0110 119 Eastern Wall Afterglow
When Ling Xingzhi woke up, he heard people arguing in hushed tones outside the door. He turned to his side, the pain in his back spreading outwards. Slowly sitting up, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Ling Xingzhi sighed softly, and only after the pain subsided did he reach for the cabinet beside him, grab his phone, and turn it on to check his messages.
A moment later, the person outside came in, and Ling Xingzhi put his phone away. Wei Tingyuan saw that Ling Xingzhi was awake, and a guilty smile appeared on his face.
"Xingzhi, are you feeling better?"
Wei Tingyuan smiled and put down what he was holding, then asked Ling Xingzhi with concern. "It's alright," Ling Xingzhi replied perfunctorily, his gaze shifting to the woman behind Wei's parents. The two looked at each other, and Wei Luochen smiled, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
“Dad heard you were injured, so he and your mom came to see you…” Wei Tingyuan stood by the bed and looked you over from head to toe. “How are you? Are you alright?”
Ling Xingzhi shook his head, "It's nothing." He didn't want to say the word "Dad" afterward, feeling utterly exhausted.
The atmosphere suddenly turned a bit cold. Wei's mother broke the awkward silence, "Did you quarrel with Xiao Wei? Wei Luochen is just immature and spoiled by the two of us. Xingzhi, you've been married for so many years, you know Xiaochen's personality better than we do."
Ling Xingzhi nodded. He knew that Wei's parents must have come to see him because of their impending divorce. Their marriage was arranged by their families, so they would definitely need to know about the divorce. He didn't beat around the bush and looked directly at Wei Tingyuan, chuckling as he said, "Your argument has even reached Beijing?" He paused, sighed, and looked at Wei Luochen.
Wei Luochen's eyes already held a warning; she didn't want him to say it aloud.
"Then you must also know that I want to divorce Wei Luochen."
Ling Xingzhi didn't give Wei Luochen a chance and blurted it all out. After listening, Wei Luochen stood up and was about to pounce on Ling Xingzhi when she was stopped by her quick-thinking mother. Wei Tingyuan's face immediately turned ugly, and he turned around and scolded Wei Luochen, "Your husband was injured because of you, how can you still be so insensible?"
Wei Luochen bit her red lips, her chest heaving, her face full of anger, her sharp eyeliner shooting out fiercely. If her gaze were a knife, Ling Xingzhi would have been stabbed to death long ago.
Ling Xingzhi was not afraid of Wei Luochen's appearance at all. Instead, a smile slowly spread across his lips as he looked at her calmly.
“Xingzhi, a husband and wife are best when they are still the original spouse. What did Xiao Wei do wrong? Just let her correct it. There’s no need to make such a scene,” Wei’s mother said, holding Wei Luochen with anxiety and worry on her face. They had all seen Wei Luochen’s love for Ling Xingzhi. Political marriages rarely involve true love, and Ling Xingzhi had been devoted to Wei Luochen since their marriage. Wei Luochen’s heart and soul were completely devoted to him.
How could a model couple suddenly decide to divorce?
Ling Xingzhi smiled sarcastically, "Ask her what wrong she did."
“Ling Xingzhi, you also bear responsibility for how things have come to this,” Wei Luochen suddenly said. “I know everything you’ve done. Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell everyone?”
Ling Xingzhi looked at Wei Luochen with a smile, "You wouldn't dare."
"What wouldn't I dare!" Wei Luochen was enraged by his nonchalant laugh. "If you won't let me have an easy time, I won't let you have an easy time either. At worst, we'll both die and go to hell together!"
When Wei Tingyuan heard his daughter's absurd words, he turned and raised his hand to hit Wei Luochen. Wei Luochen also saw the slap; she gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with a strange light, "Hit me! Kill me!"
Wei Tingyuan's hand trembled in the air. He couldn't bring himself to hit Wei Luochen, so he shook off his hand and stomped his foot. "Ling Xingzhi, the marriage alliance between the Ling and Wei families isn't something you can just stop as you please!"
Ling Xingzhi sneered, "If you can't control the game's progress, why did Ling Qingyun join the cabinet?" His tone was light, yet it carried a heavy weight.
However, that statement is indeed a bit too strong.
Wei Tingyuan's hands trembled. He looked at Ling Xingzhi, and the anger in his eyes gradually turned into helplessness as reason returned. Finally, he lowered his head.
“Mayor Ling, Wei Luochen is young and doesn’t understand. She has received so much care from you over the years. Our Wei family is already very lucky…” Wei Tingyuan’s voice grew softer and softer, and his head drooped lower and lower. As if he had sensed something, Wei Luochen rushed out of his mother’s arms and hugged Wei Tingyuan’s body as he slid down.
