4: Chapter 4: Spy Within a Spy, Infernal Affairs

The Tongan Municipal Bureau Criminal Investigation Detachment and the Xiushan District Fire Brigade share a compound, with the Technical Brigade located on the second floor of the office building.

It was very close to the Tongan Television Station in Xiushan Park, separated by only two streets.

The next day, Zhao Yang and Tian Ye arrived at the Municipal Bureau Criminal Investigation Detachment compound just as work was starting.

Before going upstairs, Zhao Yang checked the hidden camera once more and started recording in advance.

"Yezi, carry the camera and follow me upstairs."

Tian Ye was a bit confused. "Yang-ge, aren't you on good terms with the criminal investigation team? Why the secret filming?"

Fearing the footage might be confiscated by the station, Zhao Yang hadn't reported this interview to Gao Xiang, the News Department Director, or Li Hongyi, the Vice Station Head in charge.

He didn't want to explain too much and simply put on an inscrutable expression.

"That’s why you're still an intern. Watch and learn; this is all experience!"

Tucking the hidden camera under his arm, Zhao Yang reached the second floor. Just as he was about to knock, he heard a heated argument from inside.

"Captain Wang, we are police officers. We must base our cases on evidence, otherwise we're just disregarding human life!"

It was clear that Xu Yiming's voice was very agitated.

Inside the room, Wang Lei, the leader of the Municipal Bureau Criminal Investigation Detachment, had a grim face and said coldly:

"Does that three hundred thousand in bribe money not count as evidence?"

Standing nearby, He Ping opened his mouth but hesitated.

The fingerprints on those bills were too blurry; there was currently no way to determine if they were the same as the ones on the dressing table.

Xu Yiming countered, "But what does that money have to do with the murder?"

The room went quiet for a few seconds before Wang Lei's tone softened slightly.

"It’s said that Chen Xue discovered the bribe money at home and urged Sun Hongwei to hand it over to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. Sun Hongwei refused, and Chen Xue wanted to file a report using her real name."

"So, a conflict broke out between the two, and Sun Hongwei accidentally strangled Chen Xue."

Listening from outside, Zhao Yang felt a chill down his spine.

He had originally thought Sun Hongwei lacked a motive, but boy, the police had already prepared one for him.

Xu Yiming did not agree with Wang Lei’s explanation and continued to press:

"Then how do you explain the semen found in the deceased?"

Wang Lei continued his analysis. "To cover up his crime, Sun Hongwei obtained a used condom from a nightclub beforehand to forge a scene of break-in, rape, and murder."

"Therefore, the evidence you found is just a smokescreen laid by the suspect. This evidence should not be included in the case file."

Zhao Yang hadn't expected the police to find an excuse to bypass that evidence so quickly.

In his past life, these two pieces of evidence were indeed not accepted by the judge during the trial.

The reasoning was exactly the same as what Wang Lei was saying now.

It turned out that by the time the case reached the trial stage, the police, the prosecution, and the court had already aligned their narratives.

Just then, Jiang Nan's voice came from inside, tinged with surprise.

"Heavens, how perverted would someone have to be to do something like that!"

Xu Yiming also raised his voice. "If Sun Hongwei thought that far ahead, why would he bother wiping away the traces of the window break-in?"

He continued stubbornly, "This makes no sense at all! I must include the evidence collected from the scene in the file. Whether the Procuratorate and the court accept it is their business!"

Wang Lei sighed. "Sigh, Old Xu, what am I going to do with you!"

Feeling he had recorded enough, Zhao Yang raised his hand and knocked on the office door.

The door opened, and when Wang Lei saw Zhao Yang and Tian Ye, his expression changed slightly.

"Reporter Zhao, what are you doing here?"

Zhao Yang grinned. "Captain Wang, the Technical Brigade has been doing great these past two years. I'm here to help sing your praises."

Usually, when reporters came for interviews, Wang Lei would always greet them with a smile.

But this time, he was unusually cold.

"Yesterday afternoon, I just received notice that any media interviews with the city's police system must be approved by the Municipal Bureau's Political Department."

"As for the June 11 Case, not a single word is allowed to be disclosed to the public."

