I am a super cop

The atmosphere in the office suddenly became tense.

After all, everyone had contact with Xu Lang before and only knew that he was a luxury goods reseller who quickly expanded his business by mingling in high-end circles and building connections.

But now, Zhang Meng's sudden disappearance has caused Zhao Wen's side to break down first, and he has also revealed that there may be some problems with Xu Lang's side.

Of course, Gu Chen had his own judgment, and Zhao Wen would naturally have some complaints after being blamed.

It's not hard to see from Zhao Wen's statement that Zhang Meng intended to get to know him and wanted to attend Zhao Wen's drinking party that Zhang Meng knew Zhao Wen not because he really wanted to know him, but because he wanted to get to know Xu Lang through Zhao Wen.

Clearly, Zhang Meng succeeded. He successfully added Xu Lang as a friend and even quickly made a deal, spending 32 yuan to buy a familiar watch.

This all seems too coincidental. Gu Chen has always been wary of coincidences, and this time is no exception.

Taking a deep breath, Gu Chen slowly said, "Since Xu Lang has a problem, let's start with Xu Lang."

"Also, send plainclothes officers to keep watch over Zhang Meng's house. Don't let any clues slip by."

“No problem, I’ll arrange it,” Officer Wang said.

Gu Chen nodded silently and said, "Also, we should focus on investigating Xu Lang's younger brother, especially since he appeared near Zhang Meng's house twice. This is not normal and needs to be investigated thoroughly."

"No problem." He Junchao nodded silently upon hearing Gu Chen's words.

Gu Chen crossed his arms and looked at He Junchao, saying, "Senior Brother He, could you dig deeper into Xu Lang's background and his younger brother's, and find out what their origins are?"

"can."

Upon hearing Gu Chen's words, He Junchao immediately began to act based on the relevant information.

Since Gu Chen had previously visited Xu Lang's company and registered Xu Lang and related personnel's identity information, He Junchao was able to quickly find out the specific details of the two based on this information.

After some work on the computer, He Junchao reported to Gu Chen based on the information he found in the database:
"Xu Lang and his younger brother Xu Ming are both from southern Anhui. Xu Ming is his cousin. Xu Lang was indeed just an ordinary worker before."

“He started working in Jiangnan City a long time ago, and I have a lot of information about Xu Lang.”

"He started out working in a bar, then went to a luxury car club to repair cars, and then, with the help of some people in the circle, he gradually made his way to where he is now."

"It can be said that a large part of his success was due to climbing the ladder step by step through connections."

"Anything else? I know all of this. I need to know some things I don't know," Gu Chen reminded him.

"Well, I can only analyze this through relevant information. As for whether Xu Lang made his fortune in this way, I'm not sure."

"After all, according to Zhao Wen, Xu Lang may have other businesses as well. The luxury goods business might just be a pretext?"

"Moreover, the relationship between Xu Lang and Zhang Meng seems to be quite complicated. This is evident from the information you obtained from Zhao Wen during your investigation."

"Actually, Zhang Meng wanted to get to know Xu Lang through an intermediary, perhaps because he wanted to discuss some business with Xu Lang."

"However, it is not impossible that the two may part ways due to certain core interests."

“That’s right.” Listening to He Junchao’s analysis, Gu Chen also expressed his own thoughts: “That’s what I think too. If Xu Lang has a problem, then Zhang Meng also has a problem.”

“When I went to Zhang Meng’s neighborhood with my senior sister Lu to do some research, we found that his neighbors all felt that he was a very quiet person who only went to the market to buy groceries on Mondays and would buy groceries for a whole week.”

“He led a very regular life and was even reluctant to interact with people. He didn’t talk much to his neighbors.”

"But why did he have to appear at the antique shop in such a short time, and then, through Zhao Wen, keep attending his parties?"

“This person is usually very self-disciplined, but suddenly, he quickly breaks his own lifestyle and does so with a strong purpose in getting to know Xu Lang.”

"I think Zhang Meng might also be involved in some business, and this business may be closely related to Xu Lang, which explains Zhang Meng's unusual behavior."

