[The Dark Side: The Fall of Home] (Volume 3) (30-44) Author: Ascetic

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-23

Author: Ascetic
Word Count: 37048

Chapter 30: No, I Don't Regret It

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The torrential rain that suddenly hit Zhonghai last night came quickly and went quickly.

In the early morning, a fiery red sun slowly rose from the east, the sunlight dispelling the darkness and illuminating
every , announcing the arrival of a new day.

The room, which was originally a little dim, was brightly lit by the sunlight. On the bed, a man and a woman were quietly embracing and sleeping...
...looking unusually intimate. However, upon closer inspection, one would find two very obvious tear tracks on the girl's face
... The messy sheets and clothes scattered everywhere indicated that a fierce intertwining of desires
between !

Under the dazzling sunlight, Liu Guopei slowly woke up from his slumber. He shook his head, and for some reason,
felt that his head was particularly heavy and painful.

"You were the one who brought up divorce first, we have nothing to do with each other anymore…!" His wife
Zixin's heartless words from yesterday echoed in his mind, leaving him feeling utterly hopeless… He never imagined that he and his wife would ultimately
reach this point… Heh… well, perhaps this is a relief for both of them! Liu Guopei
gave a bitter, desperate smile… A refreshing fragrance wafted into his nostrils… Hmm…?
Where am I? Liu Guopei lay on the bed, staring quietly at the ceiling, wondering to himself. He realized this place
felt completely unfamiliar; he had no recollection of it.

Just as Liu Guopei was about to get up to see what was going on, the girl in his arms stirred slightly.
Liu Guopei He had been feeling particularly dizzy and thinking about his wife, so he hadn't noticed until now
that someone was lying in his arms!

When he looked down and saw the familiar yet captivating face in his arms, Liu Guopei was utterly shocked!
"Zhao Qin…?"!

What was going on?! How did he end up with Zhao Qin? He slightly lifted the blanket and discovered that neither of them
was wearing anything! Ignoring the throbbing pain in his head, he kept replaying the events of the previous night in his mind, trying to recall something!
Vaguely, Liu Guopei's mind flashed back to the violent and savage assault of the previous night… and… and
the girl's weeping, desperate face… Instantly, Liu Guopei's heart sank to the bottom! Yesterday, he seemed… seemed
… to have treated Zhao Qin like his wife! And… and he seemed to have violated her!!

Thinking of this, Liu Guopei felt utterly ashamed, a sudden, sharp pain shooting through his heart, his guilt reaching
its peak … Zhao Qin, such a kind and optimistic girl, had actually been ruthlessly raped
and violated by him like a beast…!!

He also remembered the time she went alone to the Qingdi Club to help him, and was even almost raped! And
not only had he not thanked her properly, but he had… defiled her! He was even worse than those thugs of the Qinglang Gang!
Seeing the tear stains on Zhao Qin's face and her swollen eyes, Liu Guopei wanted to kill himself!

Filled with immense regret and pity… Liu Guopei slowly reached out a trembling hand to touch her face, wanting to
wipe away the tears on her cheeks… “Hmm…” Perhaps sensing Liu Guopei’s touch, Zhao Qin’s small mouth opened slightly, she
let out a soft moan, and slowly woke up. Opening her eyes, which were already red and swollen from crying, she suddenly saw Liu Guopei
looking at her affectionately. Suddenly remembering what happened last night, her face immediately turned bright red with embarrassment, and she buried her head
in the quilt again, not daring to look at this barbaric man who had taken her virginity… Although… although she didn’t hate him
in her heart … Liu Guopei slowly pulled her out of the quilt, then reached out and touched her hair, saying with utmost sincerity, “Zhao… Xiaoqin… I’m sorry…!” At the same time, he changed
his address from Zhao Qin to Xiaoqin. For some reason, hearing Liu Guopei apologize to her made Zhao Qin feel terrible... This wasn't the sentence she wanted to hear. Remembering how he had kept calling out that woman's name while he was delirious yesterday, a sudden sadness washed over her... Perhaps she was just a substitute... "Xiaoqin... I... I..." Seeing the sudden look of disappointment on Zhao Qin's face, Liu Guopei thought she was angry with him and quickly tried to comfort her, but he didn't know how to begin. This was the first time Liu Guopei had felt so helpless, and also the first time he felt so useless, having defiled such a good girl, yet unable to even offer comfort. Zhao Qin reached out and covered Liu Guopei's mouth, lifting her pretty face to look at him quietly. Tears welled up in her eyes again, and she choked out, "Brother Liu... will you... will you always remember me?" Zhao Qin knew he was married with a family, and... and she also knew that a girl like her, from a brothel, was not good enough for him. So she didn't expect him to love her, she just hoped he would always remember her... that was enough ... Hearing her words, Liu Guopei felt even more ashamed... He stopped talking and hugged her tightly... he took the initiative to hug her... "Yes... yes..." As he said this, Liu Guopei wanted to slap himself a few times, but he didn't know what else to say, because he... couldn't give her any promises... Hearing Liu Guopei's words, Zhao Qin was already content. She knew that after today, the man who had taken her virginity would leave and return to the arms of other women, but at least for this moment, he belonged to her ... Women are so easily satisfied, especially for a young girl just beginning to experience love! Zhao Qin blushed and quietly buried her head in his chest, a faint sense of happiness on her face. Although his roughness and savagery yesterday had caused her great pain, she had given her first time to the man she loved, even if he only saw her as a substitute for another woman… Liu Guopei held her tightly, his hand gently gliding over her skin… “Xiao Qin… you shouldn’t have interfered with me yesterday… do you hate me…?” Liu Guopei recalled the scene in the rain yesterday . “No, Brother Liu, I don’t regret it! I don’t hate you! You are the first person who has truly been good to me and willing to trust me… I believe… I am happy…!” Zhao Qin, her face flushed, looked at Liu Guopei and said firmly, word by word. She mustered her courage and kissed him on the cheek… Chapter Thirty-One: I’m Leaving Liu Guopei was surprised by Zhao Qin’s sudden action, momentarily stunned and speechless.

There she was. After the kiss, Zhao Qin nestled shyly in his arms, not daring to look at him. But after a while,
seeing he remained motionless, she couldn't help but steal glances at him, immediately lowering her head again,
as if afraid Liu Guopei would discover she was spying on him.

Zhao Qin's little action, of course, didn't escape Liu Guopei's notice. He simply didn't know what
to do . Before today, he had only seen her as a little sister, but
after last night, and considering Zhao Qin's current reaction, it was clear she might like him.
Liu Guopei didn't know how to deal with this sudden affection… The word "affection" unconsciously
reminded Liu Guopei of his wife, Tang Zixin… Her words yesterday were like a sharp knife, piercing him
mercilessly ! He never imagined that his nearly ten-year relationship with his wife was so fragile… so easily broken!

Seeing Liu Guopei lost in thought again, as if pondering something, Zhao Qin suddenly had a premonition that he was
probably thinking about the girl named Zixin he had been calling out the night before. A pang of sadness
shot through her heart… but she quickly recovered. Although she envied the girl for making Liu Guopei so attached, it also
proved that she hadn't misjudged him; he was a truly sentimental man worthy of her love!

“Brother Liu… can I ask you a question?” Zhao Qin whispered, nestled in Liu Guopei's arms.

“Silly girl… do I need to talk to you like that? Of course, ask away!” Liu Guopei
stroked Zhao Qin's soft hair, speaking with tenderness.

Hearing Liu Guopei's reply, Zhao Qin felt a surge of sweetness. Lying quietly, feeling his caress on her
head , she mustered her courage and asked the question that had been on her mind most: “Brother Liu, can you tell
me… who is Zixin…? You kept calling her name when you fainted yesterday…!”

Sigh… I had just managed to stop thinking about my wife, but now Zhao Qin brought it up again… He
kept calling her name while he was unconscious yesterday…!

Undoubtedly, he deeply loved his wife, which is why, after first discovering her infidelity, he blamed
himself, believing it was all his carelessness and negligence that forced her into the affair.
He chose to forgive her then… but… after forgiving her, he was still met with deception… What he couldn't bear most was
what his wife said yesterday… those words that plunged him into the abyss of hell… “She is my wife…”
Liu Guopei said quietly, “But… not anymore… We’re getting a divorce!”

When Liu Guopei uttered the word 'divorce,' Zhao Qin, nestled in his arms, could clearly
feel his body tremble and his heart race. It seemed Liu Guopei’s frenzy last night was definitely
related to this matter!

"Although I don't know Sister-in-law Zixin, I can tell that you love her, Brother Liu,
very much ! You're such a good person, Sister Zixin must like you too, so why... why
did you get divorced?" Even though she knew it wasn't a good question
and Zhao Qin just wanted to know for some reason. She wanted to help him and didn't want to see him so
heartbroken.

"Love is a two-way street... no matter how hard one person tries, it's useless..." Liu Guopei didn't directly
answer Zhao Qin's question, but instead uttered this seemingly inexplicable sentence.

Zhao Qin had never truly been in a relationship before, so she didn't quite understand this statement. She just felt
a sudden pang of sadness; she felt that Liu Guopei was also a pitiful person... Neither of them spoke again, simply
lost in their own thoughts.

"Buzz—" Suddenly, the silent room was broken by the vibration of a cell phone.

The sound snapped them back to reality. It seemed to be coming from the floor. Liu Guopei quickly
looked and, sure enough, his phone was lying on the floor. He picked it up and saw it was Mayor Zheng calling
!

"Hello… Mayor Zheng!" Liu Guopei answered the phone, knowing he must have something to discuss.

"Guopei… you've been out all day, why didn't you contact me! If
Mayor spoken up for you at the municipal party committee meeting yesterday morning, you'd still be in there! How could you
have gotten out so quickly!" Zheng Yizhou joked on the other end of the line. Although he'd
noticed Liu Guopei's voice sounded strange, almost downcast, he hadn't thought much of it.

Liu Guopei then realized that it was Mayor Zheng and Mayor Kong who had rescued him. It seemed the evidence was insufficient,
and they must have been the ones who brought it up. Hearing this, Liu Guopei was very grateful, as it meant Mayor Zheng
was truly on his side and hadn't betrayed him!

Of course, none of them knew that Liu Guopei's release had nothing to do with them; it was all
thanks to Tang Zixin's "sacrifice"! Zheng Yizhou's so-called "striving" at the municipal party committee meeting was merely a convenient way for
Wang Liang to save face… "Something suddenly came up at home, so I didn't have time to contact you. Mayor Zheng,
is there something wrong?" Since Mayor Zheng had saved him, Liu Guopei couldn't be as rude as before
. He said apologetically, knowing that Mayor Zheng must have other matters to discuss, and that
it wasn't just about celebrating his release. Otherwise, he would have called him long ago, not waited until now!

"Hmm… there are some issues, mainly concerning the embezzlement of compensation funds. We've gathered quite a bit of information and are now preparing to purge some of the bad apples within the Xicheng District government. We need your cooperation in implementing
the specifics ; it's hard to explain over the phone. Let's discuss it at our usual place, Yiye Teahouse!" Zheng Yizhou said briskly on the phone. He was somewhat surprised that Liu Guopei could read his mind, but this also proved that he wasn't an ordinary, useless person! He was confident that choosing to cooperate with him was the right decision ! "Okay... I'll be right there!" Without any hesitation, Liu Guopei readily agreed. To be honest, he had no desire to go at all, but no matter how unwilling he was, he had to go because he had no other choice! Since being dragged into this game of the West City redevelopment, Liu Guopei had passively staked everything, with no way out... and deep down, there was another reason... that the West City redevelopment was also a decisive battle between him and the Green Wolf Gang! He had sworn to personally eliminate them! So now, even the slightest advantage...

She couldn't let this opportunity slip by!

Zhao Qin listened quietly to Liu Guopei's words. When she heard him say he would be there soon, she knew he was leaving...
she couldn't stay any longer... A pang of sadness swept through her heart... but she didn't show it on her face. Instead, ignoring the fact
that her body hadn't recovered from Liu Guopei's brutal assault the night before, she silently sat up, picked up
the clothes , and tried to put them on.

"Xiao Qin..." Seeing her like this, Liu Guopei called out softly... He had ruthlessly violated her, and
now she was leaving again after waking up. The guilt in his heart was overwhelming, and he couldn't bring himself to say
that he was leaving.

"Brother Liu... I know you have to go... I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me... go and do your own thing!
... As long as... as long as you have time in the future... come and see me on Xianglan Street... then I'll be satisfied..." Zhao Qin
said gently to Liu Guopei, like a wife speaking to her husband.

"Oh...right...Brother Liu, wait for me here...I washed your
clothes they should be dry by now, I'll get them for you!" Zhao Qin
said to Liu Guopei after getting dressed, then got out of bed to get the clothes.

"Ah..." As she got out of bed, Zhao Qin instantly felt a tearing pain in her lower body, piercing her heart...cold sweat poured down
her face ...and her body trembled involuntarily.

Liu Guopei noticed her abnormality and quickly asked with concern, "Xiao Qin...are you alright!" He wanted to get up
to help her.

"No...I'm fine..." After saying that, Zhao Qin gritted her teeth and slowly walked out of the room.

