Me! A high-ranking official!

Thinking of this, he broke out in a cold sweat and said in a deep voice into the phone, "I understand, thank you for tipping me off in advance."

On the other end of the phone, Du Yu gave a cold laugh: "Zhao Jianguo, the situation is already on the brink of disaster. Saying thank you won't help. The best way, and the only way to completely seal off all loopholes..."

Du Yu's voice suddenly became extremely seductive, like a devil's whisper: "It's you, go and marry Zhou Qingyan right now!"

"What?!" He was stunned on the spot upon hearing this.

"Once you're married, you'll be a legal couple. All issues like premarital pregnancy and conduct will become perfectly legitimate family matters!" Du Yu coldly analyzed. "This way, it's a permanent solution, and the most impenetrable shield to protect her political life. Otherwise, no matter what methods you use to cover it up, even if you abort the child, as long as the other side finds out about the medical records, it will leave endless troubles!"

Let him marry Zhou Qingyan?!

Hearing this, he found it utterly absurd and couldn't help but blurt out, "How is this possible?!"

Putting aside whether a divorced man like him, suspected of having AIDS and syphilis, would agree, would that proud and arrogant woman, Zhou Qingyan, agree?!

He's a county party secretary at the full division level, a rising political star in his early thirties! And him? Although he holds the title of first secretary, he's ultimately just a low-ranking village official at the deputy section level who's been sent to a remote mountain village. The difference in their status and position is like night and day!

Moreover, although it is still unclear which big leader is behind Zhou Qingyan, judging from the aura of the middle-aged man with the provincial capital's special car license plate in the underground parking lot a few days ago, he is definitely an unapproachable figure. If he didn't have a deep background, how could Zhou Qingyan have been parachuted into becoming the head of a county at such a young age?

"Du Yu, it's easy for you to talk when you're not in my shoes," Zhao Jianguo said with a stern face. "You know Zhou Qingyan's background better than I do. Marriage? Do you think that's realistic?"

To everyone's surprise, Du Yu's words were as surprising as ever, his tone carrying an air of complete control: "Zhao Jianguo, as long as you're willing, and since things are already a fait accompli—you even have a child—we can step in and act as a go-between. We'll do our utmost to help you make this happen!"

"Once it works out, you'll be tied together. No matter what the other side finds out, it won't affect your careers!"

Upon hearing Du Yu's words, his heart skipped a beat, and he was utterly shocked.

He gripped his phone tightly in disbelief and asked in a low voice, "Du Yu, who exactly is your boss?!"

He was utterly astonished. Given Zhou Qingyan's terrifying family background and social standing, how dare Du Yu's backers make such a boast, claiming they would step in to help a low-level clerk from the countryside like him, and even asserting their confidence in making it happen?!

Given such a vast difference in status, the only reason the other party would dare to say such a thing is that the high-ranking official behind Du Yu possesses a status, position, and power far exceeding that of Zhou Qingyan's family background! Only in this way could they use absolute power to force and suppress the other party's family to agree to this seemingly absurd marriage!

Otherwise, there's no point in even thinking about it!

Faced with Zhao Jianguo's questioning, Du Yu on the other end of the phone simply uttered a few words with an aloof and unapproachable air: "This is not something you can ask right now, nor are you qualified to know."

His heart was pounding.

Zhou Qingyan's face involuntarily appeared before his eyes—that face with its exquisite features, aloof and noble, that decisive and efficient way of doing things, that extraordinary aura that he exuded when he was in a high position…

It has to be admitted that she is an exceptional woman who would make any man's heart flutter.

However, he was well aware of the gap between the two sides, an insurmountable chasm, and he did not want to become a puppet in the hands of some mysterious big shot, used as a bargaining chip for political marriage or some kind of exchange of interests.

He hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and his eyes regained their usual calm and determination. He slowly spoke into the phone, "Please thank your leader for his kindness, but I will handle this matter myself!"

Du Yu chuckled softly on the other end of the phone, seemingly having anticipated that this stubborn and unruly village official would respond in this way.

"Suit yourself." Du Yu's voice turned icy again. "But I'm warning you, the sooner the better. If you can't hold on any longer, call me immediately. You only get one chance."

After saying that, the phone hung up with a beep.

He stood in the dark alley, listening to the dial tone on his phone, feeling as if a raging storm was churning inside him.

Who exactly is the person behind Du Yu? Does he have enough power to manipulate the marriage of a county party secretary?

They went to such lengths to forge his divorce certificate, provide intelligence, and now they're even trying to arrange his marriage with Zhou Qingyan... What exactly are they trying to do?

He was just an ordinary citizen, a deputy section chief who had been relegated to a village. What value did he have that made that mysterious big shot invest so much in him?!

He stood there for a long time, pondering. Various clues intertwined in his mind. Last night, he heard Zhou Qingyan's confident and murderous tone on the phone. She had obviously basically figured out who the mastermind was.

But now the situation has suddenly changed! The other party has resorted to desperate measures, directly using their connections at the provincial level to bypass the proper channels and investigate his original disciplinary case files. They have already successfully retrieved some of the basic files, which means they have taken the initiative half a step ahead and could detonate this time bomb at any time!

This matter must be brought to Zhou Qingyan's attention immediately; there is no time to lose!

He took out his phone, opened Zhou Qingyan's WeChat, and without saying a word, sent a question mark.

The reply came almost instantly, and a question mark popped up on the screen.

Without hesitation, he dialed the voice call directly.

After ringing twice, the call connected, and Zhou Qingyan's slightly tired but still cool voice came through the receiver: "What's wrong?"

He lowered his voice and spoke rapidly, "Someone is using their connections at the provincial level to investigate the case files from our previous disciplinary committee case! Some of the basic files have already been taken away; they're trying to strike first and gather irrefutable evidence!"

As soon as he finished speaking, instead of Zhou Qingyan's response, a very calm and authoritative male voice suddenly came from the other end of the phone:

"Who is Qingyan?"

Immediately afterward, Zhou Qingyan let out a slightly surprised "Ah," and then the phone seemed to be moved further away, making her voice sound both near and far, carrying a hint of undisguised astonishment: "Brother? Why did you suddenly come over?"

The male voice didn't answer her question, but instead commanded in a cold, unyielding tone, "Let him come here!"