[Adult City] Lonely Officialdom (Final Chapter) - Chapter 38

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter 247 Contraception

Thinking of all the troubles, Zhang Bing's scalp tingled.

Lin Jing pulled Zhang Bing's hand and ran all the way to the gate of the military compound. Afraid that the old man would get angry and have the guards close the gate, the two didn't even have time to retrieve their car. Although Lin Jing was a soldier, she was still panting heavily after running such a long distance. She leaned over, hands on her knees, breathing heavily.

"Lin Jing, are you alright?" Zhang Bing stepped forward and supported Lin Jing's waist, asking softly. Whatever this girl's motives, she was willing to make such a great sacrifice for him, and he was grateful.

"I'm fine. Don't help me, people are watching." Lin Jing straightened up, patting her small breasts. Beneath her round-necked military uniform, her breasts were voluptuous. Wearing such rigid clothing, yet making such mature and alluring movements, she looked extremely tempting. Zhang Bing couldn't help but recall that night's passionate night in that dark little room.

"We're an old married couple, what's there to be afraid of?" Zhang Bing said with a smile, obediently withdrawing his

hand. Their current position was extremely awkward; if the Jiang family saw them, it would be even more difficult to explain. "Who said we're an old married couple? Didn't I just say I wouldn't marry you?" Lin Jing rolled her eyes.

"Why? Am I not handsome enough?" Zhang Bing habitually touched his nose.

"Yes." Lin Jing nodded.

"I hate women who tell the truth the most." Zhang Bing said sullenly.

After a period of rest, Lin Jing had also recovered, and her breathing had returned to normal. She looked up at Zhang Bing's face intently, unwilling to speak for a long time. Her long eyelashes, like banana leaf fans, fluttered occasionally, exuding charm.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Bing touched his face curiously. Had he become more handsome? In the past, women would fall in love with him after a period of getting to know him, but now she fell in love with him at first sight? Did that divine power have such an effect?

"Zhang Bing, you should go back to Changxiang quickly." Lin Jing said seriously.

"Why?" Zhang Bing asked with a smile. It seemed this woman knew something. Was her sudden self-sacrifice also related to this?

"Don't you understand? The move you made is unsolvable, a dead end. Politics is about balance and maneuvering. What you used to do won't work in Beijing. You're in a dangerous situation, you know that?" Lin Jing pulled Zhang Bing's hand, and the two walked to a corner of the outer wall of the military compound. Lin Jing earnestly advised him.

"Aren't Li Xuan and Lin Tao enough to protect me?" Zhang Bing asked with a smile.

"They can." Lin Jing nodded. "But they can also kill you. And you can't kill them. You've already lost at the starting line."

"Why can't I kill them?" Zhang Bing said, narrowing his eyes.

“Zhang Bing, stop being stubborn, okay? You're acting like a child right now. I know a lot about you; I know you're very capable and skilled. But some things can't be solved with ability and skill alone. Even if you kill them, what then? What about your family? What about all those loyal and caring people? You can disregard yourself, but you need to leave them a way out.” Lin Jing glanced around and said softly, “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Don't you understand that? It's because you're so powerful that you've created an imbalance of power, which is why your situation is so dangerous. No superior wants to see their subordinates disobeying and disrespecting their elders, and the same applies to politics. Do you understand what I'm saying?”

“I understand. But I have no choice in everything. And to be honest, at this point, I haven't gained anything yet, and it's really hard to stop,” Zhang Bing said with a smile.

"You gained nothing? The Jiang family has basically accepted you, right? You've even gotten that self-serving friendship with Lin Tao and Li Xuan. What more could you want? Besides, for someone like you with no connections, just being able to participate in this kind of high-level struggle is already quite remarkable. What more could you possibly need? Zhang Bing, you're such a greedy man," Lin Jing said with a sigh.

Zhang Bing didn't know if Lin Jing meant power or women when she called him a greedy man, but today Lin Jing suddenly seemed somewhat unfamiliar to him. Today's Lin Jing was mature, quick-witted, and insightful in her observations of people and situations. This was no longer the girl who was supposedly clueless about everything.

"You seem to know quite a lot," Zhang Bing said, smiling at Lin Jing.

"Jiang Yan and I are best friends. She's busy taking care of her grandfather and can't be distracted right now, so she asked me to take good care of you. Of course, I have to keep my promise," Lin Jing explained.

"That's all?" Zhang Bing took a step closer, staring intently at Lin Jing's face, his eyes shining brightly.

"That's right," Lin Jing said, avoiding Zhang Bing's eyes, her face flushed.

“But how could you steal from me?” Zhang Bing said jokingly. Lin Jing blushed and became like a child again.

“Can’t I be in heat?” Lin Jing said angrily, raising her face. Still not satisfied, she raised her foot to kick Zhang Bing’s knee.

Zhang Bing quickly dodged and asked excitedly, “Do you think seeing me has an aphrodisiac effect?”

“Seeing you has a weight-loss effect; I can’t even hold my breath enough to throw up.” Lin Jing missed her kick and, still furious, kicked again.

“Alright, Miss, stop fooling around. I have something very serious to ask you.” Zhang Bing stopped Lin Jing’s playful fight and said seriously.

“What is it?” Lin Jing quieted down and waited for Zhang Bing to continue.

“After we finished that day, did you take any medicine?” Zhang Bing asked softly.

“What do you mean, ‘finished’?” Lin Jing was still a little confused. Having only had one sexual experience, Lin Jing was unfamiliar with such professional terminology.

"It's like this—that night you tricked me into the dark room, first you hugged and kissed me, then you started tearing my clothes—you even said you'd buy me new clothes, but you still haven't—after you took my clothes off, you climbed on top of me—but you're so clumsy, you always made me lose my way. After that, did you take your medicine?" Zhang Bing explained in detail, even trying to replay the scene from that night for Lin Jing to remember.

Even a fool would understand what Zhang Bing was talking about. Lin Jing's face turned pale instantly, she glared at Zhang Bing fiercely, and said angrily, "Then what medicine should I take?"

Zhang Bing's eyes rolled back, she almost fainted. How could her mother be such a bad mother? So irresponsible! This is something a mother must teach, how could Lin Jing's mother be like this? It's obvious she wants her daughter to cling to someone else.

"Don't you know that you can get pregnant after that?" Zhang Bing asked with a bitter face.

"Oh. Right. What should we do then?" Hearing Zhang Bing's words, Lin Jing also became a little anxious and asked, tugging at Zhang Bing's arm.

"Let's go buy birth control pills," Zhang Bing said dejectedly.

Then she counted on her fingers: one, two, three, four—ten, eleven—

thank goodness, she still remembered the exact time; it hadn't been seventy-two hours yet.

"What exactly happened? I still don't understand. What's going on between Jing'er and that Zhang Bing?" Lin Jing's mother asked worriedly, watching her daughter's departing figure.

"What happened? Your daughter is in love," Lin Quanshui said angrily. He was a filial son at home, and Lin Jing had angered his father so much today, so he also blamed his daughter. Unfortunately, Lin Jing had run away, so he could only vent his anger on his mother, who believed that 'a son's lack of filial piety is a mother's fault.'

"Dating? With whom? Zhang Bing? Isn't he that girl from the Jiang family's boyfriend? What are we going to do now? How are we going to explain this to the Jiang family?" Because she was anxious, Lin's mother didn't notice the strong gunpowder in her husband's words and started to worry about something else.

"What can we do? There are so many good men in the capital, but she doesn't want any of them. She insists on liking that shifty-eyed guy. What can we do? She's completely disgraced the Lin family. I think we should go to the Jiang family and apologize—what a misfortune for our family!" Old Master Lin said sadly. "

Dad, don't be so anxious. We shouldn't jump to conclusions before things are clear. Let his mother persuade her again. Jing'er is still young and doesn't understand. She should understand our good intentions—" Lin Quanshui tried to comfort her father, seeing that he was still angry.

"Not anxious? If we don't hurry, that Zhang kid will be born." Old Master Lin said, glaring, slamming his hand on the tempered glass coffee table in front of him, sending the teacups flying. This statement

caused a huge uproar!

Old Master Lin's words were like a heavy stone thrown into the hearts of the family members. Everyone looked at each other, somewhat at a loss.

"Dad, you mean—" Lin Quanshui asked incredulously.

Chapter 249 A Woman's Thoughts

"Yes." Old Master Lin accidentally let slip and decided to be frank.

"Dad, did you hear that right? Jing'er isn't that kind of girl." Lin Quanyu, Lin Jing's aunt, chimed in.