Watching her leave, Liu Guopei slowly withdrew his gaze, but just as he turned his head back, his gaze
suddenly fell on the spot where Zhao Qin had gotten up and lifted the blanket! There was a bright red spot of
blood on the sheet!!

Having been married before, Liu Guopei certainly knew what it was! ...Quietly looking at this bright red spot...
Liu Guopei felt very uncomfortable and couldn't get over it for a long time...Ten minutes later.

"I...I have to go...!" Liu Guopei, dressed, stood quietly at the door, looking at Zhao Qin, who was
pale weak.

"Brother Liu...go ahead..." Zhao Qin raised her pretty face and said firmly to Liu Guopei,
a blush slowly rising to her pale cheeks.

Liu Guopei lowered his head, wanting to kiss her forehead, but...he stopped in the end...he
couldn't this girl any promises, he couldn't hurt her...he just gave her a light hug, opened the door
, and walked out without looking back...

Chapter Thirty-Two: A Win-Win Meeting

Sitting in the taxi on his way to Yiye Teahouse, Liu Guopei couldn't calm down. The events of last night
kept troubling him. He truly didn't know how to face Zhao Qin
, the girl who had given so much for him! Her gentleness, her understanding...! In short, the better she treated him, the more confused he became!

The image of that crimson stain on the sheets kept involuntarily flashing through his mind! She gave him her most precious things
, and she ran away from home to live alone on Xianglan Street. Without a doubt, he had to take
responsibility to the end! Sigh… family and company matters were already a headache enough, and now this happened…
Besides, with the West City redevelopment underway, he could barely make ends meet, let alone anything else. He could only take it one step at a time…
“Brother, we’ve arrived at Yiye Teahouse!” The taxi driver’s voice pulled Liu Guopei back to reality. Looking out the window
at the familiar, antique-style building next door, the four large characters “Yiye Teahouse” were very
eye-catching ! So they had arrived. He quickly pulled himself together, paid the fare, and got out.

Stepping into the teahouse, a faint aroma of tea immediately filled the air, invigorating him. At a
table a graceful young woman sat playing the guzheng. The melodious music was sometimes tender and
poignant, sometimes like the tinkling of a spring, like the ringing of bells. The lingering sound was just right, dignified and ancient, like the murmuring water under the bridge
, or the clear cry of a lone goose… Although it was still early, the teahouse was already quite full. On such a
morning, with calligraphy and paintings on the walls, the melodious sound of the guzheng, and the faint aroma of tea, people chatted softly or peacefully savored their tea
. Amidst laughter and gentle conversation, everyone opened their hearts to each other, listening to each other's innermost thoughts. The entire teahouse was filled with an atmosphere of peace, auspiciousness, and elegance.

"Mr. Liu, you've arrived!" As Liu Guopei entered the teahouse, he heard someone call his name. Just as he was
wondering what was going on, he saw Secretary Yang smiling and walking towards him.

Before Liu Guopei could reply, Secretary Yang gestured forward, "This way, Mr. Liu, that person is already
waiting for you inside!" He didn't directly address Mayor Zheng, mainly because the teahouse was close to the municipal party committee, and with
so many people around, it was always better to be cautious.

Since Zheng Yizhou had made all the arrangements, Liu Guopei didn't say anything more and followed Secretary Yang
inside . Soon, the two stopped in front of a private room. "Mr. Liu, I've brought you here.
Please go in directly; Mayor Zheng is inside!" Secretary Yang said, pointing to the door.

Pushing open the door, he saw Zheng Yizhou leisurely sitting at a table, arranging his tea set with great interest
.

"Mayor Zheng!"

"Oh… Brother Liu, you've arrived. Come, have a seat!" Zheng Yizhou only then noticed Liu Guopei, so he
stopped what he was doing, pointed to the seat opposite the table, and smiled at him.

"Mayor Zheng, you mentioned on the phone earlier that you wanted to talk to me about the Xicheng matter. What exactly do you need me
to do ?" After sitting down, Liu Guopei didn't beat around the bush but asked directly. To be honest, after
what happened last night and this morning, he wasn't in the mood to come here, but he had no other choice.
So now that he was here, he naturally hoped to resolve things as soon as possible.

"Brother Liu, is something on your mind? You seem a bit distracted today!" Noticing
Liu Guopei's unusual behavior, Zheng Yizhou asked with concern.

"I'm fine, just a little tired lately. Mayor Zheng, please speak freely, don't worry about me!" Liu Guopei found
it strange that Mayor Zheng was being unusually polite and concerned about him today.

Although Zheng Yizhou still found it odd, since Liu Guopei said he was fine, he didn't press the matter. "
Alright , I've called you here today mainly for two things. First, since the embezzlement of the demolition compensation funds came to light,
we've begun a thorough investigation of the West District and have already gathered considerable information. We're just waiting to gather evidence to solidify it.
Since the money came from your company, Mayor Kong and I have decided to send an investigation team to your company to gather evidence!"

"No problem, you can send someone anytime! And the second thing?" Liu Guopei agreed to the first thing without
hesitation , because it was normal. In fact, Mayor Zheng didn't even need to tell him;
he could have done it directly. However, he didn't do that but spoke to him in a consultative tone, which meant that he had
placed him on an equal footing and didn't look down on him! So, of course, he had no
reason to refuse. He was quite interested in the second thing that Zheng Yizhou was about to talk about.

Zheng Yizhou paused for a moment before continuing, "The second thing... is that last time, in order to ensure
the smooth , I issued a document in the name of the Municipal Party Committee asking the homeowners to cooperate. Then,
the matter of embezzling demolition compensation immediately occurred, which has caused the homeowners to have a very bad impression of our Municipal Party Committee. They all say that the Municipal Party Committee colluded with the underworld
to embezzle state funds. We can't explain it ourselves, so we hope that you, Brother Liu, can cooperate with us to clarify this
matter! But..."

"Mayor Zheng, just tell me what you want me to do, no need to beat around the bush! We're in the same
boat , and if it's within my power, I absolutely won't say 'no'!" Liu Guopei has always been this kind of
person; if someone treats him with respect, he'll definitely repay them tenfold. Since Mayor Zheng values him,
he certainly won't refuse if he can help him, and helping him is indirectly helping himself.

"Alright, Brother Liu, since you're so straightforward, I won't be coy either. I need you to help us
take ! I received word that a team from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection will be stationed in Zhonghai in October, and their main focus
is on whether there have been any violations in the Xicheng redevelopment project. The rumors circulating among the residents are very unfavorable to
us ! Even if the real criminals are caught, the Zhonghai Municipal Committee still can't withstand
the pressure of public opinion. So I hope your company can help us in this matter. But don't worry, I
can assure you, I won't let your company have any problems! How about it...?" Zheng Yizhou looked at
Liu Guopei expectantly and asked seriously.

After hearing this, Liu Guopei finally understood why Mayor Zheng had been so polite today… It turned out
he needed something from him… To be honest, seeing his current anxious appearance, completely different from his relaxed demeanor when he entered,
Liu Guopei couldn't help but want to laugh… Actually, Mayor Zheng hadn't told him the truth, because this matter had absolutely
nothing to do with the Zhonghai Municipal Party Committee. He said this mainly to avoid taking responsibility himself, since he was the one who issued that document,
so if the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection investigated, it would only be him. Rather than saying the Zhonghai Municipal Party Committee couldn't bear the
pressure of public opinion, it was more accurate to say that Zheng Yizhou couldn't bear the pressure!

Of course, Liu Guopei only thought these things in his heart and wouldn't say them outright… After all, he had done
this , and now that he was in trouble because of this, he certainly couldn't sit idly by!

"Okay… As long as Mayor Zheng can guarantee that our company taking on this responsibility won't affect the subsequent
renovation project, then I have no problem!" Liu Guopei thought for a moment and readily agreed. This matter
wasn't entirely without benefit to him; at least Mayor Zheng owed him a great favor, which
would have many hidden benefits for the company's future work.

"Brother Liu, you're truly a loyal friend! Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I won't let your company suffer any
consequences! I believe that by joining forces, we can definitely give Xicheng a bright future! Come, let's drink this cup of tea instead of wine
!" Zheng Yizhou said heartily. After hearing Liu Guopei's agreement, he couldn't help but
breathe a sigh of relief. In fact, Liu Guopei's predictions were basically correct. He was worried that the residents' rumors would spread
and affect him, and since he couldn't handle the matter himself, he could only ask Liu Guopei for help.
Letting him clarify the situation and take responsibility was the best solution.

"Cheers!"

It can be said that this was a win-win meeting for both Liu Guopei and Zheng Yizhou!

In this meeting, Liu Guopei officially secured an equal position with Zheng Yizhou in future cooperation, while Zheng Yizhou
also resolved a long-standing concern... Most importantly, through
this trusted each other even more! Moreover, it was after this meeting that the Xicheng redevelopment truly began
…

Chapter Thirty-Three: A Couple in Adversity Finally Shows Their Love

After discussing Xicheng matters with Mayor Zheng, Liu Guopei left Yiye Teahouse without lingering.

He hailed a taxi on the street outside the teahouse. “Driver, to the First People’s Hospital!”
Although a mountain of worries was weighing him down, Liu Guopei decided
to put them all aside for now, adjust his mindset, and visit his father, Liu Jianyue, at the hospital. After all, the old man had just undergone surgery yesterday, and
he couldn’t let him worry about him anymore.

He used to feel deep guilt towards his parents, but now, Liu Guopei felt he didn’t even have
the right to anymore; he was utterly unfilial! He could only slowly make it up to the two elders in the future!

Perhaps because it was the weekend, the roads were very congested, and it took almost an hour for the taxi to
reach the First People’s Hospital. Liu Guopei handed the driver one hundred yuan without asking for change and got out of the car.

After getting out of the car and adjusting himself, Liu Guopei strode towards the hospital. However, after only two steps, he
suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on the left-hand entrance. A white BMW Z4 sports car slowly
drove towards him.

It was the same familiar car, but would the person inside still be the same person he knew? Liu Guopei
asked himself.

Heh… Liu Guopei, you're such a fool… Wasn't she clear enough yesterday? Don't
think about it anymore. From last night onwards, the two of you have nothing to do with each other… Even if she comes to
the hospital , it has nothing to do with you… He smiled helplessly, banishing the thoughts from his mind, and turned
to walk into the hospital without lingering! Without hesitation!

"Guo…Guopei…!" A gentle yet slightly hoarse voice came from behind him.

The moment the sound rang out, his steps slowed down, but only for a moment... He didn't turn around
and continued walking forward... 'Bang... bang...' A series of hurried footsteps, high heels constantly hitting the marble floor,
"Guopei... wait for me..." His voice was already a little choked up... "Ah..." Just as Liu Guopei was enduring
the pain in his heart and continuing to walk forward, a scream came from behind, accompanied by
the sound of a body falling to the ground!

The moment that sound rang out, Liu Guopei involuntarily stopped in his tracks again… Sigh…!
He closed his eyes , then let out a deep sigh. In the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Liu Guopei turned around and
saw his wife, Zixin, lying on the ground… Oh, no, he couldn't call her his wife anymore…! Tang Zixin, lying on the ground
, kept clutching her fair ankle. She must have twisted it when she went up the steps to the hospital entrance. From her
slightly furrowed brows and slightly parted lips, he knew it must have been quite a twist, and it must have hurt a lot.

Liu Guopei instinctively walked over quickly, squatted down, took Tang Zixin's hand that was clutching her ankle, and then moved it away.
He found that the joint was already red and quite swollen. Seeing her once fair skin in this state,
he couldn't help but feel sorry for her. "Zixin… why did you do this? It must hurt a lot…?"

Tang Zixin didn't answer, but quietly looked at Liu Guopei, nodded, and her eyes were filled with tears.
To be honest, when she saw him ignoring her and walking straight ahead, Tang Zixin's heart ached terribly, knowing it was all
because of her words last night.

"Guopei… yesterday I…" Tang Zixin began, wanting to explain what had happened the previous night.

"Don't talk, I'll take you to Dr. Jiang first, let him find someone to check your foot, it's terribly swollen
!" But before Tang Zixin could speak, Liu Guopei interrupted her.

Liu Guopei slowly helped Tang Zixin up; from her constant slight trembling, he knew her foot must
be in excruciating .

"Can you walk?"

"Um… yes… ouch…!" As soon as she finished speaking, Tang Zixin couldn't support herself and fell down again, but
Liu Guopei caught her instantly.

"I'll carry you…" Seeing her like this, Liu Guopei hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke.
Although they were no longer together, she was injured, and carrying her wouldn't hurt.

"Mmm..." Tang Zixin blushed and whispered, a faint sweetness in her heart. She knew
Liu Guopei still cared about her.

"Soup...soup..." Tang Zixin, quietly nestled on Liu Guopei's back, suddenly remembered something and quickly pointed
to the ground, whispering.

Liu Guopei then noticed a food box on the ground. Opening it, he found a pot of chicken soup she had prepared that morning,
probably for his father, Liu Jianyue, to nourish his body. Looking at the soup, Liu Guopei felt a mix of emotions—gratitude, loss
, and overwhelming sadness. He knew this wouldn't last long
...the two of them...were about to divorce... Picking up the food box, Liu Guopei carried Tang Zixin towards the hospital.
Tang Zixin lay quietly on his broad back, carefully sensing the scent of her beloved man
...enjoying this moment between them...even though she knew it was only temporary...perhaps...this was
the last time they would be so intimate...!

