Marry a female star at a bargain price

Chapter 276 & 277. Lin Xiao's Identity Exposed Online
Han Xixi's comeback has been successfully finalized.

The young couple continued their walk, enjoying a long-awaited and precious moment together.

After a while, Han Xixi remembered something and asked, "Brother, didn't you just say you had something to tell me? What is it?"

"Uh……"

Lin Xiao was embarrassed.

He had originally planned to tell his wife about his job transfer and leaving home, but she beat him to it, leaving him unable to say it.

Although his transfer to Xingguang Town in Mashan County as the town mayor and Xixi's comeback to participate in a music variety show recording are completely unrelated.

But for their little family, it means the same thing.

They all had to switch from staying at home to prioritizing work, and they were all away from home, unable to return easily.

Logically speaking, pursuing one's career is a personal freedom.

But after having children, this kind of thing can never be easily covered by the word "freedom," because another conflicting word is "responsibility."

Generally speaking, at least one spouse should be the one who takes care of the family.

No matter how well-off a family is, how successful a couple's career is, or how good their relationship is, this will always be an irrefutable truth.

In this world, there is no situation where both spouses are single-mindedly focused on their careers and can still have a harmonious family life.

Han Haijun and Liu Liyun were once an exception.

Now, the elderly couple has taught Lin Xiao a lesson by going their separate ways.

That is: it is absolutely impossible for a husband and wife to pursue their careers at the same time; either one party will compromise, or it will end in divorce.

Now.

Faced with his wife's request to "come back to work," Lin Xiao, as a husband who felt sorry for her suffering during childbirth and as a loving partner with whom he had a sweet relationship, could not say any words of refusal, neither emotionally nor logically.

His support was heartfelt and willing.

However, while appealing to emotions, practical factors must also be considered.

Lin Xiao knew that he and his wife couldn't work on their careers at the same time, but at the crucial moment when his wife decided to make a comeback, he brought up the matter of his own promotion and transfer.

This is clearly tantamount to verbally agreeing to Xixi's comeback, but actually forcing her to compromise.

Lin Xiao wouldn't do something like that.

So he made up his mind to turn down the job of becoming the mayor of Xingguang Town in Mashan County and stay in the Bureau of Culture and Tourism to be a good stay-at-home dad.

This decision wasn't difficult to make.

Lin Xiao isn't actually a particularly career-driven person. The reason he's been working so hard these past two years is simply because he hopes to live a valuable and meaningful life and wants to do something different.

Without considering personal factors.

He is willing to treat this job as a lifelong career, and continue to work hard and strive to contribute to the development of the region.

But now, his life has entered a new phase; he has a wife and a daughter.

Even with all his advantages, he still has a weakness.

Although Ms. Lin Xiaoxi tormented him to no end, she wouldn't even give him a smile. He was exhausted and breathless every day at home, and he was so annoyed by that kid.

But once I get to work, I have some free time in the office.

He would uncontrollably think of that chubby, milky-white face, and laugh like a fool.

This is an unprecedented life experience.

Lin Xiao is willing to give up his so-called ideals, beliefs, and values ​​for this experience and responsibility.

So at this moment, after expressing his support for his wife's comeback, he almost subconsciously decided to give up this promotion opportunity—of course, this was difficult, and it wasn't something he could simply refuse if he didn't want to go.

However, there are still ways to resolve this, and Lin Xiao needs to plan carefully.

Now, facing his wife's question.

He raised an eyebrow and smiled, "It's nothing, I just bought Xiao Chu a peace lock."

Xi Xi also raised an eyebrow.

She thought her husband was being so serious because he had something important to tell her, but it turned out to be just a small matter.

"A safety lock?"

"correct."

"When did you buy it?"

"It arrived a couple of days ago, and just today."

"show me."

Wait a minute~

Lin Xiao reached into his pocket, took the small gold lock from its unpacked box in his palm, and unfolded it in front of Xi Xi.

The gold lock wasn't big, probably only a dozen grams, you could even describe it as stingy.

Even with the current surge in gold prices, this lock wouldn't cost more than 2 yuan, which is affordable for most people.

This isn't a gold lock; it's clearly Comrade Han Haijun's integrity.

