In name only: I will break the chess game in Handong

Chen Hai's tone didn't betray any sadness, after all, all he was thinking about now was catching up with Lu Yike so he could make a comeback.

"Hey, we're buddies, right? If this buddy of yours gets into trouble, would you help him out?"

Chen Hai was a little confused. He had already been dismissed from his post, so who else could he help?

"That's right, it's my buddy, Donglai, just say the word!"

"Alright! I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Didn't you say before that you and Comrade Lu Yike had a good relationship, and that you even offered to play matchmaker for me? Now that I've really fallen for Comrade Lu Yike, tell me if you can help me with this favor!"

Chen Hai was dumbfounded upon hearing this.

"are you serious?"

"Why not?"

After a moment of silence, Chen Hai had a sudden inspiration.

"Donglai, I've taken this to heart. As you know, our Director Lu is currently conducting investigations at the grassroots level and probably won't be back in Jingzhou for a while. So, I'll let you know when Director Lu returns to Jingzhou!"

Zhao Donglai's laughter never stopped.

"Alright, alright, then Chen Hai, I'm entrusting my marriage to you!"

"no problem!"

After exchanging a few more casual words, Chen Hai hung up the phone and gave a cold laugh.

"Brother? Hou Liangping and I said the same thing before, and we were really good friends, but he still stabbed me in the back. Everyone looks out for themselves!"

Friday arrived in the blink of an eye.

Lu Yike also traveled from Lincheng to Jingzhou. She first went to the Political and Legal Affairs Commission to report to Chen Luo before going to meet Chen Hai as scheduled.

As for Chen Luo, he had just finished listening to Lu Yike's work report and was about to go home when his phone rang.

I picked it up and saw it was a call from Old Xu!

Stand up and answer the phone

"Hello, Mr. Xu!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, why are you being so polite with me?"

I received your report from Handong. It's great that you have zero tolerance for illegal and criminal activities at the grassroots level. The publicity is also very effective. Even Minister Wang from the Ministry of Public Security praised you for being capable.

"So, isn't the work of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission quite interesting?"

Chen Luo smiled and nodded.

"Old Xu, it's interesting, but I feel too idle. Once tasks are assigned, I can only sit there and do nothing. It's not very satisfying!"

"Hey, you're ungrateful for my kindness. I was just thinking you've been too busy in Suzhou these past few years, so I wanted to give you a break. But you think it's too easy for you? Should I give you more responsibilities?"

"Huh? Mr. Xu, you're not joking, are you?"

Chen Luo was somewhat taken aback. He had only been joking, but it seemed he had gone a bit too far.

"Are you kidding me? Do you think I'm kidding?"

The Party Secretary of your city, Lüzhou, Handong, is about to be transferred. I heard that the newly appointed mayor is not cooperating with the Party Secretary's work and is causing a mess.

This angered the patriarch of the Hu family. Coupled with the complex situation in Handong, the Hu family wanted to transfer him back to a ministry.

Vice President Hu told me about this privately.

"If you want more responsibility, you can take on the additional role of Party Secretary of Lüzhou City. Lüzhou's economy is no weaker than Jingzhou's, which will give you a perfect opportunity to showcase your abilities."

"The relationship is indeed very complicated, but Mr. Xu, I would be willing if given the opportunity!"

"Hahaha, you're getting a good deal and still acting innocent. Previous secretaries of the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee all made it into the Standing Committee. I'll ask Vice President Hu privately and get some information."

As for whether it will work out, I can't guarantee it.

"Oh! Thank you, Elder Xu. I will definitely come to see you in person when I have the chance to visit Beijing!"

"Alright, alright, I'll hang up now."

Goodbye, Mr. Xu!

After hanging up the phone, Chen Luo felt his heart pounding. The joy of being promoted was a rare and precious feeling.

"I didn't expect the Party Secretary of Luzhou City to have this background, but it's normal. A 44-year-old Party Secretary would probably have no chance at all without some support."

This Yi Xuexi guy is quite interesting; he even managed to anger the municipal party secretary!

Chen Luo chuckled as he spoke. Yi Xuexi was just like that; he was indeed very principled, but he was really not cut out for developing the economy. No wonder he was transferred to Jingzhou as the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission in the original drama.

Slowly exhaling a breath of stale air, Chen Luo gradually suppressed his joy. Even if this matter succeeded, it would probably be after the New Year, which would still be two or three months away. He should focus on doing a good job with the Political and Legal Affairs Commission first.

Bag in hand, off work, home!

Meanwhile, Lu Yi saw Chen Hai at a restaurant in Jingzhou City, which was a huge surprise to him.

Chen Hai used to dress simply, even somewhat unkempt, and Lu Yike was used to his attire. However, the Chen Hai in front of her now was simply too extravagant.

She shaved, changed her clothes, and wore a smart little suit with a bright smile, but Lu Yike still felt awkward.

"Yes, come on, sit down. The food at this restaurant is really good. You've been working at the grassroots level for a while now, and you look thinner. You need to eat well."

