Chapter 301: This Is What It Means to Be Sinister!

The two news reports in the *Hanzhou Evening News* were like deep-water bombs, stirring up monstrous waves!

One headline read, "Mingsheng Group Makes a Big Move, Securing Hanzhou's New Land King," the bold title dazzling to the eyes;

The other, "Hanzhou to Build New Hospital in West District, Jointly Established with Provincial Hospital," contained hidden mysteries between the lines.

Xu Zongchao's knuckles turned white as he gripped the newspaper, his gaze nailed to the second report.

He checked the map repeatedly.

He was unwilling to accept the facts.

The four "golden plots" he had gambled everything to win were a full two kilometers away from the planned new hospital!

The two-kilometer distance was like a chasm, completely severing the expected commercial value.

The "Land King" won at such a high price had now become a hot potato.

The office door was pushed open violently; Qin Xue rushed in, her face deathly pale, before she could even speak.

Xu Zongchao exploded instantly, like an out-of-control beast.

He grabbed her by the neck.

"Why?! Didn't you swear that the new hospital would be located on Plot 58?!"

The agonizing pain of suffocation made Qin Xue feel as if she were seeing her departed relatives.

Just as her consciousness was about to fade.

Xu Zongchao suddenly let go.

He stumbled and collapsed into the sofa, pulling at his hair as if he wanted to tear his own scalp off.

"Boss Xu... we were set up by Tang Ye." Qin Xue gasped for air, her voice filled with chagrin, "The documents Chen Ping stole were fake; Zhu Junting's bidding was just an act!"

"Trash! All of you are trash!" Xu Zongchao kicked the coffee table over; amidst the sound of shattering glass, his roar made his eardrums buzz, "I've raised Chen Ping for so many years; not only is he useless at the critical moment, but he's also caused such a huge mess."

Qin Xue's phone vibrated frantically at this moment, with debt collection calls ringing one after another.

She said with a mournful face, "Boss Xu, the loan sharks have already blocked the door. If we don't find a way... they definitely won't spare us."

"Leave Hanzhou." Xu Zongchao suddenly interrupted her, his gaze as cold as frost, "Are you willing to come with me?"

Qin Xue looked up abruptly, a flash of emotion in her eyes: "Third Brother, why don't we beg Mayor Xiao again..."

"Naive!" Xu Zongchao sneered, his eyes full of mockery, "A politician's smile is for a cash cow; now that we've become a ticking time bomb, Xiao Jingyu is avoiding us as fast as he can."

"I am willing to go with you." Qin Xue was quite moved that Xu Zongchao could still consider her at such a critical moment. "Go back and pack up. Unless something unexpected happens, the money in the bank cards definitely can't be touched. Bring all the cash; I'll come to pick you up in half an hour."

"Okay!"

Watching Qin Xue's retreating figure, a sinister smile curled at the corner of Xu Zongchao's mouth.

This silly woman, did she still think she was needed?

In his eyes, Qin Xue was nothing more than a disposable pawn.

"Bureau Chief Wan, Qin Xue has made a move!"

"Keep a close watch on him!"

A cross-provincial "Fox Hunt" operation began.

Two days later.

Qin Xue was arrested.

Xu Zongchao used Qin Xue as a cover, shed his skin like a cicada, and escaped.

Tang Ye walked into the Interrogation Room and saw Qin Xue.

The white light was blinding.

Qin Xue, who used to be radiant at drinking parties.

Now, her hair was disheveled, her makeup was smudged, and a bruise remained on her neck.

A flame of resentment rose in Qin Xue's eyes as she stared fixedly at Tang Ye.

Tang Ye sat down opposite her with a calm expression.

A light, breezy smile curled at the corners of his lips: "I heard you were looking for me?"

"Tang Ye, was this all a trap set by you?" Qin Xue sneered, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Tang Ye avoided the question, "Before I answer you, you first confess: where did Xu Zongchao go?"

"How would I know?" Qin Xue suddenly let out a laugh that was nearly insane, though tears fell uncontrollably, "He took all my money and dumped me in the wilderness. I was naive enough to think he would take me away to start a new life. All these years, I've truly lived in vain!"

Her voice gradually choked with sobs...

Tang Ye listened to Qin Xue's ordeal.

For a moment, he sighed—miserable, truly miserable!

She had been arranged into another car by Xu Zongchao halfway through.

Afterward, she was abandoned mid-journey and walked for an entire night on muddy mountain roads.

When the Police found Qin Xue, she had completely broken down.

"Qin Xue, you are the legal representative of Mingsheng Group. Now that the company is heavily in debt, you cannot escape responsibility for these debts." Tang Ye's tone softened, yet carried an unquestionable sense of pressure, "Only by catching Xu Zongchao will you have a glimmer of hope."

After a long silence, Qin Xue finally spoke: "The name Xu Zongchao is fake; his real name is Huang Chao. He has businesses in Yun Province. I... I even thought he would take me to Yun Province."

Tang Ye exchanged a meaningful look with Wan Ming beside him.

This clue might be the key to opening the pursuit of Xu Zongchao—or more accurately, Huang Chao.

"I've said everything I should; now can you answer my question?" Qin Xue looked at Tang Ye, unwilling to let it go.

"I didn't set a trap; I merely utilized the nature of greed and went with the flow.

I have only one goal—to recover the five hundred million in fiscal appropriations lost by Hanzhou."

"As for you, you are playing with fire and bringing about your own destruction."

Qin Xue looked at the man before her, who was speaking eloquently and radiating confident sunshine, and a chill welled up from the bottom of her heart.

His eyes hid a bottomless depth of shrewdness.

This is what is meant by the sinister nature of the human heart!

It was enough to make one shudder.

Tang Ye left the Suiyuan County Public Security Bureau.

He arrived at the hotel where the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection was temporarily operating.

Pushing open the door, a flash of surprise and self-reproach appeared in Chen Ping's eyes.

Tang Ye silently took out several disposable food containers and placed them neatly on the table.

He then used his teeth to pry open a bottle of strong sorghum liquor, and the clear liquor was slowly poured into a glass.

Chen Ping looked at the glass in front of him, his expression complex: "Drinking in this situation, I'm afraid that violates the regulations, right?"

Tang Ye shook his head lightly, "I have already spoken with the investigators, rest assured."

Chen Ping grabbed the disposable cup, tilted his head back, and downed the liquor in one gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

He set the cup down and smiled bitterly.

"I have always been curious, when did you start suspecting me?"

Tang Ye picked up a peanut and put it into his mouth; the crisp sound of chewing echoed in the room.

After a long while, he spoke slowly: "Chen Ping, I have always regarded you as a friend. I once thought we could become brothers who would risk our lives for each other... It is a pity that our paths diverged from the very beginning. Those with different Daos cannot make plans together!"

Chen Ping laughed at himself, his eyes filled with desolation.

"I understand. From the moment I accepted the watch, you became suspicious of me, right?"

Tang Ye patted Chen Ping's shoulder gently, "Finish this meal and drink well, then confess everything to the organization. I believe you are not yet in too deep."

Suddenly, Chen Ping lifted his head abruptly, a trace of pleading flashing in his eyes: "Can you help me?"

Tang Ye was stunned for a moment, then slowly shook his head, "I cannot help you. In this world, the only person who can help you is yourself."

For Tang Ye, at this critical juncture, inviting Chen Ping to drink was already doing everything he could out of benevolence and duty.

He hoped that by doing this, he could awaken Chen Ping's conscience and persuade him to tell everything he knew.

To tear open a corner of the darkness for the investigation team...