[Adult City] Lonely Officialdom (Final Chapter) - 5

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Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Forceful Attempt

In the afternoon, an agreement was reached between Li Huan's office and the Longwang Village Committee, securing their unconditional and full cooperation in the development of Hongqi Lake. Zhang Bing agreed to prioritize the use of Longwang Village's labor force in road construction and development, and to compensate Longwang Village for a portion of the road maintenance costs after development, specifically no less than 100,000 yuan. Thanks to Li Huan's cooperation, the negotiation was quickly reached. He then approached Mayor Huang, requesting his guidance on the revised report from the county. The mayor was very satisfied, particularly praising Zhang Bing's solid and meticulous work attitude, and promising him a 1% reward for attracting investors. If he could bring in over 50 million yuan in investment, he would receive a 1.5% reward, with 1% going to him personally and 0.5% to the Songshang Village Committee collective. This greatly excited Zhang Bing; honor plus money—a high return!

He happily returned to the village, remembering his promise to Xue'er. Seeing that the village committee office was still open, he pushed open the door and went inside.

"Beautiful Xue'er, what are you still busy with? It's time to go home!" I'll look at this beauty later;

she's more and more beautiful the more I look at her. It gets dark at 5 pm in winter, so the office lights are on. "Please don't call out. What's up?" Xue'er, still lost in her work, greeted him habitually, then suddenly remembered the voice—it sounded familiar. "Ah! Zhang Bing, you're back!" Overjoyed, Xue'er didn't know what she was thinking at that moment, only that she wanted to hug this man, but her girlish reserve stopped her. "You rascal, you actually came back! I've never seen you act like a village chief before!" She didn't realize the ambiguity and resentment in her tone.

"Hehe, beautiful Xue'er seems quite angry? Who offended you? Daring to offend the number one beauty in our village? Don't you want to live anymore!" Since the beauty is so lovely, why not tease her a little more to ease some of the recent tension?

"Yeah, that person who offended me is really shameless. It's been over ten days and they still owe me a meal. They're probably just trying to get away with it, right?" Xue'er realized her own ambiguity, but she liked the atmosphere of talking to this man, so she blushed and slightly retorted. Her fair neck was flushed, and her eyes, which deliberately held a hint of cunning, made Zhang Bing stare in a daze. Damn, this woman is simply divine; every time I

see her, I'm mesmerized! Seeing that the man didn't speak and that the lecherous man's eyes were fixed on her, Xue'er didn't feel the disgust that others felt towards lecherous men. Instead, she felt a slight pleasure and blurted out, "Idiot! What are you looking at! Pervert!" She was surprised after saying it and ran over to him, giving him a hard punch, snapping the lecherous Zhang Bing out of his reverie. Looking at her, Zhang Bing didn't say anything, but quickly packed her bag and then took her hand and left.

"What exactly do you want?" Xue'er, who had never had her hand held by a man before, was still in a daze of shyness and slight surprise. It wasn't until Zhang Bing started the Jetta that she realized what was happening. She then muttered a complaint under her breath, "I've never seen such a rude man. He grabbed my hand so hard it hurts!"

Zhang Bing still didn't say anything. He picked up his phone and made a call. "Mom, I'm coming home for dinner today. I have a friend with me, so prepare a lot of food!" He then smiled slightly at Xue'er and whistled.

Xue'er knew from the lewd whistle that he was still teasing her, so she kept a cold face and didn't say anything.

"Alright, beautiful Director, don't be angry. I won't be a liar today. I'll treat you to dinner!" Seeing that Xue'er had been keeping a straight face for a long time, Zhang Bing was afraid that she was really angry, so he quickly explained that he had just wanted to tease her without thinking. He felt that it was comfortable and he didn't think she would be angry. Seeing that she still didn't speak, her beautiful face became even more sacred and beautiful because of her coldness, and she added as if possessed, "I originally told my mom that I was bringing my girlfriend home today, so you'd better prepare how to talk to your in-laws when you meet your ugly daughter-in-law!"

Xue'er wasn't angry. She knew what Zhang Bing meant after he finished the call. She didn't expect this man to invite her to his house for dinner without telling her. Wasn't this the first step for a rural man to pursue a woman? She was very excited: This man finally saw my excellence and beauty. All these days of hard work were worth it! But although she was happy, she still couldn't relax and deliberately remained indifferent. Hearing Zhang Bing's words, she was shocked. How could this man be so arrogant? When did I agree to be his girlfriend? I haven't even tested him yet! But the observant Xue'er suddenly noticed the sly smile on the man's face and realized it was just a joke. "You rascal! I don't have a boyfriend like you, no money, no power, and not handsome. But you owe me this meal, so I have to eat it!" After this retort, Xue'er smiled and felt completely relieved. "By the way, is this your car? When did you buy it?"

"You said I have no money or power, where would I get the money to buy a car? A friend lent it to me!"

"Hehe, the village chief has connections, even his car gets lent out. Why doesn't anyone lend a beautiful woman like me a car?"

"Of course! I could lend you a car, I could even lend you my boyfriend, but unfortunately, someone didn't accept it just now!"

"Get lost! Lend me your car, but where's my boyfriend? Pursue me properly. Maybe I'll give you face after 10 years of observation!"

The two really enjoyed this kind of ambiguous and relaxed conversation they used to have with men and women in the big city. They hadn't spoken like this since returning to the village, and they really missed it. Even after the car stopped in front of Zhang Bing's house, the two were still reluctant to stop.

To their surprise, the house was packed with people, none of whom Zhang Bing recognized. Song Xue'er, however, greeted everyone with a wry smile, clearly acquaintances. This puzzled Zhang Bing. Xue'er whispered in his ear, "The foreman of the road construction team has been pestering the village committee every day!" Zhang Bing immediately understood. The main road in the village was scheduled to be built early next year, and these people were like rats drawn by the scent of blood, trying to secure the contracting rights for the project from the new village committee. According to the town's usual practice for road construction, the town was supposed to let the villages decide half of the contracting rights. However, Zhang Bing had been rarely home since taking office, so he hadn't seen them. But the old secretary, considering the need to link the road contracting with future development to find qualified construction teams, had been delaying, telling them they needed to wait for Zhang Bing's opinion, that he would be the one to decide. Now, it seemed his family had leaked the news of his return today, hence the group's blockade of his house.

Just then, the father, who was sitting in the center of the crowd, saw Zhang Bing and immediately shouted, "My son is back! You can talk to him. I wasn't wrong, was I? He'll definitely be back today!" As a result, more than a dozen people surrounded the two people who were still at the door, offering cigarettes, greeting them, and trying to establish kinship, pushing Song Xue'er so much that she had to burrow into Zhang Bing's arms. Zhang Bing was exhausted after a long day, his good mood instantly gone. Too tired to talk to the group, he quickly shielded Xue'er behind him, shouting for quiet, and clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Everyone, everyone, I understand why you've come. I'm very happy you think highly of me, Zhang Bing, and thank you! But I just got back from the county today, I'm really tired, and I haven't eaten yet! How about this, I'll be at the village committee all day tomorrow, and we can talk in detail then, okay? You're all big bosses and very busy people, so I won't keep

you for dinner!" After finally seeing them off, he sat down at the door, and his father became unhappy. "Son, you can't be so rude to others! Every time they come, they bring gifts, politely offering cigarettes and drinks. I just promised them I'd have dinner at my house!" These words startled Zhang Bing. Forgetting to scold his father, he hurriedly went to check the gifts. He knew his father was senile, honest but uneducated, and extremely vain. If someone said nice things to him, gave him cigarettes and drinks, he thought they were good to him and would do everything he could to help them. Fortunately, after checking the pile of gifts with Song Xue'er, he found they were all ordinary cigarettes, alcohol, and food, with no red envelopes or anything like that. He felt a little relieved, but then gave Xue'er a wry smile and said, "You've probably heard that my dad's senile! I'll tell him and my mom later that we absolutely cannot accept gifts anymore; it'll get us killed." Xue'er smiled gently but didn't say anything; she knew that saying anything now wouldn't be a good idea.

After dinner, Zhang Bing drove Xue'er home.

"What are you planning to do with that group of people tomorrow?" Xue'er asked with concern, worried about his situation.

