OSTF - 65

He Xingwang’s delivery of the phrase “not very subtly” sounded almost like he was reciting a textbook—his speech slow and deliberate. But what he said was true.

Wherever Chi Suisui went, she naturally became the center of attention.

As for her going undercover, He Xingwang had listened to her mention that it was a food factory. Someone who had grown up in luxury, living a life of extravagance every day, would stand out like a sore thumb in such an ordinary place. Any discerning eye could see that she wouldn’t blend in.

Of course, this also tied into her identity as a journalist, which he didn’t mention.

Chi Suisui carefully considered his opinion. “You have a point. If I go, I might tip them off.”

Moreover, she wasn’t exactly an unknown public figure.

Viewed this way, she really wasn’t suited for the task.

“Mm,” He Xingwang nodded.

As for Chi Suisui rubbing against his leg, he could still ignore it for now.

“What I’m worried about isn’t that,” Chi Suisui said as she sat cross-legged on the bed. “I’m worried that there’s someone behind this food factory.”

Otherwise, how could they have concealed it for so long?

He Xingwang crouched slightly, lowering his posture just below hers, tilting his chin to meet her gaze. “That’s precisely why you journalists are needed.”

Chi Suisui smiled faintly. “You’re right.”

Being a journalist was a profession she had chosen, and while she was in it, she would fulfill her responsibilities fully. Now, as the editor-in-chief of the news agency, she would do her best to uphold its duties.

She wasn’t suited for undercover work, but others were.

Chi Suisui found He Xingwang particularly agreeable today, and his words resonated with her. As a result, the lights in Bai’an Mansion stayed on for most of the night.

At eight o’clock in the morning, He Xingwang woke up.

When he moved slightly, Chi Suisui, nestled in his arms, let out a soft hum of protest. Her soft body pressed against him, making the early morning all the more unbearable.

After ten minutes, he finally got up and went to the bathroom.

March was approaching, and their shooting sports center was becoming increasingly busy. Training intensified as the Olympics loomed in July.

This would likely be He Xingwang’s last appearance as a professional shooter, so naturally, he took it very seriously.

The sound of water running in the bathroom was faint, and Chi Suisui didn’t hear it.

When she opened her eyes, she realized she was alone in the bed. As her consciousness returned, she happened to see He Xingwang emerging from the bathroom.

His hands were still damp, and he had only thrown on a robe.

Chi Suisui leaned back, staring at him without blinking, watching him change clothes in the walk-in closet. His seductive demeanor shifted to one of cool detachment.

“Still not getting up?” He Xingwang glanced over.

“Can’t,” Chi Suisui replied weakly. Her body still felt limp.

Last night, she had thought to reward He Xingwang, but things spiraled out of control, shattering her previous perceptions.

All notions of him being emotionally cold were false.

By the end, Chi Suisui lost count of how many times they had made love. She only remembered that, in the end, she couldn’t hold back and begged him to stop.

It felt as if they had exhausted a lifetime of passion.

Chi Suisui half-jokingly feared she might die in bed, and the next day, Nancheng’s socialite circles would know of her demise, turning it into a laughing matter.

He Xingwang raised an eyebrow and said, “I’m leaving now.”

Chi Suisui responded indifferently, “Then go.”

There was no trace of reluctance in her tone.

“Will you come back tonight?” Chi Suisui suddenly asked as he reached the doorway, her words carrying a hint of wanting him not to return.

He Xingwang had initially intended to say no, but seeing her expression, he changed his response at the last moment: “We’ll see.”

Chi Suisui sulkily replied, “Oh.”

Her response was dismissive, to say the least.

Before leaving, He Xingwang glanced back. The person on the bed had already lain back down, covered by the blanket, clearly intending to sleep again.

He closed the door and sent a text to the housekeeper.

The driver waiting outside had even video-called his child during the wait. Seeing He Xingwang emerge, he instinctively checked the time.

It was already 8:30.

After Chi Suisui made the assignment public within the news agency, many in the office volunteered to go undercover.

First, this issue with the food factory was news that hadn’t yet been reported domestically. Second, it was an opportunity to gain favor in front of the new boss.

“Let me go. Men are safer, and I’ve trained in Sanda for a year,” one male reporter, Yu Yang, suggested.

Chi Suisui ultimately chose him.

Everyone initially thought this undercover mission would take only a few days, but the reporter ended up staying there for nearly half a month.

