"Have a look yourselves..."
Team leader Gao Hua handed the evidence to the other members to pass around.
Rustle, rustle, rustle...
The others took the evidence and examined it carefully. The only sound in the room was the rustling of pages.
When they finished, they exchanged looks, all of them silent.
They were investigating a major power player this time, and everyone had expected a bitter, difficult fight.
And this was it...?
The chain of evidence was so complete that even a professional could not find a single flaw.
This evidence was enough to secure a conviction!
"We can't put our full trust in this evidence. We still need to investigate on the ground and interview people... to confirm that it's authentic!"
Out of caution, team leader Gao Hua decided to investigate further, worried that the evidence might have been fabricated.
After all, they were investigating a high-ranking regional official! Thousands upon thousands of people were involved. They could not be careless or rush to close the case.
The main reason, however, was that the investigation team had only just arrived. Heading straight back would make them look incompetent, as though they were merely going through the motions.
Even if they really had uncovered everything, the investigation team would stay for a few more days to give the impression that they were busy and working hard.
It was like going to the supermarket to buy water for a superior. Even if it was only a few hundred meters away, you had to run until you were panting and drenched in sweat.
That was how you demonstrated your loyalty and proved your worth.
The team members nodded, understanding their leader's intentions, and began investigating Ding Qiushan according to the plan they had drawn up beforehand.
At around 10:30, someone knocked on Lin Chao Ci's office door.
"Come in..."
"Boss, Ms. Fang Miaoke is here!"
It was his temporary secretary. Only after receiving permission did she bring a young woman into the office.
The temporary secretary herself was a well-known beauty in the company, a seven or eight out of ten. Quite a few men at the company were interested in her, and anywhere else, she would at least have been the prettiest girl in her class.
Yet now, beside the young woman's breathtaking beauty, she looked rather plain and ordinary.
The young woman wore simple clothes and no makeup. Her small hands clutched her collar tightly. She had willow-leaf eyebrows, a high nose bridge, large eyes, fair skin, and well-defined features.
For someone so beautiful, however, her bearing left much to be desired. Her shoulders were hunched, her head lowered, and her thick bangs hung over her forehead, making her look timid and meek.
"You can leave now!"
Lin Chao Ci waved his temporary secretary out, leaving Fang Miaoke alone with him.
"Yes, boss!"
The temporary secretary nodded and immediately left the office.
Fang Miaoke was nervous, afraid of being alone with a man. Seeing the temporary secretary about to leave, she reached out, wanting to stop her.
In the end, however, she could not summon the courage to grab the secretary's clothes and merely watched quietly as she left the office.
Once the door closed, Fang Miaoke trembled slightly. Growing even more nervous, she lowered her head as though she wished she could tuck it into her chest.
The office was well soundproofed, keeping all the noise outside from reaching them. Only their breathing could be heard in the room.
With a mischievous streak, Lin Chao Ci watched this adorable, dim-witted little roe deer.
Fang Miaoke really did resemble one of those silly northern roe deer right now.
When other animals encountered danger, they either ran for their lives or played dead on the spot.
A silly roe deer, however, would foolishly bury its head in the snow, acting as though an enemy it could not see did not exist.
"Ahem..."
Lin Chao Ci cleared his throat. He was just about to speak when he saw Fang Miaoke retreat several steps in fright at the sound.
Lin Chao Ci scratched his head, somewhat speechless. Was I really that scary? It wasn't as though I planned to eat anyone. Was that really necessary?
"The representative I sent should have explained the terms to you! You should also understand that you belong to me now!"
Knowing how timid she was, Lin Chao Ci changed his tone, trying to make his voice gentler.
He really was afraid of frightening this silly girl.
Hearing him speak, Fang Miaoke was surprised to find that her boss had quite a pleasant voice.
Still, she protested timidly in a quiet voice, "I don't belong to you. I only agreed to work for you for ten years to repay my debt! That money counts as a loan from you..."
"What did you say? I didn't catch that."
Finding her so adorable, Lin Chao Ci felt the urge to tease her.
"I said..."
Fang Miaoke had barely begun repeating herself when she heard Lin Chao Ci fail to hold back a chuckle.
"W-what's so funny...?"
Hearing her nominal boss laugh so happily, Fang Miaoke could not understand it.
There was nothing wrong with what I'd just said. What was so funny? Why was the boss laughing?
"I think you're interesting, and very cute. You're clearly afraid of me, yet you argue back with such conviction. You say the boldest things in the most timid voice!"
Those two utterly contrasting states existed in the same person at once.
She was clearly scared to death, her legs trembling, yet her words were defiant.
Fang Miaoke listened in confusion, unable to tell whether her boss was praising her or insulting her.
"From now on, you'll be my personal secretary, learning while you work. Come on, I'll take you to get a new outfit and change your look first..."
He glanced at the time. It was almost noon, and he was a little hungry. He could take her out for a stroll and get something to eat along the way.
Lin Chao Ci stood, put on his jacket, and walked out of the office.
"Huh? Why are you buying me clothes? I already have clothes to wear..."
Although frightened, Fang Miaoke was still quite conscientious. She hurried after Lin Chao Ci at a little jog and asked quietly.
"You're going to be my secretary, so you represent me. Those clothes are too dowdy. If people see you outside and find out you're my secretary, won't that embarrass me...?"
Lin Chao Ci knew Fang Miaoke had a strong sense of pride and disliked accepting charity.
So he took a different approach, telling her it was a requirement of the job.
Fang Miaoke looked down at her clothes, then cautiously glanced at what the other employees in the office area were wearing. She realized her own clothes really were a little dowdy.
Although there were no patches, they had been washed until they faded, and some loose threads were showing. Her trousers were too short as well, leaving her ankles exposed.
Her clothes really were not very appropriate.
Fang Miaoke's face flushed red, and she felt ashamed and embarrassed.
Since Lin Chao Ci was now busy with company matters and often needed to go out, he had simply asked his grandfather to assign him a driver.
The driver had already pulled up and was waiting at the entrance.
They got into the car one after the other. Seeing its luxurious interior and leather seats, Fang Miaoke immediately grew uneasy.
She felt as though her trousers would dirty the seat.
Noticing her discomfort, Lin Chao Ci took the initiative to find a topic and distract her. "How is your father doing? Is there anything else you need help with?"
When her boss asked about her father, Fang Miaoke's eyes reddened slightly. She was deeply grateful that he had come to her aid in her hour of need.
Without the money he had provided for medical expenses and the specialists he had arranged, her father might truly not have survived the winter.
"My father is all right now. He's already had the operation and is recovering. The doctor said he should be almost fully recovered in a little over three months..."
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