Chapter 999: Provincial No. 1 Starts the Punishment

The door of the Provincial Party Committee Secretary's office wasn't closed tightly; Lin Dongfan had just reached the doorway when he heard Character's muffled sigh from inside.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door, then pushed it open and walked in: 'Jiang Secretary, you called for me?'

Jiang Huan Tian smiled and pointed to the chair beside him: 'Comrade Dongfan, please sit.'

Lin Dongfan had just sat down when he met Character's resentful glare, a look that seemed ready to devour someone. He ignored it, pulled a USB drive from his briefcase, and placed it on the desk: 'Jiang Secretary, you called me about those online matters, right? This is my evidence to prove my innocence.'

'Oh? What evidence?' Jiang Huan Tian raised an eyebrow.

'The surveillance footage from the Nineteenth Floor of the Everyman Grand Hotel.' Lin Dongfan picked up the USB drive and handed it to the secretary beside him: 'Please help me cast the screen to take a look.'

The secretary took the USB drive and quickly connected the equipment.

The large screen on the wall lit up, and the corridor footage from the Nineteenth Floor of the Everyman Grand Hotel appeared clearly.

Character's heart skipped a beat, and his eyelid twitched uncontrollably.

On the screen, the time showed 11:10 p. m.

Lin Dongfan supported Su Qianqian as they exited the elevator; Su Qianqian's foot was wrapped in bandages, she walked with a limp, and she was draped in Lin Dongfan's administrative overcoat.

The two slowly walked to the door of Room 1907; Lin Dongfan helped her swipe the door open, stepped aside to let her in.

'Get a good rest; I'll have someone bring medicine tomorrow.' Lin Dongfan's voice came through the surveillance microphone, clear and strong.

Su Qianqian nodded and said, 'Thank you, Mayor Lin.'

Then she closed the door.

Immediately afterward, Lin Dongfan turned and walked toward Room 1909 opposite, swiped the door open, entered, and the door closed behind him.

The time on the screen sped forward rapidly.

From late night 11 p. m. to 6 a. m., the doors of Rooms 1907 and 1909 remained closed.

Until 7:30 a. m., the door of Room 1909 opened first, and Lin Dongfan walked out, heading straight for the elevator.

Within five minutes, Su Qianqian also emerged from Room 1907, carrying a small bag, limping along behind him.

Throughout the night, the two had no physical contact whatsoever, and they never entered the same room.

After the video finished, Lin Dongfan looked at Character, the corner of his mouth twitching into a half-smile: 'Secretary Character, you just said I opened a room with a female college student—do you want to watch it again?'

……!!!

Character's face instantly turned the color of pig liver, his head bowed low enough to almost touch his chest.

He never expected Lin Dongfan to actually bring the surveillance footage; this was nothing short of a public slap in the face, leaving Character with nowhere to hide.

But no matter what, he refused to believe Lin Dongfan was a virtuous gentleman who didn't steal food.

There was a moment like that.

Character even suspected: the Everyman Grand Hotel's Rooms 1907 and 1909 appeared to be two separate rooms from the outside, but inside they were actually a connected suite.

To satisfy Lin Dongfan's private desires, the Everyman Grand Hotel might very well have devised such a deceptive design!

Because the owner of the Everyman Grand Hotel is Ye Jiaying.

And Ye Jiaying's relationship with Lin Dongfan is not shallow.

But……

Having no evidence in hand, Character dared not voice his suspicion; if he guessed wrong, he'd only be lifting a rock to drop on his own foot.

'Cough cough.'

Jiang Huan Tian cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence: 'Comrade Character, now that you've watched the video, do you have anything else to say?'

Character opened his mouth, his throat feeling as if stuffed with cotton, and after Along while managed to utter: 'I…… I didn't know it was like this……'

'You don't know?' Lin Dongfan snorted: 'You dare to come to the Provincial Party Committee to file a complaint just because you don't know? Secretary Character, as a deputy ministerial-level official, do you really speak and act so arbitrarily?'

