Chapter 30: His Protection

In the blink of an eye, it was early September.

After work on Friday, the department organized a team-building dinner.

As newcomers, Guo Yao and Xia Wei were required to attend for the first time. The section chief had made it clear in advance: no matter how important the matter, no one was allowed to skip tonight.

The dinner was held at a Chinese restaurant in the Western District. The pricing there was clearly tiered, with a wide range of options. The private rooms were spacious enough to accommodate more than eight people comfortably.

Midway through the meal, to build camaraderie among colleagues, the section chief took the lead in suggesting a game: everyone would list one or two strengths of the people sitting on either side of them—no repeats allowed.

As soon as the words were out, Xia Wei couldn’t help muttering under her breath, “What era is this? Still playing this old game. Sitting next to the section chief is pure misery.”

Guo Yao smiled but said nothing.

It was just to lighten the mood—what did it matter if the praise was sincere or not?

Everyone at the table was experienced enough to survive in the system, and no one got this far without some tricks up their sleeve.

Still, the game was a bit dull.

Dull and awkward.

Take her colleague on the left, for instance—rumored to be connected to a certain city leader. She had just been transferred to the project department last week, and they barely knew each other. In fact, they had bumped into each other in the restroom earlier and even got each other’s names wrong.

And now she had to name two of her strengths?

The whole thing felt ridiculous.

Meanwhile, in a private room diagonally across the hallway, several leaders were having a meeting.

At the head of the table sat Zhou Zhengliang. Seated beside him were the director of the Development and Reform Commission and Director Zhang from the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau.

In contrast to the lively, youthful atmosphere of the team dinner, this group of senior officials sipped tea and discussed official matters with a heavy, subdued air.

At that moment, Xu Mo came by to deliver documents from the municipal office. Just as he stepped out of the elevator, he spotted Comrade Guo at the payment counter in the central lobby.

A glance at his phone—it was only 7 p.m.

He walked over with a smile. “Xiao Guo, meeting a friend?”

Familiar voice in her ear, Guo Yao instinctively turned around—Xu Mo had somehow appeared right behind her.

He didn’t know about the team dinner that evening.

She pointed toward the private room. “Having dinner with colleagues. Secretary Xu, you’re still working?”

The sharp-eyed girl had spotted the white folder in his hands and guessed most of the story.

“Just tying up loose ends before the weekend,” Xu Mo replied. Then, as a reminder, he added, “It’s Friday again—don’t forget the main task.”

The “main task” naturally referred to her routine weekly report.

Remembering how she had ghosted the leader last week, Guo Yao felt a surge of guilt—especially since Xu Mo had taken an earful in her place over a misunderstanding with her predecessor.

She gave a solemn promise: “I wouldn’t dare forget. I’ll be online, on time, I swear.”

Xu Mo only smiled, saying nothing.

He had a feeling tonight’s email might not even be necessary.

Two minutes later—

Xu Mo entered the second-to-last room in the hallway, just in time to hear the director of the Development and Reform Commission say, “It’s really noisy next door. I’ll go ask a waiter what’s going on.”

The soundproofing here wasn’t great, and the young folks were clearly enjoying themselves.

Hearing this, Director Zhang put down his teacup and cautiously observed the expression on Zhou Zhengliang’s face. Seeing no visible reaction, he offered an apologetic comment: “Poor venue choice—my oversight.”

Everyone knew Secretary Zhou disliked extravagance. To cater to his preferences, they’d specifically chosen a quiet and modest spot—but it still wasn’t up to par.

Seeing how uncomfortable Director Zhang looked, Xu Mo closed the door and tried to ease the tension. “It’s the Project Division from the Economic Planning Department having a team-building dinner. I’ll go over and ask them to keep it down.”

Economic Planning Department?

So it was their own people causing the ruckus.

Realizing he was part of the story now, the director chuckled awkwardly. “Wait, I’ll go check it out myself.”

He was just about to stand up when Zhou Zhengliang raised his hand to stop him.

With a calm expression, Zhou flipped through the white folder and said evenly, “Team building at the grassroots level is rare enough—don’t spoil the mood.”

Ah.

So… switch rooms instead?

Xu Mo quickly understood and went to make arrangements.

The group moved upstairs.

As they passed the room across the hall, the dark wooden door was slightly ajar. Laughter and chatter spilled out, the atmosphere peaking as the team played a game of Truth or Dare.

By pure coincidence, Comrade Guo, surrounded by egging-on colleagues, blushed as she reached into the mystery box to draw a question.

Zhou Zhengliang instinctively paused in his tracks.

The director and Director Zhang, walking just behind him, also stopped and looked over, their eyes falling on the group of young staff members.

Incredibly unlucky—Guo Yao had picked a “Rapid-Fire Question” card.

She had to answer three questions in a row without hesitation. Any pause, and she’d have to take a drink as punishment.

Resigned, she mentally braced herself and nodded for the questioner to begin.

The female colleague holding the cards saw the first question and immediately smirked.

