130: Chapter 130 Shameless

Gao Dawei's face flushed red, and he stood up abruptly, his voice rising.

"Director Bai Jie, don't go too far! Do you think I care about living in this backwater of yours?"

"I am a top-tier graduate from the Fengtian University Law School. If it weren't for keeping you company, how could I possibly be holed up in this dump of a Hukuang Township?"

"Let me tell you, I've already been hired by the Zhengdao Law Firm in Lüjiang City, and I'm starting work next week."

"My future is limitless!"

Director Bai Jie sneered, "Oh, you got hired?"

"Congratulations."

"Then why are you still lingering in this backwater?"

"Pack your things, take your ex-girlfriend, and get out!"

Gao Dawei's face alternated between red and white, provoked by her attitude.

The woman in the hallway spoke up at this moment, her voice soft and cloying: "Sister Bai Jie, don't be angry. Dawei and I really have nothing going on; we're just old friends catching up..."

Director Bai Jie turned her head and glanced at her.

The look wasn't fierce, but the woman's words were stuck in her throat as if someone had choked her, and she couldn't utter a single syllable.

"You are wearing my bathrobe."

Director Bai Jie's voice was very calm: "Take it off."

The woman's face turned pale, and she subconsciously shrank a step behind Gao Dawei.

Gao Dawei stepped in front of her, his voice rising a few notches.

"Director Bai Jie, don't push people too far!"

Director Bai Jie ignored him, her gaze fixed on the woman.

The woman felt creeped out by the stare and, after hesitating for a few seconds, took off the bathrobe and threw it on the sofa.

She stood in the hallway, hugging her arms, and the "green tea" expression on her face finally couldn't be maintained.

Director Bai Jie withdrew her gaze and looked at Gao Dawei.

"I'll give you half an hour to pack your things, take your old friend, and leave my house."

Gao Dawei stood where he was, his lips trembling, as if he still wanted to say something.

Director Bai Jie didn't give him a chance to speak; she walked forward two steps, stood in front of him, and slapped him across the face.

The sound was crisp, exploding in the living room; Gao Dawei's face tilted to one side, and half of his face instantly turned bright red.

The woman in the hallway screamed and stumbled back two steps, hitting the wall.

Director Bai Jie turned to look at her, walked over, and slapped her too.

The woman's scream was slapped back into her throat; she covered her face, and tears streamed down instantly.

Director Bai Jie stepped back and looked at her palm, as if checking to see if it had gotten dirty.

She turned around, picked up her bag from the sofa, took out her phone, and checked the time.

"Twenty-eight minutes left."

Gao Dawei covered his face, lips trembling, wanting to say something harsh, but meeting Director Bai Jie's eyes—cold as ice—he couldn't say a word.

He turned and walked into the bedroom, starting to stuff things into his suitcase.

His movements were quick, carrying the disheveled embarrassment of being kicked out.

The woman stood in the hallway, covering her face, not knowing whether to leave or stay.

Director Bai Jie didn't pay them any more attention; she walked into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held her hands under the cold water for a while.

When she came out of the bathroom, Gao Dawei had already dragged his suitcase to the door.

He didn't have many things—a few clothes, a few books, and an old laptop.

The woman named Xiao Man had already left at some point, probably slipping away while she was in the bathroom.

Gao Dawei stood at the door, looked back at her, and his lips moved.

Director Bai Jie leaned against the hallway wall, arms crossed, as if waiting for him to speak.

"Director Bai Jie, you will regret this."

Director Bai Jie smiled, "You can get out now."

Gao Dawei's face twisted, he pulled up his suitcase, and slammed the door shut as he left.

The sound of the door closing echoed in the empty living room for a few seconds, and then everything went quiet.

Director Bai Jie stood in the hallway, looking at the closed door for about ten seconds.

Then she turned around, picked up the strange underwear from the sofa with two fingers, and threw it into the trash can.

She threw the bathrobe in too. As for those scattered clothes, she couldn't tell which were Gao Dawei's and which weren't, so she simply ripped off the sofa cushions along with them, piled them in the corner, and planned to find someone to replace them tomorrow.

After doing all this, she walked into the bathroom, washed her hands again, and then received a call from Committee Member Luan.

"Committee Member Luan, I've arranged everything regarding work. The ledgers, case files, and petition records have all been organized and are ready for inspection at any time."

When Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming received the news, he was in his office flipping through some Party building materials.

Committee Member Gao Jin pushed the door open and walked in, his face wearing the expression a storyteller has when reaching a crucial point.

