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

Chen Dapeng accomplished nothing all Saturday.

I washed the clothes this morning, and after hanging them halfway up the balcony, I just stood there in a daze.

I cooked a bowl of noodles for lunch, but I started to drift off after the third bite.

I wanted to review some materials this afternoon, but I ended up sitting in front of the computer screen for an hour without reading a single word.

There was only one thing on my mind—10 a.m. tomorrow, in He Ying's office.

Why did she ask him to come on Sunday?

What kind of work can't be assigned between Monday and Friday?

Or……

Chen Dapeng shook his head, dismissing the thought.

"Don't overthink it," he told himself. "She's the county magistrate; she's obviously looking for you to discuss work."

But even he himself couldn't convince himself of this reason.

That evening, Lin Chen called.

"Hey, what are you doing this weekend?"

"Nothing."

"Why does your voice sound so down?" Lin Chen laughed on the other end of the phone. "Already feeling discouraged after just one week on the job?"

"no."

"So what's wrong with you?"

Chen Dapeng hesitated for a moment, wanting to speak but not knowing how to say it.

He didn't even tell Lin Chen about his relationship with He Ying.

It's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's that I don't know how to say it.

I slept with my sister's college classmate, who is the county magistrate of our county.

Once Lin Chen's mouth finds out, it's as if the whole world knows.

"I'm really fine. I'm just a little tired."

"Okay, go to sleep early if you're tired." Lin Chen didn't press further. "By the way, I asked about the house for you. My relative has a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment in the old town of Qingshun County, fully furnished. When are you going to take a look?"

"Next week."

"Okay, send me your address later and I'll have him contact you."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Dapeng lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

My phone vibrated again.

He picked it up and his heart skipped a beat—it was a message from He Ying.

Don't be late tomorrow.

Chen Dapeng stared at those words, looking at them over and over again several times.

"Don't be late"—was she afraid he would be late? Or was she nervous too?

No, it won't.

The message was sent, but the recipient did not reply.

Chen Dapeng placed his phone next to his pillow, turned over, and closed his eyes.

A movie started playing in my head again—

The images from that night, the way she looked in the hallway, the way she looked at him in the office…

He tossed and turned until 2 a.m. before finally falling asleep.

……

Chen Dapeng woke up at seven o'clock on Sunday morning.

He stood in front of the wardrobe for twenty minutes, changing his clothes several times.

White was too formal, and black was too dull, so I ended up choosing a light gray polo shirt to pair with dark casual pants.

He looks energetic, but not deliberately so.

Before leaving the house, he looked in the mirror again and felt that his hair was a bit messy. He pressed it with water, but then felt that it was too flat, so he simply left it alone.

The courtyard was quiet on Sunday.

Chen Dapeng climbed to the fourth floor, and the corridor was empty.

The door to the county magistrate's office was closed, but light shone through the crack in the door.

She's already inside.

He took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock on the door.

"Come in."

Chen Dapeng pushed open the door and went in.

He Ying sat behind her desk, wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, her hair loose over her shoulders.

Several documents were spread out on the table, and a cup of coffee was placed next to them.

She looked up at him, her expression unchanged, but she gestured with her chin toward the chair opposite her: "Sit."

Chen Dapeng sat down opposite her, his back ramrod straight.

He Ying lowered her head and continued reading the documents; the only sound in the office was the rustling of papers.

One minute.

Two minutes.

five minutes.

Chen Dapeng sat there, his palms starting to sweat.

He didn't know why He Ying had called him over; she wouldn't say, and he didn't dare to ask.

Finally, He Ying put down her pen and looked up.

"Did Su Wanqing ask you to write a quarterly report?"

Chen Dapeng was taken aback, not expecting her to ask that: "...Yes."

"How's it going?"

"We are still collecting information."

He Ying nodded, picked up a document from the table and handed it to him: "This is last year's report. You can use it as a reference. You can learn from the format and framework, but you can't copy the content."

Chen Dapeng took it, his fingers touching her fingertips.

Her hands were cold.

Both of them felt as if they had been electrocuted and simultaneously withdrew their hands.

The file fell onto the table.

The air froze for a second.