"Although I'm old, I'm not deaf. She's become like this because you all spoiled her!" Old Master Lin said irritably.

"I wonder who spoils her the most—" Lin Quanshui muttered from the side.

"What did you say?" Old Master Lin glared at his son, Lin Quanshui.

"Dad, don't be angry. Things have come to this point, and we can only accept the fact. Now, what we need to do is figure out how to handle this. Jing'er is a girl. If this gets out, it will ruin her. We must be very careful." Lin Quanshui gently reminded them.

Everyone agreed, especially Lin's mother, who was extremely anxious because it concerned her daughter's future.

"Then what should we do? We need to find Jing'er and bring her back. We can't let her stay with that Zhang guy anymore."

"What's the use of rushing now?" Old Master Lin sighed. "Alright, you women should discuss how to persuade Jing'er first. Quanshui, Tanming, come to my study."

Old Master Lin stood up from the sofa and walked towards his study, with Lin Quanshui and Tanming following him.

The study maintained the typical military style, simply decorated and spacious and bright. A row of wooden bookshelves was filled with all sorts of books. In particular, the works of leaders such as "Selected Works of Mao Zedong" and "On Deng Xiaoping" were all there.

The three of them sat down casually, all looking preoccupied.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I haven't raised my daughter well," Lin Quanshui said shamefully, the man in his forties bowing his head and apologizing to his father.

"It's not your fault. I've taught Jing'er quite a bit, so if you really think about it, I'm partly to blame too," Old Master Lin waved his hand and said. "Let's not talk about that. We need to resolve this matter quickly, we can't let that girl be delayed. She and that Zhang guy must separate. He already has that Jiang girl, what kind of behavior is it for her to get involved? How can I face Vice Premier Jiang for drinks again? I don't know if they know about this, we'll have to give them a heads-up later."

"What should we tell them?" Lin Quanshui asked softly.

"What else can we tell them? Didn't you see how protective your daughter is of him? What else can we do? Tell him whoever wants to do it can do it."

Education must start from childhood, education must start from childhood. Our great leader wisely taught us this many years ago, but how much we have failed to do. A teenager might think he was dug out of the ground by his father with a shovel, while a twenty-year-old woman might not know that pregnancy can occur after sexual intercourse—especially the first time.

Fortunately, with the development of technology, there are many technological products that can compensate for these shortcomings. For example, condoms, pregnancy tests, and emergency contraceptives—well, remember, you must buy those without side effects so as not to harm a woman's body.

The two dared not buy such things at the sex shops and convenience stores near the General Staff Villa, for fear of being recognized and having a bad reputation for their family. After all, Lin Jing was considered a semi-celebrity in Beijing. In the area around the General Staff Villa, besides Jiang Yan, she was the most well-known.

The two walked quite a distance, and after feeling that they had reached a safe zone, they stopped in front of a convenience store.

"You go buy it," Lin Jing said, blushing.

"Why should I go?" Zhang Bing asked, staring at her.

"I'm embarrassed," Lin Jing said shyly. It was really difficult for her to go buy such things, especially while she was still wearing her military uniform.

"I'm embarrassed too," Zhang Bing said, mimicking her.

"Ugh—go ahead, Zhang Bing! I'm not even planning to marry you, what will we do if we have a baby?" Lin Jing said anxiously. Zhang

Bing thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Actually, this kind of thing is usually done by women, because women like shopping—how about this, we play rock-paper-scissors, whoever wins goes shopping, okay?"

Lin Jing thought about it and it wasn't an unacceptable decision, so she nodded, looking serious and ready to play.

"I'll count to three, one—two—three, rock-paper-scissors—" Zhang Bing raised her fist and threw rock—

"Yay, I won! I threw paper!" Lin Jing waved her hand happily at Zhang Bing. She had indeed thrown paper. Paper beat rock, she had won.

Zhang Bing took out a hundred yuan from her pocket and said with a smile, "You're really good, congratulations!"

"Of course." Lin Jing subconsciously took the money and asked, "What are you giving me money for?"

"To buy medicine," Zhang Bing said with a smile.

"I won, why should I buy it?" Lin Jing stared with her big, round eyes, her cheeks puffed out.

"Yeah, didn't I say whoever wins buys it? You did win." Zhang Bing nodded, speaking seriously.

Lin Jing thought about it carefully and realized she'd fallen for Zhang Bing's trick. She kicked him.

"A woman's word is her bond, especially since you're a soldier. You have to honor your bet. Go buy it. You'll have to get used to doing this kind of thing in the future." Zhang Bing said with a smile. "

Zhang Bing, I'm embarrassed—"

"Practice makes perfect. I was embarrassed the first time too, I couldn't even get in for ages—"

"What nonsense are you talking about? You're such a stingy person—I'll buy it then." Lin Jing stormed off towards the convenience store across the street. When she reached the middle of the road, Zhang Bing called out to her. "What?" Lin Jing turned back unhappily, baring her teeth and brandishing her arms. She thought Zhang Bing had some instructions for

her . “I suddenly remembered, you don’t know which brand is good, so I’ll go buy it.” Zhang Bing smiled and ran over to take the money from Lin Jing. “Do you buy this often?” Lin Jing asked, squinting. “No. This is my first time.” Zhang Bing said solemnly, quickly running towards the convenience store. A little while later, Zhang Bing came out of the convenience store again, carrying a medicine box and two bottles of water. “The medicine is to be dissolved in water? I can’t finish drinking it.” Lin Jing said nervously, seeing the two bottles of mineral water Zhang Bing was carrying. Zhang Bing looked at Lin Jing in astonishment and said, “You haven’t eaten pork, but you’ve seen pigs run. You haven’t taken birth control pills, but you should have seen others take them.”

“I’ve never seen that before.” Hearing Zhang Bing call him stupid, Lin Jing was a little displeased. She took the small medicine box from Zhang Bing and asked, “Did you take it all?”

“Wait—” Zhang Bing called out anxiously.

“What is it?” Lin Jing asked curiously.

“Lin Jing—”

“What?”

“I want to discuss something.”

“What is it?”

“Before you take the medicine, could we—do it one more time—after all, this medicine isn’t cheap, doing it one more time would reduce costs and avoid this situation—” Zhang Bing looked at Lin Jing’s infinitely charming face under the sun and said shyly.

“Go to hell—you pervert—”

“—”

Zhang Bing was hurt, not because his request was not met, but because at this crucial moment, the phone rang. Mayor Long ordered him to return to the Beijing office immediately to discuss an important matter. The tone of the order was urgent, leaving him feeling helpless—what could he do when he was of a lower rank?

Exhausted from following Mayor Long to various ministries all day, Zhang Bing slumped back into her room, stripped naked, and took a cold shower, finally feeling a bit better. As she came out, drying her hair with a towel, her phone on the table rang.

Seeing the caller ID, Zhang Bing hesitated, a guilty conscience gripping her.

As if in a contest, the other person wouldn't stop, the ringing persistently.

"Jiang Yan—" Zhang Bing finally answered, calling out with a smile.

"Grandpa's feeling much better today. I just took him for a walk. I wanted to call you—why didn't you answer for so long?" Jiang Yan's gentle voice came through the receiver.

"I was taking a shower," Zhang Bing explained softly.

"Hehe, I knew it—what were you busy with today? Why didn't you come over?" Jiang Yan didn't mention Lin Jing at all.

Didn't she know?

"Jiang Yan, thank you for your hard work. Take care of yourself," Zhang Bing said gently, changing the subject.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. After a while, Jiang Yan's clear and melodious voice came through again. "When did you learn to care so much? So cheesy—people say that if a man suddenly becomes nice, it must be because he's done something wrong. Is that true for you?"

Chapter 250 The Trial

The second day After breakfast, Zhang Bing was about to go out for a stroll with Mayor Long when his phone rang. He took it out and his face immediately changed. If there was one person he didn't want to face right now, it was her.

"Who is it?" Mayor Long asked considerately. "If it's urgent, hurry up. I don't have anything to do here."

"My girlfriend's mother—" Zhang Bing said with a wry smile.

A call so early in the morning, could it be to seek justice for her daughter?

Zhang Bing asked the Beijing office for a car and rushed off. Zhang Bing was 100% certain that the Jiang family was calling at this time to talk to him about their daughter. Jiang Yan had complained to her? Unlikely; then, what rumors had she heard?

The small dark room that night must have been very dark. He couldn't even see Lin Jing's face clearly; he had to feel for her. How could anyone else have seen their faces? Besides, the groans weren't very loud—how strange.

