From rejecting the beautiful female CEO to becoming extremely powerful

Liang Guodong was still standing next to the main seat.

The project documents were spread out on the table, with a few pages of approval materials under the teacup.

After Su Qingwan led Lu Yunzhou onto the stands, his gaze shifted from the documents to the two of them, stopping at the spot where Lu Yunzhou was blocking his view.

"Chairman Su, you're standing quite close."

Liang Guodong raised his hand and tapped the table, causing the tea in the cup to swirl a few times.

Su Qingwan straightened the cuffs of her white riding outfit, her tone flat: "It's normal for Vice Mayor Liang to bring an assistant when he invited me to discuss the project."

"assistant?"

Liang Guodong glanced at Lu Yunzhou, and his smile faded.

"He was standing even closer than the bodyguards."

Pei Zhongting, standing to the side, kept his hands down and didn't say a word. Qiao Man, holding her wine glass, glanced at Lu Yunzhou with a look of anticipation.

Lu Yunzhou ignored her and focused his gaze on the documents on the table.

The East Lake Convention and Exhibition Center has been shut down for eight months, and the city has urged them to resume work several times. The few pages of documents listed a company's plan to resume work after taking over the project, with a very short construction period and an absurdly low quote.

The company is called Huasheng Construction.

The company was registered less than six months ago, but the legal representative is related to Liang Guodong's brother-in-law.

Liang Guodong picked up the document and pointed to the name on it: "The Donghu Convention and Exhibition Center project has been delayed for too long. The city wants to use it as a political achievement for the upcoming leadership transition. Huasheng Construction has experience and enough funds. If we hand it over to them, they can resume construction in three months."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunzhou placed his hand on the seam of his trousers.

This company doesn't even have any decent projects, so where would it get its experience?

"If something goes wrong, the city will take care of it."

Liang Guodong leaned back in his chair, his expression now casual: "As long as you sign and cooperate, the trouble at Donghu will be resolved. As for Yundian, I can speak on your behalf."

He spoke casually, but several other livestreamers raised their cameras. The chat was filled with comments, and Liang Guodong and Su Qingwan were clearly visible in the footage.

Lu Yunzhou glanced at the camera.

Pei Zhongting had someone move the anchor back a bit, but the camera didn't move away completely.

Liang Guodong was clearly keeping these people around on purpose. He wanted everyone to know that Xinghe Group was bowing down to him.

Su Qingwan's fingers paused at her cuff: "Vice Mayor Liang, just say what you want."

Liang Guodong picked up his teacup and took a sip. When he put the cup down, his gaze fell on Su Qingwan.

"Give me the project, and I'll take care of the troubles at Cloud Peak for you."

He stood up and walked to Su Qingwan, lowering his voice: "Stay with me for a few more years, be my woman in secret. No one outside will know, and Xinghe won't lose a single penny."

As soon as he finished speaking, he reached out to Su Qingwan's shoulder.

Su Qingwan took a half step back, her skirt brushing against the corner of the chair. His hand froze in mid-air, and the smile on his face also froze.

Lu Yunzhou took a step forward, standing between the two.

Liang Guodong looked at him, his gaze darkening: "Young man, don't stick your neck out for others. This is none of your business."

Su Qingwan looked up at Liang Guodong: "Your approval rating is at the bottom this year, you didn't even make the top three. Even if the Donghu project falls into your hands, it won't save your election."

Liang Guodong gripped the edge of the teacup.

Su Qingwan continued, "There's also the special loan for Donghu. You used that money to cover up Chengnan Real Estate's accounts, and it went through three shell companies in two rounds before finally ending up in your brother-in-law's account. I have the records of the illegal financing."

The commentator in the stands stopped talking, and several mobile phones were simultaneously pointed at Liang Guodong.

Lu Yunzhou looked at the back of his hand; the veins were bulging from under the skin.

"Su Qingwan, are you trying to scare me with these words?"

