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

March arrived, and the Party School opened on March 2nd. Chen Shi went to the Provincial Party School and searched everywhere for Huang Xin.

Huang Xin was surrounded by a group of people asking for her contact information; needless to say, she was the most beautiful girl at the provincial Party School.

She also looked around for Chen Shi's figure, and when their eyes met, they quickly looked away.

Huang Xin stepped out from the crowd and walked to Chen Shi's side: "Director Chen, who are you looking for?"

Chen Shi smiled and said, "I'm looking for you."

"Why are you looking for me?"

"We all came from Chunyang, and you are the one I know best. Everyone else is a stranger. If I don't look for you, who else can I look for?"

Chen Shi looked at Huang Xin: "Who are you looking for this time?"

"Looking for you"

Chen Shi chuckled: "Have you fallen for me?"

"Who likes you? Stop being so narcissistic."

Huang Xin turned and left.

The class meeting was tonight, and the opening ceremony was to be held tomorrow morning. Chen Shi did not see Ding Yi. He walked around the campus for a while and then arrived at the classroom early to wait for the class meeting.

He suddenly realized that the students here all had cliques and sat together with people they knew, but Chen Shi was sitting alone to the side.

Huang Xin walked into the classroom and unconsciously sat down next to Chen Shi. Chen Shi whispered, "Where did you go? I haven't seen you around."

"Do I need to report to you where I went?"

Chen Shi looked at Huang Xin and said, "If you weren't so pretty and had your uncle to back you up, with this kind of personality, you'd be beaten to death sooner or later."

"Minister Huang, can't you speak properly? We've met by chance, and now we need to unite. Look at the others, they're all just playing the clique."

Huang Xin said coldly, "Why don't you try to network too? Get into the provincial capital's circles, and your career can take off."

Chen Shi really wanted to trap Huang Xin on the spot and make her beg for mercy.

Ding Yi walked in, saw Chen Shi, and sat down next to him: "Director Chen, let me introduce the beautiful lady next to you."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Section Chief Ding, let me introduce you. This is Huang Xin, the Deputy Minister of the Organization Department of Chunyang County."

Ding Yi extended his hand with a smile: "Minister Huang, hello. I am Ding Yi, the section chief of the General Affairs Section of the Education Department's Office."

Huang Xin did not extend her hand to shake hands with Ding Yi, and said coldly, "Section Chief Ding, hello."

Ding Yi awkwardly withdrew his hand, wondering to himself, "Who is this Huang Xin? At such a young age, she is already the deputy director of the county's organization department. With that kind of personality, she is not suited to work in the system at all. Yet she has managed to rise to the powerful section chief level. She must have a very strong background."

Chen Shi broke the awkward silence: "Section Chief Ding, are you going to attend the opening ceremony tomorrow morning?"

"I have something to do tomorrow morning. I need to accompany Director Zhao on a research trip to the city."

Ding Yi looked at Chen Shi and said, "Director Chen, let me introduce you to some friends."

Chen Shi followed Ding Yi out of the classroom, where three people were chatting by the window.

Ding Yi walked over, smiled, and said, "Zhao Li, Xiao Xiao, Qian Liang, let me introduce you to a friend."

Chen Shichao smiled and nodded to the three of them. Ding Yi said, "This is Director Chen of the Chunyang County Education Bureau."

The three exchanged a glance. They didn't take the bureau chief from the county town seriously, but they didn't show it.

Zhao Li extended his hand: "Hello, Director Chen, I am Zhao Li, the deputy section chief of the Cadre Section of the Organization Department of the Yizhou Municipal Party Committee."

Chen Shi shook Zhao Li's hand: "Hello, Section Chief Zhao."

Xiao Xiao said, "Hello Director Chen, I am Xiao Xiao, the head of the General Affairs Section of the Provincial Government Office."

Chen Shi extended his hand, and Xiao Xiao extended his hand in return, shaking Chen Shi's hand. Chen Shi smiled and said, "Hello, Section Chief Xiao."