As the car stopped for inspection in front of the villa, a bright red car pulled up in front of them—Lin Jing's Beetle. Seeing Lin Jing roll down the window, her military uniform exuding both heroic spirit and allure, she poked her head out. Zhang Bing smiled and asked, "So early, where are you going?"

Lin Jing rolled her eyes: "Early? I'll be late if I don't go now. We're all working people, we need to eat with our salaries every month, Young Master Zhang—"

"Uh—" Zhang Bing had genuinely overlooked the fact that Lin Jing had a job. Because he hadn't worked in a long time, and in his mind, what high-ranking official's son would go to work? Shopping, walking the dog, playing with women, keeping a gigolo—wasn't that enough? There are plenty of ways to make money. At the very least, you can get a senior consultant position in a foreign company, collect a high salary, and then run errands when something happens to them back home or when they have some scheme to extort money from ordinary Chinese people.

"Why are you here so early?" Lin Jing glanced around and asked softly.

"Jiang Yan's mother summoned me; I couldn't refuse," Zhang Bing said with a frank smile. She probably knew more about this than Lin Jing did, so there was no need to hide it.

Lin Jing bit her lip and said, "I told Jiang Yan about us."

"I know; she called me," Zhang Bing nodded. Zhang Bing didn't blame her. On the contrary, Lin Jing's actions made Zhang Bing like her even more. Zhang Bing had his own bottom line, such as loyalty to his brothers and friends, and selflessness towards his family.

Of course, the prerequisite was that you first made him accept you as a friend or family member in his heart.

"Ah? Did she blame you? I tried so hard to explain, and even begged her not to be angry. It's all my fault—" Lin Jing said anxiously.

"Yes. But she didn't say." Zhang Bing said with a smile, "Don't worry, there's no going back in this world. Once you've done something, you have to believe it was right. Others can disagree with you, but you can't disagree with yourself."

"Then is Aunt Jiang looking for you because of this? What are you going to do? Should I go with you to explain to her?" Lin Jing said with a worried look.

Zhang Bing knew from her interactions with Lin Jing that she was a smart girl. However, because she was used to being pampered and having everything taken care of, she was used to not having to think. Therefore, sometimes she was incredibly quick-witted, and sometimes she seemed out of touch with reality. If

she took her with her when she went to explain, what would the Jiang family think? Would they try to force her out?

"No need, I can go by myself." Zhang Bing raised her wrist to check her watch and urged, "Hurry up, you'll be late."

"Oh. Are you really okay here? Call me if anything happens?" Lin Jing nodded and started the car.

Zhang Bing nodded and drove towards Jiang Yan's small house. Lin Jing looked at Zhang Bing's thin, slender back through the rearview mirror. A woman, once her body is conquered by a man, her heart will quickly fall as well. Whether passively or actively.

From afar, Zhang Bing saw Jiang Yan's mother, Liu Wen, standing at the gate, eagerly waiting. She was wearing a moon-white cheongsam with large lotus leaves and flowers on it, and a pair of black high heels. Her long, slender legs were exposed, her breasts were full, and a light purple shawl was draped over her shoulders, making her extremely attractive. Seeing

Zhang Bing approaching, Liu Wen didn't have her usual smile, but she still asked with concern, "Have you had breakfast?"

"Yes, I have. Why aren't you waiting at home, Auntie? It's still a bit chilly outside so early in the morning," Zhang Bing asked with a smile. No matter how she treated him, he had to be careful. She was Jiang Yan's mother, and Jiang Yan was his woman. If he acted impulsively, Jiang Yan would be the one who got hurt the most.

"It's alright. Can't sit still at home? Come in." Liu Wen led the way, her high heels clicking on the cement ground in the yard, exuding charm as she walked. Zhang Bing tried hard to look away from her buttocks, even though she knew it was a beautiful sight. In terms of mature beauty, only Li Huan could rival her.

"Where are your uncle and grandfather?" Zhang Bing asked, trying to make conversation to calm herself down.

"Jiang Yan went to exercise with the grandfather, and your uncle went to work." Liu Wen was going up the stairs when she heard Zhang Bing's answer. She turned her head slightly, giving off a charming smile, although she wasn't actually smiling.

Liu Wen sat primly on the sofa, gesturing to the sofa opposite her. Zhang Bing obediently sat down. This posture clearly indicated an interrogation was about to

begin. "Zhang Bing, please don't mind calling you so early; I was genuinely worried. Last night, after confirming the truth of the matter with Jiang Yan, I wanted to call you, but Jiang Yan begged me not to. She was afraid her grandfather and father would hear at home, and you know how hot-tempered the old man is—Jiang Yan didn't want anyone else to know. So, I had to wait until they left before I could call you." Liu Wen's beautiful eyes looked at Zhang Bing's face, filled with reproach, sigh, and a hint of bewilderment. A mother worries about her child even when they're far away. In the past, she could have entrusted her daughter to this man without hesitation, but after what had happened, was it to let her daughter choose her own path, or to force her to make a choice as a parent?

"I understand how you feel," Zhang Bing nodded earnestly. Yes, he truly understood Liu Wen's feelings at this moment. Putting himself in her shoes, if he were in her position, he probably would have shot himself.

"As parents, we all want our children to be happy for life. Originally, I also thought you were a good person, and you and Jiang Yan seemed like a good match. Yesterday, when your Aunt Lin came to me to explain your relationship with Jing'er, I couldn't believe it—Jiang Yan was still covering for you. When I asked her, she still wouldn't admit it. I told her what the Lin family had said, and only then did she confess. She told me she already knew about it and that I should give her the choice."

"Zhang Bing, I don't quite understand the thinking of you young people. But you should know that both our Jiang family and the Lin family are very traditional families. We all hope our daughters find a good man who understands and loves them. I know how far things have progressed between you and Mange—"

Zhang Bing felt awkward, but he couldn't show it. He knew Liu Wen hadn't finished speaking.

Liu Wen sat down on the sofa again, lowering his gaze slightly, and said, "Zhang Bing, I know you're young too, and there are many things beyond your control. Since this has already happened, I don't need to blame you anymore. The Lin family feels the same way."

"What we're all concerned about is, between Jing'er and Jingyan, which child do you truly love?" Concerned about his daughter's lifelong happiness, Liu Wen finally mustered the courage to look Zhang Bing in the eye.

Jiang Yan, Lin Jing—which one to choose?

Zhang Bing smiled bitterly. Did he even have a choice?

After asking this question, Liu Wen carefully observed Zhang Bing's expression. Seeing his bitter smile and troubled look, he suddenly felt a pang of pity for pressuring him, and said gently, "Zhang Bing, you have to make a choice. Dragging it out won't be good for either Jing'er or Jiang Yan."

"It's not that I'm unwilling to make a choice, but—can you have your cake and eat it too?" Zhang Bing said frankly. At this point, there was no need to hide anything anymore. Both women had feelings for him, and if they were willing to stay with him, he had no reason to refuse one and keep the other. If one day they grew tired and didn't want to stay with him anymore, and insisted on leaving, Zhang Bing wouldn't force them.

Now, his answer was: he wanted both.

"What?" Liu Wen didn't immediately understand what Zhang Bing meant and was wondering why he suddenly asked such a question. When she finally understood, she jumped up from her chair in shock.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. Zhang Bing, your idea is absurd." Liu Wen paced back and forth in the living room, clearly shocked by Zhang Bing's outlandish answer.

Chapter 251 Having Both

"Why is it impossible?" Zhang Bing looked up and asked. Now that he had spoken frankly, he felt less restrained. He felt much more relaxed, as if he had thrown the problem to Liu Wen and become the one attacking.

"I don't know what the Lin family thinks, but I will never agree. Zhang Bing, how could you think like that? That's such an irresponsible answer. What era are we living in? How can there be two women sharing a bed—no way—absolutely not!"

"Auntie, have you asked the Jiang family what they think?" Liu Wen's reaction was exactly what Zhang Bing had expected. The fact that she hadn't thrown the teacup at her was already a big favor. If you don't believe me, go to your mother-in-law and ask to take another concubine. The mother and daughter would team up and either chop you up or cut off your penis—no discussion.

"No. But even if she agrees, I can't agree." Liu Wen was probably tired of walking around and finally sat back down on the sofa opposite Zhang Bing. Perhaps because she was too impatient, she sat down casually, forgetting to cover her cheongsam, revealing a patch of white thigh.

