70: Chapter 69 A Different Su Qinghan, A Different Night

The night wind was cold and chilly.

A Volkswagen Lavida drove into the underground garage of Donghu Bay, and Zhu Wenhao pushed open the door.

At the entryway, a small warm lamp had been left on for him.

In the living room, Su Qinghan was curled up on the sofa, a thick professional book spread open on her lap.

In the center of the coffee table sat an exquisite little cake.

Hearing the faint click of the door lock, she raised her head abruptly.

Her eyes, usually as cold and clear as winter stars, held an indescribable ripple tonight.

"Why are you back so early?"

"Minister Zhao from the ministry had an urgent matter to discuss with Father."

Zhu Wenhao changed out of his leather shoes and hung his coat on the coat rack, telling a lie without changing his expression.

"Looking at the situation, it wouldn't be finished anytime soon, so I came back first."

Su Qinghan's eyelashes fluttered as she quickly avoided his gaze.

He sensed that something was wrong with her.

But he said nothing.

"That's perfect."

"Come and eat the cake."

Zhu Wenhao's gaze swept over the lonely cake and then landed on her slightly thin back.

He had intended to lay out the personnel transfer list from the Municipal Government Office and discuss a foolproof countermeasure with her.

But seeing her rare high spirits at this moment, those sordid calculations of the officialdom that had reached his lips were swallowed back down.

"Come on."

He walked over and sat down beside her.

The two did not light any candles; they just used a plastic knife to cut the cake and each took a small piece.

Su Qinghan was extremely unusual tonight.

This woman, who always went without makeup and refused to take photos, had unexpectedly taken out her phone.

Click.

She took a photo of the cut piece of cake.

Then, she moved closer to Zhu Wenhao, her shoulder pressing tightly against his.

"Look at the camera."

Zhu Wenhao turned his head.

On the screen, their faces were frozen in time.

He maintained his usual stern expression, while Su Qinghan in the photo had her head slightly tilted, pressed close to his shoulder, smiling with complete lack of guard, like an innocent young girl.

She took two pictures in a row.

She cherished putting away her phone and ate the cream in small bites.

After finishing the last bite, Su Qinghan pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped the corners of her mouth.

"Let's rest early today."

"I went shopping this afternoon and bought a very nice pajama set. I'll... wear it for you to see later."

She pushed Zhu Wenhao's back, ushering him toward the bathroom.

"Go take a shower quickly."

Walking to the door of the master bedroom, she turned around, holding the door frame, and stared steadily at him.

"You are not allowed to come in until I call you."

The master bedroom door closed and locked.

Zhu Wenhao stood in the hallway, remaining still for a moment.

The usual Su Qinghan was calm, rational, and cut straight to the point.

But tonight, she seemed to have shed all her armor, turning into a little girl immersed in love.

Abnormality is a sign of trouble.

As the water washed over his body, Zhu Wenhao's mind was extremely clear.

After drying his hair and changing into loose loungewear, he did not knock on the master bedroom door but sat back down on the living room sofa.

Picking up his phone, a message from Wu Dehai had already arrived.

"Brother Hao, I have carefully checked the list. The reason reported by the Finance Bureau is 'optimizing the structure of the young cadre team and multi-post rotation training'."

"This excuse is too legitimate; our Division Two simply cannot find any fault with it."

Zhu Wenhao's thumb slid across the screen, his gaze cold.

Mayor Su Changming's methods were indeed ruthless.

A cross-departmental transfer at the section member level did not need to go to the Standing Committee; it only needed to go through the motions at the ministry meeting.

Who would dare to refute the Mayor's will?

The only way to break the deadlock was for Secretary Zhu Tianhe to get involved personally.

But in terms of reality, this was simply unfeasible; Mayor Su Changming was transferring his own biological daughter.

Even her own father was "sacrificing his kin for righteousness," so on what grounds could Secretary Zhu Tianhe object?

Are you going to openly say that you, Deputy Secretary Zhu, want to protect the Mayor's daughter to keep her in the financial department?

This is not a counterattack; this is handing them ammunition and seeking your own death.

One rank higher can crush you to death.

Since transmigrating, this was the first time he had so truly felt the solidity of this systemic barrier in modern officialdom.

