Please, mature women, have some self-respect. I just want a raise and a promotion.

Lin Xiaoyu picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and her gaze fell on Lin Zheng.

"Are you that confident?"

Lin Zheng lit a cigarette, leaned back in his chair,

"I wouldn't say I'm 100% sure, but I'm about 90% sure."

"Zhou Hailong's monthly salary is only around ten thousand yuan, but he has a gambling debt of 500,000 yuan. Even if he doesn't eat or drink, it will take him four or five years to pay it off."

"Can Ma Cuihua help him? Impossible."

"I reckon Ma Cuihua doesn't know this yet."

"Besides, the kind of woman she is, she'll treat you like a treasure when she needs you, but throw you away as soon as she's done with you."

Lin Xiaoyu sighed: "Zhou Hailong wasn't like this in college. I don't know how he got involved in gambling."

Lin Zheng exhaled a puff of smoke and turned his gaze back to Lin Xiaoyu.

People change.

"Just like you, you look so dignified and virtuous, who would have thought that in private..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Xiaoyu kicked him under the table, her face turning red to her ears.

"Shut up."

Lin Zheng smiled and reached out to take her hand.

Lin Xiaoyu didn't pull her hand back. She looked down at their clasped hands, her heart inexplicably racing.

The private room was dimly lit, with only a warm yellow chandelier overhead, casting long shadows of the two people.

They had drunk half a bottle of wine and eaten most of the food, but no one was in a hurry to leave.

"Lin Zheng," Lin Xiaoyu suddenly spoke, her voice very soft.

"Um?"

"Tell me, if I hadn't married Lao Zhang back then, would we...?"

She paused, then didn't continue.

Lin Zheng looked at her and knew what she wanted to say.

"Yes." He stubbed out his cigarette, his voice low.

Lin Xiaoyu raised her head, met his gaze, and her eyes were a little red.

"You're the kind of person who knows how to make me happy."

"I'm telling the truth."

Lin Xiaoyu smiled, her smile revealing fine lines at the corners of her eyes, but it also made her seem more genuine than usual.

She stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night view outside.

"You know what? It's been so long since I've had a conversation like this with anyone."

"Old Zhang is busy all day long. When he gets home, he just reads the newspaper and watches TV. It's hard to even talk to him."

"Sometimes I wonder if this is how my life will always be."

Lin Zheng walked behind Lin Xiaoyu and put his arm around her waist.

Lin Xiaoyu stiffened, but instead of dodging, she leaned back and snuggled into his arms.

"Lin Zheng, please don't do this."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"What?"

"If you keep doing this, I won't be able to control myself."

Lin Zheng didn't speak, but lowered his head and kissed her neck.

Lin Xiaoyu trembled and let out a suppressed groan.

She turned her head, and her lips met Lin Zheng's lips.

The two kissed, their kiss progressing from gentle to passionate, from tentative to demanding.

Lin Xiaoyu hooked her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and pressed her body completely against him.

"Curtains..." she mumbled.

Lin Zheng put one arm around her waist and pulled the curtains closed with the other.

Only the rapid breathing of the two people remained in the private room, along with the faint sound of traffic outside the window.

Lin Xiaoyu's skirt was pushed up, and her fair legs gleamed in the dim light.

She bit her lip, her eyes unfocused, and her fingers unbuttoned his shirt.

"Hurry... in case someone comes..."

"Won't."

Lin Zheng pressed her against the window and hugged her from behind.

Lin Xiaoyu braced herself against the window with both hands, her head bowed, her long hair falling down and obscuring her face.

She bit her lip hard, afraid to make a sound.

The neon lights outside the window reflected on her face, flickering on and off.

After more than half an hour of playful tussling, Lin Xiaoyu finally collapsed into Lin Zheng's arms, her face flushed with satisfaction.

"You're amazing."

Lin Xiaoyu leaned against Lin Zheng's chest, drawing circles with her fingers.

Do you like it or not?

"like."

Lin Xiaoyu raised her head and looked into Lin Zheng's eyes.

"Lin Zheng, I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Old Zhang is going to the provincial capital for training next month for half a month."

Lin Zheng's heart skipped a beat: "So?"

"So...you're coming to keep me company."

Lin Xiaoyu's voice was very soft.

Lin Zheng looked at her but did not answer immediately.

"You don't want to?"

