Chapter 673

Zhao Desan smiled helplessly and said, "Let me first study the responsibilities of the Planning Division before I say anything."

Xia Jian seemed more enthusiastic than anyone else. As soon as he heard Zhao Desan say this, he walked up with great fervor, patted him on the shoulder, and addressed him as a brother, saying, "Brother, it's nothing. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."

Zheng Ru shot him a glance, a disdainful smile playing on the corners of her mouth, and said, "Xia Jian, you really are quite enthusiastic. Fine, then, any difficulties Zhao Desan has at work from now on will all be left to you to handle."

Doused with a bucket of cold water by Zheng Ru, Xia Jian immediately explained with an anxious and uneasy look, "Hey, Xiao Zheng, what do you mean by that? Xiao Zhao just arrived today, and I am a veteran comrade. Among the few of us in the Planning Division, aside from our Division Chief Lan, I have more seniority than all of you. Helping a new comrade is only natural for a veteran. The way you put it, it sounds like I have some ulterior motive for being this way toward Xiao Zhao."

Xia Jian explained the reason for his enthusiasm toward Zhao Desan without changing his expression, but in his heart, he had other plans. He wasn't the only one who knew his true thoughts; Zheng Ru had already experienced his bootlicking skills within just a few short days, and she was already perfectly clear about what kind of person he was. If it weren't for the fact that Zhao Desan had come to the Construction Committee with the backing of his cousin, Su Qing, the Minister of the Provincial Organization Department, Xia Jian wouldn't have bothered to be so generous and enthusiastic toward someone with no background or connections.

Zhao Desan was very good at reading people. From this guy's extremely rich facial expressions and flowery language, he judged that this person was definitely not a good sort. Instead, he felt a bit of goodwill toward Xiao Zhao, who had been sitting over there quietly, only watching them chat and smiling shyly; that young man should be decent enough. "Then, Brother Xia, thank you. If there's anything I don't understand in the future, you'll have to give me some good guidance." Zhao Desan went with the flow and chuckled. The atmosphere, which had felt slightly constrained just moments ago, quickly became relaxed. He was naturally very eloquent; no matter the occasion, as long as he was there, the atmosphere would be lively. However, since he had just started work today, just as Sister Su had said, "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down," it was better to keep a low profile and be modest. So, he tried his best not to show his true self, intending to achieve some results first before revealing anything.

"What's there to be polite about? We're all brothers in the same department, why be so formal? If there's anything you don't know, just ask me." Xia Jian said with extreme enthusiasm, pulling out a cigarette to offer Zhao Desan one. Zhao Desan quickly took it with both hands, pulled a lighter from his trouser pocket, and respectfully lit the cigarette for Xia Jian.

Just as they lit up and took a puff, Zheng Ru rolled her eyes and said, "Don't smoke in the office, it's choking me to death!"

"Alright, alright, alright, we'll go outside to smoke. Let's go, Xiao Zhao, let's go outside." Xia Jian said, calling Zhao Desan to go outside to the window at the end of the corridor to smoke. He whispered, "Xiao Zhao, you kid are really something else. With such a strong backing, you'll definitely have a limitless future. When you get up there, you'll have to pull your brother up too."

This guy really wasn't being enthusiastic for nothing. Before they had even fully understood each other, he had already made such a request. "Brother Xia, look at what you're saying. I just started working at the Construction Committee today and don't know anything. You're the veteran, I'm still counting on you to promote me in the future." Zhao Desan said with a chuckle, his expression unchanging.

"Hi, your Brother Xia here has fallen into the hands of that woman Lan Mei; I'm afraid I'll never see the light of day." Xia Jian began to badmouth Division Chief Lan behind her back again. "Xiao Zhao, you saw how formidable Division Chief Lan is just now, didn't you? Let me tell you, that woman's heart is vicious and cruel. No matter how well we do our work, she never seems satisfied, as if she's afraid someone will steal her position as division chief. It'll be better now that you're here. With your cousin backing you, the heavy responsibility of opposing Division Chief Lan will be left to you."

Xia Jian was in the middle of puffing away and badmouthing Lan Mei when his expression suddenly turned to one of shock. His shifty eyes widened, his mouth hung slightly open, and his demeanor appeared extremely flustered, leaving Zhao Desan completely bewildered. Following his gaze, he turned to look behind him and saw that Division Chief Lan was standing in front of his office door, looking toward them with a very stern gaze. He immediately became flustered as well, squeezing out an unnatural smile at Division Chief Lan.

"You two are quite leisurely, aren't you? Is there nothing to do? Xia Jian, have you finished your work?" Lan Mei lifted her chin slightly, arched her willow-leaf eyebrows, and a pair of almond eyes that were rolling back revealed a hint of chilliness, while the corners of her mouth curled into a smile that made one's hair stand on end.

Xia Jian hurriedly accompanied her with a smiling face and chuckled, "Xiao Zhao and I were... were smoking a cigarette. We'll return to the office immediately after we finish." He said, holding up the half-smoked cigarette in his hand for Lan Mei to see, hoping to gain her understanding.

Zhao Desan also hurriedly said with a smile, "Yes, just smoking a cigarette, we'll return to the office immediately."

The corners of Lan Mei's mouth curled into a cold smile that Zhao Desan found a bit unfathomable. She slanted her eyes and said in a neither cold nor warm tone, "You, come over here."

Xia Jian and Zhao Desan looked at each other in confusion. Zhao Desan asked with some trepidation, "Division Chief Lan, are... are you calling me?"

Lan Mei nodded expressionlessly and walked straight into her office. Zhao Desan felt a bit worried, wondering if he had angered Division Chief Lan by running out to the corridor to smoke just minutes after arriving at the office. Would this vicious woman call him over to give him a harsh scolding?

"Will Division Chief Lan criticize me?" Zhao Desan asked Xia Jian with trepidation.

Xia Jian extinguished his cigarette and said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, your cousin is the Minister of the Provincial Organization Department; she won't dare to say anything to you."

Damn, this guy keeps bringing up Sister Su in every other sentence, Zhao Desan cursed to himself. He took a deep breath, prepared himself mentally for a scolding, and walked toward her office. In those few short meters, he had never felt so heroic; it felt as if he were heading to the execution ground, feeling both afraid and tragic. His legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead. He walked with heavy steps and stood at the door of Division Chief Lan's office, saying nervously, "Division... Division Chief Lan, do... do you have any instructions?" Because he was a bit nervous, his speech was a little stuttered.

Lan Mei was sitting in front of a large solid wood desk with her legs crossed, looking down at her phone. Hearing him arrive, she placed the phone gently to the side, interlaced her slender fingers over her upright chest, leaned back comfortably in her chair, and looked at him from a condescending position. Her pair of phoenix eyes had a lot of white showing, her expression appeared particularly disdainful, and she asked him with a contemptuous tone, "Zhao Desan, do you think that because you have backing, you don't have to put me, this division chief, in your eyes? That you can disregard the unit's rules and regulations? You don't even follow work regulations on your first day of work; what kind of decorum will there be in the future?"

Damn! How unlucky. That damn Xia Jian just had to smoke! Zhao Desan complained to himself and hurriedly explained with a humble face, "Division Chief Lan, you've misunderstood. I... I was just... Brother Xia called me to smoke, that's why I... Division Chief Lan, please don't misunderstand. I will study the unit's rules and regulations properly right now and guarantee it won't happen again."