Chapter 83 Old Acquaintance, Looking for Trouble

  Three people were waiting in the private room for a while when Mayor Wang arrived, alone and unaccompanied. He wore a long black woolen coat, tall and slender, with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his face, and a faint smile playing on his lips. His first impression on Su Mo was one of refinement and elegance, but the second impression was that of a cunning fox behind a smiling face, and the third impression was that he was surprisingly young. This leader was indeed very young, and it seemed that such a youthful mayor would be hard to find in Z country's government leadership.

  Ji Lan and Li Yang had already stood up after seeing the private room door open, while Su Mo Ruo naturally followed suit, walking to the front of the young mayor first. "Mayor Wang, nice to meet you, I'm Su Mo Ruo, it's great that you could make time to come over tonight."

  Mayor Wang stared at the young girl in front of him without blinking. Such a young girl? Could it be that this is the young female CEO that Ji Lan mentioned? However, as someone who has experienced all sorts of storms, his adaptability was not ordinary, and he quickly calmed down, chuckled, "CEO Su, I presume?"

  With a faint smile, although it's faint, there is still a hint of a smile, at least this doesn't lose politeness, "Hehe, yes."

  Ji Lan listened to this and knew that Su Mo Ruo seemed a bit cold when interacting with people, but after all, Mayor Wang was in charge of the economy in Donghai. As the mayor of such an important city, he was under 40 years old, which made it clear how powerful his family background was, and his own abilities were strong as well. Someone like him would only bring benefits, not harm, if you maintained a good relationship with him.

  Hurriedly continuing Su Mo's words, he walked to the front of Mayor Wang, "Mayor Wang, long time no see, didn't expect you've become the mayor of Donghai City, still so young, really can't tell."

  When he saw Ji Lan, Mayor Wang's face was also filled with a smile. In those years, Ji Lan was the object of his infatuation, but she was snatched away by another man. Over the years, they had lost contact, and it wasn't until recently that they reconnected. Today, seeing Ji Lan again, he felt the same way, even more charming and captivating than before. Her dressing sense had become more elegant, as if heaven had given her special treatment. As time passed, she remained youthful and beautiful, just like when they first met, but with an added air of mystery that made her even more alluring.

  "It's been a long time since I've seen you, Ah Lan. I didn't expect that we would meet again." Time has passed, she found the one she likes and spent her life with him, while he also followed his family's wishes and got married. Between them now lies an insurmountable chasm, unable to be crossed, leaving only a friendship in its place.

  But soon he was relieved, originally thought that it was hopeless for them to meet in this life, but unexpectedly, they could still see each other.

  "Mayor Wang, I'm already a married woman, and you're still calling me like that. Be careful or my husband might hear it and become dissatisfied with you." Ji Lan looked at the man in front of her, thinking about how she had missed his pursuit back then. Now that they were meeting again, although there was some regret in her heart, what she felt more was satisfaction that they could meet again and he still treated her as a friend.

  "Haha, it's been a long time since we last met, Ah Lan is still so fond of joking." Wang Qihua smiled elegantly and walked towards the center of the private room, smiling at Li Yang standing beside him, without any airs.

  Su Mo and Li Yang were both stunned, neither of them had expected that the mayor of Donghai City, who was in charge of economy and ranked second, would turn out to be an old acquaintance of Ji Lan's, and their relationship seemed to be more than ordinary.

  Ji Lan responded with a smile, but didn't say much more. He turned his head and took the wine that the waiter had prepared next to him and handed it to Wang Qihua, "I remember you liked this wine back then. I've poured some for you, but I don't know if your taste has changed."

  Holding a glass of whiskey, his eyes were deep and profound, with a hint of bitterness flashing across the corners of his mouth, but it was fleeting. His gaze was distant, and he quickly regained his composure. "I'm a person who holds onto memories, the flavors from back then are hard to forget. Although I've been drinking less in recent years, this whiskey is still my favorite."

  Ji Lan's eyes paused for a moment upon hearing this, but quickly recovered as he shook his head, "Your mouth is still the same as it was back then. After all these years have passed and you're now the mayor of Donghai City, if your subordinates were to hear you say something like that, who knows how they'd look at you."

  "Haha, yeah, it's only when I'm facing old friends like you that I can show this side of myself. It's a rare chance to relax, isn't it?" Wang Qihua's elegant smile hung on his lips, giving off an extremely comfortable feeling as he walked straight over and sat down on the sofa.

  "Open this bottle of wine." Wang Qihua beckoned the waitress over and handed her the wine.

  "Alright." The waiter smiled slightly and politely took it over to one side.

