"M-Mayor?"

Liang Hao looked bewildered, his pupils somewhat unfocused.

Liang Hui was also shocked by this statement, incredulous.

Even with Liang Hao's political savvy, it took him several seconds to regain his composure.

He picked up his teacup and drank the scalding tea in one gulp, then stared straight at Song Guanchao: "Brother Song, are you serious?"

Song Guanchao raised an eyebrow with a smile: "What? Brother Liang doesn't believe me?"

"No, it's just that I..."

This sort of thing was too sudden, without any warning, and he wasn't prepared at all.

He was just a Vice Mayor, and one who oversaw education, a relatively weak department.

Not to mention there were several Vice Mayors ranking ahead of him, and the City Government had a Deputy Mayor, Jiang Yuan.

No matter how you calculated it, it shouldn't have been his turn.

"Your appointment will probably take some time."

"Secretary Wu is heading to the Provincial City in a couple of days. After she leaves, Secretary Chu will take her position."

"Then Secretary Qu will also return to the Provincial City, with Zheng Bihui taking over Secretary Qu's position."

"Brother Liang, from now on you should engage more with Secretary Chu, and keep an eye on Zheng Bihui."

"My training in the Provincial City will continue for some time, so I'm counting on you here in the city."

Liang Hao was now completely calm and understood what the situation was as he listened to Song Guanchao's words.

He nodded vigorously: "Don't worry about that."

Song Guanchao raised his teacup: "I'm off to the Party School soon and don't have time to stay long. I'll congratulate you in advance, Brother Liang, with tea instead of wine."

"Once you become Mayor, I'll take leave to come back, and we can have a proper drink together."

Liang Hao stood up, solemnly raising his teacup: "Brother, I won't say much in thanks. Whenever you need anything, just let me know. We've known each other for a year, you know what kind of person I am."

With that, he drank the tea in one gulp.

After Song Guanchao left, Liang Hao relaxed completely, his slightly chubby body leaning back in the high-backed chair as he enjoyed a cigarette, feeling an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

Thinking back to when he first met Song Guanchao, within a year, he had jumped two ranks.

Even though this happened to him, it still felt unreal.

He couldn't help but marvel at what it feels like to have connections in the political circle.

It was truly enjoyable.

"Brother, is what Brother Song said true?" Liang Hui couldn't maintain the same calmness and was still in disbelief.

"If it's not certain, he wouldn't say it lightly."

Liang Hao flicked the ash from his cigarette and squinted out the window, the sunshine indeed was good today.

...

Song Guanchao returned to the Provincial City but didn't go to the Party School.

He took a day off; there was no need to rush to class in the afternoon.

Lu Feng arrived yesterday, and Song went to meet him, taking the opportunity to have lunch together.

"I've been monitoring all morning, but it's useless. I'll have to wait until evening to find out where they're staying, where the car is parked."

"In at most two or three days, I should be able to get the memory cards from the car dashcams of these few Vice Mayors."

Lu Feng said.

Song Guanchao cautioned: "Be careful when doing this, and make sure not to get caught."

"Squad leader, don't you trust me when I do things?"

Lu Feng continued, "By the way, squad leader, why are you having us investigate them? Did these Vice Mayors do something wrong?"

Song Guanchao didn't hide it from them; he and Lu Feng were comrades.

As for Li Zhijun and the others, they were also ex-servicemen and had worked with Lu Feng for several years.

Over the past year, they had done quite a lot with Song Guanchao and were trustworthy.

He briefly explained the situation.

Upon hearing that one of these Vice Mayors was actually an undercover from a crime syndicate, the few were wide-eyed and astonished.

"Is the Provincial City really that chaotic?"

"The Provincial City is indeed impressive; they've even managed to infiltrate undercover agents into the police department."

"What's most impressive is that the undercover agent made it to the position of Vice Mayor."

Li Zhijun and the others were incredibly shocked.

What Song Guanchao described was something they usually only saw in cop thrillers.

...

Wen Ru's life was very routine; her daily activities were limited to home and the city bureau.

In her free time, she enjoyed exercising but preferred to do it at home rather than at the gym.

After dinner, she rested for half an hour, changed into a tank top and shorts, and started sweating on the treadmill.

After exercising, she did a set of stretches, and once her heart rate settled, she headed to the bathroom to wash off the sweat.

Then she walked into her study and took a phone out of the drawer.

The screen lit up and displayed several missed calls, all from Lei Chengping.

Judging by the time, they came during her shower.

"What's up?"

"I found something on those Vice Mayors you asked me to watch."

"Go on."

"Chen Peng has a mistress outside."

If a Vice Mayor's private life was merely indulgent and nothing else, then such a person could practically be described as a white lotus in the political arena.

After all, a private life doesn't affect others. Compared to those corrupt officials who violate regulations and abuse power, such a person is practically a saint.

Wen Ru didn't scold him for investigating these trivial matters.

Because when she asked Lei Chengping to monitor the Vice Mayors, she was clear about it.

She wanted dirt significant enough to sway the Vice Mayors' political future.

Lei Chengping knew exactly what she wanted, so when he mentioned a mistress, it was definitely not just a regular affair.

"Go on."

Lei Chengping was a bit surprised at Wen Ru's calm tone; he thought she'd be angry.

"Chen Peng's mistress is Li Rong, wife of the former criminal police squad captain Lin Bin."

"His wife is 43, a bit older and has two sons, but I must say, she's kept her figure and skin in excellent condition, and her looks aren't bad either. Tsk, I guess this Vice Mayor Chen Peng and Lin Bin's wife have been together for some time."

Wen Ru was slightly startled, it was Li Rong.

Her brain spun quickly, yet Lei Chengping's incessant chatter still echoed in her ears.

"Is there anything else?"

"That's it."

"Alright."

Wen Ru hung up, without disturbances, her thoughts became clearer.

She recalled Song Guanchao's contact with Li Rong and his visit to Lin Bin's old residence.

Why was he getting involved with Li Rong?

How did Li Rong and Chen Peng get involved together?

Chen Peng was the Vice Mayor overseeing anti-drug efforts and ranked quite high among the Vice Mayors.

She also had a decent relationship with Chen Peng, though mostly on the surface.

And she understood Chen Peng's character.

This person was indeed amorously inclined, but he didn't pursue just any woman; he had standards.

Which women he could engage with, which he couldn't, he was clearer than anyone.

Even a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its burrow; given Chen Peng's political acumen, he would never touch the wife of a top criminal police officer.

Even if the officer was deceased, he wouldn't consider it.

His deviation from norms, breaking his own rules, had only one reason—he was intentionally getting close to Li Rong.

Perhaps, his purpose in approaching Li Rong was consistent with Song Guanchao's reason for seeking her.

Wen Ru's lips curled in a slight smile.

Maybe Chen Peng could serve as her scapegoat and act as this undercover agent.

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