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

The day after Chen Dapeng received Lin Chen's warning.

Chen Yang was working on a report in his office when his phone rang. It was a call from the director's office.

"Chen Yang, come here for a moment."

She was taken aback. The director rarely called her directly; he usually had his secretary notify her.

She hung up the phone, picked up her notebook, and walked out of the office.

The corridor wasn't long; it was less than fifty meters from her office to the director's office.

She went over and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

She pushed open the door and went in. The director was sitting behind his desk, with several documents spread out in front of him. He was wearing reading glasses and looking at something.

The director's surname is Fang, he is fifty-six years old, and has worked in state-owned enterprises for most of his life, climbing up step by step from the grassroots level. He is a veteran of the organization.

He is meticulous in his words and deeds, and those who deal with him say he is "smooth and tactful".

"Director Fang, you wanted to see me?"

"sit."

Director Fang took off his reading glasses and pointed to the chair opposite him.

Chen Yang sat down opposite him, placed his notebook on the table, and waited for him to speak.

Director Fang didn't speak immediately. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and then picked up the documents on the table and flipped through them—his movements were slow, as if he wasn't in a hurry, or as if he was considering how to start the conversation.

Chen Yang had known him for several years and knew about this habit of his.

The more important something is, the less he's in a hurry to talk about it.

"Chen Yang, your younger brother works in Qingshun County, right?"

Director Fang finally spoke, his tone casual, as if he were chatting about everyday things.

Chen Yang's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged.

"Yes, at the Qingshun County Government Office."

"What department?"

"Information Technology Department".

Director Fang nodded and took another sip of tea.

"Young man, work hard, you have a bright future. Tell your brother that there are some things you shouldn't meddle in."

Chen Yang's fingers tightened slightly.

When Director Fang said this, his tone was very soft, as if he were giving instructions to a junior.

But Chen Yang sensed the weight behind those words—

"Don't meddle in things that aren't your business."

It's not about "taking care of your health" or "working hard," it's about "not meddling in things that aren't your business."

What is Director Fang saying?

He was saying that Chen Dapeng had interfered in things he shouldn't have in Qingshun County.

How did he know?

Who made him say that?

"Director Fang, I don't quite understand what you mean." Chen Yang's voice was calm. "My younger brother works in Qingshun County. He has always been very conscientious and I haven't heard of him meddling in anything he shouldn't be meddling in."

Director Fang glanced at her, his lips twitched slightly, as if he were smiling, but not quite.

"Chen Yang, I've always admired you for all these years at the company. You're hardworking and capable, and I won't hold back when it's time to remind you."

He paused for a moment.

"I don't know much about your brother's situation either. But someone told me to pass on a message to you. Don't overthink it, it's just a reminder. Young people can get carried away sometimes and don't know their limits. As his older sister, you should give him a few more words of advice."

Chen Yang nodded without saying anything.

Who is the "someone" that Director Fang mentioned?

Is it a leader within the company, or someone from outside?

When he said, "Let me pass on a message to you," it meant that it wasn't his own intention, but rather that he was relaying a message for someone else.

Who could get a senior executive of a state-owned enterprise to relay their message?

"Director Fang, I understand. Thank you for reminding me."

Director Fang glanced at her again, his gaze holding something indescribable—a mixture of confirmation and sympathy.

"Alright, you can go ahead and get busy."

Chen Yang stood up, picked up his notebook, turned around and walked out.

Back in her office, she closed the door, leaned against it, and closed her eyes for a while.

Director Fang spoke with her about a personal matter, not a work-related one.

He was relaying a message, asking her to tell Chen Dapeng—"Don't meddle in things that aren't your business."

Chen Yang opened his eyes, walked behind his desk, sat down, and picked up his phone.

She scrolled to Chen Dapeng's number, hovered her finger above the screen, hesitated for a moment, and then pressed the dial button.

The phone rang twice and was answered.

"sister?"

Chen Dapeng's voice came from the other end of the phone, tinged with surprise.

Chen Yang rarely calls him during work hours.

"Dapeng, my boss talked to me today."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"What are you talking about?"

"To put it bluntly," Chen Yang said in a low voice, "let me tell you, 'Don't meddle in things that aren't your business.'"

Chen Dapeng remained silent for a moment.

"Sis, someone is investigating us."

"I know." Chen Yang tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Director Fang said 'someone asked him to pass on a message.' It wasn't his own idea; he was relaying a message for someone else."

There was another moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Sister, be careful lately. Don't mention anything about Liuhe Town to anyone, and don't help us investigate things in the provincial capital anymore."

"Has something happened to you?"

Chen Dapeng hesitated for a moment, then briefly recounted how Lin Chen had been inquired about.

He spoke quickly, omitting some parts, but Chen Yang understood—

Someone is investigating everyone connected to this case. Lin Chen has been found, and so has she.

Those people had a much larger network of connections in the provincial capital than they had anticipated.

"Dapeng, what are you going to do?"

"I'm fine. You're in more danger in the provincial capital than I am in Qingshun County. If those people can find your unit's leaders, they can find you too."

"I'm not afraid."

"sister."

Chen Dapeng's voice sounded somewhat hoarse.

"Listen to me. No matter what happens, don't get involved. You've done what you can; leave the rest to me and County Chief He."

"Great Roc—"

"Sister, promise me."

Chen Yang remained silent for a long time on the other end of the phone.

"Okay. I promise you."

"Also, tell your brother-in-law to be careful too. If they can find you, they can find him too."

"understood."

Chen Yang hung up the phone and placed it on the table.

She stared out the window, her mind replaying Director Fang's words—

"Don't meddle in things that aren't your business."

Whom is he relaying a message for?

Who has such great power?

Who exactly are those people?

At that moment, she realized that the case Da Peng was investigating in Qingshun County was no longer just a matter for the county.

She picked up her phone and dialed He Ying's number.

It rang twice, then the call was connected.

"Yingying, it's me."

"Chen Yang?" He Ying's voice carried a hint of surprise. "Why are you calling at this hour?"

"My boss talked to me today. He indirectly told Dapeng that he should 'not meddle in things that aren't his business'."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Who told him to say that?"

"I don't know. He only said 'someone asked him to pass on a message.' Yingying, are those people already targeting us?"

He Ying remained silent for a moment.

"Chen Yang, listen to me."

"Um."

"Starting today, don't contact me anymore. And don't talk to Dapeng about this case over the phone. If there's any news, I'll have Su Wanqing or someone else relay it to you."

"Yingying—"

"Let me finish."

He Ying's voice turned somber.

"The fact that those people could reach your unit's leaders shows that their influence extends further than we thought. You can't get involved anymore."

Chen Yang held his phone, his knuckles turning slightly white.

"And what about the Roc?"

"Dapeng is in Qingshun County, I'll take care of him. Don't worry."

Chen Yang remained silent for a long time.

"Alright. I'll leave Dapeng to you."

"Chen Yang".

"Um?"

"Thank you."

Chen Yang's nose felt a little sore.

"Don't thank me. Thank my brother. He's the one who's risking his life."