Chapter 120: Chapter 117: Conflicts of Interest

After speaking, Zhang Yantong quickly gathered her things, preparing to leave. Fang Qin watched silently as Zhang Yantong packed up and then left the police station with a helpless sigh. Once Zhang Yantong finished, she placed her shoulder bag on the desk, grabbed a bunch of keys, and headed toward the interrogation room. Ye Chen, not yet formally charged, was temporarily confined there.

Inside the interrogation room, Ye Chen sat in a corner, a cigarette perpetually burning between his fingers. He tilted his head back to gaze at the room’s only window—a tiny one, barred with steel rods. Outside, dusk had fallen, and moonlight streamed in through the window. Watching the pure, silvery light, Ye Chen sighed deeply. Though the matter had escalated, he felt no regret. If time could be rewound, he would make the same choice again.

Creak—

The interrogation room door suddenly opened. At the threshold stood a beautiful figure, dressed casually—long, slender legs and a white t-shirt that accentuated her allure. There were no lights around; the only illumination came from the moonlight pouring through the window. The moonlight bathed Zhang Yantong’s face, rendering her almost sacred and radiant. Yet, in Ye Chen’s eyes, that radiance seemed dimmed.

“You came...” Ye Chen took a drag from his cigarette, the spark flaring brightly.

“Smoke less; it’s bad for your health!” Zhang Yantong glanced at him.

“I’m not smoking cigarettes; I’m smoking loneliness!” Ye Chen grinned, delivering a line full of bravado. Zhang Yantong shot him a sharp look, surprised he could still joke at a time like this. Ye Chen laughed and said, “Weren’t you off work? Why are you still here?”

“I came to find you!” Zhang Yantong replied, looking at Ye Chen. “I promised you something, but I can’t keep it.”

“I saw that coming!” Ye Chen chuckled.

“Why?” Zhang Yantong asked in surprise. “How did you know?”

“There are things I know better inside than you do outside,” Ye Chen said with a faint smile. “Zhang Dadan may have fallen, but his influence remains. More importantly, there are his people within the police station. Plus, many in Jianghuai City harbor a deep hatred for me. So, I never expected to walk out alive.”

“Looks like you really know what’s going on,” Zhang Yantong smiled lightly.

“Not just that. I know you begged your father, but he refused!” Ye Chen stood, dropped his cigarette butt to the floor, stomped it out, and smiled. “Want to know why he said no?”

“Why?” Zhang Yantong asked curiously.

“Because of Jiang Zhonggen!” Ye Chen’s smile deepened. “Jiang Zhonggen is about to join the provincial party committee. By then, he and Zhang Kaiguo might be colleagues. Their relationship is decent, but when it comes to conflicting interests, they could turn on each other. Zhang Kaiguo doesn’t want to meddle in Jianghuai City affairs at such a critical moment. If he did, it would be like dismissing Jiang Zhonggen altogether.”

“Do you know Jiang Zhonggen well? He doesn’t want to get involved either!” Zhang Yantong laughed.

“That’s normal!” Ye Chen replied. “Jiang Zhonggen is about to be promoted, which is the most important thing in his life right now. He doesn’t want to waste energy here. If he slips up in Jianghuai City, he’ll regret it. So, only some minor players can make decisions in this matter.”

“If I told you your prediction was wrong?” Zhang Yantong smiled with pursed lips.

“Uh...” Ye Chen was momentarily stunned but quickly shook his head. “Impossible. My judgment never fails!”

“Well, I’m telling you—you’re free now!” Zhang Yantong stepped inside and unlocked Ye Chen’s handcuffs. Ye Chen looked surprised and took two steps back. “Are you crazy? Releasing a prisoner like this will ruin your career!”

“There’s no bright future to lose,” Zhang Yantong shook her head, her voice filled with pain. “I thought turning you in would lessen your sentence. But someone’s determined to see you dead. Now, I’m confused. I can’t keep my promise, so this is the only way to get you out.”

Tears fell from Zhang Yantong’s eyes, glistening like sparkling jewels in the moonlight. Ye Chen shook his head helplessly, stepping forward to embrace her. “As long as you tried, I won’t blame you.”

“No, no! I can’t just let them send you to the execution block!” Zhang Yantong bit her lip in determination.

