Chapter 278: Shen Ru Defeated, Sixth Lord’s Call (5)

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Li Wenjin said something on the other end, but she didn’t hear a word of it.

“I’m heading back to the office right away. We’ll talk when we meet.”

With that, she hung up.

Half an hour later, Shen Ru arrived by car.

Li Wenjin was already waiting at the elevator entrance in the underground parking lot. He took the woman’s suitcase from her hand and reached out to hold the elevator door for her.

Shen Ru, with a cold expression, stepped into the elevator first, as if she was accustomed to the man’s consideration and attentiveness, taking it all for granted.

Li Wenjin followed her into the elevator, pressed the close button, and selected the floor.

The elevator slowly ascended, and the two of them didn’t engage in much conversation. Shen Ru glanced at the camera in the upper left corner, her expression growing even colder.

Upon reaching the office, Li Wenjin locked the door. Just as he turned around, there was a loud clatter as the water glass on the desk fell to the ground under the woman’s frustrated flick.

Fortunately, the carpet was thick enough, and it only made a muffled sound without breaking.

Li Wenjin walked over, bent down to pick up the cup, and placed it back in its original position. He looked at Shen Ru’s angry profile, and even in her anger, she remained exceptionally beautiful.

“Ah Ru…” A sigh escaped his lips.

The woman turned her head, looking at him coldly. “Didn’t you say it was foolproof? How do you explain this now? Do you know what losing Mingya means? If we can’t find a company that has been operating normally for more than five years to use as a stepping stone, our future plans will be impossible to carry out!”

“Sorry, it was my negligence…”

Shen Ru was trembling with anger. What good was an apology? Could an apology turn Mingya into hers?

Li Wenjin didn’t argue back but stood quietly, waiting for her anger to subside.

Sure enough—

In a short while, Shen Ru calmed down and asked him, “What exactly happened?”

“The shell company we prepared to acquire Mingya was reported for tax evasion. Both the local tax bureau and the national tax bureau came to investigate within a day. By the time I received the call and rushed over, it was already too late…”

“Tax evasion? How is that possible!” Shen Ru furrowed her brow tightly. “That company never had any real business. Its main business income has always been kept below the tax threshold. How could it…”

Her words trailed off.

Suddenly, Shen Ru thought of something, and her expression changed slightly. “Could it be the money we transferred earlier…”

Li Wenjin nodded.

In the previous quarter, all the kickbacks from Mingda’s projects amounted to 30 million yuan, and Shen Ru had received a substantial portion of it. Because of its illicit origin, the money couldn’t be openly accounted for. They had to use a shell company to launder it and return it to Shen Ru.

In doing so, the shell company’s books inevitably left traces.

As soon as the tax authorities investigated, it would immediately come to light—either tax evasion or money laundering.

The latter is much more serious than the former.

In a situation where both sides harm each other, Li Wenjin could only acknowledge the tax evasion and fraud, which stained his reputation and prevented him from pursuing any acquisitions further.

He considered hiding it, but in the end, during the financial audit, the truth would inevitably come to light.

He chose to withdraw directly, sparing himself from further exposure.

After listening to his explanation, Shen Ru fell into silence.

From Li Wenjin’s perspective, he could see the woman’s habit of lowering her eyelids in thought, her distinct eyelashes, perfect side profile, and a hint of light sorrow between her brows. Even in disappointment, and at times losing her composure, her posture remained impeccable with a straight back.

She was both gentle and resilient.

“Cutting your losses in time was the right choice,” Shen Ru spoke softly, “but it’s a pity for Mingya, and it benefits Second Uncle’s family.”

“It’s okay…” Li Wenjin moved closer, wanting to hold her hand but ultimately stopped a half-step away, standing with his hands at his sides, not daring to overstep the line.

“Without Mingya, there are other companies.”

Shen Ru frowned, “At this price, it won’t be easy.”

“Don’t worry, leave it to me.”

“Wenjin…” Shen Ru lifted her gaze gently. “Don’t disappoint me again.”

A pang of sorrow hit the man’s heart, and he gritted his teeth. “I won’t.”

It was high noon, with the scorching sun overhead, making the streets feel like they could melt the soles of shoes and burn the feet.

Yet, in a cafe just a window away, the air conditioning was abundant, making it feel like early spring.

A soothing piano melody played gracefully, and the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans filled the air. The fragrance of tulips in a vase on the table added to the pleasant atmosphere.

In a seat by the window, a woman in a black maxi dress gently stirred her coffee with a silver spoon. Her long hair cascaded down, and the exposed parts of her arms and neck gleamed with whiteness.

Suddenly, she set the spoon down, lifted the coffee cup, and brought it slowly to her lips. As her red lips parted to take a sip, her movement seemed to strike a chord in someone’s heart, though it was unclear whose..