This current interrogation with Wang was not the first one.
Chief Wu looked over to Jiang Mohan and concluded, “It seems like he really doesn’t have a clue.”
After all, Wang was a timid guy. If he did do anything, he would have confessed a long time ago after so much intimidation.
Nevertheless, the man assured Jiang Mohan, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she does not get out of B City.” In the city, everyone’s real name would be recorded so long as one purchased any public transport ticket. This system worked in Chief Wu’s favor- he was already keeping track of all the relevant records to figure out Ling Wei’s whereabouts.
He even deployed people to go undercover at bus stations and train platforms.
Meanwhile, Jiang Mohan carried out his own deductions. Knowing that Ling Wei was \not originally from here had no relatives or friends here besides Nan Cheng, he speculated that there was no way she could leave the city. Instead, she was likely hiding in a corner somewhere.
He wanted to conduct his own search operations, but there was a problem- he had insufficient manpower. There was only Chief Wu he could try his luck with. He began slowly, “Well, Chief Wu, your subordinate lost the suspect. That means you take partial responsibility too.”
Chief Wu did not deny his charge. “Of course, I’ll see to his punishment and hold myself accountable for this mishap.”
“Actually, I’m not exactly blaming you. It’s just… I would like you to borrow me some manpower.”
“Oh? You have a clue as to where she is?”
Jiang Mohan replied, “They are merely speculations, though I would want to have them checked. Unfortunately, I don’t have many available men with me.”
Chief Wu pondered over the request. Borrowing men to Jiang Mohan would not be a clash of interest as they both shared a mutual interest in finding Ling Wei. But the real problem was that he had already exhausted his human resources substantially for the undercover missions. After much consideration, he agreed to lend him a maximum of three men.
Jiang Mohan nodded in acknowledgment. “Thank you, Chief Wu.”
Combining the manpower from Chief Wu and his own well-trained bodyguards, he was well-geared to conduct his own operations.
However, Chief Wu interjected with a caveat. “There’s something I want to make clear though- if you do find Ling Wei, you cannot take matters into your own hands. You must send her us, okay?” The man respected the law a lot. If Jiang Mohan acted on his own accord, he would be breaking the law- something that Chief Wu could not tolerate.
“Of course,” came the man’s reply.
But frankly, there were no guarantees. If Ling Wei refused to cooperate, there was no ensuring if she would make it back in one piece.
The discussion soon concluded and the two parties departed on their separate ways. Jiang Mohan went ahead to prepare for the search operations. Meanwhile, Captain Song sent Wang back into captivity, knowing that he could provide no more information about the runaway suspect.
While the hunters were gearing up, the hunted herself made her way to the city outskirts. It was a place where mainly foreigners resided in.
Though the district was crowded and messy, she had no other choice.
Everything was going according to plan for her initially. She seduced Wang into bedding her, pretended to be pregnant, then tricked him into preparing medical-related documents.
But then, she was forced to undergo an unexpected medical examination which would have easily exposed her lies. As a result, she had to escape frantically without a concrete plan.
Luckily for the lady, she had a few hundred at hand during her stay at the hospital. After escaping from the facility, she made her way here, to the outskirts. As she had no identity card with her, she could not stay in an inn. Though, even if she did, she would not dare to do so.
Instead, she found herself a simple rented place to stay. The furnishing was minimal and lackluster, with nothing but a wooden bed and an unwashed blanket.
The landlord was a chubby lady with a head full of curls. Dressed lavishly with thick gold accessories on her neck, ears, and wrists, she looked as if she just recently gained a windfall. She swayed the keys nonchalantly before Ling Wei, stating that the previous occupant was a bachelor and that if she needed anything, she had to buy it herself.
“How much is the rent?” Ling Wei asked with concern. Her budget was tight and she had to plan her expenses well.
“One hundred and twenty per month.”
That’s way too expensive for such a tiny room, she thought. “The place looks pretty run-down, can’t you make the rent a little cheaper?”
The landlord conceded and marked down the price to a hundred per month. “I can’t go any lower,” she said impatiently.
Ling Wei had to make do. Drawing out her total fortune of six hundred, she handed over one hundred to the woman, albeit rather hesitantly.
Once the transaction was completed, the landlord left. “You can tidy the place up yourself,” were her parting words.
Ling Wei’s fists involuntarily clenched as she walked into the grimy room. A stench pervaded within the four walls, and she had to try her hardest to suppress her disgust.
She shook out the filthy blanket to see if it was still usable, making a mental note that the previous occupant must have been a very unkempt man.
It was not long before Ling Wei concluded that the stench of the blanket would make it impossible to sleep at night. As such, she discarded it without qualms.
Soon after, she decided to buy some food outside. Since the room had no windows, she left the door ajar when she departed, knowing very well that there was nothing valuable enough in there for anyone to steal.
The roads outside were bumpy, slippery, and dirty.
The lady made her way to a small stir-fry eatery around the street’s corner and ordered herself a place of stir-fried noodles.
Following the meal, she was returning to the apartment when she encountered the landlord.
The plump woman was not alone- two other ladies who seemed to be of similar age were with her. They were slim, had make-up on, and wore black skirts and stockings. Their shirts were of a low-cut.
Lowering her head, Ling Wei moved towards the side of the pathway with no intention of greeting them. Her tousled hair hid almost her entire face.
