The case had so clues, and the police would take care of the rest. After chatting with Shi Feng for a while, Luo Zheng declined the invitation to dinner and left the municipal bureau with Ghost Hand. Knowing that Luo Zheng had a date with Lan Xue, Ghost Hand didn't want to intrude on their ti together and went ho. Luo Zheng hailed a cab to the city, heading to a private club where he had arranged to have dinner with Lan Xue.
Lan Xue was already waiting at the club. With gentle music, a quiet environnt, artistically rich decor, and elegant and proper service staff, everything indicated the club's class. If it were up to Luo Zheng, he'd prefer to go to a food stall—affordable and unbeatable in taste. To him, the food at places like this wasn't enjoyable despite the nice environnt. But since Lan Xue wanted to co, he naturally wouldn't object.
Led by a waiter, Luo Zheng walked into the club and saw a person sitting quietly by the window. A white dress, hair draped over her shoulders, smooth and flowing, she looked like a blooming lily—elegant, noble, serene, blooming quietly and unassumingly.
Luo Zheng was taken aback, not expecting Lan Xue to have such a graceful and gentle side, so different from the aloof and confident presence she usually maintained. He couldn't help but smile, recalling how she struck fear into the enemy on the battlefield, contrasting with her current serene elegance. It took him a mont to adjust. He walked over slowly, and the waiter, confirming with Lan Xue that Luo Zheng was her guest, politely pulled out the chair for him to sit.
"What's wrong?" Lan Xue noticed Luo Zheng staring and realized his reaction, yet she couldn't help but ask softly, "Why are you looking at like that? It's weird."
"You're really special today," Luo Zheng replied truthfully.
"Do you think I'm different from before?" Lan Xue smiled softly and asked.
"A bit. If they knew the Ice Queen turned into a Flower Fairy, they'd probably drop their chins. But they're not that lucky; this beauty is mine alone," Luo Zheng replied with a smile.
"You're so vain. What do you want to eat?" Lan Xue asked softly.
"You know I'm not particular. I don't know this stuff; you decide for ," Luo Zheng said awkwardly.
"Fine, let's try the steak. It's not bad. Hmm, dium-well should be good for you," Lan Xue pondered for a mont, suggested, and just as the waiter approached, she told him, "Another one of the sa, and bring the red wine."
The waiter agreed and left. Seeing Luo Zheng still looking at her strangely, Lan Xue was a bit uncomfortable too. She glared at Luo Zheng and said, "No more staring. Regarding the city managent, everything's been cleared up. Since you're a military family, they won't fine you, and the local governnt won't bother you. Don't worry."
"Alright, that's good." Luo Zheng replied casually and softly recounted Shi Feng's invitation and the clues they found. In such an environnt, the two didn't talk about romance, instead discussing matters of life and death, which seed sowhat out of place. But both were military people and were used to it. If they were to talk sweet nothings like young lovers, neither could manage it.
After their discussion, as the waiter ca to pour them so wine and left, Luo Zheng continued in a low voice, "This matter must be complex, very strange. I don't know if Shi Feng and the others can find any leads, but never mind, let's taste this red wine."
The two clinked glasses lightly and drank, Luo Zheng finding the taste strange as he wasn't accustod to it, so he downed the whole glass. He noticed Lan Xue rely sipped and put down her glass, laughing, "I'm not used to this; you can drink it slowly."
"No way, I can't finish such a big bottle on my own. Besides, this is Western cuisine, not Chinese—no chance for baijiu here. You should drink with slowly, you should learn to get used to it. What if a mission requires it one day, wouldn't it be troubleso if you couldn't drink? Honestly, it's not good; I don't like it either," Lan Xue giggled.
"You're right; I should get used to it," Luo Zheng agreed, signaling to the approaching waiter not to co over, and he poured the wine himself.
The two ate and chatted, half an hour later, a phone call ca in. Luo Zheng glanced at it and, to his surprise, it was from Shi Feng. He looked at Lan Xue, but still answered, "Director Shi, it's . What's up?" Luo Zheng always thought Shi Feng was a cautious person who wouldn't call if it wasn't important.
"We've found so clues and hope you can help us assess them," Shi Feng quickly said.
"Is that necessary?" Luo Zheng asked in surprise. The case was the police's business. If they had clues, why not just follow them? Why involve an outsider? Curiosity stirred within him.
"It's very necessary; the situation is complicated. I can't explain over the phone. Are you available now?" Shi Feng asked quickly.
"Not available," Luo Zheng said without hesitation, only to find Lan Xue snatching the phone away.
Lan Xue gave Luo Zheng a glare and said into the phone, "Director Shi, it's . He's available now and will co over." She hung up, placed the phone on the table, and nudged it towards Luo Zheng, softly saying, "Go ahead. If Shi Feng could handle it, he wouldn't have called you. He's encountered sothing difficult; I'll call you tomorrow, and we can visit your parents."
"It's our parents," Luo Zheng corrected, picking up the phone.
"Got it, go ahead. I'll take care of the bill," Lan Xue smiled softly.
"Be careful, call if anything cos up," Luo Zheng said as he got up, reminding Lan Xue, and hurriedly left.
Ten minutes later, Luo Zheng arrived at the municipal bureau, greeted by a criminal investigator from the serious cri unit at the entrance, they exchanged greetings and swiftly moved to the eting room. It was the sa eting room with the sa mbers, except without Ghost Hand. Luo Zheng sat down and looked at Shi Feng, asking, "What's going on? Be direct."
"Our people discovered through screening that an overseas arms dealer contacted the deceased. Upon investigation, we found no prior dealings between them. This arms dealer is associated with the Yin Country's military. We preliminarily suspect that they requested the deceased to produce sothing, which the deceased refused. They worried about a leak, so they killed the deceased," Shi Feng quickly explained.
"Then follow the clues down the line. Why involve ?" Luo Zheng asked, curious.
"Another businessman died, in exactly the sa manner, but in another province. The case was reported to the ministry before it was discovered. After so analysis, the ministry found a suspicious point: both deceased were on the sa list, requiring a joint investigation, and they've assigned to lead it. I need your insight." Shi Feng explained urgently.
"What list?" Luo Zheng asked in astonishnt.
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