Truly: A couple who have endured hardship still have feelings for each other, but the rift between them had already deepened!

Chapter 34: Who Knows the Bitterness in My Heart?

"Hey... Guopei, what's wrong with you and Zixin?" Jiang Hanxing, who was sitting in his office reading the newspaper, suddenly
saw Liu Guopei carrying Tang Zixin in and quickly got up to ask in confusion.

Tang Zixin didn't speak, but continued to lie quietly on Liu Guopei's back, her fingers gently rubbing the collar of his
shirt .

"Um, it's like this, Zixin fell down the stairs at the hospital entrance just now and twisted her ankle.
It's swollen badly! It's the weekend today, and there are too many people registering outside. I was afraid of causing delays, so I could only trouble you here, Dr. Jiang!"
Liu Guopei smiled apologetically. After all, this was like using connections, and given Jiang Hanxing's upright character, it was indeed
putting him in a difficult position, but there was nothing he could do.

"What are you saying! Guopei, do you need to talk about trouble with me?! Come on, I'll take you
to the orthopedics department right now!" After hearing Liu Guopei's words, Jiang Hanxing agreed without hesitation. The main reason
was that he had a very good impression of the young couple. They were not only incredibly loving, but also
extremely filial to their parents—a genuine, heartfelt kind of filial piety! The harmonious and loving relationship within their family was something he
rarely saw.

It must be said that Jiang Hanxing's influence at the People's Hospital was truly remarkable. With his help, Tang Zixin quickly
received an examination from an orthopedic specialist. Fortunately, it was just a minor sprain, nothing serious; she would be able to walk normally after
a short rest .

Because Jiang Hanxing had brought them both and given them special attention, the doctor had specially
arranged a resting room for Tang Zixin.

After the doctor left, only Liu Guopei and Tang Zixin remained in the room. Tang Zixin lay half-reclined on
the bed, while Liu Guopei stood quietly by the window, gazing out. Neither of them spoke, and the room was
heavy with an oppressive silence. Tang Zixin felt extremely hurt by Liu Guopei's indifference. They
had known each other for seven or eight years, and she knew that his coldness meant he was truly
angry. It seemed her words yesterday had deeply wounded him. Tang Zixin desperately wanted Liu Guopei to speak to
her , even to scold her harshly, rather than remain so cold. This indifference chilled her to the bone.

A thin mist welled up in her eyes. Tang Zixin tried to speak several times, but the words
stuck in her throat.

"I... I'll go to Dad's first... You rest here for a bit! The chicken soup will get cold if you don't go soon!"
Liu Guopei couldn't bear the awkward atmosphere any longer and turned to leave
.

"Then I'll go too..." Tang Zixin struggled to get up when she heard him say that, but as soon as her feet
touched the ground, she gasped in pain, her curved eyebrows furrowing again.

"No...you stay here! The doctor just said that although it's just a minor sprain, you
still need to rest and can't walk!" Seeing Tang Zixin like this, Liu Guopei decisively interrupted her
. Besides, they were going to his parents' place, and he couldn't carry her anymore, otherwise the two elderly people would worry again.

"Guo...Guopei...please don't be like this...? Your coldness is scaring me...it feels so unfamiliar...it's so
painful..." Hearing Liu Guopei address her directly as "you," without even calling her by her name
, as if she were a complete stranger, Tang Zixin felt really lost...helpless...the grievances
she had felt recently resurfaced, and two tears streamed down her face...sigh...if only she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have done it in the first place.
…! Heh…painful? How could I not be in pain…? Zixin, have you considered my feelings? Do you know
how I felt last night? Liu Guopei sighed inwardly.

“Zixin…why are you doing this? Just like you said last night, we…
have nothing to do with each other anymore…I just hope you can be happy from now on…! I’m leaving now…” Liu Guopei
said , knowing he couldn’t stay any longer, he turned and walked towards the door.

“Wait!” Tang Zixin called out to him, choking back tears, then slowly stood up and walked resolutely towards Liu Guopei , completely ignoring the pain in her ankle. It wasn’t that she didn’t care, it was just…the heartache was a thousand times worse
than the physical pain!! Supporting her frail body, with tears in her eyes, she quietly looked at Liu Guopei and said, word by word, “Do we…really have to get a divorce?” From Tang Zixin's tearful eyes, Liu Guopei saw a trace of sadness, a trace of reluctance, and even more so, a trace of helplessness… Liu Guopei shook his head, then said to Tang Zixin, “No…you’re wrong…Zixin…actually, whether we get a divorce or not is no longer important to either of us, it’s just a formality! What’s important is that if the feelings between us are gone, then nothing else matters…” He paused, then continued, “Zixin, do you know? I love you! I still love you now! Do you know how much pain I was in last night?…This isn’t about getting a divorce, that really doesn’t matter, it’s meaningless! It’s about us both really needing to calm down…maybe letting go …is a relief for both of us!” “And what about me…?! Do you think I’m not in pain? I know what I said last night hurt you! After saying it, I wanted to kill myself! But have you thought about what would happen to ! Those people are inhuman, they’re capable of anything!” Tang Zixin cried, her voice growing louder and louder. "Sigh... Zixin, you still don't understand! What you said yesterday hurt me deeply, but that's only one aspect . Our situation didn't end just because of last night... it's caused by many similar events...! Let's both calm down for a while, okay?! It 'll be better for both of us... okay?!" Liu Guopei gently wiped away Tang Zixin's tears, patted her soft shoulder, hugged her, and then, without hesitation, turned and walked away. Actually, there was another sentence Liu Guopei kept hidden in his heart: "Zixin, if you said those things to protect me, then I... would rather die!" It was truly a bitter pill to swallow; husband and wife ultimately became strangers! Chapter Thirty-Five: A New Crisis People are sometimes strange creatures, especially lovers. They often do things they believe are expressions of love, but these actions end up leaving both of them wounded! Just like Tang Zixin and Liu Guopei now! Upon arriving at the ward, Liu Guopei found his father, Liu Jianyue, already awake, lying quietly in bed. His mother, Chen Xianyi, was gently wiping his face with a damp towel, her eyes filled with tenderness. Seeing his parents' loving scene, Liu Guopei felt a mixture of envy and bitterness. Two months ago, he and his wife had loved each other just as deeply, but today, they faced separation. All those vows of mutual support and promises of a lifetime together had vanished . "Guopei...Guopei...you're here!" Lying in bed, Liu Jianyue saw Liu Guopei standing at the door and quickly pointed at him, his voice still weak, though his complexion had recovered well. Lost in his own thoughts, Liu Guopei was brought back to reality by his father's voice. He picked up the pot of chicken soup Zixin had made and went over. "Dad... how are you feeling now? Are you feeling any better? Yesterday... yesterday I..." His father had just undergone surgery yesterday, and he hadn't been by his side. Liu Guopei felt incredibly guilty and wanted to explain, but he didn't know what to say. "You silly child, why are you still like this! I'm perfectly fine, I don't need you to come with me. You should go about your business !" Liu Jianyue said loudly, putting on a cheerful front. As the saying goes, no one knows a son better than his father; he knew exactly what Liu Guopei was thinking. His cheerful demeanor was meant to put Liu Guopei at ease. However, the more his father acted this way, the deeper Liu Guopei's guilt became. He didn't reply, knowing his father was trying to ease his burden, and he couldn't let his father down . "Your dad's right. We're all so old now, nothing else matters, as long as you're doing well ! Your dad's basically recovered now, so you can go about your business as usual, no need to waste time here anymore. I'm here! Just come to see you once a week! Hey...? By the way, Guopei! Didn't Zixin come with you?" Mother Chen Xianyi said, then realized that only Liu Guopei had come, and his daughter-in-law Tang Zixin wasn't there, so she asked in confusion. "Zixin has some urgent business at the company and can't take leave, she'll come later! But she made chicken soup this morning and asked me to bring it over for Dad, Mom, you can feed him!" Liu Guopei casually covered it up, of course he couldn't tell his parents that Tang Zixin had fallen and that the two were now facing divorce. Actually, Liu Guopei knew that he and his wife Tang Zixin's impending divorce couldn't be kept secret for long, but he could only take it one step at a time. He definitely couldn't tell them now, otherwise, who knew what ! "Oh... Zixin is such a sensible and good child! Guopei, you must always treat her well! I've been extremely satisfied with this daughter-in-law since the first day she entered our family! You must never let her down!" Chen Xianyi spoke of her daughter-in-law with pride. Everyone says that mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law have a difficult relationship, but her daughter-in-law not only gets along very well with her , but their relationship is like that of a mother and daughter, with a very deep bond! Heh... I haven't let her down, but she... well, let's not think about that now! Anyway, the two of them have already come clean. After her father finished his chicken soup, Liu Guopei sat on the edge of the bed and chatted with him. Not long after, Tang Zixin arrived. After applying the medicine, she could already walk. Liu Guopei and Tang Zixin unconsciously looked at each other, their expressions very awkward. With their parents here, if...

Ignoring each other wasn't an option, and they didn't know what to say. Besides, Tang Zixin's parents had been constantly bombarding
her with questions since she arrived, leaving them only able to stammer and give vague answers.

Finally, Liu Guopei felt too oppressed. If he stayed any longer, their current
state would surely arouse his parents' suspicions. To avoid worrying them, he decided to leave.

Coincidentally, just as Liu Guopei was at a loss, his phone rang!
The moment he heard the ringtone, Liu Guopei took it out. It was Xiao Hui calling! Without hesitation, he answered the phone.

"Hello, Mr. Liu! Something terrible has happened in Xicheng!" Xiao Hui's anxious
voice came through the phone as soon as he put it to his ear.

Liu Guopei had initially intended this call as an excuse to get out of the predicament, but hearing Xiao Hui's
voice, his heart sank! Xiao Hui had been by his side for several years and had seen many big
events; if she was so anxious, something serious must have happened!

To avoid worrying his parents, Liu Guopei took his phone outside and calmly said, "Xiaohui,
don't panic, tell me slowly, what exactly happened?"

Perhaps sensing Liu Guopei's composure, Xiaohui took a breath on the other end, trying to calm herself,
but her voice still carried a hint of unease: "Mr. Liu, I received a call from Xicheng. Just now, it seems our construction team at
the Xicheng base had a conflict with the homeowners over demolition issues! Many people have been injured!
And some people at the scene are saying we're arbitrarily demolishing, and more and more homeowners are storming our base; the situation
is getting out of control!"

What?! A conflict with homeowners, and many people injured?! Xiaohui's words
plunged Liu Guopei into despair! He had already been secretly framed a few days ago because of the Xicheng demolition compensation issue,
and now that matter had just passed, still in a sensitive period, and this new problem was unacceptable! Moreover,
Mayor had told him that even the central government was paying attention to this project; if anyone got hurt because of this conflict,
it would be too late!

Didn't he say all operations in Xicheng were suspended?! How could this happen?! Liu Guopei now wanted nothing more than to
curse the person in charge of the Xicheng base! However, he also knew that now was not the time to blame anyone; the most
important was to resolve this conflict!

"Xiaohui, call them immediately and tell everyone in Xicheng to return to the base. No fighting with
the owners , and no arguing! Just stay at the base and ensure your own safety! Then have someone prepare a car to
take the injured to the hospital. Absolutely no one can be injured! I'm coming right away!" Liu Guopei
gave the instructions methodically. He absolutely couldn't afford to lose control; if he, the boss, lost control, what would happen to his subordinates?

After saying this, Liu Guopei hung up the phone, went to the ward to give some instructions, and then
rushed !

"Guopei!" Just as Liu Guopei was about to go downstairs, Tang Zixin's familiar and touching
voice !

Looking back, he saw her walking towards him, her steps still a little unsteady, her brows slightly furrowed,
indicating her foot was still hurting! "Take my car! Be careful on the road!" Tang Zixin extended her fair
hand, handing him the car keys, her pretty face slightly flushed. Although she wanted to know what had happened, she didn't ask further,
because she knew she no longer had the right to inquire about Liu Guopei's affairs!

"Thank you…!" Liu Guopei took the keys, gave Tang Zixin a deep look, and without lingering, turned and
ran downstairs!

As the saying goes: A storm is brewing! For Liu Guopei, this was a crisis, but also an
opportunity …

Chapter Thirty-Six: Anger

'Boom—' The engine roared!

A white sports car sped towards Xicheng like a phantom!

Sitting in the car, Liu Guopei was now extremely anxious. He had to get to the Xicheng base as soon as possible; he absolutely couldn't let
this conflict escalate further, otherwise all his and Mayor Zheng's efforts over the years would be in vain!

'Buzz—' His phone rang again! Liu Guopei gripped the steering wheel with one hand and took out his phone with the other
. It was Meng Yuan calling!

Looking at his good friend's call, for the first time, he felt a surge of annoyance! There was no doubt that his
call was related to the conflict in Xicheng, and it was highly likely that CCTV was involved! This was
bad news. That Director Wu had been targeting him behind his back, and he certainly wouldn't let this
opportunity pass him by!

