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

The phone rang twice, and Qiu Xiuqin's languid voice came from the other end.

"Lin Zheng? It's so late, what's wrong?"

"Sister Xiuqin, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Lin Zheng lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and said, "Do you know anyone at the road administration bureau or the power supply station?"

Qiu Xiuqin was taken aback for a moment and asked, "What's wrong? Is the approval process stalled?"

"Director Zhang from the Road Administration Bureau isn't here today; I'll have to go there again tomorrow."

"The power supply station said it would take a month, but I can't wait that long."

"A month?"

"They're good at stalling."

Qiu Xiuqin's voice carried a hint of sarcasm.

"I don't have direct connections with either of these departments, but..."

"But what?"

"Old Yang is at home. The director of the road administration bureau is his classmate, and the director of the power supply station is his former subordinate."

Lin Zheng was secretly delighted: "Could we ask Mayor Yang for a favor?"

"Come here and talk to him in person."

"I'm waiting for you at home."

Qiu Xiuqin's voice carried a subtle hint of ambiguity.

Lin Zheng's heart raced. He stubbed out his cigarette and said, "Okay, I'll be right there."

After hanging up the phone, he hailed a taxi and headed straight for Yang Wanshan's house.

Lin Zheng leaned back in his chair, but Qiu Xiuqin's image kept popping into his mind.

That black halter dress, those alluring eyes, and her frenzy in the private room...

Lin Zheng took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

When he arrived at the entrance of the residential area, he paid the fare and went into the elevator.

The elevator doors closed, and Lin Zheng looked at his face in the mirror and straightened his collar.

He told himself that he was here tonight to talk about serious business and couldn't think about anything else.

That's what I said, but my heart started racing uncontrollably.

When the elevator reached the fifth floor, Lin Zheng raised his hand and knocked on the door.

The door opened quickly, and Qiu Xiuqin stood in the doorway wearing a beige loungewear dress, her long hair loose, her face lightly made up, and her lips painted with light pink lipstick, looking gentle and homely.

But in Lin Zheng's eyes, this seemingly conservative loungewear dress hides a fatal allure.

"Come in, Old Yang is reading the newspaper in the living room."

Qiu Xiuqin stepped aside to let him in, her gaze lingering on him for a few seconds, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Lin Zheng walked into the living room, where Yang Wanshan was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper, wearing reading glasses and looking focused.

"Mayor Yang, I'm sorry to bother you," Lin Zhengyi greeted him irritably.

Yang Wanshan looked up and smiled, "You've arrived? Have a seat."

Lin Zheng sat down and accepted the cigarettes offered by Yang Wanshan.

Qiu Xiuqin sat down next to Yang Wanshan, leaning gently against him and placing her hand on his arm in a natural and intimate manner.

But in Lin Zheng's eyes, every move this woman made was provocative.

"Lin Zheng, how's the project going?" Yang Wanshan asked.

Lin Zheng briefly explained the project's details, and finally mentioned the approval issues with the road administration bureau and the power supply station.

"Director Zhang of the Road Administration Bureau is my classmate."

Yang Wanshan flicked his cigarette ash and continued, "Director Liu of the power supply station used to be my subordinate."

"I can put in a good word for you with both sides."

"Thank you, Mayor Yang."

Lin Zheng's face lit up with joy. He thought to himself that it was still the government's chief steward. The things he had to run himself ragged for were just a matter of a word for Yang Wanshan.

"Don't thank me yet, I haven't finished."

Yang Wanshan looked at Lin Zheng.

"I can expedite the approval process for you, but you'll still encounter many difficulties during the project's progress."

"for example?"

"For example, demolition, funding, and coordination within the town."

"These are all troublesome things, you have to be prepared."

Lin Zheng nodded: "I know, that's why I've been trying to find a solution."

As the two chatted, Qiu Xiuqin gently stroked Yang Wanshan's arm while her eyes were fixed on Lin Zheng, with a hint of seduction in her gaze.

Lin Zheng's heart raced, and he looked away, unable to meet her gaze.

"You're a reliable person when it comes to doing things."

"But the situation in Dianhai Town is such that simply being cautious won't get things done."

