Secretary Tian was very angry; Song Guanchao's attitude was something he had never anticipated.

Not only did he not show any respect, but he also dared to speak to him in such a manner.

Secretary Tian even questioned if he was indeed the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Committee.

Who on earth gave this minor district chief such audacity?

Song Guanchao wasn't being impulsive; he just had a clearer understanding of the situation.

He was almost certain that Secretary Tian wouldn't become the Governor.

If that's the case, why should he bother to show him respect?

Even if Secretary Tian could become Governor, Song Guanchao hadn't considered compromising.

Wu Qiangwei and Qu Xiangru had worked so hard to stabilize the situation in Lingjiang; upsetting the balance just for the sake of saving face would render a year's effort meaningless.

Song Guanchao saw things too clearly, knowing very well that there was no possibility of reconciliation between him and Secretary Tian.

Since they could never be friends, there was no need to give face.

As for whether Secretary Tian would retaliate, Song Guanchao didn't care.

He wasn't afraid of overt retaliation.

He was even less afraid of underhanded tactics.

To him, Secretary Tian posed no threat or pressure whatsoever.

Moreover, he was confident that as long as Secretary Tian wasn't a fool, he wouldn't dare act rashly against him.

He was just a small district chief, while Secretary Tian was the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Committee. If he acted against him, it would give his political opponents an excuse to strike.

Therefore, he had to consider whether it was worth taking action before doing anything.

...

When Jiang Yuan received the call, his hope completely died.

He hadn't expected that even with Secretary Tian stepping in personally, Song Guanchao would still show no regard.

But Secretary Tian also said he wouldn't mistreat him.

Regarding Secretary Tian's words, Jiang Yuan could only console himself.

After all, there was nothing he could do now.

In the afternoon, training ended.

Song Guanchao went once again to the place where he had dined with Secretary Tian at noon.

He sent the address to Tan Xiang and quietly waited.

At five in the evening.

Tan Xiang arrived together with Shen Qing.

Song Guanchao observed, trying to discern something from her expression, but found nothing.

When the waiter left the private room, Song Guanchao picked up the chopsticks and was about to speak, but Tan Xiang asked, "Have you confirmed the undercover identity?"

Song Guanchao wasn't surprised; after all, the only intersection between them presently was the matter of the undercover.

"No." Song Guanchao shook his head, "Let's eat first and talk while we eat."

Tan Xiang didn't move her chopsticks.

Song Guanchao noticed a slight shift in her emotions and reassured, "This isn't something that can be resolved in a short time, don't overthink it."

Tan Xiang, in a calm tone, said, "Song Guanchao, you really disappoint me."

Song Guanchao paused, thinking she was disheartened because he hadn't found out the identity yet.

He sighed softly, "Chairman Tan, you're not aware. It's not that I don't want to investigate; the undercover is too cunning; the incidents during this period should have caught your attention. Chen Peng was killed, Lei Chengping also died, the undercover already knows I'm investigating…"

"Song Guanchao!" Tan Xiang interrupted him, her eyes fixed sharply on him, "I'll ask one more time, have you confirmed the undercover identity?"

Song Guanchao lightly furrowed his brows, realizing something was amiss.

Today, Tan Xiang's state wasn't right, her tone not right.

It seemed as though she knew he had already identified the undercover.

"Chairman Tan, what do you mean?"

"You know the undercover."

Song Guanchao remained silent with furrowed brows.

Tan Xiang continued, "Not only do you know, but you also reached some unspeakable agreement with that undercover."

"You are overthinking."

"Really?"

"Well, I hope I am overthinking."

Tan Xiang said, "But the facts prove that I'm not. Song Guanchao, you deceived me!"

Song Guanchao said, "Who told you these things? You believe others but not me?"

Tan Xiang shook her head, "Song Guanchao, do I look like a fool to you? Do I need someone to tell me this kind of thing?"

"Several senior executives of the Lei Group have disappeared simultaneously, whereabouts unknown, don't tell me you aren't aware of this."

"I know."

"Then what did you do? You did nothing. This is enough to show that you already knew who the undercover was. For these behaviors of the undercover, you took a laissez-faire attitude!"

"If I'm not mistaken, you're not planning to continue the investigation of the undercover!"

"So, what did the undercover offer you?"

Song Guanchao couldn't find words to say momentarily.

"Caught in your own lie?"

Tan Xiang sneered coldly and shook her head in disappointment.

"I do know her identity."

Song Guanchao no longer hid the truth.

"But what you surmise isn't entirely accurate."

Tan Xiang waited expressionlessly for his explanation.

Song Guanchao said, "The senior executives of Lei Group were silenced on the day after Chen Peng and Lei Chengping were killed, at that time I hadn't determined the undercover's specific identity yet."

"Even if I had determined the undercover's identity, with those who knew it all silenced, you tell me, what should I do?"

"Arrest her directly? Without evidence, how to arrest?"

Tan Xiang said, "Are you saying, you're on my side?"

Song Guanchao said sternly, "My position has never changed."

"Alright, if so, tell me who the undercover is?"

Song Guanchao shook his head, "I said, there's no evidence."

"I don't need evidence, you tell me who it is, I'll find the evidence!"

"How will you find it? Arrest her and torture for confession?"

"Are you going to tell or not?"

"Chairman Tan..."

"Heh, nice words, your stance has never changed. I just want to know the undercover's identity, yet you keep pushing back and refuse to tell."

"Song Guanchao, I'm really questioning now, what benefit did the undercover give you?"

Song Guanchao's face showed a hint of anger; if it were another time and place, if someone spoke to him like this, he would have overturned the table long ago.

But it was Tan Xiang who said this; he could understand her current psychological state, so he didn't blame her.

"Chairman Tan, calm down."

"I am very calm."

Tan Xiang said, "You're unwilling to speak, I won't force it. I invited you over today just to see where you stand."

"However, you really disappointed me."

Tan Xiang stood up and said, "I'll give you two days to think about whether to tell me the undercover's identity. Song Guanchao, don't make a decision you'll regret."

Leaving these words, the two women left the private room.

Song Guanchao furrowed his brows tightly.

What was the meaning of her last words?

A threat to him?

He could understand why Tan Xiang was so emotional, but to Song Guanchao, her reaction was somewhat over the top.

It simply wasn't a normal reaction.

Even if he knew the undercover's identity, so what?

The objective fact remained that he had no evidence, knowing was useless.

But Tan Xiang was relentless, solely focused on the undercover's identity.

What was she intending to do?

Did she intend to silence the undercover?

If, after two days, he still didn't say, what would she do to him?

Could it be that she would also silence him?

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