Even After My Death-Chapter 391 - 302: Internet Celebrity Jiang Ning

Chen Deshuang’s deeds were utterly unconscionable.

Though the specific law he broke was unknown, he had thoroughly corrupted his conscience and morals.

When netizens condemned Chen Deshuang, they were equally repulsed by the protective umbrella behind him.

Zhang Yonghao’s interview response not only failed to redeem Ocean Fundraising’s reputation, but instead made netizens feel that the company was nothing but a quagmire.

When the stock market opened in the afternoon, Ocean Fundraising’s value evaporated by tens of millions.

Jiang Ning watched these rumors, pondering her next move.

Before she set out from Capital City with Qi Xingzhou, her initial thought was to send the morning’s cybercriminal gang to the police station. However, much to her surprise, the criminals popped up one after another, like candied hawthorns on a stick—finish one, and there was another waiting.

Jiang Ning scrutinized carefully.

While numerous netizens were criticizing Zhang Yonghao online, their comments only represented personal opinions.

The public condemnation was based on speculation and lacked any solid evidence.

Without proof, the police would not rashly take Zhang Yonghao for investigation unless Chen Deshuang exposed him.

Jiang Ning did not know if Chen Deshuang would do so, but until news of Zhang Yonghao’s arrest emerged, she retained the right and the opportunity to undertake the mission.

Jiang Ning turned and said to Qi Xingzhou sitting beside her, "We might be going back later."

Most of the time, Qi Xingzhou was like a silent shadow, quietly following Jiang Ning without a fuss.

When Jiang Ning was busy with her own affairs, he never intruded but remained tranquilly by her side, patiently waiting for her.

Like an obedient and sensible large dog, he would watch Jiang Ning with his dark, lucid eyes.

But as soon as Jiang Ning’s gaze shifted to him, he would instantly transition from quiet to lively, particularly when Jiang Ning spoke to him. Even if Qi Xingzhou remained silent, his entire body radiated a jubilant aura.

If he were indeed a large dog, this would be the moment its tail would wag enthusiastically.

As their eyes met, Qi Xingzhou nodded happily, signaling he was fine with going back at any time.

"We still have one bad guy to catch, this one." Jiang Ning said, picking up her phone and pointing for Qi Xingzhou to see.

On the screen of Jiang Ning’s phone was a photo of Zhang Yonghao.

It was freshly unearthed by netizens.

Carefully, Jiang Ning recounted the events Chen Deshuang and Yuan Aijuan had just engaged in and then pointed to Zhang Yonghao on her phone, saying, "The Chen Deshuang we just caught, the reason he was so arrogant is because he was colluding with this Zhang Yonghao in secret."

"Half of the money that Chen Deshuang embezzled ended up in Zhang Yonghao’s pockets. With his high position, Zhang Yonghao covered for Chen Deshuang, which is why he was so brazen and shameless."

"Now that Chen Deshuang is in custody, but Zhang Yonghao isn’t, so we’ll take him down too before we head back to Capital City."

Qi Xingzhou’s eyes, dark and deep, fixed on the photo of Zhang Yonghao on Jiang Ning’s phone screen, his ears perked up, listening intently.

When Jiang Ning finished speaking, he nodded seriously, "Okay, let’s catch him."

He was committed to accomplishing anything Jiang Ning set out to do.

Qi Xingzhou raised his hand, his pale, slender fingers touching Jiang Ning’s phone screen with almost eager anticipation, "Where is he?"

"Don’t know yet." Jiang Ning shook her head.

The truth was, she did know.

After the System issued the mission, Jiang Ning had already seen Zhang Yonghao’s location on the System’s map.

From the location provided by the System, Zhang Yonghao should currently be at Ocean Fundraising’s Wangjiang District branch office.

From noon until now, Jiang Ning could see that Zhang Yonghao had not left the place once; he must have been in the company’s office all along.

Without any tangible evidence, it was clearly unrealistic to barge into someone’s office to arrest them.

Nevertheless, Jiang Ning was not in a hurry.

Judging by the events of the day, she and Ge Dagen had continuously held the advantageous ground in public opinion.

The one who should be anxious now wasn’t her, but someone else.

"Let’s go, I’ll take you for some milk tea." Jiang Ning stood up, patting Qi Xingzhou’s shoulder, "You’ve had milk tea before, right? It’s sweet and the taste isn’t bad. Of course, if you don’t like milk tea, there are also many other flavors of fruit tea and dairy products to try."

...

Jiang Ning’s guess was correct.

While she and Qi Xingzhou sat in the milk tea shop enjoying their drinks, someone was as anxious as an ant in a hot pot, sitting in an office, desperately thinking of how to quell this storm.

At the moment, Zhang Yonghao’s mood was so agitated that the thought of strangling Chen Deshuang had crossed his mind.

"If it weren’t for Chen Deshuang being such a screw-up, he wouldn’t have suddenly been exposed to public opinion, and even the company’s upper management just called me. If I don’t handle this properly, I’ll end up getting fired just like him!"

