Wu Yongcheng and Zhou Yi drove back to the City Bureau and applied for summonses for Zhang Xinli, Wang Youfu, and Zhu Xuejun.
The summons for Zhu Xuejun was expedited because when they called the hospital’s security department for information, they learned that Zhu Xuejun was scheduled to leave the next day for a three-day academic conference out of province.
At the same time, Wu Yongcheng found a moment to call Zhou Yi’s Nanhu Street Police Station. He explained that Zhou Yi was connected to a major case and that the City Bureau needed to temporarily requisition him.
He didn’t specify the reason, which scared the station chief on the other end into a cold sweat, fearing that Zhou Yi had committed a crime.
After all, if an active-duty officer committed a crime, it would be a huge stain on the station chief’s career prospects.
Soon, the summons paperwork for Zhu Xuejun was approved.
Wu Yongcheng instructed Chen Yan to run another check on Du Xiaolin’s bank accounts, focusing specifically on any large incoming or outgoing transactions. Afterward, he was to visit Du Xiaolin’s parents at their home to find out if she had any habits of making large purchases.
Afterward, Wu Yongcheng and Zhou Yi took the summons and headed straight for the hospital.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the two marched straight into the administration building.
As the hospital’s star doctor, a large portrait and biography of Zhu Xuejun hung in the most conspicuous spot in the administration building.
"A real class act," Zhou Yi remarked, glancing at the photo of the man with gold-rimmed glasses and a beaming, harmless smile.
"Excuse me, which office is Zhu Xuejun’s?" Zhou Yi asked, stopping a young male doctor in a white coat in the hallway.
The man looked at them suspiciously. "Are you a patient’s family? This is an administrative area. Patients’ families aren’t allowed in here."
Wu Yongcheng pulled out his badge. "City Bureau, Criminal Investigation Division. We’re on a case."
Seeing his serious expression, the young doctor quickly and obediently pointed the way.
Arriving at the door with the "Director’s Office" nameplate, Zhou Yi raised his hand and banged on it several times.
The loud banging startled the person inside.
"Who is it!" The door was flung open, and the same man from the photo glared furiously at the two strangers before him.
’In this hospital, even the president has to be pleasant to me. Who the hell dares to bang on my door?’
"Who... who are you people?" Zhu Xuejun asked warily.
"Are you Zhu Xuejun?"
"I am. Who are you? A patient’s family? Or pharmaceutical reps? Let me tell you, this is the hospital’s administrative area. Outsiders are not allowed. I’m calling security!"
Zhu Xuejun’s loud shouting attracted the attention of several people in the hallway.
Wu Yongcheng pulled out his badge and the summons, snorting coldly. "We’re from the City Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division. We’d like you to come with us to clarify a few things."
The moment the words "City Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division" were spoken, the arrogant air about Zhu Xuejun instantly deflated by half.
"Oh, so you’re police officers! Please, please, come on in."
As Zhu Xuejun spoke, he opened the door wider and took a few steps back, striking a welcoming pose.
But Wu Yongcheng and Zhou Yi, standing in the doorway, didn’t move an inch.
Zhou Yi smiled. "Director Zhu, it would be better to talk at our station. Certain questions aren’t suitable for this venue. The hospital has too many eyes and ears, and it wouldn’t look good if the wrong person overheard."
This was part of the unspoken understanding between Wu Yongcheng and Zhou Yi: one played bad cop, the other good cop.
Zhou Yi’s words clearly had an effect; the man’s expression changed at once.
But by now, a small crowd had gathered nearby, and people had started whispering amongst themselves.
Zhu Xuejun, who was used to throwing his weight around thanks to his academic achievements, suddenly felt that he was losing face.
Humiliated and enraged, he immediately pointed at the two officers and shouted, "What right do you have to make me go with you? I have two surgeries to perform today, and I have a conference to attend tomorrow! Can you take responsibility for delaying my work?"
Zhou Yi smiled. "If you cooperate, Director Zhu, it won’t take long at all."
Zhu Xuejun looked at the two men before him—one a smiling tiger, the other a living demon king. His face paled and flushed in turns.
Suddenly, he yelled in exasperation, "I’m going to call your Director Xie! I’m going to file a complaint against you!"
To his surprise, Wu Yongcheng just lifted his chin and said indifferently, "Go ahead."
Now it was Zhu Xuejun’s turn to be stunned. For a moment, he was caught in a dilemma.
Wu Yongcheng glanced at the phone on the desk, walked straight over to it, and said, "If you’re not going to call, I will. You don’t mind if I borrow your phone, do you, Chief Director Zhu?"
"This..."
Wu Yongcheng picked up the phone and dialed a number. A few seconds later, the call connected.
"Hello, Director Xie? It’s Old Wu. Wu Yongcheng."
"There’s a director at City Third Hospital named Zhu Xuejun. Do you know him?"
"His surname is Zhu. Zhu Xuejun. He seems to know you."
"Ah, ah, yes, yes."
"We’re summoning him to assist with an investigation, but he’s not cooperating. He even said he was going to complain to you about us."
"Yes, the paperwork is all in order. It’s all by the book."
"Alright. ’Act according to the law and give no one special treatment.’"
"Roger that. With you saying that, I know exactly what to do."
"I won’t keep you. Thank you, Director Xie."
SLAM—
Wu Yongcheng slammed the phone down and shot a domineering look back at Zhu Xuejun.
"Chief Director Zhu, who else would you like to complain to? I can call them for you."
Zhou Yi immediately seized the opportunity to whisper, "Director Zhu, this really wasn’t a big deal to begin with, but if you keep making a scene, it’s going to be hard to resolve this quietly, don’t you think?"
Zhu Xuejun’s lips trembled. He asked, almost pleadingly, "Then... can I go without handcuffs?"
Hearing this, Zhou Yi almost burst out laughing.
’So it turns out this great director is legally illiterate. All that fuss was because he was afraid of being cuffed and losing face.’
"Ah, Director Zhu, you’ve misunderstood. We’re just asking you to come in to assist with an investigation. This is a summons, not an arrest. Handcuffs are only for arrests."
"I see, I see." Zhu Xuejun nodded repeatedly. "In that case... I’ll go with you."
"This way, please." Zhou Yi gestured for him to go first.
Wu Yongcheng and Zhou Yi walked ahead, with Zhu Xuejun following at a distance behind them, constantly explaining himself to his colleagues who were casting strange looks his way.
"I’m just going to help the police with a case! Just helping out, just helping out."
Zhou Yi suddenly said in a low voice, "Captain Wu, that was some impressive acting."
Wu Yongcheng asked in surprise, "You saw through it?"
"Not really, but I saw you dial the number for the weather forecast. By the way, how did you know he was just bluffing?"
"Our Director... you’ll find out later. He’s someone who cherishes his reputation. The thing he hates most in life is people who drop his name to get special treatment."
Zhou Yi gave him a thumbs-up. "I still have a lot to learn from you, Captain Wu. Otherwise, I’ll never be able to keep up."
"Flatterer!" Wu Yongcheng cursed with a laugh.
"There’s one more thing we should probably pay attention to."
Wu Yongcheng asked, "What is it?"
"Zhu Xuejun’s reaction just now was a bit over the top. At first, I thought he was just trying to save face. But then he acted like he was completely ignorant of the law."
"But with his social status, it’s impossible for him to be that ignorant."
"I have a strong suspicion that besides his relationship troubles, he’s got other skeletons in his closet."