Please, mature women, have some self-respect. I just want a raise and a promotion.

three years?

Upon hearing this, Lin Zheng's expression immediately changed.

Director Liu flicked his cigarette ash: "Lin Zheng, I'll tell you the truth."

"That woman accused you of rape. She had injuries on her body and her clothes were torn. The evidence is very unfavorable to you."

Lin Zheng raised his head: "Director Liu, as I said, someone set me up."

"A trap?"

Director Liu laughed: "You think you can just set a trap like that? Where's the evidence?"

"The club's surveillance cameras."

"We've reviewed the security footage. When you went into the room with her, she did it willingly."

"But what happened after we entered the room, there's no CCTV footage."

Lin Zheng remained silent.

Director Liu is right; no one can say for sure what happened after we entered the room.

"What about her injuries?" Lin Zheng asked.

"She caught it herself, but she says you hit her."

Lin Zheng's face turned ashen; this woman was ruthless.

To frame him, they were even willing to harm themselves.

"Chief Liu, if I said she was paid by someone to frame me, would you believe me?"

Director Liu nodded: "I believe you, but belief alone is not enough; we need evidence."

"Since you have no evidence, I can only proceed according to procedure."

Lin Zheng took a deep breath and said, "Can I make a phone call?"

"Who should I call?"

"My lawyer."

Director Liu glanced at him and pushed the phone towards him: "Go ahead and make the call."

Lin Zheng picked up his phone and dialed Qiu Xiuqin's number.

The phone rang twice, and Qiu Xiuqin's languid voice came from the other end: "Hello, who is this?"

"Sister Xiuqin, it's me."

Qiu Xiuqin was visibly taken aback: "Lin Zheng? It's so late, what's wrong?"

Lin Zheng lowered his voice: "I'm at the Dianhai Town Police Station. Something happened."

"What is it?"

"Someone set me up, accusing me of rape."

"Wait for me, I'll be right there."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zheng returned the phone to Director Liu.

"Chief Liu, may I ask one more question?"

"ask."

"What's that woman's name?"

"Xiao Mei."

"What's your real name?"

Director Liu flipped through the documents on the table: "Li Meijuan, from Guizhou, came to Haidong to work three years ago, and later worked at a KTV."

Lin Zheng nodded, remembering the name.

About forty minutes later, the interrogation room door was pushed open again.

Qiu Xiuqin walked in.

She wore a beige trench coat, her long hair was loose, and she wasn't wearing makeup, but she was still strikingly beautiful.

"Sister Xiuqin." Lin Zheng stood up.

Qiu Xiuqin glanced at him, then turned to look at Liu Zheng behind her.

"Director Liu, could we speak privately for a few minutes?"

Chief Liu nodded, signaling the police officers conducting the interrogation to leave.

Only three people remained in the room.

Qiu Xiuqin sat down next to Lin Zheng, her eyes fixed on Liu Zheng.

"Director Liu, Lin Zheng is one of my men."

"I know him as a person; he would never do such a thing."

Liu Zheng said, "Sister Qiu, it's not up to me to decide, it's up to the evidence."

"The evidence is against him now, and there's nothing I can do about it."

"What evidence?" Qiu Xiuqin asked.

"That woman had injuries and her clothes were torn. She bit him to death for raping her."

Qiu Xiuqin frowned: "Is it possible that she did it voluntarily?"

"It's possible, but she won't admit it."

Qiu Xiuqin was silent for a moment, then asked, "Can I see that woman?"

Liu Zheng resolutely refused: "No way."

"You cannot see her until the case is fully investigated."

"Can you help me find out the truth?"

Qiu Xiuqin took a bank card out of her bag and pushed it in front of Liu Zheng.

"There are no outsiders here, so I won't beat around the bush. There's 100,000 inside, which is considered the case-handling expenses."

"Find out who's behind this."

Liu Zheng glanced at the bank card.

"Sister Qiu, you're making me make a mistake."

Making a mistake?

Qiu Xiuqin laughed: "Director Liu, we've known each other for so many years, when have I ever let you make a mistake?"

"I just asked you to find out the truth, that's not a mistake, is it?"

Liu Zheng was silent for a moment, then reached out, picked up the bank card, and put it in his pocket.

"Okay, I'll check for you."

"But I can't guarantee that it will be found out."

"Just do your best."

"Will Lin Zheng be able to go home tonight?"

"no."

"The case hasn't been solved yet, so he has to stay at the station."

"However, I can arrange a nicer room for him so he won't feel uncomfortable."

Qiu Xiuqin glanced at Lin Zheng and finally nodded.

"Alright, then I'll leave it to Director Liu."

"Of course."

Qiu Xiuqin walked up to Lin Zheng and reached out to straighten his collar.

"Don't be afraid, I'll figure something out."

Lin Zheng nodded: "Sister Xiuqin, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for? There's no need for thanks between us."

Qiu Xiuqin smiled, turned and left.

