In name only: The land of Handong, I shall rule its fate.

"because…"

Upon hearing this question, Liang Lu seemed to have all her strength stripped away, instantly softening and losing all her energy.

"Because I saw your assigned position."

"I inquired about you in Yantai City in my father's name. At that time, the city bureau had just received your application to join the anti-drug team, which was not in compliance with regulations and was supposed to be rejected."

"But I want to see how far you can go for Chen Yang."

"They let the Iwata City Police Department approve your application, and then watched you risk your life in the anti-drug squad, even getting shot but refusing to leave the front line."

"Me back then..."

"I'm so envious of your dedication to Chen Yang."

"I was all ready to attend your wedding with Chen Yang, but then I heard in the office that you proposed on the playground."

"I know there's a problem in your relationship with Chen Yang, and I know you were willing to kneel down and propose for your father's power, but I've never felt such sincerity in love, where someone would risk everything for another. I'm ashamed to have fallen for you."

"Later, my father persuaded me, and for the first time in my life, I begged my father to pave the way for me."

"My father was such a proud man, a man who took 'I must be willing to risk my life to do law and politics' as his life motto. For the sake of his unfilial daughter, he paved the way for his son-in-law."

"Neither of my two older brothers received this kind of treatment."

"One of them went to the harsh conditions of Tianlu Province, and the other lived in anonymity for half his life. But Qi Tongwei, how could you face my father?"

"Before he retired, he swallowed his pride and promoted you to the position of director of the Political Security Department, and you went to mourn at the Zhao family's grave! Mourn at the grave! My father lost all his face in his life, and he was too ashamed to stay in Handong, where he had lived for decades, and never came back."

Liang Lu became hysterical, sobbing uncontrollably with her head on her knees.

Wrong! Everything is wrong!

Qi Tongwei closed his eyes wearily.

He couldn't be sure if what Liang Lu said was true, but getting the same answer from two people of different statuses made him realize that he was the culprit who had made big mistakes at every stage of his life.

His eagerness for quick success and instant benefits ruined him!

Looking back now, it's not just the two mistakes he made: eagerly seeking a transfer to Beijing after being awarded the title of First-Class Heroic Model and serving as the Director of the Political Security Department.

He made a mistake from the very first step.

He was a graduate student born in 91. Once he was officially appointed, he would enjoy the benefits of a deputy section chief. As long as he got through the probationary period, the organization would resolve his substantive position within one or two years.

But he only saw the old director's mediocre life, completely ignoring the special era in which the other party lived. He was stupid, he was educated but not wise.

"Governor Lin said that a woman who has taken off her clothes must put them back on herself, one by one, and a man who has lost his dignity must earn it back step by step."

"Liang Lu, I want to give it a try."

"I plan to bring my child with Gao Xiaoqin back under the guise of adoption. If you feel he is too old and difficult to manage, we can adopt another one."

"If I can stay in this position, I will do my best to support your two nephews and give them all my resources."

Qi Tongwei remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

Now he is forty-seven years old and Liang Lu is fifty-seven years old. They are past the age of romantic feelings and have said all sorts of harsh words. Rather than talking about feelings, they should talk about the most practical interests.

"good!"

Liang Lu wiped away her tears and did not refuse.

If Qi Tongwei had said this, Liang Lu wouldn't have believed a single punctuation mark, but it represented Lin Zhiyuan's will.

She wanted to take a gamble.

She is 57 years old, and the policy allows her to voluntarily extend her retirement age to 60. She can retire at any time, and she has nothing left to lose.

"besides…"

Liang Lu wanted to say something, but hesitated.

"Just say it."

"Besides being husband and wife in name only, we're also in the same boat."

Qi Tongwei rubbed his temples.

There's nothing he can't accept right now.

"And Gao Yuliang's share, if you can, you'd better take it back as well."

Liang Lu still spoke hesitantly.

"Um?"

Qi Tongwei frowned. He knew that Professor Gao Yuliang was Liang Qunfeng's chosen successor. Both of them were scholar-officials and their temperaments were very compatible.

Perhaps because of this affection, and also because of their teacher-student relationship, Gao Yuliang usually treated him quite well.

"I don't know how to say it."

Liang Lu frowned.

"Starting in the early 90s, scholar-officials were very popular. My father had never expressed a clear person to mentor, so Han University approached him, hoping to select another person from among the Han University teachers to mentor."

"Actually, what was needed at that time was economic talent, but Gao Yuliang had the opportunity to meet with my father multiple times because of Wu Huifen and me, so we chose him."

"I've been thinking about those days all these years."

"Was it really a coincidence that Dad chose him? You know, back then, teacher-student relationships were not accepted, but Gao Yuliang still married Wu Huifen. Officially, it was because Gao Yuliang liked Ming history, and Wu Huifen studied Ming history. She even stayed at the university to teach and became a professor in the history department. The two shared the same interests."

"And then..."

"Before my father retired, he had the opportunity to study at the Lighthouse. After returning, he became the Party Secretary of Luzhou City. After my father retired, he successfully boarded the Zhao family's ship."

"Everything is going too smoothly."

"It was like it was meticulously rehearsed."

As Liang Lu spoke, she seemed somewhat uneasy.

"Your position as deputy provincial-level official has been delayed for the past two years. I'm afraid your teacher, Mr. Gao, is doing this on purpose."

"Although Zhao Lichun left four years ago, everyone knows that his successor, Secretary Liao, is Zhao Lichun's right-hand man. With him and Gao Yuliang on board, the provincial first and third provinces can speak together, and even Governor Liu has to think twice."

"But they didn't. They deliberately delayed your appointment until the end of Secretary Liao's term, and now Secretary Liao has been transferred ahead of schedule."

"I suspect that Gao Yuliang betrayed my father and the education he received at Han University, or that both were just stepping stones for him."

"But this kind of thing can't be said openly. Besides, even Dad doesn't think he has any resources left over. Plus, you didn't live up to expectations in the past two years, so... so I didn't say anything."

Liang Lu lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers.

"Who did you tell about this?"

Qi Tongwei felt a dryness in his throat, even a sharp, needle-like pain.

He was completely oblivious to the fact that Liang Lu could see it clearly, even though he had clearly seen those videos and photos.

"Not a single one."

Liang Lu shook her head. "I wanted to tell my dad, but as soon as I opened my mouth, he interrupted me and said he didn't want to hear about Handong."

"I see."

Qi Tongwei took Liang Lu's hand, patted it in his palm, and said, "I will follow Governor Lin with peace of mind from now on."

Even if you don't believe me.

"We should also trust Governor Lin and my father-in-law's judgment."