49: Chapter 49 The Hunt Begins

Seoul in the early morning was the same as usual, but a sudden storm of public opinion had been completely ignited.

Almost all news websites, TV stations, and social media platforms on The Peninsula were dominated by the same news.

#National Assembly Member Choi Deok-gyun under Investigation, Choi Star Shipping Suspected of Collusion between Government and Business!#

#Shocking Scandal! The Cui Family Suspected of Tens of Billions in Tax Evasion and Concealing Major Safety Accidents!#

Choi Star Shipping—a name fairly well-known in shipping on The Peninsula—became famous throughout The Peninsula overnight.

At the press conference, the prosecutor looked solemn, stating that Choi Deok-gyun had been summoned and that the public would be given the truth.

Choi Jae-ho's grandfather, National Assembly Member Choi Deok-gyun, was accused of using his position to accept huge bribes over the past ten years, and even lives were involved.

He had even secured several lucrative international routes for Choi Star Shipping and interfered in the formulation of relevant policies.

Meanwhile, Choi Jae-ho's father, Choi Cheol-min, the current chairman of Cui Star Shipping, was revealed to have illegally transferred over a hundred billion korean won in assets to overseas tax havens through complex offshore companies and shell accounts.

His mother was also implicated in the family's money-laundering network, with several priceless properties under her name confirmed to have been purchased with illegal gains.

The completeness of the evidence chain, the magnitude of the amount, and the heinousness of the methods shocked the entire Peninsula.

Online, public sentiment had reached a boiling point.

The public's anger was like a volcanic eruption; business partners who had once collaborated with the Cui Family were now distancing themselves, fearing they wouldn't be able to get away fast enough.

Cui Star Shipping's stock price plummeted in a cliff-like drop within just a few minutes of the market opening, directly triggering the circuit breaker mechanism.

Everyone knew that the Cui Family was finished.

...

In Gangnam District, inside Liu Zijun's duplex apartment.

Outside the window was a bustling world, but inside, it was peaceful.

Liu Zijun, wearing grey loungewear, sat at the bar counter, leisurely frying eggs for himself with one hand.

On the large LCD TV in the living room, the morning news was playing, and the female anchor repeatedly reported the Cui Family's shocking scandal in a clear and standard tone.

Jiang Hongshao, wearing a sexy silk nightgown, walked to his side barefoot and picked up the remote to turn up the volume.

She leaned close to Liu Zijun's ear, her breath like orchids, her voice carrying a hint of an excited tremor.

"Boss, Emily is really fast. In just a few hours, the whole Peninsula knows what kind of people the Cui Family are."

"Tsk tsk, a National Assembly member, a medium-sized chaebol..."

"And it's all because of a little artist like Sulli."

Liu Zijun put the fried eggs onto a plate and poured a glass of milk, strictly following Choi Sulli's instructions.

He glanced at Choi Deok-gyun's sanctimonious face on the TV screen, his eyes showing no emotion.

He said calmly, "It's just an appetizer. The main course hasn't been served yet."

Jiang Hongshao was taken aback, then understood his meaning, a cruel and charming smile curling on her lips.

"True, that piece of trash Choi Jae-ho—letting him go down with his family like this would indeed be too easy on him."

Liu Zijun didn't respond, just quietly ate his breakfast.

Just as Jiang Hongshao said, the news fully disclosed the crimes of Choi Deok-gyun and Choi Cheol-min, even digging up old stories from decades ago.

There were even lives involved.

But throughout the entire internet, from start to finish, there wasn't a single piece of information involving Choi Jae-ho.

The instigator, the culprit who once harbored ill intentions toward Choi Sulli, was perfectly isolated and unharmed amidst this monstrous wave sweeping through his entire family.

Jiang Hongshao leaned in to look at Liu Zijun's pectoral muscles and licked her lips.

"Emily has plenty of dirt on Choi Jae-ho. Prostitution, drug use, bullying artists..."

"Leaking just one would be enough to give him a hard time."

"Why..."

Liu Zijun pushed away her AI-perfect face and took a sip of milk, his voice terrifyingly calm.

"Because death would be a release for him."

"I want him alive, consciously alive, to watch with his own eyes as everything he owns is crushed bit by bit."

These words made even Jiang Hongshao shudder.

She looked at the man before her; he had such a handsome face, yet at this moment, it exuded a chilling coldness.

But she liked it so much.

Sure enough, catching Liu Zijun off guard, she slowly leaned over and lowered her head.

This time, Liu Zijun did not refuse.

...

At this moment, Choi Jae-ho was in the study of his top-tier luxury mansion in Seoul's Yongsan District, pacing back and forth like a trapped beast.

His father told him over the phone to leave The Peninsula quickly, while his mother wept beside him; the entire family was plunged into unprecedented chaos and despair.

He tried calling those powerful friends he usually called brothers, but all he got was the cold busy tone or perfunctory excuses.

He felt abandoned by the whole world.

"Why is this happening? Who on earth is messing with us?!"

He furiously smashed a precious blue-and-white porcelain vase onto the floor, shards flying everywhere.

His Manager scrambled in, his face as pale as paper.

"Choiza, this is bad! Some voices have started appearing online..."

Choi Jae-ho spun around, grabbed the Manager's collar, his eyes bloodshot, and roared, "What voices?!"

The assistant trembled and stammered, "It's about you! Some people are saying... this whole thing is personal revenge against you."

"But those voices dissipated quickly!"

Choi Jae-ho was stunned. Revenge against him?

He had done many things and couldn't immediately recall who it might be.

But he was also very relieved that he was still fine.

He still had a lot of money and plenty of overseas assets.

Moreover, his grandfather's and father's networks could still be used; as long as that person took action, the Cui Family wouldn't fall.

On this Peninsula controlled by chaebols, as long as the top-tier chaebols intervened, the Cui Family would remain the Cui Family.

Choi Jae-ho squeezed the phone in his hand tightly, then slowly let go.

With a grim face and gritted teeth, he dialed a number he was reluctant to call.

"Young Master Zheng! Haven't you always been interested in Girls Generation's Im Yoona? If I offer her to you, can you lend a hand to my Cui Family?"

A somewhat mocking laugh came from the other side: "You? Im Yoona is SM Entertainment Company's cash cow; would she listen to you?"

"Besides, do I need your help to get the woman I want? I don't play those dirty tricks."

Choi Jae-ho suddenly gritted his teeth: "What if I add Choi Sulli?"

A hint of interest came from the voice on the other side: "Now that's a bit interesting. The Choi Sulli that Lee Ryuk-hee wants?"

"Yes!"