Upon mentioning "Trust Wife and Foster Son," Qiu Tu's gaze swept across Tan Huimin without betraying any emotion.
Tang Feifei didn't understand the implication of Qiu Tu's words, but Tan Huimin fully grasped the humiliation embedded in them.
Her hands involuntarily clenched tight.
Seeing her reaction, Qiu Tu carried on, "That's why I think there's likely been a misunderstanding."
"So, I would like to meet him personally, interrogate him."
"And see if he has anything he's willing to share with me."
"If there really is some misunderstanding, then I think either reducing the punishment or even releasing Director Zheng would be possible."
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Tan Huimin abruptly looked down at him.
If Qiu Tu suggesting Zheng Tao's punishment was excessive at the door of Tang Feifei's office could be interpreted as making excuses for her,
now Qiu Tu's initiative to make such a request definitely wasn't for making excuses; he truly meant it!
'Could it be... he actually plans to let Ah-Tao off?'
For a moment, Tan Huimin herself couldn't quite believe it.
Therefore, following that thought, some other terrible ideas started to take root in her mind:
Could it be that Qiu Tu intends to... in front of Ah-Tao, do something to me...?
Or perhaps... plan to use Ah-Tao's release to make some other excessive demands from me...?
Thinking of these possibilities made Tan Huimin clench her hands even tighter.
She wanted to refuse, yet could not bear to give up her husband's only chance, so she could only close her eyes, take a deep breath, and suppress the palpitations in her heart.
Tang Feifei looked at Qiu Tu and Tan Huimin with a puzzled expression.
A woman's intuition told her there was something off between these two.
But then... the relationship between Qiu Tu and herself was merely transactional anyway, so she didn't really care.
Add to that, the last few days had been too crucial for her, so she didn't delve into it but just nodded indifferently, "Okay. Then I'll hand over the disposition authority of this case to you. You handle it."
After speaking, Tang Feifei rummaged through the pile of documents on her desk, pulled out one, swiftly made a note, signed her name, and then handed the document to Qiu Tu.
Clutching the document, Qiu Tu seemingly casually but deliberately displayed it in front of Tan Huimin, then saluted Tang Feifei, said goodbye, and took Tan Huimin with him as they left the office.
In the office, Tang Feifei gazed at their departing figures, her eyes flickering with deep thought. But in the end, she simply shook her head slightly and then picked up the desk phone to start making calls to Yu Zhengyi and Shi Youxin, ready to arrange for her confidants...
Meanwhile, Qiu Tu and Tan Huimin,
Ever since Qiu Tu acquired the document that allowed him to decide Zheng Tao's fate, Tan Huimin's eyes had never left it.
Qiu Tu seemed aware of her thoughts and didn't put the document away, holding it in his hand, teasing her emotions.
Tan Huimin bit her lip, her gaze tightly following the document, like a cat being incessantly teased by a toy.
It wasn't until they were in the elevator that Tan Huimin reluctantly drew her gaze back, looking unfulfilled.
She thought of Qiu Tu's manipulative ways, thought of her own terrible speculation. In the end, unable to control herself, she looked down and asked, "Commander, you... you won't, in front of my husband, with me... with me..."
Tan Huimin didn't finish her sentence, but Qiu Tu guessed her meaning.
He was taken aback for a moment, then with a smile said, "Zheng Tao is lucky."
"Huh?" Tan Huimin lifted her head in confusion.
Qiu Tu suddenly pinched her chin, gazed into her eyes, and said with a light laugh, "I'd rather not let him witness how I manipulate you."
"He... at most, he could only listen to the sounds."
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Tan Huimin's face changed color, and she quickly took a step back. Then she said with a look of despair, "Commander, I beg of you, this really cannot happen."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu glanced at her with a mocking smile and suddenly asked, "So... if he doesn't hear the sounds, if he doesn't see, I can play with you as I wish?"
Tan Huimin realized she had unwittingly fallen into another of Qiu Tu's verbal traps. Her chest heaved a few times as she struggled to suppress the mortification in her heart.
Then she prepared to discuss this matter with Qiu Tu thoroughly.
However, just then, Qiu Tu changed the topic abruptly.
He said, "Did you catch what I and Director Tang discussed earlier?"
The sudden topic shift confused Tan Huimin for a moment, and she reflexively nodded.
After nodding, Tan Huimin immediately felt a bit of regret.
Indeed, she had listened to the entire conversation between Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei and was aware of all their schemes,
including planting a confidant, collaborating with The Five Elders, and controlling the Training Department, among other things...
Honestly, even she felt the content of this conversation was too important, that she shouldn't have listened.
So, she kept reminding herself: in one ear and out the other. She must not remember it.
Otherwise, if this secret were to be leaked, Qiu Tu might pin the blame on her, taking the opportunity to shame her.
Who would have thought that Qiu Tu would suddenly ask this while she was distracted?
So, for a while, Tan Huimin felt regret. She intended to find some cover.
But at that moment, Qiu Tu spoke again.
He looked at the slowly opening elevator doors, then said to Tan Huimin in a calm voice, "When you see Director Zheng later, tell him everything you saw and heard."