Chapter 29: The Truth Exposed

Tang Chen scanned the Health Bureau personnel bustling around, then asked Manager Pang, “Manager Pang, what’s going on? I came as soon as you called. I just heard some dumbass wants to shut down my hotel? Which moron doesn’t want to live anymore?”

The Health Bureau staff nearly spat blood. Damn, what’s this guy’s background? He dared to call our deputy director a ‘dumbass’? They couldn’t help wondering if he could be even bolder.

Manager Pang also suppressed a laugh, his earlier annoyance vanishing instantly. He said to Tang Chen, “Young Master Tang, it wasn’t some ‘dumbass’, it was Deputy Director Guo.” Having shadowed Young Master Tang for a while, he knew how to talk to please him.

Tang Chen laughed, then looked towards Deputy Director Guo. He walked over and asked, “So you’re Deputy Director Guo?”

Deputy Director Guo glared at Tang Chen’s arrogant posture, itching to punch him dead. From Manager Pang’s respectful attitude towards him, this brat was surely the one who injured his son. But could someone so young really afford to buy the Junyue? He didn’t look like some big-shot heir.

“I am Deputy Director Guo,” he sneered. “Are you the new owner of the Junyue? Pang Zetian, you’re not just dragging some random in to fake it, are you? How could someone like him afford your hotel?” Deputy Director Guo’s sharp tone dripped with contempt.

Before Manager Pang could reply, Tang Chen chuckled lightly. “If an idiot like you can become a Deputy Director, why wouldn’t a dashing Young Master like me afford a hotel?”

“Young man, watch your tongue!” Deputy Director Guo hissed through clenched teeth, his voice turning threatening. “Your hotel has a case of food poisoning! Hand over your business license!”

Tang Chen, unusually calm, retorted, “That beast of a son of yours is still in the hospital, right? What a failure of a father you are. You think causing trouble for my hotel gets revenge for your son? You claim my hotel poisoned a guest? Prove it.”

Tang Chen struck directly at the heart of the matter. This clearly looked like a trap set by Deputy Director Guo for revenge. His blatant exposure stunned the Health Bureau staff. What’s happening? Didn’t the Deputy Director say this was official business? This sounds like a personal grudge!

Deputy Director Guo’s face darkened as he pointed at the collapsed guest. “That is the proof! He ate here and collapsed! Isn’t that enough to prove your appalling hygiene standards?”

Indeed, with the ‘victim’ lying there, Deputy Director Guo seemed to have evidence. It didn’t feel like just a personal vendetta anymore.

Tang Chen glanced at the man and walked straight towards him. A Health Bureau staffer blocked his path. “Sir, please stay away from the victim.”

“Get lost! This is my hotel. I do what I want!” Tang Chen roared, his gaze icy.

“Ridiculous!” yelled the staffer Tang Chen had called a ‘dumbass’ earlier, though Tang Chen’s glare intimidated him. He muttered curses under his breath but didn’t dare confront him directly.

“Tang Chen! What are you doing? Tampering with evidence? Destroying the body?” Deputy Director Guo sounded panicked, rushing after him.

Tang Chen rolled his eyes disdainfully. “You’re a total idiot! I just wanted to see if he’s dead! ‘Destroy the body’ my ass!” He crouched beside the ‘guest’.

“System, can you check if this guy’s dead?” Tang Chen mentally whispered.

System: “Respected Host, my scans show his bodily functions are entirely normal.”

Tang Chen asked further, “Why did he suddenly pass out, then?”

System explained: “Respected Host, he injected himself with a drug causing temporary hibernation. The injection makes him temporarily stop breathing, simulating genuine unconsciousness. However, it’s time-limited. Once the duration elapses, he will wake instantly.”

Tang Chen understood. Considering this, the drug absolutely couldn’t have come from the hotel’s food. Only one possibility remained: he took the drug before eating here. Tang Chen glanced back at Deputy Director Guo, noticing his guilty expression avoiding his gaze. Was this whole thing Deputy Director Guo’s staged act to shut down my hotel?

It seemed very likely. His son was beaten badly. Paying someone to frame Tang Chen? Totally possible.

“System, any way to force him awake?”

System: “Respected Host, congratulations, you asked the right one! I, the all-knowing System, am vastly learned. Neutralizing such a drug is child’s play to me. I shall immediately input the counteractive method into your mind. Just follow the instructions.”

Tang Chen grunted in agreement, then asked suspiciously, “System, you’re acting weird today. Why aren’t you assigning a Mission? Usually, you make me earn any reward through a Mission first. Why the sudden generosity? Feels fishy.”

