Listening to the voice in his ear, Deputy Director Zhou's mouth twitched a few times, and his pupils dilated, contracted, and shifted within his eyes. When Xiao Li finished speaking concisely, he swallowed hard and immediately asked in a low voice, "Has it been verified?"

"This... not yet, but..." Xiao Li hesitated, not continuing, his bitter face seemingly saying, "Why don't you do it if you're so capable? I don't have the guts to verify it."

Seeing the difficulty on Xiao Li's face, Deputy Director Zhou also felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. After hesitating for two seconds, he finally sighed and whispered, "Go get my phone."

"Yes!" Xiao Li responded and turned to run out. By the time he returned, Deputy Director Zhou was awkwardly standing up, his back against the wall but maintaining a few centimeters distance with his buttocks.

Despite the chaos in his mind, Deputy Director Zhou forced himself to think hard. No wonder Chang Xin specifically instructed not to make things difficult for that woman; so this is the situation! Damn it, isn't he setting me up!

No, it shouldn't be like this. Chang Xin probably doesn't know that woman's background is this deep either. After all... it was him who asked me to do this, and it's also easy for him to get burned by this matter.

But... damn it! What the hell is going on!

With a heart filled with the most complex emotions, Deputy Director Zhou received the phone. He accidentally bumped his butt against the wall, grimacing in pain and almost dropping the phone to the ground.

Deputy Director Zhou managed to steady himself, looked at Xiao Li whose legs were trembling, frowned, and said with forced calmness, "Stand straight. What kind of demeanor is this? Isn't it normal to have some misunderstandings given the nature of our work?"

"Yes!" Xiao Li answered, but in his heart, he was wryly smiling, thinking, brother, stop kidding, look at yourself now, as if you're faring much better than I am.

However, hearing this explanation, Xiao Li's nervousness finally eased a bit. Right, a misunderstanding, all this is just a misunderstanding, "Ignorance is not a crime", at least it's a reasonable explanation.

Sweeping his gaze across Deputy Director Zhou, the dark-faced policeman, and Xiao Li, Chu Ge opened the book in his hand again, crossed his legs, and began to read leisurely.

Although this "Crime and Punishment" and the books on the floor weren't meant for his amusement, according to Deputy Director Zhou's original intention, these books were meant to be placed on his body to prevent visible bruises when the baton struck.

"What's the phone number?" Deputy Director Zhou spoke again.

"I... I didn't ask." Xiao Li shook his head awkwardly, having been so focused on running that he didn't think to ask for any phone number, also worried about how that female police officer was doing now.

"Then hurry and ask her?" Deputy Director Zhou ordered fiercely but feebly, glancing at Chu Ge who was quietly reading on the side, his heart sinking further.

"Ah, yes..."

Before Xiao Li could turn around, a voice came from behind the door, "No need to trouble yourselves to find me, I'm here. Ask whatever you want?"

Passing by a few policemen outside the interrogation room, Mu Lingshan walked in steadily. She seemed very calm, but upon closer inspection, a mocking cold smile lingered at the corner of her mouth.

Not only did Mu Lingshan come, but the female police officer who questioned also came, following behind Mu Lingshan like a soulless puppet.

With Mu Lingshan's appearance, the already eerie atmosphere became even stranger.

Although it seemed that Mu Lingshan's appearance was somewhat out of order, who would dare nitpick over such a matter now? That would be courting death, wouldn't it?

Deputy Director Zhou's heart continued to sink, but he forced a smile at Mu Lingshan, "Miss Mu, th-thank you for your cooperation. So... may I know Secretary Mu's phone number?"

The voice grew softer and more uncertain, and a cold sweat slid down Deputy Director Zhou's forehead, across his bitter face, down to the badge on his chest.

"6529439, that's his home number."

Mu Lingshan approached steadily, reciting the series of numbers with perfect articulation. After glancing at the awkwardly posed Deputy Director Zhou and the dark-faced policeman, then at Chu Ge who was engrossed in the book, she felt both helpless and amused inside.

This guy... really has such leisure?

Deputy Director Zhou's gaze lingered on Mu Lingshan's face for two seconds, then he lowered his head to look at his phone, pressing the numbers that had just entered his ears but echoed directly in his mind.

As he pressed the last "9", Deputy Director Zhou's finger hovered in mid-air. Even though he just needed to gently tap to make the call, he hesitated for a long time, making no further move, as his finger began to tremble involuntarily.

"Don't worry, it's not too late now. Unless something unexpected happens, Secretary Mu should be watching a show called 'Military Records' on Channel Seven. Calling him now won't disturb his sleep."

