Chapter 849

At 9:40 p. m., the lights in the mayor's office were still on. Lin Dongfan was still buried in paperwork when a sudden knock sounded at the door.

Come in.

The door opened, but the person who came in was not Secretary Xiao Chen, but Zhao Linlin.

She was holding a thermos.

Tonight she wasn't wearing that dignified white shirt; instead she had on a haze‑blue knit cardigan with a black inner layer, the neckline opened just right—not a revealing plunge but a subtle curve. Her hair was still in a low ponytail, her makeup light enough to be almost invisible, just a dab of lip balm.

She gave off an indescribable aura, like a female professor who had just opened up, or the sort of woman who teaches classical literature.

This scene took Lin Dongfan by surprise.

"Mayor Lin, still not off work? I happened to be passing by and thought I'd drop in."

She smiled naturally, as if she were just stopping by for a casual visit.

Lin Dongfan glanced at his wristwatch: "It's this late; government offices have already closed. Did you really happen to come all the way to the ninth floor of the city government?"

"I was eating nearby and figured you were probably working late again."

She set the thermos on the office coffee table and opened it enthusiastically: "Haven't eaten yet? I brought you a bowl of fish‑maw chicken soup, good for the stomach."

This series of caring gestures was smooth and effortless, her tone like that of a doting wife.

Before her death, Su Qingyu had hardly ever enjoyed such treatment.

After all, in her eyes Su Qingyu was nothing but trash.

He couldn't bear her special attention.

Lin Dongfan sat still, watching her bring out the soup bowl, lay the spoon, and fold a napkin into a triangle beside it.

After she finished, he chuckled: "General Manager Zhao, with your service sense, not opening a five‑star hotel is a waste of talent."

"I run a beauty salon; it's much the same, and service awareness is basic."

Zhao Linlin didn't look up: "Besides, please stop calling me General Manager Zhao. The Zhao Group has already changed its surname to Ye; I'm now just a sole proprietor. You can call me Linlin."

"That's not appropriate."

"Then just call me Xiao Zhao."

Facing Zhao Linlin's beaming smile, Lin Dongfan withdrew his gaze and didn't take up the topic. He rose, walked to the coffee table and sat down; tonight he really hadn't eaten, and he was starving to the point of his chest sticking to his back.

He scooped a spoonful of soup to taste.

The soup tasted good, cooked just right, the fish maw stewed soft and tender, the chicken falling off the bone at a touch. One taste told him it was specially ordered from a five‑star hotel by Zhao Linlin.

Seeing Lin Dongfan say nothing,

Zhao Linlin didn't urge him either, just sat quietly opposite, watching him eat, her hands folded on her knees, her posture dignified as if awaiting a leader's directive.

The only sound in the office was the spoon lightly tapping the bowl.

Halfway through drinking.

Lin Dongfan put down his spoon and said: "We've cracked the password on that USB drive you gave me, and we've already viewed all the encrypted data inside."

"Oh? That was fast, Mayor Lin. Your work efficiency is impressive."

Zhao Linlin gave a thumbs‑up and laughed approvingly.

She then joked: "I shouldn't ask this, but could the contents of that USB drive be some illicit little films? I've heard some men like to hide such things privately…"

In the world of these two, she instantly stirred up an ambiguous atmosphere.

"You're overthinking it."

Lin Dongfan replied solemnly: "I've looked at the material inside. Most of it is information already held by the Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Audit Bureau. A few new leads have already been passed to Secretary Shi."

Zhao Linlin nodded: "As long as it can be used, that's fine."

"When you first gave me that USB drive, what were you thinking? Weren't you afraid it might contain something that could drag you in?" Lin Dongfan asked curiously.

"I was afraid," Zhao Linlin said, adopting a candid pose, "but I'm more afraid of keeping it and inviting endless trouble. The Zhao family's ship has sunk; I can't go down with it."

She paused briefly.

She then offered Lin Dongfan another round of earnestness: "Besides, I've thought it over—even if the drive really contains something about me, handing it to you is better than giving it to anyone else. At least you're upright; you wouldn't use this to threaten me."

Lin Dongfan looked at her, and she looked back at Lin Dongfan.

Their gazes met openly and honestly, almost rising to the level of heavenly thunder drawing earthly fire! If tonight Cao Chengxiang were presiding here, the earthly fire would probably already have ignited.

"Your calculations are pretty sharp," Lin Dongfan said with a smile. "Hand over the USB drive, you'll earn a merit, shed your burden, and even gain a fine reputation for righteousness over kin."

"Do you think I'm being shrewd or selfish?" Zhao Linlin interjected with a "sincere" tone, trying to mask her scheming.

Lin Dongfan replied offhand: "Both."

Hearing that, Zhao Linlin laughed—not a polished, meticulous laugh, but a genuine amusement; she hadn't expected him to be so blunt.

"Mayor Lin, you're the sort whose strength is being hard to fool, and the weakness…" she tilted her head, thinking: "... is also being too hard to fool."

After Lin Dongfan finished the soup,

she handed him a tissue to wipe his mouth.

Then she added: "By the way, have you looked at the public‑welfare project proposal?"

"I have," Lin Dongfan replied.

Zhao Linlin followed up: "How was it?"

"The plan is well done," Lin Dongfan said. "Just cut the budget by thirty percent and extend the execution period by three months. I've already greeted the Women's Federation on that side; you can go tomorrow to meet with Chair Gao for coordination."

Zhao Linlin stood there, stunned.

She had thought this proposal was merely a pretext to get close to him, never expecting it to be approved! She hadn't imagined that Lin Dongfan would actually follow through on his words—this guy really gets things done!

"You… really approved it for me?" Zhao Linlin stared at Lin Dongfan in disbelief.

Lin Dongfan chuckled humorously: "You want to contribute to society, don't you? I'm giving you this chance. Whether you're a mule or a horse, first get up on the stage and walk a couple of laps."

At the mention of mules and horses, Zhao Linlin gave an embarrassed laugh, momentarily at a loss for words.

Before leaving tonight, she had prepared all sorts of lines—both a probing advance‑by‑retreat tactic and a teasing, push‑pull approach…

In the end, none of it came in handy.

After thinking it over, it's fine; whether you see me as a horse or a mule in your eyes, as long as you don't treat me like a chicken, that's okay.

As this miss, I admire strength; not just any man can make me submit.

Thinking of this, Zhao Linlin immediately assumed a sincere posture: "Rest assured, since you're willing to give me this chance to prove myself, I will certainly not disappoint you, thanks."

"No need to thank me." Lin Dongfan lit a cigarette, leisurely instructed: "Do your public welfare project solidly, that's the best thanks."

"Just rest assured, at the critical moment I will definitely not let you down."

Taking advantage of Lin Dongfan being in a great mood, Zhao Linlin took the initiative! She got up, went behind Lin Dongfan, and like a thoughtful little lover, she started massaging his shoulders.

As those slender jade-like hands pressed down, Lin Dongfan's whole body went numb, with an indescribable electric sensation.