Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

early morning.

As the first golden rays of dawn pierced the eastern horizon, painting the sky with soft orange and blue hues, Lu Yang's SUV slowly pulled up in front of Du Lingling's apartment building.

After a sleepless night of intense and frenzied activity, there was extreme exhaustion and a near-exhausted calm.

Lu Yang turned off the engine and turned his head to look at Du Lingling in the passenger seat.

Her eyes were closed, her head resting against the car window. Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyelids. Her face was still pale, but her lips were red and swollen from being overly bruised, making them look particularly fragile in the morning light.

Her breathing was steady; she seemed to be asleep, or perhaps just dozing.

Lu Yang remained silent, simply watching her with a complex and indescribable expression.

After a long while, Du Lingling's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She didn't look at Lu Yang, but silently unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the car door, and got out.

Her steps were a little unsteady, but she tried her best to straighten her back.

Lu Yang immediately got out of the car and followed her in a few steps.

As she approached the building entrance, Du Lingling took out her key from her pocket, inserted it into the lock, and the slight metallic clanging sound was particularly clear in the quiet morning.

The door opened.

Du Lingling slipped inside and was about to close the door behind her.

"Lingling..." Lu Yang subconsciously reached out to stop her, wanting to follow her in as well.

"boom!"

His response was the sound of the security door slamming shut without hesitation, the cold metal door almost hitting his high nose with a resolute force.

Lu Yang was left outside by this sudden closed door, and could only watch helplessly as the door closed and locked in front of him.

Through a cold, sturdy security door, Du Lingling's hoarse, tired yet unusually clear voice came from inside, carrying an aloof coldness and deep weariness: "Go away. I don't want to see you right now. I'm telling you to get out, do you understand?"

Seemingly afraid that Lu Yang would use force again, her voice came hysterically from inside the door.

Lu Yang stood outside the door, touched his nose that had almost been bumped, and then subconsciously licked the scab that had formed on his lower lip.

A sharp pain shot through him, but it made him involuntarily grin into a roguish smile.

Instead of getting angry, he chuckled softly twice, with a knowing look and a sense of certainty.

He spoke to the closed door, his voice not loud, but clear and resonant, carrying an undeniable certainty:
"Get out of here."

"We have a long future ahead of us."

"You should get some sleep first," he said, softening his tone. "I'll come find you later, and we'll have dinner together tonight."

inside the door.

With her back against the cold door panel, Du Lingling could no longer support herself and slowly slid down to the ground along the smooth surface.

She was completely unaware that the hem of her expensive suit skirt was covered in dust from the entryway.

The hand that had just forcefully pushed Lu Yang away was now tightly covering her mouth, forcefully choking back the surging sobs and tears deep in her throat.

His shoulders heaved violently, as if he wanted to pour out all the fear that had accumulated over the past day and night, the lingering fear of escaping death, the extreme exhaustion of his body, and... all the tangled, complex emotions of love and hate, through this silent sob.

Tears welled up like a burst dam, sliding down her pale, cold cheeks, dripping onto the back of her hand covering her mouth, and soaking her clothes.

The last syllable of Lu Yang's cocky and confident "Go ahead and get out, we'll have plenty of time in the future, let's have dinner together tonight" still seemed to linger on the cold security door, creating a jarring rift with the suddenly erupting, suppressed sobs inside.

She cried like a child with nowhere to turn, showing no trace of the composed and spirited Commissioner Du who commanded the mudslide and put on a brave face in front of the villagers.
Only at this moment, in this absolutely safe and private space isolated from all gazes, did she allow herself to completely break down.

After an unknown amount of time, the crying gradually weakened and turned into intermittent sobs.

She removed her hand from her mouth, her palm was wet, cold and sticky.

She looked down, her gaze unconsciously falling on her lower abdomen.

The hand that had struggled in the mud and water, still pale and trembling, gently, with an almost reverent hesitation, covered her. Beneath the smooth touch, there seemed to be some indescribable tremor.

Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the fabric, her eyes staring blankly at a point in the void ahead.

Then, with her other finger, she hesitantly and cautiously touched her slightly swollen lower lip, which even bore the trace of a scab from being bitten.

The slight stinging sensation from my fingertips felt like an electric current, instantly piercing through the numb defenses of my heart that I had just been crying.

The chaotic, intense, and bloody kiss in the grove of trees uncontrollably surged into my mind.

His heavy breathing, his iron-like arms that wouldn't let him break free, the metallic taste of his bitten lips, and his last low, hoarse "hey" laugh mixed with pain and satisfaction... each scene was so vivid it burned your heart.

"Bastard..." she muttered under her breath, her voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible.

However, right after that curse, a smile that was extremely complex and unexpected even to herself slowly spread from her tearful eyes.

That smile was a mixture of embarrassment, helplessness, a trace of lingering resentment, and... a hint of relief and a secret flutter of excitement that even she herself was unwilling to delve into.

The smile was fleeting, like an illusion, and was quickly replaced by a deeper weariness and confusion.

She leaned against the door, closed her eyes, utterly exhausted, the cold door sending a chill through her thin clothes, causing her to involuntarily curl up.

