85: Chapter 85 Zhou Xiong: Why do I seem a little flustered?

Now, Bureau Chief Sun Tao was telling him that Secretary General Cao Yun's man had been detained at his Public Security Station?

Station Chief Wu Neng stood up abruptly, his chair nearly toppling over.

He picked up his phone, his fingers trembling.

He pulled up Deputy Director Zhou Xiong's number, but just as he was about to dial, his fingers suddenly froze.

He slowly sat back down, staring at the phone screen, his expression becoming complicated.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong.

The name circled over and over in his mind.

Over the years, Deputy Director Zhou Xiong had become increasingly arrogant at the Public Security Station.

Relying on his decent professional competence, he had also latched onto the connection with Zhang Mingde's father.

He was constantly working against him, the Station Chief.

For several cases at the station, Deputy Director Zhou Xiong had bypassed him and reported directly upward, and his superiors had even praised him for his capable handling.

During meetings, he would contradict him, making him lose face in front of the entire station staff.

Several times, he had heard people below him whispering privately that Station Chief Wu's position probably wouldn't be his for much longer.

Station Chief Wu Neng gripped his phone tightly, his knuckles turning white.

If Deputy Director Zhou Xiong succeeded with Zhang Mingde's matter this time, his position at the station would be even more secure.

If that happened, how could he continue to serve as Station Chief?

But if he let him fail this time...

Station Chief Wu Neng's eyes slowly brightened.

He put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and took a deep breath. He had a plan in mind.

He had to make the call and mention the matter, but he couldn't emphasize the severity too much.

He couldn't let Deputy Director Zhou Xiong know that it was Secretary-General Cao standing behind Wang Yang.

Let him go and charge in, bump into walls, and get battered and bruised.

When that time came, the trouble that Deputy Director Zhou Xiong had caused himself would be something no one could save him from.

Station Chief Wu Neng's lips slowly curled into a smile.

He picked up his phone again and dialed Deputy Director Zhou Xiong's number.

...

In the interrogation room, Deputy Director Zhou Xiong's phone rang again.

He glanced at the caller ID—Station Chief Wu Neng. He frowned and answered.

"Station Chief Wu, what is it again?"

On the other end of the line, Station Chief Wu Neng's voice sounded urgent, yet carried an indescribable nuance.

"Deputy Director Zhou Xiong, handle that matter with Wang Yang quickly. I just received a call; someone from above has inquired about it. Mind your limits and don't make too much of a scene."

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong paused for a moment.

"Above? Who?"

Station Chief Wu Neng said vaguely.

"Don't worry about who it is. Just keep it in mind."

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong sneered.

"Station Chief Wu, what kind of talk is that? Who exactly is it? You should be clear."

Station Chief Wu Neng paused, his tone becoming meaningful.

"I'm just giving you a heads-up. Handle it as you see fit, and don't bring trouble upon yourself."

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong said impatiently.

"Alright, alright, I know. I have my limits."

He hung up the phone and tossed it onto the table.

Wang Yang sat opposite him, watching him.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong sneered.

"Wang Yang, do you think you can scare me by bringing up Station Chief Wu Neng? Let me tell you, your case has solid evidence. Even if Station Chief Wu Neng comes, he won't be able to save you."

Wang Yang leaned back in his chair, a smile on his lips, and said nothing.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong was so irritated by his indifferent attitude that he gritted his teeth.

"Do you really think you can turn this around? Let me tell you, I've been in this line of work for twenty years; what kind of people haven't I seen? I've seen plenty of your kind."

"Thinking you can do whatever you want just because you have a few connections? Let me tell you, that doesn't work with me."

Wang Yang nodded.

"Deputy Director Zhou Xiong is right. It really doesn't work with you."

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong paused, unable to tell if this was a compliment or an insult.

Wang Yang continued.

"Then let's just wait and see. Let's see whether your twenty years of experience is more effective, or my 'Uncle Cao' is more effective."

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong's face darkened.

