Chapter 4: Bring Forth the Shackles!

“Oh? Is that so?” Wang Long arched his brow, casting a mocking glance at Meng Rongrong. Then, with a sweep of his broad hand, he gave his orders.

“Men, seal off the scene,” he commanded. “Let’s go have a look at Miss Meng’s office.”

A flicker of panic flashed across Meng Rongrong’s face. She hadn’t expected Wang Long to play so dirty.

“Captain Wang, is it really appropriate for you to just barge into my office?” She quickly masked her anxiety. After all, she was a formidable woman who had navigated the business world for many years—she possessed a natural composure in the face of crisis. As Zhang Siying had said, Xiaofan was indeed capable, but to face the police immediately upon his return was hardly ideal.

“And why not?” Wang Long’s gaze grew colder. “Or perhaps, Miss Meng, are you trying to obstruct our investigation?”

Ordinarily, their positions in society were worlds apart—Wang Long and Meng Rongrong, as distant as heaven and earth. But now the situation was different. If evidence of Meng Rongrong’s involvement surfaced, he had the power to shut down the entire Huayang Group.

“Wait, Captain Wang,” Meng Rongrong interjected, her heart sinking. “Let me call Director Zhang.”

Everyone in Huajiang City knew: Wang Long was nothing more than a dog of the Song family. As for herself, she had a decent relationship with Director Zhang of the police bureau. Perhaps she could talk her way out of this.

It was true that Chen Fan had injured Song San, but they had no evidence. As for breaking and entering, Meng Rongrong was no pushover either.

She dialed Director Zhang, and he picked up immediately.

“Director Zhang, it’s like this—” she began, only to be cut off.

“Ah, Xiao Meng,” Director Zhang said, “Wang Long has already reported this to me. This is a matter of life and death—I have no authority to stop him. I’m sorry…”

Meng Rongrong was aghast, rushing to speak. “Director Zhang, listen to me—”

But the voice on the other end was frosty. “It’s not a matter of whether I listen or not. This time, I’m truly powerless.”

And with that, Director Zhang hung up.

Song Tiancheng arched his brow with a smirk, looking at Meng Rongrong. “Well? Finished your call? No way out, is there? Captain Wang, go ahead and start your search. I’ll have a word with Miss Meng.”

Wang Long merely grunted in assent and prepared to lead his men upstairs.

Meng Rongrong was frantic inside. It was obvious now—Director Zhang had been bought off by Song Tiancheng.

She shot Song Tiancheng a cold glare. “What do you want?”

He leaned in, a base, sly grin on his face. “Rongrong, I really didn’t expect it—your returning brother’s quite the expert, isn’t he? But so what? He can’t possibly fight the police, can he? If you want to resolve this, it still depends on you.”

Meng Rongrong narrowed her eyes, her entire demeanor turning icy. She wasn’t a fool—she understood perfectly well. Song Tiancheng wanted the xpail file in her possession. If she handed it over, she could say that Song San had stabbed himself for all anyone cared.

But that file…

“Anything except the xpail file,” she said coldly. “We can talk about cooperation, connections, even money. Whatever you want—just say the word.”

Song Tiancheng burst out laughing, exhaling in disdain as though he’d just heard the world’s funniest joke. “Meng Rongrong, what nonsense are you spouting? I’ve waited and schemed for so long, planted Song San at your side to keep watch over you, just for this chance. Power? Money? Do you think I lack those? All I want is the xpail file you hold. Or do you plan to let your precious brother spend the next few years behind bars?”

Those words struck straight at her heart. Xiaofan had just returned to her side, and all of this had happened because of her. He was simply young and impulsive—he’d accidentally injured Song San. If things spiraled out of control, she’d never forgive herself.

But...

Meng Rongrong’s entire body trembled. Without further thought, she blurted, “I’ll give you the file. Just don’t make things difficult for Chen Fan.”

Yet as she spoke, she seemed to age ten years in an instant.

Song Tiancheng laughed heartily. At last, the day he’d been waiting for! The xpail file—something that could be exchanged for a billion dollars. He’d tried everything, racked his brains, and still couldn’t get it. Who could have guessed that in the end, it would fall into his hands because of Meng Rongrong’s useless brother?

“Very good, Miss Meng. That’s more like it. After all, you and your brother have just been reunited, haven’t you? Isn’t it better to enjoy a family meal together? Compared to your precious brother’s safety, what does a worthless file matter?”

In the president’s office, Chen Fan let out a long breath.

“So you’re Wang Long?” he asked. “Which eye of yours saw me stab him? Have you ever seen anyone stab someone without getting a drop of blood on themselves?”

Song San was already dead. Yes, Chen Fan had sent him off himself. He’d thought that with Song San gravely injured, he’d cause no more trouble. But as it turned out, the man had been wearing a listening device—the entire situation in the room had been relayed to his master.

Now, with the police here, Chen Fan understood everything. He’d left the door open himself. He wanted to see how the Song family would explain planting someone at his sister’s side, acting as an inside man to steal the xpail file from her!

What kind of justice was that? If anyone else had entered that room, they’d have been killed by Song San’s slap before they knew what hit them.

Wang Long couldn’t meet Chen Fan’s eyes. There was something about the young man—barely twenty—and yet utterly unfazed by the sight of such violence, that made him deeply uneasy.

“Chen Fan, you and Song San were the only ones in that room. If you didn’t kill him, who did—Miss Meng?” Wang Long raised his voice, trying to intimidate him. But Chen Fan only looked at him with amusement, making it clear his effort was wasted.

Wang Long’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. All he wanted now was to get the cuffs on Chen Fan as quickly as possible.

“Cuff him—we’ll question him back at the station.”

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes. Cuff me? Really?

Old man, are you watching from Kunlun Mountain? Your disciple’s barely off the mountain two days and he’s about to be cuffed already! Damn it, this is outrageous!

“Are you kidding me? You must be another one of the Song family’s dogs, right? Why don’t you mention how they planted someone at Meng Rongrong’s side to control her? Or how a Song family member turned up in Huayang Group’s president’s office? Why do you only care about cuffing me? Oh, I see now—cuffing me was your whole reason for coming, wasn’t it? Go on, just try to lay a hand on me.”

Chen Fan crossed his legs idly. At this distance, if he wished, Wang Long would already be a dead man. Cuff him? On what grounds? It was clearly self-defense—otherwise, Song San would have killed him with a single blow.

Just then, a voice sounded from outside the door.

“That’s right, Captain Wang,” it said. “How can you cuff Brother Chen Fan? Damn it, Song San tried to frame him! He stabbed himself! I, Song Tiancheng, can testify to that!”