0123 132 Incident (above)
Wei Luochen had heard "You killed that person" too many times and was getting a little annoyed. He chuckled and said, "So what if you killed someone? You've killed fewer people than me?"
"I can only help keep your parents alive. I've made preparations for them overseas. Once they're released, we'll arrange for them to leave." Ling Xingzhi didn't want to talk about these things anymore. The problem was solved, the people were gone, and there wouldn't be any more trouble.
“I don’t want to leave,” Wei Luochen said, looking at Ling Xingzhi. “I will go back to the magazine and become the editor-in-chief.”
Ling Xingzhi lowered his eyes, toying with a lighter in his hand. "Go ahead, do whatever you want, as long as you don't do anything illegal again."
Wei Luochen nodded, lowered his head, and clasped his hands. "Will you divorce me?"
"Won't."
"Why?" Wei Luochen asked, puzzled. "They all think we'll get a divorce."
Ling Xingzhi stood up. "They are them, and we are us. Go back to Beijing. Stay at the Ling family home; someone will protect you." With that, he left the study. Wei Luochen heard him come downstairs; her face was full of exhaustion, and she couldn't smile.
The next day, she returned to Beijing on the Ling family's private jet, changed into an expensive outfit, and wore high heels. Wei Luochen sat in the Rolls-Royce, and the car drove towards the magazine office.
The fashion industry is all about fame and fortune; even the slightest political turmoil can drastically alter the landscape of fame and fortune. Wei Luochen walked into the company carrying a limited-edition Hermès bag, sunglasses on her face, causing everyone who saw her to pause in surprise. Unconcerned by their stares, Wei Luochen pushed open the editor-in-chief's office door, placed the Hermès bag on the desk, removed her sunglasses, and sat down in the chair behind the desk.
Those outside the editorial office exchanged bewildered glances. The Wei family's affair had caused quite a stir, but the media had been well-controlled; only official media outlets reported on the investigation of the Wei family, without mentioning the relationship between Editor-in-Chief Wei Luochen and the Wei family. Many in the industry knew what was going on and expected a change in editor-in-chief, but to their surprise, Wei Luochen arrived with an arrogant air.
Indeed, given her husband's and father-in-law's status, who would dare offend them? However, in the Wei family's affair, it's clear to everyone that the Ling family didn't help. This is why they were surprised by Wei Luochen's appearance; the Ling family had abandoned the Wei family, so why would they help Wei Luochen?
The situation is indeed complicated; they don't understand what's going on.
Wei Luochen's assistant, steeling himself, knocked on the editor-in-chief's office door amidst urging from the others, "Come in."
The assistant went in and said, "Editor-in-Chief Wei, this is the newly prepared advertising page. Please take a look and see if there are any problems."
“Put it down,” Wei Luochen nodded. “Does the brand have any objections?”
The assistant shook his head. "They've already decided on the style and models for the new season's products, and they have no further comments."
“Okay,” Wei Luochen stood up. “Inform them that the meeting will be at three o’clock this afternoon.”
The assistant nodded and went out. Wei Luochen crossed her arms. She was well aware of what people outside were saying about her. Wei Luochen took out a pack of cigarettes from her Hermes bag, turned around, sat down on the desk, lit a cigarette, and put it in her mouth.
Smoke curled up in the air.
Wei Luochen looked up at the wispy smoke. Before, with the Wei family backing her up, she could have reached this position even without Ling Xingzhi. Now things were different. The Wei family had fallen overnight, and the Ling family was standing by. Even if Ling Xingzhi didn't intend to divorce her, it was only a matter of time.
Wei Luochen held a cigarette between her fingers, letting the nicotine burn. She looked at her reflection in the glass bookcase. Now she could only rely on herself; she would take back everything she had lost. Ling Xingzhi had told her not to do anything dangerous anymore and to be obedient so he could help her.
It's ridiculous; she's not a cat. But she has to obey. If she gets hold of their secrets, the consequences will be severe for Ye Rouxin. It's better to play the subservient role. Right now, she still has the Ling family to rely on, so of course she needs to develop her own power, otherwise she'll be kicked out sooner or later.
