Chapter 102: Summon Lu Rong!

Chapter 102: Summon Lu Rong!

Liao Min thanked her repeatedly. The doctor took the card and immediately processed the payment.

Once a person is admitted to the ICU, it's essentially paying to stay alive.

Jian Ruochen silently watched Guan Yingjun finish paying and tuck the medical bill into his wallet.

They had known each other for about six months, and Detective Guan's wallet was still the same frayed one from their first meeting.

Jian Ruochen walked over. "Can the police station reimburse this expense?"

"No," Guan Yingjun put away his wallet, lowered his gaze, and calculated his assets.

He had invested some spare cash in stocks and made a modest profit.

In Hong Kong today, only real estate, insurance, Lu Rong, former richest man Gu Youming, and Jian Ruochen's family stocks were performing well.

Real estate and insurance were unreliable; with a little manipulation by the stock traders at HKEX, they could crash at any moment.

And Lu Rong would inevitably face charges sooner or later.

Gu Youming had already begun relocating his core businesses to the United States.

After surveying the options, it seemed that investing in Jian Ruochen's company was the safest bet.

He had made a profit, but it was nowhere near the wealth Jian Ruochen possessed.

He might never in his life accumulate the fortune Jian Ruochen had.

Guan Yingjun's gaze fell on the person beside him, his expression unreadable.

Jian Ruochen smiled at him. "Detective Guan, if the police station won't reimburse you, I can."

Guan Yingjun raised an eyebrow.

"But..." Jian Ruochen teased, drawing out his words, "there are conditions for reimbursement."

"What conditions?" Guan Yingjun took Jian Ruochen's hand, enclosing it in his palm, a faint smile playing on his lips.

His earlier thoughts vanished completely.

Jian Ruochen withdrew his hand and said softly, "We'll talk about it later."

This man was simply too affectionate; he wanted Guan Yingjun to be more restrained at home, to be able to stop immediately when asked.

Guan Yingjun immediately realized the conditions likely related to intimate matters between couples and said, "No need for your reimbursement. I used spare cash to buy your family's stocks, and the income covers this unexpected expense. If necessary, I have over ten million saved in the bank that I can withdraw and use."

Jian Ruochen: ...

Whoa.

Something felt off.

While Pu Yongsheng was fighting for his life, the two outside the ICU weren't idle.

After a brief chat, they returned to the matter at hand.

Guan Yingjun lowered his gaze, folded his arms, and said coldly, "Ever since we retrieved the codebook from Hong Kong University based on Jiang Hanyu's testimony and decrypted the MI6 secret files, we've been led by the nose."

He didn't continue, instead looking at Jian Ruochen, waiting for him to pick up the thread.

Jian Ruochen's eyes flickered. "After obtaining the codebook and decrypting the files, our primary task was actually to find the codebook's supplier."

After all, Jiang Hanyu was the operative, the security guard was the middleman, and there was still a supplier we hadn't found.

Lu Rong gave Jiang Hanyu the MI6 secret files and the key to the Preludin but didn't give him the codebook.

This made it clear that the supplier Jiang Hanyu contacted through the security guard was not Lu Rong.

"Jiang Hanyu has another supplier," Jian Ruochen murmured.

Guan Yingjun prompted, "We should have been looking for Jiang Hanyu's other supplier and, following procedure, summoning Lu Rong for questioning based on Jiang Hanyu's testimony."

That's how it should have been.

But the day before they returned to work, a videotape abruptly appeared right after the celebration banquet.

A bombing case suddenly intervened.

It diverted everyone's attention.

Such a coincidence.

Not at any time during the break, but the night before work resumed!

Jian Ruochen caught his breath, a cold dread spreading from his shoulders down his spine. He shivered. "If all of this was done by Lu Rong... then it makes sense."

He licked his lips, speaking quickly and quietly, "To distract us, Lu Rong timed it perfectly, delivering the videotape to us just before work resumed. At the same time, he informed the person who arranged the videotape's recording that it had been delivered to the West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit."

"Hearing Lu Rong's words, the person who arranged for Pu Yongsheng to record the videotape panicked. Before this, he had no idea the videotape would be sent out. To silence Pu Yongsheng, he immediately arranged for someone to use a gas canister to bomb the residential building where Pu Yongsheng's family lived."

