Lin Chuan and Tang Yumeng were the first to walk down from the plane, holding hands.

Upon leaving the airport, Tang Yumeng suddenly felt a sense of being reborn.

"Lin Chuan, it's so good to be alive." Tang Yumeng looked earnestly at Lin Chuan and said, "Life is so beautiful."

"Yes!" Lin Chuan nodded and said, "That's why we need to cherish our current life."

Tang Yumeng threw herself into Lin Chuan's arms, expressing her gratitude, "Lin Chuan, thank you, thank you for giving me a second chance at life. Without you, there might have been one less woman named Tang Yumeng in this world!"

"Silly girl!" Lin Chuan hugged Tang Yumeng tightly and then said, "How could I bear to let you leave me. You are the woman I love the most in my life; even if it meant exchanging my life for yours, I would be willing."

Tang Yumeng's nose turned sour, and her eyes instantly reddened. She looked up at Lin Chuan and then said, "Look at you, Lin Chuan, your hair has turned so much whiter. For me, is it really worth it?"

"It is worth it!" Lin Chuan nodded earnestly.

Seeing the seriousness and determination in Lin Chuan's eyes, Tang Yumeng's tears finally fell. However, her face was filled with a happy smile. Her tears were tears of happiness. If it wasn't for Lin Chuan, none of this would have happened.

"Let's go." Lin Chuan spoke, "If we don't go back now, the City Committee will think you've gone missing."

"Yes." Tang Yumeng nodded.

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

At the City Committee, Tang Yumeng had been missing for four or five days. During these days, Xiao Xue had almost gone crazy looking for her; they had even reported it to the police, but they still couldn't find any trace of Tang Yumeng. Everyone at the City Committee knew that Tang Yumeng had disappeared.

After remaining silent for four days, Song Ming immediately convened a meeting of the City Committee.

Inside the meeting room, the main members of the committee had all arrived. Everyone huddled together in the meeting room.

"Where on earth could Secretary Tang have gone?"

"Who knows."

"She couldn't have embezzled money and run away, could she?"

Within the City Committee, there were various speculations. Yet everyone was filled with curiosity and interest concerning Tang Yumeng's disappearance. There was a deep sense of doubt and dissatisfaction. Sitting at the chairman's podium, Song Ming took his seat in Tang Yumeng's place.

After much discussion among the people, Song Ming finally spoke, "Ladies and gentlemen, Tang Yumeng has not shown up at the City Committee for four consecutive days. This has caused the work of the Committee to be unable to proceed. According to the relevant regulations and rules, such an attitude towards work is not competent for the job of City Secretary. Therefore, I suggest we all report the situation to the provincial organization department together and let them make a decision. How about it?"

"Good."

"That's how it should be done."

"Secretary Tang's work attitude is quite unsatisfactory, and indeed, the people from the provincial organization department should properly punish her."

Song Ming's people all expressed their agreement. However, Tang Yumeng's people remained silent. They were unwilling to do so. After all, this was the political battleground – who could assure that after Song Ming took office, they would still be able to sit in their current seats?

Song Ming's people appeared to be very excited.

"Since everyone agrees, let's start with the following work." Song Ming, with his fully white hair, had seen his work authority significantly stripped away since his son's death. Being not content in life and frustrated at work, the double blow made Song Ming look listless. He had not only a lot more white hair but also seemed much older.

At this moment, Song Ming stood up. He took an application out of his hand and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please sign your names on it and stamp your fingerprints."

"Okay!" The people nodded one after another.

Song Ming's people appeared very excited, a group began signing their names and pressing their fingerprints. The atmosphere at the scene was lively. However, Tang Yumeng's people stayed silent, smoking in silence or whispering with heads bowed.

When it was their turn to process the application, they refused to speak.

Song Ming glanced at them and said, "Old Li, Old Zhang, what are you hesitating about?"

In the office, the atmosphere was tense and solemn. Song Ming's people seemed arrogant, as if without Tang Yumeng, the others were simply no match. Both sides were very agitated, creating a lively scene.

Just as everyone was at daggers drawn.

The door to the meeting room was suddenly pushed open, and a graceful figure entered from outside.

"Secretary Tang?!" Old Li and Old Zhang exclaimed in surprise.

Tang Yumeng smiled and said, "You're all in a meeting, it seems. I'm not too late, am I?"

After speaking, Tang Yumeng, ignoring everyone's shocked, puzzled, and incredulous gazes, walked in and sat down at the farthest seat. In theory, this seat is generally reserved for observers or those with the lowest position and seniority on site. Having taken her seat, Tang Yumeng chuckled and said, "Vice Secretary Song, please continue chairing the meeting."

"Err..." Song Ming was dumbfounded, as he had never expected Tang Yumeng to arrive at such a critical moment, which frustrated him. With no choice, Song Ming said helplessly, "Secretary Tang, there's nothing special about today's meeting, it's just... just..."

"Just discussing how to have the provincial organization department dismiss you," Old Zhang interjected sharply.

Upon hearing this, Tang Yumeng immediately laughed, "Why would you want to dismiss me?"

Song Ming's face was grim, his complexion dark, yet his hair was quite white.

Old Li laughed and said, "Vice Secretary Song is very dissatisfied with you for not showing up at the company for four consecutive days, so..."

"Is that so?!" Tang Yumeng chuckled and said, "I made a trip to Beijing for a study session organized by the organization."

"How come I didn't know about it?" Song Ming frowned.

"Why should I let you know? As I said, I went to Beijing to study," Tang Yumeng replied.

"Then why doesn't your secretary know anything about it?" Song Ming questioned.

"It was an urgent departure, and I simply didn't have time to explain some matters," Tang Yumeng said with resignation: "So, I hope Vice Secretary Song can understand."

"Hmph!" Song Ming stood up and strode out.

Tang Yumeng said with a smile, "Thank you all for your support. Now, everyone return to your workstations."

Inside the logistics department's break room.

Lin Chuan and a group of people were 'shooting the breeze'.

"Lin Chuan, I heard you used to be a soldier?" someone asked.

"Isn't that so?" Lin Chuan said with a cigarette in his mouth, "When I was in the army, you guys didn't even know where to pick up girls."

"Haha, look at you, youngster, talking as if we're younger than you," several people said, laughing.

"I joined the army at sixteen," Lin Chuan said with a sneer.

"Sixteen years old?" Luo Guoqing said dismissively, "Who would dare to enlist a sixteen-year-old soldier? That's illegal. Kid, were you part of some black troops?"

"Nonsense," Lin Chuan said disdainfully: "What black troops? Let me tell you, I was the spearhead among the special forces."

"Hahaha..." Everyone took it as a joke, laughing so hard they nearly doubled over.

The Song brothers also stood by, grinning foolishly. Before finding a powerful backer, they had no choice but to keep their heads down in front of Lin Chuan, giving the impression they were living under someone else's roof. Lin Chuan glanced at the two and said, "Song Wen, go get me a chilled beer."

"Sure, sure, I'll go right now," Song Wen replied, scurrying off.

"Song Wu, go get me a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes. Soft pack," Lin Chuan directed.

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