"What do you and the old Party Secretary mean? Also, how do other villages handle these issues? Can you tell me, beautiful lady?" Zhang Bing really enjoyed being with Xue'er and couldn't help but flirt with her again.

"Our idea is to find several good construction teams to participate in the development and construction of Hongqi Lake through road construction. Therefore, the two need to be linked. This way, we can ensure quality and force them to lower their prices. But ultimately, you will decide; we will give you the leading role in economic development. As for the other villages, they are all different and can decide freely."

"Your idea is excellent. How about this: let's learn from formal engineering projects and use a bidding process. Tomorrow, let them submit their qualifications, financial strength, project experience, and other hard requirements. We'll compare them on paper. Those that don't meet these requirements will be rejected; those that do will be discussed further. After we figure out the approximate cost, we'll let them bid. What do you think?"

"Hehe, as expected of a college student, your knowledge is indeed superior to ours. Very good, let's do it this way!" Xue'er genuinely admired this man who casually offered a suggestion. "Since you have such good ideas, I'd like to ask you for help. You need to solve a problem for me. Wu Laotie, a family in the village known for having more children than allowed, already has four daughters and is now pregnant again. The town's strict order is that she must undergo sterilization. I've been trying to persuade her almost every day, but it's no use. Wu Laotie absolutely refuses to budge, and now everyone else is starting to refuse sterilization too. They're all going to laugh at me. What should I do?"

"Easy, just one word: even the wicked will be dealt with by the wicked! Someone reminded me today that sometimes you need to be a bit rough in township work, and I think that makes sense. Have someone monitor Wu Laotie. As long as his wife is home, notify the police station to come and arrest her. Arrest her until the sanitation worker gets her sterilized. Of course, the police station is just there to make an appearance and prevent Wu Laotie from causing trouble. You'll need to find a few strong young men to help with the arrest. Arrest her as soon as she enters the house; don't let her escape. Once she's sterilized, Wu Laotie definitely won't have anything to say. Just say a few kind words to comfort him, and that'll be fine."

Xue'er said. He winked and chuckled, "You're such a rascal! Be careful, Old Wu might come after you! But the method is worth a try. It makes some sense. You can't always be soft on someone like Old Wu. You have to teach him the power of the people's dictatorship, haha!" Xue'er was delighted that the problem that had plagued her for days was finally resolved. "I suggest you be tougher on them tomorrow too. Those guys are a bunch of bullshit. They've been clinging to you all day because they think you're easy to talk to. They've been driving me crazy in the office these past few days! Tomorrow, let them know the power of the people's dictatorship!" She then laughed heartily.

Xue'er had taken off her coat in the car, leaving only a tight sweater. Her ample breasts were stretched high, bouncing wildly when she laughed, incredibly alluring. Zhang Bing, his eyes burning with desire, openly glanced at her every now and then, joking, "They're not really asking you for projects; they're just attracted to this beauty, aren't they? Look, I'm drooling right now, they're so big!" He deliberately leaned closer and stared intently at her chest.

Xue'er had noticed Zhang Bing peeking at her earlier, but she hadn't minded; in fact, she felt a little fond of him. However, she couldn't stand such blatant teasing and quickly covered her chest with her coat. "Aren't you being silly? Do you look like a village chief? I'm not kicking you because I'm happy!"

"Hehe, please don't be offended, Miss. You're just so beautiful and charming, you really are!"

"Really? You're finally telling the truth. I thought I was too ugly, that's why I was rejected on blind dates!" Xue'er was delighted by Zhang Bing's praise and blurted out her true feelings in her excitement. This was a question that had been on her mind for a long time, and she boldly asked it, half-truthfully, taking this opportunity.

Zhang Bing glanced at her, pondering the meaning of her words. Was she just venting, or was Xue'er confessing her feelings to him? In the end, he decided to play dumb. He didn't want to involve this good girl in his own confused feelings, even though he had feelings for her. After a long silence, he smiled at Xue'er, who had been watching him and waiting for his answer. "Director Song, you are really beautiful and outstanding. I believe you will find a good husband!"

Xue'er didn't speak until they reached the village committee, when she calmly said, "Village Chief Zhang, thank you. Just leave me here. I'll ride my motorcycle home myself!"

"I'll take you home and pick you up for work tomorrow morning. It's not safe for you to ride so late!"

"No need. I'm a grown man. I can get home. You've had a long day. Go home."

"Xue'er, don't be so polite. We're colleagues, we should help each other out. I'm really worried about you walking alone at night."

"Put me down, or I'll jump!" Xue'er's voice turned cold.

"No! I don't trust you!"

"What's it to you? Who are you to me, Village Chief Zhang?" Xue'er's voice was already trembling with tears.

"Xue'er, we're colleagues, we're good friends, we—"

"Get lost, my colleague! Get lost, my friend! I don't want to!" Before Zhang Bing could finish speaking, the girl burst into tears, ignoring the fact that Zhang Bing was driving, and started hitting him wildly. Zhang Bing was so frightened that he immediately slammed on the brakes and stopped. "Xue'er, don't do this, I'm driving!"

Seeing that the car had stopped, Xue'er suddenly threw herself onto Zhang Bing's neck, hugged him, and cried loudly.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Believe? Don't Believe?

It felt so good to be home, but the result of that was that Zhang Bing woke up late the next day. His mother, who felt sorry for him, noticed that he was very tired and didn't wake him up until 8 o'clock. Helpless, he finished everything in the same speed he used to when he was in college and hurriedly drove straight to Song Xue'er's house. To his mother's disappointment, she looked at the sumptuous breakfast she had prepared. Since her son became the village chief, he was rarely at home and had a habit of not eating breakfast. He was doing so much work on an empty stomach. His mother regretted supporting her son to become a village cadre. She didn't want any power or influence; she just wanted her children to be healthy and happy, even if the family was poor. Now that her son is at home, it's no different from when he was working in Beijing. She rarely sees him, and at 30, he's still unmarried. Wouldn't it be better if a woman kept an eye on him? The mother started worrying about her son's marriage again. Perhaps Director Song, who came yesterday, was a good match. They seemed to get along well. Although their first blind date didn't work out, they could take things slowly.

Zhang Bing had no idea what his mother was thinking. He only knew that he had to keep his promise to a woman, or else she would never have a good life. Since he had promised to pick Xue'er up from work, he couldn't let her walk to the office, which was 2 kilometers away. If that happened, he wouldn't be able to go to the office today; he would definitely be bombarded with Xue'er's glares. He kept begging, and thankfully there was no traffic. Xue'er was still at home eating breakfast. She glanced at him, got up, ladled a bowl of mung bean porridge from the kitchen, and placed it in front of him, pushing all the bread next to her to him. "You're lucky, my mom made extra today!"

"No need, I've already eaten. Hurry up and go, I have to go to work!"

"Who are you kidding? You still have sleep in your eyes, you must have just gotten up! Just eat what I tell you to eat, is all that rambling manly?" Xue'er rolled her eyes at him, glancing at the absence of her family, and gave him a little sarcastic remark.

Zhang Bing was speechless, awkwardly touching his hair, and could only sit down to eat.

"Wait, come wash your hands with me. You're acting like a child, so unhygienic!" Xue'er suddenly grabbed him, led him to the sink, added some warm water, and brought him a towel. "Use my towel, there aren't any new ones at home. Wipe your eye boogers while you're at it!"

Zhang Bing was even more embarrassed, not daring to look at Xue'er's face. This was too much like the behavior of a young wife, making him both touched and embarrassed. After all, Xue'er had cried in his arms last night, and he hadn't comforted her or made any promises, only silently taking her home and then running away as if fleeing. Xue'er's resentful gaze had almost made him collapse on the spot. He had wanted to act normally today so as not to upset the girl, but Xue'er acted even more normally than him, showing no sign of remembering last night's intimacy, yet her actions and tone were even more intimate and gentle, leaving him wondering what Xue'er was thinking.

Because he was confident, things in the office went relatively smoothly. He politely greeted the contractors, announced the plan he had discussed with Xue'er yesterday, and emphasized that business should be conducted officially and openly in the office, asking them not to harass his family before letting them go back to prepare the documents. In the afternoon, he and Xue'er went to Hongqi Lake. In his own words, it was a beautiful sight to see, and it was really nice.

