Chapter 72: Lu Qian Wants to See Jian Ruochen

Chapter 72: Lu Qian Wants to See Jian Ruochen

Li Maoming said, "Once the contract is signed, the pro-British separatist faction will definitely target you."

His stomach was in knots.

A man nearly fifty years old, thrown for a loop by a young man who didn’t play by the rules, he suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

Lei Jinwen refilled Li Maoming's red wine, "Fifty-nine billion. What? Do you think our police station is a money-printing machine?"

Li Maoming gave a strained laugh, "Haha, of course not. How could that be?"

He took a sip of wine, chewing on Lei Jinwen's words.

The Commissioner had changed the subject from Jian Ruochen to the police station, making it clear he intended to protect Jian Ruochen.

Lei Jinwen smiled, "Mind if I take a look at the contract?"

Li Maoming said, "Please."

Jian Ruochen let go of his grip on the contract accordingly.

Lei Jinwen picked it up and looked it over.

The terms were quite reasonable, and the funding asked for wasn't crazy money.

It just felt like picking on him because Jian Ruochen was so young.

In fact, as early as 1988, British Hong Kong businessmen had already seen the growth potential of the mainland and invested heavily in Guangdong Province.

By comparison, 5.9 billion was peanuts.

Lei Jinwen took out a pen from his suit pocket, placed it on the contract, and handed it back, "It’s acceptable. Sign it. You’ll have full control over the project’s progress."

Jian Ruochen didn’t hesitate at all, signing his name on the signature spot.

Li Maoming breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The Commissioner was intimidating, and his nephew and wife were just as formidable. He'd been crazy nervous when only the sound of pages turning could be heard at the table.

Jian Ruochen sat among this family, fair-complexioned and friendly, seeming like he didn't have a scheming bone in his body and stood out a bit.

After signing, Jian Ruochen looked up with a smile, "Now can you feel better, Mr. Li? How about we discuss the real business?"

Investing in a promising project was good, but he was now with the Hong Kong police.

He could make some concessions during negotiations, but he absolutely couldn’t put Director Lei and the Kowloon Region Police Station in a tough spot.

"Mr. Li," Jian Ruochen picked up his wine glass and raised it to Li Maoming from across the table, "I know the mainland undoubtedly wants to use this videotape to replace the bad apples in the British Hong Kong government and put their own people in place."

"I have no objections to replacing officials, but after this, the Kowloon Region will become a target. I'm not worried if British Hong Kong comes after me personally, but what about the other officers?"

Li Maoming: ...

He had to rethink his assessment of Jian Ruochen being guileless!

Jian Ruochen smiled softly, "Mr. Li, you gotta understand the difficulties of our Kowloon Region Police Station. Kowloon is so strapped for cash right now..."

Li Maoming, holding the freshly signed 5.9 billion contract, was breaking a sweat.

Hong Kong really gets hot in a hurry.

Winters are short, and springs are hotter than elsewhere.

Talking to Jian Ruochen made it even hotter.

How could someone who just spent 5.9 billion so comfortably play the poverty card for other people?

Jian Ruochen said, "But this is just a suggestion. If it puts you in a difficult position, I apologize. After all, I haven’t even graduated from university yet and I’m still an outside hire. Things like raises and additional funding aren't coming my way."

Li Maoming took a deep breath.

Nice reverse psychology!

He raised his glass and clinked it with Jian Ruochen's, "The Police Headquarters gets results. The higher-ups will definitely take it seriously. I’ll make the case."

The glasses made a pleasant clinking sound.

Jian Ruochen smiled, "It’s fine. Whether there’s extra support or not, we’ll handle the tape situation and the mainland project as usual. STN News will also work closely with mainland official media reports."

"What matters most is the truth."

Guan Yingjun watched Jian Ruochen, then lowered his gaze to pick some shrimp into his bowl and peel them.

The corners of his lips curled up.

