114: Chapter 114 Forced Suspension

"Xiao Bei! You drove Factory Director Li Lei to his death!"

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's voice cut through the night sky like a knife. She stood beside the police car, her pearl necklace gleaming with an eerie light under the flashing police lights. Her finger pointed directly at Xiao Bei, who stood by the window, her voice filled with exaggerated grief.

"I warned you long ago not to push people too far!"

Xiao Bei's hand still gripped the micro USB drive he had dug out from the crevice of the windowsill, his knuckles white from the force.

He looked down at the twisted body of Factory Director Li Lei below. The police had already cordoned off the area, and officers were busy like ants. The school uniform tags scattered across the ground looked like a bizarre snowfall.

"County Magistrate Xiao, please come with us."

Two police officers stood at the entrance of the sample room, their expressions stern.

Xiao Bei's Adam's apple bobbed. He quietly slid the USB drive into the hidden pocket of his sleeve—a design feature of his custom-made shirt, specifically intended for emergencies.

He trusted no one, especially not now.

"I will cooperate with the investigation."

Xiao Bei's voice was surprisingly calm. As he followed the police down the stairs, he could feel County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's gaze sticking to his back like a venomous snake.

The interrogation room light was blindingly pale. Xiao Bei sat on the hard chair; six hours had already passed. They repeatedly asked him why he went to Rainbow Garment Factory, why Factory Director Li Lei jumped off the building while he was present, and whether he had threatened Factory Director Li Lei...

"I want to see my lawyer."

Xiao Bei repeated it again, his voice already hoarse.

"County Magistrate Xiao, the situation is very unfavorable for you right now."

The interrogating officer sighed. "Only your fingerprints and footprints were at the scene. The last text message on Factory Director Li Lei's phone was sent to you, and it said, 'Don't push me.'"

Xiao Bei's pupils contracted—this was a carefully designed trap. His phone had been confiscated, making it impossible to verify this so-called text message.

At 3:00 AM, the door to the interrogation room was suddenly pushed open.

"Xiao Bei!"

Su Yun's voice was choked with tears, and Team Leader Zhang Yining followed behind her with a gloomy expression.

Su Yun's eyes were red and swollen, clearly having cried. She was wearing her television station uniform, with her press badge pinned to her chest.

"How did you get in?"

Xiao Bei stood up abruptly, his handcuffs clattering.

Team Leader Zhang Yining lowered her voice: "Su Yun used her media status to apply pressure, saying that if we weren't allowed to see you, she would report the police for illegal detention. Besides, Mayor Qin also put in a word."

Su Yun grabbed Xiao Bei's hand; her fingertips were ice-cold. "We all believe in you. Factory Director Li Lei could not have committed suicide, and he certainly could not have been driven to his death by you!"

Xiao Bei's gaze swept back and forth across their faces, finally resting on the stubborn flame in Team Leader Zhang Yining's eyes. He took a deep breath and, shielded by Su Yun's body, quickly slid the USB drive from his sleeve into Team Leader Zhang Yining's palm.

"There is another one in my office, password 0913."

Xiao Bei's lips barely moved. "Don't trust anyone, including..."

His gaze swept meaningfully over the surveillance camera.

"The higher-ups."

Team Leader Zhang Yining's fist clenched, and she nodded imperceptibly.

"Su Yun,"

Xiao Bei turned to her, his voice suddenly raised. "Be careful after you return to the television station. Don't act alone."

Su Yun was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood something and nodded vigorously. "I will make an in-depth report on school bullying, starting with the Chen Zhihao case."

The police outside the door began to knock, signaling that visiting time was over.

"Take care."

Team Leader Zhang Yining looked at Xiao Bei one last time, then pulled Su Yun away.

In the corridor, Team Leader Zhang Yining hid the USB drive in the hidden pocket of her undergarments, her heart pounding like thunder. She didn't know what was inside, but it was definitely key evidence.

