Chapter 729: A Test of Loyalty!

Ma Ran walked into the office looking listless...

When he left, he was high-spirited, as if he had been injected with adrenaline, fully revived!

Tang Ye secretly thought that his ability to conduct ideological work had improved once again!

For Tang Ye, the Model Standard-Bearer Selection in the county education system.

Had been a setup from the very beginning, arranged perfectly long ago.

Tang Ye took a photograph out of his drawer.

This photograph was the very one he had picked up from the wastebasket in Ma Ran's office earlier; it was an artistic portrait of Huo Xiaowen.

One had to admit that among the women Tang Ye knew, Huo Xiaowen was at the top level in terms of both appearance and temperament.

Yet in this world, besides wealth and power, beautiful women are also a scarce resource fought over by others.

Especially a beauty like Huo Xiaowen, whose looks could be called ceiling-level, is an even rarer and scarcer resource.

For Ma Ran, this undoubtedly became a source of immense pressure.

When in school, people have few opportunities to interact with the outside world, and competitors are all just fellow students;

But after entering society, the competitors become elites of all age groups.

The ancients said, "An innocent man may be guilty for possessing a jade ring."

Having a stunning girlfriend often makes one a target for everyone, and may even invite fatal disaster.

In Tang Ye's view, Ma Ran's current strength was weak, making him unsuitable for having such an incredibly beautiful girlfriend.

Judging solely from Huo Xiaowen's attitude toward social dining, she was clearly not a person with a firm heart.

Therefore, the relationship between Ma Ran and Huo Xiaowen was never going to last long, and the fact that Ma Ran took the initiative to propose a breakup proved that he was sufficiently rational and smart.

When Tang Ye first saw Huo Xiaowen's photo discarded in the wastebasket, he had already performed a series of deductions in his mind.

And his guesses were not far off from the situation described by Ma Ran.

In fact, whether or not Ma Ran participated in this matter had no decisive influence on Tang Ye.

Letting Ma Ran get involved was, on one hand, to let him take revenge with his own hands and let everyone else know that as his Liaison Officer, Ma Ran was not someone just anyone could bully;

On the other hand, it was to put him through a test of loyalty;

And another point was to let Ma Ran draw a clear line between himself and Qiao Lin.

Ma Ran was still young and had good ability; he shouldn't get too deeply entangled with an old fox in the officialdom like Qiao Lin.

After Ma Ran returned to his office, he couldn't help but feel a complex mix of emotions: Qiao Lin only told him to swallow his pride, while Tang Ye gave him unreserved support.

Comparing the two, it was clear that Tang Ye cared for him more.

In Qiao Lin's eyes, he was nothing more than a lackey to be ordered around.

Buzz, buzz, buzz, a text message notification.

Ma Ran lit up his phone screen.

The sender was Huo Tai.

"Xiao Ma, I heard you and Xiao Wen broke up. You two have been together for so many years, there is bound to be affection; I hope you will consider it carefully."

Ma Ran hadn't expected Huo Tai to send him a message at all; his first reaction was: Huo Xiaowen had sought out her parents to help mediate the conflict between them.

Ma Ran pondered for a moment and replied: "Uncle, I've troubled you and Auntie; I will handle the matter well."

Huo Tai received the reply, frowned, and immediately dialed Huo Xiaowen's phone number.

"I've sent a message to Ma Ran. Judging by his tone, he still wants to reconcile with you in his heart. If you ask me, this kid is simply not worthy of you."

Huo Xiaowen had never intended to break up with Ma Ran from the very beginning.

Ma Ran had always been infinitely tolerant of her; if she changed to someone else, they might be richer or more powerful than Ma Ran, but that affection built up during their school days could not be replaced by anyone.

"Dad, I've set my heart on him." Huo Xiaowen bit her lip and said in a low voice.

"You child, you are just too stubborn!" Huo Tai hung up the phone and couldn't help but sigh for a while.

In Huo Tai's view, his daughter was so outstanding that even if they really were to break up, it should be Huo Xiaowen who held the initiative; what right did Ma Ran have to be the first to bring up a breakup?

