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

At Han Shen's level, his words, while not necessarily implying that a ruler's word is law, would not be subject to frequent changes in policy.

Upon hearing this, Xu Li's smile became more helpless and gentle: "This time, it really was Xiao Xuan who caused all this trouble."

He was Han Shen's absolute confidant. Han Shen's son would call him "brother" when they met. In private, he addressed He Xuan more casually, which showed his closeness. He didn't need to call her "Miss He" like he did in the county committee's reception room.

“The young girl wanted to come see you. She said her family was worried about her traveling such a long distance alone, so she pestered the director, insisting that he send me to take her. She said she wouldn’t leave if he didn’t send me and that she would go to complain to her grandfather.”

Qi Tongwei was taken aback. During this time, he had been caught in the small political vortex of Daokou, his nerves were on edge, and he habitually weighed the pros and cons of every matter. He hadn't even considered this simplest and most direct reason.

He thought He Xian was just Xu Li's "excuse" or "pretext" for this trip, but he didn't expect that she herself was the "purpose" itself.

"This girl..." Qi Tongwei shook his head and chuckled, but his heart felt as if it had been gently brushed by a feather, and a warm feeling and guilt rose up. "I'm really causing Brother Xu a lot of trouble by making this trip all this way."

"It's not troublesome at all; it's just part of our job as secretaries," Xu Li waved his hand dismissively.

Sometimes, handling a leader's "family affairs" and "private affairs" well is more important than handling official business well.

"Then... does the director have any other instructions?" Qi Tongwei asked again to confirm.

Xu Li glanced at him, his smile deepening, tinged with a mischievousness: "As for an explanation... the director did scold you a few times, but I won't repeat it verbatim, lest you lose face."

Qi Tongwei was speechless and could only smile helplessly.

The two had reached the entrance of the county government compound. Xu Li stopped and patted Qi Tongwei on the shoulder: "Alright, that's enough for now. I'm leaving. Take care of yourself at the crossroads."

"Brother Xu, how did you get here? Have you bought your return tickets?" Qi Tongwei asked with concern.

“This is a private matter, so I didn’t bother the local comrades. I took Xiaoxian by train to Luzhou, and then a long-distance bus from Luzhou. It’s the same going back; the train tickets have already been bought by someone, and the bus departs from Luzhou tonight,” Xu Li explained.

As they were talking, Xiao Luo came running out of the office building, carrying a file folder and a rather heavy-looking cloth bag in his hand.

Qi Tongwei beckoned him over, then turned to Xu Li and said, "Brother Xu, what a coincidence. Xiao Luo has a document to deliver to the Luzhou Municipal Government and needs to leave immediately. Let him drive you to Luzhou Railway Station on his way; it's more convenient and faster than taking a long-distance bus."

As he spoke, he took the cloth bag from Xiao Luo and handed it to Xu Li. "These are some local specialties from Luzhou and Daokou. They're not worth much, just some mountain produce and pastries. Take them back for your sister-in-law and children to try. It's just a small token of my appreciation."

Qi Tongwei's expression was sincere, and the things he brought were also very tasteful, neither too expensive nor taboo, yet they conveyed a sense of human warmth.

Xu Li hesitated for a moment, but seeing Qi Tongwei's sincere eyes, he still smiled and accepted it: "Okay, then I won't stand on ceremony with you this time."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then a slightly worn black Santana arranged by the county party committee office drove up.

Before getting into the car, Xu Lilin paused, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, as if he had something to say but hesitated.

Qi Tongwei, observing the situation, immediately said, "Xiao Luo, wait in the car for a moment."

Xiao Luo tactfully got into the car and sat in the passenger seat.

Xu Li then lowered his voice and said to Qi Tongwei, "Logically speaking, my visit here has made the director's stance clear, and the Liang family's underhanded tactics should have subsided or even stopped. But..."

He paused slightly, his tone becoming cautious: "In my years in the General Office, I've seen all sorts of people, especially some children of cadres. Some of them... have rather 'unique' thought processes, thinking differently from normal people, and often act unexpectedly and without considering the consequences. You still shouldn't let your guard down completely, just in case."

These words were spoken subtly, but Qi Tongwei immediately understood their deeper meaning and the reminder they conveyed.

Liang Jin, that kind of playboy, might not play by the rules, nor might he fully respect Han Shen's "statement." They are used to being lawless and lack respect. If they encounter resistance, they might not stop, and might even become more outrageous.

"I understand, thank you for the reminder, Brother Xu." Qi Tongwei nodded solemnly, but the tension in his heart did not ease in the slightest because of He Xian's arrival and Xu Li's appearance.

Xu Li nodded, said no more, turned and got into the car, rolled down the window, waved goodbye to Qi Tongwei, and agreed to meet again when they returned to Beijing.

The Santana slowly drove away from the county government compound, turned the corner, and disappeared around the street corner.

