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

The next day, at nine o'clock in the morning.

When Fang Mingyuan arrived in the provincial capital, the sky was overcast.

The clouds hung low, giving him a strong sense of oppression, much like his mood at that moment.

Finally, he stopped at a hotel near Guanlan Pavilion.

He thought about it for a long time, but in the end he didn't arrange to meet at Lao Nie's office or at "Guanlan Pavilion".

That club was too conspicuous. He chose an inconspicuous hotel, booked a room by the hour, and then sent a message to Lao Nie.

"I'm in the provincial capital. Beicheng Hotel, room 302. There are some things that need to be discussed in person. You don't have to come, but you should think carefully about what I have in my hands."

After sending the message, he put his phone on the table, sat on the edge of the bed, and waited.

He wasn't sure if Lao Nie would come.

When we met last time, Lao Nie made it clear – from today onwards, all my dealings with you end here.

But it's different now.

With Qian Cheng, Wang Lei, and Liu Jun arrested, Fang Zhiwen was also nearing his breaking point.

If Lao Nie doesn't come, he'll hand over the stuff, and we'll all be doomed.

If Lao Nie comes, there might still be room for maneuver.

After waiting for almost an hour, there was a knock on the door.

Fang Mingyuan stood up, walked to the door, and looked out through the peephole.

Old Nie stood in the corridor, wearing a dark gray jacket, his hair was a little messy, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes.

Fang Mingyuan opened the door.

The two looked at each other, but neither spoke first.

Old Nie walked in and sat down on the sofa. Fang Mingyuan closed the door and sat down opposite him.

Old Nie didn't exchange pleasantries, didn't ask "How have you been lately?", or "Is the traffic congested?"

He leaned back on the sofa, his hands clasped on his knees, looking at Fang Mingyuan with a gaze even colder than the last time at "Guanlan Pavilion".

"Fang Mingyuan, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Fang Mingyuan didn't beat around the bush.

"Qian Cheng has been arrested and confessed. Liu Jun and Wang Lei have also confessed. The case in Liuhe Town is about to be investigated."

Old Nie's expression didn't change, but Fang Mingyuan noticed that his fingers tightened slightly.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Old Nie," Fang Mingyuan's voice turned serious, "you're saying it has nothing to do with you?"

He took a brown paper envelope out of his bag and placed it on the table.

Old Nie stared at the envelope but didn't reach out to take it.

"What's inside?"

"The projects you've handled over the years—in Liuhe Town, the county, the provincial capital—every single one is recorded, and every single one is related to you."

Old Nie's expression changed.

"Fang Mingyuan, how dare you—"

"I'm not threatening you," Fang Mingyuan interrupted him. "I'm telling you, these things are in my hands. Not because I want to have leverage over you, but because everything we've done over the years is on record. You think you can just cut ties? Can you?"

Old Nie stared at him, his gaze as if he wanted to devour him.

"Fang Mingyuan, you've gone mad."

"I'm not crazy. You're the one who's crazy. You think hiding from me will make things go away? You think not answering the phone or replying to messages will stop He Ying from investigating? Old Nie, the audit team was sent from the province, not the county. The case in Liuhe Town has already alarmed the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. Do you think you can get away with it?"

Old Nie fell silent.

Fang Mingyuan knew he was weighing the options, calculating the costs, and weighing the consequences of the incident.

"Old Nie, I have things in your possession. You have things in mine. We're in the same boat. If something happens to me, you can't escape; if something happens to you, I can't escape either. Now is not the time to cut ties, it's the time to work together to find a solution."

Old Nie was silent for a moment, then looked up at him.

"What do you want to do?"

Fang Mingyuan said what he had been thinking about for a long time on the way.

"First, everything you have that is related to Liuhe Town must be destroyed."

Second, use all your connections in the provincial capital—can you delay things with the audit team? Can you put in a good word with the Discipline Inspection Commission?

Third, if something really happens to us—”

He paused for a moment.

"If something really happens to us, no one can say anything. You can deny everything about Liuhe Town, and I can deny having any financial dealings with you. We'll explain everything we can about those accounts, and take responsibility for the rest. But neither of us can drag the other into this."

