Chapter Sixty-Five: The Enhanced Yuan Xiaoying

The Secretary-General, despite having "secretary" in the title, was in fact the third most important figure in an office, answering only to the top leader and assisting them in overseeing all matters—a true powerhouse. Liu Jingye had no doubt about Chen Yuxin’s words. Although Liang Hong was a deputy director, seemingly high and mighty, his fate could be decided at a single word from the higher-ups. Naturally, he too must have his own protector.

“Corrupt officials are the most detestable,” Liu Jingye said. “Now the court is launching a sweeping anti-corruption campaign. Investigation teams made up of dozens of censors are canvassing everywhere. Even if you don’t have direct evidence, if you, as a journalist, report this to the team, they’ll definitely believe you and dig deeper.”

“Officials fear investigations the most. If ten are thoroughly checked, nine will have issues.”

“That’s all true,” Chen Yuxin replied, “but the ledger is all coded with symbols and ciphers, there’s no direct evidence. If we just hand it in, we might be accused of false charges. And you have to realize a terrifying fact: officials protect each other!”

“That truly is a frightening fact,” Liu Jingye sighed, shaking his head helplessly.

“Let’s stop talking about that and focus on what we should do next,” Chen Yuxin said.

“We?” Liu Jingye smiled. “It’s just you, not me—the door’s right there.”

“How can you be so unchivalrous, so lacking in loyalty?” Chen Yuxin protested angrily. “Here I am, a young woman as lovely as a flower, my life in danger, and not only do you refuse to help, you act as if you’re pushing me into the fire. Can you still call yourself a man?”

Liu Jingye drooped his eyelids and stared at her. “Frankly, I now suspect you deliberately planted that bomb in your own car just to get close to me.”

Chen Yuxin gave a slight smile and ignored him, dialing her phone. Liu Jingye thought she was about to leave, but to his surprise, she was calling her TV station to request leave.

Then she made another call—this time to Liu Jingye’s second aunt—and turned on the speakerphone.

Liu Jingye watched from the side as her previously forceful demeanor transformed into one of bashful delicacy, her voice sweet and coy, like a shy, charming young lady.

The call was quickly answered. “Hello, Aunt Liu, I just met your nephew. I think he’s a very nice person—warm, kind, and honest.”

“Really? As long as you like him,” his second aunt replied, overjoyed.

“Yes, so I’d like to continue seeing him seriously for a while. And his inn is quite nice too—the surroundings are beautiful, green hills and clear waters. I’ve taken leave from the station and plan to stay here for a few days, treat it as a vacation… Aunt Liu, I mean nothing else by this, please don’t misunderstand, we’re just ordinary friends for now!”

“The more you explain, the more it sounds like there’s something to misunderstand,” Liu Jingye thought helplessly.

“I know, I know!” Second Aunt said enthusiastically, “Xiao Chen, I know what kind of person you are. Don’t worry, settle in and enjoy your break. If that brat dares bully you, I’ll deal with him myself.”

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before hanging up. The next moment, Liu Jingye’s phone rang—it was his second aunt, bursting with excitement: “Well done, you rascal! Even the star anchor, the city’s most iconic figure, Chen Yuxin, is willing to date you. I really underestimated you. Treat her right, pursue her seriously. I’ll call your parents right now to share the good news!”

With that, she hung up without giving Liu Jingye a chance to speak.

If his parents heard, this blind date would be considered a success.

“This woman is even more ruthless than Yuan Xiaoying!” Liu Jingye felt the urge to tear his hair out. Modern women—where had all their restraint gone?

Yuan Xiaoying at most tricked the neighbors, but Chen Yuxin was bolder—she contacted his family directly.

Soon, his parents called him. He answered with a wry smile, only to hear his mother’s voice, even more excited than his aunt’s: “Jingye, this is wonderful! We’ve waited so long for this day. You’ve finally found a woman.”

What was that supposed to mean? It sounded off, as if he’d been a bachelor for life.

Liu Jingye was speechless as his mother went on and on, telling him to treat the girl well, never bully her. Upon hearing that Chen Yuxin was staying over, she whispered that since they’d just started seeing each other, he mustn’t overstep or leave her with a bad impression.

His mother nagged for half an hour before passing the phone to his father, who was much more succinct: “There’s a little black box on the second floor beam with some cash. Use it as you see fit—now’s not the time to be stingy.”

Well, who would have thought—his father, in support of his son’s love life, had even offered up his secret stash.

As Liu Jingye was mulling this over, Chen Yuxin suddenly snatched the phone and, in a crisp, pleasant voice, said, “Hello, Uncle and Aunt, I’m Chen Yuxin. I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you. I’ll get along well with Liu Jingye, don’t worry. Please take care of yourselves.”

