"Wen Min?"
Nan Sheng's expression stiffened as she fell into recollection.
On her first official day at work, Wen Min had been proactive and diligent, leaving a deep impression. After Nan Sheng removed Yu Gan and Chen Tian, Wen Min smoothly entered the Revolutionary Committee office.
If it really was her, it could only mean she had approached with ulterior motives from the start.
"What's the evidence?"
"Wen Min was on duty at the Revolutionary Committee office yesterday—she had the greatest opportunity to act. And though today was Liu Song's shift, Wen Min still arrived the earliest, perhaps to destroy evidence.
Director Nan, sometimes the most harmless-looking people strike the hardest. I just can’t figure out her motive yet!"
Nan Sheng exhaled slowly. "Better to kill the wrong than spare the guilty. Arrest both suspects simultaneously.
I’ll also send someone to Yu Gan’s home and question his neighbors and friends—see if he’s asked for rat poison these past few days."
Inside the meeting room
The group had been confined all morning, and the tension was palpable. The Revolutionary Committee members were especially nervous. "What do we do? If they don’t catch the culprit, will the blame fall on us?" Deng Jun whispered to Liu Song.
Chen Tian, meanwhile, sighed in relief. At least being expelled from the committee reduced his suspicion.
Poor Wen Min—she really was unlucky.
Just then, the meeting room door swung open. Nan Sheng and Secretary Cai entered together.
"The investigation ends here for today. Except for the Revolutionary Committee staff, everyone else may return to their posts. No unauthorized movement between departments. Await further notice for dismissal time!"
Nan Sheng’s gaze landed on Chen Tian as he stood. "Chen Tian, you stay too."
Chen Tian: My life is over!!!
All he could hope now was that Director Nan would let him off like a passing fart.
"Deng Jun, gather more men. Locate Yu Gan’s residence and bring him in for interrogation.
Chen Tian, you’re assigned to question Yu Gan’s relatives, friends, and neighbors—ask if anyone gave him rat poison. If you can’t find him, coordinate with the security department to issue a warrant!"
Deng Jun and Chen Tian immediately perked up. Being given tasks meant the director trusted them.
Nan Sheng observed Wen Min’s reactions closely. The unmistakable worry in her eyes confirmed Nan Sheng’s suspicions.
Well, they’d only known each other a few weeks. No reason to grieve. Hardening her heart, Nan Sheng ordered:
"Liu Song, take Wen Min to an interrogation room. Make her talk. If she refuses, you know what to do—no mercy."
Liu Song looked stunned, but Wen Min seemed to have expected this. Calmly, she said, "Director Nan, I’m not afraid of interrogation. But I’ve already reported the poisoning to the county. Director Ou is on his way. I demand to be questioned by him."
Nan Sheng smirked, interpreting this as a threat.
"Thanks for the reminder. But Wen Min, you’re still too naive. If I were you, I wouldn’t have revealed my hand so soon.
Liu Song, go to Wen Min’s house. Bring her parents, nieces, nephews—everyone. Let’s see if you can endure their suffering."
"No!" Wen Min grabbed Liu Song’s arm, panic flashing across her face. "You have no right! No evidence! This is abuse of power!"
Secretary Cai gave her a cold look. "You think Director Ou intimidates us? Don’t worry—we’ll have evidence before he arrives."
Coerced confessions weren’t uncommon these days. At least they still had the decency to seek the truth.
Once Wen Min’s family was brought in, could she withstand their accusations?
Even just frightening the children would break her.
Nan Sheng felt no pity. With Director Ou alerted, speed was crucial. A confession had to be extracted before the situation spiraled.
Wen Min collapsed to the floor, speechless.
I never meant to kill anyone. I really didn’t!
Yu Gan wasn’t at home. He was hiding in a nearby house. While Deng Jun failed to capture him, Chen Tian obtained testimonies from neighbors.
They confirmed Yu Gan had taken a near-full bottle of rat poison, claiming sleepless nights due to mice.
Having secretly met each other’s parents, Yu Gan knew Wen Min was in trouble when he saw her family being hauled to the government office.
He rushed to surrender, taking full blame.
"It was all me! I poisoned the pastries to get back at Director Nan. Execute me—just spare the innocent!"
Nan Sheng scoffed. "You think we’re fools?
If you poisoned them, explain how you entered the government compound, my office, and did it all unseen?"
Handing Yu Gan over with incomplete evidence was impossible. The county officials were coming—they needed answers fast.
Wen Min didn’t hold out long either. Berated by her family and hearing of Yu Gan’s confession, she broke down and confessed.
Brought back to the office by Liu Song, the full story emerged.
Yu Gan had been kind to Wen Min since she joined the government. Over time, they fell in love.
After meeting each other’s families, they planned to announce their engagement—until Director Nan arrived.
When Yu Gan suggested "teaching her a lesson," Wen Min objected. She arrived early the next day to smooth things over, only for Yu Gan to be expelled while she stayed.
Nan Sheng’s harsh demotion of Yu Gan to probationary clerk humiliated him. He tried calling off the engagement.
Wen Min refused. They schemed to ask Director Ou for a transfer, fearing Nan Sheng would block it.
To buy time, they decided to make her "fall ill."
Two bottles existed: one highly concentrated (for household use), the other diluted (causing only vomiting).
Wen Min left the poison on her table, but Wen Min's mother mistakenly took the strong one for rats.
"Director Nan, we never meant to kill anyone! If we had, I’d have stopped you from sharing the pastries.
I only realized the mix-up last night when people were hospitalized. It’s my fault—please spare Yu Gan!"
She wanted to confess, but Yu Gan insisted the consequences were too severe. With his alibi and their hidden relationship, they might escape.
Seeing the government’s resolve today, Wen Min knew they’d be caught. Informing Director Ou was her last hope—to take the blame and save Yu Gan.
Hearing everything, Nan Sheng just wanted to scream. Exhausted, she had nothing left to say.
Secretary Cai wiped the sweat from his forehead, relieved that Wen Min had only drugged three gifts according to Nan Sheng's preferences. Otherwise, who knew how much bigger the mess could have been.
Apart from Wen Min, Wen Min's mother, and Yu Gan, Secretary Cai ordered Deng Jun to release everyone else.
Wen Min pleaded desperately, "Director Nan, Secretary Cai, my mother knew nothing—she meant no harm. Let me take all the blame. Please, just let her go."
Nan Sheng raised his hand, signaling for her to be taken away. Since Director Ou had already been notified, the decision would be left to him.
