Chapter 95: Forging iron requires personal strength

This interrogation of Shang Weiliang lasted less than ten minutes.

In those few short minutes, Shang Weiliang went from a heart-like-dead-ash person to gradually regaining fighting spirit, then plunged completely into despair, tearing up and howling in despair.

As a bystander, Yang Qing was also shaken, filled with mixed feelings.

He walked out of the interrogation room.

Yang Qing puzzledly asked Lin Dongfan: "That bastard Shang Weiliang, he really isn't Shang Keqing's biological son?"

Back then, when Xiao Yunce was the Town Party Committee Secretary of East River Town, Shang Keqing's wife Ding Yuxia was a teacher at East River Town Central Primary School.

Lin Dongfan simply mentioned the key point and then stopped.

Yang Qing pondered carefully, then smiled in understanding.

Because later, Ding Yuxia switched from a public institution position to an administrative one, went to work in East River Town, kept getting promoted, and is now the bureau chief of the Changming District Education Bureau.

A few years ago, Shang Keqing was squeezed out by the Executive, forced to quit his official post and go into business.

The divorce between Ding Yuxia and Shang Keqing is probably also related to this.

Yang Qing cursed: "These damn bastards, the relationships are totally messed up. Good thing you didn't marry Fang Xiaoqian back then. I'm telling you, the Fangs aren't decent people either."

"Did you already know Fang Xiaoqian has no bottom line?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Yang Qing frowned: "So what if you knew? If you hadn't broken up with her earlier, how could I have told you? Are you saying you wore a green hat? If you don't believe me, we can't even be brothers."

"This reason is fucking strong."

Lin Dongfan gave a faint, unrestrained smile, but his middle finger of contempt still pointed out involuntarily.

Thinking of his past life, he had worn a green hat his whole life, helping raise someone else's son for over a decade; if Yang Qing this clueless guy had not blurted it out thoughtlessly, his own life wouldn't have been so tragic.

Yang Qing suddenly asked excitedly: "Does Mayor Xiao Yunce know that Shang Weiliang is his son?"

"Probably not."

Lin Dongfan thought: if Xiao Yunce knew Shang Weiliang was his son, now that Shang Weiliang has been arrested, the Xiao family couldn't possibly have no reaction.

Yang Qing wondered again: "How do you know this?"

"I've died once; I'm a reborn."

Lin Dongfan spoke frankly.

As expected, Yang Qing gave him a sideways glance: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, didn't Marx teach you how to be a steadfast materialist? Your thinking is dangerous."

This bullshit world—speaking the truth, sure enough, nobody believes it.

Lin Dongfan also couldn't be bothered to argue with Yang Qing, lit a cigarette, and while walking reminded: "These days, keep a close watch on Yin Qiuhong; don't let her escape."

"It's almost New Year; my family's pressuring me to marry, setting up several matchmaking sessions." Yang Qing also lit a cigarette: "As for the Yin Qiuhong matter, I've sent Zhang Yong to keep an eye on her—"

"What about it?"

"Someone like the mature temptress Yin Qiuhong, with her looks and figure, if she were to unlock yoga moves with me, I'd probably lose control—this can only be left to Zhang Yong."

"Can Zhang Yong hold up?"

"Zhang Yong was hurt by his ex-wife; he's immune to cold-hearted women."

"Got it, you're missing an ex-wife."

"If you can't speak human, then shut up. I'm going on a blind date tomorrow. The marriage isn't even settled yet, and you're already busy cursing me to divorce—is that appropriate?"

"Very appropriate."

"Damn!"

Yang Qing lifted his leg and kicked Lin Dongfan in the butt.

Too bad, he was half a beat slow.

Having anticipated everything, Lin Dongfan lifted his hips and sprinted two steps, rushing out of the detention center's gate, only to see a black Mercedes parked outside.

Shang Media's Administrative Director, Ye Jiaying, leaned against the car door like a sexy car model.

Yang Qing immediately dropped his playful mood, stepped forward, and greeted Ye Jiaying: "Ms. Ye, what a coincidence—are you here to see Shang Weiliang?"

"No, I'm here to find Mr. Lin."

As she spoke, Ye Jiaying shifted her gaze to Lin Dongfan; that hint of resentment made him feel uneasy all over, recalling the grudge from five years ago.

