Chapter 123: Vicious as a Serpent?

Wang Zheng spent the entire day in his office doing nothing but holding a platinum ring up to the sunlight, turning it over and over, leaving Bai Bing completely baffled. To her, the situation was clear: the woman who owned an identical ring must be a spy involved in the theft of classified information.

Secret intelligence organizations often use coded signals to verify identities, as members frequently do not know one another. These signals might be verbal—not as obvious as a classic password—or rely on tokens like earrings, cards, or rings. Such inconspicuous items are rarely noticed, so it was not uncommon for members of the same organization to wear matching jewelry. One shouldn't assume that wearing accessories would expose a target; in this day and age, it would be strange for a woman not to wear any.

Bai Bing carefully recalled everyone Wang Zheng had interacted with. Who was suspicious? She truly couldn't tell. She made a silent decision: from now on, she would keep a close watch on everyone Wang Zheng met to see who might be wearing such a ring.

Perhaps Wang Zheng already had the answer regarding whether Liao Tong was a spy. But spies are highly trained; what would be the point of catching just her? She wouldn't be intimidated by interrogation, and as a public figure, she could easily deflect accusations or even counter-attack. After being in Jinghua City for so many years, Liao Tong had hidden herself too well. Wang Zheng’s goal was not merely to find leverage; if he was going to do this, he wanted to do it with flair.

He wanted to pull up the radish and bring out the dirt attached to its roots.

Wang Zheng seemed to sense Bai Bing’s intentions. Before leaving the office, he looked at her with extreme seriousness and said, "Leave this matter to me. You are not to interfere or hinder me. If you ruin this and cause harm to national interests, you know the consequences better than I do!"

With that, Wang Zheng walked out. Upon hearing his words, Bai Bing immediately abandoned her plans to investigate everyone he met. Yes, she knew the consequences. If her meddling alerted the target, it would be like startling the snake, making it even harder to catch.

She might not listen to Wang Zheng on other matters, but in this, he was undoubtedly her senior and a master. For the sake of national security, she had to stand down, though she remained skeptical of whether his words were true.

For some reason, the company had been exceptionally busy lately. After work, Wang Zheng waited in his car for over ten minutes before Lin Xuan hurried out of the Yongan Building.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Lin Xuan said as she got in. She had been at Zhongtian Company for a while now and was becoming accustomed to the work, handling files and tasks with ease. She found the life of a white-collar worker surprisingly free, almost unbelievable.

Was this all Wang Zheng wanted her to do? Nothing else? If so, it felt like making a mountain out of a molehill. He had made it sound so terrifying—like signing a contract with the devil with no turning back—and yet...

"Is Zhongtian planning any major moves?" Wang Zheng asked nonchalantly as he started the car and drove off, leaving behind a crowd of admirers watching Lin Xuan’s graceful departure.

"President Lin has decided to continue the business that built Zhongtian: the tea trade. But now, we aren't just focusing on exports; we intend to capture the domestic market and build a brand. She also plans to sign contracts with local tea farmers on the outskirts of the city, pre-ordering the next season's harvest at the previous acquisition price. There is some risk, but profit is born from risk, so I support her decision. I’ve already scheduled meetings to take a team to the tea plantations tomorrow to sign the agreements," Lin Xuan explained in detail. Reporting on Zhongtian’s affairs had become part of her daily routine.

Wang Zheng smiled slightly. Lin Xiaolei had combined his suggestion with her own, which was a sound strategy. His smile was not just for her decision, but also a nod to his own foresight.

I knew my judgment was sound!

After dropping Lin Xuan off, he headed to his next destination: the Jinghua City Television Center. For some reason, his mood always shifted when he came here. He had too many questions about Liao Tong. Why would such an outstanding woman engage in espionage and betray her own country?

If not for this, Wang Zheng might have considered her an ideal candidate for a wife. But now... it was a pity. Still, he wouldn't hold back; in some ways, he was even more ruthless with women than with men.

Then again, what man doesn't have wicked thoughts about a beautiful woman? As a normal man—a man among men—such wickedness was perfectly natural.

Entering the news department, he saw Liao Tong, as poised and steady as ever, though a hint of spring glowed in her eyes—the typical sign of a woman who had recently transitioned from maidenhood. Especially for someone like Liao Tong, whose suppressed passions had finally been released.

Seeing Wang Zheng, she offered a faint smile as usual and continued her work. Six people sat at the control console, handling broadcasting, recording, and correcting footage from the live studio. As the team leader, Liao Tong stood behind them, overseeing everything with a broad view.

Wang Zheng walked quietly behind her and, unnoticed by the others, pressed his body against hers. It was a hot summer; he was wearing thin casual trousers and she a knee-length skirt, so their contact was intimate and unmistakable.

As their bodies brushed, Wang Zheng leaned in and nibbled on her ear from behind. The thrill of such illicit intimacy in a workplace, with colleagues present, was incredibly stimulating.

Liao Tong didn't stop him; her physical response showed she enjoyed the thrill of this secret tryst under the eyes of others. Since her tone and instructions remained clear and forceful, no one on the team suspected a thing.

The door to the news control room was tightly shut, and access was restricted, especially before a broadcast, providing the perfect cover for their bold actions.

Last night’s passion had made them both addicted to this game, especially Liao Tong. Whether she truly enjoyed this dynamic or was merely playing along, it suited Wang Zheng just fine. If she wanted to use this to seduce or provoke him, he was more than happy to play along.

Bai Bing, who had been watching the screens, suddenly felt something was off—a woman’s intuition kicking in. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at Wang Zheng and saw him engaging in such intimate, brazen behavior with Liao Tong. She had assumed Liao Tong was being forced, but when she saw Liao Tong take a moment to turn around and kiss him, she realized the situation was far more complex.

Liao Tong wasn't resisting?

What was going on? When did they get involved? Why hadn't she known? Bai Bing’s face flushed; the sight of their bodies rubbing together made her feel deeply uneasy—or perhaps, restless. She quickly turned her head away, staring fixedly at the screen while her mind wandered elsewhere.

The stimulating intimacy lasted over ten minutes until the team took a break, at which point they separated. With their acting skills, no one noticed a thing.

"Wait for me tonight," Wang Zheng whispered, kissing her neck lightly before leaving the newsroom. Seeing his smile, Liao Tong found herself looking forward to their date.

What other excitement would tonight bring?

Bai Bing remained silent, not pestering or nagging as usual, but instead appearing deeply preoccupied. During dinner, she even began mimicking Lin Xiaolei, eating one grain of rice at a time.

Wang Zheng, sharp as ever, noticed the change and guessed the reason for her silence. However, he ignored it; he knew that once a woman like Bai Bing became attached, it was nearly impossible to shake her off.