I'm being held captive by a monster

Chapter 282 An'an, only you understand my predicament!

"Zhang Guang, what's the latest progress?"

Didn't they say yesterday there would be news today?

Qian Sen's voice grew more and more impatient each day.

"Grandpa! I'm so tired of wearing this leather!"

"I really can't stand this face! And this body!"

"I shower every day but there's still a weird smell! It's so annoying! So annoying!!!"

Even though his voice was already so impatient.

It still couldn't mask Qian Qiongzhi's frantic roar that followed.

"...Senior, there will definitely be news today, don't worry!"

"I'm anxious too, even more anxious than you! But this isn't something that can be solved by being anxious!"

Zhang Guang glanced at Lin Xing'an on the sofa, then moved further away and said in a low voice.

"Zhang Guang, didn't you say yesterday that you had caught two animals and found out their location in sixteen months?"

"You know the location and you still can't solve it?!"

Qian Sen's loud voice made Zhang Guang's head ache!
"Old man, you also know how cunning humans and animals can be!"

"We already know a lot about the two animals we caught, but we only know their approximate location!"

"Only Zhang Hang knows the exact location of the humans and animals, but Zhang Hang is very well hidden."

"Give me just one more day, just one more day! I'm 100% sure I'll find the Sixteenth Month!"

Even though it was over the phone.

But Zhang Guang still nodded and bowed as he spoke.

"Damn it! Zhang Guang! What exactly are you trying to do every single day?!"

"Do you know how uncomfortable it is for me to wear this skin?!"

"I can't go anywhere now! It's all because of you!"

"Zhang Guang, you're such a waste to be made to look so pathetic by a mere beast!"

Before Qian Sen could speak, Qian Qiongzhi's voice rang out!
Being insulted like that by a junior, Zhang Guang's expression instantly darkened!
Even so, he could only suppress his resentment and anger and nod repeatedly in agreement with Qian Qiongzhi's words.

"This is my responsibility. One more day, I will definitely, definitely find out who Shiliuyue is!"

"Zhang Guang, I'm giving you one last day! If there's no result by this time tomorrow, I'll fucking..."

"Alright, alright! Zhang Guang! Hurry up! Now that we know the location, let's be tough on them!"

Qian Sen interrupted Qian Qiongzhi and said finally.

"Grandpa! Make that good-for-nothing Zhang Guang swear an oath! Make him swear on his own life!"

"If he can't find Sixteenth Month by tomorrow, he's going to die!"

"Make him swear! Otherwise, why should we believe him?!"

Qian Qiongzhi shouted like a madwoman!

Qian Sen then hung up the phone immediately.

"Oh!"

The phone screen went out.

With nowhere to vent his frustration, Zhang Guang punched the wall!

Has it become this repressed...?

Lin Xing'an severed ties with Yin Hui and raised an eyebrow.

Zhang Guang was, after all, Jiang Rong's man.

Unexpectedly, Qian Qiongzhi dared to curse Zhang Guang just like she cursed Xu Ye...

However, what surprised Lin Xing'an the most during this phone call was that Mai Lingbu's "Painted Skin" could suppress the "epidemic".

That's quite interesting...

"An'an, how was it? Did you finish watching?"

After adjusting himself, Zhang Guangcai walked out again.

However, his complexion was still very poor.

“…Minister, I dare say that if you were replaced by anyone else, the situation would be twice as bad.”

"I just realized that the most terrifying thing about this [epidemic] is that once you get infected, it's like losing a combatant who can fight for you in the Sixteen Months."

"With other leaders, the entire committee would probably not even have a small group of people in a week."

"But I didn't expect that almost a month later, you would still have six groups available for deployment..."

"Minister, you realized this problem on day one!"

Lin Xing'an shook his head and sighed approvingly.

These words lessened Zhang Guang's resentment somewhat.

"An'an, only you understand my predicament..."

He patted Lin Xing'an on the shoulder heavily.

"Minister, it's not that I don't understand you, it's just that... anyone with eyes can see your contributions, right?"

"The speed of your response and the implementation of these isolation measures... really, your actions are perfect."

"If you had reacted any slower, and there were no one available, that would have played right into the hands of the beasts. Now there would be no hope of turning the tide at all."

Lin Xing'an gave a thumbs up and said.

