Chapter 622: A Disguised Suspension Investigation

Haishan Police launched a dragnet-style search and investigation, tossing about for over half a month, but found nothing.

Inside the suite of Hai'an Guoji Dajiudian.

The atmosphere was solemn.

Chen Shaokang stood before Lin Dongfan, his weary face hinting at dejection: "Brother Fan, we've quietly probed all usable channels in the Haishan Police Defense Zone, finding no trace linked to Wu Changsheng. The perimeter surveillance also didn't capture that van approaching the defense zone; it seems we've gone the wrong way."

Lin Dongfan stood by the window, his back to Chen Shaokang, fingers unconsciously tapping the window frame.

This result was both unexpected and yet understandable.

Xu Jijun is no fool; he wouldn't put a time bomb in the most obvious sensitive spot, which is quite normal.

Where on earth did Xu Jijun hide Wu Changsheng?

Just as Lin Dongfan focused his thoughts, trying to redraw Xu Jijun's mental map, his pocketed phone vibrated urgently.

He pulled it out and saw the caller ID showing Wang Daochen.

Lin Dongfan's heart gave a slight jolt.

Normally, Secretary Wang rarely calls him directly, especially at this critical juncture.

Lin Dongfan pressed the answer key, his tone respectful: "Secretary Wang."

From the other end came Wang Daochen's steady, inscrutable voice: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, temporarily set aside your work in Haishan. Return to Yue Prefecture at once and come to my office."

No pleasantries, no inquiry, just a direct order. Lin Dongfan's heart sank; he knew it must be important, and likely not good news.

"Understood, Secretary Wang, I'll set off right away."

After hanging up, Lin Dongfan turned to Chen Shaokang and briefly instructed: "The Provincial Committee Secretary Wang has urgently summoned me; I need to go to Yue Prefecture. On the Haishan side, continue the secret investigation along our current line of thought, focusing on the overlooked angles related to Xu Jijun. Contact me immediately if anything arises."

That afternoon, Lin Dongfan, dust‑wearied, hurried back to the provincial capital and went straight into the Provincial Committee Building.

Wang Daochen sat behind his large desk, his face calm as water.

Seeing Lin Dongfan enter, Wang Daochen's expression grew somewhat graver, merely gesturing with his eyes for Lin Dongfan to sit in the chair opposite.

"Secretary Wang." Lin Dongfan offered a respectful greeting.

Wang Daochen did not respond.

He took out a kraft‑paper file folder from the drawer, slowly pushing it toward Lin Dongfan. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, fixed firmly on Lin Dongfan's face.

"Comrade Lin Dongfan, take a look at this."

"……???"

Lin Dongfan's ominous premonition grew stronger.

He picked up the folder, opened the seal, and a stack of color photos slid out.

At a glance, Lin Dongfan's pupils constricted sharply; his blood seemed to surge to his head in an instant, then drain away completely.

The storm ultimately still struck his head.

This is a set of risqué photos.

The background is the bedroom of Hai'an Guoji Dajiudian; the photos are taken from a tricky yet clear angle: him helping the drunk Zheng Qingxuan through the door, laying her on the bed, him standing by the bed attending to her…

Most crucially:

Several photos actually caught him and Zheng Qingxuan lying on the same bed, both stripped naked, their clothes tossed haphazardly on the floor.

Although there are no explicit or overly obscene shots.

Yet this series of photos, taken together, creates an ambiguous and intimate atmosphere sufficient to spark speculation, impossible to refute.

Lin Dongfan's fingers gripped the edges of the photos, his knuckles whitening from the force.

He instantly grasped the true intention of the person behind the scenes.

The mastermind first had Huang Duoduo pose as a hotel cleaner to sneak in and covertly shoot; after that failed, he had front‑desk attendant Zhou Xiaowen enter the room, strip and stage the shots! The ultimate goal was not merely to leave evidence to blackmail him into compromise on certain matters, but to directly topple Lin Dongfan.

Wang Daochen asked in a grave tone: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, these photos were sent anonymously to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission. Now is no time for silence—don't you want to explain?"

Lin Dongfan lifted his head, meeting Wang Daochen's scrutinizing gaze.

