Chapter 995

Provincial Public Security Department, interrogation room.

Pale light shone on Xiao Weiming's face, casting his complexion as white as a sheet.

He sat in the interrogation chair, hands on the table, fingers trembling nonstop. Opposite him, Officer Lao Zhao opened the record book, his gaze calm.

"Xiao Weiming, do you know why you were brought here?"

"I know, I posted a video I shouldn't have."

Xiao Weiming lowered his head; his voice was soft, yet he still had some self-awareness.

Lao Zhao's gaze was piercing: "Who told you to post it?"

Xiao Weiming lifted his head to glance at Lao Zhao, then lowered it nervously: "It's… you know, it's the boss of Liji Bar, Peng Xianjun; I was just doing it for money."

Lao Zhao pressed: "How much did he give you?"

Xiao Weiming's voice grew even softer: "Five hundred thousand."

Hearing this, Lao Zhao and the recorder beside him exchanged a glance, both shocked! Damn, posting a video gets you five hundred thousand—these days even big internet celebrities make money like that?

Lao Zhao collected himself, his gaze locking onto Xiao Weiming again: "Five hundred thousand? Just for one video?"

Xiao Weiming replied noncommittally: "He first gave me 250,000 as a deposit, saying he'd pay the remaining 250,000 after the job was done; those photo materials were all given by him."

Lao Zhao fell silent for two seconds, then continued: "Did he ever say why he wanted this video posted?"

Xiao Weiming shook his head: "He didn't tell me those things; he only said to post the video and hype its popularity, the rest wasn't my concern."

Lao Zhao's gaze suddenly turned sharper: "Xiao Weiming, now that you're here, I advise you to tell the truth, don't count on luck! Answer what I ask, don't beat around the bush!"

"I really don't know why he wanted that video posted."

Xiao Weiming, on the verge of tears: "He told me not to ask so many questions, just do it. He also said that if I didn't cooperate, he could shut down my account with a single call."

Lao Zhao doubted: "Shut down your account? What authority does he have to do that? Do you really believe that?"

"He said he was also doing work for a leader." Xiao Weiming replied: "Leader—I suppose that means an official. With that background, shutting down my account would be just a word for him; I truly dare not offend."

The recorder's pen flew, quickly noting the interrogation statement.

Lao Zhao, his gaze piercing, continued to fix on Xiao Weiming: "Xiao Weiming, you just mentioned that leader—who is he? What's his name? Which unit does he belong to?"

"Peng Xianjun didn't tell me those things."

Xiao Weiming shook his head and added: "He only said he was also doing work for someone. Don't ask too much, just do it. If I don't obey, he can get me off the net with a call; I have no choice."

Lao Zhao asked: "Did he ever mention the leader's surname? Or have you ever seen him with anyone?"

"I haven't seen him."

Xiao Weiming shook his head again.

He then explained: "I've known Peng Xianjun for several years; he's tight-lipped. He won't utter a word about what shouldn't be said. I also believed him because he's generous with money and well-connected in Wuzhou."

Lao Zhao fell silent for a few seconds, as if he'd already made up his mind.

"First, sign the statement. Today's questioning ends here; if we need anything else later, we'll come find you."

Xiao Weiming picked up the pen, his hand still trembling.

After signing, he set the pen down, lifted his head to look at Lao Zhao, eyes full of pleading: "Officer, I… will I be sentenced?"

"That depends on your attitude." Lao Zhao said: "If you come clean and cooperate, you may get leniency. But you know what you've done. Spreading false information, stirring up online sentiment—this is no small matter."

Xiao Weiming's face turned ashen; he said nothing more.

In the adjacent observation room.

Lin Dongfan stood before the one-way glass, watching Xiao Weiming in the interrogation room. Yang Qing sat in a nearby chair, legs crossed, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold.

"This kid only knows Peng Xianjun, not the people behind him." Yang Qing set down her tea cup: "Peng Xianjun said he was doing work for a leader; that's likely true. This Peng fellow is still tight-lipped."

Lin Dongfan turned to face Yang Qing: "The Peng isn't tight-lipped; he's cautious. Someone like Peng Xianjun would never reveal his hand to a role like Xiao Weiming. Keeping one person between them is safer."

Yang Qing smiled and asked: "So what do we do now? Grab Peng Xianjun and question him? Once he talks, the people behind him can't escape."

Lin Dongfan gave a noncommittal nod: "We'll definitely have to arrest him. Xiao Weiming's statement is enough to criminally detain him. Act now, lest delays bring complications."

"We're on the same page."

While chatting, Yang Qing pulled out her phone to call her subordinate: "Immediately bring Peng Xianjun back. Set up surveillance at Liji Bar, his home, and his calligraphy and painting collection. Move fast—don't give him a chance to flee on wind."

"Received."

A voice answered on the other end of the line.

Yang Qing hung up, then looked at Lin Dongfan: "Mr. Pretentious, do you think Peng Xianjun will run?"

"Well..."

Lin Dongfan also couldn't decide, frowning: "Whether he'll run or not, we must intercept him. He's a key figure now; only by catching him can we uncover the mastermind behind."

"At the critical moment, I'm still the one to rely on."

Yang Qing stood, patted her butt, and spoke with full confidence: "Rest easy, it's just a petty Peng Xianjun—even if he grew wings, he couldn't fly out of my Five Finger Mountain."

"Then I'll wait for your good news."

Lin Dongfan stepped forward and patted Yang Qing's shoulder, making her stare wide-eyed, feeling uncomfortable, thinking: "What the hell does he mean? Is he treating me like his subordinate?"

At the same time.

Peng Xianjun, who had already booked his flight, was now driving his beloved car onto the airport expressway, speed spiking to 130 kilometers per hour, racing like a fugitive all the way!

He was about five kilometers from the airport.

Just as Peng Xianjun thought everything was under his control, a heavy-duty Da Yun truck in the opposite lane suddenly seemed out of control, crossing the double solid line and slamming into his S-class Benz.

"Damn!"

In the shock, Peng Xianjun jerked the steering wheel.

Yet he still couldn't avoid the mad Da Yun truck ahead.

"Bang!!!"

Accompanied by a deafening boom.

Peng Xianjun's driven S-Class Mercedes was hit on the left front by a Dayun heavy truck, the body flew and spun 180 degrees close to the ground. Then it was pushed several dozen meters by the Dayun heavy truck, breaking through the roadside guardrail and overturning into the roadside ditch.

I don't know whether it's because the body structure of the Mercedes-Benz S600 isn't crash-resistant, or because the Dayun heavy truck's power is too terrifying.

When the Dayun heavy truck came to a stop.

The Mercedes-Benz S600 overturned in the roadside ditch had been smashed beyond recognition, to the point of being called a pile of scrap metal is no exaggeration! Peng Xianjun, trapped in the car, lost consciousness on the spot, his face covered in blood.