Jian Ruochen, confident and spirited, looked absolutely dazzling, like a pearl destined to shine brightly.

Li Maoming was pretty much mesmerized.

He knocked back his red wine in one go, "I believe you."

He’d invested 5.9 billion just like that—what's the big deal about finding a solid backer for the West Kowloon? It's the least I could do!

The probing was over.

Guan Yingjun got right to it: "The release of the videotape can’t be delayed any longer. British Hong Kong has its own sources. If too much time passes, a lot of evidence will be destroyed. They might even find a way to take out Lu Qian. So, the videotape should be released within 36 hours."

He glanced at his watch, "It’s been 10 hours since we obtained the videotape. We have 26 hours left."

Li Maoming got chills.

The clock was ticking.

Guan Yingjun ignored the look Lei Jinwen gave him and stated bluntly, "Rather than testing our consultant’s stance here, the Central Bureau should send more personnel to help the Kowloon Region Police Station gather evidence of Lu Qian’s crimes."

"Prepare the indictment before the videotape is released, and charge Lu Qian before British Hong Kong politicians can react. What do you think?"

Li Maoming barely got a word in.

Guan Yingjun handed over a file on Lu Qian’s involvement in the case, "Mr. Li, we’re still missing evidence of Lu Qian’s drug trafficking."

Li Maoming had no choice but to follow Jian Ruochen and Guan Yingjun’s pace, "Don’t worry, handle your work. I’ll figure out the rest."

Jian Ruochen listened intently while working on a crab to eat.

Chen Yunchuan lowered his eyes and smiled, asking quietly, "Is it that good? Seems my cooking skills are decent."

Jian Ruochen praised, "Officer Chen made all this? Impressive."

"I only steamed the crabs; everything else was made by Director Le," Chen Yunchuan said, lowering his voice conspiratorially as if probing further, "A while ago, Guan Yingjun learned from Lei Jinwen and made a batch of candies. He even specially ground vitamin powder and mixed it with lemon powder to dust them. Do you know who he gave them to? Is he pursuing someone?"

Jian Ruochen accidentally bit his tongue, hissing in pain, "Detective Guan makes candy too?"

Chen Yunchuan: ...

So Lei Jinwen had been telling the truth after all. He really does like Jian Ruochen.

He really did give the candies to Jian Ruochen.

But... the signs were there.

Just as Jian Ruochen was about to pick up a second crab to eat, the bowl was taken away by Guan Yingjun, who was sitting beside him, and replaced with a bowl of peeled shrimp soaked in a sweet and sour sauce, with a toothpick placed on the side.

Jian Ruochen picked one up and put it in his mouth, tasting the flavor of yuzu ponzu sauce.

Pretty tasty.

The dinner at Lijin International Garden was lively and cheerful.

Kowloon Regional Police Headquarters.

Inside the detention center.

Lu Qian sat on the narrow, single-person bed plank in his cell, processing the curry potatoes, peanuts, and a pair of braised chicken wings he had eaten for dinner.

He had never eaten such terrible food in his life.

Bland, mushy, sloppy, nauseating.

The slap Jian Ruochen had delivered to his face, along with this meal, had ground his dignity into the dirt.

But even more terrifying was Liao Yanchou’s arrest.

Lu Qian gripped the cold bedframe tightly, staring at the washbasin and toilet in the cell.

This was practically a place for animals.

He hated Liao Yanchou for being incapable of evading the police.

He hated Guan Yingjun, hated the never-seen Lu Jingchen and the indifferent Jiang Hanyu, as well as Lu Rong, who watched from the sidelines, and he hated Jian Ruochen, who had put him here.

They all deserved to die!

Lu Qian walked over to the washbasin and looked at his haggard, angry face in the mirror.

He wasn’t about to let it end like this. He had been fighting against the Kowloon Regional Police Headquarters for so many years, only to finally be bested by someone he had always looked down on.