But at 3 PM, things came up. First, County Chief Ma called, saying he planned to bring his daughter and wife to his house on Saturday for a relaxing trip, fishing, and a site visit to Hongqi Lake. He told Zhang Bing to let him know in advance if he had any business to attend to. Since the county chief was coming, Zhang Bing couldn't refuse. Judging from the chief's tone, it was mostly personal business—he probably just wanted to introduce Ma Pei to his parents. So there was no need to notify the town; he just needed to make sure they were well-received. While still pondering this, the phone rang again. It was his old classmate Guo Fei from Beijing. Guo Fei's company, Huasheng Group, was one of the developers Zhang Bing needed to contact. Guo Fei anxiously told him that the vice president in charge of investment affairs was going on a last-minute business trip to France the day after tomorrow to discuss a project for a month. If he wanted to discuss the Hongqi Lake development investment, he'd better come immediately, otherwise he'd have to wait. Zhang Bing could only quickly agree. After hanging up, Zhang Bing immediately called to book plane tickets. Luckily, there were still seats available for evening flights. He paid an extra 200 yuan, and the other party agreed to deliver the tickets to Li Huan's house. Finally, the first step was done, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why are you in such a hurry to go to Beijing?" Xue'er asked with concern, noticing Zhang Bing's anxious expression after receiving two phone calls. Zhang

Bing explained the two related matters to Xue'er. Since it was only Tuesday, the timing wasn't too conflicting, and Xue'er agreed to help prepare for welcoming the county magistrate, allowing Zhang Bing to focus on the negotiations. However, Zhang Bing still noticed a hint of sadness in the girl's eyes. Perhaps the county magistrate's family visit had given this intelligent woman a lot to think about, but he couldn't worry about that now; perhaps this was better for her!

Long Xin's usually calm heart was shattered. For the past few months, she had deliberately forgotten, deliberately downplayed that person's image. When he called, she only offered a perfunctory greeting and a perfunctory reply. She needed a clear, gentle space to sort out her thoughts, but now everything was disrupted by this man's phone call! His voice was still so deep, his tone still so steady. He said he was going back to Beijing tonight to discuss work, asking if she wanted to pick him up. What could she say? In a daze, she didn't know what she said or how she hung up the phone—

she met him when he was still a student, a senior in college, interning at their company. She was a sales clerk then, and his job was to record the sales staff's work, identify patterns, and improve workflows. He said he was attracted to her the moment he saw her; he liked her gentle and delicate appearance, her kindness and tenderness. So, he gave up the privilege of eating in the company cafeteria and spent all his time in their sales department, following her around, carrying her things, buying her snacks, and eating with her at the cramped desks in the sales department. Four or five people squeezed around one table, there wasn't even room to sit; everyone squatted or stood, chatting haphazardly as they ate. He would show off his eloquence, making all the girls at the table laugh, and occasionally offering them work-related advice. Gradually, all the girls in the sales department got to know him, to this honest and kind man. He was a smiling, occasionally funny, goofy guy, and several girls even took the initiative to approach him and ask him out. He was nice to everyone, but he adhered to one principle: he would only be her little tail, her little shadow. In his own words, "Being nice to your colleagues is to make things easier for them, refusing their dates is to give you more opportunities to get closer to me, and only following you is to show my loyalty. I'm a very excellent and honest person!" She didn't like him then. Several men who were taller, richer, and more handsome than him were pursuing him. She found him annoying, but she couldn't stop him because he never missed a day of work and always did it very well. It was winter

, a day much colder than now, that moved her and made her start to accept him. By then, he had finished his internship and started working at another company, but he still insisted on picking her up from work every day. No matter how much she ridiculed or scolded him, he wouldn't leave, always smiling and saying, "What else can I do for you?" Then he would ask her how she was doing, making her feel embarrassed. She remembered that day clearly. It was incredibly cold, with a thick snowfall, -12 degrees Celsius, and a biting north wind. To avoid him, she deliberately left through the back door and went to eat and sing karaoke with her colleagues. When she returned around 10 o'clock, she saw him shivering on the platform as soon as she got off the train. He excitedly waved and ran towards her, but after a few steps, he collapsed to the ground, clutching his leg and trembling uncontrollably, rubbing his calf and thigh. Seeing her approach, he called out, "Don't come any closer! The snow is slippery here. You won't look pretty if you fall!" His words warmed her heart. She went over and helped him up, only to learn that he had been waiting there for four hours because he couldn't find her. He explained that he was afraid people would gossip if he waited outside her house, and he wanted her to see him as soon as she got off the train, so she could receive his kind service without slipping in the snow. That's why he decided to wait there. The platform was empty, without any shelter, and with the north wind blowing, he had been standing there waiting for her for four hours? She went inside to check his injuries, only to find his legs covered in hives. Having studied medicine, she knew hives were caused by prolonged exposure to cold, leading to impaired blood circulation; they were itchy and painful. But he just smiled, applied some safflower oil to the wounds, waved, and left, saying, "My mission is complete. Get some rest, bye!" At that moment, she felt a pang of heartache for this man.

When did they start dating and when did they first kiss? Springtime, I think, with thick snow and a very cold day. She was enrolling in a self-study program for international trade, but she was terrible at English and math, so he offered to help her review and accompany her to class. That weekend, he took a bus to her little apartment at 7 a.m., bringing a hot breakfast. But she was a bit lazy and deliberately didn't get up, letting him tutor her while she lay comfortably in bed listening to his explanations. As she listened, she fell asleep. Half-asleep, he secretly kissed her forehead. Gradually, he grew bolder, secretly kissing his own face and lips. She finally couldn't resist. She had long since accepted him, but was just too shy to take the initiative. So she kissed him back, her lips meeting his tongue—how well-behaved he was then! Before that, even when she hinted at his acceptance, he hadn't dared to hold her hand or make any intimate gestures. Even during that kiss, his hands remained obedient. She found it amusing to think about it!

So, when was our first time having sex? It was the second summer, another weekend, and he was tutoring her again. This time, she had a cold and wasn't feeling well, so she stayed in bed. She fell asleep during the lesson, and he told her to cheer up and listen carefully, since the exam was coming up soon. She pouted and said she wouldn't listen unless he could take away her cold. He rolled his eyes and said he had a way, then crawled under her covers, hugged and kissed her, saying, "Just give me your cold." She was so touched that she forgot she was only wearing a nightgown and nothing underneath. In a daze, they ended up rolling around on the bed. His hands were touching her everywhere, making her body hot. Finally, he took off his nightgown and kissed her wildly, like a mad dog. Yes, a mad dog. He ejaculated as soon as he entered her, then said embarrassedly that it was his first time and he had no experience. He looked so cute. She still remembers him scratching his head, his face flushed, making her laugh uncontrollably despite being naked.

Then, they moved in together and started living like a young married couple. He was full of energy and would make love to her two or three times every night, but he was also very good to her. Five years passed like this. Two years ago, they were planning to get married, but then she was hit by a car, the driver fled the scene, and he had spent all his money. Actually, they both earned a good income, but he was too generous and open-handed with his friends, spending his days eating and drinking with them. His monthly salary was barely enough to cover his expenses. Back then, she was immature and spent money recklessly, following societal trends by doing Amway and selling insurance, wasting a lot of money. Even now, because they have no money, they haven't gotten married, and they don't own a house. They've argued countless times, and she even knows he had an affair while working in another city. They discussed breaking up, but in the end, she chose to stay with him because she couldn't bear to part with their five-year relationship and the man she loved. She loved him too much. He didn't drive her away either. He told her that she was now like his right and left hands. He didn't realize it normally, but once she was gone, it would hurt and make him extremely uncomfortable. She had become a part of his life. Over the years, perhaps the initial intense love had faded, but he knew he couldn't live without her. A person without hands becomes a cripple, unable to do anything. She believed it was true. When he was in the car accident, he was unconscious, but somehow he managed to call her and clearly tell her the location of the accident. Afterwards, however, he couldn't remember anything about it. The bag where he kept his phone was about a meter away from where he fell. The doctor said he was seriously injured, with three broken ribs and a broken collarbone; the ribs almost pierced his stomach. The doctors said it was a miracle, wondering how he managed to stay conscious, find his phone, call her, and then pass out again. She didn't know if it was a miracle; she only knew that when this man was unconscious, she was the first person he thought of. Therefore, she was the most important person to him, the person he missed most, even more than his parents. She was so moved! She vowed never to leave this man; she would consider him the most important person in her life, the one who would accompany her for the rest of her life.