Du Lingling was awakened by a sharp, continuous ringing of her cell phone, the piercing sound exploding in the quiet room. Her heart clenched, and she was instantly jolted awake from her hazy dream, sitting up with a start, her forehead covered in cold sweat.

She was panting, her heart pounding in her chest, unable to distinguish whether it was the lingering fear of the nightmare or the shock of reality.

The phone rang persistently; it was her work cell phone.

Who?
At this time... could it be that something has happened again in Sanhe Township?
The thought made her heart sink. She struggled against her heavy body and almost collapsed to the bedside table to grab her phone.

The caller ID on the screen clearly showed her half-boss and partner, Secretary Liu from the Gannan Regional Administrative Office.

Du Lingling took a deep breath, suppressing the dryness in her throat and the pounding of her heart, and tried her best to make her voice sound steady: "Secretary Liu, hello."

"Xiao Du!" came Secretary Liu's slightly low but still gentle voice from the other end of the phone, revealing little emotion. "I heard you were discharged from the hospital? How are you feeling? Such a big thing, why didn't you report it to the organization? You're not taking good care of your health!"

"Thank you for your concern, boss." Du Lingling's voice was hoarse and tired from just waking up, but she tried to keep it clear. "I'm fine now, it's just a small problem. I didn't dare to delay my work, especially in Sanhe Township..."

"I already know about the situation in Sanhe Township." Secretary Liu interrupted her, his tone seemingly carrying a hint of something unreadable. "You personally directed operations on the front lines, venturing into dangerous territory. Your spirit is commendable. You and your comrades at the grassroots level have worked hard in this disaster relief effort!"

Hearing the official praise, Du Lingling felt no relief; instead, she sensed something was amiss.

Secretary Liu doesn't usually speak like this.

Sure enough, Secretary Liu changed the subject, lowered his voice, and said with a heartfelt concern: "But Xiao Du, health is the foundation of everything. The organization fully recognizes your work ability, but you also need to learn to protect yourself."

I heard... you were in a very dangerous situation when you were rescued?

"It even alerted...some outside forces?" Du Lingling's heart sank!
"External forces"?
Does this refer to Lu Yang and his security team?

The news spread so fast?
Moreover, what did Secretary Liu mean by specifically pointing this out?
She carefully chose her words: "Yes, Secretary Liu, the situation was indeed very critical, thanks to the villagers and... the timely arrival of the rescue workers."

"Hmm." Commissioner Liu responded, paused for a moment, and seemed to choose his words carefully before saying, "Xiao Du, your recent ordeal has touched the hearts of many people."

Including... some 'enthusiastic people' in our local area who are not easily accessible to us.

Their 'concern' and 'assistance'... were very effective and also... eye-catching.

Now, up there… well, some comrades have different opinions on this. After all, we have our own rescue system and procedures.

Du Lingling's fingers tightened slightly as she gripped her phone, her knuckles turning white.

She understood.

Secretary Liu was subtly reminding her that Lu Yang's efforts to rescue her last night and his large-scale mobilization of equipment and personnel into the disaster area this morning had already aroused dissatisfaction and suspicion among some leaders!
Some people feel that this is "overstepping boundaries" and "questioning" the local administration's capabilities.

A chill, even more intense than when I was soaking in the mud last night, instantly shot from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.

She had just survived a brush with death, was struggling to deal with the disaster, and was deeply entangled in an emotional vortex with Lu Yang. Now she had to face the hidden arrows and warnings from the officialdom!

Exhaustion, resentment, anger, and an indescribable sense of isolation and helplessness instantly enveloped her.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and said in a steady but unwavering voice, "Commissioner Liu, my life was saved by the rescue workers. No matter where they came from, I, Du Lingling, will always remember this life-saving grace."

As for the disaster relief and reconstruction efforts, as the designated specialist, it is my duty to do my utmost to ensure the safety of people's lives and property, no matter what difficulties we face.

I believe that all forces genuinely trying to help the people in the disaster area share the same goal. If the organization has any questions about this, I am willing to accept any investigation and provide a detailed account of the entire incident.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds.

Secretary Liu seemed to have not expected Du Lingling to respond so directly and forcefully.

He coughed lightly: "Xiao Du, you're exaggerating. Of course, the organization trusts your abilities and understands the urgency of your situation. Here, give me President Lu's private number, and I'll personally convey your gratitude to him on your behalf. You should get some rest; you've been tired these past few days."

Du Lingling froze, her hand holding the phone still.

She originally thought her boss was reminding her to be mindful of the impact and her work methods, since it's best to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

But to my surprise, the other party asked for the guy's private phone number.

She is not stupid.

Having spent so many years navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom, how could he not understand that this Secretary Liu was trying to bypass him and contact that guy? It was highly likely that he would use some means, such as playing the emotional card by mentioning the recent mudslide in Sanhe Township, or using his ambiguous relationship with this guy as leverage to blackmail him into investing in southern Jiangxi. After all, with the billions of assets that this guy was touted to have in the media, any investment he made in southern Jiangxi would be a windfall.

