I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Under the night sky, neon lights flicker in the drizzle, seemingly hiding countless secrets. Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan sit in a newspaper office, piled high with documents and photos. These are the latest case they're investigating—a corruption case involving a high-ranking official. Although Li Wei has left the police force, his insight and experience remain an indispensable asset. Now, their team has a new member: private investigator Lin Feng.

Zhang Wanqing's eyes lingered on Lin Feng, his eyes were deep, as if he could see through everything. She knew that Lin Feng's joining might change the direction of the investigation, but she also knew that Li Wei was not so welcome to Lin Feng's joining.

"Lin Feng, how did you get involved in this case?" Zhang Wanqing asked, with a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Lin Feng smiled slightly and took out a photo from his pocket. "This photo was taken during a secret transaction. The relationship between Su Wan and that criminal group is much deeper than you think."

Zhang Wanqing took the photo, and her pupils shrank instantly. The person in the photo was Su Wan, but this was not the Su Wan she was familiar with. Su Wan in the photo was standing among a group of strangers, her eyes cold and indifferent, completely different from her usual appearance.

"This is..." Zhang Wanqing's voice was interrupted, and countless questions surged in her mind.

Zhang Wanqing's heart was filled with shock and pain. Her friend had hidden so many secrets. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

The morning sun shone through the half-open curtains, dappling onto Zhang Wanqing's desk. She rubbed her tired eyes; last night's escape and her encounter with Lin Feng had left her practically sleepless. Fu Siyuan sat across from her, his brow furrowed as they discussed the clues Lin Feng had provided.

Zhang Wanqing picked up the photo Lin Feng had given her and examined it carefully. Su Wan in the photo looked completely different from the friend she knew. Her coldness and distance sent a chill through her heart. "How many secrets is Su Wan hiding?" she muttered to herself.

Fu Siyuan sighed, his eyes revealing worry. "Wanqing, we can't just listen to Lin Feng's one-sided story. Su Wan is our friend, we have to handle this matter carefully."

Zhang Wanqing nodded, knowing that Fu Siyuan's concerns were justified. "I know, but we can't ignore any possible clues." Her voice was firm, but there was a hint of confusion in her eyes.

At this moment, Li Wei pushed the door open, his face gloomy and his eyes filled with obvious displeasure. "Do you really believe that private detective who suddenly appeared?" His voice was filled with doubt.

Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan exchanged a glance. They knew Li Wei's distrust of Lin Feng was not without reason. Lin Feng's appearance was too sudden, and his motives and background remained to be verified. "Li Wei, we understand your concerns," Zhang Wanqing said slowly, "but we have no other choice. The information Lin Feng possesses is too important for us."

Li Wei was silent. He knew that what Zhang Wanqing said was true, but his intuition told him that Lin Feng was not simple. "Okay, but I will investigate him myself." His voice was firm and unquestionable.

Zhang Wanqing nodded. She trusted Li Wei's judgment and ability. "We need a plan." She turned to Fu Siyuan. "We need to find more evidence to prove whether Su Wan is really connected to that criminal group."

Fu Siyuan nodded and began to list the information they knew and the clues they needed to investigate on the whiteboard. "First, we need to confirm whether Su Wan's father is really ill, which may be the reason why she joined the criminal group."

Zhang Wanqing agreed to the plan and picked up the phone to contact the hospital and Su Wan's relatives, while Li Wei began to investigate Lin Feng's background, trying to find out his true purpose.

A few hours later, Zhang Wanqing hung up the phone, her face grim. "Su Wan's father is indeed ill, and his condition is very serious." There was a hint of pain in her voice. She didn't want to believe that Su Wan would go astray because of such a thing.

Fu Siyuan's expression also turned heavy. He knew that this meant that Su Wan might really be controlled by the criminal group. "We have to find her and talk to her." His voice was firm.

Li Wei also returned to the office at this time, his expression even darker. "I investigated Lin Feng. His background is clean, but he has had contact with Su Wan." There was a hint of doubt in his eyes. "I don't know what this means, but I don't think we can trust him so easily."

Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan exchanged a glance. They knew that Li Wei's discovery had complicated the situation. "We need more information," Zhang Wanqing said with a hint of determination. "We must continue investigating until we find the truth."

They decided to split up, Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan went to Su Wan's home, while Li Wei continued to investigate Lin Feng. They knew that this investigation might be full of dangers, but they also knew that they could not give up.

Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan arrived at Su Wan's home, a quiet neighborhood with lush greenery and a pleasant environment. They rang the doorbell and waited for Su Wan's response. However, the door opened, and a strange middle-aged woman appeared.

"Who are you looking for?" There was a hint of caution in the woman's voice.

Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan exchanged a glance, realizing they might have found the wrong place. "Sorry, we might have gone the wrong way." Zhang Wanqing smiled awkwardly, and the two turned and left.

They walked along the road in the community, their hearts full of doubts. "Isn't Su Wan's home here?" Fu Siyuan asked.

Zhang Wanqing shook her head. "I don't know either. Maybe I remembered the address wrong." There was a hint of frustration in her voice.

Just then, they heard footsteps behind them. They quickly turned around and saw a man in black walking towards them. Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan immediately became nervous, knowing that they might have been exposed.

The man in black was getting closer and closer, and they could feel the threat emanating from him. Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan quickly exchanged a glance and decided to flee separately to disperse the other party's strength.

Zhang Wanqing quickly ran to the alley on the left, while Fu Siyuan ran to the right. The man in black hesitated, then chased Zhang Wanqing. She could hear the footsteps behind her getting closer, and her heartbeat quickened.

She ran through the narrow alleys and through the bustling market, and she could feel the man in black not far behind her. She knew she couldn't stop, she had to find a way out.

Finally, she reached a busy street, bustling with people and cars. She quickly blended into the crowd, trying to lose her pursuer. She could feel the black-clad figure's gaze searching the crowd, but she had already disappeared into the crowd.

She found a public phone booth and called Fu Siyuan's cell phone. "Siyuan, are you okay?" Her voice trembled slightly.

Fu Siyuan's voice came from the other end of the phone, a hint of fatigue. "I'm fine, but I couldn't get rid of him. Wanqing, we have to be careful, they've got their eyes on us."

Zhang Wanqing's heart sank. She knew Fu Siyuan was telling the truth. "We have to find Lin Feng. He might be our only hope," she said firmly.

They agreed on a meeting place, a remote park. Zhang Wanqing hung up the phone and took a deep breath. She knew that she had fallen into a dangerous game and she had to act carefully, otherwise her life would be in danger.