Chapter 21: The Anti-Corruption Bureau's Little Junior Sister

"Honey, today I heard my dad say that tomorrow you have to report to the provincial anti-corruption bureau. After that, you'll be working in the provincial capital, over two hundred kilometers away—what am I supposed to do?"

"I'm just going to familiarize myself with the work environment; I'll be back in Nanzhou in a few days."

"Really? Don't lie to me."

"Really."

"Then how many days is 'a few days'?"

"It shouldn't be more than a week; I'll come back after the task force is formed."

"Okay then, although I'll miss not seeing you for a week and will be very sad, I can call you every day—you must answer."

"On the wedding night, boundless affection between husband and wife."

"Chu Lingxi clung to him like a clingy little fairy, tightly nestled in Lin Dongfan's arms, unwilling to let go even for a moment."

"Lin Dongfan laughed and pinched her nose: 'You need a baby to keep you company.' He then pulled the blanket over their heads, and from under the covers came Chu Lingxi's bell-like giggle: 'Haha, itchy…'"

"What perfume did you spray today? It's so fragrant."

"I didn't spray anything."

"I get it—this is the scent of female hormones."

……

"The two of them shamelessly dove into researching human origins."

"Tonight everyone had quite a bit to drink; Shen Junlan specially had someone brew a few cups of honey water, intending to call the two out for some honey water to sober up."

"Just as they reached the door and were about to knock, they suddenly heard an improper sound coming from inside the room."

"Shen Junlan pulled her hand back, smiled and shook her head, turned and left, thinking that her wish to hold a grandchild was finally making progress."

"The next morning."

"Lin Dongfan rose early, kissed the still-sleeping Chu Lingxi goodbye, and slipped away."

"From Nanzhou to the provincial capital, it's over two hundred kilometers by highway—not far, not near. Lin Dongfan drove the Audi gifted by his mother-in-law; the whole trip took about two hours."

"Leng Chuan arranged for someone to meet Lin Dongfan at the entrance of the provincial procuratorate."

"The person was a delicate-looking young lady named Jian Sining. After chatting, they discovered they were alumni, both having graduated from the Law School of Jianglan Zhengfa University."

"Jian Sining was one year junior to Lin Dongfan; after graduation, she took three years of exams before entering the provincial procuratorate."

"With Jian Sining's help, Lin Dongfan smoothly completed the registration formalities and initially learned about the work environment of Investigation Division One of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau, meeting several new colleagues."

"Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes."

"It's clear that not everyone welcomes Lin Dongfan's arrival."

"But Jian Sining is still quite enthusiastic; at noon, under the pretense of a welcome lunch, she treated Lin Dongfan to a small restaurant, ordering several home-style dishes, paying out of her own pocket."

"Senior brother, don't think my spread is shabby—please, help yourself."

"Ordering six dishes for two people is already extravagant; at a high-end place, even if you invited me, I wouldn't dare go."

"Today is the first time we've met."

"If it weren't for the senior-junior sibling bond that subtly brought us closer, Lin Dongfan wouldn't have readily accepted Jian Sining's invitation."

"Jian Sining also noticed his cautious attitude."

"Jian Sining intentionally sought to draw them closer, saying with a smile: 'From now on we're colleagues, so I won't stand on ceremony—I hope you'll look out for me, senior brother.'"

"'You're being all polite and proper—how is that not being courteous?' Lin Dongfan chuckled."

"Jian Sining got up to pour Lin Dongfan orange juice: 'We can't drink alcohol during work, so I'm not preparing any wine—this isn't being polite; it's being down-to-earth.'"

"'Down-to-earth is fine—come, let's have a drink.'"

"Lin Dongfan raised his orange juice, clinked cups with Jian Sining, aiming for a lack of pretension."

"During the meal……"

"Jian Sining then chatted with Lin Dongfan about some matters concerning their alma mater."

"She said the old principal of their school had tarnished his later years, was recently arrested for embezzling 1.9 billion, and even the wiring used in his home renovations was made of gold—shocking to one's worldview."

"On this matter, Lin Dongfan found himself quite in agreement with her."

