Song Guanchao didn't notice the change in Wu Qiangwei's expression, and Qu Xiangru was calmly reminding him of things he needed to pay attention to.

It wasn't until the meal ended, when the three of them left the private room, that as Qu Xiangru went to the bathroom, Song Guanchao realized that something seemed off with Wu Qiangwei's mood.

"Secretary, are you feeling unwell?"

Wu Qiangwei shook her head, but her face was void of any expression.

Song Guanchao found it a bit strange.

Shortly after, Qu Xiangru returned.

Song Guanchao drove the car over. Qu Xiangru naturally opened the front passenger door and sat in, seeing this, Wu Qiangwei sat in the back.

"Let's drop off Secretary Wu first," Qu Xiangru said.

Wu Qiangwei's face darkened once more, but Song Guanchao didn't notice her change.

After dropping Wu Qiangwei at her building, Song Guanchao also unbuckled his seatbelt to walk her upstairs.

Because Qu Xiangru was still around, Wu Qiangwei held back her feelings.

Getting off the elevator and opening the door to her place, she continued to hold back.

It wasn't until Song Guanchao turned to leave that she couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "Song Guanchao!"

Song Guanchao stopped and turned around.

Wu Qiangwei's emotions were already very apparent.

"Secretary..."

"What is your relationship with Qu Xiangru?" Wu Qiangwei questioned.

Song Guanchao was momentarily stunned, wanting to say there was no relationship, but Wu Qiangwei's eyes seemed to see right through him.

That gaze made his heart quiver, raising an ominous feeling.

Did she... know?

But how did she know?

Song Guanchao was a bit confused, a bit lost, and somewhat flustered.

"I..."

"You don't need to say it, I know."

Wu Qiangwei had already deduced from his reaction.

Her suspicions were correct.

There was indeed something unusual between them.

They had crossed that line.

As for when they crossed it, she didn't know, nor did she want to find out.

"Bang."

The sound of the door closing snapped Song Guanchao out of his daze.

He wanted to go inside and explain, but didn't know how.

The situation happened too suddenly; he wasn't prepared at all.

His mind was a bit chaotic now.

He sighed and turned to leave.

He needed to calm down.

Both he and Wu Qiangwei needed to calm down.

In such an emotional state, it's easy for things to get worse.

Back in the car, Qu Xiangru immediately noticed something was wrong with him.

She didn't ask.

If he was willing to talk, he would naturally do so.

Soon the car stopped outside Qu Xiangru's residence.

As Qu Xiangru unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed the car door halfway open, she heard Song Guanchao ask, "What did you tell her?"

"What?" Qu Xiangru didn't understand the meaning of his question.

Song Guanchao said in a deep voice, "She knows."

Qu Xiangru still didn't understand, looking puzzled.

But through his expression, Qu Xiangru seemed to guess something.

"Do you think I told her?"

Song Guanchao remained silent.

No third person knew about their relationship.

He didn't tell, nor did she, so who would it be?

But from what he knew about Qu Xiangru, she would occasionally deliberately flirt in front of Wu Qiangwei, making some inappropriate jokes.

But she wouldn't take it seriously.

So how did she know?

Could she have guessed it herself?

While he was pondering this, Qu Xiangru had already gotten out of the car.

"Bang!"

The car door slammed shut, jolting Song Guanchao awake, and he looked up to see Qu Xiangru walking away quickly, her silhouette radiating anger.

Song Guanchao felt annoyed with himself. He had just upset Wu Qiangwei and now had angered Qu Xiangru as well.

He quickly got out of the car, and by the time he caught up, the door had already shut.

He ran to the balcony, but the window had just been locked.

Through the glass, their eyes met, and he saw the coldness and anger in hers.

Song Guanchao knew he was in the wrong.

Confronted by Wu Qiangwei, he instinctively thought it was Qu Xiangru, but it clearly wasn't her fault.

From Qu Xiangru's perspective, to be suddenly accused, especially by someone she liked, anyone would be angry.

Song Guanchao stood at her door, calling her several times, but couldn't get through.

He let out a heavy sigh, feeling overwhelmed.

He never imagined that such a troublesome situation would happen one day.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated.

Picking it up he saw it was Jiang Yiren calling.

A glimmer of hope was immediately dashed.

Only when Jiang Yiren called the second time did he answer.

"I'll come over now."

After hanging up, Song Guanchao looked once more at the door in front of him.

He sent Qu Xiangru a text: "I'm going to the Provincial City tonight."

After waiting a few minutes without a response,

Song Guanchao pocketed his phone and drove off.

Qu Xiangru stood on the balcony, coldly watching the taillights disappear.

When the car was fully out of sight, she let out a snort.

The feeling of being wronged was intolerable for most people.

She couldn't help but wonder, in his heart, whether Wu Qiangwei was more important, or was she?

In the past, she disliked such pointless questions, but now they surfaced involuntarily.

Shaking her head, Qu Xiangru quickly suppressed the thought, deciding not to waste energy on such matters.

...

Song Guanchao arrived at Jiang Yiren's residential area.

Jiang Yiren, carrying a suitcase and wearing a thin coat, was already waiting downstairs.

In April, temperatures were starting to rise but could drop suddenly.

Song Guanchao placed the suitcase in the trunk, "Get in."

"Thank you."

"Mhm." Distracted, Song Guanchao murmured a response, and as they passed by a convenience store, he bought some snacks and drinks.

As the car approached the toll station, Jiang Yiren suddenly asked, "Aren't you bringing any clothes?"

"Hmm?"

Song Guanchao hadn't reacted at first, then immediately hit the brakes.

With his mind occupied by thoughts of the two women, he almost forgot he hadn't brought his own things.

So, he drove back home.

This was Jiang Yiren's first visit to Song Guanchao's place.

An old neighborhood, without management, anyone could enter.

He lived in a small one-bedroom apartment, on the first floor.

The place wasn't big, and the decor was average, but it had everything needed.

Jiang Yiren was surprised, expecting Song Guanchao to live in a high-end apartment, only to find it was a place like this.

While he packed, Jiang Yiren sat on the sofa waiting.

Suddenly, she noticed something stuffed in the gap of the sofa cushion.

She reached for it and her face turned red immediately.

It was a small umbrella's wrapper.

Evidently, Song Guanchao had once enjoyed intimacy with another woman on this sofa.

Aside from the embarrassment, curiosity arose, who could it be?

Was it Wu Yun from the Disciplinary Committee?

"Let's go."

Song Guanchao emerged with his backpack, noticing what she held but showing no embarrassment.

Jiang Yiren, feeling flustered, quickly closed her hand around it and stood to follow him out.

Song Guanchao tossed the bag on the back seat, and as the car left the neighborhood, Jiang Yiren suddenly asked, "Did you and Wu Yun...?"

"No."

"Ah? No?"

Jiang Yiren trusted he wouldn't lie to her, though she was surprised by the answer.

Since it wasn't Wu Yun, then who was it?

Moreover, it seemed he had more than one woman in his life.

This realization unexpectedly dulled Jiang Yiren's mood.

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