At the Pinnacle of Power: The Female Leader and Her Chief Advisor

After learning about the situation, Deng Wei felt a chill run down his spine, realizing it was a very difficult situation.

Knowing full well that the two were set up, yet still having to make them go through the procedures, isn't that just offending people?

"District Chief Chen, Secretary Xu, Secretary Lu."

Deng Wei greeted them one by one and said, "Secretary Xu, Secretary Lu, please come back with me first and tell them where this car is usually parked. I'll have someone check the surveillance footage as soon as possible."

Lu Ming said, "No need for that trouble, just take a look yourself."

After saying that, he handed over his phone.

Deng Wei took the phone suspiciously, glanced at it, and exclaimed in surprise, "This is... a dashcam?"

Lu Ming said, "Yes, it's in my car."

Don't be fooled by the fact that Lu Ming's car is just an ordinary sedan worth around 100,000 yuan; he has installed two dashcams, one in the front and one in the back.

Moreover, both of these dashcams are high-end models that record continuously for 24 hours.

The reason Lu Ming specifically installed two dashcams was because he had learned a lesson about this in the past.

He accompanied Song Chuhe on a business trip to another city, and someone secretly put a lot of "small seafood" in his trunk.

He installed this thing in his car after that incident.

Deng Wei opened the video and saw an ordinary-looking man furtively opening the trunk and throwing a packet of white powder inside.

Seeing this, Xu Zhipeng also breathed a sigh of relief.

I never expected this guy to be so cautious!

At the same time, he became more wary of Lu Ming.

This guy is not only a master at swindling people, but his ability to avoid being swindled is even more outrageous.

Dealing with him is not an easy task.

Deng Wei and Chen Ning breathed a sigh of relief after watching the video.

With video evidence, this matter becomes much simpler to handle.

"Secretary Lu, could you please send me this video?"

"Also, I'll have to trouble you and Secretary Xu to come with me to the bureau to give a statement!"

"Don't worry, we will definitely catch this person."

It wouldn't be difficult to catch this person, because he didn't even cover his face when he put things in Lu Ming's trunk.

Presumably, no one expected that Lu Ming would install such a dashcam that records continuously around the clock in his car.

"Can."

Lu Ming readily agreed, and then looked at Chen Ning, saying, "District Chief Chen, could you please contact Secretary-General Zhao and tell him about the situation here?"

This is a serious matter, and the situation is quite dire.

As the mayor's secretary, if something like this happens, I must let the higher-ups know.

"Um."

Chen Ning nodded.

He was equally annoyed.

It wasn't because someone was targeting Lu Ming, but because this person had actually made a move in his own territory, dragging him into the mess as well.

On the way to the branch office, Chen Ning reported the situation to Zhao Chunlai.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chunlai's face darkened, and he immediately contacted Yu Wei and Jiang Ling to report the situation again.

When Lu Ming and Xu Zhipeng came out of the branch office after giving their statements, Zhao Chunlai was already waiting for them.

"Secretary Lu, I have already reported this matter to the two mayors."

"Is there anything else at the branch office?"

Lu Ming shook his head and said, "We have already submitted the evidence, and Secretary Xu and I have been cleared of suspicion."

Zhao Chunlai hummed in agreement. Then, with a serious expression, he looked at Deng Wei and said, "Director Deng, Mayor Yu and Mayor Jiang asked me to tell you that no matter what, you must catch the person who framed you."

Deng Wei said solemnly, "Secretary-General Zhao, please rest assured, we have confirmed the suspect's identity and sent people to arrest him."

"Once we catch the person, we will definitely investigate and find out who is behind framing Secretary Lu."

Lu Ming scoffed inwardly upon hearing this.

Even if you catch a suspect, you won't get any information out of them.

However, whether or not he could get the answer was not important to Lu Ming.

Because he knew that this was a scheme set up by Zhou Lin and Wang Qiang.