She had this idea because she had been influenced by the Ling family's ways. Indeed, Ling Xingzhi was already considering divorcing Wei Luochen.
“Divorce your sister-in-law? I think you should wait. If you divorce her now, people outside will definitely say bad things. The Ling family is powerful, and you can’t kick them when they’re down,” Shen Yuhe said, taking a puff of his cigar.
Ling Xingzhi laughed as he looked at Shen Yuhe's intoxicated expression. "The divorce is inevitable, it's just a matter of time. I have no interest in playing the role of a loving couple with her. Once the Wei family elders have settled down and things have calmed down, I'll send Wei Luochen away as well."
Smoke billowed from Shen Yuhe's nostrils as he rested his elbows on his spread legs. "You have someone you like? Didn't your little cousin leave?"
Ling Xingzhi leaned back lazily in the bamboo chair. "I don't know what happened either. Anyway, I'll deal with whatever I can. But you, you came to Kunming and made things difficult for Zhou Xiye? There's no need for that. She's the Party Secretary of the city, after all."
Shen Yuhe raised an eyebrow. "I'm not doing this to vent your anger. Da Chengzi said you've suffered quite a few setbacks at her hands. I'm going to take this opportunity to teach her a lesson during this inspection."
Ling Xingzhi nodded, raised his hand to unbutton the top button of his shirt, and said, "Tell me, how did you make things difficult for her?"
So Shen Yuhe told Ling Xingzhi everything that happened during the meeting, but Ling Xingzhi laughed after listening, "She was sitting in the very corner? And you had to twist your neck to see her?"
"Yes, you can tell she's not highly regarded and isn't well-liked by the provincial party committee. Sitting in that position, you wouldn't guess she's the top leader in Kunming."
Ling Xingzhi burst into laughter, sinking into the bamboo chair.
Shen Yuhe didn't know what he was laughing at, so he patted Ling Xingzhi's leg, frowned, and asked, "What's wrong? Explain yourself!"
Ling Xingzhi shook his head, laughing as he asked, "When you came to Kunming, what were the instructions from above? Did they just say you needed to come to Kunming?"
"Hmm, what else?" Shen Yuhe didn't quite understand Ling Xingzhi's meaning. "Why are you laughing like that? Are you so happy that she got the short end of the stick?"
Ling Xingzhi paused for a moment, then waved his hand, "It's not that she got the short end of the stick, it's that she embarrassed you," a smile still playing on his lips.
Shen Yuhe was stunned for a moment. "What do you mean? She made me lose face?" He could still remember Zhou Xiye's smile at the end.
“Yes, the reason you came to Kunming was because Zhou Xiye applied to the central government, saying that the situation here needed external supervision. As for the highway collapse, Zhou Xiye was in Beijing receiving an award at the time, so I had to go. If you blame her for not being there in front of the provincial party committee's five-person group, you would be a laughing stock.”
After hearing Ling Xingzhi's words, Shen Yuhe suddenly realized that Zhou Xiye's smile in his memory, while seemingly one of obedience, concealed a mockery. He immediately understood, tossing his cigar onto the coffee table. "She...she...she dug a pit for me?"
“Hey, how come she dug a pit for you? You dug a pit for yourself, trying to make Zhou Xiye jump in, but you jumped in in public and became a laughing stock,” Ling Xingzhi said with a smirk. “She’s really hard to deal with. I’m not advising you, but you should help her handle things in Kunming so you don’t leave with a mess on your hands.”
"How can this woman be so scheming?"
"Is this what you call being scheming?" Ling Xingzhi sat up, picked up his cigar, and smelled it. "If you can't outmaneuver someone, you should admit defeat gracefully. What's the point of personal attacks?"
"Hmph, I'd like to see what she's really capable of," Shen Yuhe's expression turned serious. Ling Xingzhi glanced at him, chuckled, lit a cigar with a lighter, took a couple of puffs, and nodded in satisfaction.
Just then, there was a knock on the door; it was a gentle woman's voice.
Shen Yuhe immediately recognized Xu Jiaojiao's voice and said, "Come in."
