68: Chapter 68 Disconnection

Seeing the hesitation on Shen Zhentao's face, Guo Mingkai chuckled, set down his own glass, picked up Shen Zhentao's, and drained it in one gulp.

"What's wrong, Brother Shen? Don't tell me you can't even trust your old leader and good brother?"

A flash of embarrassment crossed Shen Zhentao's face. Could he be overthinking things?

"No, no, General Manager Guo, don't misunderstand. I've just been a bit tired lately."

Guo Mingkai smiled and said, "Since you're here today, it's the perfect time to relax."

He stood up, opened the door, and snapped his fingers toward the hallway.

As the sound of high heels drew closer, a pretty figure pushed open the door and entered the room.

Yu Na, the supervisor of the Platinum Member Area, approached Guo Mingkai and leaned down, revealing a deep cleavage.

"General Manager Guo, what are your instructions?"

Guo Mingkai gestured toward Shen Zhentao beside him.

"This is my good friend, General Manager Liu. Bring over some of the newly recruited technicians so General Manager Liu can try something fresh."

As he spoke, Guo Mingkai extended his fingers, making a gesture for the number six.

"Of course. General Manager Guo, General Manager Liu, please wait a moment." Yu Na swayed her hips and clicked away in her high heels.

A few minutes later, six technicians entered the room.

They were all young women around twenty years old, dressed scantily, with slender waists, ample curves, and deep necklines.

Guo Mingkai beckoned them over. "You four go attend to General Manager Liu. The other two come to me."

Seeing the women before him, Shen Zhentao's gaze immediately glazed over.

These women were younger and more beautiful than the ones he usually played with in the Platinum Member Area, and their figures were even more enchanting.

As his body was surrounded by soft warmth, Shen Zhentao couldn't help but lick his lips.

One woman picked up a wine glass and gave Shen Zhentao a flirtatious smile.

"General Manager Liu, let me have a drink with you to help you relax."

Shen Zhentao wanted to refuse, but with such beauty in front of him, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

While he was hesitating, the woman picked up the glass Guo Mingkai had just used, took a sip of wine, and then pressed her red lips toward Shen Zhentao's mouth.

The other three women cheered from behind Shen Zhentao, pushing him forward. "Come on, General Manager Liu, don't be shy."

When Shen Zhentao's lips met the woman's delicate red lips, a stream of warm wine slowly flowed into his mouth.

Damn, what kind of man could resist this?

Shen Zhentao felt his head explode with a roar.

He involuntarily wrapped his arm around the woman's slender waist and pulled her onto his lap.

When he stole a glance at Guo Mingkai next to him, he saw that the man was having a great time.

It wasn't the first time the two had experienced such a scene; there was no need to put on an act.

Seeing Guo Mingkai so relaxed, Shen Zhentao's tense nerves finally loosened.

He started playing a drinking game of rock-paper-scissors with the four women where the loser had to strip. Although he successfully stripped two of the women of their tops, he was down to just his boxers.

Just as they were getting into the swing of things, Guo Mingkai stood up, walked over to him, took out his phone, and showed him the screen.

Shen Zhentao focused his gaze and saw a line of small text in a message:

General Manager Guo, boarding has begun. Taking off immediately.

After a brief pause, Guo Mingkai chuckled and tucked his phone away.

"General Manager Liu, I'm taking these two girls next door for some fun. Don't worry, just let loose and enjoy yourself!"

With that, Guo Mingkai walked out of the room with a woman on each arm.

...

Century Sunshine Hotel.

Zhao Yang had just laid down when his phone rang.

He picked it up and saw it was a call from He Yunqiao.

He immediately sat up, answered the phone, and asked:

"Chief He, how is it? Did you capture Hao Jianping?"

He Yunqiao's voice sounded exhausted.

"No. Based on Xu Yiming's phone location, we found the lounge in the Qicheng Group office building, but we only found a phone. All the information on it has been deleted.

"We've also searched his residence, but his whereabouts are unknown."

This was within Zhao Yang's expectations. He wasn't surprised and instead analyzed calmly:

"I suspect that if Hao Jianping is truly involved, he might have already chosen to flee."

He Yunqiao couldn't help but frown.

Once Hao Jianping fled, the case would become very troublesome.

