Special Forces Medic

A pair of slightly fleshy fingers tapped on the keyboard. Within an hour, he had tried countless times to enter the same characters in the same dialog box, but the result was still a red X on the screen. Was the secret wrong? Impossible, Lin Zhifang had tried using the same set of passwords to access other menus, all of which passed, except this file. With a stubborn heart, he entered it once more, and again the screen showed a red X.

Feeling defeated, Lin Zhifang leaned heavily back into the leather chair. He confirmed that this person's file was restricted, and it was beyond his clearance level to access it.

"Director Lin, did you want to see me?" The forensic pathologist knocked and entered the room from outside.

"Just in time, close the door." Lin Zhifang stroked his chin and turned the monitor towards the forensic pathologist. "You can see it too, I am powerless regarding your request. At my clearance level, I can't access this person's file." As if to prove a point, Lin Zhifang once more typed in the characters on the input interface, resulting again in a red X.

"It doesn't matter, thank you Director Lin for keeping this in mind. Since that's the case, I'll have something to report to my friend, thank you."

"Oh, oh!" Lin Zhifang did not expect the forensic pathologist to give up so easily; he had been worried he would continue to press him. "What did Fatty Wang's family say? I still haven't received your feedback report."

"Someone already came to pick up the body this morning, and the related procedures have been properly handed over. Officer Wu should be writing the case report now." The forensic pathologist adjusted his glasses on his nose, his hands in his pockets, looking very much like a doctor in his white coat.

"Ah! Did the Wang Family not say anything?" Lin Zhifang still felt a bit uneasy.

"Nothing of significance, and they confirmed it by signing the report."

"That's good." With the confirmation signature, there's no chance for a reversal of the case.

"If there's nothing else, am I allowed to leave?"

"What about Wang Zhanting's butler's body?"

"Wang Zhanting has already had someone bring it back for burial; it has now been handed over to Officer Wu to trace the whereabouts of the murderer."

"Thank you for your hard work." The forensic pathologist smiled slightly and walked out. As he closed the door, he slightly turned his head, noticing Lin Zhifang leaning back softly in his chair, which made him smirk.

After staring blankly at the ceiling for a while, he opened the drawer, inside which was a CD. Holding it in his hand, it seemed he wouldn't be needing it. He muttered to himself as he dialed a phone number.

On the other end, Secretary Luo carefully recorded every word Lin Zhifang said in a notebook, occasionally glancing at two people in another room.

"Hmm, Secretary Hua is currently meeting with an important guest. I will relay your concerns." Secretary Luo responded to Lin Zhifang's questions. "Regarding Xiao Lin's case, just close it following the usual procedures and send someone to deliver it afterwards."

"Secretary Luo, the person is not in the City Police Department now, what do you think should be done?"

"Does anyone know that Xiao Lin escaped?" Secretary Luo's faint laugh made Lin Zhifang's hair stand on end; when did this person begin to make others feel uncomfortable?

"Not many people know."

"Hmm, I will report this to Secretary Hua." Just as Secretary Luo was about to hang up the phone, Lin Zhifang called out. "Director Lin, do you have anything else?"

"Will Secretary Hua, will he..."

"This needs to be confirmed whether it was an escape or a kidnapping." Hearing Secretary Luo's words, Lin Zhifang nearly dropped the phone in shock. Kidnapping, could that word really be used? He was already feeling his heart couldn't handle such intense stimulation. "Director Lin, I won't hide from you, Secretary Hua is currently meeting with the head of the Xiao Family. Regarding Xiao Lin's disappearance while in your charge, I really can't give you a definite answer. Whether Secretary Hua will hold it against you, I am not sure. If you have no other important issues to report, then I have other matters to attend to. I will contact you later."

With a click, the phone call ended just like that. Secretary Luo didn't feel at all that he had done anything wrong. If Lin Zhifang was a bit smarter, he should be preparing his resignation now, so that with Hua Muyun's temperament, he might still find a decent place to retire.

"Secretary Luo, was that just a call from Lin Zhifang?" Hua Muyun asked loudly, with keen ears, as Secretary Luo hung up the phone. He had already turned this private club into his office, citing reasons of absolute security.

"Yes, Elder Hua." Secretary Luo softly walked to him with the notebook in hand, not daring to look at Xiao Zhenfeng. Even sitting so casually, his powerful oppressive presence was fully manifested; in some scenarios, wouldn't that scare faint-hearted people?

"You taught this secretary well, much better than any of mine."

"Are you teasing me? With his appearance, I'd like to hand him over to you to train for a few months before returning him." Hua Muyun waved his fingers at Secretary Luo, feeling that his secretary was still somewhat unqualified to present in front of such big figures. "What did Lin Zhifang say?"