Of course, Huo Tai taking the initiative to have Ma Ran and Huo Xiaowen ease their relationship was mainly for Huo Xiaowen's future.

Whether the daughter could be transferred to work in the city depended crucially on the say of the Education Bureau.

If Chen Dongan didn't loosen his stance, even if he operated behind the scenes himself and found a school, Huo Xiaowen wouldn't be able to transfer over smoothly.

Considering this connection, Huo Tai was willing to listen to Huo Xiaowen's persuasion and send that message to Ma Ran.

Huo Xiaowen waited until evening and finally received Ma Ran's call.

Upon hearing Ma Ran's voice, her nose soured, and tears fell instantly.

"Why are you looking for me?"

"I'm at the entrance of your school; is it convenient for you to come out?"

"Come out for what? If you have something to say, just say it on the phone."

"Then I'm leaving."

"Don't, wait five minutes for me!"

Ma Ran raised his wrist, stared at his watch, and made up his mind!

He would wait five minutes; if Huo Xiaowen still didn't come, he would turn and leave.

However, Huo Xiaowen didn't make him wait as long as before, and she soon appeared in his line of sight.

Her figure was slender and graceful, and she wore light makeup, though one could tell at a glance that her mental state was not very good.

When she was about three meters away from Ma Ran, Huo Xiaowen suddenly quickened her pace and grabbed him in a tight embrace.

Ma Ran smelled the faint, delicate fragrance coming from Huo Xiaowen; he struggled internally for a moment, but ultimately placed his hand gently on her shoulder.

Immediately after, Huo Xiaowen suddenly raised her head and took the initiative to press her warm, rosy lips toward him.

Ma Ran felt his breath hitch, and an indescribable, monstrous surge of emotion struck him violently like a rainstorm.

Huo Xiaowen had never been this proactive before, which caught Ma Ran completely off guard, leaving him to accept it passively.

It was unknown how much time had passed before the two slowly pulled apart.

With a hint of resentment, Huo Xiaowen lightly bit Ma Ran's shoulder and chided, "You are too heartless, actually bringing up a breakup with me over such a small matter."

A small matter?

A surge of anger instantly rose in Ma Ran's heart.

Huo Xiaowen clearly had not a shred of remorse.

But his purpose in coming to find Huo Xiaowen today was not to argue, but to carry out the task Tang Ye had assigned.

He said against his conscience, "It's not that I'm heartless, it's that I care about you too much."

"Ma Ran, I knew you wouldn't really break up with me!" Huo Xiaowen could no longer control her emotions, her voice choked with sobs as she spoke.

Ma Ran smiled and said, "I still have to thank your dad; if he hadn't sent me a message, I'm afraid I wouldn't have had the confidence to keep going."

Huo Xiaowen wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, took Ma Ran's arm, and said cautiously, "Principal Jiang mentioned before that he wants to invite you to a meal to apologize for the misunderstanding that day."

Ma Ran smiled and waved his hand: "That won't do; it should be me hosting, inviting Principal Jiang and Bureau Chief Chen to a meal instead."

The surprise in Huo Xiaowen's eyes gradually turned into being moved, and she said, "Fine, honey, you are so generous! Whatever you want to do tonight, I'll follow your lead."

Ma Ran was stunned for a moment, used a smile to mask his true inner feelings, and politely declined: "I have to go back and revise some documents tonight, so I can't accompany you."

Huo Xiaowen glared at Ma Ran reproachfully: "That won't do, tonight you must listen to me!"

Having said that, Huo Xiaowen walked straight toward Ma Ran's motorcycle and took the initiative to pick up the helmet and put it on.

Ma Ran actually felt very awkward inside.

In his view, after Huo Xiaowen went to attend that social engagement that night, a deep rift had formed between the two of them.

And as for himself now, he was merely putting on an act.

"Alright, let's go!"

"Mm, hold on tight!"

Ma Ran gritted his back teeth and finally steeled himself.

He took out his keys, started the motorcycle, and sped off toward his dormitory with Huo Xiaowen in tow...