Chapter 116: Preparation
After a playful banter between the two, a serious atmosphere returned, in preparation for what was about to happen next.
Yang Qingyue and Cai Ning sat down on each other's side while Cai Ning stared at the superintendent, her eyes narrowed.
The young policewoman made a warm tea for her friend meticulously. Her gestured exhibiting arts for the watchers to enjoy.
But that didn't include Cai Ning. To her, except for the beautiful movement of her friend's graceful hands, she found nothing appealing.
After Yang Qingyue finished her tea brewing, she handed it over to her friend for a sip. Cai Ningbing sniffed the warm air wafted out of the liquid and was refreshed.
Her mouth parted as she gently sipped. Little by little to avoid her tongue getting burnt.
Afterward, Cai Ning pouted her lips and exhaled: "Good tea."
Yang Qingyue's eyes turned suspicious, disbelieving her friend studied tea arts to comment on her brewing.
"You know tea art?" Yang Qingyue sounded strange.
"Of course." Cai Ning nodded. "You don't look at those old men discussing and speaking poems after saying 'good tea'. Even the novels depicted the same."
Slap.
Yang Qingyue fondled her forehead after slapping the back of her friend's neck. Exactly as she expected.
Trying to emulate the experts without comprehension of any tea spoiled her eyes. Forget about her, she should focus on tonight's main theme.
"Thank you for joining in to support me." Yang Qingyue sighed and said.
Cai Ning rubbed the area on the back of her head, where Yang Qingyue whacked it mercilessly. Luckily, she didn't loosen her grip on the cup or subconsciously clench it.
"You shouldn't hurt my head. Who knows you might be the reason why I'm out of ideas these days." Cai Ning clicked her tongue. "And no thank you. You should compensate for that previous slap. Now you owe me twice."
The most fashionably dressed lady folded her arms and stared at Yang Qingyue, who avoided her glance.
"Ahem! Don't worry there'll be many opportunities in our province."
"Tsk…Don't I know the mess in your area…huh? Speaking of, are you certain to go on with your idea." Cai Ning asked.
"Sure, there's no turning back. It's been so long, I've had enough of these officials. If not for my work, I won't bother to talk. Here, have a look." Yang Qingyu's hands pressed the black two-pocket folder and slid it across the table to her friend.
"What's in it?" Cai Ning asked as she drew the folder closer.
Unfolding it, she saw loads of papers, concerning reports and photographs. Turning it over one by one, these lists contained the names and information related to the police officers, who died in the line of duty.
Also included were the names of ordinary people who suffered from the inaction of the police and those who reported intels to law enforcement.
Most of the events were 4-5 years old. The problem was someone closed their cases forcibly and there wasn't any progress.
"I have had enough. I didn't expect the force to be this degenerate." Yang Qingyue clenched her fists as she spoke. "My heart burns with rage and almost causes impulsive actions several times when I read these."
"Um." Cai Ning eyed her friend and muttered in agreement. Her expression still remained stoic.
Seeing Cai Ning expressionless, Yang Qingyue cursed. "Don't you have any emotion? Where does your heart go?"
Her friend shrugged: "It's not a day or two I've seen deaths."
Yang Qingyue got closer in annoyance and snarled. "You know I'm not talking about this."
She slammed on the folder and turned on page after page. "Policeman killed due to knife attack. The suspect was apprehended and let go."
"Another one, Look at the young policeman full of justice. His mother gave birth to a good man and only had him to survive. He died of gunshots wound. Gunshots! Do you hear me?! And nothing happens, no investigation, no arrest."
"This family got destroyed because they reported and damaged the criminals' activities. Police can't even protect them."
"Finally, look at this young girl. Only around 20 years old. This policewoman was undercover agent. She was brutally murdered after being discovered. It's obvious why her cover was blown. A youth whose age should have been enjoying her life became a cold body.
No police action for her, because she is an orphan? Cai Ning, have some sense of humanity!"
Yang Qingyue's beration didn't bring discomfort to Cai Ning, whose eyes also looked back at her friend's outraged eyes.
She didn't speak until Yang Qingyue collapsed onto the back of her seat and exclaimed. "Before we met each other in the past, I didn't see you clearly. But now, you've changed from the friend I'm familiar with. What has the organization done?"
Yang Qingyue was proud of her friend who she grew up together as close sisters, when she heard Cai Ningbing was joining another government department when they joined the police together.
A department only a few elite and most capable officers could join. Only now, Yang Qingyue began to worry about Cai Ning's psychology.
"People change, Sister Qingyue. People change." Cai Ning replied in a soft gentle tone.
"You should get out and retire. I know I don't have the right to speak like this but come back I need you; after tonight, leave the organization. Don't worry about anything. I have your back as always." Yang Qingyue pleaded.
She didn't like her sister getting colder and colder without having any necessary emotions a human being should have.
Cai Ning merely smiled, her eyes warm at her friend's concern. Her head showed the movement of rejection.
"Don't shake your head in front of me. Don't you dare?" Yang Qingyue interrupted. Her worries about the coming ideas to be implemented went away after realizing she needed to address her friend's problem immediately.
"Sister Qingyue, stop worrying about me. I'm fine."
"No, you're not. It is too obvious. Don't refuse my offer; otherwise, I'll complain to my mother and forcibly transfer you to me." Yang Qingyue grabbed her friend's arms and caressed her skin.
"Okay, we'll talk about this later. I promise you. First, let's finish your plan tonight. I'll give you my full support." Cai Ning replied, gently patting Yang Qingyue's hand.
Seeing her friend's reluctance to the topic, Yang Qingyue decided to stop pressuring her for now. "You should see a psychologist, Sister Ning. You aren't…..normally you. Although your treatment toward me hasn't changed the slightest, I don't want any harm bothering you."
"Okay," Cai Ning could only nod to appease her sister.
"You didn't know the details of my plan. So, let me explain." Yang Qingyue was about to continue when she was cut off by Cai Ning.
"Have you checked the surroundings?"
"Done. Except for distant audio seeker, which I can't detect. Everything is fine. Besides we aren't going to say direct words."
Cai Ning motioned for Yang Qingyue to continue her explanation. Listening more and more, Cai Ning had a suspicion.
Yang Qingyue's sense of justice was one aspect. Another was her conjecture of someone guiding her friend, which she didn't like at all.
Cai Ning waited and allowed Yang Qingyue to finish before questioning about the informants who were purposely providing guidance and evidence, that Yang Qingyue could make use of.
Cai Ning was worried Yang Qingyue might become impulsive, hurting her future career path in the officialdom.
She, who joined the organization, had a stronger awareness of the intricacies involved in the upper circle. Treading carefully on a thin rope, silent knives weaved behind the scenes.
Under Cai Ning's pressure, Yang Qingyue replied. "We're just making use of each other."
That meant her friend knew the identity of her helper based on her tone. Well, it seemed she must stay beside Yang Qingyue to protect her from hidden danger.
There must be a catch for the helper to support Yang Qingyue. Before investigating thoroughly, Cai Ning couldn't expel her worries.
"Alright, Sister Ning needs not to be anxious. I know her and the reason why she helps me. We're in the same boat on this journey. Plus, it's rare to have some camaraderie between us, especially in Province N where morals and ethics went downhill. People survive stepping over one another."