'What do you mean by arbitrarily?' Character flared up, raising his head to retort: 'Regarding the rumors about your personal conduct, there are many outside saying it's necessary to take a serious look.'

'Is that so? Then I also want to ask you, what does "taking a serious look" mean?' Lin Dongfan feigned surprise, then retorted on the spot: 'As the top secretary of the Municipal Party Committee of Place, you investigate nothing, verify nothing, and merely act on hearsay when you come to the Provincial Party Committee to file a complaint—is that what you call taking a serious look?'

……!!!

Character's face turned ashen from the questioning; he gritted his teeth and couldn't squeeze out a word for Along time.

At this moment, Jiang Huan Tian glanced at Character's deathly pale face, half-smiling, and asked: 'Comrade Character, you just said you wanted to resign. Now that you've also watched the video, do you still want to resign?'

Character steeled himself and replied: 'Jiang Secretary, I shouldn't have been so impulsive earlier; I'm reviewing my conduct……'

'Although a gentleman's word is hard to retract,' Jiang Huan Tian waved his hand, his tone easing a bit as they chatted: 'After all, nobody's perfect; let's forget about the punishment.'

Hearing that, Character secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Jiang Secretary's breadth of mind was indeed great.

But before he could even feel grateful,

Jiang Huan Tian suddenly shifted gears: 'Your mental state hasn't been great lately, making you restless and anxious. I think you should take a month off to recuperate first, and set aside work matters for now.'

……!!!

The smile on Character's face froze instantly, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.

He stared at Jiang Huan Tian in disbelief: 'Jiang Secretary, you… you said what? This isn't a joke, is it…'

'Letting you take time off to rest—how is that a joke? Health is the foundation of revolution.'

Jiang Huan Tian adopted a sympathetic expression, smiling warmly: 'Place's daily operations will be entrusted to Comrade Lin Dongfan to handle fully; you needn't worry.'

Boom!

Character's mind felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded, ringing with a buzz.

A month off?

This isn't a vacation at all—it's clearly a ploy to strip him of his authority!

He hadn't even secured his footing in Place to begin with; if he took a month off, by the time he returned, Place's situation would already be completely under Lin Dongfan's control—what would be left for him, Character, to do?

At that point, he, the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, would truly become a mere figurehead.

This is the real punishment!

It's harsher than openly criticizing or disciplining him!

Character's chest heaved violently, waves of darkness clouded his vision, and he nearly collapsed face-first to the ground.

He wanted to refute, wanted to refuse, but seeing Jiang Huantian's seemingly calm yet imposing gaze, all his words got stuck in his throat.

He knew that once Jiang Huantian said those words, there was basically no room for remedy.

This was Jiang Huantian's decision.

That was also the organization's decision!

Even if Character was utterly unwilling, he could only grit his teeth and accept.

"I... I will follow the organization's arrangements, thank the organization for its concern!" The two words "concern" spat from Character's mouth, filled with endless humiliation and unwillingness.

Lin Dongfan sat beside him, his face still expressionless, his heart blooming with joy.

Thinking that Character this old thing, today he reaps what he sows, gets what he wishes for! Over the next month, there is plenty of time for Lin Dongfan to stretch his legs and clean up the mess.

Jiang Huantian watched Character's lost and dejected appearance.

His tone softened a bit: "Comrade Character, don't overthink it. Rest well, adjust your condition, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future to contribute to the party and the people."

Character nodded, saying nothing.

He now felt as dead as ashes; any further comfort sounded like mockery.

"Alright, everything is clear now." Jiang Huantian stood up: "You two go back first, Comrade Dongfan, you need to put extra effort into the work in Wuzhou."

"Please rest assured, Secretary Jiang, I will surely not disappoint your trust." Lin Dongfan rose and shook Jiang Huantian's hand; only then did he realize one thing—Old Boss Jiang truly knows how to be a person!