Chapter 3 — Thirty Million Yuan and One Slander

I leaned forward slightly. For the first time, I pushed that pressure back.

“Team leader Ly, you guys have been investigating for half a month, and all the witnesses and evidence are complete.”

“But there is only one thing… you guys have never investigated.”

“Where was I that day?”

“Is it a mistake?”

“Or… is someone intentionally leading you in the wrong direction, so that you won't check this most basic truth?”

Ly Kien Quan's face was no longer just pale. It was a pale blue color mixed with surprise, anger, and even a hint of fear. He suddenly stood up, the blue veins on his forehead bulging. He didn't look at me. But turned around and shouted loudly at the members behind.

"Right away!"

“Go extract all cameras from the Planning Department on August 15!”

“Also, immediately go to City People's Hospital No. 1 and verify the authenticity of this medical record!”

Several members of the inspection team suddenly woke up and quickly ran out. In the meeting room, only Ly Kien Quan and I remained. He stood there, his chest heaving violently. After a long time, he slowly turned to look at me. In his eyes were countless complex emotions. He picked up the handwriting assessment form on the table and looked at my medical records.

“If what you say is true…”

His voice was hoarse.

“So the person who was sitting in the office that day signed…”

“Who is it anyway?”

The conference room door was pushed open forcefully. The members who had just run out rushed back like a gust of wind. A complex expression appeared on each person's face: surprise, confusion, and even panic. The young man in the lead held a tablet and ran unsteadily in front of Ly Kien Quan.

“Team leader… Team leader Ly…”

His voice trembled.

“The hospital has verified... the medical records... are completely true.”

“Comrade Hua Tinh did have a serious traffic accident on August 15, and was treated at People's Hospital No. 1 of the city.”

"We... we also contacted the traffic police who handled the accident that day. The accident records are still complete."

Ly Kien Quan grabbed the tablet. On the screen is a photo taken from the hospital hallway camera. Several doctors and nurses were pushing a hospital bed straight into the emergency room. The person lying on the bed was covered in blood, his face was wearing an oxygen mask. But that face… It was clearly me. Ly Kien Quan's hand trembled slightly. Another member stammered in addition.

“The department's camera... we have also extracted it.”

“On August 15, department head… department head Hua did not come to the office at all.”

“She drove out of the house in the morning, and had an accident on the way to work.”

“All the cameras in the office building… don't have her picture.”

He paused for a moment, his voice lowered.

“Only at 3:05 p.m. did the camera record her deputy – Liu Wei – entering her office.”

“He was in there for about ten minutes.”

“When I came out… I looked very panicked.”

“Furthermore, that day he reported… to be on sick leave.”

The conference room fell into a dead silence. The truth was revealed like a rock rising after the tide receded. A sharp, fierce corner. This is a completely intentional slander. A carefully calculated plot to push me to death. And the inspection team... Investigated for half a month, but found out who was behind it leading by the nose, becoming a bloodless killing knife. Ly Kien Quan's face was sometimes blue, sometimes white. He slowly... Slowly turned around. The initial cold and searching eyes had completely disappeared. Instead there was deep guilt and repressed anger. He took a deep breath. Then, bow deeply before me.

“Comrade Hua Tinh.”

“Due to our negligence in work and subjective judgment, we almost caused an irreversible miscarriage of justice.”

“On behalf of the inspection team, I solemnly apologize to you.”

The members behind him also bowed their heads in unison. I said nothing. Half a month of humiliation, torment and despair seemed to have found a way out. But I don't cry. Because I know… An apology is just the beginning. The real battle has just begun. Ly Kien Quan stood up straight. His eyes became sharp like a sword just unsheathed.

“This is not simply a mistake.”

“This is a pre-planned plot to harm state officials!”

He slammed his fist on the table. The loud noise made even the glass of water pop up.

"Forging signatures, stealing seals, creating a chain of false evidence, and intentionally guiding the investigation team."

“The opponent's methods are extremely skilled, and his heart is also extremely cruel!”

He turned to look at me, his eyes burning hot.

“Comrade Hua Tinh, you are currently the only victim of this case, which is also the most important breakthrough.”

“I want you to remember it carefully.”

“Before the accident, at work, did you ever offend anyone?”

“Or to put it another way… does the work at hand affect someone else's interests?”

I looked at him. A face immediately appeared in my mind. A face that always carries a gentle smile... But at the most important moment, it pushed me into the abyss. I slowly spoke up. Say a name.

“Our Director – Vuong Kien Quoc.”

“A week before the incident, I rejected a project that he personally approved.”

“Plan to renovate the old neighborhood in the south of the city.”

"Because I discovered that the company he proposed to win the contract was not qualified to do the construction, and there was a great risk of stealing materials and violating safety."

“Because of that… he smashed the table right in the office.”

Ly Kien Quan's pupils shrank sharply.