Let them offer their loyalty!

Chapter 238 The Secret Revealed by Secretary Bai (10,000 Words for Subscriptions)

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With these thoughts in mind, Qiu Tu continued to sip his tea while covertly glancing at Secretary Bai.

At that moment, Secretary Bai appeared as though he hadn't been the one to speak those words; he simply kept his head down, quietly savoring his tea, looking very serene.

Qiu Tu recalled every image he had of Secretary Bai in his memory and realized that the man always had that same expression.

There was a faint smile on his face, neither aggressive nor distant, but reflecting a sense of inner peace.

It was as if, to him, everything in this world was like fleeting clouds, unworthy of his care or attention.

Honestly, it was precisely because of this impression of Secretary Bai in his mind that Qiu Tu found it hard to believe, after discovering that Secretary Bai was very likely a cultist of the Evil God.

After all... how could a person without desires be tempted by the Evil God and become a believer?

What could the Evil God possibly offer to entice him?

Money, power? Beauties, immortality?

Honestly, Qiu Tu always felt that at least on the surface, Secretary Bai didn't seem to care about these things.

While Qiu Tu was pondering this, Secretary Bai also put down his teacup, smiled, and gestured toward the yard of his villa, saying, "Do you remember those flowers that you and Ah-Tai gave me?"

Qiu Tu recalled and then remembered that Secretary Bai, who had no other hobbies, enjoyed reading and admiring flowers.

As for books, they were rare treasures in tumultuous times, and Qiu Tu and Ah-Tai couldn't provide any, so when Secretary Bai came back to Xinjie City, they dug up some flowers from the outskirts and gave them to him.

Secretary Bai liked them very much at the time and even complimented the two on their taste.

Thinking of this, Qiu Tu also said, "Oh, I remember. Ah-Tai and I dug up the chrysanthemum from the outskirts for you."

Hearing Qiu Tu's response, Secretary Bai smiled slightly and gestured to Qiu Tu before standing up and walking toward the courtyard.

Seeing this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but follow along.

As they reached the inner garden of the villa, what caught Qiu Tu's eyes were several chrysanthemums, with their graceful and charming postures waving gently in the wind.

The chrysanthemum stems were tall and sturdy, with round buds growing skyward, two flowers on a single stem, petals curved and coiling inward.

Seeing those chrysanthemums, Secretary Bai sighed softly, squatted down, and while gently touching them, said, "In this world, all things are shrouded by a layer of dreamy, white mist."

"Sometimes, you think you've seen the truth, but in fact, you've been mistaken."

With that, Secretary Bai pointed at the flowers and said with a smile, "You and Ah-Tai always thought these were chrysanthemums."

"And indeed, they do look like chrysanthemums."

"But in fact, they are not chrysanthemums, they are orchids."

"Orchidaceae, the Cymbidium genus, Golden Sand Chrysanthemum."

"A very precious kind of orchid before the Era of Disaster, and you two rough men happened to dig it up."

"Don't be deceived by its appearance as a chrysanthemum, even its name includes 'chrysanthemum', but it is an authentic orchid."

Listening to Secretary Bai's words that seemed to carry a deeper meaning, Qiu Tu asked, "Given this, was it right or wrong for Ah-Tai and I to dig it up and bring it here?"

Secretary Bai stood up with a smile and patted Qiu Tu's shoulder, "Of course, it was right."

"No matter what it looks like, if it should be dug up, it should be dug up."

"After all, leaving it abandoned outside, no one knows what accidents could happen, right?"

"It's just that... when digging it up, one must be clear about what it really is and why it came to look this way."

"Only through accumulating such knowledge will your experience grow richer, and you'll be less likely to make the same mistakes when encountering similar situations in the future."

At this, Secretary Bai paused for a moment, "Besides, if you hadn't dug it up back then, how could you have met me so naturally?"

"Did you really think I was someone you could meet on a whim?"

Saying this, Secretary Bai winked with a smile, "I can be quite shrewd, you know."

