Chapter 316

After drinking the lotus seed and lily soup, I felt warm and incomparably comfortable all over.

Huang Weiwei didn't seem to want to drink it, but after my careful coaxing, she finally finished it, handed me the empty bowl, and daintily wiped her lips with a tissue.

Outside, the cold wind howled, and sand or something else tapped against the window glass, making one feel the bleakness of the outside world. Inside, it was like spring, causing Huang Weiwei to take off her tight sweater, revealing a shapely figure.

I swallowed quietly. Facing this woman of boundless spring, a man's primal impulses struck my fragile nerves one after another. But I couldn't! I reminded myself secretly.

Seeing me standing there like a fool without moving for a long time, Huang Weiwei fished the men's pajamas out from under the quilt, threw them to me, and blushed, signaling for me to go take a bath.

I took them, sniffed, and said, "They smell so good!"

She laughed and said something that made my heart surge even more: "There's something that smells even better."

As soon as she finished speaking, she was too shy to look at me, turning her back to giggle.

I picked up my coat from the chair, put it on, sat on the edge of the bed, and patted her back, saying, "Weiwei, I have to go back to the hotel."

She was startled, turned over, grabbed me, and asked, "You're not staying home..."

I comforted her, "Weiwei, we have a promise; I must only possess you on our wedding night."

She was so shy she couldn't stand it, her hands gripping my waist even tighter as she murmured, "Chen Feng, let's get married tonight, okay?"

I held her shoulders and comforted her softly, "No, I want you to marry me in grand style. I want to give you a ceremony and let you be a happy bride."

She started to cry, her shoulders trembling slightly, and said, "Chen Feng, I'm afraid of losing you!"

"You won't!" I said with absolute firmness. "I am yours forever. No matter what lies ahead, you are the only love of my life."

She lifted her head, stared at me for a long time, and said calmly, "Kiss me!"

I lowered my head and gave her a shallow kiss on the lips. I couldn't go any deeper; I was afraid I wouldn't be able to control myself.

"Sleep well! We have a big meeting tomorrow. We both need to be in high spirits," I said, unfastening her hands from my waist, stood up, took a deep look at her, and turned to open the door.

She jumped off the bed, chased after me, hugged me from behind, pressed her head against my back, and rubbed gently.

I hesitated for a moment, but still walked out the door without looking back.

Standing downstairs at her home, I saw the light in Minister Huang Shan's room was still on. I estimated that behind the curtain letting out a sliver of light, Director Chen Yazhi must be standing there, looking at me, lonely under the streetlamp, with a grave expression.

A strong wind blew, kicking up a few snowflakes that slapped against my face, stinging painfully.

There was almost no one on the road; the city had completely closed itself off in this heavy snow. Occasionally, a few cars drove by on the street, their white exhaust fumes under the streetlights giving one a sense of warmth.

I wrapped my coat tighter and stepped forward.

A taxi honked behind me, and when I waved, it stopped in front of me. The driver was a young man, and the heat in the car was turned up high; as soon as one entered, one was enveloped by a wave of hot air.

"Buddy, out in the middle of the night, where to?" he asked, giving me a smile.

"Back to the hotel," I said. I reached for a cigarette to offer him, but he waved his hand to refuse, his face full of youthful smiles.

On a night like this, even taxi drivers were slacking off. Except for his car, I couldn't see any other taxis with white light boxes on top. "Coming from a friend's house?" He was still very enthusiastic, took a sip from his tea mug, and said with a smile, "The heat in this car is all exhaust, it's not good for the throat."

I nodded and said, "To the Xinlinyin."

He took a look and said, "Are you a cadre here for a meeting?"

I smiled and didn't answer.

"No wonder, I could tell at a glance that your temperament is different. You must be a cadre, brother." He honked the horn again cheerfully, which sounded abrupt and deep in the empty night.

I checked the time on the meter; it wasn't even eleven o'clock, so I took out my phone and called my cousin-in-law's house.

Returning to Hengyue City and not visiting my cousin-in-law would be unreasonable and unjustifiable. Besides, with this three-level cadre meeting, my cousin-in-law naturally knew I was back.

The call went through, and it was Sister Xiao Mei who answered. Recognizing my voice, she said happily, "Chen Feng, where are you?"

I said I was in a car and asked if my cousin-in-law was home.

