Official Career Storm

Wu Qiangwei's gaze followed Qu Xiangru's actions and looked toward Song Guanchao.

Song Guanchao only felt her gaze was full of scrutiny, and if he didn't handle it well, he feared he might be in trouble.

In a flash of inspiration, he already had an idea and revealed a smile, "Alright."

After Qu Xiangru left, Song Guanchao said, "Secretary, let me briefly report to you."

He reported to Wu Qiangwei everything that happened yesterday and today.

Upon finding out that He Lingshi actually escalated the matter to the provincial level, her heart tightened.

Then hearing that Wu Qiangwei got involved personally, tricking Lin Daoquan, made her quite startled.

"Is Lin Daoquan still at the police station?"

"Releasing him tomorrow."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Things happened too suddenly, and Governor Qu said she would handle it. Since that's the case, we just cooperate with her."

Wu Qiangwei thought about it and found nothing wrong with this approach.

Song Guanchao took out a room card, saying, "Secretary, what do you think Governor Qu means by this? Is she planning to set me up tonight?"

Wu Qiangwei frowned, pondering for a moment, and said, "Just play it by ear."

Song Guanchao raised an eyebrow, "I should actually go?"

"Maybe not, who knows what she's planning? If she sets me up too, where would I find reasoning?"

Then he asked, "What did she discuss with the Secretary?"

Wu Qiangwei shook her head, not telling him, "Go back and rest, tomorrow's the weekend, have a good two days' rest."

Seeing her reluctance to speak, Song Guanchao grew more curious.

He planned to visit the hotel later to ask Qu Xiangru.

The murder case was solved, and all the culprits were captured.

The next steps involve the prosecutor's office.

Liang Jianfeng is returning to the provincial capital for a performance report tomorrow.

As for Song Guanchao, the leader of this special investigation team, he doesn't need to go.

But credit for the achievements is undeniable for him.

It was after he became the team leader that, within just a week, the case was cracked with arrests.

This major criminal case was supervised by the province, yet he solved it so quickly, the credit is significant.

After leaving the district office, Song Guanchao first sent Wu Qiangwei back to her community, then headed straight to the hotel.

Qu Xiangru didn't stay at the guesthouse. When Song Guanchao arrived at the hotel, he took out the room card and pushed the door open.

Qu Xiangru had just taken a bath, wearing a loose white bathrobe, with the neckline crossing to reveal a large area of snowy white on her chest.

The long legs at the hem faintly showed a spring-like brightness.

Her wet hair still emitted strands of steam, like a lotus emerging from water, appearing both fresh and enchanting.

Generally, such enchanting women give off a heavy air of worldliness, but Qu Xiangru did not.

Her allure is one that can only be admired from afar, and not lightly profaned, possessing both simplicity and elegance. If one's inner strength is insufficient, it merely breeds feelings of inferiority, even making direct gaze difficult.

Qu Xiangru glanced at him and walked to the window, casually picking up a bottle of cream. With a gentle motion, she dabbed some and softly applied it to her cheeks.

Song Guanchao sat down beside her and asked, "What did you discuss with Secretary Wu?"

Qu Xiangru didn't turn her head, speaking coldly, "Are you questioning me?"

"Secretary Song, you're just a secretary. I'm the Deputy Governor. Logically speaking, you don't even have the right to speak to me."

Song Guanchao felt a twitch at the corner of his eye, suppressing his displeasure, "What's the reason Governor Qu called me here?"

Qu Xiangru said, "I will suggest to the Lingjiang Standing Committee to promote you to Deputy Secretary-General of the City Committee Office, raising your rank by half a level."

Song Guanchao was taken aback, "You suggest it?"

"Any issues?"

"No, it's just..."

It's just that, as a Deputy Governor, getting involved with Lingjiang's matters, what's the deal?

Though a Deputy Governor might provide guidance to a Prefecture-level City, it's still contingent on whether the city goes along.

Many believe that entering the Provincial Committee as a Standing Member makes one a top official.

Quite unaware, it's differentiated among individuals.

The higher the official position, the more challenging it becomes.

"Imperial power doesn't extend to the countryside."

The head of a county-level division holds the greatest power.

Because in small counties, power is concentrated entirely in the hands of a few leaders.