Lu Qian also felt a pang of regret—if he had chosen Jian Ruochen back then, would everything have been different?

As he thought this, he realized he couldn’t even remember why he’d loved Jiang Hanyu.

Jiang Hanyu didn’t have as much money as Jian Ruochen.

Not as smart as Jian Ruochen.

Wasn’t as good an actor as Jian Ruochen.

Not as useful as Jian Ruochen.

Didn’t even love him as much as Jian Ruochen had in the past.

Lu Qian splashed water on his face, tugged the engagement ring off his middle finger, and dropped it onto the sink with a soft "ding."

He was going to take a gamble.

·

The next day.

Jian Ruochen placed the investment contract worth 5.9 billion on Luo Binwen’s office desk and headed to school, bouncing along.

After the dinner ended the previous night, the videotape had been duplicated into several copies. One was taken back to the mainland overnight by Li Maoming, and another was sent to the STN News Department.

Tonight at 18:30, during prime time.

This news would be broadcast simultaneously by STN News and the mainland’s official nightly news broadcast.

6:20 PM.

Jian Ruochen finished his classes for the day and hurried to the police station.

He tossed his backpack onto the sofa in the A-group meeting room and turned to Zhang Xingzong, "Any updates on the case?"

"Last night, all the units in the joint task force except ours were working overtime. Wow!" Zhang Xingzong said in a gossipy way, "You wouldn’t believe it until you investigate... All the bathhouses under Lu Qian’s name are fronts for prostitution. The Police Force’s special investigations unit arrested 300 men and women, and they’re still taking down statements."

"He’s also evaded taxes, and his karaoke bars are even more bizarre—they don’t even have fire safety licenses, and they’re full of junkies chasing the dragon. Tsk, tsk. Crazy…"

Ding Gao held a Hong Kong-style sausage, eating as he spoke, "Sir Liu from the Independent Commission Against Corruption has been up for 36 hours. There’s just no end to the investigation."

He lifted an oily wrapper, "Want some?"

Zhang Xingzong reached out, "Sure."

Jian Ruochen glanced back, noticing that Guan Yingjun’s office door was closed, and said, "I’ll take one."

Zhang Xingzong laughed, "Why the sneakiness? Are you afraid Detective Guan will find out? He wouldn’t mind."

"That day, Detective Guan took me to see a doctor, and the doctor told me not to eat this kind of stuff," Jian Ruochen said, taking a bite of the sausage, his words muffled by how delicious it was, "What is this made of? So juicy."

"Cured sausage," Ding Gao whispered, "You should listen to the doc. I won’t bring any more in the future."

Jian Ruochen just said, "Oh."

Though his face showed no particular expression.

Zhang Xingzong couldn’t help but feel their consultant seemed a little hurt.

He changed the subject, "The tape’s about to air soon, right? Wanna go see it?"

Just as Jian Ruochen was about to speak, Bi Wanwan walked in through the door, "Something smells amazing."

Ding Gao said, "Sausages, on the table. Help yourself."

Bi Wanwan took one, "Detective Guan asked me to relay a message. Lu Qian wants to see Jian Ruochen. He says he’ll only talk after meeting Jian Ruochen."

Jian Ruochen asked, "Where is he now?"

Ding Gao said, "Interrogation room. We've been taking turns questioning him all day, but this guy is thick-skinned—he won't say a single word."

"I'll go take a look."

Jian Ruochen tossed the bamboo skewer in his hand and walked slowly to the interrogation room, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

It had only been a day, but Lu Qian was already so haggard he was unrecognizable.

His once neatly ironed dress shirt and waistcoat were crumpled and clung to his body. Without the restraint of hair gel, his bangs hung down, messy and matted into strands.

Detective Guan sat across from Lu Qian with his arms crossed, turning to glance at Jian Ruochen. "You're here?"

"Yeah." Jian Ruochen pulled out the chair beside him and sat down, lifting his gaze to meet Lu Qian's. "I heard you wanted to see me before you'd talk. What is it?"

