He explained his thought process on the plane: Bai Xue was talking about both properties and Hu Yongzhu. Hu Yongzhu had already been arrested, and his properties were all under close examination by the police, so it couldn’t be a property that Hu Yongzhu still owned—it must be a property that he used to own.

“Here’s what I’m thinking,” Xingyu said. “If it’s a property that Hu Yongzhu used to own, I’m going to guess that he must have sold the property to someone else in the List. If Bai Xue is having issues with the property but can’t get in contact with the person who bought it on paper, and if his next resort is trying to contact Hu Yongzhu again—”

“Where are you going with this?” Weiran asked. “Just skip the reasoning.”

“That last deal that Liu Baiyan wanted to finalize before he died—they were properties that he was buying from Hu Yongzhu. I told you that some of them were commercial properties, but there were residential properties, as well. I think Bai Xue might be in one of those properties.”

“Liu Baiyan’s properties haven’t been seized yet?”

“We’re further down in terms of immediate threats since we’ve been cooperating with the police. They’ve been keeping an eye on Xiao-Xiao and me, but for now they’re concentrating on making sure people like Hu Yongzhu and Chen Jun get put away. I certainly don’t think they’ll be looking very closely at our residential properties.”

“Do you remember the addresses?”

“That’s why we’re going back to the office.”

There were two possibilities. Xingyu was leaning toward one that was further inland because he thought the other one, right on the coast, might have been intended for Xiaokai; but of course they intended to check both if necessary.

“Should we split up?” Weiran asked as they headed to the car. “You go to one, I go to the other?”

“Will you be able to do what’s necessary?”

“You know I will.”

“Fine. We’ll split up then. Just make sure to stay in contact with me.”

“I want to talk to Xiaokai first.”

Xingyu pulled open the driver’s side door, but he didn’t get in. “You can’t tell him what we’re about to do.”

“I won’t. It’s just…if something goes wrong, I want to make sure I’ve said what I need to.”

Xingyu wet his lips. He seemed to consider getting inside, then consider closing the door, but ultimately decided on staying right where he was. “A-Wei, I can’t promise that Xiao-Xiao can give you the answer that you want.”

“I know.”

“You know?” Xingyu looked doubtful.

“I already told him how I feel.”

“How you…feel.”