Chapter 18: I want to chase after her, will I succeed?

  Liu Siyuan couldn't concentrate at all, mainly because he was thinking about his date with Fang Xinyi tonight. Would she have any feelings for him? A bold thought suddenly emerged, but he immediately shook his head to dismiss it. Fang Xinyi not only looked stunning, but also had both talent and beauty, far surpassing him in terms of official career. Moreover, her family background was obviously good, as evidenced by the two bottles of Feitian Maotai wine she casually took out last time. From any aspect, he felt that he was not worthy of her.

  "Think far." Xing Jun's voice broke his train of thought.

  "Ah, what's wrong with Brother Xing?" he asked back, raising his head.

  "Want to go out for a smoke?"

  Liu Siyuan doesn't smoke, Xing Jun is very clear about this, obviously he has something to say. Liu Siyuan nodded and followed him out.

  The government building is located in the center of Hanjiang City, covering a vast area, where there are some quiet places, such as the small forest where the two people are now, and it's probably only the government building that can create such a small forest in the heart of the city.

  He knew that Xing Jun had been very downhearted recently, and it was understandable. The recent organizational restructuring made him thoroughly understand that everyone in the inspection room had a backstage. First, Zhang Jinsong had the backing of the municipal party committee secretary-general, but he still lost to Yao Yuan in the competition. Zhang Jinping quietly walked through some kind of connection and became deputy director. There was also Liu Siyuan, whose backstage was even more powerful, and he was placed in such a good position, openly preparing to rush to the regular department level.

  "When are you leaving for Spring Festival this year?" Xing Jun asked casually as he lit a cigarette.

  "Haha, I originally wanted to take a few days off and leave early, but it seems like that's not going to happen now. The boss just assigned me a task, you know how it is."

  "Thinking of you, I envy you." Xing Jun said calmly after blowing out a ring of smoke.

  "I'm just a bit luckier, that's all."

  "Isn't that enough? You're only 21 and already a deputy department head, and now you've solidified your position as the second-in-command of the department. As long as you don't make any mistakes, I estimate it'll take at least a year or two before you become the department head. In official circles, being one step ahead is what matters, and if you can get to that position by 23, with Director Ouyang as your backing, your future prospects will be limitless." Xing Jun sighed.

  "Xing Ge, these are all assumptions, what if I make a mistake? Hehe." Liu Siyuan said with a smile.

  Xing Jun looked at him for a while, patted his shoulder and said: "Si Yuan, the fact that you can think this way shows your political maturity. Everyone makes mistakes, it's not scary to make mistakes, what's scary is offending the leaders. Offending some leaders doesn't matter, like Ouyang Qian who isn't afraid of offending Zhang Jinping. But if you don't have a powerful backer, then offending the leader means you're finished, for example, me."

  "Xing Ge, I think you don't need to be discouraged, Zhang Ge won't always hold the position of department head." Liu Siyuan's words were enough. The one who is most qualified to take over as department head now is naturally Xing Jun.

  "Things are hard to predict, what if I get laid off?" Xing Jun said with a bitter smile. "Not to mention that even the deputy director is still unclear when he will be settled."

  Liu Siyuan was also speechless for a moment, indeed as he said, there were too many uncertain factors in officialdom.

  "Si Yuan, you and Ouyang Qian really don't have anything going on? Don't you have another girlfriend?" Xing Jun asked after hesitating for a moment. This was probably his true intention.

  "Hey, I really don't have much of a relationship with her, believe it or not. I'm not interested in her." Liu Siyuan replied honestly.

  "Are you not interested in marrying the daughter of a minister?" Xing Jun asked back with some surprise.

  "I'm still young, I don't think that much, besides, I have self-awareness, the Minister of Organization's daughter is out of my league." Liu Siyuan shrugged indifferently. As he said, it wasn't that he had no interest in the Minister of Organization's daughter at all, but rather he didn't expect Ouyang Qian to actually take a liking to him.

  "You're too modest. I think Ouyang Qian is quite interested in you. Not that I'm saying, but probably the whole inspection room, only you can handle her." Xing Jun said thoughtfully.

  "That's because Comrade Ouyang has a strong sense of organization and respects me as his leader." Liu Siyuan said nonchalantly.

  "Save it." Xing Jun said with a smile, after a while he said: "Can you help me out, Si Yuan?"

  "Say what you will, as long as it gets done."

  "Are you saying I should go after Ouyang Qiancheng?" Xing Jun asked with a look of expectation.

  Liu Siyuan was taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Whether this can be done or not, you have to ask her yourself. Although I am her leader, I also cannot interfere with her personal affairs."

  "I understand, I just need you to promise to help me as much as possible."

  Liu Siyuan thought for a moment and felt that he couldn't say anything definite, so he said: "Alright, I'll definitely help if I can. However, Brother Xing, forgive me for speaking bluntly, it's a bit difficult."

  "I still want to give it a try." Xing Jun extinguished his cigarette butt with force.

  Yuan Yuan Tea House is not far from Hanjiang University, the environment is average, but it has a high cost performance. Eighteen yuan for unlimited drinks is really attractive to student friends.

