My spy diary

Chapter 594 Heartless Turn of the Tide (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The car bumped along in the darkness and stopped beside a long-abandoned temple in the wilderness.

Zhang Yi got out of the car, opened the trunk, and dragged Zhao Wenwu out with great effort. He dragged him to a pillar in the dilapidated temple, stripped him naked, and then handcuffed him behind his back.

He lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and then suddenly touched Zhao Wenwu. A scream rang out, and Zhao Wenwu jolted awake, looking around in terror. When he recognized Zhang Yi in front of him, his face was filled with disbelief.

"So it's you! Zhang Yi, you bastard, what are you trying to do?"

"Hehe, Director Zhao, you have sharp eyes, you recognized me? Impressive. But save your energy, no matter how viciously you curse, it won't change your current situation in the slightest."

"What exactly do you want?" Zhao Wenwu was well aware of his current situation. In this desolate wilderness, no one would pay attention even if he shouted himself hoarse. He lowered his voice, but he still gritted his teeth.

"I don't want to do anything, I just want to talk to you."

"Chat? Is this how you chat?" Hearing Zhang Yi's nonchalant words, Zhao Wenwu felt as if he had punched a cotton ball. His expression froze, and he stared intently into Zhang Yi's eyes. "Zhang Yi, no, Director Zhang, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"What do you think?"

"How would I know?" Zhao Wenwu gave a bitter laugh, his eyes darting around. "Who exactly are you? Does Boss Dai know about what you've done?"

"What do you think?"

"How would I know! Zhang Yi, don't make another mistake. It's not too late to release me now." Zhao Wenwu roared again in a fit of rage, "If Boss Dai knew what you've done, he would skin you alive and make you wish you were dead."

Do you think he'll find out?

"What do you mean? You want to kill me to put out the fire?" Zhao Wenwu's eyes widened as he struggled desperately. "I, Zhao Wenwu, have asked myself if I have offended you. Why are you doing this to me? You're not a Communist, are you? We're all brothers from the same womb, serving Boss Dai and the Party and the country. Is it worth it for a worthless cobbler?"

"Ask yourself honestly? What conscience? Do you have a conscience? Is it black or red?"

Zhao Wenwu was stunned: "What do you mean? You really did this to save that stinky shoemaker? Didn't you already rescue him? Director Zhang, Uncle Zhang, I beg you, please, let's pretend this never happened. We should always leave room for maneuver in our dealings with others. Pushing someone to the brink will only lead to our own downfall. Please let me go, okay? I will definitely repay you!"

The words had barely left his mouth when two slaps landed on his face:

"Repay? Or beat them up? Can we not talk about such childish things? Thank you for your teaching. With you as my role model, I will definitely surpass you in everything I do."

"What do you mean? You really want to kill me to silence me?"

"That depends on your performance from now on." Zhang Yi smiled faintly, stared into his eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath and said earnestly:

"Xiao Zhao, we've known each other for a day now, so you should know me a little. I'm not a cruel person with the desire to torture others. Since I subdued you, look at your body, you have almost no external injuries. Apart from just now, I haven't really hit you much, have I? If you cooperate with me from now on, maybe I'll let you go if I'm in a good mood?"

Zhao Wenwu naturally didn't believe him and shook his head vigorously: "You won't! Unless you let me go first!"

"You're quite clever, aren't you? A clever person wouldn't say such childish things." Zhang Yi sneered. "We've talked too much nonsense today. Now let's get straight to the point. I'll ask, you answer. Your attitude from now on will determine your situation. If you don't cooperate, I don't mind using some methods. Okay, I'll ask you, what kinds of embezzlement and bribery has Zhao Longwen done?"

Zhao Wenwu was stunned for a moment: "You, you're trying to wipe us out completely!"

"You still have the nerve to worry about others? How can I let you off the hook if I don't drag him down with me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Just like you said, you have to leave room for maneuver in everything you do. If I'm going to let you go, I have to leave myself a way out, right? To prevent you from retaliating, I need to have some bargaining chips in hand, right?"

Zhao Wenwu's eyes flickered, and he lowered his head, remaining silent.

"Not willing to cooperate?"

Zhao Wenwu opened his mouth: "I...I don't know."

Zhang Yi stared at him for a few moments: "No, you're lying. You must know. Since that's the case..." With that, he sneered, picked up Zhao Wenwu's smelly socks from the ground, shoved them into his mouth, then pulled out a dagger and stabbed it into his thigh.

With a muffled groan, Zhao Wenwu trembled all over.

