After ninety-nine online romances, I finally met my ex in person when school started.

With the crisis resolved, the tense atmosphere in the office gradually dissipated.

Lu Nianxi released Zhu Xunchuan's arm and walked to the French windows to look at the scenery. Gu Qinghan directed his men to clear the area and arranged for logistics to clean up the mess.

Zhu Xunchuan walked up to the leather sofa.

Meng Wanqing put down her bone china teacup, adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, and maintained the dignified and proper demeanor of a vice principal.

"This blue and white porcelain tea set is from the Ming Dynasty; the Chen family must compensate us," Meng Wanqing said calmly.

Zhu Xun Chuan looked at her forced composure and a smile appeared on his lips. He pulled out a chair next to the coffee table, sat down, and reached out to hold Meng Wan Qing's right hand, which was resting on her knee.

Her palms were sweating profusely. Clearly, the aloof female principal was not as composed as she appeared when faced with the armed guards who stormed in.

Feeling the warmth of her hand, Meng Wanqing did not pull her hand away.

While Gu Qinghan was registering evidence with his back to them, and Lu Nianxi was gazing out the window in a blind spot, Meng Wanqing maintained her dignified posture, her face expressionless, but her fingers secretly curled up, and she gently scratched Zhu Xunchuan's palm twice with her long, rounded nails.

This small gesture carried a sense of reliance born of relief, and an ambiguity that only the two of them could understand.

Zhu Xun Chuan wrapped his hand around hers even tighter.

At this moment, Chen Pojun, who had been dragged outside, stared intently at Zhu Xunchuan and suddenly let out a maniacal laugh.

"Zhu Xun Chuan! You think you've won just like that?" Chen Po Jun's face was covered in blood, his voice hysterical. "So what if it's the Shen family's account books? So what if it's Fu Yuan's warrant? There are some powerful connections that a nobody like you, who climbed up from the bottom, simply can't understand! The people behind me are people you can't afford to mess with! I'll be waiting for you outside!"

The sound faded away with the footsteps in the corridor.

After signing the document, Gu Qinghan turned to Zhu Xunchuan: "The military region's discipline inspection commission has taken over the case, and the evidence is irrefutable. Logically, he should never get out of here. But the Chen family still has connections at higher levels, and I have a feeling that Chen Pojun's words just now weren't just bluffing."

Zhu Xunchuan released Meng Wanqing's hand, stood up, and picked up his suit jacket.

"An ironclad case is an ironclad case. Kyoto is all about rules." Zhu Xun Chuan straightened his tie.

The news arrived in the evening.

Xia Wanying called. Chen Pojun had indeed been taken away; ostensibly, he was under "shuanggui" (a form of internal party discipline) for strict investigation and stripped of all his positions.

In reality, he was not detained in the Discipline Inspection Commission compound, but was directly transferred to a top-secret sanatorium for retired cadres in Xishan.

The patriarch of the Chen family, who had long since retired, used three get-out-of-jail-free cards at a crucial moment, forcefully suppressing the accountability of various forces. What was originally a certain death situation was transformed into internal protection by the old man Chen's skillful maneuvering.

Zhu Xun Chuan stood in front of the island platform, one hand in his trouser pocket, the other holding an encrypted phone. Xia Wan Ying's voice came from the speaker, tinged with a cold laugh and disdain.

"It's all cleared up. The disciplinary committee's special car was intercepted by people from the Xishan Cadre Sanatorium before it even entered the compound. Old Master Chen lost his temper overnight and used the three remaining 'get-out-of-jail-free cards' from back then to bail him out. Now Chen Pojun is drinking specially supplied Da Hong Pao tea in a top-secret sanatorium, claiming to the outside world that his old heart condition has relapsed and he needs to rest."

This is the essence of Kyoto.

Even if the princes commit heinous crimes, as long as the older generation is still alive, they can always save their lives through their deeply entrenched power and personal connections. This tacit political understanding of "large families banding together" has been an ironclad rule that has allowed this circle to operate for thirty years.

Zhu Xun Chuan hung up the phone and casually tossed it onto the marble tabletop.

His expression remained unchanged. The so-called "get-out-of-jail-free card" was nothing but a worthless piece of paper in his eyes. Since the Chen family had chosen to protect Chen Pojun, it meant they were prepared to be buried with the entire clan.

He doesn't like to leave survivors.

A very light footstep sound came from behind.

Before Zhu Xun Chuan could turn around, a warm and soft body pressed against him from behind. Two slender arms wrapped around his waist.

