The pushover offended a top-tier boss

The next day was Saturday.

Ye Zhenzhen didn't wake up until almost nine o'clock. She rubbed her eyes and slipped on her slippers as she walked out of the bedroom.

Zhou Huaijin was sitting in the restaurant with breakfast laid out in front of him: milk, fried eggs, and a few slices of toast, which he must have made himself.

"Good morning, boss." Ye Zhenzhen yawned, sat down opposite him, and stuffed a slice of toast into her mouth.

"Boss, I'm going back to Nanjing to spend the weekend at home. I also want to shoot some footage with the Culture and Tourism Bureau. Would you like to come along?"

"I have something to do, I need to go back to Beijing." His voice was indifferent.

"Okay, then I'll take the bus from the Culture and Tourism Bureau; it's on my way." Ye Zhenzhen nodded without asking any further questions.

She ate a slice of toast and then finished the fried egg.

Zhou Huaijin stood up and picked up the car keys on the table.

"I'll take you to the Culture and Tourism Bureau," he said.

"No need, no need, I can just take a taxi myself. Aren't you in a hurry?" Ye Zhenzhen waved her hand.

Zhou Huaijin had already gone to the entrance to change her shoes.

"On the way."

"Oh well."

On the bus, she leaned against the window, looking out, feeling somewhat bored.

Suddenly remembering something, she turned around with a grin: "Boss, are there any good food options in Beijing? Could you bring me some?"

"No." Zhou Huaijin looked at the road ahead, expressionless.

"Liar." Ye Zhenzhen pouted, turned back, and continued looking out the window.

The car was parked in front of the Culture and Tourism Bureau; the official vehicle was already waiting there. Ye Zhenzhen unbuckled her seatbelt, picked up her bag, and opened the car door.

"Goodbye, boss." She bent down, waved to him through the car window, and smiled with her eyes crinkling.

Zhou Huaijin hummed in agreement. He then ran to the official car, opened the door, and got in.

He looked away, started the car, and drove towards the highway.

Beijing.

Zhou's old house.

Inside the restaurant, the food was already laid out.

However, the atmosphere at the dinner table was not very good.

Zhou's father spoke first.

In my opinion, it's still the Xu family.

"Shihan has been waiting for you all these years. What happened back then is in the past. She was young and naive, but she has matured now."

Zhou's mother nodded and took over the conversation, her tone gentler than Zhou's father's, but the meaning was the same: "We've watched Shihan grow up, and she's a good person. The Xu family got promoted last year, which will help you in the future."

Zhou Huaijin put down his chopsticks.

The chopsticks touched the table with a soft sound.

"The Xu family is no good." His voice wasn't loud, but it was calm. "Don't bring up the engagement that's already been called off. On matters of principle, there's no turning back from me."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping from Zhou's father to Zhou's mother without flinching.

"If I had to choose one, I'd pick the Shen family."

Mr. Zhou's eyebrows twitched slightly: "The Shen family of the Supreme Court?"

"Um."

Zhou's mother glanced at Zhou's father, then looked at her son, her tone tinged with uncertainty: "His daughter... doesn't seem to have a proper job, does she? I heard she's been going abroad a lot these past few years, and hasn't even worked for a proper company."

She paused, as if choosing her words carefully: "You've taken a liking to that girl? She seems quite pretty."

She had her doubts. During the Spring Festival, how many connections had her son used to secure that deal in Bin City?

Why have you suddenly taken a liking to the Shen family's daughter?

Mr. Zhou hadn't thought that much about it. He put down his chopsticks and said in a deep voice, "The Shen family isn't bad either."

In his view, his daughter-in-law didn't need to have an outstanding career; what was important was to give the Zhou family several children after marriage.

Zhou Huaijin remained silent.

"When should we arrange a meeting?" Zhou's mother pressed.

"Let's talk about it later," Zhou Huaijin replied casually. "I've been busy lately. There's a ton of work going on in the new district, and Nanjing just got a new leadership team, so I can't get away."

Zhou's father glanced at him but said nothing more.

After the meal, Zhou Huaijin did not stay for tea as usual. He stood up and picked up his coat.

"Mom and Dad, I'll be going now if there's nothing else."

"Not staying at home for one night? You rarely come back—" Zhou's mother stood up.

"No, thank you." He had already reached the entrance, bent down to change his shoes, "I have a meeting in the new district, early tomorrow morning."

The door closed.

Standing in the living room, Zhou's mother looked at the closed door and sighed.

"This child is definitely not feeling well."

Zhou Huaijin stepped out of the courtyard and stood in the alleyway in front of the old house, taking a deep breath of the dry, chilly air of early spring.

The alley was quiet, with only the distant cooing of pigeons and the sound of their flapping wings echoing through the narrow lanes.

The phone rang, and a somewhat anxious female voice came from the other end.

"Zhou Huaijin, how should I put it?"

"Just keep dragging it along," Zhou Huaijin said calmly, leaning against the car door.

"How long can you stall?" someone asked uncertainly.

"If you behave yourself, you should be able to hold out for a while."

Zhou Huaijin chuckled softly, said nothing more, and hung up the phone.

I opened the car door, got in, and started the car.

Instead of going directly onto the highway, he turned around several streets and stopped in front of Chen Yu's private club.

The storefront has an antique feel, a high threshold, and no sign at the entrance.

Chen Yu is already here.

Seeing Zhou Huaijin enter, he raised his chin, said nothing, and poured him a glass of wine.

Zhou Huaijin sat down, picked up his wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

Chen Yu glanced at him and poured him another glass.

Zhou Huaijin drank again.

The third cup.

Chen Yu finally spoke, his tone slightly teasing: "Is it really necessary? I've never seen you drink this much before."

He neither smokes nor drinks heavily, and he is usually very cautious; he won't even drink water poured by strangers.

A rare moment when I don't have to wear a mask.

Zhou Huaijin leaned back in his chair, his fingers gripping the rim of the cup, and slowly turned it around.

"bother."

Chen Yu picked up his glass, his gaze falling on the dark red liquid inside. He sighed, "You know, people like us, who seem glamorous to others, are actually all wearing shackles. We have to think three steps ahead for every step we take, and consider ten sentences before we speak. We don't even have a choice in who we marry or not."

Zhou Huaijin put down his cup and lowered his voice: "No one is born free."

Chen Yu looked at him and remained silent for a few seconds.

"However, Uncle Zhou probably doesn't know about Shen Lin yet, right?"

"Of course." Zhou Huaijin leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling on the bronze chandelier on the ceiling. "Even the Xu couple don't know."

"That's fine then." Chen Yu nodded. "Let's leave this matter as it is for now, and eventually find an excuse to drop it. Don't mention it to Bin City either."

"I know."

"Bin City is on the verge of a major upheaval," he said in a low voice. "You must be under a lot of pressure."

Zhou Huaijin hummed in agreement, then, as if remembering something, said...

"I'm going to have Chen Zheng investigate Dingxin's affairs. Don't be reluctant."

Chen Yu picked up his wine glass and clinked it against his: "Let him go. He'll go with you, firstly to protect your safety, and secondly because he needs this opportunity; he can't stay a lowly soldier forever."

"He may seem unreliable, but he's reliable when it comes to important matters," Zhou Huaijin said.

Chen Yu nodded.

The two drank a few more glasses, discussing everything from the economic data of the new district to the recent policy trends in Beijing.

Around 10 o'clock, Zhou Huaijin got up and left the club.

The night breeze was a bit cooler than when he arrived. He pressed the car key, and the headlights flashed twice.

"Zhou Huaijin".

A woman's voice came from behind, not loud, but exceptionally clear in the quiet alley.