Chapter 1 A Common Neighborhood

Longcheng, in a very ordinary neighborhood.

Several vehicles from the All-Systems Bureau and the An family drove in and parked.

Gu Baisun, Guo Zhengdao, Liu Hongxu, and Brother Qiu, along with some security personnel, got out of the cars.

Guo Zhengdao stood in front of one of the buildings, glanced in the direction of the sixth floor, and said to Gu Baisun in a low voice, "Director Gu, his wife and children are here."

"Mm."

Gu Baisun nodded.

After receiving the report about He Yan, they immediately began searching for him through their own channels.

The All-Systems Bureau and the An family quickly deployed forces to his home, the police station, and some of the places he frequented. But He Yan seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing from under everyone's noses.

Right now, they could only start with his family to investigate his whereabouts.

The group quickly entered the building and took the elevator.

In the elevator, Guo Zhengdao added, "Director Gu, this He Yan also has a mistress. I've had her called over too."

"Good." Gu Baisun nodded lightly again, "When she arrives, have her wait downstairs first. After we've questioned He Yan's wife, we'll learn about her situation."

"Understood."

The elevator quickly stopped on the sixth floor. The group walked out of the elevator and saw that one of the apartment doors was open.

Some staff members from the All-Systems Bureau had already arrived and, while deploying the scene, had explained the situation to He Yan's wife.

Gu Baisun led the group into He Yan's home, a spacious three-bedroom apartment with excellent decor.

The whole house was spotless. A woman in her forties was sitting on the sofa, plump and well-dressed.

"You've arrived. Please, sit down." Seeing the group enter, she stood up gently, greeting them politely, but added, "My son is studying in the back room. Let's keep our voices down and not disturb him."

Gu Baisun nodded, and the group sat down on the sofa.

Guo Zhengdao took the lead in speaking, telling He Yan's wife, "These are all leaders from the Bureau, in charge of this case. Ms. Zhao, please tell us everything as it is. The leaders won't make things difficult for you."

He Yan's wife said directly, "I'm just an honest and law-abiding woman. I have nothing to hide. Just ask whatever you want."

Gu Baisun crossed his hands, looked at her, and asked in a gentle voice, "Ms. Zhao, we're here to understand the situation of your husband, He Yan."

He Yan's wife pouted, "Don't ask me about his situation. We haven't been together for three or four years. If it wasn't for his official duties, which wouldn't sound good, we would have divorced long ago. And he hasn't been home much for a long time. He must have someone else outside. I raised the child all by myself. Apart from sending money, he hasn't cared much."

After speaking, she thought for a moment, and without waiting for others to ask, she added, "To be honest, I have someone else too."

Gu Baisun paused slightly, and then asked, "Does anyone know about your nominal marriage?"

He Yan's wife said directly, "Does that need proof? Go ask the neighbors. Who doesn't know He Yan's behavior? How long has it been since he came home? The last time I saw him was last year for our child's coming-of-age birthday. We took the child out for a meal together. Other than that, he never comes home. My child and I don't know what he's doing."

Gu Baisun could hear the indelible resentment in the woman's voice. He could tell that, in this matter, the woman was likely not lying.

And as she said, asking the surrounding neighbors would reveal the truth of their relationship.

Liu Hongxu sat aside, having entrusted the case to Gu Baisun, he had been listening without saying a word.

Guo Zhengdao asked a few more questions, and He Yan's wife answered truthfully, but they were not very helpful.

After about half an hour, Gu Baisun felt it was enough and gave Guo Zhengdao a look.

Guo Zhengdao understood and turned to He Yan's wife, saying, "Okay, that's all for today. Keep your phone on and make sure you can be reached at any time. If you see He Yan, contact us immediately. His matter is very serious. Don't let him affect you and your child, understand?"

"What's not to understand?" He Yan's wife waved her hand and said, "It would be better if he died."

The group didn't get any clues and reluctantly got up to leave.

After leaving, in the elevator, Liu Hongxu finally asked, "Director Gu, what do you think?"

Gu Baisun pondered for a moment and said, "It feels like she's telling the truth, but we can't believe everything. Put surveillance on both of them, and interview the neighbors."

Liu Hongxu nodded without saying anything else.

Gu Baisun turned to look at Guo Zhengdao, "Brother Guo, has He Yan's mistress arrived?"

Guo Zhengdao nodded, "She's here, in the car downstairs. Her name is Shen Yue, and she runs a small bar in Zhanan."

Gu Baisun said, "Okay, see if there's any breakthrough on her side."

The group got out of the elevator, walked out of the building, and headed towards a spacious van.

"Whirr!"

A staff member opened the car door, and Gu Baisun and the others stepped inside.

At this time, in the van, sat a mature woman in her thirties. She wore light makeup, a small black jacket, and blue jeans, dressed fashionably and showing off her sexy figure.

When Gu Baisun saw her, he went straight to the point, "Shen Yue, right? Tell me, has He Yan contacted you recently?"

"Contact me about what?" Shen Yue crossed her arms, speaking with some resentment, "That heartless man only looks for me when he wants to sleep with me. I haven't seen him in a long time."

Liu Hongxu took only one look at Shen Yue and felt that this woman had a strong jianghu (martial world) vibe and wasn't very honest.

For seasoned military intelligence officers, they could tell at a glance who had information and who was lying. Gu Baisun looked at the woman and didn't waste any words, "Directly isolate and interrogate her. Detain her first!"

"Yes!"

"No, what do you mean? Why are you detaining me? This is...!"

No one paid attention to her, and no one spoke to her. They put on the handcuffs, and she was taken away on the spot.

...

At the same time, in a high-end club in District One, Huafu.

In a quiet private room, Yuan Biao sat alone on the sofa, drinking, his eyes red.

"Creak—"

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Lu Zhen walked in.

Yuan Biao didn't even look up, picked up his glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

Lu Zhen sat opposite him, looking at Yuan Biao, who was already a bit tipsy, and couldn't help but sigh. He reached out and patted him on the shoulder, comforting him, "I'm sorry, you lost a brother."