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

Chen Dapeng returned to his seat, opened his phone, and found He Ying's WeChat.

He typed a line, deleted it, typed it again, and pressed the send button.

"Sister Ying, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's working group has officially entered the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Gu Huaiyuan's case has been filed.

The team was led by Chen Yuanda, deputy director of the Twelfth Investigation and Review Office of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Less than half a minute after the message was sent, He Ying called.

Her voice carried a hint of barely suppressed excitement:

"Has a case been filed?"

"Yes, the approval has been granted. Director Chen said that we should proceed along two lines simultaneously—Gu Huaiyuan's line should be the main focus, while Yang Xiujiang's line should be advanced concurrently."

He Ying remained silent for a few seconds, as if processing the news.

"What are the arrangements for the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection?"

"Director Chen is in charge of all work, with Director Hu assisting. I will continue with my original tasks: organizing materials and following up on leads."

Chen Dapeng paused for a moment: "During today's meeting, Director Chen specifically asked about the progress on Bai Jiangfei's side."

He Ying asked, "Has Bai Jiangfei made a breakthrough?"

"Not yet. Huarong Investment is short of bank statements, and the shortfall hasn't been filled yet."

"Then you should keep following this lead. If Bai Jiangfei can break through, Yang Xiujiang won't be able to escape."

Chen Dapeng responded, "Okay, I'll keep an eye on it."

After a moment of silence, He Ying lowered her voice slightly, "Da Peng, you've worked hard these past few days. Once the case is finished..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Chen Dapeng knew what she wanted to say.

"Sister Ying, I'm not tired. I'll come to see you in Qingshun County after the case is over."

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Dapeng put his phone on the table and stared at the screen for a few seconds.

Then he opened Bai Jiangfei's folder and read the message from Lin Chen about "Huarong Investment" that Lin Chen had sent him before.

He drew a question mark next to "Huarong Investment", thought for a moment, picked up his phone, found Lin Chen's number, and pressed the call button.

The phone rang twice before being answered.

"Lin Chen, are you free tonight?"

"I'm free. What's up, want to treat me to dinner?"

Lin Chen's voice was tinged with laughter.

"Okay, same place as always, let's talk when we meet."

"Okay. I'll order it and send it to you."

At 7 p.m., a barbecue restaurant in the provincial capital was filled with the aroma of smoke and the noise of people.

When Chen Dapeng arrived, Lin Chen was already sitting in the corner. There were several skewers of grilled mutton and a plate of edamame on the table, with two bottles of beer next to them.

Chen Dapeng hung his coat on the back of the chair and sat down, then picked up a skewer of mutton and took a bite.

"Any new developments regarding Bai Jiangfei's situation?"

Chen Dapeng shook his head: "Not yet. We haven't received Huarong Investment's bank statements yet. This line is stuck right now, neither going forward nor backward."

He put down the skewers, picked up his beer and took a sip: "I asked you to come here today because I want to ask you for another favor."

"you say."

Chen Dapeng put down his wine bottle: "If we can get our hands on Huarong Investment's financial transaction records, this line of work will take a big step forward. Do you have any connections with the banks?"

Lin Chen didn't answer immediately. He picked up a bottle of beer and slowly drank it, as if he was thinking about something.

After a few seconds, he put down the bottle: "The banking route is getting tough. I already gave them a heads-up when I investigated Hongda Trading last time. Targeting the same person again would be too risky and expose us."

Chen Dapeng's heart sank: "Is there any other way?"

Lin Chen thought for a moment: "Huarong Investment is involved in real estate. They have several real estate projects in the provincial capital in the past two years, and most of the developers are companies from Beijing."

If we could obtain the payment records for these projects, we might be able to deduce the actual controller of Huarong Investment.

"Do you have connections?"

Lin Chen nodded: "I know a friend who works in construction engineering and has supplied materials to many real estate projects in the provincial capital. He should have payment receipts for some of these projects."

"Is it possible to get it?"

"I'll give it a try." Lin Chen paused for a moment, "but this time it might take a little time."

"Okay, no rush."

Lin Chen picked up a beer bottle and clinked it against his: "The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is here, we can wait a few more days."

Chen Dapeng smiled and said, "Thanks."

The two chatted for a while about their university days.

Chen Dapeng glanced at the time and left first.

