195: Chapter 195 First Encounter with County-Level Personnel

As Xu Weidong pushed open the front door, the sound of stir-frying came from the kitchen.

The roar of the range hood drowned out the sound of the door opening. He changed his shoes, walked through the foyer, and caught sight of Mu Ruxue's back at a glance.

She was wearing a wine-red lace camisole nightdress, with an apron string tied around her waist, cinching her willow-thin waist so tightly it looked like it could be spanned by a single hand.

The hem of the nightdress barely covered the tops of her thighs. Her two straight legs were bare, and she was wearing fluffy slippers, standing on tiptoe to reach for a seasoning bottle on the top shelf of the cabinet. The hem of her dress rode up a bit with her movement.

Xu Weidong walked over on tiptoe and wrapped his arms around her from behind. Mu Ruxue shuddered in fright, let out a "Yelp," and nearly dropped the spatula in her hand.

"You scared me to death!"

She turned her head, glared at Xu Weidong, her cheeks flushing with a rosy glow, looking like a ruffled little kitten in her coquettish annoyance.

Xu Weidong rested his chin in the hollow of her shoulder, tightened his arms, and placed his palm on her flat lower abdomen. Through that thin layer of lace, he could feel the warmth of her body temperature and her heartbeat, which had accelerated due to the fright.

He chuckled lowly in her ear, his breath spraying against her auricle, causing the tips of her ears to turn bright red instantly, as if they were about to bleed.

"Comrade Weidong, stop fooling around, I'm still stir-frying in the pot."

Mu Ruxue's voice softened, filled with a helpless mixture of shyness and annoyance, yet she persisted in stirring the food in the pot, striving to maintain the dignity of a virtuous wife and mother.

Xu Weidong did not let go; instead, he held her tighter, pressed his lips to her earlobe, and nibbled it gently.

"How can the food smell better than you?"

Mu Ruxue's ear roots were flushed deep red, as red as a boiled shrimp.

She turned off the heat, set the spatula aside, turned around, placed her hands on his chest, and looked at him from a short distance.

The wine-red camisole nightdress shimmered in the dim light. The lace trim outlined an exquisite curve along her collarbone and shoulders. The neckline was cut very low, and that patch of snow-white skin and the deep cleavage were vaguely visible at the edge of the straps.

The apron string around her waist hadn't been untied yet; it was tied in a crooked bow, which she had tied hastily when she rushed into the kitchen just now.

"Why are you back so early today?"

Mu Ruxue lifted her face, her eyes reflecting the light, sparkling.

Xu Weidong reached out, tucked a stray lock of hair from her forehead behind her ear, slid his fingers down her cheek, cupped her chin, and gently rubbed his thumb against her lip.

"I missed you, so I came back early to keep you company."

Mu Ruxue's face turned even redder at his words. She pushed him away, turned around, and pretended to tidy up the stove, her voice muffled, carrying the coquettish shyness and pride unique to a young girl.

"Who wants you to keep me company? I'm doing just fine on my own."

Xu Weidong pressed against her from behind again. This time he didn't hug her, but placed his hands on both sides of the stove, trapping her between himself and the counter.

He leaned down, his lips brushing against the patch of fair skin exposed on the back of her neck.

"Are you reporting to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles next week?"

Mu Ruxue's hand tidying the stove paused. She didn't turn around, and her voice became softer.

"Mm. The document has already been issued; I'll go on Monday."

Xu Weidong was silent for a moment. From the Youth League Committee to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles—the rank hadn't changed, but the say and influence were not in the same league.

The Youth League Committee is the fast lane for young cadres to grow; it has a wide range of contacts, many activities, and it's easy to achieve results.

The Federation of Literary and Art Circles is relatively more marginalized—organizing cultural and artistic activities, connecting with artists—and is far removed from the county's central work.

Although Mu Ruxue didn't say it, she must feel a sense of disparity in her heart.

"You don't want to go?"

His voice was very soft, carrying the tenderness a husband has for his wife.

Mu Ruxue shook her head, turned around, leaned against the stove, looked up at him, and the corners of her mouth curled up.

"It's not that I don't want to go. The Federation of Literary and Art Circles is also quite good; the work is relatively easier, and I can have more time to take care of the family. Besides, it's not like I can't do the job."

"Writing materials, organizing activities, coordination—is there anything I can't handle?"

Xu Weidong reached out and rubbed the top of her head, his fingers running through her soft hair, his palm pressing against her hair. The force was neither light nor heavy, carrying a silent comfort, as well as a husband's unconditional support and indulgence for his wife.

"If you're not happy doing it, just quit. Come home, I'll support you."

Mu Ruxue glared at him and pulled his hand down from her head.

Clutching it in her hand, fingers interlocked, her tone carried a stubborn refusal to admit defeat, yet it also sounded like she was acting coquettishly toward him.

"I don't want you to support me."

"Am I, Mu Ruxue, the kind of person who would hole up at home as a full-time housewife? I can't stay idle."

"If you make me stay at home every day doing nothing, I'll get sick from boredom."