System: “Respected Host, do not measure my magnanimity with your petty mind! I too possess a sense of decency.”

Decency your ass! You’re a System, not a person. Why pretend to have feelings?

“Just hurry up and send me the method,” Tang Chen thought impatiently. He needed this guy awake to slap Deputy Director Guo’s smug face.

“Ding! System autonomously triggers Medical Mode. Transmitting Bencao Gangmu Interpretation Summary into Host’s mind.”

“Ding! Transmission complete. Please receive.”

Tang Chen twitched his lips, resisting the urge to rant. The ‘Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms’? Fine… so now the ‘Bencao Gangmu’? He decided to just accept it. The name was a bit corny, but the System only gave good stuff.

As the transmission finished, neat script appeared before Tang Chen’s eyes. It detailed the specific steps to neutralize the drug. Tang Chen extended his fingers and pressed the knuckle of the unconscious man’s neck as instructed.

“What are you doing?! Don’t touch him! He’s the victim!” Deputy Director Guo cried out frantically, flustered. “Arrest him! He’s trying to destroy evidence!”

“Yes! Stop!”

“Kid! Stop now or we’ll arrest you!” Several staffers yelled, moving towards Tang Chen, rolling up their sleeves to grab him and pull him away.

Manager Pang was baffled too. What is Young Master Tang doing? Even if he is tampering with evidence, how can he do it so brazenly?!

He was about to warn Young Master Tang to be careful, when Tang Chen let out a muffled groan. With a final push of his hands, the ‘victim’ suddenly retched loudly. A stream of foul yellow vomit erupted from his mouth. Tang Chen swiftly dodged, patting his back to help.

Everyone froze. What was this? He wasn’t destroying evidence… he was reviving the victim!

“What did you do to him?!” Deputy Director Guo yelled, pushing through the crowd towards Tang Chen. Maybe it was the conscience of the guilty?

“You blind moron? I just saved him!” Tang Chen sneered coldly. A flash of understanding flickered in his eyes. Deputy Director Guo’s panicked reaction practically screamed that he was behind this!

“Sir, are you feeling better?” Manager Pang quickly rushed over, supporting the man and asking with concern.

“I… I feel better.” The man groaned, then immediately looked towards Deputy Director Guo. His first words upon reviving were, “Director Guo, please don’t make me do this again next time. I thought I was really going to die.”

The scene exploded with murmurs. What did they just hear? ‘Don’t make me do this again?’ What? Pretend being poisoned?

Tang Chen’s eyes narrowed into a smile. “Deputy Director Guo, with so many witnesses here, perhaps you’d like to explain what ‘this’ activity was that you had him do?”

Sweat beaded on Deputy Director Guo’s forehead. Feeling the questioning stares of his subordinates, he blurted, “Nonsense! I don’t even know you! We came based on a tip-off! Now that you’re recovered, come with us to the station for a statement!”

“Hold on, Deputy Director Guo,” Tang Chen said smoothly, still smiling. “Why rush off? Afraid we might learn something?” He then directly addressed the disoriented man. “Sir, please clearly explain what Deputy Director Guo ordered you to do. Don’t be afraid. He can’t hurt you with all these people here.”

The man mumbled confusedly, “I’m a migrant worker. Today, this Director Guo found me… said he was the Bureau Chief. He gave me some medicine and told me to eat here… said if I collapsed inside, I could help them frame the boss. I didn’t really want to… but he promised me one hundred thousand yuan. Got confused… agreed. But just now… I thought I was dying for real. Director Guo… I quit. Give me the money. I’m leaving.”

His words instantly ignited the entire lobby. Uproar ensued, especially among the Health Bureau personnel. What had this man just said?! The Deputy Director paid him one hundred thousand yuan to fake food poisoning and frame the hotel? Was the Deputy Director insane?! Disbelief rippled through the crowd.

“You… you spew malicious lies!” Deputy Director Guo shrieked, his finger trembling as he pointed. His lips quivered uncontrollably. “Arrest him! Seal the Junyue!” What happened?! This bastard promised to keep his mouth shut! Why did he blurt everything out?! Failed… it’s over… all over!

“Deputy Director” – one brave staffer stepped forward, his voice firm – “we need an explanation!” They weren’t heartless minions. Now that the truth was out, they wouldn’t obey orders to arrest innocent people.

“Explanation?! Explain my ass!” Deputy Director Guo screamed hysterically, in complete panic. “Are you mutineers?! Dammit, arrest them! Arrest them all!” This was his pathetic last gambit.