Now this man has thrown another problem at her. He wants her to wait three years to marry him because he wants to focus on his career before marriage. She understands him, understands this strong-willed man—that's his strength. But how many more three-year periods does she have? She's already 28, her parents are urging her to get married, some of her classmates' children are already in school. She feels she can't afford to wait. Her friends also advise her not to wait, saying this man lacks responsibility. She really doesn't know what to do. If she trusts him and waits for him for three years, then she'll have to endure endless loneliness and the strange ridicule of others. If she doesn't trust him and leaves him, she'll have to say goodbye to this love, say goodbye to five years of her happy youth, and never see his warm smile again, never feel his warm embrace again. Since he wrote that letter and left, she's been thinking about this problem, but she hasn't reached a conclusion. So what now? Should she go to the airport to pick him up? She wants to see him, yet she resents him. She doesn't know what to do.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Clown's Indecent Assault

Zhang Bing rushed home, emphasizing to his parents again that they shouldn't accept any gifts. He grabbed his laptop bag and headed to Li Huan's house. It was already past 5 PM when he arrived in town. He received a call from Li Huan, who told him the plane tickets had arrived and asked him to pick up Fei Fei from kindergarten, explaining that she was busy and would go straight home. Zhang Bing readily agreed; Fei Fei adored him, and he enjoyed playing with this little rascal.

Fei Fei was thrilled to see Zhang Bing. Calling him "brother" and "dad" was no longer a secret; she called him that everywhere. Zhang Bing was used to it, but seeing the strange looks from the teachers and parents around him, he felt a jolt: Fei Fei calling me "brother" or "uncle" should have been normal, but why didn't he object and correct her when she called him that so openly? Did he really still harbor thoughts of being her father? Huan-jie has been emphasizing lately that she's his older sister. To quell the rumors, she had him bring Feifei to explain to Ma Pei, which undoubtedly formally acknowledged Ma Pei's status. So why doesn't she object to this title? And why didn't Vice Governor Li and his wife object either? What does all this mean? Huan-jie, can you forget that long kiss we shared that night? Can your brother hold you in his arms and share a bed with you? Can your brother caress your breasts?

But Zhang Bing immediately knew he shouldn't be thinking about these things. Li Huan was doing everything for his own good; he understood that perfectly. That's why he always went along with her wishes, not wanting to pressure or make things difficult for her. Besides, his emotional turmoil was too much for him to handle. He really didn't know how to deal with it, so he decided to let things take their course. Perhaps things would turn around later. Right now, getting his work done was the right thing to do. He couldn't repeat what he did in Beijing, losing and betraying too much for women, which ultimately proved to be a losing proposition.

Back home, Li Huan was already home, and a sumptuous meal was on the table. Li Huan smiled gently at him, picked up Xiao Feifei from his neck, and took her to wash her hands. "Let's eat quickly, and then I'll take you to the airport and buy you a trench coat or sweater. You're wearing too little right now; you'll catch a cold in Beijing!"

"Sister Huan, no need. The clothes your mom bought me are very warm and comfortable. There's no need for you to go so far. It's too windy today. Besides, if I feel cold, I can buy something else there!" Zhang Bing was genuinely worried about her; the weather was cold and windy today.

"Stop talking nonsense and listen to your sister! I know you well. With your personality, by the time you think about buying clothes, you'll have caught a cold. Do you even want to work? And, not to be blunt, your taste is really not good. The outfits you put together will embarrass me!" Li Huan put Feifei down at the table and then pushed Zhang Bing to wash his hands, even lathering him with soap.

Watching his sister's slender hands gently caress his palms, carefully wiping away the dirt from his fingers with focused and tender eyes, Zhang Bing couldn't resist the strong feeling of family warmth in his heart. He quickly and boldly kissed Li Huan on the cheek: "Sister Huan, you're so gentle and beautiful!"

Li Huan's hand immediately froze, a blush of shyness and playful anger spreading across her face. After a long while, she looked up at him, said nothing, but gave his hand a light pat, quickly rinsed it with water, dried it with a towel, and then silently pushed his shoulder to the dining table.

After dinner, Li Huan told Zhang Bing to rest for a bit. She helped him pack his things, took out several envelopes and a stack of money from the study, and waved them at him. "You're always traveling, so you should correct your habit of carrying more cash, especially since you'll probably have a lot of social engagements. Cash is convenient! These envelopes are for you to put as thank-you money, so you don't have to search for them later!" She also took the documents out of his bag and straightened them before driving off with him.

BMW's performance was indeed excellent; they arrived at the airport in 30 minutes. Li Huan, holding his arm, started browsing the clothing stores in the bonded area. Even after Zhang Bing passed through security and headed towards the plane, Li Huan was still savoring the wifely tenderness and sisterly affection he had shown her that day: the discerning look in her eyes as she picked out clothes, the satisfaction on his face as he wore the trench coat she had carefully chosen, the gentle smile as they walked together, the tenderness as she straightened his collar at parting, and that shy kiss that spoke volumes—all of it stirred his emotions, leaving him unable to calm down for a long time.

Jiang Yan sat in her seat, seething with anger, her beautiful face contorted with bitterness and resentment. "Damn thieves! They stole my wallet and phone at this time! Don't they know I have urgent business to attend to? If I'm delayed and I miss seeing my grandfather, and anything happens to him, I, a woman who never bullies others, will make you pay! I'll have the police round up all the thieves near the airport, wipe them out completely, and see if you still dare to be so ungrateful!" And then—and then what? She tried to think of more ways to punish the thieves, and wanted to curse them more viciously, but pitifully, her kind heart, which had always been deeply moved by the pain of injured cats and dogs, left her speechless with helplessness. Wait, punishment could wait; what to do now? No money, no phone, and she hadn't notified her family to pick her up. She didn't even know how to get home after landing. Forget it, thinking about it was pointless. She'd deal with it later. She wondered if her family was in such a hurry for her to return because her grandfather's condition had worsened or something else.

Jiang Yan is a graduate student in education at Jinghua University, supposed to graduate next January. However, desperate to escape her family's control and arrangements, she persuaded her mentor, who adored her, to allow her to graduate early and start working. Through her mentor's connections, she secretly chose a job teaching high school Chinese at a county-level middle school in a southern inland city, without her parents' knowledge. Then, she enlisted her grandfather's help to negotiate with her parents. Ultimately, under his pressure and her own tears, her father reluctantly reached an agreement: for one year, the family would not interfere with her work or send anyone to follow or protect her, allowing her freedom; however, after one year, she must obediently return to Beijing to accept the family's arrangements, and she would never again act on her own initiative or do anything out of line. Knowing that this was the biggest concession her family could make as a daughter, she readily agreed, deciding to have a year of freedom first, since her family couldn't do anything about her being their only child anyway. Besides, if Grandpa recovers, he'll still be in charge of the family, and none of the uncles, elder brothers, or younger brothers would dare do anything to her. She just didn't want the constant care and attention from her family; she wanted to live independently and gain freedom and personal space! With her plan approved, she arrived at Changxiang County Experimental High School amidst the envy of her classmates who were still hiding in school for another month, happily preparing for her new job. But less than two days later, she received a call from home that evening saying Grandpa was critically ill and she needed to return immediately. She was too rushed and too concerned about Grandpa's health, and in her haste, that damned thief got his hands on her.

