1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 548 House Arrest
As Tatiana said, if you suspect someone of having a problem, you can get rid of them without evidence.

Normally, during critical periods of power transition in the Soviet Union, even if Natasha carefully crafted layers of identity, she still couldn't even get on the fringes of the Ye family group.

But Zhai Yuan's appearance gave her the opportunity to get close to him under the guise of cultural exchange.

During the month or so since arriving in Hong Kong, Natasha has diligently recorded every move of the Far East Club members.

Zhai Yuan appeared quite confident in his territory, and he did things without any pretense. This was the first time Natasha had witnessed how ruthless it could be to form cliques.

"A capitalist through and through!"

Natasha muttered to herself that the foreseeable future is that whatever Zhai Yuan spends in Hong Kong today, he will earn back ten or a hundred times more from the Soviet Union in the future.

Fortunately, he had already obtained solid evidence that Tatiana, as Ye Liqing's second daughter, had brazenly led high-ranking Moscow officials indulging in debauchery in Hong Kong. If he could bring this information back to the Security Committee, he would have successfully completed his mission, and what awaited these club members today would surely be cold shackles.

"As the instigator of everything, Zhai Yuan's fate will definitely be even worse..."

In her room at the Peninsula Hotel, Natasha leaned against the headboard, a hint of conflict on her face.

From filming "Iron Man" to coming to Hong Kong, she gained a deeper understanding of Zhai Yuan through various channels. In addition to the label of evil capitalist, he also has titles such as educator, outstanding youth, and feminist pioneer. Even passersby on the street have a good reputation for Mr. Zhai.

There doesn't seem to be a clear dividing line between good and bad people.

Natasha pursed her lips and tapped her fingertips lightly on the bedside table, where her spoils from this period of time were kept.

Once returned, the fate of Zhai Yuan and the Ye Group could very well be completely rewritten.

But now a hint of hesitation arose in her heart.

However, this hesitation lasted only a moment. Natasha took a deep breath, and her sapphire eyes once again revealed a decisive look.

"Only by completing this task can we help Teacher Alina obtain the exemption documents. I have no other choice."

Natasha clenched her fist, suppressing her hesitation, as if trying to convince herself: "Besides, he treated me like that in Yekaterinburg, he should have been hanged long ago... At most, after handing the evidence over to the committee, we can immediately notify him to stay away from Moscow, so that the only loss would be his Far Eastern Bank business... It's ridiculous that I'm thinking so much for a capitalist!"

As I was caught in a dilemma, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Lizhi's voice rang out from outside the door: "Miss Natasha, are you available now? Mr. Zhai would like to meet with you."

Natasha quickly sat up, her bare feet touching the floor: "Wait a moment!"

A few minutes later, the woman, dressed neatly, opened the door and smiled at Secretary Li outside.

"Mr. Zhai, is there anything urgent?"

"He's waiting for you downstairs, but I don't know the specifics."

Lizhi subtly glanced at the White Russian woman in front of her, her eyes lowering slightly as she recalled the conversation between Tatiana and Zhai Yuan.

Spy? A word that seems too distant from ordinary people.

When Tatiana coldly announced that she would get rid of this woman, Secretary Li felt as if it were a scene from a movie.

But he probably wouldn't do that kind of thing, right?
Lizhi's heart raced slightly as she pondered what would happen if Natasha left the hotel today and encountered some mishap, wondering if she would be considered an accomplice...

"Miss Li, won't you come downstairs with me?"

Natasha's voice interrupted Lizhi's thoughts.

Seeing that the other person had already reached the elevator, Lizhi smiled slightly flusteredly and quickly followed.

In the elevator, Natasha was unaware of Lizhi's changing emotions of worry for her. Instead, she felt sorry for the secretary who had left a good impression on her. If Zhai Yuan were to be put on the defensive by the Security Committee this time, she and another girl named Ye Yuqing would probably be very sad...

Toshie: I'm so sorry, Miss Natasha.
Natasha: I'm sorry, Miss Secretary
The two women in the elevator each had their own thoughts. With a ding, the elevator doors opened.

As Zhai Yuan stepped out of the hotel lobby, his Bentley with the iconic license plate number 91 was already parked by the roadside. Through the car window, Mr. Zhai waved to the Belarusian woman who had just walked out of the hotel with a bright smile.

…………

At the entrance to the townhouse area at 2 Barker Road, a new gold-painted sign has been hung.

Far East Guild Hall.

The Bentley arrived at the villa area along the mountain road. The car door opened, and Zhai Yuan got out of the car with a lazy gait.

Natasha followed behind and got out of the car, her eyes curiously taking in the surrounding mountain scenery.

The air was calm halfway up the mountain, and a gentle mountain breeze, carrying a moist scent, rustled through the branches of the Norfolk Island pines.

"I forgot to tell Miss Natasha that this is the newly established clubhouse of the Far East Club. Members will take some time each year to get together here."

Zhai Yuan raised his hand, lit a Double Happiness cigarette, and looked at Natasha with a smile, saying, "Although I'm only bringing you here now, I think you'll be very interested in this place?"

Natasha asked probingly, "Why do you say that?"

Zhai Yuan slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, pointed to the mansion in the distance, and said with a playful smile, "The Soviet officials who came to Hong Kong this time were each assigned a property. Aren't you interested in this kind of big news?"

Natasha's breath hitched as she gazed at the nearby townhouse, thinking that such a large house must cost over a million Hong Kong dollars. Yet another piece of evidence of corruption in her hands!
She turned her head to look at Zhai Yuan, still with a nonchalant expression, and shook her head, saying, "This should have nothing to do with me."