"There's one more thing. There's a rural revitalization research trip next week, and you'll be coming with me."

Chen Dapeng looked up: "Me?"

"Okay. Shuangqiao Town, departing at eight o'clock on Monday morning. Prepare your notebook and voice recorder in advance."

"Okay, okay."

He Ying looked at him, her lips moved as if she had something to say, but she swallowed it back.

"Alright, that's all."

She lowered her head and continued reading the documents.

Chen Dapeng stood up, took the documents, and walked towards the door.

When he reached the door, he stopped and turned around.

He Ying looked up at him.

"Is there anything else?"

Chen Dapeng hesitated for a moment: "County Chief He, you... you called me over on Sunday just for these two things?"

He Ying looked at him for two seconds: "What do you think?"

"I……"

"I could have given you the quarterly report documents on Monday, and we could have discussed the research arrangements on Monday as well," He Ying said, putting down her pen. "But I have a meeting on Monday, and I'm afraid I won't have time then."

This explanation is reasonable.

"Understood. I'll be going now."

"Wait a moment."

He Ying stood up, walked around the desk, and stood in front of him.

The two were less than a meter apart.

Chen Dapeng could smell her scent—it was still that faint perfume.

Has your sister contacted you recently?

"I've been in contact with her. She called last week."

"What did she say?"

"They just asked me how my work was going, whether I was settling in well," Chen Dapeng answered truthfully. "They also asked you."

He Ying frowned slightly: "What are you asking me?"

"They're asking me if I've ever met you before, and how you've treated me."

"What did you say?"

"I said you were very nice and took good care of me."

He Ying was silent for a few seconds, then turned around, walked back behind her desk, and sat down.

"Your sister cares about you a lot."

"Um."

"They also care about me a lot."

"……Um."

He Ying picked up a pen, wrote a line on the document, and said without looking up, "It's nothing, you can go now."

Chen Dapeng stood there, looking at her.

Her profile is beautiful; she has a high nose bridge, long eyelashes, and is very charming.

He suddenly remembered that night when she lay on his chest, her long hair falling down and covering half of her face.

Unfortunately, it was nighttime, and he was in a drunken, confused state.

I couldn't really look at her beautiful face...

"Aren't you leaving yet?"

He Ying raised her head.

"Let's go, we're leaving now."

Chen Dapeng turned and left the office, gently closing the door behind him.

The corridor was empty. He stood at the doorway and took a deep breath.

When she stood up and walked up to him, he almost...

"What's missing?"

He asked himself the question.

I almost reached out and hugged her?

I almost asked her about that night.

Chen Dapeng closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Chen Dapeng, wake up!"

He took the documents and walked quickly down the stairs.

……

in the office.

He Ying sat in the chair, looking at the closed door.

She called him over, but it wasn't for those two things.

Those two things can be discussed on Monday.

She just wanted to see him.

This thought started popping into my head yesterday—

That night, as she lay in bed, his face suddenly flashed through her mind.

Then she picked up her phone and sent him that message.

Don't be late tomorrow.

She regretted it as soon as she sent it.

"He Ying, what are you doing?"

She asked herself.

But she did not withdraw.

She arrived at the office at seven o'clock this morning and changed three outfits before deciding to wear this white shirt.

She tied her hair up and let it down, then tied it up again, and finally left it loose.

When he came in, she didn't dare to look at him and could only pretend to be looking at documents.

Yu Guangli sat there with his back straight and his hands on his knees, like a primary school student waiting for a scolding from his teacher.

She almost laughed, but she held it in.

She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

"He Ying, are you crazy?"

The office was quiet, and no one answered her.

"Before, I lacked that understanding: is the man you had your first physical encounter with really that unforgettable?"

She couldn't help but recall that night when he was on top of her.

Like a wild beast, desperately seeking...

He showed absolutely no mercy to women.

For the next few days, she felt uncomfortable walking...

……

Chen Dapeng returned home, put the documents on the table, and sat on the sofa in a daze.

My phone rang; it was my sister, Chen Yang, calling.

"Hey, Dapeng, what are you doing?"

"at home."

"Didn't go out this weekend?"

"no."

Has Sister He Ying contacted you?

