18: Chapter 18 Taking the Bus

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Qin Ruoxi couldn't help but laugh out loud:

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. We're going on an unannounced visit today; dressing too formally would only attract attention. This outfit is more appropriate."

Xiao Bei nodded, though he still felt annoyed by his earlier lapse in composure. He quickly opened the car door and said respectfully:

"Mayor Qin, please get in."

Qin Ruoxi walked up to the car door, but instead of getting in immediately, she tilted her head slightly, scanned the black sedan, and frowned slightly:

"Little Xiao, we can't take this car."

Xiao Bei was taken aback and asked, feeling puzzled:

"Mayor Qin, this is just a standard government vehicle from the Municipal Government. It shouldn't attract too much attention, right?"

Qin Ruoxi shook her head and said:

"While this car isn't flashy, the license plate belongs to the Municipal Government. It'll be too obvious in the village. This is an unannounced visit, and we can't alert the target."

Xiao Bei suddenly realized and nodded quickly:

"It was my oversight, Mayor Qin. What should we do now? Should we switch to a private car?"

Qin Ruoxi smiled slightly and said in a relaxed tone:

"No need for all that trouble. We'll take the bus."

"The bus?"

Xiao Bei was surprised; he clearly hadn't expected Mayor Qin to suggest such a thing.

Qin Ruoxi rolled her eyes playfully:

"What, do you think it's inappropriate for me, a Mayor, to ride the bus?"

Xiao Bei waved his hands quickly:

"No, no, it's not that. I just thought... the bus might not be very convenient. After all, it will take much longer on the road, and..."

Qin Ruoxi interrupted him:

"Little Xiao, we are going on an unannounced visit, not a vacation. Taking the bus not only helps us stay under the radar but also allows us to get closer to the public and understand their real lives. Don't you agree?"

Xiao Bei felt a jolt in his heart and immediately understood Mayor Qin's intention.

He nodded and said:

"Mayor Qin is right. My perspective was too narrow."

Qin Ruoxi nodded in satisfaction and then added:

"There is one more thing you need to remember."

Xiao Bei immediately perked up his ears and looked at her earnestly:

"Please, go ahead."

Qin Ruoxi smiled slightly:

"When we're around others, don't call me Mayor Qin. Just call me 'Sister'."

"Sister?"

Xiao Bei didn't react immediately, repeating the word hesitantly.

Qin Ruoxi raised an eyebrow and laughed:

"What, do you think I'm too old to be your sister?"

Xiao Bei shook his head quickly, a slightly awkward smile appearing on his face:

"No, no, you're only a few years older than me. It's just... it's a bit unusual to call you that all of a sudden."

Qin Ruoxi chuckled:

"You'll get used to it. Remember, from now on, we are siblings. You are my cousin, accompanying me to the village to visit relatives. Do you understand?"

Xiao Bei nodded, though he felt a bit nervous inside.

He had never imagined that one day he would be addressing a beautiful Mayor as "sister," and even less that Mayor Qin would slip into this role so naturally.

"I understand, Sister."

He tried saying it, his tone carrying a hint of unfamiliarity.

Qin Ruoxi nodded in satisfaction and then patted his shoulder:

"Let's go, let's head to the bus stop."

The two walked one after the other toward the nearby bus stop.

The streets were quiet in the early morning, with few pedestrians, and only the occasional bicycle whizzing past them.

Qin Ruoxi's pace was light and brisk, as if she really had become an ordinary citizen, while Xiao Bei followed behind her, feeling a bit nervous.

When they reached the bus stop, Qin Ruoxi checked the route sign and then said to Xiao Bei:

"The bus to Bishi Town in Beijiang County is the 302. It should arrive in about ten minutes."

Xiao Bei nodded, while mentally planning out the itinerary ahead.

He looked around and asked in a low voice:

"Sister, should we buy something? After all, we're visiting relatives; it wouldn't be appropriate to show up empty-handed, would it?"

Qin Ruoxi gave him an approving look:

"Not bad, very thoughtful of you. Let's head to the supermarket nearby to buy some fruit and gifts."

The two walked into the nearby supermarket. Qin Ruoxi picked out a few types of fruit and two boxes of tea, and Xiao Bei took the initiative to carry the shopping bags.

At checkout, Qin Ruoxi took some cash from her wallet and handed it to the cashier, her movements so natural that she truly seemed like an ordinary citizen.

Walking out of the supermarket, Xiao Bei couldn't help but ask in a low voice:

"Sister, do you... usually do your own shopping?"

Qin Ruoxi glanced at him, her tone carrying a hint of teasing:

"What, do you think a Mayor should always have someone waiting on them?"

Xiao Bei shook his head quickly:

"No, I just thought... you're usually so busy with work, I didn't think you'd have time to come out and shop yourself."

Qin Ruoxi chuckled, her tone tinged with emotion:

"Little Xiao, a Mayor is also just an ordinary person. We also have to buy groceries and cook, it's just that work is so busy that I rarely get the chance to do things like this."

Xiao Bei nodded, his admiration for Qin Ruoxi growing a little more.

Just then, the bus slowly pulled into the stop.

Qin Ruoxi checked the route number, confirmed it was the 302, and said to Xiao Bei:

"The bus is here, let's get on."

...

Meanwhile, far away at the Municipal Government, Director Yan Jinghui was sitting in his office, making a phone call with a gloomy expression.

"What? Qin Ruoxi didn't come to work today?"

He frowned, his tone laced with unease.

A voice came from the other end of the line:

"Yes, Director Yan. Mayor Qin's secretary, Xiao Bei, didn't come either. I heard they both went out early this morning."

Director Yan Jinghui felt a tightening in his chest, sensing that something was not quite right. He asked in a low voice:

"Do you know where they went?"

"I'm not sure. Mayor Qin didn't tell anyone."

Director Yan Jinghui hung up the phone, his face looking even worse. He stood up and paced back and forth in his office:

"What on earth... are those two up to?"

Meanwhile, Qin Ruoxi and Xiao Bei had already boarded the bus. There weren't many people on board, so Qin Ruoxi found a window seat and sat down, while Xiao Bei sat next to her.

The bus slowly started, and the scenery outside the window began to drift backward.

Qin Ruoxi looked at the scenery outside the window, her tone light and relaxed:

"Little Xiao, have you ever ridden the bus?"

Xiao Bei nodded:

"I used to ride it often back in college, but rarely since I started working."

Qin Ruoxi smiled slightly and said with a sense of nostalgia:

"Me too. When I worked at the grassroots level, I often took the bus to the countryside. After I was transferred to the city, I rarely had the chance. Riding it today brings back fond memories."