Chapter 272: Humility

Li Jiaci entered the office, and there was prepared tea on the coffee table.

Surely the brothers knew he wanted tea and had it ready at all times.

He drank a cup of tea.

Li Jiaci dialed Liu Yanxi's phone.

Following the Anti-Corruption Bureau's usual practice, after capturing Liu Yunshen they would not announce the news immediately but would secretly carry out their own plan to save face before the media.

But Liu Yunshen isn't that tight-lipped; without the Police Bureau's help, it's hard to say he won't escape.

Li Jiaci briefly explained the current situation.

On the other end of the line, Liu Yanxi immediately denounced the Anti-Corruption Bureau's selfish behavior and said she would promptly organize the testimony Lin Niansheng had provided before his death to put pressure on Liu Yunshen.

The next day.

Liu Yanxi suddenly visited, catching Zhou Wanting off guard.

Inside the First Investigation Division office.

Zhou Wanting sent the rest of her colleagues away, then coldly asked Liu Yanxi, "Are you a sniffer dog? How did you catch the scent so quickly?"

Upon hearing that, Liu Yanxi said with a solemn expression, "Do you think you can keep this hidden for long? Liu Yunshen is involved in so many cases; without the Police Bureau's help, can you pry open his mouth? That's pure daydreaming!"

"Did you come just to see my joke?"

Zhou Wanting asked impatiently.

Liu Yanxi rolled her eyes at her and then produced the prepared testimony.

"Now is not the time for us to fight among ourselves; I have the testimony Lin Niansheng gave before his death, which will be a great help to your investigation!"

Zhou Wanting reached out to take it, but Liu Yanxi dodged her.

Therefore, Zhou Wanting glared and said, "Give me that!"

"On what grounds?"

"Just because you secretly made the arrest and want to hog the credit?"

"No way!"

Liu Yanxi snorted, turned, and sat on the sofa.

She held in her arms the very thing Zhou Wanting most wanted at that moment.

Zhou Wanting asked, "If you don't want to give it to me, why did you bring it out? Are you just showing off in front of me?"

Before Liu Yanxi could answer,

she gave a cold smile and continued to mock, "Heh, if you really had the ability, you'd have caught Liu Yunshen and closed the case long ago; why wait until now? We've prepared the meal, do you suddenly want to eat? What were you doing earlier?"

"You don't need to mock me here; as far as I know, you've had Liu Yunshen in custody for over a week and still haven't gotten anything out of him!"

Liu Yanxi replied in the same sarcastic tone.

That's a fact.

Zhou Wanting was so angry she choked up, yet couldn't think of any rebuttal.

She flung her hand away, angrily asking, "What must I do for you to give me the testimony?"

"I want you to formally propose cooperation to the Police Bureau, not just known internally but also made public to the media!"

As soon as Liu Yanxi said that,

she met with strong opposition from Zhou Wanting.

"No, you're dreaming!"

"Liu Yunshen is someone we Anti-Corruption Bureau secretly investigated for months and took down in one swoop!"

"What have your Police Bureau people been doing during this time?"

"Damn it, now you want a share of the spoils, huh?"

"Don't forget how Lin Niansheng died!"

"The media all say he committed suicide; fooling others with that is one thing, but don't fool yourself!"

"If the Police Bureau later brings Liu Yunshen back for interrogation, what if he gets killed again?"

"Am I supposed to seek compensation from you, or from your superior?"

After Zhou Wanting's tirade,

it left the previously confident Liu Yanxi instantly defeated.

The cause of Lin Niansheng's death, she knew better than anyone, was clearly an internal traitor.

"Each matter to its own; without this testimony, you can't do anything!"

"Liu Yunshen isn't like those tall-hatted fellows you've interrogated before!"

"Overconfidence often leads to great disappointment!"

"Cooperation would be highly beneficial for both sides!"

"I hope Deputy Section Chief Zhou will weigh the pros and cons carefully!"

"Make a wise choice!"

Liu Yanxi stepped back.

Her tone also softened considerably.

But these two women have been secretly competing since that first day.

Upon hearing that, Zhou Wanting instead chuckled lightly and said, "That's not the attitude of someone asking for help; if the Police Bureau wants to join in, at the very least you need sincerity, and it should be Chief Zhao himself showing up."

"What are you thinking?"

"Have Chief Zhao come personally to the Anti-Corruption Bureau to beg you?"

"Heh, Deputy Section Chief Zhou, I advise you not to be too arrogant!"

Liu Yanxi frowned tightly.

This woman is too bold.

Zhou Wanting shook her head: "I'm not asking Bureau Chief Zhao to come beg me; I don't have that much face or ability. My meaning is, let your Bureau Chief Zhao go see Bureau Chief Wu; the result that the two top authorities finally negotiated should be acceptable to both of us!"

The Lin Niansheng incident has strained relations between the two bureaus, with each side believing the other bears greater responsibility.

And now the Police Bureau actually proposes cooperation again; Zhou Wanting dare not take responsibility for this.

This is of great importance.

She can only remove herself from the matter and wait for Bureau Chief Wu's orders.

For Liu Yanxi, this is also not a bad dignified approach.

Liu Yanxi fell into contemplation for a moment.

Suddenly she raised a cold, charming smile and said: "Then let it be so; let the leaders discuss it themselves!"

Having said that, she stood up and left without looking back.

Police Bureau.

Bureau Chief's office.

Zhao Dezheng anxiously scratched his head.

"For such a big matter, why didn't you discuss it with me before deciding on your own?"

"The other side clearly just wants to see me make a fool of myself!"

"Have me personally go to the Anti-Corruption Bureau to beg them for cooperation?"

"If this gets out, where would I put my face, Zhao Dezheng?"

His attitude was already within Liu Yanxi's expectations.

Liu Yanxi calmly said: "Since Bureau Chief Zhao can't let go of his face, I will now tell them to treat the cooperation as never mentioned; from now on, the Police Bureau will no longer inquire about Liu Yunshen's case."

Just as she was about to turn and leave.

Then she heard Liu Yunshen sigh, quite torn, saying: "Liu Yunshen is a piece of fat meat; whoever gets to eat him is lucky, but to just give him up like that…"

Although the Police Bureau outwardly claimed Lin Niansheng committed suicide, the outside world has not let them off, and consequently they have lost public trust.

Zhao Dezheng needs to use Liu Yunshen's case to turn around the police's image.

To regain external recognition.

Liu Yanxi said: "There is still a chance; if you are willing to go to the Anti-Corruption Bureau to talk with Bureau Chief Wu, perhaps Bureau Chief Wu, for the sake of the bigger picture, would be willing to cooperate with us."

"Really there is no other way?"

"Hmm."

"Alright, I'll go then!"

Zhao Dezheng ultimately chose to compromise.

That evening.

Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Bureau Chief's office.

The two top authorities sat opposite each other.

Zhao Dezheng spoke first: "Old Wu, I know you have some misunderstandings about me; I came today just to clear things up, after all we two sides are essentially family; we shouldn't let a minor misunderstanding turn us into eternal enemies."