"Wang Zhantian has already taken the person back and has signed the confirmation, agreeing to the suicide verdict," Secretary Luo slightly adjusted his collar. "Additionally, Wang Zhanting has also taken the butler's body back, and the statement still asserts that it was a home invasion robbery, where the butler risked his life to save him. The City Police Department has already filed a case and is investigating through the regular judicial process."

"Hmm, go prepare some drinks and dishes. I want to have a private conversation with Lao Xiao here. If there's nothing urgent, don't disturb us. Call home and say I won't be returning today."

"Yes!" Secretary Luo hesitated for a moment, taking only half a step before being stopped by Hua Muyun.

"What else do you have to say?" Seeing the hesitation of Secretary Luo, Hua Muyun tapped the armrest of the sofa. "About Xiao Lin?"

Secretary Luo glanced at Xiao Zhenfeng and then nodded. "That's right! Director Lin wants to ask about how to deal with Young Master Xiao's escape."

"Oh, that matter," Hua Muyun laughed, glaring at Xiao Zhenfeng. "What do you say we do?"

"The person has run away, so naturally we find him and bring him back," Xiao Zhenfeng spoke as if discussing the weather, relaxed. "You could use this opportunity to dismiss that fence-sitter."

"You caused this mess, you'd better clean it up for me."

"Didn't that kid just mention kidnapping earlier? Then let it be kidnapping. As long as there's a plausible reason to shut people up, it's fine."

Secretary Luo widened his eyes. He had only said it casually to scare Lin Zhifang, not really intending to do it. Wasn't this too rash?

"Hmm! You heard it, right? Just go ahead and do it, arrange the process as you wish."

"Yes!"

"Mu Yun, your secretary is really outstanding," Xiao Zhenfeng started to eye Secretary Luo, and Hua Muyun naturally knew what he was thinking.

"I only have this one who catches my eye, and you want to take him too?"

"It's not taking, it's borrowing. I think he's quite good—understanding, smart, and quick-witted. It's a bit of a waste to keep him here."

"Not many people can earn such praise from you," Hua Muyun chuckled as he poured himself a cup of warmed rice wine. Although he was used to drinking red wine, he had long forgotten this taste. Despite living abroad, Xiao Zhenfeng still adhered to Chinese traditions. Rice wine is less harsh compared to white wine, and drinking it warm with a raw egg was a common health practice back when they were young. Now, reliving those days, he was especially excited. "Where is Xiao Lin now?"

"'Underground City,'" Xiao Zhenfeng cracked a raw egg into his wine glass, swallowing it down with the perfectly warmed wine.

"Oh, I thought you'd spend another day there. Seems like you convinced Xiao Lin."

"Sigh!" Xiao Zhenfeng sighed heavily. His son wasn't someone who was easily convinced. "It wasn't persuasion, it was threats."

Hua Muyun nodded knowingly. Xiao Zhenfeng was never a figure of authority in front of him, and such embarrassing admissions were quite common. Among his many sons, Xiao Lin seemed to inherit his demeanor entirely.

"I didn't expect that kid to push you to this point."

"You haven't seen how ruthless he was towards 'Black Crow.' I was quite scared watching from the side!" Wing was practically someone who grew up with Xiao Lin, someone close to him, yet he could act so heartlessly. Such ruthlessness, even he wasn't sure if he could achieve it; everyone has a soft spot, and he thought Xiao Lin did too, but after that scene, he truly didn't know where Xiao Lin's sympathies lay.

"I really haven't seen it! How come you, as a father, are starting to fear your own son?" Hua Muyun teased Xiao Zhenfeng, knowing full well it wasn't fear but rather a form of concession. "What did you use to threaten him with? The Xia Family? Xia Xue?"

Xiao Zhenfeng nodded, feeling that there really wasn't anything else that could threaten Xiao Lin besides this. Xiao Lin wanted to live a quiet life in Yanjing but repeatedly used identities he shouldn't have because of this woman.

"You're accepting this daughter-in-law?" Hua Muyun picked up a piece of meat and put it into his mouth, savoring the signature dish, garlic pork belly, rich but not greasy. "Seems like the kid doesn't even know he already has a fiancée."

At this point, Xiao Zhenfeng couldn't help but show a troubled expression. Matters of the heart were something he truly couldn't control, but... "We'll talk about this later. Right now, we have to deal with Mu Rongyun."

"Why are you so insistent on involving Xiao Lin in this plan? What do you really want?" Here, Hua Muyun couldn't see through Xiao Zhenfeng's intentions. "I don't believe dragging that kid into this is the right thing to do. After all, this is a problem left over from our past."

"We can think like this, but do you think that person would think the same?" Xiao Zhenfeng never approached issues with ordinary logic. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)