Chapter 347: Chapter 345: Forced Vacation

"You’re shameless! Utterly shameless!" Brother Zheng slammed the table, making it tremble.

Zhuang Yanzheng fell silent for a moment, then pressed down on Brother Zheng’s arm. "Doesn’t your hand hurt?"

Brother Zheng glared at Lu Xian.

A smug, almost triumphant smile was on Lu Xian’s face.

He knew what this meant.

It meant the Shen family and the Zhuang Family would be investigated and would have to cooperate.

Zhuang Yanzheng and Qin Leyan would both have to recuse themselves and could no longer be involved in the case.

Zhuang Yanzheng looked at Lu Xian. "So, your wife told you to stop, and you didn’t listen at all, is that it?"

The smile vanished from Lu Xian’s face.

Zhuang Yanzheng continued, "Anything else to say?"

Lu Xian glared at him. "What does she know?! What does she know?! She tried to kill herself and my daughter by jumping into the sea! She deserved to die! Why should I listen to her?! Who does she think she is?!"

"You son of a bitch!" Brother Zheng cursed.

Lu Xian lowered his head, tears dripping onto the small shelf of the interrogation chair. "I told you, Zhuang Yihao and Shen Jun put me up to it."

Zhuang Yanzheng stared at him for a long moment. Once he was sure Lu Xian had nothing more to say, he stood up. "Lu Xian, let me answer a question for you."

Lu Xian looked up at him.

"You wonder how I became a deputy captain as soon as I joined the city bureau? It’s because I put my life on the line to earn it," Zhuang Yanzheng said. "I fought drug traffickers and took two bullets. That’s how I got my post. You know that. I used to work under you. How could you not be familiar with my record?"

Lu Xian looked at him.

"And her." Zhuang Yanzheng met his eyes. They were being recorded, so he avoided using Qin Leyan’s name. "You know full well why she joined the city bureau right after graduation. Her record speaks for itself—how outstanding she was at the academy, how brilliantly she handled cases even as a student. You’ve seen her file. You also know how many departments were fighting to recruit her before she graduated. The city bureau was lucky to get her. That’s why she’s here."

"After she arrived, you always called her a nepotism hire. You found fault with everything she did and made her write countless disciplinary reports. You say she got in through connections, but has she ever done a single thing that someone with connections would do?" Zhuang Yanzheng’s voice was low, but his tone was cold and sharp.

Brother Zheng was suddenly reminded of the past.

Qin Leyan had written many of those reports. Zhuang Yanzheng, protesting the injustice, had spoken up for her and ended up having to write many reports himself.

Even he, Brother Zheng, had to write reports for just occasionally retorting.

If Lu Xian hadn’t been so brilliant at solving cases and catching criminals, earning everyone’s respect, two sharp, hot-tempered people like Qin Leyan and Zhuang Yanzheng would have put him in his place long ago.

"You know better than anyone how outstanding and capable she is. But you were blinded by jealousy, all while pretending to be so righteous. When you wear glasses of prejudice for too long, you eventually go blind to the truth," Zhuang Yanzheng said. "And you’re sitting here, still thinking you’re some brilliant strategist, some puppet master pulling all the strings? Your ancestors are probably so ashamed they can’t even show their faces in the afterlife."

With that, he walked out.

Lu Xian’s face was a mask of fury.

Brother Zheng cursed, "Asshole."

He followed him out.

As soon as he got outside, he saw Zhuang Yanzheng smoking.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen him smoke.

He didn’t say anything, just stood beside him motionlessly.

He understood his friend’s mood, and he understood the words he’d spoken.

Qin Leyan had put her life on the line. No one could dare say she got her job through connections.

Just because she had returned, no one could forget the pain she had suffered, the hardships she had endured, or the merits she had earned.

Su Miaoyi and the others had also taken off their headphones.

She remained still, as did Chu Xingrou and Lu Zhishen.

She had no memory of it, yet she felt wave after wave of distress.

After taking a moment to compose herself, Su Miaoyi suddenly said, "But Captain Zhuang told me I got into the city bureau by passing an exam?"

