"Absolutely not, mam." The intern with short height and brown curls cleared Suyin's doubt. "We came here to support you,"
"If the situation calls, please reveal our names and let us be your alibi." Suyin shifted her attention to the blond hair that was disguised like her that night.
"You are just interns who have come here to learn practically. Being your boss, keeping you safe is part of my duty as well. My intention to take you on field was to let you learn and see the reality that our job involves equal danger. It might sound thrilling to put on a disguise, but did you see what happen next?" She studied their serious expressions, but hers remained calmed as she got up and walked to the window.
Parting the curtain a little, she caught sight of the reporters lined up to take their respective seats. "Do you think I'd do something for which I'm not prepared?"
Short height intern raised his hand, "Mam, does that mean you were aware of Hui Guozhi's schemes? How?"
Suyin, "You cannot forecast everyone's moves. Here I happened to be lucky as I know Hui Guozhi and his tricks too well."
Blond Hair, "What if he had been an unknown enemy? AHH…" The short height and Yu Mixi nudged him with elbow for asking questions blatantly.
Blond Hair looked at Suyin warily, "Am I in trouble?"
"No! Asking questions is good. I encourage you all, but be mindful of my time and situation." Suyin answer brought an impish glee on their faces, the kind that feels like the biggest Christmas present.
"Coming back to your question," Suyin finally looked at Yu Mixi, "Good job! Long Tao told me you went all the way to finish the task I gave you. It was indeed difficult. Five points,"
The two interns looked at Yu Mixi, who was at the verge of jumping in the air. They asked her in a whisper but she mouthed, 'top secret,'
Suyin, "Two points to both of you."
Though a little jealous of Yu Mixi for getting fewer points then her, they were satisfied on being recognised by Suyin.
Blond Hair put his hand up, "Um… I'm still confused. Please tell me how to handle an unknown enemy."
Suyin, "Always, do your homework well,"
"…"
"…."
Suyin, "Btw, where are the rest of the interns?"
"They are sitting in the auditorium, waiting to see you being attacked by media. Brainless." Yu Mixi didn't hide her disgust, "Earlier it was Senior Bai Xu brainwashing them and now Woo Meng is doing that in secret,"
"Hm…" Suyin nodded, without breaking her calm expression, "You three stay near the stage. And blondie, pay attention to the interview to get the answer,"
The blond hair intern, "Was she referring to me?"
Yu Mixi and Short height nodded like pecking chicken.
"…."
*****
10:00 A.M.
The representative from the ministry starts the event by welcoming the reporters followed by the introduction of the four persons sitting on stage each with individual mics.
In the center, Suyin was seated with the second deputy minister Wei Yuan to her left. On her right was sitting an aged man with his mouth covered with a mask.
Sitting on Wei Yuan's left was the legal representative of ministry, Chen Wenwei. An iron woman in herself who grasp the needs of the clients accurately, providing with high quality and effective legal opinions!
The huge auditorium was jam packed, not only with reporters but ministry staff as well. In reality the reason was such overwhelming response was not case related but everyone was interested in Suyin's personal life and her history with Qi Industries.
Gossip mongers!
"I don't know what you've planned, but you've my full support. Don't be scared," Without breaking the eye contact with the audience, he whispered.
"Scared? Do remind me to check the meaning of this word after the press conference," She replied, scanning the audience with her hawk-like eyes to take note of the people who are actually sent by Hui Chouming.
Cheap trick!
Wei Yuan "…" 'To whom was I trying to solace!? Silly me!' He facepalmed mentally.
Without any delay, the ministry representative asked Suyin to take over and start with her speech followed by question-and-answer round.
Suyin adjusted the head of the mic, "Greetings everyone, I'm Zhao Suyin. The illegal land acquisition case is under my supervision right now. The evidences released by the ministry are collected by me personally, of which the original is already submitted to the court."
"So this means the men in the video are indeed planted by you. You did it for revenge." A reporter interrupted her.
"Can you prove your statement? If not that's slandering. Minimum a year of imprisonment and ten thousand Yuan fine. Am I right Miss. Chen?" Without breaking the eye contact with the reporter she asked and heard another female voice.
Chen Wenwei, "Yes. And I'll make sure he gets to pay both."
Reporter, "Are you threatening me?"
Suyin, "I just asked you to prove your statement. Someone please give him a glass of water and tissue," The reporter consciously wiped the sweat on his forehead. The pressure of Suyin's gaze was so intense, that he couldn't help but shiver.
"Then can you prove it was not planted by you?" Another reporter joined, and Suyin could tell they were here to make trouble.
"I can and I WILL," Suyin's cold voice echoed, "But before that I'm asking this reporter to prove the statement first…. Do it!"
The reporter "…"
"I-I…."
"WE CAN PROVE," The door to the entrance was pushed open and Hui Guozhi was rolled on a wheelchair by Hui Chouming, looking weak and frail. His assistant and a few bodyguards followed as they dragged the four men in the video along. Handcuffed.
His eyes sunken, skin sallow and ashen face; he clung to the wheelchair as if it were a life raft. If only he could fool Suyin with his exceptional make-up and acting.
Suyin eyes collided with the father-daughter duo, an inadvertent smirk crossed at the corner of their lips.
Hui Chouming pushed the wheelchair to front so that everyone could see Hui Guozhi. Without a word she smartly blamed Suyin for her father's ill health. Smart!
Hui Chouming pointed at the handcuffed men, "These are the accused men in the video, who were on the run. My father left no stone unturned to find them to prove he's innocent but someone has kept them hidden very well. Thanks to my husband Qi Wren's personal that they managed to find them."
Suyin looked blankly. Don't know what's making Hui Chouming so insecure that she had to announce herself as Mrs. Qi.
Everyone knows that!
Get over it!
Hui Chouming hinted her father's assistant who got the four men dragged to front.
The assistant, "The team apprehended them last night from a slum in the low town." He pulled the leader's cuff harshly who took 'Hui' name. "SPEAK,"
He fell onto the ground and folded his hands, keeping his gaze down "I-I was asked to say that. Please let me go,"
The reporter, "Who asked you?"
Silence ensued….
The assistant, "Speak, my master is kind hearted. He'll appeal for a lesser sentence for you,"
"SHE," He pointed at the stage. To be precise, he pointed at Zhao Suyin.
*****