"You're just a driver, how can you be in the City Committee secretary's office?" Bai Yifan frowned.

"Which law says I can't be in the secretary's office?" Lin Chuan asked curiously.

"You!" Bai Yifan became even more annoyed. Of course, that's not what he meant. He just felt that Lin Chuan, a grown man, shouldn't be in Tang Yumeng's office, especially alone with her, without even a secretary present. This obviously made Bai Yifan very angry.

"Heh, what?" Lin Chuan chuckled, "I can't be here, but you can?"

"I am Xiao Yu's official boyfriend." Bai Yifan thickened his face and said, "Don't believe me? Walk out of the office and ask around, who doesn't know this? Everyone knows I'm her rightful boyfriend. And you? What are you? You're just a driver, that's all."

Lin Chuan laughed, not getting angry at all, but replied with a smile: "Indeed, I am just a driver."

At this moment, Tang Yumeng hurried over and said, "Stop arguing, Lin Chuan. Go on with your duties."

"Okay." Lin Chuan nodded and took the opportunity to kiss Tang Yumeng on the cheek.

This, instantly, almost made Bai Yifan spit blood. He glared at Lin Chuan furiously and said, "You're crazy, are you insane?"

Lin Chuan, holding Tang Yumeng, said solemnly, "Bai Yifan, you've been fine. Starting from today, Xiao Yu is my girlfriend, none of your business. Don't come and bother her anymore!"

"Enough." Tang Yumeng gently pushed Lin Chuan away, "Hurry up with your work, don't stir up more trouble."

"Alright." Lin Chuan nodded, turned, and left.

As Lin Chuan brushed past Bai Yifan, Bai Yifan glared at him with even more rage in his eyes. Two people, originally strangers without any connection, now became angry with each other. After Lin Chuan left, Bai Yifan directed his anger at Tang Yumeng.

"Xiao Yu, what's the matter with you?!" Bai Yifan questioned.

"What's the matter?" Tang Yumeng looked at Bai Yifan curiously, "Lin Chuan is my boyfriend. Being alone with him in a room, kissing him, aren't these things normal? Why do you have to make comments?"

"Xiao Yu, you can't do this!" Bai Yifan said solemnly, "Even though Lin Chuan is your boyfriend now, the person who will marry you in the future is me. Not Lin Chuan. So, for my sake, you must be reserved and not too intimate with him?"

Tang Yumeng widened her eyes, "Bai Yifan, are you mad, or is there something wrong with my ears?"

"Xiao Yu, that's not what I mean." Bai Yifan quickly tried to explain, "I mean, you and Lin Chuan are not suitable. After all, Lin Chuan is from a humble background, and you are different."

"What's different about me?" Tang Yumeng looked at Bai Yifan questioningly.

Bai Yifan was startled and quickly covered his mouth, almost letting something slip. He shook his head quickly and said, "I mean, Lin Chuan comes from a humble background, are you, a delicate girl, going to live a hard life with him? That's not realistic."

"To each their own." Tang Yumeng smiled, "I think Lin Chuan is sincere, not hypocritical like you."

"I..." Bai Yifan's face showed a bitter smile, "Didn't I explain about last time? It was a misunderstanding."

"Okay, let's not talk about that. What do you want from me?" Tang Yumeng asked.

"The People's Congress meeting is over, so I thought your work should be more relaxed now, and... I'd like to invite you to dinner." Bai Yifan said helplessly, "It's been many days since we've seen each other, and I've been missing you lately. But I was afraid you were still angry, so I didn't dare to come find you. I came today, risking being scolded. Xiao Yu, can you give me a chance to apologize?"

"I'm busy lately." Tang Yumeng waved her hand.

"Don't rush to reject me." Bai Yifan spoke up.

Tang Yumeng looked puzzled, "What do you want?"

"You said we're not lovers, but best friends, right?" Bai Yifan asked.

"I guess so." Tang Yumeng nodded.

"Since we're friends, it should be normal for me to invite you to a meal, right?" Bai Yifan smiled.

"Why eat without a reason?" Tang Yumeng rolled her eyes.

"How is it without reason?" Bai Yifan smiled and said, "Let's just say it's to celebrate the smooth convening of the People's Congress meeting. Is that okay?"

"But I really don't have time today." Tang Yumeng really didn't know how else to respond.

"No worries, if not today, we can choose another day." Bai Yifan smiled and then said, "There's no rush, we can talk when you're free. To celebrate our friendship, you have to accept this rose."

"Just put it over there." Tang Yumeng pointed to the coffee table by the sofa.

Bai Yifan walked over with a beaming smile. The mere fact that Tang Yumeng was willing to see him had already satisfied Bai Yifan; what followed would be a gradual 'offensive', slowly eating away at Tang Yumeng's defenses inside her heart. Then, bit by bit, he would infiltrate Tang Yumeng's inner world. Bai Yifan believed that with his perseverance, he could definitely make Tang Yumeng his woman.

