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

Qingshun County, government.

He Ying was reviewing a project progress report in her office.

Her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, put down her pen, and answered it.

"Grandpa?"

Grandpa Shen's voice came from the other end of the phone; he seemed more energetic than when he was in the hospital a few days ago.

"Yingying, I've thought of someone who might be able to help."

He Ying sat up straighter: "Who is it?"

"When Sun Desheng was working in the provincial capital, he had a secretary who had been with him for many years. His surname was Gu, and his full name was Gu Xinming."

Later, when Sun Desheng was transferred to Beijing, he did not go with him and applied for retirement after 30 years of service.

Old Master Shen paused for a moment: "He's a man of few words, but he has a good memory. He should know something about the provincial capital project back then."

He Ying held her phone without answering immediately, running the name through her mind—Gu Xinming.

She hadn't heard of him, but since her grandfather had specifically called to mention him, it meant that this person was indeed someone important.

"Grandpa, are you familiar with him?"

"We're not exactly close, but we've crossed paths a few times. He's spent most of his life in the provincial capital and knows a lot of people, but he doesn't really like socializing. If you want to find him, it's best to find someone who can strike up a conversation with him; he might not answer if you call him directly."

He Ying thought for a moment and said, "I understand. I'll ask Mr. Zhong for help."

Grandpa Shen replied on the other end of the phone, "Okay. Let me know if there's any news."

After hanging up the phone, He Ying didn't delay and immediately dialed Zhong Hua's number.

The phone rang twice before being answered.

She briefly explained the situation:

"Mr. Zhong, my maternal grandfather mentioned a person named Gu Xinming, who used to be Sun Desheng's secretary and lived in the provincial capital after retirement."

My maternal grandfather said he should know something about the provincial capital project back then.

But he's not easy to approach; you need someone to introduce you.

Chung Hua was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the phone before speaking:

"Gu Xinming... I vaguely remember this name."

He worked in the provincial capital for many years before retiring, and he did indeed work with Sun Desheng for a long time.

I'll ask around and see if there's anyone who can put in a conversation with you.

He Ying replied, "Okay. Thank you for your help."

After hanging up the phone, she sat in the chair for a while, tapping her fingertips lightly on the table twice.

She didn't wait long, about an hour later.

Chung-hua called back.

"We've made contact."

Gu Xinming lives in the old city of the provincial capital and rarely goes out after retiring.

I asked a former colleague from the Provincial Party Committee Office to pass on a message, saying that your maternal grandfather, Shen Zhengqing, wanted to find someone to learn about some things.

After listening, he didn't refuse outright, but said they could meet and discuss it.

He Ying gripped her phone tightly:

"He agreed to meet?"

"His exact words were 'we can meet,' without specifying a time, but his willingness to talk is a good thing."

Chung Hua paused for a moment:

"Xiao He, do you want to go yourself or arrange for someone to go?"

He Ying thought for a moment and said, "I'll call him first, arrange a time, and then we'll see how things go."

"Okay, I'll send you his number."

After He Ying hung up the phone, her phone vibrated a few seconds later, and she received a new message from a phone number.

She pressed the call button directly.

The phone rang several times before it was answered.

"Who is it?"

He Ying began, "Hello Uncle Gu, I'm He Ying. Shen Zhengqing is my maternal grandfather. He asked me to contact you to inquire about the provincial capital project from back then. I wonder if it would be convenient for you to meet with me?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, as if the caller was weighing the weight of the call and confirming whether the other party was trustworthy.

After a while, Gu Xinming spoke, his voice lower than before:

"Shen Zhengqing...did he mention my name on the phone?"

"Yes, Grandpa said you came into contact with some situations when you were working on a project in the provincial capital."

He knows you have a good memory and don't speak carelessly, but he thinks you're a reliable person.

He Ying spoke calmly and unhurriedly, neither urging him nor trying to close the distance; she simply stated the facts as if presenting a statement.

Gu Xinming remained silent for a few seconds on the other end of the phone.

Then he spoke:

"I'll be home tomorrow afternoon. Just knock on the door when you arrive."

"Okay, I'll go tomorrow afternoon."

After hanging up the phone, she put down her phone, picked up a pen, and drew a circle on the calendar.

……

The next afternoon, He Ying arrived in the provincial capital.

She found an old residential building by following the address.

She went up to the third floor and knocked on the door on the left.

The door opened a crack, and an elderly man with gray hair peeked at her through the crack before opening the door to let her in.

He was wearing a gray sweater, was rather thin, but sat up straight, and his voice was deeper than it had been on the phone.