Jiang Yan suddenly realized that getting angry wasn't worth it; it would only hurt her. Her bright eyes darted around, looking for a place where she could vent her anger. Yes, that's it! The man was the last to board the plane. His lips were ashen, his face pale, and his legs were trembling uncontrollably. He moved sideways, taking one step at a time, and nervously kept glancing at the door as if he were about to run away at any moment. This demeanor was extremely incongruous with his expensive designer clothes; he looked like a clown, yes, a clown, a disgusting clown. How could she play a trick on him? Jiang Yan's little brain immediately started working: Should she trip him as he passed by, making him scream in fright? Or should she deliberately walk past him and bump into him, knocking him to the ground when he wasn't looking? No, that would be too easy on him. She should trip him as he passed by, making him fall on top of her, and then accidentally spill her drink on his clothes, preferably even a little on his clothes and neck. That way, she could both play a trick on him and have a legitimate reason to demand compensation for his clothes. Haha, wouldn't that give her money to go home? Yes, that's it! Killing two birds with one stone! I'm so clever; I remembered this method described in a novel so quickly. Haha, I must read more novels in the future! Alright, that man's coming. Get ready—

Zhang Bing felt really unwell after Li Huan left. He was dizzy, nauseous, and worried he might accidentally vomit—that would be incredibly embarrassing. But there was nothing he could do; he could only grit his teeth and try to find his seat quickly, hoping it would make him feel better. He walked slowly, following the cabin numbers to find his seat. Heh, finally found it—a window seat, and next to him seemed to be a woman. Damn, why am I so popular with women lately? Everywhere I look, there are beautiful women! Hopefully, this woman is the quiet, gentle type, so she won't disturb my sleep! Only sleep could alleviate his symptoms. And after landing, he still needed to discuss the details of his meeting with Guo Fei's vice president tomorrow, seek Guo Fei's opinion, understand the current investment situation of Huasheng Group, and refine his investment proposal. Only then could he convince the vice president to be interested in investigating within the limited time available. All of this took time; he probably wouldn't get any sleep tonight. So if he didn't get some rest now, it was hard to say whether he could concentrate on his meeting with the vice president tomorrow! Having done so much preparation, she needed to make it a resounding success. If even a small detail ruined everything, she'd regret it for the rest of her life!

Jiang Yan saw the man walk up to her and immediately began her plan. But why was he standing right in front of her? Had he noticed her outstretched leg and discovered her scheme? He was watching her! Oh dear, he must have seen through her! She quickly withdrew her leg, her face flushed with embarrassment, and lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with the man. This clown had noticed her action. According to the clown's habits described in novels, he would definitely seize the opportunity to mock her. Clowns were known for their sharp tongues; a quiet woman like her was no match for him, and he even had a point. So she could only suffer in silence. She felt so wronged; she'd never felt so humiliated at home. She hated this smug clown! Fine, let him rant. She'd just ignore him. With her head down, he'd probably leave after a few insults, right? Oh my god, he actually spoke to me! This man has no manners at all, he doesn't care that I'm a beautiful woman. He started by calling me "comrade" in a shrill voice, such an old-fashioned term. It's bound to get even worse later. I'm not listening anymore, let him curse. Just ignore it, haha, yes, just ignore it. Not bad, not bad, I even swore. It's rare for a beautiful woman like me to swear. It's so satisfying to swear! Too bad I can't say it out loud, or it would ruin my image! I'll say it again, ignore it, a stinky fart that nobody responds to!

Zhang Bing stopped in front of Jiang Yan. That's right, finally found her seat. Soon she could sit comfortably! The woman next to him was indeed a great beauty, comparable to Ma Pei, though something seemed off about her. But he couldn't care less. He lowered his head slightly, suppressing his discomfort, and said in a very polite voice, "Comrade, could you please move aside? I need to go to my seat inside, thank you!" However, the woman didn't react. Zhang Bing, fearing he'd got the wrong seat, checked again carefully. It was correct. So, he could only pat the woman's shoulder: "Comrade, could you please move aside, thank you!"

Jiang Yan was lost in thought, determined to make this clown leave after he'd finished his smug act, but she hadn't expected him to be so audacious as to try to molest her. Habitually, she slapped the clown across the face and stood up angrily, shouting, "Show some respect!" This man was a jerk, utterly rude. Even if he knew she was playing dirty tricks, she hadn't suffered any loss; she could have just laughed it off. This guy, not only mocking her, but also trying to molest and harass her. He didn't even consider the place. She had to teach him a lesson!

Zhang Bing was dizzy from the slap. He was already unsteady on his feet, and the blow sent him staggering backward. Luckily, he managed to steady himself by bracing himself against the seat behind him. He was furious. Had this woman gone mad? She'd slapped him for no reason and was now enraged; the world had truly turned upside down. But his good manners kept him as calm as possible, though his face grew even more ashen as he stared at Jiang Yan. "Comrade, can you explain your behavior?"

"You—" Jiang Yan was about to accuse him of indecent behavior when she suddenly noticed the stares around her. Everyone was looking at her with reproach. The clown's tone was icy. The quick-witted Jiang Yan immediately realized her mistake. She stopped herself from speaking and carefully recalled her actions. Right, the clown hadn't been mocking her. He'd just told her to stand up and let him come over, saying his seat was inside. Good heavens! She'd been so caught up in her own thoughts that she'd ignored him, instinctively assuming he was going to mock her. How embarrassing! So, the clown definitely wasn't going to molest her anymore; only a lunatic would molest someone on a plane! Realizing this, Jiang Yan broke out in a cold sweat, her face flushed with shame. Not only was she embarrassed, but she'd also misunderstood someone and slapped them. Good heavens, what had she done, being so kind and gentle? Her eyes immediately reddened, and tears of regret streamed down her face. She bowed deeply to Zhang Bing, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I—I misunderstood you, I'm sorry, hit me too, I'll let you hit me back!"

Chapter Thirty: My First Time on a Plane.

Zhang Bing hadn't expected this crazy woman to change her attitude so quickly. Just a moment ago she was aggressive and angry, but a moment later she was pitifully apologizing. Well, what could he say? Hit her back? That would be too rude. Oh well, what could he do? The woman next to him was beautiful, and he'd already sensed something was off about her. He was just unlucky.

"Fine, fine, just let me through. But be careful next time, don't act crazy again!" Zhang Bing, already exhausted, grumbled and squeezed past Jiang Yan before she could fully move aside. She slumped into her seat and let out a long sigh. Damn it, she really was going to collapse if she stood any longer. Okay, now she didn't want to think about anything anymore, just wanted to sleep!

Jiang Yan hadn't expected the clown to be so gracious, letting her go so easily. To be honest, she really couldn't bear to let someone hit her like that. First, she'd never been hit before, and second, her delicate face would be bruised and swollen; who knew how long it would take for the claw marks to heal? She was afraid her family would see it, her grandfather would be furious, her mother heartbroken, and her father would bang on the table and want to catch the culprit. She didn't want her family to worry about her. She was still feeling happy when she heard the man call her crazy. So petty! He said he'd let her go, but he still came to mock her. No, she had to explain herself to the clown later, otherwise her image would be ruined. If he spread the word, she'd be mortified. She had to explain. Ah, this guy! She'd just felt a little guilty towards him, and he was already taking advantage of her! Couldn't he wait for her to move aside? He was definitely trying to take advantage of her. Humph, his arm was clearly rubbing against her chest! Ah, he was really squeezing her breasts! Shameless! "I'll explain and apologize to him first, then I'll definitely give him a piece of my mind. My young girl's first encounter with a strange man was taken by him like this, it's too much!

" Jiang Yan slowly sat down, trying to calm herself down so she could apologize to the clown. She secretly glanced over and saw that this guy was actually slumped in his seat, seemingly asleep? How could he sleep? There was a beautiful woman sitting right next to him, yet he ignored her? Jiang Yan felt that everything Zhang Bing did was directed at her, and she was furious! But it seemed she had to take the initiative to seduce him and talk to him, otherwise her later plans couldn't be implemented.

"Big brother, are you asleep?" The clown couldn't call him that out loud, and since the woman had just forgiven her serious mistake, she had to be friendly and sweet-voiced. She even tugged at his clothes, trying to wake him up.

"Is there something you need? If not, please don't disturb me!" After resting for a while, Zhang Bing felt better and spoke lazily, without even opening his eyes. He really didn't want to talk to this woman.

"Brother, I must apologize for my behavior just now, please forgive me!" This guy is so rude! A beautiful woman took the initiative to talk to him, and he said not to disturb him. How annoying! Just wait and see! "Also, I think it's necessary to explain my behavior just now!"

