With another porcelain bottle shattering, Tong Meng finally stopped. She panted heavily, looking furious, as if she wanted to smash everything within reach.
Tong Hua watched from the side, feeling a sense of relief. She hoped her sister would fare better, but she secretly wished she wouldn't do better than her.
"Why don't you go beg Master Six again? Ask him to think of a solution?" Hearing Tong Meng's suggestion, Tong Hua glared at her. "You must be happy right now, aren't you? If you want me to go to Master Six, is it to see him slap me again?"
Tong Hua didn't hide her feelings. "Happy isn't the word, but I am a little thrilled. So what if I get slapped again, as long as you can take that position."
"Heh heh." Tong Meng sneered. "Yes, you don't care if I succeed or fail, and you don't care how I achieve success. All you want is for me to get that position and help you. But you seem to have forgotten, when I finally surpass you, why would I still help you?"
Tong Hua paused. "I think you should understand a principle: helping me is helping yourself. We both have the surname Tong, we are inseparable."
Tong Meng didn't respond. She quietly touched up her makeup. "I'm going to see Master Six now. If I really get slapped, will you take it for me?"
Tong Hua smiled and slowly uttered, "This isn't just one slap, though."
She saw Master Six again, but to her surprise, he wasn't angry.
"It seems they're wary of me already," Master Six sighed.
"It's all my fault," Tong Meng knew that admitting her mistake proactively was the right approach.
Indeed, Master Six glanced at her. "Forget it, how can this be blamed on you? I was indeed too hasty."
"But if I had been able to find out that the culprits were the Ren brothers from the start, you wouldn't have taken such a risk to give me that information," Tong Meng put on a pitiful act, advancing by retreating.
"Given Hu Jia's personality, if they haven't exposed my identity, it means they still have doubts about me. Perhaps they just think I've been bought by the Knife-Wielding organization." Master Six looked at Tong Meng. "Before they know my true identity, only you know this secret."
Tong Meng quickly pledged, "Don't worry, Master Six, I haven't even told Tong Hua about this."
"Mm." Master Six finally showed a slight smile. "As long as I'm still their Uncle Qiao, they won't make a harsh move against me."
Yes, Master Six was Qiao Huali.
It was from his height, scent, and a particular cough that Tong Meng had identified his identity.
At that time, Tong Meng was shocked, even suspecting her own guess was wrong.
After all, Hu Jia's relationship with Qiao Huali was no secret.
She would never have imagined that Qiao Huali was the leader of the Knife-Wielders, and the one who planned that shooting ten years ago.
And who had taken Hu Shilong's life.
It was important to remember that Qiao Huali was a police officer at the time, even holding a position in the criminal investigation team.
However, she finally understood why the shooting case had never been solved.
Because Qiao Huali had been directing everything during every arrest meeting. He was familiar with every procedure he had established, familiar with every piece of evidence the police obtained, and even deliberately created false evidence to mislead the police.
Hu Shilong must have discovered the truth, and thus was silenced.
If Tong Meng had still harbored any desire to break free and resist before, afterwards, she completely surrendered to Qiao Huali.
Whether in the open or in secret, she couldn't escape his grasp.
With someone like that, what was the point of fighting?
"How is the matter I assigned you last time progressing?" Qiao Huali suddenly asked.
Tong Meng's body stiffened. "I've been busy with the female corpse case recently, I haven't found an opportunity yet."
"Mm." Master Six nodded. " Hurry up, I want to gain complete control of the police station."
Tong Meng agreed.
Qiao Huali had asked her to seduce Xie Xi, intending to use a scandal to bring Xie Xi down. Even if he couldn't make him vacate his position, he wanted to control Xie Xi's lifeline.
But sometimes Tong Meng wondered, if she got involved with the Chief Director, would she still need to fear this Deputy Director?
Perhaps sensing Tong Meng's thoughts, Qiao Huali let out a cold laugh. "I like to do things with logic and evidence. I will take some pictures for you at that time."
Uh...
Tong Meng shivered all over. Take pictures? Wouldn't that mean she would be captured in them too?
This move was incredibly ruthless.
One photograph was enough to control Xie Xi. If Xie Xi was brought down, she, this little lamb, would not be spared.
Tong Meng glanced at Master Six. He was warning her not to have any ulterior motives, not to harbor any inappropriate thoughts.
He could not only control Xie Xi, but also control her. A thin layer of sweat broke out on Tong Meng's back. "I will definitely complete the mission and never betray you, Master Six."
...
Back home, Hu Jia and Ouyang Wen told Lü Qingqing about their suspicions regarding Qiao Huali.
Just like everyone else's reaction upon hearing the news, Lü Qingqing was almost shocked speechless.
"So, Uncle Qiao was really bought by the Knife-Wielders?" Lü Qingqing stood up in anger, about to walk out without a second word.
"Where are you going?" Hu Jia grabbed him.
"I'm going to ask him if he's really one of the Knife-Wielders. Has he forgotten how Uncle Hu died?" Lü Qingqing's emotions were running high. He knew how much this news had impacted the Hu brothers.
Given Hu Jia's personality, he should have already stormed over to confront the person. Yet, here he sat, looking dejected, clearly unable to find release from the uncertainty of the answer.
"Don't go," Ouyang Wen also blocked Lü Qingqing's path.
"Why? Are you scared?" Lü Qingqing thought they were afraid, afraid of the true answer, afraid of the image they had always held in their hearts collapsing.
"No." Hu Jia shook his head. "If we go, there will be no turning back."
"Turning back?" Lü Qingqing was confused.
"What if he was being coerced?" Ouyang Wen provided the answer.
At that moment, Lü Qingqing understood why they were stopping him.
They truly still held hope for Qiao Huali. Some lies didn't need to be exposed, some masks didn't need to be removed, some truths didn't need to be faced.
As long as everyone was willing to live outside the protective barrier they had woven for themselves, they would never have to deal with the aftermath when the net broke.
Perhaps they still harbored the hope that one day Qiao Huali would return to being Uncle Qiao.
...
The days passed one by one. Every time Lü Qingqing saw Qiao Huali, she would greet him with a smile, but she no longer called him Uncle Qiao.
The work in the criminal investigation team also proceeded smoothly. Under Lü Qingqing's leadership, the second group quickly adapted to the new organizational structure.
Tong Meng was also very sensible, not competing for anything within the team. While not overly friendly with Lü Qingqing, their interactions were at least civil.
Just when everyone believed the conflict between these two women had ended, another event occurred.
Liu Yuxin arrived.