Chapter 109

Yin Qiuhong, listen to me, come along quietly—this is your only way to live! Don't keep resisting; immediately release Lin Dongfan and strive for lenient handling!

Yang Qing grabbed a loudspeaker and shouted outside.

No one responded inside or outside.

Doors and windows were sealed shut; there was no way to see inside.

At that moment, Nanzhou Municipal Party Committee Secretary Gao Peng, Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary Chu Jinsong, Special Case Team Leader Leng Chuan, and Municipal Public Security Bureau Chief Xu Liangyuan, among others, arrived at the scene one after another.

This was Gao Peng's first public appearance after studying in Jing.

Gao Peng asked Yang Qing: "What's the situation inside now?"

"We don't know yet; Lin Dongfan went in and hasn't come out." Yang Qing reported truthfully: "There's a bomb inside, and two gunshots have been heard."

Upon hearing that two gunshots had been fired, Chu Jinsong's face grew grim.

Chu Jinsong asked: "Has anyone been injured?"

"It seems there are no other hostages inside, so probably no one is hurt." Yang Qing said: "Lin Dongfan once messaged us, telling us not to approach."

Upon learning that Lin Dongfan was unharmed, Chu Jinsong finally relaxed.

Chu Jinsong analyzed with Gao Peng: "Secretary Gao, Yin Qiuhong has no way out and is very likely to take Lin Dongfan hostage."

Hearing that, Gao Peng's face instantly darkened.

In Gao Peng's view:

Today is his first day back in Nanzhou, and all that has happened today is a deliberate welcome gift from Chu Jinsong, Leng Chuan, and the others.

With the year-end approaching, stability maintenance work is already of utmost importance.

Moreover, the province has already set up an anti-corruption and anti-crime office, issuing repeated orders—anti-corruption and anti-crime know no forbidden zones! This is a heavy-handed strike by Secretary Liang before his departure.

Under these circumstances.

Driving Yin Qiuhong to the point of armed resistance is tantamount to exacerbating the conflict and blowing a simple corruption case out of proportion.

If Yin Qiuhong really detonated the bomb.

Someone would die.

Then how would he, as the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, explain it to the province?

You people, in pursuit of your own goals, disregard consequences and impact—do you still have any regard for me, the Municipal Party Committee Secretary?

Gao Peng buried his fury deep inside.

He turned to question Leng Chuan: "Comrade Leng Chuan, your special case team has been stationed in Nanzhou for a while. Before I wasn't in Nanzhou, so I didn't ask about some things. Now that I'm back, you make arrests without even saying hello to me. You've caused this huge trouble—who's going to take responsibility? You, or your superior Liu Yishou?"

Those words could be described as a sword through the heart.

Lin Dongfan is still inside, very likely being held hostage by Yin Qiuhong; as the top official of Nanzhou, aren't you worried about the hostages' safety, but instead rush to shift blame?

Leng Chuan, unable to bear it any longer, retorted:

"Secretary Liang of the Provincial Party Committee ordered that anti-corruption and anti-crime efforts have no forbidden zones! Our special case team took action to apprehend Yin Qiuhong based on solid evidence—there's nothing wrong with the procedure!"

The procedure being fine means there's no need to report to you, Gao Peng.

Seeing Gao Peng's face grow darker and darker.

Leng Chuan continued: "Right now, our special case team members are risking their lives to go in and negotiate, finding themselves in peril! The urgent priority, I believe, is to first figure out how to rescue them."

Facing Leng Chuan, who was like a thorn, Gao Peng angrily smiled without speaking.

Gao Peng suddenly realized that Secretary Liang had transferred Leng Chuan, this type of person, to the anti-corruption bureau and sent him to Nanzhou to investigate cases, determined to purge a batch and foster another before his departure.

Gao Peng gave Chu Jinsong, who remained silent, a meaningful look.

This political and legal affairs chief, also someone promoted by Secretary Liang, hopes I will lend a hand to help him take down Xiao Yunce for the mayor's position.

Now my attitude is leaning slightly toward Xiao Yunce—does that mean they want to take me down together?

Thinking this through.

Gao Peng directly threw the problem at Chu Jinsong: "Jinsong, the person now in peril is your son-in-law; as his father-in-law, don't you have any ideas?"

"The riot police should be arriving soon."

Chu Jinsong had already anticipated that Gao Peng would give him a tough problem; earlier on the way here, he had discussed a solution with Xu Liangyuan of the City Bureau and had mobilized the riot police.

Chu Jinsong took the loudspeaker from Yang Qing's hand.

He shouted toward the house: "Yin Qiuhong, I'm Chu Jinsong. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me; don't do something foolish. Put down your weapons and come out now—I can guarantee your safety, no one will take your life. If you continue to resist, you should realize the situation is very unfavorable to you……"

The meaning behind these words.

It is a hint to Yin Qiuhong: if she continues to resist, someone will eventually order her to be shot on the spot!

This is exactly what the Executive faction hopes to see.

