10: Chapter 10 Goodbye Mayor

Xiao Bei looked into the distance and said, "Yes, I didn't expect it to be so soon. I thought I wouldn't be going back."

Chu Yue bit her lip, a flicker of disappointment flashing in her eyes, but she quickly raised a smile and said, "Director Xiao, you've helped me so much, and I haven't properly thanked you yet. How about… I treat you to dinner tonight?"

Xiao Bei was tidying up the documents on the desk. Hearing this, he looked up at her, "I'm afraid today won't work. The Municipal Government Office is pressing me, and I need to rush back to hand over my work. Let's do it another day; we can eat together when there's an opportunity."

Chu Yue nodded awkwardly and smiled reluctantly, "Alright then, you must do me the honor another day."

Xiao Bei smiled without saying anything more. He quickly organized the last few documents, put them into his briefcase, turned around, and walked toward the door.

When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, looked back at Chu Yue, and said in a serious tone, "Chu Yue, although the work at the Archives Bureau is trivial, it is also very important. Work hard here, and don't let those irrelevant people affect you."

Chu Yue felt a warmth in her heart and nodded heavily, "Mm, I will."

Xiao Bei left the Archives Bureau and took a taxi straight to the Municipal Government Office.

Along the way, the angry, twisted face of Ding Wenbin and the fawning smile of Feng Limin kept appearing in his mind.

He sneered and sighed inwardly, "No wonder power is so fascinating. A single word from a leader can cause such earth-shattering changes in a person's life; it's truly terrifying."

The car stopped in front of the Municipal Government Office building. Xiao Bei pushed open the car door and walked inside with big strides.

As soon as he entered the lobby, he ran into a few colleagues who had previously mocked him.

"Oh, Brother Xiao is back? I heard you're about to be promoted. Congratulations!"

A middle-aged man wearing glasses smiled and came up to greet him, his tone filled with a hint of flattery.

Xiao Bei smiled faintly and said, "Promotion is out of the question. I just received a transfer order and returned to work."

"Oh my, Brother Xiao, you've really worked hard!" Another female colleague also crowded over, her face full of smiles, "The conditions at the Archives Bureau must be quite poor, right?"

Xiao Bei glanced at her. He remembered that she used to gossip behind his back, saying that he deserved to be "exiled" to the Archives Bureau. Now, she was acting all enthusiastic; it was truly ironic.

"It's alright. Work is work; it's the same everywhere." Xiao Bei's tone was calm, neither humble nor pushy.

"Brother Xiao, you are truly modest!" The man with glasses patted Xiao Bei on the shoulder, his tone intimate, "Are you free tonight? Shall we colleagues get together?"

Xiao Bei frowned slightly. Just as he was about to refuse, he suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him, "Little Xiao, you're back?"

He looked back and saw it was none other than the Director of the Municipal Government Office, Director Yan Jinghui.

Director Yan Jinghui had a smile on his face. He walked over quickly, took Xiao Bei's hand, and shook it vigorously, "Oh, Little Xiao, you're finally back! The work at the Archives Bureau must have been hard, right?"

Xiao Bei smiled, his tone indifferent, "It's fine, it's all part of the job."

Director Yan Jinghui laughed heartily and patted Xiao Bei on the shoulder, "Good! You truly are the backbone of our Municipal Government Office! By the way, Mayor Qin was just asking about you. She wants you to go to her office immediately after you return."

Xiao Bei's heart stirred, and he nodded, "Alright, I'll go right away."

Director Yan Jinghui gave a few more instructions before turning to leave.

Just as Xiao Bei was about to go upstairs, those colleagues surrounded him again, speaking all at once, "Brother Xiao, since Mayor Qin is looking for you personally, it seems she's going to put you to important use!"

"Yes, yes, Brother Xiao, you must take care of us in the future!"

"Brother Xiao, about the dinner gathering tonight, what do you think…"

Xiao Bei stopped and glanced back at them, his tone cold, "Sorry, I have plans tonight. Let's do it another day."

After saying this, he ignored them and walked straight toward the elevator.

Behind him came a few awkward dry laughs, followed by hushed discussions, "Tsk, I really didn't expect this. He's back in favor so quickly. We better suck up to him…"

"Who says otherwise? If we had known, we shouldn't have…"

Xiao Bei walked into the elevator and pressed the floor button. A cold sneer curled the corner of his lips. He had long seen through the faces of these people; they were nothing but bootlickers.

The elevator door opened. Xiao Bei stepped out and walked straight toward Qin Ruoxi's office.

Xiao Bei pushed open the door to the mayor's office. Qin Ruoxi was standing in front of the window, with her back to the door, holding a cup of coffee and gazing out the window.

Today, Qin Ruoxi was wearing a well-tailored, light blue suit jacket. The waistline of the jacket was cinched perfectly, accentuating her slender waist and making it look even more graceful.

The skirt she wore below was knee-length and form-fitting, outlining the round and perky curves of her hips, while revealing a pair of long, straight, beautiful legs beneath the hem.

Qin Ruoxi turned around with a faint smile on her face.

Her features were as exquisite as a painting. Between her brows and eyes, there was an air of cold elegance, and her red lips were slightly upturned, carrying a hint of elusive charm.

Xiao Bei's gaze couldn't help but linger on Qin Ruoxi for a moment, and he secretly marveled at her beauty and aura.

But he quickly withdrew his gaze and said respectfully, "Mayor Qin, did you call for me?"

Qin Ruoxi nodded and gestured for him to sit down, "Xiao Bei, sit. Let's have a chat."

Xiao Bei sat on the sofa, looking at Qin Ruoxi with a calm gaze, waiting for what she had to say.

Qin Ruoxi put down the coffee in her hand, crossed her hands on the desk, and said in a somewhat serious tone, "Xiao Bei, I have already investigated the matter of your transfer to the Archives Bureau. It was Director Yan Jinghui who acted on his own initiative without my approval."

Xiao Bei was slightly stunned, then nodded, "I had guessed as much, but I didn't expect Director Yan to do such a thing."

Qin Ruoxi sneered, a flash of coldness in her eyes, "Director Yan Jinghui has quite a lot of nerve, daring to pull such petty tricks right under my nose."

Xiao Bei did not respond. He understood Qin Ruoxi's mood at this moment; Director Yan Jinghui's behavior was undoubtedly a challenge to her authority.

Qin Ruoxi stood up, walked to the window, and with her back to Xiao Bei, said in a deep tone, "Little Xiao, do you know the current situation in Canglan City?"

Xiao Bei pondered for a moment and replied, "Although I don't fully understand it, I can feel that the situation in Canglan City is not simple. The various forces are intertwined, and especially the person behind Director Yan Jinghui seems unwilling to see you push for reform."

Qin Ruoxi turned around and looked at Xiao Bei with sharp eyes, "You are right. Director Yan Jinghui is only a pawn on the surface; the person behind him is the real opponent. They do not want to see me gain a foothold here, and they are even less willing to see me push for reform. That is why they are using every means possible, with the goal of driving me out of Canglan City."

Xiao Bei nodded, "Mayor Qin, I understand what you mean. What do you need me to do?"