"Hey, Meng Yuan!" Liu Guopei answered the phone. He knew Meng Yuan must have some information to tell him,
and through Meng Yuan, he could gain a better understanding of Director Wu's actions and prepare accordingly.

"Guopei, where are you right now? Do you know that your company's employees in Xicheng
have had a large-scale bloody conflict with local property owners, and many people have been injured in the conflict! This is a very serious violent incident with a very
negative . We just received a notification from Director Wu, and we're preparing to go there to report on the scene!
Director Wu said he must expose it fully, and I think he might be targeting you! You need to be careful and think of a solution quickly.
I can only inform you; there's nothing else I can do!" Meng Yuan said anxiously on the other end of the phone, and it was clear that
he was genuinely worried about him.

"I've already received the news and am on my way to Xicheng! Meng Yuan, when you get to Xicheng, don't try
to help me on your own. You can't do anything alone. Just do what you're supposed to do! Don't let this matter implicate you;
there are many places later where we'll need your identity!" Liu Guopei said seriously and earnestly. Meng Yuan was a
very loyal and straightforward person, so he didn't want him to get involved. He was just a small-time
reporter and couldn't play any real role; in fact, he might easily be implicated, which would be a loss for him! As long as he's alright
, there are still many ways he can help!

Although the car was speeding along despite the power lines, it didn't slow down at all, constantly
whizzing past … “Okay, I know what to do. That's all for now, see you in Xicheng!”

After finishing the call with Meng Yuan, Liu Guopei floored the accelerator, accelerating once more! The involvement of
CCTV made the future situation in Xicheng increasingly unpredictable; he had to get to Xicheng quickly!

Finally, after twenty minutes of speeding along in the Z4 sports car, Liu Guopei arrived at the Xicheng base. He was still sitting …
From the car, he saw a huge crowd of people standing in the direction of the company's base, probably several hundred! Although he was
prepared, the scene before him still took him by surprise!

As soon as he stepped out of the car, he was greeted by deafening shouts from the crowd: "Get out of Xicheng!",
"Unscrupulous businessmen!", "Give us justice!"... He could vaguely see that the base's gate was tightly closed, with
a row of armed police officers maintaining order and preventing the crowd from rushing in. Some of the demonstrators were even throwing stones
inside! The emotions were very agitated. Liu Guopei had no doubt that without the armed police and the gate, these
crazy people would have definitely stormed in and smashed the company!

Liu Guopei tried to squeeze in, but there were just too many people. After trying for a while, he still couldn't get in,
and instead ended up sweating profusely, so he had to give up for the time being. "Brother, what exactly happened? Didn't
both parties sign the demolition contract? How could a conflict arise?" Liu Guopei asked a middle-aged man in his forties who
was agitated. This was crucial; only by knowing the cause could they address the problem effectively.

"Lawless! Utterly disregarding the law!!" The middle-aged man didn't answer Liu Guopei's question
directly but spoke angrily, pointing repeatedly in the direction of the company's headquarters.

Hearing this, Liu Guopei was somewhat displeased. After all, he had always conducted business with a
clear conscience and had never engaged in any illegal activities! Now, being spoken of in this way was truly unpleasant and
frustrating. However, Liu Guopei didn't argue back, knowing that anything he said now would be useless.
He could only continue to look at the middle-aged man, signaling him to continue.

"This is outrageous!! Many people are saying the government is
compensating us at 15,000 yuan per square meter for the first phase of demolition in Xicheng, but the developer colluded with corrupt officials to cover it up and only gave us 8,000 yuan
per square meter! And they won't allow us any complaints! Last time, during the groundbreaking ceremony, some
people protested and were injured!! They even threatened to break a leg for every protest! Isn't this
lawless ?!" the middle-aged man said through gritted teeth, his anger blazing.

Could today's events be because of this? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Liu Guopei instinctively felt there was something
else , because if it were this, the conflict would have already occurred, and wouldn't have dragged on until now!!
There must be other reasons!

Sure enough, just as Liu Guopei was thinking, the middle-aged man's angry voice rang out again: "That's not all!
At least he paid the money, he didn't drive people to desperation! We ordinary people have grievances, but
there's nothing we can do! The worst thing is that this morning they wanted to demolish our property in the old street area, and an old woman just
slightly tried to stop them. These people... these people..." At this point, the middle-aged man was too angry to
speak , pointing towards the site, his body trembling uncontrollably. It was clear he was furious beyond measure!

Liu Guopei had a vague sense of foreboding: "What happened to those people?"
he .

"They drove an excavator and ran over an old woman... an old woman... how could they do that!!
It's utterly callous! Lawless!!" The middle-aged man paused for a moment before uttering these words, which
instantly plunged Liu Guopei's heart into despair!

What?! At this moment, Liu Guopei could hardly believe his ears! He also understood why
the citizens of Xicheng seemed so frenzied!

"Disregarding human life... Impossible! How could someone from my own company do such a thing?!" He couldn't
believe it wanted to convince himself it was a misunderstanding, but looking at the hundreds of angry and frenzied
people around him, Liu Guopei fell silent... These things forced him to believe it!

"A life for a life!" "Unscrupulous merchants, disregarding human life!"... In the distance, Liu Guopei seemed to hear
shouts of protest coming from ahead!

Liu Guopei always adhered to one principle: a gentleman loves money, but he earns it honestly! He would never make
money through dishonest means, and now this had happened in his own company! The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and slowly... a surge of anger welled up in his heart
...

Chapter Thirty-Seven: There's

More to the Story The surrounding crowd grew larger and larger, the frenzied flow constantly pushing Liu Guopei and the middle-aged man
further !

The middle-aged man, perhaps because he had been shouting for a long time and was quite emotional, was exhausted
. He collapsed under the shoving of the crowd! The frenzied crowd trampled over him!
He was instantly engulfed in the crowd, the situation extremely critical. If he wasn't rescued in time, a stampede could
occur! And many more people would fall and get injured!

"Someone's fallen! Everyone, don't push! Don't push!" Liu Guopei hurriedly pushed aside those trying to get closer
, shouting at the top of his lungs into the crowd. However, his voice was weak in the frenzied throng; the
flow of people didn't slow down, continuing to push forward! Through the gaps, he could see that the middle-aged man
had completely given up struggling, lying on the ground, letting himself be trampled, likely injured!

The armed police at the entrance seemed to have noticed the stampede, and a group of them was already heading this way! However,
because this was on the outer edge of the crowd, there was still some distance, but Liu Guopei couldn't care less at this point,
knowing that if things continued like this, someone could die! He used all his strength to move in front of the middle-aged man, then shielded him with his body, taking off his suit jacket and covering his head, desperately bracing himself against the ground with his hands! He forced a small space
between them ! The crowd now trampled over Liu Guopei! *Bang!* Liu Guopei, who had just managed to create a sliver of space, was instantly crushed down again by the trampling crowd! "Ugh... Brother, are you alright? Hang in there, it'll be over soon!" Liu Guopei gasped for breath, straining to stay upright once more, and shouted into the middle-aged man's ear. His heart pounded; he was on the verge of collapse. Actually, what Liu Guopei did was extremely risky, as both of them could easily be trampled to death by the frenzied crowd. Normally, doing this would be incredibly foolish! But this time was different. Liu Guopei had pinned all his hopes on the armed police. If he could hold on until they arrived, both of them could be saved ! If he didn't do this, the middle-aged man would definitely be in mortal danger! As it turned out, Liu Guopei's gamble paid off! Just when he was about to give up, the armed police finally parted the crowd, squeezed through, formed a circle between the two men, and kept shouting around, "Someone has fallen! Back off, everyone back off!"

The crowd then noticed that someone had fallen, and their attention instantly shifted to this side. The protesting noises
subsided considerably due to the unexpected incident, reduced to only a few scattered cries.

Seeing the crowd's attention turn to them, Liu Guopei gently helped the middle-aged man up, knowing his opportunity had arrived—
a perfect chance to resolve the conflict!

"Thank you... brother! Thank you...!" the middle-aged man gasped weakly. He
had already given up, thinking he was surely going to die! He hadn't expected Liu Guopei to risk his own life to save him;
he was speechless with gratitude.

The crowd seemed to understand what had happened and couldn't help but admire Liu Guopei! A burst of enthusiastic applause
spontaneously erupted from all around!

"You're welcome, it's good that you're alright! It's what I should do!" Liu Guopei smiled slightly, gently patted
the middle-aged man 's shoulder, and then walked towards the base entrance under the crowd's gaze. Now, there was something more important
for him to do!

Everyone was stunned by Liu Guopei's actions, and as he walked, the crowd spontaneously parted to
both sides . Pushing through the crowd, Liu Guopei arrived at the base's gate. Many employees inside noticed his arrival, and
someone immediately went inside to inform him. The employees were excited to see their chairman and rushed
towards , knowing they had nothing to fear! These employees had mostly worked for the company for several years, and they
had a deep-seated trust in Liu Guopei!

"President Liu… quick, come in quickly! It's dangerous outside!" Because the armed police had formed
a , some employees managed to sneak open the door and hurriedly called for Liu Guopei to come in.

"Open the door completely!" Liu Guopei didn't go in, but stood there and calmly said to those inside
.

What?! Hearing this, the employees' eyes widened, looking at Liu Guopei in confusion. What was
wrong with President Liu? Couldn't he see these frenzied people?! These people were insane; opening the door at this time was incredibly
dangerous!

Even the armed police maintaining order looked at Liu Guopei in astonishment. Was this man crazy? How dare he
open the door ?

"One last time, open the door completely!" Liu Guopei's words carried a hint of anger.
Would hiding solve anything? Mistakes must be admitted, misunderstandings must be resolved; avoidance is the most useless tactic!

"Open the door! Didn't you hear what General Manager Liu said?! General Manager Liu…you're here!" Just then, a
loud voice rang out from behind the employees. Deng Hai, the base's deputy chief engineer, arrived with a team. Seeing
Liu Guopei, Deng Hai wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Finally, he'd arrived. If Liu Guopei hadn't come, he would have been devastated
. This scene was terrifying! He had only recently taken charge of the West City base; previously, it had
been Sun Wenxing.

At Liu Guopei's command, the base gate slowly opened… The crowd stirred again upon seeing the gate open
! The atmosphere seemed ready to erupt at any moment… The armed police were on high alert,
cold sweat pouring down their faces, cursing Liu Guopei inwardly! Damn it…who the hell is this guy? He's completely ruining me!
Damn it, what kind of company listens to such a madman!

"Didn't I tell you to suspend all operations in Xicheng? What happened with the demolition this morning?
And who ran over the person?! Step forward!" Liu Guopei ignored Deng Hai's words and coldly questioned him.

"Mr. Liu... this... this was an accident! We really did follow your orders and suspended the Xicheng project
. There really wasn't any demolition this morning. We demolished that house because it was located
on a road that our construction vehicles had to pass through. The road was blocked, making it very narrow, and our large construction vehicles couldn't get in. Besides, the house
was almost collapsing! We thought no one lived there, so we wanted to demolish it!" Deng Hai
said . Hearing Liu Guopei's harsh tone, his heart sank.

"Where's that old man? Who told you to run him over? That's not something we can do! Who was working on site? Step
forward!" No matter what Deng Hai said, Liu Guopei felt that it was not an excuse! He would not forgive someone for being so cruel to an elderly person
; he would deal with it according to the proper procedures!

"It was Xiao Zhang, but he was beaten and taken to the hospital! And...and..." Deng Hai stammered
.

"And what? Don't beat around the bush!" Even now, he was still hesitant, and
Liu Guopei was truly furious.

"President Liu...why would we do something like that over a road? Many people from our company were there at the time
. We didn't run him over! That old woman took advantage of our inattention and deliberately ran under the excavator!!
After the accident, we took her to the hospital for emergency treatment. For some reason, some people saw someone get hit and,
without even accused us of deliberately hitting her! This...this is truly a misunderstanding!" Deng Hai hesitated for a moment
before finally speaking his mind.

"Yes! President Liu, I was there too. It really was that old woman who ran under the vehicle herself!", "I
can testify to that!", "Me too!" Several employees echoed Deng Hai's words, their expressions sincere,
clearly not lying!

Looking at the familiar faces of many of his employees who had followed him for years, Liu Guopei, for some reason,
believed they wouldn't lie to him!

But what was going on? And why were people deliberately crawling under the car? Could it be… there was some hidden story?
Suddenly, this bold conjecture surfaced in Liu Guopei's mind!

"Unscrupulous merchants, disregarding human life!" "Get out of Xicheng!" Just as Liu Guopei was deep in thought,
another wave of protests rose from the crowd! And they were gradually approaching the base!

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Establishing Authority with Domineering Power

Seeing the approaching crowd, Deng Hai broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly grabbed an
electronic megaphone from an employee next to him and shouted, "Quick, quick, quick… close the door! Close it now!" He directed people to close the door.

"Don't close it!" The clamor pulled Liu Guopei back to reality. Seeing Deng Hai preparing to close the door,
he quickly stopped him!

He took the electronic megaphone from him, glanced at the guard room, then went inside, moved out a table, and
stood on it! The employees and armed police looked at Liu Guopei strangely, wondering what he wanted to do.

"Open the door!" he said, turning back to Deng Hai and the others, then picked up the megaphone and faced the approaching
crowd.

