1: Chapter 1 A Night Visit to My Fiancée

(This book is set in a parallel world. Please do not strictly map it to reality, including but not limited to time, location, characters, political events, and the general context of economic and social development.)

August 25, 2007, Saturday, 11:00 PM, torrential rain.

In a rental apartment in Wanghai County, Haizhou City.

"Waner, sorry, I'm late again." Cui Liming looked apologetic as he took off his backpack and pulled out a large cardboard box. "Happy birthday!"

Lu Waner took the box, opened it, and looked inside. Her face immediately lit up with surprise. "Oh my, a Burberry bag? This is so expensive; that's two months of your salary gone."

"It's not expensive, it's fine."

"You can't be this extravagant in the future." Lu Waner's nose tingled. She chided him gently while putting the bag away, then touched his clothes with deep concern. "Oh dear, you're soaked. Take them off quickly, let me wash them for you; don't catch a cold."

Cui Liming felt a bit embarrassed and didn't move.

"Why aren't you taking them off?" Lu Waner's tone carried a hint of girlish shyness.

"If I take them off, I won't have anything else to wear." This was his fiancée's rental apartment, but she never let him stay the night, so he had no clothes here to change into.

Lu Waner giggled, her pretty face flushing a light red again. "Then just go shirtless. After I wash and spin-dry them, I'll blow-dry them for you; they'll be dry in no time."

"O-okay then." Cui Liming took off his soaking wet shirt, revealing his pale, unmuscular upper body. His cropped pants were also wet, but he didn't take them off further.

"The pants... you should take off your pants too." Lu Waner glanced at him and said, blushing.

Cui Liming shook his head.

Lu Waner went into the bedroom, grabbed a bed sheet, and tossed it to him. "Take off your pants and wrap yourself in this for now."

When the washing machine started thumping, Lu Waner returned to the living room from the balcony.

Today was her birthday, and she had been waiting for Cui Liming until he finished overtime and rushed over through the rain. As long as he could come, she was overjoyed.

She was wearing a white dress, her hair casually tied up in a bun, her face flushed, looking extremely charming and moving.

She had a gentle and kind nature, with deep, spring-like peach-blossom eyes and a small oval face. Her skin was fair, her figure tall, and her chest ample—she was one of the top beauties in the county.

She was currently a staff member in the Organization Department of the County Committee, 24 years old, and had just completed two years on the job. Cui Liming was a staff member in the Policy Research Office of the County Committee Office, 25 years old.

Lu Waner sat down next to him, pointed at the cake on the coffee table, and said adorably, "Well then, let's celebrate our birthday."

After making a wish and blowing out the candles, the two happily ate the cake.

Lu Waner asked, "Liming, why have you been so busy these past few days? You worked overtime until midnight on Friday, and you've been at it all day and night today. Look at you, you've thinned out like a bolt of lightning."

"Mayor Niu is coming for an inspection next week, so we're preparing the report draft for Secretary Ji. We also have to organize basic information, various data, issues, demands, and so on. We also need to make display boards for several inspection sites—it's a ton of work."

"How come you're the main writer every time? Doesn't your County Committee Office have several good writers? And the Policy Research Office, too."

"Sigh, Deputy Director Ouyang Yang is always targeting me. He assigns all the tiring and heavy work to me. Every time, it feels like I'm shedding a layer of skin; he's made me feel like life isn't worth living. It's so annoying."

"That's why they say 'First draft, second draft, all for nothing; ninth draft, tenth draft, back to the first draft.' Just adjust your mindset and treat it as practice for your writing skills," Lu Waner gently consoled him. She suddenly put down the cake and said seriously, "Oh, by the way, could it be related to you reporting Xia Ruilong?"

Cui Liming was stunned for a moment and said, "Xia Ruilong is the County Magistrate's father-in-law. What the hell does that have to do with Deputy Director Ouyang Yang?"

"The other day, I heard the Department Head say that Deputy Director Ouyang Yang is the County Magistrate's man, and his relationship with their family is unusual."

Deputy Director Ouyang Yang was the Deputy Director of the County Committee Office, a section-level cadre.

