Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Pei Yuming was a bit stunned, finding it hard to believe. His younger brother might be unmotivated, but he wasn’t stupid. “You mean he lost nearly a million from gambling and still didn’t stop?”

“No, according to our police technicians’ investigation, his account showed he had won three million eight hundred twenty thousand,” Cao Lei said, seeing Pei Yuming’s confusion and explaining: “This kind of online gambling scam follows basically the same pattern. The player transfers real money in, but the amount won on the backend can be manually edited. To withdraw, you have to reach a round number, or an amount they specify. Your brother kept transferring money, probably trying to withdraw the virtual winnings, but what he didn’t know is that even if he met the requirement, the other side would come up with all sorts of excuses not to let him withdraw, like requiring more security deposits or claiming operation failures, and so on, to keep tricking the victim into sending more money.”

“So he was scammed?”

“Yes.”

“Then…”

Pei Yuming still couldn’t believe it. A million-even before tonight, he wouldn’t have been able to come up with that much. His brother had transferred five hundred thousand in the first month alone. Where did he get the money? Even if Bai Xue and Lu Dong had paid him hush money, they couldn’t have given him that much.

Besides, Ah Cheng said he only found out about the relationship three months ago, but he had five hundred thousand half a year ago. Could he have borrowed it from someone else?

If it were stock trading, he could understand. Even though he didn’t play the stock market, he had heard about leverage and things like that-low principal, high returns, but once the position was liquidated, you’d face huge debts. But from what Cao Lei said, he had actually transferred nearly a million in solid cash. Even if he sold his house, it wouldn’t be enough!

“Then Officer Cao, do you know where he got the money? Can you guys find out?” Pei Yuming thought about it and asked anyway. From their earlier conversation, he could vaguely sense that Cao Lei didn’t like him asking questions. After all, he was the one being interrogated, and questioning the police was somewhat taboo.

But he really couldn’t help wanting to know. One thing after another, the brother he had thought was the most reliable and obedient had done so many unthinkable things behind his back. Had his docile obedience all these years just been an act?

However, fortunately, Cao Lei didn’t seem to mind and actually had a very good attitude, which made Pei Yuming feel even more that he hadn’t misjudged him. He truly was a good cop.

“We found out that your brother mortgaged his property at the bank and borrowed six hundred thousand. The remaining amounts weren’t large and were transferred from personal accounts to his name. I guess he borrowed them from others.”

That should be right. Pei Yuming nodded. He knew his brother had a few very good friends, supposedly doing better than him.

That was also why his brother kept putting off finding any random job. His brother always felt that the next one should be a decent job with high pay and good prospects. Otherwise, doing just anything was no different from drifting through life.

Pei Yuming had advised his brother more than once about his unrealistic ambitions, but every time his brother agreed nicely, only to continue doing as he pleased.

But his attitude was always so good, and combined with Pei Yuming’s preconceived notion of him being obedient, that for so long, he hadn’t even realized his brother was just going through the motions.

Thinking back now, he really wasn’t as honest and submissive as he had seemed.

But that old, shabby little house of his, less than sixty square meters-how could the bank have approved him for six hundred thousand? That’s impossible!
Pei Yuming looked at Cao Lei suspiciously and was about to speak when a familiar white light flashed. He sighed heavily. Forget it, he would go ask himself.

This time, Pei Yuming didn’t go home but went straight to his father’s place. Fortunately, they all lived in the same residential complex, so he didn’t waste time taking a taxi.

For the past six months or so, his younger brother had been living at their father’s place, usually taking care of the old man. Pei Yuming didn’t know what he did with the rest of his time, but now he knew-gambling.

Pei Yucheng was surprised to see his big brother at the door. He stepped aside to let him in. “Hey, aren’t we supposed to eat at your place later? What are you doing here?”

Pei Yuming took off his coat and hung it by the door before changing his shoes and coming in.

“I came because I need to talk to you,” he said, walking inside and looking around. “Where’s Dad? Did he go out?”

“Probably.” Pei Yucheng scratched his bird’s-nest hair, looking listless. He’d probably stayed up all night again and slept until just now. Since he stopped working, he often had his days and nights reversed; Pei Yuming had known that for a while.

“That works out,” Pei Yuming said, pulling him over to sit on the couch. “Some things are better if he doesn’t know.”

Pei Yucheng saw his big brother acting mysterious and leaned closer. “What’s up? Did you fight with your wife again?”

To Pei Yucheng, his big brother was a perfect role model, so he couldn’t imagine what he’d need him for, unless it was about relationships. He knew his brother cared about face and wouldn’t complain to outsiders about marital spats, so he could only come to him.

Seeing his concern, Pei Yuming’s feelings immediately grew complicated. He had intended to harshly interrogate him, but now he didn’t know how to start.

Seeing his brother’s apparent embarrassment, Pei Yucheng became even more certain it was a domestic matter. He patted his brother’s shoulder reassuringly. “I get it. Women do tend to overthink and cause drama, but who among us men can get by without their care? You’re so busy with work, and honestly, you do neglect your wife a bit. Even if you don’t sweet-talk her, at least bring a gift for holidays and such. If you don’t have time to shop, just let me know, and I’ll handle it for you!”

It had to be said, even in the current situation, hearing that as a big brother was heartwarming.

The two Pei brothers had always been close since childhood. Pei Yuming was the typical parental-type older brother, having looked after his younger sibling almost since they were kids.

Actually, it wasn’t that he didn’t know how to care for someone or wasn’t considerate. It was just that when there was already a habitual worrier in the household, he grew accustomed to slacking off. Over time, he took it for granted that breakfast would be bought when he got up, dinner would be hot when he came home, and even his daily shirts were automatically pressed. As long as he threw his dirty clothes in the hamper, they’d be magically clean the next day. The room never got dusty, the fridge always had cola, and everything Bai Xue did for the family was expected and necessary.

He seemed to suddenly grasp what she had been arguing with him about all along.

“Ah Cheng,” Pei Yuming sighed softly and still asked, “Are you gambling?”

Pei Yucheng’s hand, reaching for a glass, suddenly froze. After a couple of seconds, as if snapping out of it, he smiled and said, “Big Brother, what are you joking about? In this day and age, gambling is illegal. No matter how reckless I am, I wouldn’t do something like that!”