The game of power begins with the police officers at the local police station.

After the business was concluded and the meal was nearly finished, the dinner party ended.

All three had drivers, so they didn't need to see each other off. Li Changming and Chen Shi saw Huang Ming off first. After Huang Ming left, Chen Shi shook hands with Li Changming.

"Thank you, Director Li. Let's get together again sometime."

Li Changming smiled and said, "I'll treat you next time. I've made Chen my friend."

"Next time we get together, whoever pays the bill will get paid."

The two exchanged a smile. Chen Shi stepped forward, opened the car door, and Li Changming was delighted that Chen Shi was being so accommodating, so he got in.

Chen Shi waved goodbye and watched Li Changming leave.

Zhang Hu stood aside and quickly opened the car door, and Chen Shi got in.

Zhang Hu was overjoyed. He couldn't be without Xu Mengmeng for a moment. Without this strategist by his side to give advice, he would be unable to move an inch.

"Thank you, Captain Chen, for helping Mengmeng transfer to the county town."

"Let's go back and rest. I've already broken up with my boyfriend, and I can't let you break up with your boyfriend too. Between the two of us, one of us has to make it work."

Zhang Hu quickly suppressed the joy on his face. How could he be happy if the leader was unhappy? He had to stand with the leader at all times.

Back in his apartment, Chen Shi took a hot bath, feeling empty inside, as if something was missing.

A person was sitting in the living room, lost in thought, when there was a knock on the door.

Chen Shi stood up, opened the door, and saw Xu Ping'an.

Xu Pingan walked in, glanced at Chen Shi, and said, "You've broken up with your boyfriend."

"What breakup? It was just a fling, we broke up."

"It was just for fun. But the way you look at me, your face is full of disappointment. Have you really fallen for me?"

"I will never fall in love with a woman again. I've been hurt once, and I don't want to be hurt again."

Xu Pingan sat on the sofa and said meaningfully, "Young people, it's better not to fall in love. Falling in love will affect your energy. If you can't devote yourself to your work, how can you achieve anything?"

Chen Shi looked at Xu Ping'an, speechless for a moment, thinking, "You act like a relationship expert."

Xu Pingan continued, "The most effective way to deal with heartbreak is to enter a second relationship. Do you want me to introduce you to someone with a very strong background who can definitely be a help to you?"

Chen Shi quickly interrupted Xu Ping'an: "Stop, let me clarify again, I'm not heartbroken, we broke up peacefully, it was just a fling."

"Okay, do you need me to introduce it to you?"

Chen Shi looked at Xu Ping'an: "Didn't you say earlier that young people should focus less on dating and put their energy into their work and achieve results? Why are you introducing me to girlfriends now?"

"It's not a one-size-fits-all situation. People with my personality should date less, while people with your personality need to date more. Dating is good for your physical and mental health."

Xu Pingan wanted to introduce his cousin to Chen Shi, but not now; he had to wait and see if Chen Shi could weather the current situation.

Just kidding, don't take it seriously.

Chen Shi rolled his eyes at Xu Ping'an: "It's nothing, don't disturb my rest, leave quickly."

Xu Pingan chuckled: "Want to know something about your ex-girlfriend?"

"I don't care. Who she marries is none of my business."

"I'll tell you anyway, Qin Min has found a rich second-generation heir whose family is in real estate."

Chen Shi became interested and asked, "Who told you that?"

"A relative of mine is a real estate sales director. The rich second generation is learning under him. Last time I went to Yizhou, I happened to run into him. The rich second generation was with Qin Min, choosing a villa. It looks like they are preparing to get married."

"You haven't mistaken me for someone else, have you?"

"Of course not. A beauty like Qin Min is a stunning sight wherever she goes. I recognized her at a glance."

You brought her to the school a few times during college, so I have a pretty deep impression of her.

"You don't like Qin Min, do you?"

"I appreciate beauty, but appreciation is not the same as liking. I also appreciate down-to-earth beauties like Wang Yanhong."

When Qin Min was mentioned, Chen Shi didn't feel much; it was like hearing the name of an old friend. But when he heard Wang Yanhong's name, he felt inexplicably lost.

