Official Career Storm
Chapter 425

Chapter 425: Chapter 425

"Team leader!"

The three men stood up and saluted.

"Sit down." Song Guanchao sat down, looking at the tattoos on their bodies with a frown.

Li Zhijun saw his expression and immediately explained, "Team leader, these aren’t real tattoos, they’re temporary tattoo stickers that can be washed off."

The other two also said, "That idiot Biaozi insisted we get tattoos, saying you can’t mix in the underworld without them."

Song Guanchao replied, "I’m sorry to put you through this. Once this is over, I’ll throw a banquet for you."

They were all ex-soldiers, spending their days with a bunch of uneducated and immoral ruffians, which was indeed hard on them.

The three men grinned, "What’s there to be upset about? Eliminating evil and punishing villains, such good deeds are hard to come by."

Song Guanchao smiled and said, "Sit down for a bit, I need to check if everything’s ready on the other side."

He got in touch with Zhang Meilin: "Brother Zhang, how’s it going?"

"Everything’s set. As soon as I get in trouble, I’ll be taken straight to the hospital."

"Okay, where do you think we should start?"

"Taihe Garden." Zhang Meilin seemed to have the location decided already.

"Okay, I’m on my way."

"Hold on." Zhang Meilin asked, "Do you have any contacts at the TV station?"

"I know someone."

"Then call them. After I get beaten up, get them over here to shoot a video and do an interview."

"Huh?" Song Guanchao was a bit confused. What was this all about?

"Just call them, that’s right."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Song Guanchao said, "Let’s go, move out."

On the way, he dialed Zhou Qian’s number.

"Miss Zhou, are you busy?"

"About to go to sleep," Zhou Qian replied, sounding downcast.

Song Guanchao never initiated contact with her unless it was for business.

Their last covert encounter had left her quite excited.

But since that day, it was as though Song Guanchao had suddenly disappeared. She couldn’t see him in her life at all.

"I need a small favor from you," Song Guanchao simply stated.

Zhou Qian acknowledged with an "Okay, got it."

She didn’t say whether she would come or not before hanging up the phone.

But Song Guanchao knew she would be back.

Twenty minutes later, the group arrived at Taihe Garden.

Upon arrival, Lu Feng clicked his tongue and said, "Officials really are loaded. Even a secretary can afford to live in such an upscale neighborhood."

Song Guanchao asked, "Is this neighborhood expensive?"

"Upscale large apartments, starting at 180 square meters. You tell me if that’s expensive."

While they were talking, Zhou Qian’s call came through.

"I’m here, where are you?"

Song Guanchao looked around and saw Zhou Qian’s sedan.

"I see you. Stay in your car for a while, I’ll let you know when to come out."

He had just hung up when Zhang Meilin’s call came in: "Have you arrived?"

"At the entrance of the complex."

"Come to Building 7. I’m on the fifth floor; they’ll beat me up there."

The request was a bit odd, but Song Guanchao grunted in acknowledgment.

"Go to Building 7, fifth floor. Remember to make it look real."

"Understood."

Li Zhijun and the other two grabbed their backpacks and headed towards the complex.

The backpacks contained various paints to use for makeup.

After they left, Song Guanchao unbuckled his seatbelt: "I’m going to meet a friend."

Lu Feng watched him get out of the car and walk towards another vehicle nearby.

When he opened the car door, he saw a woman sitting inside.

"Miss Zhou, sorry to trouble you," Song Guanchao produced a bottle of Coke as if by magic. "Here’s something for you to drink."

Zhou Qian’s indifferent expression cracked at that moment, somewhat amused by irritation.

Countless men had pursued her, offering gifts of all varieties, though she had never accepted any. Still, the least extravagant among those men’s offerings were Cartier bracelets.

Whoever was like Song Guanchao, giving someone Coke as a gift?

But she accepted it anyway.

Song Guanchao said, "I wanted to invite you out for a meal a while ago, but some things came up, causing a delay."

Hearing his words, Zhou Qian felt slightly better.

Song Guanchao was explaining, justifying himself to her.

It indicated that he had noticed she was upset.

Did this also indicate that he cared a great deal about her?

Yet, she also felt Song Guanchao might be stringing her along.

"What happened?"

"I was reported."

"Ah?" Zhou Qian was stunned. "When?"

"It’s been over half a month," Song Guanchao said. "The Disciplinary Committee found three million in cash and two kilograms of gold bars in the trunk of my car. Oh, right, in front of several standing committee members of the city, no less."

"So, I’ve been under investigation this whole time, required to report wherever I go."

"I didn’t dare to come see you; otherwise, if the Disciplinary Committee started watching you, you’d be under investigation too."

Zhou Qian didn’t doubt him, for such things were not joked about.

Besides, she had friends in the political circles and could easily verify if he was lying.

Worriedly she asked, "Have they found out who put the money in the trunk yet?"

Song Guanchao shook his head. "Still investigating."

"If they don’t find evidence before the next political committee meeting, I expect I’ll be dismissed and turned over to the police."

"How could this happen..."

Zhou Qian’s brow furrowed with concern, deeply worried.

Song Guanchao said, "There’s no need to worry too much. I trust that the Disciplinary Committee and the police will clear my name."

Just as Zhou Qian was about to say something, upon seeing his calm demeanor, she asked, "Do you already have a solution?"

"Hm?" Song Guanchao looked surprised. "Why do you ask?"

"Hmph, you must have thought of a way out, or else you wouldn’t be so composed."

Zhou Qian pouted, almost getting wrapped up in his game.

Song Guanchao just smiled and didn’t say anything.

After about ten minutes or so, he saw Li Zhijun and his two companions exiting the building and getting into their car.

Lu Feng called, "It’s taken care of."

"Take them to eat something; you don’t need to worry about things here."

"Understood."

After Lu Feng drove away, Song Guanchao timed things carefully.

Around ten minutes later, an ambulance arrived.

"It’s your turn to take the stage," Song Guanchao informed him of the building and floor number.

Zhou Qian hung the sports camera around her neck and, taking advantage of the ambulance’s entry into the residential area, she slipped into the complex.

A few minutes later, in the corridor of the fifth floor of Building 7, she saw a man lying on the ground, his clothes in tatters, his hair a mess, and his face and body covered in blood.

The man was beaten viciously, but his facial features were just discernible enough to recognize as Zhang Meilin.

Zhou Qian took out her cell phone and, along with the sports camera on her chest, began to record the scene.

Standing behind the medical staff, she called out loudly, "Secretary Zhang, were you beaten while entering your home?"

Zhang Meilin was gasping for air and didn’t respond, but when he heard this question, his eyelids lifted slightly, and he answered weakly, "This isn’t where I live. I was here to see Mayor Zheng."

"I had just left Mayor Zheng’s house when a few people rushed up and attacked me..."

"..."

As Zhou Qian listened to Zhang Meilin’s words, she became somewhat dazed.

His words were too suggestive.

They seemed unrelated, yet upon hearing them, one could easily form a mistaken notion: that it was Mayor Zheng who had arranged for me to be attacked.

This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦

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