Chapter 117 Chapter 114: Distorting the Facts

"This is not distorting the facts, Tongtong. Sometimes, one needs to be a bit more flexible!" Director Zeng smiled faintly. "This incident has caused quite a stir, and besides, the kid isn't a first-time offender. He accidentally killed a few people because of his actions last time. The file is still right here on my desk. We might as well sentence him for both cases at once. Since a death sentence is a death sentence regardless of whether it's for one or two crimes, let him make a contribution to our police force!"

"No, Director Zeng, how can you do this? I absolutely won't allow it!" Zhang Yantong said indignantly.

"Tongtong, you need to be rational!" Director Zeng looked at her coldly. "As a police officer, you must obey the orders of your superiors unconditionally!"

"I..." Zhang Yantong gritted her teeth, turned, and ran out. She had not expected that Director Zeng would tamper with the evidence for the sake of the police department's image—a move that fundamentally violated all regulations. She immediately called Zhang Kaiguo, but the response she received was: "Tongtong, your Uncle Zeng has his reasons for doing this. The reason I sent you to Jianghuai City to study is for you to grasp these profound realities, do you understand? Some things are not as simple as you imagine; they involve the interests of many people. These webs of nepotism are impossible to untangle or clarify."

Zhang Yantong felt disappointed and dejected. She sat alone on a bench in the corridor, staring up at the ceiling. The snow-white ceiling was a blank slate. If only life could start over, she thought. She would rather not have been born into such an official family; she just wanted to be an ordinary person.

*Knock, knock, knock...*

The sound of sharp heels clicking rapidly against the floor echoed, and Li Ruo and Lin Ziwen hurried in. Zhang Yantong was startled and rushed to meet them. "Ms. Li, why are you here?"

"Your police station has arrested the supervisor of our business department. He is about to take over an important development project. Do you really think I could stay away?" Li Ruo retorted with a cold snort.

Zhang Yantong lowered her head. Suddenly, she realized that her persistent efforts to arrest Ye Chen had been foolish. If she had let him leave back then, perhaps none of these troublesome things would have happened. But one cannot repeat or reverse events. Zhang Yantong could only grit her teeth and press on. "Ms. Li, I am truly sorry. Ye Chen is charged with intentional homicide, so he cannot go to work for the time being. As for the project you mentioned, I'm afraid you'll need to find someone else."

"Are you joking? A project worth tens of billions—can I just replace the person in charge like that?" Li Ruo let out a soft huff and said, "I want to see him now."

"Very well, please follow me." Zhang Yantong knew she had wronged Ye Chen, and in this confrontation with Li Ruo, she naturally lost the upper hand. Led by Zhang Yantong, Li Ruo and Lin Ziwen entered the interrogation room. Ye Chen was squatting in a corner, smoking. The moment Li Ruo entered and saw him, she suddenly found him so pitiful, so heartbreaking. She couldn't help but let her tears fall.

Lin Ziwen pulled Zhang Yantong out, leaving only Ye Chen and Li Ruo in the room.

"Ms. Li, why are you here?" Ye Chen was stunned. He quickly crushed his cigarette and stood up, flashing a sunny smile. Li Ruo threw herself into his arms without hesitation and sobbed, "You idiot, why are you always making things so difficult? Can't you consider me for even a second?"

"Don't cry, don't cry. When you cry like this, I can't tell if you're Ms. Li or Xiao Ruo," Ye Chen laughed. "You aren't like this during the day!"

"You jerk, I'm in no mood for jokes!" Li Ruo gritted her teeth and said, "Do you have any idea how worried I am? You know that intentional homicide carries the death penalty!"

"Don't worry, I won't die," Ye Chen said with a faint smile.

"Easy for you to say!" Li Ruo bit her lip. "Don't worry, I won't let you die. Even if I have to sell the Tianya Group, I will get you out of here!"

"I'm not worth that," Ye Chen shook his head. He cupped her exquisite, beautiful face in his hands and said, "Perhaps one day you will realize that I am just a passerby in your life, or merely an insignificant figure."

"No, you will always be the most important person in my life!" Li Ruo looked at him earnestly, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Because you are my slave, and as your master, how could I fail to protect my own slave?"

Ye Chen was stunned and smiled helplessly. "Ms. Li..."

