45: Chapter 45 An Unexpected Encounter

She whispered to herself, her fingertips tapping unconsciously against the windowpane.

Ever since she was parachuted into Canglan City to take office as Mayor, an invisible resistance had constantly permeated her surroundings.

The approval of key projects was delayed without reason, information about important meetings was always obtained late, and most seriously, there was that time she was drugged and set up after being plied with alcohol...

She had several suspects in mind, but had been unable to pinpoint who it was, until this moment when it suddenly dawned on her—all the hidden arrows aimed at her came from the seemingly gentle and refined Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui.

Qin Ruoxi pondered for a moment, then turned and picked up the red secure phone, but paused for a second before dialing.

Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui had been operating in Canglan for twenty years, climbing step by step from Director of the Public Security Bureau to Deputy Party Secretary, with his protégés and subordinates spread throughout the political and legal system.

If this call went through normal channels, it would likely reach Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui's ears within half an hour.

She took another mobile phone from the safe and dialed the private number of the Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, Tian Fusheng.

"Secretary Tian, this is Qin Ruoxi."

Her voice was terrifyingly calm. "Regarding the systemic corruption in Canglan City, I need to report to you in person."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line:

"How serious is the situation?"

"It involves the upper echelons of the Municipal Party Committee and may implicate a homicide case."

Qin Ruoxi looked at the lightning that suddenly lit up outside the window and spoke.

"Tomorrow at ten in the morning, I will be waiting for you in my office."

Tian Fusheng's voice suddenly turned grave. "Be careful, and don't trust anyone."

Meanwhile, inside Villa No. 3 of the Municipal Party Committee residential compound, Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui was smashing a bottle of treasured Moutai against the wall.

Amidst the sound of shattering glass, the amber liquor flowed down the snow-white wall like blood.

"That old stubborn fool, Secretary Xue Yue!"

He tore off his tie, veins bulging on his forehead. "And that ignorant Qin Ruoxi!"

Standing in the shadows of the study was Deputy Director Qian Weidong of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, who kept his head down, staring at his polished leather shoes:

"Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui, Director Yan knows too much. Should we..."

"Fool! Moving against him now is equivalent to walking into a trap!"

Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui grabbed a purple clay teapot then forcibly put it down, his knuckles turning white from the force. "Launch Plan B immediately. Take care of Qin Ruoxi first."

Deputy Director Qian Weidong's pupils constricted:

"This... wouldn't that be too risky? After all, she is a cadre under provincial jurisdiction..."

"If she doesn't die, we will!"

Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui suddenly lowered his voice. "Why do you think she suddenly started investigating Director Yan Jinghui? The evidence in Su Yun's hands must have already reached her!"

Deputy Director Qian Weidong gritted his teeth and said:

"Yes, Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui, I will make arrangements immediately!"

Early the next morning, the rain poured down like a deluge, hitting the glass curtain wall of the municipal building and making a dense tapping sound.

Qin Ruoxi stood in front of the window, looking at the blurred world outside, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the screen of her mobile phone.

"Mayor Qin, the car is ready."

Xiao Bei stood at the office door, his voice very low.

Qin Ruoxi turned around, her gaze lingering on Xiao Bei's face for two seconds.

"Let's go. We'll leave from the underground garage."

The two walked into the dedicated elevator one after the other. Xiao Bei pressed the B2 button. During the elevator's descent, Qin Ruoxi suddenly asked:

"Xiao Bei, do you know who we are going to see this time?"

Xiao Bei's Adam's apple bobbed:

"I don't know."

Qin Ruoxi smiled and said:

"Let's go. You'll know when we get there. Starting today, we are going to completely turn the tables."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bei clenched his fists, his heart filled with excitement.

Ding!

The elevator door opened. There were several cars parked in the dim underground garage. Mayor Qin's official car—a black Audi A6—was parked in the innermost spot. Xiao Bei walked over quickly and opened the door.

The sound of rain hitting the car window seemed particularly dull in the enclosed garage. Mayor Qin fastened her seatbelt and glanced at her watch.

"Take the back roads to avoid the cameras on the highway."

Xiao Bei started the car, the sound of the engine echoing in the underground garage.

As the car drove out of the municipal building, a bolt of lightning split the gloomy sky, instantly illuminating Mayor Qin's pale face.

"Mayor Qin, the weather forecast says this rainstorm will last all day."

Xiao Bei gripped the steering wheel tightly. The windshield wipers were swinging frantically, yet they still couldn't keep up with the downpour. "The mountain roads might be difficult to navigate."

Mayor Qin did not respond; she was observing the vehicles behind them through the rearview mirror.

Three suspicious black sedans were lingering near the municipal building, but she wasn't sure if they were following them.

"Detour to Jiefang Road, then take the old national highway."

Xiao Bei immediately understood her intention and turned suddenly at the next intersection.

The rain splashed half a meter high under the tires. In the rearview mirror, those suspicious vehicles did not follow.

The car drove out of the city, and the rain became heavier.

The road conditions on the old national highway were poor, with many sections full of potholes and standing water.

Xiao Bei had to slow down, carefully avoiding the deep pits hidden under the water.

"The mountain road is just ahead."

Xiao Bei warned, "The signal might cut out."

Mayor Qin rolled down the window a crack. The damp wind mixed with raindrops poured in. The mountain mist was like a veil, shrouding the winding mountain road.

"Drive slowly, safety first."

Xiao Bei nodded and reduced the speed to forty miles per hour.

On one side of the mountain road was a steep cliff face, and on the other was an unfathomably deep precipice, with no guardrails whatsoever.

The road surface, washed by the rain, shimmered with a dangerous, greenish glint.

Just as they turned the third sharp bend, Xiao Bei suddenly stepped on the brake, only to find the pedal unusually soft.

"Oh no, Mayor Qin! There's a problem with the brakes!"

Mayor Qin immediately grabbed the grab handle:

"Don't panic, downshift to slow down!"

Xiao Bei quickly switched the automatic transmission to manual mode and downshifted repeatedly.

The engine let out a piercing roar. The speed decreased slightly, but it was still accelerating on the downhill section.

"Handbrake!"

Mayor Qin commanded.

Xiao Bei pulled the electronic handbrake. The warning lights on the dashboard flashed frantically, but the car's speed did not decrease at all.

"It's failed! Everything has failed!"

Ahead was a nearly 180-degree sharp turn, and their speed was already over sixty miles per hour.

Xiao Bei turned the steering wheel desperately. The tires skidded on the wet, slippery road, and the rear of the car swung out in a dangerous arc.

"Hold on, Mayor Qin!"

Xiao Bei shouted, and the car rushed off the road, breaking through several small trees before soaring into the air.

Time seemed to stretch out.

Mayor Qin saw raindrops suspended in the air, saw the veins bulging on Xiao Bei's forehead from the effort, and saw the treetops rolling below the cliff.

Her body left the seat due to weightlessness, then was yanked back hard by the seatbelt.

The impact was violent and continuous. The first time, the front of the car plunged into the treetops, and the windshield shattered instantly; the second time, the side hit a protruding rock on the cliff, and the airbag deployed; then came the rolling, the sound of twisting metal piercing her eardrums amidst the spinning world.

She didn't know how long it had been, but everything finally stopped.

Mayor Qin felt warm liquid flowing down from her forehead, blurring her vision.

The car was wedged between two large trees at a 45-degree angle, with a rapid river one hundred meters below the cliff.

"Xiao... Xiao Bei..."