After the shock and anger subsided, Lin Dongfan quickly calmed. He knew full well that before these high‑definition evidences, a feeble denial would be meaningless.

He could only come clean.

Lin Dongfan gently placed the photos back on the table.

Keeping his voice as steady as possible, he said: "Secretary Wang, I want to emphasize that these photos were taken by someone who meticulously set up a trap to covertly shoot…"

In the briefest terms, Lin Dongfan reported Zheng Qingxuan's helpless situation and the suspicion that Xu Jijun had set up a scheme, using Zheng Qingxuan and then arranging his subordinates to conduct the covert shooting.

Wang Daochen listened silently, his face showing no change, making his thoughts unreadable.

Until Lin Dongfan finished speaking.

Only then did Wang Daochen speak slowly: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, your work is special, and you're currently in the eye of the storm. How many eyes are on you out there? They're all waiting for you to slip. Problems with personal conduct can be big or small, but at this sensitive juncture, this bomb could destroy all your efforts."

He paused, his fingers tapping the stack of photos.

He continued: "I trust your party principles and your explanation. But where's the evidence? Who can prove this is a scheme set up by Xu Jijun? Who can prove your innocence with Miss Zheng? Going solely on your word, it's hard to quell the possible public uproar."

Lin Dongfan fell silent.

Evidence? Zhou Xiaowen's testimony carries too little weight; a single testimony can't settle the case. Huang Duoduo? His whereabouts are unknown. Xu Jijun? He's even less likely to admit it voluntarily.

Most importantly:

That morning, upon waking, faced with Zheng Qingxuan's awkward yet eager advance, he indeed couldn't restrain himself and did something any man would want to do.

This is almost a dead end.

Wang Daochen looked at him, his tone grave: "This matter requires the Provincial Committee to study and handle it. Until your issue is fully clarified, you should first set aside the Wu Changsheng case."

This amounts to a de facto suspension pending investigation.

Long ago, Lin Dongfan had contemplated this issue: his personal conduct problems would sooner or later be dragged out for criticism.

Previously, his thought was simple: at worst, resign in disgrace and go into business to become the world's richest man.

He hadn't really wanted to be involved in officialdom to begin with.

Before, it was mainly due to that old master at home, whose attitude was too overbearing, so I never dared to mention resigning from office to go into business, thinking I would wait until the old master passed away to discuss it.

However…

Having said that, even if I were to leave officialdom, it should be because I grew tired of it and chose to go voluntarily, not be forced out like now, being toppled by others.

That would be utterly lacking in dignity, practically an insult to a reborn person.

For now, this battle must still be fought.

Lin Dongfan stood up, straightened his back, and said: "Secretary Wang, I will follow the organization's arrangements and actively cooperate with its investigation."

Wang Daochen nodded.

He also admonished Lin Dongfan: "Go back and think it over carefully, write a detailed situation report. In future work, you must be more cautious. If your old master learns of this, he will surely whip you."

The implication is that I will temporarily help you suppress this matter, and you need to come up with a way to justify yourself.

Lin Dongfan himself also understood that, for now, Wang Daochen had no other choice; giving him a de facto suspension pending investigation is currently the most conventional and stable way to handle it.

"Thank you, Secretary Wang. If there's nothing else, I'll go back and write the self‑critique."

Leaving the Provincial Committee Building, the setting sun was deep, stretching Lin Dongfan's shadow long. He glanced back at the solemn, dignified building, his heart surging.

Xu Jijun's move of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao" not only precisely struck his weak point, but also directly forced him out of Haishan's main battlefield.

Wu Changsheng remained at large, while he, the chief anti‑corruption commander, had fallen into a quagmire.

The balance of this contest seemed to begin tilting.

Thinking of this.

A hint of a playful smile appeared on Lin Dongfan's lips: "Old classmate's old classmate, you really do understand me—you know what my weak point is. But it's fine; you won the first half, there's still the second half. You know my weak point, and I know yours. Isn't this just a covert battle? Who's afraid of whom…"

In an instant, Lin Dongfan's gaze grew much firmer; being passively beaten has never been his style.