Qu Xiangru briefly explained the situation to her, but she didn't know the backstory.

"What's the conflict between them?" Wu Qiangwei found it strange after hearing.

Song Guanchao had gone to the Provincial City the night before last, ostensibly for a party school training, so how did he get entangled with the deputy director of the public security bureau?

Qu Xiangru shook her head; she was curious too.

"This incident didn't blow up, but it had a very bad impact. Secretary Gao personally intervened, and this morning, Mayor Zhou was summoned to the Provincial Committee for questioning."

She looked at Wu Qiangwei: "Yan Han's aunt is Director Zhang at the National Development and Reform Commission. If he had chosen to act somewhere other than the party school, District Chief Song would likely have taken a serious fall."

Wu Qiangwei snorted, "There's nothing wrong with taking a fall occasionally. Without suffering some setbacks, he might really think he's invincible and that everyone must revolve around him!"

Her tone was full of resentment.

Qu Xiangru looked at her with a peculiar expression, recalling what Song Guanchao had said to her the night he went to the Provincial City, after dropping her home.

She knew there had been a conflict between Wu Qiangwei and him that night.

From his inquiries, Qu Xiangru also guessed that the conflict between them seemed to have stemmed from her.

Wu Qiangwei probably suspected that he had some less-than-innocent dealings with her.

"One matter at a time, Secretary Wu shouldn't let emotions get in the way," Qu Xiangru advised.

Unexpectedly, just as she said this, Wu Qiangwei suddenly looked up at her and asked, "Do you like him?"

This unexpected question didn't fluster Qu Xiangru in the slightest.

She remained composed, her gaze unwavering, neither nodding nor shaking her head, neither denying nor confirming: "Secretary Wu, mind your own business. My private matters are none of your concern."

Wu Qiangwei regretted her question as soon as she asked it.

But Qu Xiangru's response irritated her even more.

She wanted to question further, but then felt she might not have the right to do so.

What exactly was her relationship with Song Guanchao?

Once superiors and subordinates, now political allies.

Even though they understood each other well, that layer of ambiguity wasn't broken yet.

So, even if Song Guanchao had consorts all around, it still had nothing to do with her.

Wu Qiangwei pressed her lips together, quickly composed herself, and returned to her calm demeanor: "I'm heading back."

"Is Secretary Wu going to the Provincial City?"

Qu Xiangru's voice sounded from behind her; she paused slightly, replying without turning her head: "He's an adult; he doesn't need me to wipe up his messes."

After she left, Qu Xiangru called the City Committee Office, instructing Xu Xin to arrange a driver as she needed to go to the Provincial City that afternoon.

Putting down the phone, Qu Xiangru took out a cigarette from the drawer.

Just as she lit it, she remembered what Song Guanchao had said about how "women shouldn't smoke."

Subconsciously, she extinguished the cigarette she hadn't even smoked yet, but then wondered why she was listening to him at all.

Whether she smoked or not, what did it have to do with him?

Looking at the extinguished cigarette, she no longer felt like relighting it. Gazing at her phone in a daze, she suddenly picked it up and sent a message to Song Guanchao.

Just as she finished typing and was about to send it, she hesitated.

After much deliberation, she deleted all the words and tossed the phone aside.

Her mind was slightly chaotic.

That one sentence from Wu Qiangwei had unsettled her.

She could have openly admitted it and then pointedly told Wu Qiangwei that it was Song Guanchao who pursued her.

She could even imagine the disappointed look on Wu Qiangwei's face if she had said it.

But she did not do so.

She was not someone who liked to explain herself; it was not in her nature.

Moreover, such words should not be spoken.

Their relationship was currently in its honeymoon phase.

Ruining their relationship over such a matter, thereby affecting her work, would be extremely foolish.

She was an adult and a mature politician, far beyond letting emotions dictate her actions.

Although there might be occasional impulsive moments, she could maintain calm before real consequences unfolded, keeping the situation within manageable bounds.

Thinking about it, Qu Xiangru became slightly melancholic again.

Meanwhile.

Back in her office, Wu Qiangwei, furrowed brows tightly knitted, spent over ten minutes wrestling with her emotions internally.

Finally, she instructed Wu Ming to prepare the car for her trip to the Provincial City that afternoon.

...

Song Guanchao lay in the room, replying to messages from Liang Jiajia, who was asking about what happened last night.

Last night, when Song Guanchao had Liang Jiajia call the police, she knew trouble was brewing.

Song Guanchao recounted the events to her in detail.

After hearing them, Liang Jiajia was both shocked and furious!

Shocked because of Song Guanchao's downright cunning; Yan Han was completely unaware of what happened and was caught off guard by Song Guanchao's maneuver.

Furious because Yan Han was so audacious to the point of arranging for escorts at the party school.

He was practically trying to ruin Song Guanchao!

If Song Guanchao had reacted a bit slower, or if Chen Yirou had not recorded his conversation with Wang Chu in the restroom, or if that woman had insisted on implicating Song Guanchao, the situation could have played out very differently.

"Alright, alright, don't get angry; Yan Han's tricks are not enough to concern me."

Song Guanchao completely dismissed him: "But you should be cautious; this person has a lot of calculating ways, and he's not impulsive in his actions. You should avoid contact with him, and if anyone from his circle approaches you, be wary. If there's an unavoidable meeting, make sure to tell me."

"He's not going to do anything to me; my dad is his direct superior!"

Liang Jiajia genuinely didn't believe he'd use his tactics on her like he would on other women.

Song Guanchao replied, "Don't be overly optimistic. Even if he really did something to you, what could you do?"

"This guy is secretive; he'd only make a move with solid preparation. If the deed is done, there won't be any evidence left behind afterward."

"Even if Uncle Liang intervenes, without proof, what do you think you could accomplish?"

Song Guanchao painted a grim picture. Although Liang Jiajia thought it was unlikely, his concern was evident.

"Okay, okay, I'll be careful."

Liang Jiajia snorted, "If he ever dared try anything, I'd shoot him dead!"

Song Guanchao suddenly squinted his eyes, "If he ever dared, I'd bury him alive!"

Liang Jiajia sensed the seriousness in his tone, knowing he wasn't joking.

If Yan Han really tried something, with Song Guanchao's temperament, he might truly make him disappear without a trace.

Liang Jiajia felt warm and fuzzy inside. After chatting for a bit, she had things to attend to and ended the call.

Song Guanchao leaned against the headboard, pondering how to make Yan Han understand fear, since things couldn't continue like this.

He's dealt with many second-generation elites, some lawless like Lu Xiaotian from Dujiang City.

Others like Li He, the prideful son of the head of the Yanjing National Development and Reform Commission.

These people were actually the easiest to deal with.

It's the Yan Hans of the world who are the real headache.

They won't cross you openly, might even act friendly towards you.

But behind your back, their treachery knows no bounds, making them hard to guard against.

Dealing with such cunning and deceitful elites is like dealing with thieves; a single moment of carelessness, and they could rob you blind!

There's only two ways to handle such people.

First, make them understand fear.

And then, eliminate them entirely, severing all risk at the root!

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