Looking at the strange text message from a number that wasn't a regular phone number, Yu Min leaned back on the sofa and lit a cigarette.
He knew, without a doubt, that the sender was Gao Fei, and only someone with Gao Fei's knack for doing things differently could contact him this way.
But, as Gao Fei had hinted in the message, facing their current predicament, there was no chance of turning things around or escaping if the police had anything to say about it.
The only way out was to 'flee,' to go far away, to live in exile overseas.
As the cigarette burned out, Yu Min called Xiang Nan back into the office.
Under the dim light, the teapot let out misty steam.
The two men sat facing each other, so close yet separated by an palpable distance in the atmosphere.
Xiang Nan leaned back on the sofa without a word, quietly observing his elder brother pouring tea.
Before Yu Min could speak, Xiang Nan took the lead, "Brother, whether Gao Fei makes a move or not, we have no hope of turning things around anymore, right?"
Yu Min's hand, holding the teacup, trembled slightly, but he nodded in default.
Xiang Nan lit a cigarette and chuckled, "I came out with you when I was eighteen, and now I'm twenty-eight. Ten whole years have passed.
In these ten years, we brothers have had our glory and our downfall. We've experienced all the joys and all the hardships.
Brother, whatever you have to say, whatever you need to do, just say it. We don't need to keep secrets from each other."
Seeing his brother's farewell-like demeanor, Yu Min shook his head and cursed, "What are you thinking about, acting all dramatic like we're parting forever? It's disgusting!"
Xiang Nan blinked, not understanding his brother's meaning.
Yu Min took a deep drag of his cigarette, leaned back on the sofa, and said, "We really don't have a chance to turn things around now, but escaping abroad is very possible.
Ah Nan, if I leave, you should take Lao Xian and the others and surrender.
Blame everything on me. Once the verdict comes, at least it won't be the death penalty or life imprisonment."
"Big Brother, you don't want to take us with you?"
"It's not that I don't want to take you. He can only help one person escape abroad.
Besides, if you serve ten-odd years in prison and come out, you'll be clean. You can start any business without constantly worrying about police investigations. Isn't that good?"
"But, Brother..."
"That's enough. I've made up my mind. You arrange it!"
Yu Min waved his hand, giving Xiang Nan no more room to speak.
What he could do now was, before he left, to give Xiang Nan and Lao Xian a clean slate.
As long as Xiang Nan and the others took all the blame onto themselves, these people wouldn't deserve the death penalty, and would likely serve about ten to fifteen years.
Seeing his brother's resolve, Xiang Nan sighed and stopped trying to persuade him, only agreeing to do as his brother instructed.
After Xiang Nan left, Yu Min took out his phone and sent a reply to the earlier text message.
"I'll do as you say, I'm leaving!"
The message was sent, and a reply came back quickly.
"It's good that you've thought it through. Click the link to download a software, and then use the communicator within the app to contact me.
htt:// Remember, follow my instructions. Don't act on your own."
Yu Min clicked the link as instructed.
After the download was complete, it was a new type of software, similar to a VoIP call.
"This Gao guy is quite capable, bypassing the carriers and using the internet for communication. If this software were used for crime, the police probably wouldn't be able to find any evidence."
As Yu Min marveled at the software, he was unaware that his phone had already been fully compromised by Gao Fei.
Meanwhile.
Just as Xiang Nan was arranging Yu Min's decision, his phone suddenly received a text message.
The sender's number was an unusual mobile number.
"Ah Nan, click the link below, download the software inside, and then use the app for any future communication. The police cannot monitor us through this software."
Xiang Nan curiously replied.
"Big Brother?"
"It's me!"
Along with the reply, the text message included a photo of an office.
Seeing the photo of the tea table they hadn't cleared during their conversation earlier, Xiang Nan no longer doubted and downloaded the software as instructed.
Cosmetics Factory.
Gao Fei narrowed his eyes, looking at the two phones he was monitoring on his computer.
Yu Min was no longer his biggest threat.
What truly made him wary was 'Old Mo,' and the hidden gunman who was taking shots from the shadows.
After careful screening, Yu Min's phone had few contacts, and Old Mo and his companion were not direct contacts.
"Damn it, Xiang Nan has so many unknown contacts, who is this Old Mo?"
Gao Fei frowned, looking at the phone data on his computer.
Just as he was hesitating whether to try contacting each number, Xiang Nan suddenly dialed an out-of-town number.
He quickly put on his headphones, listening to their conversation.
....
The next day.
Tian'an Group Building.
Yu Min paced back and forth in his office, glancing at his phone from time to time, but still no news.
Was Gao Fei playing me?
Just as he was about to use the virtual communication software to make a call, Xiang Nan suddenly pushed the door open and walked in.
"Brother, the tax bureau has suddenly arrived. They say they need to examine our company's accounts for the past two years."
"Who is leading them?"
"I don't know. I heard it's someone newly promoted named Zhou Chaoxian."
Yu Min frowned slightly. Since the police began targeting Tian'an Group, this was the first time an official had come to their doorstep.
He had a vague premonition that with the tax bureau coming to audit, the police's net was about to close in.
Xiang Nan stepped forward and whispered, "Brother, with the tax bureau here, the police are probably not far behind.
This Gao fellow hasn't given any news for a while; I suspect he's being watched too. Why don't you leave the company temporarily before the police make their move?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Min's phone suddenly vibrated.
He glanced at the chat window that popped up on the software and urgently instructed, "Ah Nan, after the tax people leave, create some disturbance in the company to cover my escape."
Xiang Nan nodded in agreement, immediately turned, and walked out of the office to make arrangements.
An hour later.
Seeing that there were no problems with Tian'an Group's accounts, the tax officials who had come on a mission could only leave in disappointment.
Not long after they left the company, thick smoke suddenly billowed from the ninth floor, and flames surged out of several open windows, growing rapidly with the wind.
The entire building was immediately filled with the piercing sound of the fire alarm.
The fire lasted for less than five minutes, and before the fire trucks could arrive, it was extinguished.
When Ge Qing received the news from the surveillance team, his face instantly changed.
"Yu Min is going to run!"
He immediately ordered the surveillance team to enter the building to find the man.
At the same time, he quickly assembled all members of the task force, dispatched personnel to train stations, airports, and bus stations. He also notified traffic management to set up checkpoints on national roads, highways, and expressways entering and exiting the city.
If Yu Min's trace was found, immediate arrest would be carried out.
With all arrangements made, Ge Qing also prepared to leave the task force with two team members.
But before he could even walk out of the building, a familiar face walked towards him.
"Gao Fei!"