Chapter 93

The case was just beginning to make some progress, but now Song Wen had to deal with his colleagues’ undercutting, which gave him a headache.

At this moment, Xu Changying and Song Wen were sitting in Commissioner Gu’s office. Commissioner Gu sat on one side of the desk, while Xu Changying and Song Wen sat opposite each other.

One was the provincial envoy, the other was his trusted subordinate. Commissioner Gu was thinking about how to balance the situation.

Although Song Wen and Xu Changying were sitting on the same side, there was about a meter of distance between them, and their faces showed mutual displeasure.

Commissioner Gu brewed a pot of chrysanthemum tea and placed two small cups in front of them, pouring a cup for each of them. “Young men, don’t be so hot-tempered. Have some tea to calm down.”

Song Wen looked at the miniature cup in front of him, barely larger than his thumb, lifted it for a moment, then set it back down.

Xu Changying, after all, was an outsider. Commissioner Gu explained for him, “Um, Song Wen, don’t be hasty. The list handed over by Captain Xu is just a suggested list, not the final selection. Nothing is set in stone yet.”

Song Wen glanced sideways and said, “The key issue here is not whether Captain Xu wants to transfer Lu Siyu or not. I just think if Captain Xu wants to undercut, he should at least inform me, his direct superior. Or do you think at my level, it doesn’t matter whether I’m informed or not?”

Xu Changying raised his head at this moment. “Now that Captain Song knows about this, what is your opinion?”

Song Wen bluntly stated, “I don’t agree.”

Seeing that the conversation couldn’t continue, Commissioner Gu intervened again, “Um… Captain Xu wants to transfer Little Lu over because he believes he’s a talent. And this time, the provincial team has quotas for recruiting talents, and the conditions offered are quite good.”

Xu Changying solemnly explained, “Our Provincial Bureau has always offered good treatment. Salaries, ranks, and benefits are one level higher than those of the City Bureau. There are also more opportunities for promotion, and for recruited talents, there are talent apartments. Our equipment and technology are also more advanced than those of the City Bureau. For an aspiring detective, the Provincial Bureau is clearly the better choice. Besides, I’ve discussed the people on this list with Commissioner Gu.” Implied in his words was that Commissioner Gu was ready to let go of some people.

In fact, Lu Siyu had not yet given him a response, and Xu Changying was anxious to finalize the selection, so he added Lu Siyu’s name to the list. He even specifically informed Song Cheng about it. Xu Changying hadn’t expected Song Wen to find out so quickly after submitting the list.

Song Wen said, “Although the Provincial Bureau is good, Lu Siyu’s family is in South City. He was originally qualified to enter the Provincial Bureau, but he chose to work here because it’s his hometown, close to home, and convenient. No matter how good the conditions outside are, they can’t compare to having good relationships with colleagues and feeling comfortable.”

Xu Changying continued, “Captain Song, what you said is not right. As young people, we all want to strive for progress and reach higher. If we’re afraid of hardship and tiredness, we wouldn’t have become detectives in the first place. The tasks you assigned to Lu Siyu here are just basic administrative work. I don’t think he can fully utilize his talents here. In terms of working environment and benefits, the advantages of the Provincial Bureau over the City Bureau are significant. As a captain, what I dislike the most is wasting talent.”

Song Wen chuckled, “Captain Xu, you just took over the case of the nursing home before us and still haven’t found the real culprit. Now you’re trying to poach people from our department, boasting about the advantages of your Provincial Bureau over the City Bureau. Shouldn’t we all just take a break from the City Bureau, and let you guys handle everything? Merge with the Provincial Bureau later?”

Xu Changying’s words just now were out of line, and at this point, Commissioner Gu had lowered his head, his expression not looking too good.

Song Wen continued, “In cases involving human lives, there is no distinction between high and low. Our work is not inferior to the work of the Provincial Bureau. This is at most a lateral transfer. How can you call it a promotion to go to the Provincial Bureau? Furthermore, don’t think we’re ignorant of what’s happening in our small town. You guys in the Provincial Bureau take vacation twice a year at most, and you’re busy running around all eighteen cities year-round, unable to sleep through the night. There’s also a director above you like Yama. Honestly, your place is not welcoming even if you offer a golden sedan chair. Are you trying to take advantage of Lu Siyu’s lack of understanding of the situation to coax him over? Lu Siyu’s health is not good, he may not be able to keep up with the pace of the Provincial Bureau. I’m afraid Captain Xu will be disappointed.”

Xu Changying said, “Captain Song… even if you think it’s inappropriate, Lu Siyu should come and talk to me. He hasn’t rejected me yet. As a leader, does Captain Song want to obstruct his subordinates’ paths?”

Song Wen turned to look at Xu Changying. “I’m just curious, with so many people in our City Bureau, why are you fixating on Lu Siyu?”

Xu Changying replied, “Naturally, I think he has some outstanding qualities. If Captain Song thinks he’s not in good health and can’t keep up with the pace, why insist on keeping him here?”

