Chapter 1020: The Secret in the Gas Cylinder

There's really nothing else of value left at home!

Meng Wanqing jerked her head up; her face, still wet with tears, showed a hint of forced stubbornness, her delicate makeup smudged by tears, yet she still tried to keep up the last semblance of dignity.

Everything I live with and use is earned from my own livestreaming. Fan tips, advertising sales—every penny is clean and has nothing to do with my dad.

Meng Wanqing clenched her fists nervously, her panicked gaze deliberately avoiding Lin Dongfan's eyes.

She stared fixedly at the imported wool carpet on the floor—she had just replaced it last month, and the handiwork alone cost enough for an ordinary salaried worker to earn half a year.

All earned by yourself?

Lin Dongfan gave a faint smile, his gaze sweeping over the valuable furnishings in the living room before settling on Meng Wanqing's face: 'A bottle of mineral water costing 680,000— which big-shot tycoon gave it to you?'

!!!

That simple question made Meng Wanqing's face turn deathly pale; she didn't dare to name the tycoon.

She lowered her head.

Tears welled up again.

Those unaware thought she had suffered a great injustice.

A woman's tears easily arouse a man's sympathy and protective instinct, but today's Master Fan is clearly not a sentimentalist overflowing with compassion.

Lin Dongfan stared intently at Meng Wanqing's every move, full of pressure: 'I'll ask one last time— is your dad hiding some illicit goods here?'

Meng Wanqing shook her head like a rattle drum.

She clenched her hands tightly around the silk skirt's hem.

Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's buzz: 'No… no, my dad never left anything here…' After saying that she wiped her tears, her breathing choked with sobs.

Lin Dongfan's eyes darkened; he stopped wasting words on her, turning to the Discipline Inspection officer beside him and ordered: 'First cuff her and take her aside to watch.'

What are you doing?!

When the Discipline Inspection officer moved to cuff her, Meng Wanqing screamed in fright and instinctively stepped back.

Soon another Discipline Inspection officer pressed down on her shoulder.

Nowhere to retreat!

The moment the cold handcuffs locked around her wrists, Meng Wanqing broke down completely, crying and struggling: 'I haven't broken any law, what right do you have to cuff me? My dad's affairs have nothing to do with me…'

Just then.

The detained Meng Qinghe could no longer bear the boredom.

He struggled while letting out 'wuu wuu wuu' cries, his angry gaze locked on Lin Dongfan, as if wanting to curse Lin Dongfan's ancestors.

Lin Dongfan glanced at him, his eyes showing no ripple, and outright ignored him.

Everyone, spread out and search carefully— leave no corner unchecked!

At Lin Dongfan's command, several Discipline Inspection workers immediately fanned out, launching a carpet‑search of the luxurious villa.

Footsteps, the rustling of moved objects, and the creak of opening and closing cabinet doors intertwined.

They shattered the villa's original tranquility.

Meng Wanqing was cuffed to the indoor stairwell railing, crying tearfully, yet she dared not make a sound, only able to watch helplessly as the workers rummaged through boxes and cabinets.

Time ticked by second by second.

Although the livestream room had been shut down, the footage from just moments ago had already spread wildly online.

At this moment, hashtags like #LiveStreamCatchCorruptOfficials# and #Deputy Mayor Meng's Downfall# had surged to the top of the trending list, with the whole net awaiting an official update on further developments.

But the on‑site search results left everyone frowning.

'Mayor Lin, we've searched the upstairs bedrooms and study— no suspicious items found, the safe is empty.'

'The downstairs storage room and wardrobe have also been searched. Aside from some luxury clothing and bags, we found no large sums of cash or valuables.'

'We've checked the bathrooms and balconies— no hidden compartments or traces of concealment.'

……

Several of the workers in charge of the search returned one after another to report, their faces showing disappointment and anxiety.

Section Chief Sun approached Lin Dongfan and lowered his voice: 'Mayor Lin, could the intel be wrong? Maybe Meng Qinghe moved the illicit money elsewhere?'

