0160 169 Difficulty in traveling

"...Although Bao Longxing accepted Fang Tangjing's money and was blinded by greed, he eventually reformed himself, learned valuable skills from the brothel owner, and ultimately sought justice for Qi Qinshi. An official who can uphold justice is a good official."

"From this perspective, do you think I'm a good official?"

"...You are cunning, but I think you will be a good official."

What do you mean by "will be"?

The naked boy turned over, his buttocks firm and white, bathed in the dim, ambiguous light.

A line from the movie "Hail the Judge" says: "Corrupt officials need to be cunning, but honest officials need to be even more cunning. Otherwise, how do you deal with those bad guys?"

Zhou Xiye smiled and said, "An honest official and a good official are not the same thing. An honest official may lack ability but simply avoids corruption and shirks responsibility. He only earns a reputation for being honest, but it is the common people who suffer. This does him no good. On the other hand, a good official may not be honest, but he is sure to get things done, do great things, and do good things."

She turned her head to look at the young man lying next to her. "Awei, don't learn principles from movies, learn principles at school."

Awei sat up. "I can learn principles from you too."

Zhou Xiye chuckled, crossed his arms and rested them under his head, glancing sideways at Awei. "You're new to this business, aren't you? The rule here is that I'm only buying you for a few nights, and you can't tell anyone about our deal. It's that simple... As for you following me to learn principles... I haven't even figured out my own principles yet, so teaching you would be misleading you."

Awei shook his head and then nodded. "I know," he said, looking down at her for a few seconds before looking up again. "I heard them say that you might encounter some bad customers the first time you meet them. I'm lucky to have met you."

Zhou Xiye closed her eyes; she had no desire to communicate.

There was a movement on the other side of the bed. Zhou Xiye opened her eyes and looked over. Awei's big face was pressed against Zhou Xiye's nose. "Are you like me, without family? Is that why you bought me to keep you company during the New Year?"

Zhou Xiye began, but she wasn't used to being so close, so she reached out with her other hand to push his face away, "I guess so. What about your family?"

Awei straightened up. "My parents have both gone out to work. Our village is full of elderly people."

Zhou Xiye nodded, sat up, picked up his phone from the bedside table, and glanced at the time.

Are you planning to leave?

"Yes," Zhou Xiye got out of bed, found his underwear on the floor and put it on. "You've been with me for five days. You can calculate the price yourself. How much should I pay you?"

Awei thought for a moment, "Two thousand a night... You can just give me 8888."

Zhou Xiye turned to look at him, fastened her bra buttons, and picked up her phone. "Is 8888 for good luck?"

The next second, Awei's phone rang: You have received 18,888.

“Too much,” Awei frowned.

Zhou Xiye shook her head. "However, there's also hush money for you. If anyone asks, just say you've never seen me." She put down her phone and put on her pants and top.

"I know you're amazing, I've seen you on TV..."

Zhou Xiye stopped what she was doing and looked at him, a sharp glint in her eyes. "So, did you understand what I said? Don't tell anyone that you know me or have seen me before."

Awei nodded, "I know... this isn't good for you..." He still had something to say, but he looked at Zhou Xiye with great hesitation.

Zhou Xiye, having finished dressing, naturally understood Awei's unspoken words. "Do you think the money isn't enough?" His tone was no longer warm, only cold.

"...No, what I meant was...if you need someone to keep you company, you can come to me. I won't tell anyone," Awei said obediently, sitting on the bed with his arms wrapped around his bent legs. His shoulders had smooth, sexy lines, a perfect blend of youthful energy and masculine sexiness.

Zhou Xiye walked to the bedside and sat down, gently stroking his hair, and said softly, "Since you know who I am, you must know that I have to leave here and go back to Kunming."

"Can you take me with you?"

Awei's eyes were moist, his black hair fell in front of his eyes, and his nose was straight.

Zhou Xiye gently tapped his nose with her finger, smiled and shook her head, "Shangri-La is not my final destination, and I am just a passerby in your life. In the future, you will meet all kinds of women. They may love your appearance, or they may like your figure, or they may be able to see your soul through your body. Your life will be very exciting."

Awei pursed his lips, and after listening to Zhou Xiye's words, a hint of tenderness and reluctance appeared in his eyes. "Who did you originally plan to come here with? Why did you book two seats in advance for all the places we went? Was it with your lover? What happened to him?"

Zhou Xiye didn't answer. She stood up and pressed her hand hard against his lips. "Get some sleep, and then forget all about it."

After saying that, she picked up her coat and walked out, opened the door, walked through the red carpeted corridor, the elevator doors opened and closed, and amidst the noisy voices and lively laughter, Zhou Xiye arrived at the hotel entrance.

But a blinding light shone on her, so Zhou Xiye opened her eyes, squinted, and after a few seconds, she turned her head to look.