  "Director Su, I've also been friends with Ji Lan for many years. Since we all have such a good relationship, I hope we can interact like friends and not make the atmosphere too formal, okay?" Wang Qihua shifted his gaze to Su Mo and smiled slightly.

  Su Mo looked at Wang Qihua, and the first impression this man gave her was still okay. She admired people who were young but held high positions. Such people not only needed a strong family background, but also had to have equivalent abilities. If they didn't, no matter how good their family background was, it would be hard for people to feel at ease putting them in such a high position, especially as the mayor of a key city like Donghai.

  "Now that Mayor Wang has said so, if I were to decline again, it would seem impolite."

  "Haha, General Su is indeed a man of few words, yet he has achieved so much at such a young age. I must say, I'm truly impressed." Wang Qihua had actually already recognized Su Mo as the birthday party for Ning Tianyang that day was attended by many prominent figures from both the political and business worlds, including himself. The scene where they were reunited had also caught his attention, and he couldn't help but be shocked by the fact that this young girl was actually the eldest son of the Ning family, Commander of the Beijing Military Region, with such an impressive identity and background.

  But this girl, disdainful of Ning's family, refused to acknowledge them, yet unexpectedly, through her own efforts, she was able to achieve such accomplishments.

  Ji Lan is a legendary figure on Wall Street, and although they lost contact later, she eventually disappeared from the scene as well. However, her talent and abilities are undeniable, and it's astonishing that she would willingly work for someone like him, unless this girl has some unique charm that can make Ji Lan proud to serve her.

  Inside the private room, a circle of black leather sofas stood in the center, surrounded by crystal curtains. The lighting was dim and there was soft music playing in the background. "Mayor Wang, we asked you out this time because we want to discuss something with you." Ji Lan took the lead, being an acquaintance, it was only natural that she would take charge of this matter.

  Upon hearing this, Wang Qihua's eyes revealed a hint of a smile as he stroked his gold-rimmed glasses. "Ah Lan, I'm in charge of the economy, so naturally I hope more businesses will settle in our Donghai and contribute to its prosperity. If you want to set up a company here and develop real estate, I'd be delighted - you're exactly the kind of people I should be courting. How come it's your turn to invite me today?"

  Wang Qihua speaks humorously, and with that elegant expression, it truly makes people feel good about him from the bottom of their hearts.

  This man, at a young age, has risen to a high position, and is indeed not an ordinary person. Su Mo Ruo, listening from the side, already felt that Wang Qi Hua was not simple.

  "Haha, since that's the case, then let's have a drink?" Ji Lan picked up the wine that the waiter had already poured for them earlier, with a faint smile and clear eyes.

  "Come." Wang Qihua followed Ji Lan's voice and raised his glass, Su Moruo also raised his glass with Ji Lan, the four of them clinked glasses together, in the not-so-noisy private room, it sounded exceptionally clear.

  Four people had just finished drinking, the private room was pushed open by someone, revealing a head, looking like he should be around fifty years old. After seeing the situation inside the private room, he suddenly showed a smile, with a big belly, clearly a standard official in Z country's government circle, eating to that extent, having a big belly, looks like he has many social engagements and drinks a lot of wine.

  "Mayor Wang, it's really you! Just now outside, Little Zhang said he saw you and I was guessing whether it was really you or not. As expected, after thinking about it for a moment, I decided to come over and take a look. If it's you, of course, I have to greet you first, right?" The middle-aged man had a smile all over his face, and as he spoke, the door to the private room was already open, and he walked in, followed by several other middle-aged men who were about the same age as him, each with a smile on their face looking at Su Mo Ruo.

  I didn't expect to run into Housing Bureau Director He Tian Gang here. When it comes to people around him, he still makes a clear distinction. This Director of the Housing Bureau has been acting strangely and ambiguously since he took office in Donghai a year ago. Every time he encounters him, he is polite on the surface but insincere at heart, which has almost triggered his anger several times. However, He Tian Gang remains nonchalant, like a dead pig that isn't afraid of being scalded by boiling water. She also knows that He Tian Gang is aware that she can't do anything to him now, after all, he was promoted by the Municipal Party Secretary and is a trusted aide. At least for now, she hasn't found a suitable excuse to deal with him.

  But today let him see, it is indeed what he did not expect.

  This is not to say that He Tian Ge is scary, but rather that he often sticks to you like syrup and won't let go. Getting involved with him means getting into a lot of trouble. Being entangled with someone like him can be described as being bitten by a mad dog - once he bites onto something, he won't let go. And today, he's brought several people with him, clearly with ill intentions.