"Everyone, quiet down and listen to me!" The scene of Liu Guopei risking his life to save people was still vivid in their minds.
So when the crowd saw him speaking, their approaching steps involuntarily stopped, and their eyes fell on him.

Seeing the crowd stop, Liu Guopei secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time knew that these people hadn't come to cause
trouble intentionally, but were simply too angry to cause today's situation!

"Everyone, please calm down, I understand your emotions! I know you are all very angry, but I hope you
understand that violence and anger will not solve the problem! It will only hurt more innocent people! Now,
what we need to do most is to sit down together and talk things over, isn't that right? I saw that quite a few people
were injured just now, and it really pains me. None of us want to see this situation! So I hope everyone
can calm down! I can assure you here that I will not allow your interests to be
harmed in the slightest!" Liu Guopei stood on the table, holding a megaphone and shouting to the crowd, his tone calm, which
unconsciously calmed everyone down!

Just then, a beautiful girl in the crowd stood on the periphery, looking at Liu Guopei with admiration,
her eyes full of tenderness, like a wife looking at her husband! Of course, this girl was Xiao Hui, who
had just arrived in Xicheng! Looking at Liu Guopei, Xiao Hui felt calm, no longer panicked. Even if
the sky were to fall, she wouldn't be afraid!

"Who are you! What guarantees do you have?"

"Yes, what gives you the right! Besides, no matter what, murderers must pay with their lives!"

"That's right, hand over the murderer! Get out of Xicheng!"

"Get out of Xicheng!"

The crowd continued to raise questions and express dissatisfaction! And the voices grew louder and louder!

"I forgot to introduce myself. I am
Liu Guopei ! My identity should be enough to guarantee everyone, right?" Liu Guopei slowly announced
his identity through the loudspeaker.

After hearing Liu Guopei's words, the crowd instantly fell silent. No one spoke again... "You
are the biggest swindler! Get out of Xicheng!" Just as Liu Guopei was about to continue speaking,
a voice came from the left side of the crowd. Before the words were finished, a stone was thrown from that direction!

'Bang—' The stone hit Liu Guopei squarely on the head! Because it was thrown from the side, Liu Guopei did
n't notice and was hit squarely.

The stone was quite large, and instantly, blood gushed from his head… “President Liu!” “Chairman!” Seeing
this sudden scene, the employees and Deng Hai were terrified and shouted, reaching out to pull him down.
Several employees even immediately stood on the table to shield him! They stared intently at the frenzied crowd,
fearing another attack! At this moment, these employees were no longer afraid, because now it was their turn to stand up
!

Xiao Hui in the crowd also covered her mouth with her hands, her face pale with fright! Her body swayed, as if she could
n't even stand up!

The armed police captain at the scene quickly directed his men to arrest the person who had thrown the stone, and pushed the human wall outwards
, forming a larger protective circle!

“Wait, I’m fine! No need to arrest him!” Liu Guopei said to the armed police captain, removing his hands from his head, blood streaming down
his hands , as he slowly and forcibly straightened his body! Seeing his employees protecting him so fiercely, even
shielding him with their bodies, Liu Guopei was deeply moved. With such people who would risk their lives for him
, what was there to worry about? He believed these people would work with him to give Xicheng a brighter future!

"You all get down... get down... I'm fine!" Liu Guopei said to his employees after regaining his footing.

"Mr. Liu...?" Deng Hai tried to insist.

"Listen to me, this is an order! Get down!"

After the employees left, Liu Guopei straightened up, puffed out his chest, picked up the megaphone again, but didn't speak. Instead,
he silently stared at the hundreds of protesting homeowners! Blood still streamed down his face... "Anyone else want
to vent ...?" Standing upright, Liu Guopei uttered these words calmly, his tone fearless!
He stood there ramrod straight! A gentle breeze swept by, and an aura of domineering power swept out, utterly imposing!

"I'll stand right here. Come on! I don't blame you, because it's our fault! If you have anger to vent, come at me
! If you back down, I'll immediately dissolve my company and never set foot in Xicheng again!"

At this moment, everyone was completely stunned by him! No one spoke again; the entire place was silent.

At the same time, two interview vehicles were quietly parked on the outskirts of the crowd, and several people silently recorded this
scene that would later be recorded in Xicheng's history... "Is anyone else here? If not, I'll continue!" His gaze swept across the crowd
once .

"Okay, thank you all for thinking so highly of me! I'll just say a few words. First, the compensation for the demolition in Xicheng this time is
15,000 yuan per square meter, but due to our mistake, some bad apples took advantage of the loopholes, resulting in
many homeowners only receiving 8,000 yuan. Don't worry, we have investigated and found out the truth, and everyone will receive
the full amount!"

"Second, the incident of running over people this morning is still under investigation. Let's all stay calm and wait for
the police results. If it really is our fault, no matter who it is, I promise to personally send them to jail! If I can't do
that, may I be struck by lightning! But if it's not our fault, I hope everyone can give us justice!"
His calm and composed voice came through the loudspeaker.

"So many people have been injured today, isn't that enough?! Xicheng needs all of us
to build it up together. Only through our joint efforts can we give it a bright future! Three days, just three days! I will definitely give everyone
a satisfactory answer! If you believe me, then disperse. If you don't, I'll stand here. If you
want to hit or yell, come at me alone! Before the investigation results are out, I will not allow anyone to touch my
employees !!" After saying this, Liu Guopei stopped talking and stood tall on the table, looking at
the quiet crowd!

The silence continued... "Clap... clap... clap..." Slowly, scattered applause rang out from the crowd...
The demonstrators, employees, armed police, reporters, and many others unconsciously clapped their hands... The applause grew
louder and louder... until it was uniform... resounding throughout Xicheng...!

Just as everyone was stunned by the scene, a figure suddenly rushed up, snatched the megaphone from Liu Guopei's
hand and shouted to the crowd, "I believe him. I almost died just now. He risked his life
to save me. Think about it, would a developer who would risk his life to save a stranger be the kind of treacherous businessman who disregards human life?"
" I don't believe it! I believe he will give us justice! Does everyone believe it?" It turned out that the one shouting was the
middle-aged man Liu Guopei had rescued earlier. He had recovered considerably and was now red-faced, shouting at the crowd.

"Okay, then wait three days!" "I believe you!" "I'm willing to wait, as long as we get justice!"
"I believe it too!" At this moment, voices supporting Liu Guopei echoed from the crowd... Clearly, everyone was
moved by his actions today! Everyone was convinced of his abilities!

Xiao Hui, seeing this scene, also shed tears of happiness... "Mr. Liu, I have always believed in you!"

A man and a woman stood together in the crowd, quietly watching this scene. 'Clap clap clap...' The man
clapped his hands, nodded, and said admiringly, "Not bad, you have guts! You're a man of character! In just a few words
, you not only solved a big problem but also established your authority!"

"By the way, Yu Hong, this person should be the one you mentioned to Old Master Yun, right?" After saying that, he turned to the sexy and voluptuous woman in her thirties
next to him .

"Yes, hehe... I knew you'd like this person!" the woman said with a smile, as if she could see right through
the man.

"Haha... You understand me! I'm very interested in this person. It seems that with him, we
can really make a big splash in Zhonghai this time. This dark secret in Zhonghai has been rampant for so many years; it's time to expose them
!"

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Base Meeting

The deafening applause still surged like a tide... Looking at everyone present, Liu Guopei could
n't say . To gain the trust of so many people was both an honor and a responsibility for him!

He also made a promise in his heart: he would definitely give Xicheng a bright future, allowing it to be reborn in this
transformation and become the most dazzling pearl in Zhonghai and even the entire country! "Okay, thank you, thank you
everyone!" Liu Guopei said from the bottom of his heart.

"Since everyone trusts me, let's disperse for now! I keep my word and will definitely give everyone an explanation within three days
! The difference in the first phase of demolition compensation will also be paid to everyone within half a month!" Once again,
he promised everyone!

The applause lasted for about ten minutes before the protesters gradually dispersed. Unlike
their initial anger, they left with a sense of relief. After what had just happened, everyone
was convinced of Liu Guopei's abilities and believed he would handle the situation well.

Xiao Hui, still captivated by Liu Guopei's powerful speech, gazed at him with
tenderness Only after the crowd had almost completely dispersed did she snap out of it, her heart pounding, her face flushed. She
rushed to Liu Guopei, worried about the head injury.

Reaching the base entrance, she pushed aside the onlookers and stood before him. Seeing the blood still
flowing from his head, she felt a surge of anxiety, tears welling in her eyes again. She choked out, "...Mr. Liu, what
...what happened? Don't scare me..." Her hands unconsciously gripped Liu Guopei's arm.

The employees on site looked at Xiaohui in surprise, because in their eyes she had always been a very capable and strong
woman , both cultured and elegant. They never expected her to be crying like a child!

"Haha... silly girl, it's not a big deal! Don't worry, you won't die! Still the same old temper, you'll
never grow up !" Having just resolved a major problem, Liu Guopei was in a good mood. He reached out and affectionately
patted Xiaohui's head, then smiled and said. Seeing Xiaohui's sad appearance, it was worth it for him to have always treated her like
a younger sister!

"Hehe... Mr. Liu, what are you saying? Our Assistant Xu, uh, no, I mean, the beautiful Xu!
She's just concerned about you! Sigh... when will you care about me like this? Just give me fewer tasks, okay?" Deng Hai, who was also
very familiar with Xiaohui, deliberately teased her in a sour tone.

"Ha... ha..." The Xicheng employees around them all burst into laughter, making Xiaohui blush with embarrassment!

"Hmph, mind your own business! You believe I'll tell your wife right now that you bullied me, and she'll make you kneel on the
washboard when you get home!" Amidst everyone's laughter, Xiao Hui was also infected by it, so she simply tilted her head back and said coquettishly to Deng Hai,
looking all charming and alluring.

"Oh...? So our Engineer Deng is afraid of his wife?"

"Yeah, Engineer Deng, you didn't say that last time we drank!"

"Engineer Deng said he'd do whatever she asked, how did it turn into a washboard?"

"Ha...ha...Engineer Deng is blushing!"

Now it was the employees teasing Deng Hai. Since he was the deputy chief engineer of Xicheng, everyone usually
called him Engineer Deng. From the tone of the employees' voices, it was clear that Deng Hai had a good relationship with everyone and had
become one of them! Amid the jokes, Deng Hai also smiled bitterly, he really shouldn't have messed with this
little devil , who was his wife's best friend! He regretted it deeply!

Everyone was laughing and joking... Liu Guopei watched this scene with satisfaction.
Everyone adjusted their mindset quickly, which was good news. Only by being open-minded and optimistic could they go
further and more steadily in the future!

"Um... Mr. Liu... right? Hehe... My name is Wei Ran, from the Armed Police Detachment! Now that the demonstration here
has been resolved, I should head back!" The Armed Police captain who had spoken earlier walked up to Liu Guopei and
said with a smile. He had originally wanted to wait for Liu Guopei to finish talking to the employees before coming over, but judging from the situation, they wouldn't be
able to finish , and he couldn't keep waiting. After hesitating for a long time, he could only come over now.

"It's nothing, thank you so much, Captain Wei and the brothers, for today. You've worked hard. If you think highly of me,
don't call me 'General Manager Liu,' just call me Liu Guopei!" This wasn't Liu Guopei trying to curry favor with him,
and frankly, there was no need to be overly friendly with a mere captain. He said this because he genuinely wanted to be
friends with him. He had seen everything they did; they had been diligently protecting his company, yet
they hadn't used excessive force against ordinary residents. They even actively helped during the stampede at the protesters. All of this
showed he was a friend worth having!

"Alright, I won't be pretentious. Since you're younger than me, I'll take the liberty of calling you 'brother'! To be honest,
before , I looked down on you, thinking you were the kind of shrewd businessman everyone talks about! But after today, I'm completely convinced!
Confident yet unpretentious, with you leading this renovation, I can already foresee the future glory of Xicheng
! Do a good job, I believe in you!" Wei Ran patted Liu Guopei's shoulder forcefully and said heartily.
They began to assemble, preparing to leave.

"By the way, Brother Wei, whose orders did you come this time? Was it Mayor Zheng?" Liu Guopei called out to Wei Ran,
who was about to leave. He suddenly realized something strange. Logically, with such a major
incident, Zheng Yizhou should have received the news by now, so why hadn't he contacted him yet? He instinctively
felt Wei Ran had been sent by Zheng Yizhou. Besides him, everyone else would be hoping for trouble at his company; he believed that even
calling 110 (the police emergency number) wouldn't guarantee anyone's arrival, let alone sending armed police to help.

"Yes!" Wei Ran replied without turning around, simply replying with two words from afar.

These two simple words represented the trust Zheng Yizhou and his team placed in him!

At this moment, Liu Guopei felt a surge of fighting spirit! With these employees who had risked their lives alongside him in the business world, and with Mayor Zheng
's complete trust, what did he have to fear? No one could stop him…no one!

"Deng Hai, Xiao Hui, and all staff above the deputy manager level, come in here! Everyone else, have the day off and get some rest!"
Liu Guopei said casually to the employees who were chatting happily, then strode into the base.

Ten minutes later, in the base's conference room.