"Shut up!" Li Ruo huffed. "From today on, your master allows you to call me Xiao Ruo!"

"This..." Ye Chen widened his eyes. Li Ruo blushed, turned her head away stubbornly, and said haughtily, "Of course, don't you dare think anything else. I'm only allowing you to call me that because 'Xiao Ruo' sounds better than 'Ms. Li.' I'm sick of everyone in the company calling me Ms. Li all day long. I just wanted to change things up."

"Alright," Ye Chen nodded and whispered, "Xiao Ruo..."

"Yes!" Hearing this, Li Ruo felt her entire body melt. Ye Chen’s voice was deep, magnetic, and carried a masculine, baritone quality. It felt so comfortable to listen to that she felt a thrill run through her. After a brief moment of daze, she immediately said, "Ye Chen, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to get you out. Just stay here for now."

"Actually, you really don't have to go through all this trouble for me," Ye Chen said with a bitter smile.

"Be good, listen to me," Li Ruo said with a gentle smile, then left the room with a sense of relief. Zhang Yantong watched Li Ruo walk out with tears still on her face and was stunned. Lin Ziwen was also curious—the boss had actually shed tears? But why did she look so relaxed and happy?

After leaving the police station, Li Ruo said to Lin Ziwen, "Ziwen, help me call Liu Jiangqiu and ask if he has time."

"Huh?" Lin Ziwen was stunned. "Ms. Li, are you planning to ask him for help?"

"Yes. As it stands, he is likely the only one willing to step in." Li Ruo’s expression was complex. If things hadn't reached such a desperate point, she would never have wanted to beg this man. Liu Jiangqiu was the Deputy Secretary of the Jianghuai Municipal Party Committee, in charge of public security. Rumors were circulating that Jiang Zhonggen was about to be transferred, making Liu Jiangqiu the most likely successor. Therefore, many had already begun currying favor with him before Jiang had even left.

However, the man was lecherous and greedy. It was said he kept over a dozen female college students as mistresses across the city. His wife, a woman from the countryside, had no way of controlling him and had adopted a "let it be" attitude—as long as he didn't abandon her, she didn't care what he did. With his wife's indulgence, Liu Jiangqiu became even more brazen. Since many construction projects required his approval, he had amassed a fortune.

Back in the day, the land for the Tianya Group had passed through his hands, and it had cost over two million yuan just to grease the palms of this parasite. At the time, this scoundrel had even wanted to lay his hands on Li Ruo, but fortunately, she had been in the United States. He had only seen her beauty once at a gala and had been obsessed ever since.

For Li Ruo to go to him now was essentially walking into the tiger's den.

"Ms. Li, can't we think of another way?" Lin Ziwen asked anxiously.

"No need, just contact him for me," Li Ruo shook her head.

Lin Ziwen had no choice but to dial the office number. The secretary answered, and hearing the sounds from the other end, Lin Ziwen flushed red. A secretary was truly a "life assistant" in every sense. Liu Jiangqiu was currently busy with the secretary, and even when she answered the phone, he didn't stop, instead becoming even more vigorous.

The secretary gasped and moaned. Lin Ziwen hurriedly explained the situation. Liu Jiangqiu, hearing the request, agreed without hesitation. He reached his climax, spent his pent-up desire, and then hung up. The secretary, fingers in her hair, continued to serve him.

"Heh heh, you delivered yourself to my door this time!" A lecherous smile appeared in Liu Jiangqiu’s eyes. After cleaning himself up, he headed downstairs.

...

At the Green Mansion, Liu Jiangqiu had already arrived. The staff fawned over him. Liu Jiangqiu was an old hand in the political arena; after twenty years of climbing the ladder, becoming the Deputy Secretary at forty-three was a great achievement. Wherever he went, he wore a vibrant, energetic face. Especially now, with rumors of Jiang's departure, he was even more delighted.

"Deputy Secretary Liu, you're here!" a waiter greeted him with a smile.

Liu Jiangqiu’s brow twitched slightly, but he immediately smiled. "Yes, I have an honored guest today!"

"Oh, I see... Please follow me, Deputy Secretary Liu. I have prepared a private room for you," the waiter said with a nod.

Liu Jiangqiu walked up with his head held high. As he left, he glanced at his assistant. The man paused, instantly understood, and turned to head downstairs. The lobby manager realized what was happening and shook his head helplessly.