This is the second episode of The Missing Minister.

If you haven't already listened to episode one, we recommend doing that first.

After Chingang disappeared last year, senior Chinese officials were briefed on what happened.

They were told a story.

And to understand that story, you have to scroll back to much earlier in Chin's career.

Long before Chin was China's foreign minister, or even an ambassador, he was a junior diplomat living in London.

Chingang, you know, seemed to really enjoy his life in the UK, according to people who know him.

That's Chief China correspondent Ling Ling Wei, who you heard in the last episode.

Chingung moved there with his wife in the mid-90s and according to a friend of hers, they enjoyed

exploring the city together. He loved talking about soccer and

supported Arsenal soccer club.

Played back for our chappin!

Two-one!

They've turned it round!

And we know that he loved tennis and went to Wimbledon.

And he told an acquaintance that he had vacationed in Cornwall, and he had really enjoyed driving around on those

Tristy and narrow roads.

All together, Chin spent around a decade in the UK.

And towards the end of his time there around 2011, something

happened that would play a central role in the story of his disappearance. He

met someone. Another Chinese professional living in the UK who'd also fallen in love

with all things British. He met this very young, beautiful, ambitious Chinese TV journalist,

...