Zhang Yi expressionlessly pulled out the dagger: "You won't be so lucky next time. If it pierces your carotid artery, there'll be no one to stop the bleeding."

Zhao Wenwu stared at him in fear, his mental defenses crumbling step by step. He nodded vigorously, trying to speak, but his mouth was stuffed with a smelly sock, so he couldn't utter a word and could only let out a few sobs.

"Have you thought it through? Why sacrifice a friend to save yourself?"

Zhang Yi disgustedly removed the sock from his mouth, saying, "You'd better not try anything funny."

"No, no, but I really don't know anything about him, Director Zhang, please bandage me up quickly!"

Zhang Yi was skeptical: "Really? You're not lying to me?"

“How could I dare to lie to you? He hides all those things from me. Besides, he usually lives in Hangzhou, while I live in Jiangshan. Even if it were true, there's no way I could know.”

Zhang Yi's eyes darted around as he toyed with the dagger in his hand, and he said in a cold voice:
"really do not know?"

"I'm really not lying to you. I genuinely didn't know. I guess only Zhou Wenruo knows about this."

Who is Zhou Wenruo?

"My uncle's secretary."

Zhang Yi stared at him for a few moments, realizing Zhao Wenwu wasn't lying. After pondering for a while, he made up his mind and was about to turn and leave when Zhao Wenwu suddenly burst into tears and begged:
"Director Zhang, please, I beg you, can you spare my life? I'll repay you handsomely. Gold bars, US dollars, evidence of my uncle Zhao Longwen's embezzlement and bribery—I can get it all for you." He suddenly remembered something, "Beautiful women too, even prettier than Shen Ruozhu. Whatever kind of woman you want, I can get her for you. Just let me go, I'll even be your dog."

Zhang Yi sneered inwardly, turned around, and looked at him with interest:
"When you did bad things, did you ever think about giving others a way out?"

"I was wrong, Director Zhang, I was really wrong. Waaah, I'll never do it again, I swear. This time, Zhao Longwen made me do it. I had no choice. He's not only my uncle, but also my superior. How could I refuse his orders? Director Zhang, you should understand. If you were in his shoes, you definitely wouldn't have had a choice but to obey. I beg you."

Zhang Yi snorted coldly: "You know perfectly well what the truth is, don't try to act all high and mighty!" When he returned, he had a pocket recorder and a piece of paper covered in writing in his hand, both of which he had taken from Zhao Wenwu's office.

"Read it aloud!"

The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, waking Shen Ruozhu from her sleep. Her head throbbed with pain from the alcohol, and she sat up abruptly, her mind replaying the events of the previous night as if it were a dream. But the injury on her back constantly reminded her that this was no dream. She had hoped to climb the social ladder by marrying Director Zhang, but who would have thought he would be so...perverted? Thinking this, she looked at the culprit sleeping soundly beside her, his face as cold as ice, and felt an urge to strangle him.

But before she could make a move, Zhang Yi woke up. The moment he saw her, he sat up straight, his face darkening, and his attitude towards her completely changed. He directly questioned, "Who are you?"

"I am Shen Ruozhu."

"Shen Ruozhu? Why are you in my bed?"

Shen Ruozhu was stunned, and hurriedly said, "Director Zhang, you really don't remember? Yesterday, Director Zhao introduced us. We danced and drank together, and then we came to the room. Later, you ordered more red wine, and then you hit me."

Zhang Yi rubbed his temples and looked at her suspiciously: "Is that so? I clearly remember coming back alone."

Shen Ruozhu already had a splitting headache, and upon hearing this, she felt even more dizzy. She thought she had climbed the social ladder, but little did she know that the other party was just like that Zhao guy—unreliable once they got what they wanted. No, even more shameless than that bastard Zhao Wenwu. He was all sweet talk, but once he got what he wanted, he turned his back on her before she even put her pants back on.

Tears of shame and indignation welled up in her eyes, and she lunged forward, grabbing Zhang Yi's arm:

"Director Zhang, you can't treat me like this!"

Zhang Yi shoved her away, looking at her with disdain:

"Then how should I treat you?"

"Director Zhang, don't play dumb. I'm not asking you to take responsibility for me, but you should at least keep your promise to me yesterday, right?"

"what?"

Shen Ruozhu looked up, almost pleadingly, and said, "You said you'd promote me to the rank of major and promised to help me get a transfer. If you keep your promise, I'll stay far away from you and promise I won't bother you anymore, okay?"

Zhang Yi said "Oh," and frowned: "Is that so? I don't remember. Even if it is, you believe what he said while drunk?"

