"Ugh~"

Si Qingqing was bent over the toilet, nearly throwing up bile.

She lifted her head and leaned weakly against the wall.

She had vomited a lot and felt much better.

After resting for a while, she stood up from the floor and turned on the hot water to wash her body.

She came out of the bathroom wearing Chu Xiao'e's pajamas.

Chu Xiao'e was sitting on the sofa, on the phone with Song Guanchao.

Seeing Si Qingqing, she quickly said a few words and hung up the call.

"Sober now?"

"Yes."

Si Qingqing walked over like a student who had done something wrong, a bit unconvincing yet somewhat aggrieved: "Sister, why did he bully me?"

Chu Xiao'e sighed and shook her head: "Haven't you figured it out yet?"

Si Qingqing was puzzled, what should she have understood?

"Sigh." Chu Xiao'e asked, "Let me ask you, what do you really think?"

"Think about what?"

"How have you planned your future?"

"If you don't want to get involved, I'll transfer you to a nominal position with no responsibilities, working nine to five, living your own life."

"If you want to keep climbing the ladder, then be more obedient."

"I... I'm not being disobedient."

"Not disobedient?"

Chu Xiao'e asked, "Didn't Secretary Song tell you, if something happens, call me first. If you can't reach me, call him. If you can't reach him, contact Mayor Liang, contact Director Xu..."

"Tell me, why didn't you reach out to me first?"

"If Secretary Song hadn't stepped in this time, how much trouble would your male best friend have caused?"

"I... I was scared."

"Scared?" Chu Xiao'e was exasperated: "It's okay to make mistakes, but you can't keep making them!"

"Secretary Song invited you for a meal to discuss something, and you brought Xu Suyi, someone you only knew for a few days. Are you out of your mind?"

"I've read her file..."

"Foolish!"

"What can a file reveal?"

Chu Xiao'e said, "You don't even have a clear understanding of your own life, yet you think you can read someone at a glance?"

"Why did Secretary Song specifically ask you to bring Xu Suyi today, can't you figure it out?"

"Secretary Song asked her to drink, why wouldn't she dare refuse? Can't you figure it out?"

"The person who betrayed you is the Xu Suyi you thought was trouble-free!"

Si Qingqing was slightly shocked: "How could this be..."

"Why couldn't it?"

"Is this your first time at that beauty salon?"

"Why was there no issue the previous visits?"

"But only after you took her two or three times, did a problem arise, is it just a coincidence?"

"But she's also in the video..."

"So what if she's there? Did she show her face?"

Si Qingqing quickly picked up her phone and opened the video.

She had watched this video many times, but after Chu Xiao'e's reminder, she noticed the problem this time.

In the video, Xu Suyi truly didn't show her face.

Even if the video was leaked, she wouldn't be affected.

You say it's Xu Suyi, but she didn't show her face.

Si Qingqing felt betrayed, angry, and immediately wanted to call Xu Suyi to ask why she did this.

"Don't call."

Chu Xiao'e said, "Secretary Song has already dealt with it."

"Secretary Song told me not to tell you about this, keep it to yourself."

"If you can't even manage that, go report to the city government to be transferred."

Si Qingqing put down her phone, helplessly saying, "I understand."

"Go to sleep."

"Okay."

Si Qingqing went into the room.

Soon after, Song Guanchao arrived.

He saw Si Qingqing's shoes on the shoe rack but didn't see her inside.

"She's gone to rest."

Chu Xiao'e asked, "Is everything settled?"

"Yes."

Song Guanchao rubbed his temples: "There's also Ding Lingyan."

He's currently dealing with the peripheral issues; Ding Lingyan is the mastermind behind it all.

But Ding Lingyan wouldn't have set a trap for Si Qingqing without reason.

He remembered Si Qingqing saying that after Ding Lingyan got the video, she took her to see Deputy Director Xu Jia of the Finance Bureau that very afternoon.

What's temporarily certain is that there's a connection between Ding Lingyan and Xu Jia.

While Song Guanchao wasn't very familiar with Xu Jia, the Deputy Director of the Finance Bureau, he could deduce somewhat.

Xu Jia's former backer was likely Director Bao.

Now that Director Bao has semi-retired, she's evidently found new support.

No need to overthink; she's probably sided with Zheng Bihui's faction.

And targeting Si Qingqing could very likely be an idea Xu Jia had Ding Lingyan execute.

As for why they targeted Si Qingqing, Song Guanchao guessed the opponent wanted to use Si Qingqing to infiltrate Wu Qiangwei's circle, planting a mole.

But Xu Jia likely didn't expect Si Qingqing to be so foolish; Song Guanchao had long considered replacing her.

Chu Xiao'e suggested, "Should we arrange a meeting with Ding Lingyan?"

"No rush, I'll look into her first tomorrow."

Knowing the enemy makes the problem much easier to solve.

Although Ding Lingyan is just a deputy at the Judicial Bureau, she's undoubtedly corrupt.

Or rather, few in the system have clean records.

It ultimately depends on whether they've crossed someone.

Dealing with a deputy of the Judicial Bureau, he has plenty of methods.

As for Xu Jia, she's even easier to handle.

If the National Development and Reform Commission tops the corruption rankings, the Finance Bureau is second.

He could directly have the Disciplinary Committee enter the Finance Bureau for a retention investigation on Xu Jia.

And let the newly appointed Gao Liangwei actively request for the Audit Bureau to conduct a financial audit on the Finance Bureau.

Once this series of tactics is employed, how can a mere deputy like Xu Jia withstand it?

Chu Xiao'e sniffed at him and nudged him: "Stop thinking, quickly go take a bath."

Song Guanchao glanced at the bedroom, shook his head: "I have to go back."

Chu Xiao'e gave him a wistful look.

Just then, his phone vibrated.

It was a message from Liang Jiajia, saying she was going back home tonight and wouldn't be staying over.

Song Guanchao put away his phone: "I'll take a bath."

Chu Xiao'e's wistfulness disappeared: "I'll get you some clothes."

After bathing, Song Guanchao returned to the bedroom and lay down.

Soon, Chu Xiao'e also finished her bath, turned off the lights, and approached.

The moonlight outside the window accentuated the curves beneath her nightdress at this moment, as if the light had taken form.

She lifted the quilt, got under Song Guanchao, and attended to him with care.

Due to the events involving Si Qingqing over the past two days, Song Guanchao was quite frustrated.

Tonight, in the private room, Xu Suyi was quite tempting, but he restrained himself.

At this moment, under Chu Xiao'e's attentive service, Song Guanchao let go of his restraint.

...

Si Qingqing was not asleep; she heard the sounds from the room next door.

But she had no intention of eavesdropping.

She was pondering her future.

Although Song Guanchao hadn't mentioned replacing her, her performance this time clearly disappointed him.

It's unlikely Secretary Wu would continue to entrust her with responsibilities.

For her, this incident was a major hurdle in her political career.

If she couldn't overcome it, she couldn't even hold onto her position as the head of the Judicial Bureau.

But how to overcome it?

In just one month, she not only failed to demonstrate her capability, but also exposed her flaws of arrogance and conceit.

"Ah, ah~"

Chu Xiao'e's cries penetrated through the door, stirring Si Qingqing's mind.

Suddenly, she recalled her first encounter with Song Guanchao.

She was taking a shower in the bathroom, and Song Guanchao mistook her for Chu Xiao'e...

The confusion in Si Qingqing's eyes gradually diminished; she thought of a solution!

A way to gain Song Guanchao's trust!

Offering herself!

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