Inspector Nie Dayong from the Anti-Triad Unit of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau facilitated things for CID, abiding by the principle of non-interference between different departments.
However, once he let go, the CID Team B apprehended one dealer after another, securing everyone from the major to minor players along a particular chain.
This not only helped to clarify the hierarchical relationships within this branch of the network for the bureau but also saw the entire group ushered into CID interrogation rooms. Following the interrogations, with a smile, they handed the reins over to the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau. The officers from Team B even skipped the detention formalities, leaving the rest to their colleagues who, upon receiving the suspects, had to express their gratitude.
Today, as Nie Dayong came to take away the head of the underworld, his men covered the suspect’s head and escorted him to the vehicle, Nie turned to Fang Zhenyue and said, “Thank you.”
Fang Zhenyue nodded, his smile restrained, “No need for thanks, Sir Nie. It’s just a matter of course.”
Nie Dayong gave an awkward smile and hurried away.
It was infuriating, CID was really infuriating.
Watching Nie Dayong and his Organized Crime and Triad Bureau detectives drive away, Liu Jiaming laughed as he draped an arm around Gary’s shoulders, turning to Fang Zhenyue:
“Brother Yue, you should have seen Eleven yesterday. With a smile, she effortlessly managed everything, leaving Inspector Nie speechless. Haha, it was quite imposing.”
Uncle Jiu nibbled on the stick in his mouth, spat out some splinters, and prodded his teeth with the stick before turning to walk back to Team B’s office, chatting with Fang Zhenyue:
“It feels quite subtle.”
“How so?” Fang Zhenyue raised an eyebrow, thinking Uncle Jiu might have a new insight into the case.
“Well… it’s just us men here, standing behind Eleven, letting her handle things and negotiate with the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau. She calmed the inspector down, preventing others from leading us by the nose and ensuring our work was unaffected… Ah, it’s a complex feeling.” Uncle Jiu chewed on his stick and muttered:
“A strange happiness, something I’ve never experienced before… Or maybe… it reminds me of standing behind my mother as a child. Haha, but look at Eleven, a slender young woman.”
“Delicate but not weak,” Fang Zhenyue said.
“She’s like a mama who wouldn’t hit me with a stick, but would protect me and give me advice,” Liu Jiaming chuckled.
“Strong but not aggressive,” Fang Zhenyue added.
“Brother Yue, you had the foresight back then. Before we noticed Eleven’s talents, you were already thinking of bringing her into Team B,” Uncle Jiu said, cleaning his mouth with the stick, smiling at Fang Zhenyue.
“Of course, Brother Yue has always had a keen eye; that’s why he chose us, haha,” Liu Jiaming quickly added.
“So, if there’s a promotion to be had, we all support Eleven. She can take good care of Team B, and you, you have a promising future ahead, maybe even becoming a Chief Superintendent or something someday, haha. Don’t worry about us,” Uncle Jiu suddenly slowed his pace, lifting his head and looking at Fang Zhenyue with a softer gaze, one that carried the affection of an elder.
“Yeah, Brother Yue, it’s okay if we skip afternoon tea; we should probably lose some weight anyway.” Liu Jiaming patted his belly and chimed in agreement.
Fang Zhenyue stretched out his arms, patting Uncle Jiu on his left and Liu Jiaming on his right, smiling. He didn’t say much, but when he looked up, his eyes caught the sunlight, and his squinted eyes softened his expression.
…
…
After sending off the fools in the subcontracting chain, Group B detectives brought in the wronged tycoon, Zhou Xinhui, for questioning again.
Mr. Zhou sat through the entire session in silence, merely waiting for his team of lawyers with a smile.
Fang Zhenyue sat across from Mr. Zhou for over half an hour. Once Zhou’s legal team arrived, Fang handed over the coordination of the case between Mr. Zhou and his lawyers to Qiu Sushan.
As he left the interrogation room, Fang Zhenyue turned to Zhou Xinhui and said, “Hiring someone for murder, even if it’s attempted murder, with Datou and their testimony, it’s enough to put you behind bars. Let’s see if your lawyers are stronger or if the law of Hong Kong is.”
Zhou Xinhui looked up at Fang Zhenyue, maintaining his smile, but his eyes now filled with anger and hatred.
Fang Zhenyue was known to him—the youngest son of the gemstone tycoon, a wealthy second-generation living off his father’s shadow, a circle much higher than his own, a self-made wealthy first-generation.
He had always believed that money could buy everything, a wolfish philosophy, but in the end, he couldn’t outperform those born with a golden spoon.
While he had clawed his way up, thinking himself a king among wolves, he hadn’t even come close to the edges of the wealth these indifferent rich second-generations took for granted.
“Sir Fang, why the righteous act? Weren’t there ruthless moments in your father’s rise to wealth?” Zhou Xinhui suddenly spoke after remaining silent.
Fang Zhenyue, standing by the door, turned to face Zhou directly but didn’t respond.
“Of course, I wouldn’t do anything illegal. But have you ever asked your father if he has done anything against his conscience?” Zhou lightly tilted his chin up.
Fang Zhenyue’s gaze was cold as lightning, staring at Zhou for a few seconds before suddenly pursing his lips in a slight smile.
That tiny expression seemed to contain infinite disdain. He said nothing more, simply turned, and walked away without looking back, leaving Zhou alone in the small interrogation room.
For a proud man, ignoring him was more insulting than any scolding.
Zhou Xinhui slammed his fists on the table in a rage, sitting alone to wait for his lawyers to handle the aftermath, his chest aching with anger that took a long time to subside.