Shen Ruozhu felt a lump in her throat, her whole body trembling: "You were all lying to me?"

"What do you mean by 'scam'? We all know the unspoken truth, we all have our own needs. You just want money, don't you?" Zhang Yi sneered, grabbing a piece of clothing from the chair, pulling out a few bills from his pocket, slapping them into her hand, and then waving his hand, "Alright, take the money and hurry up and leave, I have things to do."

Seeing Zhang Yi frowning and looking impatient, as if shooing away flies, Shen Ruozhu's face turned pale and then red.

"Director Zhang, how could you do this? You're shameless!"

"I'm shameless? You talk as if you're some kind of saint. At the prime of your life, instead of earning your own living, you're lazy, greedy for pleasure, and only thinking about climbing the social ladder. You have no sense of propriety whatsoever as a woman. Hmph, don't think I don't know about your scumbag affair with Zhao Wenwu. Do you want me to bring him here for a confrontation? What? Feeling guilty?" Zhang Yi spoke with absolute certainty and conviction.

Shen Ruozhu felt a little guilty, her forehead was covered in a fine sweat, and she was shocked, scared and angry.

But she was still unwilling to give up. The reason she was willing to lower herself and use her beauty to please men was precisely for wealth and status. Even if she couldn't climb the social ladder with Zhang Yi, getting a major in the military academy and a chance to go to Shancheng would be worth it. She believed that as long as she could go to Shancheng, with her looks and skills, she would definitely thrive.

But now, apart from a few banknotes, he has gained nothing; it's all for naught.

"What are you standing there for? Don't you think the money is enough? If it were me, I would force a smile and bury my grievances in my heart. If things really get out of hand, wouldn't you be the one who gets embarrassed? You are a policeman, an outsider of the Military Intelligence Bureau. You should know our methods."

Shen Ruozhu shivered, her whole body trembling. Her shoulders twitched uncontrollably. She stood there, stunned, covering her mouth and sobbing, tears streaming down her face.

Zhang Yi remained expressionless and lit a cigarette for himself.

Actually, he wasn't feeling good either. After all, he was a normal person, and the thought of his "perverted" behavior last night and the things he said to Shen Ruozhu just now sent chills down his spine. The reason he had to act so shamelessly, cold-bloodedly, and even perverted was all for the sake of his "alibi" and the needs of the plot. As someone who was both the director and the lead actor, sometimes he had no choice but to do things his way for the sake of giving a passionate performance.

Helpless, Shen Ruozhu cried until she had cried enough. Then she wiped away her tears, silently put on her clothes, grabbed the money, and slammed the door shut as she left without expression.

Zhang Yi sighed silently, rubbed his face, turned around and went into the bathroom to wash up.

After tidying up, they arrived at the hotel lobby and saw Dai Chunfeng and the others having breakfast.

The breakfast selection is quite diverse, including steamed buns, shumai, fried dough sticks, pumpkin porridge, eggs, milk, and noodles.

Dai Chunfeng was in high spirits, but Director Gong and Deputy Officer Jia were listless and seemed to have not slept well.

"Good morning!" Zhang Yi walked over with a smile, looked at Deputy Jia, and asked, "You don't look well. Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Lieutenant Jia opened his mouth, "Maybe I'm not used to sleeping in the same bed, I didn't sleep well." As he spoke, he gave Zhang Yi a strange look, "Director Zhang seems to be in good spirits, oh, by the way." He hesitated for a moment, then said, "We just saw that policewoman with disheveled hair, crying and sobbing, you didn't do anything to her, did you?"

"Really?" Zhang Yi took a bite of the steamed bun. "She was all smiles just now." He shook his head and sighed, "A woman's mind is like a needle at the bottom of the sea; you can never figure it out."

Director Gong chuckled, "She doesn't intend to cling to you, does she?"

"impossible?"

"Who can say for sure? What if she resorts to crying, making a scene, or threatening suicide? What can you do with a young woman like her?"

"No way?" Zhang Yi's face fell, and he pretended to look worried.

"Just a young woman." Dai Chunfeng scoffed upon hearing this. "This is a new society now. There are no feudal ethics or concepts of chastity, or the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. Alright, let's hurry up and eat. We still have a lot to do today."

Zhang Yi nodded and asked Lieutenant Jia, "What's the schedule for today?"

Deputy Jia said, "It's not convenient for us to appear in public at a press conference. Director Zhao will handle this matter entirely."

Meanwhile, Zhao Longwen had already arrived at the police station.

(End of this chapter)