Chapter 1376
Another Supervisor Threatened!
Why is he locked up in a detention center? What is he trying to do? Extortion? Revenge? Or... the prelude to an even more terrifying investigation targeting him?
His mind was in complete turmoil, and his temples throbbed. Just as he was feeling utterly confused, there was a gentle knock on the office door, and his secretary pushed the door open, respectfully reminding him of the situation.
"Director Zhou, the quarterly summary meeting is in fifteen minutes. All attendees are present. What do you think..."
Cancel!
Zhou Sheng practically shouted it out, startling his secretary.
He realized he had lost his temper, barely managed to suppress it, waved his hand, and spoke in an agitated tone.
"The meeting is canceled and rescheduled! I have an urgent matter to attend to!"
How could he possibly be in the mood for any meetings right now?
The secretary dared not ask any further questions and quickly acknowledged and withdrew.
Zhou Sheng slumped in the large leather seat, his chest heaving violently.
A few minutes later, he suddenly stood up, grabbed his car keys and handbag from the table, and without even calling the driver, hurriedly went downstairs, got into his private car, stepped on the gas, and sped off towards the Xishan District Detention Center on the outskirts of the city.
He ran several red lights without realizing it, his mind preoccupied with only one thought.
We must see that Luo guy immediately! We must find out what happened! We must shut him up!
Upon arriving at the Xishan Detention Center, Zhou Sheng identified himself and, in an urgent and even somewhat rude tone, demanded to see an inmate surnamed Luo in cell 206 immediately. The police officer receiving him did not dare to delay and immediately reported the matter.
Director Wang Qiang had just seen off the distraught He Wenbin and was sitting in his office pondering the relationship between the two and the depth of Luo Fei's abilities when his subordinate rushed in to report that Zhou Sheng, the director of the Transportation Bureau, had also rushed over and specifically asked to see Luo Fei. He was so shocked that he stood up from his chair!
"Zhou Sheng?! That Zhou Sheng from the Transportation Bureau?"
After receiving confirmation, Wang Qiang's expression turned extremely grim, and he became even more tense.
No sooner had He Wenbin left than Zhou Sheng arrived, and both times he went straight for Luo Fei!
What kind of jinx or nemesis is Luo Fei? Why does he always seem to attract trouble with these bureau chief-level figures? He Wenbin and Zhou Sheng… is there some connection between them? Or does Luo Fei have some kind of leverage over them?
Wang Qiang was filled with doubts and intense unease.
He was extremely reluctant to let Luo Fei receive guests again, especially yet another powerful bureau chief.
This detention center has practically become Luo Fei's private meeting room. What kind of talk is this if word gets out? Moreover, every meeting is shrouded in mystery, leaving the warden completely baffled and feeling like his territory is spiraling out of control.
However, facing Zhou Sheng, the director of the Transportation Bureau, who was also in a high position and even said to have stronger connections in the city, Wang Qiang did not dare to forcibly stop him.
He couldn't afford to offend He Wenbin, and he certainly couldn't afford to offend Zhou Sheng.
He could only suppress his frustration and doubts and give instructions to his subordinates.
"Let's follow the rules... Take Luo Fei to the visiting room. Make sure to record the surveillance footage."
He specifically emphasized "surveillance records," hoping to glean some information from them.
At the same time, he secretly decided that after this incident, he would do everything he could to get rid of this increasingly strange Luo Fei as soon as possible, or... shut him up completely.
Zhou Sheng was led to another visiting room first.
He sat in the chair, his heart filled with unease, as if awaiting a verdict.
He kept replaying that phone call in his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more panicked he became, especially considering that He Wenbin might have come before. His suspicions deepened. Could it be that that bastard He Wenbin couldn't withstand the pressure and sold him out? This thought filled him with both shock and anger.
A short while later, the door to the visiting room opened, and Luo Fei walked in accompanied by the guards. He was still in prison uniform and had handcuffs on his hands, but his steps were steady and his expression was calm.
Zhou Sheng stared intently at Luo Fei through the glass.
Upon seeing that the other party was such a young stranger, he was stunned for a moment, and then a surge of anger mixed with fear, feeling that he had been tricked and threatened, rushed up.
He grabbed the intercom and questioned him directly in an unfriendly tone.
"Was it you who called me? The one surnamed Luo?"