Clearing her throat, she asked, “Xiao Guo, when was your first date?”

“…”

No time to think.

Guo Yao answered blankly, “Half a year ago.”

Most of the department already knew she had broken up with her rich boyfriend. They’d been worried the game would upset her, but seeing how calmly she answered, they felt reassured.

Second Question.

The female colleague continued, “Name a member of the opposite sex you’ve had physical contact with recently. Family members don’t count, and neither do formal handshakes.”

What kind of lousy question was that?

Why would she randomly have physical contact with a man? The person in question shook her head and said, “No one.”

No one believed her, so she had to take a drink.

The girl’s sulky expression looked particularly innocent. A faint, imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Zhou Zhengliang’s lips.

She knew nothing about what happened that night.

Fortunately, Aunt Liu had kept her mouth shut.

The final question was about the dating standards of single women.

Specifically: “So, Xiao Gu, how much older than you could you accept your future partner being?”

Age…

Gu Yao answered honestly: “About three years older, preferably no more than five.”

A three-year gap is already a generational difference. Any more than that would feel strange—more like looking for a companion than a husband.

Outside the private room.

The moment her answer came out, Xu Mo’s eyelid twitched involuntarily. He instinctively held his breath and snuck a glance at the big boss’s reaction.

Internally, he was shaken. They were a whole zodiac cycle apart.

Wasn’t that a hopeless case?

On the surface, Zhou Zhengliang’s expression didn’t change, but as he turned to walk toward the elevator, the aura surrounding him dropped a few degrees.

The Director of the Development and Reform Commission and Director Zhang of the Housing Bureau were, as they say, blessed by ignorance. They sensed something off but didn’t understand the deeper implications, so they simply followed along.

Xu Mo had it harder.

In the quiet corridor, one look at the man’s cold, tightly clenched jawline was enough to know he wasn’t in a good mood.

Sweating bullets—such was the life of a civil servant.

What kind of hell was this?

The dinner went on for two hours. Seeing everyone still having fun with no intention to leave, Gu Yao privately went to the section chief and explained her reason for needing to leave early.

Every Friday, she was scheduled to report to Secretary Zhou.

Having shirked her responsibility too many times, Xu Dongping had nearly forgotten.

“Alright, alright,” he nodded. “I’ll cover your fare back. Just be safe, and don’t forget to post your license plate number in the group chat.”

Classic “three-piece care package” from Chief Xu.

If he followed through every time, his entire monthly salary would go to covering taxi fees.

Gu Yao returned to her seat, picked up her phone and bag, politely informed her colleagues, and left the room.

While waiting for the elevator, a group of people approached from behind.

At first, she didn’t pay attention. But when she sensed someone getting closer, she turned slightly—and the moment she saw who it was, her expression froze.

“Yaoyao.”

Usually spirited and arrogant, Young Master Cheng now looked visibly haggard.

Because of the breakup?

No.

Rumor had it his family was forcing him into an arranged marriage.

But that had absolutely nothing to do with Gu Yao.

She calmly averted her gaze and turned her head away without acknowledging him.

Cheng Mu’s expression dimmed, but he couldn’t help clinging to one last sliver of hope. He gave a bitter smile and asked, “Yaoyao, even now, do you still believe that what happened that night was on purpose?”

Chatting with an ex in public? Not Gu Yao’s thing.

Besides, not far away, a bunch of rich boys were clearly watching the drama unfold.

As the elevator numbers ticked down, the atmosphere between them grew increasingly tense.

Seeing she remained unmoved, Cheng Mu grew desperate. He suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, trying to pull her into his arms.

“Are you insane?!”

Gu Yao frowned and shouted, forcefully breaking free and stumbling back several steps.

Just then, the elevator arrived.

Inside the chilly cabin stood the Director of the Reform Commission and Director Zhang from the Housing Bureau. In the center was Zhou Zhengliang himself.

The scene of the young woman struggling with her ex came into full view.

The man’s presence turned cold in an instant. His sharp gaze locked silently onto the Cheng family’s second son, lingered for two seconds, then shifted calmly to the girl.

Realizing too late, Gu Yao snapped back to her senses.

She composed herself, gave a respectful nod to the officials inside, and stood motionless at the doorway, making no move to enter.

Time passed.

The elevator doors slowly closed.

Then—ding—they opened again.

Gu Yao instinctively looked up, her eyes locking with the man’s deep, piercing gaze across the not-too-far distance.

Silence stretched between them.

Zhou Zhengliang stood on the right side of the metallic wall, his hand resting on the floor button panel. His eyes were cold, heavy with pressure. It was clear he was stepping in to protect his subordinate.

His gaze warned the man outside the elevator: as an ex, you’d better behave like one. If you dare cause trouble again, don’t think he won’t find time to invite Hengyuan Group’s chairman over for tea at Yufeng.

In that moment, it felt like something dropped into the depths of a lake, rippling softly in the girl’s heart.

Was the big boss… helping her?

As she stood frozen, the man spoke in a low, commanding tone:

“Gu Yao, get in.”