In a short time, Sizhou Hotel was surrounded by police. The lobby had also been placed under police control; outsiders could no longer enter, and the guests inside were unable to leave. The hotel was completely locked down.
Zhang Heng glanced inside and gave up on passing through the lobby directly to reach the emergency stairwell. He then surveyed the bystanders watching from the roadside and quickly spotted someone wearing a wide-brimmed hat and carrying a camera.
Zhang Heng walked over, spoke with the man for a moment, and shook his hand. Then, dressed in a police uniform, he circled around to the hotel's back entrance. This door was not meant for guests; it was normally used by employees and for deliveries. It was being watched as well, but fortunately, there were far fewer people here than at the front entrance.
Zhang Heng maintained an unhurried pace as he approached the door and nodded to the squad of officers guarding it. "The captain sent me in to ask the head chef a few questions."
"You look unfamiliar." The squad captain did not step aside immediately. Instead, a suspicious look appeared on his face.
"Oh, I'm a newcomer who arrived not long ago. I usually take assignments directly from the captain. You can verify that with him," Zhang Heng said calmly.
"Is that so?" Suspicion still lingered in the squad captain's eyes. He tipped his chin toward Zhang Heng. "No need to ask the captain. Let me see your police ID."
"Sure." Zhang Heng pretended to activate the wristband on his left hand.
But in the next instant, the squad captain's expression changed dramatically. He pointed behind Zhang Heng. "Hey, what are you doing? Which newspaper are you with? Didn't they say no photos?!"
Before he had even finished speaking, the