Liu Jingye looked at her—her expression was cool, but her words were honeyed. He felt as though he were witnessing the true faces of telephone salespeople and con artists.

His father, always awkward, was at a loss as this enthusiastic young woman spoke. His mother quickly took over, and the two women fell into cheerful chatter.

It was peculiar—mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law are said to be natural enemies, yet before marriage, the future mother-in-law is gentler than one’s own mother, and the prospective daughter-in-law is more obedient than a real daughter.

“This woman really is Yuan Xiaoying 2.0, an upgraded version,” Liu Jingye sighed.

He watched as Chen Yuxin chatted happily with his mother, the conversation moving from basic information to personal interests, soon to delve into the roots.

Meanwhile, Liu Jingye grew pensive. The car bombing earlier was anything but simple—the setup was ingenious, especially that thin wire, finer than fishing line, almost invisible. If not for his sharp eyes, both their lives would have been at risk.

“This method is familiar,” Liu Jingye muttered. “Last time, in Yuan Xiaoying’s wardrobe, it was the same trick, although that grenade was mostly filled with firework powder, not very lethal. This time, an entire car was nearly demolished.

“It’s clear the same person is responsible, but the cases are entirely different. Last time, Yuan Xiaoying was involved with Radiant Dynasty, while Chen Yuxin is linked to the Secretary-General.

“However, Radiant Dynasty’s protector is Liang Hong, whose backer is the Secretary-General. If the same person is behind both bombings, then the Secretary-General must have been involved in the Radiant Dynasty case as well.”

If Chen Yuxin was an upgraded version of Yuan Xiaoying, then this Secretary-General was the extended version of the Radiant Dynasty affair.

To root out evil, since he’d waded into these murky waters, he might as well cross to the far shore.

Liu Jingye had a sense that these waters were deep—unfathomably so. There were Vietnamese drug traffickers slipping into the country, Japanese gangsters colluding with Huang Xing’s father, the assassin organization called “Black Sun,” and, on top of that, the country’s own corrupt officials with real power, and the mysterious bomb-maker.

Well, life had suddenly become much more interesting.

Despite the looming dangers ahead, Liu Jingye felt no fear—instead, he trembled with excitement. He had always preferred a life of bullets and blood, of fervor and passion.

Just then, Chen Yuxin returned, tossed him his phone, and said with a smile, “Ah, the boundless love of parents—willing to do anything just to see their grown son find someone.”

“And you’re comfortable exploiting their warmth and kindness?” Liu Jingye retorted.

Chen Yuxin’s expression shifted, a hint of embarrassment crossing her face. To use and deceive such kind-hearted elders was indeed wrong.

But Chen Yuxin was truly at her wit’s end, her plight now not much different from Wei Xiaorou’s back then—her life under dire threat. She didn’t want to die, so she was forced to take desperate measures.

“Before today’s car explosion, did you already know your life was in danger?” Liu Jingye suddenly asked.

Chen Yuxin was startled, furrowing her brows in silence.

Liu Jingye smiled. “Last time, those two men dragged me into an alley pretending to rob me. You saw me fight back, then pegged me as your bodyguard, looking for ways to learn about me. Today, you approached me directly, seeking my protection.”

Chen Yuxin blushed, lips pressed tight—he had nailed the truth. She’d already received anonymous threats, creepy midnight calls, a dead rat on her desk…

Today’s car bombing made her realize her enemy was truly terrifying—her life could end at any moment.

“And you dragged me in so recklessly—aren’t you endangering me as well?” Liu Jingye said. “Our enemy is ruthless and wields deadly weapons. If I can’t protect you, I could lose my life too. Can you live with that?”

“I’ll pay you,” Chen Yuxin said softly after hesitating for a long while.

“What good is payment if I lose my life?” Liu Jingye retorted. “You know I have parents who are hoping I’ll get married and give them grandchildren.”

“I’m sorry,” Chen Yuxin apologized sincerely. “I’m truly desperate. I hope you’ll help me.”

“How can you say you’re desperate?” Liu Jingye countered. “Aren’t you from the national TV station? Just go back to the capital. I doubt the Secretary-General could do anything to you there—he’s nothing in the capital.”

“No, I won’t leave!” Chen Yuxin suddenly said with resolve. “I know full well the Secretary-General is likely involved in serious corruption. I must expose him. I can’t let such a villain remain in high office, harming the country and the people. That’s my basic duty as a journalist.”

Her determination made Liu Jingye look at her with new respect. He’d once encountered war correspondents who braved gunfire just to report from the front lines—their courage was admirable. And now, in Chen Yuxin, he saw again the honor and glory of a journalist.

Liu Jingye gazed at her intently; she returned his look with equal resolve. Then he suddenly asked, “What kind of payment can you offer?”