Several police cars flashed red and blue lights, a white light shone on her, and police officers ran out of the cars below the steps and ran past her like a gust of wind.

Among the police officers stood an old acquaintance, hands in his pockets, looking up at Zhou Xiye.

“Secretary Zhou, we received a report that someone is soliciting prostitution here, so… excuse me, could you come back to the station with us?” A voice sounded in her ear. Zhou Xiye looked at the young man in police uniform, nodded, and then looked at Ling Xingzhi at the bottom of the steps.

"This way, please..."

Zhou Xiye followed the policeman and walked to Ling Xingzhi's side.

Is that you?

Ling Xingzhi's face was serious. He leaned closer to Zhou Xiye and said through gritted teeth, "What kind of time is this to be here soliciting prostitutes!"

"I'm divorced, can't I have a boyfriend?"

"Zhou Xiye!" he hissed, "Don't give up on yourself, you're not qualified!"

"I willingly degenerate? It's truly eye-opening to hear Mayor Ling say that."

Ling Xingzhi took a deep breath, knowing that Zhou Xiye wouldn't listen to any advice right now, and said while suppressing his emotions, "I'll take care of things in Shangri-La for you. Go back quickly, Wu Qiong is looking for you."

Zhou Xiye's expression turned serious at this moment. "She was looking for me? The results are in?"

Ling Xingzhi nodded. "She said the results are in and she wants to chat with you. It's not serious. You'll have to write a self-criticism and get a disciplinary action... This is the best possible outcome. Don't let anyone find fault with you at this time."

Zhou Xiye understood and lowered his head, "Then I'll trouble you."

Ling Xingzhi didn't say anything more. Zhou Xiye took two or three steps and was pulled back by him. "Zhou Xiye, I really underestimated you. You dare to play with a child this big!"

Zhou Xiye paused, then turned around to look. Awei had his clothes draped over his hand, and two policemen were beside him. She chuckled, "He's an adult now, my little boyfriend." Without looking at Ling Xingzhi, she bent down and got into the car.

The boy approached, and Ling Xingzhi looked him up and down carefully. As he stepped aside, he 'instructed' him, "Don't cause any unnecessary trouble."

Awei looked at Ling Xingzhi with a puzzled expression, wondering what position this uncle was on in saying these words to him.

Zhou Xiye got into the car, but the police car didn't head towards the police station in Shangri-La; instead, it headed towards Kunming. After figuring out the general direction, she fell asleep in the back seat. When she opened her eyes again, they had already arrived in Kunming. In the middle of the night, there was a knock on the car window.

Zhou Xiye woke up with a start. She quickly straightened her clothes before rolling down the car window. The person outside said, "Secretary, we've arrived."

Where is this?

Kunming Airport.

Zhou Xiye was taken aback. Footsteps came from afar. She turned her head and saw a person in military uniform running towards the car. As they got closer, the person bent down and said, "Secretary Zhou Xiye, Secretary Wu is on the plane. Please come with me."

"Airplane?" Zhou Xiye looked at the private jet in the distance, narrowed his eyes, and said after two or three seconds, "Okay."

Inside the cabin, Wu Qiong was drinking coffee and reading a newspaper when she noticed Zhou Xiye. She put down her newspaper and asked, "You're here? Did you sleep well?"

Zhou Xiye sat down opposite Wu Qiong. "It's alright, Secretary, aren't you celebrating the Spring Festival?"

Wu Qiong smiled, raised her hand to beckon a flight attendant, and said, "Bring Secretary Zhou a cup of coffee too." After saying that, she crossed her hands on her lap and looked at Zhou Xiye with the demeanor of an old cadre, "Your investigation results are out. The responsibility for the incident is not on you, but the security in Kunming needs to be strengthened. A written self-criticism and a disciplinary action."

Zhou Xiye nodded, "Thank you, Secretary. This result is very...fair."

"Thanking me is useless. If you want to thank someone, thank Hua Chunyang. She helped you."

Zhou Xiye was taken aback; this name hadn't appeared in her life for a long time. "...Okay, I understand..."

Wu Qiong said with a smile, "I met her when I went to study in the Soviet Union."

Zhou Xiye was somewhat surprised. Studying in the Soviet Union? "Then you two must have been friends for a long time, right?"

Wu Qiong shook her head and sighed softly, "They were enemies before, but now they are political enemies."

Zhou Xiye looked at Wu Qiong.

"Don't be nervous. I know you've been away from them for a long time. Hua Chunyang is protecting you, and she must have her own reasons. It's up to you to make the choice."

"I see."

Wu Qiong hummed in agreement, glanced at her watch, and the coffee was served. Zhou Xiye took it and smelled it.

"Have some coffee and rest. We'll be in Shanxi soon."

Shanxi?

Wu Qiong smiled and said, "Let's go to Mount Wutai."