There was no suspense as Tong Meng was defeated again during the case briefing that evening.
Sixth Master was speechless with her.
"Sir, please don't be angry. I know my abilities are not enough, but only if I sit in that position can Sixth Master get what you want."
"Hmph, you think too highly of yourself. If you can't sit in that position, others can. You are the first piece of trash I've promoted, and an arrogant one at that."
Tong Meng felt awkward and could only use a smile to ease her embarrassment. "It's all because of that Hu Jia. I didn't expect him to make a scene on the spot."
Sixth Master took a deep breath. "Indeed, I underestimated him."
He had known for a long time that Hu Jia would definitely not agree to let Tong Meng be the head of Group Two. He thought that by announcing the appointment at the last moment, Hu Jia would be forced to accept it. But he didn't expect the kid to openly object and propose a competition.
"He really doesn't respect you at all. I told you, Sir, you should have forcefully executed the appointment then and not left him any room," Tong Meng buried herself in Sixth Master's chest.
Hm?
Sixth Master's eyes narrowed, and his fingers pinched Tong Meng's jaw. "What do you mean?"
Tong Meng's eyes were flustered, and her face showed fear. "Nothing, I didn't mean anything. Sixth Master, spare me."
Sixth Master was not easily fooled. He tightened his grip, causing Tong Meng's face to contort in pain. "When did you find out?"
Tong Meng's eyes widened with even greater fear. "Sixth Master, I don't understand what you're saying. I don't know anything. Really, I know nothing."
Sixth Master sneered. "If you had used this intelligence to solve cases, would we be in this situation now?"
He let her go.
He sat down, lit a cigarette, the ember flashing faintly. Sixth Master slowly exhaled a cloud of white smoke. "Tell me, how did you discover it?"
Tong Meng was evasive, still trying to avoid answering.
Sixth Master coughed heavily, and Tong Meng finally put on a pained expression.
She had already slipped up, and there was no hiding it now.
"When exactly did you find out my identity?" Sixth Master asked again, but this time, he changed his voice, returning to his original tone.
As soon as Tong Meng heard Sixth Master's original voice, she knew he intended to reveal everything.
"Actually, I guessed it a long time ago. After all, I'm very familiar with your scent and aura. But I only suspected it before. Then, one day, you accidentally coughed, and when you coughed, you couldn't change your voice," Tong Meng said.
At this moment, she was very uneasy, not knowing how Sixth Master would deal with her.
After a simple "Mm," Sixth Master fell silent. This kind of quietness was the most frightening. Tong Meng's legs were sore from standing, and she still didn't know what Sixth Master was thinking.
Then, Sixth Master took off his mask.
After wearing it for so long, he had forgotten how to breathe normally in this world.
"Sixth Master..." Tong Meng called out. Under the mask was indeed the face she suspected.
Sixth Master merely glanced at Tong Meng indifferently. "It's more comfortable like this. I've been numb wearing this mask all these years. I thought I had a new face, but I didn't expect to be seen through by someone with intentions."
Sixth Master's words made Tong Meng take a step back in fright. Despite her anxiety, she secretly raised her guard. If Sixth Master were to make a move, she would strike first. What if she could escape?
As she thought about it, Tong Meng's gaze shifted downwards from Sixth Master's chest. Kicking there first would have a higher chance of success.
"Alas..." Sixth Master sighed heavily, interrupting Tong Meng's thoughts.
"It's not easy to get by these days. The young ones don't listen, and the old ones sing the opposite tune."
The young ones were easy to understand, but what about the old ones?
Tong Meng glanced at Sixth Master. He casually tossed the mask aside and lit a cigarette. "This cigarette, it makes one cough. But since you've started smoking, how can you quit?"
Tong Meng immediately understood the underlying meaning. This matter had already happened, and it couldn't be undone. Actions would always leave traces, and who knew when they would be discovered.
He was pointing Tong Meng in a direction.
For example, the "old ones" he mentioned.
"Sixth Master, as long as you don't dislike me, I, Tong Meng, am still your person and will follow your lead."
"Do you think there's a possibility for me to advance further?"
Sixth Master ignored Tong Meng's pledge of loyalty and instead asked her a question. Tong Meng's heart tightened. She felt she had guessed Sixth Master's intentions. "Yes!"
"Hahaha!" Sixth Master laughed heartily. "But the biggest obstacle is right in front of us. This tiger has no other weaknesses, it just loves to eat meat, especially the meat of beautiful women."
Tong Meng's face turned from pale to ashen. She quickly knelt down. "I am willing to be the bait in Sixth Master's hands."
...
Following Sixth Master's reminder, Tong Meng went to inquire about Yue Bo's situation first thing the next morning.
According to the investigation results from Lu Qingqing and the others, Yue Bo went missing on March 3rd. On the day he went missing, Yue Bo had been out drinking with a group of friends.
Following this clue, Tong Meng found the people Yue Bo had been drinking with that night.
The drinking buddies said that Yue Bo had arrived the previous afternoon. The few of them drank all night, and Yue Bo left at dawn.
It's important to know that transportation between Chongqing and Chengdu was not convenient. Usually, people would take a boat upstream, and after reaching places like Yibin, they would transfer to a horse-drawn carriage or choose other means of travel.
At dawn, there were no boats at all. Yue Bo didn't look like he was heading to Chengdu.
Just as Tong Meng was struggling with his departure, a drinking buddy chased after her. He wanted to collect some drinking money and claimed he could exchange it for a secret.
Tong Meng naturally didn't refuse. The man told her that he had seen Yue Bo being intimate with a woman in Chengdu before, and it seemed that woman was his first love.
Could it be that Yue Bo went to Chengdu every time to see that first love?
Using business trips as an excuse to sneak around?
The more Tong Meng thought about it, the more likely this possibility seemed. After all, Wen Feixue had written in her diary that they often argued.
Tong Meng was overjoyed. After finding out the woman's name and address, she excitedly rushed back. But after taking a few steps, she turned back. "Don't blame me for not warning you, you're in big trouble now."
Her words frightened the drinking buddy immensely. "Officer, I haven't done anything wrong."
Tong Meng squinted. "You say you haven't done anything wrong, who would believe you? Think about it, Yue Bo has been missing for over a week, and you were the last person to see him. If anything happened to him, you would be the first to be taken to the police station."
The drinking buddy let out a cry of pain and was about to kneel to kowtow to Tong Meng. "Officer, please help me. I really don't know anything. I just drank with him."
Tong Meng sighed. "I believe you, but will others? Do you know that very few people who enter the police station can get out? The whips, the clubs, all sorts of torture instruments will be used on you. Even if you're innocent, you'll be forced to confess."
The drinking buddy had heard many such stories of forced confessions. At this moment, he was completely stunned and could not even stand.
"Forget it. Since you've helped me, I'll give you a way out." Tong Meng took out a few dozen yuan from her pocket. "You should go to the countryside and hide for a while. Come back only after the case is solved."
The drinking buddy was overjoyed and kept looking at Tong Meng as if she were a bodhisattva. Tong Meng put on a show. "Get up quickly. Hurry and go now. I'm just a scout. If someone else comes later, you won't be so lucky. They'll take you away directly, drag you out, beat you up, and then interrogate you."
Upon hearing this, the drinking buddy dared not delay any further. After profusely thanking her, he quickly left.
Li Han disdained Tong Meng's methods, thinking that this was all she was capable of. However, he had no intention of stopping her, as not offending anyone was a means of ensuring safety in the workplace.
Just as Tong Meng was sending away an important witness, Lü Qingqing had just stepped out.
Because it was Monday today, and Hu Jia had lost his memory again.