Section Chief Sun's tone carried a hint of worry.

Tonight this matter has blown up huge, with the entire internet watching its progress.

If tonight we turn up no evidence of wrongdoing, not only will we fail to give the public an explanation, but the Discipline Inspection Commission and Lin Dongfan will also have to bear enormous pressure—and might even be bitten back.

The other workers also wore solemn expressions, and the atmosphere momentarily grew oppressive.

Seeing this, Meng Qinghe struggled even harder, his 'wuu wuu' cries tinged with a hint of smugness, as if mocking them for wasting their effort.

Lin Dongfan furrowed his brows, his eyes scanning back and forth across the villa.

He didn't believe that Meng Qinghe's years of corruption would leave not a trace.

Meng Wanqing, just graduated, could afford such a luxurious villa and use such extravagant items— behind it must be Meng Qinghe's support; the illicit funds must be hidden in this villa, we just haven't found them yet.

Huh?

Lin Dongfan's gaze suddenly stopped at the kitchen doorway.

It was an open‑plan kitchen, luxuriously renovated, with a full set of imported appliances gleaming. Yet in the kitchen corner sat a conspicuously out‑of‑place large gas cylinder, clashing with the surrounding luxury.

Nowadays, upscale residential complexes in the city have long been piped with gas— especially mansions of this tycoon caliber, which were hooked up to natural gas lines long ago.

Why would the Meng family still be using bottled gas?

Lin Dongfan, full of doubt, told the nearby worker: 'Take that gas cylinder out and examine it carefully.'

What are you doing?

Meng Wanqing suddenly panicked, wanting to rush forward to stop them, but her right hand was cuffed to the stair railing. The harder she struggled, the tighter her wrist hurt, the skin already rubbed raw.

With tear‑blurred eyes she shouted: 'That's just an ordinary gas cylinder, worth nothing…'

This intense reaction.

Instead, it made Lin Dongfan even more certain that there was something wrong inside.

"Ordinary gas?" Lin Dongfan glanced at her, his eyes sharp as a knife: "Your home has piped gas, why would you still use bottled gas?"

"I..." Meng Wanjing stammered: "Normally I like self-driving trips, sometimes I barbecue outdoors, bringing a gas canister is convenient... This gas canister is a spare, I haven't had a chance to use it yet..."

"Spare?"

Lin Dongfan snorted coldly: "Using such a large gas canister for outdoor barbecue? Can you even move it?"

……!!!

Meng Wanjing was left speechless by the questioning, her lips trembling, unable to speak, tears began to fall again; this time, her eyes showed a hint of panic and fear.

Lin Dongfan no longer paid attention to her, instead ordering the staff: "Drag it out, examine it carefully!"

"Yes."

A discipline inspection commissioner stepped forward immediately, grabbed the gas canister's handle, intending to lift it with one hand, but ended up with a bewildered face: "How is it so heavy?"

With one hand, it simply couldn't be lifted.

The discipline inspection commissioner switched to using both hands, exerting all his strength, yet still couldn't lift the gas canister! Even trying to tilt the bottle to roll it using its round base was impossible.

It's ridiculously heavy!

"Mayor Lin, something's off!" the discipline inspection commissioner said in a low voice, "This gas canister is far too heavy—several times heavier than a normal full canister!"

A normal large gas canister, when full, weighs just over fifty catties.

Someone with a bit of strength can easily shoulder it.

But this gas canister—let alone shouldering it, it can't even be budged; the discipline inspection commissioner preliminarily estimated: "Its weight is at least over five hundred catties."

Lin Dongfan's eyes narrowed: "Meng Wanjing, what on earth is inside this gas canister?!"

Meng Wanjing lowered her head, trembling, her voice weak yet she stubbornly insisted: "I just... I just said it was gas; if you don't believe me, you can open the valve and test it..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, clearly lacking breath.

Lin Dongfan stared at her nervous, guilty appearance, already having an answer in his mind. This gas canister absolutely hides an unknown secret.