Chapter 78: Video Evidence

Leopard Three’s efficiency was truly impressive. Just an hour later, he handed me a dossier on Yu Changqing—remarkably thorough, down to his birthday, blood type, and even rather sensitive details like his real estate holdings. The report concluded with the name of Yu Changqing’s secretary.

“Buddy, why are you giving me this?” I asked Leopard Three, puzzled as I looked at the flamboyant photograph.

“She’s called Meng Yao. That’s Yu Changqing’s secretary. You know… a secretary,” Leopard Three said, grinning mischievously, his eyes twinkling with implication.

I nodded. “I get it.” These days, what leader doesn’t have a secretary? And everyone knows there’s often more to that title than meets the eye.

“Boss, what do you want with Yu Changqing? Need me to round up a few guys to help you handle him? He’s quite an official—can’t deal with him openly, but we could always do it on the sly.” Leopard Three squinted his nearly invisible eyes at me.

“No need. Go get some rest. If I need anything, I’ll call you.”

“Okay, but promise me, boss—if you need help, you have to call. Otherwise, you’ll never forgive your little brother’s mistake.” He insisted, repeating himself as he was leaving.

“I promise. You’re like my own brother now. Go on, Grandma and Grandpa need to rest.”

Leopard Three left, and just as I was planning my next move, he knocked and slipped back in. Leaning in close, he whispered mysteriously, “Boss, just got word—Yu Changqing is meeting Meng Yao at his Moon Bay villa.”

“You rascal, that’s his private business. Don’t go prying. It’s late—go home and get some sleep.” I gave his shoulder a friendly smack.

“Alright, I’m off. You rest too, boss.” Seemingly even happier after the smack, Leopard Three left, beaming as he led his crew away.

As I closed the door behind him, I pondered my next step. Suddenly, a sly idea crept into my mind. Was this too underhanded? No, not at all. For someone like Yu Changqing, this method was downright refined.

“Honey, stay here with Grandpa and Grandma tonight. I need to go see Yu Changqing,” I said, putting my arm around Wang Ying and negotiating softly.

“I want to go too,” Wang Ying pouted.

“No, you can’t come.” I stopped her—she couldn’t be involved in this. It was enough for me and a few others like Shangguan Wan’er to handle. I kissed her cheek. “Trust me, I’ll handle this cleanly and beautifully.”

She hugged me tightly. “Alright, but be careful. I’ll be waiting for you to come back and rest.”

After another kiss on her cheek, I took the spirit jar and left. The street was already draped in flickering lights. I hailed a taxi and headed straight for the Moon Bay villa district.

The name “Moon Bay” might not sound chic, but the villas certainly were—rows of faux-European mansions nestled among landscaped trees, the unmistakable habitat of the wealthy.

With Leopard Three’s intel, I made straight for Villa 66. It was late, and the spacious neighborhood was quiet, mostly deserted. In a secluded spot, I took out the spirit jar, opened the lid, and saw Shangguan Wan’er and the other two little ghosts chatting inside.

“Wan’er, can you do me a favor?” I asked quietly into the jar.

“No need to be polite with me. Just say it—I’ll do anything, except talk romance with you.” After all this time, the little ghost girl even joked with me.

“I wouldn’t dare. I’m a married man now. In a bit, could you slip into Yu Changqing’s room and see what he’s up to?”

“Sure, that’s easy.”

“Boss, can we go out for a bit too? It’s night, the energy is strong, and we’d like to have some fun.” Qingtin poked her rosy face out of the jar. I realized I really had kept them cooped up too long. With the night so deep and the yin energy so thick, I relented.

“Alright, but don’t go far.”

“We’ll stick close to you.” Qingtin drifted out of the jar, landing lightly by my side. Xuanli followed.

The three little ghosts ignored me and floated straight into Yu Changqing’s villa, leaving me to clamber awkwardly over the wrought iron fence—ripping my pants in the process.

“Don’t wander off, we have business here.” Once inside, I motioned to them. Shangguan Wan’er floated over, sighing, “The air’s great here.”

“We’re here for a reason. See the lit window on the second floor? Go see if Yu Changqing is there.” The second floor was far too high for me to reach.

With a word of assent, Shangguan Wan’er shot up in a blur. In less than a second, she was back before me, her face blazing red. “Wang Dachuan, you’re awful.”

I chuckled inwardly. So my guess was right. Playing dumb, I asked, “Wan’er, what did you see?”

“Nothing. If you want to know, see for yourself.” She wouldn’t meet my eyes, her blush confirming my suspicions.

“Xuanli, can you help me up to that second-floor window?”

“That’s easy. Come on, I’ll carry you.” She agreed and, with a swift motion, lifted me up. Suddenly, I was soaring.

At the window, the scene inside was crystal clear: a man and a woman, both naked, tangled together in every possible position. No wonder Shangguan Wan’er was embarrassed. Even I felt awkward witnessing it. I took out my phone and shot a full 3D video from every angle, then had Xuanli lower me to the ground.

“Alright, you two stop playing around—back to work. I’ve left the jar open, so if I need you, just come at my call.” I instructed.

Xuanli and Qingtin floated back inside. Shangguan Wan’er, lingering at the end, shot me a glare and, through gritted teeth, spat, “Wang Dachuan, you’re a scoundrel—a pervert.” Then she too disappeared into the jar.

Only then did I realize I shouldn’t have sent her to check. I should have sent Xuanli—she was always more level-headed.

A young girl, even a ghost, would blush at such a sight. Let her curse me—she didn’t mean it.

Downstairs, I lit a cigarette and watched as the lights went out on the second floor. Then I stepped up and rang the doorbell.

“Who is it, this time of night?” The video intercom showed the face of an aging man, smooth and round.

“Director Yu, I’m here on behalf of Director Zhang—I have something for you.” Getting a corrupt official to open his door at this hour was no small feat. If I didn’t play a trick or two, he’d never let me in.

“Director Zhang—from the Tobacco Bureau?” He took the bait.

“That’s right. He asked me to give you this personally. He wanted to come himself, but he’s had too much to drink tonight.”

“Oh, that Zhang! Always so formal, even among friends. Wait there, I’ll be right down.” The intercom clicked off, and I stepped inside.

The living room lights came on—spacious and luxurious. Most of the furniture I didn’t even recognize. I sat on the sofa for a while before Yu Changqing came down in his pajamas—fifty-something, plump and pale.

“Director Zhang is too kind,” Yu Changqing said as he descended the stairs, his eyes scanning the room—no doubt hoping to spot whatever gift I might have brought.

“Young man, I don’t know you. Do you work with Director Zhang?” Suspicion flickered on his face. Officials were used to receiving gifts in person, usually from trusted aides or drivers—not strangers.

“I just started working for him. He asked me to show you something.” Grinning, I took out my phone and handed over the video I’d just recorded.

Yu Changqing glanced at the footage, his body going rigid as sweat poured down his face. He trembled, “Who—who are you?”

I sneered, “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is what you’ve done. Do you think this is how you repay the country that nurtured you? The taxpayers who support you?”

“You…you’re from the Disciplinary Committee?” He was terrified, convinced I was there gathering evidence.

“I’m not with the Committee—I’m no one special. Just a bystander who happened to catch you on video. Director Yu, what do you think would happen if this footage showed up online?” I dangled the phone.

Relieved, Yu Changqing visibly relaxed and sat down, pouring himself a glass of red wine. “Just tell me—how much to make this go away? It’s just money, after all.”