Chapter 689: Is There Another Mastermind?

A few days later, outside the ICU at San Francisco General Hospital.

Liu Yutong stood at the observation window, gazing through the glass at Bai Jingchen lying in the hospital bed, his body covered in tubes.

These past few days, she had come to check on him whenever she had a moment, but Chairman Bai still hadn’t stabilized.

As for Bai Shisui, she had hardly left the hospital at all.

Though she had long since stopped crying, her eyes were swollen like walnuts and she had lost weight.

“Still no improvement?” Liu Yutong asked the attending physician who had just walked over.

The doctor removed his mask and shook his head. “The situation is complicated. We removed the bullet, but can’t control the infection, and his kidney function is beginning to fail. We’ve used the best antibiotics and equipment available, but the patient is advanced in age, and his body was already weakened from years of overwork… Now it depends on whether he can pull through himself.”

“Do everything possible,” Liu Yutong said. “The best drugs, the best treatments—cost is not an issue!”

“We will do everything in our power,” the doctor assured her.

After the doctor left, Liu Yutong walked over and sat on a bench.

Bai Shisui seemed to find support, resting her head on Liu Yutong’s shoulder and sobbing softly. “Sister Yutong, I’m scared… If my father goes, what will I do…”

“Don’t talk like that. Uncle Bai will pull through.”

Liu Yutong wrapped an arm around her shoulder, comforting her. “You have to believe in your father. He’s Bai Jingchen, a man who’s weathered countless storms. He won’t fall so easily.”

Just then, Zhao Tianyi hurried over from the other end of the corridor.

Seeing Liu Yutong, he quickly approached and said quietly, “Young Mistress, we’ve made progress.”

Liu Yutong patted Bai Shisui’s back. “Shuishui, rest here for a moment. I need to handle something.”

The two walked to the lounge area at the end of the corridor.

Zhao Tianyi began his report: “Jess has now firmly seized power. Through his family’s channels, he bribed a mid-level leader within the Snakehead Gang and got information. The attack on Chairman Bai was indeed carried out by the Snakehead Gang, but the planner…”

He paused before continuing, “It might be connected to Zhao Weixiang.”

Liu Yutong’s gaze sharpened. “Zhao Weixiang? Isn’t he hiding in a Los Angeles casino? How is he connected to Uncle Bai?”

“That’s what makes this most puzzling.”

Zhao Tianyi adjusted his glasses and continued, “That Snakehead Gang leader said they took the job through a middleman. The middleman was also caught by Jess’s people and confessed that the employer was someone from Long Nation, and specifically from the Hong Kong side…”

“You mean the true mastermind behind Uncle Bai’s attack wasn’t the Snakehead Gang?” Liu Yutong asked.

Zhao Tianyi nodded. “Highly likely. The Snakehead Gang never moved so ruthlessly against Chairman Bai all these years, which means they were wary of him. This sudden action—I suspect someone behind the scenes promised them some benefit, making them take the risk. They probably even had a scapegoat lined up. If we hadn’t intervened in time, this case would likely have been written off as gang retaliation and closed carelessly.”

“So what’s the deal with Zhao Weixiang? How did he get mixed up with the Snakehead Gang?” Liu Yutong pressed.

Zhao Tianyi had clearly thought this through. “I suspect Zhao Weixiang himself is likely a major financial backer or even one of the bosses behind the Snakehead Gang, with considerable say. Otherwise, it’s hard to explain how he can spend day after day in casinos, throwing money around so lavishly without ever running out. The businesses the Snakehead Gang runs are all extremely profitable.”

“Young Mistress, we need to grab this guy as soon as possible. He’s too much trouble!”

“Later, in my capacity as special advisor, press the police officer in charge of this case about the progress. Their investigation is moving too slowly,” Liu Yutong said coldly.

Then she thought of something else. “Right, I’ll send you a list later with names of mostly political figures, many of them candidates in or considering running for office. Give it to Jess and have him use family resources and funds to connect with these people. We can invest more heavily if needed.”

Zhao Tianyi instantly understood her intention. “Political donations?”

“Exactly!” Liu Yutong nodded.

In the States, everyone from local council members to governors, congressmen, and even the President had to be elected, and elections required vast amounts of money.

Political donations were one of the legal channels. As long as they were declared according to regulations, both corporations and individuals could donate to candidates. These donations could help them advertise, hold rallies, and build campaign teams.

If they successfully took office, they naturally wouldn’t forget their biggest supporters.

Jess’s Corallo Family, though with some mafia background, had influence basically limited to the San Francisco area and couldn’t enter proper society.

The real mafia families had long stopped surviving through street brawls. Their networks had already penetrated political and business circles, giving them tremendous influence.

To put it bluntly, if the real mafia wanted to crush gangs like the Snakehead Gang or Hell’s Angels, they just needed to make a few phone calls.

If Jess wanted to grow quickly and perhaps become a true mafia godfather one day, he had to aim higher.

With Jess’s current status, if he tried to suck up to those big shots, they probably wouldn’t give him the time of day. That’s why her list only included rising figures who urgently needed funds and weren’t yet famous.

Of course, these currently obscure figures would definitely become political stars and big shots in the future.

Because the list came from her.

Zhao Tianyi understood perfectly. “I see. Jess is now the acting head of the Corallo Family, so he’s the perfect one to manage these relationships. It can expand his network and pave the way for our Wanlong Society’s future business in the States.”

Liu Yutong nodded. “Precisely.”

“Remember, everything must be legal and above board!”

“Understood!”

Zhao Tianyi pulled out a photograph and handed it to Liu Yutong. “This is a record Jess got from his police connections at Immigration. When Zhao Weixiang entered the country three months ago, the person who picked him up was a man named Chen Ming. This Chen Ming is the deputy director of the logistics department at Bai Group’s US branch and has worked at Bai Group for eight years.”

Liu Yutong took the photo, which showed an ordinary-looking middle-aged man of Long Nation descent. “Chen Ming… Does this person have any special background?”

“His personal background is quite ordinary, from a modest family with above-average ability.”

Zhao Tianyi adjusted his glasses with a hint of intrigue. “But his wife is a cousin of Chairman Bai’s wife on her side of the family. In other words, he’s connected to Madam Bai’s family.”

A thought suddenly struck Liu Yutong. “Before Uncle Bai’s incident this time, he had just prepared to transfer thirty percent of the shares to me…”

“Young Mistress, those thirty percent of shares are worth more than two billion US dollars. That amount of wealth is enough to make many people jealous, even desperate. If Chairman Bai were gone, this gift agreement could be challenged or even overturned,” Zhao Tianyi said meaningfully.

Liu Yutong’s eyes instantly grew sharp. “Go handle your business first. I’ll have Assistant Su send you the list later.”

“Yes, Young Mistress.”

Zhao Tianyi nodded, picked up his briefcase, and left.

Liu Yutong composed herself and returned to the ICU waiting area.

Before she even got close, she saw two more people by the bench, speaking in low voices with red-rimmed eyes to Bai Shisui.

One was an elegantly dressed woman of about fifty, her face haggard.

The other was a man in his forties, slightly overweight, his face also etched with grief.

……..

PS: I get the feeling many readers don’t like the overseas segments. If that’s really the case, I’ll wrap them up quickly. It’s snowing where I am, and the temperature suddenly dropped from 17-18 degrees to minus 8-9 degrees. This speed of temperature drop is insane! It’s making typing even more miserable.