Chapter 43: I've Seen Him Before

Zhao Jiong had just returned to the Special Management Bureau when he received a terse message from Director Shen: "Come to the Interrogation Department."

Pocketing his phone, Zhao turned a corner and headed to the northeast corner of the building. Fifteen minutes later, he stepped into an office where a young man awaited him.

The youth, pale and frail, exuded an air of sickly nobility. He seemed easy to intimidate, but everyone in the bureau knew better. His outward appearance belied a heart of steel—ruthless and unfeeling. He was a master of torture, and prisoners in his hands rarely lasted a week without breaking.

"Sit," Shen Huannian commanded curtly. "Elder Ming Qi visited Xu Ximing. After the elder left, Xu gave us some valuable information."

"Mo Baobao has a secret lover. He doesn't know who it is, but he once saw the car's license plate."

Zhao Jiong quickly noted down the number. His hand moved to pat Shen Huannian's shoulder but froze when he met Shen's cold, unyielding gaze. "Director Shen, do you know what Elder Ming Qi said to him?"

Xu Ximing had been uncooperative and despondent, but now he seemed suddenly motivated.

"He has the Tianlu bloodline, and his sister might have it too," Shen Huannian explained. "The Tianlu can absorb and suppress evil spirits. Even after death, they continue to draw in ghostly and evil energies."

Zhao Jiong, who had only meant to break the silence, was taken aback by Shen's response. After a moment, he asked, "So you're saying Xu Xinuo could turn into a ghost after her death and grow stronger by absorbing these energies?"

"Only if she awakens the Tianlu bloodline," Shen Huannian clarified.

"That's not important," Zhao Jiong waved off the thought, understanding now how Xu Ximing was convinced. Believing his sister was completely gone had left him hopeless, but now, even a sliver of possibility had given him a reason to live.

"Director Shen, did Elder Ming Qi say how we should handle Xu Ximing?"

"No," Shen Huannian replied coolly. "That's your responsibility."

In the bureau, the case handler made the decisions. Elder Ming Qi, as an elder, wouldn't overstep his boundaries.

Zhao Jiong rubbed his chin, realizing his impatience. "Then I'll leave him with you for now. I'll pick him up once I've sorted out the case."

Shen Huannian nodded, indicating with a slight motion of his head that Zhao Jiong could leave.

Zhao Jiong didn't mind being dismissed and eagerly took the license plate number to investigate the car owner, working through the night.

By nine the next morning, Zhao Jiong, with bloodshot eyes and stubble on his chin, stared at the computer screen. His eyes were bright despite the fatigue.

"I found it," he muttered, having tracked the black BMW with license plate 3663 near the nightclub where Mo Baobao worked in her residential area. It never parked directly at her place or the club, but the timing matched her appearances at these locations.

Just then, his phone rang. It was a call from Cao Zhe. "Zhao, I found out who owns the black BMW with the license plate 3663."

Cao Zhe's voice was excited, his words came quickly. "Guess who it is? It's Zhao Boshan, the chairman of Jiayuan Group!"

Zhao Boshan, the current chairman of Jiayuan Group, was forty years old and worth billions. He was one of the city's top bachelors.

"No way. He's always had a reputation for being faithful to his late wife and is known as a loving and devoted man, earning him a lot of praise and support. Even the Yu family, who are connected to Jiayuan, can't find fault with him."

"But it turns out he's been living a double life," Cao Zhe said. "We found out that he bought many of the expensive jewelry and designer bags found in Mo Baobao's house, though it was usually his secretary who made the purchases."

"This only proves he's her secret lover, not the killer," Zhao Jiong noted. "We need more evidence to prove he's involved in her murder."

"We need a search warrant to find those specific drugs in his house, but that's not easy to get," Cao Zhe admitted. "His social status and influence make it hard to get approval without solid evidence."

"We need more evidence to prove his guilt, not just his private indiscretions," Zhao Jiong said, trying to lift his colleague's spirits. "But at least we have a lead. Maybe we'll uncover new clues as we investigate further."

Cao Zhe was somewhat reassured and hung up in a better mood.

Zhao Jiong printed out all the evidence he had gathered and put it in his bag. Glancing at his watch, he saw it was 9:15. He stretched, freshened up in the restroom, and headed to Ling Ji's new residence.

The Yulan Mansion, named for its location surrounded by the Yun River, was known for its serene environment and convenient location. It was a blend of the old city's charm and the new city's hustle, with a picturesque food street along the river. The prices were understandably high.

After registering at the gate, Zhao Jiong drove for nearly five minutes to reach Villa No. 8. The gate opened automatically as he arrived, and he parked in the spacious garage that could hold four cars.

Scanning the opulent interior, Zhao Jiong couldn't help but mutter "wealthy" under his breath. Once everyone was assembled, he got straight to the point. "I found a new lead. Mo Baobao's secret lover is Zhao Boshan from Jiayuan Group."

"Zhao Boshan?" Yu Zhiyan and Bai Luan both exclaimed, equally surprised.

Bai Luan glanced at Yu Zhiyan. "I also found some information. The person who filmed the video is Liu San. He and a friend run an adult website, profiting from such indecent videos."

"But they've had a string of bad luck recently," Bai Luan continued. "Apparently, karma caught up with them. Liu San said that Xu Xinuo's video was bought by a mysterious person over a month ago."

"The transaction was in cash, so we can't trace it through bank records," Bai Luan said, sounding resigned. "But I've notified the police. Liu San and his partner are likely in custody now, and the videos have been confiscated and will be destroyed. Mo Baobao's blackmail videos are among them."

Without those videos, the young women seeking a fresh start could now pursue their future without fear.

"That's good news," Zhao Jiong said, knowing how much reputation matters to young women. His expression softened with a hint of a smile.

"I don't think this lead is entirely useless," Yu Zhiyan added thoughtfully. "We suspected Zhao Boshan's involvement in Mo Baobao's death, right? He had the motive and the means to obtain Xu Xinuo's video and use it to manipulate Xu Ximing."

"If we can match the date of Liu San's transaction with Zhao Boshan's schedule, we might find a connection," Yu Zhiyan suggested.

"Not just his schedule," Yu Zhiyan added, thinking of everything, "but also those of his secretary and close associates."

"Exactly," Bai Luan agreed. Despite being a powerful CEO herself, she respected Yu Zhiyan's experience and insights.

Zhao Jiong had already started compiling the information, pulling out the documents and sending a message to Cao Zhe.

"Hey, I've seen this person before," Ling Ji said, her long eyelashes fluttering as she looked at the photo of Zhao Boshan among the spread-out documents. "He lives next door."

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