"Many things require connections."

"Therefore, you need to learn to leverage resources."

Lin Zheng was taken aback and asked, "What does Mayor Yang mean?"

"What I mean is, there are some things you can ask me for, or you can ask Xiuqin for."

Yang Wanshan patted Qiu Xiuqin's hand.

"She's been in Dianhai Town for so many years, and her network of connections is even wider than mine."

Qiu Xiuqin laughed: "Old Yang, all you know how to do is flatter me."

"I'm telling the truth."

Yang Wanshan stood up: "I'll go get a glass of water. You guys chat first."

He went into the kitchen, leaving only Lin Zheng and Qiu Xiuqin in the living room.

Qiu Xiuqin immediately took action, gently patting the sofa to signal Lin Zheng to sit down.

Lin Zheng hesitated for a moment, but still moved over.

Qiu Xiuqin leaned against him, gently stroking his thigh, and whispered in his ear.

"Lin Zheng, have you missed me?"

Lin Zheng froze and grabbed her hand.

"Sister Xiuqin, Mayor Yang is here..."

"He's in the kitchen, he can't see."

Qiu Xiuqin's hand didn't stop, moving upwards along his thigh.

Lin Zheng gasped and grabbed her hand: "No..."

"What do you mean?"

Qiu Xiuqin smiled and gently ran her fingers across the back of his hand.

"Don't you miss me?"

I want to, but not now.

"When was that?"

Qiu Xiuqin moved even closer, her warm breath brushing against his ear.

"Lin Zheng, do you know how excited I get every time you come to my house?"

"The thrill of having an affair with you right under Lao Yang's nose is even greater than being in bed with him."

Lin Zheng's mind went blank, and the last thread of his rationality almost snapped.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

"Sister Xiuqin, let's get down to business today, okay?"

"The important business is over."

Qiu Xiuqin reached out her hand again: "Now it's time to talk about private matters."

Just as Lin Zheng was about to speak, Yang Wanshan's footsteps came from the kitchen.

Qiu Xiuqin immediately withdrew her hand, sat up straight, and her dignified smile returned to her face.

The whole process was so fast it was as if it had been rehearsed countless times.

Yang Wanshan came out with a water glass, glanced at the two of them, and didn't notice anything unusual.

"Lin Zheng, have some water."

"Thank you, Mayor Yang."

Lin Zheng took the water glass, took a sip, and his heart was still pounding.

Yang Wanshan sat back down on the sofa and continued the previous conversation.

"Lin Zheng, let me tell you, once the project starts, a lot of people will be watching it."

"From the town, the district, even the city."

"You have to learn to navigate situations carefully, without offending anyone or letting others take advantage of you."

Lin Zheng nodded and said, "Mayor Yang is right, I will pay attention."

"It's not enough to just pay attention; you need to have the means."

Yang Wanshan looked at him and continued, "The fact that you've managed to establish yourself in Tenghua Group shows that you have some ability."

"But in Dianhai Town, those skills aren't enough."

"You need to learn to handle various relationships in a more flexible way."

Lin Zheng understood the meaning behind his words; he was being taught how to navigate the officialdom.

"Mayor Yang, could you be more specific?"

"Be more specific?"

Yang Wanshan thought for a moment and said, "For example, some people like money, so you give them money."

"If some people like women, then give them women."

"Some people like empty fame, so give them empty fame."

"Catering to their preferences is the key to achieving twice the result with half the effort."

Qiu Xiuqin listened from the side, but her hand quietly reached out and gently stroked Lin Zheng's thigh.

Lin Zheng stiffened, but remained expressionless and continued chatting with Yang Wanshan.

"Mayor Yang, what do the road administration bureau and the power supply station like?"

"Director Zhang likes to drink tea. I'll invite him to my house another day, and you can bring him two boxes of good tea."

"Director Liu likes to drink. If you treat him to a meal and have a few drinks with him, things will be much easier."

Lin Zheng nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to Mayor Yang."

The two chatted for a while longer, and Qiu Xiuqin's hands became increasingly restless.

She moved her hand from his thigh to his waist, from his waist to his back, and finally stopped at his belt, gently fiddling with it.