  When Liu Siyuan entered, Fang Xinyi was already waiting inside. He noticed that she had chosen a position in the deepest and most inconspicuous place. There was a kind of temperament on her body that was difficult to describe with language. Sitting there, she was like a flower from the high mountains, quietly isolated, and fragrant as if born.

  "Have you had dinner?" He sat down and asked casually.

  "Not yet, I'm a bit off appetite." Fang Xinyi said lightly, taking a sip of her favorite jasmine tea.

  "What's wrong? Are you ill?" he asked anxiously.

  "Nothing much, have you eaten?" Fang Xinyu shook her head and asked back.

  "I didn't either, I just added a shift and came over directly." Liu Siyuan hastily said.

  "Uh, then order some food." After that, she chose silence, with a look of deep concern.

  Liu Siyuan could only choose to break this awkward silence and said: "Xin Yi, this time our inspection room's organizational structure has undergone significant adjustments."

  Fang Xinyu nodded and said: "I know, I heard it from Xiaohui. Congratulations, you are now a deputy department head in name, and the real department head position is just around the corner."

  "It's still early for this, Liu Siyuan shook his head and said."

  "I think it's been about half a year." Fang Xinyi said suddenly. Xing Jun's judgment was at least one year, and at most two years, which was already a relatively radical judgment. Generally, the organizational principle is to promote one level in at least three years. But Fang Xinyi actually said half a year, that would be an unprecedented promotion, he had just been promoted exceptionally once, it's hard to imagine being promoted exceptionally again, he smiled and said: "This is too exceptional, it won't be accepted by everyone."

  "As long as you have achievements, and Mayor Chen and Minister Ouyang support you, who dares to disobey?" Fang Xinyi's voice was not loud, but it had a certain momentum when heard in his ear.

  "Hey, my grades are all about your Hanjiang University thing, and I used up all the minor subjects." Liu Siyuan said with a self-deprecating smile.

  "Fang Xinyu immediately said: 'Who says that? Isn't there still the idle land in Beihong District? Didn't Tengfei start construction already? How is this not an achievement? Moreover, I heard that Hu Tianfang is negotiating with Tengfei to transfer the land in his hands.'"

  Liu Siyuan was shocked, "Ah?! Really?! Hu Tianfang really wants to transfer?! Ah, how did you know?"

  Aware that Fang Xinrui's words were embarrassing, he smiled awkwardly without directly answering the question. "Huh, isn't it Brother Siyuan who convinced him? Why not his grades?" Fang Xinrui asked seriously after taking a sip of her drink.

  "Well, even if that's the case, it would only allow developers to develop a few plots of land ahead of schedule. This small achievement is still far from meeting the standards for breaking through."

  "Your grades are indeed average, but don't forget, you saved Master Hu's son." Fang Xinyi said with profound meaning.

  "What did you say?" Liu Siyuan didn't react for a moment.

  "If a joint investigation team from the Ministry of Land and Resources and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development comes down, you would have really saved him and his father." Fang Xinyi said after some thought.

  "Not a single stroke of the eight characters is correct." Liu Siyuan said with a scowl. After a while, he couldn't help but say: "Xin Yi seems to know my business very well."

  Fang Xin Yu was taken aback for a moment before saying, "It's all because you and Xiao Hui kept telling me in my ear that it's hard to know what to think."

  Liu Siyuan smiled awkwardly, and it seemed that was indeed the case. He often wasn't quite clear about things, especially when his laptop ignored him, he would go listen to her opinions.

  Fang Xinyu suddenly fell into a silence, lowering her head to continue drinking her beverage, lost in thought.

  Liu Siyuan didn't have her composure, after a while she really couldn't help but ask: "Xin Yi, what did you want to find me for today?"

  "Nothing, just..." Fang Xinyi looked like she wanted to say something but stopped herself.

  "Speak," he urged.

  "What is your relationship with Xiaohui now?" Fang Xintu asked after a pause.

  "This... I'm not quite sure," Liu Siyuan said hesitantly, and then continued in an uncertain tone: "Considered good friends?"

  "Good friends? They're cohabiting, and..." Fang Xinyi glared at him, saying. Liu Siyuan felt that her tone had an inexplicable flavor to it, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

  "Where is it? Where is it......"

  "Xiao Hui told me everything and even moved the things to your place, but you still won't admit it." Fang Xin Yi's tone was slightly unpleasant.

  Liu Siyuan fell silent for a moment, which was tantamount to acquiescence.

  "Do you really like her?" Fang Xintu swirled the cup in his hand and asked.

  "Why ask this? Of course I like her, Xiao Hui is a good girl." Liu Siyuan asked back with a curious mind.

  "Nothing, just wanted to confirm." Fang Xinyu smiled, but it was a bit forced.

  "There are some things I don't quite understand either, anyway it's pretty relaxing being with her. Xīn Yí, what's wrong with you today?"

  Fang Xinyu nodded thoughtfully and said lightly, "Nothing, I asked you out just to remind you that Xiaohui is a good girl, don't let her down."

  Liu Siyuan vaguely felt something, and indeed what was meant to come would eventually come. Fang Xinyi continued: "What's the relationship between you and Ouyang Minister's daughter? I'm telling you, don't think about one thing while eating another. If you dare to wrong Xiao Hui, I won't let you off easy!"