Chapter 130: The Prodigal Returns

This story is entirely fictional.

Chi Zhaoming was questioned through the night at the Anti-Narcotics Division of the Dahe Public Security Bureau. Yet no matter how the officers interrogated him, Wu Zhengzhe insisted that Ma Shengwei of the Dahe Police Bureau was the mole. The investigators, however, ignored Wu Zhengzhe’s claim and refused to believe him.

Zhengzhe sensed that the situation was turning ominous, but had no idea what to do.

Just then, Xiao Jin arrived at the interrogation room of the Dahe Police Bureau. He shouted that he wanted to see Ma Shengwei.

“I have evidence proving that Wu Zhengzhe was framed by that bastard Ma Shengwei. I have recordings and video to prove it!”

The officers present exchanged bewildered glances, momentarily unsure how to respond.

One of the policemen called Ma Shengwei and told him that Xiao Jin was causing a commotion in the interrogation room with audio and video evidence in hand.

Ma Shengwei’s expression changed drastically when he heard this.

“What does he want? Keep him calm. I’ll be there immediately.”

On the way to the interrogation room, Ma Shengwei also received a video. After watching it, he slammed his phone onto the center console of the car. It fell onto the floor in front of the passenger seat.

Ma Shengwei hurried to the interrogation room and forced himself to remain calm.

“What exactly are you trying to do?” he asked Xiao Jin.

“You must have them make a detailed record stating that Wu Zhengzhe is innocent, and you must release him immediately. Once Wu Zhengzhe leaves safely, I’ll delete the recording and video at once and promise never to mention this matter again. Then we can consider it closed.”

For the first time, Xiao Jin flew into a rage in front of Ma Shengwei.

“All right, all right. We’ll do as you say. We’ll do as you say. Let’s discuss this calmly,” Ma Shengwei replied.

Ma Shengwei exchanged a glance with the officer in charge. The investigators immediately got to work and soon produced a statement declaring Wu Zhengzhe innocent. After Xiao Jin carefully confirmed that everything was in order, Wu Zhengzhe was released that very night.

As Wu Zhengzhe left, he brushed past Xiao Jin. Xiao Jin raised one hand high.

“I can give you the video.”

As he spoke, he discreetly slipped a tiny storage drive into Wu Zhengzhe’s hand. His movements were so concealed that no one present noticed.

With a look only Xiao Jin could understand, Wu Zhengzhe expressed his gratitude.

Xiao Jin answered with an apologetic gaze, conveying another message: I’m sorry. I have done too many terrible things. Take this as my confession and repentance.

Then he watched Wu Zhengzhe leave the police station.

Xiao Jin felt an immense weight lift from his heart. At last, he had done something he could live with.

He went to his car in the parking lot, not knowing where to go. At that moment, he felt that there was no place left in the world where he could turn.

He did not want to return to the home that had once brought him happiness. Whenever he thought of Ma Shengwei, a wave of nausea rose within him, and he imagined countless green hats swaying before his eyes.

His wife had been sleeping with his immediate superior for twenty years. He could no longer endure it. He remembered how she often mocked his incompetence in bed, how she always pretended to be a refined lady in front of him, yet became a wanton woman in Ma Shengwei’s bed. The humiliation was unbearable.

Xiao Jin began to feel that Ma Shengwei, that vile bastard, had ruined his entire life. Even the daughter he loved most was Ma Shengwei’s child. His life was truly wretched, as though he had stepped into a pile of dog excrement that had stuck to his feet and made every part of his existence stink beyond endurance.

How could he extinguish the fury bottled up inside him? Xiao Jin thought of a thousand ways.

In the end, he made his decision: only by removing the filth clinging to his feet could he finally ease the hatred in his heart.

When should he do it, and how? The questions kept circling through Xiao Jin’s mind.

Should he do it openly? Or should he expose all of Ma Shengwei’s shameful deeds to the world before taking action, so that everyone would understand the twisted life Ma Shengwei had led?

Xiao Jin imagined every possible outcome. But then he thought of Xiao Yi, the beloved daughter he cherished. If everyone in Dahe learned the truth, how would she face the rest of her life?

At that thought, Xiao Jin hesitated.

The moment Wu Zhengzhe left the interrogation room, he eagerly called Chi Zhaoming, but Chi’s phone was switched off.

He then called Du Juan, but her phone was outside the service area.

What could have happened to leave both Chi Zhaoming and Du Juan unreachable? It must be that Du Juan had already learned about Chi’s embezzlement of public funds.

Zhengzhe could not stand being unable to contact Chi Zhaoming. He wondered, Maybe Du Juan is angry and has gone somewhere without a signal?

At the villa, Mingyue was cleaning the kitchen while chatting with Gao Yating.

