By the time Ye Sang finished handling the necessary tasks, it was already past five in the morning. Through his office's large window, he could see the night outside beginning to fade into a hazy gray. He knew a new day was about to arrive. The sun would slowly rise in the east, illuminating the entire land, bringing light to Baoli City, and also shining into his South Suburb Detention Center.
After gazing quietly for a moment, Ye Sang took a deep breath, rubbed his bloodshot eyes, and slumped into the soft sofa. Leaning back halfway, he closed his eyes, a trace of anxiety still present as he fell into a heavy sleep.
Knock, knock...
A crisp knocking sound interrupted Ye Sang's shallow slumber.
He opened his eyes quickly, shook his heavy head, and lightly patted his forehead. "Come in!" he called out, his voice still somewhat groggy.
The door was gently pushed open, and a middle-aged officer in a crisp uniform walked in—Instructor Hong Wu. Hong Wu walked slowly to Warden Ye Sang's side, looking somewhat weary. "Director, someone wants to see Bai Hao."
"What? You're bothering me over someone wanting a visit?" Ye Sang rubbed his face, stood up, his tone impatient. But a few seconds later, he seemed to realize something, his expression changing abruptly. "Wait, what did you say? To see Bai Hao?"
Hong Wu gave a slight nod.
Ye Sang's pupils contracted slightly. At first, he hadn't registered it, thinking it was just a routine visit. But he immediately realized Bai Hao was the central figure in last night's brawl. If someone connected to him were to see Bai Hao, battered and bruised after just one day, it would be detrimental to the detention center.
"Who is it that wants to see Bai Hao?" Ye Sang asked softly, sitting down at his desk.
Hong Wu replied, "A woman. A mecha designer from Boli Corporation."
"What? Boli Corporation?" A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Sang's face. "How is Bai Hao connected to Boli Corporation?"
Hong Wu shook his head.
Ye Sang was silent for a few seconds. "Is she really from Boli? Identity confirmed?"
Hong Wu nodded. "She presented her Boli Corporation work ID. She is indeed from the company."
Ye Sang took a light breath and continued, "What's her relationship to Bai Hao?"
"Colleague," Hong Wu answered.
Ye Sang's expression shifted, clouded with uncertainty. "Then we absolutely cannot let her see him. If she finds out about last night's incident, our situation will become troublesome. Hong Wu, send her away. But be polite about it. She's from Boli Corporation; we can't afford to offend her."
"Yes, Director." Hong Wu nodded and turned to leave the office.
In the reception room, Yan Yifei's brow was tightly furrowed, a barely concealed anger evident on her peach-blossom-like face. Yes, she was furious. Yesterday evening, she had gone to the Southern Precinct but hadn't been able to see Bai Hao, being told he had been transferred to the detention center. This surprised her. The transfer had happened so quickly, giving her a bad premonition. Therefore, she had come to the South Suburb Detention Center first thing in the morning, only to be told that a visit required approvals and clearances. She had been waiting in this reception room for a full half hour.
Click.
The door was pushed open, and Hong Wu walked slowly into the reception room, his expression calm. He glanced at the visibly irritated Yan Yifei and said with an apologetic smile, "Ms. Yan, my apologies for keeping you waiting."
Yan Yifei was in no mood for pleasantries. Her face still wore a trace of anger. "Well? Have you finished 'requesting instructions'?"
Hong Wu maintained his smile. "I'm afraid you won't be able to see Bai Hao for the next couple of days."
Yan Yifei's elegant eyebrows arched. "Why not?"
Hong Wu expressed regret. "I'm not entirely clear on that myself. But it's the Director's order. As subordinates, we cannot easily disobey."
"And where is your Director? I want to see him. Bai Hao is an employee of Boli Corporation. Furthermore, I know he hasn't committed any crime, has he? Not even allowing a visit? I demand a reason from him." The anger on Yan Yifei's face intensified, a cold glint faintly visible in her dark, bright eyes. By now, she strongly suspected something was amiss with Bai Hao's case. Although she was dedicated to designing the latest generation of mechas, that didn't mean she was naive to the ways of the world. Now that it involved a member of her second team, her junior fellow apprentice, involved Bai Hao, she had to step in.
Facing Yan Yifei's anger, Hong Wu remained neither subservient nor arrogant. "I'm afraid that's not possible. The Director is currently busy and unavailable. I suggest you come back in a couple of days to see him."
