"Mr. Chu, don't worry about it. It's not uncommon for someone to be called out alone from here. Besides, we're just having a casual meal together; it won't take much of your time."
Su Wei smiled warmly. Seeing that Chu Ge seemed inclined to decline, he exchanged a glance with his younger brother-in-law in charge of guidance, who immediately chimed in as well.
"Chu Ge, don't be so reserved. This meal was made by my brother-in-law himself. He won my sister over with his cooking skills. I'm not exaggerating; his culinary skills are top-notch. And I get to enjoy a special meal with you. You have no idea, I've been yearning to taste his cooking for a long time. If it weren't for your visit, I wouldn't have this opportunity."
Su Wei evidently found these words from his brother-in-law very satisfying. He laughed and gestured to Chu Ge to join them.
"Brother Chu, although it sounds a bit odd, since you're here in my place, I should at least show some hospitality, right? Since you're friends with Gaoze, you're like a brother to me, Su Wei. If I don't offer you a proper meal, Gaoze might think poorly of me, wouldn't he?"
Just a moment ago, Su Wei was addressing Chu Ge as "Mr. Chu," and now, within such a short time, he was acting all chummy, beaming warmth like a smiling Maitreya Buddha.
If any of the detainees in the detention center saw Su Wei like this, they would surely doubt their eyes. Even in their dreams, they wouldn't expect Su Wei, who always appeared aloof and stern, to show such an expression.
With Su Wei and his brother-in-law echoing each other's words, Chu Ge felt even more helpless. He thought he had to be more straightforward. Instead of following Su Wei toward the inner room where the aroma of food was wafting from, he stood still, offering a apologetic smile.
"Director Su, I truly appreciate your kindness. However... since Captain Lin has already briefed you, I believe even without him explicitly stating, you should know I'm here on a mission. I haven't finished what I've come to accomplish, and I'm really worried about any delays."
The smile on Su Wei's face froze slightly, and there was a hint of awkwardness in his eyes. But that awkwardness was fleeting, and his smile became even more courteous and radiant.
"Haha, they say a reputation never beats meeting in person. Brother Chu's seriousness at work is truly admirable, and I am genuinely impressed. Compared to Brother Chu, I'm truly ashamed, indeed."
Chu Ge smiled faintly, offering no opinion. In his mind, surely Su Wei had nothing more to say and would let him go, right?
However, just as he was thinking this, Su Wei shifted his tone.
"But speaking of which, health is the foundation, especially for those who accomplish great things. One should take care of themselves, right? Only after a proper meal can you have the energy to work, right? Besides, the detainees and their cells aren't going anywhere. Just a meal taking ten or so minutes wouldn't delay anything. You can still go back afterward."
"Yeah, Chu Ge, it's just a meal. You don't have to be so unyielding, right? With the time we've spent talking, we'd almost be halfway through the meal."
Even Su Wei's brother-in-law chimed in. However, he clearly lacked Su Wei's composure. Despite realizing the importance of Chu Ge from his brother-in-law's reactions, a hint of displeasure was showing on his face and in his tone.
Chu Ge's eyelid twitched. He hadn't expected that after being so direct, Su Wei would still insist on having him stay. Refusing again would seem unreasonable.
No matter how one looks at it, Su Wei was doing his part, and given that Chu Ge had sought Lin Gaoze's assistance, who in turn involved Su Wei, Chu Ge really didn't want things to become too awkward with Su Wei, if only for Lin Gaoze's sake.
Finally, under this persistent hospitality, Chu Ge managed a smile and nodded, "Then I must oblige."
"Haha, Brother Chu, please!"
"Please!"
To be honest, Su Wei's cooking skills were indeed quite impressive. The four dishes and one soup balanced with meat and vegetables were commendable. It was leagues better than the watery meals provided to the detainees.
During the meal, Su Wei and his brother-in-law, who worked in supervision, were exceedingly attentive and welcoming to Chu Ge, creating a rather pleasant atmosphere.
Even so, Chu Ge couldn't quite enjoy the meal. First, he was preoccupied with matters concerning Li Zheming; second, he found the situation rather pointless.
He remained there to eat the meal purely out of respect for Lin Gaoze, knowing full well that Su Wei's hospitality was not without ulterior motives. Although Su Wei spoke in veiled terms, how could Chu Ge possibly not glean the true intention lurking behind Su Wei's words?
