Chapter Thirty-Three: The Noose

  Xia Chuchu saw Li Jingya also started a joke with Ye Ming, her heart was both shy and sweet, her eyes kept glancing at Ye Ming, but she saw him sitting seriously next to Secretary Li, his face wearing a polite and indifferent smile, as if he didn't take the joke seriously at all, and her heart couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.

  Actually, just as Xia Chuchu had guessed, Ye Ming never thought that he would have a romantic relationship with Xia Chuchu, and indeed did not take these jokes seriously. In his heart, someone like Chen Yi, who is gentle, quiet, virtuous and considerate, is his ideal lover. While Xia Chuchu is lively and beautiful, she is indeed not the type of person he likes.

  What's more important is that he felt there was too much of a gap between him and Xia Chuchu, whether it be in terms of family background, social status or other aspects: he was just a small public servant, while the other was a famous TV host; he was an orphan from a small county town, while the other was the precious daughter of the provincial tax bureau director...

  So he thought Xia Chuchu was absolutely impossible to like this "country bumpkin", "old turtle". Just now, Director Xu and others were just joking, it's just that they saw two young people with similar talents together, and casually said a few words to help the excitement. And Xia Chuchu is interested in him, it's just because he saved Secretary Li's life, she thinks it's very curious. Moreover, she now wants to pull him onto her "Romantic Hand-in-Hand" show, so she would go to K City to visit him...

  That afternoon, Ye Ming, Xia Chuchu and Xu Fei had been accompanying the three members of Li Secretary's family at his home, chatting and laughing together, and having lunch there. Then the three people bid farewell and left.

  After walking downstairs, Xia Chuchu glanced at Ye Ming and asked, "Country bumpkin, do you have any plans for this afternoon? Do you want me to take you around the provincial city to broaden your horizons?"

  Ye Ming smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Xia! I really want to take a ride in your luxury car and cruise around the streets of the provincial city. Unfortunately, I still have some business to attend to at the provincial bureau, so I'll have to leave now."

  Xia Chuchu let out a hum from her nose, then ignored him, got into the car and started the engine, speeding away from the provincial bureau's residential compound like an arrow.

  Ye Ming followed Xue Fei to his office. Xue Fei first closed the door, then made him a cup of tea, and sat face-to-face with him on the sofa, lowering his voice to say: "Xiao Ye, thank you! Today you took me to Secretary Li's house, which achieved the effect I expected. Next step, I also have a plan, but still need your introduction and cooperation."

  "What do you plan to do?"

  Xu Fei smiled mysteriously and said, "This is temporarily confidential, you'll understand when the time comes. Do you remember? Just now at Secretary Li's home for dinner, Chu Chu mentioned that in five days it will be Secretary Li's mother's birthday, and you also said you wanted to go celebrate with the old lady. On that day, just call me to accompany you."

  Ye Ming nodded and said: "Okay. I have to go back to Xinleng County first today, take a look at the situation over there, and think about my future plans. I'll come again on Old Lady's birthday."

  The next morning, Ye Ming appeared at the bureau at 8 o'clock sharp.

  When signing in, Ye Ming found that his colleagues in the office suddenly became affectionate towards him. Every person he met smiled and greeted him warmly. Even Zhang Dongfang, who had always been cold to him, came over enthusiastically and shook hands with him, telling him that the municipal bureau had already passed on internal news that his major demerit punishment would be revoked soon.

  Ye Ming walked into the office amidst a chorus of greetings and hellos, only to see Chen Yi's cheeks flushed red as she stood beside her desk, smiling at him.

  Ye Ming also smiled and looked at her, the two people's eyes met, their eyes conveying a deep affection, both of them having a warm feeling in their hearts.

  At this moment, Director Chen Weiping pushed the door and walked in. As soon as he saw Ye Ming, his face immediately showed his classic flattering smile, and he said in a low voice: "Xiao Ye, you're back? Congratulations to you, the municipal bureau's office has already issued a notice, requiring us to organize capable personnel to collect and sort out your outstanding deeds, and form materials to report upwards. They are preparing to apply for the provincial honorary title of 'See Justice and Brave as a Pioneer'. Director Li attaches great importance to this matter, and yesterday he convened a party group meeting to study the issue of your application for honors. By the way, I just came from his office, and he asked me to inform you: Please go to his office for a visit, there is something very important to discuss with you."

  Ye Ming sneered and said, "There's nothing for me to discuss with him. If he has any requests, he can just tell me directly, no need to talk about it behind people's backs."

  Chen Weiping smiled awkwardly and didn't dare say anything else, turning around and heading back to the fourth floor director's office.

  Soon, Li Li appeared at the office door.

  Two days without seeing him, Li Li seemed to have aged a lot all at once: his complexion was dull and grey, his beard was unkempt, and the usually sleek and shiny queue on the back of his head now looked somewhat disheveled, completely losing its usual proud and arrogant demeanor.

  At this time, he had a smile on his face, but the smile looked awkward no matter how you looked at it, and it was even uglier than crying.

  As soon as Chen Yi saw him, he immediately fell face down and turned around and walked out of the office.

  Li Li saw Chen Yi disappear at the door, and quickly closed the office door. The smile on his face that was more difficult to look at than crying was soon replaced by a flustered expression. He rushed over to Ye Ming's side, grasping his right hand like a lifeline, and said with a sobbing tone: "Brother, if I've ever wronged you in any way, please forgive me! This time, please save me! If you don't forgive me and don't save me, I'm done for, completely done for..."

  It turned out that after returning from Baozhu County the day before yesterday, Li Li received several pieces of news that were like thunder on a clear day: First, several heads of tax-paying units who had a good relationship with him and had given him a lot of money, such as Nie Mai, the financial director of Xinleng Steel Factory, Li Hong, the chairman of Julong Real Estate Company, and Xia Hao, the general manager of Xinyuan Coal Industry Co., Ltd., had all been taken away by the case-handling personnel of the K City Discipline Inspection Commission and the Anti-Corruption Bureau for investigation; Second, his two mistresses suddenly disappeared without a word over the past two days, presumably also taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Anti-Corruption Bureau; Third, yesterday Qiu Shunming called to tell him that someone from the Provincial Bureau had leaked the news that he would be transferred to the Provincial Bureau as the director of the Wage Payment Center in the near future, and a new bureau chief was also being planned...

  These messages, like a series of blunt clubs hitting him in the face, left Li Li dazed and disoriented. He clearly felt that a noose had been placed around his neck, and this noose was tightening step by step, suffocating him...

  These two days, his inner fear was like a flood, wave after wave, completely destroying his self-esteem and confidence.

  He knew: Now the only one who can untie this noose for himself is Ye Ming! In order not to be strangled, in order not to go to prison, the only way is to go and beg Ye Ming to pull him up, to save him...

  He could no longer maintain the dignity of the party secretary and director, nor could he care about his identity and status as the first-in-command, and humbly came to beg Ye Ming.

  He even thought: as long as Ye Ming agreed to save himself, even if he had to kneel down, he would do so without hesitation...