Siheyuan came through and sent Jia Zhang to prison

After squatting in his hiding spot for about half an hour, the evening breeze carrying broken leaves past his feet, Zhang Shi finally caught a glimpse of a dark figure slipping out of the side door of the abandoned warehouse. The figure was tall and thin, wrapped in a loose black hoodie, the brim of which almost covered half of his face. His footsteps were as light as a cat stepping on cotton wool, and they landed silently on the ground - it was Scar, the man he had been staring at for three days. Zhang Shi held his breath instantly, and like a shadow stuck to the wall, he followed silently. He skillfully avoided the gravel under his feet, and only a few dead leaves occasionally made a slight crisp sound under his feet, which was quickly drowned out by the wind.

But he still neglected it after all - a few steps behind Scar, there was an even more difficult character.

Zheng Qiang hid in the shadows of a street corner, cigarette butt flickering between his fingers, seeing everything clearly. He cursed inwardly: Scar, that loser, has almost had a hole in his neck pierced by someone's paws, and he still doesn't even notice! Since these people dared to follow him here, it was obvious they were after his line. Did they really think he, Zheng Qiang, was a soft persimmon that could be manipulated at will?

Zheng Qiang followed Scar silently, his hands in his pockets, seemingly casually strolling forward. The rhythmic clacking of his heels against the ground made him inconspicuous amid the clamor of the city. Only he knew that his fingers had already quietly touched the short stick wrapped in non-slip tape at his waist. As his fingertips rolled over the cool metal, he had a plan in mind: first, he had to find the person following him. Before they could react, he would knock them unconscious with a stick and drag them into a dark alley. He must not let anyone know of his connection with Scar, especially not the old foxes in the bureau, or he would lose his position as deputy director and might even end up in disgrace.

How perceptive was Zhang Shi, the one in front of him? He'd just turned an alley when he noticed the shadowy figure in front of him suddenly slow down. It seemed to be aimlessly circling the alley, kicking a stone at its feet, but in reality, its peripheral vision was rapidly scanning behind it. Zhang Shi's heart skipped a beat: Oh no, I've been discovered! He stopped immediately, using the old wooden boxes stacked at the side of the alley as cover, and dodged inside. His back pressed against the cool wooden planks, the shadows between the boxes concealing his form. He even breathed softly, not daring to move another step forward.

The moment the shadowy figure turned, the wind lifted a corner of its hat, revealing a sharply defined face. The curve of its jawline struck Zhang Shi as somewhat familiar—a striking resemblance to the always stern-faced Deputy Director Zheng. But this fleeting glimpse wasn't enough evidence. He stroked his chin, his fingertips rubbing against his stubble. An idea gradually formed: Better to retreat and stake out a spot near Zheng Qiang's house. Perhaps he could find some more solid clues.

Elsewhere, Zheng Qiang waited at the alley entrance for a moment, glancing back again and again. Behind him, only the dim streetlight stretched its shadow; the empty alleyway was deserted, not even a ghost. He frowned. Was he really being too sensitive, paranoid? He spat on the ground, turned, and quickened his pace, heading for another fork in the road. Regardless, he couldn't stay near this warehouse any longer tonight. Better to get away from this troubled place.

Zhang Shi poked his head out from behind the wooden box, confirming Zheng Qiang was far away before standing up and walking in the opposite direction. He hadn't expected that just after turning two blocks, he'd see Zheng Qiang emerge from another alley. He was wearing a dark jacket, but his tall, thin figure and the way he walked with his head tilted slightly were exactly the same as the shadowy figure outside the warehouse.

Zhang Shi's brows furrowed even more tightly. It seemed this man was most likely Zheng Qiang. He would have to discuss this matter with the director as soon as he got to work tomorrow.

He walked quickly, thinking about how to report, but he didn't notice that fifty meters behind him, a man in a gray windbreaker was always keeping a distance from him. The shadow cast by the street lamp under his feet was like a silent snake, following Zhang Shi's footsteps closely - that was the man sent by Luo Hao, who had been keeping an eye on him for a long time.

After Zhang Shi left, the officer in charge of surveillance immediately turned to find Luo Hao and hurried into the office. "Captain, we've discovered someone is secretly following Zheng Qiang, and it looks like they're up to no good. Should we inform Zheng Qiang about this in advance so he can be prepared?"

Luo Hao leaned back in his chair, tapping the tabletop lightly with his fingertips. He curled his lips at the words, but there was no smile in his eyes. "Alright, this is exactly the effect I want. Don't worry about it. Once Zheng Qiang completes his mission over there, he'll become a useless pawn. As for what happens to him, it has nothing to do with us and won't affect our plan."

His men instantly understood what he meant—he was going to sacrifice Zheng Qiang to achieve his goal. He opened his mouth, wanting to say that Zheng Qiang had made many contributions over the years, but seeing Luo Hao's cold eyes, he swallowed his words and quietly retreated.

Luo Hao stood up and walked to the window, his gaze darting toward Zheng Qiang's distant home, a complex smile playing across his face. He knew full well that Zheng Qiang was a rare talent, a man of sharp intellect and shrewd tactics, who had handled many difficult cases. But there was no other way; for the sake of that game-changing plan, he had no choice but to throw him out. In the face of that crucial mission, everyone and everything seemed insignificant. Even his own life, if necessary, could be sacrificed at any time—after all, the impact on the enemy if successful was worth the price.

After figuring this out, Luo Hao turned around and left the office with firm steps.

Elsewhere, Zhang Shiben was planning to compile his findings and report to Director He Feng. Just as he reached the office door, he overheard a conversation from inside—He Feng and expert Ma Xin were chatting about their latest research project in a relaxed atmosphere. Knowing Ma Xin wouldn't get involved in these police matters, Zhang Shi didn't bother them and waited a moment at the door.

At this moment, He Feng happened to come out from inside, and when he saw him, he asked, "What's the matter?"

Zhang Shi lowered his voice and said, "Director, regarding Scar's situation..."

He Feng waved his hand, signaling him not to elaborate. He naturally understood that Ma Xin must not know about this matter: "I understand. Just keep an eye on Scar as planned. There's no need to rush to close the net and see who else is hiding behind him."

Zhang Shi nodded. "Director, I understand. I'll take a break now and come back tomorrow to follow up."

He Feng nodded and said, "Okay, take a good rest. After all, you've been busy all day, it's time to take a breath."

After Zhang Shi left, Ma Xin walked out of the office, looked at He Feng and asked with a smile, "He Feng, Captain Zhang came to see you just now. Is there a mission? He looked very serious."