"So he's using public office for personal vendettas?" Cui Liming's heart stirred.

"Liming, think about it. We both work in the county, we're both small fry, and we have no connections. We won't win by reporting them, and we'll just offend everyone. Currently, that's not the best approach. So, could you please stop reporting them so directly for now?" Lu Waner said cautiously, her tone especially gentle.

It wasn't that she didn't want to resist, she just felt there must be a better way.

"Xia Ruilong enclosed nine mu of village land and built a massive villa of over six thousand square meters. He built it like a palace hall, with a three-door entrance and three courtyards. Waner, this is a serious illegal act! Furthermore, he forcibly occupied two mu of my uncle's land. When my uncle went to reason with them, he ended up getting beaten up. Is there any justice or reason left in this world?"

Every time he talked about this, Cui Liming was filled with righteous indignation.

Lu Waner sighed sorrowfully. Every time she tried to persuade him with kind words, it only made him angrier. County Magistrate Du Huaishui was overbearing and tyrannical, covering the sky with one hand. Many people had reported him, but for so many years, he had remained standing.

In short, she was worried that if her fiancé failed to bring down the Du family, they would face retaliation. She hoped the wicked would be punished, but that the good would remain safe and sound.

"Alright, let's not talk about him anymore," Lu Waner said. "Eat your cake."

Cui Liming continued with the topic, however: "By the way, is County Magistrate Du's son still pursuing you?"

Lu Waner furrowed her brow and shook her head, sighing, "It's endless. I'm truly impressed; his skin is thicker than a city wall. I've already rejected him so many times."

"Damn it, that loser!" Cui Liming said through gritted teeth. "Actually, if I report Xia Ruilong and the Discipline Inspection Commission takes down County Magistrate Du Huaishui, Du Zitong will have to go in too!"

"We're getting married on National Day. Once we're married, I think he'll give up." Lu Waner looked out the window, filled with beautiful anticipation.

The rain kept falling, and the atmosphere in the room was not quite harmonious.

Lu Waner stood up and said, "The clothes are washed. I'll blow-dry them for you, and then you should go home."

"Waner, can I not leave? Look, it's almost midnight." Cui Liming stood up after her and took her hand. The bed sheet fell, revealing his half-naked body.

Lu Waner looked at the living room sofa, shyly. "You can stay, but you can only sleep on the sofa."

The apartment had one bedroom and one living room.

Cui Liming pulled her into his arms, gazing at her infatuatedly, and said softly, "Waner, we've been dating for three years, and you're still my fiancée."

"You... don't be in such a hurry."

Seeing her shy and charming appearance, Cui Liming was even more moved. He cupped her face and began to kiss her passionately.

Lu Waner didn't dodge; she reciprocated, panting softly.

After kissing for a while, the feeling intensified. He suddenly swept her up into his arms, rushed into the bedroom, and pinned her beneath him.

Lu Waner struggled and pushed him away, her face flushed red. "Liming, we're getting married in another month. I want to save the most beautiful moment for our wedding night. To me, chastity and marriage are very sacred. Can you understand me?"

Cui Liming shook his head. "I don't understand." Then he pulled her back into his arms.

Lu Waner bit her lower lip, struggling with her thoughts for a while. She had already rejected him several times; if she kept doing this, it would hurt his feelings, and she was afraid he would be disappointed or angry. So, she asked in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Liming, do you really want it that much?"

"I do."

"Then... then I'll go take a bath. You wait for me."

"Okay!"

After Lu Waner finished her bath, she came out wearing a red slip dress. She looked fresh as a lotus, as beautiful as a fairy, and Cui Liming was stunned.

Lu Waner hit him playfully, feigning annoyance, and said, "Go take your shower."

(I will emphasize this again: This book is NOT a cuckold story! It is NOT a cuckold story! Some readers judged it as a cuckold story after reading for a few minutes; I'm speechless. The author is an experienced hand; I will not set up such plots, nor will there even be a tendency for it. My previous two political novels did not have such arrangements. I hope readers can observe clearly and not be intentionally misled by others. Thank you.)