51: Chapter 51 Adding to the Burden

Her words came to an abrupt halt, her gaze falling upon Su Yun, who was sitting by the bedside.

The air instantly froze.

The apple in the hand of Xiao Bei nearly dropped onto the quilt, and he instinctively tried to get up:

"Mayor... Mayor Qin!"

"Do not move."

Mayor Qin and Su Yun spoke almost simultaneously.

Su Yun quickly stood up from the chair, her high heels clicking crisply against the floor.

She smoothed out her skirt, wearing a polite smile on her face:

"Hello, Mayor Qin. My name is Su Yun."

The Adam's apple of Xiao Bei bobbed:

"Mayor Qin, this is Su Yun, the host from the Municipal Radio Station and a key witness in the case of Director Yan Jinghui."

"I see."

The corners of the mouth of Mayor Qin lifted slightly, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

She walked slowly to the other side of the hospital bed and placed the documents on the nightstand, effectively pinning down a corner of the fruit basket Su Yun had brought.

"Miss Su is truly thoughtful, going out of her way to visit my secretary."

Su Yun keenly sensed the sharp edge in the words of Mayor Qin and stepped back half a pace, keeping her composure:

"Mayor Qin, Secretary Xiao is my savior. Upon hearing that he was injured, it was only right for me to come and visit."

Her gaze swept between Mayor Qin and Xiao Bei, and she suddenly blinked with realization, "It seems I have interrupted the two of you discussing official business."

Mayor Qin picked up the kettle by the bedside and poured herself a glass of water:

"It is no matter. I also happen to need to discuss the progress of the case with Xiao Bei."

She took a sip of water, "The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection has already established a Special Investigation Team, and Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui has been placed under double regulation."

"That is wonderful!"

The eyes of Xiao Bei lit up, but then he winced slightly, a soft "hiss" escaping his lips, as the sudden movement aggravated his injury.

Both women turned their gazes toward him with concern.

"Be careful."

Mayor Qin frowned and instinctively reached out to steady him, but she stopped halfway, turning instead to pick up and leaf through the medical chart on the nightstand.

Su Yun, however, took a step forward:

"Should I call the doctor to take a look?"

"No, no, I am fine."

Xiao Bei waved his hand hurriedly.

Mayor Qin closed the medical chart and said in a calm tone:

"You are recovering well, to have the energy to entertain guests."

Xiao Bei felt a layer of cold sweat break out on his back, and he cleared his throat:

"Um... Mayor Qin, you have been working hard these past few days. Would you like to sit down and rest for a while?"

"No need."

Mayor Qin tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, "I only came to tell you about the progress of the case and to check on your condition."

Her gaze swept over the fruit basket and nutritional supplements that Su Yun had carefully prepared, "Since someone is taking care of you, I can rest easy."

Su Yun suddenly picked up her handbag:

"Um... I suddenly remembered I have an interview to conduct."

She gave Xiao Bei a charming smile, "Secretary Xiao, I will come to visit you another day. I must take my leave now."

Su Yun left the hospital room in a flurry.

The moment the door closed, the air pressure in the room seemed to return to normal.

Xiao Bei carefully observed the expression of Mayor Qin:

"Mayor Qin, please do not misunderstand. Miss Su, she was only..."

"Only what?"

Mayor Qin raised an eyebrow and picked up the apple that had been bitten into to examine it, "Good technique. You peeled it quite cleanly."

Xiao Bei swallowed hard:

"She just came to express her gratitude..."

"Hmm, grateful enough to sit that close to you?"

Mayor Qin put down the apple and pulled out a tissue to wipe her hands slowly and methodically, "When I walked in, she was practically pressed against you."

The ears of Xiao Bei turned even redder:

"That is not the case! We were just chatting normally..."

Mayor Qin suddenly laughed, and this time, it was a genuine smile:

"Why are you so nervous? I never said anything was going on between you two."

She sat down in the chair where Su Yun had just been sitting and took a thermal container out of her briefcase, "I brought you some congee. The hospital food is not good."

Xiao Bei was stunned:

"You... you brought this specifically for me?"

"What else?"

Mayor Qin opened the lid, and the aroma immediately filled the room, "You were injured saving me. What is wrong with me bringing you something to eat?"

She ladled a bowl and handed it to him, "Drink it while it is hot."

Xiao Bei took the bowl, his fingertips accidentally brushing against the fingers of Mayor Qin, and both of them recoiled as if electrocuted.

"Thank you, Mayor Qin."

Xiao Bei lowered his head to drink the congee, not daring to look up at her.

Mayor Qin watched him wolf down the food, her gaze softening:

"Eat slowly. No one is going to steal it from you."

She paused, "That Su Yun... she is quite pretty, is she not?"

Xiao Bei nearly choked:

"Cough, cough... She is quite good-looking, but she is nowhere near as beautiful as you, Mayor Qin."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them.

Mayor Qin looked at him with a half-smile:

"Oh? Since when did you learn to be such a smooth talker?"

"I... I did not mean it like that..."

Xiao Bei was so flustered that sweat began to bead on his forehead.

"Alright, I am just teasing you."

Mayor Qin set aside her smile and said seriously, "Although Deputy Party Secretary Tang Jianhui has fallen, his accomplices have not yet been fully cleared out. You must be extra careful in the coming period."

Xiao Bei nodded, then suddenly remembered something:

"By the way, what about Director Yan Jinghui..."

"He has already been taken into custody."

Mayor Qin sneered, "He has confessed to quite a lot. It is enough to keep him in prison for over a decade."

"Also."

Mayor Qin suddenly turned serious, her fingers tapping lightly on the lid of the thermal container, "You have made a great contribution this time. The organization may increase your responsibilities, so be mentally prepared."

The spoon of Xiao Bei stopped in mid-air, and a drop of congee fell back into the bowl.

He slowly looked up, meeting the eyes of Mayor Qin, which were as deep as a pool:

"Mayor Qin, what do you mean...?"

"Do not play dumb."

The mouth of Mayor Qin curled slightly, and she pulled a document from her briefcase, "The Municipal Organization Department has already drafted a plan. Once you have recovered from your injuries, you will be dispatched to the grassroots level to take up a post."

Xiao Bei took the document, his fingers trembling slightly.

When he saw the words "Party Secretary of Bishi Town," his pupils constricted sharply:

"This... is Bishi Town not the town we conducted the undercover visit to?"

"That is correct."

Mayor Qin stood up and walked to the window, where the sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting mottled light and shadows across her face, "Due to the previous corruption and negligence, the Municipal Party Committee has replaced the entire leadership team of Bishi Town. It is a mess right now, and it needs someone to clean it up."

Xiao Bei swallowed hard, the document making a slight rustling sound in his hands:

"But Mayor Qin, my seniority is still shallow..."

"Seniority?"

Mayor Qin suddenly turned around, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes, "I never look at seniority when selecting people."

She walked back to the bedside, her voice low, "Besides... I need someone I can trust to be there."

Mayor Qin looked directly into the eyes of Xiao Bei, "Although the Party Secretary of Bishi Town has fallen, the network of connections they have cultivated for years is still there. Bishi Town is rich in mineral resources; it is a fat piece of meat that many people are eyeing."

The meaning of Mayor Qin was clear: she wanted Xiao Bei to go there and carry out sweeping reforms, to build up more political achievements so that he could be better promoted in the future.

Xiao Bei took a deep breath and closed the document:

"I understand. When do I take office?"

...