Chapter 985 - 950: It’s Because of You

Xu Chunliang understood in his heart that the visit from Secretary Zhou and his wife indeed had reasons related to Zhen Chun, but another reason was his own relationship with the Ye Family now. Secretary Zhou was lifted up by Elder Ye, and there’s no way he doesn’t understand the subtleties involved.

Secretary Zhou exchanged a few pleasantries with Xu Changshan, keeping a low profile and being humble.

Xu Changshan gradually adapted, and said with a smile, "Didn’t Deming come with you?"

Secretary Zhou replied, "Oh, he recently went to Xiangjiang for school."

Even Xu Chunliang didn’t know about this, and expressed some surprise: "Wasn’t he studying in the Capital City?"

Secretary Zhou said, "An exchange student at Chinese University for a year. The school happened to offer this opportunity, he applied, and unexpectedly, he got it."

Shu Yao said, "The two kids have a good relationship. We support it too. Studying there means he won’t have to fly back and forth all the time. Our salary gets spent on those plane tickets."

Everyone laughed.

Xu Changshan said, "Great! Deming is both smart and steady. My granddaughter has always been spoiled and a little temperamental. I hope you’ll be tolerant of her."

Secretary Zhou smiled and said, "Zhen Chun is kind-hearted, and most importantly, she is especially good to our Deming."

Xu Chunliang quietly observed Shu Yao’s expression and noticed that when Secretary Zhou mentioned Zhen Chun, her smile was genuine, so he felt at ease. It seemed that Zhen Chun was indeed to Shu Yao’s taste.

Secretary Zhou asked about Xu Chunliang’s recent work, and Xu Chunliang gave a brief report.

Secretary Zhou nodded repeatedly, feeling somewhat relieved. Actually, the person really implicated in the Dongzhou Barbecue incident was him. Back then, if he was willing, he could have kept Fu Guomin and the others safe, but at that time, he had no heart to care about such trivial matters. Thinking back, he felt some guilt towards these people, especially Fu Guomin. If he hadn’t brought Fu Guomin back to Dongzhou to set up the Culture and Tourism Bureau, things wouldn’t have ended this way.

Regrets cannot be undone. Secretary Zhou drinking tea, thought silently to himself, when the era abandons you, it won’t even say goodbye. During this time, he has already adjusted his mindset.

Xu Chunliang’s phone rang; it was Ye Qingya, who came this time at the invitation of senior sister Ling Hongzhou to attend the Dongzhou Culture and Tourism Expo.

She used to have no interest in these social activities, but she came this time certainly not for Ling Hongzhou’s sake. She almost accepted the invitation without hesitation, knowing well the reason.

Upon arriving in Dongzhou, the first thing Ye Qingya did was contact Xu Chunliang, and he offered to pick her up, only to find that Ye Qingya had already arrived at Hidden Lake Villa.

Xu Chunliang went out to welcome Ye Qingya, telling her on the way that Secretary Zhou and his wife were also present. Hearing this, Ye Qingya hesitated a bit. She was familiar with Secretary Zhou, but meeting at the Xu family might provoke thoughts?

Xu Chunliang said, "He is here to visit my grandpa."

Ye Qingya was inspired by this: "Indeed, I also came this time commissioned by my grandpa to visit Grandpa Xu."

When Ye Qingya entered, Secretary Zhou and his wife stood up to welcome her, actually, they didn’t have to given their senior status, but Ye Qingya’s background meant that they dared not neglect her.

Ye Qingya first greeted Grandpa Xu, handed over gifts, and then greeted Uncle Zhou. She wasn’t familiar with Shu Yao.

Shu Yao warmly held Ye Qingya’s hand and said, "Qingya, you don’t remember me? Auntie held you when you were little." Shu Yao rarely got so close to others, but Ye Qingya wasn’t just anyone; she was Elder Ye’s granddaughter.

Secretary Zhou had once worked in collaboration with Ye Changyuan in the past, a history Ye Qingya knew. Reminded by Shu Yao, she tried hard to remember, and there seemed to be vague impressions, so she smiled and said, "Hello Shu Auntie, you’re still so youthful and beautiful."

Shu Yao laughed, "Really?"

Secretary Zhou said, "Qingya is just being polite, and you take it seriously."

Shu Yao playfully admonished him, and everyone laughed, the atmosphere lightening considerably.

Secretary Zhou did not plan to stay too long, he had a welcome party to attend in the evening, so he bid farewell.

Xu Changshan stood up to see him off, but Secretary Zhou stopped him, and Xu Chunliang escorted Secretary Zhou and his wife to their car. Secretary Zhou asked Shu Yao to get in first and stood by the car, saying to Xu Chunliang, "Xiaoxu, seeing what you’ve achieved today makes me very proud. I caused you a lot of trouble following me in the past."

Xu Chunliang thought to himself that he wasn’t qualified to follow him, yet it was quite remarkable for someone like him to say such things. Xu Chunliang replied, "Uncle Zhou, please don’t think too much about it. The most important thing now is to take care of your health, as your son and daughter-in-law will rely on you for grandchildren in the future."

Secretary Zhou laughed heartily, feeling an indescribable melancholy. His career path had indeed reached an end, and now it’s time to consider enjoying his later years.

He got in the car and waved, Xu Chunliang waved back, waiting until the car had gone far before returning inside.

Shu Yao saw her husband’s complex expression, reached out, and held his hand, feeling a bit cold, softly asking, "Is the air conditioning too cold?"

