"Shh, someone's coming." Suddenly, someone whispered.

Sure enough, everyone immediately quieted down, even those who had been laughing heartily stopped their laughter, and they all bowed their heads, engrossed in their phones, not daring to meet Lin Chuan's gaze.

Luo Guoqing glanced at Lin Chuan, and immediately got up, then took Lin Chuan and walked outside.

"Is what they said true?" Luo Guoqing asked Lin Chuan in astonishment.

Lin Chuan calmly took out a cigarette, glanced at Luo Guoqing, and said, "Do you believe it?"

"I don't believe it," Luo Guoqing shook his head firmly.

"No, it's true." Lin Chuan said with a calm smile.

"You!" Luo Guoqing was shocked and said, "When did this happen?"

Luo Guoqing obviously couldn't believe it. Was Lin Chuan really dating Tang Yumeng? This... This seemed as unbelievable as a fairy tale. It sounded like a very absurd thing. Luo Guoqing couldn't believe it.

Moreover, no one in the lounge believed it, everyone mocking Lin Chuan saying he, a toad, wanted to eat swan meat. If these people knew that Lin Chuan and Tang Yumeng really were in a relationship, would they be shocked into disbelieving. Because the toad really did get the swan meat.

However, whether Lin Chuan truly belonged to the toad category, probably no one knew.

"It's been a while," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"You're not lying to me, are you?" Luo Guoqing looked at Lin Chuan in astonishment.

"Do you believe me?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Of course, I do," Luo Guoqing nodded firmly.

"Then why don't you believe me?" Lin Chuan countered.

"I..." Luo Guoqing was dumbstruck, and laughed awkwardly: "This... this matter is just too unbelievable. How could Secretary Tang fall for a young man like you? You're just taller and handsomer than me, what else do you have that compares to me?"

Lin Chuan looked Luo Guoqing up and down and said, "When did your brain also start to fantasize?"

"Go to hell!" Luo Guoqing's fist landed on Lin Chuan's shoulder, saying, "You're in trouble now, the whole City Committee is talking about you dating Secretary Tang, you... you don't want to become the public enemy of all men in Jiangbei City, do you?"

"If dating Tang Yumeng makes me the public enemy of all men in Jiangbei City, then let them all come at me," Lin Chuan said proudly: "I've never been afraid of anyone."

"Haha, that's brave." Luo Guoqing suddenly laughed heartily.

In Tang Yumeng's office.

Tang Yumeng had just returned not half an hour ago when Xiao Xue rushed in frantically. Panting and looking nervous and fearful.

"Xiao Xue, what happened to you?" Tang Yumeng looked at her puzzled.

"Secretary Tang, it's not good." Xiao Xue patted her chest and said, "Now from the top to bottom of the City Committee, all the major departments are talking about your romance with Lin Chuan. How should we handle this? The rumors from last time have surfaced again."

Tang Yumeng was stunned, silent for a long time, and said, "What's destined to come will always come."

"But... this rumor..." Xiao Xue looked anxiously at Tang Yumeng.

"Last time it was a rumor, but this time, it's not a rumor anymore," Tang Yumeng said with a bitter smile.

"What should we do?" Xiao Xue asked.

Xiao Xue knew the relationship between Tang Yumeng and Lin Chuan, and she had always helped to keep it hidden. She didn't expect it to be impossible to keep hidden now.

"Regarding such rumors and gossip, just ignore it," Tang Yumeng said dismissively: "Men and women falling in love is natural. Lin Chuan is unmarried, and so am I. Our being together is reasonable and ethically correct. What business is it of others?"

"But they all say Lin Chuan is a toad lusting after swan meat, and that Secretary Tang has poor taste to actually fall for her own driver." Xiao Xue said helplessly: "Moreover, I've also heard some shameless rumors saying that you... that you have had that kind of relationship in the car..."

Bang...

Tang Yumeng was immediately irate and slapped the desk.

Already in a bad mood, hearing such rumors and gossip only made her more annoyed.

"Who is it!" Tang Yumeng demanded angrily: "Who exactly is behind these backbitings?!"

"This..." Xiao Xue said awkwardly: "It might be difficult to find out."

"Are these people fed up with having too much free time?" Tang Yumeng clenched her teeth in anger.

At this moment, Deputy Secretary Song knocked on the door of Tang Yumeng's office. Xiao Xue, when opening the door, couldn't help but be slightly surprised, looking at Song Ming and said in astonishment, "Song... Deputy Secretary Song, is... is it you?"

"Hmm," nodded Song Ming, "I'm here to see Secretary Tang."

"Oh, please come in, please come in!" Xiao Xue hurriedly nodded.

She quickly ushered Song Ming inside. Song Ming entered with his hands behind his back, assuming an air of authority. He walked in with a smile and then said, "Secretary Tang, there's something I'm afraid we need to discuss."