Zhang Bing scratched his nose, turned to look at a pot of purple bamboo on the windowsill, and whispered, "I think you should give Jiang Yan the initiative in this matter. She's an adult, with her own thoughts and judgment. After all, she's the main character in this."

Liu Wen sat for a while, his mood calming down. He carefully examined the boy again and suddenly realized he knew nothing about him. How could he have been so foolish as to give his daughter to him?

Perhaps it was because his eyes were kind; at least, he didn't look like a bad person.

“Zhang Bing, I didn’t mean to stop you and Jiang Yan from being together. Before, the Lin family approved, but her father disagreed, and I tried my best to mediate. I also hoped you could live a warm and happy life together. But now that this has happened, I’m in a difficult position. The Lin family came to me, asking what I meant, demanding an explanation for their child—the Lin family patriarch is a traditional man; in their generation, people who have had intimate relationships must stay together. In their eyes, you’re already their son-in-law—otherwise, you’d be a playboy deceiving their daughter, and they certainly won’t let it go.”

“I’m in a difficult position too. You had already gained the Jiang family’s approval and were our son-in-law. Now you’ve gotten involved with Tengkong. Yes, I don’t know the details. Jiang Yan said she doesn’t blame you. Tengkong also pleaded for you, saying you don’t need to take responsibility for her, it was her own choice—but they’re still young. We parents always have to think more about our children.”

"Though the two men in the family are old, they're still stubborn. They've never taken advantage of anyone or been taken advantage of. Jiang Yan asked me to keep this a secret from them. Luckily, the Lin family contacted me; if their father and grandfather had found out, who knows what they would have done. They only have this one daughter and granddaughter, they cherish them dearly. You'd think you could have your cake and eat it too, and right now it seems fine, but what if your families start pressuring you to get married?"

Liu Wen sighed and said, "Then, will you marry Jiang Yan or Lin Jing?"

"If I marry Jiang Yan, the Lin family definitely won't be happy. If I marry Lin Jing, I, as her mother, won't feel good either, and her father will definitely not agree. Zhang Bing, it's better to resolve this issue now, so that things don't get even worse later." Zhang Bing even

contemplated jumping off a building. Now that both women are like this, what will happen later? Chang Xiang has a whole bunch of other women too. "Oh right, there's Ye Tong from Hong Kong, and in Beijing, there's the equally troublesome Yuan Zixuan, and Long Xin who's been waiting for so many years?

Too many suitors can lead to trouble!

" "Auntie, I came in such a rush today that I didn't get a chance to talk to Lin Jing. I still don't know what she's thinking. I need to figure this out first. No matter how much the Lin family pressures me, what if Lin Jing really doesn't want to marry me? Also, I'm very certain of my feelings for Jiang Yan. As long as she's willing to be with me, unless the old man kills me, I won't break up with her willingly." This was a complicated issue, and Zhang Bing still couldn't give Liu Wen the answer he wanted, but she did express her feelings for Jiang Yan to him.

"But—" Liu Wen rubbed his temples, confused by the chaotic relationships among these young people, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.

Just as Zhang Bing was about to offer a few more words of comfort, her phone rang. Picking it up, she saw it was Jiang Yan's number.

Zhang Bing glanced at Liu Wen with suspicion. Did Jiang Yan know she had called today?

"Jiang Yan, what's wrong?" Zhang Bing answered the phone.

"Zhang Bing, I forgot to tell you. After I called you last night, I got a call from my mom. She knows about your relationship with Lin Jing, and I think she'll definitely ask you about it today—if she pressures you to give an answer, just say—I'm still young, I don't want to talk about marriage—"

Zhang Bing's heart softened, a bittersweet feeling welled up inside her. That untouchable part of her heart had once again been touched by a girl's love. Even after suffering so much, she was still thinking of her, calling so early in the morning to remind her. Zhang Bing knew that Jiang Yan must have calculated that he would only get up now, and that she would come at this time so as not to disturb his sleep—but she didn't know that she had gotten up very early today to accompany Mayor Long, and was already sitting in her house—

she was a woman of utmost purity, wisdom, and gentleness.

Liu Wen sat opposite Zhang Bing. The room was extremely quiet when the two were on the phone, and Liu Wen naturally heard everything Jiang Yan said clearly. Looking at the phone in Zhang Bing's hand, his nose tingled, his eyes welled up with tears, and he had an urge to cry.

"Zhang Bing, are you listening? What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?" After a long silence, Jiang Yan called out anxiously on the other end of the phone.

Liu Wen held out the phone to Zhang Bing, gesturing for him to take it. Zhang Bing hesitated for a moment, then handed it over.

"Xiao Yan—" Liu Wen called out with heartache. This silly girl, what have you lost in the gamble of love?

"Mom—you heard everything?" Jiang Yan was stunned at first, but then asked calmly.

“Yes. I heard everything. Xiaoyan, don’t you feel wronged?” Liu Wen covered her mouth, afraid she would cry out.

“Mom, please don’t make things difficult for Zhang Bing, okay?” Jiang Yan didn’t answer, her voice low and pleading.

“Okay, I won’t make things difficult for her. Your happiness is in your own hands. Xiaoyan, be good to yourself.” Liu Wen whispered.

“I will.” Jiang Yan gratefully agreed. At this point, no one had any interest in talking, and the phone call ended early. Liu Wen knew that this girl must have made the call behind her grandfather’s back.

Liu Wen’s face was streaked with tears as she handed the closed phone to Zhang Bing. When Zhang Bing’s hand touched Liu Wen’s fingertips, it was icy cold.

A part of Zhang Bing’s heart was melted by this overwhelming love, but his heart became even stronger. His previous cowardice and avoidance were wrong. From now on, he would bravely face his unique life and cherish every woman who gave and loved him.

He wanted both fish and bear’s paw. Zhang Bing said fiercely to herself.

Jiang Yan's timely phone call had allowed her to avoid the difficult decision of choosing between two options. Although the matter wasn't completely resolved, and she might still need to work on some people in the Lin family, Zhang Bing felt much more relaxed. At worst, she could tell Lin Jing about the unintentional tacit understanding she and Jiang Yan had developed today, and the two of them could put on another show—

today's solution was indeed very valuable, and if needed, it might even be widely promoted. After all, dealing with each woman's family wouldn't be easy, especially Xue'er's family. They lived nearby, knew her well, and had watched her grow up; a mishandling of the situation would put her parents in a difficult position.

Sigh, everyone says beautiful women are good, but too many beautiful women can be troublesome.

When Zhang Bing drove back to the Beijing office, Mayor Long had already left, telling her to wander around as she pleased, that she had no plans for the day. Zhang Bing thought for a long time, but decided to definitely go see Long Xin; she hadn't contacted her in a long time.

She arrived at Long Xin's office again, just as she was leaving.

"Oh, what brings you here—is something wrong?" Long Xin was surprised, after all, there was no warning, and Zhang Bing hadn't contacted her since arriving in Beijing.

"Nothing, I just came to see you." Zhang Bing couldn't find a good reason, so he kept quiet.

Long Xin looked at him, ignoring the laughter of her colleagues, and silently led him to the company's small meeting room.

Chapter 252 Applying for a Public Relations Position (100,000

RMB) Long Xin stood at the door, waiting for him to enter before closing the door behind her and watching him from a distance.

"Come sit down. Why are you standing so far away?" Zhang Bing patted the sofa next to him.

"You suddenly came here—what for?" Long Xin looked up at Zhang Bing and asked.

"Uh—what do you think I'm here for? You're not thinking anything of it, are you?" Zhang Bing paused, then asked with a smile.

A faint blush crept onto Long Xin's pale face. But it was quickly replaced by indifference. "How long have you been here? Why didn't you say hello?"

"Haha, I just came to see you specially, to give you a surprise." Zhang Bing said with a grin.

"If there's nothing else, you can leave," Long Xin said coldly, unmoved by his offer.

"I have something to do, and soon enough," Zhang Bing chuckled. "Aren't you welcoming me?"

"You know yourself—unsolicited kindness is always suspicious—" Long Xin remained cold.

After a wry smile and a disheveled departure from Long Xin, Zhang Bing decided to go see Zhao Na, that poor woman.

Fortunately, Zhao Na was at the Yanjing Hotel. The manager must have said something to him; it was easy for Zhang Bing to bring her out. After all, they would run into many people at the hotel, which wouldn't look good.