Only when the car was completely out of sight did Qi Tongwei suddenly turn around and walk back quickly with an urgency that was inconsistent with his usual steady pace, with a clear goal—his small office on the second floor.

Never before had he so longed to return to that cramped space, a temporary refuge filled with documents and files.

My hand touched the doorknob, I turned it gently, and pushed it open.

As soon as the door closed, a scent mixed with sunlight, dust, and a faint fragrance wafted out.

Immediately afterwards, a soft and fragrant body rushed into his arms with a gentle breeze, causing him to take a half step back and instinctively open his arms to catch it.

Looking down, he met He Xian's upturned face. Her face showed some fatigue from the long journey, but her eyes were bright and sparkling, as if filled with tiny starlight. She was staring at him intently, her expression earnest and somewhat adorable.

"Senior brother," she said in a clear, slightly coquettish voice, "why is it so cold here? I feel like I need to huddle together for warmth!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Tongwei subconsciously looked out the window—it was late April afternoon, and the late spring and early summer sun was shining brightly on Daokou County. You could feel the warmth even through the glass, and the leaves of the sycamore trees in the yard were wilting in the sun.

But when his gaze fell back into the eyes of the person in his arms, who was smiling slyly, all rational and objective judgment vanished instantly.

He only felt the real, warm, and vibrant presence in his arms, which dispelled the scheming and gloom that had been lingering in his mind these past few days.

He tightened his arms, pulling her closer into his embrace, his chin gently resting on the top of her soft hair, his voice carrying a tenderness and indulgence he himself was unaware of as he whispered in response:

"Yes, it's too cold."

Chapter 69 Holiday Arrangements

They only separated slightly, reluctantly, when both of them were a little out of breath and their cheeks were flushed.

Qi Tongwei pulled He Xuan to sit down on the sofa. The small two-seater sofa felt cramped when the two of them sat side by side.

He Xuan seemed to enjoy this intimacy. She naturally wrapped her arms around Qi Tongwei's arm, nestled against him, looked up, and spoke to him excitedly with bright eyes, as if she had endless things to say.

Qi Tongwei turned his head to look at her, his heart softening, and asked softly, "Why did you suddenly come here?"

He Xuan immediately pouted, feigning displeasure: "Senior brother, the way you ask that...do you not miss me at all?"

"How could I not think about it?" Qi Tongwei immediately denied, his fingertips gently brushing away the stray hairs on her forehead. "I think about it every day."

"Then why did you ask!" He Xuan's eyes curved into crescents as she received a satisfactory answer. "I came because I missed you! Is there even a need to ask?"

Qi Tongwei was struck by her confident and straightforward words, his heart filled with sweetness and tenderness. He couldn't help but raise his hand to stroke her delicate, slightly flushed cheeks, his tone tinged with helpless affection: "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

He Xuan's face flushed even more, with a hint of smugness and shyness: "If I had told you earlier, would it still be considered a surprise?"

“Silly girl,” Qi Tongwei chuckled, gently stroking her cheek with his fingertips, “I’m really happy you came today. But if you had told me a week in advance, I would have been happy for an extra week from the moment I found out.”

He Xuan was stunned for a moment, then reacted, her cheeks flushed, and she playfully punched him lightly: "Senior brother... why are you talking like this now..." She couldn't find the right words for a moment, but felt a sweet feeling in her heart.

Qi Tongwei looked into her clear eyes, which seemed to be filled with water, and saw his own reflection clearly in them. His heart skipped a beat, and he was somewhat afraid to look directly into her overly direct and passionate gaze.

He turned his head slightly to look at the gradually setting sun outside the window, and changed the subject, asking, "Why did you insist on having Brother Xu take you? Brother Xu is very busy."

Upon hearing this, He Xuan revealed a sly and smug smile: "Am I clever? When I used to visit my grandfather, sometimes my parents were busy, so Brother Xu would pick me up and drop me off. This time, I said I wanted to come see you and asked Brother Xu to take me. At first, my uncle made excuses, saying that Xu Li was busy with work and it wasn't appropriate. I knew something was wrong as soon as I heard that! The more he acted like that, the more I insisted that Brother Xu take me! I pestered him, saying that if he didn't let Brother Xu take him, I wouldn't leave and would complain to my grandfather! In the end, he had no choice but to agree!"

She shook her head, giving him a "I'm so smart, aren't I?" look: "And by the way, I'll also give you, senior brother, a bit of protection too!"

She raised her little face, with an expression that said, "Praise me for being clever."

Looking at her charming yet slightly mischievous appearance, Qi Tongwei felt both touched and amused. He reached out and ruffled her hair, his tone full of affection: "You... Uncle did this to train me."

"I don't want to!" He Xuan immediately frowned her delicate brows, her tone carrying a charmingly unreasonable tone, "He wants to train you, but I don't want to, training is very hard."