Liu Guopei stood on the chairman's seat, quietly looking at the twelve people sitting below. No one spoke; the conference
room was completely silent. You could probably hear a pin drop. Everyone looked at each other,
wondering what was going to happen.

"Deng Hai."

"Here!"

"How is the old man who was run over?" Liu Guopei didn't talk about work but
asked about the old man who had the accident that morning.

"He was immediately taken to the People's Hospital, but the specifics... the specific situation is still not very clear!" Deng
Hai said somewhat nervously.

Liu Guopei nodded. It was understandable that Deng Hai didn't know, as his attention was undoubtedly focused on the
demonstrators . "Closely monitor the elderly man's condition, and handle the aftermath properly for those injured in this conflict.
The police are coming to take statements; our company will take full responsibility! Regardless of whether the elderly man ran over the car himself,
we were the ones who ran him over, so we should be responsible!" Liu Guopei said firmly, his tone full of
authority .

"Yes!"

"You all analyze the cause of this conflict. What is it? Come on, Lao Fang, you go first!" Liu Guopei
then pointed to a slightly overweight man in his forties below, who was the company's vice president of marketing
and one of the main leaders of the Xicheng base.

"President Liu, I think the reason is very simple and obvious: it was this elderly man who caused
the conflict ! If no one had been run over, there would have been no conflict today!" Lao Fang thought for a moment and then
shared his opinion.

"Hmm, well said! Does anyone have a different opinion?" Liu Guopei first affirmed Lao Fang's view,
then looked at the audience and asked.

"Say whatever you want, why should you hold back with me? Say whatever you want!"

"President Liu, I think Lao Fang is right, the reason is actually quite clear!"
Hu Jun, the company's planning director, agreed with Lao Fang's view.

"Okay, does everyone see it that way?" This time, Liu Guopei specifically looked at Deng Hai when he spoke,
obviously wanting to hear his opinion.

"President Liu, although Lao Fang is right, I think this
is . The root cause is that someone took advantage of a loophole in our company's compensation payment procedure, embezzling a large portion,
causing great damage to the interests of the homeowners. So I think the root cause is actually this!" Deng Hai saw
Liu Guopei glance at him and understood that he wanted him to speak, so he spoke his mind.

'Clap...clap...!' Liu Guopei led the applause, "Well said!" and then said approvingly,
and the others followed suit.

"Any other opinions? Deng Hai put it very well. Say what you want to say. This is a meeting of
our own people , no need to think about anything else!" Liu Guopei asked one last time, a hint of
disappointment still lingering in his heart. None of these people's analyses were thorough enough; no one had voiced their true thoughts.
Of course, Liu Guopei wouldn't show his disappointment; instead, he appeared pleased as he looked at everyone.

However, the meeting room fell silent again. Sigh… still no one could see through him! Liu Guopei sighed inwardly ,
just as he was about to speak, a clear voice rang out!

"Mr. Liu, I have a different opinion!" Xiao Hui called out to Liu Guopei, her face flushed. Actually, she had wanted to speak for a while, but
the awkward scene outside had made her shy and
hesitant Finally, she mustered the courage to speak to him. (Chapter 40: A 'Madman') "Oh? Then Xiao Hui, you speak!" Liu Guopei looked at her encouragingly. "Yes, just like Chief Engineer Deng said, the elderly person being run over was indeed just a trigger, and I agree with that. But I don't think the root cause is the embezzlement of this compensation. That's just a secondary issue! The most fundamental problem lies in the company's attitude towards the Xicheng homeowners! I ask all the Xicheng managers , since we entered Xicheng, have we actually contacted the homeowners? Have we listened to their thoughts?" As Xiao Hui spoke, she looked at the managers sitting in the conference room. Faced with Xiao Hui's questioning gaze , some of them lowered their heads and remained silent. "Since no one is answering, I'll answer for you all, since I've been involved all along. The answer is no! From the very beginning, we've placed the homeowners of Xicheng in a very low position, neglecting their role! This has led to situations where we didn't even know if the demolition compensation had reached the homeowners! And it's precisely because of this that some people took advantage of the situation and embezzled a large portion of the money!" "All along, we've taken it for granted that as long as we're following the rules , we don't need to worry about anything else! Like this time, we paid out every penny, but we didn't follow up or check whether the homeowners received it! Why is this? Ultimately, it's because we didn't value ! We put the cart before the horse… thinking that securing the contract would solve everything, but we overlooked the most important and indispensable factor for successfully transforming Xicheng—the support of the people!! I dare say, even if ..."

" Even if no elderly person had been injured, and no compensation had been embezzled, this conflict would still have happened eventually! It was only a matter
of time , because we were fundamentally wrong! Therefore, this conflict was unavoidable!" Xiao Hui
said firmly, wisely and confidently, incredibly assertive, completely
different .

"Mr. Liu... Mr. Liu, I'm done." However, when she looked at Liu Guopei, her tone softened, and
she looked at him nervously, her heart pounding like a drum!

Although he knew Xiao Hui was a very outstanding girl, Liu Guopei was still
surprised after hearing her words. He really hadn't expected her to see the problem so clearly, to pinpoint
its ! It was almost exactly what he had in mind!

"Well said!" Liu Guopei smiled approvingly at Xiao Hui, then waved for her to sit down, and looked at
all the managers present again.

"You've all shared your opinions today, and they're all quite reasonable, but you've only scratched
the surface ! Only Xiaohui's perspective truly resonates with me!"

"Our strategy in Xicheng is indeed flawed. As Xiaohui said, we've put the cart before the horse! The ancients said,
water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it! Our company is like a ship sailing on the sea; the sea is Xicheng,
and the water? Of course, it's the residents of Xicheng!"

"What we need to do now is cross the sea. To do this, we diligently built a high-quality ship,
without cutting corners! But we neglected the most crucial element: the seawater, and ultimately, we were capsized by the giant waves! To truly
cross the sea , it's not about how high the ship's quality is—no matter how well you build it, it's
useless against giant waves! What we need is calm seas, even more so, we need to ride the waves! Not have the waves crashing against
the bow !"

"If we want to truly carry out the transformation in Xicheng, we need the support and understanding of the homeowners! Otherwise, even if
we force the transformation, it won't have a good outcome! Of course, this isn't everyone's fault; headquarters bears a great deal
of responsibility because we are the decision-makers. I didn't do a good job, and I apologize to everyone here!" Liu Guopei finished speaking and bowed
earnestly everyone.

"Now, I need everyone to realize that the key to the Xicheng transformation is the homeowners; the homeowners are God!
Our transformation must revolve around the people; only in this way can it be perfect and successful! I believe in your
abilities, and I believe that after this experience, you all know what to do and can do it well! Do you... have confidence?"
Liu Guopei asked the Xicheng leaders in a calm tone at the end.

"Yes!" "Yes!" "We can.

" "Tell me, can we give Xicheng a bright future?"

"Yes!!" This time, everyone's voices were unified and full of momentum!

While Liu Guopei was meeting with the Xicheng leaders, almost all the news media went crazy,
vying to report on what happened in Xicheng today!

"Elderly man hit by car during Zhonghai Xicheng redevelopment, compensation money embezzled – is there more to the story?"

"China's first old city redevelopment faces scrutiny; developer responds assertively,

'Wrongdoing will be investigated'" "Facing violent demonstrations! Guoxin CEO remains calm and fearless"

"Developer bleeds but doesn't back down, only to give the people justice"

"Spreading positive energy, developer speaks up for the people"

Major newspapers rushed to print the latest news, and many portal websites prominently featured
the day's events. Public opinion was almost unanimously in support of Liu Guopei, praising his actions.
This was mainly because in recent years, news of developers oppressing the people had frequently surfaced in China; now, a story that could convey positive energy had
finally emerged, and the media certainly wouldn't let it pass.

Many years later, Liu Guopei's speech in Xicheng was considered a celebrated event by the Chinese people, leaving a brilliant mark on Xicheng's
history ! Of course, that's all hindsight, let's leave that aside for now... After the meeting,
it was almost noon. Liu Guopei didn't go out to eat; he decided to have a meal at the base's canteen.
Instead of a private room, he, Xiao Hui, and Deng Hai found a random spot in the main hall.

Liu Guopei ordered a bowl of rice, a serving of curry chicken, and a bowl of millet porridge—a moderately flavorful meal, neither too oily nor
too bland. Xiao Hui ate even less, just a small dish of pickled vegetables and a bowl of millet porridge. When questioned by Liu Guopei and Deng Hai ,
she claimed it was to maintain her figure. Deng Hai, however, ate quite a lot, including braised pork and chicken legs. It's
unbelievable how he can eat so much!

"By the way, Engineer Deng, you need to handle the aftermath of the injuries properly. For the injured owners,
compensate accordingly. For the injured employees, treat it as a work-related injury. Also, let them rest at home for a few more days, and keep their wages.
Be fair!" Liu Guopei said to Deng Hai after finishing his porridge.

"Yes, Mr. Liu, don't worry. Actually, almost no homeowners were injured this time; it was all our employees.
These employees are like my family, and I will handle it properly and make sure they don't suffer any injustice! Luckily, that lunatic
was eventually caught by the armed police, otherwise, who knows how many more people would have been injured! Damn it, running into someone like that is really bad luck!"
Deng Hai's voice was tinged with anger as he spoke, his teeth clenched.

"What lunatic? What do you mean by that?" Liu Guopei found Deng Hai's words strange and
asked in confusion.

"It's that old lady's grandson. Mr. Liu, I have to say this in anger, but we shouldn't have compensated them. Those
two are both lunatics! The old lady crawled under the excavator herself, and the young man, seeing the old lady in trouble,
started beating people indiscriminately. More than ten of our people were injured by that kid. Damn it, he's incredibly strong. I heard he used to be
in the military. If the armed police hadn't arrived in time, who knows how many more employees would have been injured!" Deng Hai
was furious when he spoke of this person.

"Oh...? Is that so? Maybe he's just too concerned about his grandma! By the way,
does he have any other family members?"

"No, I heard his parents died in a car accident years ago, and now it's just him and his grandma!
Mr. Liu, why are you asking about someone like that?" Although Deng Hai found it strange, he still answered Liu Guopei.

"Uh, it's nothing, just asking."

"It's strange, Mr. Liu, you didn't see that kid, he's really tough! He took at least a hundred blows from a stick as thick as an
arm , and he wasn't hurt at all. He was still chasing after us with boundless energy. When the armed police came,
it took them a lot of effort to subdue him! He's fucking tough!" Deng Hai
couldn't help but swear again when he thought of what happened that morning!

"This guy is really interesting! I want to meet him. Was he taken away by Captain Wei?" For some reason,
Liu Guopei suddenly wanted to meet this strange man. His intuition told him that he wasn't a bad person, not
deliberately causing trouble, but rather a very filial person. He instinctively felt a good impression of filial people and didn't want
him to be severely punished because of this.

Actually, there was another reason: Liu Guopei still couldn't understand why the old woman would willingly
crawl under the car. It was practically suicide! Since she had such a filial grandson, why would she do such a thing?
Liu Guopei vaguely felt that there must be some hidden story! He instinctively wanted to find out the truth!

It was just as the saying goes: Clear away the clouds of doubt to uncover the hidden story, and the unpolished jade will eventually meet a benefactor!

Chapter 41: News Event

"Cough...cough..." Hearing Liu Guopei's words, Deng Hai choked and coughed incessantly,
spitting out the piece of braised pork he had just eaten, looking quite disheveled. "What? Mr. Liu, you want to see that madman?" Deng
Hai's eyes widened, asking incredulously, utterly unable to understand why Liu Guopei wanted to see that madman.

"Well, I'm quite interested in this grandmother and granddaughter!" Liu Guopei said casually, his nonchalant manner
puzzling, continuing to eat his meal.

Deng Hai stared intently at Liu Guopei, seemingly trying to discern what his young and strange boss
was thinking, but he quickly gave up, unable to see through Liu Guopei at all. However, he quickly recovered,
which was normal; if he could see through his thoughts, he wouldn't have earned Deng Hai's admiration so much.

"Oh… the old lady is at Zhonghai People's Hospital, but the madman was taken away by the armed police, and I'm not
entirely sure where he is!" Deng Hai could only tell the truth.

Upon hearing this, Liu Guopei frowned slightly. So, if he wanted to see this so-called 'madman,'
he would still have to go through Mayor Zheng's connections. "It's alright if I don't know; I was just asking casually. Come on, let's eat!" He
naturally changed the subject.

"Sister Xia Dan is so beautiful!" Just as everyone was eating with their heads down, Xiao Hui suddenly exclaimed in a clear voice. She looked up,
her eyes slightly narrowed, a gentle smile playing on her lips, filled with adoration, like a lovesick fool.

Liu Guopei and Deng Hai were seeing the usually well-behaved and slightly shy Xiao Hui like this for the first time, and they couldn't help but
find it strange. Following her gaze, they saw that she was looking at the LCD TV hanging on the wall of the cafeteria!
This was a special arrangement by the company to provide employees with more entertainment, allowing them
to watch something while eating and relax.

The TV was broadcasting CCTV's midday news, hosted by
Xia Dan, a particularly popular anchorwoman on CCTV in recent years. Sexy, beautiful, and elegant, a graduate of a prestigious university, she was indeed
a perfect woman, a goddess in the hearts of many men! They just hadn't expected that Xiao Hui, a girl, would like
her so much.