"Fine. I'd like to see what kind of big shot you can invite over."

He sat back down, crossed his legs, and stared at Wang Yang.

The interrogation room fell silent again.

Wang Yang leaned against the back of the chair, his face expressionless, as calm as if he were waiting for someone in his own living room.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong stared at Wang Yang for a long time before finally unable to help himself, he spoke.

"Aren't you afraid?"

Wang Yang raised his eyes to look at him.

"Afraid of what?"

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong gritted his teeth.

"Once they enter a place like this, most people would have panicked long ago. What gives you the right to be so calm?"

Wang Yang leaned against the back of the chair, a faint smile on his lips.

"I didn't do anything wrong. If I didn't do anything wrong, why should I be afraid?"

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong sneered.

"Nothing wrong? You beat someone to that state, and you call that doing nothing wrong?"

Wang Yang looked at him, his eyes as calm as a pool of water.

"The person I hit was someone trying to assault my girlfriend. This is called self-defense. If you think I did something wrong, then I can only say that you, as Deputy Director, don't understand your job very well."

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong's face flushed red.

"You—"

Wang Yang didn't give him a chance to speak.

"Deputy Director Zhou Xiong, you just said you've been in this line of work for twenty years and have seen all kinds of people. Have you seen one now?"

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong was choked speechless, his face turning from green to white.

He sat back down, staring fixedly at Wang Yang.

"Fine, you're stubborn. I'd like to see how long you can hold out."

Wang Yang ignored him and continued to lean against the back of the chair, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees as if counting the time.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong watched his carefree demeanor, feeling increasingly uneasy.

...

At the entrance of the Public Security Station, a black sedan screeched to a halt.

Station Chief Wu Neng pushed the car door open and walked in with long strides. He was wearing a dark jacket, his hair was a bit messy, and his face showed anxiety.

The whole way there, he had been calculating how to handle this matter well—so as not to be blamed by superiors, yet also to make Deputy Director Zhou Xiong stumble.

The officer on duty saw him and quickly stood up.

"Station Chief Wu."

Station Chief Wu Neng nodded, his tone urgent.

"What's the situation at the station right now? Has anyone come?"

The officer shook his head.

"No. It's just that the Deputy Director caught someone and is currently interrogating them."

Station Chief Wu Neng's heart stirred, and a flash of shrewdness crossed his eyes.

"Caught someone? What's his name?"

The officer thought for a moment.

"Seems to be Wang Yang."

Station Chief Wu Neng took a deep breath and walked quickly toward the interrogation room. Upon reaching the door, he stopped, adjusted his collar, and pushed the door open.

Inside the interrogation room, Deputy Director Zhou Xiong was sitting behind the table, his face gloomy.

Wang Yang sat on a chair, legs crossed, his posture casual, with a faint smile still on his face.

Station Chief Wu Neng's gaze fell on Wang Yang, and he nodded inwardly.

This young man truly had an extraordinary demeanor. Sitting in a place like this, he was neither anxious nor impatient, still smiling, his eyes clear and calm.

If it were an ordinary person, they would have been scared weak at the knees long ago. Indeed, anyone who could have a connection with Secretary-General Cao was not simple.

Station Chief Wu Neng walked over and glanced at Deputy Director Zhou Xiong.

"Deputy Director Zhou Xiong, what is going on here?"

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong frowned.

"Station Chief Wu, this person was involved in a fight, causing minor injuries, and I am currently interrogating him."

Station Chief Wu Neng looked at Deputy Director Zhou Xiong, his tone becoming serious.

"What are you interrogating? Is there solid evidence? Is the procedure compliant? You're just detaining him like this?"

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong paused, not expecting Station Chief Wu Neng to ask him this.

"Station Chief Wu, the injury reports are all here, and three people have identified him—"

"Three people identified him?" Station Chief Wu Neng interrupted him.

"Who are those three people? Do they have criminal records? Can their words be used as evidence?"

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong's face changed.