Chapter 848

"Okay, Linlin, I'm free tomorrow afternoon."

"Sister Liu, you're truly my own sister! Then I'll send a car to pick you up at two tomorrow." Zhao Linlin's voice was sweet as honey, and even over the phone her enthusiasm showed through: "Right, Sister Liu, I heard that next week the Social Care Assistance Center has an event, visiting disabled children, right?"

"Yo, you're pretty well-informed."

Liu Yun was plucking white hairs in front of the mirror, phone clamped to her ear: "It's next Thursday, organized by Old Pei and the Civil Affairs Bureau; Mayor Lin will also be giving a speech."

"Sister Liu, you said... I also quite want to do some public welfare."

Zhao Linlin spoke with just the right amount of embarrassment: "When my older brother was around, I couldn't get a word in edgewise about all those messy affairs. Now that the Zhao family is in this situation, I just want to down-to-earth do something beneficial to society. Could you help me ask Director Pei whether it would be convenient to bring me along to this activity?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun couldn't help but laugh; indeed, it was exactly as she had guessed.

She recalled the words Old Pei had muttered in bed last night: "Mayor Lin is currently gaining momentum; this vacant lot the Zhao family has cleared out—whoever gets there first gains the advantage. As for you, don't just know how to go shopping and play mahjong every day; get in touch more with the families of those actively aligning themselves, and do a good job of unity work…"

Old Pei, who once worked in the Propaganda Department, truly lives up to being an old comrade, constantly keeping the word 'unity' on his lips.

If you dare to obstruct his civil affairs work, Old Pei can nag at your ear for three days and three nights, going from "unity comrades" to "being kind to others", then looping back from "being kind to others" to "unity comrades".

Liu Yun grew tired of his nagging, so she decided to become someone who agrees to any request, just to avoid coming home to listen to his crosstalk.

Therefore, when Zhao Linlin called to ask for a free caregiving service, Liu Yun didn't even think before agreeing to her request.

Mainly because the Zhao family had just collapsed.

Even if Liu Target could guess with her toes, Zhao Linlin's shameless fawning is nothing more than wanting to contribute to this society, thereby escaping the contemptuous circle of criminals' families.

Zhao Linlin now intends to support public welfare.

This is a good thing.

Zhao Yun put down her tweezers, without hesitation replied: "Linlin, I'll help you ask about this. But you also know, this kind of event has reporters, and the procedure is also strict. If you really want to go, you need to have some sincerity."

"Sister Liu, rest assured, what I lack the most is sincerity."

Zhao Linlin swore solemnly, then chatted with Liu Yun for over half an hour before hanging up the phone.

-One week later.

Place Social Care Assistance Center.

This place was originally a state-owned enterprise—the textile factory—that had shut down in East City; later the government converted it into a welfare institution.

The red brick walls had been painted white, the newly laid plastic floor mats in the courtyard still hadn't fully aired out, and several little girls in volunteer vests were leading disabled children to play at the edge of the slide.

Lin Dongfan's car pulled into the courtyard precisely at 9:30.

Director Pei waiting at the door immediately stepped forward: "Mayor Lin, you've arrived."

"Director Pei, you've worked hard."

Lin Dongfan shook his hand, his gaze sweeping over the crowd in the courtyard—there were civil affairs officials in volunteer, volunteers in red vests, city TV reporters lugging cameras, and……

He saw Zhao Linlin.

Zhao Linlin stood on the outskirts of the crowd, today not wearing those flashy brand names, dressed in a plain white shirt with dark blue trousers, her hair neatly tied into a low ponytail at the back of her head.

She was holding a thermal box, bending over to speak to a little boy sitting in a wheelchair. Not knowing what she said, the boy opened his mouth missing a front tooth and laughed brightly.

Lin Dongfan withdrew his gaze, saying nothing.

The event program was quite routine: tour the rehabilitation facilities, watch the children's cultural performance, Lin Dongfan gives a speech, the Civil Affairs Bureau reports on work, and the donation ceremony.

Everything proceeded according to plan.

Until the red silk cloth covering the donation ceremony was lifted, Director Pei's voice suddenly seemed choked, he said nothing, silently observing the scene's reaction.

On the display board, red paper with black characters clearly read: Ms. Zhao Linlin's personal donation of five million yuan exactly.

The event venue fell silent for three seconds, then "buzz"—it exploded.

Five million!

It wasn't a corporate donation, nor a charity fund—it was a personal donation! Moreover, it was Zhao Tianyu's younger sister, the wife of the missing person Su Qingyu!

The city TV reporter immediately pointed the camera lens at Zhao Linlin.

Beside them, a few local online media editors who had been half-asleep instantly had their phone cameras light up, capturing this unexpected scene.

Director Pei, meanwhile, was observing Mayor Lin's reaction.

Seeing that Mayor Lin's complexion wasn't dark.

Director Pei then turned his head to look at Zhao Linlin, half-smiling, teasing: "General Manager, thank you for your support of our city's civil affairs work. You…… this is perhaps too much? Would you like to reconsider……"

"Director Pei."

Zhao Linlin smiled gently, her voice not loud, but enough for the surrounding recording pens to pick up.

"This five million yuan is just a little token of my heart. I used to only look after my own little business, owing too much to society and to the children. Now that I have a chance to make up a little, it's my blessing."

He paused for a moment.

