Chapter 95: Anticipating His Every Move

Li Wensheng whipped around toward the doorway and saw a crowd suddenly storming into the Huaxing Trading Company.

They came in with guns raised, and Chen Morqun and the others changed color at once.

Just as Chen Morqun and his men were about to draw their own weapons, a cool female voice rang out. “Station Chief Chen, this is a matter for the Political Affairs Department. Your Military Statistics Bureau had better stay out of it.”

At the sound, the intruders parted to one side, making a path. A strikingly cold and beautiful woman stepped inside.

Chen Morqun stared at her, surprise flashing across his face.

It had to be said that Chen Morqun was a master at controlling his expressions; aside from his habitual false smile, it was rarely possible to see any other emotion on his face.

He naturally did not know the woman. What shocked him was that she was, in fact, from the Political Affairs Department.

These people had come for Li Wensheng. Otherwise, every gun would not have been pointed at him.

But why would the Political Affairs Department come after Li Wensheng? Even if Li Wensheng had turned traitor, that should have been handled by the Military Statistics Bureau. Why would the Political Affairs Department intervene?

In a flash, Chen Morqun’s thoughts raced. He took his hand away from his waist and, after glancing at Li Wensheng, asked, “You say you’re from the Political Affairs Department. Where’s your identification?”

The icy woman, Chen Wenqi, took out her credentials and handed them over.

Chen Morqun took them, opened them, glanced inside, then returned them to Chen Wenqi and stepped back.

At first glance, it seemed as if Chen Morqun was no longer going to interfere. But the next second, he drew his pistol from his waist and aimed it at Chen Wenqi.

Seeing this, the others from the Military Statistics Bureau immediately drew their own guns as well, pointing them at Chen Wenqi and her people.

At that moment, the hidden sentries outside the Huaxing Trading Company also came in. Seeing the scene, they immediately raised their guns and aimed at the backs of Chen Wenqi’s group.

“The Political Affairs Department can’t just come and take people from the Military Statistics Bureau. If you want to take anyone, bring an order from the Director himself,” Chen Morqun said sternly, staring at Chen Wenqi.

This shocked Wang Shian and the old hands from the Shanghai station. They shot Chen Morqun an incredulous look.

That Chen Morqun and Li Wensheng did not get along was no secret, but why would Chen Morqun be backing the Political Affairs Department only for Li Wensheng’s sake?

“Our Director would never issue such an order. And likewise, he would not dare stop me from taking Li Wensheng away,” Chen Wenqi said flatly.

Dare. Chen Morqun seized on that one word, and terror surged through him. He could not help but look toward Li Wensheng.

Feeling Chen Morqun’s gaze, Li Wensheng turned his head and said, “Station Chief Chen, you’d better stay out of this. This is between me and this Miss Chen, a private matter.”

Chen Morqun hesitated for a moment, then holstered his pistol and ordered the hidden sentries outside, “Stand down.”

Then he stepped back several paces and leaned against the counter, wanting to see exactly what Li Wensheng and Chen Wenqi were up to.

Li Wensheng said it was a private matter, but Chen Morqun did not believe it for a second. What sort of private matter could make a section chief from the Political Affairs Department chase someone from Mountain City all the way to Shanghai? Was martial law a joke?

Wang Shian and the others saw this and also put away their pistols, stepping aside.

“Miss Chen, you really are impressive. To think you even guessed I’d come here,” Li Wensheng said, looking at Chen Wenqi. He genuinely admired her. She was simply too formidable; from Mountain City to here, she had essentially predicted every step he took.

A trace of satisfaction appeared at the corners of Chen Wenqi’s mouth. “This time, you won’t get away so easily. Come with me.”

Li Wensheng smiled, his expression easy. “As for going with you, could we perhaps talk about that a little later? Allow me to say a few words to Station Chief Chen first.”

“No problem. Take your time,” Chen Wenqi replied briskly.

Li Wensheng turned to Chen Morqun, set the case down, then kicked it forward so it slid to a stop at Chen Morqun’s feet.

