In name only: I will break the chess game in Handong

Without saying whether he would help or not, Qi Tongwei simply told Hou Liangping to go back first. Hou Liangping bowed deeply in response and did not linger.

However, his phone rang as soon as he left the hospital.

He picked up his phone and saw that his email contained several videos, including one of Zhong Xiaoai and Chen Hai, another of Zhong Xiaoai and a strange man, and yet another of Zhong Xiaoai and Zhao Ruilong!

A sentence was attached to the email address.

[A fire needs firewood to start, the Zhong family loves noodles, and the Zhao family is investigating Liu Xinjian of the oil and gas group!]

With just this simple sentence, Hou Liangping used up the last bit of gratitude in his heart and bowed again in the direction of the hospital.

Chapter 200 In the Name of Ruilong, Utter Madness

The night was alluring, so Hou Liangping saved the video on his phone instead of handing it directly to Yun Haifeng.

The next morning, Tuesday, Hou Liangping arrived at the Anti-Corruption Bureau and, with swift and decisive action, immediately convened a meeting with all staff members of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The purpose of the meeting was singular: to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the Handong Oil and Gas Group!

It must be said that when the entire anti-corruption bureau takes action, some clues about Handong Oil and Gas Group cannot escape the investigators' tracking, especially the funds. However, these are just specific analyses. To use them as evidence, specific investigative proof must be obtained and the investigators must go directly to the oil and gas group.

None of these were problems. That afternoon, Hou Liangping obtained Ji Changming's investigation permission.

Dozens of staff members and more than a dozen vehicles arrived downstairs before the Handong Oil and Gas Group had even finished their workday.

Show your ID and go upstairs.

The staff collected data according to the pre-arranged plan, while Hou Liangping went to Liu Xinjian's office, where Liu Xinjian looked gloomy.

"Director Hou, your anti-corruption bureau is investigating our group based on just one suspicion. Do you know how much our group would suffer if this information were to leak out!"

Liu Xinjian slammed his hand on the table, while Hou Liangping calmly took out the investigation report in his hand.

"Mr. Liu, my job is to present the facts and find evidence. The oil and gas group is a state-owned enterprise, and any property issue is a matter of state assets. We cannot ignore it!"

If there are problems, they must be thoroughly investigated; if there are no problems, I believe the public will only have more trust in the oil and gas group!

"Hou Liangping!"

Liu Xinjian was so angry he laughed.

At this moment, Hou Liangping waved his hand, and Zhou Zheng and two staff members beside him quietly left the room.

Hou Liangping's expression changed instantly at that moment.

"Sigh, Mr. Liu, please don't make things difficult for me. I didn't want to come to investigate the oil and gas group either, but... Zhong Xiaoai said that if I don't come, I will lose my position as director tomorrow."

I was forced into this situation!

Liu Xinjian was skeptical at first, but he quickly came to a conclusion: the staff Hou Liangping brought had not actually investigated the oil and gas group's secrets; rather, it seemed like they were just going through the motions. Based on what Hou Liangping said, Liu Xinjian's mind unconsciously tipped in Hou Liangping's favor.

The investigation lasted only an hour. An hour later, at 6:30 p.m., the anti-corruption bureau staff all left. Only after Hou Liangping and his staff left did Liu Xinjian call Zhao Ruilong.

"Hey, Ruilong, is Zhong Xiaoai's problem still unresolved?"

Zhao Ruilong was completely stunned when he received the call.

"What's the problem?"

"Just now, Hou Liangping from the Anti-Corruption Bureau came to our oil and gas group with dozens of staff members to conduct an investigation. He said he was forced to come by Zhong Xiaoai."

"real or fake?"

Zhao Ruilong was clearly skeptical, while Liu Xinjian offered his own thoughts.

"It's probably true. If Hou Liangping acted on his own initiative, he would have investigated very thoroughly. However, the staff Hou Liangping brought were just going through the motions and did not actually investigate those core documents."

"I understand. It seems that Zhong Xiaoai really hates me. That bitch, I didn't teach her a lesson last time. Leave this to me."

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Ruilong was furious.

He had already said that he didn't leak the video, but Zhong Xiaoai still wouldn't let him go. So he could only let her know that he still had other bargaining chips.

7:40 PM.

Zhong Xiaoai was doing yoga in her apartment when her phone rang. She had just started warming up when it started to ring.

I picked it up and saw that it belonged to Zhao Ruilong.

"Damn it, Zhong Xiaoai, you bitch! I already said I didn't leak the video, are you ever going to stop? You instructed Hou Liangping to investigate the oil and gas group? If you want to fight me to the death, then I'll upload all your videos!"

If you don't want me to have a good time, then neither of us will have a good time!

Zhong Xiaoai was inexplicably sprayed in Zhao Ruilong's face, and she felt extremely aggrieved.

"Are you crazy, Zhao Ruilong? When did I instruct Hou Liangping to investigate the oil and gas group? Explain yourself!"

"Hmph! You dare to do it but not admit it?"

