Chapter Eighty: Silencing Witnesses

Meng Yao’s words stunned everyone present, especially Director Li. He had a good relationship with Old Yu, both professionally and privately, but he also had many police officers under his command!

“Meng Yao, why—why did you come down?” Yu Changqing had originally agreed with Meng Yao that she would stay hidden upstairs in a room, so as not to be seen and to avoid embarrassment, for their affair was hardly honorable. Now, trouble brewed—not only had the secret been exposed to all, but it seemed to have become a case of unlawful imprisonment. The state was resolute about maintaining stability; if a woman was truly being imprisoned, it was no small crime. Old Yu rushed over, flustered. “Girl, have you been drinking too much?” Turning to Director Li and the others, he explained, “Today we were hosting a superior’s inspection, and she drank a bit, didn’t go home, spent the night at my place. She slept upstairs, I slept on the sofa.”

The explanation was weak and unconvincing; naturally, no one believed it.

“Director Yu, if you dare do it, don’t be afraid. If you’re afraid, don’t do it. There weren’t any guests tonight! After work, you messaged me to come over. As soon as I arrived, you forced yourself on me. It’s not the first time—almost every weekend you make me come here, and if I refuse, you threaten to fire my husband.” Meng Yao stood there, speaking as she tugged her nightgown lower, revealing her chest covered in bruises, evidence of Old Yu’s abuse.

The situation had reached a critical point, and Old Yu was utterly bewildered. He never imagined that Meng Yao, usually meek as a lamb, would suddenly transform into this ferocious figure. He grabbed Meng Yao’s hand, trying to pull her upstairs. This matter was far more serious than wrongfully imprisoning Old Wang. As a director, to be accused of unlawful detention, coercion, and assaulting a female subordinate—not only would he be expelled from the party, he’d lose his position and face imprisonment.

A sharp slap landed on Old Yu’s face. Meng Yao, though not tall, struck with surprising force, sending Old Yu staggering, his cheek instantly swelling and bruised.

Everyone was stunned, momentarily unable to react. Of course, Old Yu was the most shocked; Meng Yao, once submissive under him like a kitten, had suddenly become as fierce as a lioness.

Director Li saw things turning sour and quickly instructed his deputy, who led the officers out. Two of them tried to drag me out, but I shook them off. Officer Wan’er was with me; she could have easily subdued them, but I remained passive, needing to maintain the appearance of weakness.

“Director Li, did you see it? Now you know what kind of man Director Yu is! I’m here for legitimate reasons—not to extort or harass in the middle of the night.” I spoke with a cheerful grin.

Old Li waved his subordinates away. “All of you, leave.”

His officers departed, leaving the room quiet with only the four of us: Old Yu, Old Li, Meng Yao, and myself.

Old Yu, holding his aching cheek, looked at Meng Yao with helplessness and confusion. He was furious but dared not explode—not with me present. If I weren’t there, he’d likely vent his rage on Meng Yao.

“Meng Yao, don’t talk nonsense. Go upstairs, stop meddling. We have serious business to attend to.” Old Yu wore a bitter expression.

“Yu Changqing, what serious business do you have? Let’s lay everything out today. Was Old Wang, the contractor, framed by you? He obtained land through proper procedures, yet you demanded a bribe. When he paid, you accused him of bribery, had him arrested, and sold the land to your cousin. Isn’t that right?” Meng Yao stood her ground, half-smiling.

Seeing Meng Yao begin to reveal the truth, I quickly took out my phone and recorded the scene.

Director Li noticed, reached for my phone to snatch it, but I dodged, causing him to nearly fall. He steadied himself and glared at me. “Are you conspiring to extort?”

I sneered, “Director Li, are your eyes for decoration? Extortion? Who am I extorting? Why would I? The criminal is right here—coercion, unlawful detention, deliberate harm. Are you blind?” From the moment he entered, I knew he was on Old Yu’s side, so I showed no courtesy.

My words enraged Old Li, who swiftly drew his pistol. “Behave yourself. Anger me and I’ll shoot you.”

Annoyed, but amused as well. You’ve really crossed a line now. If I don’t deal with you today, I’m not Wang Dachuan. Smiling, I knocked the gun aside. “Director Li, don’t be like this. I’m not the criminal—he is. Look!”

Meanwhile, Old Yu, driven mad with rage, never imagined his pampered mistress would betray him. He grabbed Meng Yao’s hair and slapped her.

Meng Yao, drawing strength from somewhere, straightened up and kicked Old Yu hard in the abdomen, sending him tumbling down the stairs.

“You—why did you assault a state official?” Old Li, witnessing the scene, forgot about me and approached Meng Yao.

“Comrade Li, do you call this assault? I was imprisoned and assaulted—didn’t you see? Didn’t you see the bruises on my body? Don’t provoke me, or I’ll take you down as well.” Meng Yao stood hands on hips, her posture belying her petite frame.

Old Li, pistol in hand, stood motionless. He sensed something was off tonight. He had dined with Meng Yao before, never seen her so fierce. What had happened to her?

Despite his doubts, his years of habit stopped him from analyzing the situation. Instead, he aimed his pistol at Meng Yao. “Raise your hands above your head, or I’ll shoot.”

Meng Yao was utterly unafraid. She descended two steps and taunted, “Li, if you don’t shoot, you’re not a man. If you don’t, you’re a coward.”

Old Li had intended only to intimidate, but instead, he was left utterly confused by her words. Still, he knew deep down—he dared not fire.

He holstered his pistol and slapped at Meng Yao, but she simply smiled, deftly catching his wrist, and delivered a flurry of slaps to his face. “You take the sweat and blood of the people, claim to be their servant, yet bully them at every turn. If I don’t deal with you today, I’ll have failed the people here. Do you know what a public servant is? You’re the servant of us, the taxpayers. We feed you.”

The barrage of slaps left Old Li dazed, unsure if it was Meng Yao’s strength or his own shock, but he was powerless to retaliate.

After a dozen slaps, his once fair face swelled grotesquely, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth onto the floor.

But Meng Yao did not relent. She delivered a fierce kick to his abdomen, sending him crashing to the ground beside Old Yu, who was still groaning.

“Li, don’t think I don’t know—you’re no better. Old Yu told me everything. That family of three murdered last time was a miscarriage of justice. The victim’s brother wasn’t insane—you just claimed he was after pocketing ten thousand yuan from the family.” Meng Yao approached, coldly laughing.

“You’re talking nonsense! Slandering me!” Old Li, battered, lay sprawled on the floor.

“Slander? I’m not finished! Remember when the four of us went to the northeast for a spa trip? You got drunk and said you’d slept with over a hundred women—that was your own admission. If you don’t believe me, ask Li Mei.” Meng Yao pressed on, her lips curled in a smile.

“You—you bastard! Today I’ll kill you!” Old Yu, furious at Meng Yao revealing all his secrets, drew his pistol and fired two shots at her.

I saw it all, tried to intervene, but it was too late—even with Officer Wan’er’s skills, I couldn’t outrun bullets.

Two bullets, trailing gray halos and invisible gusts, flew directly at Meng Yao at the stairway, accompanied by sharp gunshots.

Damn, they really mean to silence her! I couldn’t save her, but at least I’d recorded everything.