Let them offer their loyalty!

```

Fearing she might have misheard, Tan Huimin frowned and sought confirmation again, "You said... What did you say?"

"You bet me to Qiu Tu?"

Perhaps because he had already spoken about the most critical issue, Zheng Tao was no longer scared. So he simply threw down his chopsticks and blurted out in frustration, "Yes. I bet you to Qiu Tu."

He said, "We made a bet. The bet was whether the new deputy head of the Political Department was him or not."

"I bet it wasn't. The wager was you accompanying him for two days."

"In the end, I lost the bet."

Hearing the words that were almost unbearable to listen to from Zheng Tao, Tan Huimin's face flushed with anger, her chest heaving violently.

She glared at Zheng Tao, her beautiful face full of disappointment, "Zheng Tao! How could you do such a thing!"

"I'm your wife! Not some plaything! How could you use me as a betting chip!"

Seeing Tan Huimin getting angry, Zheng Tao didn't feel the slightest bit of sympathy. On the contrary, he grew even more irritable.

He cut off Tan Huimin abruptly, then with a darkened face, said gravely, "First of all, it wasn't me who treated you as a betting chip, it was Qiu Tu who proposed it."

"Secondly, our relationship isn't public knowledge at the Bureau, so he doesn't know you're my spouse. He just mentioned wanting to borrow my secretary for two days."

"At that moment, could I directly refuse, saying you weren't suitable as a wager? Wouldn't that expose our relationship?"

"Finally..."

At this point, Zheng Tao paused, then told a lie, "This gamble, in fact, we can never lose."

"When he proposed the bet, I had already thought it through. If he lost, he would have to pay a price. Not only could I reclaim the dignity I lost yesterday, but I could also stem his rising momentum."

"If he won..."

Continuing, Zheng Tao gave his wife a deep look, "Then I take the opportunity to send you over. You infiltrate his circle, gain his trust, collect evidence of his crimes, and when the time comes, turn against him." Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire

"This way, we can once and for all resolve this opponent of mine, right?"

Hearing Zheng Tao's words, Tan Huimin's expression involuntarily showed contemplation.

She pondered for a moment, then hesitantly asked, "Are you sure... it's just for me to go over there and gather information?"

Seeing Tan Huimin's attitude soften a little, Zheng Tao quickly wrapped his arms around her shoulders, reassuringly saying, "Of course."

"I don't have any strange fetishes."

He softly brainwashed his wife, "After you go there, it's best if you can dig up some information, but don't worry if you can't. I just want to place a thorn in his side that can be called upon when necessary."

"So, don't put too much pressure on yourself, and be sure to protect yourself. Don't let that bastard take advantage of you."

"For the rest, just play it by ear. If things get tough, sweet-talk him a bit, flatter him. As long as you can stay by his side, you're bound to be a great help to me in the future..."

After listening to Zheng Tao's words, sure enough, Tan Huimin's stance softened further. She began to seriously consider his plan.

After a moment of contemplation, Tan Huimin quietly asked, "But... can Qiu Tu really keep me around? Why would he trust me?"

Zheng Tao, who earlier received advice from a high-level contact, confidently said, "Of course he might keep you around. The reason is simple."

"Qiu Tu is a very sensitive and suspicious person. He'll easily doubt everything around him."

"With the tension in the Bureau, he might not trust any secretary arranged by the Bureau."

"On the other hand, a secretary like you, who he won on a whim, he'll feel is more reliable."

"So, as long as you act a bit more considerate and attentive in front of him these two days, he definitely won't want to let you go."

"Then, I'll find someone to stall his new secretary's appointment. He'll surely take a liking to you, trying every means to keep you."

Hearing Zheng Tao's words, Tan Huimin looked at him with a complex gaze.

Although what Zheng Tao said sounded very convincing, a woman's intuition still left Tan Huimin feeling uneasy.

But now, with Zheng Tao having said so much, as a wife, she had no room to refuse.

Therefore, she could only sigh, lower her gaze to her ample chest, give a slight nod, and then said, "Fine... I'll try."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Tao visibly breathed a sigh of relief. He reached out to hold Tan Huimin's hand, softly saying, "Thank you, Hui Min."

Tan Huimin was expressionless, "Hmm..."

...

Meanwhile.

Qiu Tu was still unaware that a conspiracy was closing in on him.

At that moment, he was at Liu Fuping's home, drinking wine and chatting with Liu Fuping.

Perhaps because both Jia Shu and Jia Wei were dead, and Director Liu's son's vengeance had been fulfilled, Liu Fuping was evidently very excited and happy that night.

Resting her cheek on her hand, tilting her head, she held a glass of red wine and said tipsily to Qiu Tu, "Qiu Tu, do you know? The grudge for Brother Kai has weighed on Director Liu and me for many years."

"All these years, I've dreamed of Brother Kai lying in a pool of blood every single night."

```

As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, and tears uncontrollably streamed down her face, "And now, I've finally avenged his death."