"Dad! It was my fault, I loved him, I have to pay for my own sins, I don't need your charity!" she roared, her eyes red, completely losing her temper, then looked at Ling Xingzhi, "You bastard, if you have a problem, come at me, why are you threatening my dad!"
Ling Xingzhi chuckled, looking at Wei Luochen with amusement, "I've been talking to you all along, and I don't want the adults from both families to get involved."
His expression was somewhat cold-blooded and ruthless.
"What exactly do you want?" Wei Luochen gritted his teeth. "Besides divorce..."
"divorce."
Ling Xingzhi said expressionlessly.
The next second, Wei Tingyuan knelt down with a thud.
Wei Luochen's pupils contracted instantly, and she took a step back for some reason, as if time had stood still. A few seconds later, she came to her senses. Wei Luochen looked at Ling Xingzhi on the hospital bed. He closed his eyes and pursed his lips.
"Mayor Ling, I'm sorry, I failed to raise my daughter well..."
Wei Luochen screamed, and before anyone could react, he lunged at Ling Xingzhi, grabbing his neck and squeezing hard, his sharp nails digging into Ling Xingzhi's skin. "Let's die together, really, let's die together, we'll both be free when we're dead..."
Ling Xingzhi's back slammed hard onto the bed. He was in so much pain that he couldn't speak. He raised his hand to push Wei Luochen away, but she was very strong. Her words echoed in his ears. She had used her full strength.
Soon, just as he was about to suffocate, Li Qingshan and his men rushed over and, together with Wei's parents, pulled the crazed Wei Luochen away, allowing him to take a few conscious breaths before passing out.
The gist of what's been said is that Wei Tingyuan knelt before Ling Xingzhi for his daughter's sake, and Wei Luochen went berserk and strangled Ling Xingzhi. Now Ling Xingzhi is even more injured, and his mental state is quite poor. Zhou Xiye really can't imagine what Ling Xingzhi would look like in a bad mental state, and she also feels that he's too weak; he's always the one who gets hurt.
But she couldn't visit him and make fun of him to his face. First, their relationship was already ambiguous, and it wouldn't be appropriate for her to go. Second, she was indeed very busy, and some of the heavy responsibilities had been delegated to Hu Rui and the vice mayor, so Zhou Xiye didn't have much time to visit Ling Xingzhi.
After Qiao Senxi finished reporting on the project's progress, Zhou Xiye asked, unusually, "I heard that your girlfriend's father is a former leader of the Municipal Management Committee?"
"...Yes, that's right."
Qiao Senxi nodded, looking at Zhou Xiye, unaware of the meaning behind her question. After working with her for a while, Qiao Senxi had a general understanding of Zhou Xiye's temperament and character. As long as she worked diligently, Zhou Xiye wouldn't make things difficult for anyone.
"When do you plan to get married?" Zhou Xiye put the documents aside, his tone more like a casual conversation.
"I haven't proposed yet; I guess it'll have to wait a while."
Zhou Xiye smiled and said, "Work is one thing, but personal life shouldn't be neglected. It will be good for you to settle things sooner rather than later."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Senxi's expression turned somewhat cold. "Yes, thank you for the reminder, Secretary Zhou."
“It’s not a suggestion,” Zhou Xiye said gently. “You know my husband is Pei Zhiyu, the mayor of Hangzhou, right?”
Josen nodded.
“If you want to get promoted, you need to settle your marriage. The organization will help you make the decision,” Zhou Xiye paused, leaning forward slightly. “Actually, if you know my background, you should know that our promotion paths are similar.”
Qiao Senxi understood that Zhou Xiye wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with him. If he could get along well with Zhou Xiye, he would have no trouble getting promoted.
"I understand what you mean, I will work hard."
Zhou Xiye thought Qiao Senxi was a bit stupid. She leaned back and said, "You understand? Understand what?" Zhou Xiye stood up and walked to his side. "Do you know how you got to this position?" After saying that, she tapped the table.
Qiao Senxi opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything; he didn't want to either.
Zhou Xiye laughed, sat on the table, and tilted his head to look at Qiao Senxi, "Do you think that Old Chen recommended you to come?"
Qiao Senxi looked up at Zhou Xiye.
“You were chosen from among the anti-drug heroes. I saw your first-class merit, but you are the only one who hasn’t been given a prominent position. Everyone else is in important departments,” Zhou Xiye said, his voice getting softer and softer. Qiao Senxi looked at Zhou Xiye without saying a word.
“I gave you this opportunity, and I don’t want anyone to steal my chance as a talent scout, nor do I want anyone to owe me this favor.”