"Come in and sit down."

He Ying changed her shoes and walked into the living room.

The living room was small and simply furnished, with a wooden sofa, a coffee table, and a calligraphy scroll hanging on the wall; there was nothing else.

He Ying sat down on the sofa, and Gu Xinming sat down opposite her, poured her a cup of tea, and then picked up his own cup, but didn't drink it, just held it in his hand.

He Ying got straight to the point: "Uncle Gu, my grandfather said that you came into contact with some situations during your time on the provincial capital project. I would like to ask you to recall the specific details of what happened back then."

Gu Xinming held his teacup but did not immediately respond.

He looked at He Ying, as if making a final judgment.

He didn't ask, "How is your grandfather's health?"

They didn't ask, "Which company do you work for now?"

He remained silent for a while before speaking:

"When your maternal grandfather was present, I was standing next to Sun Desheng."

Gu Xinming picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then put it down, seemingly weighing something.

"I know some of what happened back then."

But what I'm saying is just what I heard; there's no written record of it.

If you need, I can list the time, place, and people present, but this cannot be used as official evidence, only as a reference.

He Ying nodded: "That's enough. Someone may contact you again if further verification is needed."

Gu Xinming didn't say much, only remarking:

"OK."

Then, he slowly recalled some of the events from that year…

He Ying listened and wrote down a few sentences.

At the same time, she was also trying to figure out whether what Gu Xinming said was different from what she knew.

About half an hour later.

He Ying stood up, thanked her, and turned to leave.

She went downstairs to the roadside, got into the car, and instead of starting the engine, she took out her phone and dialed Chen Dapeng's number.

The phone rang once and was answered.

"Sister Ying?"

"Gu Xinming has agreed to meet."

I just came from his house. What he said matches my grandfather's letter, and he also mentioned that Sun Desheng was present.

He added that he could provide a list of times, locations, and people for reference if needed.

There was a moment or two of silence on the other end of the phone, then Chen Dapeng's voice carried a hint of surprise:

"He said he was willing to provide it?"

"Yes, he said it could be listed. It can't be used as formal evidence, but it can serve as a reference for verifying directions."

Chen Dapeng seemed to have flipped through something:

"Director Hu is arranging for someone to follow up and make contact. I'll tell her right away. She should be able to arrange for someone to connect as soon as possible."

He Ying replied, "Okay."

After the call ended.

She sat in the car for a while.

She recalled Gu Xinming's calm tone when he said "it cannot be used as formal evidence," as if he had long ago figured out his position.

He knew what he was doing.

They also knew what the consequences would be if they said those words.

But he still spoke up.

He Ying put her phone back on the passenger seat, started the engine, and drove off the street.

……

Meanwhile, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection's special investigation team office.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Dapeng stood up, walked to Hu Yuheng's office door, knocked, and pushed the door open after hearing "Come in."

He stood in front of the table and repeated what He Ying had just said—

Gu Xinming agreed to meet.

He is willing to provide a list of times, locations, and people for reference.

Hu Yuheng didn't immediately respond after hearing this; instead, he asked a question first:

Did he mention any conditions?

"No. He only said it couldn't be used as formal evidence, only as a reference."

Hu Yuheng nodded:

"Then arrange for someone to connect as soon as possible. At this point, the sooner we secure the testimony, the fewer variables we can introduce."

She glanced at Chen Dapeng after she finished speaking.

"Is there anything else you'd like to add?"

Chen Dapeng thought for a moment:

"Gu Xinming was Sun Desheng's secretary back then, and he saw things in more detail than Zhou Dahai did on site."

If we could obtain the list he provided, Sun Desheng's level of involvement in the provincial capital project would likely become clearer.

Hu Yuheng didn't ask any further questions, only saying:

"Okay, we'll arrange it as soon as possible. You can go back now, and we'll discuss it again once the coordination results are available."

Chen Dapeng nodded, turned around and walked out of the office.

He slowed down in the corridor, took out his phone, and sent a message to He Ying:

"Sister Ying, Director Hu said to arrange for someone to coordinate as soon as possible. Thank you for your hard work."

He Ying's reply came quickly.

"Why are you still saying such polite things to me?"

Chen Dapeng smiled.

"Sister Ying, are you in a hurry to go back to Qingshun County?"

I'll go back tomorrow morning.

Chen Dapeng was overjoyed; they could meet again.

"Sister Ying, wait for me to get off work, let's have dinner together."

He Ying replied with a single word: "Okay."