"Vice Minister Chu!"

Just as he stepped out of the Tianjiao Building, Chu Ge heard someone call out to him and turned his head in surprise.

In his sight, Feifei was standing by the roadside, waving at him with a big smile. When she noticed Tong Yaqi beside Chu Ge, she scratched her head and stuck out her tongue.

And beside Feifei, unexpectedly, was the entire Operation Management Department.

Looking at Ji Songtao's somewhat complicated expression, Chu Ge immediately understood. Apparently, Ji Songtao had already told everyone about his resignation, and they were all here waiting for him.

This Ji Songtao...

Chu Ge couldn't help but feel speechless; he didn't like farewell scenes, finding them quite awkward. That's why he asked Ji Songtao to keep it a secret, yet now the whole office knew.

Fortunately, Chu Ge found that everyone's mood seemed quite good; most of them were smiling, looking genuinely happy for him.

"You lucky guy, you have quite the rapport with people, huh? Looks like I still can't repay you that meal today?"

Tong Yaqi gave a polite smile to the folks from the Operation Management Department and whispered in Chu Ge's ear, sounding a bit annoyed.

Chu Ge whispered back awkwardly, "Heaven and earth, it's purely accidental; I really didn't know beforehand."

Though Tong Yaqi wanted to be alone with Chu Ge, she didn't make things difficult for him in this matter, sensibly saying, "Alright, go ahead, they're waiting for you. I might consider joining the fun myself."

Nodding at Tong Yaqi, Chu Ge helplessly smiled and walked towards his colleagues from the Operation Management Department.

Stopping in front of the group, Chu Ge pretended not to know and asked, "Not enthusiastic about going home after work, are you all having some thoughts? What are you doing here?"

Before Chu Ge could finish, Feifei punched him lightly in the chest, grumbling, "Vice Minister Chu, aren't you asking the obvious? You're not coming tomorrow, and you didn't even inform us. Do you not consider us friends?"

Chu Ge chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head, thinking to himself that his resignation was partly because of Feifei and Mo Xiaoran.

Shooting a helpless look at Ji Songtao, he said, "Minister Ji, you still sold me out, huh."

Ji Songtao shook his head, uncharacteristically serious, "Chu Ge, after thinking it over, I felt it better to tell everyone. If I really kept it from them and let you leave quietly, I'd definitely regret it. No matter what, you should let us give you a proper send-off."

Chu Ge laughed, "Minister Ji, no need to be so serious. You're the leader; I'll follow your lead."

Seeing Chu Ge wasn't even a bit upset, Ji Songtao relaxed and smiled, while the others continued to rebuke Chu Ge for his "lack of consideration."

Facing everyone's reproach, Chu Ge apologized with a smile, "Honestly, I just thought since I'm still at Tianjiao, we'd meet again, so I didn't want to cause a fuss. Now, it seems I didn't think it through. I owe everyone an apology."

After a few more exchanges, Ji Songtao glanced at Tong Yaqi, who was still standing at the entrance of the Tianjiao Building, and quietly asked, "Chu Ge, is there something between you and Director Tong? Are we interrupting you two?"

Just as Ji Songtao finished speaking, Tong Yaqi walked over, smiling, "Minister Ji, are you talking bad about me?"

Though Tong Yaqi was clearly joking, Ji Songtao was startled; in all his years at Tianjiao Film and Television, he could count the times he'd seen Tong Yaqi smile on one hand. As for cracking a joke, this was definitely a first.

Facing Tong Yaqi's gaze, Ji Songtao instinctively shook his hands repeatedly, smiling wryly, "No, no, how could I?"

As Tong Yaqi joined the group, Feifei, Lu Gang, and the others quieted down. Tong Yaqi's presence was always quite intimidating to them.

"Looks like everyone is planning a farewell for your Vice Minister Chu. If you don't mind, can I join?"

Tong Yaqi's words stunned everyone but Chu Ge; the group from the Operation Management Department was silent, even as they heard her clearly, still doubting their ears.

Did the sun rise from the west today?

Tong Yaqi, usually so aloof and never smiling, what was happening today?

Not only did she smile warmly at them and joke with Ji Songtao, but now she wanted to join them for a meal?

It's well-known that Tong Yaqi is the titular second in command at Tianjiao Film and Television, but practically the one in charge!

Moreover, it's said she's never attended any employee gatherings; even the ministers in the company haven't had the honor of dining with her.

For the staff of the Operation Management Department, this kind of psychological shock is something beyond mere astonishment at receiving unexpected favor.

In the midst of silence, Tong Yaqi helplessly rubbed her forehead, and with a hint of self-mockery, she laughed, "Really? You all dislike me so much? Watch out, I might make things difficult for you at the Operation Management Department later on!"

