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

After returning to Chunyang County and working hard for several days, Chen Shi finally had a moment to relax and thought of Jiang Yiqiu. He took out his phone and called Jiang Yiqiu.

"Honey, you finally remembered me. I thought you'd forgotten you had a girlfriend."

Chen Shi knew that Jiang Yiqiu was complaining about him because he didn't call her enough; normally, it was Jiang Yiqiu who called Chen Shi.

"I've been so busy with work lately, and I also have to squeeze in time to attend classes at the provincial party school. I don't have enough time. I wish I could spare some time to be by your side."

"Do you have a business dinner tonight? Come over to my place for dinner."

Jiang Yiqiu isn't the kind of girl who's easily swayed by emotions; she knows what's important. The fact that Chen Shi was able to explain things to her shows that he still cares about her.

"I'm coming over for dinner tonight. I have something to tell you."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yiqiu left work early to buy groceries and cook. She rarely cooked and didn't want to cook; she only cooked when Chen Shi came over.

There are no vegetables at home, so we have to buy them fresh.

After working for more than an hour to prepare the meal, Chen Shi knocked on the door.

Jiang Yiqiu opened the door, and Chen Shi walked in and closed the door. Jiang Yiqiu threw herself into Chen Shi's arms, looking aggrieved, and said, "You always say you're busy. I haven't seen you in so long. I miss you so much."

He kissed Chen Shi on the cheek.

Chen Shi hugged Jiang Yiqiu and said, "I call you whenever I have a spare moment. I miss you too."

Jiang Yiqiu took off his apron and said, "Eat quickly, I made some of your favorite dishes."

Chen Shi sat down, and Jiang Yiqiu served him a bowl of soup.

Chen Shi took a sip: "Not bad, delicious."

"Drink more."

Chen Shi drank two bowls of soup, then picked up his chopsticks to eat. Jiang Yiqiu didn't eat rice, only a little bit of vegetables. He felt very satisfied watching Chen Shi eat the food he had made.

After finishing his meal, Chen Shi put down his chopsticks and said, "Yi Qiu, I have something to tell you. Yang Xiong came to me to report on his work. The First Middle School is currently short of a vice principal, and he recommended you to take over. What are your thoughts?"

Jiang Yiqiu was overjoyed, but she didn't show it on her face. This was the first time Chen Shi had talked to her about work.

"I will follow the organization's arrangements."

Chen Shi looked at Jiang Yiqiu: "You should have no problem taking over as vice principal. We'll discuss it at the Party Committee meeting tomorrow."

Jiang Yiqiu said softly, "Okay."

She cleared away the dishes and went to wash them. She knew Chen Shi's personality; if she offered to become the vice principal, he would definitely dislike her and even suspect that she was dating him to get a promotion.

If he pretends that he doesn't want to be the vice principal, he will think he is hypocritical and will also hate himself.

It was perfectly reasonable for Yang Xiong to bring this up, and no one could find fault with it. Within the system, who wouldn't want to be a leader?

After washing the dishes, Chen Shi lit a cigarette to suppress her excitement. Being a leader is like taking drugs; it's addictive. Asking her to go back to being a teacher is harder to accept than killing her.

"Honey, come with me to see a movie. My teacher at school said 'Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons' is really good."

Jiang Yiqiu hasn't gone out for a long time.

Chen Shi said softly, "Okay."

Jiang Yiqiu touched up her makeup, took Chen Shi's hand, and went out. Chen Shi drove them to the mall and accompanied Jiang Yiqiu shopping for a while. Jiang Yiqiu bought a pair of high heels.

Chen Shi carried it in his hand, and Jiang Yiqiu took Chen Shi's arm as they arrived at the movie theater entrance. Chen Shi saw a familiar figure from afar.

Huang Xin and another woman were also there to watch a movie.

The two had been intimate last time, and neither had contacted the other since; this was their first meeting.

Huang Xin turned around and saw Chen Shi walking over, with Jiang Yiqiu beside him, holding Chen Shi's hand. It was the first time she had seen Jiang Yiqiu. This woman was also pretty, but not as pretty as herself.

Chen Shi walked up to Huang Xin and greeted her as if nothing had happened.

"Minister Huang, you've come to see a movie too."

Huang Xin held the two movie tickets and hummed in agreement.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Yi Qiu, let me introduce you. This is Huang Xin, the deputy minister of the Organization Department."

Jiang Yiqiu extended her hand: "Minister Huang, hello. I am Jiang Yiqiu, Chen Shi's girlfriend."

Huang Xin felt very uncomfortable. She knew Chen Shi had a girlfriend, but seeing him so intimate with another woman made her a little jealous.

He said coldly, "Director Chen, do I know you?"

Chen Shi was completely confused. Jiang Yiqiu looked at Chen Shi and, seeing that Huang Xin had no intention of shaking hands with him, awkwardly withdrew his hand.

Huang Xin said to her female companion, "Let's not watch anymore, let's go."

Huang Xin left quickly, and his female companion chased after him, asking, "Minister Huang, why did you stop watching?"

"I'm not in the mood. If you want to see it, go see it yourself."

The female companion was speechless for a moment, and could only leave with her.

Jiang Yiqiu's intuition told her that Huang Xin had some kind of entanglement with Chen Shi. What's there to entangle between a man and a woman besides that?

She looked at Chen Shi, needing a reasonable explanation.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Huang Xin has a very powerful background. Her uncle is the secretary-general of the municipal party committee. She grew up in her uncle's house and never gives anyone a friendly look. Don't take it to heart."

Jiang Yiqiu needed an explanation, not comfort.

Chen Shi added, "Chunyang County had two spots for graduate studies at the Provincial Party School, and she went to study there too. Her uncle personally spoke to Secretary Liu on her behalf. I have never offended her, so I don't know why she is so hostile towards me."

Jiang Yiqiu thought to himself, "What hostility? It's clearly jealousy. I'm Chen Shi's girlfriend, and they're making me look like a homewrecker."

"Does Minister Huang have a boyfriend?"

"No, she's always been single. I heard she has many suitors, but she doesn't like any of them."

Jiang Yiqiu suddenly felt a sense of crisis and kept thinking about it while watching the movie.

Huang Xin has a more powerful background than him and is someone he can't afford to offend. If she takes the initiative to pursue Chen Shi, will Chen Shi abandon him?

She didn't want to lose Chen Shi, her powerful patron, at least not now, since she hadn't become the principal yet.

Jiang Yiqiu was well aware of her own abilities. Being a school principal was no problem, but taking it a step further, especially for a woman, was too difficult.

The principal of a high school wields considerable power; he is like a local tyrant, making all the decisions within the school's small territory.

In any case, she must rely on Chen Shi's powerful backing to help her become the principal, and she will pretend not to know about her entanglement with Huang Xin.

Successful people are generally patient and maximize their benefits; they don't act impulsively.

If an ordinary woman were to encounter such a situation, she would have a huge argument with Chen Shi and would only push him away. Without Chen Shi's help, she wouldn't even be able to become the vice-principal, let alone the principal.

Venting your emotions will only make things worse; it won't help and won't solve any problems.

After leaving the movie, Jiang Yiqiu took Chen Shi's arm. Noticing her distracted expression, Chen Shi asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No"

Chen Shi wondered to himself, "Could it be that she knows about my relationship with Huang Xin?" But it was impossible. Jiang Yiqiu and Huang Xin were meeting for the first time and were not familiar with each other at all.