Tao Qiyue approached Chen Jinzhao after receiving a phone call.
Her expression grim, she said, "Just now, the provincial authorities called. They want Director Wang to take action against your group, preferably to apprehend the main suspects and prevent Sister Yu from holding another press conference."
Yu Mengzhi's expression changed slightly. This was clearly an attempt to target Gou Chen.
"That arrogant? Whose orders are these?" Chen Jinzhao asked from the side, frowning.
Tao Qiyue shook her head, indicating that such high-level matters were beyond her reach. She added, "But don't worry, Director Wang intends to resist the pressure and not take any action. You should also trace the source of the medicine as quickly as possible to find out where the mistake occurred."
Chen Jinzhao couldn't help but feel admiration for Wang Zhenliang.
For someone without divine backing, enduring such immense pressure to achieve this was truly difficult.
"Qiyue, you need to focus your attention on the major pharmacies now. I suspect someone is poisoning the finished drugs. Their methods are quite professional. If they fail to bring down Gou Chen Group this time, they might resort to desperate measures," Chen Jinzhao offered Tao Qiyue some ideas. Tao Qiyue nodded and said they were already deploying forces across the city.
"In fact, we already have some leads and are waiting to make our move."
"Three days!"
"With just three days, the case should be solved."
Yu Mengzhi also spoke then, "Then we really appreciate your trouble. We will thank you handsomely."
Tao Qiyue gave a wry smile. "There's no need for that; it's my duty. You should head back for now. If you discover anything new, tell me immediately."
"That's all then, goodbye!"
Since her trip to the Northwest, Tao Qiyue had become more resolute, as if she were a different person.
As this case involved many parties and had extremely serious repercussions, Tao Qiyue had many matters to attend to. She didn't return to her rented apartment until past midnight.
Compared to Leng Jiaying's apartment, hers was like the difference between heaven and earth.
However, for Tao Qiyue, it was enough.
After taking a shower, Tao Qiyue tossed and turned, unable to sleep, staring blankly at the ceiling. For some reason, Chen Jinzhao's image kept involuntarily appearing in her mind, refusing to fade away.
Could she have fallen for him?
Perhaps...
Tao Qiyue didn't deny it.
Chen Jinzhao was indeed a very charming man, but unfortunately, he already had a girlfriend. She sometimes wondered if, had she been more assertive when Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi had their disagreement, things might have turned out differently.
Thinking of this.
A bitter smile appeared on her face, realizing she was overthinking.
Chen Jinzhao's affection for Yu Mengzhi was evident to everyone; he cherished her as if she were a treasure. His concern for her was, at most, that of a friend.
"How can I think these things? He already has a girlfriend!" Tao Qiyue slapped her cheeks, trying to sober herself up and not harbor any illusions about the impossible.
With a heavy heart, Tao Qiyue felt a pang of disappointment.
She murmured dejectedly, "Will I ever meet a man like him again? Not necessarily exactly like him, but half as good would suffice."
Just as Tao Qiyue was lost in thought, her phone by the pillow rang with a notification.
She picked up her phone and glanced at it, her brows instantly furrowing. Then, she suddenly sat up from her lying position, staring intently at the message on her phone!
Someone had sent her a message via overseas email. According to the sender, this was indeed a deliberate murder case, and the mastermind was not satisfied and intended to kill more people to escalate the situation.
This perfectly matched Tao Qiyue's suspicion!
Further down in the email, the sender stated they could provide her with clues and evidence, but under the condition that no one else be informed. Otherwise, they would be targeted by the mastermind and likely killed.
"Who are you?"
Tao Qiyue asked in her reply.
A short while later.
The mysterious person sent another email, telling Tao Qiyue that they were an employee of a pharmacy and had witnessed the mastermind replacing the medicine with poisoned ones, orchestrating the major incident that led to the deaths of ten patients. Furthermore, the sender wrote that they trusted no one now and hoped Tao Qiyue would go to the designated location alone, where they would hand over the evidence.
If Tao Qiyue went with a large entourage, the sender would flee directly!
"Officer Tao, I am just an ordinary citizen. I hope you can understand my difficulties. To oppose someone with such immense power is to invite our own destruction as common folk."
"I understand. Tell me your current location, and I'll come to you," Tao Qiyue replied.
To ensure caution, the sender did not reveal the location directly. Instead, they instructed Tao Qiyue to go to one place first, and upon arrival, they would guide her to the next location, and so on, until the sender was satisfied.
Tao Qiyue agreed without hesitation.
As she put on her clothes, she pondered the identity of this mysterious person. If they were indeed an informant, that would be ideal. Tao Qiyue also considered the possibility that the sender might be an accomplice of the mastermind, potentially posing a threat to her.
In short, this operation was highly risky!
However, Tao Qiyue proceeded resolutely because, regardless of the possibility, the sender knew the mastermind!
Fortune favors the bold, and Tao Qiyue was unwilling to let this opportunity slip away.
As she was about to leave, she hesitated.
The risk factor for this operation was very high; she might not even return.
It wasn't that she feared death, but rather that her death would be in vain, emboldening the mastermind. After a moment's thought, she used a secondary SIM card to schedule a text message to Chen Jinzhao's phone, which would be sent in half an hour! This was also a precaution against anyone monitoring her phone records. Someone who had the power to tamper with medicine undetected would likely be influential enough to monitor phone communications with ease.
Having made all preparations, Tao Qiyue took a deep breath and stepped out of her home.
Twenty minutes later.
Tao Qiyue arrived at the location designated by the sender, a bar. However, she couldn't see the person. After contacting them, the sender claimed that the bar was too crowded and not suitable for communication, asking Tao Qiyue to go through the back door and into a dark alley.
"Alright, wait for me," Tao Qiyue replied.
Following the directions, Tao Qiyue passed through the bar's back door and entered an alley so dark she couldn't see her hand in front of her. She instinctively reached for the sidearm at her waist, a gut feeling telling her the sender meant trouble.
Even so.
She stubbornly walked into the darkness!
Only by venturing into the darkness could she expose the mastermind!
After walking about ten meters inside, a shadowy figure appeared in the distance. Seeing no one else besides that person, Tao Qiyue felt a slight sense of relief.
She raised her gun, aiming at the figure, as a necessary precaution.
"I am Tao Qiyue from the Ninghai Municipal Bureau. Please cooperate and put your hands up, then squat down with your head in your hands," Tao Qiyue commanded. The person, however, chuckled and said, "Officer Tao, you are being very unkind. I came here to provide you with evidence and clues, how can you point a gun at me? I must say, you have disappointed me greatly."
Hearing the calm yet slightly mocking tone, Tao Qiyue's heart skipped a beat—her worst suspicion had become a reality.
The person before her was undoubtedly an accomplice of the mastermind.
Her gaze turned sharp, and she sternly addressed the mysterious person again.
"Squat down with your head in your hands immediately!"
"If you do not cooperate with my work, I will not rule out the use of force!"