Chapter Sixty-Seven: Return to the Case

Page (1/3)

Lighting a cigarette, I savor it slowly, watching the bright tip bloom into brief fireworks—a beautiful glow before vanishing between my fingers. That, I suppose, is its value.

What Wang Zheng had hoped to avoid finally happened—perhaps this is the inevitable path for every so-called iron-willed woman. He had thought Lin Xiaolei might escape that fate, but now… heh! It turns out that one’s destiny is not so easily changed. Yet, precisely because of this, the future promises to be all the more interesting.

Doesn’t it?

Wang Zheng suddenly realized the contradictions in his own heart. If Lin Xiaolei did as he advised, he would see her as nothing more than a pretty vase. But if she refused, he would think her impatient and shallow.

I underestimated Lin Xiaolei and overestimated myself! Wang Zheng thought, a wry smile curving his lips.

“Pa—”

Just then, the office door burst open. Lin Xiaolei strode in, excitement written all over her face. She took a deep breath, looked at Wang Zheng, and said, “Miss Bai… Miss Bai just called me! She said she’s found my… my classmate, and most of the money has been recovered. She wants me to go to the Jinghua City Public Security Bureau right now!”

Oh? Wang Zheng was a little taken aback by Lin Xiaolei’s excitement. “Miss Bai? You mean Bai Bing?”

“Yes, Bai—the secretary!” Lin Xiaolei nodded vigorously. Bai Bing? Why would she meddle in Lin Xiaolei’s affairs? Is the organization so idle these days? I must be lucky to have stumbled into such peaceful times.

“Go ahead, I’ll take care of things here,” Wang Zheng said. He didn’t show much enthusiasm—whatever the amount involved, it had nothing to do with him. Besides, he and Bai Bing had fallen out; seeing her again would only be awkward.

“I’d like you to come with me!” Lin Xiaolei insisted.

“Why?”

“I know Miss Bai, but we’re not close. I don’t really know what to say. But you… you two seemed quite familiar, even lived together for a while, so I was hoping you could come with me…”

“Let me clarify: First, Bai Bing and I had a fight. She moved out. Second, even before that, we were merely landlord and tenant, so after the argument we have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Third… well, I haven’t thought of a third yet.” Though he said this, Wang Zheng felt otherwise inside—at least, in the days right after Bai Bing left, he’d been distracted, thinking of her often. He told himself it was because she cooked, cleaned, and was so diligent—a perfect housekeeper!

He couldn’t find any other convincing reason to stop thinking about her.

“Are you… upset about what just happened?” Lin Xiaolei asked timidly.

“Upset? Heh, is there a reason to be?” Wang Zheng replied with a smile. Whether he was truly angry, perhaps only he knew.

Page (2/3)

Lin Xiaolei heard him but looked unconvinced. Her eyes darted, and then she sidled up to Wang Zheng, grinning, “Since you’re not, then… as General Manager I’m ordering you to come with me to the police station. All right?”

Wang Zheng shot her a glance. “What’s this? Trying officialese on me now?”

“Come with me, please! I’ll treat you to dinner, how about that?” Lin Xiaolei clung to his arm, determined not to let him refuse.

“All right, General Manager Lin, I’ll go with you!” Wang Zheng sighed, swung his feet off the desk, and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. As he walked toward the door, he added, “But let it be clear, I’m not going for the free dinner!”

“I know!” Lin Xiaolei beamed as Wang Zheng finally agreed to move. Lately, that smile rarely left her face—he hoped it would last.

They hailed a taxi to the Jinghua City Public Security Bureau. From afar, they saw a woman in a white suit standing at the entrance—she looked more like a fashion model than anything else.

The car stopped. Wang Zheng, bracing himself, got out. Though he felt awkward, he feigned nonchalance and followed Lin Xiaolei in, his usual swagger subdued. When he saw Bai Bing, he merely glanced at her in greeting.

“Miss Bai, was it really as you said on the phone?” Lin Xiaolei hurried over, her expression anxious—so much for the shyness she’d claimed earlier.