Qian Liang said, "Hello Director Chen, I am Qian Liang, the head of the General Affairs Section of the Health Department's Office."

Ding Yi smiled and said, "Section Chief Qian, didn't you forget something? You're still Director Qi's secretary."

From the introductions of the three people, Chen Shi could guess that they were from the secretarial circle.

The group started chatting, but Chen Shi, who wasn't familiar with them, couldn't join in and listened from the side until the class meeting was about to start, at which point they went inside.

The class meeting was simple: electing class officers. The election itself was also simple: they were ranked according to their positions.

The highest-ranking official was the deputy mayor, who was around forty years old and was elected as the class monitor. The other class officers were either at the level of a full-fledged department head or at least a deputy department head. Chen Shi, who was at the level of a section chief and came from the county, basically had no say in the matter.

Many people surrounded the deputy mayor, trying to build a relationship with him.

In reality, pursuing a master's degree at the Party School is just a formality. People's minds aren't on studying; they're all trying to build connections. Naturally, the higher the official rank, the more popular one is.

Zhao Li, Xiao Xiao, Qian Liang, and Ding Yi, like Chen Shi, were not elected as class officers.

Huang Xin sat to the side, looking out of place; she seemed to be watching the show, observing everyone's performance.

Ding Yi asked, "What is the background of this Huang Xin? He keeps people at arm's length and doesn't seem like someone from the system."

Chen Shi whispered, "Her uncle is Huang Ao, the secretary-general of the Mingzhou Municipal Party Committee, and the chief steward of Xiao Chong, the secretary of the municipal party committee."

Ding Yi guessed that Huang Xin's background was not simple, but he didn't expect her to be so powerful. No wonder she ignored everyone.

After the class officer elections were completed, the class meeting adjourned.

Qian Liang pulled Ding Yi aside: "What's the background of this Chen Shi?"

Ding Yi whispered, "His background is quite impressive. His uncle is the mayor of Mingzhou City. His position as a section chief carries far more power than ours. He's a powerful local lord, able to make the decisions in his own territory."

"Among us, who has the final say? How many soldiers do we have? We're not even in the same league."

Qian Liang whispered, "Old Ding, don't be discouraged. We're close to the leaders, and when there's a chance for promotion, the leaders will definitely think of us first."

If we were transferred out, we would at least start as deputy division-level officials with real power.

Huang Xin walked quickly outside, and Chen Shi quickly followed after her: "Minister Huang, why are you walking so fast?"

Huang Xin stopped in her tracks and said coldly, "I'm not going to associate with your circle anymore."

Chen Shi wasn't angry. He chuckled and said, "I think Secretary-General Huang sent you to the Provincial Party School for graduate studies so you could network. After all, you're still young, and he can't take care of you forever."

"None of your business"

Chen Shi asked, "Where do you live?"

Where I live is none of your business.

"How can you talk like that? I didn't do anything to you. We're from the same place, so it's only right that we look out for each other. Which hotel are you staying at? I haven't checked in yet. I'll stay next to you. If you need anything, just let me know, and I'll come right away."

Huang Xin thought of the dream she had that night; it felt so real. Her cheeks flushed red, and she didn't dare look at Chen Shi. She quickly walked away.

As I sat in the car, my heart raced. I was really looking forward to Chen Shi staying in the room next door, so that what happened in my dream could become a reality.

Chen Shi walked to the car and gently knocked on the window: "Minister Huang, what's wrong with you? I care about you so much, but you always hurt my feelings."

Huang Xin took a deep breath to calm herself down and rolled down the car window.

"Director Chen, do you know that this is harassment of women? I can sue you and bring you back to square one, making you nothing overnight."

Chen Shi chuckled: "If caring about someone is considered harassment, then I'd rather bear the stigma of harassment."

"Rogue!" Huang Xin uttered two words and told the driver to drive away.