"I'll say it again, I did not instruct Hou Liangping to investigate the oil and gas group, not now, and not in the future!"

"You think you can just say no and that's it? Zhong Xiaoai, do you think I'd believe your nonsense?"

Believe it or not!

Zhong Xiaoai was so angry that she was about to hang up the phone, but Zhao Ruilong was so furious that he wouldn't let her.

"Whether you instructed Hou Liangping or not, now that you've come to Shanshui Manor, there are some things we need to discuss face-to-face!"

"I'm not coming!"

"You dare! If you don't come, I'll release all your videos. Cheating on one person is one thing, but cheating on several people is not as simple as being pointed at and gossiped about. You know that best!"

"You are so shameless!"

"Hahaha, thank you for the compliment! I'll be waiting for you to come over!"

In the end, Zhong Xiaoai was at a disadvantage and could only get up in frustration, put on her coat, and hurriedly leave.

8:20 PM.

Inside the Shanshui Manor, Zhong Xiaoai had just pushed open the door when she saw Zhao Ruilong lying on a chair wearing only a bathrobe.

"Secretary Zhong, I thought you weren't planning on coming."

"Zhao Ruilong, I'm only here to warn you that the impact of releasing those videos on me is nothing more than losing my job, but you and your father will definitely be targeted and condemned by everyone!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ruilong shook his head.

“Even without this video, our family is being relentlessly pressured by your Zhong family. You have no intention of leaving our family a way out. Do you think I still care about any of this?”

Zhong Xiaoai fell silent. Having too many lice meant they wouldn't itch anymore; the Zhao family was clearly in a state of imminent desperation.

"I've said what I needed to say. Whether you listen or not is up to you. I'm leaving."

"Want to go?"

Zhao Ruilong stood up and went to Zhong Xiaoai. Looking at the yoga pants under his coat, Zhao Ruilong inexplicably felt aroused again.

"Secretary Zhong, since we're already here, why don't we try it out a bit more?"

Zhong Xiaoai looked at Zhao Ruilong with icy eyes.

"You're dreaming!"

"Hahaha, that's not up to you!"

After saying that, Zhao Ruilong bent down and lifted Zhong Xiaoai up, ignoring her struggles.

The next morning, Zhong Xiaoai left the Shanshui Manor, her face glowing, but her expression was unusually stiff.

Back at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, Zhong Xiaoai became increasingly angry. She clearly hadn't instructed Hou Liangping to investigate the oil and gas group, yet Zhao Ruilong insisted that she was the one who did it.

How could Zhong Xiaoai tolerate such grievances?

A phone call was made to Ji Changming.

"Hey, Lao Ji!"

"Oh, it's Xiao Ai!"

"Old Ji, let me ask you, what happened yesterday afternoon when Hou Liangping led his staff to investigate the oil and gas group?"

"Oh, Comrade Hou Liangping said he received a report and the preliminary investigation found the allegations to be true, so he asked me to issue an investigation permit. Is there a problem, Xiao Ai?"

"The problem? The problem is that everyone is saying that I instructed Hou Liangping to investigate Handong Oil and Gas Group!"

Chapter 201 Burning the Camps, Chen Hai Goes Under the Inferno

"Others? Who are the others?"

The abrupt question left Zhong Xiaoai speechless for a moment.

What are you saying, Zhao Ruilong?

"Forget it, Lao Ji, I'm telling you, Hou Liangping and I are no longer husband and wife. From now on, I absolutely cannot let Hou Liangping do things in my name."

"I understand, I understand. Okay, that's settled then."

Ji Changming hung up the phone, his gaze somewhat uncertain.

"This Zhong Xiaoai... she really thinks she's a princess!"

To be honest, Ji Changming completely ignored it, since Hou Liangping didn't actually use Zhong Xiaoai's name.

On Wednesday, Hou Liangping once again led staff from the Anti-Corruption Bureau to the Oil and Gas Group for investigation.

This time, Liu Xinjian didn't take it seriously at all, thinking that Hou Liangping was just going through the motions, just like last time.

However, when the staff asked Handong Oil and Gas Group to provide its core information, such as its financial statements, Liu Xinjian realized that something was wrong.

This investigation lasted a full eight hours!

Hou Liangping and his staff conducted a thorough investigation of the entire Handong Oil and Gas Group.

During this time, Liangping's phone remained switched off, and Zhao Ruilong called several times but no one answered.

When the investigation concluded, Hou Liangping walked bitterly into Liu Xinjian's office.

"President Liu, did Young Master Zhao anger Zhong Xiaoai? This time, Zhong Xiaoai has made me collect all the data. I don't want to, but... if I don't do it, I'll be dismissed."

"You've warned Young Master Zhao to be prepared; Zhong Xiaoai will definitely not let this go."

Liu Xinjian was stunned by these words; he was no longer able to tell whether Hou Liangping's words were true or false.

After leaving the oil and gas group, Hou Liangping turned on his phone and a faint smile appeared on his face when he saw more than a dozen missed calls from Zhao Ruilong.