Chapter 851: Myriad Graceful Winds

Zhao Linlin stepped out of the municipal building, her dance steps light as if she were stepping on waves, lively and carefree.

She looked nothing like a woman in her thirties, more like a girl experiencing her first flutter of love.

After getting in the car, she first touched up her lipstick in the rearview mirror. The person in the mirror had curved brows and eyes, cheeks flushed with an unnatural rosy hue.

"Linlin, Zhao Linlin…" recalling the scene just now, she murmured to herself with a smile: "You really should have gone all out, set the stakes so high from the start—look how you scared Lord Lin…"

Laughing, a hint of pride crept into her tone.

Zhao Linlin suddenly felt:

The reason she couldn't engage in battle today had nothing to do with the scale being too big or too small.

It was that she had chosen the wrong battlefield.

After that man was pressed onto the sofa by her, from struggling to enjoying, then struggling to rise again—his whole process had already said everything.

Where in the world are there so many men who sit with a woman in their arms and remain unmoved like Liu Xiaohui?

"Hahaha… how adorable Lord Lin is, I never expected you to be this kind of person… but I like this you of yours, we have plenty of time ahead…"

In a good mood, Zhao Linlin drove especially smoothly.

While waiting for the red light.

She couldn't help but laugh again: "Unclogging the drainage pipes…" saying those words made her laugh again, feeling she deserved the title of talented woman—precise wording, concise and meaningful.

……

A few days later.

Lin Dongfan was reading the economic work bulletin issued by the province.

Secretary Xiao Chen knocked and entered: "Mayor Lin, the Women's Federation Chair Gao Zhuxi reports that Zhao Linlin's public welfare project has entered the implementation phase. A first joint meeting will be held this afternoon; we invite you to attend and guide."

Lin Dongfan didn't look up: "I won't go; let Bureau Chief Pei of the Civil Affairs Bureau go."

"Alright." Xiao Chen noted it down, then asked, "What about Ms. Zhao's side… does anything need special instruction?"

Lin Dongfan's pen paused.

"What instruction?"

"Well…" Xiao Chen truthfully reported: "She called yesterday to ask if you had any further specific instructions for the project, so she could prepare in advance."

Lin Dongfan lifted his head and countered: "She called you to ask?"

"Yes." Afraid of causing a misunderstanding, Xiao Chen hurriedly explained: "She said she didn't want to disturb your rest, so she called me instead."

Lin Dongfan fell silent for three seconds.

Afraid of disturbing his rest? When she had sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck earlier, why hadn't she thought of disturbing his rest then?

This woman is no ordinary person!

By calling the secretary, she's clearly trying to create an illusion, making everyone below think she's someone of mine, Lin Dongfan's.

After a moment's thought.

Lin Dongfan solemnly replied: "Let her follow the Women's Federation's arrangements; if she encounters difficulties, report through normal channels."

"Alright."

Xiao Chen withdrew.

The office grew quiet; Lin Dongfan lowered his head and continued reading the documents.

After two lines he couldn't go on, his heart wouldn't settle. For some reason, his mind kept replaying the scene of unclogging Zhao Linlin's drainage pipes.

He put down his pen, picked up the insulated cup, took a sip of water, using water to extinguish fire.

At four in the afternoon, Yang Qing came again. This time he wasn't here to discuss reinstatement, but to have tea. This is what Yang Qing himself said—he's been so idle his balls ache.

"This white tea from Wuzhou is not bad."

Yang Qing crossed his legs, holding the celadon cup Lin Dongfan uses to entertain guests, posing all along as a tea sage: "Sweet aftertaste, pure and refreshing—better than the one I drank last time in Jingcheng."

Lin Dongfan ignored him, continuing to process documents.

Yang Qing wasn't in a hurry either, sipping tea leisurely, occasionally clicking his tongue: "The tea is good tea, just not quite fitting your big local tycoon identity…"

"Are you really just itching with boredom today?"

