[Inside an Interrogation Room at the District 7 Administration Bureau]
"Name."
"Qin Siyang."
"Age."
"Just turned eighteen."
"Gender."
"No shit, sherlock! We've known each other for a while now, do you really have to ask me that?"
"My uncle said I need to properly record the basic information."
Qin Siyang covered his head as he listened.
Qian Wenzhao had arranged for his not-so-bright nephew to get a job as a recording clerk, and today he was responsible for taking down Qin Siyang's statement.
"Sigh! Old Qian must be annoyed at me for causing trouble, so he sent you to torture me."
"Gender."
"Male! Male! Male!"
"Occupation."
"Student."
"School."
"South Glory University."
Creak!
The door opened, and Qian Wenzhao walked in and took a seat to the side.
"Old Qian, you finally made it."
Qin Siyang, still clutching his head, looked like he'd just seen his savior.
"I've been here the whole time. I just finished going over Hu Chan and Zhao Sifang's interrogations and came over. Let me see how far you've gotten… Hmm? Why does the 'Gender' field say [male male male]?"
Shen Shisong shook his head, "No idea. That's what Qin Siyang said."
"I—damn it… Old Qian, can't you find your nephew some easy desk job?"
Qian Wenzhao coughed twice, "The United Government doesn't keep idle people. This is already the easiest post."
"Alright, Shisong, take a break on the side. I'll handle the questioning and recording."
"Oh, okay, Uncle."
"How many times have I told you, use my title when we're outside!"
"Okay, Director Qian."
Qin Siyang watched the all-too-familiar scene unfold, not knowing what to say.
Qian Wenzhao spoke first, "Good thing I got there in time. Just after I took you away, the district government brought the entire police force and surrounded your building."
Qin Siyang nodded, "Looks like Kafu had people watching from outside the whole time."
"I heard the building where Dadova disappeared is going to be sealed. Any thoughts?"
Qin Siyang curled his lip, "It's not my building. What, am I supposed to handle everything? I stopped the demolition, let Zhao Longfei deal with the sealing."
"It won't stay sealed for long. Kafu will definitely push to continue the demolition. When is Principal Zhao getting back?"
"Earlier, Little Zhao called Zhao Longfei and explained everything. He should be rushing back by now."
"Good. We won't worry about that for now. Next, I'll turn on the recorder and the lie detector. We'll strictly record everything we say."
"Alright."
Qian Wenzhao stood up, turned on the equipment, and began the questioning.
"Did you know Dadova before this?"
"No."
["Truth."]
"When he came to see you today, what was it for?"
"To demolish the guesthouse building and have us evacuate."
["Truth."]
"Did you refuse to evacuate?"
"How could we? They had official United Government documents, everything was legal and compliant. We're just students, how could we refuse?"
["Truth."]
"Where was the last place you saw Dadova and the others?"
"On the tenth floor of the East Guesthouse at South Glory University."
["Truth."]
"What happened next?"
"They disappeared in the corridor on the tenth floor."
["Truth."]
"What happened after they disappeared?"
"We left the guesthouse and told everyone what happened."
["Truth."]
"So he went missing. You did not fight Dadova, and you certainly did not kill him, correct?"
"Of course I didn't kill Dadova."
["Truth."]
Qian Wenzhao nodded, then turned off the lie detector and recorder.
"That's it for the questioning. After I review Hu Chan and Zhao Sifang's statements, I'll submit a report. To avoid any complications, you should all stay here at the Bureau for today."
"Alright, thank you, Director Qian. Also, your nephew…"
Qin Siyang hesitated.
He couldn't exactly say, in front of Shen Shisong, that the kid wasn't very bright and that Qian Wenzhao should keep an eye on him.
Qian Wenzhao also looked helplessly at Shen Shisong's clear, vacant gaze, "I'll keep him with me. Don't worry, he won't cause you trouble."
"Fine. Then go do your thing."
Qian Wenzhao gathered the documents and left the interrogation room with Shen Shisong, "If you get hungry or thirsty, just say the word. There's someone outside keeping watch."