A smile finally appeared on Zhang Guang's face.

But then he waved his hand, "This is all thankless work, and now the people below are probably cursing me!"

"An'an, if only everyone were as clear-headed as you!"

Zhang Guang sat on the sofa and took a sip of tea.

"So, An'an, what are your thoughts?"

He looked at Lin Xing'an and asked.

Lin Xing'an put down the documents in his hand and smiled.

“Minister, to be honest… your current actions are already quite perfect.”

"I can't think of anything more perfect than your current measures..."

Lin Xing'an said, holding his teacup.

"No matter how good my plan is, it'll be all for nothing if I can't find the sixteenth month..."

"And now... tsk... the people below me are all angry with me but dare not speak out, sigh."

Zhang Guang crossed his legs and sank comfortably into the sofa.

"Minister, it's only a matter of time before we can find the Sixteenth Month."

"Besides, if you can't find it like this, then... then how are you supposed to find it?"

Lin Xing'an spread his hands, looking puzzled.

Zhang Guang shook his head with a wry smile.

"An'an, of course I know it's only a matter of time."

"But the premise is that everyone can give 100% effort and implement it 100%."

"The problem now is that my subordinates aren't giving me time anymore, do you understand?"

Zhang Guang looked at Lin Xing'an.

Lin Xing'an frowned and nodded.

"The epidemic was clearly caused by humans and animals, by the sixteenth month. All my measures, such as mandatory quarantine and continuous searches, etc..."

"Who wasn't trying to find the Sixteenth Month? Who wasn't doing it for everyone's safety?"

"But now, tsk tsk tsk, everyone thinks that I am the root of all the problems, and they have started to secretly compete with me and rebel against me."

"Sigh...this is really..."

Under Lin Xing'an's patient guidance, Zhang Guang finally opened up completely.

Amidst the rising steam of the hot tea, he looked as if he had something on his mind but couldn't say it.

Lin Xing'an pursed his lips, his expression serious.

"Tell me, An'an, it's okay. Whatever you're thinking, feel free to speak your mind!"

"I brought you home because it's just the two of us there!"

Seeing that Lin Xing'an didn't speak, Zhang Guang waved to him.

"So, is it okay for me to criticize the committee members here?"

Lin Xing'an said jokingly.

Zhang Guang was stunned for a moment, then laughed as well.

"Minister, no, I really can't help but say a few words." Lin Xing'an thought for a moment, then sighed, getting angrier the more he thought about it.

"The committee members...tsk, not a single one of them is participating!"

"Even if they could just stand up for you, say a word for you, or endorse you, that would be great!"

"The more they act like this, the more uncertain their colleagues become, the more suspicious they are, the less they listen to you, and the more they slack off."

"You're stuck in the middle, pleasing neither side, so you can't get anything done at all!"

Lin Xing'an put down his teacup, patted the sofa, and said indignantly.

Although Zhang Guang didn't say a word, he nodded repeatedly.

He seemed to understand everything without saying a word.

"...Minister, this happens during an election... If this continues... I'm afraid even the candidacy committee members might be in jeopardy..."

After a long silence, Lin Xing'an finally spoke.

"yes……"

Zhang Guang leaned back on the sofa and sighed deeply, "Life is unpredictable..."

Killing Taoyuan would have secured his candidacy for committee member.

At the celebration banquet later, Lin Xing'an gave Zhang Guang a chance to support Qian Qiongzhi and side with the "conservatives," and the position of committee member was practically in his grasp.

Who would have thought that just one month later... sigh...

"Minister, when you called yesterday, I never imagined the situation would be this bad."

"Because the root of this matter is Yu Kexin's pet owner, so originally I was thinking..."

“You said that the epidemic was caused by my work mistakes, which led to my release, and that I fled to Nancheng to escape punishment.”

Lin Xing'an rested his chin on his interlaced fingers.

Zhang Guang raised an eyebrow.

"And now, you've brought me, the 'culprit,' back from the south city to put me on trial in public."

"During the trial, if you sentence me severely, give a passionate speech, and I'll put on a show, it will be absolutely gratifying."

"Although it won't really affect finding the Sixteenth Month, it's at least encouraging and gives everyone a sigh of relief."

"The most important thing is that in everyone's mind, the epidemic is my fault, and I have already been brought to justice."

