Official Career Storm

Song Guanchao was internally startled. This Secretary Tian, is he really willing to pay such a high price?

The two had barely interacted, yet he immediately offered such a promise.

Song Guanchao isn't someone who easily believes what he's told.

The old saying goes, showing unnecessary favor, either sly or thieving.

And who is standing before him?

The third-ranking figure of the Provincial Committee!

Such a big shot, personally coming to Jinling to see him and making such lucrative promises.

Even a fool would sense something amiss.

Song Guanchao had initially thought Secretary Tian was after the money.

But upon closer thought, it didn't add up everywhere.

Whether the money could be recuperated was Lingjiang's business.

No matter how it spread, it couldn't affect this Secretary.

His enthusiasm was definitely suspicious.

Song Guanchao smiled and said, "Secretary Tian, you flatter me."

He didn't express direct gratitude, as gratitude would mean accepting his promise.

Heaven knows what demands might follow once he accepted.

Secretary Tian noticed his caution, smiled slightly, and said, "I came tonight with a task, actually."

Song Guanchao adopted a listening posture.

Secretary Tian said, "Lingjiang Bank's provincial branch wanted me to ask you how confident you are about recovering the money."

Is it really just that?

This reason does make sense.

Yet Song Guanchao still felt the reason was too flimsy.

The branch president, in front of the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Committee, was simply not significant.

What qualifications did he have to warrant Secretary Tian's personal visit?

Song Guanchao felt he wasn't being truthful.

So he shook his head and said, "Hard to say. I haven't found this group of swindlers yet. Even if we find them, recovering the money will be difficult."

"The bank's transaction records show the money has been transferred overseas."

"The last time, Dujiang City's money was recovered because the time was short, and we caught the people in time."

His tone was very sincere.

Secretary Tian found it hard to judge the truth in Song Guanchao's words.

Judging from his demeanor, he was quite confident.

Otherwise, Qu Xiangru wouldn't have set conditions with Jiang Yuan.

But what he said wasn't wrong.

Secretary Tian came tonight to determine if Song Guanchao could really recover the money.

If he could, then he needed to find a way to make Song Guanchao stop.

Being uncertain now gave him a headache.

And since Song Guanchao was wary of him, who knew if he spoke the truth.

"Secretary Tong, have the waiter refill the tea."

"Yes, Secretary Tian."

Song Guanchao knew that Secretary Tian wanted to speak with him alone.

After Tong Wen left, Secretary Tian asked, "What are your future plans, Secretary Song?"

This guy, what's his agenda?

"I haven't thought too far ahead."

"You should think about it."

Secretary Tian said, "You're capable and young; people like you are quite rare in the political scene."

"If you want to enter the provincial level, I can give you a hand."

Song Guanchao was getting impatient, this old fellow kept beating around the bush.

Not wanting to waste more time, he bluntly asked, "Secretary Tian, you should have other reasons for meeting me tonight, right? Why not just tell me directly?"

Secretary Tian chuckled, "You're quite straightforward."

"Alright then, I'll be direct, but I also hope for a direct answer from you."

Secretary Tian's expression turned serious, "About this money, how confident are you in recovering it?"

Still the same question?

Why is he so concerned with this?

He originally thought Secretary Tian was using this question to open up the conversation.

But now it seemed his true focus might indeed be this case.

Song Guanchao's expression remained largely unchanged, still shaking his head, "Secretary Tian, I'm really in a difficult position. Honestly, I have no confidence. Secretary Qu didn't make me sign any guarantees. If she required a precise answer, I wouldn't have taken on this task."

Secretary Tian stared into his eyes for a few seconds before nodding, "Then I won't pressure you, Secretary Song."

"Keep me informed of any developments, through either you or Secretary Tong. I'm quite concerned."

"Certainly."

After that, Secretary Tian asked no more.

Song Guanchao drank a few cups of tea before getting up to take his leave.

He walked all the way, ensuring Secretary Tian hadn't sent anyone to follow him, then took out his phone to call Qu Xiangru.

He recounted their conversation to Qu Xiangru.

"What's Secretary Tian's motive for asking these questions?" Song Guanchao thought that perhaps Qu Xiangru might have some insight.

After pondering for a few seconds, Qu Xiangru said, "He's targeting me."

"Targeting you?"

This answer was beyond Song Guanchao's expectation.

Something he hadn't anticipated at all.

Qu Xiangru said, "If you told him today that you could definitely recover the money, he would find ways to stop you."

"Why?"

"What do you think?"

Song Guanchao asked a foolish question.

He roughly understood why.

Inability to recover the money would affect Qu Xiangru.

The impact wouldn't be trivial.

"Is Secretary Tian interested in you?"

"Hmm?" This question left Qu Xiangru puzzled, "What are you saying?"

"Did he pursue you? You refused, and out of anger, he wants to deal with you in this manner?"

"..." Qu Xiangru said, "You're overthinking."

"No? Then do you have personal vendettas?"

"None."

"Then why does he want to do this?"

It's neither out of spurned love nor personal grudges, why would he want to target her?

Qu Xiangru said, "Governor Hou is about to retire."

Song Guanchao thought for two seconds before understanding what she meant.

With Governor Hou's retirement, Secretary Tian and Qu Xiangru were the hopefuls for promotion.

Combining it with Qu Xiangru's earlier words, he instantly figured out Secretary Tian's motive for meeting him tonight.

That old fox, truly isn't a good person!

"Are you in Jinling?"

"Yes."

"Alone?"

"Along with colleagues from the criminal police force."

"Leave Jinling immediately tonight."

"You suspect he's tailing me?"

"It's not suspicion, it's certain."

"Are you concerned about me?"

"..." Qu Xiangru suddenly got a bit annoyed, "Song Guanchao, can you be more serious?"

Jokes also need to fit the situation!

At such a moment, he still had the mood to tease her.

"I'm quite serious." Song Guanchao said, "So you're concerned about me, right?"

Qu Xiangru didn't want to talk to him, but thinking about Secretary Tian being in Jinling, she still said, "Leave Jinling immediately, don't stay there!"

Song Guanchao wanted to say if someone was following him, he'd notice right away.

But he didn't say that, instead, "Kiss me and I'll leave."

He could almost hear the faint quickening of breath from the other end of the line, from Qu Xiangru.

She was upset.

"If you don't want to leave, then don't!"

Qu Xiangru hung up.

"This woman, can't take a joke."

Song Guanchao pouted.

Still, he kept her reminder in mind.

He walked towards the hotel, pretending to look around casually.

Suddenly, he realized that someone was indeed following him.

Passing by a convenience store, he used the reflection in the glass door to identify his follower as Secretary Tian's assistant.

He squinted his eyes; what was that bastard Tian Kai Ming up to?

Planning to kidnap me?

Just then, the phone rang again; it was another call from Qu Xiangru.

Before he could say anything, Qu Xiangru said, "Leave Jinling immediately, and after you return, you can do whatever you want."