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

Chen Yuanda sat in his office, thinking for a moment.

Then I dialed the number of the coordination office of the special case team of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

"I need your assistance in investigating the situation in Beijing. Specifically, there are two matters."

"First, we need to confirm whether the actual controller of Huarong Investment has any direct financial dealings with the provincial capital."

The testimonies from the provincial capital have already pointed to that company, but direct confirmation from the bank is still lacking.

"Secondly, the transaction records of Hongye Investment's account in the provincial capital have been retrieved, but the whereabouts of a sum of money transferred to Beijing have not yet been determined."

We need assistance from the capital to investigate.

Without hesitation, the person on the other end of the phone replied, "Received. I will coordinate with the relevant departments to handle it."

"Approximately how long will it take?"

"At the fastest, it will take two to three days."

"As soon as possible."

Chen Yuanda hung up the phone and opened Bai Jiangfei's confession.

I read Bai Jiangfei's statement again: "I saw Huarong Investment documents in Yang Xiujiang's study."

Then I picked up a pen and wrote a line of small print next to it—

"A request for assistance has been made, pending confirmation."

……

Meanwhile, in the provincial capital.

Lin Chen arranged to meet his friend, who worked in construction engineering, at a teahouse in the city center.

My friend's surname is Zheng, his name is Zheng Haitao, he is in his early forties, and he has been working in the construction industry in the provincial capital for more than ten years.

The two have known each other for quite some time.

Lin Chen had asked him for help several times before regarding project payments.

Lin Chen poured him a cup of tea: "Brother Zheng, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Zheng Haitao picked up his teacup and took a sip:

"you say."

"You've been doing construction projects in the provincial capital for so many years, have you ever heard of a Beijing company called Huarong Investment?"

They seem to have been involved in a real estate project here.

Zheng Haitao thought for a moment: "Huarong Investment... I've never directly cooperated with them, but I've heard of the name."

About two or three years ago, there was a real estate project in the provincial capital. The developer was from Beijing, and this company was on the list of partners at the time.

"What's the name of that project?"

"New City International. It's located in the eastern part of the city, but construction was halted due to funding issues and hasn't resumed yet."

Lin Chen picked up his phone and wrote down the three words "New City International" in the notes app.

"Can you find the payment records for this project?"

Zheng Haitao looked at him and asked, "What do you need this for?"

Lin Chen smiled and said, "I'm helping a friend with something."

Zheng Haitao was silent for a moment: "I know someone who was a subcontractor on the project at the time, and he should have some payment receipts."

But he's not in the provincial capital anymore; he's gone to another city.

I'll contact him for you and see if he's willing to dig out those materials.

"Thanks, Brother Zheng."

Zheng Haitao quickly stopped him: "Don't thank me yet. I can't guarantee anything. They might not be willing. After all, the payment records for those kinds of projects aren't always clean."

Lin Chen nodded and didn't urge him any further.

Zheng Haitao took a few more sips of tea, then stood up and said:

I'll contact you if I get any news.

After he left, Lin Chen sat in the teahouse without leaving immediately.

He took out his phone and sent the four characters "New City International" to Chen Dapeng, along with a line of text:

"Two years ago, Huarong Investment participated in a real estate project called 'New City International' in the provincial capital, but construction was later halted."

My friend is trying to contact the subcontractors from that project to see if he can get payment records.

When Chen Dapeng received the message, he was organizing Bai Jiangfei's confession.

He put down the file, typed "New City International" into the computer search box, and only a few results appeared.

Several news articles from a few years ago, and a forum post, said that the project had been suspended for two years due to a broken funding chain.

He took a screenshot of the news page and saved it in the folder related to Bai Jiangfei's case.

Then reply to Lin Chen:

"Okay. Let me know when you hear anything."

……

That afternoon, Lao Zhou called back.

"Dapeng, there's been progress in the capital."

Only two people work at the registered address of Huarong Investment, and the legal representative, Liu Shijie, rarely goes there.

Furthermore, Huarong Investment's financial agency is linked to "Hongxin," which was previously investigated.

Chen Dapeng held his phone:

"Hongxin? The Hongxin Consulting firm involved in Nie Jianguo's case?"

"Yes. The names are not exactly the same, but they use the same agency."

Chen Dapeng paused for a moment: "Can we follow this lead?"

"I've already asked my old colleagues to follow up. If Hongye Investment's funds flow into Huarong Investment, and then through Huarong Investment into other channels, then this chain can be connected."

Chen Dapeng paused for a moment, then said, "Master Zhou, thank you for your hard work. I'll organize the materials and submit them to Director Hu."

"Okay. I'll let you know if there's any further news from the capital."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Dapeng compiled the information provided by Master Zhou into a brief report and delivered it to Hu Yuheng's office.

After reading it, Hu Yuheng picked up the landline on the table and dialed Chen Yuanda's number.

"Director Chen, there's been progress in Beijing."

Huarong Investment's financial agency overlaps with the "Hongxin" business in the provincial capital.

Old Zhou is tracking the flow of funds in Beijing.

Chen Yuanda pondered for a moment: "The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection has already investigated part of the Hongxin line before."

If two lines of communication intersect at the same financial agency, it's no coincidence.

Hu Yuheng asked, "Should we take action against Yang Xiujiang now?"

Chen Yuanda paused for a moment.

"It's not the right time yet. Let's wait two more days until the flow of funds in Beijing is confirmed."

Hu Yuheng understood what he meant:

"it is good."

She hung up the phone and turned to look at Chen Dapeng:

"Tell me as soon as there are any results from the capital."

Chen Dapeng nodded: "Understood."

……

After returning to the task force office.

Chen Dapeng recorded the progress of Zhou Shifu and Lin Chen's two lines in his notebook.

Master Zhou started with a business registration agency.

Lin Chen started with real estate projects.

Both paths are moving in the same direction.

He closed his laptop and sent He Ying a message:

"Sister Ying, they are investigating two lines of investigation in Beijing."

Master Zhou discovered that Huarong Investment's financial agency was connected with "Hongxin" in the provincial capital;

Lin Chen found that Hua Rong Investment had participated in a real estate project called "New City International" in the provincial capital two years ago.

Once the flow of funds is confirmed, we should be able to close the net.

He Ying replied, "Okay. You're making great progress."

Chen Dapeng looked at the screen and typed a line:

"Sister Ying, after the case is over, I want to spend a few days with you."

After about ten seconds, He Ying replied, "Okay."

Chen Dapeng's lips unconsciously curled upwards as he thought to himself:

"Sister Ying said last time that she would take me to meet her parents after I was discharged from the hospital."

The secondment was delayed and the payment hasn't been made yet.

I wonder what it was like when he met his father?

Will he object to me being with Sister Ying?

After all, there's a huge gap between us...