Let them offer their loyalty!

Hearing Ji Chen's words, Yan Chen glanced at him indifferently, his voice hoarse as he asked, "What? Is that not allowed?"

Ji Chen softly advised, "Bureau Chief... actually, compared to Minister Jia, I feel Qiu Tu is the more suspicious one."

He brought up old matters, "From the beginning, his relationship with Qin Shuman was somewhat unclear."

"Afterwards, Master Qin Si's inexplicable escape, the bizarre expansion of the Yin Caimei case, followed by the Qin Family's estate collapse within just a few days, all seemed like they were being manipulated by an invisible hand."

"Plus, Minister Jia previously had your complete trust, so how did you become distant from him after just a few words from Qiu Tu, and now he has even become a suspect?"

Ji Chen genuinely cared for Yan Chen's well-being, so his sentences were urgent and rushed.

However... if he were Qiu Tu, he would never choose to persuade Yan Chen at this time.

What is Yan Chen's character trait?

It's being suspicious.

A person with such a trait would not fully trust anyone and would start suspecting those around him over the slightest doubt.

Jia Shu is a prime example.

Indeed, Qiu Tu and Secretary Bai had been adding fuel to the flames, but the root cause of the event was Jia Shu's attempt to downplay the Yin Caimei case without consulting Yan Chen.

That is what triggered Yan Chen's vigilance and suspicion.

And Qiu Tu and Secretary Bai were only going along with Yan Chen's thoughts, telling him what he wanted to hear.

Now, while Yan Chen was suspecting Jia Shu, Ji Chen stood by Jia Shu's side. With Yan Chen's suspicious nature, he would not listen to Ji Chen's defense of Jia Shu, but would instead... suspect Ji Chen.

Indeed, after listening to Ji Chen's words. Yan Chen gave Ji Chen an indifferent look with his aged eyes and countered with a question, "Ji Chen, are you trying to teach me how to do my job?"

Hearing Yan Chen's words, Ji Chen finally realized something was wrong. His body shook, and he quickly bowed, saying, "No, Bureau Chief!"

Yan Chen did not speak, only quietly watching him.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

The atmosphere in the study became increasingly tense, so stifling it was almost difficult to breathe, while sweat on Ji Chen's face and forehead began to bead more and more...

Finally, just when Ji Chen could barely hold on any longer, Yan Chen slowly spoke,

"Alright. Go call Lin Ting."

"Yes!" In just those few short seconds, Ji Chen felt as if he had walked out of the jaws of a giant beast.

Without any further thought of opposing or advising Yan Chen, he quickly bowed in response, then took out his communicator, and stepped outside the study to call the Special Duties Department Director Lin Ting...

...

After leaving Yan Chen's study. Qiu Tu hummed a tune as he walked outside.

Although Yan Chen had verbally reprimanded Qiu Tu and had not made any explicit statements, Qiu Tu, who knew Yan Chen well, could tell from Yan Chen's overall demeanor and tone that Yan Chen had also begun to suspect Minister Jia's true stance.

Given Yan Chen's style, when the time came, he would most likely choose to protect himself and verify Minister Jia's intentions.

With this in mind, even if Minister Jia truly came to attack him tomorrow night, he wouldn't need to call the Security Department or Tang Feifei to act.

Although they too could keep Qiu Tu safe, doing so would expose Qiu Tu's relationship with them.

Qiu Tu felt that things had not yet reached such a critical level.

And besides... to catch a thief, one must present evidence, and without Yan Chen witnessing Minister Jia attacking him, how could Yan Chen truly believe there's something wrong with Minister Jia.

After all, if Jia denied everything later, given his former closeness with Yan Chen, it was really uncertain who Yan Chen would believe...

'Two birds with one stone.'

Thinking this way, Qiu Tu made his way through the corridor of Yan Chen's study and left his villa.

Before leaving, he also made a point to check the side hall.

Yan Chen's daughter, the angelic Yanyan, was no longer there, which slightly disappointed Qiu Tu...

He drove away from Yan Chen's garden villa.

Qiu Tu did not return to the Investigation Bureau to labor over the interrogation of the Suit Man: he was facing a major challenge tomorrow. If he got past it, he would have plenty of time to interrogate, and if not, there would be no need anymore.

With this time, he would be better off resting well to prepare for the crisis tomorrow.

Thinking thus, Qiu Tu remained vigilant as he drove back to Old Alley Street.

It had only been a bit over a week since he had left Old Alley Street.

Yet when he parked the car, Qiu Tu felt almost unfamiliar with Old Alley Street—the once dilapidated road had been preliminarily repaired at some unknown time.

And many neighbors, some familiar and others strangers, were either pushing carts or carrying pots, setting up stalls by the roadside.

The previously chaotic street had somehow given birth to a small night market.

Seeing the car that symbolized privilege, the neighbors who would normally scatter out of fear did not disperse. Instead, a few bold ones even approached and proactively asked, "Boss, would you like some boiled corn? Just cooked, very tasty. Only for 3 Copper Yuans."

Qiu Tu: .....

"Give me two."