Shen Tianxi walked barefoot on the carpet. This young lady from the Tianjin Military Region had just taken a shower and wasn't wearing her own clothes, but instead put on a large white shirt belonging to Zhu Xunchuan.

The hem of her shirt barely covered the top of her thighs, and three buttons were undone at the collar, revealing a large expanse of fair skin and delicate collarbones. The peach scent of her shampoo mingled with Zhu Xunchuan's signature fir fragrance, creating an extremely thick and ambiguous atmosphere.

"Honey, has that good-for-nothing Chen Pojun been locked up yet?"

Shen Tianxi pressed her face against Zhu Xunchuan's broad back, her voice soft and sweet, carrying an undisguised air of wanting credit. She hugged him tighter, her body shifting restlessly, her thighs brushing against the edge of his trousers.

Zhu Xunchuan turned around.

Shen Tianxi took the opportunity to stand on tiptoe, hooking her arms around his neck, clinging to him like a koala. Her usually spoiled and pretty face was now full of coquettish anticipation for praise.

"The account book you risked your life to steal is enough to condemn him to death." Zhu Xun Chuan supported her legs with both hands to prevent her from falling. "However, his old man intervened and transferred him to the Xishan Retirement Home."

Upon hearing this, Shen Tianxi's beautiful brows immediately furrowed, and a ruthless glint, typical of a military family, flashed in her eyes.

"Xishan Retirement Home? Those old bastards are really protective of their own. This ledger is solid evidence of arms trafficking, and they dare to protect it?" She gritted her teeth, looked up at Zhu Xun Chuan, "Honey, should I ask Grandpa to send the guard platoon to Xishan to demand our people? We can always take this to the higher-ups."

"No need." Zhu Xun Chuan looked down at the scenery faintly visible beneath her shirt collar. "That's my prey; it's none of anyone else's business."

"My husband is the best!" Shen Tianxi's mood instantly brightened. She leaned forward, pressing her red lips directly onto Zhu Xun Chuan's cheek, then turned her head to find his lips. "I've done such a great service for you, how are you going to reward me?"

She made no attempt to hide her desire, her entire body heat pressed against Zhu Xun Chuan's chest.

Just as their lips were about to touch.

"Click".

The fingerprint lock in the entryway emitted a crisp electronic beep. The heavy front door was pushed open.

A cold wind, mixed with the air in the corridor, rushed in.

Fu Xinghe stood in the entryway. She was still wearing the moon-white silk cheongsam she had worn to Peking University that afternoon, with a beige cashmere coat draped over it. She carried a limited-edition Hermes bag.

The most dignified and intellectual young lady in the municipal party committee compound looked through the entrance hall and precisely landed on the two people who were tightly embracing in front of the island counter.

His gaze swept over Shen Tianxi's long legs and finally settled on the white shirt she was wearing, which clearly belonged to Zhu Xunchuan.

The atmosphere in the living room instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Shen Tianxi didn't let go; in fact, she deliberately tightened her arms around Zhu Xunchuan's neck. She tilted her head slightly, looking at Fu Xinghe with a defiant gaze, a spoiled smile playing on her lips.

"It's so late at night, why isn't Representative Fu resting peacefully in the municipal party committee compound? Why is she here to steal someone else's husband?" Shen Tianxi's words were full of hostility.

Fu Xinghe paused for half a second while changing his shoes.

She placed her Hermès bag on the entryway cabinet and took off her cashmere coat, draping it over her arm. She walked gracefully into the living room. The slit in her cheongsam revealed glimpses of her smooth, shapely legs, exuding a captivating allure within her intellectual charm.

"I'm here to get the prenatal education materials." Fu Xinghe walked to the sofa and sat down, looking calmly at Shen Tianxi. His tone was indifferent and matter-of-fact. "Besides, this large apartment was bought by Xun Chuan. I'm the woman he publicly acknowledged, and he's even made it public that I'm carrying a child. It's not up to a little girl like you to decide who's the host and who's the guest here."

A casual gesture, a single, decisive blow.

P.S.: The Chen family arc is almost over, and I'm planning to write a short side story about Jiang Yao. She'll be going to the Northern Territory to handle some minor incidents and meet her father-in-law (Jiang Ting is starting to pressure her about marriage and having children). After Jiang Yao, I plan to focus on Mu Cheng. Whose side stories would you like to see next? Also, if I were to add a backstory for Mu Cheng, what kind of backstory would you suggest? I'd like to solicit suggestions.