Lin Chen saw him to the door and patted him on the shoulder: "I'll contact you if I get any news."

……

On the other side of the provincial capital, Yang Xiujiang sat in his study.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

The screen displays the three characters "Gu Huaiyuan".

Yang Xiujiang answered the phone without exchanging pleasantries: "You received the message?"

"Yes. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's working group arrived this morning, led by Chen Yuanda."

There was a moment of silence on both ends of the phone, as if they were both waiting for the other to speak first.

Gu Huaiyuan broke the silence first: "We have news from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection that they have compiled Bai Jiangfei's information."

Yang Xiujiang's breathing visibly paused: "Bai Jiangfei?"

"Your nephew. He spends money too ostentatiously, and people are watching him."

Yang Xiujiang was silent for a moment: "He... doesn't know much."

"He may not know much, but his spending records have been obtained. That lead can be traced back to Huarong Investment."

Yang Xiujiang's grip on her phone tightened slightly: "Huarong Investment..."

"right."

Gu Huaiyuan's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"If the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection follows that lead to Beijing, it won't just be a matter between you and me anymore."

The sentence was left unsaid, but both of them understood the meaning of the second half.

Yang Xiujiang remained silent for a long time: "Old Gu, do you think there are any other solutions?"

Gu Huaiyuan did not answer.

Yang Xiujiang waited for a while, but received no response. He then said, "I'll contact my old leader."

Gu Huaiyuan's voice finally came through: "You should contact him."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Xiujiang found his old leader's number and pressed the dial button.

The phone rang several times before being answered; Zeng Zhiyuan's voice sounded weary.

"Xiujiang, what's wrong?"

Yang Xiujiang briefly explained the situation—

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's working group has been stationed there, and Bai Jiangfei's spending records point to Huarong Investment. If the investigation continues, it may very well lead back to Beijing.

After listening, Zeng Zhiyuan remained silent for a long time.

"Xiujiang, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has already opened a case, so I can't get involved."

Yang Xiujiang's heart sank.

"Former boss..."

"Let me finish speaking."

What I can do is not to stop this case.

All I can do is keep myself from getting involved.

I have never been directly involved in what you have done.

So even if you bring it up, as long as there's no direct evidence, I can explain it clearly.

Yang Xiujiang didn't reply; she just held her phone, her hands trembling slightly.

Zeng Zhiyuan's voice softened slightly: "Xiujiang, you've been with me for so many years. All I can say is—make the necessary preparations as soon as possible."

The phone hangs up.

Yang Xiujiang slowly put down his phone, stared at the darkened screen, and sat in the chair for a long time.

Then he picked up his phone and redialed Gu Huaiyuan's number.

"Old Gu, the old boss said he can't get involved anymore."

Gu Huaiyuan didn't reply immediately; several seconds passed.

His voice came through: "He abandoned us."

Yang Xiujiang did not deny it.

Gu Huaiyuan then asked, "What are you planning to do?"

Yang Xiujiang remained silent for a long time: "I haven't decided yet."

Gu Huaiyuan didn't ask any more questions: "Then think about it carefully."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Huaiyuan put his phone on the table and looked down at the drawer in front of him.

There was a passport in the drawer.

The photo was taken more than two years ago, when his hair was darker than it is now.

He took out his passport, opened it, glanced at the photo, then closed it again and placed it on the corner of the table.

Then he opened the second drawer and took out a file bag from the very back.

The bag contained several documents about overseas bank accounts, as well as a piece of paper with a series of numbers written on it.

He pulled out the note, read it once, put it back, and resealed the document bag.

Then he picked up his phone and booked a plane ticket.

The flight was scheduled for seven days later, late at night, from the provincial capital to Australia.

After booking, he closed the ticket booking app and placed his phone face down on the table.

He sat for a few more minutes before standing up.

When I reached the door of the study.

He glanced back at the passport on the corner of the table, paused for a moment, then turned and walked out.

He walked into the living room and sat down on the sofa.

His wife was watering the flowers on the balcony, with her back to him.

He watched her retreating figure and suddenly called out her name.

"Xiushan..."

The wife turned around: "What's wrong?"

Gu Huaiyuan opened his mouth, the half-sentence lingering on his lips, before finally changing it to another sentence:

"It's nothing... I just wanted to call your name."

His wife glanced at him and smiled.

"What's wrong? You're acting a little strange today..."