There were few cars on the road, and the car was quiet except for the recording playing.
Wei Zijin leaned back in the passenger seat and listened as Wang Xiaoliang's voice came through the recording. "...Why can't I be someone who cultivates himself, someone who cares about the world? Lead a group of people to prosperity. Some people get rich and donate buildings to schools. I have no interest in that..."
"Stop," Wang Xiaoliang called out.
Wei Zijin paused it. "What is it?"
"Play that back."
"...Some people get rich and donate buildings to schools..."
Wang Xiaoliang rested one hand on the steering wheel. "Donating buildings to schools...could Li Xiude have been talking about Brother Qiang?"
Wei Zijin frowned. "Very possible. But hardly anyone knows about Brother Qiang donating that building."
"Who knows? Other than us, who else?"
Wei Zijin thought for a moment. "I remember Lanxiang mentioning it at a dorm get-together. She was angry then, saying the university had taken back Hongbin Tower, and now we had to pick a venue every time we got together. She felt their donation had been a waste...There's Haiyan, too. She's close to Lanxiang, so she might know."
"If he heard it from one of those people, who do you think would tell Li Xiude?"
"Definitely not Fenda. Zhifei wouldn't now, either. Could it have been Lanxiang herself? Are they that close already? That's way too fast. Surely not!"
Wang Xiaoliang shook his head. "You said Zhifei wouldn't now-what about before? Could she have told Zhao Shengkai? Could Fenda have mentioned it to Ouyang Hai?"
He paused, his voice sinking. "Shit. Could Li Xiude's business partner be Zhao Shengkai?"
Wei Zijin froze.
"Look up Sanmu Group again," Wang Xiaoliang said, watching the road ahead. "Last time, we were too focused on looking