Sister Xiao Mei was clearly very excited, holding the receiver and asking, "Secretary He, Chen Feng is on the phone."

Then I heard my cousin-in-law's voice over the receiver: "Tell him to come over to the house. This guy, he doesn't even come to see us when he's back."

My cousin-in-law's words came through clearly, making me feel a pang of distress. So I said to the driver, "Turn around, go to the Municipal Committee residential compound."

The young driver turned around carefully, and after the wheels slipped a few times, the car drove steadily toward the Municipal Committee residential compound.

My cousin-in-law's family wasn't asleep, and they were all in the living room.

Aunt Wanru was as elegant and beautiful as ever. Seeing me enter the room, she smiled, "Lao He, he's here."

I paid my respects, smiled, and sat down, all in one smooth motion.

Aunt Wanru was clearly exceptionally happy. Before I could even sit still, she said, "Xiao Feng, I have good news to tell you: Jiaxiao is coming back!" I was startled and looked at my aunt in astonishment.

"Jiaxiao is coming back, aren't you happy?" Aunt Wanru was a bit surprised by my astonished expression.

"No, I'm very happy," I said, my heart stirring as if struck by a hammer. He Jiaxiao is coming back? What about Chen Meng? What about Guo Wei? Why did he suddenly come back?

A series of questions jumped around in my mind, making me feel as if I had fallen into a kaleidoscope, unable to distinguish directions anymore.

"I also have another piece of good news to tell you. My organizational and work relations have been transferred over; from now on, Aunt is your colleague." Aunt Wanru smiled, leaning her head on Cousin-in-law He Zhi's shoulder without any avoidance, looking incomparably sweet and satisfied.

"Congratulations, Aunt!" I congratulated her sincerely and asked casually, "Which department is Aunt working in?"

"It's the same as in Zhangjiakou, at the Hengyue City Investment Development Group," Cousin-in-law He Zhi told me calmly. "This way, it can connect with your aunt's previous work, so she won't be out of practice."

"That's great," I applauded happily.

"Xiao Feng, I want to ask for your opinion: would you be willing to come and help Aunt?" Aunt Wanru looked at me and asked seriously.

"Of course I'm willing," I immediately stated my position.

"Good!" Aunt Wanru looked at Secretary He and said, "Lao He, it's settled then; Xiao Feng is transferring to my office. Is that okay?" Cousin-in-law He Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "It's not impossible. But Xiao Feng is still a Town Mayor right now; jumping suddenly to the City Investment Development Group to be your Office Director, isn't that a bit too drastic? Xiao Feng was only promoted to Deputy Division-level last year; going to your office would make him a full Division-level cadre—wouldn't that be hard to justify?"

"What's hard to justify?" Aunt Wanru lowered her face and said, "Leave this matter to you to handle. Also, I need to ask you for one more person."

"Who?" My cousin-in-law was confused.

"Xiao Mei," Aunt Wanru smiled faintly. "Instead of arranging for her to go to the community, it's better to have her stay with me. It's better than being in the community."

Sister Xiao Mei, standing to the side, was flushed with excitement. Her heartbeat was definitely the same as mine, both of us anxious for it to jump out of our mouths.

"You..." Secretary He stopped mid-sentence.

"Reluctant?" Aunt Wanru was aggressive.

"You're an old cadre yourself; you understand organizational procedures. Is this something I can decide on my own?" Secretary He shook his head, which had some gray hair, and sighed, "You, I think you have a bit of a childish streak."

"I don't care," Aunt Wanru said, almost coquettishly.

I had never seen such a scene since I met Aunt Wanru. She had always been a very dignified and reserved woman. I had once compared her cultivation with the women around me, and except for Chen Meng, no other woman possessed her innate temperament.

She was probably immersed in the excitement of her son coming back, and in front of us, she no longer cared about being reserved; her demeanor was no different from that of an ordinary housewife.

"Xiao Feng, Jiaxiao is coming back to work in the province. This time he's coming back at the invitation of the province. The cultural relics unearthed where you are actually made Jiaxiao famous." Aunt Wanru seemed to have endless things to say, one after another giving me exciting news.

Secretary He was very composed. He beckoned to me and said, "Xiao Feng, come with me to the study; I have something to tell you."

I looked at my aunt, and she waved her hand, saying, "Go ahead! You two, is there anything you have that I can't hear?"