Zhang Bing heard her sincerity, slightly opened his eyes, and glanced at her. "Forget it, I already said I forgive you, there's no need to explain!"

"No, you must hear my explanation, otherwise I'll feel guilty, okay?" Jiang Yan stubbornly persisted with him, not even realizing that her tone was a bit coquettish.

Good heavens, there are people who force others to listen to explanations, just because they feel guilty? If she knew she would feel guilty, why did she hit someone for no reason? Zhang Bing was helpless. He could tell that this woman wasn't crazy, probably a spoiled girl, actually acting coquettishly towards a stranger. "Okay, go ahead, I'll listen with my eyes closed!" He wouldn't have peace until she agreed, so Zhang Bing had no choice but to take this compromise. Fortunately, the plane was now flying steadily, and after a period of adjustment, he had some energy to speak.

"Ah, big brother, you agreed? That's great! But you can't be angry after I explain!" Jiang Yan never lied, so she decided to tell the truth; that's the only way to truly explain.

Seeing Zhang Bing nod, she immediately lowered her voice and began to explain, her face flushed. She honestly recounted how she had thought Zhang Bing looked like a clown from the very first moment she saw him and wanted to play a trick on him, including her inner thoughts. She only concealed the fact that she had lost her wallet and wanted to extort money from Zhang Bing, believing that it had little to do with misunderstanding Zhang Bing and thus selectively ignored it. "Okay, I'm done. You're not allowed to laugh at him, and you're not allowed to be angry. I apologize again!" After telling the story, Jiang Yan felt much happier. She didn't have to feel guilty anymore. Moreover, during the story, she realized many of her own funny actions and thoughts, and she found them amusing herself. Naturally, she didn't find Zhang Bing so unpleasant anymore, and her desire to scold him wavered, after all, she was in the wrong first.

Listening to this funny woman—no, this little girl, a spoiled, pampered twenty-something-year-old girl—explain his situation, Zhang Bing no longer felt any resentment for being hit. He just found it amusing. He thought to himself, "How could she imagine herself like a clown?" He figured he must have looked really pathetic on the plane. After all, he had a fear of heights, and this was his first time flying. In his five years of work, how many people had laughed at him and misunderstood him because of this? How many company-organized domestic and international trips had he given up? Business trips had become much more arduous. Heh, but he still couldn't escape it. This matter was too important and too urgent; there was no other way! Thinking this, he realized that by listening to Jiang Yan's explanation and not focusing on his worry and fear, the discomfort had lessened considerably. He even had the energy to open his eyes and laugh! It was all in his head! Now, this girl wasn't so bad after all; her sincerity even gave him a slight sense of urgency to speak.

Jiang Yan hesitated, wondering whether to continue asking him to apologize. Zhang Bing, who had just started talking, was trying to think of something to say to this lovely girl when the plane suddenly entered a dark cloud. The fuselage shook violently, startling Zhang Bing, who had just recovered. His face turned deathly pale, his eyes fixed on the sky outside the cabin, his lips trembling as he silently cried out something. His hands frantically tried to grab something; initially, he tried to grab the armrest, but perhaps feeling insecure, one hand accidentally touched Jiang Yan's arm, which had tilted to the side as she spoke. Instantly, he gripped it tightly with both hands, his head resting against Jiang Yan's grasped arm, his entire being gripped in a death-like panic.

Jiang Yan was startled by his sudden action, thinking Zhang Bing was trying to take advantage of her. Her arm instinctively tried to pull away, but she couldn't, and it was held so tightly that Zhang Bing's nails dug into her tender muscle, bringing tears to her eyes. She was about to slap him and yell at him for taking advantage of her, but having just learned her lesson, she held back for the time being. Enduring the pain, she carefully observed the man and noticed a terrifying red light of death emanating from his eyes. Looking at his entire body, he didn't seem like someone taking advantage of her; he looked more like—a dead man, yes, someone about to die, or rather, someone consumed by the fear of death. That's how the characters in the movies she'd seen looked. How did this man suddenly become like this? Nothing happened just now, right? Wait, it seems we've entered a dark cloud; the plane was shaking a bit earlier. Could this be what's scaring this man to death? That's normal! Ah, no, my arm must be bleeding from being scratched; it hurts so much! I have to make this guy let go!

Thankfully, the plane's shaking lasted only a short time, less than 30 seconds. The dark clouds dispersed as the shaking stopped, and blue skies and white clouds returned to the window. After a long while, seeing the plane was stable, Zhang Bing relaxed slightly. His grip on Jiang Yan's arm, which had been numb with pain, loosened a little. Jiang Yan immediately pulled her arm away and shifted her body, trying to distance herself from him. She didn't scold him, but instead looked thoughtfully at Zhang Bing, who was now slumped in his seat, completely lacking any grace, because he no longer had her support.

For almost half an hour, neither of them spoke. Zhang Bing remained slumped there, his eyes still fixed on the scenery outside the window. Finally, he looked away, regaining some strength. He straightened himself and gave Jiang Yan a pale smile—or rather, a forced grin. "Sorry, did I scare you? I might have hurt your arm. I'm so sorry!"

Jiang Yan was now just a curious child, all her initial intention to scold him gone. She just wanted to know what had happened to him that made him like this. She suspected he was frightened by the plane, but she still wanted to know. Seeing that she had recovered, she moved closer to him, her head near his. "Are you alright? What happened?"

"I'm fine. I suddenly got a little nervous, so I grabbed your arm in a panic. Is it alright?" Zhang Bing didn't want to explain the truth to this curious child. What was the point of talking to a little girl?

"No, you weren't just a little nervous, you were terrified, like—like someone about to die in a movie!" After thinking about it, the girl genuinely expressed her feelings, not afraid of making him angry, since she had just said he looked like a clown.

"Hehe, it's not as serious as you make it out to be, it's nothing! Okay, I'm relieved that you're alright, I'm going to sleep now!" Zhang Bing was a little afraid of this curious girl's keen intuition, afraid she would keep asking questions until she got to the bottom of things, so she could only end the conversation.

"No, you have to tell me, otherwise—otherwise I'll get angry!" The curious girl persisted, threatening to get angry just like when talking to family.

"What does your anger have to do with me? I'm nobody to you," Zhang Bing chuckled, closing his eyes. But he was quickly defeated by the little girl.

"Tell me! I told you the truth about that embarrassing thing I just did. If you don't tell the truth, you're not a good boy, no, not a good man!" She used both threats and inducements, shaking Zhang Bing's arm and deliberately bringing her mouth close to his ear. "Besides, if you don't tell me, I'll keep bothering you, not letting you sleep, not letting you have any peace!"

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you!" Zhang Bing knew he had no choice but to surrender. Anyway, he didn't think it was anything shameful to say. He just thought it was unnecessary. "Actually, you should have guessed something earlier. I have a fear of heights, and this is my first time flying! That's it."

Jiang Yan had an expression that said it was true. Relieved to have her answer confirmed, she breathed a sigh of relief. This explained everything that had happened to him since he boarded the plane. He wasn't a clown. On the contrary, he was quite strong and composed. The kind-hearted Jiang Yan now admired him and felt embarrassed for bothering him all this time. Even the pain in her arm from before didn't hurt anymore. Seeing her expression, Zhang Bing smiled and went back to sleep. Jiang Yan considerately didn't disturb him anymore, letting him sleep comfortably.

Chapter Thirty-One: The End.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but Zhang Bing knew he slept soundly and deeply. In his dreams, there were no more airplanes, no more fear; he was full of life and fearless. He was finally woken up by that kind, curious girl. He struggled to open his eyes, shook his head to clear his head, and looked at the girl with a puzzled expression.

"Did you sleep well?" Seeing him open his eyes, the girl was happy, her smile sweet. Seeing his still puzzled expression, she continued, "Honestly, I'm so kind to you and you don't even say thank you. So stingy!" She then deliberately pouted, watching his response.

Seeing her like this, Zhang Bing was reminded of Ma Pei. She often spoke to him like this, perfectly embodying the spirited and lively nature of a young girl. He would usually gently go along with her in these situations. So, he smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, kind and lovely comrade!"

