Shen Zhiwei ignored him and fixed her gaze on the manuscript in their hands.
The lighting in the security office was dim.
The old bulb overhead buzzed, stretching their shadows long against the mottled gray walls.
In her previous life, she had sorted through those materials once treated as evidence among her father’s belongings. Looking closely now, she indeed spotted a problem.
“Deputy Director Wang, you say the evidence is conclusive?” she pointed at the manuscript. “Then let me ask you compared to the previous pages, isn’t the edge of this sheet slightly newer?”
“And look at the ink color bluish-black with a hint of gray. My father always uses pure blue-black ink. If you look carefully, this was clearly added later by someone, deliberately imitating his handwriting.”
Gu Yanzhou continued along her line of reasoning, “And the imitation is quite clumsy.”
The few of them froze for a moment, their expressions subtly changing as they exchanged glances.
“What nonsense are you talking about!” Wang Qiang forced himself to stay composed, raising his voice to cover his unease. “Other than your father, who else understands these foreign languages and these incomprehensible formulas?
Who could forge this?”
Gu Yanzhou stepped forward, his military-green figure appearing especially imposing under the light.
“Wang Qiang, I now suspect that someone in your factory’s security department is involved in fabricating evidence and framing a comrade. The military discipline commission will formally intervene in this matter.”
Not only was Wang Qiang unafraid, he even sneered at Shen Zhiwei, his tone laced with threat. “At worst, the factory’s investigation would just send someone down for reeducation. But if the military discipline commission investigates, that’s a firing squad.”
Shen Zhiwei frowned slightly.
So this was his plan to intimidate her with harsher consequences and make her back down.
Her expression grew serious, but she wasn’t overly worried. She turned her head to the reliable man beside her. “I believe Representative Gu will prove my father’s innocence.”
A flicker passed through Gu Yanzhou’s eyes. He looked at her deeply and nodded.
“Representative Gu… Representative Gu.”
Two stern-faced personnel in military discipline uniforms walked in from outside and immediately presented their credentials. “Comrades Li Jianye and Wang Qiang, please come with us to assist in an investigation regarding your abuse of power and personal gain.”
Wang Qiang’s face instantly turned pale, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
They had never expected Gu Yanzhou to act so quickly and decisively completely bypassing the current case and targeting the real issue that could bring them down financial misconduct.
“Shen Zhiwei! Just you wait!” Li Jianye couldn’t get a word in and could only glare viciously at her.
Wang Qiang’s lips trembled. He knew that the military discipline commission acting with full procedure and making arrests meant the chain of evidence was already largely complete any defense now was futile.
He could only put on a brave front with a few last words.
“Representative Gu, you’re protecting Shen Zhiwei like this what exactly is your relationship? Aren’t you afraid of what people will say?”
Gu Yanzhou stopped, swept a cold glance over Wang Qiang and everyone present, and spoke in a frigid tone, “Comrade Shen Zhiwei is an exemplary individual who bravely fights against wrongdoing. Protecting such a comrade is my duty.”
“And even if I did have personal feelings for her, it’s none of your business.”
After saying that, his face remained tense, though the tips of his ears visibly reddened at a rapid pace. He still forced himself to keep a blank expression, only slightly turning his head to avoid Shen Zhiwei’s incredulous gaze.
The two security officers were utterly stunned, their mouths wide open as they stared at Representative Gu, then at Shen Zhiwei, whose face had flushed red.
Their eyes sparkled with curiosity they didn’t know whether to leave or stay, awkwardly standing between the two of them.
Inside the interrogation room, only the sound of each other’s breathing remained, clear and audible.
“Representative Gu, although Deputy Director Wang is under investigation, Engineer Shen is still the primary suspect at the moment. The authenticity of these manuscripts also requires time to verify.” The head of the security department walked in from outside.
He looked troubled as he glanced at the two of them. “According to procedure, we can’t release him immediately. At the earliest, it will take twenty-four hours.”
Procedure! Again, procedure.
Shen Zhiwei’s heart sank once more. She knew there must still be Li Man or someone else working behind the scenes.