Shooting her dead would amount to permanently sealing her mouth.

Yin Qiuhong inside heard every word clearly; she understood the implication, but she thought it was nonsense—right now she just wants to enjoy herself.

The little blue pill works quite well.

Under the threat of the gun, Lin Dongfan dared not hold back.

When Lin Dongfan was exhausted, Yin Qiuhong also showed a satisfied smile: "Is this what they call forever being unable to get you?"

"I overestimated your integrity."

Lin Dongfan lay motionless on top of her, limp as mud.

Originally frivolous Yin Qiuhong.

She suddenly lifted Lin Dongfan's head, kissed him lightly, and spoke earnestly from the heart: "If anyone's to blame, blame your parents for making you too classic—getting you ought to be the dream of many girls."

"Are you a looks‑first person?" Lin Dongfan gave a wry smile.

Yin Qiuhong frankly said: "Men like beautiful women; women like handsome men—that's quite normal."

That viewpoint is hard to refute.

Seeing Yin Qiuhong's emotions stabilize, her mood seemed much better than before.

Lin Dongfan seized the moment to appeal to her heart: "If I'm the type you like, I've now satisfied your needs—can't you hear me out? Come with me to turn yourself in."

No.

Why? Do you really not want to live?

Yes, I'm sick of living. Even if I die, I want to die by my own hand. Those disgusting men out there have no right to judge me.

Damn, you've left me speechless.

Being speechless is right. Don't say anything else. Thanks for giving me a happy day.

Saying this, Yin Qiuhong kissed Lin Dongfan's forehead again.

She then pushed Lin Dongfan away with one hand.

She pointed her gun at Lin Dongfan.

With a half‑smile, she issued a command: "I don't need anyone's charity or pity. Put on your clothes and pants, and go out."

"Then answer my three questions," Lin Dongfan said while pulling on his pants: "You help me, and I'll repay you in the future. After you die, I'll burn paper for you every Qingming."

"You dog of a man, just finished sleeping and now you hope I die." Yin Qiuhong's face instantly filled with resentment as she aimed her gun at Lin Dongfan's head: "Believe it or not, I'll blow your brains out with one shot!"

He figured she wouldn't pull the trigger.

Lin Dongfan replied calmly: "I want you to live, but you won't go turn yourself in with me. You said you're sick of living—how does that make me a dog of a man? It's utterly unjust."

"Go ahead, what do you want to ask?"

"First question: Who is G Xiansheng?"

"I don't know; I only know he's called G Xiansheng."

"Then how do you contact him?"

"We contact online. I've already answered your two questions, so you can only ask one more."

"The second doesn't count."

"I'm giving you face right now—don't haggle with me! Final question: will you ask it or not? If not, get out quick; there's going to be an explosion soon, I'm not joking."

"Third question: Regarding Yang Tao of Green Bamboo Village, who mysteriously disappeared during a petition trip—where have you locked him up?"

Hearing this, Yin Qiuhong's face flickered with surprise.

She had thought Lin Dongfan would ask about Xiao Yunce's crimes, but she never imagined he'd use his last chance on an ordinary villager.

In his mind, a villager's life or death mattered more than toppling a mayor.

Truly a public servant of the people?

Yin Qiuhong said tentatively: "Your heart isn't ruthless enough; you can't beat Xiao Yunce like this. I'll give you one last chance—ask again."

"Where have you locked up Yang Tao?"

Lin Dongfan didn't even think; his clothes were already on, his eyes fixed on Yin Qiuhong as he waited for a definite answer.

Yin Qiuhong shook her head with a smile: "Idiot, you may go."

"You still haven't answered my third question," Lin Dongfan rebuked sternly: "The Yang family is now ruined, Liu Hong drags around a five‑year‑old child who's bullied every day—do you know how miserable she is? All of this is because you assigned blame unfairly, making the Yang family take the fall."

"So I choose to atone with my death," Yin Qiuhong said, grinning like a maniac: "The one who captured Yang Tao wasn't me—got it? Idiot."

"Then I withdraw my third question and ask again."

"Sorry, you've used up your three‑round affection—one round for one question, it's over. Get out! Stay away from this house, behave."

Throughout their exchange, Yin Qiuhong kept her gun aimed at Lin Dongfan.

Seeing Lin Dongfan stand there unmoving.

Yin Qiuhong coldly chuckled again: "I'll count down; if you don't leave, you'll stay here as a corpse—I don't mind. Ten, nine, eight…"

"Give me the gun!"

Lin Dongfan tried to rush forward to seize the gun, to stop her from courting death.

He had just taken a step forward.

With a bang, the gunshot rang out; the bullet grazed Lin Dongfan's scalp and flew off. He felt a chill on his skin, looked up, and saw a few bleak strands of broken hair drift down.

Yin Qiuhong still wore her manic grin: "Killing is easy, saving is hard—get it? Idiot, I don't need your rescue; scram! Seven, six, five…"