Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 77

“It happened like this—after receiving the video today, I saved it onto my computer, then went to the evidence room, and after that, I headed to a crime scene. But then… the evidence room caught on fire.”

“What? Are you saying the video was destroyed in the fire?” Gao Zhe interrupted anxiously.

“No. I didn’t even go to the evidence room today because of your case. After hearing about the fire, I rushed back to the office, only to find that my computer had been infected with a virus. All the data was gone.”

“I see what you’re getting at—the fire at the evidence room was intentional. Someone wants me dead. They thought you had new evidence and had already submitted it. There’s a mole in your police department, and it’s highly likely they’re working for Jing Cheng.”

“Miss Shi, what I don’t understand is—why are you telling Xuan all this? What’s your real motive?” Lan Qing stared intently at Shi Jiawen, hoping to spot a flaw in her expression.

“To be honest, I’m here to ask for your help. Don’t worry—the case against Jing Xuan can still be overturned. The video was backed up. I don’t think they’ve realized the footage has been restored,” Shi Jiawen paused. Everyone looked more puzzled than before, suspicion growing in their eyes.

“Officer Shi, let’s start with what kind of help you need,” said Yan Junye, who had been silent until now, drawing Shi Jiawen’s attention.

“You’re the head of the Yan family in City C?”

“I am.”

“Wait, you didn’t know?” Shi Jiawen’s question only deepened Yan Junye’s confusion.

“We received a tip-off. Last night at Xinshan Port, we intercepted a fleet of cargo ships bearing the Yan family’s insignia. On board, we found over 450 kilograms of high-purity narcotics and a cache of large-caliber

machine guns. The Yan shipping fleet is now under suspicion for drug trafficking and smuggling military-grade weapons.”

“What?!” Yan Junye jumped to her feet in shock.

“It must be Jing Cheng! He came to Grandfather before, asking to use our fleet to move goods. We turned him down. Jing, Shuangji, you were both there! Who had the audacity to go behind my back and accept the job anyway?!”

“Junye, calm down,” Gao Zhe tried to pull her back to her seat. “What if it’s a setup?”

“Officer Shi, do you have any solid evidence proving it’s really the Yan family involved?” Jing Xuan asked.

“Not yet.”

“The more I hear, the more confusing it gets. Officer Shi, why don’t you start from the beginning?” someone suggested.

Shi Jiawen took the tea Sister Mei had brewed and finally began her explanation.

It turned out that Shi Jiawen worked in the international investigations unit. Before Jing Xuan’s case surfaced, she had been tracking a Southeast Asian transnational drug trafficking network. After following numerous leads, they had locked onto a key figure—Jing Cheng.

Jing Cheng’s organization was elusive, but it had connections to major drug lords around the Golden Triangle. Somehow, he had managed to carve out a piece of their territory—acting essentially like a pirate. He would hijack drug shipments and sell them to their intended buyers at a discount, forcing the drug lords to buy back their own goods at inflated prices.

This kind of double-dealing was despised in the underworld, typically ending with the traitor being eliminated.

But strangely, no one could touch him.

There is a saying—even thieves have their own code. Jing Cheng had broken that code and was brazenly arrogant about it. Someone eventually tipped off the authorities, hoping the police would eliminate this cancer that had penetrated the criminal world too deeply.

Of course, this wasn’t Jing Cheng’s only crime. The police had long suspected him but lacked concrete evidence. Then Jing Xuan’s case came to light, and Jing Cheng surfaced again. Shi Jiawen immediately suspected a link and hoped to obtain solid proof.

“Jing Xuan, I believe you’re innocent. Your case will soon be resolved. But I need your help to catch the real fish—Jing Cheng.”

Shi Jiawen’s intent aligned perfectly with Jing Xuan’s. A partnership was the best course.

“Officer Shi, I agree. But I’m no longer the key person in this case.”

“You mean the witness?”

Jing Xuan nodded. “And considering what Jing Cheng is capable of, do you really think your people can protect them?”

Realizing the urgency, Shi Jiawen quickly put down her teacup. “I’ll head to the hospital right now!”

“Hey! What about my case—”

“Don’t worry! I’ll clear your name by tomorrow.” She flashed a confident smile and left.

Jing Xuan stared blankly after Shi Jiawen’s graceful figure—though really, she was deep in thought. Qiao Fei and Lan Qing exchanged a knowing look, then each grabbed one of Jing Xuan’s ears and twisted hard.

“OW! Ladies, please! I admit it—I was wrong!”

“Hmph! And what exactly are you guilty of?” Lan Qing demanded. Jing Xuan’s tearful puppy-eyed expression made her look like a pitiful stray.

“I, uh…”

Lan Qing sighed. “I don’t even know how you manage to accumulate so many romantic debts in a day.” She pulled Qiao Fei upstairs with her.

Gao Zhe chuckled. “Ajing, you’ve got a curse of peach blossoms!”

“Get lost!” Jing Xuan hurled a pillow at Yan Junye, who was still deep in thought.

Jing Xuan sat down beside her. “Junye, don’t worry. You heard it yourself—nothing’s been confirmed yet.”

“Ajing, I’m worried about Grandfather. I need to return to City C tomorrow.”

“Alright. Take good care of him for us. Things here will be fine.”

________________________________________

Ren’ai Hospital

Xiaofeng stood motionless, staring at the unconscious Li Miaolan in the hospital bed.

Jing Cheng had gone ballistic upon learning the trial had gone awry. Li Miaolan had failed to accuse Jing Xuan, and now Jing Cheng had issued a kill order.

One of Xiaofeng’s men, seeing he hadn’t taken action yet, cautiously stepped forward.

“Captain Feng, if you don’t act now, a nurse could walk in any minute…”

“Have you learned nothing after working with me this long? I need you to tell me what to do?”

“N-no, sir!”

“No? Then if you’re so eager to show initiative—you do it.”

Xiaofeng handed over the syringe. Just as the man reached out to take it, Xiaofeng stepped in close and plunged it into the man’s neck, injecting its contents.

The man’s eyes widened in shock, but it was too late. He collapsed, clutching his throat, convulsing until he fell still.

Xiaofeng administered a mild sedative to Li Miaolan and covered her with a white sheet. Wearing a surgical mask, he wheeled her out of the ICU—passing Shi Jiawen in the hallway as she rushed into the hospital.

________________________________________

Jing Cheng leaned back in his chair, spinning lazily, but he was far from relaxed. His shipment had been seized. Though he used the Yan family’s name, the police weren’t idiots—they’d soon trace it back to him.

Shi Jiawen, that relentless woman, had already sabotaged several of his deals.

Thanks to Li Miaolan, Jing Xuan had survived again. Lately, things were spiraling.

Suddenly, a subordinate burst in, panicked. “Sir! Something’s gone wrong!”

“Bullshit. What now?”

“Our men at the hospital… they were taken down.”

Jing Cheng’s eyes sharpened. “Where’s Xiaofeng?”

“Captain Feng—he’s gone!”

“What?! When did this happen?”

“We—we hadn’t heard from the hospital, so we sent someone to check. But… our men were dead, and both Captain Feng and that woman are missing.”

Jing Cheng stood and began pacing, face dark with rage. Suddenly, he kicked the subordinate hard.

The man trembled, lips quivering, as though there was more he hadn’t said.

Jing Cheng grabbed his collar. “What else?! Speak!”

The man was nearly in tears. “There’s worse news… M-Morvis… he’s escaped.”