Chen Hai's tone was also different from usual.

Lu Yike has indeed lost weight, after all, she often stays up late. But at the same time, her alertness has increased a lot. Chen Hai's deliberate actions all point to his abnormal behavior.

"Chen Hai, are you... alright?"

I've heard about what happened to you. Just stay away from Hou Liangping from now on.

As soon as Lu Yike said this, Chen Hai's forced smile crumbled.

Some words, even if spoken with the intention of concern, can be perceived as sarcasm when they come from someone you care about.

That's exactly how Chen Hai felt.

Chapter 86 Zhao Donglai Knows the Truth

"Yes, what could possibly happen to me?"

Chen Hai continued in a deliberately relaxed tone, "It's just a temporary dismissal. Come to think of it, it's been almost twenty years since I graduated from university and started working at the procuratorate. In all these years, I've been so focused on work that I've neglected the people around me."

Now is a good time to rest.

As Chen Hai said this, his gaze towards Lu Yike was filled with deep affection.

Lu Yike, on the other hand, was completely unmoved!

It's not an exaggeration to describe it as having a heart as still as water.

Lu Yike suddenly felt that Chen Hai in front of her was being too deliberate. What was hidden in his eyes was not a longing for love, but an ambitious delusion.

Thinking about her family background, Lu Yike felt that all her past crushes had vanished.

"It's fine to take a break. Your little ball will be in sixth grade soon. You've been so busy with work these past few years that you've neglected him the most. He's a child, and now is the time to cultivate good habits. You can't be careless."

Lu Yike seemed not to understand Chen Hai's hint and directly pointed out that the person Chen Hai ignored was his son, Chen Dong.

Seeing his deep affection being forcibly diverted, Chen Hai, though not completely broken down, had even more wrinkles around his eyes.

"Oh well, it's too late for Little Ball now. This brat would rather have a heart-to-heart talk with you than play with his father any longer. He's still lacking maternal love!"

"That's easy. I remember your ex-wife lives in Jingzhou, right? Just have Little Ball go visit her often, won't that solve the problem?"

Still refusing to engage, Lu Yike's idealized view of Chen Hai was rapidly shattering, leaving Chen Hai with no choice but to feign composure.

Just then, the waiter brought out the food. Taking this opportunity, Chen Hai pointed to the dishes on the table and said, "Let's not talk about that now. Come on, let's eat!"

The two then began to eat slowly and deliberately, completely unaware that a middle-aged man had walked into the restaurant.

Zhao Donglai, dressed in casual clothes, originally intended to find a restaurant to grab a bite, but as soon as he entered, he saw Lu Yike sitting and eating not far away.

Overjoyed, Zhao Donglai straightened his clothes and was about to go up and say hello for a chance encounter when he saw a familiar figure sitting opposite Lu Yike.

The words he wanted to say stuck in his throat, and the smile on Zhao Donglai's face gradually stiffened.

"Chen Hai?"

He recognized the person having dinner with Lu Yike just by looking at his back; it was Chen Hai, who had been saying he would introduce Lu Yike to him.

Without disturbing them, Zhao Donglai quietly took his seat behind Lu Yike and Chen Hai.

Within minutes, Zhao Donglai's complexion worsened. He could overhear the gist of their conversation; after all, he was the director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau, and Zhao Donglai could easily discern the hidden agenda behind Chen Hai's words.

"Well, Chen Hai, I treated you like a brother and was waiting for you to introduce me to Director Lu. You agreed on the phone, but you secretly came to see Director Lu behind my back. If you liked her, you should have said so earlier! You wicked bastard!"

You deserve to be dismissed!

Although he was furious, Zhao Donglai knew that now was not the time to show himself.

After all, judging from Lu Yike's tone, she didn't seem very satisfied with Chen Hai's black sesame dumplings.

Zhao Donglai quickly got up and left the restaurant.

Once outside the restaurant, Zhao Donglai took out his phone and dialed Chen Hai's number.

Inside the restaurant, as they were eating and chatting, Chen Hai's phone rang. He picked it up and saw that it was Zhao Donglai. Chen Hai was reluctant to answer, but how could Lu Yike let such an opportunity pass by?

"Answer Chen Hai, maybe something's wrong?"

Since Lu Yike had already spoken, Chen Hai had no choice but to bite the bullet and answer the phone.

"Hey, Donglai?"

"Chen Hai, where are you now?"

Zhao Donglai's tone was the same as usual.

"Um... I'm at home!"

"Really? I just passed by a restaurant and saw a figure from behind that looked a lot like you. Maybe I was mistaken."

Hearing this, Chen Hai was clearly flustered, but he still followed Zhao Donglai's words and said, "You must have seen wrong. I'm at home helping Xiao Piqiu with her homework right now."

"Oh, is that so? By the way, Chen Hai, I heard that Director Lu has returned to Jingzhou. Do you think... you could help me make a connection and let me meet Director Lu?"

For a moment, Chen Hai was stunned.

"Well... I haven't heard the specifics yet, but I'll definitely introduce it to you when I have the chance!"