Chapter 156

Lin Dongfan walked ahead, while Xu Liangyuan followed, earnestly urging: "Take my advice—arguing solves nothing; don't make a scene."

If arguing doesn't solve the problem, then we'll slap faces.

Lin Dongfan strode into the Municipal Party Committee building; his next stop was Office No. 1, which he headed straight for.

Xu Liangyuan broke out in a cold sweat: "What's the difference between arguing and slapping faces? Ridiculous! That's not how a public official ought to behave..."

"You're absolutely right—I must not retaliate or talk back; I'll just sit and wait for Secretary Gao to deal with me."

Lin Dongfan tossed off a sarcastic remark that left Xu Liangyuan clutching his aching heart, as if he'd glimpsed the Bridge of Helplessness, and even the air seemed to exude a gloomy, bone‑chilling cold.

He stood there, stunned for two seconds, while Lin Dongfan—marching as if on a forced march—had already stepped into the elevator.

Helplessly.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and catch up.

The elevator reached the ninth floor; nine, in traditional culture, is the extreme of yang numbers—a symbol of nobility and also of the pinnacle of local power.

Some local officials with greater ambitions even place their offices in the fifth room on the ninth floor.

It subtly echoes the cultural connotation of the "Nine Five Supreme."

Gao Peng is such a person—the fifth room on the ninth floor is his office. His office lies within, securely situated, while outside is the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, Jiang Huailiang.

Upon entering, Lin Dongfan was stopped by Jiang Huailiang.

Jiang Huailiang didn't address Lin Dongfan; he turned his reproachful gaze to the higher‑ranking Xu Liangyuan: "Director Xu, I told you to arrest people—why did you bring him here?"

"Secretary Jiang, this matter—I…"

Xu Liangyuan wore a look of bitter frustration he couldn't put into words.

Before he could organize his explanation.

Lin Dongfan retorted to Jiang Huailiang: "Every brick and tile here was built with the people's tax money. I'm also part of the populace—why can't I come?"

"This is a restricted office area, not a public place!" Jiang Huailiang's face flushed slightly angry as he warned Lin Dongfan: "Your issue could be big or small; stepping back now is still possible."

That remark carries a double meaning—no wonder he's a secretary who came from a pen‑wielding background.

First meaning: tell Lin Dongfan to withdraw voluntarily, don't recklessly intrude into Secretary Gao's restricted office.

Second meaning: tell Lin Dongfan to sensibly release Wang Minjuan, or else it'll be too late to regret! You, such a lowly little ant, even dream of arm‑wrestling Secretary Gao—utterly clueless about life and death!

Either way, it carries a nauseating vibe.

In Lin Dongfan's view:

It's like taking a woman's used sanitary pad, pretending it's a large band‑aid, slapping it bloody on his face! Not only do they want to shut his mouth, they also want to force him to spit out whatever he's swallowed at the door.

"I hate those shameless scumbags who gag women with used sanitary pads. You love those pads so much—why not go to Thailand for a perverse surgery? If you're short on cash, I'll cover your travel expenses!"

Saying this, Lin Dongfan angrily flicked his hand, shoving Jiang Huailiang aside.

Jiang Huailiang was both angry and bewildered.

He was angry that this guy dared to force his way past the secretary's gate!

What bewildered him was that he couldn't understand Lin Dongfan's retorting logic at all!

When have I ever used a sanitary pad?

How did I become shameless?

How did I become a scumbag?

How did I become a pervert?

What gives them the right to send me to Thailand for surgery? We have experts at home!

……

Before Jiang Huailiang could even reconnect his short‑circuited brain nerves, Lin Dongfan had already pushed open the door to Office No. 1 of the Municipal Party Committee.

A scene of thunderous battle unfolded, and the next second the curtain rose.

"Who let you in? Get out!"

Gao Peng's voice was low and magnetic; apparently he often drinks tribute tea, his voice is well‑hydrated, and the official aura in his gaze rises quickly.

Xu Liangyuan instantly wilted.