“Mingyue, my appetite hasn’t been very good these past few days, and I don’t feel like eating much. But your cooking is always delicious. Please prepare dinner for me again tomorrow. I should be back around four or five.”

“All right. I’ll go to the market first thing tomorrow morning and buy a fresh grass carp. I’ll make you some fish balls,” Mingyue said.

“Good. I haven’t had your fish balls in a long time. I really have been craving them.”

Gao Yating pressed her lips together, as though savoring the taste in her memory.

“President Gao, you haven’t looked very well these past few days. Director Dai hasn’t come home in a long time either. Did something happen between the two of you?” Mingyue asked.

“Yes. He has another woman outside, and they even have a child. Unfortunately, that woman was in a car accident a few days ago, and she miscarried. I suppose it’s all my fault. I was too open-minded about sex. I brought this upon myself.”

Gao Yating sounded rather self-reproachful.

Mingyue looked up and turned around.

“Men are all the same. The better you treat them, the less they know how to cherish you. With your looks and your money, finding someone who will love and support you would be effortless.”

“But I don’t want just anyone. People say you should find someone who loves you. But I only want someone I love,” Gao Yating replied.

“Finding someone you love may sound wonderful, but you’ll be the one who suffers. If you find someone who loves you instead, things will be different. You’ll have a much easier life.”

Mingyue paused, then continued, “By the way, I’ve worked for you for almost a year, but I only know that you’re a businesswoman. I don’t actually know what you do.”

“Why do you want to know? I’ve never liked people asking about my work. I used to work at an MC hotel. After I came back, I did more or less the same kind of work—in the nightlife business.”

“Oh, I’ve heard that working in nightlife means sitting with customers, doesn’t it?”

“That’s what hostesses do. I only handle management—the management of hotels. Do you understand?”

Gao Yating corrected her with unusual seriousness.

“What is it? Are you trying to introduce a man to me?”

“You really are incredible. I actually was thinking of introducing one of my older brothers to you. He’s remarkably handsome and accomplished, and he’s a police officer with the Dahe Police Bureau. He’s still single.”

“A police officer from the Dahe Bureau? Who is he? Tell me. Perhaps I know him.”

Gao Yating’s curiosity was piqued.

“Don’t tell me yet. Is he that handsome police officer from Dahe named Wu Zhengzhe?”

“This is incredible! The world really is such a small place. I never imagined you would know my brother.”

Mingyue was delighted.

“Xiao Jin from the Dahe Police Bureau is your brother’s partner. It was Officer Xiao who introduced you to me. Your brother may not even know that you work here.”

Gao Yating explained everything in an unhurried voice.

Wu Zhengzhe hurried to the television station and asked the security guard at the entrance about Chi Zhaoming.

The guard told him, “Chi Zhaoming left the station alone about an hour ago.”

It was destined to be another sleepless night.

When Wu Zhengzhe returned to his residence, he found that his room had been ransacked.

It turned out that although Xiao Jin had been extremely discreet when handing Wu Zhengzhe the storage drive, the slow-motion replay had allowed the investigating officers to see the transfer.

Wu Zhengzhe realized that his residence was no longer safe. He immediately packed a few belongings and left.

When Ma Shengwei sent people to search Wu Zhengzhe’s room, they found nothing. He then checked Xiao Jin’s location and discovered that Xiao Jin was heading toward the hospital.

Ma Shengwei decided to settle his grudge with Xiao Jin personally. He intended to use as much money as necessary to suppress whatever major trouble was about to unfold.

When Ma Shengwei arrived at the hospital, he found Xiao Jin in Xiao Yi’s hospital room, speaking to her through his tears.

Although Xiao Yi was not Xiao Jin’s biological daughter, he loved her with all his heart—so deeply that he was willing to sacrifice his life for her.

Ma Shengwei pushed open the door, and a chill swept into the room, making Xiao Jin shiver.

Xiao Jin turned around and saw Ma Shengwei entering the ward.

“What do you think this place is? How dare you come to my daughter’s room?”

Xiao Jin seemed to have forgotten that Ma Shengwei was, in fact, Xiao Yi’s biological father.

“There isn’t a place in Dahe that I wouldn’t dare enter. Even if it were the lair of a dragon or tiger, I, Ma Shengwei, would still have the nerve to walk in.”

Ma Shengwei spoke with an air of arrogance.

“Fine. There are things we shouldn’t discuss in front of my daughter. Let’s step outside and talk.”

Xiao Jin rose to his feet.

“Dad, talk things out. Don’t make a scene in the hospital and disturb the other patients,” Xiao Yi reminded him.

Xiao Jin nodded to show that he understood.

Seeing the tenderness in Xiao Jin’s eyes, Xiao Yi smiled knowingly.

Xiao Jin and Ma Shengwei went into the stairwell, where they traded barbs, each refusing to yield an inch.

To be continued.