Listening to these words with a double meaning, Qiu Tu gave Secretary Bai a deep look and then nodded with a smile, "Understood."

Having said all he wanted, and needed to say for the evening, Secretary Bai patted Qiu Tu on the shoulder and joked, "Alright then. We've talked, and we've seen the flowers."

"Go have one more cup of tea before you leave."

"Director Tang is still waiting for you outside. The night is short but affection is long, do not let the fair lady wait in vain."

At his words, Qiu Tu took a deep breath and nodded.

After returning to the living room, Secretary Bai brewed the final cup of tea, and after Qiu Tu drank it, he stood up and left the villa without looking back.

Watching Qiu Tu's departing figure, Secretary Bai moved slowly to the piano, sat down, and began playing again.

An unknown piece, carrying a hint of parting sorrow and regret, as if seeing Qiu Tu off...

The azure moonlight shone down, casting its glow on Secretary Bai and his ever-composed face, the serenity was profound.....

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Stepping out of Secretary Bai's villa.

Qiu Tu looked up toward the distance where Tang Feifei stood with her hands in her pockets atop a tree, quietly watching him.

This woman, despite being a bit violent, lustful, and aloof, was still extremely reliable when it came down to business.

Qiu Tu worried that seeking Secretary Bai tonight might lead to an encounter with the Evil God, so he made a call directly to her.

And successfully employed Tang Feifei for the night with a "price."

Tang Feifei initially wanted to enter the villa with Qiu Tu, but he refused her suggestion, not wanting to startle the snake in the grass.

So, Tang Feifei toured around the villa to scout the terrain and eventually chose the top of this pine tree.

According to her, standing at the top of this pine tree gave her a bird's-eye view of the entire villa.

Moreover, with the "Spiritual Vision" state, she could clearly see all of Qiu Tu's and Secretary Bai's actions and conditions, ready to execute rescue if needed.

Qiu Tu found her reasons to be very sound, so he agreed.

And now, seeing Qiu Tu return safely, Tang Feifei leaped lightly off the tree, arms spread, descending like a flying hawk from the treetop. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

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Coming to Qiu Tu's side, Tang Feifei's gaze swept up and down his body before she asked in an indifferent tone, "Is everything okay?"

Qiu Tu nodded slightly.

Tang Feifei said, "Then, let's go to my place to talk."

After saying that, she turned around and strode with her long legs toward her villa.

The villas of Tang Feifei and Secretary Bai were not far apart. In other words, apart from the independent manor that Yan Chen had someone build separately, the high-level officials of the Investigation Bureau all had their villas built together.

Arriving at Tang Feifei's home, apart from the people patrolling outside, there were no outsiders in the villa.

The two sat down on the sofa and talked about their recent meeting with Secretary Bai.

Tang Feifei asked in a cool manner, "Was it Bai Yu?"

Qiu Tu's face became somber as he nodded and said, "It should be him."

Tang Feifei squinted as if she were a lioness eyeing her prey and asked, "How did you confirm it?"

Qiu Tu recounted everything from meeting Secretary Bai to the moment of departure, including all their conversation and expressions.

Perhaps because she wasn't very good at this kind of circuitous conversations, Tang Feifei slightly furrowed her brows.

She tilted her head up, her wheat-colored face conveying dissatisfaction, "What kind of riddles are you playing at?"

Hearing Tang Feifei's words, Qiu Tu couldn't help but laugh.

He explained, "Old Bai indeed likes to speak in riddles."

Qiu Tu gave an example, "Like when he wanted me to escape, but he didn't directly tell me where to go; instead, he told me that Director Liu from Eastern City had some conflict with Yan Chen."

"This was his way of implying it to me."

Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei nodded slightly with a cool expression, offering her opinion, "Bai Yu does indeed like to talk in circles. He never gives a straight answer."

After speaking, she inquired, "But what did you hear from what he said?"