"Alright, stop scaring my colleagues here, or you might find yourself in trouble when I become the Chairman's favorite and she makes things difficult for you."

Chu Ge jokingly teased Tong Yaqi, and then smiled at the stunned Operation Management Department staff, "Considering her sincerity, why don't we take her along with us?"

In Chu Ge's view, given the situation today, taking Tong Yaqi along was definitely a great choice. Anyway, he would liven up the atmosphere, and hopefully it wouldn't turn out to be a cold dinner.

Besides, he originally intended to ask Tong Yaqi to take good care of the Operation Management Department in the future, so this served as a perfect opportunity to help strengthen the relationship between Tong Yaqi and the staff.

Ji Songtao was the first to snap back to reality, swallowed his saliva, and managed to squeeze out a smile, stuttering, "If Director Tong really wants to join... we of course... would be honored to welcome her."

Tong Yaqi was amused; she hadn't expected a department's Minister like Ji Songtao to be so afraid of her.

"Alright then, I'll take your word and assume you genuinely welcome me."

Tong Yaqi nodded her head, took out her phone, and made a call. When she hung up, a wave of excitement welled up in her heart.

"I've already reserved the restaurant, number eighteen Huaguang Street, Yixin Garden on the third floor of Shangya Pavilion. Let's have a farewell dinner there for your Vice Minister Chu."

After speaking, Tong Yaqi glanced at Chu Ge, "Shall we go ahead first, the future Chairman's favorite Comrade Chu Ge?"

Chu Ge smiled, bid adieu to Ji Songtao and others saying, "See you there," then followed in Tong Yaqi's footsteps and sat in her white Chevrolet.

Chu Ge took the wheel and Tong Yaqi jokingly said she was acting on behalf of the Chairman to test Chu Ge's driving skills, but in reality, she wanted to take a good look at Chu Ge's handsome profile.

Not long after, Chu Ge parked the car at the entrance of Shangya Pavilion and together with Tong Yaqi, walked out of the white Chevrolet.

In sight, the restaurant appeared unchanged from before; however, both Chu Ge and Tong Yaqi felt somewhat sentimental, exchanging knowing smiles.

This was the place where Chu Ge and Tong Yaqi first had dinner together, and on that day, Tong Yaqi had also booked a room at Yixin Garden.

On the third floor, Chu Ge first visited the restroom while Tong Yaqi entered the private room, leaving the door open for convenience so that Ji Songtao and others could find their way easily.

Sitting where she had sat before, memories involuntarily flooded Tong Yaqi's mind of moments when Chu Ge stood protectively before her, showcasing his prowess.

Lost in thought, Tong Yaqi inadvertently glanced towards the door. When she saw a man and a woman passing by in the corridor, her eyes met with the man's gaze, causing her pretty eyes to involuntarily shrink, her heart fiercely constricting, as she hastily turned away and shifted her focus.

Meanwhile, after taking care of himself, Chu Ge was also walking back to Yixin Garden along the corridor, only to cross paths with the couple who had just passed Yixin Garden.

Seeing this pair, Chu Ge couldn't help but break out in cold sweat.

This combination was too bizarre, a truly mismatched pair.

The man appeared to be around thirty years old, nearly 1.8 meters tall, with a very good physique, hair styled in a classic parting wearing a neat suit, exuding elegance and charm.

The woman, probably also under thirty, similarly tall, dressed in very expensive fashionable attire but with a severely expanded horizontal figure, estimating her dimensions might be around eighty-five, eighty-five, eighty-five, a true example of an elephantine hip and barrel waist, strutting with an air of arrogance, seemingly making the corridor floor tremble.

Tall women and large women were common sights to Chu Ge, but the woman who was both this tall and this large was indeed a first for him.

If this woman was just chunky, it wouldn't be an issue. What really made Chu Ge unable to directly face her was her overly thick makeup on her concentration face with robust brows, ox eyes, wide nose, and thick lips, seeming to spill powder as she walked, and her lips smeared with lipstick as if drenched in blood.

Until the couple entered the private room adjacent to Yixin Garden, Chu Ge recalled the scene of the woman holding the man's arm, still finding it quite chilling.

If they really were a couple, Chu Ge felt for the man; how blind must one be to fancy such a woman? Could this be... the fabled invincible true love?

Amused by his thoughts, Chu Ge walked into Yixin Garden to see Tong Yaqi somewhat out of sorts, looking like she had just been struck by something.

"Director Tong, you don't look well, what's wrong?"

Forcing a faint smile, Tong Yaqi shook her head, "No, nothing, maybe just a bit of low blood sugar."

Though Chu Ge could tell at a glance it wasn't the truth, since Tong Yaqi didn't want to elaborate, he didn't press further, casually chatting about other topics until the Operation Management Department staff entered the room.

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