I slept with my sister's classmate, and she turned out to be my boss.

When Chen Dapeng returned to his residence, it was almost 10 p.m.

He changed his shoes, hung his coat on the hanger by the door, and went into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water.

He took a sip, leaned against the stove, and stared at the night view outside the window.

The words spoken in He Ying's office were still echoing in his mind—"Fang Mingyuan is still a little short."

"To take action against Fang Mingyuan, we need more direct evidence."

"I'll think of a way."

When He Ying said, "I'll think of a way," her tone was very calm, but Chen Dapeng could tell that beneath that calmness lay determination.

She wouldn't wait for the disciplinary committee to slowly verify the materials, nor would she wait for Fang Mingyuan to slip up on his own.

She's about to make a move.

Chen Dapeng put down his water glass, walked to the sofa, sat down, and picked up his phone.

The screen displayed He Ying's WeChat chat window; their last conversation ended with the line, "Go back and go to sleep early."

He stared at the line of text for a few seconds, then typed a new line.

"Sister Ying, you just said in the office that you'd come up with a solution. What are you planning to do?"

After sending it, he leaned back on the sofa and stared at the screen.

My phone vibrated.

"I plan to go see Secretary Zhou first thing tomorrow morning to discuss it with the Municipal Party Committee and to initiate an investigation into Fang Mingyuan."

Chen Dapeng's fingers tightened slightly.

Case filed for investigation —

Once the municipal party committee approves, Fang Mingyuan will be formally investigated, all his problems will be exposed, and all his connections will be investigated.

"Is the evidence sufficient?"

"The evidence we have right now doesn't directly point to Fang Mingyuan. He's not in Zhou Min's materials, he's not in Qian Cheng's confession, and he's not in Zhou Deming's evidence. But there's one line we can go around."

"What line?"

"The provincial capital. Fang Mingyuan has assets in the provincial capital. The Discipline Inspection Commission can investigate the source of these assets. Once they find the source, they can find the person who gave him the money. Once they find the person who gave him the money, they can get information out of Fang Mingyuan."

Chen Dapeng stared at the words and remained silent for a moment.

Unexpectedly, He Ying did not start with the accounts of Liuhe Town, but with Fang Mingyuan's personal assets.

Accounts can be made to look perfect, but the source of an individual's assets is difficult to explain clearly.

Will Secretary Zhou agree?

"I don't know. But I'll give it a try."

Chen Dapeng held his phone, unsure of what to say.

He Ying was going to find Zhou Mingyuan, report to the municipal party committee, and request that Zhou Mingyuan be placed under investigation.

This is a risky move. If the municipal party committee doesn't agree, Fang Mingyuan will know that He Ying is targeting him and might run away beforehand.

But if the municipal party committee agrees, Fang Mingyuan won't be able to escape.

It's a gamble.

"Sister Ying, what if the municipal party committee doesn't agree?"

"Then I'll investigate myself. Those assets in the provincial capital aren't only for the Discipline Inspection Commission to investigate. Although the audit team has left, the audit report is still there. I can apply for assistance from the relevant departments in the provincial capital in the name of the county government."

Chen Dapeng's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

He Ying said "in the name of the county government," not "in my personal name."

She was trying to legitimize her actions by following the rules at every step, leaving no room for anyone to find fault with her.

"Be careful. If Fang Mingyuan finds out you're investigating his assets, he won't just sit idly by."

"I know. So for now, only you and I know about this. Don't tell anyone."

"it is good."

Chen Dapeng thought for a moment, then typed another line on the keyboard.

"Sister Ying, what are your plans after this is over?"

After sending it, he stared at the screen, his heart beating a little fast.

This isn't work; it's a personal matter.

When he asked her "what are your plans?", he wasn't asking about her work arrangements; he was asking about her life.

The "typing" indicator flashed for a long time, then went out, then flashed again.

Chen Dapeng held his phone, feeling somewhat uneasy, his fingers trembling slightly.

"Finish what you're doing now. We can talk about the rest later."

Chen Dapeng stared at the words and fell silent.

He Ying said, "We'll talk about it later."

This statement contains no substantial content...

He didn't know whether he should be happy or disappointed, but he knew that now was not the time to ask that question.

"Okay. We'll talk about it after this is over."

"Get some rest. You have to go to work tomorrow."

"You too. Don't stay up too late."

After sending the message, Chen Dapeng leaned back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling.

Tomorrow, He Ying is going to see Zhou Mingyuan to report on the progress of the case and request that he open an investigation.

He didn't know what Zhou Mingyuan would decide, but he knew that He Ying wouldn't stop, whether Zhou Mingyuan agreed or not.

Chen Dapeng turned off the light, went into the bedroom, and lay down on the bed.

He stared at the ceiling, his mind replaying He Ying's words: "After this is over, we can talk about the rest later."

He turned over and pulled the blanket up to his shoulders.

almost.

Once Fang Mingyuan falls, once the case is closed, once she no longer has to work overtime until late at night every day, once she no longer has to worry about being retaliated against.

He'll ask her again then.

……

The next morning, He Ying arrived at the county committee.

She didn't call ahead, but went straight up to the third floor and walked to Zhou Mingyuan's office door.

The door was closed, so she knocked.

"Come in."

He Ying pushed open the door and went in. Zhou Mingyuan was sitting behind his desk with several documents spread out in front of him and a pen in his hand, signing them.

He looked up, saw He Ying, and paused for a moment.

"County Magistrate He? So early?"

"Secretary Zhou, I have something important to report to you."

Zhou Mingyuan looked at her, remained silent for a second, then put down his pen and leaned back in his chair.

"sit."

He Ying sat down opposite him and placed the folder in her hand on the table.