The food factory was highly vigilant, and the middle school was also covering it up.

For the school leaders, the fact that some students had been hospitalized was a major dereliction of duty, and the parents’ complaints had been suppressed.

Half a month later, Chi Suisui and Su Mian visited the food factory.

“I’ve been entering under the guise of being a relative of a student’s parent these past few days,” Yu Yang explained the situation. “This middle school sources its meat from this food factory. They signed the contract over three months ago, and supplies began this new semester. The problem was discovered last month.”

It was evident that the issue lay with the food factory.

Yu Yang had also taken footage at the hospital, but the food factory side was strict, and after so many days, there hadn’t been much progress.

Technically speaking, the school had planned to switch to this food factory at the end of last semester, but it was inconvenient to change suppliers mid-contract.

So they waited until the new semester. Not long after school started, the problem arose.

“I probed the school leadership—they’re cautious too. I was afraid they might be colluding with the food factory, so I didn’t dare ask directly.”

After finishing, Yu Yang took a sip of water.

Chi Suisui’s expression turned grave. “Safety comes first.”

During this period, mentions of students being hospitalized appeared in the comments of other trending topics, but they never made it to the top of the热搜 (hot search).

“Is that food factory still shipping goods recently?” Su Mian asked. “We can pretend to be buyers and check the goods—it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“They don’t plan to accept shipments recently,” Yu Yang, who had already considered this approach, replied. “But we can try again.”

Su Mian decided to pose as his secretary.

The two were confident, playing their roles well.

Chi Suisui wasn’t entirely in favor of this plan, but there weren’t many alternatives. The operation was carried out the next day.

Meanwhile, Chi Suisui went to the hospital to visit several middle school students who had been poisoned. They had just escaped danger and were still undergoing treatment. The parents looked haggard.

“I spoke to the school leadership—they said it had nothing to do with them.”

“This is clearly a problem caused by the cafeteria food, and other parents are at the hospital too. Our child is the most severely affected.”

“Miss journalist, you must expose this unscrupulous factory. They’re colluding with the school leadership, and we parents are completely suppressed!”

Chi Suisui quickly reassured her. “Don’t worry—we will.”

The parent finally calmed down.

As soon as Chi Suisui left the hospital, she received a text message from Su Mian—a string of meaningless numbers.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

Su Mian had never sent her texts before. Chi Suisui’s first thought was that something had happened to her and Yu Yang. Sure enough, when she tried calling back, the phone was already turned off.

She immediately knew what must have happened.

Chi Suisui directly contacted a local security company, requesting over ten men, and headed straight to the food factory.

On the way, she also called the police.

If anyone thought they could stop her, they clearly didn’t know who they were dealing with.

The food factory was located in a more remote suburban area. Ten minutes later, Chi Suisui arrived. The factory gates were closed, with two or three employees patrolling outside.

“Break the gate down.”

Chi Suisui smirked coldly.

The security personnel hesitated. “Isn’t this considered property damage?”

Chi Suisui shot them a glance, her tone icy. “Am I unable to pay you, or am I incapable of covering the cost of one measly gate?”

“...”

Was this some wealthy young miss stepping out?

Since she was paying, they naturally agreed to do the job.

A dozen burly bodyguards faced off against the two or three patrolling employees. The outcome was obvious—within moments, the gate was smashed open.

Inside the factory, the lights were blazing.

Chi Suisui was surrounded by men in black suits as they moved deeper inside. A strong smell of meat mingled with other indescribable odors filled the air, making it difficult to bear.

Chi Suisui wrinkled her nose, then spotted several people tying up Yu Yang and Su Mian, interrogating them: “Who exactly are you? Are you reporters—”

Suddenly, the sound of numerous footsteps echoed.

The middle-aged man leading the group looked panicked at the sight of so many intruders. He demanded, “Who are you? How did you get in here?”

Chi Suisui first glanced at Su Mian and Yu Yang, confirming they weren’t injured, before letting out a sigh of relief.

When she turned to face the factory workers, her expression turned frosty. “You tied up my people and now you’re asking how I got in?”

At this moment, she cared nothing for journalistic ethics—human safety came first.

If any of Nancheng’s socialites were present, they would recognize this side of Chi Suisui: her haughty, aloof demeanor when angry.

Chi Suisui stepped forward, standing at the forefront.

