Chapter 341: Are You Messing With Me?

Chapter 341: Are You Messing With Me?

Xiao Yu believed that anyone who loved their work was a fool.

Really, a fool?

It was indeed a perplexing issue!

Entering the Criminal Investigation Team, his colleagues were in high spirits.

Why?

With an old unsolved case nearly wrapped up, the evidence had already been submitted, and both Da Ju and Big Boss had been informed. In a few days, the Criminal Investigation Team would collectively receive a second-class merit award, along with a commendation within the province.

Although it was a team achievement, it still boosted one’s record.

This was a necessary milestone for one’s resume – promotions and raises depended on it.

Not everyone was like Xiao Yu, whose sister was worth billions and didn’t care about such accolades.

Even as a cop, you had to support your family – using achievements to get raises and promotions was the norm.

After greeting a few colleagues, Xiao Yu casually strolled into his boss’s office.

“What’s with showing up for work now?”

Zhao Changshan looked at Xiao Yu, pleasantly surprised.

“You can take a three-day break.”

Xiao Yu glanced at the boss, who was rarely in uniform today, and asked, “Off to the city?”

Undeniably, Zhao Changshan looked quite dashing in his uniform – the epitome of a stylish middle-aged man.

Men were such useless creatures sometimes.

Yet the aura of a middle-aged man was precisely what many women found irresistible.

“Yeah.”

With a beaming smile, Zhao Changshan continued, “The case is nearly closed. Da Ju just ordered us to go to the city for a meeting to specifically recognize the achievements of our Criminal Investigation Team. Care to join me?”

After all, every team member had some skills in cracking cases.

And everyone in the team knew about it.

Xiao Yu became a police officer solely for the sake of being a cop.

Achievements were something he couldn’t care less about.

As for promotions and raises… he cared even less.

After all, his wife was already extremely wealthy!

“Stop joking!”

Shaking his head like a wobbling rattle, Xiao Yu waved his hand and said, “I’m not a fan of all that. I could easily doze off every time they hold a meeting. I’d rather spend that time going over case files.”

“Alright then.”

Zhao Changshan shook his head with a smile, “You and Lao Zhou will handle things in the team.”

After the boss left, Xiao Yu took a quick lap around Big Boss’s office.

Only then did he return to his own office.

No sooner had he sat down for even ten minutes than there was a knock at the door.

Who could that be?

Xiao Yu frowned.

Within the team, colleagues treated each other like family; anyone coming into his office was like barging through the city gates.

When had anyone ever knocked before?

“Come in,” Xiao Yu called out.

A woman in a Zhongshan suit walked in.

She appeared to be in her mid-thirties, sporting short hair and a decent figure, though her appearance was fairly ordinary… but somehow familiar.

She was the head of National Security Team Five, Shen Mei!

“Sister Shen, what brings you here today?”

Xiao Yu smiled and stood up, approaching Shen Mei as they shook hands.

“What? I can’t just come and pay my respects to our Team Ten leader?”

Shen Mei teased with a smile.

“Team Ten? Don’t be absurd.”

After closing the door, Xiao Yu motioned toward the guest chair, “Please, have a seat.”

He wanted to ensure that none of the colleagues outside could overhear.

After all, no one in the team knew that he was now the head of National Security Team Ten.

Moreover, his temporary assignment at National Security was sealed off – ordinary people had no clearance to access it.

Only those within National Security were aware of Xiao Yu’s leadership role.

He poured some boiling water and made a pot of black tea.

Big Boss had once treated him to this tea, and Xiao Yu thought it was pretty good.

So his sister had arranged for more of the same.

For someone like Xiao Yu who knew little about tea, he could only say it was either terrible, average, or good.

It went without saying that Mu Qingwu would only serve her brother tea of the best quality.

After taking just one sip, Shen Mei was stunned, “Wuyi Mother Tree… Da Hong Pao?!”

“What?”

Xiao Yu blinked twice, looking as clueless as ever.

“I’ve had it a few times before, back at my old man’s place.”

Shen Mei’s eyes widened in astonishment as she stared at Xiao Yu, “During the Republic era, one jin was worth 64 silver dollars – equivalent to 4,000 jin of the finest rice. Not long ago, four taels were auctioned off for a whopping three million! I never expected to find it here with you.”

Xiao Yu was bewildered.

He glanced at the unassuming tea box.

Then he looked back at the tea in front of him.

Surely, he couldn’t be this doting on his little brother, could he?

Xiao Yu resolved to go home that night and have a heart-to-heart with his spendthrift sister!

Of course, that wasn’t the main point.

“Sister Shen, what brings you here?” Xiao Yu asked with a smile as he eyed Shen Mei.

He also recalled Wang Dong mentioning a few days ago that he needed help with something from Team Five’s end.

What exactly was Team Five?

It was National Security’s Special Operations Unit – the real deal.

What did ‘the real deal’ even mean?

To put it plainly… they were agents!

When Wang Dong casually mentioned it back then, Xiao Yu had a hunch something was about to go down…

But at that time he thought it wouldn’t be for another ten days or so, and didn’t pay much attention.

Turns out, only three days later, the head of Team Five showed up.

One specialized in covert ops, the other in investigations.

They were from entirely different worlds – what could they possibly have in common?

So Xiao Yu was very curious about why she had come to see him.

“No one visits the Three Treasures Hall without reason.”

With a smile, Shen Mei said, “I’m here because I need your help.”

“Sister Shen, don’t joke around.”

Xiao Yu shook his head with a smile, “I’m merely a detective – that’s all I do. I don’t understand anything about covert ops.”

“It’s about a case we’re working on together.”

Shen Mei’s smile faded as she said, “This case involves… internal personnel!”

Xiao Yu’s expression darkened instantly, “Personnel from National Security?”

Even in the most righteous of professions, there were bound to be a few rotten elements.

Sometimes, just a few bad eggs could spoil the whole batch.

Xiao Yu despised those rotten elements – internal traitors were the worst.

Sometimes, external enemies weren’t the scariest.

The most frightening were the homegrown traitors who were hardest to guard against.

They knew the system too well.

That made apprehending them incredibly challenging!

“They weren’t exactly top-notch National Security operatives, but they were indeed from Team Five in the past.”

With a sigh, Shen Mei added, “Retirees!”

“Phew!”

Xiao Yu exhaled, nodding in relief.

As long as they weren’t on active duty, it was acceptable.

Retirees, strictly speaking, weren’t considered insiders.

They didn’t even qualify to be deemed rotten eggs!

“What’s the case about?” Xiao Yu asked.

The fact that the head of Team Five had arrived in person meant it wasn’t a trivial matter.

There was no need to guess – the case was undoubtedly as special as the ones they usually dealt with.

“He stole a set of blueprints.”

Shen Min’s expression grew oddly strange, “Architectural plans.”

“Sister Shen…”

Xiao Yu’s expression turned equally odd, “You’re joking, right?”

After all, I’m now the head of Team Ten.

Does the head of Team Five think he’s that impressive?

Mess with me and I’ll turn just as sour!