Chapter Twenty-One: Tenderness

  The place where Kan Ou Ye Ming was detained is a room on the third floor of an abandoned old office building of Baozhu County Local Taxation Bureau.

  When Qiu Shunming got off the car with Xia Chuchu and others in front of this old office building, the director of Baozhu County Local Taxation Bureau and two other party group members rushed over to greet them and took them up to the third floor, heading straight for the room at the far end of the corridor on the right.

  Xia Chuchu saw the dilapidated office building, with a thick layer of dust covering the corridor. She frowned and said to Qiu Shunming beside her: "Director Qiu, are you intentionally trying to torment Ye Ming? Your local tax bureau has plenty of money, luxurious buildings, and reception halls, so why did you have to lock Ye Ming up in such a dirty and rundown place? Look at this, my foot kicked up half a meter of dust, it's choking me. This kind of place is even worse than the conditions for labor reform prisoners. Is this how you treat your comrades who made mistakes? He used to be one of your cadres too, how can you do this?"

  Qiu Shunming was scolded by her, but he didn't dare to retort. He accompanied a smile and said: "Chu Chu, you're thinking too much! The reason we put Ye Ming in isolation for investigation is that the Baozhu County Taxation Bureau and Xinleng County Bureau are farthest apart, one is at the southernmost part of K City, and the other is at the northernmost part. This can ensure to the greatest extent that his case will not be interfered with by other factors. It's really because of the need for investigation, not intentionally trying to frame him."

  As they spoke, they arrived at the door of the room where Ye Ming was being held.

  The head of the municipal bureau's discipline inspection team, Peng Hui, came out to greet them and led them into the room.

  This room used to be a spacious office, with a desk placed near the window. On top of the desk were several lunchboxes scattered in disarray.

  On both sides of the office desk, two beds were placed. Ye Ming sat expressionlessly on the right bed, seeing Xia Chuchu and Chen Yi following behind Qiu Shunming and Lin Nan, a hint of surprise appeared on his face, but he didn't say anything.

  Chen Yi saw that Ye Ming's clothes were wrinkled, his hair was messy, and his beard was unkempt. Suddenly, her heart ached, and tears welled up in her eyes.

  Xia Chuchu hastily took a step forward, standing in front of Ye Ming, pretending to be angry: "Ye Ming, you rascal! Last time when we had dinner with Director Xu at the Furong Hotel, you received a call and rushed back. I thought something urgent happened at home, but it turned out you were eager to rush back and jump into the trap yourself. What's going on? Such a big thing happened, why didn't you tell me first?"

  Ye Ming looked at her with a somewhat inexplicable expression and asked back, "Why should I tell you? We've only met twice, what's the point of telling you?"

  Qiu Shunming and Lin Nan looked at each other after hearing Ye Ming's words, both of their faces showing a relieved expression: No wonder nobody had heard about Xia Chuchu and Ye Ming being in a relationship, it turned out they had only met twice. It seemed that the worries from the beginning were all unnecessary...

  Xia Chuchu's face turned red with rage as Ye Ming exposed her lies in front of everyone, and she silently cursed him a thousand times as "fool", "idiot" and "blockhead". But she refused to back down, deciding to see the lie through to the end. Turning around, she said to Qiu Shunming and the others: "Director Qiu, don't believe this rascal's words! He's just a stubborn ox, not only has a bad temper but also holds grudges! Look at him: I merely argued with him a few times in the provincial city last time, and now he's turned against me... This stinky temper is something that only I can tolerate. If it were any other girl, they would have stopped paying attention to him long ago!"

  As soon as this statement came out, not only Ye Ming heard it vaguely, but Qiu Shunming and others were also confused: whose words should they believe? Listening to Xia Chuchu's tone, it seemed that she was still actively pursuing Ye Ming!

