Chapter 1359
The Secret of Gambling Debts Exposed!
Just before boarding the special escort vehicle with iron bars welded to the windows, a familiar figure hurriedly walked out of the office building. It was Chen Yunfei, the captain of the Criminal Investigation Detachment.
He clearly didn't just happen to be passing by; he came specifically to "see me off."
Chen Yunfei stood beside the car, looking Luo Fei up and down. Luo Fei was handcuffed, his hair was slightly disheveled from a night of detention, and his civilian clothes were wrinkled, but his eyes were surprisingly bright, he was full of energy, and his back was straight. He didn't look like someone who had spent the whole night in a detention cell where mosquitoes buzzed around, the cement floor was hard and cold, and the chill in the middle of the night could seep into your bones.
Chen Yunfei was somewhat surprised by this, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes, which then turned into a barely perceptible sarcasm as he spoke.
"Hey, you look pretty good, 'Luo Jian'. You seem to be sleeping soundly on the bed in the detention cell?"
He emphasized the name "Luo Jian" a little more, as if trying to discern something from it.
Upon hearing this, Luo Fei grinned, a smile that held no bitterness but rather a nonchalant, jesting quality.
"Captain Chen is joking."
It wasn't particularly fragrant, and the conditions were rather basic. But I'm easygoing, so it was enough for me to sleep.
He shook his wrist, and the handcuff chains made a slight rattling sound.
"This thing is a bit uncomfortable to sleep on."
Chen Yunfei frowned almost imperceptibly as he looked at his nonchalant attitude.
He took two steps closer, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of bewildered confusion, yet also a sense of warning.
"I'm saying, you really don't plan to hire a lawyer? Your shop... your family doesn't care? Or do you think this detention center is more comfortable than outside? Do you really want to spend a few years in there?"
He stared into Luo Fei's eyes, trying to find a trace of panic, fear, or feigned composure.
Luo Fei met his gaze, his smile undiminished, even tinged with a hint of laziness.
"Lawyer? Troublesome. Family... sigh, one person eats their fill, the whole family isn't hungry."
As for how many years he'll be imprisoned...
He shrugged, his handcuffed hands barely moving.
"As long as they provide food, the government won't let prisoners go hungry, right? I heard the steamed buns in the detention center are pretty good."
These words were so unyielding that Chen Yunfei was speechless for a moment, and the strange feeling in his heart intensified.
This is not how a normal person facing criminal charges should react. Either they've given up and are mentally unstable, or... they have something to rely on, or they have ulterior motives.
Chen Yunfei preferred the latter, but he couldn't understand what this "Luo Jian" who ran a noodle shop could possibly be after.
Just as Chen Yunfei was about to say something more, or simply turn and leave, Luo Fei suddenly dropped his nonchalant smile, his eyes sharpening like two awls piercing straight at Chen Yunfei.
He also lowered his voice, but every word was crystal clear, as if carrying a cold weight.
"Team Leader Chen, they're really going big in Macau."
More than 12 million yuan, gone in an instant, back to square one... no, worse than before liberation, burdened with a mountain of debt.
Is that feeling like jumping off the Macau Tower, your heart plummeting but never quite hitting the bottom?
These words were like a thunderbolt that exploded without warning on a sunny day, or like a bucket of ice water poured over one's head in the dead of winter, making Chen Yunfei freeze instantly!
The color drained from his face in an instant, his pupils contracted sharply, and even his breathing stopped for a moment.
He stared intently at Luo Fei, his lips moving but no sound escaping. He felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, freezing his entire body. Macau… gambling… over twelve million… each of these words was a taboo and nightmare buried deep in the most secret corner of his heart, never to be touched!
He thought he had done this perfectly, with only two or three people in the core of the Xue family knowing about it. These were the chains the Xue family used to firmly control him, and the source of his cold sweats in the middle of the night.
How could this "Luo Jian"... this guy who hasn't been in Dongguan for long, runs a small noodle shop, and was arrested for fighting, possibly know all this? And he knows it in such detail, down to the exact amount!
"What...what nonsense are you spouting!"
Chen Yunfei almost roared it out, his voice distorted by extreme shock and panic, sharp and trembling.