"Better wiring uses copper cores, but the old principal substituted gold for brass; when the renovation crew ran the electricals, they could simply snip a short segment of wire and take it home to forge a pure gold ring."

"This indeed overturns ordinary people's worldview."

"Jian Sining suddenly became eager to probe: 'Senior brother, Chief Leng personally named you for this secondment—does it mean there's a big case to investigate?'"

"This question put Lin Dongfan on the spot; he couldn't answer right away."

"Chief Leng keeps a tight lid on things—not only does Jian Sining not know that the 9·28 Task Force is about to be formed, but the other colleagues in Investigation Division One of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau are also unaware."

"Jian Sining's probing for inside information was clearly aimed at seizing an opportunity."

"Within the system, whoever holds more information gains more initiative. To advance, one must seize every fleeting opportunity and grab the investigative authority over major cases."

"But the 9·28 Case is a major case."

"If word leaked, the turtles in the pond would flee at the wind—who would bear the consequences then? Lin Dongfan couldn't afford such responsibility."

"Lin Dongfan, thinking this through, decided to feign ignorance with a laugh: 'You transferred me here to investigate a big case? I really don't know about that.'"

"You don't know either? Maybe I'm overthinking it."

"As they talked and laughed, Jian Sining continually observed Lin Dongfan's changing expression."

"She couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed deep down."

"She thought that the senior brother still didn't treat her as one of his own, was guarding against her—but that was normal, since on a first meeting you can't just lay your heart bare."

"Thinking to that point,"

"Jian Sining then poured out her life's hardships: 'Senior brother, don't think I'm hiding it—I'm from the countryside. As I told you before, I took the exam three years in a row before getting into the provincial procuratorate. On the third attempt, if my written score hadn't been first, I doubt I'd have the chance to sit here chatting with you now.'"

"'Same here—I grew up in the countryside too,' Lin Dongfan said."

"Jian Sining looked up at him with admiration: 'Now you're Chief Leng's personally chosen one—times have changed; I have to look up at you at a forty-five-degree angle.'"

Just say what you want to say, don't beat around the bush.

Lin Dongfan picked up some vegetables, neither putting on airs nor beating around the bush.

Jian Sining's smile instead carried a hint of embarrassment: "Senior brother, you've seen through me..."

"Your desire to improve is written all over your face—I'm not blind." Lin Dongfan chuckled.

Jian Sining gathered herself and spoke frankly: "All right, I'll tell the truth. I've been working at the Anti-Corruption Bureau for over a year, just running errands. I want to handle a case—can you take me with you?"

"This is our first meeting; since you have the courage to tell me this, I believe you also have the courage to volunteer to the leadership—why have you never been given important tasks?"

In the midst of chatting and laughing, a hint of doubt appeared in Lin Dongfan's eyes.

Jian Sining candidly said: "My previous superiors didn't like me. The newly arrived Bureau Chief Leng always has an icy expression, looks quite intimidating—I really don't dare to speak to him."

"Why didn't your previous superiors like you?" Lin Dongfan asked, intrigued.

Jian Sining ate some vegetables, still unable to suppress her indignation: "As I said, during the civil service exam, I scored first place in both written rounds. Someone privately called me, offering twenty thousand dollars to give up the interview—I ignored them. Isn't that easy to understand? I snatched someone else's spot."

Looks like you're even more unlucky than me.

Lin Dongfan substituted orange juice for wine, raised his cup and clinked it with Jian Sining's.

After finishing this cup.

Jian Sining again wore a worried expression: "Senior brother, I just want to handle a case, prove my work ability—am I wrong?"

"You're not wrong." Lin Dongfan said.

Jian Sining smiled happily: "Then can you give me a hand?"

Since I'm your senior brother, if I saw you in trouble and didn't help, you'd surely curse me behind my back.

Lin Dongfan looked at Jian Sining with a smile, thinking that since Bureau Chief Leng had sent her to meet him, he must have looked into her file and intentionally arranged this—helping her wouldn't be difficult.

What caught Lin Dongfan off guard was:

Midway through the meal, a man suddenly rushed in and smashed a wine bottle onto Lin Dongfan's head.