Nominal: Starting with an entrance exam for a PhD in Economics at Peking University

Chen Hai lowered his head and said in a low voice, "I mean, Handong University, or the Handong branch of the Prosecutors College, would be fine. I want to teach there."

Gao Yuliang looked at him and remained silent for a few seconds: "Have you thought it through?"

Chen Hai nodded: "I've thought it through. I've thought a lot about this matter. I might really not be suited to be an official. Staying in an office always makes me feel suffocated. The atmosphere at school suits me better; it's simpler, and I don't have to think so much."

Gao Yuliang didn't answer immediately, but instead asked, "Does your dad know?"

Chen Hai shook his head: "I haven't told him yet."

“Then go back and ask him for his opinion first,” Gao Yuliang said. “If he agrees, I’ll make the arrangements for you. If he doesn’t agree, you can think about it again.”

Chen Hai nodded: "Okay."

Gao Fangfang, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but ask, "What exactly happened? Chen Hai, what mistake did you make?"

Chen Hai glanced at her, then lowered his head again. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke and recounted how he and Hou Liangping had investigated the oil and gas group together—the case was filed, the files were checked, Liu Changsheng's signature was found, the news spread, he was suspended from his post, and transferred to the archives.

He explained it very simply, finishing his explanation in just a few words.

After listening, Gao Fangfang was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Hou Liangping? Isn't he in the capital? Why is he in Handong?"

Chen Hai nodded and glanced at her again.

Gao Fangfang noticed that look and smiled, "Why are you looking at me? I've let it go. It happened so many years ago. He was chasing after his Zhong Xiaoai, and I was reading my books. We don't owe each other anything."

Wu Huifen chimed in from the side, "If you've let go, why don't you find someone?"

Gao Fangfang glanced at her and said, "Mom, would you be happy if I found a foreigner?"

Wu Huifen was speechless.

Gao Fangfang then looked at Chen Hai and said seriously, "You've done nothing wrong. How is it wrong to investigate the loss of state-owned assets? If Governor Liu has nothing to hide, why would he be afraid of an investigation?"

Gao Yuliang put down his chopsticks and his tone became serious: "Fangfang, this is a very complicated situation. If you don't know the details, don't get involved."

Gao Fangfang retorted, "How did I meddle? I was just stating the facts..."

"Let's stick to the facts?" Gao Yuliang interrupted her. "You've earned your doctorate, don't you know that you have no right to speak without investigation? How much do you know about the situation in Handong?"

Gao Fangfang said irritably, "Yes, yes, even if you get a doctorate, you'll still have to be lectured by professors when you get home."

Gao Yuliang softened his tone and said, "Fangfang, you've been in school for too long, and you see things too simply. Some things aren't just black and white. Chen Hai and Hou Liangping have their reasons, Governor Liu has his considerations, and the higher-ups have their plans. You're not in this circle, so don't speak recklessly."

Gao Fangfang nodded: "I understand."

The dinner table was quiet for a while.

Qi Tongwei remained mostly silent, simply eating his food slowly. Gao Fangfang glanced at him and suddenly said, "Senior Qi, I remember you used to talk a lot when you came to my house before. Why are you so quiet now?"

Qi Tongwei looked up and smiled: "I was afraid you wouldn't like to hear what I was about to say."

Gao Fangfang paused for a moment, then laughed: "How do you know I don't like to hear this? Tell me."

Qi Tongwei continued, "There's a young talent in our provincial government, a division chief in the Science and Technology Department, a PhD from Peking University, two years older than you, divorced, no children, and very handsome. Would you like to meet him?"

Gao Fangfang realized what was happening and glared at him: "Shut up!"

Wu Huifen took it to heart and quickly asked, "Tongwei, which one are you talking about?"

Qi Tongwei said, "He's from the Science and Technology Department, surnamed Zhou, named Zhou Zhengming. His wife is busy with her career in a first-tier city and doesn't want to come to Handong. They've been in a long-distance relationship for several years, and they divorced last year."

Gao Yuliang thought for a moment and nodded: "Oh, that person. I know him. He is indeed very handsome. Whenever a higher-level leader comes to inspect, if it is a female leader, he is the one who receives her."

Gao Fangfang, listening nearby, looked on in surprise: "Dad! You guys do this kind of thing?"

Gao Yuliang pointed at her irritably: "What are you thinking? You're just pleasing to the eye, like a waitress in a fancy hotel. What do you take our Handong Provincial Government for?"

Qi Tongwei said, "He is a subordinate of Vice Governor Lin. As you know, Vice Governor Lin has always been on Governor Liu's side."

Gao Yuliang smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing."

Qi Tongwei nodded and said nothing more.

Gao Fangfang wanted to ask more, but Wu Huifen put a piece of food in her mouth and shut her up.

The dinner party resumed its lively atmosphere, but Qi Tongwei knew that some things had already been said.

At 9:30, Qi Tongwei got up to say goodbye.

Gao Yuliang saw him to the door, patted him on the shoulder, and said nothing.

Qi Tongwei nodded and walked back to the next room.

Back home, he recalled Gao Yuliang's every move on the table.

He simply smiled and waved his hand at the words "Governor Liu's man," saying, "It's nothing."

Nothing.

When Gao Yuliang said those two words, it meant much more than just "it's okay".

Given his political acumen, how could he not know that Vice Governor Lin was Liu Changsheng's man? How could he not know Liu Changsheng's current predicament?

But he still said, "It's okay."

What does this mean?

This shows that he no longer cares.

