Cao Yang brought Bai Wei to a small inn and tied him to a chair with some rope.
"Call them now. Any way you can, get them here before sunrise. If you fail, next year this day will be your funeral!"
Bai Wei nodded frantically, promising full cooperation.
Cao Yang handed him his phone, opening the contact list.
"Call Lao Zhuang."
Cao Yang dialed, warning: "If you slip up even slightly and they find out, death won't be the worst of it."
Bai Wei nodded repeatedly.
"Hello, little brother," came a feminine giggle from the other side. Clearly, she wasn't busy.
"Zhuang Ge," Bai Wei called, then rattled off in dialect.
Cao Yang didn't understand fully, but Summer Dongdong could.
A minute later, the call ended.
"I told them I'm in Foshan coordinating two casinos, and they should bring the counterfeit bills to me," Bai Wei explained.
"They said they're out of bills and are buying more. I should go to them tonight, and tomorrow morning we'll go to Foshan together."
Cao Yang glanced at Summer Dongdong. She nodded — Bai Wei was truthful.
"Where are they?"
"Feng County. Pretty close."
"Then let's go."
Cao Yang wanted to lure them, but at this point, blindly calling them over might raise suspicion.
The three went downstairs. Cao Yang shoved Bai Wei into the car. Summer Dongdong pulled him aside.
"We need to be careful."
"What's wrong?"
"Feng County… I know it. Small place, but fierce locals, strong clans. Often the village chief's word matters more than the county head's."
"So we don't go?"
"How will we investigate then?!"
"Then why say that? Just drive!"
"I…" Summer Dongdong clenched her fists in frustration.
Cao Yang patted her shoulder: "Just follow my lead. No acting on your own, and we'll get out safely."
"You're too much! First you said I was useless, now I'm a burden?!"
Cao Yang smiled: "TV shows always play this way. It's usually fine until some idiot woman doesn't follow orders and gets everyone killed. I hope you're not that idiot."
"Heh… without me, you'd struggle to communicate with them."
"Without you, I'd make them speak Mandarin."
Summer Dongdong floored it toward Feng County.
They arrived at 3 a.m. The county was silent except for a few drunks.
Following Bai Wei, they stopped under an 80s-era apartment building.
Cao Yang pressed his gun to Bai Wei's back. "Which floor?"
"Third."
"Lead the way."
They climbed the stairs.
"Knock knock knock…" Bai Wei tapped the door.
"Who's there?" a voice called.
"Zhuang Ge, it's me."
Hearing Bai Wei, the person inside dropped guard and opened the door — only to see his battered friend and Cao Yang behind him. He tried to close it.
Too late.
Cao Yang kicked the door open, swiftly subduing another person inside.
"Damn Bai Wei! I trusted you, and you bring cops?"
"Zhuang Ge, they're not cops. They're from Lushan International's Yi He Association," Bai Wei explained, voice trembling.
Indeed, hearing Cao Yang's affiliation, Zhuang Ge practically wet himself — worse than being caught by police.
Cao Yang ignored them and began searching. In the wardrobe, he found piles of cash — 950,000 yuan in real bills.
He scooped them into a bag, smirking.
"What are you doing?" Summer Dongdong whispered. "These are evidence; they should go to the police."
Cao Yang rolled his eyes: "This is the money they scammed from Lushan International. I'm taking it back to the boss."
"What boss? You're getting too deep undercover!"
Cao Yang ignored her, finishing the task. Summer Dongdong stayed quiet, realizing he probably wanted to impress Tang Shaojie while securing evidence.
With the cash secured, Cao Yang turned to business. He drew a dagger, approaching Zhuang Ge.
"Talk. Where did the counterfeit bills come from?"
"I… I don't know," Zhuang Ge lied.
Cao Yang grinned bloodily, pinning his hand to the table — dagger poised.
Before striking, Summer Dongdong grabbed him.
He turned to her.
"You can't be so violent! Remember your identity — a cop. Don't let undercover life turn you into a gangster," she warned.
Cao Yang rolled his eyes: "If he doesn't feel some pain, he won't cooperate. Efficiency matters."
"Interrogation doesn't need to be brutal. Appeal to reason, family, conscience. Make him think of his parents, spouse, kids — play the emotional card."
He gestured: "Go ahead. Show me your performance."
Summer Dongdong interrogated Zhuang Ge while Cao Yang smoked at the door.
Earlier, Bai Wei had tricked Zhuang Ge with stories about casinos in Foshan — which explained why Zhuang Ge believed him and came over.
Summer Dongdong kicked off the interrogation, letting Zhuang Ge stew. Cao Yang didn't mind if she knew his real identity; he never intended to play deep undercover — she just assumed it.
Suddenly:
"Damn it!"
"Speak or not?!"
"Speak or not?!!"
Cao Yang hadn't even finished his cigarette before he heard Summer Dongdong's shout. Turning, he saw her fiercely kicking Zhuang Ge's head.
He laughed — one moment she preached reason, the next she was bashing heads. Truly unpredictable.
"Cao Yang, you're right. Criminals need extreme measures."
"You handle it. I'll cover the door."