Commissioner Gu listened to the two of them arguing back and forth, wondering when Lu Siyu had become such a sought-after talent. He always had an impression of that kid, a young man who was elegant and clean-cut. Then, Commissioner Gu slammed down Song Wen’s words. He had always thought Song Wen was young and demanded a lot from his subordinates, but hearing this, he seemed quite caring towards this young comrade Lu Siyu.

Seeing the two of them arguing more and more, almost about to start a debate here, Commissioner Gu intervened again, “Stop it, both of you… um, didn’t you think about discussing this with Lu Siyu?”

Xu Changying snorted.

Song Wen nodded and said, “Okay.” He didn’t believe that Lu Siyu would say he wanted to go to the Provincial Bureau in front of him.

Commissioner Gu went out for a moment and had someone in the office call Lu Siyu over.

Lu Siyu had just come back from outside after sending Zhang Congyun. As soon as he entered Commissioner Gu’s office, he felt like the air conditioning was turned up, making the room so cold that he shivered. He looked at Song Wen, who also glanced back at him with a not-so-good expression. Lu Siyu’s heart trembled, and he greeted, “Captain Song.”

Then he looked at Xu Changying, who had a cold light in his eyes. Lu Siyu could only obediently greet again, “Captain Xu.”

Finally, he looked at Commissioner Gu, who resembled an elder deity, and greeted, “Commissioner.”

Song Wen and Xu Changying kept their heads down and remained silent. Commissioner Gu looked at him meaningfully, and without offering a seat, leaving Lu Siyu unable to figure out what was going on.

“That… the reason I called you here today is regarding the provincial team’s interest in recruiting talent from our department. Finally, Captain Xu has weighed the situation and is quite satisfied with your various conditions, so we wanted to ask for your personal opinion…” Commissioner Gu briefly explained the situation as he understood it.

Lu Siyu raised his head somewhat bewildered, his attractive eyebrows slightly furrowed. This was completely different from the information he had received before. He had already responded to Xu Changying twice, saying he was still considering it… Xu Changying hadn’t pressed him either. It seems like he couldn’t wait and directly handed the list over to Commissioner Gu?

Now Lu Siyu understood Song Wen’s gaze. Song Wen spoke up from the side, “Lu Siyu, if you have something on your mind, don’t worry about anything else. Just tell us your decision.”

The way Song Wen put it made Lu Siyu taste the bitterness in the air. What did they mean by flying into a jealous rage? Probably just like Song Wen now.

Suddenly, Lu Siyu remembered what Wu Qing had told him before he left for Nancheng, “Be low-key, do more and speak less.” This sentence sounded simple, but why was it so difficult to follow?

He didn’t dare to offend the three big shots, so he cautiously asked, “I… haven’t decided yet. Can I give my answer next week? Say, Monday?”

The cases at hand were at a critical point now. Lu Siyu felt a bit reluctant to leave the special task force, and for some reason, looking at Song Wen like this, he felt a bit pleased in his heart.

Commissioner Gu nodded, “It’s quite an important matter. Considering it carefully is the right approach. Regardless of your final decision, inform both captains and don’t let them worry.”

Xu Changying said, “Let’s wait a few more days then.”

Song Wen felt like this little fox was being deliberately difficult. He picked up the cup and sipped the lukewarm chrysanthemum tea, extinguishing the fire in his heart, and gritted his teeth, “Fine.”

Xu Changying came out of Commissioner Gu’s office and went to the second interrogation room of the City Bureau. A short-haired police woman had been waiting there. She looked to be around twenty-five, dressed neatly, and when she saw Xu Changying return, she said, “Captain, Gu Zhibai has arrived.”

Xu Changying nodded slightly, “You and Du Yong will handle the interrogation.”

In the previous case at the nursing home, they were following the clues and suspicions led to Gu Zhibai.

The police woman and another male officer pushed open the door and entered the adjacent interrogation room. They sat opposite Gu Zhibai. “Mr. Gu, I need to verify some information with you. I hope you’ll answer our questions truthfully…”

Xu Changying focused on watching through the glass window. The girl, Xu Youyou, was also from the Provincial Bureau, an excellent police officer who always managed to pinpoint the key points in suspects’ testimonies. And sitting across from her at this moment, Gu Zhibai remained calm and composed, impervious to pressure.

Bai Luorui was dead, and to uncover many truths, they had to question the man in front of them, named Gu Zhibai.

But Gu Zhibai was extremely cunning and resistant. Sometimes he would speak, but nine out of ten of his words were lies, making it difficult to get to the core of the matter. His answers were more headache-inducing than remaining silent altogether.

The conversation in the interrogation room continued. Xu Youyou’s questions were like sharp blades, constantly probing, but Gu Zhibai skillfully deflected them without batting an eye.

The shadows of guilt seemed elusive, leaving nothing substantial to grasp.

Xu Changying couldn’t help but furrow his brows. Gently massaging his temples, the case was stuck here, and it was making him anxious.

Just a little bit… just a little bit…

As long as he could find a tiny slip-up, he could uproot the long-standing evil that had plagued Nancheng for years.

But Gu Zhibai seemed to know someone was watching from outside. He turned his head, looked towards the glass window, and flashed a somewhat eerie smile at Xu Changying…