Mu Lingshan crossed her arms, tilted her head slightly, and looked at Deputy Director Zhou with a sideways glance, speaking calmly. But no matter how calm her voice was, anyone could hear the sarcasm and anger in it under these circumstances.

When this sentence reached Deputy Director Zhou's ears, his heart, which was already sinking, nearly dropped to his feet. The Samsung phone in his hand, which was actually quite lightweight, felt as if it was about to drag his right hand down.

It wasn't just Deputy Director Zhou; everyone in the room, except for Chu Ge and Mu Lingshan, wore the same expressions and mood.

After an unbearably long few seconds, Deputy Director Zhou's mind underwent a fierce battle of reason and emotion. Eventually, he lowered his right hand, which held the phone.

"I think... this whole thing is just a misunderstanding. I apologize for the trouble caused to you both; you're free to go."

Shifting his gaze from the phone's screen to Chu Ge and Mu Lingshan, Deputy Director Zhou wore a sincere look.

After considering various signs, he had realized that there was about an eighty percent chance that this woman named Mu Lingshan was indeed Secretary Mu's granddaughter.

Otherwise, even if she worked at the Lidu City Public Security Bureau, there was no reason for her to know the home phone number of the Provincial Secretary. Perhaps many police officers didn't know the phone number segment of the Provincial Committee Courtyard, but coincidentally, he knew that the numbers 6529 were exactly the first four digits.

Moreover, it was already past ten o'clock; who else but Secretary Mu's family could know he was watching TV, let alone a show like 'Military Records' on Channel Seven?

Yes, Chang Xin was already serving as Deputy Director of the Supervision Department at the Provincial Public Security Department at such a young age; he was undoubtedly very influential. The person backing him also had a significant background.

But... could they be more powerful than Mu Chongyi? He was the esteemed regional leader, the Provincial Secretary of such a large Nanyun Province!

Although in Deputy Director Zhou's judgment, there was still a twenty percent chance that this Mu Lingshan was not Mu Chongyi's granddaughter, or that their relationship was so distant that it hardly mattered to Secretary Mu, Deputy Director Zhou didn't want to take the risk. If he really made the call, who knew what might happen next?

Unfortunately, even if Deputy Director Zhou now wanted to resolve the matter quietly, Mu Lingshan clearly didn't intend to handle it that way!

"Misunderstanding?" Mu Lingshan flashed a smile that made Deputy Director Zhou feel frightened, let out a light nasal snort, shrugged, and turned to look at Chu Ge. "He says it's a misunderstanding; what do you think?"

Upon hearing Mu Lingshan say this, anxious glances immediately shifted to Chu Ge. It was clear that this woman, who was probably Secretary Mu's granddaughter, had placed the decision-making power of this matter into Chu Ge's hands.

In the pupils of Deputy Director Zhou and a few others, there was not only nervousness but also full of suspicion. Who was this person that even the granddaughter of the Provincial Secretary would defer to?

"I'm reading a book, and this part is exciting. Don't bother me; decide for yourself."

Under the watchful glances, Chu Ge turned a page of the book, casually remarked, and without lifting his head, threw the ball back to Mu Lingshan.

The expressions on Deputy Director Zhou and the other officers became even more colorful. They had thought they had taken this man seriously enough, but from the current situation, it seemed they had still underestimated him!

Damn, is that how you talk to the Provincial Secretary's granddaughter?

Could it be that this guy...

Cold sweat started to trickle down the bodies of Deputy Director Zhou and the others in layers. They no longer dared to continue this line of thought because it was simply too terrifying, too unbearable for them.

Watching Chu Ge's engrossed demeanor, Mu Lingshan was at a loss for words. This guy... could he really be engrossed in reading?

After a brief moment of reflection, Mu Lingshan felt somewhat relieved, with a warm feeling in her heart. Previously, whatever Chu Ge did, he rarely asked for her opinion. Take, for example, the incident at Jinkai Villa; until the very end, there were many things she was kept in the dark about.

Now, with Chu Ge actually allowing her to make the decision, wasn't this change a form of recognition and respect for her?

Chu Ge indeed thought this way. Although he had a clear assessment in his mind, this time, he didn't want to make the decision on this matter.

He was also curious to see how Mu Lingshan, this Tiger Girl, had grown since becoming the Deputy Captain of the Criminal Investigation Team.

Mu Lingshan gave Chu Ge a slight smile, then turned her gaze back to Deputy Director Zhou, her expression suddenly turning cold.

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