Early the next morning, Cao Sanjin had no appetite for breakfast.
After washing up, he changed clothes and went to work at the City Committee.
As soon as he entered his office, he took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Old Kang, we haven’t seen each other in ages. How about eting up for lunch? Alright, sa place as usual!"
At noon, Cao Sanjin arrived at the restaurant first.
Just after ordering, the door to the private room was pushed open from the outside by a middle-aged man.
This man’s na was Kang Kecheng, the executive deputy secretary of Yanxi Province’s Disciplinary Inspection Commission.
He had previously studied with Cao Sanjin in the Imperial Capital, and now both served in Yanxi’s political circle.
With their naturally compatible temperants, they were exceptionally close friends.
As the dishes were served, Kang Kecheng smiled and asked.
"Old Cao, you’re not one to co to the temple for no reason. You must have sothing in mind today."
Cao Sanjin waved his hand dismissively, "No, no, it’s just been so long since we last saw each other. I wanted to catch up."
Seeing the haggard look on Cao Sanjin’s face, Kang Kecheng knew there was definitely sothing going on, and it was sothing big.
Over the next period, the two chatted idly about various matters.
As the al was drawing to a close, Cao Sanjin suddenly spoke.
"By the way, I wanted to ask you about sothing."
Kang Kecheng laughed and replied, "I knew it! You couldn’t have called for no reason. Go ahead and spill it!"
"Is Deputy Mayor Jiang Pu of Chuanxi City being taken in by the Provincial Disciplinary Inspection Commission?"
"Yes, he’s currently under investigation."
At this point, Kang Kecheng asked with a sharp sense of vigilance, "You don’t have any ties to him, do you?"
"Of course not! I just know of the guy. I even admired him quite a lot when I worked in Chuanxi, but I never expected him to get taken down by the Provincial Commission. I don’t even know what he’s done wrong."
"I don’t know the specifics either. The investigation is still ongoing, but it’s definitely not a small matter—this order ca directly from the Imperial Capital!"
Cao Sanjin nodded firmly, his expression one of disappointnt and frustration.
"It’s good they’re investigating! I used to think so highly of him, but who knew he’d turn out to be this kind of person!"
Though his words sounded resolute, his heart was already in turmoil.
If it weren’t for his decades of experience as an official, he might have been unable to mask the panic on his face.
Still uneasy, Kang Kecheng pressed again, "Old Cao, are you absolutely sure you have no connection to Jiang Pu?"
"Absolutely not! Why would I get involved with soone like that?"
"I hope that’s true. Next year, you’re very likely to beco governor. If sothing happens during this critical ti, it’d be disastrous. If... if you do have ties to Jiang Pu, you’d better make arrangents early."
"Don’t worry about that. I’ve always stayed away from ssy, chaotic situations."
At this point, Cao Sanjin’s tone shifted again.
"If there’s any progress on Jiang Pu’s case, it’d be better to keep inford. After all, a subordinate is a subordinate—there’s still so sentint there."
Kang Kecheng nodded in suspicion.
"No problem. I’ll let you know when the ti cos."
Leaving the restaurant, back at his office, Cao Sanjin’s unease continued to grow.
After hesitating for a long ti, he finally dialed another number...
On Thursday afternoon, Cheng Zhuang arrived at Chen Bin’s office.
He placed a bulging manila envelope on the desk.
Chen Bin opened it and found it contained photos of Cao Chenxi and Feng Lei together.
"Good work, well done!"
After locking the photos away in a drawer, Chen Bin asked, "Any progress on Cui Yeye’s matter?"
"Nothing yet."
"Keep investigating. I refuse to believe they can hide forever!"
Since he had lessons at the Provincial Committee Party School on Friday and Saturday, Chen Bin finished his work and drove back to Tianhai.
This ti, he decided to visit Ma Juan’s house.
It had been a while since they’d last seen each other, and he felt it was important to maintain their relationship.
Ma Juan, upon learning of Chen Bin’s visit, was delighted.
She canceled her afternoon plans and started putting on makeup at ho.
When Chen Bin rang the doorbell, he was greeted by Ma Juan in a white long dress.
The dress was very fitted, perfectly accentuating Ma Juan’s figure.
With a voluptuous chest, curvy hips, and flowing long hair, she looked both sexy and innocent.
Swallowing hard, Chen Bin felt his thoughts start to wander.
He was just about to reach out and touch Ma Juan’s ample chest when she stopped him.
"Take out! For you, I spent three hours on my makeup today. We have to go out!"
Feeling so guilt toward Ma Juan, Chen Bin gave an awkward smile and took her hand as they stepped outside.
When you’re with soone you love, everywhere feels like scenery.
The two didn’t pick a destination. Like an ordinary couple, they walked slowly, hand in hand, along the street.
However, not long after, Ma Juan suddenly stopped and looked around with suspicion.
Chen Bin asked, puzzled, "What’s wrong?"
"I feel like soone’s following us."
Chen Bin glanced behind them and joked.
"We’re on the street—of course, there are people everywhere. It’s probably just your imagination."
Nodding hesitantly, Ma Juan said, "Maybe..."
Yet shortly afterward, Ma Juan looked back again.
"No, I keep feeling like soone’s behind us."
Chen Bin took another careful look at their surroundings.
Once he was certain, he spoke seriously.
"You’ve probably been too stressed at work lately. Don’t overthink it."
This ti, Ma Juan said nothing and simply nodded ekly.
The two continued chatting as they walked, and ti passed quickly.
When they grew tired, Ma Juan decided it was ti to go ho.
As nightfall finally ca, Chen Bin felt his passion gradually ignite.
He had made up his mind to show Ma Juan just how much she ant to him!
But just as they were approaching the villa district, Chen Bin suddenly heard the sound of sothing cutting through the air behind him.
Turning around, he saw soone charging at them with a fruit knife and wearing a face mask.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Ma Juan and dodged to one side.
Realizing the attacker had ill intent, Chen Bin stared furiously at the person and shouted to Ma Juan.
"Run!"
Never having encountered such a scene, Ma Juan’s legs imdiately gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.
Each ti she tried to stand, her body refused to cooperate.
Left without options, Chen Bin bent down to help her up.
The masked man seized the opportunity to thrust the knife again.
Chen Bin quickly dodged once more.
The attacker seed even angrier now and swung the blade toward Ma Juan’s beautiful face.
Seeing this, Chen Bin tackled the man to the ground, and the two began to struggle.
Because the masked man had a weapon and Chen Bin lacked any specialized training, he could only defend himself.
This ant Chen Bin was at a disadvantage in the fight.
Despite the blows from the attacker, Chen Bin risked everything trying to seize the fruit knife.
The assailant struck with force, and blood instantly poured from Chen Bin’s arm.
In this dire mont, Chen Bin ignored his injury and rolled to the side, managing to rip off the attacker’s mask.
Even in the dim light, he could recognize at a glance that the man was the long-missing Ye Pei!
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