Old Nie stared at Fang Mingyuan for a few seconds.

He was wondering if he had any other options.

"Fang Mingyuan, do you know what you're saying?"

"I know. A defensive alliance."

Old Nie stood up, walked to the window, and stood there for a long time with his back to Fang Mingyuan.

Fang Mingyuan watched his retreating figure.

This man, who had spent twenty years in the provincial capital, now had slightly slumped shoulders, his former high spirits gone.

It's not that we've given in; it's that we've settled the score.

"You absolutely must not hand over those things you have."

"I haven't handed it over. It's still in my possession."

"He Ying doesn't know?"

"have no idea."

Old Nie turned around and looked at him.

"Fang Mingyuan, let me make this clear. I'm not helping you; I'm helping myself."

"I know."

"Destroy what you have. From today onwards, all contact between us ends here—not a complete severance, but an absolute cessation of all ties. No more phone calls, no more messages, and no more meetings."

"What if something goes wrong?"

Old Nie was silent for a moment.

"If something happens, don't bite anyone indiscriminately. If you bite me and I bite you, we'll both die. If you don't bite me and I don't bite you, there might be a chance to survive."

Fang Mingyuan stood up, walked to Lao Nie, and extended his hand.

"Old Nie, it's a pleasure doing business with you."

Old Nie looked at his hand but didn't shake it.

"Fang Mingyuan, this isn't cooperation. This is our last chance to survive."

Fang Mingyuan's hand hung in mid-air, unsure whether to retract it or not.

Old Nie glanced at him, then turned and left.

The moment the door closed, Fang Mingyuan slowly withdrew his hand, stood still, and stared at the closed door.

Old Nie is right, it's not about cooperation, it's about survival.

After he left, Fang Mingyuan sat alone in the room for a long time.

Old Nie agreed.

It wasn't because he wanted to help, but because he had no choice but to.

Old Nie won't be able to escape what Fang Mingyuan has.

If Lao Nie gets into trouble, the people behind him won't be able to escape either.

This is a defensive alliance.

It wasn't trust, it wasn't friendship, it was fear.

Everyone is afraid—afraid of getting into trouble, afraid of being falsely accused, afraid that their past misdeeds will be dug up one by one.

Fang Mingyuan stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the sky over the provincial capital was hazy, with low-hanging clouds.

He was thinking about what to do after he went back.

Fang Zhiwen is still holding on, but how long can he hold on?

Qian Cheng has already confessed, as have Liu Jun and Wang Lei. Zhou Min is hiding somewhere.

Fang Zhiwen is the last bastion of strength in Liuhe Town. If he falls, He Ying's next target will be herself.

Fang Mingyuan picked up his phone and sent a message to Fang Zhiwen.

"Everything's arranged in the provincial capital. You stay calm and don't panic. I'll figure something out for the Discipline Inspection Commission once the audit team leaves."

After sending the message, he looked at it and felt that he couldn't even convince himself.

The audit team is gone, but the disciplinary committee is still there;

If the Discipline Inspection Commission can handle it, there's still the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission.

This is not a wall, but a dam, full of cracks. If you plug one, water will seep out from another.

Fang Mingyuan put his phone in his pocket, picked up the envelope on the table, stuffed it into his bag, and left the room.

The corridor was quiet; the carpet made no sound when you stepped on it.

He walked to the elevator, pressed the down button, and the elevator doors opened, revealing an empty room.

He went inside, the door closed, and the elevator slowly descended.

He watched the floor numbers jump one by one, from 3 to 2, from 2 to 1.

The elevator doors opened, and in the lobby, some people were checking in, some were waiting for their cars, and some were dragging their suitcases out.

Fang Mingyuan walked through the lobby, out of the hotel entrance, took a deep breath, and headed towards the parking lot.

At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind—to go back, calm Fang Zhiwen down, wait for the audit team to leave, and then wait for news from the Discipline Inspection Commission.

If everything goes well, maybe we can pull through.

If things don't go smoothly—

He dared not think any further...