Standing behind them was Jiang Ling, the executive vice mayor of Songxi.

It must be said that this woman is indeed ruthless.

On the surface, they feign cooperation, but secretly they take direct action, leaving no way out.

Sure enough, how could a woman hold the position of executive vice mayor of a city?

Once the matter was resolved, Xu Zhipeng left.

After that, Zhao Chunlai also went back.

Only Lu Ming and Chen Ning remained.

Chen Ning seemed to have something to say, but before he could speak, a car drove up and stopped in front of them. The car door opened, and Xu Ru got out.

"Are you alright?"

She asked the question right away, clearly already knowing what had happened.

Chen Ning shook his head and said, "It's already resolved."

Lu Ming chuckled upon hearing this: "Solved? In my opinion, this is just the beginning."

Chen Ning naturally understood what Lu Ming meant.

The opponent has used a deadly move. Given Lu Ming's personality, how could he possibly swallow his anger? He is determined to launch a counterattack.

Chen Ning looked at Lu Ming and said confidently, "Secretary Lu, this matter really has nothing to do with me!"

He just wanted to extricate himself from this matter; how they wanted to fight was their business.

Lu Ming scoffed, "District Chief Chen, how come you still can't see the situation clearly?"

"Now, if you want to stay out of trouble and remain uninvolved, it's probably too late."

"Although you weren't of much help tonight, you did show your face, which makes them think you and I are on the same side."

"Whether you admit it or not, that's definitely what the opposing side thinks."

"If you jump out at this moment and say it has nothing to do with you, firstly, the other party will not believe you, and secondly, you will offend me. You will not please either side."

"District Chief Chen, you'd better think before you speak and act in the future, and don't make the same stupid mistake as before."

Chen Ning's face stiffened; it seemed he had inadvertently been dragged onto Lu Ming's pirate ship!

Before he could speak, Xu Ru spoke first: "Please rest assured, Secretary Lu, District Chief Chen has always stood firmly on your side."

Lu Ming glanced at Xu Ru and thought she was much smarter than Chen Ning.

Chen Ning glanced at Xu Ru with a strange expression, not understanding why she would say such a thing.

The situation is currently very unclear. Taking sides rashly could lead to utter ruin!

"District Chief Chen, you've had some drinks. Please get in the car and have a seat. I'll see Secretary Lu off for you."

Seeing that Chen Ning didn't move, Xu Ru tugged at his sleeve, and Chen Ning finally got into the car, suppressing his dissatisfaction.

After Chen Ning got into the car, Xu Ru said, "Secretary Lu, don't take him seriously. He's always been short-sighted."

Lu Ming looked at Xu Ru and suddenly asked a question that was not on the topic.

"Chen Ning is married, isn't he?"

Xu Ru was taken aback, and her expression became somewhat unnatural.

Although it was unclear why Lu Ming asked this question, it clearly touched a nerve with Xu Ru.

Many people know about her relationship with Chen Ning.

However, because this relationship is not something that can be discussed openly, no one would bring it up in a convenient way.

But Lu Ming, of all people, brought up the very thing he didn't want to talk about!

Lu Ming continued, "Are you planning to continue living like this with him?"

Xu Ru said coldly, "My affairs are none of Secretary Lu's concern."

Lu Ming shook his head: "You've misunderstood. I don't care about your private affairs."

"I just want to know, what are your plans?"

Xu Ru raised an eyebrow, sensing the hidden meaning in Lu Ming's words, and asked, "I wonder what insightful opinion Secretary Lu has?"

Lu Ming said seriously, "What I need is a smart person like you, not a brain-dead idiot like Chen Ning!"

Xu Ru's eyes narrowed, realizing what Lu Ming meant.

Is he trying to remove Chen Ning and promote himself to the top?

"It's getting late, I'll head back now."

Lu Ming knew that Xu Ru must have understood what he meant, and whether she was willing to do it or not was up to her.

After he walked away, Xu Ru turned and walked towards the car...