87: Chapter 87 People You Can't Afford to Offend

Secretary General Cao Yun nodded without speaking.

His gaze shifted away from Bureau Chief Sun Tao and landed on Deputy Director Zhou Xiong.

The interrogation room was so quiet that the ticking of the clock on the wall could be heard.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong stood there with his back pressed tight against the wall, as if he wanted to embed himself into it.

His lips were trembling, his hands were trembling, and his legs were trembling; he was shaking like a sieve.

Secretary General Cao Yun looked at him, his voice calm, as if he were asking about the weather today.

"Are you Deputy Director Zhou Xiong?"

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong opened his mouth, his throat feeling as if it had been grabbed, and he managed to squeeze out two words with great difficulty.

"Y-yes..."

Secretary General Cao Yun nodded.

"I heard you were the one who arrested him?"

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong's legs finally gave out, and he slid down the wall, collapsing onto the floor.

His face was deathly pale, and sweat from his forehead streamed down his cheeks, dripping onto the floor.

"Secretary-General Cao... I was wrong. I was truly wrong... I didn't know he was your man. It was Zhang Mingde... Zhang Mingde made me arrest him..."

His voice was high-pitched and trembling, laced with a sobbing tone.

Secretary General Cao Yun didn't look at him, as if he hadn't heard what he said. He turned his head to look at Bureau Chief Sun Tao, his tone indifferent.

"Bureau Chief Sun Tao, handle this matter as you see fit."

Bureau Chief Sun Tao bent his waist even lower.

"Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely handle this seriously. Deputy Director Zhou Xiong has abused his power; I will immediately suspend him from his duties and open an investigation. As for Zhang Mingde, I will also have people look into it thoroughly."

Secretary General Cao Yun nodded.

"Very well. I will wait for your results."

He turned around and walked over to Wang Yang. The coldness on his face instantly dissipated, replaced by a gentle smile.

"Wang Yang, let's go; I'll see you home."

Wang Yang stood up and brushed the non-existent dust off his clothes.

He glanced at Deputy Director Zhou Xiong, who was slumped on the floor.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong looked up at him, his eyes filled with fear and pleading.

A few hours ago, this person had been sitting there, crossing his legs.

Using a condescending tone to say, "A migrant worker from out of town."

"Who do you think you are?"

Now, he was slumped on the floor like a dog with a broken spine.

Wang Yang smiled, a faint smile, as if he were looking at something insignificant.

He didn't speak, turning to follow Secretary General Cao Yun out.

When they reached the door, he stopped.

In the interrogation room, the three men each had their own thoughts.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong was slumped on the floor, his face pale, his lips still trembling.

His gaze followed Wang Yang's back, wanting to say something, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Only one thought remained in his mind.

It's over, everything is over.

Station Chief Wu Neng stood to the side, head lowered, the corners of his mouth slightly curled up.

He was calculating in his heart how to report to his superiors tomorrow and how to claim the credit for this matter for himself.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong had fallen; it was time for someone else to take the position of deputy station chief.

Bureau Chief Sun Tao stood in the middle, his expression ugly, his forehead covered in sweat.

He was thinking about how to explain things to Secretary General Cao Yun, how to suppress this matter, and how to keep his own position.

Wang Yang's gaze swept over the three men, finally landing on Deputy Director Zhou Xiong.

He curled the corners of his mouth slightly and whispered a sentence.

The voice was not loud, but everyone in the interrogation room heard it very clearly.

"Deputy Director Zhou Xiong, you asked me just now why I wasn't afraid. Now I'm telling you—because the person standing behind me is someone you cannot afford to offend."

After saying this, he turned and walked out of the interrogation room.

Behind him, Deputy Director Zhou Xiong was completely slumped on the floor, as if all his strength had been drained away.

In the interrogation room, Wang Yang's back disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Bureau Chief Sun Tao stood in place, the sweat on his face not yet dry. He turned to look at Station Chief Wu Neng, his eyes serious.

"Station Chief Wu Neng, you handle this matter seriously for me. Deputy Director Zhou Xiong has abused his power; the evidence must be investigated clearly, and the procedures must be followed properly. Secretary-General Cao is waiting for the results; if you don't handle this well, I will hold you accountable."

Station Chief Wu Neng stood straight, his voice loud.

"Bureau Chief Sun Tao, rest assured, I will definitely investigate the matter clearly, and no one who deserves to be punished will escape."

Bureau Chief Sun Tao nodded, glanced at Deputy Director Zhou Xiong slumped on the floor again, snorted coldly, turned around, and strode away.

The sound of footsteps faded, and the interrogation room quieted down.

Station Chief Wu Neng stood in place, looking down at Deputy Director Zhou Xiong.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong leaned against the wall, his face pale, his lips still trembling, as if all his strength had been drained away.

Slumped on the floor, like a dog with a broken spine.

The corners of Station Chief Wu Neng's mouth slowly curled up.

All these years, he had been submissive in front of Deputy Director Zhou Xiong, enduring everything.

When Deputy Director Zhou Xiong contradicted him in front of everyone at meetings, he endured it.

When Deputy Director Zhou Xiong bypassed him to report cases to superiors, he endured it.

When people below discussed how long he could last as station chief, he also endured it.

And now?

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong was slumped on the floor like a dead dog.

Station Chief Wu Neng squatted down and looked at Deputy Director Zhou Xiong.

"Old Zhou."

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his lips trembling.

"Station Chief Wu Neng... We have worked together for so many years. Can you..."

Station Chief Wu Neng laughed.

"Can I what?"

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong's voice was trembling.

"Can you... slow down? Even if I haven't made any contributions over these years, I have worked hard..."

Station Chief Wu Neng stood up, looked down at him, and his smile slowly faded.

"Deputy Director Zhou Xiong, when you arrested people, why didn't you think about the consequences? When you helped Zhang Mingde commit evil, why didn't you think about the consequences?"

"When you humiliated me in front of everyone at the meeting, why didn't you think about the consequences?"

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong's face turned white.

"I, I know I was wrong."

Station Chief Wu Neng looked at him, enunciating every word.

"It's too late."

He turned, walked to the door, opened it, and shouted outside.

"Come here."

Two security officers walked in quickly.

Station Chief Wu Neng pointed at Deputy Director Zhou Xiong on the floor.

"Lock him up. Once the evidence is clearly investigated, handle it according to procedure."

The two security officers looked at each other, walked over, and hauled Deputy Director Zhou Xiong up.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong's legs were so weak he couldn't even stand, and he was dragged out.

As he passed by Station Chief Wu Neng, he raised his head, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something.

Station Chief Wu Neng didn't look at him.

Deputy Director Zhou Xiong was dragged out, and his hoarse voice echoed in the corridor.

"Station Chief Wu Neng, you can't do this. We have worked together for so many years... How can you be so heartless..."

The voice grew fainter and fainter, finally disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Station Chief Wu Neng stood in the interrogation room and let out a long sigh.

The corners of his mouth slowly curled up, his eyes and brows full of smugness.

He walked to the window, looked at the night outside, and lit a cigarette.

It was time for someone else to take the position of deputy station chief.

At the same time, he was still pondering another matter.

...

Meanwhile.

At the entrance of the Public Security Station, a black audi a6 was parked quietly.

Wang Yang opened the rear door of the car and sat inside.

The car was very quiet, the leather seats were soft and comfortable, and a faint fragrance lingered in the air.

Secretary General Cao Yun sat next to him and closed the car door.

He looked Wang Yang up and down, and only after confirming that he was unharmed did his expression soften.

"Wang Yang, are you alright?"