She didn't open it, but looked into Zhou Mingyuan's eyes.

"Secretary Zhou, there has been significant progress in the case in Liuhe Town."

Zhou Mingyuan tapped his finger lightly on the table.

"explain."

He Ying recounted the progress of the case from beginning to end—Zhou Min confessed to the whereabouts of the 1160 million yuan special funds, Liu Jun and Wang Lei confessed to the fact that they beat Chen Dapeng, Qian Cheng confessed to Fang Zhiwen's instructions and the operation process, Fang Zhiwen surrendered himself to the police, and Zhou Deming handed over the original evidence last night.

She didn't embellish anything; every point was supported by evidence and could withstand scrutiny.

Zhou Mingyuan listened without changing his expression. But his fingers stopped tapping and rested quietly on the table.

"Secretary Zhou, based on the information we have so far, it's impossible that Fang Mingyuan is completely uninvolved."

Every large sum of money in Liuhe Town had to go through his management.

That 300 million yuan in provincial special funds was intercepted by Du Jianguo at his behest. Fang Zhiwen had worked in Liuhe Town for ten years; it wouldn't have been possible without his tacit approval.

She paused for a moment, then her voice became lower.

"I suggest that we report this to the municipal party committee and initiate an investigation into Fang Mingyuan."

The office was silent for a few seconds.

Zhou Mingyuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down.

His movements were slow, as if he was considering something.

"County Chief He, do you know what you're saying?"

"I know. Investigating an executive deputy county head is no small matter. But Secretary Zhou, if we don't investigate him, the case in Liuhe Town won't be thoroughly resolved. Fang Zhiwen is just a small fish; the real big fish is at the bottom of the water."

Zhou Mingyuan looked at her, his gaze deep and intense.

"County Chief He, how much evidence do you have?"

He Ying opened the folder, took out several documents, and placed them in front of Zhou Mingyuan—excerpts of Zhou Min's testimony, summaries of Qian Cheng's transcript, copies of Du Jianguo's accounting records, and the section of the audit report concerning the 300 million yuan special fund.

Zhou Mingyuan read through the documents one by one, very slowly.

He Ying didn't urge him, and sat opposite him waiting.

After looking at it for nearly ten minutes, Zhou Mingyuan put down the materials and looked up.

"County Chief He, these materials do indeed prove that there are problems in Liuhe Town, and they also prove that Fang Zhiwen has problems. But they don't directly point to Fang Mingyuan."

He Ying did not speak.

"Fang Zhiwen surrendered himself, but he didn't mention Fang Mingyuan in his confession. Qian Cheng confessed about Fang Zhiwen, but he didn't mention Fang Mingyuan either. Fang Mingyuan wasn't in Zhou Min's materials, nor was Fang Mingyuan in Zhou Deming's evidence."

He paused for a moment.

"Based on the evidence we have now, it's not enough to initiate an investigation into Fang Mingyuan. The key is for Fang Zhiwen to speak up. If he doesn't, the evidence we have is useless."

He Ying remained silent for a moment.

"Secretary Zhou, there is another way."

Zhou Mingyuan looked at her.

"What road?"

"The provincial capital. Fang Mingyuan has assets in the provincial capital. With his salary, he couldn't possibly afford to buy them. The Discipline Inspection Commission can investigate the source of these assets. Once they find the source, they can find the person who gave him the money. Once they find the person who gave him the money, they can get information out of Fang Mingyuan."

Zhou Mingyuan leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.

He Ying knew he was weighing his options—investigating Fang Mingyuan's assets would extend the investigation to the provincial capital, and elevate the case in Qingshun County to a higher level.

Once it's started, it's beyond his control.

But if he doesn't start it, Fang Mingyuan might run away.

"County Chief He, do you have any evidence for these assets you mentioned?"

"Fang Zhiqiang has assets in the provincial capital and has registered a company. These things can't possibly be solely related to Fang Zhiwen. If we investigate further, Fang Mingyuan will be implicated."

Zhou Mingyuan remained silent for a long time.

"County Chief He, please go back first. I need to think about this matter."

He Ying looked at him but didn't move.

"Secretary Zhou, Fang Mingyuan could run away at any time. We don't have much time to think about it."

Zhou Mingyuan's gaze lingered on her face for a second.

"I know. But you also need to understand that once this is reported to the municipal party committee, it will be beyond our control. If the municipal party committee decides to investigate, Fang Mingyuan won't be able to escape; if the municipal party committee doesn't investigate, how will you, as the county head, continue to work in Qingshun County?"

He Ying's fingers tightened slightly.

"Secretary Zhou, I didn't come to Qingshun County to be a complacent official."

Zhou Mingyuan stared at her for a few seconds, then his lips twitched slightly—not a smile, but an indescribable expression, like helplessness.

"I understand. You can go back now. I'll give you an answer before this afternoon."

He Ying stood up and picked up the folder on the table.

"Secretary Zhou, I await your news."

She turned and walked out, gently closing the door behind her.

The corridor was quiet. He Ying stood there and took a deep breath.

When Zhou Mingyuan said he "needs to think about it," he wasn't delaying; he was weighing the options.

He was thinking about the consequences of this matter, the attitude of the municipal party committee, and how the power structure of Qingshun County would change if Fang Mingyuan were investigated.

He Ying walked out of the county committee building and stood at the door.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Chen Dapeng.

"I just came out of Secretary Zhou's office. He said he'd think about it and give me an answer before this afternoon."

Chen Dapeng quickly replied: "Did he agree?"

"No. He said there wasn't enough evidence."

"What should we do then?"

He Ying looked at the line of text, remained silent for a moment, and then typed a few words.

"Wait. Wait for his reply. If he doesn't agree, I'll figure something out myself."