Chapter Thirty-Three

By the end of September, the weather already carried a chill, and the wind stung cold against the skin. Sitting in the back of a taxi, Shen Huaiqing pulled her brown trench coat tighter around herself as she watched the cityscape gradually give way to sparser trees and noticeably fewer cars.

Yu Yunxi, seated in the passenger seat, turned around with concern in her eyes. “President Shen, please don’t worry. We’ll only know how far things have gone after we check for ourselves.”

Shen Huaiqing met her gaze with a strained smile. “I’m only thinking that if we can’t be of any help at the police station, how should our magazine rebuild its image? I don’t want our publication to bear any stain.”

Yu Yunxi nodded vigorously. She was practically one of the magazine’s founding members, her feelings for the place deep and abiding. She’d weathered all sorts of storms before, but this time was clearly different—this felt targeted.

Yet what Yu Yunxi couldn’t understand was that, with Shen Huaiqing as the legal representative, even competitors would have to consider the influence of the Shen and Fu families. Unless, of course, this matter originated from within their own ranks.

The more she thought about it, the more unnerved she became. Yu Yunxi had no desire to be drawn into the disputes of these powerful families.

“It’ll be alright. As long as we work together, we’ll get through this. Try not to worry too much,” Yu Yunxi reassured Shen Huaiqing before turning back to contemplate their approach at the police station.

In just over ten minutes, the taxi stopped before the blue-and-white striped station building.

Shen Huaiqing was the first to step out, striding quickly inside. She had barely entered the lobby when a buzz-cut officer in uniform stopped her.

“You must be President Shen?” the man inquired in a low voice.

Shen Huaiqing studied him. There was indeed a resemblance to Yu Yunxi in his features—a look of integrity and uprightness.

“You must be Yunxi’s cousin?”

Just then, Yu Yunxi hurried over and, standing at the man’s side, introduced them with a smile. “President Shen, this is my cousin, He An.” And to her cousin she added, “This is my boss, Shen Huaiqing.”

He An quickly extended his hand, his face breaking into a broad grin. “Hello, I’m He An. Let’s talk over here.”

Shen Huaiqing shook his hand. Already, several eyes in the lobby had turned their way—certainly not the best place for a conversation.

He An led them to a mediation room, closed the door, and in a low, steady voice asked, “President Shen, with your status, it shouldn’t be difficult to see someone. But this Mu Jinghuai seems to be a special case.”

“He’s just an ordinary university student—who would bother to go after him?” Shen Huaiqing probed, hoping to glean more information from He An.

He An seemed troubled, scratching his head and pacing restlessly, clearly torn.

Yu Yunxi pulled him aside, speaking earnestly. “Don’t worry, I trust President Shen’s character. No matter what happens, we won’t implicate you. Can’t you trust your own cousin on this?”

Shen Huaiqing shot Yu Yunxi a grateful look. She hadn’t needed to involve herself, yet she spoke up and did her utmost to help—a rare thing, indeed.

It was clear that He An and Yu Yunxi shared a close bond, for no sooner had she finished speaking than He An responded with solemnity. “Mu Jinghuai was brought in last night while I was on duty. Normally, this sort of case would warrant an interrogation room, and the victim would be summoned as well.”

He An sighed, worry clouding his eyes. “Just as I was about to follow them to the interrogation room, my mentor stopped me. He told me this wasn’t our affair and that I should pretend not to have seen anything.”

“Your mentor?” Shen Huaiqing pressed.

“Yes. He’s been a beat cop for thirty years, trained all the young officers like me, and always looked out for us. I trusted he wouldn’t lead me astray, so I didn’t ask further.”

“And after that? Any other clues?” Shen Huaiqing asked.

He An took a deep breath, lowering his voice. “Last night, I happened to catch a glimpse of Mu Jinghuai—he was covered in injuries. I tried to get closer, but a colleague stopped me.”

“This morning, when I went to the lounge to rest, I overheard the chief on the phone with someone—I’m not sure who, but it sounded like he was being chewed out. Not long after, Mu Jinghuai was taken into detention.”

Yu Yunxi spoke heavily, “There’s clearly something shady here. Mu Jinghuai must have been set up. And whoever’s behind this isn’t just anyone.”

He An nodded in emphatic agreement. “There aren’t many people in South City who could scold our chief—easily counted on one hand. But I can’t imagine what kind of trouble a university student with a spotless record could have gotten into.”

Yu Yunxi glanced at Shen Huaiqing, who had fallen silent. “President Shen? President Shen?”

Piecing together He An’s account with Fu Chen’s strange behavior that morning, Shen Huaiqing was almost certain Fu Chen was behind this. She just didn’t know the reason—why last night in particular?

Last night? Last night! Of course—she’d gotten drunk. Was Mu Jinghuai the first to find her? Did something happen between them that Fu Chen discovered?

Yu Yunxi’s voice jolted Shen Huaiqing from her tangled thoughts. Now, she had only one idea in mind: she had to see Mu Jinghuai.

“He An, is there any way you can get me in to see Mu Jinghuai?”

He An answered apologetically, “President Shen, as you can see, I’m just an ordinary officer—I have no access to this case. But…”

He hesitated, then continued, “I can take you to see the chief. With your status, you have the standing to negotiate with him.”

Shen Huaiqing agreed. He An led her up to the third floor, and with permission, they entered the chief’s office.

The chief was a corpulent man with a bare, sparsely-haired crown and a greasy, obsequious smile ever-present on his lips.

“Well, Madam Fu, what an honor! My humble office is instantly graced by your presence!” he exclaimed from behind his desk, feigning hospitality.

Shen Huaiqing had nothing but contempt for this type, but she was a master at playing her part. Glancing at the nameplate on the desk, she returned his smile. “Chief Zhou, you flatter me too much.”

Chief Zhou poured a cup of tea, still playing the genial host. “So, what brings Madam Fu to my office today?”

From the moment she entered, Shen Huaiqing had noticed that Chief Zhou was not at all surprised to see her, as if he had expected her to call.

“I think you already know why I’m here, Chief Zhou. There’s no need to beat around the bush,” she replied, disdainfully pushing the tea aside.

“Now, now,” Chief Zhou replied, more earnest this time, “I’m no fortune-teller. How could I possibly know why you’re here?”

Shen Huaiqing had no patience for further pretense. Leaning back in her chair with an air of languid authority, she said, “I want to see Mu Jinghuai.”