Secretary Zhou shook his head: "It’s fine. I was just thinking about how Xiaoxu really is a great kid, it’s a pity I didn’t help him much."

Shu Yao laughed, "He doesn’t need you to help; you didn’t notice Qingya’s look just now."

Secretary Zhou was momentarily stunned; indeed, women pay more attention to such details. Now thinking back, although Ye Qingya tried to restrain herself, the gaze that inadvertently fell on Xu Chunliang was full of sweetness. Could it be these two kids—Secretary Zhou didn’t think further; it’s better not to gossip about young people’s affairs.

Shu Yao said, "Everyone has their own fortunes. By the way, did Xiaoxu and Mei Ru Xue really split up?"

Secretary Zhou said, "I also heard about it."

Shu Yao said, "I really can’t figure this out. What’s the deal with Qiao Rulong? Letting go of such a good wife..."

Secretary Zhou gave her a glance, prompting Shu Yao to immediately stop speaking.

Ye Qingya accompanied Elder Xu for a chat, during which senior sister Ling Hongzhou called, asking why she hadn’t yet arrived at the dinner venue; Ye Qingya found a reason to decline.

Knowing that Ye Qingya preferred tranquility, Xu Chunliang suggested she could stay home.

Ye Qingya told Xu Chunliang that she had already booked a room at the Marriott, so she wouldn’t trouble the family, then she got up to say goodbye.

Xu Chunliang offered to take her there.

The journey from Hidden Lake Villa to the Marriott Hotel wasn’t far to begin with, and Xu Chunliang drove away from the complex.

Ye Qingya said, "You don’t need to make a special trip, it’s only a ten-minute walk."

Xu Chunliang said, "I’m also a guest at the event, coming with you to check out the venue. This time the Culture and Tourism Bureau is splurging, they arranged it at the Marriott Hotel, probably spending quite a bit of money."

Ye Qingya laughed, "I booked my own room, the conference-arranged hotel is further away, I prefer peace and quiet, plus here... the scenery is pleasant." She originally wanted to say closer to you, but mid-sentence realized that would be inappropriate, and quickly changed her words to praise the environment.

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s really unnecessary to go to such trouble, staying at home is much more convenient."

Ye Qingya thought if Elder Xu weren’t here, I might agree, but since the elder is around, staying over there always feels improper, she said softly, "I mainly took this trip to relax."

Xu Chunliang said, "Alright, I’ll arrange these two days to take you for a good tour around Weishan Lake." He secretly pondered planning their mother-daughter encounter.

Xu Chunliang parked the car at the Marriott and just got out when he saw a group of people coming out of a business car next to him, one of them was Su Qing.

Su Qing also saw him, happily waved, then noticed a beautiful woman beside Xu Chunliang and visibly paused, as she had never met Ye Qingya before.

Xu Chunliang cheerfully walked over, greeted, "Su Qing, I guess you might come over, didn’t expect to meet here."

Su Qing said, "Guessed but didn’t contact me?"

Xu Chunliang laughed, "I was just testing our fate, see, miles apart we meet again."

Su Qing whispered, "Silver-tongued, who’s that pretty lady?"

Xu Chunliang brought Su Qing to Ye Qingya’s side, helping with their introduction.

Su Qing graciously extended her hand, "Hello Miss Ye, I’m Su Qing."

Ye Qingya looked at this astonishingly beautiful TV host with some surprise, "Miss Su is truly beautiful."

Su Qing laughed, "You praise me so much, I’m embarrassed, Miss Ye, not only beautiful but with a noble and elegant temperament."

Xu Chunliang said, "Ladies, don’t flatter each other, you’re both beautiful, if you weren’t I wouldn’t bother associating."

Su Qing and Ye Qingya both laughed.

Ye Qingya said, "You guys keep chatting, I’ll go handle the accommodation."

Su Qing nodded, waited until Ye Qingya walked away then whispered, "When did you meet a fairy-like sister?"

Xu Chunliang said, "For a while now, didn’t get a chance to report to you."

Su Qing said, "Report what? Anyway, any beauty can relate to you."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "What’s our relationship?"

Su Qing’s pretty face blushed, "Don’t mess with me, I have no relationship with you at all, oh right, I heard that female writer Bai Lan went missing?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Her missing has anything to do with me?"

"Isn’t she your friend?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Friends have closeness and distance, her relationship with me can’t compare to my relationship with you."

Su Qing always found that line a bit odd, "Don’t say that, Bai Lan also helped you beat people at Changxing Hospital."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "You also helped out, your help came from heart, her’s from other motives, I don’t appreciate her favor."

Su Qing felt sweet inside, but said, "You can’t say that, I think she’s quite nice, how could such a big writer disappear without reason, you don’t have any news at all?"

Xu Chunliang said, "We’re just ordinary friends, she wanted to use me to get some firsthand information about Qingshan Mine, since she left Dongzhou, we haven’t contacted."

Su Qing said, "I recently read her novel, it’s really well written."

Xu Chunliang said, "Novels are all deceit."

Su Qing’s several colleagues waved at her from afar, she went to say a word to them, then returned to Xu Chunliang’s side.

Xu Chunliang said, "Weren’t you transferred to the variety show department? Why are you out on interviews again?"

Su Qing said, "The news department is short on staff, the department head asked me to come fill in, I couldn’t refuse, besides they think Dongzhou is my home turf, more suitable for me to come, easier to communicate with old colleagues at Dongzhou TV Station."

"I thought you came because of me."

Su Qing looked into his eyes, "It’s because of you."