"Secretary Hu, have you heard? Director Bai Jie kicked her boyfriend out."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming put down the materials in his hand, leaned back in his chair, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

He had known about this news earlier than Committee Member Gao Jin. The Township Government was such a small place; whoever was arguing or breaking things would be known throughout the entire Government Compound in less than half a day.

Director Bai Jie kicked him out last night, and by this morning, everyone in the Comprehensive Management Office knew; by noon, people in the cafeteria were already discussing it.

He had been in Hukuang Township for two years, so he had at least that much of an information channel.

"I heard."

"The 'Iron Lady' is truly furious this time, throwing the guy's things out and even changing the door locks."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming picked up his teacup and took a sip, his tone carrying the leisure of someone watching a show.

"But that's fine. Why keep that kind of man for the New Year? Four years and he hasn't even passed the civil service exam; to be a freeloader to this extent is truly a talent."

Committee Member Gao Jin sat down opposite him, his eyes darting around, and the expression on his face changed from gossip to probing.

He had worked with Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming for so long that he knew this man's habits.

Some things he wouldn't volunteer, but if you asked the right questions, he wouldn't hide them from you.

"Secretary Hu, let me ask something out of turn."

Committee Member Gao Jin's voice lowered even further, so low that it sounded like he was talking about something shameful.

"That Gao Dawei, he's been hanging around Hukuang Township for four years without accomplishing any work. How did he suddenly get hired by a law firm in Lvjiang City?"

"The timing is just too coincidental."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's hand holding the teacup paused; he looked at Committee Member Gao Jin with an expression of amusement mixed with annoyance.

Committee Member Gao Jin felt uncomfortable under his gaze, gave a dry cough, and continued: "Director Bai Jie is Committee Member Luan's person. She's been doing great in the Comprehensive Management Office for these past few years, getting recognized as advanced every year, and she's a dab hand at handling mass incidents."

"Committee Member Luan is short on people, and Director Bai Jie is the most effective card in his hand."

"If something happens in Director Bai Jie's personal life and she gets distracted, it's inevitable that there will be lapses in her work."

"When that time comes, wouldn't you, Secretary Hu, who is in charge of political and legal affairs, be able to..."

"Alright, alright."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming put down the teacup, smiled, and waved his hand to interrupt him.

"Committee Member Gao Jin, oh Committee Member Gao Jin, your mind is just too dirty."

"People with dirty minds see everything as dirty."

"Gao Dawei has been stifled in Hukuang Township for four years; isn't it normal that he wants to leave now?"

"The law firm in Lvjiang City is hiring; he got in based on his own ability, so what does that have to do with me?"

Committee Member Gao Jin couldn't save face after being told that; he gave an awkward smile and said, "I was just asking casually, just asking casually."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming didn't say anything more and lowered his head to continue flipping through his materials.

Committee Member Gao Jin sat for a while, felt bored, and stood up to leave.

As he reached the door, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming suddenly spoke up.

"Committee Member Gao Jin, don't underestimate Director Bai Jie."

His voice was unhurried, as if he were talking about something very ordinary.

"She was able to go from being a political and legal officer to the Director of the Comprehensive Management Office, getting recognized as advanced every year, not because of anyone's connections."

"Handling mining group conflicts, mediating land acquisition disputes—when was she not the one charging to the front?"

"This kind of woman isn't someone who can be broken by a little trouble at home. Do you think she's like Committee Member Chen Ruo, panicking as soon as someone gets a grip on her?"

Committee Member Gao Jin froze for a moment and turned to look at Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming had already lowered his head to continue reading the materials, as if those few sentences had just been said casually.

Committee Member Gao Jin stood for a few seconds, pulled the door open, and walked out.

He didn't know if what Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming said was true or false, but he knew that, given Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's personality, even if he really had arranged it, he would never admit it.

In the office, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming flipped two pages of the materials and then put them down again.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming withdrew his gaze and picked up the teacup to take another sip.

The tea had already gone cold, but he didn't mind.

He remembered the first time he met Director Bai Jie; she was still working as a political and legal officer.

She had gone to the village by herself to mediate a homestead dispute, surrounded by seven or eight villagers.

She stood there, unhurried and composed, explaining policies and laws point by point, and managed to talk those people into complete submission.

At that time, he knew that this woman was not simple.

As for Gao Dawei's matter, he really hadn't intervened.

Even if he, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, wanted to use someone, he wouldn't use this kind of trash. As for whether Director Bai Jie would be affected after Gao Dawei left, that was her own business.

If a Director of the Comprehensive Management Office who was recognized as advanced every year couldn't even handle this little thing, she wouldn't have made it to where she was today.