Xi Xi looked at the lock in her palm, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

He took it, looked at the lock, then at Lin Xiao, and hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"What's wrong?" Lin Xiao asked.

"It's nothing... Did you really buy this lock?"

"Of course..."

Lin Xiao felt inexplicably guilty, but he felt that his acting was flawless, so he stiffened his neck and responded.

Xi Xi's eyes narrowed even more.

Do you know what your daughter's zodiac sign is?

"Nonsense, the first day of the Lunar New Year is the Year of the Horse!"

"Then why don't you buy a cow?"

"This is a cow?!"

Lin Xiao was shocked. He took it and examined it carefully. "This is a horse!"

Han Xixi was speechless, and even wanted to give her husband a piece of her mind.

She pointed to the pattern in the center of the gold lock and said helplessly, "Look, look here, do you see the two corners?"

"I...I saw it..."

"Does your horse have two horns?"

"..."

"besides!"

"what else?"

"Does this gold lock weigh 20 grams?"

"Uh, more or less!"

Lin Xiao scratched his head, mainly because he didn't know how many grams it was.

Seeing this, Xixi became even more certain of her guess, and wore a helpless expression that seemed to see through everything.

"Brother, do you know how much money our family has?"

"Um, I roughly know..."

"Although neither of us is particularly interested in gold jewelry, since we're buying a safety lock for our child, it definitely needs to be big and substantial so that it carries a good meaning!"

Xi Xi said helplessly, "Besides, it's not like we can't afford it. We'd definitely need at least 30 or 40 grams, let alone 100 grams. Is it because Xiao Chu wouldn't smile at you that you're holding a grudge and deliberately bought such a small one?"

Lin Xiao: "..."

Speechless and dumbfounded.

No, who said pregnancy makes you stupid for three years? How come my wife is even smarter after having a baby?

Lin Xiao had a look of utter despair on his face.

"Brother, where did this golden lock come from...? If you confess now, we might get a lighter sentence!"

Xi Xi smiled seductively.

Lin Xiao swallowed hard, then confessed, "Your dad bought it... He was afraid you wouldn't accept it, so he told me not to say anything. That's why I could only say I bought it myself. But who would have thought my wife would be so smart and figure it out right away, hahaha, hahahaha..."

The neighborhood was completely silent late at night, with only Lin Xiao's awkward laughter in the air.

Xi Xi, however, had an expression that said she had expected this all along.

"Humph, I knew it!"

"Uh... honey, don't be angry, your dad meant well..."

"I am not angry!"

Xi Xi smiled helplessly, "No matter how much I resent my dad, I won't stop him from being good to the child. Besides, this safety lock is for Xiao Chu, and I have no right to refuse it on Xiao Chu's behalf, so..."

She shrugged, as if it were a simple matter.

Lin Xiao was relieved: "That's good, that's good..."

Before he could finish speaking, his wife suddenly glared at him with sharp eyes.

“I’m not angry with my dad, but I’m very angry that you helped him lie to me!”

"Ah? Your Honor, I'm innocent!"

"Hmph, you're not wronged at all!" Xixi crossed her arms, her little face full of anger. "You'll sleep alone tonight, goodbye!"

After saying that, he strode off in the direction of home.

Lin Xiao stood there, completely bewildered.

This is such a mess. The father and daughter are having a conflict, and he, as their son-in-law and husband, is caught in the middle and suffers the consequences.

This script is wrong!

……

The next day, Lin Xiao called his father-in-law at work, wanting to get some exercise.

The call didn't go through; I guess they were busy.

Lin Xiao plans to play again in the afternoon.

As soon as he arrived at work in the afternoon, Fang Danian ran over excitedly and said, "Lin Xiao, great news! People from the Municipal Organization Department are here for an evaluation and interview—you're getting a promotion!"

Lin Xiao froze on the spot.

Last night, his father-in-law had just told him about this matter. He thought that from the time his father-in-law received the news to when the matter was officially settled and the procedures began, it would take at least half a month or a month.

I never expected it to happen so quickly.

This caught Lin Xiao completely off guard.

"When will you arrive?" he asked hurriedly.

"They just called me. They'll be there in an hour at most. Get ready!"

