"Yes." Bai Yifan nodded, saying, "All of this was indeed my doing, because I truly love you too much."

"Love is not a reason for you to sabotage my relationship." Tang Yumeng's complexion grew solemn.

"Indeed." Bai Yifan nodded, saying, "So, I specifically came to apologize to you."

"If it wasn't for the fire at the Drum Tower, would you apologize?" Tang Yumeng asked.

"I..." Bai Yifan could only respond with a wry smile.

"Let's forget it, it's all in the past." Tang Yumeng waved her hand, saying, "Anyway, all of this is finally over, isn't it?"

"Yes." Bai Yifan nodded, saying, "Lin Chuan's feelings for you and everything he has done are indeed respectable. However, I still don't think that Lin Chuan is the best partner for you in life."

"Why do you say that?" Tang Yumeng held her goblet and took a delicate sip.

The fragrant taste twirled in her mouth, evoking the sensation of being transported back to one's first love.

"His devotion only proves that he does love you. But that doesn't mean he is suitable for you." Bai Yifan looked at Tang Yumeng earnestly and said, "Xiao Yu, you must not let emotions cloud your judgment. Emotions can easily confuse one's feelings, whether a person is a good match for you depends on whether his views on life, values, and worldviews align with yours. If they don't match, it will inevitably bring endless suffering to your future life. Do you understand?"

"I understand." Tang Yumeng nodded.

"Since you understand, then there's not much else for me to say." Bai Yifan smiled and said, "So, I really want to tell you that Lin Chuan is not right for you."

"How do you know that Lin Chuan's views on life, values, and worldview don't match with mine?" Tang Yumeng smiled at Bai Yifan.

"Lin Chuan is from the grassroots, while you're different; you've studied abroad since you were young and received an open-minded education from overseas." Bai Yifan smiled and said, "To put it plainly, Lin Chuan is but a commoner, whereas you are different; you have been imbued with aristocratic thoughts and education, you have aristocracy in your very bones. Lin Chuan aspires to pursue wealth and glory for his whole life, while you're different; you pursue the enjoyment of life, the pursuit of an artistic life; you two have different life aspirations. You naturally look down on those coal mine bosses, but Lin Chuan insists on becoming one..."

"That's enough." Tang Yumeng glanced at Bai Yifan and said, "You've said so much, all just to drive a wedge between me and Lin Chuan."

"No, no, no." Bai Yifan quickly shook his head, saying, "You've misunderstood, you must have misunderstood."

"How did I misunderstand?" Tang Yumeng frowned and said, "Yifan, I've always considered you a friend. Yet, you're constantly undermining my relationship. You've greatly disappointed me."

"Xiao Yu, I'm not trying to sabotage your relationship." Bai Yifan shook his head, saying, "I'm just worried about your life, your feelings."

"My life, my feelings are my own business." Tang Yumeng glanced at Bai Yifan, then said, "You don't need to worry about them."

"Sigh." Bai Yifan sighed and said, "Alright, let's not talk about these things today. Let's talk about something else."

After Bai Yifan changed the subject, they both began to talk freely about everything under the sun.

Truth be told, Bai Yifan and Tang Yumeng really seemed quite compatible, at least in terms of their thought processes, education, and knowledge. They both belonged to the social elite, had both received mainstream Western education, and possessed their own insights and perspectives. Although they were aloof from worldly hardships, they also had no concerns about material life. They could exist purely to chase ideals, to pursue the art in life.

After leaving the Extraordinary Bar.

Tang Yumeng specifically made a call to Lin Chuan.

Before long, Lin Chuan drove to pick her up.

"Sister, have you been drinking?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Mhm." Tang Yumeng nodded, saying, "Drank a bit with Bai Yifan."

"Bai Yifan?" Lin Chuan was taken aback and said, "That guy is full of tricks; you need to be cautious around him."

"No need." Tang Yumeng shook her head, saying, "Although Bai Yifan has always pursued me relentlessly, he would never dare to do anything to me."

"True." Lin Chuan nodded and said, "You are the City Secretary; would he dare to touch you? Isn't he afraid of dying?"

"Stop it." Tang Yumeng, supported by Lin Chuan, got into the car and Lin Chuan drove away.

After getting in the car, Tang Yumeng asked curiously, "Lin Chuan, the City Committee has decided to forcibly demolish that plot of land at Changlin Factory. Could you help convince the people there? You're more familiar with them, I believe you can do it."

"Sister..." Lin Chuan suddenly froze, saying awkwardly, "What's this about demolition again?"

"It's a decision by the City Committee." Tang Yumeng frowned and said, "Although Dongbei Hu isn't exactly a good person, Heng'an Group has indeed followed the national procedures, going through the proper tendering process. If the government doesn't support them in the demolition work, it'd probably be hard to justify."

