116: Chapter 116 Playing with real skill

Director Zhao Ming held the document in his hand, his voice booming:

"Comrade County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu, according to the investigation by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, you are suspected of serious disciplinary and legal violations. Please cooperate with us for investigation."

Seeing this, Chairman Qian Weiguo tried to slip away, but was caught red-handed by Bureau Chief Lin Liqiang, who was guarding the exit.

"You have no evidence! This is a political frame-up!"

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu struggled hysterically; her pearl necklace snapped during the scuffle, and pearls rolled all over the floor.

Team Leader Zhang Yining walked up to her and held up an evidence bag containing a mobile phone: "Recognize this? It's Factory Director Li Lei's phone. It took us quite a while to find it, and to think it was being kept by your lover. County Magistrate Xuan, you really play quite wildly."

The commotion in the venue reached its peak; reporters were taking photos frantically, and camera flashes flickered like a rainstorm. Su Yun stood by the camera, finally able to openly document everything.

Xiao Bei remained sitting in the corner, watching this "public trial" that he had meticulously planned. When County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu was being taken away and passed by him, their eyes met briefly.

"Do you think this is the end?"

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu suddenly lowered her voice, a flash of madness crossing her eyes, "Do you know who is behind Chairman Qian Weiguo?"

Xiao Bei remained impassive: "One by one. No rush."

As the venue gradually returned to order, Qin Ruoxi finally "hurriedly arrived." She walked onto the stage and, facing the shaken audience, said in a steady voice: "Everyone, the incident that just occurred is distressing, but it also proves the firm determination of the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government to fight corruption and promote integrity..."

Xiao Bei quietly left the venue. The sunlight shone on him, casting a long shadow.

In the interrogation room of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, the incandescent lights made County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's face look ghastly pale. Her meticulously styled hair was now disheveled, and her navy blue suit was stained from when her pearl necklace had snapped. Those eyes that had always smiled in front of the camera were now bloodshot.

"I want to see my lawyer."

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu repeated this sentence for the tenth time, her fingers tapping incessantly on the table.

Director Zhao Ming pushed the door open and entered, carrying a file bag in his hand. He was in his early fifties, his temples slightly gray, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. Following behind him were a recorder and Team Leader Zhang Yining.

"Comrade County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu, your lawyer is already on the way."

Director Zhao Ming pulled out a chair and sat down, his voice terrifyingly calm, "But before that, we have some questions that require your cooperation."

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu sneered: "Director Zhao, have you considered the consequences of humiliating a female official in public? Those so-called pieces of evidence—"

"Do you recognize this?"

Director Zhao Ming interrupted her and took a transparent evidence bag from the file bag, which contained two black USB drives.

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's pupils contracted sharply, but she quickly regained her composure: "They're just USB drives. What's so special about them?"

"The special thing is,"

Director Zhao Ming inserted the USB drive into his laptop and turned the screen toward her, "One was found in your lover's safe, and the password was your birthday; the other was found by Xiao Bei in a window crevice before Factory Director Li Lei jumped from the building."

A folder popped up on the screen, containing dozens of video files. Director Zhao Ming clicked on one, and the screen showed County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu wearing revealing pajamas, having an intimate conversation with a middle-aged man in a hotel room.

"Vice Mayor Liu Ming of the Education Bureau, who received a provincial commendation last year under your recommendation."

Director Zhao Ming said coldly, "The video was filmed six months ago."

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's fingers dug into her palms: "This is an invasion of privacy! You have no right—"

"What about this one?"

Director Zhao Ming clicked on another video. In the footage, County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu was handing a document to a young man, whose hand was wandering restlessly around her waist.

"The Section Chief of the Economic Construction Division of the Finance Bureau, twenty-eight years old, responsible for the approval of special funds for school uniform procurement."

Team Leader Zhang Yining added, her voice filled with suppressed anger, "He approved all applications from Rainbow Group, ignoring three failed quality inspection reports."

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's face turned from pale to green, her lips trembling: "These... these are private relationships, unrelated to work..."

Director Zhao Ming ignored her defense and continued to click on the third video. This time, the man in the video was shockingly young, with a bare, muscular upper body, leaning down to kiss County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's neck.

"Li Yang, twenty-two years old, a trainer at Jinshibao Gym."

Director Zhao Ming's voice carried a hint of disgust, "What's interesting is that he originally came from a poor family, but last year he suddenly bought a large flat in the city center in full. The purchase of the house was right after you met. It seems County Magistrate Xuan is quite generous."

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu stood up abruptly, her chair making a harsh screeching sound: "Enough! This is character assassination! I want to file a complaint!"

"Sit down!"

Director Zhao Ming shouted sternly, "These videos were all filmed and saved by you yourself, County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu. We really want to know, were you trading your body for benefits, or did you have other motives?"

The interrogation room fell into a dead silence, with only the buzzing of the air conditioner. County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's shoulders slumped, and her meticulously manicured nails scratched several white marks onto the tabletop.

She suddenly choked up, tears streaming from her eyes, "You don't know... in this position, how many people are watching... As a woman, what could I do?"

Team Leader Zhang Yining couldn't help but sneer: "Are you saying you had no choice? You didn't look the least bit reluctant in the videos. Was Factory Director Li Lei also 'forced' to jump off the building?"

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's sobbing stopped abruptly, her eyes instantly turning sinister: "That ungrateful little accountant... he dared to film me secretly..."

"Finally admitting it?"

Director Zhao Ming pressed his advantage, "Factory Director Li Lei possessed the school uniform quality inspection reports and evidence of your bribery, so you killed him to silence him?"

"I didn't kill anyone!"

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu screamed, "I only... I only had someone scare him a little... Who knew he was so fragile..."

Director Zhao Ming took a stack of photos from the file bag and spread them on the table. They were overhead shots of the scene where Factory Director Li Lei fell, clearly showing two figures on the roof.

"Witnesses confirmed that before Factory Director Li Lei fell, your driver was seen on the roof of the Rainbow Garment Factory."

Director Zhao Ming's voice was as sharp as a knife, "We have already arrested him, and he confessed that you instigated it. First, you tricked him out of Xiao Bei's office, then injected him with a lethal substance, and sent him to the scene."

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's breathing became rapid, and fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead. She stared at the photos and suddenly started laughing hysterically:

"Do you think it's over just because you caught me? The person behind Chairman Qian Weiguo can make you all get lost just by lifting a finger!"

Director Zhao Ming and Team Leader Zhang Yining exchanged a look. Team Leader Zhang Yining understood, took a voice recorder from her bag, and pressed the play button.

Chairman Qian Weiguo's voice came through clearly:

"...Old Party Secretary said, this school uniform matter must be suppressed... So the campus bullying incident cannot be blown out of proportion; it will attract collateral attention... He has already spoken to the Inspection Team... Regarding County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu, coax her a bit more, women, you know..."

...