"You and everyone else are now on the same side."

Lin Xing'an took a deep breath and said.

"In short, it's about uniting everyone by trying me, the 'culprit'."

He subconsciously controlled the water, turning it into a rope-like shape.

"Did Sister Jiang and Uncle He choose this weapon for you?"

"Ah! Yes, I've been practicing in the south of the city too."

Lin Xing'an transformed the water back into water droplets.

"Well, it's fine."

Zhang Guang nodded.

Then the two of them fell silent.

"And now, An'an, after knowing the current situation in Beicheng, do you think things can still be like this?"

After a long while, Zhang Guang seemed to have already found an answer in his heart, and sat up to ask.

"...It's not working well anymore."

Lin Xing'an shook his head.

"Minister, it's not that I don't want to sacrifice myself, nor that I think it's ineffective, it's just..."

“Doing this would be tantamount to me giving up my candidacy for committee member.”

"This time, next time, the time after that, or... in this lifetime, no one will ever cast a vote for me again."

"But now, I must become a candidate committee member; I cannot give up!"

After a moment of silence, Lin Xing'an said firmly!

"..."

Zhang Guang remained silent.

After taking a sip of hot tea, he leaned back on the sofa again.

He then recalled Xu Zhe's dying words—Lin Xing'an would definitely become a candidate committee member.

The whole thing about the epidemic was done by humans and animals so that Lin Xing'an could become a candidate committee member and so that Lin Xing'an would know the identity of the sacrificer!
"why?"

Zhang Guang looked at Lin Xing'an and asked.

"In order to make you a full member of the committee!"

Lin Xing'an met Zhang Guang's gaze and said.

"Minister, making you a member of the next committee has always been our shared goal, right?"

"Yes, but the current situation is very unfavorable for me."

Zhang Guang nodded and said.

"That's right, it's very disadvantageous for you, because once you become a candidate, the votes for you to become a full member are in the hands of the current members."

"This incident shows that even though you have joined their side, the committee members are still extremely wary of you, and you could even say they have no trust in you at all."

"If they trust you, if they want you to succeed them, then they will definitely support you now."

"But they've done nothing and are just watching the rift between you and your colleagues grow wider and wider."

Lin Xing'an picked up the action report from this period again.

Behind each of the specific numbers above lies the fact that Zhang Guang's authority is waning.

"That's the truth."

"But the committee members' distrust of me wasn't that serious."

"At least, they gave me authority on the surface."

Zhang Guang rubbed the stiff stubble on his chin and said in a deep voice, "Go on."

He crossed his legs.

"Minister, what I mean is, since the committee members don't want to vote for you 100%..."

"Then they'll have no choice but to choose you, making you... the most suitable candidate among all the candidates."

Lin Xing'an looked into Zhang Guang's eyes and said.

"So... you had to become a candidate committee member just to make me look good?"

During their eye contact, it was Zhang Guangxian who looked away.

"Yes, there are only ten candidates and seven official members, excluding three members who want to be re-elected..."

"In other words, it's about choosing four people out of ten, as long as six of them are people the committee members would absolutely not choose."

Ten water droplets appeared before Lin Xing'an's eyes.

Zhang Guang nodded thoughtfully.

"My becoming a candidate committee member occupies one spot, which is equivalent to selecting four out of nine people for the committee members."

"Because I have a conflict with Qian Qiongzhi, the committee members will definitely not vote for me."

Lin Xing'an flicked a drop of water away with his finger.

"And then, you also have the secret weapon we planted back then, evidence of the secret communication between the Coordination Department and Taoyuan!"

“Once this evidence is presented, all the people from the Coordination Department among the candidates will be excluded.”

"There are at least two, or even three people."

He flicked away two more water droplets.

"That is to say, four out of seven people will be selected."

"Your abilities are absolutely outstanding, and with Grandma's vote, you're guaranteed a spot."

"But if I'm not a candidate, it's like choosing four out of eight people."

"Although there is only one person missing, the difference is actually too great, and the risk will double."

Lin Xing'an wiped away the water droplets.

Zhang Guang closed his eyes.

After a long while, he opened his eyes and looked deeply at Lin Xing'an.

“An’an, I’m so glad that you can think so far ahead for me.”

"but……"