Chapter 484

Red wine swayed in the glass, reflecting the restaurant's soft lighting, and also reflecting that carefully cultivated glance in Zhang Yinlan's eyes, tinged with probing and expectation.

As her words fell, a barely perceptible tension flickered across her face.

Like a stone dropped into a calm lake.

Lin Dongfan's hand holding the wine cup paused slightly, the rim hovering at his lips.

He didn't drink right away, nor set it down; he simply lifted his gaze to the woman across from him, whose exquisite makeup made her appear especially charming in the light.

This is the type Cao Cao likes most—mature and alluring.

"A famous painting?"

Lin Dongfan's lips curled into a half-smile.

That smile carried a hint of invisible heat and teasing.

It also bore the shrewdness of seeing through everything: "Director Zhang, when did you start researching art objects like this? I recall last time you talked with me about livelihood projects, yet you were meticulous down to the second decimal place."

Zhang Yinlan's smile froze for a moment.

Was I being abrupt?

Is he refusing?

Hesitant in her heart, Zhang Yinlan lifted her cup directly: "Director Lin, great kindness needs no thanks. Secretary Yu has already let me in on the details—if it weren't for you pulling strings in the province, I wouldn't even dare imagine sitting on this standing committee seat."

Lin Dongfan didn't touch his cup.

He speared a piece of steak, shoved it into his mouth, and chewed it with relish.

After swallowing, he lifted his eyes: "Director Zhang, you can eat your food however you like, but you can't talk nonsense. Provincial personnel decisions follow the province's own considerations—what does that have to do with me? If you can secure the position, it's because you once had the daring to fire off cannons under Guo Lichun's nose; you have that capability. Haishan now lacks someone willing to take the heat, and you're just the person."

He put it across without leaving a loophole.

He wiped clean any personal favor, pushing it entirely onto organizational principles and personal ability.

Zhang Yinlan hit a soft nail.

Her smile didn't fade; instead she leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice a bit, exuding a sincere, heart-to-heart earnestness.

"Director Lin, let's be frank between us. I understand the rules—empty verbal thanks are just a slap in the face. Lately… I've made a little collection."

Her finger lightly traced a circle on the tablecloth.

She smiled meaningfully: "I've actually acquired a painting recently—a Ming-Qing transition landscape, a master's brushwork; leaving it with me would be wasteful. I've heard Director Lin you're knowledgeable, so rather than let it sit, why not visit my humble home and give it a look? Let's just call it… an artistic exchange."

"An artistic exchange?"

The more he listened, the clearer Lin Dongfan's originally somewhat muddled mind became.

He felt Zhang Yinlan was truly clueless!

If this were ordinary times, inviting me to your home to discuss art cells would pose no problem at all; even if rumors flew, at worst it'd be seen as a loose private life.

But now, the circumstances are different.

Now I've recommended you, and you've gained an advantage.

In this situation, if you invite me to discuss art as a way of repaying me, once rumors spread it wouldn't just be a matter of an improper private life—it would be a power-for-sex transaction.

That would get your hat knocked off and land you in jail!

Having thought this through, Lin Dongfan set down his knife and fork, picked up a napkin, and wiped his mouth slowly and lightly; his gaze, however, swept over Zhang Yinlan's carefully made-up face like a blade: "Director Zhang, the Civil Affairs Bureau handles people's livelihood hardships, not antiquities and calligraphy. This painting… is its source legitimate?"

Zhang Yinlan's heart gave a jolt, her smile stiffening slightly: "Director Lin, you're joking—of course it came… through legitimate channels."

"Legitimate?"

Lin Dongfan leaned back in his chair, the corners of his mouth turning up in that familiar, slightly mocking arc: "Article 385 of our country's Criminal Law, the crime of accepting bribes—would you like to learn about it?"

"State functionaries who, taking advantage of their position, demand or illegally accept others' property to seek benefits for them…"

"Director Zhang, this sort of art‑exchange approach is over the top—be careful you don't stab yourself in the lung."

"I just sent that bunch led by Fatty Han off to prison, and now I'm turning to appraisal of your painting. Are you dissatisfied that my seat is too secure, wanting to light a fire under my backside?"

Those words were like a bucket of ice water poured over his head.