On the way, sitting in the passenger seat, Zhao Na greedily gazed at Zhang Bing's increasingly mature face, as if releasing all the longing suppressed deep within her heart. But the more she looked at him, the more infatuated she became. With the passage of time and the growth of his experience, he was also maturing rapidly. The first time they met, Zhang Bing, though mature, had a youthful and childlike face. Now, Zhang Bing was a man—

everything about Zhao Na changed after Zhang Bing appeared. Her life was now peaceful and wonderful. She wore elegant business suits, sat in the manager's office, and spent her free time at home with her younger brother, basking in the sun in the hospital courtyard. Occasionally, she would browse the bookstore or have a coffee at a café—a life she could never have imagined before. Although she wasn't happy about some things, her heart was calm and peaceful. She didn't need to worry about anything, although she missed the man she had only met once. "

Zhang Bing, how can I feel you?" Zhao Na murmured to herself, gazing adoringly at Zhang Bing's chiseled profile.

"So handsome?" Zhang Bing suddenly asked. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead; this was the city, he couldn't be careless.

"Mmm," Zhao Na replied, still lost in thought. "Ah, what did you say?"

Zhang Bing grinned. "Ever since you got in the car, you've been staring at me. Haven't you gotten even more handsome since we last met?"

"—A little."

"Right? I think so too. It's a pity those hypocritical guys around me, when I asked them, they actually said no—" Zhang Bing said smugly, trying to lighten the mood.

"Are these things still important to you?" Zhao Na asked with a smile. What attracts women most about successful men is their confidence and—the money in their pockets. Looks are actually not that important. However, they are what poor men value most. A man who constantly boasts about how handsome he is must be poor, like that author—otherwise, he would definitely boast about how many villas and luxury cars he owns. Everyone knows that for women, looks are nothing compared to a luxury car. Unless you're as handsome as Pan An, Song Yu, or Liu Yifei, who could captivate a city with a single glance—

as the philosopher Lei Da said: "Can you swipe your card with your face at the bank?" The answer is obvious. Don't believe me? Try it. If you can fit your face into the card slot, I'll give you my handsome face in return.

"Important, very important. I'll need this to find a job at a bar if I lose my job later. See that bus stop sign? It says 'Hiring male and female escorts, monthly salary 100,000.' The salary is tempting too," Zhang Bing said with a smile.

"Why didn't you say so back then? I could have introduced you to a hotel." Zhao Na covered her mouth and laughed.

"I wasn't feeling well at the time, afraid of working eight hours straight," Zhang Bing said with a smile. Zhao Na blushed; she was the one who seduced him back then.

Zhao Na pretended to look at the bustling city of Beijing and turned her face away.

"Shall we go eat first, or go to a hotel?" Zhang Bing asked with a smile.

"I just got back from outside. Let me take a shower first, then I'll go shopping with you," Zhao Na said with a smile.

"Okay. You women are so clean. On this issue, men usually choose the former," Zhang Bing said with a smile.

"How can I compare to you? I brought all my clothes," Zhao Na blushed.

"Just a few items?" Zhang Bing was a little surprised. Aren't women supposed to have a lot of stuff? Other women's suitcases were almost taller than themselves every time they went out.

"Not a few. Spring clothes are thin," Zhao Na said with a smile. That word "thin" made Zhang Bing's mind wander. How thin?

The car stopped in front of the Wangfu Hotel. Zhang Bing got out to help Zhao Na with her bag, then led her upstairs.

They entered a room on the 19th floor. He placed Zhao Na's small bag on the floor and said, "Take a shower first, then we'll go eat. I'll go out

for a bit." "Okay," Zhao Na nodded with a smile.

Zhang Bing took the elevator down to the supermarket and bought some things, worried that if the woman was hungry, he would be too. He then ran back up to the 19th floor.

Zhao Na had taken off her coat and skirt and tossed them on the bed, but there were no underwear; she was probably wearing them underneath. The sound of running water came from the bathroom. He wondered if it was because he was used to such scenes with women, or if he was just getting old, but he had lost interest in spying.

Zhang Bing lay on the chair in the room, thinking about the fun times they had shared, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips. Those interesting people and events from his memories were still vivid, but he hoped they would be lost because of the weight of those memories.

Bang!

The bathroom door opened, and Zhao Na walked out while drying her hair. Because her wet hair obscured her eyes, she didn't know someone was sitting in the room. Zhang Bing didn't have the heart to remind her—

Zhao Na was truly naked, her curvaceous body steaming with the steam from the hot water and glistening with droplets of water. Her full breasts swayed gently with her arm movements, the pink buds at their tips like flower buds about to bloom, incredibly alluring. On her slender, flawless waist, a small, round, adorable nipple adorned her figure, tempting one to suckle it. And as she moved her long legs, a tuft of black hair was faintly visible—dazzlingly white against the luxurious carpet. After

drying her hair, Zhao Na looked up and saw Zhang Bing sitting opposite her, smiling. She was startled at first, then her eyes widened: "How did you get in?" She clearly remembered him leaving.

"I opened the door," Zhang Bing said with a smile, measuring Zhao Na's body. This wasn't the first time he'd seen Zhao Na's body, but it was the first time he'd seen it so closely. Her figure was truly impressive. A 90 out of 100.

"Uh—" Zhao Na glanced at the room key. Had she misread it and forgotten to put it on the table? Little did she know how fast Zhang Bing's hands were. Although she felt a little nervous under Zhang Bing's gaze, her heart pounding erratically, she felt a deep, underlying excitement.

She wrapped the towel she'd used to dry her hair around her chest, found her change of clothes in her bag on the table, and turned to go into the bathroom. The door slammed shut behind her, and Zhang Bing's mind was still replaying the image of her full hips swaying as she turned.

Zhao Na's calm reaction surprised Zhang Bing. Other women would have screamed at such a sight; look at her composure, unfazed by praise or criticism, like watching flowers bloom and fade in the courtyard.

When Zhao Na finally emerged from the bathroom, half an hour later... It's often said that a woman's grooming comes before eating and sleeping, and that's absolutely true. You won't understand how terrifying it is until you've experienced it firsthand. Besides, Zhang Bing's stomach had been growling several times.

Zhao Na was still wearing her business suit. She'd changed the skirt to black, and the top was a light pink three-quarter sleeve blouse with two buttons undone, revealing glimpses of the lace trim of her black bra underneath—

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Seeing Zhang Bing lying weakly on the bed, her blouse beside her, her face flushed, Wen Gui picked up the clothes she needed to change and took them into the bathroom.

"It's okay, I'm used to it. What do you want to eat?" Zhang Bing glanced at her watch; it was almost two o'clock.

"Anything is fine, you decide." Zhao Na came out of the bathroom, smiling.

Me decide? Zhang Bing chuckled, touching her nose. Well, there really was a good place to take Zhao Na.

"Come on. I'll take you there first. You can choose whatever you want to eat then." Zhang Bing said with a smile. Zhonghua Restaurant was the perfect place to eat, offering a wide variety of cuisines, as well as various pastries and snacks. With so many options, she was bound to find something she liked.

Chapter 253 Head-to-Head Confrontation

They drove to the courtyard of Zhonghua Restaurant and parked the car. A beautiful hostess in a bright red Chinese cheongsam greeted them and asked if they had made a reservation. Zhang Bing said no. Since it was just the two of them, they didn't need a private room. Without Xi Juan's help, a private room would have cost them half a month's worth of food, so they found a table in the lobby.

Zhao Na had been observing Zhonghua Restaurant's operations the whole way and sincerely admired it, saying, "The owner of Zhonghua Restaurant is really amazing. He's made this place so prosperous and lively; it's not simple." Zhao Na herself had worked in hotels for many years, and recently, her boss had arranged for her to be the manager of the restaurant, so her judgment was naturally insightful.

Zhang Bing smiled and nodded. Zhonghua Restaurant's ability to establish itself and gain a reputation in an international metropolis like Beijing was due not only to its strong backing but also to its unique management style and operational model, which indeed had many merits.

“Yes. Success is never accidental. What? Interested in the owner of Zhonghua Restaurant?” Zhang Bing asked with a smile. Wearing a pink shirt, Zhao Na, fresh from her bath, was incredibly beautiful, her face rosy and delicate, making one want to take a bite. She was truly a feast for the eyes; perhaps that was true. Zhang Bing suddenly felt less hungry.

“You know her?” Zhao Na’s eyes lit up as she asked Zhang Bing with a smile.

“Yes, we’ve met before. I’ll introduce you sometime, so you can learn a lot from her.” Zhang Bing nodded. He pushed the menu handed to Zhao Na, letting her order.