Director Su explicitly hoped that Chu Ge would speak favorably about him to Lin Gaoze, ensuring that Lin Gaoze would appreciate the gesture. After all, Lin Gaoze was currently thriving in the Lidu police force and likely to be promoted to the position of executive deputy director of the Public Security Bureau soon. Such a favor was exceedingly significant for Su Wei.
Although Lin Gaoze's promotion wasn't settled yet, the current executive deputy director was indeed about to retire. As the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire, and these people have keen senses!
If Lin Gaoze truly took up the position, he shouldn't forget Su Wei's assistance now, right?
Moreover, Su Wei had long heard about some matters concerning Chu Ge. Now, with this opportunity, he naturally wanted to forge as strong a connection as possible; who knows, perhaps one day Chu Ge would become instrumental in his own advancement?
As the meal neared its end, Su Wei's eyes flickered shrewdly, and he posed a question to Chu Ge.
"Brother Chu, you've got more than twenty people in your cell, and it's so small. Doesn't that make what you want to do a bit inconvenient?"
Chu Ge was just about to ask to leave to get his business done when he suddenly heard Su Wei say this, making him pause slightly, "What do you mean, Director Su?"
"Perhaps..." Su Wei paused for a few seconds, then gave a slight smile, "Brother Chu, let's not beat around the bush. If it's inconvenient for you, I could provide you a more suitable place."
In fact, from the moment he received Lin Gaoze's call, Su Wei had been pondering over this in his mind, and now he was finally decided.
This time, Chu Ge was genuinely surprised. What happens between him and Li Zheming inside the cell was their own business. In theory, as long as no life is lost, it wouldn't affect the detention center.
But if Su Wei were to arrange a place for him to conduct his business, that would be a different matter. If word got out or something went wrong, it would be a big or small trouble for Su Wei.
"For my sake, or rather for Lin Gaoze's face, is Su Wei really willing to do this?"
Chu Ge was quickly contemplating this in his mind when he heard Su Wei's voice again.
"Brother Chu, why don't you give Gaoze a call first? Maybe discuss it between you two?"
Hearing Su Wei say this and seeing him hand over the phone, Chu Ge's doubts and reservations dissipated, because the subtext of those words was, "You can ask Lin Gaoze if I'm trustworthy."
Indeed, birds of a feather flock together, and people of the same kind come together. Lin Gaoze was someone full of passion and ambition, with the brains and courage to take risks, and this seemingly cheerful Su Wei clearly had a gambler's ruthless streak in his bones.
Without taking the phone, Chu Ge shook his head with a smile, "No need for that. Better to have Director Su talk about your thoughts."
Su Wei smiled slightly and didn't reply to Chu Ge, instead turning to look at his brother-in-law, "Xiao Bin, I heard Li Zheming hasn't been behaving today during exercise? Tried a few times to pull something with his old gang?"
Xiao Bin nodded, "Yes, that's true."
"For someone so unrepentant, he should be dealt with harshly. How about this, let him go to solitary confinement to reflect for a bit."
"Sure, brother-in-law, you two eat slowly, I'll be back soon."
Xiao Bin gave a knowing smile, agreed, and then left the room.
"Brother Chu, come, eat, eat, how's my cooking, are you satisfied?"
"Satisfied, very satisfied, thank you, Director Su."
"By the way, do you need any tools later? I believe you'll find something handy here."
"Heh, then I thank Director Su again."
Of course, Chu Ge was satisfied. In a solitary cell with only him and Li Zheming, interrogating would obviously be much more convenient.
In less than ten minutes, Chu Ge got a pair of gloves, a flashlight, and some small items from Su Wei. Just as he was ready, Xiao Bin returned and then brought Chu Ge to the door of the solitary cell, agreeing to return in an hour to pick him up, and then opened the solitary cell door.
The solitary cell was very small, not even three square meters, without windows, completely dark inside. When the door was opened, a sliver of light came in. If there were any facilities here, it would be the four iron nails the size of a baby's fist embedded in the wall opposite the door, each connected to a shackle by chains.
At the moment, none of the shackles were free; they were clamping down on a person's four limbs, hanging him spread-eagled on the wall. That person was, of course, Li Zheming, and in the faint light entering the solitary confinement, you could vaguely see the red marks where his wrists and ankles were tied.
"Mmm! Mmm!"
When Li Zheming saw Chu Ge, he immediately began to scream frantically, struggling with all his limbs, causing the chains to make a grating clanking sound. Unfortunately, his mouth was gagged with a cloth, so he could only make faint, muffled noises.
"Clang!"
The door of the solitary cell slammed shut, and the small space was plunged into impenetrable darkness, making Li Zheming struggle even more fiercely.