“I agree with Senior Brother Gu’s opinion.” Hearing Gu Chen say this, Yuan Shasha quickly echoed.

Officer Wang crossed his arms and nodded silently, "Hmm, now that you mention it, it seems to make sense."

“This Zhang Meng is definitely not simple. He must have something to discuss with Xu Lang.”

"But this Xu Lang is very likely doing the same job as Zhang Meng, so Xu Lang will send his younger brother Xu Ming to contact Zhang Meng."

"But now, Zhang Meng's dog has been killed, and Zhang Meng has disappeared. This is rather unusual."

"If we follow my normal analysis, then the person who kidnapped Zhang Meng might be Xu Lang's younger brother, Xu Ming, since he went to the vicinity of Zhang Meng's house twice."

"If both times were to go to Zhang Meng, then the first and second times were probably to scout out the area, to check on the situation at Zhang Meng's house, and perhaps to communicate with Zhang Meng on behalf of his brother Xu Lang."

"With Zhang Meng's sudden disappearance this time, we definitely need to investigate whether Xu Ming has an alibi. If he can't prove that he was at the scene during the time Zhang Meng was missing."

"Then Xu Ming must be a problem, and this must be investigated thoroughly."

"Hmm." Listening to everyone's discussion, Lu Weiwei couldn't help but sigh:
"It seems that Zhang Meng is not the simple person we imagined."

“Zhang Meng appears to be a retired chemical plant worker, but in reality, he may be involved in certain businesses, and he has his own clear objectives, which is quite frightening.”

"Wait a minute." Listening to Lu Weiwei's story, Gu Chen suddenly thought of someone, so he looked up at everyone and said without waiting for a reply:
"It seems we've overlooked someone."

"Who?" everyone asked in unison upon hearing this.

“Hu Xue,” Gu Chen said.

The crowd exchanged glances, then turned their attention to Gu Chen.

Then Gu Chen added, "Have you all forgotten how Zhang Meng got that watch?"

"How could I forget?" Yuan Shasha quickly replied upon hearing this.

"Wasn't the watch that Zhang Meng bought a keepsake given to him by Wang Tianming's wife, who was in the building materials business, before she died?"

“Yes, but how did Zhang Meng happen to buy this watch? Have you thought about that?” Gu Chen asked.

Upon hearing this, Lu Weiwei suddenly realized, "Yes, what a coincidence."

"If there were no problems with Xu Lang before, then this might just be a coincidence."

"But now it seems that things are not like that, because Zhang Meng is intentionally getting close to Xu Lang, so it seems very deliberate that the watch in Xu Lang's hand eventually became the object of the transaction."

"Hmm." Hearing Lu Weiwei say this, Gu Chen slowly said, "So, that's where the problem lies. May I make a bold assumption?"

"What if Zhang Meng had known Hu Xue from the beginning? Zhang Meng could have used Hu Xue to contact Wang Tianming, then stolen Wang Tianming's watch and sold it to Xu Lang." "And Zhang Meng could then conveniently buy the watch for 32."

"In this way, a certain connection was established between Zhang Meng and Xu Lang, namely, the connection between a customer and a consumer."

"The connection between the two people may need this 32 as a link."

Listening to Gu Chen's analysis, everyone began to think seriously.

Officer Wang slowly said, "If that's the case, then this Zhang Meng is really something else."

"If that's the case, then it all seems like it was all planned," Yuan Shasha couldn't help but sigh.

Lu Weiwei nodded silently: "If Zhang Meng knows Hu Xue, this could really happen."

Gu Chen sighed softly and said, "We must ask Hu Xue to find out the truth."

"Call the detention center and have Hu Xue come over to answer the phone," Officer Wang said.

"I'll make the contact." Upon hearing this, He Junchao immediately began communicating with the detention center by phone.

After waiting for a long time, the phone rang again. He Junchao answered the phone, had a brief conversation with the other end, and then handed the phone to Gu Chen, reminding him, "It's Hu Xue."

"Hu Xue, this is Gu Chen from the Furong Branch." Gu Chen answered the phone and quickly identified himself.

"Officer Gu." At this moment, Hu Xue on the other end of the phone seemed to have lost her previous carefree attitude, and her voice was somewhat low.