Zhao Yang had already anticipated this.

Not embarrassed at all, he casually placed his interview bag and the briefcase containing the hidden camera on the desk.

Turning to Wang Lei, he said, "Look, Captain Wang, it's been a few days, and I missed you guys. I just came for a casual chat. That’s allowed, right?"

Tian Ye, who had been unsure whether to stay or leave, gaped in surprise when he heard Zhao Yang say that.

You could actually do that?

Xu Yiming naturally knew the purpose of Zhao Yang's visit and quickly helped smooth things over.

"What's there to chat about with us old guys? Are you here to find a girlfriend instead?"

Zhao Yang said cheekily, "Oh, Captain Xu, don't say it out loud even if you see through me!"

Wang Lei, who had reached the door, turned back, pulled up a chair, and gave Zhao Yang a thumbs up.

"Reporter Zhao has good taste. Little Jiang is the recognized 'police flower' of our Tongan."

Since Jiang Nan was the only female officer in the Technical Brigade, Wang Lei couldn't help but shift his gaze toward her.

Looking at her slender figure and the impressive curves of her chest, he subconsciously licked his lips, even though he saw her almost every day.

Zhao Yang looked at Jiang Nan with a bit of uncertainty, only to find that although she looked cold, she didn't object.

This almost gave him one of the three great delusions of men: "She likes me."

Zhao Yang deliberately raised his voice. "Nannan, that dress we saw on Sunday really looks good on you. Let's go buy it after work at noon."

While speaking, he kept winking at Jiang Nan behind Wang Lei's back: Play along!

Jiang Nan understood but remained calm.

She still looked cold, her lips twitching slightly. "I told you, don't call me Nannan at work."

Seeing this, Tian Ye's large eyes widened even further in shock.

Even Xu Yiming had a look of surprise in his eyes.

Could there really be something going on between these two? Since when?

Zhao Yang looked at Wang Lei and saw that he was still sitting there calmly.

He raised an eyebrow. I'm here to pick up a girl, and you're still staring?

This showed just how worried he was about the "smokescreen" he had mentioned leaking out.

Zhao Yang continued to provoke him, saying to Jiang Nan:

"Nannan, I heard that new movie 'Meet the Parents' is pretty good. Shall we go see it together after work tonight?"

Jiang Nan glared at Zhao Yang and said coldly:

"Zhao Yang, can you have some tact? Can't you see our leader is right here!"

Zhao Yang lifted his chin. "If Captain Wang dares to make things difficult for you, I'll make sure he doesn't meet his publicity targets this year!"

However, Wang Lei, observing from the side, still showed no intention of leaving. He smiled and lamented:

"Old Xu, we're getting old. Look at these young people; it's so nice!"

Seeing that Wang Lei's butt was glued to the chair, Jiang Nan gave Zhao Yang a helpless look.

She raised her hand, wrote a string of numbers on a sticky note, and handed it over.

"Don't come looking for me at work if it's nothing important. Let's connect on QQ after work; we can even video call."

Zhao Yang took it and saw it was a six-digit QQ number.

"You're finally willing to give it to me? I've been looking forward to your QQ number for a long time!" He immediately understood her meaning, packed his things, and turned to leave.

Back at the station, Tian Ye couldn't hold it in any longer and asked:

"Yang-ge, are you really dating Officer Jiang? Then what about Sister Yawen?"

If Tian Ye hadn't mentioned it, Zhao Yang would have almost forgotten that he hadn't completely broken up with his first girlfriend, Su Yawen, yet.

Su Yawen had proposed a breakup the day before yesterday, but he hadn't agreed.

They had a huge fight because of it, and Zhao Yang had gotten drunk and passed out on his desk all night.

Presumably, Su Yawen was still waiting for him to apologize at this moment.

But Zhao Yang couldn't worry about that for now. He said to Tian Ye:

"Yezi, lend me your laptop for a couple of days. I'm going to add her on QQ and show you what 'Spy vs. Spy' and 'Infernal Affairs' really look like!"

He spoke lightly.

But at this moment, that small QQ avatar felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Would Jiang Nan really give him the DNA comparison report?