The next morning, the captain habitually woke up early. After washing up, he was about to head to the testing room.
However, just as he stepped out of the hotel and before he could hail a taxi, a masked figure suddenly leaped out from the roadside greenery.
The masked man's eyes glinted with ferocity. Without a word, he raised the dagger in his hand and thrust it towards the captain's abdomen.
The captain's face contorted in alarm, and he dodged hastily.
With a *plop*!
Although the blow missed the vital spot, it still pierced the captain's body solidly.
Instantly, the captain felt a wave of weakness wash over him, and he collapsed to the ground.
The masked man let out a cold laugh, leaving behind the words: "You refused a toast, only to be forced to drink a forfeit! Today, I'll send you to the afterlife!"
With that, he pulled out the dagger and raised it high.
It seemed he intended to plunge it directly into the captain's head, delivering a fatal blow!
"Help!"
Only now did the captain remember to shout for help, his cries echoing loudly.
The area around the hotel was already crowded. Hearing the captain's shouts, several people immediately gathered.
Seeing this, the masked man, disregarding his attempt to finish off the captain, turned and fled into the greenery, making a hasty escape.
The captain was then rushed to the hospital by the kind-hearted bystanders.
Less than half an hour after the incident, it had already become front-page news across major national media outlets.
Platforms like Weibo, in particular, saw it surge to the top of the trending list.
"Testing Captain Attacked, Life Hanging in the Balance"
"Corrupt Businessman Dares to Hire Assassins in Broad Daylight"
"Concerns Over Jianghai's Public Security – Is it Local Authorities' Inaction or Deliberate Negligence?"
The headlines were shocking and even prompted retweets and comments from official accounts in Yanjing!
This propelled the matter to a massive, uncontrollable climax!
Those who had held a shred of goodwill towards Min Ziqiong, believing that 'Shen Jing' might be a product of integrity, now, faced with the "bathwater" testing report and the captain's brutal assault, had their stances instantly reversed.
Every news comment section was filled with vitriol directed at Min Ziqiong.
At this point, a private account claimed to be a hotel staff member who had seen the attacker.
The attacker had previously tried to bribe the captain with a million yuan to falsify the test results. When the captain refused, the attacker resorted to silencing him.
The account, posing as a hotel staff member, also released a blurry video. The video showed the attacker presenting a bank card worth one million yuan to the captain.
After being sternly rebuked by the captain, he was then driven out of the room!
The release of this video quickly reignited public outrage online.
"Lawless! Simply lawless! It's unimaginable that in this new era, such businessmen still exist. For their own selfish gain, they resort to bribery, and when that fails, they hire assassins! I feel like I'm going to explode with anger!"
"Agreed. I wish I could transform into an ancient warrior and personally travel to Jianghai to decapitate that woman named Min! How can such a venomous woman exist in this world?"
"Brothers, let's keep pushing! Make sure this matter is known to everyone online! We absolutely cannot let that woman suppress the heat! She definitely will try! Justice must prevail! Evil must be punished!"
The netizens, seemingly convinced of the facts, launched a widespread condemnation of Min Ziqiong.
Under the immense pressure of public opinion, the local Jianghai authorities could no longer stand by.
Consequently, the Jianghai local authorities swiftly established a special task force to investigate the attack on the testing captain.
Soon, the task force identified the attacker as a local unemployed man named You San'er.
However, this individual had disappeared since the incident, and his whereabouts were unknown.
The captain's account of You San'er's bribery attempt was also corroborated.
The captain further mentioned a clue: You San'er had said, "I was sent by a Ms. Min."
This clue was immediately deemed crucial by the task force.
Thus, police cars were dispatched, heading directly towards the mountaintop villa.
Their sole objective: to arrest Min Ziqiong!
Inside the villa, as Ying Chen heard the approaching sirens, he sighed softly.
"Hearts are like the abyss, endlessly plotting against each other. While you plot against others, others are plotting against you! I wonder if you anticipated this move from the other side?"
Min Ziqiong's face was pale, a flicker of panic in her eyes.
Clearly, this move by her cousin was something she hadn't foreseen.
Min Ziqiong's schemes were, to a certain extent, open strategies, playing along with the prevailing current.
She naturally assumed the other party would also act within similar boundaries.
She hadn't expected them to pull such a drastic move – hiring an assassin and framing her!
This went beyond what Min Ziqiong had anticipated and caught her completely off guard.
Most importantly, even if Min Ziqiong were innocent, as long as You San'er couldn't be found, her innocence could not be proven!
Furthermore, even if You San'er were apprehended, if he were to falsely accuse Min Ziqiong of ordering the attack, she would be unable to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River!
Ultimately, Min Ziqiong's meddling with fire had led to her own immolation!
It was a classic case of a scholar facing a soldier, unable to reason, which accurately described the current showdown between Min Ziqiong and her cousin.
Observing Min Ziqiong's panicked expression, Ying Chen said leisurely, "The situation exceeded your calculations, but it did not exceed mine."
"Therefore, you have no need to panic. You simply need to go with them and quietly await the test results due the day after tomorrow."
Min Ziqiong's eyes brightened upon hearing this.
So, Mr. Ying wasn't indifferent; he was also making his own calculations! She was merely a piece on Mr. Ying's chessboard!
If that was the case, then there was nothing to fear.
With this thought, Min Ziqiong's heart gradually settled.
She bowed slightly to Ying Chen: "Then I will trouble Mr. Ying to look after Nannan for these two days."
"I'm leaving."
With that, Min Ziqiong walked out of the villa and towards the police car.
The officers, who were about to order the arrest, were dumbfounded.
Why was the suspect coming out on her own?
Why was she willingly getting into the police car?
What's more, her demeanor and bearing suggested less of an arrest and more of a paid vacation!
However, the priority was apprehending the suspect; nothing else mattered.
"Drive!"
At the command of the leading officer, the police car turned around and headed towards the Jianghai Police Station.
News of Min Ziqiong's arrest immediately hit the headlines.
Although the Jianghai police stated that the matter was still under investigation and the final results would take time to be released, the netizens rejoiced, believing that the villain had been brought to justice and righteousness upheld.
As for the testing results, did anyone still care?
Based on the preliminary "bathwater" report and Min Ziqiong's alleged crime of hiring assassins, it was enough to prove the product was fake, wasn't it?
It was akin to seeing through a swindler's true nature – would you still bother testing if the jade he sold you was glass or emerald?
It would be redundant!
The internet erupted in celebration, as if it were a festival.
The product 'Shen Jing' was now irrevocably labeled as "counterfeit and shoddy."
The matter seemed to have reached a neat conclusion, like a fairy tale where the villain is punished and the good get their happy endings, with no further chapters.
This was the end, the most perfect ending that everyone wished to preserve.
Unfortunately, there was one person who disliked this ending.
As night fell, he appeared in the hospital like a ghost.
Silently, he entered the hospital room where the testing captain was recuperating.