............

Lin Chuan left Tang Yumeng's office with a heavy heart.

That kid Bai Yifan has always harbored improper thoughts toward Tang Yumeng, which Lin Chuan could not take lightly. Yet, Tang Yumeng kept repeating that Bai Yifan was her best friend. Lin Chuan had no choice but to hold his tongue. As a man, it would be a lie to say Lin Chuan wasn't jealous, but he couldn't act in a way that would make Tang Yumeng angry. After all, he had previous records of doing so.

"What's with the frown, kid?" Luo Guoqing asked with a smile.

"It's nothing." Lin Chuan shook his head.

"Your mood is written all over your face." Luo Guoqing laughed heartily.

"Brother Luo, I have a question for you," Lin Chuan tugged at Luo Guoqing's arm.

"Ask away!" Luo Guoqing promptly sat down.

"How would you see it if a woman tells her boyfriend that another man is her best friend?" Lin Chuan inquired.

"Huh?" Luo Guoqing's eyes widened, unclear if he didn't understand Lin Chuan's words or simply didn't grasp what Lin Chuan was getting at. Just as Lin Chuan was about to repeat himself, Luo Guoqing suddenly said, "Ah... I see."

"Did you understand what I said?" Lin Chuan looked at Luo Guoqing in surprise.

"That woman must be trying to play both ends against the middle," Luo Guoqing snickered.

"Nonsense," Lin Chuan shook his head.

"You're talking about Tang Yumeng, right?" Luo Guoqing leaned in and said, "I just saw Bai Yifan. Everyone in the City Committee knows that Bai Yifan is Tang Yumeng's boyfriend. You're not hoping to covet what you can't have, are you?"

Lin Chuan gave Luo Guoqing a sideways glance and said, "Want to bet on whether I can do it or not?"

"Don't dream about it," Luo Guoqing patted Lin Chuan's shoulder and added, "Young man, be more realistic. A woman like Tang Yumeng is obviously not someone we can pursue."

"What kind of man should pursue Tang Yumeng then?" Lin Chuan asked curiously.

"Her?" Luo Guoqing blinked and said, "Well, aside from a man like Bai Yifan, there really aren't many men who would be worthy of her."

Lin Chuan's expression darkened. Even Luo Guoqing thought this way; one could only imagine how many others within the City Committee shared this view.

Lin Chuan sneered and said, "What's so great about Bai Yifan? He's just a second-generation official. With some resources at hand, it's only natural he can make money."

"You're wrong," Luo Guoqing laughed, "Not many second-generation officials are as capable as Bai Yifan. Most are silver-spoon kids, disciples of misfortune who are adept at eating, drinking, whoring, gambling - you name it. But a second-generation official who'€™s handsome, competent, and capable like Bai Yifan is very rare indeed."

"Let him try starting from scratch like I did," Lin Chuan scoffed, clearly disdainful of Bai Yifan.

Luo Guoqing looked at Lin Chuan with a smile, saying, "You're actually jealous?"

"Not at all," Lin Chuan shook his head and said, "Why would that kid be worthy of my jealousy? I'm simply feeling indignant for Secretary Tang. How could she settle for such a man?"

"Hahaha..." Luo Guoqing laughed heartily, "What about a man like that? He's still way better than you or me."

Lin Chuan couldn't be bothered to argue. Inside the City Committee, almost everyone believed that Tang Yumeng and Bai Yifan were a match made in heaven. It seemed as if they were fated for each other. If it somehow got out one day that Lin Chuan was actually Tang Yumeng's boyfriend, who knows how shocking and explosive that news would be.

Lin Chuan guessed he would be scolded to death by the members of the City Committee, or even drenched in their spit.

Tang Yumeng not publicizing her relationship with Lin Chuan was largely to protect him. Their relationship was still very fragile, not having withstood major trials yet, and they feared a little wind and rain could shatter it.

"Yes, more outstanding than us," Lin Chuan replied disdainfully.

Luo Guoqing of course understood Lin Chuan's mood and thoughts at the moment. In Luo Guoqing's view, this was a reaction any man would have when facing a rival in love. The mind of a man, especially one newly in love, tends to see his rival as weaker without realizing it. Luo Guoqing, with a cigarette in his mouth, stayed silent.

............

With Qingzi leaving Haiqing Pool, it was as if a layer of security was gone.

However, no one realized this, and Zhou Kai and his men still arranged for people to guard the place every day, insisting on patrolling to prevent any covert mischief. Even though both the Northeastern Tiger and the Thirteen Grand Protectors had acknowledged the existence of Haiqing Pool, yet, who could guarantee that they wouldn't play dirty? Especially the Northeastern Tiger - with Haiqing Pool stealing almost half of Huaqing Pool's business, presumably, he must be filled with deep-seated resentment.

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