"Comrade? That sounds awful! I have a name!" she retorted slyly, looking at the smiling man. "Shouldn't a polite gentleman ask the name of the beautiful lady beside him?" Her expression was one of "I won't tell you unless you ask.

" "May I ask your name, beautiful lady?"

"Hehe, tell me your name and your profession first, then I'll tell you." The girl's stubbornness was unmistakable.

Zhang Bing was so exasperated he had lost his temper. "Zhang Bing, a peasant."

"Peasant? You're lying to me again! But I'll still tell you, my name is Jiang Yan, isn't it a nice name? My grandfather gave it to me."

"Okay, beautiful Miss Jiang Yan, now can you tell me why you woke me up?" Finally, they could get back to the point. Zhang Bing breathed a sigh of relief. Although this girl was as pretty and cute as Ma Pei, he wasn't in the mood right now because they were still on the plane. Even if he wasn't afraid anymore, he needed to use the time to think about tomorrow's negotiations.

“No problem, of course I can tell you. I woke you up out of kindness because the plane is already over Beijing and will be landing soon. The landing process might be a little uncomfortable for you, so you need to prepare in advance!” She looked at him and suddenly smiled. “I don’t want you to hurt my arm again!”

“Oh, I see. Well then, thank you so much!” Zhang Bing looked at her sincerely and thanked her heartily. “Thank you so much. You are a kind, beautiful, and considerate woman!”

“Since I’ve helped you, can I continue talking to you now? I know you’re a little annoyed, but I believe our conversation can ease your mood. My father told me that shifting your attention is the best way to overcome fear.” Jiang Yan was actually bored and wanted to talk to someone. She was also curious about this man and wanted to know more. “Zhang Bing, you just said you’re a farmer. Can a farmer wear Versace?”

“Hehe, don’t underestimate farmers. There are plenty of wealthy farmers these days!” He paused and asked a passing flight attendant for a glass of warm water. “I really am a farmer now, the village chief!” Zhang Bing told her calmly.

After thinking for a long time, Jiang Yan finally looked at him seriously. "I believe you. But can you tell me why a village chief like you is rushing to Beijing so late at night? I'm very curious."

Since she brought it up, he might as well tell her, even if it was just to satisfy her curiosity. Anyway, he was starting to enjoy the conversation. "Our village is currently undertaking a development project, a very large development plan. I need to come to Beijing to secure investment, and since things are a bit urgent, I came here. That's all."

"Hehe, so you're not just a village chief, but also a master negotiator and investor. I admire you!" Having satisfied her curiosity, Jiang Yan had nothing more to ask. She wasn't interested in investment or anything related to officialdom. "Alright, the plane is landing. Just relax like you are now. It'll be fine. If you're nervous, you can still hold my hand."

Zhang Bing gave her a wry smile. He hadn't noticed before, but his heart started to tighten again. He wondered why this girl had brought it up on purpose. Thankfully, the plane landed smoothly. Zhang Bing didn't do anything out of line, but in his nervousness, he noticed that Jiang Yan was clearly unhappy after her silence. She seemed about to speak to him several times, but ultimately didn't.

After landing, Zhang Bing greeted Jiang Yan and rushed off the plane. He was so eager for that solid ground feeling that he didn't even hear Jiang Yan calling him to wait. Finally, he arrived safely, much better than he had imagined. He had prepared some sleeping pills to force himself to sleep if he felt really unwell, but if he had, he probably would never have dared to fly again. Now, he felt alright; he could just bear it. Of course, he also had to thank the beautiful Jiang Yan, who had indeed alleviated much of his pain. Seeing the end of the passageway, Zhang Bing let out a long sigh: Beijing, I'm back! Although it's only been a few months, so much has changed. While he's not yet rich or powerful, he's confident and feels a bright future! He believes the pain is in the past, and success is just around the corner!

After a moment of blankness, Zhang Bing hurried out of the passage, his anticipation mixed with a touch of urgency. He looked around at the people waiting to pick up passengers, searching countless times, but was ultimately disappointed. Long Xin still hadn't come! But he didn't blame her! He understood her too well. She would get angry, she would be disappointed in his behavior, but she would still love him and care about him. As long as he took the initiative to talk to her, she wouldn't even utter a single resentful word. She would love him as always and stay by his side. It was precisely because of this that Zhang Bing felt so guilty towards her. He loved her too, but that love had turned into familial affection, deep in his bones, and was not easily expressed in daily life. He often argued with her over trivial matters, he often didn't call her, and he often ignored her and was busy with his own things. However, he also often paid attention to her health, he often only remembered her phone number, and he often unconsciously went to her house on lonely nights. Even in his dreams, when he was sleeping in the same bed with another woman, he still only called her name. He also remembered that once when he introduced the woman he loved most to others, he blurted out: "This is my girlfriend, Long Xin!" This is a woman who is suitable for a domestic life and to be a wife, so he made a promise to her, a promise in his heart that will never change. He cannot give her a complete love now, but he will give her a complete status and a touch of true love in his heart!

Suppressing his disappointment and sighs, Zhang Bing felt a bit hungry. He had expended too much energy on the plane, and this was the last thing he should do when he was hungry. He needed to replenish his energy, as the journey from the airport to the hotel was still quite long. Looking around, he headed towards a nearby coffee shop. Before he even reached the coffee shop entrance, Zhang Bing suddenly turned around and looked back. Sure enough, a timid figure was following him not far behind. Upon closer inspection, he chuckled and realized it was none other than the cute girl, Jiang Yan. Ever since he felt a little better after leaving the terminal, Zhang Bing had felt uneasy, as if someone was watching him and following him. But since passengers were exiting through the terminal, it was normal for someone to follow them, so he hadn't paid much attention. Now it was different. The airport terminal exit was on the other side, and this coffee shop wasn't a very conspicuous corner. Unless there was a specific reason, he wouldn't have come this way. Since that feeling hadn't disappeared, he naturally became suspicious. Sure enough, this little girl was openly following him, looking somewhat melancholy. When he turned around to face her, she didn't flinch, but just forced a smile before walking up to him and looking at him.

"Miss Jiang Yan, are you here for coffee too?" Zhang Bing asked tentatively, wanting to joke with the girl. After all, he was very grateful to her, but he had been in a hurry to get off the plane and was afraid of causing a misunderstanding with Long Xin, who was picking him up. He also didn't dare to invite the girl easily for fear of being accused of having ulterior motives, so he hadn't invited her to come along. Who knew she would actually follow him? Interesting!

Chapter Thirty-Two: Always Following You

"You don't need to test me, I'll just tell you directly, I've been following you all along!" The girl blushed slightly, as this could lead to misunderstandings, but honesty was her principle.

Zhang Bing felt even better about the girl. Honest people were so rare in today's society; such a spirit was so precious in social interactions. He chuckled and continued joking, "Oh? Am I so charming that Miss Jiang fell in love at first sight? What an honor!"

"Stop being so conceited! I'm just following you, that's all, understand? And you don't need to worry about me, but you're not allowed to bully me either!" Jiang Yan didn't want to dwell on this awkward topic and changed the subject: "Weren't you going to have coffee? Aren't you coming in?"

This hit Zhang Bing where it hurt, and he really felt bad about teasing her anymore. After all, she had helped him a lot on the plane, and he knew his own strength; he knew the girl's arm was probably bleeding or worse from his scratches. He just didn't want to ask her to take off her clothes to show him, so even though he didn't understand her intentions, he shrugged and obediently went into the coffee shop.

Zhang Bing ordered his favorite cappuccino and some pastries, enjoying his meal immensely. He followed her lead and ignored her, pretending she didn't exist. Based on his experience, he judged that this girl wasn't a bad person, and there was no need to be wary of her. But he had to admire the girl's directness; she came in with him and sat opposite him, looking at him with a feignedly cute expression. Zhang Bing was really hungry; he had gastritis and couldn't go hungry, so he buried his head in his food. However, when he looked up after finishing, he found the girl's table empty, still sitting there with a forced smile, though you could see the anger in her eyes.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you staring at me while I eat? It's making me nervous!" Zhang Bing could only try to ease the awkward atmosphere with a joke.

"Mr. Zhang Bing, don't you think that as a gentleman, you should offer the lady next to you something to eat? You're so stingy, you have no manners at all!" The girl resorted to childish reverse psychology again.