"I have a few questions for you, and I ask you to answer them honestly." Gu Chen made his stance clear.

On the other end of the phone, Hu Xue said slowly, "Ask me any questions you have. I'll tell you everything I know."

"Very good." Hearing Hu Xue say this, Gu Chen went straight to the point and asked:
Do you know Zhang Meng?

After he finished speaking, there was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone.

Gu Chen frowned and continued to press Hu Xue, "Hu Xue, did you hear me?"

"I...I heard it," came Hu Xue's response from the other end of the phone.

"Do you know Zhang Meng?" Gu Chen asked again.

"No...I don't know him." Hu Xue's answer on the other end of the phone was also quite uncertain.

Gu Chen sighed and slowly said, "Hu Xue, are you answering my question seriously?"

"I...I do."

"You didn't." Gu Chen's tone turned stern in response to Hu Xue's reply.
"If you want to make amends, then you should honestly confess everything you know, including anything you've been hiding."

After a pause, Gu Chen added, "Do you understand what I mean?"

"I...I understand." Hu Xue replied slowly in response to Gu Chen's reminder.

"Very well, now tell me, do you know this Zhang Meng?"

"Officer Gu, what does this Zhang Meng you mentioned do?" Hu Xue asked on the other end of the phone.

So Gu Chen slowly said, "He is a retired worker from a chemical plant."

“I’m sorry, I don’t know any of the retired workers from the chemical plant, but I do know a big boss named Zhang Meng,” Hu Xue said.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen frowned slightly and continued to press, "You mean, the big boss Zhang Meng? How can you be so sure that the Zhang Meng you know is the big boss?"

"It's very simple." Seeing Gu Chen continue to press for answers, Hu Xue quickly replied:
"Because when I met him, it was in a club. He was wearing very high-end clothes. Although he was a bit older, he was having a lot of fun."

"I did think about getting to know him, after all, people who come to that high-end club are not ordinary people."

"But later I felt that this person was old enough to be my grandfather, and I just couldn't bring myself to do it, so I didn't have much interaction with him."

"Has Zhang Meng consulted you about anything?" Gu Chen asked.

"Yes," Hu Xue replied.

"What's the matter?" Gu Chen asked again.

After a pause, Hu Xue slowly said, "Zhang Meng said he wants me to do something, and he will give me a reward after I do it."

"What kind of compensation?" Gu Chen asked.

"Just give me 10,000 yuan as a reward, in cash, because according to Zhang Meng's instructions, I always use bank card numbers, and if there's a problem, it will be monitored."

With a soft sigh, Hu Xue said helplessly, "I didn't listen to his advice back then, so I regret it now. But he hasn't given me that 10,000 yuan yet, and I was arrested."

"So, what did Zhang Meng ask you to do?" Gu Chen probably had the answer in his mind when he heard this.

However, Gu Chen needs Hu Xue to say it herself.

Hu Xue slowly said, "He told me about someone who was in the building materials business and asked me to get to know him. He told me that the person was very rich."

"His only request was that I steal the man's watch and then sell it to the gentleman."

"You mean, he asked you to steal something?" Gu Chen asked, somewhat puzzled.

Hu Xue slowly said, "Yes, because he seems to know some things about me, but I don't know how he knows."

"Anyway, he asked me to steal Wang Tianming's watch and sell it to a gentleman. He said I didn't need to worry about the rest, and he would give me 10,000 yuan in cash as a reward after it was done."

"Then why didn't you say this before?" Gu Chen continued to press.

Hu Xue said dejectedly, "Officer Gu, I've already made so many mistakes. If you don't investigate, how will I confess?"

"Moreover, I would have done these things that Zhang Meng asked me to do even if he hadn't said so. It's just that this Wang Tianming was appointed by Zhang Meng."

"I thought that if I could earn an extra ten thousand, I would. After all, according to Zhang Meng, Wang Tianming cares a lot about his reputation, so he wouldn't dare to make a fuss about the theft."

"And this is the kind of person I like the most. I enjoy making this kind of person a great victim."

...(End of chapter)