Paying for the two cobs of corn from the unfamiliar neighbor, Qiu Tu got out of the car and strolled through the small night market, making his way toward his home.

However, before he reached the entrance of his building, he heard a familiar girl's voice haggling nearby.

Shen Lingshuang, "Uncle Chen, how much are these eggs?"

Uncle Chen said, "1.5 Copper Yuan each."

Shen Lingshuang squatted down, inspected the eggs, and tilted her head to ask, "Can I get a discount if I buy a lot?"

Uncle Chen said with a chuckle, "Of course. If you buy a lot, I'll charge you 1.4 Copper Yuan each."

"1.4 Copper Yuan?" Shen Lingshuang tilted her head to calculate, "Okay!"

With that, she took out a white handkerchief from her pocket, carefully unfolded it, and counted out 7 Copper Yuan, "Then give me 5!"

Uncle Chen: ??

"Wait a minute! Five is considered a lot?"

Shen Lingshuang pouted and wrinkled her nose, "Of course. I eat one egg a day, it takes five days to finish them all, isn't that a lot?"

Hearing Shen Lingshuang's naive words, Uncle Chen laughed heartily. He waved his aged hands, "All right, all right. Let it be 7 Copper Yuan then."

"If it weren't for you fighting for us at the City Hall for a chance to repair the road, if it weren't for you helping us organize the night market, we wouldn't be living such good days."

"Haha. Thank you, Uncle Chen!" Shen Lingshuang cheered and thanked him.

Then she carefully picked out five slightly larger eggs from the basket, put them in her bag, and stood up contentedly, proudly continuing to stroll through the night market...

Qiu Tu, who was in the distance and listening to the two's conversation, was a little surprised.

Shen Lingshuang helped get the road from the City Hall?

The night market was also organized with Shen Lingshuang's help?

For a moment, Qiu Tu found it a bit unbelievable.

He recalled the Shen Lingshuang in his mind: the one who would brighten up with a bit of sunshine and behave at a spanking, a little masochist.

At most, maybe add the title of a ... fairly reliable pharmacist?

Yet, how had it been only a week without seeing her, and she'd transformed into a "hero" in the neighbors' mouths?

Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu was stunned, Shen Lingshuang inadvertently looked up. Their gazes crossed the crowd lining the whole street and slowly met.

That instant, Shen Lingshuang also froze in place.

The next second, her eyes welled up with tears, and she dashed through the crowd toward Qiu Tu!

Seeing this, Qiu Tu also snapped back to reality and stood still, smiling and opening his arms to wait for Shen Lingshuang rushing towards him.

Having run up to Qiu Tu, Shen Lingshuang looked at Qiu Tu with his arms open waiting for her to leap into his embrace, lifted her little short legs, and kicked him hard in the thigh, saying fiercely, "You still remember to come back!"

"Did you forget about me already?"

Qiu Tu, who had been expecting a warm ending, was a bit stunned and amused.

Just as he was about to argue, he saw Shen Lingshuang gently put down the bag with the eggs on the ground, then leaped, jumping into his arms!

Qiu Tu was startled and clumsily caught Shen Lingshuang.

The girl's soft body in his arms felt so small yet so resolute....

.....

Ten minutes later.

In Qiu Tu's cramped room.

Qiu Tu and Shen Lingshuang squatted on the old sofa, munching on corn, eating boiled eggs, and chatting about what had happened to each of them over the week.

Qiu Tu crunched on the corn and then turned with a bit of surprise, "So... you reviewed all the documents sent down to the Planning Areas by the Sanctuary."

"And you found that the City Hall hadn't repaired the roads within the time frame set by the Sanctuary?"

"Thus, you led the neighbors to surround the City Hall building, demanding a proper plan and its implementation?"

"And to quell the escalating situation, the City Hall prioritized repairing the roads of our Old Alley Street?"

Shen Lingshuang nodded with pride!

Qiu Tu asked curiously, "Didn't the City Hall kick you out?"

Shen Lingshuang said with a giggle, "The City Hall isn't a violent agency. If they wanted to clear the area, they could only ask the Public Security Bureau of the Investigation Bureau for help."

"But with so many of us working at the Investigation Bureau, could I be bullied by just any ordinary agent?"

"With one call to Eagle, and after Eagle spoke a few words with the team leader of the Public Security Bureau, they didn't dare to rough us up."

Hearing Shen Lingshuang's words, Qiu Tu silently gave a thumbs up.

This tactic of using leverage was fitting for someone who had slept in the same bed as him. She truly learned from the best.

Thinking this way, he curiously asked again, "Then what's the story with the entire street market downstairs?"

Hearing Qiu Tu's question, Shen Lingshuang smiled and said, "That started with a couple of Cataclysmic Potions I made for you."

-----

Thank you, "Xinjie", for the generous 100,000 reward! Congratulations on becoming the Alliance Hierarch of our book! Wishing you good health, all the best, and great wealth~~

Still three chapters of 10,000 words, haha. The third chapter will update around 8 PM. We've dropped a lot in the Monthly Ticket rankings recently! Asking for Monthly Tickets!