Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 89 Because of loneliness, because of vanity

Wu Zhiyuan was hesitant.

Liu Yan's invitation must mean she has something to say.

Perhaps it's about Su Taohong.

She and Su Taohong are colleagues and best friends; they have a close relationship.

But going to her house late at night, alone with her, could give others ammunition against you. If someone spreads rumors, you'll be in deep trouble.

He politely declined, saying, "Sister-in-law, it's too late, I won't go up."

Datong isn't home, so it's inconvenient for me to go up. What's up? Perhaps we can talk another day?

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Liu Yan's face. After hesitating for a moment, she pointed to a teahouse across from the residential area: "How about we go sit in that teahouse over there? I can tell you about Su Taohong."

It really is about Su Taohong.

Su Taohong has been missing for some time, and the two suspects are staying in Southeast Asia and have not returned, so the police investigation has been suspended.

After Su Taohong went missing, her mother cried every day and called Wu Zhiyuan several times, pleading for help in finding Su Taohong, saying she was all alone and needed to be found alive or dead.

Liu Yan was wearing a black silk slip dress. In Wu Zhiyuan's memory, Liu Yan was not the kind of seductive woman.

But she seemed to have changed after Zhu Datong was exiled to Qinglongshan Forest Farm.

The two entered a teahouse called "Qingxin Pavilion" and chose a quiet booth.

The zither music flowed gently, and the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

Liu Yan spoke first: "Zhiyuan, Zhao Zhao and I are really not lovers, at least not now. Although he asked me to be his lover, I did not agree, at least not so far."

I admit he's good at making women happy, but I don't want to do anything to betray Datong.

Datong is a good man, a rare good man in the world. He is really good to me. He would even be willing to die for me.

Aside from lacking a zest for life, Datong really has no flaws.

I'm afraid that after losing Datong, I'll never find a better man than him.

Wu Zhiyuan took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Zhao Zhao is a businessman. To put it bluntly, in his eyes, you are prey."

Tonight, before you arrived, Qin Xiaokun, in front of Liu Na, talked about how he managed to coax a cold and aloof beauty into bed.

These people have their own "hunting" logic; they flaunt not just money and women, but also a distorted sense of conquest and power.

Liu Yan lowered her head and remained silent.

Wu Zhiyuan continued, "You think Zhao Zhao truly loves you? Impossible."

Once you really let your guard down, he can turn around and tell everyone in his circle about your relationship, using it as something to brag about.

Datong is a good man. Don't let him down, and don't ruin your happiness because of temporary loneliness or vanity.

Liu Yan murmured, "Yes, I've thought about that too, but I couldn't resist Zhao Zhao's persistent pestering."

Wu Zhiyuan asked, "Sister-in-law, how did you meet Zhao Zhao?"

Liu Yan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Masquerade Ball."

Wu Zhiyuan was taken aback: "A masquerade ball? Aren't they supposed to all be wearing masks?"

"They were wearing masks, but there was a segment at the ball: matchmaking."

This event is held regularly. Every participant, men and women, wears a mask, and no one knows each other, but everyone has a number plate.

Men's numbers start with A, and women's numbers start with B. The numbers are issued randomly.

The numbers scroll across the large screen, and a number will appear when the host calls a pause.

Each matching event will only draw five numbers.

Men and women who match this number can go to a private room for a private chat.

In the locked room, you can choose to remove your mask or not.

If the conversation goes well, we can become friends. If you're not interested, you can leave.

I remember that my number was 520 that day, and Zhao Zhao's number was also 520.

Among the five numbers drawn by the host, 520 was one of them.

Zhao Zhao and I went into a private room for a chat, and we had a very good conversation.

We all took off our masks, and Zhao Zhao said I was too beautiful.

Although Zhao Zhao is a bit older, he has the charm of a mature man and is a successful person. He has a mature and steady quality that I like.

Then he relentlessly pursued me, but I held firm to my principles.

Liu Yan meant that she and Zhao Zhao had not yet slept together.

Whether it's true or false, only she and Zhao Zhao probably know.

Liu Yan pleaded, "Zhiyuan, please don't tell Datong about me and Zhao Zhao, okay?"

You can say that I dated Zhao Zhao because of loneliness, or because of vanity, but I really don't want to lose Datong.

Wu Zhiyuan didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Su Taohong betrayed me a long time ago, didn't she? You're her colleague and best friend. Even if you didn't know, you should have sensed something, yet you chose to hide it from me?"

Liu Yan lowered her head, as if she were engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

Finally, she slowly spoke: "Zhiyuan, I'm sorry, I did keep it from you."

I kept it from you not entirely to protect Tao Hong's secret, but also because I didn't want to break you and Tao Hong up.

I've advised Taohong many times, saying that you're a good man, a man you couldn't find even with a lantern—handsome, brave, full of a sense of justice, a warm-hearted man, hardworking…

Liu Yan paused, blushing, and said, "I even told Tao Hong that if I weren't married, I would want to pursue you."

A ripple of emotion stirred within Wu Zhiyuan, but he took a sip of tea to calm himself and forced a composed expression: "Sister-in-law, please continue. How did you know that Su Taohong betrayed me?"

Liu Yan also took a sip of tea to conceal her inner turmoil: "At first it was just a feeling, but later I asked Tao Hong, and she admitted it."

Zhiyuan, do you now know who Taohong's lover is?

"Sang Chenglong?" Wu Zhiyuan didn't say Sang Jiaquan because he found Su Taohong and Sang Chenglong together at the Jintang Hot Spring Resort that night. Sang Chenglong was wearing sunglasses, but Sun Runcai recognized him.

"Yes and no. There's also Sang Jiaquan."

Although Wu Zhiyuan had suspected it before, he was still shocked to receive confirmation from Liu Yan tonight.

Su Taohong is all looks and no brains. She uses her pretty face to flirt between Sang Jiaquan and Sang Chenglong. She's really asking for trouble!

Wu Zhiyuan asked, puzzled, "Su Taohong is just a pretty nurse at the city hospital. How did she get involved with the Sang family?"

"Zhiyuan, it's like this. You know that Taohong and I used to be orthopedic nurses."

Around the beginning of this year, Sang Jiaquan sprained his ankle. According to him, he had been drinking at a social event one night and accidentally missed a step while going down the stairs, which caused the injury. He was hospitalized in the city hospital for a few days.

At that time, Tao Hong was in charge of Sang Jiaquan's hospital bed.

Tao Hong is beautiful, gentle, has excellent nursing skills, and is very tactful in her interactions with others.

During Mayor Sang's hospitalization, Tao Hong took excellent care of him. Over time, the two likely developed feelings for each other.

After Sang Jiaquan was discharged from the hospital, the two kept in touch frequently. Tao Hong might have been trying to climb the social ladder; you know how that ended.

Wu Zhiyuan sneered: "The Sang family are all seasoned players in love. Su Taohong is vain, and the two hit it off immediately!"

Sang Jiaquan didn't fall down the stairs at all; he was most likely injured while jumping from the building!

In his youth, he had a habit of having affairs with his lovers.

There's a widely circulated rumor that over ten years ago, Sang Jiaquan's mistress was about to get married. He had her wear a wedding dress and play around in her bridal chamber. He was almost caught in the act, but managed to jump from the second floor, thankfully avoiding serious injury.