0115 124 Foreplay "Part 1"
Ling Xingzhi walked into Zhou Xiye's office, turned on the main light, and unceremoniously went to the desk, picked up Zhou Xiye's water glass, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip. The water was icy cold. After swallowing, he noticed Zhou Xiye hadn't come over, so he turned his head and glanced at him. "What are you still standing there for?"
Zhou Xiye found it amusing. How did this guy manage to take the initiative? He'd only been gone a few days, and he was already acting like a completely different person. Perhaps it was because it was the end of the workday, or perhaps he'd relaxed after a tense day, but Zhou Xiye walked into the office, closed the door, and asked, "What are you doing?"
Ling Xingzhi gestured with his chin, indicating that Zhou Xiye should sit back in her seat. Curious about his intentions, Zhou Xiye complied and sat down. Ling Xingzhi, seeing her compliant demeanor, smiled with surprise. "Secretary Zhou, you visited my father. I'd like to know if he's doing well?"
Zhou Xiye nodded, "Very good, healthy and strong."
“I have kept Secretary Zhou’s last words in mind,” Ling Xingzhi paused, “and there is one more thing I would like to ask you…”
"Go on," Zhou Xiye said, resting his chin on his hands and elbows on the table, as if he were very interested in Ling Xingzhi's question.
"Secretary Zhou, do you think eating improperly prepared mushrooms can really land you in the hospital?"
Zhou Xiye lowered her eyes, about to roll them in the next second, but she held back and looked up at Ling Xingzhi, "Mayor Ling, I don't know since I haven't tried it, why don't you try it yourself?"
"Secretary Zhou, what are your thoughts on the development of Kunming?"
"Clean up the mess and get to work."
"Secretary Zhou, should I divorce Wei Luochen?"
“This is Mayor Ling’s private matter,” Zhou Xiye smiled. “Since you asked, I will give you my answer—don’t leave, and it’s not right to kick someone when they’re down.”
"The Wei family is doomed?"
Whether you can keep it or not is up to you.
Ling Xingzhi nodded and straightened up. "How will you handle it when the inspection team comes?"
"Work is proceeding normally, I'm not the one who should be worried. I'm going to inspect the agritainment business in a couple of days, you'll come with me."
"good."
Zhou Xiye stood up. "It's getting late. Mayor Ling isn't fully recovered yet, so he should rest. Let's call it a day."
Ling Xingzhi also stood up. As Zhou Xiye passed by him, he said again, "There are cameras in this office. I don't want to come back tomorrow and find something that leads back to Mayor Ling."
Watching Zhou Xiye leave and disappear, Ling Xingzhi finally took out his phone, which had been vibrating in his pocket. It was Wei Luochen calling. He hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Okay, I'll go back now."
After exchanging only a few words, Ling Xingzhi hung up the phone.
Zhou Xiye returned home and opened the door. She was somewhat surprised to find the lights off inside. Pei Zhiyu had stayed in Kunming for nearly a week. Initially, he claimed to be visiting her, but later used the excuse of studying and researching in Kunming to stay. On the surface, they were lesbians during the day, but secretly, behind closed doors, they were husband and wife. In short, Pei Zhiyu had been practically inseparable from Zhou Xiye for the past few days.
After walking a few steps, Zhou Xiye saw faint light coming from the restaurant. Instinctively, Zhou Xiye became more alert: Someone had broken into the house. Who was it? Were they here to ask for money, or to kill him? Was Pei Zhiyu being held captive because she hadn't turned on the lights?
While thinking, Zhou Xiye took off her clothes and shoes. She looked around and found that the most convenient thing to do was the decoration next to the TV cabinet. She picked it up and moved slowly and quietly toward the dining room.
As Zhou Xiye drew closer, he heard the sound of someone humming a song. A surge of excitement rose within him. Could this be a pervert? Zhou Xiye raised his guard again, leaning forward to peek into the restaurant. He saw a figure wearing an apron, candles burning on the table, and a table laden with exquisite food.
Zhou Xiye sighed, put down his weapon, and leaned against the wall.
"How can this be so lavish?"
Pei Zhiyu was startled by Zhou Xiye's words. He turned to look at her and saw that Zhou Xiye had long hair, was wearing a white shirt, and had a few buttons undone at the collar and sleeves. It was a very normal work outfit, and there was a flickering candlelight in her eyes.
Why are you barefoot? Are you a pervert?
Zhou Xiye looked down at his feet and smiled. "I thought a thief had broken into the house."