At the city level, power begins to disperse slightly because there are so many departments below.

If someone is not locally affiliated or capable enough, orders are difficult to enforce.

At the provincial level, power disperses even more.

The head of the Provincial Committee, even, wouldn't easily meddle in the administrative decisions of a Prefecture-level City.

Firstly, the central government doesn't permit undue centralization, so there must be granted autonomy to each city.

Secondly, the distance is so great that as long as the Prefecture-level City's leaders have reason and grounds, they can indeed heed commands but disregard proclamations.

Particularly concerning major staffing decisions, while some critical positions necessitate provincial approval, most positions can be decided outright by the city.

This power, the province generally wouldn't touch to avoid affecting provincial-city relations.

Yet Qu Xiangru dared to make a suggestion to the Lingjiang Standing Committee.

Is she not afraid of arousing the discontent of these standing members?

Or is she trading this merit for her promotion as Deputy Secretary-General?

Seeing Song Guanchao deep in thought, Qu Xiangru said, "I need to rest now, you should go back."

Song Guanchao suddenly smiled, "Governor Qu promotes me; how could I repay you?"

He suddenly stood up, approaching her. From his elevated angle, he could see the firm contours of her breasts through the bathrobe's diagonal neckline.

"It seems I can only repay you with myself."

Song Guanchao grinned broadly, and Qu Xiangru's brows furrowed, "Get out!"

Song Guanchao ignored her words, suddenly squatted down, grabbing her intertwined legs and spreading them apart.

As he guessed, underneath the freshly bathed Qu Xiangru's bathrobe, she wore nothing.

The snow-white, full feminine seam appeared tender and enticing, fragrant like freshly steamed buns.

Song Guanchao leaned forward, diving right in.

"You... Ah~"

Qu Xiangru made a strenuous effort to close her legs, but couldn't match Song Guanchao's strength.

Looking at his broad back, nestled between her legs, she angrily beat her fist against him.

The gentle punches were like a massage for Song Guanchao.

Moreover, under his teasing tongue, after few blows, she had no strength left, turning more into acts of flirtation.

"Bastard!"

Qu Xiangru felt frustrated. She desperately tried to sever ties with Song Guanchao, but this rascal was like a sticky plaster she couldn't shake off.

Seizing any opportunity, he just clung on.

"Ah!"

Suddenly she shrieked loudly, her body reacting as if electrified.

This rascal had actually bitten her.

"Governor Qu, let me repay you properly!"

Amid her exclamations, she suddenly felt a lightness of her body as Song Guanchao lifted her from the chair.

She instinctively held onto Song Guanchao's neck to steady herself.

And the chair's cushion was already soaked through.

Song Guanchao carried her to the bed, tightly embracing her waist, with kisses of desire.

Qu Xiangru thought of biting him, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

This intense and passionate emotion led Qu Xiangru to let out a gentle sigh, her long-sealed heart slightly cracked by him.

She suspected Song Guanchao might've been her nemesis in a past life.

Several times she wanted to be resolute, only to hesitate at critical moments, thus giving him opportunities.

Such a rascal!

She suddenly broke free from Song Guanchao's embrace, pushed him onto the bed, and straddled him, reaching down with one hand to grasp Xiao Song before forcefully sitting down.

"Ah~"

She cried out, and Song Guanchao swallowed hard.

Then, staring at her bathrobe as her body undulated, fluttering gracefully.

She moved too quickly, Song Guanchao felt almost overwhelmed, hastily grasping her waist trying to steady things.

But Qu Xiangru slapped his hand away, her thighs clenching together against his stomach, her buttocks squeezing forcefully.

Song Guanchao's breathing suddenly turned heavy.

Seeing his reaction, Qu Xiangru continued riding him fiercely, her bathrobe fluttering with her mounted movements.

When her movements became too rapid, Song Guanchao's breath started to hitch, and he reached to grab her waist, in an attempt to regain control.

Qu Xiangru, however, swatted his hands away, clasping her legs against his stomach as her hips tightened.

Song Guanchao, breathing heavily, tried to regain composure.

Qu Xiangru smirked down at him, her body moving to her rhythm, and sarcastically remarked, "Useless!"