Xia Chuyi defiantly looked at Huo Shiqian.
The air grew still for a few seconds.
After a while, he captured her gaze and began speaking, "What clue?"
Xia Chuyi was taken aback and immediately took out the pre-prepared note from her pocket and handed it to him.
"Brother Shi Qian, these are it."
The materials she had prepared just in case, silently in her space.
Huo Shiqian took them, his expression turning grave as he scanned the contents.
It was densely packed with writing:
"Lin Aiguo has a lover, a primary school teacher by the name of Chen Mei, who possesses a bribery ledger belonging to Lin Aiguo."
"Zhang Zhicheng, like Lin Aiyun, prefers to exchange extorted wealth into gold bars and bury it under the locust tree in their hometown."
"In 19XX, Lin Aiguo seized a house from XXX, which led to dissatisfaction from the other party, who took personal revenge by detaining and murdering them..."
Crime after crime, big or small, detailed or rough listed there, made Huo Shiqian’s eyebrows furrow tighter and tighter, his heart shocked by what he saw.
With such comprehensive clues, how on earth did she come to know of these?
As if she understood his confusion, Xia Chuyi bit her lip and said to him, "Although there may be some discrepancies, the vast majority of what’s on here is based on fact."
"As for the source of these materials, I can only say I’m sorry, I can’t reveal that to you for now," she said earnestly and apologetically, staring into his eyes.
Though she intended to reveal her prominence, she also needed to keep some things to herself.
She couldn’t tell anyone about the secrets of her space and her rebirth, including Huo Shiqian.
Huo Shiqian looked down at her, his face stern and silent.
Her expression was stubborn and resolute.
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Xia Chuyi bit her lip again and said, "Brother Shi Qian, I haven’t lied to you."
"These things are all true."
"Even though the sources might be shady, if they can be used to take down those bad guys, then all means are justifiable, aren’t they?"
She deliberately said this to muddy the waters.
Huo Shiqian’s eyes flickered with an ambiguous meaning.
Xia Chuyi’s stubbornness deepened in her eyes as she said, "If you don’t believe me, I’ll just give the clues directly to Vice Director Chang."
"If he investigates, he will certainly find out that I’m telling the truth."
But that way, the risk of her being exposed would be greater.
Nevertheless, she had to avenge Xiao Gui and bring down Zhang Xiaoling’s protective umbrella.
Huo Shiqian still didn’t speak.
Slowly, he folded the note neatly and idly placed it in his pocket, his expression unchanged as he told her indifferently, "I’ll give it to Old Chang."
He actually agreed to her request.
Xia Chuyi was stunned, her forced momentum dissipating like wind.
"Brother Shi Qian, you don’t mind that I won’t tell you the source of the clues?" she couldn’t help asking, "Even though I might carry a huge secret, or be part of a conspiracy... I might not be an ordinary person."
She was somewhat incoherent, not even sure what she was saying herself.
"I do mind," Huo Shiqian answered with utmost composure.
"However, I believe you wouldn’t lie to me," he said coolly.
At least in this matter, he believed she wouldn’t lie to him.
She stared at him blankly.
Honestly, as a village girl suddenly producing so-called evidence out of nowhere, she would have found it hard to believe too.
Or rather, he was initially skeptical but eventually believed her.
Her heart slowly relaxed.
"Thank you, Brother Shi Qian," she said, her eyes shining as she spoke to him.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Huo Shi quickly reached out, grabbed her by the nape of her neck, and pulled her abruptly into his embrace.
Xia Chuyi fell into his solid and warm chest, caught off guard.
"Brother Shi Qian?" she exclaimed in surprise and confusion.