Pei Zhiyu smiled and saw the ornament at Zhou Xiye's feet. It was a wooden carving of a Taotie, which he had bought. The Taotie was so lifelike that even the clouds around it seemed to be floating. "Luckily it's made of wood, otherwise you would definitely be murdering your husband."
Zhou Xiye smiled and said, "I'm going to change my clothes, to something suitable for tonight's dinner."
It wasn't anything too elaborate. Zhou Xiye changed into a black bodycon dress, let her long hair fall over her shoulders, and sprayed on some perfume that Ling Xingzhi had given her earlier. She didn't do anything else. Pei Zhiyu was very satisfied that Zhou Xiye was willing to make changes to her appearance for him, while Zhou Xiye simply felt that after a tedious day, she was happy to create some atmosphere and lay the groundwork for the final step.
The two sat facing each other at the dining table. The lights were off, but the candlelight was bright enough to make the food on the plates look delicious. Pei Zhiyu poured out the decanted wine, and the two each had a glass.
"What's the good news?" Zhou Xiye picked up her wine glass and swirled it. She didn't quite understand what Pei Zhiyu was up to.
Pei Zhiyu took a sip of wine, and for some reason, a blush crept onto his face. His eyes, hidden beneath his wispy hair, shimmered with tears. He shook his head. "There's nothing to celebrate, it's just... I was thinking that we haven't had a candlelight dinner together yet."
Zhou Xiye put down her wine glass and picked up her knife and fork. "Who have you had a candlelight dinner with?" She knew Pei Zhiyu was probably thinking about what happened during the day with Meng Qinggong and his wife, saying that Meng Qinggong seemed like a roughneck but actually liked romance and candlelight dinners.
Pei Zhiyu smiled and said, "No, I've only eaten with you."
Zhou Xiye took a bite of the beef and nodded in satisfaction, "Your cooking is pretty good."
"Then I'll cook for you often?"
“No need, just once in a while is fine,” Zhou Xiye picked up her wine glass and raised it to the middle. Pei Zhiyu also picked up her wine glass and clinked it with hers. With a crisp sound, Pei Zhiyu picked up her wine glass and drank, her gaze still not leaving Zhou Xiye.
"I remember back in college, you drank more than ten bottles of beer just to toast someone?" Pei Zhiyu put down her glass and suddenly started talking about their college days.
Zhou Xiye nodded. "Yeah, when I was class monitor, weren't you the Youth League secretary? I think you didn't go to that gathering. They all said that Shanxi has Fenjiu liquor, so my alcohol tolerance must be pretty good. The boys were egging me on to each toast me, so I didn't refuse. I drank one cup each, and when I got too drunk, I ate a few bites of watermelon. After going to the bathroom, I wasn't drunk anymore, so I kept drinking."
I thought you would refuse.
Zhou Xiye shrugged. "How could I refuse? It's laughable, but I just went for it back then. Now that I think about it, using drinking capacity to prove masculinity and to impress others is a typical tactic of a patriarchal society." She shook her head. "When will these men understand that drinking capacity has nothing to do with gender, but with genes?"
Pei Zhiyu chuckled, "No matter what you think now, you were quite the drinker back then. The whole school knew you could drink a lot and never refused anyone."
Zhou Xiye didn't want to recall this part of her memory. She looked at Pei Zhiyu and said, "You didn't drink much in college, did you? You were always so polite."
"I just haven't had the chance, but I'm not a big drinker either," Pei Zhiyu said, already feeling a bit tipsy after only a few sips of alcohol.
“It’s not that there’s no chance, it’s that no one dares to drink more than you,” Zhou Xiye said with a mocking smile. “I’m the class monitor, and they use the excuse of toasting to force you to drink, but they don’t dare to use your position as the branch secretary to force you to drink. In four years of college, they didn’t dare to do it even once.”
Upon hearing this, Pei Zhiyu didn't know how to respond. She looked down at the chopped steak on her plate and said, "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"
Zhou Xiye ate a piece of steak and looked at Pei Zhiyu. His appearance really made one want to do something. She smiled, picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth. "I didn't mean anything by it. I just felt a little uncomfortable thinking about being forced to drink in college." Zhou Xiye stood up and walked to Pei Zhiyu's side.
Pei Zhiyu looked up at her, and Zhou Xiye straightened his body, spread her legs, and sat on his lap.
She gently stroked his hair.
"I remember back in college, they said you and Xu Min were together. What's that all about?" Zhou Xiye said slowly, lowering her voice, which was somewhat sexy.
Pei Zhiyu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he stroked Zhou Xiye's thigh, touching it inch by inch.
"No, I was never with her."
Zhou Xiye chuckled, tapping his forehead against his head, "Really? Prove it to me..."
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