Chapter 977

"Alright then, wifey, I'm hanging up now. We're about to go eat, so just go to sleep early tonight." Xia Jian was in a rush to pick up that female college student and didn't want to waste time on the phone.

"Mm, bye-bye, hubby," A-Fang said tenderly.

After hanging up, A-Fang noticed a missed call on her screen. Seeing it was from Zheng Tulu, she immediately called back. Zheng Tulu was driving; hearing his phone ring, he glanced at it, saw it was A-Fang, pulled over to the side of the road, and pressed the green answer button.

"Brother Zheng, I'm so sorry. Xia Jian just called, so I didn't see your call," A-Fang explained gently as soon as the line connected.

Zheng Tulu let out an "oh" and chuckled, "It's fine, it's fine."

"Did you have something to tell me, Brother Zheng?" A-Fang asked coquettishly, "Did you miss your little sister?"

"A-Fang, after Xia Jian goes to the Party School for training, will he be coming home to sleep at night or staying at the school?" Zheng Tulu asked directly, wanting to know if it would be convenient for A-Fang to come out at night.

"Him? He'll be coming home to sleep at night," A-Fang answered in a sweet voice.

Zheng Tulu let out an "oh," his tone sounding a bit disappointed: "That kid Xia Jian really doesn't mind the trouble. Why not just stay at the Party School? It's only half a month, can't he handle that?"

A-Fang giggled daintily and said, "But he said he's going out to eat with his classmates from the training tonight and won't be back. If you have time, Brother Zheng, why don't you come see your little sister? I've been missing you a bit."

Hearing A-Fang's dainty voice, Zheng Tulu felt his whole body go numb. He asked with a lewd grin, "Where have you been missing me, A-Fang? Is it the mouth up there or the mouth down there that's missing me?"

"Brother Zheng, you're so bad. Of course it's the mouth down there that's missing you," A-Fang said shyly.

Joking aside, if there wasn't such an important banquet tonight—one he was hosting himself—Zheng Tulu would absolutely have been unable to resist driving straight to Xia Jian's house to give A-Fang a good pounding. But the safety of his official position was far more important than playing with a woman. On this point, Zheng Tulu could still distinguish priorities. He chuckled, his tone turning serious: "Alright, A-Fang, let's get back to business. I called you because there's something I need your help with, old brother."

A-Fang gave a graceful smile and said, "What ability do I have to help you, Brother Zheng? Tell me about it."

Zheng Tulu said, "It's like this: tonight, I've invited Director Zhu from the Personnel Department and Deputy Minister Li from the Organization Department to dinner. I definitely can't outdrink those two big leaders by myself. Besides, Director Zhu has a habit: he likes having female companions to liven up the mood when he drinks. I've thought it over and really couldn't find anyone else, so I wanted to ask if it would be convenient for you to help your brother out and accompany Director Zhu for dinner."

A-Fang was a very calculating woman who dreamed of being an official's wife. Unfortunately, Xia Jian was a disappointment; even though he had been working for several years in the Construction Commission—a "fat water" office in the eyes of outsiders—he was still struggling at the very bottom, without even a minor official title. Having such an opportunity to meet high-level leaders was something A-Fang naturally couldn't refuse. She smiled and agreed, "Alright, since you thought of me, Brother Zheng, I definitely have to give you this face."

"That's good, that's good," Zheng Tulu said, delighted. He had finally found two people to help liven up the drinking, so he didn't have to worry about that anymore.

"Brother Zheng, are you coming to pick me up, or should I go straight there?" A-Fang was already impatient to attend this banquet filled with high-ranking officials, thinking that perhaps she could meet officials of even higher rank than Zheng Tulu. If she used a little "honey trap" then, wouldn't Xia Jian's future be secured?

Zheng Tulu was about to reach the hospital, and Han Xue was waiting for him. He thought for a moment and said, "A-Fang, wait a little while. I'm going to arrange the dinner now. Once it's set, I'll let you know, and you can just take a taxi over."

A-Fang said coquettishly, "Alright then, let me know once you've arranged it, Brother Zheng."

"Okay." Zheng Tulu's car was almost at the hospital. From afar, he saw Han Xue's graceful, tall figure standing at the hospital entrance, so he said, "A-Fang, I'm hanging up now. Wait for my call."

After hanging up on A-Fang, Zheng Tulu slowed down, drove slowly over, and parked on the side of the road at the hospital entrance. He rolled down the window and called out to Han Xue, who was looking around. Hearing someone call her, Han Xue looked toward the sound. Upon seeing Zheng Tulu, a shy smile bloomed on her face. She walked over quickly, opened the front passenger door, slipped into the car, and said with a hint of shyness, "I didn't even see that it was you, Director Zheng."

Zheng Tulu's eyes lit up as he looked Han Xue up and down. Seeing her dressed to the nines, it was clear she had put in careful effort; she looked incredibly pure and charming. He thought that Director Zhu, who was used to seeing all sorts of flamboyant women, would definitely love this type of pure, pleasant "girl next door." He couldn't help but feel a bit stirred, and as he looked at her, he said, "Xue'er, you look really beautiful today."

Han Xue said shyly, "It's because I'm going to dinner with you, Director Zheng. I was afraid of making you lose face."

"No loss of face, no loss of face," Zheng Tulu said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at her, "Xue'er, you're really too beautiful today."

Han Xue felt a bit embarrassed by the old bald man's lecherous gaze; she lowered her eyes, and a faint blush spread across her face.

Zheng Tulu looked Han Xue over for a good while before starting the car and turning toward the Junyue Hotel. Ten-plus minutes later, the car stopped at the Junyue Hotel. The security guards at the entrance, who often saw this Audi, didn't dare to be negligent; they immediately trotted over to open the door and welcomed Zheng Tulu and Han Xue out.

Zheng Tulu put on airs, puffing on a cigarette and sticking out his belly, walking into the hotel with a swagger. Even Han Xue, following behind, felt a sense of floating on air. Walking into the hotel lobby, the manager immediately recognized Zheng Tulu and rushed over enthusiastically, greeting him respectfully: "Director Zheng, you've arrived."

"Manager Lu, open a private room for me," Zheng Tulu said, puffing on his cigarette and putting on his official airs.

The manager nodded and bowed without a second thought: "Alright, alright, Director Zheng, please this way." He led Zheng Tulu and Han Xue to the high-end private room area, found a luxuriously decorated VIP room, pushed open the door, and let them in.

Pulling out a chair to sit, the manager bowed and asked respectfully: "Director Zheng, would you like to order now, or...?"

"No rush. Wait a while, there are two more people," Zheng Tulu said.

"Alright, alright."

The manager exchanged a few polite words and exited the room. Zheng Tulu smoked half a cigarette and said to Han Xue, who was sitting to the side: "Xue'er, sit for a while. I'm going out to make a call to Director Zhu."