152: Chapter 152 Wang Hao Under Investigation

Zhang Shouren's face went completely pale, like a sheet of paper.

He slowly stood up, his legs trembling, almost falling over.

A young man in uniform walked over, held his arm, and escorted him out.

Zhang Shouren kept his head down, not daring to look at the employees in the office, not daring to meet the gazes fixed upon him.

He was led out of the office, through the corridor, and into the elevator.

The elevator doors closed, and his shadow disappeared behind them.

The office erupted into chaos.

"General Manager Zhang has been taken away! Something big has happened!"

"I told you he would get into trouble sooner or later. Who doesn't know about the things he's done over the years?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Watch your mouth."

"What's there to be afraid of? He's already gone in. This company probably won't last much longer."

"Better hurry up and find a new job. Don't wait until the company shuts down to start looking."

"Right, right. I have a friend at another company; I'll ask if they're hiring."

The employees gathered in small groups, some making phone calls.

Some were sending messages, and others had already started packing their things.

The young man in the white shirt stood by the window.

Watching the black official car drive out of the parking lot downstairs and merge into the traffic.

He sighed, took out his phone, and opened a job recruitment website.

"Let's go. Can't stay at this company anymore."

...

Meanwhile.

Yuntian City, Development and Reform Commission office building.

Deputy Director Wang Hao sat in his office, holding a document and flipping through it.

His brows were furrowed, the corners of his mouth turned down; he didn't look to be in a good mood.

After Wang Feng left last night, he lay alone in the hotel, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

He was thinking about the matter involving Zhang Mingde.

Bureau Chief Sun Tao wouldn't release the person, and there was nothing he could do about it.

He had been operating in Yuntian City for over a decade, with intricate connections, but Bureau Chief Sun Tao wasn't buying it.

He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip; the tea had already gone cold and tasted bitter.

He put the teacup down and rubbed his temples.

Just then, the door was pushed open.

Not gently pushed, but shoved open directly, without any warning.

Deputy Director Wang Hao looked up and saw several people walking in.

The person leading them was a man in his fifties.

Wearing a dark jacket, his hair combed neatly, with no expression on his face.

Behind him followed several people, some in uniform, some in plain clothes, all with very serious expressions.

Deputy Director Wang Hao's face changed.

He recognized the man in the lead—the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, surnamed Zhou.

"Secretary Zhou? Why are you here?"

Deputy Secretary Zhou looked at him, his eyes very cold.

"Deputy Director Wang Hao, you are suspected of serious disciplinary and legal violations. The Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Supervisory Commission, and the Procuratorate are handling the case jointly. Please come with us to assist in the investigation."

Deputy Director Wang Hao's mind went blank with a buzz.

He stood up abruptly, his chair toppling backward and hitting the floor with a bang.

"You must have made a mistake! I, Deputy Director Wang Hao, have worked at the Development and Reform Commission for over a decade, clean-handed, and have never taken a single penny I shouldn't have!"

His voice was loud, but it sounded exceptionally powerless in the empty office.

Deputy Secretary Zhou looked at him, pulled a piece of paper from a file bag, and held it up in front of him.

"This is a search warrant. This is a detention warrant."

He pulled out a few more sheets of paper, densely packed with text.

"This is your bank transaction history. Every cent you've received and every transfer you've made over the years is clearly documented."

Deputy Director Wang Hao's face turned white, his lips trembling, unable to say a single word.

His legs were shaking, his hands gripping the table until his knuckles turned white.

"You, you are slandering me..."

Deputy Secretary Zhou ignored him and waved to the people behind him.

"Take him away."

Two young men in uniform walked over, one on each side, and grabbed Deputy Director Wang Hao's arms.

Deputy Director Wang Hao struggled, but couldn't break free.

His face went from white to red, then from red to blue, gritting his teeth, his eyes wide open.

"You can't do this! I want to make a phone call! I want to find a lawyer!"

Deputy Secretary Zhou looked at him, his tone indifferent.

"You have the right to remain silent. But everything you say will be used as evidence in court."

Deputy Director Wang Hao was escorted out, his leather shoes making chaotic sounds on the floor.

The staff in the corridor saw this scene and stopped in their tracks, their faces full of shock.

"What happened to Director Wang?"

"Don't know. Seems like something happened."

"I heard people from the Commission for Discipline Inspection came..."

"Stop looking, stop looking, hurry back to work."

Several people retreated back into their offices and closed the doors, but their eyes still peeked out from behind the glass windows.

Deputy Director Wang Hao was taken into the elevator, and the doors closed.

His shadow disappeared behind the elevator doors.

The office quieted down; only the files on the desk rustled in the breeze.

The sunlight from outside the window shone in, falling on the floor and on that empty chair.

Deputy Director Wang Hao's teacup was still on the table, the tea cold, with fine water droplets condensed on the cup wall.

Dripping down, one by one.

...

The black X5M was parked beside a busy street.

Both sides of the street were filled with various trendy shops, their storefronts more flashy than the last—pink, blue, gold.

The neon signs were lit up even in the afternoon sun, dazzling enough to make one dizzy.

Wang Yang turned off the engine and turned to look at Luo Shiyun in the passenger seat.

She was wearing a black turtleneck sweater today, form-fitting, clinging tightly to her body.

Outlining her slender waist and the full curves of her chest.

The collar was high, covering most of her neck, but not all of it.

On the side of her neck were two or three faint red marks, as if sucked by something.

Pinkish, standing out starkly against her fair skin.

Below was a dark gray wool miniskirt, the hem reaching above her knees.

Revealing a section of her lower legs wrapped in black silk stockings, slender and straight.

On her feet was a pair of black over-the-knee boots; the heels weren't high, but they made her look even more upright.

Her hair was let down, large waves cascading over her shoulders, lazy and sexy.

She wore light makeup, her lips were rosy, and her eyes were watery.

She looked several years younger than usual.

Wang Yang's gaze shifted from her face to her neck.

He paused on those red marks, the corners of his mouth slowly curling into a smile.

Luo Shiyun noticed his gaze, blushed, and reached out to pull at her collar, trying to cover those marks.

"It's all your fault..."

Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of coyness and shyness.

Wang Yang laughed.

"My fault? Who told you to have such tender skin? It leaves a mark with just a light touch."

Luo Shiyun's face turned even redder; she pulled her collar higher, but it still couldn't cover everything.

She glared at him and pushed the car door open to get out.

Wang Yang followed behind her, locked the car, walked over, and put his arm around her waist.

Luo Shiyun's body trembled, but she didn't pull away, leaning against him.

The two walked side by side toward the restaurant entrance.

There was already a long line at the entrance, mostly young couples.

The women were dressed exquisitely, and the men held their phones, waiting to go inside and take pictures.

Wang Yang held Luo Shiyun as they walked in; as the door pushed open, the warmth mixed with a sweet, cloying fragrance rushed to meet them.

The lobby was crowded, with almost every table occupied; the lights were warm yellow, and the decor was in an 'Instagram style'.

Everywhere were flower walls and neon signs, perfect for taking photos.