Currently, the only evidence involving Hao Jianping was Xu Biao's confession and some blurry images that didn't prove much.

Even if the charges were proven, it would only be for hiring someone for a frame-up.

It wasn't a major violent crime, nor was it a massive drug offense, and he wasn't a core member of a criminal organization.

They couldn't even apply for a national wanted notice.

He let out a long sigh. "If Hao Jianping has really left the country, this lead is dead."

Hearing his low spirits, Zhao Yang comforted him:

"At least the June 11 Case is basically solved. Leave a few people to keep watch and let everyone else go rest. Everyone has worked hard."

After hanging up, Zhao Yang was no longer in the mood for sleep.

He had originally thought he could use this line to pull out Ji Hongwen.

He hadn't expected Ji Hongwen to act so decisively; he was indeed a difficult opponent.

His mind raced as he struggled to think of a counter-strategy.

Before leaving Tongan, he had left his phone number with Sun Dehai, hoping the man would provide him with leads.

However, two months had passed without a single sound.

He firmly believed that if Sun Dehai had obtained evidence, there was no way he wouldn't have called.

Either the evidence collection was blocked, or his safety was being threatened.

In the face of interests and life, life always comes first.

This made Zhao Yang think of Xu Biao, the man with the buzz cut.

That man had a triad background; it was highly likely he had threatened Sun Dehai and the others.

Now that Xu Biao had been captured, news from Sun Dehai should arrive soon.

Zhao Yang calculated silently: As soon as work started tomorrow, he would begin with Wang Lei, the former chief of the Tongan Municipal Bureau Criminal Investigation Detachment.

By starting from this line and tracing it all the way up, it was equally possible to drag out Ji Hongwen.

He not only wanted to catch Ji Hongwen, but he also wouldn't let anyone on this line who toyed with the law go free.

After a restless two-hour nap, Zhao Yang got up with a yawn, washed up, and headed to the restaurant.

As soon as he entered, he saw Lu Zheng sitting there.

Seeing Lu Zheng with dark circles under his eyes, Zhao Yang asked with concern:

"Master, you stayed up all night organizing materials. Why didn't you sleep a bit longer?"

Lu Zheng glanced around, and seeing no one nearby, lowered his voice:

"Zhao Yang, you performed very well this time. Secretary Gong thinks highly of you."

His words seemed straightforward, but they actually hid a lot of information.

First, the materials had already been sent to Gong Chengze.

Gong Chengze must have personally reviewed them to give Zhao Yang such an evaluation.

For a member of the Member of the Provincial Standing Committee and Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection to personally review materials late at night, he clearly attached great importance to the Sun Hongwei case.

This sent a clear signal: Gong Chengze was one of Sun Zhendong's men.

Secondly, Lu Zheng was in direct contact with Gong Chengze and wasn't afraid of disturbing the leader's rest even in the middle of the night; he was definitely a confidant.

In an instant, several thoughts crossed Zhao Yang's mind. He smiled at Lu Zheng and said:

"Master, it's because you guided me well. If you weren't here to oversee things, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish anything."

Having lived two lives, Zhao Yang had long understood the importance of flattery.

Although these words were flattery, they were also from the heart.

Lu Zheng chuckled. "You kid, you've got a silver tongue. What are your plans next?"

Zhao Yang lowered his voice. "If we keep following this case, there's definitely a lot to be gained. Now that the lead on Hao Jianping is likely broken, I plan to start with Wang Lei."

Someone who could make the Tongan police use torture to extract confessions and prepare statements in advance was definitely not simple.

Without someone backing them, even the Director of the Public Security Bureau, Shen Zhentao, might not dare to do such a thing.

Lu Zheng clearly already knew about the failure to arrest Hao Jianping. He narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Hmm, your line of thinking is correct. We'll talk to Wang Lei today."

Just as he finished speaking, Zhao Yang's phone rang.

It was a call from Jiang Nan.

At this time, unless it was something important, she would never call him.

Zhao Yang didn't hide from Lu Zheng and quickly answered:

"Jiang Nan, what happened?"

Jiang Nan's voice was still pleasant, but very urgent:

"The Municipal Bureau's 110 command center received a report. Shen Zhentao is dead."