Chapter 46: Pawn or Player?

"Yang Dong, why did you suspect me? I don't recall making any mistakes before this," Hou Shuangquan finally took several minutes to fully accept the truth. Yet curiosity remained—how had Yang Dong discovered him? Since being transferred to the municipal disciplinary committee's investigation team, he'd kept a low profile, almost invisible, a mere echo of Hou Donglai, precisely to avoid suspicion. Still, Yang Dong had seen through him. Why?

"Yes, ever since you joined the municipal disciplinary committee's investigation team, you've kept your presence deliberately weak, always acting as Hou Donglai's echo," Yang Dong said. "But the more you did that, the more I suspected you. There's a saying you may not like to hear, but it fits: 'The dog that bites doesn't bark.'"

Hou Shuangquan's face twitched—such a comparison was hardly flattering. Yet even with Yang Dong's explanation, doubts lingered. "Even so, why suspect me? Is it a crime to be silent and low-key?"

Yang Dong couldn't help but smile. "There's nothing wrong with being low-key. But you came from the municipal prosecutor's office."

"So what?" Hou Shuangquan was genuinely puzzled. What was so special about the municipal prosecutor's office?

"Before Xu Yuncai became deputy secretary of the municipal disciplinary committee, he served as deputy chief prosecutor at the prosecutor's office. And you came from there too, so I had to suspect you."

Hou Shuangquan still found the reasoning far-fetched. He shook his head and pressed on, "By your logic, Hou Donglai also came from the prosecutor's office. Why not suspect he's a mole too?"

Yang Dong shook his head. "It's different. He wouldn't dare. I have leverage over Hou Donglai—he wouldn't risk being a mole. Even if he were, he wouldn't dare act on it. But you're different; I had no leverage over you before. Now, though... I do."

"So, Yang Dong, what do you plan to do with me? Report me? Hand me over to the municipal disciplinary committee?" Hou Shuangquan sighed, his voice tinged with bitter laughter. He had resigned himself to his fate. He knew once a mole was exposed, the outcome was inevitable. He had prepared himself for this, or he never would have risked passing information to Xu Yuncai.

"No, I won't report you, nor will I hand you over to the municipal disciplinary committee."

Yang Dong's unexpected attitude stunned Hou Shuangquan. He stared at Yang Dong, his eyes full of questions and confusion. He had no idea what Yang Dong was planning.

"What do you want, then?" Hou Shuangquan frowned, questioning Yang Dong.

Yang Dong patted Hou Shuangquan's shoulder, grinning. "We've survived a life-and-death crisis together. We're comrades now. How could I be so heartless to a comrade? So, focus on your recovery. The case with our tenth task force isn't closed yet—you still have a role to play."

With that, Yang Dong stood and walked out, unconcerned by Hou Shuangquan's swirling doubts.

Hou Shuangquan watched Yang Dong's back as he left the ward, disappearing from sight. He felt his body go weak, gasping for breath, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

He felt increasingly terrified of Yang Dong—not just fearful, but as if Yang Dong was unfathomable, almost supernatural. Yang Dong handled him with surprising gentleness, but that only heightened his anxiety. Yang Dong now held leverage over him, which meant from this moment on, his career, his fate, all depended on Yang Dong's whims. He wasn't a fool; he understood Yang Dong's underlying intent—to control him, to use him. It was both a scheme and an open strategy, flawless.

Yet he still didn't know what Yang Dong wanted from him.

Wait.

All he could do was wait.

To see what medicine Yang Dong was brewing in his gourd.

After leaving the 308 ward, Yang Dong returned to his own room with Jiang Hu.

"Chief, what did you talk about with Hou Shuangquan? It took so long," Jiang Hu asked, keeping track—it had been thirteen minutes.

"Huzi, can I ask you for a favor?" Yang Dong didn't answer but looked at him with a serious, earnest expression.

Jiang Hu had never seen Yang Dong look like that before. Still, he nodded. "If it's within my power, I'll help you."

His trust in Yang Dong was blind. If he deemed someone worthy, he would never doubt them. Such a temperament could lead to disaster or to great fortune—it all depended on whom he met.

"You can definitely do it," Yang Dong said with certainty.

It was a simple task for Jiang Hu, not difficult at all.

"So what is it?" Jiang Hu pressed.

"Help me relay three messages to Hou Shuangquan," Yang Dong replied. Some words couldn't be spoken directly; someone else had to deliver them. Jiang Hu was the ideal candidate.

"What? You want me to say it? Didn't you just come out of his ward?" Jiang Hu was baffled. Why hadn't Yang Dong said them during his visit?

"Huzi, just help me," Yang Dong said, not offering any explanation, only staring at him.

Jiang Hu didn't understand, but nodded. "Alright, it's just a few words. I'll do it."

He already regarded Yang Dong as a comrade, brother, and like-minded ally.

Yang Dong smiled. Jiang Hu was a man worth befriending, trustworthy. He would never let him down.

"First, tell him he owes me a meal; he should treat me when there's a chance. Second, tell him he owes me a favor; he should pay it back when the opportunity arises. Third, tell him the mastermind behind the car accident was He Wu, the deputy director of the Yunbei District Public Security Bureau."

Yang Dong gave Jiang Hu the three messages.

They were few enough for Jiang Hu to remember without missing a word.

"Can't figure it out..." Jiang Hu scratched his head, full of confusion. He knew the three sentences were more than their surface meaning, but he couldn't grasp their deeper significance. He was trained as a detective, not skilled in such intricate plots.

He sighed and headed toward Hou Shuangquan's ward, 308.

He pushed the door open and walked straight in.

Hearing footsteps, Hou Shuangquan looked up. Seeing Jiang Hu, his gaze froze.

"The chief asked me to pass on three messages," Jiang Hu said.

"First, you owe him a meal; make it up later. Second, you owe him a favor; repay it in the future. Third, the mastermind behind the car accident was He Wu, deputy director of Yunbei District Public Security Bureau."

"That's it. I'm gone."

With that, Jiang Hu turned and left, not staying a second longer.

He had no liking for Hou Shuangquan, felt nothing toward him.

At first, Hou Shuangquan was utterly bewildered. But as he pondered the three sentences, he grasped their deeper meaning. His heart sank and his expression grew fearful.

Yang Dong was truly terrifying.

Yang Dong was forcing him to break with Xu Yuncai!

But could he refuse? Did he have the right to refuse?

Yang Dong already held leverage over him.

For his career, for his future, he had no choice.

He had to accept his fate.

Since he'd entered this game and become a piece on the board, he had to recognize the fate of a chess piece.

"Yang Dong, oh Yang Dong, you're ruthless!" Hou Shuangquan shook his head with a bitter smile, his gaze full of fear.

He had once thought Yang Dong was merely another pawn, like himself, on the chessboard. That the true players were Secretary Xu Yuncai and Secretary Wei Chonghu.

But now he saw clearly—the player behind the board was Yang Dong.

He, a mere clerk, was actually the chess player, the mastermind, quietly steering the game from the shadows...

Terrifying...

Xu Yuncai, his old leader, always believed his opponent was Wei Chonghu or Yin Tiejun.

But did he ever suspect that the chess player was Yang Dong?