The sun shone brightly in the sky, but Qi Tongwei felt that He Qing's eyes were like twinkling stars, and the moonlight on earth had fallen into his eyes.

My heart is surging with emotion, and I can hardly contain myself.

He lowered his head and precisely captured the two slightly parted lips, glistening with an alluring sheen.

Hmm... It's sweet.

The relationship silently stepped into a deeper level at this moment.

After a brief moment of tenderness, the two exchanged some more idle chatter, and upon checking the time, it was already nearly evening.

Qi Tongwei composed himself, took He Xian's hand, and stood up: "Let's go, I'll take you to our government canteen to experience life there. Although it can't compare to the food in Beijing or at home, it's still quite a unique experience."

The cafeteria was past its peak dining time, and there weren't many people there.

Qi Tongwei ordered a few relatively light dishes and sat down at a clean table with He Xuan.

He Xian is curious about everything. He tried a bite of the local pickled vegetable and wrinkled his nose because of the sourness, but he couldn't help but take another bite. He looked adorable.

Qi Tongwei looked at her with a smile, feeling that the tension and scheming of the past few days had been quietly smoothed out by her vibrant smile.

While we were eating, Xiao Luo returned with a file folder, clearly having come directly to the cafeteria after seeing Xu Li off.

Qi Tongwei beckoned him over to eat with them and asked about the details of taking Xu Li to Luzhou Railway Station.

Xiao Luo answered them one by one, saying that Secretary Xu had successfully boarded the train and asked him to convey his gratitude.

After the meal, Qi Tongwei took He Xuan to the county party committee guesthouse.

The guesthouse was naturally not comparable to the hotels in Beijing, but Luo Xiangdong had obviously made arrangements in advance to have the best suite provided.

The room faces south, is spacious and bright, and the sheets and blankets are all newly changed, smelling of sunshine. The private bathroom has a water heater that ensures hot water is always available.

"The conditions are simple, I'm sorry to trouble you," Qi Tongwei said to He Xuan after looking around.

“I’m not upset at all!” He Xuan walked around the room, opened the window, and looked at the quiet courtyard downstairs and the faint shadows of the mountains in the distance. “It’s quite clean and quiet here. And it’s close to you!” She turned around and smiled sweetly at Qi Tongwei.

Qi Tongwei felt a warm glow in his heart. He gave her a few more instructions, such as locking the door and calling the office if anything happened, before reluctantly leaving to return to his dormitory to rest.

The next morning, He Xuan, exhausted from his journey the previous day, was still sleeping in at the guesthouse.

Qi Tongwei, on the other hand, would get up, wash up, go to the cafeteria for breakfast, and then go to work on time.

He maintained a "positive" work attitude and took the initiative to go to Li Duohai's office to "report" on the "research progress" of the tea project.

However, this time Lee Da-hae's attitude underwent a very subtle change.

Although she still had a smile on her face, her enthusiasm seemed to be mixed with a hint of hesitation that was hard to detect.

Instead of urging him impatiently, he earnestly reminded Qi Tongwei: "Assistant Qi, this tea project is a pilot project. We must do a solid job in the early stages, consider all possible scenarios, and make a meticulous plan. We can't be hasty. It's okay to be slow; the key is to be steady."

Qi Tongwei knew perfectly well that this change was mostly related to Xu Li's visit yesterday, but he remained calm on the surface, even appearing more "energetic," repeatedly assuring that he would conduct in-depth research, come up with the most reliable and feasible solution, and never let down the leader's trust.

Tomorrow is the May Day holiday, and the entire county government compound is filled with a relaxed atmosphere unique to the period before the holiday.

Everyone put aside any non-essential work they could, and their minds were already on holiday plans.

Qi Tongwei did not go to the countryside again, but stayed in the office to calm down and organize and supplement his research report draft.

At noon, he picked up He Xian from the guesthouse. The two did not eat in the canteen, but went to a well-known specialty restaurant in Daokou County.

The shop wasn't big, but it was clean and specialized in local dishes. Qi Tongwei ordered several non-greasy and unique dishes, which He Xuan enjoyed immensely.

During a break from dinner, Qi Tongwei asked He Xuan, "For the three-day May Day holiday, would you like to explore the area around Daokou or go to Luzhou city? I'll go with you."

He Xian put down her chopsticks, propped her chin on her hand, and looked at him with a smile, her eyes curving into a beautiful arc: "I checked before I came. It seems there aren't any attractions I particularly want to visit around Daokou. I guess Luzhou City will be quite crowded and noisy during the holidays."

She paused, leaned forward slightly, and looked on with anticipation in her eyes: "Senior brother, I want to visit your hometown and see the tea plantations."

Tea plantation? The tea season is over.

But when Qi Tongwei saw He Xuan's face, which was so red it was almost dripping with water, how could he not understand what the girl in front of him was thinking?