Director Liu saw her out, and when he returned, he had a set of keys in his hand.

"Come on, I'll take you to your room."

Lin Zheng was taken to a small room on the second floor.

The room wasn't big, but it was very clean, with a bed, a table, and a window with security bars on it.

"Conditions are limited, so we'll have to make do for one night." Director Liu tossed the keys onto the bed.

"Thank you, Director Liu." Lin Zheng nodded.

"Don't thank me, thank you Sister Qiu." Director Liu said and turned to leave.

Lin Zheng sat down on the edge of the bed, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.

Tonight's events are too strange.

He had just met with Zhou Hailong when the incident happened that very night.

Moreover, that Xiao Mei was too hasty; she didn't seem like an experienced person.

Someone was watching him from behind, knowing his every move.

Who could this person be?

Lin Zheng couldn't figure it out. He lay in bed with his eyes closed, but he couldn't fall asleep no matter what.

Every time I close my eyes, I see the image of Xiaomei tearing her clothes open, and her screaming for help.

This woman is a really good actress.

It's a shame he didn't become an actor.

The next morning, Director Liu pushed open the door and came in.

"Lin Zheng, I have something to tell you."

Lin Zheng sat up and rubbed his eyes: "What is it?"

"The woman has given up."

Lin Zheng was taken aback: "She admitted it?"

"He admitted to half of it."

Director Liu lit a cigarette and handed one to Lin Zheng.

"She said she was paid by someone to frame you, but the person who gave her the money was wearing a mask and a hat, so she couldn't see their face."

Lin Zheng frowned: "Where's the money? Where are the transfer records?"

"It was given in cash, and there's no record of it."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zheng fell silent.

The cash has no traceable origin.

The person pulling the strings behind the scenes is certainly cautious.

"Is there anything else?" Lin Zheng asked.

"there is none left."

"That's all she knows."

"And what about her injuries?"

"I caught it myself."

Lin Zheng took a deep breath: "Can I leave now?"

"able."

"But the case isn't closed yet, you have to be available whenever I call."

"OK."

Lin Zheng stood up and followed Director Liu out of the room.

In the lobby on the first floor, Qiu Xiuqin was already waiting.

She changed into a black business suit, wore light makeup, and looked very capable.

"Sister Xiuqin."

"Let's go." Qiu Xiuqin nodded and turned to walk out.

As the two walked out of the police station, the sunlight stung their eyes.

Lin Zheng squinted and let out a long sigh of relief.

He lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and said, "Last night scared me to death."

Qiu Xiuqin glanced at him: "Aren't you usually pretty brave? Are you scared?"

Lin Zheng exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Of course I'm afraid."

"Rape carries a minimum sentence of three years."

"What will I do if you go in?"

As Qiu Xiuqin spoke, she opened the car door.

Lin Zheng paused for a moment, then got into the passenger seat.

Qiu Xiuqin started the car and drove out of the police station.

"Where to?" Lin Zheng asked.

"Let's find a secluded place; I have something to tell you."

The car drove through the town's streets, through the bustling downtown area, and turned onto a side street.

The road became narrower and narrower, and fewer and fewer houses appeared on both sides, replaced by fields and woods.

After driving for more than twenty minutes, Qiu Xiuqin parked her car next to a small grove of trees.

It was very quiet all around, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the chirping of birds.

"Get out of the car." Qiu Xiuqin turned off the engine.

Lin Zheng got out of the car and looked around at his surroundings.

"Where is this place?"

"My hometown."

"I used to come here to play a lot when I was a child."

"After she married Lao Yang, she rarely came anymore."

Lin Zheng nodded and leaned against the car door: "Sister Xiuqin, what do you want to tell me?"

Qiu Xiuqin turned around and looked at him: "Who do you think did what happened last night?"

Lin Zheng thought for a moment and said, "There are many people who have doubts."

"Zhou Hailong, Ma Cuihua, Li Ting, and Wang Jianguo are all possibilities."

"But I think the most likely candidate is Zhou Hailong."

Why?

"Because he has what I want."

"If something happens to me, I won't have to pay those things, and he can renege on his gambling debts."

"Moreover, he had just met with me last night, and then the incident happened to me that night."

"The timing is too coincidental."

Qiu Xiuqin nodded: "That's what I think too."

"So this morning, I asked Director Liu to check Zhou Hailong's whereabouts last night."

Where was he last night?

"I was working overtime at Tenghua Group, and someone can testify to that."

Lin Zheng frowned: "Working overtime? So late?"

He said he was organizing project materials.

Lin Zheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about Ma Cuihua?"

"Ma Cuihua was in a meeting at the company last night, and there are witnesses to that."

"Where is Li Ting?"

"Li Ting was having dinner with some clients at Tianlong Company."

"Where is Wang Jianguo?"

"Wang Jianguo was on duty at the town government last night."

Lin Zheng frowned.

Everyone has an alibi.

Who could it be?