Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 161 The Beauty Trap

Wu Zhiyuan asked calmly, "Why would you have such suspicions?"

Hu Ruoxi shook her head: "I can't explain it, it's just a feeling."

Perhaps it's just my wild thoughts arising from extreme pain.

But he left so decisively and thoroughly, as if he had completed some mission and had to leave immediately.

"A mission?" Wu Zhiyuan was startled.

Previously, after hearing Su Manli talk about Hu Ruoxi and Yang Baochai's love story, he began to have doubts. Did Yang Baochai really love Hu Ruoxi? Or did he have other motives?

Now it seems that even Hu Ruoxi herself has this doubt.

Hu Ruoxi tried hard to recall: "Looking back now, there are many doubts."

For example, he bumped into me on his bicycle and happened to ask for my contact information;

I feel that although he says he loves me, he doesn't really love me. At first, he may have been infatuated with my body, but later, he was even unwilling to touch me.

He works at a consulting firm in the United States and is strongly urging me to return to China;

Before my father passed away, he repeatedly inquired about the progress of some new purification processes at the company and even asked me to provide information, saying it was for market research purposes by the company he worked for, but I refused.

Wu Zhiyuan was startled, but remained outwardly calm: "He wants to know secret information from you?"

"Yes, at that time, the company was working on a new rare earth separation and purification technology, which was a core secret."

He asked several times, saying that their consulting firm was commissioned by a client to conduct a market prospect analysis in a related field and needed some technical parameters and process flow for reference.

He said this could help him improve his status in the company, and even get a promotion.

But principles are principles. Even if I'm confused, I know that the company's core technical information must never be leaked.

I explicitly rejected him, and we had a falling out over it.

He didn't insist anymore, but you could sense his disappointment.

Wu Zhiyuan thought to himself, if Yang Baocai really was a spy, then his pursuit of Hu Ruoxi might have been a carefully planned honey trap from the very beginning, with the aim of getting close to and infiltrating Dadi Company.

Of course, according to Su Manli, Yang Baocai could not be considered a handsome man.

Yang Baochai's disappearance may not be as simple as emotional deception. It could be an evacuation after completing a mission, or it could be related to the death of Hu Ruoxi's father, Hu Chunjin, and he is returning to China to avoid trouble.

However, without evidence and without a complete understanding of Hu Ruoxi, Wu Zhiyuan had to be careful with his words and not say what he shouldn't say.

Wu Zhiyuan said softly, "Ruoxi, I can understand the pain of losing a loved one and being betrayed."

If you'd like, could you tell me about the accident your father suffered?

Sometimes, outsiders can notice details that are often overlooked.

Hu Ruoxi was lost in her memories: "That evening, after Dad got off work, he drove home."

Upon discovering a fault message on the instrument panel, I drove the car to the company's designated repair shop – Lao Chen Auto Repair.

After checking, Lao Chen said that a sensor in the engine was faulty, causing the system to limit the speed, but it did not affect driving. He said the part could be replaced the next day.

Dad didn't think much of it and continued driving back.

That section of road is an expressway; there aren't many cars at night, but there are quite a few large trucks.

Hu Ruoxi's voice choked with emotion: "The police accident report said that my father's car suddenly went out of control while driving and rear-ended a heavily overloaded truck in front of him."

The entire front of the car was buried under the truck; the scene was horrific. The forensic examination determined that the father died at the scene.

The accident liability was determined to be primarily my father's fault for failing to maintain a safe following distance.

Wu Zhiyuan held Hu Ruoxi's hand, as if to give her strength.

Hu Ruoxi leaned closer to Wu Zhiyuan, as if seeking support.

Wu Zhiyuan took the opportunity to put his arm around Hu Ruoxi's left shoulder.

His approach to Hu Ruoxi wasn't entirely based on his good looks; he was genuinely a little attracted to this beautiful woman.

Hu Ruoxi continued, "The vehicle was severely damaged at the time. Later, the insurance company towed it away, and it was quickly scrapped."

At the time, I was overwhelmed with grief. Although I felt my father was always a careful driver and shouldn't have made such a mistake, I didn't investigate further.

Wu Zhiyuan asked softly, "Could a malfunctioning sensor cause the vehicle to suddenly lose control?"

Hu Ruoxi shook her head: "I don't know much about cars. But then I thought, it must be a problem with the brakes."

On expressways, where speeds are high, a brake malfunction can easily lead to a rear-end collision.

Brakes!

A thought flashed through Wu Zhiyuan's mind, but he didn't say it aloud. Instead, he comforted her, "Ruoxi, it's all in the past. Don't torture yourself anymore. Maybe it really was just an unfortunate accident."

However, his heart was in turmoil.

What a coincidence!

The car had just been taken to a repair shop for a minor malfunction before the accident, and the fatal accident occurred after the repair shop owner performed a simple fix.

If this was not an accident, then the method of the crime was likely not a complex remote control, but the simplest and most direct way—damaging the braking system.

For example, cutting or wearing down the brake lines can cause brake fluid to leak slowly, eventually leading to complete brake failure after a period of driving.

This method is covert, and the accident scene looks like a normal rear-end collision. In addition, the vehicles are severely damaged, so traffic police usually won't notice it unless they conduct a special inspection.

By this time, the movie had ended, and the end credits were slowly scrolling.

The home theater was unusually quiet, with only the soft breathing of the two people.

Hu Ruoxi's eyes gleamed as she softly asked, "Zhiyuan, can you still come swim and watch a movie with me tomorrow night?"

Wu Zhiyuan's heart softened as he looked at Hu Ruoxi, who was leaning against him, her beautiful face filled with expectation.

He approached her with a reconnaissance mission in mind; the closer he got, the deeper his understanding of her would undoubtedly be.

However, if you invest real emotions or even develop an intimate relationship, the future situation may become somewhat complicated.

He couldn't refuse, whether from a work perspective or from a personal emotional perspective.

So he gently patted Hu Ruoxi's shoulder and said softly, "Ruoxi, as long as you don't mind me bothering you, I'll come over tomorrow night."

Hu Ruoxi gently rested her head on Wu Zhiyuan's shoulder: "How could it be a bother? With you here, I don't feel so lonely."

The fragrance of Hu Ruoxi's hair blended with the faint scent of perfume, and Wu Zhiyuan's heart fluttered, but reason told him that he had to restrain himself.

He kept his arm around you, without going any further, and simply replied softly, "I'm happy to be with you."

Hu Ruoxi said softly, "Zhiyuan, do you know? It's been a long time since I've been able to relax like this with a man."

The last time was with Yang Baochai. Besides him, I haven't had any intimate relationships with other men.

Hu Ruoxi did something that Wu Zhiyuan didn't expect.

Her fingertips gently touched Wu Zhiyuan's jawline, the movement delicate.

Wu Zhiyuan's breathing became more labored.

He hasn't been in the national security field for long, and he needs to hone his skills professionally, and he hasn't yet developed an indestructible emotional state.

He finds it difficult to become just a tool.

Are you nervous?

Hu Ruoxi's long-term overseas life has made her more direct in her expression, but this directness is not unrestrained, but rather a more honest way of communicating.

She is not conservative, but she is by no means frivolous either.

Wu Zhiyuan grabbed Hu Ruoxi's hand.

"It's not nervousness, it's overwhelming flattery. Ruoxi, you're so wonderful, it makes me a little overwhelmed."

That's half true and half false.

Hu Ruoxi's beauty and temperament did attract him, but his bewilderment stemmed more from the intense internal struggle between his sense of duty and his emotions.

"Zhiyuan, don't overthink it. Just treat it as two people who like each other, and let things happen naturally."