I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan, and Li Wei stood in front of Zhao Tianming's company building, gazing up at this symbol of power and wealth. The glass curtain wall shone brightly in the sunlight, creating an oppressive feeling. They knew they were about to step into not only the heart of a business empire, but also a vortex of unfathomable conspiracy.

Zhang Wanqing wore a simple business suit, her long hair neatly tied behind her head, and her eyes were firm and calm. As a reporter, she was used to working under pressure, but today's task made her feel unprecedentedly nervous.

Fu Siyuan is dressed in casual clothes, holding a small camera in his hand, ready to capture the key moment at any time. Fu Siyuan's appearance seems casual, but his observation and intuition always play an important role at the critical moment.

Li Wei, wearing a dark jacket, has a burly figure and a policeman's unique vigilance in his eyes. Although he has left the police force, his investigative skills and dedication to justice have never changed.

They walked into the building. The receptionist at the front desk was a young woman. When she saw the three of them come in, she smiled professionally.

"Welcome to Tianming Group. How can I help you?" Her voice was sweet and polite.

Zhang Wanqing stepped forward and said with a smile, "We are here to see Mr. Zhao Tianming. We have already made an appointment."

The receptionist checked the computer, then smiled and said, "Please wait a moment. I will contact Mr. Zhao's secretary right away."

A few minutes later, a woman in professional attire came out. She was Zhao Tianming's secretary with a formal smile on her face.

"Ms. Zhang, Mr. Fu, Mr. Li, Mr. Zhao is waiting for you, please follow me."

They were taken to a spacious conference room with some modern artworks hanging on the walls, showing Zhao Tianming's taste. Zhao Tianming sat at the end of the conference table, wearing a well-tailored suit and a confident smile on his face.

"Welcome, welcome. I heard that you have some questions to ask me?" His voice was low and powerful, and there was a hint of vigilance in his eyes.

Zhang Wanqing smiled and said, "Mr. Zhao, we are here to investigate a case and hope to get your help."

Zhao Tianming nodded, a sharp look flashing in his eyes: "Of course, I will do my best to cooperate."

Fu Siyuan raised his camera and said coldly, "We understand that you have some connection with the 'Ye Lan' massage center. Can you tell us what it is?"

Zhao Tianming's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "'Ye Lan' is opened by a friend of mine. I just go there occasionally to relax."

Li Wei frowned, sensing Zhao Tianming's evasion. "Mr. Zhao, the intelligence we received indicates that you were conducting some illegal transactions there."

Zhao Tianming's expression changed completely. He stood up and raised his voice a few degrees: "This is slander against me. I suggest you leave immediately."

Zhang Wanqing knew they had touched Zhao Tianming's bottom line, so she decided to take a more direct approach: "Mr. Zhao, we have evidence showing that you were trading illegal drugs there."

Zhao Tianming's face turned pale, and his voice trembled: "You...what evidence do you have?"

Fu Siyuan took out a USB drive and handed it to Zhao Tianming: "It contains the information left by the deceased, including your transaction records with the massage center."

Zhao Tianming's expression changed completely. He was silent for a moment, then sighed: "Okay, I can tell you some information, but you must promise not to leak it out."

The three of them exchanged glances and nodded.

Zhao Tianming took a deep breath and began to narrate: "The 'Ye Lan' massage center is actually a business project of mine. I conduct some... special transactions there."

Zhang Wanqing frowned. "Special deal? What exactly is it?"

Zhao Tianming whispered, "It's a deal for some banned drugs. I know it's illegal, but I...I need the money."

Fu Siyuan's face turned pale: "How could you do this?"

Zhao Tianming lowered his head, a hint of sadness in his voice: "I...I have my own difficulties."

Li Wei clenched his fists, his voice filled with anger: "You are playing with fire. Do you know how many people your actions have harmed?"

Zhao Tianming was silent for a moment, then said, "I know, I know I was wrong. I can provide more information to help you uncover the truth."

The three of them looked at each other. They knew that Zhao Tianming might be the key to uncovering the truth, or he might be a potential threat.

Zhang Wanqing said calmly, "We need all your information, including all your transaction records with the massage center."

Zhao Tianming nodded, a hint of gratitude in his eyes: "I will provide it to you, but you must ensure my safety."

The three of them left Zhao Tianming's office.

Sunlight filtered through the half-open curtains, dappling the faces of Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan, and Li Wei. They sat in their office, piled high with documents and materials obtained from Zhao Tianming. These documents revealed Zhao Tianming's hidden connections to the massage center and his complex dealings with political figures. Their brows furrowed, their eyes revealing a mixture of nervous anticipation.

Zhang Wanqing stared intently at the documents in her hands, her fingers tapping gently on the table, as if silently expressing her inner anxiety. As a reporter, she was extremely sensitive to every detail, knowing that there was a huge secret hidden behind these documents.

She took a deep breath and broke the silence in the office: "These documents show that Zhao Tianming is not just a businessman, he has close ties with some politicians."

Fu Siyuan looked up and his eyes met Zhang Wanqing's. "These connections may be the key to uncovering the truth."

Li Wei nodded: "That's right, but his background is complicated, so we can't act rashly. We need more evidence."

They knew that Zhao Tianming could be the key to uncovering the truth, or he could be a potential threat.

Fu Siyuan flipped through the documents, his brow furrowed. "Here are some photos showing Zhao Tianming meeting with several politicians in private."

Li Wei's expression turned serious. "If Zhao Tianming is involved in political dealings, then this case becomes even more complicated."

Zhang Wanqing nodded: "We need to find more evidence and protect this information at the same time."

Li Wei stood up and said firmly, "We can't confront Zhao Tianming directly. We need a plan."

Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan both looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Li Wei took a deep breath and said, "We can take advantage of Zhao Tianming's greed and set a trap."

Fu Siyuan's eyes lit up. "You mean, we pretend to have something he wants and lure him into the trap?"

Li Wei nodded: "That's right, we can pretend to have more negative information about him and see if he reveals his true colors."

Zhang Wanqing pondered for a moment, then said, "This is dangerous, but if we do it well, we might get the information we want."