"Please wait a moment; he'll be back soon."

After hanging up the phone, Aoyama Haruko, with her large belly, walked back into the living room and said to the middle-aged man sitting on the sofa.

The middle-aged man looked to be under fifty, was a bit overweight, but had very fair skin and was dressed in an expensive, tasteful suit. Hearing her words, he quickly stood up and bowed politely, "Hi! Thank you, I truly apologize for the intrusion."

"Not at all, please have some tea," Aoyama Haruko said with a slight smile, sitting down to browse through parenting books.

It would be awkward to sit in silence, and since the middle-aged man wanted to ingratiate himself, he initiated a conversation, "Madam, may I ask how many months along you are?"

"Ah?" Aoyama Haruko, engrossed in her book, didn't hear clearly and looked up at him with curiosity.

The middle-aged man smiled and gently pointed at her belly, "I was asking how many months pregnant you are."

"Oh, almost six months," Aoyama Haruko touched her belly, her face radiating with the glow of motherhood.

"That's wonderful. In another four months, a new life will be brought into this world," the middle-aged man spoke with emotion, then, with a smile, he continued, "Having Mr. Aoyama as a father and Minister Aoyama as a great-uncle is a blessing for the child. He's already won at the starting line, truly enviable."

Clearly, he had at least preliminarily looked up information on Xiu Xin and avoided the embarrassing mistake of referring to the child in Haruko's belly as belonging to Xiu Xin.

Though, the child was indeed Xiu Xin's.

Aoyama Haruko smiled gracefully, choosing not to respond.

The middle-aged man then began talking about the time when his own child was born, which immediately piqued Aoyama Haruko's interest, and the two of them struck up a conversation.

They were interrupted only by the sound of the doorbell.

"Ding-dong, ding-dong!"

"It must be Xiu Xin who's back," Aoyama Haruko hurried to open the door, and indeed it was Aoyama Xiu Xin, "Xiu Xin, you're back. The guest is still waiting for you."

"Mm-hmm," Aoyama Xiu Xin responded, changed his shoes, and entered, immediately noticing the middle-aged man seated on the sofa, with a subconscious sense of familiarity.

But he couldn't quite recall where he had seen him before.

The middle-aged man stood up and bowed first, with the utmost respect, "Minister Aoyama, I am Yatada Haojie, President of Yatada Financial Corporation. It was somewhat presumptuous of me to come unannounced, please do forgive me."

Upon hearing the self-introduction, Aoyama Xiu Xin suddenly realized where he had seen him before, his memory jogged by the details he had read, and he guessed the purpose of the visit.

It's like not knowing the stone underfoot is hot until it burns you.

What took you so long?

"Ah, President Yatda, please have a seat," Aoyama Xiu Xin handed his coat to Aoyama Haruko, gestured towards the sofa with a wave of his hand, and sat down himself, "Is President Yatda here because of that case reported in the newspaper this morning?"

Aoyama Haruko tactfully went upstairs. Despite having enjoyed the conversation with Yatada Haojie, she didn't plan to speak for him in front of Xiu Xin.

Seeing this, Yatada Haojie was somewhat disappointed.

He had just gone to great lengths to provide so much sentimental value, yet received no reciprocation.

Once Aoyama Xiu Xin sat down, Yatada Haojie dared to sit as well, sitting straight as a schoolchild, he complimented, "Minister Aoyama, you are truly wise to see through my intentions at a glance."

"That flattery is a bit forced," Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head indifferently, leaning back and twisting his sore neck, "What do you want?"

"I want to make friends with Minister Aoyama, and this is a little token of my intentions. Please accept it," said Yatada Haojie, without mentioning the guns and people that had been detained, he picked up several gift bags from beside his feet and handed them over.

When the police headquarters announced a strict crackdown on gun trafficking, and his company was caught in police sting operations, he realized he was being specially targeted. If he didn't spend money to ensure his safety, he'd certainly be made an example of.

As long as he could establish a connection with Aoyama Xiu Xin, it wouldn't matter if the contraband and people detained this time weren't recoverable.

At least he could ensure smooth sailing in the future.

Aoyama Xiu Xin exhaled, leaned forward without any airs, and rummaged through the gift bags. He had expected a surprise but found they were filled only with cash.

And the amount was even less than he had anticipated.

How vulgar! Unbearably vulgar!

"Is this how you test an official?" Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head, listlessly grabbed a handful of cash, shook it, and then threw it back, "Tell me, which official wouldn't be tested by this?"

As a Sky Locust Loyal Minister tested by alcohol, beauty, fame, and money, this small amount of cash wouldn't sway his resolve.

"Hey!" Yatada Haojie stood up hurriedly, bowing and scraping, "Minister Aoyama, please calm your anger, you misunderstood. This was merely a meeting gift. If I'm fortunate enough to become friends with you, I have more valuable gifts to offer."

In fact, this was all he had prepared; he simply hadn't expected Aoyama Xiu Xin to be so greedy, or his appetite so large that this wouldn't satisfy him, so he amended his statement on the spot.

