The Underground Emperor: Starting with Running Away with His Sister-in-Law

The atmosphere inside the car became somewhat somber...

Only the occasional soft rumble of the engine broke the silence.

Cui Zhongshi hesitated several times before speaking...

His lips moved, but in the end no sound came out!

Li Shengmin seemed oblivious to Cui Zhongshi's unusual behavior, continuing to gaze intently out the window as if pondering something important.

Sudden...

Li Shengmin turned his head and his gaze met Cui Zhongshi's.

Cui Zhongshi felt a sudden tightness in his chest...

He quickly lowered his head, avoiding the other person's gaze!

at the same time...

He gripped the document tightly in his hand!

"Ok?"

Li Shengmin frowned slightly, feeling a little confused by the subtle atmosphere, and then asked softly, "Zhongshi, is something the matter?"

His voice was calm and gentle, like a spring breeze.

"Um..."

Cui Zhongshi hesitated only for a moment before mustering his courage to say, "Vice Minister, I don't understand why your attitude towards that Special Agent Ding is... is..."

He stammered for a long time...

His face turned red, but he still couldn't say what he was going to say...

It's not because he's afraid to speak...

Perhaps it was due to the alcohol that he couldn't think of how to express himself for a moment...

At this time...

Li Shengmin, however, very understandingly picked up the thread: "What you want to say... is it why you are so close to him?"

"Forehead..."

Cui Zhongshi's expression faltered slightly, but he quickly nodded nervously and said, "Yes, I don't understand!"

"hehe..."

Li Shengmin chuckled softly.

However, he did not rush to answer Cui Zhongshi's question immediately.

Instead, he calmly took out a cigarette case from his pocket, flicked it lightly, and the lid opened.

He skillfully held a cigarette between his fingers and brought it to his lips.

Then he turned around and handed the cigarette pack to Cui Zhongshi, gently raising his chin to indicate that he wanted one too.

"excuse me!"

Cui Zhongshi appeared somewhat reserved.

He carefully reached out and took a cigarette from the pack.

at the same time...

He quickly pulled out a lighter, pressed it lightly with his thumb, and a flame leaped out.

He slowly brought the lighter close to Li Shengmin's lips and carefully lit the cigarette.

The orange flames flickered, illuminating their faces.

Li Shengmin took a deep breath and slowly exhaled the smoke.

I looked through a crack in the car window at the scenery rushing past outside.

The air from outside rushed into the car, and the breeze from the airflow ruffled his hair, diluting some of the smell of alcohol in the car and making his head a little clearer.

Are we close?

Let's take a look back at the events at the drinking party...

Li Shengmin knew perfectly well that the so-called "closeness" was just a nicer way of putting it!

In comparison...

Actually, "ingratiating" would be a more accurate description!

But so what?

After decades of tinkering and rehashing, he finally had a chance in his old age...

Shouldn't we seize it quickly?

but...

He understood!

This subordinate, whom I could call my absolute confidant...

The stubbornness in my heart!

After a moment of silence, Li Shengmin finally spoke.

His voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a sense of having experienced many hardships, yet it seemed to be an irrelevant reply: "Zhongshi, if I remember correctly, you'll be turning forty-five soon, won't you?"

"Forehead..."

Cui Zhongshi looked slightly taken aback, not understanding why his boss would suddenly bring this up.

but...

Although somewhat confused, he nodded slightly and replied, "Yes, Deputy Minister, my forty-fifth birthday will be in two months..."

"So many years have passed in the blink of an eye..."

Li Shengmin sighed deeply, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes: "I still remember how clumsy and impulsive you were when you first graduated from the Judicial Research Institute and were assigned to my office as an intern prosecutor. Almost twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye..."

"Yes..."

Cui Zhongshi felt somewhat helpless about this inexplicable nostalgia, but he could only lower his head and offer a compliment: "It's all thanks to your cultivation and guidance, Vice Minister!"

Li Shengmin waved his hand and laughed, "You don't need to flatter me. I've seen your hard work and talent!"

After giving a compliment...

He took a drag of his cigarette, but suddenly changed the subject, saying as if talking to himself: "But then again, even with your efforts and talent, it took you a full twenty years to climb to the position of ministerial prosecutor, which is really too slow!"

But how much better am I than you?

Today, at fifty-seven years old, it took me nearly thirty years to finally snag this vice-ministerial position before retirement…

Cui Zhongshi could sense...

There seemed to be something inexplicable mixed in with his boss's seemingly self-deprecating words.

But what exactly is it...?

But it was as if there was a layer of paper between them, making it impossible for him to figure it out for the time being.

However...

Li Shengmin had no intention of letting Cui Zhongshi speculate on his own!

He turned to look directly at Cui Zhongshi, his gaze intense: "Zhongshi, do you think we are inferior to others in terms of character and ability?"

"of course not!"

Cui Zhongshi shook his head.

He is still very confident in this regard!

Li Shengmin curled the corners of his lips and pressed on, "Then what do you think caused us to waste so many years?"

"What's the reason...?"

Cui Zhongshi frowned and muttered something under his breath.

He probably understood what his boss was trying to say.

Perhaps it's his personality...

But I can't bring myself to say it directly...

......

How many chapters from chapter 539 can be found?

However...

His pride prevented him from saying it...

But Li Shengmin had no intention of letting him go!

As if determined to push him, he narrowed his eyes and said meaningfully, "I remember you and Minister Han Qiangzhi of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office were classmates at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, right?"