Chu Xingrou opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Lu Zhishen let out a slow sigh. "See? This is why it’s so easy to trick someone with amnesia. You believe whatever anyone tells you."

Su Miaoyi looked at him.

Lu Zhishen said, "Actually, we’ve known each other for a long time. Back then, you borrowed a good bit of money from me..."

"Zhishen," Su Miaoyi said, patting his shoulder. "Back then, did I seem like the kind of person who would borrow money from people?"

Lu Zhishen: "..."

Su Miaoyi headed for the door.

Chu Xingrou walked over to Lu Zhishen and looked at him. "Brother Lu, a flawless plan with a single oversight. You were so close to becoming her creditor."

Lu Zhishen sighed in regret.

...

Zhuang Yanzheng went to update Director Meng on the situation.

A little while later, Su Miaoyi was called in as well.

Su Miaoyi was shocked. Director Meng had never said a word, but she knew everything. Su Miaoyi had always assumed the director didn’t realize she was Qin Leyan; Director Meng had certainly never let on.

The Zhuang Family and the Shen family both had to cooperate with the investigation.

Zhuang Yanzheng and Su Miaoyi both had to be recused.

Meng Shuyi told them both to go home and rest for a couple of days. They could return once the investigations into the Zhuang and Shen families were concluded.

"Things at the city bureau are manageable right now; we’re not too busy," Meng Shuyi said. "Hand your cases over to Zheng Qi. If something comes up, let him handle it."

Everyone just called him Brother Zheng.

In reality, he was the deputy detachment chief, but everyone was just used to calling him Brother Zheng.

"Alright," Zhuang Yanzheng nodded.

"Lu Xian was just arrested, so he’s still agitated, resentful, and defiant," Meng Shuyi said. "Let him cool off for a bit before sending someone in to question him again."

Zhuang Yanzheng didn’t speak.

Su Miaoyi said, "My only concern is that his contacts, both up and down the chain, will flee when they hear he’s been caught. His silence is just a way to buy them time."

Meng Shuyi nodded. "Did you see anything from Lu Xian?"

Su Miaoyi shook her head. "No."

"Alright," Meng Shuyi said. "Finish the handover, then you two can go."

"Understood."

The two headed out. Just as they opened the door, Meng Shuyi called out again. "Wait a moment."

The two turned back to look at her.

Meng Shuyi said, "Zhuang Yanzheng, can’t you do something about that car of yours?"

"Huh?"

"If you can’t replace it, then use a bureau car when you’re out on assignment from now on," Meng Shuyi said.

"Why?"

"It’s a total wreck!" Meng Shuyi said.

Su Miaoyi pressed her lips together, not making a sound.

"Someone posted photos of it online," Meng Shuyi said. "They’re asking us, if an accident happens in a car that decrepit, who’s to blame?"

"What’s so decrepit about my car?!" Zhuang Yanzheng retorted.

"What’s *not* decrepit about it?" Meng Shuyi countered.

Zhuang Yanzheng’s lips moved but no words came out.

"It’s damaging the bureau’s image," Meng Shuyi said.

"I..."

"Don’t you ’I’ me," Meng Shuyi said with a frown. "And get that shirt changed, too. The back of your collar is so torn it’s practically a halter top."

Zhuang Yanzheng tugged at his shirt to get a look.

It was torn, sure, but not as dramatically as she described.

He looked at Su Miaoyi.

Su Miaoyi’s eyes widened instantly. "What are you looking at me for?"

Zhuang Yanzheng didn’t answer her. He turned back to Meng Shuyi. "Is there anything else?"

"No, that’s it. Go on."

The two left the office.

Su Miaoyi said, "What are you looking at me for?"

"You did it."

Su Miaoyi stared at him, then walked a few steps forward and leaned against the hallway window to look outside. "I’m going to see if it’s snowing in September!"

"It’s not," Zhuang Yanzheng said. "And I’m not wrongly accusing you."

"I don’t believe you."

"The lobby’s security footage will show it."

Su Miaoyi suddenly remembered that she had, in fact, tugged on his shirt. "What kind of shirt is this? The quality must be terrible."

"As long as you admit it. Let’s go. We’re on vacation."

...

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