148: Chapter 148 Only I Can Be Trusted

These words were like a needle, gently pricking Xiao Bei's nerves.

He felt a chill run down his back, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

"I..."

Xiao Bei was just about to explain, but Qin Ruoxi suddenly turned around.

She was wearing a wine-red shirt today, paired with a black work skirt; it was appropriate yet sexy, making her skin look even fairer, but the sharpness in her eyes made Xiao Bei instantly feel that she could pierce through any disguise.

Qin Ruoxi glanced at the police officers packing up their equipment and said softly, "Let's talk in the car."

The black Audi A6 drove steadily along the country road and stopped at a relatively secluded roadside; Team Leader Zhang Yining, who had hurried over later, tactfully sat in the passenger seat, leaving the back seat space to the two leaders.

The fields outside the car window were like a flowing painting, golden wheat waves shimmering with the luster of a harvest under the sunlight, forming a sharp contrast with the heavy atmosphere inside the car.

"Tell me about Liu Fuzhi." Qin Ruoxi got straight to the point, her fingers tapping lightly on the center armrest, "Do you have evidence against him in your hands?"

Xiao Bei took a deep breath.

"I do, but now..." Xiao Bei weighed his words, "The evidence is gone."

Qin Ruoxi's eyebrows raised slightly: "Gone?"

"I had originally organized all the materials, including recordings and written evidence, and there was also an account book that an older brother from Qingshan Township gave him at the live broadcast launch ceremony."

Xiao Bei's voice lowered, "But after handing it over to the Party Secretary, there was no follow-up. Not only was Liu Fuzhi unaffected, but his position in the county seemed even more solidified."

The car suddenly fell silent, with only the faint sound from the air conditioning vent.

Qin Ruoxi's gaze turned to the window, and the sunlight cast fragmented shadows on her profile.

"Fu Chuanyi..." She repeated the name softly, as if savoring something, "Did he approach you personally?"

Xiao Bei nodded: "On the second day after the Inspection Team moved in, the Party Secretary met with me privately; he told me to hand over all the evidence regarding Liu Fuzhi to him and specifically instructed me not to tell anyone about the meeting."

A barely perceptible sneer appeared on the corner of Qin Ruoxi's mouth: "And then the evidence disappeared?"

"Yes."

Xiao Bei felt a wave of shame, "I should have reported to you first, but at the time, the Party Secretary directly..."

"Xiao Bei." Qin Ruoxi suddenly interrupted him, her voice soft but unquestionable, "On this path, do not trust anyone except me."

These words hit Xiao Bei's heart like a heavy hammer.

He looked up abruptly, meeting Qin Ruoxi's eyes that seemed to see through everything.

Sunlight slanted in through the car window, casting a shadow under her eyelashes, but it could not hide the light flashing in her eyes.

"Including leaders from the province?" Xiao Bei asked subconsciously.

Qin Ruoxi did not answer directly; her fingers gently rubbed the metal clasp of her briefcase: "Today's events are enough to put Liu Fuzhi away for a few days, but with his methods, once the Hongxiang Town matter is cleared up, he can still get away unscathed."

She turned to Xiao Bei, "To confirm his corruption and bribery, we need more evidence."

Xiao Bei felt a sense of powerlessness: "The evidence I had is already..."

"Regarding that case in the education system, I know you didn't get anything." Qin Ruoxi's tone softened, "But investigating cases is not part of your job description. Reasonably and rightfully, I cannot rightfully give you any commendation."

After a while, the sunlight suddenly flared up, making Xiao Bei squint.

He understood the meaning behind Qin Ruoxi's words—in officialdom, overstepping one's bounds is hard to get recognized even if successful, not to mention that he had now alerted the enemy.

"I understand." Xiao Bei said in a low voice, "Then, regarding Liu Fuzhi's matter..."

"I will hand it over to other comrades from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection to investigate."

Qin Ruoxi took a folder out of her briefcase and handed it to Xiao Bei, "This is the audit report for the Hongxiang Town live broadcast poverty alleviation project that Team Leader Zhang Yining contacted the Audit Bureau to send over; take a look first."

Xiao Bei took the document, his fingertips accidentally touching Qin Ruoxi's hand.

The touch was cold and soft for that instant, reminding him of the thin ice on the river that was about to melt in early spring.

Opening the file, Xiao Bei's pupils suddenly contracted—the report clearly marked traces of project funds being misappropriated, and the approval signature was unmistakably Liu Fuzhi's own handwriting.

"This..."

"Focus on doing your own job."

Qin Ruoxi's voice was as soft as if she were talking about the weather, "Some things require the right person, at the right time, and in the right way to be solved."

Xiao Bei looked up and found Qin Ruoxi looking at the scenery outside the car window, her profile appearing exceptionally clear and firm in the sunlight.

He suddenly understood something, yet it seemed he understood nothing.

But one thing was certain—in this war without smoke, he was no longer fighting alone, and furthermore... Xiao Bei also felt guilty for his wavering when he had been courted by County Magistrate Lin Ruohan earlier.

The plane trees on both sides of the street cast mottled shadows; suddenly, Qin Ruoxi turned her head and showed Xiao Bei the first sincere smile of the day: "Remember, on this path, trust is more precious than ability."

Xiao Bei nodded heavily.

Sunlight shone through the car window onto Xiao Bei's knees, and the audit report looked particularly glaring in the sunlight.

Qin Ruoxi checked her watch and gently closed the folder in her hand.

"It's getting late; I need to rush back to the city to attend the afternoon standing committee meeting."

Her voice was still calm, but her speaking speed was a bit faster than usual, "As for Hongxiang Town, I'll leave it to you."

Xiao Bei immediately sat up straight: "Mayor Qin, rest assured, I will handle it well."

Qin Ruoxi's gaze lingered on his face for a few seconds, and she suddenly smiled: "Don't be so nervous. Eat lunch before working; I don't want my cadres working on an empty stomach."

Her tone lightened a bit, "Especially someone like you who just escaped from the tiger's den."

Team Leader Zhang Yining in the front seat handed over a thermal lunch box at the right moment: "County Magistrate Xiao, this was prepared specifically at Mayor Qin's request; she said you definitely didn't eat well this morning."

Xiao Bei took the still-warm lunch box, his heart warming.

He hadn't expected that in such a chaotic situation, Qin Ruoxi could still notice details like him not eating breakfast.

"Thank you, Mayor Qin."

Qin Ruoxi nodded slightly: "The formalism of 'no dust in the brick joints' in Hongxiang Town must be thoroughly rectified. But pay attention to the methods—

Her fingers tapped lightly on the document, "We must solve the problem without dampening the enthusiasm of grassroots cadres."

Xiao Bei carefully noted down every word.

He knew that Qin Ruoxi was teaching him how to handle such sensitive issues.

The car slowly stopped in front of the Town Government.

Qin Ruoxi took one last look at Xiao Bei: "Remember, before making any decision, think about what the common people really need first."