The lounge was shrouded in smoke.

The Song brothers had cigarettes dangling from their mouths, dealing out cards. A group of people was engaged in a game of bullfighting, with the brothers taking turns playing as the dealer.

Upon seeing Lin Chuan enter, everyone immediately froze, and the previously noisy lounge quieted down. At this moment, Song Wen burst out scolding, "What's the matter, what's the matter? Just because someone comes in, you all quiet down, it's not like he's a fierce bird or a wild beast."

Song Wen's words were clearly directed at scolding Lin Chuan.

However, Lin Chuan didn't mind. Instead, he walked in and sat down on a chair. The group started playing bullfighting again. Luo Guoqing, who had been collecting money, came over and said, "You little rascal, gone for a few days again, huh? Even Minister Chen can't do anything about you!"

"I didn't do anything wrong," Lin Chuan took a drag of his cigarette.

"Bullshit, you skip work for so many days and still have the nerve to say you didn't do anything wrong?" Luo Guoqing sneered, "That's because you have Secretary Tang backing you up, otherwise Minister Chen would have kicked you out long ago."

"Heh heh..." Lin Chuan grinned and said, "He wouldn't dare."

"Where have you been these days?" Luo Guoqing asked.

"Took a little trip," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Chilling out, weren't you?" Luo Guoqing laughingly asked: "Before you left, you were like a walking corpse every day. But now that you're back, you're back to normal. Seems like getting away to clear your mind was pretty good for you."

"Haha..." Lin Chuan was stunned for a second and then burst out laughing, "Didn't expect you to notice, huh?"

"Everything about you is written all over your face," Luo Guoqing gave Lin Chuan a look.

"By the way, where's Li Minghua?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Haven't seen him around," Luo Guoqing shook his head, "It's been almost more than ten days now. No answer to calls, can't find the guy. Don't know if something happened to him!"

"Really?" Lin Chuan was startled, "We need to keep an eye out; we'd better find him quickly."

"I'm gonna visit his hometown during the holidays," Luo Guoqing replied.

"Yeah," Lin Chuan nodded.

At that moment, Xiao Xue pinched her nose and poked her head in from outside, shouting, "Lin Chuan, Secretary Tang is looking for you."

"Coming," Lin Chuan nodded and said, "I'll be right there."

Xiao Xue had already disappeared, quickly leaving the scene, not wanting to be suffocated by the polluted air inside. The smell of pickled vegetables mixed with foot odor and the deadly cigarette smoke…

Lin Chuan hurriedly made his way to Tang Yumeng's office.

Upon entering the office, Tang Yumeng was working with a serious and earnest demeanor.

"Sis, you were looking for me?" Lin Chuan walked in.

Tang Yumeng wanted to discuss with Lin Chuan about Linjiang, advising him not to get involved.

Lin Chuan just chuckled.

Tang Yumeng had no way to deal with him, except to assert her authority and order him to stay in the City Committee, ready to be called upon.

In the following days, Tang Yumeng noticed that Lin Chuan was almost always on duty, without absence or tardiness. His attendance was a relief to her.

"Hmm, not bad." After seeing Lin Chuan in the lounge on duty for several days in a row, Minister Chen walked up with his hands clasped behind his back and a belly pushed out, a satisfied look on his face, "You should all learn from Lin Chuan. Be on time. No leaving early or arriving late."

"Yes, yes!" Several drivers nodded in agreement.

But the Song brothers looked dissatisfied. Lin Chuan had hardly been at his post in the past few days, often being absent, late, or leaving early... Yet, Minister Chen was praising him today? It was obviously because of Tang Yumeng's influence.

In fact, Minister Chen was also someone adept at reading between the lines. Recently, there seemed to be some subtle changes at the City Committee. Orders from Tang Yumeng were executed more thoroughly and rigorously than before, which piqued Minister Chen's curiosity, and he couldn't help but cozy up a bit closer to Tang Yumeng's team.

"What the hell!" Song Wen couldn't help but curse, "We who come to work every day have never been commended, and this guy, who often skips work, ends up being praised. What the hell is this?"

"Forget about it, it's just because he's connected," Song Wu disdainfully said from the side.

Nobody else dared to criticise Lin Chuan. Only these two were bold enough to point fingers at him.

"Heh heh, kid, you really draw attention," Luo Guoqing smiled with a cigarette in his mouth as he watched Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan answered with a dismissive laugh, "What's there to be afraid of? People say, 'The taller the tree, the more wind it draws.' I'm not scared."

"Still, better take it easy," Luo Guoqing laughed, "You're not afraid of King Yan, but the little ghosts can be troublesome."

Lin Chuan was even more dismissive.

"Tomorrow's a holiday, I plan to go to Li Minghua's place to check on him, see why he hasn't shown up," Luo Guoqing said laughing.

"Good idea," Lin Chuan nodded, "Scout out the situation, find out what's really going on."

"Yeah," Luo Guoqing took another drag of his cigarette.

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