4: Chapter 4: Opening Up

Qin Ruoxi's tone softened slightly, but her eyes remained vigilant.

"It's absolutely true!"

Xiao Bei nodded solemnly, "Mayor Qin, I can stake my life on it. I absolutely had no intention of offending you. I was also set up; someone is likely trying to use me to frame you!"

Qin Ruoxi was silent for a moment, seemingly considering Xiao Bei's words.

She looked at the bathrobe she was wearing, then at Xiao Bei's sincere gaze, and the doubts in her heart gradually dissipated.

"Fine, I'll believe you for now."

Qin Ruoxi nodded, her tone still cold, "However, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If I find out you've lied to me, you know the consequences."

"Mayor Qin, rest assured, I would never dare to deceive you."

Xiao Bei let out a sigh of relief and quickly said.

Qin Ruoxi didn't speak again. She stood up and walked to the window, pulling back the curtains. The sunlight spilled onto her face, illuminating her exquisite and cold features.

She took a deep breath, as if wanting to exhale all the frustration in her heart.

"That's enough, you may leave first."

Qin Ruoxi said with her back to him, her voice faint, "I need some time alone to clear my head."

"Yes, Mayor Qin."

Xiao Bei nodded respectfully and turned to walk toward the door.

"Wait!" Before he had even reached the door, Qin Ruoxi's cold voice came from behind him.

Xiao Bei paused, turned around, and asked respectfully, "Mayor Qin, do you have any other instructions?"

Qin Ruoxi slowly walked up to him, her gaze icy, as if trying to see through to his heart.

"I don't want a third person to know about last night."

She said in a low tone, "If you dare to speak of it, even a single word, I guarantee that I will personally send you to prison, and you will never see the light of day again."

Xiao Bei felt a shiver, but he didn't panic. Instead, he straightened his back and looked directly into Qin Ruoxi's eyes.

"Mayor Qin, rest assured. Although I, Xiao Bei, am not a big shot, I know what should be said and what shouldn't. I will take the events of last night to the grave; I will never let anyone know."

Qin Ruoxi stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly trying to find a flaw in his gaze, but Xiao Bei's eyes were open and firm, without the slightest evasion.

"It had better be."

She said coldly, then waved her hand, "You may go."

Xiao Bei nodded and turned to leave the room.

The moment the door closed, a trace of exhaustion finally appeared on Qin Ruoxi's face.

She leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor, hugging her knees tightly, a flash of confusion in her eyes.

"How did it come to this..."

She murmured softly, her voice choked with emotion.

She had originally thought that coming to Canglan City would allow her to show her mettle and change the backward face of this city.

But she hadn't expected that she would be set up immediately upon taking office, and with such despicable means.

She felt a deep sense of powerlessness, as if she had fallen into an invisible quagmire; the more she struggled, the deeper she sank.

"What should I do..."

She closed her eyes, and tears fell silently.

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Qin Ruoxi opened her eyes abruptly, staring vigilantly at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Mayor Qin, it's me, Xiao Bei."

Xiao Bei's voice came from outside the door.

Qin Ruoxi frowned, stood up, and walked to the door. Through the peephole, she saw Xiao Bei standing outside, holding a plastic bag.

"What are you here for again?"

She asked coldly, without opening the door.

"Mayor Qin, I bought you breakfast."

Xiao Bei's voice came through the door gap, "You didn't eat anything last night, and after all that trouble, you must be hungry. I bought porridge and steamed buns; you should eat while it's hot."

Qin Ruoxi was stunned for a moment, not expecting Xiao Bei to buy her breakfast.

She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately opened the door.

Xiao Bei stood at the door with a simple, honest smile on his face, holding the steaming breakfast.

"Mayor Qin, please eat something first; your health is what matters."

He handed over the plastic bag.

Qin Ruoxi took the breakfast, looking at Xiao Bei with a complex gaze.

"Why are you doing this?"

She asked, her tone tinged with confusion.

Xiao Bei smiled and said:

"Mayor Qin, I know your mind must be in turmoil right now, but you are the new mayor, and Canglan City needs you. I cannot watch you be destroyed by those people."

Qin Ruoxi looked at him, her heart stirred slightly.

She hadn't expected that this seemingly ordinary young man would say such things.

"Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?"

She asked.

"I am."

Xiao Bei nodded frankly, "But compared to being afraid, I am even less willing to see you framed by those people. The political scene in Canglan City is too complex. If you fight alone, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to cope. If you don't mind, I am willing to help you."

Qin Ruoxi was silent for a moment, then shook her head and said:

"You are just a minor section member, what can you do to help me?"

Xiao Bei took a deep breath, looked up at Qin Ruoxi, and said:

"Mayor Qin, you have just arrived in Canglan City and may not fully understand the situation here. Although Director Yan Jinghui is the Director of the Municipal Office, there must be a bigger backer behind him. The events of last night were definitely not something he could have planned alone. The fact that they dared to act against you shows that they have made full preparations; they may have even bribed the hotel staff."

Qin Ruoxi's brows locked tightly, and a flash of coldness appeared in her eyes:

"You mean they designed this trap long ago, waiting for me to jump into it?"

Xiao Bei nodded:

"That's right. Director Yan Jinghui and his cohorts are doing this simply to give you a warning and to caution you not to easily interfere in the affairs of Canglan City. They know you are new and have an unstable foundation, which is why they dare to be so unscrupulous."

Qin Ruoxi sneered, her tone tinged with disdain:

"Just with them, they want to make me retreat in the face of difficulties?"

Xiao Bei shook his head, his tone tinged with worry:

"Mayor Qin, you might be underestimating their methods. Since they dared to act against you, it means they have already made plans for the worst-case scenario. They must have prepared a backup plan for last night, such as evidence like photos or videos. If we act rashly, we will fall into their trap instead."

Qin Ruoxi was silent for a moment, a look of contemplation flashing in her eyes:

"You mean that since we don't have evidence right now, we have to just swallow this loss?"