The pushover offended a top-tier boss

She roughly knew his tastes—he couldn't eat anything too spicy, but he didn't have any other dietary restrictions.

"There's a Korean BBQ place that's pretty good," she said as she got dressed.

Zhou Huaijin glanced at his watch and frowned slightly: "There's no time left, only half an hour."

Ye Zhenzhen gritted her teeth. This is a true master of time management.

In just two hours, he still wants to rush to her hometown to sleep with her.

Who has suffered as much as she has?

He thought this to himself, but dared not be arrogant anymore.

"You're still so busy even though it's Chinese New Year?" she asked, feigning concern.

Zhou Huaijin nodded: "We must ensure that impoverished households in various places can have a good New Year."

Ye Zhenzhen suddenly felt something gently touch a part of her heart.

He was indeed a good leader and a good official who was wholeheartedly devoted to serving the people.

"Boss, do you like ramen?" She thought for a moment and then thought of a nearby restaurant. "There's a ramen place near my elementary school that's been open for almost twenty years. It's really delicious. And it's quick, so it won't take up much time."

"Can."

Ye Zhenzhen took him to that ramen restaurant.

The shop is small, located on the old street near the elementary school entrance. The signboard is faded, and the storefront is somewhat old.

Two bowls of ramen, steaming hot, with noodles pulled to a uniform thickness, and a rich, creamy broth made from beef bones, topped with a few slices of beef and a handful of chopped green onions.

"Is it good?" Ye Zhenzhen asked, her words muffled after taking a big bite.

"Hmm, not bad." Zhou Huaijin ate slowly and gracefully.

"When I was in school, this was just a small stall, a shed set up on the side of the road. It was freezing cold in winter, but the line of people stretched from one end of the street to the other," Ye Zhenzhen told him, recounting the story like pouring out beans.

"It used to cost 1.5 yuan a bowl, but the price has gone up now, though it's still a good deal."

"I come here almost every week. There's also a mala tang (spicy hot pot) place over there that's really delicious!"

Zhou Huaijin didn't speak, but listened attentively.

Finally, he put down his chopsticks and glanced out the window:

"Nanjing is currently in dire need of reconstruction, and a new batch of officials will be taking office after the New Year." His tone was unhurried, as if he were having a casual chat with her. "You grew up here, so you have time to think about Nanjing's development direction. Sometimes, the plans submitted from below look impressive, but they don't actually come to fruition."

Ye Zhenzhen was naturally interested in the development of her hometown.

"Actually, Nanjing is quite nice. The air is good, the environment is good, and there are tourism resources. It's just that there's not enough publicity, so people can't stay. Young people have all gone out to work, leaving behind mostly the elderly and children. If some industries could be developed, the economy would definitely pick up."

This was the first time Zhou Huaijin had seen her so enthusiastic; her eyes seemed to light up.

He curled the corners of his lips into a smile and tentatively asked her, "How about—you be transferred back to Nanjing after the New Year?"

After thinking for a moment, I added:

"Based on your current level, you have an intermediate professional title, so you can probably be assigned to a section chief position here."

Ye Zhenzhen's head buzzed.

Section Chief?

Her intermediate professional title is nothing special in universities, but in local areas, the rank of section chief is a real administrative position.

Is she going to be transferred to an administrative position?

She's now a section chief; from now on, everyone will have to call her "Section Chief Ye." With Mom and Dad in the county town, won't they be able to stand taller than a flagpole?

"Really, boss?" She was instantly excited.

Zhou Huaijin frowned slightly as he looked at her gleaming eyes.

"You seem to really want to come back?"

Ye Zhenzhen noticed the change in his tone and quickly stopped smiling: "Of course I want to contribute to the development of my hometown."

"Of course... I'd rather be by your side, hehe..."

Zhou Huaijin's lips curved slightly:

"That's good."

He picked up his water glass, took a sip, and didn't mention the matter of becoming a section chief again.

Ye Zhenzhen's smile froze.

She lowered her head, poking at the remaining noodles in her bowl, and mourned with deep sorrow the dream of becoming a section chief that had vanished before she could even get it.