“Station Chief Chen, please have this case delivered to headquarters.”

Chen Morqun glanced at the case and nodded. “Daoyi.”

Hu Daoyi, standing to the side, immediately stepped forward to pick it up. But just as he took a step, Li Wensheng said, “Hold on!”

Hu Daoyi stopped at once and looked over at him.

“Station Chief Chen, what’s inside this case concerns a lot of people’s necks. Yours included.

“So aside from you, no one else should touch it. Better yet, don’t even open it yourself.

“As for escorting it to headquarters, it would be best if you did it personally.”

Seeing that Li Wensheng’s expression was serious and that he was no longer joking, Chen Morqun frowned. He lowered his head and looked at the briefcase, thinking for a moment. Then he looked up and asked, “Section Chief Li, what exactly is in this case?”

Li Wensheng swept his gaze across Wang Shian and the others, then smiled. “Station Chief Chen, I can tell you what’s inside, but are you sure you want everyone else to know?”

Chen Morqun fell silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Section Chief Li, in your present situation, you can’t tell me privately anymore.

“You won’t let me open it, and you won’t tell me anything, yet you want me to personally send it to headquarters. Do you really think that’s possible?”

Li Wensheng smiled and spoke with easy nonchalance. “All right, Station Chief Chen, since you put it that way, I can tell you. After all, my own head isn’t in this case.

“The case contains files. Among them is one concerning you, Station Chief Chen...”

“Enough, Section Chief Li. No need to continue.”

Chen Morqun was now taut with tension. His hand, which had originally rested lightly on the briefcase, now gripped it hard, afraid the case might somehow vanish.

He regretted asking the question immediately. There were so many people here who had heard everything; if word got out, it would be a terrible problem.

Wang Shian and the others changed expression. Just now, Li Wensheng had casually kicked the briefcase to Chen Morqun’s side. It had looked light enough, but the sound it made was dull and heavy, which meant the case was packed full.

A whole case of files, and one of them was Chen Morqun’s. Then the rest of the files must also concern station-chief-level figures.

That case of files was the lifeblood of the Military Statistics Bureau. If the Special Higher Section got hold of it, the Bureau would be wiped out in an instant.

How had Li Wensheng come to be carrying such an important set of files around? Where had he gotten them?

“Station Chief Chen, if you still don’t feel at ease and are worried I’m tricking you again, then you can open it and see for yourself.

“But you had better be prepared. If you learn too much, I’m afraid the only place left for you will be a transfer back to Mountain City,” Li Wensheng said with a grin.

“Thank you for the reminder, Section Chief Li. But you brought an entire case of files to Shanghai—does the Boss know?” Chen Morqun asked stiffly.

“Of course he knows. He’s the one who gave it to me. As for why the Boss wants me to hand the case to you and have you take it back, I don’t know. If you want to find out, Station Chief Chen, you can ask the Boss after you deliver the case to headquarters.”

Li Wensheng’s expression was utterly sincere, and that made Chen Morqun’s thoughts tangle into a knot.

At that moment, Chen Wenqi spoke. “Are you done? Let’s go.”

“Done. Let’s go,” Li Wensheng said, turning back with a smile.

Seeing him finish speaking and then come walking over so quickly, Chen Wenqi’s group instantly tensed. This was a man who had leaped from the fourth floor without suffering the slightest injury; how could they not be nervous?

“Miss Chen, let’s go.” As he came close, Li Wensheng smiled at her.

Seeing that he had not made a move, and was willing to go along so obediently, Chen Wenqi’s delicate brows knit together.

“What exactly are you up to?” Chen Wenqi asked in a low voice, stepping forward until she stood barely half a step from him.

“Miss Chen, with so many guns pointed at me, what could I possibly be up to? Unless you’re hoping I’ll resist, so you can bring my corpse back with you,” Li Wensheng said with a faint smile, leaning in to speak softly.

Chen Wenqi gave him a long, searching look, then took one of his hands and led him outside.