He steeled himself and stepped forward to explain: "Secretary Gao, Lin Dongfan just wants to explain himself to you personally; I really can't stop him…"

His wording was fairly steady; he didn't say Lin Dongfan came to argue or slap faces.

Gao Peng immediately fixed his imposing gaze on Lin Dongfan: "What do you want to explain?"

"Director Xu's translation is off; today I'm not here to explain to you—I came to hear your explanation! Tell me, which law have I broken?"

As soon as those words left his mouth, the scene fell dead silent.

The atmosphere was unusually gloomy and cold!

Xu Liangyuan lowered his head, trembling, like a tragic figure pierced by myriad arrows, thinking: "Indeed, good advice can't sway a damned wretch; this kid Lin Dongfan must have gotten up on the wrong side this morning, forgotten his own weight, unable to gauge his position—this time even begging grandparents won't save him…"

In Gao Peng's cold, stern gaze, it was almost as if knives would fly out!

He stared at Lin Dongfan for several seconds, then suddenly turned his angry gaze to Xu Liangyuan: "Director Xu, don't you know how to enforce the law? If not, step down and let someone who does take over!"

Those words were undoubtedly another volley of heart‑piercing arrows, making Xu Liangyuan break out in a cold sweat.

Xu Liangyuan steeled himself to criticize Lin Dongfan: "Lin Dongfan! How dare you speak to the secretary like that? You have no manners—hurry up and apologize to Secretary Gao!"

At this moment, Xu Liangyuan still fantasized about keeping the peace.

"Using personnel authority to threaten subordinates over a disagreement—if that got out, people would really laugh." Lin Dongfan gave Gao Peng a slight smile: "You're giving up on the big picture?"

Gao Peng's face instantly darkened several shades, as if he couldn't muster a rebuttal.

Lin Dongfan added: "If you want to arrest me, that's not impossible—but you ought to give me a reasonable, legal, compliant reason. Tell me, what exactly have I done wrong?"

Apparently to preserve his "big picture" and avoid giving others a handle.

Gao Peng even managed a faint smile: "The person who really ought to explain is you—on the day Yin Qiuhong escaped, what were you doing inside?"

"I urged her to come out and surrender!"

Then why didn't she come out and turn herself in?

At the time I didn't know she had a perfect escape plan, which led to a futile effort—any problem?

Then why would she let you go out?

You should ask Yin Qiuhong about this; to keep anyone from fabricating stories and stabbing in the dark, I might as well come clean— that day Yin Qiuhong held a gun to my head and raped me three times! You tell me, isn't that infuriating?

As soon as his words fell, Xu Liangyuan's eyes bulged in shock, and he actually felt a little envious inside.

Gao Peng's complexion also became much more complicated.

I feel Lin Dongfan this brat is truly unrestrained, daring to openly admit being raped by Yin Qiuhong— is that complaining? No, it's blatant showing off, it's blatant provocation!

You ignorant thing!

A mere section-level cadre dares to storm into my office to provoke me, the Municipal Party Committee secretary! Where did you get that clownish confidence? Your 'sand' content is through the roof!

Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish!

Gao Peng suppressed his anger and on the spot ordered Xu Liangyuan: 'Since he has already admitted having a relationship with Yin Qiuhong, is there still any doubt that they colluded? Take him away!'

'This seems to be an era where whoever makes the claim bears the burden of proof.'

Lin Dongfan gave a cold smile.

He fired four heart‑piercing questions at Gao Peng: 'How do you prove I wasn't raped? How do you prove I secretly colluded with Yin Qiuhong? You don't even understand the presumption of innocence, so how did you become the Municipal Party Committee secretary? Tell me, is it because you dislike me and want to abuse your authority to frame me on some pretext?'

Gao Peng was questioned until his face flushed and his ears burned.

He angrily shouted: 'Director Xu, what are you still standing there for? Take him away immediately! Immediately...'

'Who is trying to frame you?'

Before Gao Peng could finish speaking, Provincial Party Committee Secretary Liang suddenly walked into the office; the faint smile on his face seemed to possess a mysterious power, instantly freezing the tense atmosphere.

Inside and out, not a sound was heard!