Ye Chen leaned down, pressing his lips against Zhang Yantong’s rosy ones. Her eyes widened in disbelief. That scoundrel was taking advantage of her! As she froze, Ye Chen’s tongue deftly parted her lips and entwined with hers. A subtle fragrance surrounded his tongue like sweet honey. He sucked on her tongue delicately, as if savoring a treat.

“Mmm...” Zhang Yantong snapped back to reality, struggling, but found she couldn’t break free from Ye Chen’s strong arms, which gripped her like iron clamps. There’s a saying: life is like a forced embrace; instead of struggling painfully, better to relax and enjoy it slowly. After a moment of resistance, Zhang Yantong wrapped her arms around Ye Chen’s waist, and their lips met in a fiery, if awkward, kiss—tentative but yearning.

Ye Chen was a restless man. After conquering Zhang Yantong’s tongue, his left hand slipped beneath her t-shirt, grasping a proud, full breast. Zhang Yantong’s eyes widened, and she staggered back, shaking her head. “No, no, don’t! We can’t do this!”

“Heh...” Ye Chen grinned. “Captain Zhang, you’re shy, aren’t you?”

“Bastard!” Zhang Yantong bit her reddened lips, flushed with anger, glaring at him. “Leave now, or you won’t get the chance! So many people want you dead because of connections. If you don’t leave, you won’t survive!”

“No,” Ye Chen shook his head. “I would have left without hesitation before. Trying to trap me in this dump? Impossible. But now, I can’t go.”

He gazed out the window as clouds partially obscured the moonlight.

“Why?” Zhang Yantong asked, stunned.

“Because there are people I care about here in Jianghuai City,” Ye Chen said softly.

Zhang Yantong’s expression dimmed. She looked at him and asked, “Is it Li Ruo?”

“Not just her, but you, too,” Ye Chen said seriously, looking deep into Zhang Yantong’s eyes. Without realizing when, she had already left a deep impression on his heart. Her previously dull eyes brightened considerably. She exclaimed, “Ah, you...”

At that moment, a shy, youthful tenderness blossomed within Zhang Yantong’s heart. First love is sweet, bitter, and sour all at once.

“And my brothers,” Ye Chen added. “I used to run away from responsibility, which led to dozens of my brothers dying at others’ hands. Now I understand a man must shoulder his duties. If I left, not only would you suffer, but my brothers would, too. So, I can’t leave.”

Zhang Yantong looked up at Ye Chen. Only now did she realize beneath his seemingly roguish face lay a heart rich with justice. The moonlight pierced the clouds as if drawn by Ye Chen’s words, casting a pure glow on his features, outlining him like the god of justice descending from Greek mythology.

Her heart pounded wildly; she was utterly captivated by Ye Chen. She couldn’t suppress her emotions or still the frantic beating of her heart.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do everything I can to lighten your sentence!” Zhang Yantong said through gritted teeth.

...

In the city government’s residential district, inside the family home of the municipal party secretary, the family gathered watching television. Jiang Zhonggen looked curiously at his underachieving son, Jiang Wei. “Jiang Wei, why didn’t you go out to play today?”

“Boring,” Jiang Wei shook his head.

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“Our boss got arrested. My gang doesn’t have anything fun to do, so we’re stuck at home,” Jiang Wei stretched lazily. Jiang Wei’s mother chuckled, “You silly boy, you’re the son of the municipal party secretary, destined to be the son of the provincial party secretary, yet you’re running around as a gang member!”

“Don’t say that, watch who’s listening!” Jiang Zhonggen shot his wife a glance and then asked casually, “Who’s your boss anyway?”

“Ye Chen, the one you refused to rescue!” Jiang Wei looked at him. “Anyway, I’m going to bed. You don’t care about this stuff.”

“Wait!” Jiang Zhonggen called out, curious. “Lately, everything’s about Ye Chen. What kind of person is he to have so many people obsessed with him?”

“Sigh, Ye Chen’s a good man. He’d risk everything for his brothers. You wouldn’t understand. It goes against your constant preaching of ‘self-preservation’!” Jiang Wei laughed and turned into his room. Jiang Zhonggen frowned, muttering, “Ye Chen...”