At 7 PM, Lin Qiang arranged to meet the police contact via text message in front of a snack shop next to the Longyuan KTV.
Lin Qiang checked his watch and looked around but couldn't find anyone who looked like a righteous police officer. As he was searching, a faint fragrance wafted from behind, and someone tapped his shoulder.
"Hey, are you Lin Qiang?"
A soft female voice reached Lin Qiang's ears, startling him.
"A woman?" Lin Qiang turned around dumbfounded, his mouth agape. He never expected the police officer to be a woman like this.
Though autumn had arrived, the girl was still dressed in a tank top and hot pants, her long white legs brazenly exposed. She looked more like... a hostess?
"If not a woman, did you expect a crossdresser?" The girl adjusted her long, bright yellow curly hair and smiled, inadvertently revealing two small dimples.
"I'm sorry, my mistake," Lin Qiang apologized repeatedly, slapping his forehead. He praised, "Our police force is really keeping up with the times. The undercover disguise is so good that even as a civilian, I couldn't recognize you."
"If you could recognize me, it wouldn't be undercover, would it?" The girl chuckled, covering her mouth. She extended her right hand, "Jingdong Branch, Hu Xiao."
Lin Qiang shook her hand and awkwardly introduced himself: "United Bank... Lin Qiang."
"Oh, a big brother from the bank?" Hu Xiao clearly loved to laugh, finding amusement in everything. "This investigation is getting more and more confusing... is it a 'financial crime at the KTV'?"
"No, no, it's not that complicated. It's just investigating an illegal KTV," Lin Qiang forced a smile. "I'm just here to help at my superior's request. Sorry to trouble your branch."
"Don't say that. Our chief instructed me to follow your lead~" Hu Xiao declined politely, then looked suspicious. "Well, I won't ask too much, the chief told me not to... but I can't help wondering... who exactly did the owner of this place offend? To make our branch cross districts to thoroughly investigate Longyuan District?"
"Well, they offended a leader," Lin Qiang nodded.
"Tch..." Hu Xiao pouted. "Never mind, I knew you wouldn't tell. Let's go."
With that, Hu Xiao linked arms with Lin Qiang and walked towards the KTV's main entrance.
"This..." Lin Qiang felt a bit embarrassed. Hu Xiao's chest was practically pressed against his arm. He had dated before, but never someone this hot.
"It's an old trick. I'll tell you how to catch them," Hu Xiao leaned close to Lin Qiang's ear and whispered softly, "With me accompanying you like this, they'll think you're a big spender coming for fun tonight. In a while, you make exorbitant demands, call for several girls, then request to play some risqué games."
She patted her shoulder bag: "We'll record everything. They won't be able to escape."
"Brilliant," Lin Qiang gave a thumbs up in admiration. "But the problem is, the madam here has seen me before. I'm afraid this trick won't work on her."
"Don't worry, for them, money is the truth," Hu Xiao patted her bag. "I'll help you when the time comes. Relax."
Hu Xiao's confidence bolstered Lin Qiang's courage. Indeed, there was nothing to fear. This time, they were on the same side as the police. They couldn't lose.
So, Lin Qiang took off his suit jacket, removed his tie, and deliberately unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt to look more "roguish." After this makeover, he confidently embraced the scantily clad beauty and strode into the KTV with the air of a young master.
In the lobby, the receptionist didn't remember his face but assumed he was a boss based on the girl in his arms. She hurried forward to greet them, not daring to be negligent: "Hello, how many in your party?"
Lin Qiang, now fully in character, just waved his hand dismissively: "Call Fang Qing directly."
"Oh..." The receptionist was taken aback. Seeing this man immediately call for the madam, she realized he must be a regular. She picked up the intercom to summon Fang Qing.
Soon, Lin Qiang saw Fang Qing approaching with a forced smile from afar. However, when she recognized Lin Qiang, her brow furrowed.
"You... came again?" Fang Qing was both displeased and confused. "Didn't I make myself clear last time?"
"This time I'm here for Lele," Lin Qiang said, tilting his head back. "Call her to accompany me. Book a PARTY room."
"Lele hasn't started work yet..." Fang Qing was about to refuse impatiently when she heard "PARTY room." Her eyes immediately lit up. "Did you say... PARTY room?"
"Yes, hurry up. The lady is getting impatient," Lin Qiang said, lifting Hu Xiao's chin with his hand.
Hu Xiao giggled again, snuggling into Lin Qiang's arms.
"Well... a PARTY room without a time limit would be 1500, right?" Fang Qing turned to ask the receptionist.
"Why so much fuss? Last time I came with a bunch of proper friends and couldn't let loose. Are you looking down on me, madam-san?" Lin Qiang feigned anger and patted Hu Xiao beside him. "Give the madam 500 as a starter."
"Alright," Hu Xiao opened her bag, counted out 500, and handed it to Fang Qing.
As soon as the money appeared, the situation immediately cleared up. Money truly was universally loved.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry about last time. So you were just teasing me! It's my fault, I'll drink three glasses as punishment later!!" Fang Qing quickly pocketed the money, her entire demeanor changing. She eagerly led the two inside, her tone couldn't be more friendly, "Please, come in. We'll take excellent care of you tonight to make up for last time."
"Hehe," Lin Qiang embraced Hu Xiao as they walked in, saying, "Since Lele isn't here, call some other girls for me. I'm in a good mood tonight. If I like what I see, I might book eight or ten of them."
"Don't worry, we have beauties of all styles here. You'll be satisfied," Fang Qing's eyes gleamed with greed, regretting her failure to recognize this big spender last time.
"Oh?" Lin Qiang shook his head. "Don't you have high school girls from the nearby school here? Call them all for me. Other places don't have students, only you do."
"Sure, they're all under eighteen, guaranteed pure," Fang Qing, blinded by money, leaned close to Lin Qiang and whispered, "We're all familiar now, so I'll be straight with you. Those girls are naive. Just give them a little tip, and they'll go with you."
"Haha, good, good," Lin Qiang laughed. "If I enjoy myself, I'll give you an extra tip."
Fang Qing was delighted. As she enthusiastically led the way, she kept stealing glances at Hu Xiao. She thought to herself that a man who could bring such a beautiful girl and still come out to play so brazenly must have endless money to spend. She had to make sure to keep him here tonight.
As they were walking down the corridor, a figure suddenly emerged from a private room, shouting at Fang Qing with dissatisfaction: "What kind of madam are you? Why haven't the girls arrived yet?"
When Lin Qiang saw this person, he was stunned for a moment. He pretended to cough repeatedly and lowered his head.
The man speaking was none other than Hao Wei. In the bank, he always maintained a righteous facade, but here, his temper seemed much worse.
This was an unexpected coincidence, too coincidental.