Zhang Yonghao has not been fired yet, but it’s not because the company is merciful. Zhang Yonghao has been working at Ocean Fundraising for many years and has climbed to his current position with great difficulty, amassing a certain network and resources.

It’s not easy for the company to fire him.

However, the company also issued Zhang Yonghao a final ultimatum: he has a maximum of three days to settle this matter and make sure it doesn’t affect the company’s reputation.

Zhang Yonghao sat on his stool, frowning as he thought about the situation.

He didn’t contact Chen Deshuang, who had already been taken away by the police.

In order not to leave any loopholes, every time Chen Deshuang wanted to share the spoils with him, he met with Chen Deshuang privately and had Chen hand him cash.

Zhang Yonghao never accepted transfers or red envelopes from Chen Deshuang, for fear of leaving evidence.

Plus, being low-key by nature and having taken so much money from Chen Deshuang, he never mentioned it to anyone—not even his wife knew about it.

This is also why Zhang Yonghao immediately called Chen Deshuang to warn him not to talk nonsense as soon as he learned about the incident.

Zhang Yonghao took out his cell phone and, seeing the comments by netizens, scowled and almost smashed his phone in anger.

He quickly dialed a number and said to the person on the other end, "What happened? Why are there even more people cursing me after my interview went out? Did your ’water army’ not get arranged?"

"They were arranged," sighed the person on the other end of the phone. "Brother, it’s not that I’m not helping you, but the netizens are furious right now. Our ’water army’ was useless once they went out, getting completely overwhelmed by the regular netizens..."

Utterly useless.

Zhang Yonghao really wanted to curse out loud but forcibly held back.

This was someone Zhang Yonghao had met at a dinner. He claimed to have started a network marketing company, which was actually just a ’water army.’

After the issue with Ocean Fundraising trended, this person took the initiative to contact Zhang Yonghao, hoping to curry favor and suggested that Zhang Yonghao accept an interview. He promised to arrange a ’water army’ to turn around both Zhang Yonghao and Ocean Fundraising’s tarnished names.

Now the result was: ...

Zhang Yonghao took a deep breath.

Fearing that he couldn’t suppress his anger and would utter some ungracious words.

The other party seemed a bit guilty as well and, after thinking for a bit, took the initiative to offer a strategy to Zhang Yonghao. "Brother Zhang, why don’t you do this? You have a relative in the Yuan family, don’t you? That girl from the Yuan family got arrested, so why don’t you contact Vice President Yuan? He must have a way!"

"The Yuan family’s girl?" Zhang Yonghao frowned. "What do you mean?"

Zhang Yonghao didn’t like to scroll through short videos and didn’t have a short video app on his phone. This Douyin app was something he had just downloaded.

He only searched for news about himself and Ocean Fundraising and didn’t scroll through other videos, so he wasn’t aware that the police had arrested two people.

"Yuan Aijuan, your wife’s younger sister, she and your brother-in-law were arrested together!"

The other party’s words took Zhang Yonghao by surprise.

He immediately hung up and called his wife, Yuan Su.

The line was busy.

Zhang Yonghao hung up, tried calling again, but it was still busy.

Zhang Yonghao frowned impatiently and then dialed his father-in-law, Yuan Zhenyang’s number, only to find it busy as well.

Instantly, Zhang Yonghao surmised that the two were probably talking to each other.

A few minutes later, Yuan Su called Zhang Yonghao back.

As soon as the call connected, Yuan Su asked Zhang Yonghao, "What on earth have you two been doing in secret? My sister and her husband have been arrested!"

As a couple with a typically bad relationship, Zhang Yonghao frowned at Yuan Su’s impatient tone and said, "What could I possibly have done? Who was it that kept nagging at me to find Chen Deshuang a job because he was out of work? And now I’m about to lose my job because of him!"

Yuan Su was taken aback. "How could it..."

Zhang Yonghao quickly exaggerated his current predicament.

Of course, he concealed the dealings and splitting of profits with Chen Deshuang.

Yuan Su felt a flutter of unease, cursing to herself that Chen Deshuang really was worthless, causing not only her sister but now also Zhang Yonghao to nearly lose his job.

When Yuan Zhenyang had called her earlier, he didn’t mention anything about Yuan Zhengjuan’s clandestine activities, just that Yuan Zhengjuan had been taken away by the police because she issued false medical orders and collected fees under Chen Deshuang’s instigation, leading to an internet celebrity reporting them.

Yuan Su said, "That Ge Dagen’s son, Ge Xiuliang, is my patient. My father and I were just discussing how to handle this matter. Come to the hospital, and let’s discuss it together."

Zhang Yonghao’s eyebrows twitched. "Can you contact that internet celebrity? I’d like to have a talk with her in person."

Yuan Su replied, "We can’t get in touch with her, but Ge Dagen has her contact information. Come to the hospital first, and then let’s figure out what to do."

Standing up, Zhang Yonghao said, "Alright, I’ll come over now."