After Zhou Xiye finished speaking, she smiled, hoping that Qiao Senxi would understand what she meant.
"I earned this first-class merit myself, so it's only right that I'm given an important position."
Upon hearing Qiao Senxi's words, Zhou Xiye raised his eyebrows and his smile widened.
"Do you know why you weren't given a more important role?" Zhou Xiye decided to say a few more words, resting his hand on the desk. "You were transferred not only because you didn't have any connections, but also because of your father-in-law. He didn't let you go to an important department."
Qiao Senxi's pupils contracted.
Zhou Xiye didn't continue speaking. He slowly raised his hand and crossed his arms. "I think Old Chen's approach was correct. If I were Old Chen, I might transfer you to a more remote place."
Qiao Senxi stared at Zhou Xiye, who smiled and said, "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. What I give you, I can also take back."
“Secretary Zhou, I understand what you mean…” Qiao Senxi stood up and faced Zhou Xiye, who looked up at him. “Thank you for giving me this opportunity…”
He couldn't bring himself to say more. Qiao Senxi licked his lips and looked at Zhou Xiye intently.
Zhou Xiye nodded, but before she could say anything more, she heard the crisp sound of high heels coming from the corridor. Sitting in her office, Zhou Xiye immediately knew that the person who came was Wei Luochen; she recognized her footsteps and remembered them vividly.
"Okay, you can go ahead and get busy. I'll contact you if I need anything."
Qiao Senxi responded and started to walk out, but was stopped halfway by Zhou Xiye. "An important friend of mine is coming. Don't bother me for a while. Let's talk after I've finished talking."
"good."
As soon as Qiao Senxi opened the door, he saw a radiant woman wearing sunglasses, her perfume wafting out, exuding an air of elegance.
There were several other people behind the woman, looking at each other in bewilderment.
"These are Secretary Zhou's friends, you can leave now," Qiao Senxi said after dismissing the group. He then stepped aside, holding the door open for Wei Luochen. "Secretary Zhou is waiting for you inside."
Wei Luochen chuckled and stepped inside.
Zhou Xiye held a teacup in his hand and watched Wei Luochen walk in.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Wei Luochen raised her hand and took off her sunglasses. Before Zhou Xiye could speak, she stood still, smiling politely.
Zhou Xiye took a sip of tea, nodded, seemingly pleased either with the taste of the tea or with Wei Luochen's obedience, and gestured to the sofa, "Sit down."
Wei Luochen sat on the sofa, crossed her legs, took out a cigarette from her crocodile skin bag, lit it without asking Zhou Xiye, and held the lighter in her hand. A wild and beautiful noblewoman, every strand of her hair was exquisite. Zhou Xiye sat down on the sofa next to her, glanced down at the cigarette between Wei Luochen's fingers, leaned over, picked up an ashtray, and placed it between the two of them.
"Can I have one?"
Wei Luochen smiled, took out a cigarette from his bag, and placed it on the armrest of the leather sofa. He put the lighter aside. Zhou Xiye took the cigarette and lit the lighter.
The two smoked in silence for a while. When the office was filled with smoke and they could no longer see each other's emotions, Zhou Xiye said, "You don't need to focus all your attention on Ling Xingzhi. You can have a broader horizon."
Wei Luochen smiled and nodded, letting out a breath, "You've never loved, never truly loved anyone, you don't understand."
Zhou Xiye countered, "Does it matter whether I've loved or not?"
Wei Luochen swallowed hard and stubbed out his cigarette. Zhou Xiye also put out his cigarette and threw the butt into the ashtray.
"Stop spouting platitudes at me. I understand all those things, but I can't control myself. If understanding principles meant I could put them into practice, then the most powerful people in the world would be daydreamers," Wei Luochen chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I love him. I love him with my life. I don't think I'm wrong."
Zhou Xiye shook his head. "You did nothing wrong. I have no right to judge you. You are very capable as Ling Xingzhi's wife. It's not easy to be a high-ranking official's wife for so many years."
Wei Luochen laughed heartily, tears streaming down his face. "A wife who acts in accordance with the rules can be treated as a vase, but she cannot be a vase."
Zhou Xiye asked again, "Being his wife... must be tiring, right?"
Wei Luochen smiled, raised her hand, curled her fingers, looked at her expensive manicure, then lowered her eyes to look at Zhou Xiye's shoes. Tears streamed down her face, landing warmly on her beautiful dress. Zhou Xiye handed her a tissue, which Wei Luochen gently wiped to avoid smudging her eye makeup.
After putting down the tissue, Wei Luochen lowered her head and said, "Ye Rouxin... I can tell you what I know..." She looked up at Zhou Xiye and pointed to the camera in the office, "Let's set a time to meet."