Hearing this, Yan Yifei's frown deepened. Clearly, the detention center personnel were deliberately preventing her from seeing Bai Hao. There must be a problem, otherwise why block a simple visit?
It seems whoever is scheming against Bai Hao has considerable influence, reaching even into this detention center, Yan Yifei thought swiftly, quickly piecing together the general picture. She glanced at Hong Wu and said coldly, "So I truly cannot see Bai Hao right now?"
Hong Wu nodded. "That is correct, ma'am."
Yan Yifei gave a light, dismissive snort. Instead of arguing further with Hong Wu, she directly took out her communicator, dialed a number, spoke a few casual sentences, and hung up.
Standing to the side, Hong Wu didn't know whom Yan Yifei was speaking to, but he caught the gist. This Boli Corporation mecha designer clearly had no intention of leaving. She was calling someone over. This made him feel somewhat uneasy. Someone who could become a mecha designer at Boli Corporation was undoubtedly no ordinary person. If she really brought in some influential figure, their small detention center might find it hard to handle.
Soon, Hong Wu left the reception room again to report the situation to Ye Sang.
An hour later, a military off-road vehicle pulled up to the main gate of the South Suburb Detention Center. After a brief pause, it drove arrogantly right up to the office building. A young officer in his late twenties and four fully armed soldiers stepped out.
Ye Sang, accompanied by several detention center guards, proactively went to the building entrance to greet them, his face wreathed in smiles though his heart was as dark as still water. From Hong Wu's report, he knew this matter was becoming troublesome, but he never imagined the arrivals would be military personnel. Although the insignia indicated the officer was only a major—a relatively low rank—it represented the military. And the only military presence stationed in Baoli City was at Boli Corporation. Therefore, these military personnel were definitely not on his side. This incident was truly escalating.
The young major was named Bai Fei, a military personnel stationed at Boli Corporation. Upon receiving Yan Yifei's call, he had rushed over to the South Suburb Detention Center without delay. His coming wasn't solely because a Boli employee was detained; it was entirely for Yan Yifei. Others might not know, but he was aware of Yan Yifei's background. Though she lacked a powerful family backing, she was far more than just a Boli Corporation mecha designer. She was also an Imperial Army-certified "Eight-Star Mecha Pilot." Furthermore, and most importantly, Yan Yifei was his sister-in-law. How could he not come when his sister-in-law needed help?
Bai Fei looked at the ingratiatingly smiling Ye Sang and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Warden Ye, I presume? I hear you've detained an employee of our Boli Corporation and are refusing visitation? I wonder who granted you such authority and audacity? Boli Corporation personnel are Imperial elites under military protection. Even if they've committed some offense, Boli Corporation should at least be notified."
"Major, this is all just a misunderstanding. I hope you can forgive us. I've already made arrangements; the visit can proceed immediately," Ye Sang replied, wiping a cold sweat from his brow, trying to sound composed.
Bai Fei snorted coldly. "At least you're sensible. Where is Ms. Yan Yifei?"
"In the reception room. Please, follow me."
As he spoke, Ye Sang led Bai Fei toward the reception room.
Over the less-than-hundred-meter distance, Bai Fei subjected Ye Sang to a series of further sarcastic remarks. Ye Sang's smiling expression remained unchanged, adopting a posture of enduring whatever was said or thrown at him.
At the reception room door, Bai Fei gave another light snort. "You stay out here. Hurry up and arrange the visit. Call me when it's ready."
Ye Sang promptly stopped and nodded.
Bai Fei gave a light knock on the door before pushing it open and walking in calmly. Seeing Yan Yifei, whose face still held traces of anger, he said formally, "Sister-in-law, it's all arranged. That so-called Warden Ye has gone to set up the meeting. We should be able to see him soon."
Seeing it was Bai Fei, Yan Yifei felt a surge of relief. The anger on her face diminished considerably. "Oh, thank you," she said softly.
"My duty," Bai Fei replied, his tone shifting slightly to curiosity. "By the way, Sister-in-law, who is this person that requires your personal attention? Even a detention center visit is blocked. Did he offend someone powerful?"
"He's from the Second Team. My junior fellow apprentice," Yan Yifei said, taking a light breath. "He must have offended someone, and someone with considerable influence at that, to have connections stretching from the Southern Precinct to this detention center. The initial incident was in the West University District, yet he was arrested and brought directly to the SouthernPrecinct."
"I see," Bai Fei's brow furrowed slightly. Whoever has the gall to mess with someone from the Second Team must have no idea how high the sky is or how thick the earth, he thought to himself.