"You were the one who said you didn't need to worry about me!" Zhang Bing muttered a complaint under his breath, then waved for a waiter to serve the lady beside him. "Thank you for your help on the plane. I'll treat you to something to show my gratitude!"

The girl gave him a knowing look, ordered some food, and then smiled sweetly at Zhang Bing. "Thank you. To be honest, I haven't had dinner yet, and I'm really hungry!" Jiang Yan thought to herself, "If I tell you this, you'll probably guess I don't have any money, and then you'll offer to take me home. That solves everything, haha, I'm so clever to have come up with this idea! But this guy is really annoying. He didn't wait for me after we got off the plane or invite me to walk with him. I had to follow him. It's so embarrassing. He probably laughed his head off when he realized I was following him. How awful!" In fact, Jiang Yan was prepared to tell Zhang Bing the truth after the plane landed and ask him for help. However, having never asked a stranger for help before, she found it very difficult to speak up. She opened her mouth several times but then pulled back. When she finally had no choice but to steel herself and speak up, Zhang Bing hurriedly ran away, which made her very depressed. Fortunately, he wasn't in very good spirits and wasn't walking fast, so she was able to keep up with him. She just kept following him, but the more they walked, the less she knew how to start a conversation. In the end, she could only awkwardly follow along. If Zhang Bing hadn't noticed her and started talking to her, she really wouldn't have known what to do: she hadn't eaten dinner before rushing to catch her flight, was terribly hungry, and hadn't eaten anything on the plane because of Zhang Bing. She didn't have a penny to her name, was too shy to ask, and was afraid that if she asked this man for help, he would harass her, offering to take her home, and like the other suitors, he would be after her family's wealth and power, constantly pestering her. Then she would never have peace. So, in the end, she ended up like this, making herself a doormat, having to smile and pretend she didn't care.

Zhang Bing still couldn't understand the girl's intentions. He would never have imagined she didn't have money for transportation and food. After all, based on what he'd learned before, he was certain this girl came from a wealthy family. Since he couldn't figure it out and didn't think she was a bad person, he decided to let it go and not think about her. Maybe she was genuinely hungry and just happened to be at the coffee shop. Perhaps her comment about following him was just an angry outburst. So, seeing that he had finished eating, he walked out of the restaurant. Neither of them had any luggage, so there was no need for him to act like a gentleman and provide her with any services. As they walked, Zhang Bing noticed she was still following him and an idea popped into his head. He deliberately wandered into other shops, but strangely, Jiang Yan was still following him with a smile.

"Miss Jiang Yan, what are you following me for? Please tell me!" Zhang Bing was going crazy from being followed without his knowledge. He didn't believe this was a beautiful woman throwing herself at him; there's no such thing as a free lunch.

"I already said, I've just been following you, nothing else!" Playing the fool was a common tactic of every spoiled young woman. She had used this trick to gain advantages at home many times, so of course she was using it again.

"Okay, I'm really tired and sleepy now, so I've decided to go to a hotel to sleep. Are you sure you want to come along?" Zhang Bing said, pretending to be serious, and started walking towards the airport hotel.

"Stop! You're being ridiculous! You're just bullying me!" The girl's eyes reddened instantly, tears streaming down her face. She tried to stop herself from crying, looking at Zhang Bing with red eyes. "I know you're going to the city center. You said earlier that it was an emergency, so you rushed over overnight! I just want a ride home!"

Zhang Bing was at a loss for words. A beautiful woman wanted him to take her home—how could such a good thing happen to him out of nowhere? Was he really that popular with women lately? Forget it, no more guessing. It would be better to just ask her directly and clear things up to avoid misunderstandings.

“Miss Jiang Yan, of course it’s my honor to take you home, but can you tell me why? You just said it yourself, it wasn’t love at first sight, and I don’t believe I have that much charm to attract such a beautiful woman like you!” He paused, then added an explanation, “Of course, I just wanted to clarify the reason so that no one would misunderstand, that’s all!”

Jiang Yan glared at him fiercely, tears streaming down her face again. “You clown, you jerk Zhang Bing, didn’t you? My wallet and phone were stolen, so of course I couldn’t take a taxi by myself!” She then ran to him and punched him twice. “You’re the only person I know, so of course I had to ask you for help! I told you not to bully me, but you still did! I’ll beat you to death!”

Zhang Bing was completely defeated by the girl. So that's how it was! No wonder she acted strangely on the plane, slapping him as soon as she boarded. It turned out she was venting her anger at the thief on him, making him the unlucky one. Haha, I never expected that! However, if she had told the truth earlier, he would definitely have helped her. Not to mention doing a good deed, just for her helping him, he would have done it without hesitation, let alone giving such a beautiful woman a ride.

"Alright, alright, stop crying, it was my fault! I'm sorry!" Being "bullied" like this by a beautiful woman, Zhang Bing was naturally happy, but he still had to comfort her. "But, let me ask you, why didn't you say so earlier? I would definitely have taken you home!"

Jiang Yan, who had already stopped, pinched Zhang Bing's arm hard again, pouting, "You still dare to say that! I was just shy! I've never asked a stranger for help."

The pinch really hurt, so Zhang Bing quickly grabbed her hand. "Alright, it's my fault, Miss Jiang Yan. Please don't blame me anymore, please forgive me, okay?" He didn't even notice that the girl's fair hand was being held by her, in a somewhat ambiguous way!

Jiang Yan blushed deeply, tears welling in her eyes, as a man grabbed her small hand. "What are you doing? Let go of me, you pervert!" Seeing Zhang Bing quickly release her, she felt a little better, awkwardly touching her hair. She knew Zhang Bing hadn't meant it. "It's alright, I don't blame you. Can we go now? Grandpa's sick, he's in a real hurry!"

"No problem, I guarantee I'll get Miss home as quickly and easily as possible!"

Without further ado, the two went straight to the taxi stand and got into a taxi. Zhang Bing wanted to sit in the front to avoid suspicion, but the girl insisted on pulling him to her side: "We were sitting together just now, and now you can't? You're so stingy! Sit here, I still want to talk to you." Actually, Jiang Yan didn't have anything to say to him, but for some reason, after crying in front of him, she felt somewhat dependent on him.

After Zhang Bing got in, the girl gestured for the driver to start the car. "Please go to the General Staff Xiangshan Villa first, and then decide." She turned to Zhang Bing and smiled, "You don't have any objections, do you?"

Zhang Bing naturally shook his head. After waiting a while, seeing the somewhat silent atmosphere, Zhang Bing asked the question that had been on his mind, "Jiang Yan, the Xiangshan Villa of the General Staff is the residence of high-ranking military leaders. Is that your home? It seems you really come from a very wealthy family. I wasn't wrong!"

The girl was silent for a moment. Her family had told her not to reveal her family background to strangers, but after thinking about it, she chose to believe him, after all, things had already come to this. "My grandfather is a leader in the military!" she said

with an "oh." Seeing that the girl was unwilling to talk more, Zhang Bing didn't care to know too much either. Suddenly, he smiled mischievously, "Jiang Yan, actually, you're too honest. Why don't you just take a taxi home and have your parents pay the fare? You didn't think of that, did you? You were too busy crying!"

"Who's crying? It's all your fault for making your family cry!" The girl was about to explode again, grabbing Zhang Bing's arm and pinching it, but thankfully she let go quickly, looking victorious. "Of course I thought of this stupid method, but the taxi can't get into the villa area, and I can't notify my family, nor do I want others to laugh at me. Only you are so stupid!"

Oh, so that's how it is. Then this topic can't be brought up again. "By the way, how's your arm? Is it badly I grabbed it? Do you want to see it?" Zhang Bing was still a little worried about the trouble he had caused.

Actually, Jiang Yan had been feeling pain, but she hadn't paid attention. Now that the culprit wanted to take the initiative to admit his mistake, of course she had to cooperate. Although taking off clothes in front of a man was indecent, it only required taking off her coat to expose her arm, which was acceptable to this man she still trusted to some extent.

"Ah! You bastard Zhang Bing, you stinky clown, you have to compensate me—" A deafening scream came from the taxi, echoing through the night sky.

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