He subconsciously glanced at the two police officers standing by the escort vehicle. Although they were several meters away and might not have heard the specifics, they were sure they had noticed his out-of-control reaction.
This made him even more panicked, his heart pounding as if it were about to burst out of his chest.
"What Macau City... what ten million? I have no idea what kind of nonsense you're spouting!"
He forced himself to remain calm, trying to mask the turmoil within with a stern rebuke, but the panic and fear in his eyes betrayed him.
Seeing his thunderstruck and completely flustered state, Luo Fei's face once again revealed that meaningful, all-knowing smile.
There was no smugness or threat in that smile, only a calm, almost compassionate insight.
He didn't explain how he knew, nor did he delve deeper into the topic. He simply shook his head slightly and spoke slowly in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Whether it's nonsense or not, Chief Chen knows best in his heart."
Some debts will be settled eventually, not because they won't be, but because the time hasn't come yet.
Sometimes, if you go down a path to the bitter end, looking back, you might find that you've blocked your own way out. You'd better think carefully about what you do.
After saying that, Luo Fei stopped looking at him, turned to the police officers in the escort vehicle, and got into the vehicle cooperatively.
The car door closed, separating him from the distraught criminal investigation team leader outside.
Chen Yunfei stood frozen in place, like a clay or wooden sculpture, watching the escort vehicle turn on its siren and slowly drive out of the detention center gate, disappearing around the street corner.
The cold winter wind blew on his face, but he felt no chill at all. He only felt that the back of his shirt was soaked with cold sweat that had suddenly appeared, and it clung to his skin, causing him to shiver.
What did he just say? "The time is not right"? "You've blocked your own way out"? Chen Yunfei's mind was in complete chaos, and Luo Fei's last few words echoed repeatedly like a curse.
Who exactly is this "Luo Jian"? He's much more than just a noodle shop owner!
How would he know the core secret the Xue family used to control him? Did the Xue family leak the information? Impossible! Xue Shihao would have to be crazy to tell an outsider such a thing. Could it be... a rival of the Xue family? Or... have the higher-ups already started investigating him? This thought sent chills down his spine.
Chen Yunfei stood there for almost a minute before his subordinate cautiously reminded him, "Team Leader Chen, the car has left," at which point he snapped out of his daze.
His face was still pale, his eyes were unfocused, he nodded with difficulty, said in a hoarse voice "I understand", and then walked back to the office building as if he were fleeing.
Instead of returning to his office, he rushed into the men's restroom on that floor and locked the stall door behind him. The only sound in the cramped space was his heavy, suppressed breathing.
He leaned against the cold door, his hands trembling slightly, as he pulled his phone from his pocket, the screen slipping several times from his sweaty hands as he unlocked it. He had to check immediately! His fingers swiped anxiously through his contacts, finding the number labeled "General Manager Xue," and dialed without hesitation. The phone rang several times before being answered, revealing Xue Shihao's slightly deep, habitually composed voice.
"Hello, Chief Chen? What's up calling at this hour?"
Chen Yunfei didn't bother with pleasantries or whether his tone was inappropriate. He asked directly, his voice low but filled with barely concealed anxiety and surprise.
"Mr. Xue! I'm asking you, do you know someone named 'Luo Jian'? The one who injured our men and smashed up the noodle shop!"
Xue Shih-hao on the other end of the phone was clearly taken aback by this abrupt question, and paused for a moment before replying.
"Luo Jian? Which Luo Jian? Oh...you mean the guy who got into a fight at the noodle shop? I don't know him. What happened? Wasn't he already arrested? Is there a problem with the paperwork?"
His tone was questioning, as if he didn't understand why Chen Yunfei was suddenly so nervous about this "minor character".
"Don't you recognize me? Are you sure?"
Chen Yunfei pressed for an answer, his heart pounding even faster.
"He just... said a few words to me before getting on the bus."
He took a deep breath, as if it would take immense courage to say what he was about to say.
"He knows...he knows I went to Macau! He even knows how much I lost!"
More than twelve million!
He explained it perfectly clearly!
"what?!"
On the other end of the phone, Xue Shih-hao's usual composure was instantly shattered, his voice rising abruptly, filled with disbelief and shock.
"How is this possible?! Chen Yunfei, are you sure you didn't hear wrong? He said it himself? He even gave the specific amount?"