"Got it! Oh, right, now that the interrogation's over, can I have my phone back?"
"It's on the shelf outside the door. Go get it yourself."
Qin Siyang retrieved his phone. There were several missed calls.
Two were from Wen Shu, along with a message: [I heard you were taken by the Administration Bureau. Is everything okay? Be careful!]
A faint smile appeared on Qin Siyang's lips, 'Wen Shu worries too much. Being here isn't much different from being at home.'
He replied to let her know he was fine.
The remaining missed calls were from Zhao Longfei, who had also left a message: [I've returned to South Glory. Thanks for your hard work.]
Qin Siyang replied: [If you know I worked hard, then give me a proper reward.]
With Zhao Longfei back in position, Qin Siyang felt at ease and stopped worrying about the rest.
He leaned back in his chair, propped his feet up on the table, and casually scrolled through his phone.
———
Not far from the Administration Bureau, South Glory University was still bustling.
Outside the South Glory University guesthouse, a crowd had gathered.
Most of them were students or parents who had been staying there.
At noon, they'd been driven out once by Dadova and his group. Later, thinking things were settled, they moved back in.
But in the evening, people from the district United Government came again, posting sealing notices and driving them out once more.
Complaints erupted everywhere.
Just as the staff were putting up the seals, Zhao Longfei's official car pulled up in front of the guesthouse.
He walked to the entrance, looked at the busy government staff, and said with a smile, "Leaders, putting seals up and tearing them down again is a hassle. Why not call it here, I'll treat everyone to hot pot!."
The official in charge approached Zhao Longfei and replied, "Principal Zhao, the building is in violation and will be demolished according to law. This seal probably isn't coming down."
Zhao Longfei smiled, "You really have to put it up?"
"Yes, it has to be done."
Zhao Longfei scratched his head and muttered, "Section Chief Guan Ming, your parents and younger sister live in Hongfu Residential Complex in District 75, right? That project was also built by Tengfei Group. It was constructed at the same time as this guesthouse, with the exact same construction team and materials. If this one gets demolished, shouldn't Hongfu Residential Complex be demolished too?"
The official's face changed in shock, and he swallowed hard.
'How is that possible?'
He had only been transferred to District 7 this month, temporarily selected by Kafu to handle this sealing task. From leaving the district office to arriving at South Glory, it hadn't even been half an hour, and Zhao Longfei had already named his identity and position, and even knew his family's address.
Back when he worked in other districts, Tengfei Group had to pay him off for protection in the black market, which made him think the Zhao family was nothing special.
But now, in District 7, facing Zhao Longfei, cold sweat began to form on his back.
Zhao Longfei continued, "Section Chief Guan, your posting in District 7 is only temporary. Sooner or later you'll be promoted. No need to work this hard, right?"
Guan Ming froze again.
Zhao Longfei even knew about his career move as a stepping stone?
'Is the Zhao family really that well-connected?'
But he still wanted to complete his task. After all, this was his job.
"Even if what you said about Hongfu Residential Complex is true, would Tengfei Group really be willing to demolish its own buildings? Aren't you afraid it'll affect the company's development?"
Zhao Longfei laughed, "The units are already sold. The money's in hand. Whether they're demolished or not, what does it have to do with Tengfei Group?"
Guan Ming gritted his teeth, "But this building has official demolition approval from the United Government. Hongfu Residential Complex doesn't."
"Section Chief Guan, that kind of approval isn't something only Kafu can issue."
"But—"
"Section Chief Guan, I'm short on time. I don't want to waste it on this nonsense. Let me ask you something."
Guan Ming looked at Zhao Longfei, waiting.
Zhao Longfei took out a cigar, lit it leisurely, and took a slow drag.
The smoke between them obscured a trace of dominance in Zhao Longfei's gaze.
"Did it never occur to you, Kafu sent his own trusted man at noon to demolish the building, so why didn't he send another trusted man tonight to put up the seal?"
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