“The owner of Zhonghua Restaurant?” Zhao Na asked with a smile. Learning from such an expert would definitely be interesting and meaningful, and it would also greatly improve her skills.

Zhang Bing was also worried about what to do with Zhao Na. He had made a promise on a whim, and of course, he had to keep his word. But leaving her at the Yanjing Hotel indefinitely wasn't an option; it wouldn't be fair to her. She was his lover, so he had to treat her well. Perhaps, if there was an opportunity, he could let her learn about restaurant operations from Xi Juan and then give her a place to run? Thinking of this, he remembered what Xi Juan had said earlier. There seemed to be some connection between them, but Zhang Bing hadn't had time to verify it. She had even slipped him a note with her contact number on it.

"Let's talk to her after dinner. She's a very interesting person," Zhang Bing nodded with a smile. "I thought you would choose to eat Western food. Isn't it said that girls like romance and go to Western restaurants on dates with men?"

"I actually thought of that. But I was afraid of troubling you, so I'll save it for next time," Zhao Na said as she wrote the menu, then couldn't help but giggle. She herself hadn't expected that meeting this man for the second time would be so easy. Originally, becoming his mistress and offering her body was something she had no choice in, but now she felt a glimmer of anticipation.

In the few hours she'd spent with Zhang Bing, she smiled more than she usually did in months. She didn't know why, but the melancholy she'd always felt suddenly vanished, replaced by a sense of ease, as if she had

finally found her footing. Remembering the happiness she'd felt talking to her brother about him, the relief she'd felt telling her parents about having a boyfriend, Zhao Na felt truly at ease. It seemed that with this man, she wouldn't have to worry about anything. But she also knew that she was merely a product of this man's momentary pity; in his eyes, she was probably nothing. How could he possibly give her any more happiness?

"What's wrong?" Zhang Bing touched his face, asking curiously. Zhao Na was acting strangely today. While writing down the names of the dishes, she suddenly stopped. Then she stared blankly at herself, lost in thought.

"Zhao Na, what's wrong?" Seeing that Zhao Na still wasn't quite awake, Zhang Bing patted her face to remind her.

"Ah—I'm thinking about what to eat." Zhao Na lowered her head, pretending to look at the menu, but her heart was pounding. What's wrong with her today? Oh no, seeing Zhang Bing again, it seems she can't suppress her emotions anymore. If she keeps spacing out like this, he'll definitely notice.

"Haven't ordered yet?" Zhang Bing didn't know what the menu had to do with her face, but he didn't want to ask too many questions.

"Hmm. I'll order one more thing—jasmine pig ears, you order the rest." Zhao Na wrote down the dishes she had just ordered and pushed the menu towards Zhang Bing.

"Uh—" Did he order based on her face?

Zhang Bing flipped through the menu again, ordered two dishes and a soup, and then told the waiter to prepare them.

Looking up, he was startled—he'd run into acquaintances again—the group of people had also seen Zhang Bing, their smiles fading, looking somewhat surprised. It's true what they say, enemies always meet!

A group of men stood in the hotel lobby, led by Tang Xiaoyang, whom Zhang Bing had humiliated at the Heaven on Earth not long ago.

Zhang Bing stood up and walked towards the Zhao family's group. Zhao Na quickly followed. The Zhao family's bodyguards were about to intercept him, but Tang Xiaoyang stopped them. He knew that as long as he didn't make a move, Zhang Bing wouldn't dare to act recklessly.

"Ah, Brother Tang, hehe, I've been wanting to apologize to you. I'm really sorry about what happened at Heaven on Earth. Oh dear, you know, I can't hold my liquor. Li Shao forced me to drink with him, and then I got drunk and that's how it happened. I'll definitely come to your residence to apologize in person later." Zhang Bing looked at Tang Xiaoyang apologetically, his apology lacking sincerity.

Tang Xiaoyang's facial muscles twitched incessantly, but he didn't refute Zhang Bing's words. He knew that this bastard had said it in public just to embarrass him. Yes, he had achieved his goal; the incident at Heaven on Earth was a lifelong humiliation for him.

"Zhang Bing, is all you can do is talk? Today, everyone is here to drink and have fun. If you want to show off your power at Zhonghua Restaurant, why don't you try?" Tang Xiaoyang said disdainfully, looking at Zhang Bing. Sometimes, provocation works quite well. If Zhang Bing makes a move, he'll at most lose face again, but Zhang Bing's reputation will be ruined; if Zhang Bing doesn't, then he'll have the upper hand this time, and it'll feel even better. It's like a dead pig not fearing boiling water.

Zhang Bing looked around; quite a few people were looking this way, but no one seemed inclined to intervene. The duty manager of Zhonghua Restaurant did come over, but he seemed to know Tang Xiaoyang, which made him slightly wary. Besides, they hadn't shown any signs of making a move yet, and even their conversations were all smiles; they couldn't very well come up and try to intervene. Otherwise, one sentence from Tang Xiaoyang would be enough to shut him up: "Can't I even catch up with a friend?

" Zhang Bing smiled and shook his head, "Tang Xiaoyang, you're really no good. You even managed to use this provocation tactic, throwing away all your dignity. Of course, I won't make a move here; I have to give Xi Juan some face, hehe. But next time you run into me, you won't be so lucky. I hope you'll be smarter, haha."

Just kidding, what kind of place is this? Zhonghua Restaurant! Those who dine here are all wealthy and powerful, including many government officials and embassy staff. Don't let anyone find out it was you who did it; otherwise, even killing a lowly service worker in this setting would cause a huge uproar. Leaving aside the severe punishment domestically, the pressure from those diplomatic missions alone would be overwhelming. Now is the time for China's rise. Countless hostile organizations and unfriendly countries are deeply wary of China. If you kill someone under their noses, it's like giving them an excuse to attack the country. Who can bear that responsibility? Even the children of top leaders wouldn't dare take such a risk, let alone someone like Zhang Bing with no connections.

Zhang Bing isn't stupid; even if he were brainless, he wouldn't do such a thing.

Tang Xiaoyang said disdainfully, "You don't need to be sarcastic. I'm sure you won't dare to act. Next time, next time we'll see. Maybe you'll be begging me to let you go, haha.

" "Haha, begging you to let me go? Hmm, it seems I was the one begging you first last time, but in the end, I was the one who kindly let you go, haha, interesting." Zhang Bing didn't mince words, directly plucking at the issue Tang Xiaoyang least wanted to face. "Damn it. With such a stain on your life, you'll never be able to hold your head high in front of anyone again."

Sure enough, Tang Xiaoyang was speechless again. His face changed drastically, and the muscles in his cheeks trembled uncontrollably. Since the Heaven on Earth incident, he rarely went out, especially refusing any form of gathering or invitation. That incident weighed on his chest like a stone, making it hard to breathe. Wherever he went, he always felt that people were talking about it, or pointing and laughing at him.

Zhang Bing had to die. He couldn't avenge himself.

"Zhang Bing, you're too arrogant. Don't forget, this capital isn't your territory," Tang Xiaoyang said with a sneer.

"Is that so? How about we make a bet?" Zhang Bing said with a smile.

"What bet?"

"As long as I stay in the capital, you're no match for me. You'll have to walk around me—and even after I leave, you won't get away with it. You'll only be someone else's henchman." "Zhang Bing said arrogantly. The only way to deal with these young masters was to suppress them and make them afraid; compromise wouldn't solve anything. After all, the hatred was too great, unlike Lin Tao—if we were to compare, Tang Xiaoyang was probably similar to the Japanese now, and should be dealt with in the same way.

Chapter 254 A Secret Affair

Actually, this gamble was very risky for Zhang Bing. After all, his own foundation was unstable, and he faced a whole host of troubles, while Tang Xiaoyang, although from Hong Kong, had a much more stable foundation and had been operating in Beijing for some time, making him quite influential. However, to completely crush his confidence, he couldn't care less.

Everyone else seemed insulted. Tang Xiaoyang glanced at Zhang Bing, unsure if he was crazy or had some other scheme, and hesitated.

At this moment, the hotel's duty manager walked over, went straight to Tang Xiaoyang, and respectfully said, "Young Master Tang, our chairman is hosting a banquet for you in the Plum Blossom Hall."

"Chairwoman? Who?" Tang Xiaoyang was puzzled. Why would their chairman suddenly invite him to a banquet?

"It's Chairman Xi," the duty manager said with reverence. He had just received a call from above and hadn't even met the chairman yet, but had rushed over as instructed.

"Xi Juan?" Tang Xiaoyang was surprised.

