A moment later, the call connected.
Without wasting words, Qiu Tu simply said, "Captain Cao, due to an unforeseen development, your mission has been temporarily canceled. Return to the Qin family compound immediately. I have new instructions for you."
With that, Qiu Tu hung up.
Meanwhile, Cao Dabiao, who had just started drinking and eating skewers with his two confidants, stared blankly as the dial tone beeped in his ear. After a second, he slammed the skewer in his hand down and cursed furiously, "Damn it! That bastard is taking this way too far!
"He's straight-up playing me!"
Yet in a disciplined service, rank was absolute; a superior officer could crush a subordinate with ease. Even with ten thousand grievances burning in his chest, so long as he wanted to keep working in the Investigation Bureau, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and obey.
Sullen and grim-faced, he settled the bill and rushed back to the courtyard with his two confidants.
Qiu Tu was not tormenting him out of spite, but as a precaution.
The squad's loyalties had only just begun to settle, and Qiu Tu would not tolerate the slightest risk: when the squad was by Qiu Tu's side, Cao Dabiao had to be sent away; when the squad was dispersed on an assignment, Cao Dabiao had to return and remain where Qiu Tu could watch him.
This maximized Qiu Tu's ability to prevent Cao Dabiao from rallying allies and sidelining him.
With that, the pit Yan Chen had dug for him had been thoroughly circumvented.
Gazing toward the courtyard gate, Qiu Tu fell into deep thought. He had bypassed this trap, but another obstacle still lay before him.
His thoughts drifted to how openly the Political Department agents had marched into the Qin residence.
His mind raced as he weighed his options.
After a moment, an idea sparked within him. While this matter was somewhat tricky, could it actually be turned to his advantage?
He had originally requested reinforcements to conduct a secret investigation into the Qin family. Now that a clandestine probe was out of the question, why not use the commotion to test the waters?
Perhaps someone would lose their nerve and expose a flaw of their own accord.
For instance, the one person he was most curious about...?
With that, Qiu Tu made up his mind.
Rather than waiting for Cao Dabiao to return, he strode out of the courtyard.
Since it was downtime, several Special Service Department agents were chatting and exercising in the yard.
Seeing Qiu Tu, they were noticeably more respectful than they had been over the past two days. One after another, they snapped to attention and saluted. "Good evening, sir!" "Good evening, sir!"
Qiu Tu waved back warmly and exchanged a few pleasantries.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Qiu Tu knew that word had already spread about how he had brought the Political Department squad to heel with an iron fist—and how he had handed out three silver dollars to each man.
People naturally gravitated toward advantage and shunned harm, drawn to those who could offer them tangible gain.
Yet Qiu Tu remained crystal clear about his position. While he was currently the guard corps commander, it was only a temporary post.
His true rank was merely a Rank 1 agent in the Political Department, which officially entitled him to command no more than a single squad.
As a result, once the guard corps disbanded, any control he had over this Special Service Department squad would lack institutional backing.
He would not even be able to transfer its members to his side—reassigning personnel across two powerful departments required far more clout than he possessed.
Therefore, he provided material rewards to the Political Department squad, while offering the Special Service Department squad nothing more than goodwill and a cordial rapport.
Leaving the quarters, Qiu Tu headed toward the detached courtyard of the person who intrigued him most—Qin Shuman.
On the surface, Qin Shuman was the goddaughter of the Qin family head's wife; moreover, as Yan Chen's mistress, she enjoyed a detached courtyard of her own within the Qin family main residence.
The courtyard had few bedrooms; apart from the master suite, the side chambers had been converted into an audiovisual room, an art studio, a private bar, and other recreational spaces.
When Qiu Tu found Qin Shuman, she was drinking alone in the private bar.
Evidently not expecting Qiu Tu to visit late at night, she had dropped every shred of her usual facade. She sprawled unceremoniously across the bar counter, twirling a crystal-clear square tumbler with unfocused eyes.
Beneath the multicolored lights, her deep-crimson gown burned as vivid as flame, contrasting sharply with her fair, jade-like skin.
It was the first time Qiu Tu had seen her stripped of all pretense, and for a fleeting moment, he was captivated.
Yet when he caught himself, he noticed something amiss in her alluring yet profoundly melancholy gaze.
Her heart seemed heavy with untold stories—something that hardly matched her identity as a cloned female body.
*Looks like tonight won't be a wasted trip after all...*
With that thought, Qiu Tu waved aside the maid who moved to bow, strode forward, and took a seat beside Qin Shuman.
Sensing someone beside her, Qin Shuman cast a hazy glance his way. Recognizing Qiu Tu, she suddenly smiled.
"Qiu... Tu..."
Her voice dragged out playfully, laced with teasing. Reaching out, she draped her slender arm around his neck and slurred, "What brings you here? Come on, have a drink with me!"
With that, she snapped her fingers at the maid. "Pour him a Night of Depravity."
The maid glanced at Qiu Tu. Seeing him nod, she produced an upscale bottle and poured him a glass of clear, amber-gold liquor.
Once the drink was poured, Qiu Tu waved a hand at her. "You may leave."
"Yes, sir." The maid offered a slight bow, exited the bar, and closed the door behind her to wait outside.
Once the maid had departed, Qiu Tu took a sip and asked softly, "What happened to you?"
Qin Shuman's slender fingers caressed the crystal glass. Tilting her head back, she downed the amber liquid in a single gulp, then said drunkenly, "Nothing at all! I'm happy! Extremely happy!"
As she spoke, the corners of her mouth tugged upward into a hollow, artificial smile.
Qiu Tu watched her, his gaze steady.
After a long pause, he clinked his glass against hers with a faint smile and drained it.
Setting his glass down, Qiu Tu took the ornate bottle from the counter and poured another glass of Night of Depravity for each of them, raising an eyebrow at Qin Shuman.
Qin Shuman seemed to have calmed down slightly. Swirling the liquor in her glass, she stared blankly ahead and murmured, "Qiu Tu... do you think someone in this world could suddenly become a completely different person?"
Hearing that, Qiu Tu felt a sudden jolt in his chest. Feigning confusion, he asked, "I'm not sure I follow. Are you saying..."
Qin Shuman placed an index finger against Qiu Tu's lips, leaning her exquisite face close to his, and whispered softly through a daze, "Take... yourself, for instance.
"...Don't you feel like you've become an entirely different person?"
Qiu Tu chuckled twice, picked up his glass, and took a light sip. "When a person survives a major catastrophe, their temperament often changes drastically."
Turning the tables, Qiu Tu added, "On the other hand, you haven't seemed to change at all, Miss Shuman."
He paused, then added with a playful edge, "Except for... tonight."
Chapter 31