This shows that he is ready to retire. No matter what happens to Liu Changsheng in the future, no matter what happens to the Zhao family, no matter where Sha Ruijin investigates, it has nothing to do with him anymore. He is going to retire, retire cleanly and completely.

Qi Tongwei recalled Gao Yuliang's demeanor tonight—serving food to his daughter, listening to Chen Hai speak, and smiling as he inquired about his daughter's marriage. That wasn't the image of someone still struggling in the center of power; it was the image of someone who had already let go of worldly concerns.

Teacher Gao is finally retiring.

Good.

The allure of a gentle, loving relationship is the most agonizing thing.

He also thought of his daughter.

I picked up my phone and dialed that familiar video call.

The screen lit up after two beeps. A bright, smiling face filled half the frame: "Dad! Why are you so late today?"

It was Little Grape—Qi Huaiyin, a sixteen-year-old girl who had blossomed into a graceful young woman. She bore a resemblance to He Xian in her features, but with an added touch of spiritedness. She held her phone high; the background was her living room in Beijing.

"I just finished eating." Qi Tongwei's fatigue had mostly disappeared, and he smiled. "Where's your brother?"

"Here you are." The scene shifted, and a handsome young man approached. Qi Huaiyuan was quieter than his sister, only calling out "Dad" before continuing to fiddle with the Rubik's Cube in his hands.

"Tiedan, have the monthly exam results come out yet?" Qi Tongwei asked.

"They're out, in the top fifty of the grade." Qi Huaiyuan didn't even look up, his tone indifferent, as if it were nothing to mention.

"You're satisfied with being in the top 50 of the grade?" Little Grape winked at him. "Dad, he's being modest. He's 23rd in the grade! And he got a perfect score in physics!"

Qi Tongwei smiled, his eyes full of satisfaction: "Not bad, keep up the good work."

The scene shifts again, and He Xian's face appears in the center of the screen. She is wearing home clothes, her hair is casually tied up, and there is a faint smile on her clean face: "Don't just talk about the child, you should also take care of your health. It's so late to get back to your place."

"I know." Qi Tongwei looked at his wife's face on the screen, a wave of tenderness washing over him. They had been married for twenty years, spending little time together, but every time he saw her face, all his weariness would melt away.

"How's it going in Handong? Are you settling in?" He Xian asked.

"It's alright, a bit more complicated than I imagined, but not a big problem," Qi Tongwei replied briefly, as he was used to not bringing work-related troubles home.

“Little Grape has been talking about you lately, saying she misses you.” He Xian pointed the camera at his daughter.

"I didn't!" Little Grape dodged the camera, her face flushed. "I just meant... can Daddy come back for May Day?"

Qi Tongwei felt a pang of sadness. May Day was still more than two months away, but given the current situation, whether he could go back was truly uncertain.

"I'll try," he could only say. "I'll try to go back and celebrate the holiday with you."

“Dad, you always say that.” Little Grape pouted, but quickly smiled again. “Never mind, I know you’re busy. You go ahead and do your thing, we’re doing fine. It’s just that my great-aunt and grandma went to visit my uncle, and Mom’s cooking is getting worse and worse, so we order takeout every day.”

The uncle was referring to Han Shen and Lin Jingyi's son, as the two families were close.

"Nonsense!" He Xuan glared at him from the side. "I even made pork rib soup yesterday!"

"That soup..." Little Grape made a face, but He Xuan quickly covered her mouth.

Qi Huaiyuan finally looked up, saw his father's exhaustion on the screen, and said in a muffled voice, "Dad, you should get some rest."

A warm feeling welled up in Qi Tongwei's heart. This kid didn't talk much, but he was sincere.

"Alright, it's getting late, you should all go to bed early." Qi Tongwei checked the time; it was almost ten o'clock. "Little Grape has school tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah, I'm in high school now, and I just finished my homework." Little Grape stretched. "Dad, you should get some rest too. I want to check if you have any gray hairs next time we video chat!"

"Okay," Qi Tongwei replied with a smile.

He Xuan looked at the camera one last time, his gaze gentle yet firm: "Don't worry about things at home. Take good care of yourself."

"Hmm." Qi Tongwei nodded, looking at the three faces on the screen, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

The video call ended, and the room fell silent again.

He leaned against the headboard, closed his eyes, and the sounds of his daughter's laughter and his wife's words of advice still echoed in his mind. Those voices were like a warm current, slowly soothing the fatigue and tension of the day.

Tomorrow, there will be new battles to fight.

But at this moment, in this late-night room, he is just an ordinary husband and father, enjoying a moment of peace and warmth.

My phone vibrated again. It was a WeChat message from He Xuan:

"Just took this picture. Little Grape said you should still be handsome even when you're old."

Attached is a photo—Little Grape is taking a selfie with her phone, and He Xuan and Qi Huaiyuan are also in the frame. Behind them is a family photo of the four of them, all three of them smiling brightly.

Qi Tongwei stared at it for a long time, a slight smile playing on his lips, before replying:

"Received. Good night."

Chapter 163 The Last Time

It was almost ten o'clock when Chen Hai left Gao Yuliang's house.

He drove slowly home through the night. The streetlights outside the car window receded one by one, like a silent urging. He didn't want to go home, but he had no choice.

Some things need to be made clear.

He turned the car into the nursing home and parked it in front of the familiar building. He turned off the engine, sat in the car for a while, and smoked half a pack of cigarettes.

He then took a deep breath, pushed open the car door, and went inside.