Chapter 31: The Plot Diverges Slightly
Page (1/3)
Jiang Zhaoyang gave a mocking laugh, a hint of disdain and contempt concealed in his smile. “Aren’t you about to rush to the leader’s office and report me for neglecting my proper duties?”
“Accuse me of using work hours to take care of my own business?”
There was a note of teasing provocation in Jiang Zhaoyang’s voice, as though he were deliberately trying to anger He Di.
He Di did not dare confront him directly.
But inwardly, he gnashed his teeth. Just keep acting arrogant, you brat!
This was nothing more than a modern version of the story of Pang Juan and Sun Bin.
Of course, the plot was slightly different.
As soon as this “Sun Bin” finished writing his military treatise, he would suffer the punishment of having his kneecaps removed.
In this lifetime, He Di would make sure he could never stand again.
At the thought, He Di let out a cold laugh inwardly.
He put on a humble expression. “Director Jiang, you should carry on with your writing. I won’t disturb you any longer.”
Jiang Zhaoyang paid him no attention and continued with his work.
He Di left awkwardly.
After work at noon, Jiang Zhaoyang dragged his slightly weary body back to his dormitory. Sunlight filtered through the half-drawn curtains like scattered fragments of gold, mottling every corner of the room and lending the otherwise monotonous space a touch of warmth and vitality.
Jiang Zhaoyang sighed softly, set his briefcase on the desk, and slowly walked over to the bed.
He was exhausted in both body and mind. At that moment, all he wanted was a brief nap to restore his strength and prepare for the afternoon’s work.
The moment he lay down and closed his eyes, ready to let his thoughts drift away on the afternoon breeze and enter the long-missed realm of dreams, a sudden ring from his phone shattered the quiet.
Jiang Zhaoyang sat up helplessly and fumbled beneath his pillow for the phone. The name displayed on the screen made his heart tighten: Wu Wenjuan.
Almost by reflex, he pressed the answer button, as though afraid of missing any news about his father.
“I’ve found out what happened to your father!”
Wu Wenjuan’s voice came through the phone, its urgency impossible to conceal.
Page (1/3)
Page (2/3)
At that moment, her voice was like a gentle yet powerful breeze in spring, instantly dispersing the gloom and anxiety that had weighed upon Jiang Zhaoyang for so long.
“How is he?” Jiang Zhaoyang’s voice trembled faintly. His heart pounded in his chest as though an invisible hand had seized it, every beat carrying both unease and expectation.
“He’s all right!” Wu Wenjuan replied briefly, but that alone was enough to ease his heart a little.
“What do you mean, all right?” he pressed, relieved yet confused.
“His condition is all right,” she continued. Through the telephone line, her voice now carried a trace of comfort, as though she were doing her best to offer him a little strength and hope in her own way.
Though faint, that reassurance was enough to bring a thread of warmth back to Jiang Zhaoyang’s heart.
“What about his case?” Jiang Zhaoyang asked urgently, his anxiety roiling like boiling water.
“When he was brought in, he was questioned once. After that, no one asked him anything.”
Wu Wenjuan’s answer sent his heart sinking again.
“Why?” Jiang Zhaoyang could not help feeling suspicious. “They’re simply ignoring him? What kind of operation is this?”
Countless questions and possibilities flashed through his mind, yet he could find no reasonable answer.
On the other end of the line, Wu Wenjuan sighed softly, as though she too were troubled by the question.
She remained silent for a moment, seemingly trying to piece together a possible explanation and searching for the most appropriate words.
“There is indeed something suspicious here.”
“There are essentially two possibilities,” she continued, each word clear.
“What two possibilities?”
Jiang Zhaoyang pressed her impatiently. His heartbeat quickened with every breath, as though it were about to break free of his chest.
Wu Wenjuan chose her words with care, each one seeming to have been weighed and considered before finally leaving her lips.
“One possibility is that he truly is innocent, and there is simply nothing to question him about.”
“However, there is another possibility that is entirely the opposite: his problems may be far more serious than anticipated.”
“Given that possibility, the Discipline Inspection Commission suspects that he may not willingly confess everything he knows.”
“After all, when people face a situation that could harm them, they often choose silence or concealment.”
“So, for now, the Commission’s primary task is to begin from the outside, gradually gather evidence, and build a complete chain of proof. That way, if necessary, they can deliver a decisive blow.”
“As for confronting him directly and questioning him face-to-face, it is still too soon.”
Page (2/3)
Page (3/3)
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhaoyang knitted his brows tightly, a flicker of anxiety and unease passing through his eyes.
He urgently asked, “Taking everything into consideration, which of those two possibilities do you think my father is more likely to fall under?”
Wu Wenjuan sighed softly, as though weighing the significance of every word.
At last, she said firmly, “After careful consideration, and based on the information I currently have, I believe your father belongs to the first category. He is innocent.”
Jiang Zhaoyang’s heart jolted. “Is that so? Are you being influenced by me?”
“Not entirely. Of course I’ve taken your circumstances into account, but my judgment is based primarily on facts and logic.”
“I have my own position and standards of judgment. I won’t easily be swayed by outside influences.”
“To gain a more accurate understanding of your father’s situation, I deliberately found an opportunity to speak with him briefly.”
“During our conversation, I noticed that he was remarkably calm. He seemed completely at ease, composed and unruffled.”
“There was not the slightest trace of panic or guilt in his eyes. A person’s behavior in such circumstances often reflects his true state of mind.”
“A man like that could not possibly be involved in anything serious.”
Wu Wenjuan added, “Besides, the things you told me have convinced me even more that he is innocent.”
At this, the great weight in Jiang Zhaoyang’s heart eased slightly, and a warm current rose within him.
He quickly replied, “Yes. Although his current situation is worrying, I believe the truth will eventually come to light.”
“I hope that, within the limits of your authority, you can take proper care of him, so that while he waits for the investigation to conclude, life will not be too difficult for him.”
“As for that? Of course I will.”
“Could you bring him some daily necessities?”
Wu Wenjuan, however, fell silent for a moment before replying, “Actually, that really isn’t necessary.”
“Don’t worry too much. We have strict regulations governing the living arrangements of people under investigation. It may not be luxurious, but they are certainly not mistreated.”
“Generally speaking, whatever our Discipline Inspection Commission personnel eat, he eats as well. We make sure the meals are nutritionally balanced and meet health standards.”
“After all, this still falls under the category of contradictions among the people.”
Page (3/3)