Gu Yanzhou’s brows furrowed again as he was about to apply more pressure, but Shen Zhiwei tugged at his sleeve.
“Director, we understand the procedure, but my father is in poor health. We hope that during these twenty-four hours, his basic well-being can be ensured.”
“If, when I come to take him home tomorrow, my father has suffered any unnecessary harm, I believe not only I but also Representative Gu from the military discipline commission will demand a clear explanation.”
She knew that applying pressure too forcefully now would only backfire and might instead bring unnecessary trouble to her father.
“You heard her, Director.” Gu Yanzhou’s voice was icy. “Tomorrow, I don’t want to see Engineer Shen suffer any kind of incident.”
His tone was light, yet carried immense weight, prompting the person in charge to nod repeatedly.
For now, her father was relatively safe in the detention center.
The fact that he wouldn’t be immediately sent away meant that his tragic fate from the previous life had already begun to change.
Gu Yanzhou went downstairs to handle the transfer procedures, leaving only Shen Zhiwei and a few guards outside the holding rooms on the second floor.
The corridor was long, lined on both sides with heavy iron doors, and the air carried a faint smell of old cotton stuffing.
She borrowed a military canteen from the detention center and poured out half a cup of clear spring water, her gaze settling on a young guard standing by the door.
She recognized him back in her previous life, when her father had been taken away, he was the only one who had secretly given him a bowl of water.
“Comrade.” She stepped forward, her tone earnest. “If I can’t send in clothes, could you please help me give this water to my father? His stomach isn’t good drinking some warm water will help.”
“It’s just water. You can check it.”
The young officer looked into her eyes, then at the crystal-clear water, hesitating.
“Or…” she deliberately softened her tone, “at least let my father have a sip of water. The military discipline commission will come to take him tomorrow your superiors wouldn’t want anything to happen to him either, right?”
After a moment of hesitation, seeing the calm yet slightly red-eyed woman before him, he finally nodded.
Through the gap in the door, Shen Zhiwei saw her father take a few sips of water. His ashen complexion gradually regained some color, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and his spirit visibly improved.
Her heart eased a little. She silently mouthed to him, “Dad, hold on. I’ll come get you tomorrow.”
Shen Guodong looked at his daughter, tears glistening in his eyes, but he nodded firmly.
After temporarily stabilizing her father’s condition, the two of them left the security office with heavy hearts.
Just as they stepped out of the factory grounds, they faintly heard some off-duty workers whispering among themselves, occasionally glancing at them.
“Have you heard? That’s Engineer Shen’s daughter the one making a fuss about divorce.”
“And the one beside her is a big shot from the military discipline commission! No wonder…”
Shen Zhiwei stopped in her tracks, her icy gaze sweeping directly over the gossiping workers. There was no need for argument her calm, upright stare alone was enough to make those spreading rumors fall silent in guilt.
Gu Yanzhou’s expression turned cold as he pulled her closer to his side, his eyes warning the onlookers.
Suddenly, a black vintage sedan sped over, kicking up dust as it stopped in front of them.
A stern-looking middle-aged military officer stepped out, saluted Gu Yanzhou, and spoke urgently, “Representative Gu, emergency meeting. The chief orders you to return immediately for an important tactical simulation.”
“It concerns the latest developments at the border. The car is ready.”
Gu Yanzhou’s brows furrowed instantly it was clearly a critical mission.
He immediately looked at Shen Zhiwei, his gaze shifting quickly from apology to resolve. “I’ll be gone for a few days. Don’t worry everything is under control.
I’ve left someone with you. If anything comes up, give him orders directly.
Tomorrow, he’ll accompany you to pick up Engineer Shen on time.”
At the same time, a subordinate stepped out of the car and moved to Shen Zhiwei’s side, awaiting instructions.
She nodded. “Alright. Go without worry I can handle things here.”
The car sped off into the distance.
Shen Zhiwei took a deep breath. A flicker of vulnerability passed through her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resolve. She turned to the young officer Gu Yanzhou had left behind.
“Comrade, please take me home first.”
“Also, I need you to help me investigate those people spreading rumors their workshop assignments and backgrounds, especially whether they have any connection to Li Man.”