  Ye Ming was an extremely intelligent person, and after a moment of confusion, he immediately understood Xia Chuchu's meaning: she wanted to use her identity as the daughter of the provincial bureau director to rescue herself. So, he lowered his head and remained silent, which was equivalent to acknowledging Xia Chuchu's words.

  Qiu Shunming looked at Xia Chuchu, then turned to look at Ye Ming, his face stern as he said: "Ye Ming, Chuchu has come all the way from the provincial city just to see you today. Don't disappoint her good intentions. If there's anything, quickly explain it clearly to Director Peng and the others. Don't stubbornly refuse to speak out. The sooner you confess, the sooner you can leave. Rest assured, as long as your attitude is sincere, when the Municipal Bureau Party Committee discusses how to deal with you, they will definitely be lenient."

  Ye Ming raised his head, and under his disheveled hair, his eyes were exceptionally bright. He stared coldly at Qiu Shunming and said: "Director Qiu, I've already made it clear about the fight, and I've also received a severe punishment for it. Although the punishment was a bit heavy, I accepted it and never appealed. However, you're saying that I took bribes from taxpayers in the form of red envelopes - that's purely fabricated! You want me to confess, but I won't frame myself just to get out early. I've said before: the accountant who reported me, Su Dabiao, can be found to confront me and see if I really took the 3,000 yuan. But Peng, the team leader, ignored my request. The discipline inspection agency must follow procedures and evidence when handling cases. You can't take disciplinary action against me without evidence of bribery - that's a serious violation of procedure. Those leaders who made this decision will have to take responsibility for it. Let's see how you'll deal with it then!"

  Qiu Shunming listened to his tone, which seemed to have a bit of an arrogant tone, and saw Xia Chuchu looking at him sideways with a disapproving expression on her face. Suddenly, he felt a little worried in his heart, so he sternly warned: "Ye Ming, don't threaten us! The decision to take disciplinary action against you was made collectively by the Municipal Bureau's Party Group, not an individual behavior. Moreover, your beating of people is a fact, and there are witnesses who can testify that you received red envelopes from taxpayers. It's not the Municipal Bureau's Party Group framing you out of thin air. So, I advise you to stop being so arrogant and cooperate with Director Peng and his team honestly!"

  Ye Ming let out a hum from his nose and turned his face away, no longer paying attention to Qiu Shunming.

  Chen Yi had been watching Ye Ming anxiously by his side, and now walked over to him, saying in a choked voice: "Ye Ming, go to the washroom and take off those dirty clothes, I'll wash them for you. I also bought you a suit, put it on first. Your beard is so long, you must not have shaved for several days, I bought an electric shaver for you, shave your beard first."

  As she spoke, she took out her clothes and electric shaver and put them on Ye Ming's bed.

  Xia Chuchu initially didn't notice that she had also bought an electric shaver at the supermarket. Seeing how caring and considerate she was towards Ye Ming, he became even more suspicious of their relationship.

  Ye Ming saw Chen Yi, not avoiding suspicion at all, showing concern and care in front of so many leaders, feeling both moved and a little worried, hurriedly turned his head and said warmly: "Sister Chen, thank you! I'll change my clothes later, I'll wash the dirty ones myself."

  Chen Yi had made up her mind since Ye Ming was taken away: no matter what others said or gossiped, she would go to plead for Ye Ming! Even if people saw through her feelings for Ye Ming and it ended in her own downfall, she didn't care!

  So now she dares to show her concern for Ye Ming in front of Qiu Shunming and others without any scruples.

  Xia Chuchu also took out a set of sportswear and the two "He Tianxia" cigarettes from the shopping bag, walked to Ye Ming's face, smiled and said: "I also bought you a set of clothes and two cigarettes, put them here for now! Listen to Sister Chen, hurry up and shave your beard, then go to the washroom to change your clothes, and accompany me to eat later!"

  "What? Accompany you for dinner?"

  Ye Ming's eyes widened in shock, his face filled with an expression of utter incredulity.