Before getting off work, Song Guanchao received a message from Director He.

All contracts have been signed.

The land resettlement stage is complete.

The residents who said they couldn't make it, upon hearing the ultimatum that without signing there'd be no demolition, all rushed back.

Director He realized he was wrong again.

He thought Song Guanchao was making a fuss, but seeing how these people rushed back and anxiously signed their names, Song Guanchao guessed right again.

These guys were deliberately delaying.

Fortunately, in the end, everything was signed without a hitch.

After reporting to Song Guanchao, Director He immediately contacted Golden Heaven and Earth and New City Company, informing them that demolition preparations could start tomorrow.

These two companies are responsible for not only the demolition, but also a series of issues including resident resettlement prior to demolition.

Those choosing cash need to wait for approval from the Finance Bureau.

Those choosing resettlement housing need multi-departmental approvals from entities like the National Development and Reform Commission, Housing and Construction Bureau, and Land Administration Bureau.

Those choosing homestead also need approval from relevant departments.

All these procedures are handled by the two companies, with support from the project team.

After work, Zeng Li packed up and went downstairs with Wu Qiangwei.

Driving on the way to the complex, Wu Ming suddenly asked, "Xiao Li, are you free tonight?"

"Why? Are you asking me out?"

Wu Qiangwei also looked over.

Wu Ming rolled his eyes: "Who wants to ask you out? Some friends from Yanjing are here. Want to join us for dinner?"

"Who?"

"Li He, Zhao Qian, those folks."

"Li He? Sounds familiar, who is that?"

"Li Jiuling's son."

"Oh, him." Zeng Li sneered, "Not going."

"Come on." Wu Ming said, "I have nothing to talk about with them alone. Besides, they're coming from afar; we should at least act like half a host. Otherwise, word might get out that we don't have manners."

Wu Qiangwei stayed silent; though she belonged to the same generation, it was still different.

These folks are idle second-gens, with no real job, haven't entered politics, nor taken over their parents' businesses.

She's already entered politics, technically should be considered as part of their parents' generation.

Normally, if someone comes to Lingjiang, she's supposed to host them.

But since they didn't reach out to her and instead contacted Wu Ming, she doesn't need to host them.

"So annoying, alright, I'll go, stop talking."

Wu Ming kept urging, Zeng Li was annoyed, but agreed.

Wu Ming chuckled.

After dropping off Wu Qiangwei, he headed straight to the restaurant with Zeng Li.

By the time they got to the restaurant, Li He and the others were already there.

"Wu Ming, long time no see."

"Wow, Miss Zeng is here too."

Li He and his pals eagerly approached and gave a bear hug.

After hugging Wu Ming, they opened their arms to hug Zeng Li.

Zeng Li's face was cold, Li He and the others awkwardly chuckled but dared not mess around.

They sat on the sofa chatting for a while, and then moved to the table.

Once the dishes were served, they asked the waiter to leave.

Wu Ming stared at their faces and said, "What's up with you guys? Did you all collectively go to Korea for plastic surgery?"

A few of them looked embarrassed.

Zhao Qian made an excuse: "Don't mention it, took a tumble while skiing the other day."

"Skiing? It's only September. What kind of skiing is that?"

"We skied abroad."

"Oh."

Wu Ming felt something was off, and he also heard about recent events in Yanjing, suspecting they might have been beaten.

However, this topic is sensitive to them, so he decided not to bring it up.

He didn't, but Zeng Li was not so particular: "Heard you guys were beaten up at a charity gala recently?"

Li He and the others felt ashamed, angry inside but couldn't vent at her.

Her grandfather is still a commanding officer in the military, and her parents and relatives hold significant positions in military, politics, and business.

"Just a minor conflict."

Li He laughed it off and suddenly said: "By the way, I heard your sister is now a secretary in the city?"

"Yeah."

"Impressive."

With a compliment, Li He asked again: "Being a secretary must be tough, right?"

Wu Ming shook his head: "Don't ask me, I don't understand these things."

Li He replied with an "Oh" and continued: "I heard from my dad that being a leader requires a good secretary and driver. Your sister seems to be temporarily reassigned. Does she have a secretary?"

"Yeah."

"Who is it?"

"Why are you asking this? You don't know him anyway."

"Just chatting casually, right?"

At this point, Liu Yuanchao's grandson, Liu Guangyuan, said: "Is it Song Guanchao? I recently saw him on the news, heard he's impressive."

"Yep, it's him."

"So it is him!"

"Turns out it's this guy; I saw the news too."

"Heard he can fly a plane and saved over a hundred people."

"Not only that, he knows how to use a sniper rifle and shot a criminal from hundreds of meters away, unbelievably impressive!"

Wu Ming was puzzled, what happened to these people?

Suddenly, they were showering praises on Song Guanchao.

Zeng Li watched smilingly, not exposing them.

Wu Ming didn't know, but she did.

Apparently, these guys in Yanjing crossed paths with Song Guanchao and got a beating.

It seems there were other incidents afterward, but since they were too obscure, she didn't know the specifics.

But their sudden arrival could hint at something.

These guys want to seize the opportunity to get closer to Song Guanchao.

Or perhaps, they want to do something for Song Guanchao so he remembers their favor.

But Zeng Li felt she should warn them.

These second-gens often do things unreliably; even when intending to do good, they mess it up.

She wouldn't stop them but couldn't let them affect Song Guanchao.

When Wu Ming went to the restroom, Zeng Li interrupted their conversation, saying: "You guys better behave in Lingjiang."

They were puzzled, Li He frowned: "Zeng Li, what do you mean? Us coming to Lingjiang bothers you too?"

"Bothers?" Zeng Li sneered: "Wu Ming doesn't know, does he think I don't know either?"

"Song Guanchao is under my grandpa; I know him better than you."

"If you want to cozy up to Song Guanchao, I don't care, but before doing anything, use your brains. Don't ruin something good."

"If you end up affecting Song Guanchao, I'll make you sorry!"

Hearing Zeng Li knew about the Yanjing incident, they felt embarrassed.

Thinking about their earlier performance made them feel like circus monkeys, awkward enough to dig a three-bedroom apartment out of embarrassment.

Fortunately, with Wu Ming's return, they kept chatting but didn't mention Song Guanchao much.

After the meal, on the way back, Zeng Li called Song Guanchao.

This kind of thing needs informing him.

No answer on the first call, and still none on the second.

She called seven or eight times with no answer.

Checking the time, it was not even eight o'clock, not likely he was sleeping.

Finally, the phone connected, Song Guanchao, panting, said: "What's up?"

Upon hearing his breath, she immediately thought of something, raising her brows and showing her little tiger teeth: "Are you having a roll in the hay with a woman?"

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