"What do you mean? So you brought these things to test me?" Xiu Xin Aoyama suddenly furrowed his brows, grabbed a handful of money and smashed it into his face, cursing loudly, "Idiot! Who do you think you are to test me? Trying to give gifts like others do, if you can't afford it, don't bother giving anything, and stop humiliating yourself here!"

The bundle of banknotes hit Yatada Haojie's face heavily, with a snap, the binding suddenly broke, and the banknotes scattered on the ground like snowflakes.

Yatada Haojie felt a burning pain on his face.

The physical pain was secondary; it was the humiliation that pricked his soul like needles.

He itched to erupt on the spot, to speak his mind, to sincerely greet the other party's female relatives.

But a shred of remaining reason forced him to suppress his rage, and biting his lip, he said: "Hey! Yatada knows he's wrong, and I ask Minister Aoyama to be generous and not take offense, I am willing to prepare another significant gift to apologize for my rudeness today."

"Idiot!" Hearing this, Xiu Xin Aoyama cursed again, stood up, and with a face full of righteous indignation, pointed at Yatada Haojie's nose and said with conviction, "Who do you think I am? A corrupt official? Do you think I'm soliciting a bribe from you? This is not only an insult to my noble character but also an insult to the sacred law! Absolutely ridiculous!"

"Take these things and get out, the case will be handled as it should be, if you're innocent, the police won't wrong a good person, if you're guilty, then the police will certainly not let any criminal off!"

Not to mention that he had already taken money from the Titan Gang and decided to use Yatada Corporation, this unsightly, clueless arms trafficking group, as a warning to others.

Merely the level of generosity in Yatada Haojie's first-time gift-giving was not enough to sway him.

The money just now might have seemed like a lot, but based on his vast experience with corruption, he judged that it definitely wouldn't exceed one million dollars. Was he treating him like a beggar?

The Titan Gang had already given him gold coins worth three million dollars in just one or two months through various methods.

Comparing the two, it was clear who stood higher, it was no wonder how they expanded beyond the United States towards the world.

That was why international corporations had such vision.

"Minister Aoyama..." Faced with the furious Xiu Xin Aoyama, Yatada Haojie was somewhat caught off guard.

In his opinion, even if Xiu Xin Aoyama found his gift too small, he shouldn't have been that brutally straightforward. He should have at least allowed him a chance to increase the amount offered!

Xiu Xin Aoyama looked stern and impatiently interrupted him, pointing at the door, "Get out! I do not share the sky with evil, don't force me to throw you out! If you leave now, you can still maintain some dignity."

"Hey! Then I'll take my leave, sorry for the disturbance," said Yatada Haojie. Even though he was extremely reluctant, at that moment, he could only pick up the money that had dropped to the ground, pick up his gift bag, and turn to leave.

After the door closed, Aoyama Haruko came down the stairs, supporting herself on the handrail, and looked at Xiu Xin Aoyama with an admiring face, saying, "I heard everything just now, Xiu Xin, you are truly remarkable. In face of the temptation of money, you adhere to your true self and remain unmoved. Our child will definitely be proud to have a father like you."

As she said this, she touched her belly, "When you are born, make sure to learn from your father."

"I'm not short on money, I just want to do something for the citizens," Xiu Xin Aoyama looked at her and said seriously, "I have to set an example for our child!"

Walking out the door, Yatada Haojie looked back at Xiu Xin Aoyama's house with a dark expression, muttered a curse in his native language under his breath, and headed towards his car.

He couldn't believe that Xiu Xin Aoyama wouldn't take bribes, but it was precisely that he refused his bribe that made it clear that he intended to drive him into a corner - how could he not be furious?

At the same time, he felt a strong sense of crisis and urgency.

Followed by a wave of helplessness, after all, within the Hokkaido Police System, Xiu Xin Aoyama was the real boss. If he couldn't settle things with him, even if by chance he could take care of his subordinates, it would be futile.

What was he supposed to do next?

"Ding-a-ling! Ding-a-ling!"

Just about to start the car and leave, his phone rang.

"Speak," he answered with an irritable tone.

"President, Miyashita Naoyuki wants to see you!" An excited and hurried voice came through from his secretary.

"Who?" Yatada Haojie was startled.

"Miyashita Naoyuki," the secretary repeated, further adding, "The same Mr. Naoyuki who's rumored to be Mayor Miyashita's illegitimate son wants to meet you."

"When?" Yatada Haojie immediately became excited. Of course he knew who Miyashita Naoyuki was, he had just doubted his own ears, after all, he and such a person had never had any interaction.

Because he wasn't at the same level.

But now the other party wanted to meet him, which clearly meant that there must be something where they needed him, offering him a chance to escape his predicament. If Miyashita Naoyuki was willing to intervene, would Xiu Xin Aoyama dare not pay respect?

"Tonight, in VIP Room 303 at xx Club."

"Please tell Mr. Naoyuki I will definitely be on time!" Yatada Haojie said gravely, hanging up the phone then, and looking through the car window at Xiu Xin Aoyama's house one more time, he sneered, "We'll see about that."

It was like finding a place of hope when all seemed lost, the dark clouds in his heart were swept away.

He then stepped on the accelerator and drove away swiftly.

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