Zhou Xiye nodded, took out his business card, and placed it in Wei Luochen's hand.
"This is my contact information in Kunming. You can decide the time and place."
Wei Luochen carefully examined Zhou Xiye's business card, gently held it in his hand, and looked at Zhou Xiye with elegance, "I have conditions."
Zhou Xiye shook his head and smiled, "I should be the one setting the conditions."
"I'm telling you all this, I can't just leave without any reward."
Zhou Xiye nodded thoughtfully, "After Ling Xingzhi was injured and hospitalized, Ling Qingyun called me."
Wei Luochen frowned as he looked at her.
"Don't be nervous, it's nothing serious," Zhou Xiye reached out to straighten Wei Luochen's skirt. "In a while, I'll be going to Beijing to report on my work and also to see Ye Lifeng."
Zhou Xiye smiled easily, moved her hand from her skirt to Wei Luochen's cheek, and helped her tuck the stray hairs behind her ear.
Her next words were spoken softly, yet carried a strong threat.
“You’d better explain Bai Yerouxin’s situation in detail, otherwise… the Wei family will get embroiled in factional infighting…” Zhou Xiye pulled Wei Luochen’s hand and placed it on his knee. “Do you think the Ling family will help you? If something happens to your family, can you keep your position as Mrs. Ling?”
“I can explain everything about Ye Rouxin without missing a single word… If you can help me, I can certainly protect her.”
"On another note, what does it matter to me whether you are Madam Ling or not?" Zhou Xiye smiled and released Wei Luochen's hand. "Let me analyze the situation for you. The Wei family is in trouble in the capital, and your relationship with Ling Xingzhi is not good. If you tell me about Ye Rouxin, it might be able to help the Wei family. If you don't tell me about the Ye family, Minister Ye Lifeng will find out sooner or later."
Wei Luochen understood this principle. The Wei family had come to Ling Xingzhi to prevent their marriage and to get the Ling family's help in dealing with the Ye family's affairs. She didn't care about any of that; Madam Ling could only be hers. If they couldn't win, they'd die together; better to be shattered jade than whole tile.
"The Ye family's affairs are inextricably linked to the Ling family, or rather, to the Ling family and their associates."
Zhou Xiye nodded. "Tell me, what are your conditions?"
"Don't you think I'm not qualified to make demands?" Wei Luochen looked at Zhou Xiye.
"Yes, but what if I'm in a good mood and agree?"
Wei Luochen turned his head to the side and said, "My condition is that you have to keep an eye on Ling Xingzhi for me. I need to go back to Beijing to finish my own business, and there can't be any new women around him."
"What do you mean? Let him into my bed?" Zhou Xiye shook his head. "He can sleep with one, but you can sleep with ten. You can't keep an eye on him. You don't have any children, so I can't control you."
Wei Luochen turned to look at Zhou Xiye, "I just want a way to survive."
Why do you think I'd help you? Aren't you afraid I'll sleep with him?
Wei Luochen's smile was somewhat bleak. "I can't control him, but you can. I'm here to make a deal with you. If you don't agree, I don't think anyone else can help me."
“Going to Li Qingshan is more reliable than coming to me,” Zhou Xiye said, not wanting to get involved in other people’s business. But Wei Luochen’s gaze was deep. He picked up his bag, stood up, and put on his sunglasses. “After I finish telling you about Ye Rouxin, you’ll know whether you should help me or not.”
After saying that, he left as if nothing had happened.
Zhou Xiye didn't understand, but she thought that maybe people are obsessed with different things. She loved power, while Wei Luochen was only obsessed with order and control.
Wei Tingyuan's kneeling saved Wei Luochen's marriage.
Nobody knew what was going on. Zhou Xiye heard the news on his way to the airport, but just smiled.
Qiao Senxi sat to the side and asked, "Secretary, are you sure you don't need me to go to Beijing with you?"
Zhou Xiye glanced at him sideways. Qiao Senxi had several marks on his face, and it was easy to guess that he must have gone back and argued with Chen Xiaoyun. "No need, I'm going to report to my work. It has nothing to do with you."
"good."
"Oh, by the way, go see Li Mingzhe these next couple of days and tell him I've been busy lately. I'll go see him when I get back from Beijing. Also, there's the agritourism project on Douyin. You and the deputy secretary should keep a close eye on those projects and make sure nothing goes wrong."
"good."
The car stopped, and Qiao Senxi opened the car door. Zhou Xiye got out, and the private jet bound for Beijing was parked in front of them.
It feels strange, she's going back to Beijing.
She arrived with nothing.
Now, it seems she has some leverage.
The future is promising.
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