Chapter 59

Wang Changyuan had been rolling in the political arena for many years. While he couldn't claim to have developed a keen eye, he was certainly a shrewd observer. With just a glance, he could discern others' thoughts to a large extent.

However, today he encountered Chu Ying, a young man in his twenties who wore a harmless, gentle smile on his face. Yet, his eyes were sharp and seemed to hide immense secrets that others couldn't fathom.

Regarding Chu Ying, Wang Changyuan could only sense that this young man was not ordinary, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what made him so special.

"Please come in, but keep your voices down. My wife and child just fell asleep. Let's not disturb them," Wang Changyuan said in a low voice, gesturing for them to enter.

"Director Wang is a good husband and father. We will be careful!" Chu Ying smiled faintly and entered Wang Changyuan's house with Zhang Hua.

It was a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment. Although not large, it didn't feel cramped. The well-arranged decor gave it a fresh and pleasant feel.

Zhang Gang could afford a standalone villa. Even though the position of Deputy Chief of the Qingyang City Police Department didn't offer as much as Zhang Gang's position as the mayor, it was still possible to get a much larger and better house. Yet, Wang Changyuan chose to live in the unit's family building. If he wasn't a clean and upright official, he must be a great villain.

Whether Wang Changyuan was the former or the latter, both types were difficult to deal with. Chu Ying began to worry about Zhang Hua. If Zhang Hua couldn't handle this matter, it might backfire. The worst outcome would be if Wang Changyuan mistakenly thought Zhang Hua was a treacherous person who only reported behind others' backs, making the situation much more complicated.

"What brings you two here?" Wang Changyuan led Chu Ying and Zhang Hua to the living room but didn't turn on the lights. His voice was low, and he got straight to the point without any pleasantries.

Facing Wang Changyuan, Zhang Hua seemed either scared or uncomfortable with the oppressive atmosphere. He sat on the soft sofa as if it were a bed of nails, feeling extremely uneasy.

He cast a pleading look at Chu Ying but couldn't see his expression in the dark. His voice stammered, "Director Wang, we came today..."

Chu Ying sighed inwardly. No wonder Zhang Hua was still just a squad leader; his interpersonal skills were terrible. He quickly interrupted Zhang Hua and said, "While out today, I found a diary on the road. I asked Captain Zhang to come with me to hand it over to Director Wang."

There was no choice. Before understanding Wang Changyuan's character, and given Zhang Hua's stammering in front of his superior, Chu Ying had to take the lead. Since he and Zhang Hua came together, it already showed their stance. If Wang Changyuan was willing to cooperate, he wouldn't treat Zhang Hua unfairly. So, it didn't matter who handed over the diary.

Wang Changyuan sneered, "Just a diary, no need to bring it to me."

Chu Ying replied, "Director Wang, after reading the diary, you might think differently!"

"Director Wang, please take a look." Zhang Hua quickly handed the diary to Wang Changyuan and smiled gratefully at Chu Ying, though Chu Ying couldn't see it.

Wang Changyuan knew these two wouldn't come without a reason. He took the diary and used his phone's weak light to read it.

Chu Ying observed Wang Changyuan's facial expressions. Initially, the old fox showed a hint of shock, but quickly masked it. His expression then became indifferent, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.

After a long while, Wang Changyuan closed the diary and said coolly, "This matter is not within my jurisdiction. You should hand it over to the disciplinary committee."

Zhang Hua finally found a chance to speak, "I glanced at the content and found it involves many people. If we hand it over to the disciplinary committee, the entire Qingyang City will be shaken. On my advice, we brought Brother Ying to see Director Wang."

Chu Ying inwardly smiled. Zhang Hua was still somewhat smart, knowing how to advocate for himself.

"You are Brother Ying?" Wang Changyuan's eyes widened in surprise.

Chu Ying scratched his head and laughed, "Is my name that famous?"

Wang Changyuan sighed, not answering Chu Ying's question. He said coolly, "The theft at Mayor Zhang Gang's house in Qingshan Town and the appearance of his diary here must be related, right?"

Chu Ying found this guy's gloominess repulsive but had to be patient. "Director Wang, you're joking. I'm a good citizen who knows the importance of returning lost items. Isn't that why I brought the diary to you?"

Wang Changyuan said indifferently, "I've seen the contents. You two can leave now."

"Director Wang, this—" Zhang Hua was anxious, but he knew his words carried little weight. He turned to Chu Ying for help again.

Chu Ying smiled and said, "Since Director Wang has seen it, it's just a diary. It's a bit much to trouble you. Could you please return it to me?"

Wang Changyuan was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "I want to know what role you play in this, or what you want to gain."

Given Wang Changyuan's intelligence, he naturally saw that if Chu Ying wanted to bring down Zhang Gang, he could simply hand the diary to the disciplinary committee. But he didn't do that; instead, he came to him. Getting this diary was like a timely rain for him, as he was struggling to deal with Ma Qingfeng. Now, the situation was completely different.

The diary contained a large portion about the transactions between Zhang Gang and Ma Qingfeng. Any of these could be fatal to Ma Qingfeng, especially at this critical moment in the competition for the chief position. It almost guaranteed Ma Qingfeng's downfall.

But why did Chu Ying do this? Was it to clear his name of the theft?

This thought appeared in Wang Changyuan's mind but was quickly dismissed. After the diary was handed to the disciplinary committee, the Qingyang City political scene would experience unprecedented turmoil, and everyone's attention would be on this matter. No one would care about the origin of the diary.

Based on these reasons, Wang Changyuan was suspicious of Chu Ying's intentions.

Chu Ying smiled and said, "Director Wang, you're overthinking it. Captain Zhang felt this diary was significant, and you are known for your fairness and integrity, so he thought of you." His implication was clear: the credit for the diary belonged to Zhang Hua, and Wang Changyuan should know what to do.

Although Wang Changyuan didn't explicitly state his stance, Chu Ying had already found the answer from his previous words. Faced with a great opportunity for promotion, no one would give it up unless they were foolish.

"Alright, you can leave now," Wang Changyuan said, still in that indifferent tone, waving his hand.

"Director Wang, we—"

Zhang Hua was anxious, not getting a clear answer from Wang Changyuan. Before he could finish his sentence, Chu Ying kicked him from behind. He picked up the diary from the coffee table, tore it in half, and casually threw one half in front of Wang Changyuan, smiling faintly, "This should be enough. I need to go to the bathroom, so I'll keep this half for wiping."