Chapter 139

Chapter 139

Wen Miao first went to find Wen Tangtang’s counselor, then called her own counselor. From them, she learned that the person who had requested leave on their behalf was Director Wu from the biology department.

“This Director Wu… this is my first time hearing about him. Wen Tangtang never mentioned him to me before…”

Director Wu was the head of the biology department, so it was normal that Wen Miao had never heard of him. Nan Mu had dealt with him in the past, but to him, that was already ten years ago, so he did not remember the details very clearly.

Even now, though, his impression of the director was still not a good one.

“He’s an especially utilitarian man. I think I once heard people say he and the female students in his class… ahem, had improper relationships. There used to be quite a few bad rumors about him.”

“For example?”

“Let me think. I think there was something about unfair selections, but with that kind of thing, it’s hard to say whether it’s true or false. From what I heard back then, it seemed to be because among the scholarship recipients, there was a girl whose abilities might not have been enough to convince the other students. But some people also said that even though her grades weren’t top-tier, she worked very hard… so I don’t think it’s impossible that they chose her as a scholarship recipient for that reason. But I don’t know who started the rumor. They said that the girl had some kind of scandalous relationship with Director Wu that went beyond teacher and student, which was why people believed Director Wu had been unfair.”

After Nan Mu described it that way, Wen Miao suddenly remembered who Director Wu was.

“Oh, I think I know who you’re talking about.”

As someone who only cared about studying and relied entirely on Wen Tangtang for all her gossip, Wen Miao suddenly recalled something Wen Tangtang had told her a long time ago.

“Tang Tang did mention Director Wu to me, I think. But the Director Wu she told me about was a little different from the one you’re describing.”

“Different how?”

“From what she told me, Director Wu seemed to have unusual relationships with several girls… but Wen Tangtang said those girls were all coerced or bribed. They weren’t willing.”

After the two finished speaking, they subconsciously looked at each other.

Wen Miao’s heart skipped. “Could Wen Tangtang and Wen Xin… be involved in this somehow?”

Nan Mu was silent for a moment. “It’s possible, but not necessarily…”

The main issue was that in the previous timeline, Nan Mu did not recall ever hearing that any scandal involving Director Wu had been exposed.

And Wen Xin and Wen Tangtang did not have the kind of personalities that would swallow such a loss in silence. If Director Wu really had behaved improperly toward Wen Tangtang, there was no way Wen Xin would not have gone after him.

“However, at least one thing is certain,” Nan Mu said firmly. “Director Wu must have played some role in Wen Tangtang and Wen Xin’s disappearance.”

“Then what do we do now?”

Wen Miao asked, her face full of worry.

“If Director Wu really hid them somewhere, then without him leading the way, it isn’t realistic for us to find them on our own.” A sly glint appeared in Nan Mu’s eyes as he thought. “Why don’t we just stir the grass and startle the snake?”

Wen Miao widened her eyes, confusion written all over them.

Nan Mu said, “Didn’t he request leave for them? As their younger sister, it’s perfectly normal for you to want to know where your older brother and sister went.”

Wen Miao said, “You mean you want me to go ask him openly? Ask where the two of them are?”

Nan Mu said, “Exactly. Since he helped them request leave and approved it too, then he must know the ‘reason they took leave,’ right?”

Wen Miao was still a little worried. “Then what if he just makes something up to brush me off?”

Nan Mu said, “What he says isn’t important. What’s important is where he goes after you leave, and who he goes to see.”

Wen Miao understood at once. Nan Mu wanted to follow Director Wu and see what he did.

“That could work. But have you thought about this? What if he doesn’t go out at all and just contacts someone by phone?”
Nan Mu rubbed his chin. That really was a problem.

Wen Miao touched her phone. “What if… we plant a listening device on him?”

Nan Mu said, “Where would we put it? Like you said, if he communicates by phone, he might not necessarily make that call in his office.”

Wen Miao thought for a moment. “His pocket, his hat… anywhere on him that might work.”

Nan Mu said, “And after you plant it, how do you get it back? If you put it in his pocket and don’t retrieve it, he’ll know someone was listening in on him, that someone suspects him.”

Wen Miao smiled. “Then let him know. I’m actually afraid he won’t find out.”

Once he realized he was being monitored, how would he react? Would he be so terrified he wouldn’t know what to do? Would he immediately check the area around him? When he made phone calls, would he also be afraid of being listened in on? And because he was so uneasy, would he end up choosing to talk in person instead…

Wouldn’t that be exactly what she wanted?

===

Taking advantage of the time right before noon, when there weren’t many people in the office, Wen Miao went to see Director Wu.

This was Wen Miao’s first time meeting Director Wu. Unlike the director of their Materials Department, a thin, tall, stern-looking little old man, Director Wu was pale, with a round belly, and he looked rather amiable. From his appearance alone, there was no way to tell he was the kind of person Nan Mu and Wen Tangtang had described.

However, people could not be judged by appearances. The moment she thought about how Wen Tangtang and Wen Xin might both have been taken under his control, Wen Miao did not dare let her guard down.

When Wen Miao entered the office, Director Wu was holding his phone, seemingly sending some sort of message.

He looked up and saw a female student come in from outside, heading straight in his direction. Puzzled, he asked, “Student, what are you here for?”

“Hello, Teacher Wu.”

In Wen Miao’s left hand, she tightly clutched the miniature listening device she and Nan Mu had bought together. “I’m a student from the Materials Department. I haven’t been able to reach Wen Xin at all today, so I asked our counselor and found out that you were the one who helped him request leave last night, Director Wu. That’s why I came over to ask you specifically-did something happen to him yesterday? Where did he go? Why can’t I get in touch with him?”

The moment Director Wu heard Wen Xin’s name, his heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, he took another look at the student in front of him.

The girl was wearing a white sweater with a ruffled collar. She looked somewhat familiar, but for the moment, he couldn’t remember where he had seen her before.

But that wasn’t important. What mattered was that this girl looked very obedient, probably the sort of student who listened well and was easy to handle.

His tense heart eased slightly, and he lifted his chin, puffing out his chest as he put on the airs of a teacher. “From the Materials Department? Are you Professor Xu’s student as well?”

Professor Xu was Wen Xin and Wen Miao’s advisor.

Wen Miao smiled. “Yes. Wen Xin and I are in the same class.”

Director Wu nodded with an air of authority. “Yesterday, Wen Xin’s younger sister, Wen Tangtang, was injured a little, so he took her to the hospital… I imagine he’s taking care of her, so he hasn’t had time to reply to your messages. Are you looking for him because of some research project? Didn’t I already tell Professor Xu? Don’t look for him these next two days. Just think of it as giving him a couple days off!”

Wen Miao smiled sweetly on the outside while cursing up a storm on the inside. “Yes, Professor Xu said the same thing. It’s just that I couldn’t reach him, so I was a little worried…”

As soon as Director Wu heard it wasn’t about research, he immediately put on the look of someone speaking earnestly for her own good. “Then I really have to say something to you. As a student, you should still put your studies first. Don’t always be thinking about romance and dating! I’m not trying to criticize you, but look at you, a young woman. The most important thing is to be modest and reserved. Don’t always chase after boys…”

Director Wu had always known how to manipulate the mentality of ordinary students like these. The moment this sort of topic was brought up, most girls would be so embarrassed and ashamed that they would give up on continuing to ask questions.