Chapter 123: The Superior's Privacy

This story is purely fictional.

He thought to himself that he could tolerate his wife having an affair with anyone, but not with his own direct superior. The Chief was not only sleeping with his wife but also exploiting him to commit heinous and unscrupulous acts.

Taking advantage of the time Ma Shengwei spent at the hospital, Xiao Jin returned to the police station. He retrieved a notebook containing records of the assignments Ma had given him over the past few years, complete with dates, along with a digital recorder that captured every directive Ma had issued. After reviewing the notebook, he carefully tucked it and the recorder away and stepped out of his office.

The Chief’s office door was open. Xiao Jin entered and scanned the floor, searching for any stray hairs. The office had been cleaned that morning, and the floor was spotless. He moved into the Chief’s private quarters—a suite featuring an attached bathroom—and scoured every corner, determined to find a hair sample for a DNA paternity test.

Finally, he struck gold: a single, graying hair lay on the Chief’s pillow. With steady hands, he used tweezers to place the strand into a sterile evidence bag. Once finished, he quickly returned to the office sofa, picked up a book, and pretended to read.

Footsteps echoed from the hallway, drawing closer. He recognized them immediately—they were the Chief’s.

Ma Shengwei pushed the door open and found Xiao Jin sitting on his sofa. He froze. "Was my door unlocked? Why aren't you at the hospital looking after Xiao Yi? What are you doing here? You have no sense of decorum! How dare you enter my office without my permission?" Ma fired off a barrage of questions.

Usually, Ma wouldn't have cared if Xiao Jin walked in unannounced, but the intensity of his questioning left Xiao Jin momentarily speechless. Xiao Jin paused, wondering if the Chief was feeling guilty. "What's gotten into you today, Chief? I’ve always been able to walk into your office as I pleased. Why the change of heart? Are you treating me like a stranger now?"

"Stranger or not, I walked in and found someone sitting on my sofa—isn't that startling? Do I ever complain when you knock and enter?" Ma asked, moving to the coat rack to change into his police uniform.

"Do we really need to be so formal? It’s broad daylight; what's so startling about that? Unless you've been doing something shameful that makes you jumpy?" Xiao Jin retorted, his tone laden with hidden meaning.

Ma Shengwei buttoned his uniform and patted his shoulder. "Look at this. We are police officers. Everything we do is for the people. We must uphold discipline. Wearing this uniform means knowing the rules. Do you understand what discipline is, Officer Xiao?"

"You're right, Chief Ma. Absolutely correct. Upholding rules and discipline is a duty for every officer. And when it comes to discipline, we must focus not just on our professional conduct, but on our personal lives as well. As a leader, you should lead by example, resisting the temptations of money and beauty. You shouldn't preach discipline on the podium while letting your guard down in private," Xiao Jin challenged.

"That’s a rather ugly thing to say. Who is 'letting their guard down'? Explain yourself," Ma said, sensing the insinuation.

"There are plenty of people like that," Xiao Jin replied.

"Don't speak so poorly of our cadres! Discipline is mandatory, and so is the ability to endure solitude. We are tested officials; we don't fall for the temptations of beauty." Ma spoke with feigned solemnity as he brewed tea on his gongfu tea set. "Come, you’re in luck today. I’ve brewed some of the finest black tea in the country. Want a taste?"

"I don't have the heart to sit here and drink tea with you. I have things to attend to." Xiao Jin stood up to leave.

After Xiao Jin left, Ma Shengwei sat at his desk, sipping the premium tea and ruminating on Xiao Jin’s words. *Could this kid have figured out that I’m the one who put the horns on him because of Xiao Yi? With his brain, he couldn't be that smart, could he?* Ma thought, shaking his head. *Unlikely. Absolutely impossible.*

*But his behavior today was suspicious. He never comes here unless I call him. Could he be looking for proof of Xiao Yi's parentage?* A cold shiver ran down his spine. *I doubt he’s that sharp. If he were, would he have spent twenty years not knowing his own wife was being used by someone else? He’s a fool. Don't worry, he couldn't possibly know.*

Despite his internal dismissal, Ma couldn't help but walk into his bedroom to check the bed once more. He searched every corner of the room, finding it completely spotless—not a single hair remained.

Relieved, he returned to his tea, closing his eyes and savoring the aroma, his round head swaying in delight. He lit a cigar, the smoke swirling until the air purifier on the ceiling whisked it away. With his feet propped up on a stool, he hummed a folk tune, his voice eerily reminiscent of a famous singer.

Suddenly, he sat bolt upright. *No matter how I look at it, Xiao Jin’s demeanor was strange today. Could he really be digging into Xiao Yi’s origins? Even if he finds out, he wouldn't dare make it public. After all, it's his own wife who cheated—why would he want to broadcast his own family shame?* Reassured by this logic, he sat back down to enjoy his tea.

Meanwhile, Xiao Jin treated the hair he’d salvaged like a precious jewel, keeping it tucked deep in his inner pocket. On his way to the hospital, he kept checking his pocket to ensure it hadn't slipped out. Once he confirmed it was still there, he pulled his hand away, finally at ease.

From his window, Ma Shengwei watched Xiao Jin walking and talking on his phone. He quickly activated his surveillance tap on Xiao Jin’s phone. He heard Xiao Jin calling Wu Zhengzhe: "Hey, it’s me. Didn't you say you have a childhood friend working at the hospital in Dahe?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"I have a sensitive matter that requires his help," Xiao Jin said slowly.

"You sound hesitant. Does your friend need Professor Qu for a surgery?" Wu asked.

"Not a surgery. It's for a paternity test. Because of the stigma, my friend wants to keep it private. I need your help to arrange it."

"Of course, it’ll be confidential. Doctors have their own code of ethics; they'll keep it quiet regardless. Don't worry about that," Wu assured him.

"Good. Give me Professor Qu’s number. When I get there, I’ll tell him you sent me."

"Tell you what, I’ll call Professor Qu Wenkai myself and explain the situation. He’ll take care of it for you. Don't worry." Wu hung up after calling the professor to arrange the meeting.

"I’ve cleared it with him. He’s on duty in his office," Wu said, then paused, feeling something was off. "Are you okay? You're not at work, and you're not at the station. Is this for your own child?"

"My child is my child. Why would I need a paternity test? Don't you think Xiao Yi is the spitting image of me? Don't be ridiculous," Xiao Jin said, desperately masking his true motives.

"Right, right. I just thought you skipped work for it. Is Xiao Yi out of danger? I’ll come by to see your little girl later."

"Don't worry about coming by. I’m just staying at the hospital to look after her. Please handle things at the station for me," Xiao Jin replied.

"Don't worry about work. The Major Crimes Unit is short-staffed anyway, but I’ll take this chance to slack off a bit. We’ll get back to the cases once you’ve sorted things out," Wu said, his words masking his true thoughts.

"Thanks, buddy. I’m at the hospital now, heading to the elevator to see the professor."

Xiao Jin stepped off the elevator and went straight to the professor’s office. He knocked, and a voice from within called out, "Come in."

(To be continued)