"Yes. It's Chairwoman Xi Xun," the duty manager nodded.

Tang Xiaoyang glanced at Zhang Bing smugly and said, "Okay, let's go now." This was a good way to escape the awkward situation and avoid worrying about whether that guy had any ulterior motives.

Turning to the people around him, he said, "The young masters of Beijing all know that Xi Juan is the most talented and beautiful woman, the one who's inviting us to dinner. She recently returned from abroad, and this Zhonghua Restaurant is hers. Although I knew of her, I'd never met her before. I never expected her to host a banquet—"

Tang Xiaoyang glared at Zhang Bing and led his group, following the duty manager, towards the elevator. As they walked, he introduced Xi Juan's illustrious history to those around him, his face full of pride and self-satisfaction. The people around them listened with rapt attention, their steps practically limp at the prospect of meeting one of the most beautiful women in the capital.

"Let's go. Let's eat. All the dishes are probably ready," Zhang Bing said with a smile to Zhao Na beside her.

"Okay," Zhao Na nodded, then thought for a moment and asked, "Who's that leader? Do you have a grudge against him?"

"Yes. A huge grudge. I bet he's having nightmares about me every night now. His name is Tang Xiaoyang. You'll know about him later," Zhang Bing replied with a smile.

"Tang Xiaoyang? Isn't he the young master of the Tang family in Hong Kong? I remember our manager mentioning him casually before?" Zhao Na asked in surprise.

"Yes, otherwise, why would he be so arrogant?" Zhang Bing said with a cold smile.

"So how did you become his enemy? Is it alright?" Zhao Na didn't know Zhang Bing's background, though she knew the Tang family in Hong Kong was very powerful.

Zhang Bing shook his head indifferently and said with a smile, "We'll talk about this when we get back. We have guests." Zhang Bing hadn't expected to run into Li Xuan while having a meal at Zhonghua Restaurant. Why were all the acquaintances so familiar?

Just as Zhang Bing saw Li Xuan, Li Xuan, accompanied by a group of people, also noticed Zhang Bing. After saying a few words to his entourage, he walked towards Zhang Bing with a broad smile. What surprised Zhang Bing was that Li Xuan, who had just a few days ago declared he would become the most dashing and handsome diamond bachelor in Beijing, was now accompanied by a bright-eyed, white-toothed girl. Everyone else had gone upstairs first, but she followed Li Xuan towards Zhang Bing.

Something's up!

"I've gotten into a lot of trouble lately. I thought you'd pretend not to know me," Zhang Bing said with a grin as Li Xuan approached. He was afraid Li Xuan would question him about Lin Tao.

“That’s what I was thinking. But when you spotted me hiding among the crowd, I had no choice but to resign myself to coming over and saying hello.” Li Xuan pulled out a chair for the girl next to him, then sat down next to Zhang Bing himself.

“And this is?” Zhang Bing asked with a smile, looking at the girl dressed in an office-like manner. The girl was petite, with fair and delicate skin, wearing a white business suit. When she saw Zhang Bing looking at her, she lowered her head shyly. Something

’s up!

Zhang Bing confirmed her guess. Because if this woman was Li Xuan’s assistant or secretary, she would definitely be efficient and her communication skills would naturally be excellent. What secretary would blush when talking to a stranger? Besides, the fact that Li Xuan brought her here to sit in this position proves that she holds a significant place in Li Xuan’s heart. He hadn’t seen her

like this a few days ago. “It’s not what you think,” Li Xuan explained, somewhat annoyed.

“What do you think I’m thinking?” Zhang Bing asked, tilting her head up.

“She’s my assistant.” Li Xuan was a little annoyed. He should have known better than to let her come along.

“I know.” Zhang Bing nodded with a mischievous grin.

“I felt it was unfair for me to be alone with you two, and besides, she’s from your hometown, so I brought her to see you.” Li Xuan picked up the warm water the waiter brought and moistened his throat.

“Explaining is just covering up. I have my own unique and correct understanding of this matter, so don’t bother me.” Zhang Bing said with a smile.

Li Xuan was defeated by Zhang Bing. He shook his head and said, “Forget it, I won’t talk to you about this. When it comes to confidantes, I can’t compare to you. This—is this your assistant?” Li Xuan pointed to Zhao Na next to him and asked with a playful look—a village chief has an assistant? Isn’t that funny? Zhang Bing’s assistant in front of him seems to be Jiang Yan, right? They’re probably having a fight right now, haha.

“Yes. Assistant.” Zhang Bing nodded.

Li Xuan couldn't expose Zhang Bing's lies directly. After laughing at Zhang Bing a few times, he said, "I heard you've been quite lively lately?"

"Yes, very lively. There are weddings every day. I even wonder if I'm the matchmaker. Since I came here, I've been boosting the hormones of the young men and women in this city, and then they all end up in bed together." Zhang Bing nodded seriously.

"You haven't uttered a single serious word. I've heard some of what you've done. I'm not you, and I have no right to judge whether what you did was right or wrong, but I have to remind you of your situation—" Li Xuan still wanted to win Zhang Bing over.

"Hmm. I understand." Zhang Bing didn't respond, pretending to be naive.

"With your current background and influence, if you maintain a balance, you won't suffer much loss in the capital, but you won't gain much either. Overall, you've actually put yourself in a dead end. You can pack your bags and leave, but the best thing to do is cooperate with me. I guarantee you won't be attacked from all sides." Li Xuan said, pretending to be sincere.

"Kill one more person and I'll leave." Zhang Bing said with a grin. Hearing this, the three reacted differently. Li Xuan nodded with satisfaction, Zhao Na looked worried, while the girl looked surprised and panicked.

"It should have been done a long time ago—" Li Xuan said to Zhang Bing with a smile.

Li Xuan didn't dwell on the topic with Zhang Bing; after all, there were other people around, and Zhang Bing was shameless and didn't care about anything, unlike him.

"Alright, let's put that aside for now. I'm planning to open a club in Beijing. Are you interested?" Zhang Bing said with a smile. This was an idea Zhang Bing had just decided on.

"What kind of club?" Li Xuan asked.

"Like the four major clubs," Zhang Bing said, squinting.

Li Xuan nodded, took out a business card from his pocket, and said, "This is the business card of the general manager of the Beijing club. If you need any help, you can contact him directly."

Zhang Bing held the business card between his fingers, smiling slyly at Li Xuan, looking as smug as a cunning old fox.

Li Xuan naturally knew what he was laughing about, and frankly said, "I'll help you if I can."

"Hehe, that's what brothers are for." Zhang Bing chuckled and handed his business card to Zhao Na, who would handle most of the work later. Given the delicate relationship between himself, Li Xuan, and Lin Tao, no one would be foolish enough to cause trouble. And Li Xuan and Lin Tao themselves had no need to disrupt this balance.

"How confident are you in the success of this club?" Zhang Bing asked with a smile. He knew that Li Xuan and his ilk were all business savvy.

Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then said seriously, "Thirty percent."

This answer was close to Zhang Bing's own prediction; Li Xuan wasn't exaggerating. "What if we add Xi Juan as a partner?" Zhang Bing asked with a smile.

"Fifty percent." Li Xuan was slightly surprised, then gave another answer.

"What if I add your help?" Zhang Bing said with a smile.

Li Xuan smiled wryly at his female assistant beside him and said, "See? I'm a typical example of being sold out and still counting money for the seller."

The girl smiled but didn't answer.

She didn't say what she couldn't say, and she didn't ask what she shouldn't ask. Although no one reminded her how to behave, she naturally learned this 'unspoken rule' by being around Li Xuan. Li Xuan had pointed at her during the conversation, but that was because he was taking care of her. If she became arrogant and spoiled because of it, she would immediately be worthless in their eyes. She might even be transferred.

In the company of successful men, most women are merely appendages.

Chapter 255 A Secret?

The dishes Zhang Bing ordered arrived one after another, and Zhang Bing invited Li Xuan and Zhang Bing to eat with them. Li Xuan smiled and declined, "No, thank you. As you can see, I have a group of business partners over there. You guys eat first. I'll call you later; there are some things I need to discuss with you."

Zhang Bing nodded, picked up a piece of eight-spotted grouper, and placed it on the plate in front of Zhao Na, who was thoughtfully watching Li Xuan's retreating figure

. She said, "Stop looking at him. He's the representative of the 'Crown Prince' you were talking about. Come on, eat the fish. Compared to him, this fish is more tempting." Li Xuan, who hadn't gone far, almost tripped and fell to the ground. Zhao Na covered her

mouth and giggled. No sooner had Li Xuan left than the duty manager rushed over and invited Zhang Bing to a private room upstairs, saying that the chairman had invited her. Zhang Bing smiled slightly, having expected this, and didn't refuse, since she had already called her before coming. A waiter led Zhao Na to the lounge to rest.

