Lei Peng was speechless after hearing this.
However, there was nothing wrong with the statement.
"Alright, you two go back to class first. If there's anything you need cooperation with, come back," Lei Peng waved his hand at the two.
They were just two female students, Lei Peng wouldn't suspect them.
He just wanted to confirm what the two Japanese men had said to them yesterday.
Now, only Xia Feng remained unreachable.
"Captain Lei, this Professor Xia Feng seems to have represented China at the US Medical Exchange Conference not long ago. He's the one who brought glory to China."
One of the police officers found Professor Xia Feng's name somewhat familiar. They also knew that the person selected to attend the US Medical Exchange Conference was chosen from Fudan University.
"Yes, I know. I'm not suspecting him. I just need to confirm something with him, as this is the only clue we have right now," Lei Peng nodded.
"Professor Xia is unreachable. Shall we go back to the police station to retrieve his information?" one of the officers suggested.
"Why go back? We don't even have his ID number. We can just get the information from their dean," Lei Peng said, walking towards the administration building.
Lei Peng and his team went directly to Ouyang Kang.
"Principal Ouyang, hello. I'm Lei Peng from the Municipal Bureau. I need your help with a small matter," Lei Peng was very polite to Ouyang Kang.
Although Ouyang Kang was the principal, his position was much higher than Lei Peng's.
"Oh? What is it?" Ouyang Kang asked.
"I'd like to ask for the contact information of a professor from the School of Medicine. I'll need to trouble you, Principal Ouyang," Lei Peng explained.
"A small matter. Which professor?" Ouyang Kang asked.
"Professor Xia Feng, who recently represented China at the Medical Exchange Conference," Lei Peng stated Xia Feng's name.
Ouyang Kang was stunned.
"Xia Feng?"
As soon as Lei Peng finished speaking, Ouyang Kang flatly refused, "No."
"Huh?"
Such a direct refusal caught Lei Peng completely off guard.
The change in attitude was too drastic.
"Principal Ouyang, Professor Xia is a professor at your School of Medicine. How can you not have his contact information? Please help us and cooperate with our work," Lei Peng asked patiently.
"I said no, and I mean no. I need to get back to work. Don't bother me," Ouyang Kang directly told them to leave.
He knew exactly what Lei Peng's intentions were in asking for Xia Feng's contact details. Ouyang Kang was the only one who knew Xia Feng's situation at the university, so how could he possibly disclose it?
Who knew if they were using the guise of official business to get Xia Feng's contact information.
Xia Feng had shone brightly at the US Medical Exchange Conference, and Ouyang Kang had refused countless people who wanted Xia Feng's contact details. He was very familiar with this routine.
"Principal Ouyang, if you refuse to cooperate, I'll have to report this," Lei Peng finally expressed his displeasure.
"As you wish," Ouyang Kang replied, looking as though nothing could faze him. His expression indeed looked quite irritating.
Lei Peng had no choice but to leave with his men. Ouyang Kang was not someone he could intimidate.
However, Ouyang Kang's actions greatly annoyed Lei Peng. It was just a contact number, wasn't it?
Why wouldn't he cooperate with them?
"Captain Lei, what do we do now?" someone asked.
"Let's go back. We have a bit of a lead now. Let's report this to the director first," Lei Peng waved his hand, and everyone got into the car and left Fudan University.
Upon returning to the Municipal Bureau, Lei Peng reported the latest developments of the investigation to Zhao Dongwen.
"Ouyang Kang is being so uncooperative?" Zhao Dongwen was also displeased.
"Director Zhao, why don't you call Ouyang Kang and ask him?" Lei Peng suggested.
"Forget it. Since his attitude is so firm, why should I embarrass myself? I plan to report the situation to Mayor Liao. I'll mention this matter to Mayor Liao then."
Zhao Dongwen's position was similar to Ouyang Kang's, so he didn't want to get involved further.
If Ouyang Kang didn't even give him face, it would be quite awkward.
"Alright, I'll be leaving then. I'll continue to see if there are any other developments," Lei Peng said.
Zhao Dongwen waved him away impatiently and then had his driver take him to Liao Changwei's place.
As soon as he arrived at Liao Changwei's office, Zhao Dongwen felt a little nervous and said in a low voice, "Mayor Liao, I'm here to report the situation."
"Speak," Liao Changwei said.
"Based on the on-site investigation and interviews, we can now confirm that the two Japanese individuals were likely kidnapped. Experts were invited today to examine the hotel surveillance footage, and it's confirmed that tampering was involved."
Zhao Dongwen reported the clues gathered today to Liao Changwei.
Yesterday, without experts present, it was impossible to detect the tampering with the surveillance footage. The perpetrator's methods were too sophisticated.
"Continue," Liao Changwei urged.
"Furthermore, we've uncovered a useful clue. In the days these two Japanese individuals were in Shanghai, the place they visited most frequently was the School of Medicine at Fudan University. Yesterday, they had a conversation with two students and a professor. However, my men encountered some obstruction when they went to investigate."
Zhao Dongwen was preparing to vent his frustrations to Liao Changwei, complaining about Ouyang Kang using his high position to refuse cooperation.
"What do you mean? This is a matter of great importance. Who is not cooperating? Tell me," Liao Changwei slammed the table in anger.
"It's Ouyang Kang, the principal of Fudan University. When my men asked him for the professor's contact information, he flatly refused, claiming he didn't know. Isn't that ridiculous?" Zhao Dongwen expressed his dissatisfaction.
"Ouyang Kang is a veteran colleague. He wouldn't normally do something like this, would he? Perhaps the people you sent had an impolite tone? After all, it's just cooperation. If your attitude is bad, why should they cooperate with you?"
Upon hearing that it was Ouyang Kang, Liao Changwei's attitude softened slightly.
"Mayor Liao, absolutely not. Their attitude was always very good," Zhao Dongwen vouched for his subordinates.
"He just refused to cooperate, there was no issue with attitude."
However, Zhao Dongwen dared not speak too harshly.
"I will speak to him personally. This incident is serious, and everyone must cooperate unconditionally. If it's not handled properly, it could escalate into a diplomatic incident, and no one will benefit." Liao Changwei then took out his phone and called Ouyang Kang.
"Sorry, the subscriber you dialled is switched off. Please try again later."
Liao Changwei was taken aback. What did it mean for the phone to be switched off?
"Mayor Liao, you see? This is clearly evasion," Zhao Dongwen, not wanting to let the matter go, continued to complain.
"This is truly inaction. What is the professor's name? I'll try to find out through other channels." Liao Changwei was on the verge of losing his temper.
"Professor Xia Feng, who represented China at the US Medical Exchange Conference not long ago," Zhao Dongwen stated truthfully.
"Xia Feng?"
Liao Changwei almost jumped out of his seat. He asked, his heart trembling,
"Who did you just say?"