Lin Dongfan finally lifted his head and gave him a contemptuous little glance, silently seeming to curse—Damn your grandpa! Saying the mayor is a local tycoon, you're tired of living?

Yang Qing seemed not to have received Lin Dongfan's contemptuous signal.

He replied nonchalantly: "I'm truly idle, but I'm not itchy."

"Speak if you have something, get lost if you don't." Lin Dongfan couldn't be bothered with this idiot any longer, returning to his work.

Yang Qing set down his tea.

Speaking slowly and deliberately: "The Su Qingyu case— the Criminal Investigation Detachment has gone over it again, still no new leads. I heard Captain Zhou Zheng worked overtime until two last night, came in this morning with two black eyes to attend the meeting."

Lin Dongfan didn't respond.

Yang Qing glanced at him, then added: "By the way, Captain Zhou Zheng's wife gave birth to a daughter last month. He's been rushing home right after work to change diapers and feed the baby, overjoyed as if… Yesterday at the meeting he even pulled out his phone to show everyone pictures— the little chubby thing looks just like his mother."

While saying this, his tone was casual, like old friends chatting about family matters.

Lin Dongfan listened, his pen never stopping.

Yang Qing continued: "From when he became a detective, to deputy detachment commander, to detachment commander. I've watched him marry, buy a house, have kids. Last month his daughter turned one month old; I gave two thousand yuan as a gift, and he still complained it was too little."

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Lin Dongfan lifted his head and stared straight at Yang Qing.

Yang Qing grinned: "I'm telling you this so you know Zhou Zheng isn't that kind of person. If he really had a problem, I'd see it—I'm not blind."

Lin Dongfan finally put down his pen.

He responded solemnly: "I never said he had a problem, I just…" When he got to the word "problem," Lin Dongfan suddenly stopped, not going on.

Yang Qing waited Along time, but no further words came.

Unable to hold back, he pressed: "Just what?"

Lin Dongfan didn't answer.

Yang Qing also softened his tone: "Fine, since you don't want to say it, then I'll pretend I didn't ask." Saying that, Yang Qing stood up, patted his pants, and added: "I'll go to their detachment to check the situation; Zhou Zheng's side will be re-interrogating several related people tonight. If you can't let it go, get off work early, don't stay up so late every day."

Get lost, I won't see you out.

Lin Dongfan lowered his head again to look at the documents.

Yang Qing, who had already reached the door, suddenly turned back with a smile and asked: "By the way, is Zhao Linlin's soup tasty?"

You deserve a beating!

Lin Dongfan grabbed the folder on the desk and threw it.

Although over forty, Yang Qing's dodging move was still quite nimble, his bearing undiminished from before. The folder landed with a slap on the floor, as if declaring its innocence.

Yang Qing picked up the folder, patted it, and laughed.

Smiling, he handed the folder to Lin Dongfan: "I wasn't tailing you; that night Zhao Linlin ordered food at the big hotel, I just happened to run into her. Although she didn't reveal anything, I could guess what she wanted. A beauty with such high standards, ordinary men, she wouldn't even glance at. Looking across all of Wuzhou, the only person who could make her so earnestly deliver chicken soup, besides you, the pretentious fan, I really can't think of a second."

"You overestimate me." Lin Dongfan replied offhand.

Yang Qing said: "Actually, what I want to say is, you're always staying up late, you really should make up for it. My building's lower floor just opened a bath center, with Russian baths, and also..."

Lin Dongfan retorted without looking up: "Get lost~~"

"Okay."

Yang Qing returned a military salute; his turning bearing was as grand as the myriad charms Li Bai depicted—laughing to the heavens as he strode out, how could we be mere weeds!

The office fell quiet again.

Lin Dongfan closed his eyes, leaned back in the chair and rubbed his temples, suddenly feeling that the days when his wife wasn't home were indeed a bit hard to endure.