Chapter 332: Losing Both Money and Person

"Besides, you only need to tell Tian Mi herself that she is not the murderer," Zhong Xiaoyu said, a subtle, chilling coldness in her eyes.

Qi Fei soon understood the reason for Zhong Xiaoyu saying this. The competitive Tian Mi was furious about being framed and cursed loudly during the work meeting. Before the meeting had even ended, the matter had spread throughout the entire company. Of course, while everyone was excitedly gossiping, no one felt Tian Mi was innocent; they all wore expressions of satisfaction.

For several days in a row, the police closely monitored Tian Mi, but the lurking murderer never appeared.

Downstairs from Tian Mi's home, Wu Shanqiu yawned in the car, chewed on a cold fry, and said to Qi Fei beside her, "Brother Fei, could it be that we were tricked by Tian Mi, and this so-called framing doesn't exist at all?"

"Be a little more patient. Xi He is very skilled at training followers. Those who follow Xi He enter a state of extreme calm, hiding in daily life, watching their prey in the shadows like wolves, and will not strike until they are completely certain. We aren't racing them for speed, but for endurance. Whoever loses their composure and reveals a flaw first, loses," Qi Fei said, staring at the lit window of Tian Mi's home.

Tian Mi's figure appeared at the window; as if she had seen their car, she flicked her hand and pulled the curtains shut.

Before long, Qi Fei's phone rang. After he picked it up, a woman's voice came through, timid and shy: "May I ask, is this Officer Qi?"

"It is. Who is this?" Qi Fei was somewhat vigilant. Receiving a call from an unknown number in the middle of the night, and having the caller know his identity right away, was not a good sign.

"Hello, I am President Tian's assistant. She asked me to tell you..." The assistant seemed to be in a difficult position, struggling with her phrasing before continuing, "Please don't disturb her private life. She saw you downstairs at her home..."

The car was quiet. Even though Qi Fei didn't have it on speakerphone, Wu Shanqiu heard the voice on the other end and said indignantly, "Damn it, who does she think she is? Why doesn't she tell us directly instead of making her assistant call? What a high-and-mighty attitude!"

Qi Fei was not angry. He observed the surroundings through the car windows and said vigilantly, "We have been monitoring Tian Mi for some time, and she doesn't know our plan. Unless she has received counter-surveillance training, it's impossible for her to have discovered us here tonight."

Hearing Qi Fei say this, Wu Shanqiu's anger subsided. She opened her eyes wide and said, "That's right. Didn't the assistant just say Tian Mi saw us downstairs? We aren't even illuminated by the streetlights here; how could she have seen us?"

Qi Fei called back the number that had just rung: "What were the exact words Tian Mi told you?"

"Ah? The... the exact words?" The assistant was clearly hesitant.

"Yes, the exact words," Qi Fei insisted.

"Uh, President Tian said, 'Tell those annoying police officers that I've already seen their car, so stop tailing me, or I'm going to go complain to their superiors!'" The assistant said these rude words in a trembling voice, leaving the listeners unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.

After hanging up, Qi Fei poked his head out to look at Tian Mi's home again. This emotional accusation made him feel something was amiss. Suddenly, he slapped the steering wheel and said in a low voice, "Finally!"

Wu Shanqiu didn't understand his meaning and asked, "Finally what?"

Qi Fei's eyes held excitement. "If it wasn't Tian Mi who discovered us herself, then who else wouldn't want us following her?"

Wu Shanqiu also became excited: "The murderer? It's been so quiet lately, it must be because he has already discovered our operation. If we are watching Tian Mi, he has no chance to act. Has it started? Is he finally going to face us?"

In the middle of the night, the doorbell at Tian Mi's home was pressed.

An old woman came to open the door. In the living room, Tian Mi shouted in the dialect of the Nancheng suburbs: "Mom, who is it this late?"

Shortly after, she appeared before Qi Fei wearing loungewear.

This woman, who was arrogant and domineering at the company, looked more like an aging shrew at this moment.

The moment Tian Mi saw Qi Fei and the others, the vertical lines between her brows appeared immediately.

She didn't hide her annoyance at all and said, "Didn't I tell you not to follow me?"

"When did you ever tell us that?" Wu Shanqiu, harboring dissatisfaction, retorted.

"Didn't I have my assistant notify you? If you do this again, I'm going to find your superiors!" Tian Mi put her hands on her hips, her voice so shrill that even the old woman who opened the door couldn't help but frown—though it was only a frown; she looked like she dared to be angry but dared not speak. It seemed Tian Mi was used to throwing her weight around at home just as she did at the company.

"Who told you our location?" Qi Fei walked directly up to Tian Mi.

After all, there was a difference in stature; Qi Fei's tall frame standing before Tian Mi finally dampened the woman's arrogance a little.

"What? Are you going to settle scores with that person? I don't know who he is." Tian Mi plopped down on the sofa and crossed her legs.

After several interactions, Qi Fei discovered that Tian Mi was not a good liar. If she was hiding something, it was easy to see the clues on her face, and this time was no exception.

"The person who warned you is very likely the murderer who killed Dong Ziwu," Qi Fei said.

Sure enough, upon hearing his words, Tian Mi retorted without thinking: "Impossible, he doesn't even know Dong Ziwu." As soon as these words were out, she realized she had let something slip. Immediately after, she became angry, as if her own stupidity had to be blamed on someone else.

Qi Fei smiled slightly: "You must tell me this person's name, otherwise I can charge you with interfering with law enforcement. If you are penalized, I'm afraid it will be very difficult for you to get promoted for the rest of your life."

His words struck the vital point in Tian Mi's heart and worked instantly.

Tian Mi said unwillingly: "Dong Qianjin told me."

"Dong Ziwu's father?" Wu Shanqiu still had a fresh memory of that well-dressed elderly man.

"Why would he tell you this?" Qi Fei had not expected it to be this person.

Tian Mi glanced at her mother, who was still in the living room, and the old lady tactfully returned to her room.

Once only the three of them were left in the living room, Tian Mi spoke: "Back then, I transferred Dong Ziwu to Nancheng Investment because Dong Qianjin's old classmate was a high-ranking leader in the financial system who had just retired. At that time, the money for treating people to meals and sending gifts was all paid by Dong Qianjin. Now that his son is dead, he's haggling with me over this matter! Saying something about not wanting to lose both his money and his son. I had originally arranged to meet him tonight to talk it over, but he told me you were watching me, so it wasn't convenient."

"Huh? You promoted Dong Ziwu, wasn't it because Dong Ziwu's mother is your best friend?" Wu Shanqiu was still dwelling on the gossip she had heard at Nancheng Investment.