Once they reconsidered, a clear logical chain emerged.

Lu Rong's planning was extremely meticulous.

He managed to divert the Major Crimes Unit's attention while simultaneously creating a crisis of trust for them.

The police's focus should have remained on Lu Rong and the secret files, but now it had shifted to the videotape and the bombing case.

If it weren't for Guan Yingjun's years of experience, his meticulousness in dealing with criminals, and his sharp logic...

Jian Ruochen took a soft breath, balled his fist, and thought to himself: *Logic, logic.*

If he had the chance to go to the police academy again in this life, he would definitely pay attention in that class.

He couldn't rely solely on psychology like he did in his previous life.

Guan Yingjun praised him, "Smart."

Jian Ruochen looked at him silently. "When did you figure it out?"

"When I confirmed Pu Yongsheng was the uniformed officer recording at the execution ground," Guan Yingjun sat on the waiting chair in the ICU lobby, casually, with an arm draped on the back of Jian Ruochen's chair, gently patting the young man's back: "Take it slow."

Jian Ruochen's mind instinctively drifted off.

Suddenly, he thought of the peach tree.

Guan Yingjun had said the same thing that time.

The next sentence was: *I'll teach you bit by bit...*

*Shit.*

He never used to let his mind wander like that.

Jian Ruochen quickly refocused his attention. "What do we do now? The building explosion case has actually happened; there's no way we can drop it."

Right now, Team A had one unit diverted to verify information and protect the uniformed police.

Another unit was liaising with the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

And yet another unit was working on the Mid-Levels luxury residence explosion case.

With nine people, they were stretched so thin they might as well be eighteen.

Trying to split into two more teams—

one to keep tabs on Lu Rong and another to redirect efforts to investigate Jiang Hanyu’s contact—was simply impossible.

"It’s fine. Investigating Lu Rong is the job of the entire West Kowloon Region Serious Crime Unit. The first three teams are on standby at all times." Guan Yingjun took out his phone and briefed Team C’s Chen Jincai on the situation.

He instructed him to summon Lu Rong for questioning.

During this period, the relationship between Team A and the other teams had improved significantly.

Many available officers volunteered to help.

This was all thanks to Jian Ruochen.

Guan Yingjun raised his hand, unconsciously stroking the back of the neck of the person beside him. He glanced sideways and saw the young hero leaning in to ask, "What about Jiang Hanyu’s matter?"

"No sweat." Guan Yingjun chuckled softly. "The secret file required Jiang Hanyu to organize a subversive organization. Such politically charged groups usually operate in secret, but they still need front documents on the surface."

Jian Ruochen suddenly understood. "Right! Whoever approved the registration for Jiang Hanyu’s group must either be Jiang Hanyu’s superior or have some connection to that higher-up!"

A university is an ivory tower, but also a small society cut off from the outside world.

Word travels fast inside the ivory tower.

All they had to do was inquire around the campus.

Guan Yingjun said, "I’ve already contacted informants placed at Hong Kong University and asked them to keep an eye out for information."

Jian Ruochen: ...

Indeed, Detective Guan had informants on the payroll across half of Hong Kong.

Even the owner of the Hong Kong University snack shop had ties to Detective Guan.

He truly built his own early version of the "internet" all by himself.

Guan Yingjun reached out and tidied the slightly messy hair at Jian Ruochen’s temple. "When you have resources at your disposal, all you need to do is delegate."

At 19, while others were still finding their way, Jian Ruochen managed to join the West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit on his own and firmly establish himself.

He believed Jian Ruochen’s ambitions didn’t end there.

But as the older one, he didn’t want the person he liked to learn things the hard way.

There are many things he could demonstrate himself or give reminders personally.

After all, Jian Ruochen is clever—a little hint is all he needs.

Jian Ruochen caught on. "You mean I should start getting to know the assets and connections my mother left behind?"

Guan Yingjun shot him a sidelong glance, not yet speaking.

Jian Ruochen then said, "I’ve got my own, too."

He smiled slightly, suddenly realizing what it means to have major advantages.

