"Gu Lou, are you really in league with them? No wonder they spoke up for you when you got into trouble last year."
"Last year, we couldn't figure out why they showed up so quickly and spoke for you. Now I finally understand. You were in it together all along."
"I knew it. Why else would the Sun family not mention anyone else but you and your connection to them? If it weren't for the Hong Kong businessman's staged act, you would have been kicked out by us long ago."
"Comrade Zhang Liunian wouldn't act so recklessly without reason. Gu Lou, you need to give everyone an explanation."
"..."
Gu Lou felt his head spinning from the barrage of accusations. Earlier, he had been solely focused on scheming against Zhang Liunian, wanting both his money and his life. He hadn't expected Zhang Liunian to be so formidable that he would outright reveal his connections to the Hong Kong businessman and admit to hiring assassins from Hong Kong.
Hiring assassins was one thing, but hiring assassins from Hong Kong was another. Such individuals weren't easily accessible; one needed their approval or willingness to undertake the task. He hadn't anticipated this matter being brought to light. If he had known Zhang Liunian would expose it, he might as well have hired someone from Pengcheng. After all, they were equally useless, having failed to do anything to Zhang Liunian so far.
"Everyone, don't be fooled by him. Zhang Liunian is my enemy. You can't believe what he says, especially about me."
Seeing everyone glaring at him with murderous intent, as if they wanted to devour him alive, Gu Lou hurriedly tried to explain. His words did hold some logic; Zhang Liunian and Gu Lou had a deep-seated feud stemming from the death of a child, making Zhang Liunian's testimony about Gu Lou potentially unreliable. However, Gu Lou's involvement in the previous year's incident had left a lingering doubt in their minds, making them suspect his connection to the Hong Kong businessmen.
"Whether he's connected to the Hong Kong businessmen or not, you just need to check out the new private bank that just opened in Pengcheng. Gu Lou personally went out of his way to help them attract business. If he has no connection to the bank's owner, I won't believe it." Zhang Liunian, noticing that everyone was starting to doubt Gu Lou, immediately fanned the flames. It would be great if he could use this opportunity to expose Gu Lou's relationship with the Hong Kong businessmen. If Gu Lou were to find himself in trouble, he wouldn't have the time to seek revenge on Zhang Liunian. As for whether Gu Lou would then turn to the Hong Kong businessmen for support, that wouldn't be Zhang Liunian's concern; it would be the concern of all the members of the National Business Association present.
"What do you mean? Are you implying that the bank was set up by the Hong Kong businessmen?" Wen Qinmin was the first to be enraged by this statement. The other members were equally shocked, their mouths agape as they stared at Zhang Liunian, as if trying to discern if he was lying. However, after a long look, they couldn't find any trace of a joke on Zhang Liunian's face. Instantly, they became agitated and started talking amongst themselves.
"Comrade Zhang Liunian, what do you mean by that? Are you saying that bank was established by the Hong Kong businessmen?"
"Comrade Zhang Liunian, clarify what you're saying. What exactly is going on? We've all deposited money there."
"That's right. We listened to Gu Lou and deposited our money."
"..."
Seeing their anxious and angry reactions, Zhang Liunian replied, "Can't you ask Gu Lou about that? He knows everything."
Gu Lou's forehead broke out in a sweat, his mind unsettled. How could Zhang Liunian guess that the bank was orchestrated by President Chen and his associates? Wasn't he just new to Pengcheng? With no contacts and no information, how did he find out about this? If Zhang Liunian could hear Gu Lou's thoughts, he would say it was purely analytical. Such a large-scale scam as a private bank, with its owner vanishing into thin air, was not something an ordinary person could pull off. The members of the National Business Association were even less capable; they were the type who only followed the Hong Kong businessmen and couldn't think for themselves, so how could they have set this up? Moreover, Gu Lou had been in constant contact with the Hong Kong businessmen, and if he was leading this endeavor, excluding the National Business Association members, it could only be the Hong Kong businessmen. It was easy to deduce, the only unknown was how many people were involved.
"Gu Lou, didn't you say that bank was really good and advised everyone to deposit their money? So it turns out it was set up by those Hong Kong businessmen? You're setting us up! You're a spy, a traitor!"
Wen Qinmin was furious that Gu Lou was actually involved with the Hong Kong businessmen and had helped them swindle the members of the National Business Association. Although no problems had surfaced yet, based on previous incidents, he knew it was only a matter of time. Once that time came, it would surely be another case of absconding with funds, and they would once again have no recourse, their years of hard work wasted. With this thought, Wen Qinmin's gaze towards Gu Lou became even colder. This Gu Lou was truly betraying them, helping the Hong Kong businessmen swindle their own people. He would not tolerate such a person any longer. Their collaboration was directly canceled.
"Traitor! Get out of our National Business Association!"
"You damned spy, trying to swindle us! Gu Lou, I'm your sworn enemy."
"Gu Lou, you've truly disappointed us. You know how badly the Hong Kong businessmen have swindled us members of the National Business Association, yet you still help them target us. From now on, we are no longer partners. I will cease providing you with any raw materials."
"I won't cooperate with a traitor either. I will not order any products from you in the future."
"Gu Lou, last time we were swindled, wasn't it also your doing? President Sun said last time that you and the Hong Kong businessmen entered and exited the Pengcheng Hotel on the same day. The evidence was solid then. If you called that a coincidence last time, what about this time? Is it also a coincidence? Too many coincidences lead to a conspiracy."
"What coincidence? I think Gu Lou is the Hong Kong businessman spy who's been hidden in our association all along. Otherwise, why has he always been fine when we've all been swindled? He always claimed it was luck, but after so many times, it's not luck, it's that he knew the truth all along."
"I remember too. The Hong Kong businessmen have swindled us several times, big and small, but the Gu family has always been unscathed. Doesn't that prove his wrongdoing? I think he's a traitor."
"Gu Lou, damn it, if you don't give us a clear explanation today, we won't let you off."
"..."
What was supposed to be a project meeting was, due to Zhang Liunian's continuous revelations, directly dragging Gu Lou into an abyss. Gu Lou's scalp tingled as he looked at the faces filled with murderous intent, and in his heart, he cursed Zhang Liunian's entire lineage. If it weren't for this garrulous Zhang Liunian, he wouldn't be facing this. How hateful! If he could escape, he would take Zhang Liunian's life. However, now was not the time to dwell on that; he had to explain, otherwise, he might truly be torn apart by these people.