Bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, the square in front of Haizhou Tower buzzed with excitement. Drums beat, flags waved, fireworks crackled, and lanterns blazed brightly. Luxury cars arrived one after another, and well-dressed dignitaries stepped out. Guo Xiaopeng, with a fresh red carnation pinned to his lapel, greeted guests warmly, flanked by the beautiful Liu Mei and Wang Jingfei. He cut an impressive figure, exuding charm and confidence.
A stretch limo rolled in, and Mayor Jin stepped out, immediately surrounded by a swarm of reporters snapping photos and vying for attention. Guo Xiaopeng quickly moved to escort the mayor inside, deflecting the eager crowd.
From his vantage point in a Mitsubishi parked away from the throng, Li Xinjian watched the scene with cold detachment. He muttered to himself, "Watch the tower rise, watch the guests arrive, and watch the tower fall..." Meanwhile, a different scene unfolded in the desolate reed marshes by the coast. The setting sun cast a bloody hue over the landscape, with cold winds rustling the reeds and a sense of menace hanging in the air.
Qiang Min, carrying a wooden crate, walked through the reeds towards the secluded pit, bathed in the golden light of dusk. The pit was a clearing in the reeds, surrounded by tall, dark walls of vegetation. The feathery reed tops swayed like ghosts in the strong autumn wind, swirling up and down. Qiang Min sensed something amiss and cautiously set down the crate, listening intently.
Suddenly, a loud flapping noise startled him, and he fell face-first to the ground. A large wild duck flew off, brushing past the reeds. Cursing under his breath, Qiang Min wiped the reeds off his face, sat up, and pulled out a crumpled cigarette from his filthy jacket.
A Grand Banquet
Inside the grand banquet hall of Haizhou Tower, the atmosphere was lively and festive. A large orchestra began playing the traditional Chinese tune "Jasmine Flower," while long tables overflowed with gourmet dishes and fine wines. Waiters moved briskly among the guests, who chatted and laughed, filling the hall with a celebratory spirit. Guo Xiaopeng, accompanied by Liu Mei and Wang Jingfei, entertained a large group of government officials and social elites, including Mayor Jin. Reporters flocked around, cameras flashing constantly.
Standing alone in a quiet corner, Li Xinjian observed the scene with a glass of red wine in hand, looking out of place amidst the merriment. The manager of the security department approached him warmly. "Captain Li, why don't you help yourself to some food? Don't be shy!"
Li Xinjian shook his head. "You go ahead. Don't worry about me."
The manager continued, trying to flatter him. "You're a distinguished guest. Even though we don't usually deal with you directly, your reputation precedes you. Especially in our line of work, we really admire you."
Not wanting to hear more flattery, Li Xinjian changed the subject. "Who's that heavyset man next to the mayor?"
The manager squinted and introduced the guests. "Oh, that's Director Liu from the Economic Planning Committee. The tall one next to him is Director Wu from Customs, and the one next to him is President Hu from the bank. The bald man is Director Xue from the Tax Bureau."
Li Xinjian smirked. "Quite the gathering of bigwigs." As they spoke, Guo Xiaopeng, along with Liu Mei and Wang Jingfei, walked straight towards them. Li Xinjian considered leaving but decided against it, not wanting to seem intimidated. Leaning against a decorative pillar, he waited.
The security manager quickly introduced him. "Chairman Guo, this is Captain Li from the criminal investigation department."
Guo Xiaopeng extended his hand. "I've heard so much about you, Captain Li."
Li Xinjian shook his hand. "You missed a word. It's 'Deputy' Captain."
Unfazed, Guo Xiaopeng continued warmly, "Captain Li, your reputation is well-known. You've led the investigation of major cases like the armored car robbery, the child kidnapping case in Binhai, and the poisoning case in Qicun. You're considered a master detective."
"Not as good as people say. The unsolved murder cases of Yang Qiu and Lu An are my biggest failures," Li Xinjian admitted, casting a glance at Liu Mei, who subtly nodded. Wang Jingfei, looking innocently at Li Xinjian, listened intently. Guo Xiaopeng, maintaining his composure, said, "Success and failure are part of the game. When I started my first business, I was swindled out of 300,000 yuan and nearly went bankrupt. I believe in your abilities, Captain Li. You'll turn things around."
"Thank you for your confidence, Chairman Guo," Li Xinjian said, then pointed rudely at Wang Jingfei. "Who's this?"
"Oh, I forgot to introduce," Guo Xiaopeng said, switching to a formal tone. "This is Miss Wang Jingfei, the full representative of Hong Kong Hualong Group and the new general manager of Haizhou Tower. She holds a master's degree in business administration." Wang Jingfei extended her hand at the appropriate moment.
Li Xinjian ignored her, still addressing Guo Xiaopeng. "I never shake hands with women."
Everyone was taken aback. Wang Jingfei looked embarrassed for a moment but quickly regained her composure.
Realizing he might have been too harsh, Li Xinjian attempted to soften his words. "That's not entirely true," he added. Guo Xiaopeng, intrigued, asked, "Is there a story behind this?"
"A dull and old story. You're busy, Chairman Guo. Get back to your guests," Li Xinjian said, trying to dismiss the topic.
Guo Xiaopeng, persistent, asked again, "I'd really like to know why."
"It's simple," Li Xinjian replied, still not looking at Wang Jingfei. "I was once refused a handshake by a woman who was a friend. Liu, you know I've never shaken hands with you, right?"
Liu Mei smiled meaningfully. "Maybe neither Wang nor I are worthy of shaking your hand."
"That's not necessary," Guo Xiaopeng joked. "There must be a special reason."
Wang Jingfei kept her professional smile, as if they were discussing someone else.
Li Xinjian checked his watch, pretending to remember something. "Sorry, I have to go."
Guo Xiaopeng casually said, "Let Miss Wang see you off."
Li Xinjian finally turned to Wang Jingfei and declined politely. "No need to trouble you."
Wang Jingfei simply made a professional gesture, inviting him to leave. She walked him to the revolving glass doors. As they descended the steps, Li Xinjian turned back. "Please stay here."
Wang Jingfei silently watched him, extending her right hand slowly.
Li Xinjian kept his hands in his pockets. "Forgive me, I can't break my rule."
Through the glass doors, Guo Xiaopeng watched from a distance. Wang Jingfei opened her mouth to say something but restrained herself.
Li Xinjian turned and walked away.
Wang Jingfei felt a pang of sadness, tears welling up in her eyes.