Fang Danian was very excited, but also felt some regret and pity.

He patted Lin Xiao on the shoulder and said knowingly, "Brother, I'm really happy for you that you've been promoted! With your outstanding abilities, you deserve it. Over the years, the organization has promoted quite a few young cadres, and to be honest, I don't think much of nine out of ten of them. But you are absolutely deserving and the one everyone wants you to be promoted. I'm genuinely happy for you."

"But with you leaving, my cultural and tourism bureau's performance this year will be ruined again, and I don't know what will happen. But it doesn't matter, as long as you have a bright future, I'll be happy. I just don't know where you'll be transferred to, or if you'll still be in Anyang County..."

Fang Danian got more and more excited as he talked, and even started to calculate which departments in Anyang County still had vacancies for section chiefs.

Lin Xiao, however, wouldn't listen.

After sending Lao Fang away, he called his father-in-law again, but still no one answered.

He slumped into his chair, knowing there was no escaping it this time.

With that utterly hopeless look on his face, anyone who didn't know better would think he was from the Discipline Inspection Commission, not the Organization Department.

An hour later, people from the municipal organization department arrived.

Unexpectedly, the team was led by Zhang Deqing, the head of the Organization Department. For the promotion of a deputy section-level cadre, mobilizing the head of the Organization Department was a level of protocol that was far beyond the norm. Even though Lin Xiao had the titles of "Young Seedling Program" and "Provincial Advanced Individual," it was still beyond the budget.

Upon seeing this scene, everyone in the group felt tense, as if they were sharing in the glory.

The inspection process proceeded step by step.

Talks, voting, and more talks—the afternoon was packed with activities.

Near the end of the workday, Lin Xiao officially announced at the company-wide meeting that he had been promoted to the rank of section chief.

However, the specific appointment will be subject to the official document issued by the superior authority after the public announcement period ends.

Faced with such a good thing, most people would probably be overwhelmed, but Lin Xiao was surprisingly calm.

Having worked within the system for many years, he went through numerous promotion processes and even played a leading role in some of them.

He knew that this process would take anywhere from a week to half a month.

No matter what, it's impossible to get it done in a day.

Such a fierce onslaught reveals a sense of "cutting the Gordian knot" and "the longer the night drags on, the more things may go wrong."

He then vaguely guessed why he couldn't get through to his father-in-law's phone all day—it was probably not that Han Haijun was busy, but that he saw the caller ID but deliberately didn't answer.

The process is complete.

The people from the Organization Department were preparing to leave when a group of people in white shirts stood at the entrance of the Coaster bus, waiting for Minister Zhang Deqing to get on first.

Zhang Deqing had already stepped onto it with one foot.

She glanced at Lin Xiao, who was presenting the gifts to her, then turned back and patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

"Xiao Lin, not bad, you've been promoted so quickly. You're definitely a promising young talent. This trip to the countryside was worthwhile!"

Zhang Deqing wore a gentle smile.

Lin Xiao nodded and smiled, "Thank you for your guidance, organization!"

That was an excellent answer, especially in this kind of setting where he, as the protagonist, should be even more humble and cautious.

However, Zhang Deqing clicked his tongue in displeasure and frowned upon hearing this.

"Organizational cultivation is cultivation, but it also requires individual ability!"

Zhang Deqing's expression suddenly turned serious, and he said solemnly, "Xiao Lin, I personally brought you to Anyang County when you applied for the Youth Seedling Program two years ago. It can be considered a matter of fate. Today, I want to have a few heart-to-heart talks with you!"

Upon hearing this, the people around him instinctively took a few steps back.

As a result, the once orderly queues at the car door immediately became deserted.

Lin Xiao replied respectfully, "Minister Zhang, please speak!"

Zhang Deqing said solemnly, "No matter what industry you're in, to succeed in this world, you ultimately need to have the skills and abilities to stand on your own two feet! This applies to our system as well."

"You've been promoted exceptionally, and there will inevitably be gossip in the future. But remember, the fact that the organization is willing to break the rules to promote you shows that they truly recognize your abilities."

"When you get to your new job, just focus on doing your job well and don't take any rumors, slander, or defamation to heart. Today you have passed the organization's evaluation, and on behalf of the organization, I affirm your ability and character."