"Oh my... Xiao Hui, you like Xia Dan too! We're such kindred spirits, I like her too! Sigh...
I even met her once before she was famous, but I regret not asking for her number! I really
regret it!" Deng Hai said regretfully, looking like he was about to beat his chest in frustration, which was quite comical.

"Go away... Brother Deng, I'm not like you at all. Sister Xia Dan is my idol, I truly
admire her! Unlike you, who has all sorts of ulterior motives!" Xiao Hui gave him a playful glare.

"What... I swear to God!" Upon hearing Xiao Hui's voice, Deng Hai suddenly stood up, feigning
heartbreak and looking at Xiao Hui with disappointment. He deliberately said sadly, "Little sister Xiao Hui, I treated you
like a sister, and this is how you see me? My heart is broken, it hurts so much... it hurts so much!" He clutched his chest as he spoke
, which was quite amusing. Liu Guopei was also amused by the two of them and watched them with great interest. However,
Xiao Hui had already covered her ears, pouted, and turned away, refusing to look at Deng Hai.

"I have no disrespect for Xiao Dan whatsoever! Because I know we've already missed each other, and
now I only have pure admiration for her. She's so perfect, so noble. If admiring someone is
a mistake, then I've made one mistake after another, and I'm doomed! Xiao Hui, are you listening to me? Come on, don't
hide, look at me... Doesn't my gaze look melancholy...? Ah... Ouch!" Deng Hai, who was pretending to be profound,
suddenly let out another painful groan. But this time it wasn't fake, because Liu Guopei saw Xiao Hui reach out her
delicate hand and pinch his arm hard!

"Hmm, Brother Deng, I see the melancholy in your eyes now! Hmph!" Xiao Hui put on a pitiful
look, looking at Deng Hai, her big eyes blinking incessantly.

"Haha... Deng Hai, you've always loved to joke about our Xiao Hui since we were at headquarters. Now that you've been transferred to Xicheng
, you're still doing it. You've got what you deserve!" Liu Guopei said with a loud laugh, amused by the two of them, and couldn't help but think of
the days when they were all together at headquarters.

"Hehe...a beating is a sign of affection, a scolding is a sign of love, right? This beating hurts me, but it hurts her heart! Right, Xiaohui?"
These words left Liu Guopei and Xiaohui speechless. Although they knew Deng Hai was joking, and that he was already
married, they were still impressed by his shamelessness.

Xiaohui didn't even want to talk anymore, just glaring at him angrily, her face slightly flushed,
very alluring.

"Just kidding, just kidding, Xiaohui, don't be angry! But Xia Dan is indeed very perfect, isn't President Liu your goddess
too ? This...I have to tell the truth...hehe!" Seeing Xiaohui's expression, Deng Hai quickly
said apologetically, then shifted the topic to Liu Guopei.

Heh, his goddess? Hearing this question, Liu Guopei fell silent, and the beloved and familiar figure involuntarily surfaced in his mind
...only that figure was gradually fading away from him! She took his heart
away, only to ruthlessly crush it and return it!

What started as a lighthearted joke quickly turned awkward when Liu Guopei, who had been laughing and joking, suddenly fell silent
, looking quite downcast. An awkward silence descended upon the three of them, none of them knowing
what to say.

Deng Hai looked to Xiao Hui for help, seemingly trying to understand what was going on. Xiao Hui, however, was equally
bewildered ; she didn't know why Liu Guopei had suddenly become like this.

"Hmm? What's wrong with you two? Why are you all so quiet?" Noticing the unusual atmosphere,
Liu Guopei composed himself and addressed the two.

"Uh...no...it's nothing!" Seeing Liu Guopei return to normal, Deng Hai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly
said , but dared not say anything more.

"I'm full, how about you guys? Shall we go?" Feeling that everyone had eaten enough,
Liu Guopei prepared to leave. He planned to find some time in the afternoon to see Mayor Zheng again
and ask him to arrange for him to meet that madman. He also had some questions for him. Liu Guopei felt that Mayor Zheng's reaction today was a bit strange, because after
such a big incident, he should have contacted him, but he hadn't made a single call yet
.

"Okay!" Xiao Hui and Deng Hai had also finished eating, so of course it was no problem.

However, just as the three of them got up to leave, the LCD TV screen on the wall switched back to the studio.
Xia Dan straightened up and said in fluent English, "Breaking news from this station: China's first pilot old city renovation project,
Zhonghai West City..."

Almost at the same time as the broadcast, Liu Guopei and the other two stopped and looked at the LCD TV.

Chapter 42: You're So Beautiful

"Around 10 AM Tianjing time, hundreds of homeowners from Zhonghai Xicheng protested at the entrance of the developer Guoxin Group's site in
Xicheng ! The scene was chaotic; the homeowners blocked the gate of Guoxin Group's site, seemingly
due to an incident earlier that morning where a Guoxin Group excavator ran over someone. Furthermore, it's rumored that the conflict between the two parties has been brewing
for a long time, and that the compensation funds for the first phase of the Xicheng demolition have been embezzled!"

"The demonstration was out of control at one point, even resulting in a stampede! But just as the conflict escalated further, and
everyone thought a bloody clash was about to break out, Liu Guopei, the CEO of Guoxin Group, stepped forward. First,
he risked his life to save innocent people injured in the stampede, and then he ordered the base gates to be fully opened
to accept everyone's protests. He faced hundreds of protesting homeowners alone, taking responsibility and
promising to investigate everything within three days and give the homeowners justice! Even when faced with stone attacks and
bleeding from his head he did not back down an inch! Regardless of who was at fault, at least this magnanimity and composure are worthy of our
learning! And worthy of emulation by other developers! The following is a report from our station on the scene." After saying
this, the scene switched to Liu Guopei standing on the table speaking in the morning, blood constantly
sliding down his head as he spoke.

"Oh...!! CEO Liu!" Suddenly, cheers rang out from all around. Obviously, the employees had all noticed
the news. Seeing their idolized CEO being praised by the nation's largest central television station, they were all unconsciously
happy, and everyone looked at Liu Guopei excitedly.

"Mr. Liu...congratulations! Even CCTV praised you! Your speech today truly
impressed us all!" Deng Hai said happily to Liu Guopei.

Xiao Hui didn't speak, but seeing the news, she was also happy for Liu Guopei, her heart
filled with sweetness as she looked at him with a joyful expression.

"Dozens of innocent people injured, an elderly person's life hanging in the balance...heh...if I had a choice,
I wouldn't want such praise! Let's go," Liu Guopei said calmly, then turned and left.

To be honest, it wasn't that Liu Guopei was being arrogant. After all, being praised by CCTV
was beneficial not only to himself and the company, but also to Mayor Zheng. However, Liu Guopei
wasn't happy at all because the price was too high, and the real problems hadn't been resolved yet; he still needed to settle the
three-day gentleman's agreement.

The three men arrived outside the base. The construction site, which had been a mess caused by the protesters, had
been cleaned up without them noticing, looking quite tidy. Liu Guopei gave Deng Hai a meaningful look, knowing that
Deng Hai had ordered this. He had to admit, Deng Hai was very meticulous;
he had been by his side all afternoon, and Liu Guopei hadn't even noticed when Deng Hai had arranged for the cleanup.

Continuing along the base, Liu Guopei called out to Xiao Hui, seemingly remembering something.

"Hmm?"

"It's the weekend, and it's still early. Do you have time?"

Hearing Liu Guopei's sudden, seemingly inexplicable question, both Deng Hai and Xiao Hui's expressions changed.
Deng Hai's expression became ambiguous, while Xiao Hui blushed shyly. Clearly, they had both misunderstood.

"Um, Mr. Liu, I forgot my phone in the cafeteria. I'll go get it. You two chat!" Deng Hai
was quite tactful, assuming Liu Guopei and Xiao Hui had something private to discuss. He quickly made an excuse and
left without waiting for Liu Guopei's reply.

What was originally nothing seemed amiss, but his departure only made it more obvious. Xiao Hui's face was flushed crimson,
like two ripe apples, incredibly alluring.

Seeing their expressions, Liu Guopei hadn't yet realized what was happening and, feeling puzzled, asked a question
that made Xiao Hui want to disappear into a hole: "Xiao Hui, what's wrong? Why is your face so red? Do you have
a fever?"

It must be said that Liu Guopei was an incredibly ruthless tyrant in the business world, but in matters of the heart, he was a
complete idiot, utterly clueless about romance.

What a blockhead! He can't even speak properly. She didn't know how Sister Zixin could fall for someone like him!
Xiao Hui thought angrily to herself, giving Liu Guopei a resentful glare. At this moment, she forgot that she
seemed have fallen in love with this so-called fool!

"I'm fine, Mr. Liu, just tell me what's wrong!" Looking at Liu Guopei's concerned expression, Xiaohui knew
he genuinely cared about her. She couldn't do anything about it and could only say helplessly.

"Can you do me a favor?" Seeing that Xiaohui said she was alright, Liu Guopei breathed a sigh of relief and then asked.

"Sure, please tell me!" Without any hesitation, Xiaohui agreed, because in her heart,
she was willing to do anything to help Liu Guopei! Yes, anything!

"Zixin twisted her ankle at the hospital this morning, but she has to take care of my parents and Jiajia. I
have and can't leave. I'm worried about her being alone..." Liu Guopei thought for a moment and then said to Xiaohui,
while also sighing inwardly. He really didn't know what was wrong with him. His wife, Tang Zixin,
had she had nothing to do with him, but he still couldn't help but care about her, worry about her health, and fear that she was too tired...
And for her sake, this was the first time he had asked someone for help!

Actually, Liu Guopei wasn't unable to get away; he simply didn't know how to face Tang Zixin anymore. He deeply
resented her for repeatedly deceiving him, but every time he thought of the times they spent together… he felt a surge of resentment.
He couldn't bring himself to do it.

His wife's family was well-off; her parents owned a sizable business in Tianjing,
not as large as Guoxin Group, but still quite good. When they officially started dating, her parents disapproved.
They only had one daughter, and they worried she would suffer with him. But his wife never looked down on his
poverty at the time. Instead, in front of her parents, she held his hand and said, "Dad, Mom! We love each other. I
believe we can walk hand in hand forever, we definitely can! No matter how much hardship we face, I feel happy!"
It was at that moment that he vowed he would never let her down in this life! Even if he died, he would make her happy
for the rest of her life!

"Mr. Liu, do you want me to go to the hospital to accompany Sister Zixin?" Xiaohui asked quietly. For some reason, when she
heard Liu Guopei's words, she felt a pang of sadness and loss... A gentle breeze brushed past, her skirt fluttered,
and her long, flowing hair danced gracefully in the wind!

"Hmm, are you free?"

"Sure, I'll be right there!" She tossed a strand of long hair behind her ear and spoke softly, a hint of
sadness tinged with her calm tone.

"Xiao Hui, I...I..." Liu Guopei wanted to say something to thank her, but suddenly realized he didn't know what to say
. He felt he owed her so much, and gratitude seemed inadequate.

"You don't need to say anything, I'm free anyway!" Xiao Hui said
understandingly .

Looking at Xiao Hui standing in the breeze, her long hair flowing, her skirt swaying slightly, Liu Guopei was stunned. Quiet
and elegant, pure yet dignified...standing gracefully in the wind, she seemed like a fairy descended to earth!

"Xiao Hui, you're so beautiful!" Liu Guopei said sincerely, without a trace of hypocrisy or disrespect.

"Thank you," Xiao Hui said shyly. Although she knew he wasn't saying this because he truly liked her,
she still felt a surge of sweetness in her heart. What girl wouldn't want to hear her beloved say she was beautiful? "Mr. Liu, just hearing
you say that is enough for me!" Xiao Hui thought to herself.

"By the way, Xiao Hui, please don't call me Mr. Liu anymore, and don't use 'you' or 'your .' Don't be so
polite with me. I've always considered you my own sister!"

Sister...? Hearing that word, Xiao Hui clearly felt another sharp pain in her heart!

Mr. Liu, if I could, I would like to be like Sister Zixin, the one who truly stays by your side, not just
your sister! It's just that you've never known...

Chapter 43: Surge from All Directions (Part 1)

"I think Sister Zixin must be very happy, having Brother Liu caring for her so much!" Xiao Hui
said sincerely and enviously, while accepting Liu Guopei's request, no longer calling him Mr. Liu, but Brother Liu, since
it was just the two of them there.

"Hehe...maybe!" Liu Guopei smiled slightly, then said slowly, but that smile
seemed somewhat bitter and forced. The word "happiness" has gradually faded away, becoming very, very
distant … “Brother Liu, I’ll go to the hospital to be with Sister Zixin now. There’s nothing I can do here anyway!”

“Okay, thank you anyway, Xiaohui!” Although his gratitude felt weak, Liu Guopei still said
it.

Xiaohui didn’t reply, only gave Liu Guopei a bright smile, then swayed her long hair and turned to leave.

Liu Guopei was left standing there alone, glancing down at the Rolex watch on his arm. It was still early,
and he wasn’t in a hurry to find Mayor Zheng. He walked to a pile of construction materials, squatted down, lit
a , and smoked alone. The smoke swirled around him; his smoking habit had been getting worse

lately! Zhonghai appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging, and various forces
were eager to make their move !