Zhao Linlin turned her head to look at Lin Dongfan again: "Mayor Lin, you often say we should mobilize social forces to build a harmonious Wuzhou, right? I just want to take the lead, hoping more companies can join in."

That was said without a flaw—money donated, then placing a hat full of good reputation on Lin Dongfan's head, and also throwing in a compliment for Fan Ye.

The flashbulbs on site crackled loudly all at once.

Lin Dongfan looked at the display board, then glanced at Zhao Linlin's innocent-looking pretty face.

Five million.

This woman really went all out.

The Zhao Family now is not what it used to be; for Zhao Linlin today, five million is no small sum.

However…

Lin Dongfan's face showed no extra expression.

He only gave a slight nod and spoke on the spot: "Thank you, Ms. Zhao, for your kindness. The Civil Affairs Bureau must supervise this donation well, ensuring every penny goes to the children."

Director Pei nodded repeatedly.

Zhao Linlin bowed slightly, her demeanor as humble as a newcomer just entering the charity field.

After the donation ceremony ended, reporters still surrounded Zhao Linlin for interviews.

She was obviously well prepared, her performance throughout was composed and proper! She didn't mention the Zhao family, nor her deceased brother, only talking about public welfare, responsibility, and the future.

Lin Dongfan turned and walked toward the lounge.

As he rounded the corridor corner, hurried tapping of high heels came from behind.

"Mayor Lin, please wait."

Zhao Linlin hurried after him, her cheeks slightly flushed from the jog. Standing before Lin Dongfan, her breath was still a little unsteady, but her eyes shone bright.

"Just now there were many people; some things aren't convenient to say."

Zhao Linlin took out a check stub from her handbag: "This donation is the liquidation of my personal assets. It has nothing to do with the Zhao Group, nor my brother…… I just want to do something for society in a clean and straightforward way."

Lin Dongfan took the stub, glanced at it, then handed it back: "Having this intention is good."

"Well..." Zhao Linlin lifted her eyes to him, her lashes trembling slightly: "Do you think I… count as a good person now?"

That question was asked very directly, so directly it didn't even seem like her.

Lin Dongfan looked at her.

The corridor was empty except for the faint sound of children's laughter from afar. Sunlight slanted in through the window, gilding half her face while the other half lay in shadow.

"Are you a good person…" Lin Dongfan chuckled: "This question can't be proved with five million."

Zhao Linlin froze for a moment, then laughed, though her laugh was a bit awkward: "Mayor Lin, your words really hit home, but I like them."

Lin Dongfan didn't take the bait, turned to leave.

"Hey, don't rush off." Zhao Linlin stepped ahead, still putting on her meek and innocent act: "I still have business to attend to."

She then pulled a USB drive from her bag: "I've thought it through—I don't trust giving this to anyone else, so I trust you. If you don't want it, I'll just donate it to the museum as a relic."

She said this half-jokingly.

Lin Dongfan lowered his gaze at this delicately carved woman; at this close range he could catch her perfume.

Today she wasn't spraying that "Road to the Underworld" perfume; she'd switched to a lighter scent, faint as the soap residue on a freshly washed white shirt.

"What's inside this USB drive?" He took it and had a look.

Originally there were no USB drives in the world; because many people overused their brains, they came to have USB drives.

Zhao Linlin went to great lengths to win the mayor's favor. The USB drive was newly bought last night; the data inside are all information already held by the Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Audit Bureau.

But she still put on an act of priceless value: "I don't know either; they're encrypted files I can't read. However, I found them among my brother's belongings, and they're encrypted, so I suppose they must be important? So I dare not handle them casually—I'm thinking of handing them to you, hoping they might be of help."

"You've got quite a conscience," Lin Dongfan remarked with a smile.

Zhao Linlin also laughed: "This is all I should do. By the way, I drafted a public welfare plan yesterday. I want to work with the Women's Federation to provide free job‑training for disadvantaged women. Please have a look; I hope you can spare some time from your busy schedule to give me some guidance."

Saying this, Zhao Linlin took out a plan from her bag.

Whether or not she's truly doing public welfare, this move of hers is undoubtedly successful! At the very least it caught Lin Dongfan's attention.

"Let me have a look."

Lin Dongfan took the public‑welfare plan and had just opened it.

Not far off, Director Pei's voice suddenly called: "Mayor Lin, we should head to the children's activity area; there's still an interactive activity…"

"I'm coming right away."

Lin Dongfan casually tucked the public‑welfare plan away, then told Zhao Linlin: "I'll hold onto your plan for now and take a look when I have time."

"Thank you, Mayor Lin."

Zhao Linlin, ever accommodating, smiled like a flower—nothing like a woman in her thirties. If she were placed in the late Eastern Han dynasty, with her looks she'd surely never escape Cao Cao's bed.

She truly didn't see herself as an outsider; as a philanthropist she followed Lin Dongfan all the way, accompanying him in caring for disabled children and actively interacting with the Disabled Persons' Federation's children.

Probably women all have an innate motherly nature.

In the interaction segment with disabled children, she handled things with ease; the kids all called her affectionately Aunt Zhao, which pleased the officials greatly.

But the children surely don't know that Aunt Zhao's performance is Xiang Zhuang's sword dance, aimed at Pei Gong.

Her purpose is quite simple—she just wants to be favored by Mayor Lin once; if one time isn't enough, then two, three, countless times would also be fine.