The next day at noon, Team Leader Zhang Yining was called to a secluded small meeting room in the County Government. Pushing open the door, she was surprised to find Mayor Qin Ruoxi sitting there alone, with several documents spread out in front of her.

"Team Leader Zhang Yining, please sit."

Mayor Qin Ruoxi's voice was not as imposing as usual, but instead carried a hint of exhaustion. She wasn't wearing her signature suit today, but a simple shirt, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes.

Team Leader Zhang Yining sat down vigilantly, her hand instinctively reaching toward the location where she had hidden the USB drive.

"I know Xiao Bei gave you something."

Mayor Qin Ruoxi said suddenly. Seeing Team Leader Zhang Yining's body tense up instantly, she smiled.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not here to ask for it."

"Then why are you..."

"I am here to tell you that we can use their own strategy against them."

Mayor Qin Ruoxi leaned forward, her voice dropping lower. "On the surface, I will release Xiao Bei on bail on the grounds of an incomplete chain of evidence, but I will give him a suspension as a disciplinary action, to put on a show for certain people."

Team Leader Zhang Yining frowned: "Certain people?"

"County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu and the people behind her."

A sharp glint flashed in Mayor Qin Ruoxi's eyes. "The Inspection Team for High-Quality Equilibrium will leave tomorrow. Once they are gone, we will continue to investigate in secret. Xiao Bei's suspension will actually allow him to avoid surveillance, making it easier to take action."

"Why are you telling me this?"

Team Leader Zhang Yining looked directly into Mayor Qin Ruoxi's eyes.

"You were originally the person I arranged for Xiao Bei, and I know that you were already carrying out an investigation task. Xiao Bei trusts you, and I trust you too. Right now, I need people I can trust."

Mayor Qin Ruoxi pulled a photo from the folder; it was an overhead shot of the scene where Factory Director Li Lei fell.

"Look at this angle; it was taken from the factory building opposite. But the police on the scene didn't recover any equipment."

Team Leader Zhang Yining gasped. "Someone set up surveillance in advance?"

"Not only that."

Mayor Qin Ruoxi continued, "Factory Director Li Lei jumped off the building, and County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu appeared with the police right on cue. How could it be such a coincidence?"

Team Leader Zhang Yining's heart raced. Mayor Qin Ruoxi seemed to really be investigating the case.

"I..."

Mayor Qin Ruoxi nodded. "I know you have a lot of guard against me from our last conversation, but there are many things you don't know... Once the Inspection Team leaves, County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu will destroy more evidence."

She stood up. "I will release Xiao Bei on bail tomorrow morning, and after that... it's up to you."

After Team Leader Zhang Yining left the meeting room, she immediately contacted Bureau Chief Lin Liqiang for help. She needed to confirm one thing—where was Factory Director Li Lei's mobile phone?

"Strange, it's registered in the files, but the evidence room says they didn't receive it."

Bureau Chief Lin Liqiang scratched his head. "Officer Zhao, who was on duty at the scene, said he handed it to the Evidence Department himself."

Team Leader Zhang Yining's blood went cold instantly—the mobile phone that could prove Xiao Bei's innocence was gone.

Meanwhile, in the auditorium of Jinhe County No. 1 Middle School, County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu was accepting an interview from the television station with a beaming smile. Su Yun stood behind the camera, suppressing her disgust while recording it all.

"County Magistrate Xuan, what are your thoughts on receiving the 'Pioneer of High-Quality Educational Equilibrium' title?" the reporter asked.

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu stroked the pearl necklace on her chest, her voice sweet:

"This is the collective effort of all the educators in the county. Especially in how we strictly control campus safety—for example, school uniform quality. We only choose to cooperate with high-quality enterprises like Rainbow Group..."

Su Yun's pen tip almost poked through her notebook. Just this morning, she learned she had been assigned to follow and film County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's "advanced deeds," while her application for an in-depth report on the Chen Zhihao case had been directly rejected by the station director...