…
After stepping out of the interrogation room, Fang Zhenyue stood by the window looking inside.
Jiayi stood beside him, asking softly, “Brother Yue, his family is so wealthy, can we really put him behind bars for a year or two?”
“He thinks money gives him the power to do whatever he wants, but he doesn’t know how dark society can be. Datou, Mawei, haven’t they been running circles around Zhou Xinhui? What good does money do?”
“Virtue will garner support, vice will lose it; society will eventually teach him this lesson.”
Fang Zhenyue gently patted Jiayi on the head and turned to walk towards Team B’s office, saying as he went:
“This clue has reached its end here; let’s look in other directions.”
“Yes, sir.”
…
…
With the transfer line closed, Team B helped clean up a trail of roaches and vermin. They erased a part of the whiteboard, starting over with the case details.
Zhao Dongsheng has been missing for so long, with no ransom calls or discovery of a body. A person lost to excessive bleeding, while lacking official death paperwork, could almost certainly be presumed dead by Team B.
Let’s pause the competitor angle and delve back into exploring emotional conflicts—
The situation with the deceased’s lover, the rising star actress Gu Xiaolan, needs to be traced and dug deeper.
The situation with the deceased’s wife, the painter Chen Tingting, needs to be traced and dug deeper.
Another thorough check through the deceased’s other lovers and intimately close women.
In this era in Hong Kong, having money is truly a big deal.
Described by Mrs. Zhao as a workaholic, this man still found time to juggle nearly ten girlfriends simultaneously.
Some were mistresses maintained through buying apartments and bags, some were thrilling new flings, and some were mere conquests to boost his masculine appeal.
When these women’s names were written on the whiteboard, Liu Jiaming shook his head, unable to make any sense of it.
Uncle Jiu saw his hesitant expression and couldn’t help but laugh, “Speak your mind, what are you afraid of in our Team B office?”
“Really… Such chaos, it’s just adding trouble to our case,” Liu Jiaming finally spoke.
“Pfft.” Uncle Jiu thought he was about to make a profound comment, but it turned out to be just a quip, “Who thinks about how their actions will affect the murder investigation after they’re dead?”
“That’s true…”
These sorts of romantic entanglements are the least favorite for detectives to investigate.
They’re messy and frustrating, yet seldom yield anything of value.
“I had an argument with Zhao Dongsheng half a month ago because he didn’t buy me a bag, so stingy,” a woman said in the interrogation room, speaking while crossing her arms with a cold huff.
This individual maintained a rather casual relationship with Zhao Dongsheng, caring solely about the purses, and upon investigation turned out to be a simple person, devoid of complex social ties or significant turmoil, effectively ruling her out as a suspect.
“I was indeed breaking up with Zhao Dongsheng because I found him too old and utterly uninteresting,” the woman said nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders.
She carried herself with an easygoing demeanor, showing no emotional demands towards Zhao Dongsheng, even taking a detached view towards his money.
Looking back at her life over the past few months, her social interactions were quite rich, and her emotional relationships were anything but straightforward. Zhao Dongsheng was merely an insignificant passerby in her life, and many of her friends were even unaware of their past connection.
She too was cleared of suspicion.
“I was seeing multiple people, and Zhao Dongsheng found out, which is so unreasonable of him. He messes around himself yet tries to control others—who would want to stay loyal to him? That’s just wishful thinking! Why should I waste my prime years on him alone? It’s all just casual, unspoken understanding, that old man is so annoying,” scoffed Woman C.
This one wanted to get rid of Zhao Dongsheng, who admittedly had a hard time letting go but showed no real commitment. Their breakup dragged on until she had to move house to finally break free from him.
At the time of Zhao Dongsheng’s incident, she hadn’t been in contact with him for half a month.
After a thorough investigation of all her whereabouts and social interactions, she too was cleared of any suspicion.
“Real feelings or not? As much sincerity as he shows me, I show him back. Mr. Officer, my friends are all decent people. Although I’m not happy with Zhao Dongsheng’s antics and complain to my friends, would any friend be foolish enough to commit murder just to vent my anger? We’re all ordinary people, let’s not get carried away.”
Although impatient, she cooperated and systematically explained her acquaintance and recent interactions with Zhao Dongsheng.
As she stated, her social circle was very simple, mostly made up of office workers and their parents, people who believed they would never encounter a homicide in their lives.
After a thorough investigation and signing the record, she too was cleared of suspicion.
“I have nothing to do with him, Mr. Officer, please don’t smear my innocence. Getting involved in such matters is just bad luck. Who knows how it would be twisted if word got out, it’s so annoying.”
This young lady, often whispered about for her ambiguous relations with Zhao Dongsheng, is strikingly beautiful and knows how to dress to showcase her attractiveness. The kind that turns heads on the street, appealing to everyone regardless of age or gender.
The detectives did some digging and indeed found no overt connections between her and Zhao Dongsheng.
It’s likely her beauty caused some people, stuck in their ways, to imagine and irresponsibly spread wild rumors based on her professional interactions with Zhao, dragging her into this case.
Suspicion cleared.
“I heard Zhao Dongsheng had something going on with his secretary. Maybe it’s the female secretary plotting against him, using her charms while siphoning his money, maybe even embezzling funds she couldn’t repay. Seeing the scandal about to break, she resorted to murder. Sir, have you checked the financials of Zhao’s company, and those close to him? Nowadays, with betting on horses, stock trading, and casinos, it’s easy for someone to turn into a murderer.”
Such a rich imagination, surely influenced by movies.