"Is there anything else? If not, don't disturb my rest."

Xu Pingan stood up: "You brat, so what if you're heartbroken? You won't admit it, it was just a fling."

"Besides, I might get angry."

Xu Pingan left quickly.

...............

Xu Mengmeng was transferred to the county town as she wished and entered the best experimental primary school. She and Zhang Hu did not live together. The school had dormitories, but Xu Mengmeng insisted on living in the dormitory. Before marriage, she refused Zhang Hu's pleas and could not live together.

There are plenty of ways to solve physiological problems; absence makes the heart grow fonder; and opening a hotel outside can enhance the experience.

After a night of tossing and turning in the hotel's king-size bed room, the two woke up at noon.

Xu Mengmeng glanced at her watch. Luckily it was the weekend, otherwise she wouldn't have the energy to attend class today.

Zhang Hu finished dressing and sat down to the side: "Mengmeng, do you think we should invite Captain Chen to dinner alone to thank him for helping you get transferred to the county town?"

Xu Mengmeng thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, don't invite her."

Zhang Hu asked, puzzled, "Why?"

"We were introduced by Captain Chen and Yan Hong. Now that they've broken up, we invited him to dinner. Seeing us together like this, isn't that just trying to provoke him and make him unhappy?"

"Captain Chen and Wang Yanhong were just playing around; they didn't develop any real feelings for each other. Why would he be provoked?"

"You're such an idiot when it comes to relationships. Captain Chen didn't have any real feelings for her, yet he went to Fushan Town in the middle of the night just to hear Yan Hong say 'let's break up' to him."

Xu Mengmeng sighed, "Yan Hong is an extremely sensitive person; they are destined not to be together."

Zhang Hu was completely bewildered. Both of them had developed genuine feelings for each other, so why couldn't they be together? He couldn't understand it.

Just then, Xu Mengmeng's phone rang. She picked it up and saw that it was her younger brother, Xu Mo, calling.

Xu Mengmeng gestured for Zhang Hu to be quiet: "Hey, Xiao Mo."

"Sis, where are you?"

"You went to our school."

"My parents asked me to bring you some pig's feet. When I knocked on your dorm room door, the teacher next door said you weren't there last night."

"A female classmate of mine came down from Yizhou to visit. I stayed at a hotel with her last night, and I just saw her off. I'm coming back now."

Xu Mengmeng quickly got dressed, washed up, and left the hotel, telling Zhang Hu not to follow her, fearing her younger brother would see them and guess that the two had booked a room outside the hotel last night.

Meanwhile, Xu Linlin returned to Fushan Town to find Wang Yanhong.

Arriving at Wang Yanhong's rented room, I knocked heavily on the door. Wang Yanhong was washing dishes. When I opened the door, I saw Xu Linlin, whom I hadn't seen in a long time.

"Cousin, come in and sit down."

Xu Linlin walked into the rented room with a displeased expression and looked around.

"Yan Hong, what's wrong with you? How could you break up with Chen Shi? He's a deputy section chief now. Do you know that you'll never meet another deputy section chief in your life?"

Wang Yanhong snorted coldly: "I don't care about being a deputy section chief."

Xu Linlin emphasized her words, her tone full of reproach.

"Are you stupid? Why don't you stay in the free apartment provided by the police station? Why do you insist on moving out and living in this run-down rental?"

What's so great about Fushan Town? It's so far from the county seat, and in winter it's shrouded in thick fog all day long.

Even if you have signed a contract with the school, if Chen Shi makes a call, they will have to obediently release you.

People strive for higher positions, just as water flows downhill. Don't you understand this principle?

Wang Yanhong had tolerated Xu Linlin more than once or twice, and her face darkened: "Cousin, did you come all this way just to interrogate me?"

Whether Chen Shi and I break up or stay together is none of your business. This is my affair, and it's none of your concern. If there's nothing else, please leave.

Xu Linlin snorted coldly: "Hopeless. Do you think I want to help? Without Chen Shi's protection, you can just fend for yourself."

After uttering those harsh words, Xu Linlin left without even glancing at Wang Yanhong.

Wang Yanhong just wants to live a simple life, and it's time to cut ties with these snobbish relatives.