Led by the manager, Zhang Bing arrived at the door of a private room. The manager knocked on the door from the outside and left before the person inside could open it.

The door opened from the inside, and Xi Juan looked at Zhang Bing with a smile on her face.

"Mom. This is Zhang Bing." Xi Juan turned to look at a dignified old lady on the sofa in the room and introduced her with a smile.

"Hmm." The old lady nodded to Zhang Bing, "Handsome and dashing, very handsome!"

Hearing the praise, Zhang Bing tried his best to remain composed, but the muscles on his face kept twitching. He couldn't control his overwhelming excitement. After all, he already knew the old lady's status; this was the result of his hard work gathering intelligence from his hometown and Beijing these past few days.

When the twitching on Zhang Bing's face became so obvious, he said respectfully to the old lady, "Auntie, you flatter me."

The old lady looked at Zhang Bing with excitement: "You must be the grandson of former Secretary Zhang Fuqin?"

Before Zhang Bing could answer, the old lady went over and pulled Zhang Bing to sit on the sofa, excitedly asking, "How is your grandfather's health? Why didn't you come to our house when you came to Beijing? Didn't your grandfather mention us?" This was

the first time Zhang Bing and Xi Juan had met. Xi Juan said that the two had a connection, but at the time, Zhang Bing didn't understand it and couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried. Upon returning, after investigating Xi Juan's family background with Lin Tao and Li Xuan, they learned that Xi Juan's mother had been a sent-down youth in Changxiang. Following this lead, and launching a long-term intelligence gathering operation, they finally discovered that Xi Juan's mother had been sent to the countryside in Songshang Village. Furthermore, it seemed that her grandfather, Zhang Fuqin, had been kind to the old lady and some other sent-down youths, but her father didn't know the specifics. Her grandfather had mentioned that he had held a high-ranking position in Beijing—Zhang Bing had also suspected that Xi Juan was a descendant of that person, but hadn't had the opportunity to confirm. Zhang Bing was eager to find out the truth. Given his current situation in Beijing, more support would be a significant advantage. To put it bluntly, even if someone wanted to undermine him, they would be mindful of the reactions of those around them. Moreover, Xi Juan was one of Beijing's most remarkable women; if she were on his side, it would be a tremendous boost.

However, the old lady's question from the outset caught Zhang Bing off guard. His guess was just that—a guess—and he hadn't confirmed it with Xi Juan; he couldn't just speak carelessly. He looked at the old lady, then at Xi Juan, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"Auntie, my grandfather passed away a long time ago, and you are—"

Fortunately, Xi Juan was quick-witted and realized her mistake, so she quickly smiled apologetically, "Mom, I haven't told Zhang Bing about our two families yet. As far as I know, he doesn't know anything. I'm waiting for you to tell him yourself—have some water first, and tell me slowly, no rush." Then she smiled apologetically at Zhang Bing.

"Haha, look, after all these years, you still haven't forgotten Secretary Zhang's kindness." The old lady, Xi Yuexiu, laughed heartily, pointing at Xi Juan, "You silly girl, you're obviously just trying to make your mother laugh. Zhang Bing has been in Beijing for so long before you told me, and you didn't even take good care of him beforehand. How can I repay Secretary Zhang's life-saving grace?"

"Auntie, my grandfather helped you? He's always been in Changsha and Hunan, never left Jiangnan Province. How did you meet him in Beijing?" Zhang Bing finally had a chance to ask his question.

"He helped me. He saved my life." Xi Yuexiu said with endless sighs.

"He saved your life?" Zhang Bing asked in surprise. Could it be that her grandfather had played the hero and saved a damsel in distress when he was young? It was said that her grandfather was indeed a handsome man when he was young.

"He not only saved me, but also many other educated youths," Du Yuehuai said with certainty.

"Yes, I'm practically calloused from hearing about it every time I come home. Otherwise, how could I have recognized you the first time we met and told you that we have quite a history? After you made a big splash at the Red Star Club that night, I had someone investigate your background. But I really didn't expect that you have quite a few ladies' men—" Xi Juan chuckled, looking at Zhang Bing slyly.

"Hehe, so-so, so-so—" Zhang Bing smiled awkwardly. Anyone with a discerning eye could find out about the group of women who accompanied him.

"Young people, they just like to have fun, it's no big deal," Du Yuehuai smoothed things over from the side.

"Mom, you always side with him," Xi Juan said, feigning anger.

“I’m telling the truth. Which young master in Beijing doesn’t spend all his time playing around? And how many women do they have? Zhang Bing already has a girlfriend? I was even thinking of betrothing Xi Juan to you—” Du Yuehuai said earnestly, looking at Zhang Bing.

“Mom, you’re bringing this up again! I’ve told you not to say it—” Xi Juan, her strong-willed nature completely gone, blushed and glared at Zhang Bing, grabbing her mother’s arm and scolding her playfully.

“I’m telling the truth—” The old lady was clearly a serious person.

Watching Xi Juan and her mother bicker like mother and daughter, Zhang Bing felt a warmth in her heart. When someone is willing to show their most natural side to you, it means they consider you one of their own. Xi

Juan felt ashamed. This wasn’t the first time her mother had mentioned betrothing her to the descendant of Secretary Zhang, her savior. At the time, it was just talk, and Xi Juan knew she was just trying to repay a debt of gratitude, so she didn’t object. But she never expected that Zhang Bing, the descendant of the old man Zhang Fuqin, would actually appear in Beijing, and right in front of her. Today, Xi Juan was worried that her mother would bring up the past again in front of Zhang Bing, so she specifically instructed her mother before coming. Unexpectedly, her mother still brought it up. This made Xi Juan feel somewhat awkward in front of Zhang Bing.

With her intelligence, she naturally saw that Zhang Bing must have ulterior motives in Beijing. If other factors were involved, would she help him when he encountered danger? Or, to what extent should she help? As a leader, these matters of interest were things she had to consider, not just emotions.

"The old secretary has passed away? Alas, what a pity, I haven't been able to visit him, haven't had a chance to see my benefactor—" The old lady returned to the original topic, asking sadly. Zhang Bing clearly saw tears welling up in her eyes.

"Yes, Grandpa has been gone for eight years, you—" Zhang Bing was surprised to see the old lady crying, "Auntie, are you alright?"

Zhang Bing had always been puzzled by the relationship between his grandfather and Xi Yuexiu. Although his grandfather had always stayed in Changxiang, a simple farmer, he held a high position of prestige in the village, serving as the village secretary. It was quite normal for him to have helped several educated youths, given the dire circumstances of their lives in the countryside back then; without his help, they would have struggled to survive, let alone return to the city to work. Now, seeing Xi Juan's mother in tears, Zhang Bing guessed that their relationship might

be more than just casual. Could they have had an affair? Thinking this, Zhang Bing began to observe Xi Yuexiu. She didn't look young, probably in her fifties, perhaps even older. The reason she had such a young daughter as Xi Juan was likely due to late marriage and childbirth. Although age inevitably erases some of the marks of beauty, Zhang Bing still couldn't see any trace of her youthful beauty in her. Her eyes were somewhat small, her lips slightly full, and her nose rather fleshy, giving her a somewhat lingering charm.

Zhang Bing had never met Xi Juan's father and didn't know what he did. Xi Juan was far more capable than her mother, and she even took her mother's surname. There must be a lot going on between them, right? Although Zhang Bing was curious, he didn't want to pry into other people's private lives. Xi

Juan grabbed a tissue from the side, sat down next to her mother, put her arm around her shoulder, and wiped away her tears, comforting her, "Mom, why are you crying? Zhang Bing will laugh at you. It's all in the past now. Seeing Zhang Bing is like seeing his grandfather, isn't it? And if you have time, you can go visit his family." "

Yes. Auntie can go anytime and rest there. They're building a resort there now; the scenery is very nice," Zhang Bing said with a smile.

Xi Yuexiu shook her head and said, "You're so old now, I'm afraid you can't walk anymore—I've been thinking about seeing the old Party Secretary all these years, but unexpectedly, it's been a final farewell—I regret it! When I left, I always said I would go back to see him, but I only saw him once in the provincial capital 20 years ago, and I haven't seen him since."

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