Director Zhou clearly enjoyed Zhang Fan’s flattering words. He looked at the young man, who had recently joined the department, with a kind expression and said earnestly,
“Hmm, it’s good for young people to be eager to learn. I’ve been working here at the provincial government for many years. If you have any questions in the future, don’t hesitate to come to me.”

Zhang Fan was thrilled but kept a humble expression on his face. He respectfully replied,
“Oh, thank you so much, Director Zhou, for your guidance.”

As he spoke, Zhang Fan glanced around and noticed that the surroundings were quiet—it seemed the entire office had cleared out, leaving only the two of them. He seized the opportunity and continued,
“Director Zhou, it’s already quite late. My parents aren’t in the provincial capital, and as a single young guy, I don’t have anywhere to go. Why don’t we find a small restaurant and have a simple meal together?”

Guidance and advice weren’t enough on their own—dining together, chatting, and getting closer were essential to building a relationship that could lead to future opportunities.

Director Zhou’s face showed a hint of satisfaction. He waved his hand and said,
“No need. I have guests at home today. Let’s do it another time.”

But Zhang Fan wasn’t about to let this chance slip away.

“Well, why not invite your guests to join us? We could all meet up at a nice restaurant—it’ll be good to get to know each other.”

Director Zhou hesitated, his expression uncertain.
“That… might not be very appropriate.”

Inviting guests out when they were already at his home could be seen as impolite. However, the idea of demonstrating that he was well-connected and often treated to meals appealed to him.

Seeing his hesitation, Zhang Fan knew he was close to success. He added fuel to the fire,
“Oh, there’s nothing inappropriate about it. We’re all colleagues and will be working together for a long time. Your guests are my guests, right? Come on, Director Zhou, let’s not delay any longer—call your guests and let’s head to a good restaurant.”

As he spoke, Zhang Fan grabbed Director Zhou’s hand in a show of urgency, pretending to pull him toward the exit.

Director Zhou, caught off guard by Zhang Fan’s enthusiasm, blushed slightly but didn’t resist for long. After a show of reluctance, he relented,
“Well… okay then!”

Unseen by Director Zhou, a sly smile crept onto Zhang Fan’s lips.

In his short time at the provincial government, and with An Linger’s occasional hints, Zhang Fan had quickly learned to navigate the workplace like a fish in water. He excelled at appearing dedicated and hardworking in front of his superiors.

For example, if a leader hadn’t left the office yet, Zhang Fan would wait until they did before leaving himself, acting exhausted and rushed to create the impression of diligence.

He also knew how to build rapport, whether it was delivering meals to busy leaders or “forgetting” bottles of fine wine at their homes. Inviting leaders and their families to restaurants for meals was another way he strengthened relationships.

As a result, in just a short time, Zhang Fan had cultivated an image of being responsible, capable, and full of potential.

Now, he walked alongside Director Zhou, maintaining his role as the diligent, polite subordinate.

When they exited the back courtyard of the provincial government building, Zhang Fan caught sight of a large truck speeding past. His gaze instinctively followed the vehicle, and for a brief moment, he thought he recognized a familiar face in the driver’s seat.

His pupils contracted as he stared at the departing truck, its tires kicking up dust in its wake.

“Strange,” Zhang Fan muttered to himself, “Am I working too hard? I could’ve sworn I just saw a hallucination in broad daylight.”

After all, how could that rural woman, An Xin, possibly be driving a truck?

Director Zhou, who had overheard Zhang Fan mumbling, asked,
“What did you say? I didn’t catch that.”

Zhang Fan quickly recovered and replied,
“Oh, I was just saying we should hurry. Otherwise, all the good dishes and wine will be gone!”

Director Zhou chuckled and nodded,
“Ah, yes, we’d better hurry.”

The two picked up their pace.

Meanwhile, An Xin, who was driving the large truck, noticed a vehicle at an intersection flashing its lights and honking. Recognizing the driver as Bai Yichen, she slowed down and pulled over.

She stepped out of the truck and approached Bai Yichen with a curious smile.
“What are you doing here?”

Bai Yichen sat in his truck, gazing at her intently. His vehicle was larger and in better condition than the ones An Xin’s team used, and she couldn’t help but admire it.

“Didn’t I tell you? I’d come help you transport goods after my shift,” Bai Yichen said, his deep voice carrying a hint of amusement as he observed An Xin’s obvious fascination with his truck.

An Xin’s eyes sparkled as she inspected the vehicle, impressed by its capacity and condition. She thought to herself, If only we had more trucks like this.

Bai Yichen noticed her reaction and couldn’t suppress a small grin.
The truck, after all, was one he had personally selected during a supply trip to the north—brand-new, reliable, and leagues better than the patchwork vehicles in her fleet.

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lol why would he grab the director’s hand and why is the director blushing 😂🤣🤣🤣