Bai Bing glanced at Wang Zheng from the corner of her eye, then turned to Lin Xiaolei. “Yes. The woman caught in Hong Kong two days ago—her name is Wu Bifan, right?”

“Yes, yes, that’s her! Was she alone?” Lin Xiaolei asked.

“She and her boyfriend, Li Xiaowei. They’ve already confessed to everything. You should come inside—the suspects are being held here,” Bai Bing replied coolly.

“Oh, thank you, Miss Bai. By the way, how are you connected to the police?” Lin Xiaolei was clearly puzzled. Why would a secretary, an assistant to the general manager, know so much? And why had Bai Bing been the one to contact her about Wu Bifan’s arrest?

“Oh, I have a few friends in the police. They knew I’d been staying at your place and asked me to notify you,” Bai Bing explained smoothly. In her line of work, acting and lying through one’s teeth were basic skills. With that, she strode into the station.

Lin Xiaolei quickly followed, excitement and a strange agitation in her heart. It wasn’t just joy—it was a complicated feeling, since the suspect was her best friend from university. Seeing her now was a mix of elation and heartache—she almost wanted to run away and avoid the meeting altogether.

Wang Zheng, head held high, pretended to see nothing as he entered. After exchanging a few words with some officers, he was led into a room resembling an interrogation chamber. As the door opened, he saw a woman slumped in a chair, hands cuffed behind her back, her whole demeanor one of despair.

“Bifan…!”

At the sound of her name, Wu Bifan flinched. The voice was so familiar. She turned her pale, once-beautiful face, her eyes sunken as if haunted. When she saw Lin Xiaolei, her spiritless eyes flickered with emotion.

Page (3/3)

Suddenly, Wu Bifan fell to her knees, wailing, “Xiaolei, I know I was wrong! It was all Li Xiaowei’s idea—please, ask the police to let me go! I don’t want to go to prison, I don’t…!” Her sobs filled the room.

Seeing her once-best friend kneeling and weeping before her, Lin Xiaolei’s eyes instantly reddened. She gripped Wu Bifan’s shoulders, trying to help her up, but Wu Bifan refused, continuing to cry uncontrollably.

Lin Xiaolei’s heart ached—she had no idea what to do. Wu Bifan had acted ruthlessly, but Lin Xiaolei could not be unkind. She looked at Bai Bing beside her, silently pleading for help on her friend’s behalf.

“Her actions constitute embezzlement—a huge sum. Even if you drop the complaint, the prosecution will still bring charges; she’ll be sentenced just the same.” Bai Bing spoke coldly. Clearly, she had no sympathy for Lin Xiaolei’s attempt to plead for Wu Bifan. In her view, those who break the law must face the consequences.

“Who was it, when facing hardship, looked so helpless and desperate? And who was it that once despaired to the point of wanting to die? Now you’ve learned to be merciful?” Wang Zheng sneered. Though he and Bai Bing were on poor terms, on this matter their opinions were the same.

Hearing Bai Bing and Wang Zheng, Lin Xiaolei turned to Wu Bifan, her face full of pity—as if, even if she wanted to help, she was powerless.

“Are you Lin Xiaolei?” A police officer entered and looked at her.

“Yes, that’s me!” Lin Xiaolei replied quickly.

“Wu Bifan transferred fourteen million. There’s still over thirteen million eight hundred thousand left.”

“Tch, give her money and she doesn’t even know how to spend it!” Wang Zheng scoffed. To betray her best friend—Wu Bifan was shameless.

Betrayal—what Wang Zheng hated most. Because of betrayal, he’d been ambushed time and again when he first arrived in Africa. If not for his luck, he’d have ended up as a snack for the Black Mamba by now.

Wang Zheng left the room and stepped outside. He pulled a cigarette from his pack, put it to his lips, and was about to light it when Bai Bing, just emerging from the room, snatched it from him.

“No smoking here!”

“I never said I was going to light it. I just wanted to hold it in my mouth!” Wang Zheng snatched the cigarette back and put it in his mouth, though he put away his lighter.