106: Chapter 106 Reliving Happiness

When the meeting concluded, County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu walked away quickly with a livid expression.

Secretary Ma Wendong glanced at Xiao Bei, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

After everyone else had dispersed, Bureau Chief Lin Liqiang called out to stop Xiao Bei.

"Team Leader Xiao, Mayor Qin asked me to convey to you that this investigation might touch upon the interests of certain people, and she hopes you are mentally prepared."

Xiao Bei nodded: "I understand. Thank you for Mayor Qin's support."

"Also," Bureau Chief Lin Liqiang lowered his voice, "Mayor Qin said she is already aware of the incident where your office was vandalized. The Municipal Police Bureau will send technicians to recover the data. Additionally, she suggests you be careful about your safety in the near future."

Returning to the office, Xiao Bei found Su Yun and Team Leader Zhang Yining chatting animatedly.

Seeing him enter, Su Yun stood up: "How did it go?"

Xiao Bei briefly explained the situation from the meeting, and Su Yun's eyes lit up: "That's great! Finally, someone can deal with those people."

She paused, "However, you really need to be careful. While I was processing paperwork in Beijiang County, I heard some rumors about Jinhe County, saying that some officials are deeply entrenched and very powerful."

"I know." Xiao Bei rubbed his temples wearily, "But now with support from the higher-ups, at least the investigation can proceed as normal."

Su Yun suddenly remembered something and took a USB drive out of her bag: "By the way, I asked a friend to check the station's archives for reports related to Jinhe No. 1 Middle School. Over the past three years, there have been three student suicide incidents at that school, all of which were quickly covered up. Interestingly, the victims in all three incidents were students from very ordinary or even struggling families."

Xiao Bei and Team Leader Zhang Yining exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

"Three incidents?" Xiao Bei took the USB drive, "The county only made one public!"

"That is the problem," Su Yun said seriously, "I suspect there is a pattern behind these incidents. Moreover, Principal Liu Jianjun of Jinhe No. 1 Middle School is County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's cousin."

This information was like a bolt of lightning piercing through the fog.

Xiao Bei stood up abruptly: "No wonder she is so nervous about the investigation! Team Leader Zhang, immediately tell Bureau Chief Lin about this lead!"

After Team Leader Zhang Yining hurried away, only Xiao Bei and Su Yun remained in the office.

The setting sun shone through the window, gilding everything in a warm golden light.

Su Yun walked over to Xiao Bei and gently held his hand.

"It will get better," she said softly.

Xiao Bei turned to look at her, suddenly feeling that the burden of the past few days had lightened a little.

With her by his side, it seemed he could pull through even the most difficult predicament.

"What do you want to eat tonight?" he asked, his voice softening.

"You decide," Su Yun smiled, "But before that, shouldn't we go see my new place?"

Xiao Bei nodded and tidied up his desk.

Walking out of the County Government building, he noticed several unfamiliar faces in the security booth, vigilantly observing their surroundings.

What Bureau Chief Lin said about "paying attention to safety" was no empty talk; the city had clearly sent people to protect the Special Investigation Team.

Sitting in Su Yun's car, Xiao Bei finally relaxed.

No matter how many undercurrents surged ahead, at least for this moment, he was not fighting alone.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the car window onto Xiao Bei's weary face.

He leaned back in the passenger seat, watching Su Yun skillfully drive through the streets of Jinhe County.

The car was filled with a faint scent of jasmine, the perfume Su Yun typically wore, which caused Xiao Bei's tense nerves to relax involuntarily.

"Is where you live far from the County Government?" Xiao Bei asked, his voice carrying the exhaustion of the past few days.

Su Yun glanced at him from the side, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned: "Not far, just at Jinxiu Garden behind the TV station, a fifteen-minute drive."

She paused, "You look very tired."

Xiao Bei rubbed his temples: "I really haven't slept well these past few days."

"When we arrive, I'll make you a cup of tea, and then cook something good," Su Yun's voice was gentle and firm, "I remember that your favorite dish is braised pork ribs."

Xiao Bei's heart warmed, and memories came flooding back like a tide.

Fighting the disaster together in Bishi Town, saving her at the final moment of crisis, living together while recovering from injuries in Beijiang County...

The car drove into an elegantly landscaped residential complex.

Su Yun parked the car and led Xiao Bei to the fifth floor of an apartment building.

Pushing open the door, a cozy and tidy one-bedroom apartment appeared before their eyes.

"Come on, change your shoes," Su Yun put down her bag and took out a pair of brand-new men's slippers.

Xiao Bei was very pleasantly surprised: "You even prepared slippers for me?"

Su Yun was a bit shy, "Did you think you weren't going to come, or did you think you were only going to come once?"

Su Yun then walked quickly to the window and pulled open the curtains, and the radiance of the setting sun immediately filled the entire room.

Xiao Bei looked around; although the living room was small, it was arranged in an orderly fashion.

There was a potted plant on the coffee table next to the sofa, and a few books and a small speaker on the TV cabinet.

The kitchen was open-concept, and one could see the brand-new kitchenware inside.

"It's much better than I imagined," Xiao Bei laughed, "I thought hosts, like reporters, all lived in dens piled high with documents and instant noodle cups."

Su Yun feigned anger and glared at him: "That's the lifestyle habit of you workaholic county magistrates."

She walked toward the kitchen, "You sit for a while, I'll go prepare dinner."

Xiao Bei did not sit down, but instead followed her into the kitchen: "Let me help."

Su Yun turned around and took ingredients out of the refrigerator, starting to process them with deft movements.

Xiao Bei stood to the side, clumsily helping her pass seasonings and wash vegetables.

The two worked together with tacit understanding, as if they had returned to the days they spent recovering from injuries together in Beijiang County.

"Have you been in touch with your family lately?" Su Yun suddenly asked, the knife in her hand making a rhythmic sound on the cutting board.

Xiao Bei shook his head: "I've been too busy, and…" He paused for a moment, "My mom still doesn't really accept my decision to transfer to Jinhe."

Su Yun nodded in understanding.

She knew that Xiao Bei's mother had always hoped her son could be closer to home, rather than being so busy that going home became a luxury.

"She will understand," Su Yun said softly, "When this case is over, I'll go back with you to see her."

Xiao Bei looked at her with gratitude and didn't say much more.

The aroma of food gradually filled the kitchen; Su Yun's movements were skillful and elegant, and Xiao Bei couldn't help but watch, lost in thought.

An hour later, the dining table was filled with dishes that were fragrant and delicious: braised pork ribs, steamed fish, broccoli with garlic, and a steaming bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup.

Simple home-cooked dishes, yet they made Xiao Bei feel a long-lost warmth.

"Try it, how does it taste?" Su Yun picked up a piece of pork rib and placed it in Xiao Bei's bowl, her eyes full of anticipation.

Xiao Bei took a bite; the meat was tender and fresh, the sauce rich, and the familiar taste instantly transported him back to the days in Beijiang County.

"It's delicious," he praised sincerely, "A hundred times better than the County Party Committee cafeteria."

Su Yun smiled, her eyes curving into two crescent moons: "Then come often, and I'll cook for you."

The two chatted as they ate, the topic shifting from old events in Beijiang County to the local customs and traditions of Jinhe County.

Xiao Bei deliberately avoided the topic of the case, not wanting work to ruin this rare moment of tranquility...