After personally seeing them leave, Jiang Ziyu immediately informed Di Mingjue of the matter.
Upon learning that Di Ruihe dared to send the driver from the car accident to impersonate a doctor at their home, Di Mingjue expedited his planned course of action.
...
A luxury car was parked in front of a humble rented apartment, astonishing the poor inhabitants.
Xu Zehong, with a cigarette in his mouth, smoked wantonly in the car. As smoke filled the interior, he reached out and demanded, "Give me the money!"
Di Ruihe, with distaste, took out a prepared envelope from the compartment in front of the car. "Don't rush."
He blocked Xu Zehong's outstretched hand. The envelope spun between his fingers, and the contents landed on the palm of his hand.
"This is only part of the money. The rest will be given to you after the job is done and you have safely left the capital."
"No way!"
Xu Zehong rolled down the car window and angrily threw out the unfinished cigarette. "I'm completely broke. This amount isn't even enough for me to live on. How can I help you with peace of mind?"
"I gave you a million yuan when you were released from prison," Di Ruihe said, disgusted by his greed.
However, with the leverage in his hand, Xu Zehong put on a defiant face. "What can a million yuan do? I've already spent it all."
Thinking that the money was gone before he could even spend much of it, Xu Zehong became even more displeased. After being in prison, his luck had only worsened; he lost every gamble. The million yuan disappeared without even a ripple.
Xu Zehong knocked on the car door, impatiently demanding, "Hurry up, I don't have time to waste with you here."
Di Ruihe threw the envelope into his chest and sternly warned, "Be discreet. Don't let Di Mingjue find out your whereabouts."
The car accident case had caused a sensation in the capital. Under the pressure of Di Jue Group's lawyers, Xu Zehong was sentenced to ten years in prison.
He only served two years before Di Ruihe secretly sent people to replace him and get him released.
"Don't worry, I'll be very careful," said Xu Zehong, beaming with happiness after receiving the money, agreeing to everything.
However, if he were discovered, he wouldn't just serve the remaining years of his sentence but would also be charged with escaping from prison.
Emerging from the car, Xu Zehong personally escorted Di Ruihe away. Watching the taillights disappear at the end of the alley, he smilingly opened the envelope. He poured out the money, spat on his fingers, and began counting the bills one by one.
The setting sun cast an orange glow, but the narrow, crowded alley was plunged into darkness.
"Mmph~"
A black sack was pulled over Xu Zehong's head. Fists and feet rained down on him, and he was dragged out of the alley by the sack.
He had just stepped out of a luxury car, and moments later, he was being shoved into a minivan.
"Who are you?" Xu Zehong asked fearfully.
Aside from the car's movement, there was no other response.
His heart filled with apprehension, he rode in the car for an unknown duration. Then, he heard the car door open, and an arm reached in, pulling him out.
His legs scraped against the uneven gravel, and by the time he reached the ground, his trousers had a large hole torn in them.
Everything was pitch black before him, and he could hear the sound of waves. Xu Zehong shivered, feeling as though death was imminent.
The hood was removed, and a bright light pierced his eyes.
"Xu Zehong?"
He opened his eyes and looked at Di Mingjue in front of him, bewildered.
"Long time no see. Surprised?" Di Mingjue looked up at Shen Lin. "Release him."
The ropes binding his hands were untied. Xu Zehong rubbed the places where the ropes had dug in, his heart filled with unease. He bit his lip, daring not to speak in response to Di Mingjue's greeting.
"I heard you were released from prison. It seems you've reformed and actively sought leniency," Di Mingjue approached him, circling him once, and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Did they teach you how to practice medicine in prison?"
"No, that's not it." Xu Zehong understood instantly.
The reason he had been captured was clear; Di Mingjue already knew he had impersonated a doctor at the Di residence.