Lu Qian raised his eyes, carefully tracing the cold indifference in Jian Ruochen's expression. His breathing grew increasingly ragged as he rasped, "There was never any drug lord, was there? The person at Bar 1892 that day was Guan Yingjun. You two were playing good cop, bad cop to trick me, weren't you?"

Jian Ruochen raised an eyebrow. "What's it to you?"

He had thought Lu Qian wanted to repent and confess, to leave with some dignity and a good reputation in the end.

But it seemed not.

He was still clinging to earthly power.

Lu Qian took a sharp, sudden breath and burst out shouting, "These police officers are using you! They're using you to catch me!"

He struggled violently, the handcuffs on his wrists clattering sharply. "Guan Yingjun is exploiting your emotions!"

Jian Ruochen curled his lips in disbelief. "What did you say?"

*Are you insane? Spinning such an outrageous tale?*

He chuckled. "Go on."

Lu Qian clenched his fists tightly. "You used to like me! I don’t believe you have no feelings for me at all!"

Jian Ruochen stared straight at him, unable to hold back a laugh. "Ha!"

"When you said that, your eyes were darting—it shows you have no confidence in your own words. You're just putting on an act."

"Even though you struck a dramatic pose, one corner of your mouth twitched downward slightly, and the muscles under your eyes were tense. It shows you look down on me."

Jian Ruochen said meaningfully, "It's been three months, and you haven't improved at all in playing the pitiful act. You're making the exact same mistakes."

Lu Qian screamed hysterically, "No matter what I say, you won't believe me anymore, will you? I was tricked by Jiang Hanyu! I never loved him—I like you!"

He glared fiercely at the person before him. "Did he sleep with you?"

Detective Guan disliked anyone using such a frivolous tone and filthy language to slander Jian Ruochen.

He abruptly stood up and slammed his foot into the edge of the interrogation table.

*Screech!*

The metal table shot forward with a sharp, piercing sound, slamming straight into Lu Qian’s abdomen.

"Ugh—"

Lu Qian retched, sliding off the chair and collapsing to his knees on the floor, gasping in pain. The taste of iron filled his throat.

*No, no…*

He had to get out of the police station before the video tape Liao Yanchou leaked was broadcast.

Otherwise, he’d never make it out.

He would die here!

Lu Qian finally felt overwhelming terror. Jian Ruochen’s indifference shattered the last shred of his sanity.

The once polished and composed man crawled on his knees to where Jian Ruochen sat, kneeling in utter disgrace.

He could barely even breathe.

Shame, hatred, humiliation, disgust—all crashed down on him at once.

Jian Ruochen watched, but saw no trace of remorse.

Lu Qian was only trying to escape punishment. He wasn’t sorry at all.

Lu Qian sobbed, "I’m begging you, just forgive me this once, okay? I really love you!"

"No. You’re selfish, lawless. You don’t love anyone—you only love yourself." Jian Ruochen glanced up at the wall clock. "It’s 6:30 PM."

He turned to Detective Guan, whose eyes were icy. "Detective Guan, did you bring your portable TV? Let’s let President Lu here listen to the news."

Detective Guan’s expression was grim as he lowered his gaze and twisted the knob, shoving the TV toward Lu Qian. "Watch."

Jian Ruochen looked at Lu Qian. "Enough of your nauseating performance."

"Why would I prefer a criminal over a police officer?"

*Knock knock.*

The interrogation room door opened.

Bi Wanwan entered with a faxed document. "Interpol’s National Central Bureau sent over a file—evidence of Lu Qian’s drug smuggling in mainland China, secured by customs there."

She truly couldn’t understand it.

Who would have thought that a single video tape could actually draw Interpol’s National Central Bureau into action?

Jian Ruochen was truly clever and decisive, daring to think and act.

They had finally found their breakthrough.