had been taking care of Zhou Xuan these past few days, she knew perfectly well why Zhou Xuan had fallen ill. So she asked Li Wei to inquire and make arrangements. With Lao Li and Li Lei's intervention, Fu Yuanshan's matter had been resolved. It was merely the result of compromise and concessions from both sides. Although Fu Yuanshan acted in the public interest, he knowingly broke the law, seriously damaging the reputation of the official high-level officials. After investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, it was decided to remove him from his position as acting secretary of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee's Political and Legal Affairs Commission and director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and demote him to the deputy bureau level, pending further notice of reassignment.
Zhou Xuan was not part of the system and did not understand the true consequences of such punishment. For a high-ranking official in the bureaucracy, once he encountered this kind of punishment, it was almost as if his political future was ruined and there was no possibility of him recovering. As for Fu Yuanshan, a deputy ministerial-level official, once he was demoted to the lowest level, he would be relegated to a mere deputy bureau-level position, which would definitely be a sinecure. No matter where he went, he would never be able to take charge again.
Hearing Fu Ying and Li Wei's words, Zhou Xuan was stunned for a long time before asking Li Wei, "Li Wei, where is Brother Fu now?"
Li Wei sighed and said, "I heard he asked for sick leave and took his family back to his hometown!"
Zhou Xuan was stunned and didn't know what to do. Fu Yuanshan's fate was due to him. If he hadn't insisted on giving Fu Yuanshan the money he won from dealing with the rich young men, he wouldn't have suffered this loss.
Li Wei added, "My uncle had a huge argument with my second uncle over this matter, and the two parted on bad terms after Grandpa Wei's funeral!"
Zhou Xuan knew that there was no way to reverse the situation. Wei Haihe was a man with a career in government, and all he cared about was his position. There was nothing to say about that. It was just that he hadn't been able to participate in the old man's funeral arrangements. However, if the old man truly had a spirit in the afterlife, he probably wouldn't blame him.
Fu Yuanshan certainly didn't want to put him in a difficult position, so he refused to even see him and his whole family returned to their hometown from the capital. Fu Yuanshan still treated him like a brother. Only people who truly have brotherly feelings would think of the other person in everything, instead of themselves.
Take Wei Haihong for example. He and Zhou Xuan had a deep brotherly bond. Because of this incident, the Wei family, or rather Wei Haihe, failed to save Fu Yuanshan. Wei Haihong even felt ashamed to face Zhou Xuan again, but he was powerless. He might be very capable to ordinary people, but against opponents of equal standing to the Wei family, he had no influence whatsoever. Moreover, even if Zhou Xuan understood what Wei Haihe had done, Wei Haihong would still blame the Wei family for it. It was the Wei family that chose to abandon Zhou Xuan! Wei Haihong knew that the old man's health was poor and he was old, so it wouldn't be surprising if something happened to him. But when the old man vomited blood and died, Wei Haihong blamed his second brother, Wei Haihe. Even if the old man didn't live much longer, it was clearly Wei Haihe's phone call that angered him this time.
Wei Haihong had a big argument with his second brother about this, but it was to no avail. In the end, Fu Yuanshan was dismissed from his position and demoted to probation. Wei Haihong knew from this result that the Wei family's relationship with Zhou Xuan was over.
This was also due to the efforts of Old Li and his son. In this power struggle at the top, Wei Haihe lost completely. Although he managed to keep his position by losing Fu Yuanshan, his influence and strength also greatly decreased. His control of 70-80% of the power in the capital changed instantly, and the situation was almost three-way again.
Wei Haihe, in reality, still lost.
But after weighing the options, he had no regrets. Even if he had to do it ten times over, he would still choose to do it this way!
Zhou Xuan had a sullen face. He went out shopping alone in the afternoon to clear his head and didn't return until after dark. Fu Ying was worried because she hadn't followed him. She was relieved when Zhou Xuan came back.
Zhou Xuan sat down on the sofa in the living room. By then, the whole family was gathered, including Zhou Tao, Li Li, Li Wei, and Zhou Ying. After the meal, Zhou Xuan said, "Dad, Mom, I want to hand over the company to Zhou Tao, Li Wei, and the other two to manage. With Li Wei in Beijing, I'm not worried. After Yingying gives birth, how about we go back to our hometown to live? Or, Dad, Mom, would you be willing to go abroad?"