He Qiang showed no reaction to Gu Yang's contemptuous words.
Instead, he gave a firm nod before saying, "The higher-ups have given me full authority, and the same goes for the Ministry of State Security!"
Gu Yang glanced at He Qiang. "The Ministry of State Security? Still not qualified! But... whatever. Making too big a fuss sets a bad precedent, and I just want to live a peaceful life."
A flash of shock crossed He Qiang's eyes.
Right at that moment, a police officer walked in and whispered something in He Qiang's ear. He Qiang glanced at Gu Yang. "Wait a moment!"
Gu Yang nodded. "Leave the cigarettes."
Without hesitation, He Qiang placed a pack of Furongwang on the interrogation table.
As soon as He Qiang left, two heavily armed soldiers walked in.
In the office, He Qiang looked at the beautiful young woman who had just walked in. "Are you Gu Yang's mother?"
Wang Qian hurriedly shook her head, trembling all over. Just taking in the scene was enough to tell her this was no simple matter. But if she didn't come and ask, her conscience wouldn't let it rest. If it really had to do with what happened that day, she would certainly not stand by and do nothing.
"Hello, Officer. I'm his classmate's mother. I'd like to ask what's going on here today."
He Qiang smiled calmly. "Ah, a classmate's mother. So concerned about Gu Yang? Are you in frequent contact with him?"
Wang Qian was no fool; she knew he was trying to fish for information. She quickly and honestly replied, "We've only known each other a few days, so I don't know much. It's just that day..."
Hearing Wang Qian out, He Qiang understood.
"The boy hasn't had a mother since he was little, and he has that strange illness. I just feel so sorry for him. If this is because of what happened that day, I'll take full responsibility. Whatever compensation is needed, I'll pay it!"
He Qiang shook his head. "Do you know Gu Weiguo?"
Recognizing the same surname as Gu Yang, Wang Qian asked doubtfully, "Gu Yang's father?"
"Yes. He's a battalion commander in the Southern Military Region here in Jianghuai City. That matter is already in the past, and we investigated it thoroughly. There was no favoritism, no protection—the fault lay entirely with that family. As for the compensation, the military is handling all of it. You don't need to worry about it!"
Wang Qian was stunned, staring at He Qiang in shock. "If he's a battalion commander, then why are you treating his son like this?"
He Qiang gave a flat shake of his head. "I can only say this much. The specific details are not for you to know."
Wang Qian bit her lower lip. "Can I... see him?"
"Of course. Right now he's just a suspect, not a convicted criminal, and we haven't even started the interrogation."
Giving He Qiang a strange look, Wang Qian followed him out of the office. With such a massive display, such an extravagant setup, and so many heavily armed soldiers—you're telling me he's just a suspect? Whose suspect gets cornered by tank barrels during an arrest?
In the interrogation room, Gu Yang looked in surprise as Wang Qian walked in. The moment Wang Qian saw Gu Yang, her eyes turned red. It was because Gu Yang's hands were currently in handcuffs, his ankles were shackled, and he wasn't even allowed to wear shoes.
"Xiaoyang, are you... all right?"
Gu Yang shook his head. "Auntie, why are you here?"
"Xiaoxi said she saw you being taken away by them, and she was worried it had to do with what happened that day. So I hurried over to check!"
With a knowing look, Gu Yang thought for a moment before saying to He Qiang, "Let Auntie stay here. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you both!"
He Qiang frowned. "This is classified!"
Just as Wang Qian was about to speak, Gu Yang let out a cold laugh. "Classified my ass. If it were truly classified, let alone you, even the Ministry of State Security wouldn't have gotten their hands on it!"
He Qiang looked at Gu Yang blankly. "You mean there's something even more classified?"
Gu Yang shook his head and said nothing more.
Wang Qian stood there, completely at a loss. She wanted to leave, but Gu Yang had told her to stay. She was also intensely curious about whatever secrets surrounded Gu Yang. But if she stayed—could she really be listening to matters involving state secrets?
Seeing that Gu Yang wasn't talking, He Qiang pondered for a moment. "I need to make a phone call."
Gu Yang motioned for Wang Qian to sit down beside him.
"Xiaoyang, are you really okay? Am I allowed to listen to this?"
Gu Yang nodded. "It's fine. They grabbed the wrong person. Listen in so you don't misunderstand."
Wang Qian looked at Gu Yang fearfully. "Are you really okay?"
Gu Yang gave another firm nod and remained silent. Instead, he reached out for a cigarette, signaling Wang Qian to help him light it. Wang Qian's fair, delicate hands picked up the lighter and lit the cigarette for him.
Gu Yang squinted as he smoked, silently praying they wouldn't drag *that* matter out into the open. Once that was exposed...
Before long, He Qiang walked back in holding a file.
The interrogation resumed.
Right at that moment!
*Bang!*
The door of the interrogation room was kicked violently open from the outside. He Qiang, Wang Qian, and the two heavily armed guards standing nearby jumped in fright.
"What the fuck! You have a death wish, arresting my son? Get Chen Xiong over here, damn it! You knew he was my son, and you still dared to arrest him? Fuck!"
In strode a 2.1-meter-tall bald man, decked out in camouflage, wearing oversized sunglasses, and with a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. Fully armed, he carried a brand-new AK.
This grand entrance scared Wang Qian so badly her limbs turned to jelly, and she cowered behind Gu Yang. He Qiang stared at the giant of a man in utter speechlessness.
"Are you Commander Gu?"
"Commander your grandma! I am the head instructor of the Four Saints Special Forces, you fucking idiots! Have you lost your minds? Huh?"
Gu Weiguo snatched the file right out of He Qiang's hands, looking ready to rip it to shreds!
"Stop!" Gu Yang said coldly.
Gu Weiguo froze instantly.
"If you want to die, go die outside. All I want right now is a peaceful life. Can you understand that?"
Gu Weiguo opened his mouth, looking as if he wanted to say something to Gu Yang, but finally let out a deep sigh. "Then... I'm leaving!?"
"Get lost!"
"All right then, son, take care of yourself from now on. Your old man never knows when he won't be able to come back! The ones who arrested you this time were troops transferred from the north—even I didn't get advance notice. But don't worry, I've already had a word with them. Well, I'm off."
Gu Yang didn't speak, just watching Gu Weiguo leave. Shortly after, a few of Gu Weiguo's subordinates poked their heads in, waved at Gu Yang, and left as well.
He Qiang was left completely dumbfounded. Wang Qian was equally dumbstruck.
Gu Weiguo... head instructor of the Four Saints Special Forces... Was this... was this really the kind of thing she was supposed to know? And the person arrested right in front of her was Gu Weiguo's son! Needless to say, that criminal record had been completely fabricated by the state—it hadn't been hacked by someone sneaking around at all. He had actually suspected someone of using black-hat hacking skills earlier, but looking at it now...
He Qiang silently closed the door, and the two heavily armed soldiers were called away as well.
Wang Qian stood there trembling, not knowing what to do with herself.
Gu Yang spat his cigarette butt onto the floor and said with an indifferent expression, "Take these handcuffs off me."
"Ah, right!" He Qiang hurried over to unlock Gu Yang's handcuffs and leg shackles.
"Go ahead and ask, Auntie, take a seat!"