Though she appeared delicate, her spine was straight, and the rhythmic sound of her steps reverberated, sending chills down the spines of the factory workers.

This was her innate presence.

“You’re in our food factory now,” the middle-aged man growled, his eyes fierce. “Don’t blame us if we don’t treat you kindly!”

Chi Suisui smirked. “Oh really?”

Go ahead and show her this “unkindness.”

A circle of people surrounded her, brandishing tools.

Chi Suisui had no patience for their nonsense. She immediately ordered her men to rescue Su Mian and Yu Yang. The factory workers were ordinary people—how could they possibly stand up to the professional security team?

Just then, sirens blared outside.

The police, who had been dispatched after receiving the call, arrived. They had anticipated a tough fight but instead found a group of tall, imposing men in black suits waiting for them.

A pile of sticks and tools lay scattered on the ground.

As for the factory employees in their uniforms, some lay on the ground while others cowered behind, groaning in despair.

“...”

For a moment, the scene fell silent.

Everyone was taken to the police station for questioning.

By the time the statements were completed, Su Mian and Yu Yang were still dazed.

Su Mian managed to snap out of it relatively quickly. After all, she was aware of Chi Suisui’s special background—someone whose family status matched He Xingwang’s—and understood her fiercely protective nature.

Yu Yang, however, was different.

He was just an ordinary small-time reporter.

Seeing him standing there lost in thought, Chi Suisui casually remarked, “What are you still standing there for? Reminiscing about being tied up?”

“...”

Yu Yang’s face flushed red. “No.”

He knew it was normal for leadership changes to happen in a company—new editors-in-chief, new bosses.

But for the boss herself to personally come to their rescue? That was something else entirely.

From the moment they were captured to when Chi Suisui found them, only about ten minutes had passed. To them, it felt like the blink of an eye.

Had he won the lottery and hit the jackpot with such a great boss?!

The police station was packed this time. The food factory workers were all brought in, faces sullen as they awaited questioning.

A young officer nearby whispered, “This is the easiest dispatch I’ve ever been on.”

Initially, based on Chi Suisui’s clear and urgent report, they had expected a tough situation. Many officers were dispatched.

But when they arrived, everything was already under control. Their job was simply to bring the suspects back—they didn’t even get a chance to draw their guns.

The middle-aged man glared furiously at Chi Suisui, shouting, “They broke in! They smashed the gate!”

All eyes turned toward her.

Chi Suisui tilted her head slightly. “I’ll compensate you for one.”

Seeing his furious glare, she added nonchalantly, “Your gate wasn’t very sturdy anyway. I’ll get you a better one.”

She was incredibly generous.

The middle-aged man was fuming. He didn’t want her gate!

The female officer taking the statement struggled to suppress her laughter.

After thoroughly frustrating the man, Chi Suisui mentioned the incident of the food factory poisoning middle school students. With evidence in hand, she requested the police to investigate further.

Once outside, Su Mian exclaimed excitedly, “Sister Suisui, you’re amazing!”

Chi Suisui remained expressionless. “Try being bolder next time.”

“...I was careful,” Su Mian’s voice softened. “I don’t know how they figured it out. Maybe I slipped up during questioning.”

After all, she hadn’t actually worked as a secretary before.

“It’s fine,” Chi Suisui consoled her fragile heart.

At that moment, her phone rang.

It was He Xingwang’s name on the screen.

Su Mian inadvertently caught a glimpse and muttered, “Why is He Shen calling now? Isn’t he supposed to be training?”

Yu Yang, standing nearby: ???

Did he just hear something he wasn’t supposed to?

Was there anyone else who used the title “He Shen”? Probably not...

But no one paid attention to his thoughts. Su Mian covered her ears, pretending to be deaf, while Chi Suisui answered the call. “Hello?”

“Where are you?”

He Xingwang’s voice was low, likely because he was near the training center—Chi Suisui could hear the loud gunshots in the background.

Chi Suisui hesitated briefly over whether to tell him the truth, but ultimately replied vaguely, “It’s the weekend—I’m at home.”

A little white lie for the sake of harmony in their relationship.

Besides, it spared him worry while he was training. She even added a playful “ne” at the end, feeling both coy and cute.

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. Finally, He Xingwang frowned and asked in a suppressed tone, “At home with over ten bodyguards?”

The lie was instantly exposed.

Moreover, his question made Chi Suisui feel that there might be… just a hint of ambiguity in his tone.