Chapter 628: Summoning Xu Jijun's Woman

Lin Dongfan walked out of Interrogation Room Two, his face showing little expression, but his mind was as clear as a mirror.

That guy Huang Duoduo looked at the simpleton, but his mouth was tighter than a clam shell. Or rather, Huang Duoduo had been thoroughly brainwashed by the "Mr. G" he idolized. However, the clue about Han Jinling was like a match suddenly lit in the darkness—faint, yet it pointed the way.

Gather the men, follow me.

Lin Dongfan gave a brief order to Chen Shaokang, who was waiting in the hallway; his voice was not loud, but it carried an indisputable resolve.

"Director Lin, where are we going?" Chen Shaokang hurried to keep up.

"Hai'an Guoji Dajiudian." Lin Dongfan spat out those words without stopping his steps: "Please have Xu Jijun's cousin, Han Jinling, return to assist the investigation."

Chen Shaokang's eyes narrowed; he immediately grasped the gravity of it. Moving against Han Jinling was almost tantamount to directly touching Xu Jijun's core forbidden zone.

He said in a low voice: "Should we first give Xu Jijun a heads-up? Or… first report to the provincial authorities?"

After all, Xu Jijun's background is what it is; making too big a move could easily provoke unnecessary backlash.

Lin Dongfan paused his steps, glanced sideways at Chen Shaokang with a sharp gaze: "What greeting? We are lawfully summoning a suspect's relative; the procedure is compliant. If Xu Jijun asks, let him come find me directly." His tone was flat, yet it exuded a domineering vigor of "not even giving face to a brother."

"Understood!"

Chen Shaokang said no more, immediately mobilizing personnel via the encrypted communications channel.

Several black official vehicles silently drove out of the Haishan City Bureau compound, merged into the afternoon traffic, and headed straight for Hai'an Guoji Dajiudian.

The atmosphere inside the vehicles was solemn; everyone knew this operation was no different than pulling a tooth from a tiger's mouth.

Outside the presidential suite on the hotel's top floor, Lin Dongfan personally pressed the doorbell.

Moments later, the door opened a crack; the person who opened it was Han Jinling's living assistant. Seeing Lin Dongfan and the stern-faced investigators behind him outside, the assistant's expression changed instantly.

"Director Lin? What is this…"

"Performing official duties, please Ms. Han Jinling come with us to assist the investigation." Lin Dongfan produced the summons notice, his tone businesslike, leaving no room for compromise.

The assistant tried to block: "Director Lin, this… does Mr. Xu know? Miss Han's health is not suitable; she needs rest, can you…"

"No!"

Lin Dongfan shoved the door open and led the people inside.

In the suite's living room, Han Jinling remained seated in her wheelchair, legs covered with that familiar thin blanket.

She seemed oblivious to the commotion at the door, her gaze fixed on the azure sea horizon outside the window; her profile was serene as a sculpture.

Today she held no book, merely sitting still, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.

Xu Jijun was not in the room.

Lin Dongfan walked up to Han Jinling, blocking part of the light.

Only then did Han Jinling slowly turn her head to look at him; her eyes were clear, showing no surprise or alarm, she simply asked softly: "Director Lin, is there something?"

"Ms. Han, regarding the Wu Changsheng escape case, there are some circumstances that need to be verified with you; please come with us to assist the investigation."

Lin Dongfan presented his credentials and documents.

Han Jinling's gaze lingered on Lin Dongfan's face for a few seconds, then drifted back to the window; she said softly: "My mobility is limited; I'm causing you trouble."

Her cooperation was calm to the point of surprise, even carrying an air of detached transcendence.

The whole process involved no argument, no resistance.

Han Jinling was gently pushed in her wheelchair by the staff out of the suite; her calmness instead cast a deeper, unsettling shadow over the operation.

Almost as Lin Dongfan's convoy drove away from the hotel, Xu Jijun received an urgent call from his surviving assistant: "Mr. Xu, something's wrong! Lin Dongfan just took Miss Han away, saying it's a summons to assist the investigation!"

On the other end of the line, Xu Jijun fell silent for a few seconds.

That silence was more suffocating than an angry roar. When he finally spoke, his voice was as cold as a Siberian current: "I… know…!"

Three words, each uttered with a pause, containing the fury of impending thunder.

Sitting in his private nurse's car, after hanging up, Xu Jijun's formerly composed countenance darkened with clouds. He had not expected this time that, in the game he had meticulously set up, Lin Dongfan would not sacrifice a pawn and concede as he had anticipated, but instead struck directly, moving the very piece he could not afford to touch!

Han Jinling was not only his cousin, but also the woman he loved most.

Today Lin Dongfan taking Han Jinling away was tantamount to bringing the covert struggle into the open—it was a naked declaration of war against him.

Xu Jijun slammed his fist hard onto the armrest of the airplane seat, producing a deep, muffled boom.

The leather-wrapped armrest bore a clear fist imprint. He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to calm, but the ruthlessness in his eyes could no longer be concealed.

"Lin! Dong! Fan!"

He whispered the name, then the corner of his mouth twitched into a bone-chilling cold smile: "It seems you're dead set on tearing your face from mine—good! Very good!"

He picked up the rarely used encrypted phone and dialed Huang Duoduo's number.

The phone emitted a powered-off prompt.

This also sparked Xu Jijun's anger once more, further confirming his suspicion—indeed, as expected, Huang Duoduo's failed attempt to escort Wu Changsheng out of the city likely resulted in his capture.

He'd been taken in!

The citywide lifting of the lockdown was a lie! Lin Dongfan leading his team back to Yue Prefecture was also a lie!

From beginning to end, the city beneath his feet remained under high alert martial law; the measures were merely shifted from overt to covert—a single move to draw the snake from its hole, masterfully played by Lin Dongfan.

Xu Jijun donned the mysterious knight's mask.

He switched to the identity of Mr. G.

He dialed Lin Dongfan's number again, his voice lowered with a sense of vicissitude: "I am Mr. G; I'd like to do business with you."

At the other end, Lin Dongfan, seated in the official vehicle, was on his way back to the City Bureau.

Hearing Mr. G announce himself, Lin Dongfan was not surprised; he merely chuckled and replied: "Between us, there's nothing to do business about; I sincerely advise you to turn yourself in."

"Don't speak so absolutely." Xu Jijun also restrained his emotions, maintaining a composed demeanor: "I've heard you intend to leave office for business. As a businessman, you ought to have the principle of talking business. As long as the price is right, there's no deal that can't be made. Name your price—how much money would it take for you to release the person?"

"Who do you want me to release?" Lin Dongfan asked tentatively.

Xu Jijun steadily uttered a name: "Wu Changsheng."

This somewhat surprised Lin Dongfan, who had expected the other side to demand Han Jinling's release. But upon reflection, it was normal—if the other side mentioned Han Jinling's name, it would amount to exposing his true identity. More importantly, Han Jinling herself had committed no crime; being summoned was merely to assist the investigation, so she would eventually be released anyway.

Lin Dongfan steadied himself and replied: "Release an A‑class wanted fugitive? Haha, you overestimate my courage. Besides, I want to tell you: you can't escape Haishan either; turning back now is still possible."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jijun angrily hung up the phone.