Jian Ruochen leaned in close to Guan Yingjun, picked up his phone, and dialed Li Zhangyu: "Hello? Teacher Li? Yep, it’s me..."

"Oh, I wanted to ask how student clubs get approved at our university."

Li Zhangyu, while writing lesson plans, replied, "I’m still pretty new here, so I'm not entirely sure who supports the clubs at the school. But generally, it requires backing from either school or department administration."

Jian Ruochen: "Oh, I see... Thanks, Teacher Li."

Li Zhangyu chuckled, "What’s with the sudden interest?"

"It's related to a case." Jian Ruochen noticed Guan Yingjun’s look, knowing the details had to remain confidential.

Just then, the doctor in charge of Pu Yongsheng hurried over and called out, "Pu Yongsheng is out of danger! He's awake!"

Jian Ruochen immediately stood up. "Teacher Li, gotta go. I’ll bring you something tasty the day after tomorrow!"

He hung up in a rush.

The doctor also looked pleased. "After Pu Yongsheng woke up, he asked me to pass on a message."

Guan Yingjun: "What is it?"

The doctor shook his head and said quietly, "He still can’t speak clearly. He mumbled something—'It’s Zhuo Yawen.' I’m not sure I heard him right..."

Guan Yingjun’s face fell instantly.

Jian Ruochen held his breath.

He had never met Zhuo Yawen but had met his wife, Dong Huixin, once.

On the day he took Guan Yingjun—who had been injured on the side of his neck and shoulder—home, they ran into Dong Huixin in the elevator, walking her dog with a diaper bag over her shoulder.

But everyone living in that building was supposed to be a decorated police officer.

How could he...

How could he be foolish enough to help Lu Rong with the recording?

Guan Yingjun said to the doctor, "Please keep close tabs on Pu Yongsheng’s condition. He’s a key witness in a major case and could be a target. Make sure at least three people are present during any ICU visits to keep an eye on each other."

The doctor seemed hesitant. "But I’m about to get off work..."

Jian Ruochen swung his backpack around to the front, reached into a small pocket, and handed over a business card: "Please cooperate with us on this. I’ll buy you lunch another day."

Doctors aren’t allowed to accept gifts, but there’s no rule against having a meal with the police.

With an olive branch extended right in front of him, there was no reason for anyone to refuse.

The doctor accepted the name card with both hands and tucked it into his breast pocket, saying, "Just doing my job."

Jian Ruochen waved to the doctor and hurried out of the hospital with Guan Yingjun.

Before they even reached the car, Guan Yingjun had already finished his call with Liu Qishang and passed along the news.

He then immediately called Chen Jincai: "Chen sir? Has Lu Rong been brought in?"

Chen Jincai stood outside the interrogation room, taking a deep breath to suppress his anger. "He's here. Damn it! He's a real piece of work."

Jian Ruochen moved closer, fastening his seatbelt while asking, "What do you mean?"

Chen Jincai glanced at the time suspiciously, noting how close Detective Guan and Consultant Jian were getting and how hard it would be to drive a wedge between them, then cursed under his breath, "That Lu Rong, not only did he bring a lawyer, but he also brought a bottle of wine."

"He just sits in front of us, not saying a word, just savoring it defiantly!"

Chen Jincai was so worked up he was about to explode. "No matter what we ask, his lawyer just says: 'Mr. Lu, you have the right to remain silent.'"

This is pointless. What's the point of questioning him? It's infuriating.

Someone like this—even Jian Ruochen wouldn't know how to deal with him, right?

Chen Jincai sighed, "I can't take it anymore, Consultant Jian. Please come back quickly."

Lu Rong was only a suspect at this point; the police only had the right to question, not interrogate him.

They couldn't even use the interrogation room.

Getting anything out of him was tough.

Jian Ruochen said, "We're on our way. Hang in there a little longer."

Guan Yingjun waited until they finished speaking before putting the phone to his ear. As he started the car, he added, "I'll drop Jian Ruochen off, then make a stop at the Independent Commission Against Corruption."

He paused, thinking that Lu Rong was far more cunning than Lu Qian, and feeling genuinely uneasy, he warned in a low voice, "Chen Jincai, watch your back."