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

Chen Dapeng looked at Su Wanqing, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

He knew that Su Wanqing was on He Ying's side.

He knew that Su Wanqing had obtained that certificate.

But he didn't know why Su Wanqing was so good to him.

Is it because he's He Ying's man? Or is it for some other reason?

"Thank you, Director Su."

Su Wanqing nodded, picked up her chopsticks, and continued eating.

After taking a few bites, she suddenly spoke again.

"Xiao Chen, do you know whose idea it was to transfer you to the Information Technology Department?"

Chen Dapeng paused for a moment while holding the chopsticks.

"County Magistrate Fang?"

Su Wanqing neither nodded nor shook her head.

"County Chief Fang and Liu Zhiguo have a good relationship. Liu Zhiguo has worked in the government office for over ten years and can get along with everyone. But do you know what Liu Zhiguo did before?"

Chen Dapeng shook his head.

"He used to work in the Inspection Office," Su Wanqing said in a low voice. "You know what the Inspection Office does, right?"

Chen Dapeng knew.

The Inspection Office is the most special department in the government office—nominally responsible for supervising the implementation of work, but in reality, it often investigates people.

"Later, I was transferred to the Information Technology Department, ostensibly because of health reasons, and I voluntarily requested an easier position." Su Wanqing picked up a piece of food and chewed slowly, "but everyone knows what really happened."

Chen Dapeng remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

Su Wanqing put down her chopsticks and looked into his eyes.

"When Liu Zhiguo was in the Inspection Office, his style of doing things was not to investigate matters, but to investigate people."

Chen Dapeng's fingers tightened slightly.

"So, you need to be careful in the IT department."

After saying this, Su Wanqing picked up the soup bowl, took a sip, and then stood up.

"I'm done eating. You can continue eating."

She took two steps with her tray, then stopped and turned around.

"Xiao Chen."

Chen Dapeng raised his head.

"Some things, don't carry alone."

After Su Wanqing finished speaking, she turned and left.

Her figure disappeared at the entrance of the cafeteria.

Chen Dapeng sat there, staring in the direction she disappeared, a feeling he couldn't quite describe welling up inside him.

What Su Wanqing said today was more than just concern.

She was reminding him that Liu Zhiguo was not just Fang Mingyuan's informant; he used to investigate cases and knew how to investigate people.

He was in the IT department, and he wasn't just being watched.

He may be under investigation.

Chen Dapeng lowered his head, finished the rest of his rice, picked up his plate, and stood up.

When he reached the tray return area, he saw Liu Zhiguo sitting at the other end of the cafeteria, talking to Du Jianguo from the Finance Bureau.

Both of them had their heads down and were speaking in hushed tones, making it impossible to hear what they were saying.

But Chen Dapeng noticed that Liu Zhiguo's gaze swept over him, lingered for a moment, and then looked away.

Chen Dapeng put his tray down and turned to walk out of the cafeteria.

He walked down to the bottom of the office building, took out his phone, and sent a message to He Ying.

"Director Su told me that Liu Zhiguo used to work in the Inspection Office. His style wasn't to investigate matters, but to investigate people."

After sending it, he stood downstairs and waited for a while.

My phone vibrated.

He Ying's reply was only one word: "Understood."

Chen Dapeng looked at the two words, put his phone away, and went upstairs.

Liu Zhiguo hadn't returned from the information technology department yet.

He walked back to his seat, sat down, and turned on his computer.

The screen also displayed a summary of the information that hadn't been completed that morning.

He continued typing, his fingers tapping on the keyboard, but his mind was racing.

Liu Zhiguo is investigating him.

Su Wanqing was reminding him.

He Ying said, "I understand."

What will she do after saying "I understand"?

Chen Dapeng didn't know.

But he knew he was no longer fighting alone.

Su Wanqing stood on his side.

No, Su Wanqing sided with He Ying.

And he was He Ying's man.

……

At three o'clock in the afternoon, He Ying sat in her office with a document spread out in front of her, but she couldn't read a single word of it.

The morning's executive meeting, Fang Mingyuan's words "Some things don't need to be so complicated," and Chen Dapeng's message "My drawer has been rummaged through"—these things kept replaying in her mind like a revolving lantern.

She picked up the teacup, found it was cold, and put it down again.

The phone on the table suddenly vibrated.

He Ying glanced at the caller ID and felt a slight pang in her heart.

The screen displayed a number for a provincial capital city, without any notes, but she recognized the number.

This is a former leader of hers from when she worked at the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology—now retired to a less important position in the Provincial People's Congress.

But this former leader had a wider range of sources of information than many of those currently in office.

He Ying picked up her phone and answered the call.

"Hello, former boss."

"Xiao He, is it convenient to talk?" The voice on the other end of the phone was low, with a deliberate caution.

"That's convenient. Please tell me."

"Someone is asking about your background."

He Ying's fingers tightened slightly.

"Who?"

"It's not clear yet. But they're someone important." The old leader paused for a moment. "The way they inquired was very professional; it's not something an ordinary person could do."

He Ying remained silent for a few seconds.

She wondered—was it one of Fang Mingyuan's people? Or someone else entirely?

"Old boss, how did you know?"

"One of my former subordinates, working in a department at the provincial level, was contacted by someone through an intermediary. They asked him some questions about you." The old leader lowered his voice even further. "They asked about your performance in the provincial department, who you were close to, and also..."

He paused for a moment.

"They also asked about your maternal grandfather."

He Ying's heart sank.

My maternal grandfather.

Throughout her many years in officialdom, she never took the initiative to mention her maternal grandfather to anyone.

It wasn't because her grandfather had anything shameful to do; quite the opposite, it was because her grandfather's family had such a powerful background that she didn't want anyone to think she got the position through connections.

But just because you don't mention something doesn't mean others won't investigate.

"Xiao He, did you offend someone in Qingshun County?"

He Ying did not answer immediately.

She was weighing how much to say.

"Old leader, I did encounter some resistance in Qingshun County. But that's normal; when a cadre is parachuted into a new place, there's always an adjustment period."

"Is it just an adjustment period?"

There was a hint of disbelief in the old leader's voice.

He Ying remained silent for two seconds.

"Recently, I've had people check the data for Liuhe Town. The Party Secretary of Liuhe Town is the cousin of the Executive Deputy County Head."

The old leader gave a soft "hmm" on the other end of the phone, as if he understood something.

"So the other party is investigating your background, trying to see if you have anyone backing you and how much power you have."

"It should be."

"Xiao He, I have a few words to say to you, remember them."

He Ying sat up straight: "Please speak."

"First, don't mention your maternal grandfather's situation to anyone for now. Not even the person you trust most in Qingshun County."

Chen Dapeng's face flashed through He Ying's mind.

"I know."

"Secondly, the fact that they are investigating you means they see you as a threat. You need to be careful, but don't be too nervous. The fact that they are investigating you means they are afraid of you."

He Ying's lips twitched slightly.

"Third," the old leader's voice deepened, "If you need help, give me a call. I have some old connections in the province that can lend a hand."

A warm feeling welled up in He Ying's heart.

"Thank you, former boss."

"You're welcome. You're a good prospect, keep up the good work, and don't let those messy things interfere with the important matters."

"I've got it."

"Alright, that's enough. Be careful."