"Then increase the compensation." Lin Chuan said.

"It's all according to the national compensation standards." Tang Yumeng looked at Lin Chuan, saying, "One point two times the compensation. The additional compensation is also based on the national standards."

Lin Chuan fell into silence, taking a drag from his cigarette.

After a long while, Lin Chuan broke the silence: "If that's the case, can't we avoid demolition?"

"If we don't demolish, the government will have to compensate Heng'an Group with a sum of money," Tang Yumeng said seriously, "Given the Northeast Tiger's nature, he will definitely make some outrageous demands. Moreover, the existence of Changlin Factory really does affect the cityscape and should be reformed. Besides, such an old neighborhood as Changlin Factory poses significant safety hazards..."

"But, they have nowhere else to go. Isn't it unreasonable to suddenly ask them to move?" Lin Chuan's tone was somewhat heavy, even confrontational.

Tang Yumeng was stunned.

A tension had suddenly arisen between the two.

Lin Chuan firmly took the side of the veteran workers of Changlin Factory. Tang Yumeng, on the other hand, was completely aligned with the City Committee, inherently a position of opposition. Lin Chuan wanted to fight for more benefits for those workers, while Tang Yumeng was looking out for Jiangbei City's development, for a faster urbanization process, and for the city's appearance. To be honest, aside from better greenery, the homes in Changlin Factory were even old compared to those in the suburbs.

"Take me home," Tang Yumeng said.

Lin Chuan didn't speak, but drove towards the City Committee compound instead. Tang Yumeng opened the car door and got out herself. Watching Tang Yumeng walk step by step into the residential compound, Lin Chuan felt a sense of oppression in his heart.

Bang...

He punched the control panel.

The plastic on the control panel couldn't withstand such an angry blow from Lin Chuan, and it shattered on the spot.

"To be an official and not represent the people, might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes," Lin Chuan said through clenched teeth.

Having vented his frustration, Lin Chuan immediately drove home.

Back at home, Lin Chuan felt rather troubled, not knowing what to do. At this moment, Lin Chuan finally understood the feeling of being in a relationship. The feelings in a relationship are supposed to be a mix of joy, bitterness, and spice. Previously, he had only experienced the joy, but now came the bitterness and spice.

Lin Chuan took a swig of white liquor, he inhaled deeply. This inexplicable cold war caused him pain.

He would rather sit together and have a candid and fierce argument than face this cold war.

After much deliberation, Lin Chuan called Tang Yumeng. Unexpectedly, the phone was turned off.

In the City Committee compound.

Tang Yumeng changed into a sleep robe, walking barefoot in the room. Her fair and delicate feet, with ten crystal clear toes, lightly stepped on the carpet as she moved slowly. She held a stemmed glass in her hand, half-filled with red wine, the crimson liquid appearing mysteriously sinister.

"Miss, you seem to be in a bad mood," Bai Yifan asked curiously.

"A little bit," Tang Yumeng smiled.

"Is it related to Lin Chuan?" Bai Yifan asked.

"Yes!" Tang Yumeng nodded and said, "Perhaps Bai Yifan was right. Lin Chuan and I just don't match. We have our own views on life and values. The things he and I pursue are different, so how can our paths in life be the same?"

"Miss, you're overthinking," Bai Yifan smiled and said, "Isn't the relationship between men and women all the same? Can't two people with different life views and values come together? Mutual respect and cherishing each other can also lead to growing old together, can't it?"

Hearing this, Tang Yumeng became perplexed.

What Bai Yifan and Bai Yifan said seemed to have their own reasoning, but who should she believe? Tang Yumeng stood silently by the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the twinkling lights outside, observing the festive cheer brought by the holiday, with endless streams of traffic.

"Right," Tang Yumeng suddenly nodded, saying, "Mutual respect, cherishing each other."

"Miss, actually, love is a complicated thing," Bai Yifan smiled and then said, "You can't judge fit or unfit based on objective criteria alone, it's more about whether you like each other. If even those who like each other can't be together, then what kind of people can?"

"You make a good point," Tang Yumeng nodded.

"Human emotions are the most complex," Bai Yifan said earnestly. "They're not mass-produced products on a factory assembly line that require matching specifications to be together. Emotions are a more dynamic thing. If there is true love, one needn't care about identity or status, nor whether the other person is rich or poor."

Tang Yumeng looked at Bai Yifan and suddenly let out a laugh: "You talk as if you've experienced so much."

"Though I haven't had many experiences, I do have my unique insights into love," Bai Yifan smiled and then said, "What I hope, miss, is that you don't take too many detours in the world of love. Otherwise, the only one who gets tired is yourself."

"Maybe you're right," Tang Yumeng nodded.

"So, do you have your own thoughts now?" Bai Yifan asked with a smile.

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