Zhang Yinlan's smile completely vanished, her face flushing red then turning pale.

She hadn't expected Lin Dongfan to be so blunt, so unsparing, slapping a "bribery" hat on her and even citing the legal clause!

This isn't a refusal—it's practically a slap to the face!

"Director Lin! You've misunderstood!" Zhang Yinlan's voice a little urgent: "I absolutely didn't mean that! I'm purely admiring your discernment…"

"Whether you have that intention or not, you know it yourself."

Lin Dongfan cut her off, his tone flat yet carrying an undeniable pressure.

He then turned serious: "I helped you because you still have a heart for doing real work—I'm certainly not trying to make you emulate Guo Lichun's ways, using your official hat to shuttle benefits. Haishan has just stripped off a layer of rotten sore; do you want to become the next layer?"

Those words were too heavy!

Zhang Yinlan felt her breath catch, and cold sweat instantly broke out.

She merely wanted to solidify their relationship, to express her gratitude—how did she end up wearing the label "the next Guo Lichun"?

"I…"

Zhang Yinlan opened her mouth to argue, but realized any words before Lin Dongfan's eyes, which seemed able to see through people's hearts, appeared pale and powerless.

Lin Dongfan didn't give her a chance to continue forming her words.

He picked up the briefcase beside him, rose to his feet: "The meal's over, the talk's been laid out. Director Zhang, remember this: if you truly want to thank me, make the lives of Haishan's ordinary folk solid."

As he spoke, Lin Dongfan pointed at the ceiling, meaningfully: "Whether this seat is steady or not depends on your daring and ability—you don't need any art‑exchange cells."

Having said that, Lin Dongfan grabbed his briefcase, turned and walked away without a hint of hesitation.

"Director Lin!"

Zhang Yinlan instinctively rose to her feet, wanting to chase after him.

Lin Dongfan's steps didn't pause; he merely turned his back to her and waved a hand: "I've settled the bill—keep that 'master's brushwork' painting for now, and enjoy it slowly yourself."

As his words faded, he had already vanished at the restaurant doorway.

Zhang Yinlan froze in place, as if hit by an immobilization spell.

The carefully prepared thank‑you banquet, the carefully plotted 'sincerity', shattered into fragments before Lin Dongfan's blunt, almost rude refusal and warning.

The restaurant's soft light fell on her face, showing only embarrassment and lingering fear.

She wondered, thinking: 'Hold onto it for now, I'll enjoy it…… What does "temporarily" mean? Could he be implying……'

As she pondered, Zhang Yinlan broke into a relieved smile.

He slowly sat back in his chair, lifted the untouched glass of red wine on the table, tipped his head back and gulped it down. The icy liquid slid down his throat, yet it could not dispel the complex feeling of agitation and chill intertwined in his chest.

She realized, Lin Dongfan's 'help' comes with his limits.

This line is a thunder pool, a high‑voltage wire! Cross it and friends turn to enemies in an instant! One must gauge the times and the situation, knowing when to act.

Elsewhere.

Lin Dongfan had just stepped out of the restaurant when a night breeze blew, bringing Haishan's distinctive salty‑fishy scent.

He pulled out his phone.

The screen lit up, and a message stared back at him.

It was a message from Xie Xiaofeng: 'Brother Fan, we've got a lead! Chen Yongnian hasn't fled far—he's hiding in the abandoned freezer factory at Beigang Old Fish Market! Our people have him under watch; should we detain him?'

Lin Dongfan's eyes instantly sharpened like a blade.

His fingers flew over the screen as he typed: 'Don't act rashly, keep an eye on him! Wait for me! Also, inform Chen Shaokang and give him a warning—tell him to seize the opportunity! I won't always be there to clean up his mess; if he can't catch Chen Yongnian again, he'll remain a deputy section chief forever, never hoping to rise.'

After sending the message, Lin Dongfan put away his phone, strode to the black sedan parked at the curb, opened the door and got in, his voice firm and unyielding: 'To Beigang Old Fish Market! Quick!'

The engine gave a low roar, and the car shot into the night.

The faint ripple of power probing from the Western restaurant just moments ago was instantly swept away by a more urgent, bloodier manhunt mission.

Chen Yongnian, that slippery poisonous fish, has finally surfaced!

The real hard battle, only now begins!