Official Career Storm
Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Chapter 157

Song Guanchao’s eyes and brows lifted slightly, as he faintly perceived that something was amiss, and asked, "Is there a problem with Minister Zhou recommending Xu Xin?"

"Definitely a problem."

Secretary Sun’s eyes held a hint of drunkenness as he glanced in the direction of the restroom and whispered, "Do you know whose person Xu Xin is?"

That got Song Guanchao’s full attention.

"Not Minister Zhou’s?"

"Of course not." Secretary Sun said, "She was promoted by Mayor Zheng!"

"Ah?"

Song Guanchao was confused and began to doubt the truth of his statement.

Xu Xin wasn’t Minister Zhou’s person, but Mayor Zheng’s?

Damn!

Why on earth would Minister Zhou recommend Xu Xin?

The slight buzz Song Guanchao had felt vanished in an instant as he suddenly realized that he and Wu Qiangwei had been played by Minister Zhou!

But why would he do that?

Both Secretary Wu and Secretary Lu could easily look up Xu Xin’s file.

Just a little investigation would reveal that Xu Xin is Mayor Zheng’s person.

What was the point of Minister Zhou doing this?

To throw us off the scent?

That didn’t make sense.

If he really wanted to throw us off the scent, the best way would be to not recommend anyone.

But he had recommended Mayor Zheng’s person.

It’s important to remember that Mayor Zheng, along with Secretary Lu and Wu Qiangwei, were a united front.

By recommending Xu Xin, he was essentially strengthening Wu Qiangwei’s voice in the City Committee.

As his thoughts wandered, Song Guanchao considered several possibilities.

First, Minister Zhou might have had private contact with Mayor Zheng and they were political allies.

And Mayor Zheng was not as sidelined as he appeared to be.

Perhaps, like Secretary Lu, he wanted to climb higher and so he used Minister Zhou to promote Xu Xin, to plant a mole in the City Committee, and an overt one at that.

Second, Minister Zhou could be signaling goodwill to Secretary Wu.

But with Zhou Jun’s arrest, it was not appropriate for Minister Zhou to be too direct, so he took this roundabout approach.

In his view, Lu, Zheng, and Wu were a united front, so recommending anyone from their side was equivalent to showing his goodwill to Wu Qiangwei.

There was also a third possibility.

That was, Minister Zhou had detected that Lu, Zheng, and Wu weren’t as unified as they seemed, and he saw that Secretary Lu had the intention to make a move.

So, he specifically recommended Mayor Zheng’s person for the position of Secretary of the Municipal Committee.

If all three of them had their own ambitions, then his move was essentially setting a time bomb.

If Wu Qiangwei wanted full control of the City Committee, the Secretary of the Municipal Committee had to be her own person, which meant Xu Xin would inevitably have to be removed.

But taking action against Xu Xin would be tantamount to challenging Mayor Zheng’s authority.

As a result, a rift would form between the two.

Song Guanchao was uncertain which possibility was the actual case.

Or perhaps, it was none of the three.

He picked up his glass and took a sip, suddenly feeling that he might have underestimated Minister Zhou.

He had thought that a father who could raise a social scum like Zhou Jun was nothing more than a vulgar fool.

Now it seemed, he had underestimated him.

Before long, Xu Xin returned.

Secretary Sun then received a phone call, and after hanging up said, "I have something to attend to and need to leave first, you guys continue drinking."

After he left, only the two remained in the private room.

Xu Xin picked up her glass and said, "Secretary Song, I’m toasting to you."

"Drink less." Song Guanchao pressed down on the glass.

She had drunk more than half a jin tonight, her gaze rather unsteady.

He had no intention of taking advantage of Xu Xin, so there was no need to get her drunk.

After sitting for a while longer, they settled the bill and left.

When they came out of the restaurant, Xu Xin was unsteady on her feet, obviously drunk.

Song Guanchao asked, "How will Director Xu get back?"

"I’ll take a cab later."

"Let me take you."

"No need, I can get back on my own...uh~"

Before she could finish her words, she suddenly bent over, almost vomiting.

Song Guanchao supported her and said, "Let’s go, I’ll take you."

He was not comfortable letting her go back by herself in this state.

When they got into the car, Song Guanchao called for a designated driver and, after asking for the address, they set off.

On the road, Xu Xin leaned back in the seat with her eyes closed, as if she had fallen asleep.

Twenty minutes later, the car drove into the residential area and stopped downstairs.

Song Guanchao shook her gently, and Xu Xin opened her eyes in a daze.

"Director Xu, we’ve arrived."

"Oh, okay."

She pushed the car door open and staggered out.

Song Guanchao had no choice but to support her into the building and, while taking the elevator, she almost completely leaned on him, inevitably leading to some physical contact.

Her figure was voluptuous, and as she was wearing a long dress, the side of her breast pressed against his arm and her full buttocks rubbed against his thigh.

Song Guanchao had drunk some alcohol, and with her rubbing against him like that, it was difficult for him to avoid having a physical reaction.

At last, the elevator reached the floor, and he helped Xu Xin to her door.

He knocked, but there was no response.

Xu Xin’s voice came intermittently, "I live alone, the key is in my bag."

Song Guanchao took out the key, opened the door, turned on the light, and helped her to the sofa.

Sitting on the sofa and regaining some consciousness, Xu Xin said, "Secretary Song, thank you."

"No problem, get some rest early." Song Guanchao got up to leave.

Suddenly, Xu Xin hugged the trash bin and began to retch.

Song Guanchao was a bit troubled; her alcohol tolerance was far too low.

And yet she kept drinking.

He walked over and crouched down, gently patting her back, "Feeling any better?"

"Awful," Xu Xin gasped with tears in her eyes.

Lifting her disheveled hair in embarrassment, she said, "Secretary Song, you’ve seen me in a disgraceful state."

She got up and went to the bathroom to splash water on her face but suddenly felt nauseous again, rushed into the bathroom, and kneeled in front of the toilet to retch.

Listening to the sounds of vomiting from the bathroom, Song Guanchao found himself in a dilemma.

Leaving now would worry him in case something happened to her.

But he couldn’t very well stay forever.

He glanced at the time; it was almost nine.

He decided to wait a bit and sat down on the sofa.

After a while, he suddenly heard the sound of water from the bathroom.

Was she taking a shower?

Several minutes passed, the sound of water stopped, and the bathroom door opened—a stark-naked Xu Xin walked out.

She seemed a bit confused, wobbling as she walked.

It wasn’t until she saw Song Guanchao on the sofa that she suddenly stopped.

Her expression froze for two seconds before she snapped to her senses, hastily covering her chest and clamping her legs together, turning to the side.

Her voice was panicked, "Secretary Song, why are you still here?"

Song Guanchao also paused for two seconds and, regaining his composure, turned his head away and explained, "I saw you were quite sick from the vomiting..."

He was internally speechless, thinking, what in the world is this situation!

And her, taking a shower is fine, but put on some clothes, will you!

Walking out completely naked like that.

"I’ll head back now."

He stood up and left, pushing the door open.

After the door closed, Xu Xin, who was extremely shy just a moment before, suddenly changed her demeanor, casually walking to the mirror and twirling around, admiring her graceful body.

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, "Seems like the effect is not bad."

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