"Absolutely true!"
Chen Yunfei said urgently.
"He said it to my face! Mr. Xue, besides you and your father, who else knows about this? Is it someone from your side...?"
"fart!"
Xue Shih-hao rudely interrupted him, his tone becoming tense.
"How could I possibly tell anyone about something like this? My dad would never do it!"
This is the most crucial knot between us. What good would it do the Xue family to tell someone? Control you? Isn't the current situation controllable enough? There's no need to increase the risk by letting a third person know!
He paused for a moment, his voice filled with surprise and uncertainty.
"This Luo Jian... just who is he? How could a noodle shop owner have found out about such things? It's unbelievable..."
"I do not know either!"
Chen Yunfei felt a throbbing sensation in his temples.
"But he's definitely not an ordinary person!"
When he said those things to me, his eyes… his eyes were terrifying, like he knew everything. Mr. Xue, you have to investigate! Find out this person's background quickly! I… I'm really confused.”
Xue Shih-hao remained silent for a few seconds, clearly processing this sudden and explosive information.
"Okay, I get it."
His voice turned somber again.
"Don't panic."
Now that he's in jail, he's in our hands. I'll have someone investigate immediately, digging up his entire family history! As for you… just do what you're supposed to do, don't show any weakness. Remember, whatever he knows, without evidence, it's all nonsense. You're a police officer, he's a suspect, understand?
"Ming...understand."
Chen Yunfei agreed verbally, but he had no idea what to expect. Luo Fei's all-knowing gaze and meaningful words were like a thorn stuck in his heart, impossible to pull out, causing a dull ache.
"Okay, that's all for now."
I'll let you know if there's any news.
After Xue Shih-hao finished speaking, he hung up the phone.
Hearing the busy tone on his phone, Chen Yunfei slowly lowered his arm, leaned against the stall door, and slid down onto the cool tiled floor. The smell of disinfectant mixed with a faint odor of smoke filled his nostrils, making him feel nauseous.
He sat there alone, his mind replaying Luo Fei's expression and tone when he said those words, as well as the icy feeling he had experienced at the time. Nearly twenty minutes passed, and he still couldn't understand it.
This "Luo Jian" is like a mystery that appeared out of nowhere, using the most brutal method to pry open the shell of the secret he thought he was protecting so tightly.
Who exactly is he? What is his purpose? Is it merely to scare him before his transfer? Or does it foreshadow an even bigger storm to come? The more Chen Yunfei thought about it, the more uneasy he felt—a fear of the unknown, a panic about losing control.
He stood up, leaning against the wall, his legs feeling weak. Looking at his pale, dazed face in the mirror, he wiped it hard, trying to regain his usual dignity and composure, but the panic deep in his eyes just wouldn't go away.
On the other side, the escort vehicle, sirens blaring, drove through the increasingly sparse city buildings towards the Western Hills in the suburbs.
The scenery outside the car window changed from buildings and shops to farmland and scattered factories, and finally, a gray, fenced-off cluster of buildings came into view.
We've arrived at Xishan Detention Center.
The procedures were cumbersome but rigid. Upon disembarking, his identity was verified, and detention documents were handed over. Luo Fei's personal belongings, including his now-dead cell phone, wallet, ID, keychain, and even his shoelaces, were all registered, placed in a special storage bag, and sealed.
He was required to remove his own clothes and put on the uniform—a rough, unpleasant-looking prison uniform in a color between khaki and turquoise, with large, conspicuous black characters printed on the front and back.
"Xishan Detention Center." The fabric was stiff and carried a mixed smell of disinfectant and old textiles. After changing clothes, I was given a brief body search to confirm that I wasn't carrying any contraband. Then, led by a guard, I passed through a series of iron gates and headed towards the detention area.
The corridor was long, with a series of tightly closed iron doors on both sides, each with only a small peephole.
A complex smell filled the air.
The smells of disinfectant, sweat, excrement, food, and dust mingled together, creating a stagnant and oppressive atmosphere. Footsteps echoed clearly in the empty corridor. Occasionally, muffled voices, coughs, or the soft clinking of metal objects could be heard from some of the cells.
Time flows here as if differently from the outside world—slower and heavier. (End of Chapter)