"What is it?" Tang Yumeng stood up, her expression solemn.

She stood up out of politeness and professional decorum. Song Ming, on the other hand, took it for granted, not realizing that Tang Yumeng's rank was technically half a step higher than his in the bureaucratic hierarchy. Song Ming glanced at Xiao Xue. Immediately understanding the meaning in Song Ming's eyes, she quickly nodded and said, "Secretary Tang, Deputy Secretary Song, you talk. I have other things to attend to and will be busy."

After she finished speaking, Xiao Xue hurriedly turned and left the room, softly closing the door behind her.

In the office, only Tang Yumeng and Song Ming remained.

"Deputy Secretary Song, just speak frankly," Tang Yumeng said with a smile. "We're all old comrades here."

"Is the rumor circulating in the City Committee today true or false?" Song Ming asked curiously.

Tang Yumeng frowned slightly and said, "Deputy Secretary Song, you're surely not here to probe the reality of it?"

"Correct," nodded Song Ming. "I'm just here to confirm the truth."

"Then let me tell you, it's true," Tang Yumeng admitted without hesitation.

"This..." Song Ming was immediately taken aback, frowning and saying, "Secretary Tang, isn't this inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate?" Tang Yumeng asked curiously. "Isn't love between a man and a woman a normal affair?"

"It sends the wrong message," Song Ming immediately responded.

"How does it send the wrong message?" Tang Yumeng pressed. "Lin Chuan is unmarried, I am unwed. We haven't violated any ethical or disciplinary norms. How does that constitute a bad influence?"

"This..." Song Ming was immediately at a loss for words, actually unable to articulate why it was inappropriate, only feeling that having Tang Yumeng, high up as the city secretary, be romantically involved with a driver was unseemly.

The times are open now, unlike during Song Ming's era when marriages were arranged by parents and one might only see one's future spouse on the wedding day. If one wanted to have a romantic relationship then, they'd likely be regarded as a ruffian. Plus, in that era, girls would not dare to be too close to men, otherwise, they'd be perceived as immodest and looked down upon.

Song Ming's thinking was somewhat influenced by traditional feudal ideas. Believing a woman like Tang Yumeng should not be involved with her own driver. Moreover, as the city secretary, her reputation, status, and image simply could not afford any smears. If this news broke out, it would surely be a laughingstock.

After thinking it over, Song Ming said, "Anyhow, your involvement with Lin Chuan is absolutely unacceptable."

Tang Yumeng couldn't help but laugh: "Deputy Secretary Song, you seem to have mistaken your role? You're neither my father, nor do you have the right to intervene in my personal life. By what right do you declare that I cannot be with Lin Chuan?"

"It damages the image of our City Committee, our government," Song Ming frowned.

"How does my personal love life relate to that?" Tang Yumeng retorted disdainfully.

"Of course, it's greatly related," Song Ming stated gravely. "Broadly speaking, it concerns the nation's trust in us, the dignity of our party and country, and even more so our government's dignity; on a smaller scale, it affects both your and my face, as well as the glory of our City Committee. If you insist on being with Lin Chuan, then he must leave the City Committee."

"Why should he?" Tang Yumeng finally caught on to the subtext after a roundabout discussion: it was essentially about driving Lin Chuan away.

"Because you are a cadre of the country!" Song Ming suddenly elevated the essence of the issue substantially.

"Don't use that as an argument; I'd rather resign," Tang Yumeng stood up abruptly.

Song Ming was immediately stunned, he chuckled, "Secretary Tang, you can't just say things carelessly!"

"Hmph, I will submit my documents to the Provincial Committee tomorrow," Tang Yumeng nodded and smiled.

After saying that, Tang Yumeng left her work behind and stormed out slamming the door.

Outside, Xiao Xue and several secretaries stood dumbfounded, none daring to speak or say a word, afraid of provoking them.

"This..." one tall female secretary was completely bewildered watching the scene unfold, asking, "What happened here?"

"Don't know!" the others shook their heads.

"The top two officials of Jiangbei City are quarreling," Xiao Xue was also somewhat at a loss, saying, "Are the times changing?"

As Tang Yumeng's secretary, Xiao Xue was very familiar with Tang Yumeng's personality and thus knew a bit about the situation. Given Tang Yumeng's character, she would never argue with Song Ming unless Song Ming truly offended her, leading to Tang Yumeng losing her temper.

Seeing the situation, it seemed like Song Ming and Tang Yumeng were discussing something. The discussion had completely collapsed, causing Tang Yumeng to erupt in anger.

"What exactly is the situation?" The tall female secretary fiddled with her hair, curious, "Secretary Tang has such a pleasant temper, what pushed her to be so angry?"

"Who knows," Xiao Xue shook her head.

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