A hint of disappointment flashed in Lin Xiaoyu's eyes.

"It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just..."

"Just what?"

"I'm just afraid I won't be able to control myself and you'll get pregnant."

Lin Xiaoyu smiled and reached out to stroke Lin Zheng's face.

"Then don't try to control it."

The two lingered for a while longer until Lin Xiaoyu's phone rang.

It was Zhang Wanquan calling, asking when she would be back.

"immediately."

Lin Xiaoyu hung up the phone and sighed, "I have to go."

Lin Zheng nodded and helped her zip up her skirt.

The two walked out of Wangjiang Tower, the night breeze blowing on their faces, dispelling the heat from their bodies.

Lin Xiaoyu tiptoed and kissed him on the lips: "Be careful on the road."

"The same to you."

Watching Lin Xiaoyu get into the car and leave, Lin Zheng lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

This woman is becoming increasingly irresistible to him.

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

The next afternoon, Lin Zheng was arranging the next steps for Chen Li and Yang Zhian.

While the three were discussing road planning, Lin Zheng's phone, which was on his desk, rang.

The call came from an unknown number.

"Manager Lin, this is Wang Jianguo."

Lin Zheng answered the phone and heard Wang Jianguo's calm voice.

"Mayor Wang, hello," Lin Zheng said with a smile.

Are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you to dinner.

"If you have time, Mayor Wang, you can choose a place."

"Wangjiang Tower, six o'clock."

"Okay, I'll definitely be there."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zheng frowned.

Wang Jianguo invited him to dinner, which was definitely not as simple as just having a meal.

He thought for a moment and then called Qiu Xiuqin.

"Sister Xiuqin, Wang Jianguo is treating me to dinner tonight."

"I know, he mentioned it to me."

"He helped Li Zhengang get things done, and now he's asking for something in return."

"Remember, whatever he wants, don't rush to agree, and don't rush to refuse."

"Come back, let's discuss this further."

"Okay." Lin Zheng nodded.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zheng lit a cigarette and quietly smoked it with a frown.

It's really a wave of upheaval.

Hopefully, Wang Jianguo won't make an exorbitant demand.

Seeing that Lin Zheng's expression was off, Chen Li asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's alright, let's continue the meeting."

Lin Zheng waved his hand, not wanting to trouble Chen Li.

The three of them discussed it for an entire afternoon before coming up with a preliminary plan.

Lin Zheng checked the time and told Chen Li and Zhang Zhian to go back and rest, while he took a taxi to Wangjiang Tower.

Lin Zheng arrived at Wangjiang Tower ten minutes early.

Wang Jianguo was already waiting in the private room.

He was wearing a white shirt and looked very casual.

Wang Jianguo pointed to the seats opposite: "There are no outsiders today, so please feel free to make yourselves at home."

Lin Zheng nodded and sat down, pouring Wang Jianguo a cup of tea.

"Mayor Wang, what brings you here to treat me to dinner today?"

Wang Jianguo took a sip of tea and chuckled, "Do I need a reason to invite you to dinner?"

"We were just chatting casually."

Lin Zheng also picked up his tea, took a sip, and didn't reply, waiting for Wang Jianguo to continue.

The two drank several cups of tea in a row, and Wang Jianguo called the waiter to bring out the dishes.

Lin Zheng was a little confused, wondering what Wang Jianguo meant.

However, he won't bring it up unless Wang Jianguo sets conditions.

After a few rounds of drinks, Wang Jianguo put down his glass and looked at Lin Zheng.

"Manager Lin, how's the project progressing?"

"It's still progressing, but there are some difficulties," Lin Zheng said truthfully.

"What difficulties are you facing? Tell me about them."

"The main problem is funding. The money from Tianlong Company has been delayed, so the project can't get off the ground."

Wang Jianguo nodded: "Li Ting is indeed a difficult person to deal with."

"However, his connections are very complex, and going head-to-head with him is not the solution."

"So, what does Mayor Wang mean?"

"What I mean is, we need to find someone to mediate."

Wang Jianguo picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Like me."

Lin Zheng understood the implication in his words but did not respond.

Wang Jianguo continued, "I have some connections with Li Ting, so he'll give me some face when I speak to him."

"but……"

He paused, then put down his teacup.

"Manager Lin, you're a sensible person, so I won't beat around the bush."

"I'll take a risk if I help you with this."