Next to the municipal party committee compound stood a classically decorated two-story building.

In a study on the second floor, two middle-aged men, around fifty years old, were sitting on the sofa talking to each other.
On the table next to them was a pot of freshly brewed, steaming tea. If Liu Guopei were here, he would definitely be surprised,
because there was someone he recognized—he had just met that morning and was planning to go see him again. This person
was none other than Zheng Yizhou, the vice mayor of Zhonghai City! And the one who could sit calmly drinking tea with Zheng Yizhou was none other than
Kong Yandong, the mayor of Zhonghai City!

The window was open, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the room was filled with the aroma of tea, making it very refreshing!

"Old Zheng, do you think what we did was a bit excessive? To protect ourselves, we let
that kid Liu Guopei face that conflict alone this morning! It really wasn't right. Luckily, he resolved it perfectly, otherwise, if
something had happened to him, I would really feel bad!" Kong Yandong picked up the teapot, gently poured a pot
of tea , and then said to Zheng Yizhou sitting opposite him.

"Haha...it depends on how you look at it. To put it bluntly, we did abandon Liu Guopei to protect ourselves and
avoid getting involved in this bloody conflict! But if you look at it from another angle, it's not
like that!" Zheng Yizhou paused after saying this, picked up his teacup, and took a sip of fragrant tea. It was sweet and refreshing,
with a lingering aftertaste.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"It's simple. Although Liu Guopei is an assistant we chose from many people, Yandong,
tell me the truth, before today, did you really have confidence in him? Did you really believe he could be a sharp weapon in our fight
against corruption and organized crime?!" Zheng Yizhou didn't answer directly but instead asked Kong Yandong a few questions.

"Well...don't laugh, to be honest, before, I really didn't have much confidence in him!"
Kong Yandong said, unusually embarrassed.

"That's right! So in other words, it's not that we abandoned him today, but that he has to
face this test. This is his pledge to gain your trust! If Liu Guopei can't even pass this test, then
it's meaningless whether we help him today or not, because he's destined to be abandoned later! What do you say?" "

And Yan Dong, let me say something, don't be angry! The reason you feel guilty towards Liu Guopei now is
because he succeeded. He perfectly solved this big problem, he survived! If he had failed, you wouldn't feel a single bit guilty towards him
today , because... he doesn't deserve it!" Zheng Yizhou paused for a moment and then continued.
During the conversation, a cup of tea had been emptied.

"That's true, but we still went a bit too far. I, Kong Yan Dong, don't want to be seen as a
villain who betrayed his allies!" Kong Yan Dong picked up the teapot to refill Zheng Yizhou's cup and continued speaking.

"Yandong, you don't need to feel guilty... To be honest, I didn't want to do this either, but did we have a choice
? No! This is politics! This is officialdom! To completely eliminate the corrupt elements in the government, we have to
do this ! Talking about feelings is useless. I believe that since he agreed to join forces with us, he must be prepared for this!"

"By the way, why were we all so anxious after this conflict, but you weren't anxious at all? Old Zheng,
that's not right. Did you know something beforehand? Tell me the truth, or I'll punish you by making you
leave that half-pound of top-quality Longjing tea behind! You can't take it with you!" Kong Yandong said to Zheng Yizhou with a smile, threateningly.

"Hahaha...! Yandong, you've guessed wrong this time. How could I possibly not tell you something? You
definitely know more than I do! The reason I'm not anxious is because..." Zheng Yizhou kept it a secret, not saying it directly,
but taking a sip of tea with great interest.

"Still keeping it a secret from me? Tell me quickly!" Kong Yandong smiled helplessly at Zheng Yizhou, then urged him.

"It's actually very simple. I'm not in a hurry because I'm different from you, Yan Dong. I... trust Liu Guopei!"
Zheng Yizhou said meaningfully.

Chapter 44: Surge in All Directions (Part 2)

Zheng Yizhou's words greatly surprised Kong Yan Dong, who could hardly believe that they came from him.
He had known Zheng Yizhou for decades and knew his discerning eye; he was very picky. This
was the first time he had seen him unconditionally trust someone he had only known for less than half a year.

"So that's how it is. In that case, Liu Guopei has earned your deep trust, Yizhou. Is he really that
outstanding ? As far as I know, Guoxin Group isn't very powerful, is it?" Suddenly, Kong Yan Dong
was filled with curiosity about Liu Guopei and wanted to understand him better, to see what kind of person he was that his old friend Zheng Yizhou
trusted so much.

"I believe in him as a person, not in the Guoxin Group. Even if he were just an ordinary person, I would still
believe him. Conversely, if I didn't have faith in him, even if he were a Fortune 100 company, I still wouldn't
entrust the Xicheng project to him! This is what's called intuition, right? In theory, intuition is useless in officialdom, but this time, I
believe I won't misjudge him! So... this half-jin of Longjing tea can't be left for you, Yan Dong!" After saying this, Zheng Yizhou
raised his teacup and finished the last sip of tea.

"Haha...!" The two exchanged a glance and couldn't help but smile knowingly.

At the same time, not far from Zheng Yizhou and Kong Yan Dong, in another Western-style building.

'Bang—' A hand slammed heavily on the table.

"Director Wu, come and explain to me! What do you mean by what your CCTV midday news broadcast
? Is this how you agreed to me?" A man in his fifties with slightly wrinkled face stood up,
his face serious and imposing, clearly not an ordinary person.

Standing next to this man was another slightly overweight, balding middle-aged man, who was
Director Wu, the one the speaker had mentioned.

Sensing the anger in the tone of the Zhonghai leader before him, Director Wu felt a chill run down his spine, and cold sweat broke out
on his forehead . Although he belonged to CCTV and was not under his jurisdiction, he had to remember that this was
Zhonghai! Here, he was a veritable local tyrant! He could imagine the consequences of angering him, and he
also needed his help to compete for the position of CCTV director a year later.

"Secretary Wang, I really have no choice. When I heard about the incident in Xicheng this morning, I sent people to
the scene . I thought it would definitely be a large-scale violent conflict, and then we could just report it casually, and the Xicheng redevelopment
would be canceled, right? But no one expected that Liu Guopei would pull this stunt! Other developers would
run away from violent demonstrations by homeowners, but that guy not only didn't run away, he faced the conflict head-on, and most importantly, he successfully
resolved it! Now almost all public opinion is on his side, and our CCTV can't risk public condemnation by
saying anything reckless , so we can only broadcast it this way. Besides, you know, I'm talking about a deputy director; many things
aren't decided by me alone!" Director Wu smoothed the last strand of hair on his bald head and
said timidly.

It has to be said that he was a real old fox, pushing all the responsibility away in just a few words,
and at the end, he didn't forget to remind Secretary Wang again that he was just a deputy director, and if he wanted CCTV
to work entirely for him, he had to push himself up!

"Hmph, Director Wu, I hope you understand one thing: as long as you work hard for me, the position of
Director of CCTV in a year is yours for the taking! But if you try to pull strings or play dirty tricks, I can't
guarantee you'll be able to hold onto your position as Deputy Director!" Wang Liang sneered. Having navigated the officialdom for so many years, he
could easily see through Director Wu's thoughts.

"Yes, thank you, Secretary Wang! I certainly will. This was just an accident! I can't guarantee anything else, but
as for CCTV, we will definitely serve you, Secretary Wang!" Hearing Wang Liang's promise, Director Wu
was overjoyed With the Party Secretary of Zhonghai, the largest city in China, helping him,
the position of Director of CCTV was practically his for the taking!

"You know that's good. The 17th National Congress is coming soon. Have you received any updates from Tianjing?
After today, we're already behind on the western front. We absolutely cannot afford any more mistakes!"

"Tianjin is still relatively calm for now, but don't worry, Secretary Wang, I'll keep a close eye on things. I'll
report to you immediately if I get any news!" Having received the promise he wanted, Director Wu
was quite sensible on other matters.

Xianglan Street, Qiaojiaren Bar.

Because it was daytime, the bar was nearly empty, with only a few scattered customers.
The anniversary banners hanging throughout the bar's lobby were still up, and the colorful banners and the various
lights all testified to the frenzy and noise of the previous night.

However, what attracted the most attention at this moment was not the banners and lights, but
the two beautiful women sitting at the bar not far away! One was in her thirties, with a voluptuous figure, wearing a coffee-colored off-shoulder fitted silk dress,
her hair slightly up, exuding the unique charm and sexiness of a young woman. The other girl was
quite young, around twenty years old, with a beautiful, rosy, and delicate complexion.
She wore black denim shorts, and her every move exuded youthful energy!

"Sister Hong, what are you saying?" the young girl said shyly to the sexy young woman, her face flushed.

"You little rascal, don't try to fool me! I'm doing this for your own good. You helped that guy into
his room , and he didn't come out all night. Do you think I didn't know? I think you're completely bewitched by him!"
The young woman glared at the girl slightly and said softly, but her eyes were full of affection for the girl. It was clear that
she wasn't angry; on the contrary, she liked the girl very much.

It was obvious that these two were Zhao Qin and Sister Hong, who had just returned to Qiaojiaren from Xicheng.

"I...I..." Zhao Qin's secret had been exposed by Sister Hong, and she didn't know what to say. In the end
, she simply blushed and lowered her head in silence.

"Silly girl, tell me honestly, did you give yourself to that Liu Guopei guy?" Sister Hong held
Zhao Qin's hand and looked at her slowly.

"Sister Hong, how do you know Brother Liu's...?" Zhao Qin was initially surprised to hear this,
unable to understand how Sister Hong knew Liu Guopei's name. She instinctively blurted out, but immediately realized
she'd inadvertently revealed her mistake and quickly shut her mouth, turning her head away.

"Hmph, I knew it! That kid's no good. He took advantage of you! See if I'll let him get away with this!
Xiao Qin, don't worry! I'll have someone hang him up and beat him right away!"

"No, no, Sister Hong, I did it willingly..." Zhao Qin hadn't dared look at Sister Hong, but hearing her
say she wanted revenge on Liu Guopei, she couldn't care less and hurriedly turned back, calling out anxiously. However, the
moment Zhao Qin turned around, she saw Sister Hong smiling at
her !

"You're so annoying, Sister Hong! You just know how to make fun of me!" Zhao Qin was extremely shy, grabbing Sister Hong's hand
and shaking it repeatedly, pouting.

"Haha...you little rascal, you admit it now! Come on, tell me, do you really like him? How much do you really
know about him? You can't hide it from me this time!" Of course, besides genuinely caring for Zhao Qin, Sister Hong
had a deeper meaning behind her actions.

"Brother Liu is a good person. Although I know he's married, I...I still want to be
with . Every time I see him, I'm so happy. He's the first man who's truly good to me! Even
last night...he was so rough and savage with me. But I don't hate him. I'm even...a little
happy Sister Hong, do you think I'm being silly...?" Zhao Qin suddenly buried her head in Sister Hong
's arms like a child, speaking sweetly and delicately, her large eyes even misty.

"Sigh...Yuqin, you've been like this since the first time I met you. It's not silliness, it's naivety!
Someone like you is suited to the life of a pampered young lady. You really shouldn't be out here in the world! Do you want to go home?"
Seeing her like this, Sister Hong felt sad and gently said, holding Zhao Qin in her arms.

"No... I don't want to go back! This is my home, and besides Qiaojiaren, I have no other home! I'm
no longer called Yuqin, I'm called Zhaoqin!" For some reason, after hearing Sister Hong's words, Zhaoqin immediately
got out of her arms and said excitedly, as if she was very angry, completely different from the shy little girl
she .

"Xiaoqin, since you're willing to tell me your true background, why don't you try to forgive your parents
? Maybe they're thinking of you?" Sister Hong seemed to want to persuade her further.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore, Sister Hong, I don't want to talk about those things anymore, okay?" Zhaoqin
said pitifully, her eyes red, as if she really didn't want to talk about her parents anymore.

"Alright then, you have to choose for yourself, there's no use in me saying anything more! But I still have to
be responsible , you make an appointment with Liu Guopei, just say I want to meet him, I'll help you decide!" Since Zhaoqin's attitude was so
firm, Sister Hong didn't insist anymore, and instead changed the subject to Liu Guopei.

"Brother Liu is already married, we...we're impossible!"
Although tone was calm, she was inwardly disappointed.

"I know, but I have my reasons for seeing him. Don't worry, I won't really do anything to him
! Putting everything else aside, just for the sake of him being Xiaoqin's Prince Charming, I can't touch him,
right? Haha..." As if sensing Zhao Qin's unhappiness, Sister Hong joked.

"Sister Hong, you're talking nonsense again! If you keep talking nonsense, I'm ignoring you!"

"But Brother Liu has always wanted to see you, but I always thought you wouldn't! So I
never too! That's great, Brother Liu will definitely be very happy!"
After a pause, Zhao Qin said happily.

Oh...he wants to see me too? It seems this Liu Guopei has figured something out; he's really not simple!
Perfect, I can finally see for myself! Sister Hong thought thoughtfully to herself.

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[The Dark Side: The Fall of Home] (Volume 3) (30-44) Author: Ascetic

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