Xu Weidong looked at her, the smile at the corners of his mouth slowly deepening.

He reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace.

Mu Ruxue let out a soft exclamation, her hands braced against his chest, lifting her face to meet his smiling eyes, her heart suddenly beating faster.

"Daring to contradict your husband? It seems I need to teach you a lesson and let you know who's in charge."

Xu Weidong leaned down, his nose touching hers, their breath mingling, his voice so low it was like a seduction.

Mu Ruxue's face turned bright red. She pushed him, but couldn't move him; she pushed again, still couldn't move him.

She bit her lip, her voice so small it seemed to be squeezed out of her throat, carrying a helpless mixture of shyness and annoyance.

"We haven't eaten yet..."

Xu Weidong bent down and swept her up horizontally. She let out a startled cry and wrapped her arms around his neck. The apron string came undone, and the wine-red camisole nightdress fluttered gently in the air.

He carried her into the bedroom with long strides and kicked the door shut. The bedroom door closed, cutting off the light and sounds from the living room.

Not long after, Mu Ruxue's protests could be heard from inside, intermittent, and then she couldn't speak complete sentences anymore, leaving only fragmented gasps and low moans.

In the kitchen, the food on the stove was still covered with a lid, and the range hood was still humming.

The living room lights were on, the TV was off, and a half-read magazine lay on the coffee table. Everything was very quiet, so quiet it was as if it were waiting for something.

(Twelve thousand words of battle scenes are omitted here; after a night of fierce fighting, the troops of Xu Weidong achieved a great victory, the troops of Mu Ruxue were routed and forced to sign a series of unequal treaties.)

The next morning, Xu Weidong got out of bed, feeling refreshed.

Mu Ruxue was still asleep, the quilt pulled up to her chin, revealing only a flushed face and a head of disheveled long hair. Her eyelashes were trembling slightly; she was sleeping soundly, with a faint, elusive smile hanging on the corners of her mouth, not knowing what sweet dream she was having.

Xu Weidong stood by the bed, looked down at her for a while, bent down, and gently kissed her forehead.

She hummed, turned over, rolled away half the quilt, exposing her smooth shoulders and a patch of fair back, which still bore the marks of last night.

He pulled the quilt back up for her and tucked in the corners, his movements very light, afraid of waking her.

Leaving the bedroom, he picked up his phone and called the County Government office, saying he had some private matters to handle this morning and would be late, then called Mu Ruxue's workplace to request a half-day leave for her.

Of course, the reason given was high-sounding.

"Comrade Mu Ruxue is feeling unwell and needs to rest this morning."

The person on the other end said repeatedly that it was no problem, telling Secretary Mu to rest well and not to worry.

It was nearly ten o'clock when he arrived at the office. The sunlight in the corridor was just right, shining brightly on the floor. His steps were steady and fast.

The liaison officer came up to meet him, saying that County Magistrate Bai and Secretary Wei were waiting for him in the office.

He nodded, straightened his collar, and pushed the door open to walk in.

Secretary Wei Kuan and County Mayor Bai Weijun were sitting on the sofa, with two cups of tea on the coffee table in front of them, and two cigarette butts in the ashtray.

The two were whispering about something, and seeing him enter, they both looked up at the same time.

"Comrade Weidong is here? Sit, sit, sit."

Secretary Wei Kuan pointed to the single sofa next to him, smiling kindly, his tone as casual as if he were greeting a younger member of his own family.

County Mayor Bai Weijun leaned against the back of the sofa, crossing his legs, twirling a pen in his hand, a faint, elusive smile on the corners of his mouth.

He was wearing a dark jacket today over a white shirt, with no tie. He looked much more easygoing than usual, but the shrewdness in his eyes hadn't diminished in the slightest.

"Little brother, there's a matter I want to discuss with you."

County Mayor Bai Weijun spoke, his tone completely different from that at the county magistrate's office meetings—less of the official seriousness, and more of the casualness of a private conversation.

"You already know about that scoundrel Director Qi Heng. The Discipline Inspection Commission has confirmed the facts; he has been expelled from both the Party and public office and transferred to the judicial organs."

"The Public Security Bureau cannot be left without someone to preside over the work. Secretary Wei and I have discussed it and would like to hear your opinion."

Secretary Wei Kuan took over, adding a touch of concern and guidance from an experienced person: "Comrade Weidong, the position of Director of the Public Security Bureau is critical. The Crackdown on Organized Crime is currently in a crucial stage, and there is no room for the slightest relaxation."

"You came from the Public Security system, you are familiar with the situation in the bureau, and you have served as Executive Deputy County Magistrate for several months, so you also have a comprehensive understanding of the county's work."

"Both County Magistrate Bai and I feel that you are the most suitable candidate."

County Mayor Bai Weijun put down the pen, stopped twirling it, picked up his teacup and took a sip, his gaze landing on Xu Weidong's face, his tone more direct than Secretary Wei Kuan's.

"Little brother, Secretary Wei and I came today just to ask for your thoughts. If you are willing, you can arrange the person for this position. If you are not willing, we will consider others."