“Of course it’s related~” Zhai Yuan pointed to a villa in the distance and said with a smile, “I’m not one to show favoritism, so I specially reserved one for you, Director Natasha.”

He emphasized the word "section chief".

Natasha's face instantly showed a look of astonishment: "Give it to me?"

Zhai Yuan nodded matter-of-factly and continued with a smile, "It costs 30 million Hong Kong dollars per room. I made it very clear to the members that if you ever need the money, I will buy it back at the original price."

Natasha, a woman who could control herself and only spend a few thousand or tens of thousands of dollars in chips all night on the Natural Selection gambling ship, immediately thought that houses in Hong Kong were too expensive.

Then, with a complicated look in her eyes, she looked at Zhai Yuan, shook her head slightly, and said, "This gift is too precious."

Zhai Yuan lowered his head and smiled; he certainly didn't resemble a Soviet politician at all.

Once the seed of doubt is planted, everything seems problematic. In the past, Zhai Yuan thought that Natasha's refusal to gamble with him meant she was a KGB agent; now, he thinks that her refusal to embezzle or accept bribes means she is a KGB agent.

Moreover, they were the kind of diligent KGB agents who refused to accept bribes; after all, these days, KGB agents who refuse to take bribes are extremely rare.

Zhai Yuan had to take the initiative to remind her: "Director Natasha, have you forgotten? In the future, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Culture will have a lot of exchanges. Compared to your museum's collection, this gift is not valuable at all."

Natasha frowned, hesitated, and nodded.

“That’s right.” Zhai Yuan said with a smile, and stepped inside: “Come on, let me show you around your villa.”

The two walked side by side across a gravel path.

Zhai Yuan pointed to the surrounding properties and introduced them: "The governor of the Central Bank lives over there, the Planning Commission lives over there, and Orlov of the 4th Tank Division is neighbors with the Minister of Industry and Energy..."

Arriving at the door of the last villa, Zhai Yuan pushed open the garden fence and walked in: "This is the residence I prepared for Director Natasha. You can move out of the hotel tonight."

The wrought iron garden gate creaked open, and Natasha followed Zhai Yuan into the garden, her eyes subconsciously glancing around.

The courtyard wasn't large, but it was decorated with exquisite care. A complete set of green plants had been moved over overnight, with bellflowers and jacaranda trees emitting a faint fragrance.

Next, we toured the interior. Passing through the high-ceilinged entrance hall, the living room had a gleaming white marble floor. Going up the stairs to the second floor, we found a bedroom, a guest room, and a study. By the window, a Steinway grand piano sat quietly, and next to it, the spines of the books in the mahogany bookcase were neatly arranged.

Looking out the window, the setting sun casts its golden rays, offering a panoramic view of the distant Hong Kong skyline.

Zhai Yuan's voice rang in my ears: "How is it? Looks pretty good, right?"

Natasha nodded slightly and murmured, "Very good."

"I can rest assured that."

Zhai Yuan's laughter rang out again. He tapped the railing lightly with his fingers and said leisurely, "After all, Miss Natasha will be living here for the next six months or so. It would be troublesome if she is not comfortable."

Natasha looked at the flowers in the flower bed downstairs, subconsciously hummed in agreement, and only realized what she meant after two seconds.

She turned her head and asked in surprise, "What did Mr. Zhai say?"

"I said……"

Before Zhai Yuan could finish speaking, the sound of an engine suddenly rose from downstairs.

Immediately afterwards, two black cars slowly drove up and stopped in the parking lot outside the villa.

The car doors opened one after another, and several security personnel in Ya'an Company uniforms got out of the car, looked towards the second floor of the villa, and nodded to Zhai Yuan.

Seeing Natasha's bewildered expression, Zhai Yuan repeated what he had just said.

He looked around the villa and said with a smile, "All the necessities, including food, clothing, shelter, and even security, have been prepared. I hope that Miss Natasha can stay here for the next six months or so."

Natasha's sapphire-blue eyes narrowed suddenly, then she smiled: "Mr. Zhai, don't joke around. I can feel your enthusiasm, but six months is too long. Even if I were willing to stay in Hong Kong, Tatiana and the other club members wouldn't agree."

“That’s true.” Zhai Yuan nodded in agreement and continued with a smile, “So, in order not to disturb your enjoyment, Tatiana and the others boarded a plane to Xingjiapo twelve hours ago, at four o’clock in the morning, and should have arrived in Istanbul by now.”

Natasha's expression became incredibly varied in an instant. She suddenly grabbed the railing with both hands, leaned her upper body out, and looked towards the other villas in the distance, seemingly trying to discern the presence of other people.

Zhai Yuan stood behind the woman, admiring her curvaceous figure, and said in a smug tone, "Really, I'm not lying to you."

Natasha suddenly turned around and stared at Zhai Yuan, her chest heaving rapidly: "Mr. Zhai, what does this mean?"

Zhai Yuan spread his hands in a playful, nonchalant manner, and said, "Isn't it... obvious enough? Before the Russian presidential election concludes, I'm afraid—no, I'm certain—you will stay in Hong Kong, Miss Director of the Odessa Ministry of Culture~"

Natasha's eyes flashed with shock and anger, and she said in an icy voice, "This is house arrest!"

Zhai Yuan shrugged noncommittally, slowly turned and walked towards the stairwell, his tone still relaxed: "How could that be? I'm just a businessman, how could I possibly have the ability to detain foreign dignitaries? Don't worry, here you have books, a zither, a garden, and mountain views. In short, just ask for whatever you want anytime."

"In fact, if you want to continue investigating someone, I can keep a copy of the club's records for you."

Zhai Yuan paused, glanced back at the stunned Natasha, and smiled, "However, there's one thing: from today onwards, all your free movement will require my permission."

(End of this chapter)