The table was laden with dishes and drinks. Ma Wenbiao sat in the center, flanked by Miao Jia and Accountant Li.

Miao Jia wore a bright magenta sweater with a white collar turned out, paired with a long dark green plaid pleated skirt. On her feet were black suede shoes, and her face was as delicate as porcelain with bright red lips, resembling a movie star from Popular Film Magazine.

She raised her glass. “Director Ma, I propose a toast to you! Here’s to our bath scrubbers making it big nationwide. Bottoms up!”

With a beauty at his side and her fragrance wafting in the air, Ma Wenbiao was already intoxicated before even drinking. He chuckled, “Bottoms up!” and drained his glass of white liquor in one go.

Miao Jia promptly refilled it. “Here’s to Director Ma’s business flourishing and Dong’an Garment Factory becoming a national leader!”

Ma Wenbiao laughed smugly. “National leader? That’s nothing. Let’s aim for the global stage!”

With Miao Jia coaxing him, Ma Wenbiao drank glass after glass until he finished an entire bottle of white liquor in no time.

Accountant Li grew anxious watching this. “Director, you shouldn’t drink any more!”

But it was too late. The alcohol had gone to Ma Wenbiao’s head, and he clung to Miao Jia’s shoulder, refusing to let go. “You’re… heh heh… So beautiful…”

Accountant Li quickly tried to pull his hand away. “Director, please watch your image!”

Miao Jia shot a sharp glare at Accountant Li, clearly annoyed by his interference. She called out, “Waiter! More dishes!”

The door to the private room opened, and a waiter entered. “What would you like to order?”

“Add a dish of steamed fish head with chopped chili. We want to choose the fish head ourselves,” Miao Jia said.

“Sure, come with me to select it,” the waiter replied.

Miao Jia turned to Li. “Accountant Li, I’m not in a position to go. Could you pick one for us?”

Li had no choice but to stand up and follow the waiter out.

As soon as the door closed, another man entered the room. Lin Ning immediately recognized him-it was the same man who had tried to intercept her earlier. So, he and Miao Jia were working together!

“Let’s go!”

The man helped the drunken Ma Wenbiao to his feet, while Miao Jia followed close behind. The three quickly left the private room, exited the Guomin Hotel, and headed north.

Lin Ning hurriedly followed but bumped straight into a man in a blue jacket at the doorway, the impact making her nose sting and her eyes well up with tears.

“Sorry, comrade!” the blue-jacketed man apologized and then continued in the same direction as Miao Jia and Ma Wenbiao. Lin Ning, after composing herself, also resumed her pursuit.

The three groups eventually converged at the same location: Hongxing Guesthouse.

A room had already been reserved, and Ma Wenbiao was led inside by Miao Jia, while the man accompanying them stayed outside to keep watch, his shifty eyes darting around suspiciously.

Lin Ning stayed hidden at a distance. If she stepped forward now, she’d undoubtedly be recognized.

Not far from her stood the man in the blue jacket, who frowned as he stared at the guesthouse entrance. He didn’t enter but instead suddenly looked toward Lin Ning, scanning her from head to toe before walking over.

“Comrade, I’m with the police. Can you help me with something?” he asked.

Lin Ning’s eyes lit up. Police? Perfect! She had been wanting to involve the authorities. But she needed to confirm his identity first. “Are you really a police officer?”

The man smiled faintly and pulled out a small red booklet from his pocket. “Here’s my work ID. Take a look.”

Lin Ning examined it closely. The cover bore the words “Work ID” alongside a badge, and below it was written “Dong’an County Public Security Bureau.” Inside, the card displayed his name-Xu Wang-and listed his position as a police officer.

In this era, impersonating a police officer was rare, so Lin Ning felt reassured. “Officer Xu, how can I assist you?”

“Did you see the man and woman who just went in? I need to go inside but don’t want them to notice me. Could you pretend to accompany me?”

A few minutes later, Xu Wang feigned being drunk, leaning heavily on Lin Ning as she helped him into the Hongxing Guesthouse. Keeping their heads low and staying close together, they passed the lookout without drawing suspicion.

The man keeping watch glanced at them briefly before looking away.

Lin Ning exhaled in relief. They hadn’t been recognized.

Once inside, Xu Wang straightened up.
“Thank you, comrade.”

“You’re welcome.”

After showing his work ID again, Xu Wang obtained the room number where Miao Jia and Ma Wenbiao were staying and headed to the second floor, with Lin Ning following behind.

“Comrade, this might get dangerous. You should stay back,” Xu Wang advised.

“Officer Xu, I can protect myself. Don’t worry,” Lin Ning replied firmly.

The two arrived at Room 203. The door was locked, and there was no sound from inside. Instead of knocking, Xu Wang took out a key and opened the adjacent Room 202, gesturing for Lin Ning to follow.

However, there was no window between the two rooms-only a thick wall.

Xu Wang and Lin Ning moved a desk to the wall, and Xu Wang climbed on top.

He felt around until he uncovered a ventilation hole about the size of a bowl, originally intended for a stovepipe during winter.

The hole connected to Room 203. Xu Wang leaned close to observe the situation inside.

On the large two-meter bed lay Ma Wenbiao, who was completely drunk and giggling foolishly. Miao Jia was undressing him, her expression smug.

“Beautiful, you’re… so gorgeous…” Ma Wenbiao slurred.

Miao Jia slapped him hard.

Smack!

“Idiot! If it weren’t for what you have, I wouldn’t bother with you!” she snapped.

After stripping Ma Wenbiao down to his undershirt and shorts and tucking him under the covers, Miao Jia removed her outer clothes and climbed into bed as well.

Xu Wang felt the desk shift slightly beneath him-it was Lin Ning climbing up to join him. The two peered through the ventilation hole together.

They didn’t have to wait long. After about ten minutes, there was a knock on the door.

“Open up!”

No one answered. Ma Wenbiao, still drunk, clung to Miao Jia’s arm, giggling idiotically. Miao Jia cursed under her breath but didn’t move to open the door.

Outside, the knocking grew more urgent, followed by a loud thud! as the door was kicked. After a few more kicks, the lock broke, and the door swung open.

The man who had been keeping watch burst in, followed by a hotel employee.

“You slut! How dare you cheat on me!” the man shouted at Miao Jia.

Instantly, Miao Jia’s demeanor changed, and she began wailing. “Huang Yuan! I didn’t! He forced me! Save me!”

Huang Yuan stormed over and grabbed Ma Wenbiao, slapping him repeatedly. Smack! Smack! Smack!

“You scumbag!”

Still groggy, Ma Wenbiao blinked in confusion. “Who… who are you?”

“I’m Miao Jia’s man! How dare you touch my woman! I’ll kill you!” Huang Yuan roared, yanking Ma Wenbiao out of bed and throwing him to the floor.

The cold cement jolted Ma Wenbiao awake. Looking down, he realized his clothes were gone.

He let out a horrified scream, now fully sober.