Luo Fei sat down opposite him, picked up the communicator, and even had a faint, almost mocking smile on his face as he frankly admitted it.
“It’s me.”
Director Zhou arrived quite quickly.
Zhou Sheng was further enraged by his attitude, but he was also panicked. He suppressed his emotions and went straight to the point.
"Stop talking nonsense! What exactly do you want? Threatening me? Do you know who I am?"
He tried to overwhelm the other party with his status and imposing manner.
Luo Fei smiled, but the smile lacked warmth.
"Director Zhou, you're joking. How could I dare threaten you? I just have some questions I'd like to ask you to clarify. If I have nothing to hide, why should I be afraid of others asking? Don't you think so?"
"you……"
Zhou Sheng was taken aback, his face flushed red, but he still tried to save face.
"I'm afraid? What do I have to be afraid of! I've done nothing wrong and I'm upright!"
But even he himself felt unsure of his words.
Looking at his blustering but cowardly demeanor, Luo Fei shook his head, seemingly losing interest in continuing to beat around the bush.
He put down the communicator, stood up abruptly, gestured to the guard next to him, and made as if to leave. His actions were exactly the same as when he dealt with He Wenbin.
When Zhou Sheng saw that he was about to leave, he panicked, and the little bit of momentum he had just managed to maintain vanished instantly.
He quickly shouted into the intercom.
"Stop! You...you don't go!"
Luo Fei stopped and glanced back at him, his eyes calm and unwavering, yet carrying a knowing understanding that saw through everything. He picked up the communicator again and casually uttered a sentence that, like an icicle, pierced Zhou Sheng's deepest fear.
"Director Zhou, if I let Mayor Chen know that his eldest son, whom he has carefully nurtured for over twenty years and on whom he has placed high hopes, might not have the Chen family blood flowing in his veins, but rather yours, Director Zhou Sheng's blood... Do you think Mayor Chen would 'thank' me? Would he be so angry that he would be 'happy' to thoroughly audit and investigate all the transportation projects you've handled over the years, especially those contracted by 'Junxing Construction'? I think, with the mayor's power and determination, it shouldn't be too difficult for him to dig up something 'interesting,' right?"
These words precisely struck at Zhou Sheng's two greatest fears—the ethical disaster and disgrace that would result from the exposure of his private affair, and the devastating reckoning that would follow, which would lead to his financial problems.
This is exactly the same core strategy that Luo Fei used to deal with He Wenbin: strike at the heart of the matter and leave no room for maneuver.
Zhou Sheng's face turned deathly pale instantly, and his hand gripping the communicator trembled slightly as his knuckles turned white from the force.
He stared intently at Luo Fei behind the glass wall, his eyes filled with fear, anger, confusion, and a hint of murderous intent that wished he could tear the other man to pieces immediately.
But reason told him that acting now would only push things into an irreversible abyss. Since the other party dared to say such things, they likely possessed some crucial information or evidence, and were displaying a "nothing to lose" attitude. Faced with the other party's "mutually assured destruction" tactics, his official authority, connections, and wealth seemed utterly fragile at this moment.
A few seconds passed in the suffocating silence, but to Zhou Sheng it felt like an eternity.
He finally managed to squeeze out a sound through his teeth with great difficulty; the sound was dry and hoarse, as if he had aged ten years.
"What...what exactly do you want? How much money do you want? Name your price!"
He instinctively thought that the other party had made such a big fuss, risking contacting and threatening him in the detention center, with the ultimate goal of extorting a huge sum of money.
Luo Fei shook his head, sat down again, and spoke clearly and firmly.
"Money? I don't want a single penny."
Zhou Sheng was stunned. No money? Then what? He couldn't quite process it. Threatening not to give money often meant more troublesome and uncontrollable demands.
Looking at his bewildered and nervous expression, Luo Fei slowly stated his conditions, which were almost identical to those he had told He Wenbin before.
“I’m not interested in money. What I have is a rather unpleasant ‘hobby’: I’m particularly interested in the more valuable secrets that people in high positions like Director Zhou possess.”
He paused, letting Zhou Sheng process what he had just said, before continuing.
"Secrets for secrets. Tell me something... substantial enough that I'd feel it's worth keeping your secret. For example, something you know about substantial incriminating evidence against other people in higher positions or with more serious problems. As long as the 'information' you provide is valuable and satisfies me, I can pretend I don't know about your affairs and your 'close cooperation' with 'Junxing Construction' for now. Otherwise..."
