50: Chapter 50 A Beautiful Woman's Visit

"Yes, Party Secretary Tang Jianhui."

Secretary Wang nodded and retreated.

Knock, knock!

Just as Secretary Wang had left, the office door was knocked upon.

"Come in."

He said without looking up, his fingers tapping gently on the desk as he calculated how to arrange the "memorial service" for Qin Ruoxi.

The door opened, but it was not his secretary who entered.

Three men in dark suits with Party emblems pinned to their chests walked in; the leader was a serious-looking man around fifty years old.

"Comrade Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui."

The leader's voice was steady, "We are from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection investigation team. This is my identification."

The smile froze on Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui's face.

He stood up slowly, his gaze sweeping over the identification card offered by the other party—Director of the Third Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, Director Zhou.

"Director Zhou? This is..."

Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui tried to remain calm, but his fingers had already begun to tremble slightly, "Do you have any instructions?"

Director Zhou put away his identification and said in a calm tone: "According to the decision of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection work meeting, we are now opening a case to investigate your suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Please cooperate with our work."

The air in the office seemed to freeze instantly.

Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui's complexion turned from red to white, then from white to pale, with fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.

"This... this must be a misunderstanding!"

He suddenly raised his voice, "I have worked for the Party for over twenty years, clean and honest, and have never..."

"Comrade Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui."

Director Zhou interrupted him, "Please calm down. If there is a misunderstanding, the organization will clear your name. Now, please hand over your mobile phone and work credentials, and come with us."

A trace of panic flashed in Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui's eyes, and he grabbed the phone on the desk: "No, I need to make a call! Someone must be framing me!"

A young staff member from the Discipline Inspection Commission stepped forward and held down the phone: "Party Secretary Tang Jianhui, please do not make things difficult for us."

Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui looked around and discovered that two uniformed armed police officers were already standing at the office door.

His shoulders slumped all at once, and his lips trembled: "Okay... okay... I will cooperate, but I want to state that I am innocent!"

Director Zhou nodded: "We will put your statement on record. Now, please pack your personal belongings; do not touch other work materials."

Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui mechanically picked up his briefcase, his hands trembling so much he could barely hold it steady.

When he was led out of the office, many staff members from the Municipal Party Committee had already gathered in the hallway, all watching this scene with shocked expressions.

"Party Secretary Tang Jianhui! What is going on?"

Principal Liu Jianjun, Deputy Director of the Municipal Party Committee Office, squeezed forward to ask.

Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui opened his mouth, but could not say a word.

Director Zhou answered on his behalf: "Comrade Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui needs to cooperate with the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection to investigate some matters. Municipal Party Committee work will be temporarily presided over by Deputy Party Secretary Zhang."

Watching the figure of Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui disappear into the elevator, the entire Municipal Party Committee building was in an uproar.

"Oh my god, Party Secretary Tang Jianhui has been taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission!"

"I told you so; if you walk by the river often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet..."

"Shh, keep your voice down. Who knows if more people will be implicated..."

Principal Liu Jianjun's face was livid as he dispersed the crowd: "Everyone go back to work! Do not spread false news!"

But in private, the discussions simply could not be stopped.

Little Ma from the Finance Department secretly said to a colleague: "Hey, I heard Party Secretary Tang Jianhui accepted tens of millions from that Development Zone project in the east of the city and bought several villas."

"That's not even the half of it," Old Li from the Archives Department lowered his voice, "The construction company his brother-in-law runs has basically monopolized all the major projects in the city. Who doesn't know he's the one backing them?"

Sister Qin from the Publicity Department was worried: "Canglan City is going to see a major shake-up now. Who knows how many people will be implicated..."

The matter of Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui being taken away for investigation caused a huge stir throughout the official circles of Canglan City.

Meanwhile, Xiao Bei, who had been recuperating in the provincial capital for these past few days, was living a very peaceful life.

At this moment, he was leaning against the raised hospital bed, idly flipping through a magazine. The doctor said he was recovering well and could be discharged after two more days of observation.

Knock, knock!

A soft knock came from outside the door.

"Please come in."

Xiao Bei said without looking up, assuming it was the nurse coming to change his dressing.

The door opened, but he didn't hear the familiar sound of a cart. Xiao Bei looked up in confusion, and the magazine in his hand almost dropped to the floor.

Su Yun stood at the doorway, carrying an exquisite fruit basket and a bag of nutritional supplements.

Today, she was wearing a form-fitting wine-red dress, the V-neck design revealing her delicate collarbones and a hint of cleavage.

The hem of the dress reached just to the middle of her thighs, and her slender legs were in high heels, swaying gracefully with every step she took.

"What, not welcoming me?"

Su Yun's red lips parted slightly, her voice carrying a hint of teasing.

Xiao Bei quickly adjusted his expression and managed to force a smile: "Ms. Su? How did you..."

"I heard you were injured and hospitalized, so I came specifically to see you."

Su Yun walked into the hospital room, her high heels making crisp sounds on the floor.

She placed the fruit basket on the bedside table, then sat down naturally on the chair beside the bed, her legs elegantly crossed.

Xiao Bei noticed that she had applied exquisite makeup today, with upward-sweeping eyeliner and thick, curled lashes that made her eyes look even more captivating.

A faint scent of perfume wafted from her—not a strong odor, but a subtle, lingering fragrance that made one want to lean in and smell it closer.

"You... how did you know I was here?"

Xiao Bei asked cautiously, his fingers unconsciously gripping the bedsheet.

Su Yun chuckled and took an apple and a small knife from the fruit basket: "Having worked at the City Radio Station for so long, I still have the connections to find out this little bit of information."

She began to peel the apple skillfully, her slender fingers moving with elegance as the apple peel hung down in a perfect spiral.

"Don't be so nervous," Su Yun seemed to see through his thoughts and handed him the peeled apple, "I'm just here to thank you for saving my life."

Xiao Bei hesitantly took the apple, and their fingertips brushed against each other inadvertently during the exchange.

In that instant, Xiao Bei felt a subtle current spread from the point of contact, causing his heart to skip a beat.

Su Yun seemed to feel it too; her eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she quickly returned to calm.

"If it weren't for you..."

Su Yun's voice lowered, a flash of lingering fear in her eyes, "I might have already..."

Xiao Bei took a bite of the apple; it was sweet, crisp, and juicy.

"Don't say that, it was the right thing to do," he said vaguely.

Creak~ Just then, the hospital room door was suddenly pushed open, and Qin Ruoxi walked in hurriedly, holding a stack of documents in her hand.

Today, she had changed into a sharp, navy blue suit, and her hair was tied back into her signature low ponytail again, though there were faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly showing she hadn't rested well these past few days.

"Xiao Bei, is your injury better—"