Liang Guodong pushed the teacup to the edge of the table, and the bottom of the cup made a crisp sound.

"I can provide evidence for every word I say," Su Qingwan's voice remained unchanged. "If you're willing to send the materials to the Discipline Inspection Commission, I can have them sent out right now."

Liang Guodong stared at her, his smile completely gone.

Pei Zhongting took a half step back, and Qiao Man put her wine glass back on the table. The people who had been gathered around the stands began to disperse, and several security guards blocked the camera, causing the live broadcast to shake.

Liang Guodong turned to Lu Yunzhou: "Detain him."

Su Qingwan raised her hand to stop him: "Vice Mayor Liang, have you considered the consequences of harming my people?"

"You can leave."

Liang Guodong straightened his cuffs and said calmly, "He'll stay here. Come pick him up when you've made up your mind."

Six guards surrounded them from both sides.

Lu Yunzhou's shoulders tensed, his shoes leaving shallow marks on the sand beneath his feet. If he made a move, those people wouldn't last ten seconds, but the phones in the stands were still recording; Liang Guodong was waiting for him to make the first move.

If he injures the deputy mayor's men, tonight's negotiations will turn into a violent disturbance by the Xinghe Group.

Su Qingwan will also be dragged down.

Lu Yunzhou raised his hand, letting the two guards hold his arms. He turned to look at Su Qingwan, his voice low: "Don't agree to him."

Su Qingwan's fingers curled slightly.

She didn't chase after him. Pei Zhongting held his riding whip across his body, blocking her way, and four guards also stood on either side.

Lu Yunzhou was led down from the stands and walked a dozen meters along the path behind the horse farm.

There were no cameras, only a patch of muddy ground softened by the rain. A wooden stake lay askew beside it, a harness box was open, and several old reins, covered in mud, hung on iron hooks.

Two guards pressed Lu Yunzhou against the wooden stake, and plastic straps tightened around his wrists.

Lu Yunzhou glanced down at it.

He can break free of these straps with a little effort.

Liang Guodong followed, his leather shoes stomping through the wet mud, the surfaces stained with black mud. He took out three old horse hoof buckles from the harness box; the buckles were pitted and covered with dried mud.

"The horse racing club has a rule."

Liang Guodong held the three buttons in his palm and deliberately walked up to Su Qingwan.

"If a guest makes a mistake, picking up the horseshoe buckle will make the matter drop."

Su Qingwan stared at the three objects, her hand slowly clenching.

Liang Guodong kicked the muddy ground at her feet.

The three horseshoe buckles rolled out, hit the rocks, and fell in three different directions.

One of them was stuck in a shallow pit, with half of its facet sunk into the mud and water.

The other two rolled under the wooden fence, covered in mud.

Liang Guodong looked at Su Qingwan and pointed to the muddy ground: "If you pick them up, Lu Yunzhou can leave."

Su Qingwan stood still.

"You're only being polite by picking it up with your hands."

Liang Guodong took a step closer, lowering his voice even further: "But you just made me lose face. Now bend down and pick them back from my hand one by one with your mouth."

Lu Yunzhou tightened his grip, and the strap made a soft sound.

He looked up, his gaze falling on Liang Guodong's face: "Say it again."

Liang Guodong turned to look at him, a laugh forced from his throat: "Did you hear that? She took back three buttons, so I'll let you go. If she's missing one, you'll have to stay here for the night."

Su Qingwan took a step forward.

Liang Guodong raised his hand, and four guards immediately blocked Lu Yunzhou. Lu Yunzhou exerted force with his shoulders and back, and the wooden stake wobbled as he hit it. The straps dug into his skin, but he couldn't break free.

Su Qingwan turned around and glanced at him.

She glanced at Liang Guodong for only half a beat before turning to him: "You want to use him to force me to submit?"

"Do you have any other options now?"

Liang Guodong pointed to the muddy ground, his tone commanding: "Three, not one less. Bring them back with your mouths, and I'll let Lu Yunzhou go."