But for some reason, Du Lingling felt a strong aversion at this moment.

I felt particularly uncomfortable.

She said coldly, "I'm sorry, Secretary Liu, I don't have Mr. Lu's private phone number here, and I don't know any Mr. Lu."

With that, he slammed the phone down.

On the other end of the line, Secretary Liu picked up the phone, heard the busy tone coming from the receiver, and his face immediately turned as black as a pot. He angrily slammed the receiver back into place.

Office of the Secretary of the Regional Administrative Office.

Hearing the busy tone from the receiver, Secretary Liu's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and the veins on his forehead throbbed faintly. He slammed the telephone receiver back onto the base with a loud "bang," so hard that the teacup on the table shook.

"Nonsense! This is utterly outrageous!" He roared, suppressing his anger. His voice was particularly jarring in the empty office. "The sage was right. Women and petty men are the hardest to deal with. They have long hair but short wits. For some unclear and ambiguous personal feelings, she disregards the well-being of five million people in southern Jiangxi. Does Du Lingling even deserve to sit in the position of commissioner?!"

In his eyes, Du Lingling's behavior was utterly foolish.

A financial tycoon like Lu Yang, a "god of wealth" who has offered himself up, is someone many people would beg for. If she makes good use of this life-saving grace and her "special relationship" with Lu Yang, and with a little maneuvering, she can get Lu Yang to invest in a few projects in southern Jiangxi, which would be a tremendous achievement!

For him, for the entire regional leadership, and for the great cause of poverty alleviation in southern Jiangxi, this is entirely beneficial! But what about Du Lingling, this woman?
She actually hung up on him and refused him outright because of that little temper tantrum?
This is blatant disregard for public duty for personal gain!

Secretary Liu paced back and forth in his office in frustration.

I can't count on my deputy; this woman is now an unreasonable troublemaker.

But we absolutely cannot let this big fish, President Lu, get away like this!
He has to take action himself!
He strode back to his desk, opened the bottom locked drawer, and frantically searched through a pile of documents.

He quickly pulled out a slightly crumpled piece of paper, which contained the contact information of "Dajun," the person in charge of the Century Group's donation of a local teaching building for the convenience of monitoring.

This is currently the only connection he has with that CEO Lu.

Without the slightest hesitation, Secretary Liu took a deep breath, tried to suppress the anger on his face, and put on a calm and earnest expression.

He picked up the landline receiver, checked the slip of paper, and dialed the number one digit at a time.

Each beep of the waiting tone struck a chord in his heart.

He cleared his throat, making sure his voice sounded sincere and dignified enough.

"Hello?" The call connected, and a deep, hoarse male voice, clearly wary and impatient, came through. It was Dajun.

"Hello! Is this Mr. Dajun?" Secretary Liu's voice instantly switched to a warm yet respectful mode. "I am Liu Zhigang, the head of the Gannan Regional Administrative Office. I apologize for disturbing you!"

There seemed to be a half-second pause on the other end of the phone, clearly surprised by the call.

"Secretary Liu?" Dajun's voice was scrutinizing.

"Yes, yes, it's me!" Secretary Liu quickly confirmed, his tone even more earnest. "Mr. Dajun, first of all, please allow me, on behalf of the Gannan Regional Administrative Office and on behalf of the five million people of Gannan, to express our sincerest gratitude and highest respect to you and the rescue team you led. Yesterday in Sanhe Township, thanks to your efforts in turning the tide, Comrade Du Lingling was able to escape safely. Your contributions are indispensable! We will remember this kindness!"

He started by showering her with thanks, trying to build rapport.

"It's my duty, it's what I should do." Dajun's response was concise and powerful, watertight, and revealed little emotion.

He was clearly waiting to see what the other party really meant.

Liu Zhigang felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that the other party was not easily fooled.

He immediately changed the subject, his tone carrying a perfectly measured hint of worry and pleading: "Mr. Dajun, no amount of words of thanks can express our gratitude. Comrade Du Lingling is a very important cadre in our region. With her safe, our entire team is relieved. General Manager Lu... General Manager Lu is truly a great benefactor to our southern Jiangxi."

He emphasized the words "President Lu" to observe the other party's reaction, while laying the groundwork by saying, "President Lu... is he still in southern Jiangxi right now?"

Given the magnitude of this event and the immense kindness shown to us by President Lu, it is both morally and logically that I, as the local leader, must personally and solemnly express our deepest gratitude to President Lu!
This is basic etiquette!

I wonder... if Mr. Dajun could help introduce us?
Or, if it's convenient, could you please let me know if Mr. Lu is available to take this call right now?
Or give me a private way to contact him?
"Please, Mr. Dajun, this is extremely important to me personally, and to the development of southern Jiangxi!"

Liu Zhigang adopted a very humble attitude, and his words revealed his urgent need to see Lu Yang.

He gripped the receiver tightly, his palms slightly sweaty, his heart pounding, awaiting Dajun's reply.

This phone call was the key to him seizing the opportunity. (End of Chapter)