I slept with my sister's classmate, and she turned out to be my boss.

"County Chief Fang is right."

He Ying also turned her head and looked into his eyes.

Budget adjustments are common, but they must be based on evidence. Adjustments without evidence are not adjustments, they are arbitrary actions.

Fang Mingyuan's smile vanished completely.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds.

"County Chief He," Fang Mingyuan's voice lowered, "some things don't need to be so complicated. You need support in the county, and I've been here for so many years; there's plenty I can do to help you."

He Ying looked into his eyes.

This was the first time Fang Mingyuan had explicitly discussed "conditions" with her.

It wasn't through relaying messages or hints at work, but face-to-face and direct.

He was saying, "You won't hold me back on things in Liuhe Town, but I'll support you on other things."

He Ying was silent for two seconds before speaking.

"County Chief Fang, I need support, but I need rules even more. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished."

Fang Mingyuan stared at her for two seconds, his lips twitched, as if he were smiling, but not quite.

"County Chief He is right. Rules are important."

He turned and left, his footsteps fading into the distance in the corridor.

He Ying stood by the window, watching his figure disappear at the top of the stairs.

She turned around and walked towards her office.

Su Wanqing was waiting for her at the other end of the corridor. When she saw her coming, she took a step forward to greet her.

"County Magistrate, what did County Magistrate Fang say?"

"He's negotiating with me." He Ying pushed open the office door and went inside. "He told me not to hold him back on the Liuhe Town issue, and he'll support me on other matters."

Su Wanqing followed her in and closed the door.

"What did you say?"

"I told him I needed rules." He Ying sat down behind her desk, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. "He understood."

Su Wanqing remained silent for a few seconds.

"County Chief, County Chief Fang is not one to give up easily. You withheld 2000 million from him at the meeting, and he will definitely find a way to get it back elsewhere."

He Ying put down her cup and leaned back in her chair.

"I know."

She picked up her phone from the table and scrolled to Chen Dapeng's WeChat.

I wanted to send him a message to tell him about today's meeting, but after thinking about it, I put it aside.

It's not the right time yet.

……

Information Technology Department, 11:30 AM

Chen Dapeng sat in his seat, the computer screen in front of him lit up, the cursor blinking in the document.

He was writing a summary of information from the first half of the year—a task assigned by Liu Zhiguo, to be submitted today.

Halfway through writing, he opened a drawer and looked for a reference.

He paused for a moment as he reached his hand inside.

The files in the drawer are in the wrong order.

He remembered it clearly—he arranged the materials in chronological order, with the materials from Liuhe Town on top, the materials from Shuangqiao Town in the middle, and the materials from Wangjiang Township at the bottom.

But now, the materials from Liuhe Town have been moved to the very bottom.

Someone went through his drawers.

Chen Dapeng's fingers tightened slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

He calmly took out the materials, flipped through a few pages, put them back, and then closed the drawer.

He lowered his head and continued writing.

His heart was racing, but he controlled his breathing so as not to appear any abnormal.

Who translated it?

Liu Zhiguo?

Or someone else?

He recalled He Ying's message—"Fang Mingyuan may already be investigating you."

Fang Mingyuan's people are investigating him.

Chen Dapeng continued writing, his fingers clattering on the keyboard.

At 11:40, the door was pushed open.

Liu Zhiguo walked in, holding a water glass in his hand, his face expressionless.

He walked to his seat, put down his water glass, and glanced at Chen Dapeng.

"Xiao Chen, how's the information summary for the first half of the year coming along?"

"Almost done, Section Chief Liu. We can submit it this afternoon."

Liu Zhiguo nodded, walked to Chen Dapeng's desk, and glanced around at it.

"Work overtime this weekend to summarize and reorganize the information from the first half of the year, categorize it, and report it to Director Ma next week."

Chen Dapeng looked up: "Okay, Section Chief Liu."

Liu Zhiguo looked at him, his gaze lingering for two seconds, before turning around and walking back to his seat.

He sat down, turned on his computer, and took a sip of water.

Chen Dapeng lowered his head and continued typing.

But he could feel Liu Zhiguo's gaze sweeping over him from time to time, landing on him.

The feeling of being watched made him extremely uncomfortable, but he couldn't show any abnormality.

He could only keep typing and pretend that everything was normal.

At twelve o'clock, Liu Zhiguo stood up.

"Xiao Chen, I'm going to the restroom."

"Okay, Section Chief Liu."

Liu Zhiguo went out the door, and his footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Chen Dapeng did not move.

He waited a minute to make sure Liu Zhiguo wouldn't suddenly come back, then took out his phone from his pocket and sent a message to He Ying.

"I think I'm being watched. Someone has gone through my drawers."

After sending the message, he put his phone back in his pocket and continued typing.

Less than two minutes later, my phone vibrated.

He picked it up and looked at it. He Ying replied, "Be careful. Keep your things with you, don't leave them in the office."

Chen Dapeng replied, "I already have it with me."

"Was it translated by Liu Zhiguo?"

"I'm not sure. But besides him, no one else has a chance."

"I understand. Stay calm and don't alert them."

"clear."

Chen Dapeng deleted the message and put his phone back in his pocket.

He lowered his head and continued writing.

My fingers were typing on the keyboard, but my mind was racing—

What was Liu Zhiguo looking for when he rummaged through his drawers?

Those data? Or something else?

If Liu Zhiguo finds nothing, what will he do next?

Chen Dapeng didn't know.

But he knew that from today onward, he would have to be more careful every minute he spent in the information department than before.

……

12:30 PM, in the cafeteria.

Chen Dapeng, carrying his tray, found a corner seat and sat down.

The cafeteria was crowded, and the chattering voices mingled together like a pot of boiling porridge.

He lowered his head and ate, not having much of an appetite, but still forcing himself to swallow.

Is anyone here?

A voice rang out from the other side.

Chen Dapeng looked up and paused for a moment.

Su Wanqing stood opposite, holding a plate of food. She was wearing a light gray thin sweater and her hair was tied in a low ponytail, making her look softer than usual.

"Director Su? Nobody here, please have a seat."

Su Wanqing sat down opposite him, set out her plate, and picked up her chopsticks.

The two ate facing each other, neither of them speaking.

The noise in the cafeteria filled the silence.

After taking a few bites, Su Wanqing put down her chopsticks and looked up at Chen Dapeng.

"Xiao Chen, how's your work in the IT department going?"

Chen Dapeng also put down his chopsticks: "It's alright, I'll get used to it slowly."

Did Liu Zhiguo make things difficult for you?

Chen Dapeng was stunned for a moment.

Su Wanqing asked directly, without any preamble.

He thought for a moment, then shook his head: "No. Section Chief Liu is alright to me."

Su Wanqing looked at him, her gaze holding something indescribable.

"If anyone gives you trouble, you can come to me."