"My heart can finally be at ease."

At this moment, Qiu Tu had also learned her true identity from Liu Fuping's lips: She was the fiancée of Director Liu's son, Liu Kai...

According to Liu Fuping, her parents and Director Liu were old acquaintances, who had fled together to Cuishan City years ago. Director Liu had become a detective through selection, while her family started a small business.

Because they frequently interacted and were close in age, she and Director Liu's son, Liu Kai, gradually developed feelings for each other. Both families noticed this and thought it wouldn't be bad to strengthen the bond through marriage.

Therefore, they arranged for the two to be wed and were preparing to choose a date for the wedding.

However, during the waiting period for the wedding, Yan Chen and Jia Shu, along with students from the Eighth Sanctuary [Military Officers' Academy], came down to participate in practical activities. And Liu Kai... was brutally murdered by the Jia brothers, Jia Wei and Jia Shu.

Thus, Liu Fuping became a "widow" before she could even marry...

This is also how she came by the identity of a "widow"... (Chapter 54)

After Liu Kai's death, Liu Fuping was overwhelmed with grief, almost unable to recover. It was only because Jia Wei had not been sentenced to death that she found the strength to live on—she wanted to avenge Liu Kai!

Over the years, she and Director Liu had been tracking down Jia Wei's whereabouts together; Director Liu used official channels, while she used her parents' business channels.

But they could never find any trace of Jia Wei.

It was only until two or three years ago that Director Liu heard Yan Chen would be transferred from the Sanctuary to become the Investigation Bureau Chief of Xinjie City.

So, he began training a group of spies, planning to deploy them in Xinjie City to counter Yan Chen, and hoping to trace Jia Wei through the connection with Yan Chen and Jia Shu.

Liu Fuping learned of this plan.

She volunteered eagerly to take part in the undercover mission to Xinjie City.

Initially, both Director Liu and her parents disagreed, but they could not dissuade her resolute heart.

As a result, after over a year of training, Liu Fuping came to Xinjie City under the alias "Liu Fuping"...

"Liu" was after Liu Kai's surname, and "Fuping" represented her years of drifting and... the impermanence of fate.

In life, one might experience various changes and uncertainties. No one knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first...

Just like the rootless... water hyacinth.

After recalling Liu Fuping's past in his mind, Qiu Tu felt a trace of admiration for the woman before him.

No matter when, a person of such deep loyalty and strong feeling deserves admiration.

With that thought, Qiu Tu also lifted his glass and clinked it with Liu Fuping's.

After the toast, they both drained their glasses, and Qiu Tu asked softly, "So, are you... really planning to leave Xinjie City?"

Hearing Qiu Tu's question, Liu Fuping threw a coquettish glance at him and chuckled, "Why? Will you miss me?"

Possibly because of the blush from alcohol, or perhaps because of the lighting, Liu Fuping looked especially enchanting tonight.

As he poured wine for both of them, Qiu Tu laughed and said, "Not really. It just feels a bit sudden."

Liu Fuping swirled her wine glass, her gaze hazy and her voice languid, "It's not really sudden though..."

"My mission was to investigate the murderer of Brother Kai."

"Now that both Jia Shu and Jia Wei are dead, my mission is complete."

"Though Yan Chen, the 'accomplice,' is still alive in this world. But with my identity exposed, staying here wouldn't be much help, and it might even lead them to trace back to other scouts."

"So, I must leave."

"Only if I leave can I protect the spy network that the Chief has worked so hard to establish."

With that said, Liu Fuping smiled and continued, "Besides... with such a great contribution, I'm sure to get promoted upon returning!"

"With the Chief's generosity, I might even get to be a Section Leader or a Section Chief."

"That's certainly better than staying under your command and toiling away as a First Level Detective forever, right?"

Hearing Liu Fuping's words, Qiu Tu couldn't help but laugh. He joked, "So, it seems that I've been holding back your career, haven't I?"

With that said, Qiu Tu raised his glass again, "Then here's to Section Leader Liu, no... Section Chief Liu's bright future!"

Though he seemed carefree, to tell the truth, Qiu Tu was indeed reluctant to part with Liu Fuping. After all, Liu Fuping's gentleness and considerateness were unique to him.

Uh... more importantly... he hadn't had the chance to savor a moment with both Liu Fuping and Tang Feifei together. He was not content!

At this time, Liu Fuping might have sensed Qiu Tu's emotions as well.

She laughed "gigglingly" while toasting with Qiu Tu, and while drinking, she said, "Actually... you don't have to miss me."

"We... might see each other again soon."

Seeing Qiu Tu's puzzled look, Liu Fuping's eyes, soft as water, gazed at him and she whispered, "Dongye State will be established soon. I might likely take up a post in the state."

----

Today is still 3 chapters, 10,000 words haha. The next chapter will be updated between 23 and 24 o'clock, asking for Monthly Tickets!