Qiu Tu shook his head slightly, then explained to Tang Feifei, "With Old Bai, you need to listen to only half of it, to the implications."

"From the very first sentence he said upon our meeting, he was actually giving me a hint."

"He said I should have come earlier, which really was to tell me that I was right to seek him out. But... it was a bit late."

"And when he said his house was filled with ambushes, he was implying that the two of us were actually on opposing sides."

"Even though he gave various explanations afterward, but... they were just explanations."

"Later, he told me that Advisor Huang Shangzong came to Xinjie City, ready to harm me."

"In fact, he revealed two pieces of information."

"The first layer was the apparent information, warning me that Huang Shangzong was ready to make a move on me. The second layer was what he really wanted to express: he... hadn't changed at all, he had never intended to harm me."

"But at that time, I wasn't clear about his stance, nor what he was really thinking, so I couldn't figure out what he wanted to convey, and I had to keep probing."

"I previously asked him directly if he was an Evil God Cultist, and he denied it."

"Whether he didn't want to confess and leave any leverages, or there was some kind of compulsion on him that prevented him from admitting it, in any case, I knew I couldn't inquire so directly."

"So, I simply started to gather information."

"I asked him three questions. When my secretary would be arranged; who supported Zheng Tao's promotion to Deputy Division Chief; who picked up Yan Chen's daughter Yanyan."

"These three questions seemed inconsequential, but they were actually full of implications."

"Zheng Tao has now been confirmed as a follower of Larilo, so the person who promoted him to target me back then is very likely that high-level mole."

"And Larilo wanted to use Zheng Tao's wife to lure me by letting her become my secretary. But as a Deputy Division Chief, I was supposed to have a secretary. Once there was a new secretary by my side, Zheng Tao's wife, Tan Huimin, would definitely have to leave."

"So, to prevent Tan Huimin from leaving, that high-level mole would definitely interfere with the selection of my new secretary." (Chapter 213)

"The only thing about picking up Yan Chen's daughter... that was because I was almost certain that the girl now with Yan Chen was the Evil God Lariro."

"That's why I used these three questions to probe Secretary Bai."

"Secretary Bai's response to the first question was fairly normal. He said it was Advisor Shi Youxin from the Organizational Department interfering with the selection of my secretary."

"The second question, however, was a bit off. Because he brought up a second suspect: Deputy Director Yu Zhengyi, claiming Director Yu made Zheng Tao's promotion happen."

"As for... the third question. He was outright lying."

"He claimed that it was Ji Chen who went to pick up Yan Chen's daughter that day, and he just welcomed her at the villa's entrance."

"But actually... from that evening, Ji Chen was with me and Yan Chen the whole time. Instead, it was he who had disappeared for a long time and did not return to the villa until late at night."

Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei's eyes flashed with a dangerous gleam, "So he gave himself away?"

Qiu Tu shook his head, "No. He was deliberately hinting at me."

Tang Feifei was a bit puzzled, "Hinting?"

Qiu Tu nodded, "Yes. Because he... actually knew Ji Chen had been by my side the whole time."

"He used a falsehood to tell me that his previous two answers were also false."

"The true answers... they were all him."

"It was he who promoted Zheng Tao, it was he who prevented the Administrative Office from assigning me a new secretary, and it was he who brought the Evil God to Yan Chen's side."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Tang Feifei's brows furrowed deeply, "But why would he do that?"

Tang Feifei was clearly confused by the tacit understanding between Qiu Tu and Secretary Bai.

Her wheat-colored face was filled with bewilderment.

Then, frowning slightly, Tang Feifei made two hypotheses in her cold tone, "If he really is an Evil God Cultist, he should act as if everything has nothing to do with him or blame these three things entirely on one person, to divert the direction of your investigation."

"If he isn't an Evil God Cultist, he shouldn't be doing these things for the Evil God! He is joking with his own life!"

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Still 3 chapters, 10,000 words each. Vote for your Monthly Ticket, ha!