Chen Dapeng's heart tightened: "...She contacted me. She asked me to write some materials and also asked me to go to the countryside with her for research."

"Really?" Chen Yang's voice suddenly rose several octaves. "That's great! I knew she was a good person. You should learn from her; she's very capable. Listen, observe, and remember as much as you can."

"understood."

"By the way, she's all alone over there. You should take care of her more often and not always rely on her to look after you."

Chen Dapeng was taken aback: "She...alone?"

"That's right, she's not married and doesn't have a boyfriend. She's all alone in Qingshun County and doesn't even have anyone to talk to. You're her best friend's brother and her subordinate, so you should try to get to know her better."

Chen Dapeng held his phone, unsure of what to say.

"Did you hear me?" Chen Yang pressed.

"I heard you."

"Alright, I'm not talking to you anymore. Your brother-in-law is calling me for dinner. Take care of yourself."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Dapeng sat on the sofa, one sentence echoing repeatedly in his mind—

"She's not married and doesn't have a boyfriend."

He remembered what happened that night.

That bright red stain on the bed sheet...

That was her first time.

Thirty years old, at the level of a department head, unmarried, no boyfriend...

Why is this happening?

He was talking to himself.

No one answered him.

Outside the window, the sky darkened.

Chen Dapeng stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the distant sky.

I'm going to do some research in the countryside tomorrow.

Go with her.

There will be a driver on the bus.

There will be other people.

But he and she will be on the same car.

……

Chen Dapeng arrived at the government compound at 7:40 a.m. on Monday.

A black Toyota Coaster was parked downstairs, and the driver was wiping the car.

Su Wanqing stood beside the car, holding a folder in her hand. When she saw Chen Dapeng coming over, she nodded and said, "Xiao Chen, you sit in the back."

"Okay, Director Su."

Chen Dapeng got on the bus and found a window seat.

At 7:50, people from other departments arrived one after another.

Wang Desheng from the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, Liu Yang, the mayor of Shuangqiao Town, and several other people Chen Dapeng didn't recognize.

At 8:00 a.m., He Ying walked out of the building.

She wore a dark blue jacket over a white T-shirt and flat shoes today, and looked several years younger than usual.

Su Wanqing went up to her and said a few words to her. He Ying nodded and got into the car.

She glanced at the people in the car, her gaze lingering on Chen Dapeng for a second, before walking to the front row and sitting down.

The car started.

Chen Dapeng sat in the back, looking at the back of He Ying's head.

Her hair was tied in a low ponytail today, revealing a section of her fair nape.

He stared at that small patch of skin for a long time, then looked away and gazed out the window.

The car drove out of the county town and onto the mountain road.

The road conditions were not good, and the car was very bumpy.

He Ying leaned back in her seat, her eyes closed, as if she were resting.

Su Wanqing sat next to her, looking down at her phone.

The car was quiet.

Chen Dapeng took out his phone and opened He Ying's WeChat.

He hesitated for a moment, then typed a line.

"County Chief He, what do I need to record during today's investigation?"

send.

In the front row, He Ying's phone vibrated.

She opened her eyes, picked up her phone, glanced at it, and typed a few words without turning around.

"Just listen and then organize it into a report when you get back."

Chen Dapeng looked at the reply and typed another line.

"OK."

He paused, then added a sentence.

"Your coat looks great today."

send.

He regretted it as soon as he sent it.

"Are you crazy?"

He cursed himself in his heart.

In the front row, He Ying looked at her phone, her finger hovering above the screen.

She hesitated for a few seconds, typed a few words, and then deleted them.

In the end, he only replied with one word.

"Um."

Chen Dapeng stared at the word "hmm" for a long time, pondering it.

Was she happy? Unhappy? Or did she not know what to say?

He wanted to send another message, but he didn't dare.

The car continued driving forward.

The mountain road became increasingly bumpy.

He Ying leaned back in her seat, her eyes closed, but her eyelashes trembled slightly.

She was not asleep.

She was thinking about that message.

"Your coat looks great today."

What kind of talk is that?

What did the subordinate say to the leader?

still is……

She opened her eyes and looked out the car window at the mountain scenery rushing past.

A voice inside me is saying—

"He Ying, you're playing with fire."