Luo Fei didn't finish what he said after "otherwise," but that unspoken meaning was more oppressive than any concrete threat.
He calmly watched Zhou Sheng, awaiting his decision, like a hunter watching his prey finally fall into the trap and struggle in vain, considering how to obtain the most valuable part. Inside and outside the glass wall, a tense silence filled with calculation and panic once again descended, with only Zhou Sheng's increasingly heavy and disordered breathing faintly transmitted through the intercom.
Just as Luo Fei was conducting a bizarre deal concerning life and death with Zhou Sheng, the director of the Transportation Bureau, in the visiting room of Xishan Detention Center with an almost cold and calm demeanor, on the outskirts of Dongguan city, in a slightly simple but clean and tidy rented room, Ruan Jiaxin was looking in the mirror, checking her clothes and slightly pale face for the last time.
She prepared to go out again to the Xishan District Public Security Bureau to see if she could find out more about the progress of Luo Fei's case, or at least confirm whether he was still safely in the detention center or prison, and not already transferred, tried, or even... She dared not think about the worst possible outcome. Ever since the "Jingyixuan" incident, Luo Fei had been imprisoned because of her, and this heavy guilt and worry had been her constant companion, gnawing at her heart day and night.
The slightly worn cell phone on the table suddenly rang just before she was about to leave. The screen flashed the name of the manager of the high-end private club where she worked.
Ruan Jiaxin's heart sank slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she answered the call anyway.
"Hey, Jiaxin."
The person in charge sounded somewhat anxious and impatient on the other end of the phone.
"How's it going with your 'family matters'? It's been so many days! Several important regular customers have been asking why you haven't come back yet, specifically requesting your services. You know, in our line of work, the customer is king. Your sudden long leave puts me in a difficult position!"
Ruan Jiaxin gripped her phone tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white.
She took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound calm and apologetic.
"Manager, I'm sorry, I know I've caused trouble for the club. My friend's situation is indeed a bit tricky. I promise, please give me a little more time. Once I've confirmed that his condition has stabilized a bit, I'll go back to work immediately, okay? I'll definitely make up for the lost hours and appointments later."
Her tone was almost pleading.
This job pays well and is her main source of income to support her life and pay for her mother's medical expenses; she cannot afford to lose it.
But at this moment, Luo Fei's situation also made her uneasy.
The manager sighed, his tone softening slightly, but still urging.
"Jiaxin, it's not that I'm heartless. You know that your qualifications and work ability are among the best in the club. The guests like you, and I value you very much."
But rules are rules, and holidays cannot be extended indefinitely.
Okay, I'll give you three more days, three days at most! You must come back to work. Otherwise... it will be difficult for me to explain to the boss and other colleagues.
Some seats are quite crowded.
"Three days... okay, three days. I'll definitely handle it well and be back on time. Thank you, manager!"
Ruan Jiaxin quickly agreed, but her mind was in turmoil.
What can she do in three days? Can she find a way to help Luo Fei?
After hanging up the phone, she leaned weakly against the wall by the door, feeling a wave of exhaustion and confusion wash over her.
Just then, my phone vibrated slightly in my hand; it was the notification sound of a new WeChat message.
She instinctively swiped the screen and saw a message from an unfamiliar number with no contact information. There was no text, only a download link for an encrypted compressed file and a very brief password hint.
[What he gave you].
Ruan Jiaxin's heart skipped a beat.
"Him"? Who is this "him"? Is it Luo Fei? Or someone else? She immediately looked around warily, confirming that the door was closed and that she was alone in the room. After hesitating for a moment, driven by intense curiosity and a vague premonition, she clicked the link, and the file began to download. The internet speed was slow, and her heart pounded during the several dozen seconds of waiting.
The file finally finished downloading. She entered the numbers corresponding to the simple password hint, and the compressed file opened. Inside were several scanned documents and some photos.
She opened the first document, glanced at the title and the first few lines, and her breath caught in her throat!
It was a screenshot of a highly encrypted but clearly targeted internal briefing, detailing the activities of a foreign intelligence organization in the southeastern coastal region. While key information regarding the reporting unit and personnel involved had been intentionally obscured, the remaining format and code names were clearly not those of ordinary public security or local security departments, exuding a strong, distinctive aura she had only heard of in movies and a few rare rumors. (End of Chapter)