"This affirmation will remain valid from now on. In your new job, no matter how big the obstacles you encounter, as long as you uphold your principles, the organization will always be your support. Do you understand?"

The sharp yet heartfelt admonition left Lin Xiao in a daze.

He had met with Minister Zhang Deqing two or three times, but he admitted that he couldn't see through him.

This person is an absolute genius. He always speaks in a grand and dignified manner, making it impossible for people to guess what he is thinking. However, on the surface, he seems incredibly kind and benevolent, making people want to get close to him.

Lin Xiao has always maintained a respectful distance from people he can't understand.

God knows whether they are at odds or not. The South Korean Navy has suffered a major upheaval; was it orchestrated by Minister Zhang?

Lin Xiao became increasingly cautious and wary of him.

But at this moment, listening to Zhang Deqing's sudden, heartfelt words of advice...

Lin Xiao instantly realized what was happening.

It's like playing Werewolf. Minister Zhang's speech just now earned him the label of "good person" from Lin Xiao.

If he and the South Korean navy are at odds.

At this moment, there was absolutely no need for him to say those words to Lin Xiao.

Zhang Deqing practically whispered in Lin Xiao's ear: "You won't have your father-in-law protecting you anymore, and you'll encounter many difficulties at work. Don't worry, although I can't protect you like your father-in-law, as long as you act uprightly, I will never let you suffer any injustice!"
These words carried considerable weight; after hearing them, Lin Xiao felt a heavy burden on his shoulders.

However, he felt that Minister Zhang had spoken too harshly!
I was just a section-level cadre, a menial worker in a large government agency, far from being a leader.

How many difficulties can such a small Karami encounter, and how many traps can he be framed?

Lin Xiao couldn't help but feel that Minister Zhang's "entrusting his son" was an exaggeration, which was perhaps an occupational hazard developed from holding an important position.

However, since they meant well, Lin Xiao couldn't refuse their kindness.

So he respectfully replied, "I understand, thank you, Minister Zhang!"

Zhang Deqing knew that the young man didn't take his words seriously, but he didn't care. He patted the young man on the shoulder again before getting into the car.

The Coaster started smoothly and drove away leisurely.

Watching the car drive out the gate, Lin Xiao felt a mix of emotions.

Now that the promotion is finalized, his transfer to Mashan County is a done deal.

Lin Xiao had no time to think about the future; all he was worried about was how to tell his wife about it.

He really didn't know how to start the conversation.

So he kept delaying, planning to wait until the official appointment document came through before reporting.

However, before the document was issued, something earth-shattering, which was expected yet caught everyone off guard, happened.

Lin Xiao's resume, photos, his relationship with Han Xixi and Han Haijun, and even his latest developments such as receiving provincial advanced awards and being promoted exceptionally, were all exposed online in detail.

Overnight, the bombshell revelation of "Ma Yao's true identity" topped the trending search lists on all platforms across the internet.

While Lin Xiao was preparing to confront his wife, he suddenly became an internet sensation. Several of his ID photos went viral, making him more famous than any celebrity and even more popular than a top influencer!

The buzz is huge, with wave after wave of discussion.

Praise, criticism, sarcasm, ridicule... all sorts of voices were heard.

The online world is in an uproar.

The relationship between Lin Xiao and Han Xixi has been the subject of much speculation.

Even Han Xixi's "sugar daddy" photo from the luxury store was finally cleared of wrongdoing a year and a half later, and it was determined that the man in the photo was her biological father, Han Haijun.

The result of the exoneration was that Han Haijun's resume was also posted online.

There's no need to dig it out at all.

Because the leader has his own online name, a simple internet search will find him. It's just that nobody knew he was the father of the big star Han Xixi before, so nobody paid attention.

now.

The boss goes shopping at luxury stores on a weekday, his daughter debuts as a big star, and his son-in-law gets a rapid promotion and rises in the ranks...

A few facts may not seem like much on their own, but when put together, they are hard not to make one think.

As a result, the hype continued to explode, and the scale and popularity were unprecedented!
Lin Xiao only realized this belatedly.

So that's what Minister Zhang meant!
(End of this chapter)