Zhou Huaijin's phone rang. He answered it, and a voice came from the other end:

"Secretary, it's time to set off."

He replied casually, "Okay, I'll be right there."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhenzhen couldn't help but ask:

"You have plans for this afternoon? When are you going home?"

Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, will he still be out there?

Zhou Huaijin stood up and picked up his coat from the back of the chair.

"Tomorrow at noon."

Ye Zhenzhen suddenly realized that being such a high-ranking leader wasn't easy. While everyone else was at home preparing for the New Year, he was still out running around, visiting villages after visiting the county.

The two walked side by side toward the county government. The main street of Nanjing County is not long; it only takes about ten minutes to walk from the ramen shop to the county government.

The shops on both sides of the street were closed, with red paper signs on the roller shutters saying "Closed for Spring Festival Holiday," and firecracker debris scattered on the ground.

The weather forecast said it would snow today, but it hasn't snowed yet. Now, snowflakes are starting to fall.

It wasn't the kind of heavy, all-encompassing snow, but rather fine, scattered snowflakes.

Zhou Huaijin, wearing that dark gray overcoat, walked beside her, tall and upright with straight shoulders and a leisurely pace. Snowflakes fell on his shoulders and hair.

Ye Zhenzhen was wearing the off-white cashmere coat he had bought for her, with a light pink scarf around her neck. Her cool brown, slightly wavy hair was draped over her shoulders, with fine snowflakes clinging to the strands.

The two people walked in the snow, one in deep snow and one in shallow snow, one tall and one short, making them look like a perfect couple.

Ye Zhenzhen secretly glanced at him. His profile was very handsome, with a high nose bridge, a sharp jawline, slightly pursed thin lips, and a slight frown between his brows, as if he were thinking about something related to work.

As she gazed at his figure, she suddenly felt a strange, indescribable feeling. This man was tall, upright, serious, and composed; standing next to him always felt oppressive, yet his presence also brought a sense of inexplicable security.

For some reason, she suddenly felt like she was going on a date.

This is the road she has walked for more than 20 years. When she was in school, she wore a baggy blue and white school uniform, her hair was tied in a ponytail, her schoolbag was stuffed with textbooks and test papers, and she would secretly meet with the boy she liked in the bookstore behind the street corner, hiding from her parents. She didn't even dare to hold hands, and she would blush after saying a few words.

Now, she and this man are walking under the snowflakes.

They weren't the kind of relationship that could be openly discussed.

They are mismatched in every way.

But she just felt that walking in the snow, on this road she had grown up on since childhood, was like a secret and joyful rendezvous.

She glanced at him furtively, then secretly reached out and slipped her hand into his coat pocket.

Quietly, little by little, probe inwards, stopping after each small step to observe his reaction before moving a little further.

Finally, her fingers touched his fingers.

The man glanced at her tentative, cautious, yet slightly smug little gestures out of the corner of his eye.

This woman is always like this, testing the waters little by little, until she crosses my bottom line.

Seeing that he didn't react, Ye Zhenzhen arrogantly stretched out her index finger and scratched his palm.

It's itchy.

It spread from the palm of my hand to my heart.

Zhou Huaijin's Adam's apple bobbed.

Hmph, she's the one who knows how to seduce people.

He tightened his grip on her mischievous hand, holding it firmly. The coat pockets were large, and their hands were squeezed inside, palm to palm.

When they reached the entrance of the county government building, the two stopped.

Zhou Huaijin lowered his eyes and softly called her name.

"Ye Zhenzhen".

"Mmm," she replied obediently.

"I'm leaving," he said.

"Okay, goodbye, boss," she replied crisply.

"That's all?" He squeezed her hand, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice.

Ye Zhenzhen rolled her eyes inwardly and forced a fake smile:

Hehe, I miss you so much~

Zhou Huaijin still didn't let go of her.

Hmph, so many demands.

But what can you do when they're the big spenders?

She tiptoed and gently kissed him on the cheek.

Then, he grabbed the back of his head and tilted himself up on top of him.

As the snowflakes fell heavily, she suddenly felt as if her heart was being filled with something.

It must be because the atmosphere was too good that she had this illusion.