The door opened, and a delicate and beautiful woman walked in. She smiled at Ling Xingzhi, then walked to Shen Yuhe's side, sat on his lap, and held his phone in her hand. "Your wife called me just now, but I didn't answer."
Shen Yuhe took the phone with one hand and put his other hand on Xu Jiaojiao's waist. "It's okay, just leave it here."
Seeing this scene, Ling Xingzhi couldn't help but tease, raising his chin, "Why is this different from the one last time? Did you change it again?"
Xu Jiaojiao was still smiling, leaning against Shen Yuhe's chest. Shen Yuhe didn't mind, and nodded with a smile, saying, "It's been changed a long time ago. This is your younger brother's wife."
Ling Xingzhi laughed out loud, "I wouldn't dare to accept that. I only have one sister-in-law. I wouldn't dare to call this younger sister-in-law."
"Mayor Ling, please don't take it too seriously. Just call me Jiaojiao," Xu Jiaojiao said with a smile.
“Indeed, a wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as a stolen one,” Ling Xingzhi said, reaching out and lifting Xu Jiaojiao’s chin to examine her for a few moments. “You really like this type. Aren’t you tired of it?” After saying that, he let go of her hand and stood up. “Alright, I won’t disturb your private time.”
As Ling Xingzhi walked out, Shen Yuhe's hand was already kneading Xu Jiaojiao's breasts. "Old Ling, Jiaojiao has a few good friends, why don't you give them a try?"
Ling Xingzhi pursed his lips, "I'm not worthy of this," pushed open the door, closed it again, and walked out.
On Monday, during the work report, Ling Xingzhi was the last to leave the office. He walked slowly and, upon hearing Zhou Xiye's footsteps, hesitated whether to turn back. Coincidentally, Zhou Xiye called out to Ling Xingzhi, "Mayor Ling, please wait."
Ling Xingzhi stopped and turned to look at Zhou Xiye, waiting for Zhou Xiye to come forward.
"Secretary Zhou, is there anything else you would like to tell me?"
Zhou Xiye thought for a moment, "The agritainment business still needs your help to push things forward. Also... regarding Team Leader Shen, have you reported the details of the official vehicle case to him?"
Ling Xingzhi nodded. "I did say that. Team Leader Shen didn't say anything, but he felt that we should strengthen the means to resolve historical issues."
Shen Yuhe would definitely not say that. Based on Zhou Xiye's understanding of Ling Xingzhi, the two of them were not expressionless in public. They must have chatted about it when they met in private. So... she could imagine Ling Xingzhi's gloating expression.
As they talked, the two walked into Zhou Xiye's office. "Mayor Ling, I'm not very familiar with Team Leader Shen. You, on the other hand, have a good relationship with him, so please cooperate more with his investigation. I really have a lot of things to do here and can't handle them all, so I'll have to rely on you for Team Leader Shen."
Ling Xingzhi smiled and watched Zhou Xiye place the tea beside him. He accepted it calmly. "We are acquaintances. I know his personality. Team Leader Shen is a person who distinguishes right from wrong. After what happened in Kunming... he is definitely not the kind of person who would come here to eat, drink, have fun, and leave."
Zhou Xiye nodded, "It's good that you understand him..."
Ling Xingzhi took a sip of tea, crossed his legs, moved closer to Zhou Xiye, and looked at Zhou Xiye with his head turned to say, "I heard Mayor Pei left? This time it was all in a rush, and I didn't get to have a meal with Mayor Pei."
Zhou Xiye smiled at Ling Xingzhi, wanting to see what he wanted to ask. "It's alright, I'll treat him well."
Ling Xingzhi placed the tea on the side of the coffee table. "Oh, I know that. You took Mayor Pei to a farmhouse. How was it? Did you have a good time?"
Zhou Xiye nodded. "Not bad."
Ling Xingzhi turned his head away, sighed softly, and shifted his body slightly towards Zhou Xiye, their legs touching. After a few seconds, he looked at Zhou Xiye again, "Zhou Xiye..."
Before he could finish speaking, Qiao Senxi rushed in, "Secretary, something terrible has happened! Something's happened at the agritainment business!"
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