Yang Qing glanced at Lin Dongfan: "You two know each other?"

Nonsense.

Lin Dongfan steeled himself and walked up to Ye Jiaying.

He asked Ye Jiaying: "You came to find me—do you have news about Shang Keqing?"

"Not yet." Ye Jiaying doubted, turned, opened the car door, and gestured invitingly: "Can we get in the car for a quick chat?"

Lin Dongfan turned and gave Yang Qing a look.

Yang Qing, seeming to understand, walked toward his own car: "You guys talk first; I'll wait in the car." This inexplicable divine insight left Lin Dongfan feeling depressed enough to want to curse.

Damn, can't you understand my look?

I wanted you to crack jokes, find an excuse to stop the private talk, but you just took off—after all these years as brothers, is that all the tacit understanding we have?

"Mr. Lin, please."

Ye Jiaying persistently gestured for him to get in the car.

Helplessly,

Lin Dongfan had no choice but to steel himself and get into the car.

The car's private space was nice, with privacy film on the windows; once the door closed, it was like a little world for two.

Ye Jiaying and Lin Dongfan sat together in the back seat.

Seeing Lin Dongfan's embarrassed expression, Ye Jiaying's eyes also held a hint of resentment; she thought, "I know you're married, I never expected anything, why are you avoiding me?"

"Am I causing you trouble?" Ye Jiaying said, unable to hide her disappointment.

Lin Dongfan avoided answering and instead asked: "What do you want from me?"

Seeing Lin Dongfan intend to keep his distance, Ye Jiaying frowned helplessly and had to get straight to the point to discuss the matter: "The company hired a lawyer for Shang Wuliang; yesterday the lawyer suddenly said he couldn't handle this case. I guess maybe the pressure you've put on him is too great. Can you, for my sake, give Shang Wuliang a way out?"

"What is he to you?" Lin Dongfan's face darkened slightly.

Ye Jiaying gave an embarrassed laugh:

"What relation could I have with him? Don't think wildly—I'm the executive director of Shang Media. The company's young master has been criminally detained; how could I ignore it? Later I won't be able to answer to Shang Zong."

Hearing her say that, Lin Dongfan's anger subsided by half.

Lin Dongfan said bluntly: "He'll soon go from being Shang Media's young master to a nobody; you don't need to worry about his affairs."

"A nobody?"

Ye Jiaying didn't immediately understand what that meant.

Lin Dongfan said: "Making him a nobody is simple—just cooperate with me on one thing: use the media publicity resources at your disposal to release a global news item."

"What news to release?" Ye Jiaying asked.

Lin Dongfan replied without hesitation:

"Shang Keqing's ex-wife, Ding Yuxia, director of the Changming District Education Bureau in Nanzhou City, has long maintained an improper relationship with Nanzhou's acting mayor Xiao Yunce. Their son Shang Wuliang is not Shang Keqing's biological child, but the lovechild of Ding Yuxia and Xiao Yunce."

Hearing this, Ye Jiaying was already speechless, black lines streaking across her forehead.

This is going to blow up!

If this news is posted online to promote, it won't just brand Shang Media's young master a nobody—it will be like stabbing a sword at Nanzhou's acting mayor Xiao Yunce.

I, a powerless commoner, am going to lock horns with a mayor.

You're courting death?

Just thinking about it makes Ye Jiaying's heart quake.

Seeing Ye Jiaying lost in thought and silent, Lin Dongfan asked in surprise: "What's wrong? Didn't I make myself clear?"

"It's not... the thing you said..." Ye Jiaying blushed, gave a wry smile: "You want me to expose a mayor's scandal... this... I'm really afraid, I dare not..."

"Then forget it."

Lin Dongfan didn't insist, saying as he was about to open the door and get out of the car.

Ye Jiaying instinctively grabbed Lin Dongfan again: "What's the rush? I'm just saying I don't dare, I haven't refused you..."

Lin Dongfan pulled the car door back again, turned his head to look at Ye Jiaying with tender eyes.

He sternly revealed his feelings: "If you do this, it will be like doing me a big favor, I'll be grateful. But let me say upfront, what happened five years ago is in the past and won't change because of this. Now I have my own family; I hope you can understand. I'm with the anti-corruption bureau—forging iron requires strength in oneself; I can't act recklessly."