Any ingenious calculation seemed pale and powerless in the face of absolute administrative power and hierarchical suppression.

"Zhu Wenhao, come in."

From inside the master bedroom, Su Qinghan's extremely light voice called out.

Zhu Wenhao put away his phone, and the screen went completely dark.

He cast aside those complicated personnel infighting issues, stood up, and walked toward that door.

He pressed down the door handle and pushed the door open to enter.

The main lights in the room were not on; the dim wall lamp by the bedside emitted an ambiguous warm yellow glow.

Su Qinghan stood at the edge of the bed.

She was wearing a deep black silk lingerie set with very little fabric, which made her skin, whiter than snow, look even more dazzling.

She had always refused any decorations that carried a sense of ingratiation.

But at this moment, the extreme allure displayed by this ice-beauty after being stripped of her cold exterior was enough to make any man burn with desire.

Su Qinghan did not retreat; meeting Zhu Wenhao's scrutinizing gaze, she took two steps forward.

She raised her arms, actively climbing onto his neck, and pressed herself into his embrace without reservation.

"Zhu Wenhao." She tilted her head up, their breathing intertwined, "I love you."

"Kiss me."

This was her last order of the night.

Zhu Wenhao seemed to have sensed something, but he said nothing.

Without any superfluous words, he responded to her with the most direct and primitive action.

That night, Su Qinghan seemed to want to burn her last light and heat, casting aside all restraint.

Sweat and gasps intertwined in the dim room.

It was not until three in the morning that this physically exhausting entanglement finally subsided.

She lay on his chest, fast asleep, breathing evenly, yet still clutching his shirt corner tightly.

The next day.

Zhu Wenhao opened his eyes; the spot beside him was already empty, with the faint scent of her lingering on the quilt.

He sat up.

Turning his gaze, he saw a folded note pressed under the desk lamp on the nightstand.

Zhu Wenhao reached out and pulled it out; the handwriting was delicate yet upright, just like her own personality.

"I'm gone, Zhu Wenhao."

"I have already arranged a youth bachelor apartment, do not worry."

"I cannot continue to stay in the Finance Bureau and become an asset to your career. But I will never allow myself to become an obstacle on your career path. This time going to the provincial capital for training, find a woman who can provide you with assistance."

"Do not violate the rules for my sake and make unnecessary sacrifices. Going to the Women's Federation is peaceful; it is not a dead end."

"If you truly want to save me."

"Then wait until you sit in that position where your word is final in the future, and then come and take me away."

No signature.

Every word and every sentence was so rational that it made one's heart ache.

This woman, who admired the strong and dared to bet everything, chose the most resolute severance the moment she realized she was about to become his burden.

Zhu Wenhao held that thin sheet of letter paper and sat quietly at the head of the bed for a long time.

He stood up and pushed open the door to the second bedroom; the wardrobe was wide open, and inside, it was completely empty.

The entire house no longer had a trace of her.

Empty, as if the woman named Su Qinghan had never been there at all.

Zhu Wenhao walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the awakening city at his feet.

Traffic flowed like a tapestry, and various forces continued their bloodless slaughter in this steel jungle.

He lowered his head to look at the note in his hand, and a very light cold laugh dissolved in the empty living room.

"What a... silly girl."

A game of chess is never won by yielding and compromising to gain a wider sky.

If you take a step back, those scavenging vultures will pounce and chew you up until not even your bones are left!

Zhu Wenhao carefully folded the note and tucked it into his inner pocket.

He turned and walked to the cloakroom, taking down that dark gray high-end suit.

He slowly put on his shirt and buttoned every button.

His left thumb habitually rubbed the webbing between his thumb and index finger for a moment.

When he raised his head again, the trace of tenderness born from her was completely wiped from his eyes.

In his deep, calm eyes, the iron-blooded pressure of the Great Ming's sixty years re-condensed on his straight back.

Hierarchical suppression made it impossible for him to act within the rules, so he would jump outside the rules!

"Enough."

Zhu Wenhao fastened the outer button of his suit and straightened his collar.

"For you, silly girl, today, I will wrestle with the Mayor!"

Pushing open the main door, he stepped into the hallway.