In the special room, there were no hard objects to speak of.

Walls, windows, even the washbasin and toilet were all padded; committing suicide in there was harder than reaching the heavens.

Accompanied by two armed guards and a dedicated cadre, Liu Zhizhong met with Ma Xudong in the small living room of the room.

Aside from looking slightly haggard, Ma Xudong hadn't changed much.

He was still tall, still stout, and his hair was washed clean.

He showed no fear and remained calm, just like the first time Liu Zhizhong had visited him here.

However, he was now wearing handcuffs, and there were shackles on his feet as well. The materials were special, allowing him to walk without much difficulty, and they were not metal, so they did not harm the body.

Liu Zhizhong gave him a cigarette, and although the match extinguished after two seconds, it was enough time to light the cigarette.

Three people sat nearby, accompanying and guarding them; both Ma Xudong and Liu Zhizhong were accustomed to this.

As soon as the cigarette was lit, Ma Xudong spoke indifferently, "Zhizhong, thank you for really coming. I thought that, given my situation, you wouldn't come again. It was my request for you to come, not the Provincial Disciplinary Committee's. You could have chosen not to come. After all, I'm about to become a criminal of the organization and the people; you don't need to involve yourself with me anymore. It would be harmful and not beneficial for you if word got out."

That was indeed true.

Given that the Provincial Disciplinary Committee had notified Liu Zhizhong again this morning and considering Lu Yuqing's return to the unit, it seemed unlikely she would keep quiet about it. After all, Liu Zhizhong had taken leave, surely there needed to be a reason?

Once this was revealed, everyone would know, and some might think that Liu Zhizhong still had issues. If there were no issues, why keep accepting meetings with Ma Xudong? What did that imply if not a problem?

Liu Zhizhong exhaled a plume of smoke and said with a wry smile, "This morning, when the phone call came, they still referred to you as 'comrade.' Until the trial, you are still one of us. When our comrade needs us, how could I, a lesser comrade, refuse?"

Ma Xudong cracked a smile, somewhat relieved, and nodded, "Mm, thank you, Comrade Liu Zhizhong. Others might keep away from a comrade who has erred like me, but you are different. I'm very fortunate to have had you as my secretary—I'm truly sorry for choosing you as my secretary. I'm sorry that I couldn't be of help to you before things came to this, haha..."

He spread his hands, took a deep drag on his cigarette, his relieved smile tinged with bitterness.

Liu Zhizhong felt a twinge of pain in his heart.

To say he had benefited, yes.

That he had been affected, indeed.

But Ma Xudong had been kind to him, truly ridding him with guilt.

Humans, sometimes those who are kind-hearted and conscientious, are just so contradictory.

"Secretary Ma, please don't say such things. There's no need for apologies or guilt. If we were to say...oh, there's surveillance and recording here, all I can say is that you were once my leader, who gave me opportunities for promotion. In the City Committee Courtyard, it was a rare life experience and a test for me, where I was able to learn a lot. In Yangzhou, you were honest, upright, selfless, and possessed political aspirations and ideals. No matter what may happen to me in the future, I will still cherish this brief time spent working here, which really broadened my perspectives and tempered me as an individual."

Ma Xudong was truly moved, and even the Provincial Disciplinary Committee officer in charge couldn't help but nod in agreement. Liu Zhizhong really did have outstanding qualities.

Here, Liu Zhizhong was not uncomfortable, free from any pretense, seeming genuine and straightforward.

When the former leader was in trouble, he could have chosen not to visit, but he came, and promptly at that. This bore witness to a profound loyalty, something very precious.

In officialdom, among those who busied themselves dissociating from troublesome relations, he was a rarity!

Ma Xudong nodded, a smile of relief reappearing as he said, "Zhizhong, you are excellent, one can see it in every action, every word. Your little aunt's father admires you greatly. If there's another life, I would still choose you as my secretary, to properly nurture you. But for this lifetime, that's it! Today, I've asked you here to speak my mind and perhaps to entrust you with some final matters...sigh."

As he said this, the atmosphere grew noticeably heavier, and Liu Zhizhong silently nodded.

Seeing that the cigarette was almost finished, he offered another to Ma Xudong.

Ma Xudong took it, igniting it with the stub of the old one, and began to speak as he smoked.

"Zhizhong, let's not dwell on the corrupting influence of officialdom. You, I'm certain, are clean and honest, not greedy or corrupt, and a good comrade, of that I am sure—it's truly commendable."

"But just because you keep to a path of integrity, does that mean you have no weaknesses? Will people use you, will they cultivate you? It seems rather unlikely. Because you are too clean, those around you seem tainted, and few dare to associate with you. I wanted to bring you into the fold, but my time is over."

"At my position, looking across the world, is there an innocent snowflake? If there was innocence, it would not reach this position. But I must confess and accept my punishment, my connections can't protect me, instead, they need protection from me!"

"This punishment, for me, is quite severe. The amount involved in the case is 800 million, but they will only acknowledge 200 million—the remaining 600 million, its whereabouts unknown, I have no idea."

"The villa at home will be confiscated and auctioned off because it was a gift from someone else. Then, Qingqing will soon be homeless. My poor daughter, she's really about to be without a home..."

Tears almost overwhelmed Ma Xudong's eyes, wrenching Liu Zhizhong's heart as he remembered Ma Qingqing. Before the trouble, they had kept in touch privately, happily so!

After Ma Xudong's troubles began, Ma Qingqing had turned off her phone and logged out of WeChat.

Ma Xudong lowered his head to wipe his eyes before looking up at Liu Zhizhong, "Zhizhong, give Little Sister Qingqing a home, your little uncle entrusts her to you, okay? If not, there's likely no one else who will take care of her. She's only 19, still so young...sigh... That's the main reason I wanted to see you today."

Finally, Liu Zhizhong understood.

His little uncle truly was at his end, truly making his final arrangements, even entrusting his daughter!