Chapter 1871

Chapter 1871: Chapter 1871

In the private room next door, Yu Susu was lying on the sofa. Her coiled hair had come loose, a flush spread over her delicate pale face, and a fine sheen of sweat covered her forehead.

Her fishtail skirt lay crooked over the tops of her thighs, her limp legs hanging over the edge of the sofa and drooping to the floor. Her breathing was still a bit heavy, her body rising and falling.

In the bag on the coffee table, her phone had been vibrating nonstop for more than ten minutes.

She had no time to bother with it; at that moment she’d been right at the most critical point.

Song Guanchao straightened his clothes, glanced at the languidly seductive Yu Susu, and said, "I’ll go over first. Take a breather and come later."

"Mm." Yu Susu answered weakly.

Song Guanchao walked to the door and listened for a moment through it, then only when he was sure no one was outside did he push it open a crack.

He went to the restroom, checked in the mirror to make sure there was nothing of Yu Susu left on him, then washed his face, doing his best to scrub off the smell of her, before heading to the private room.

"Director Song is here." Jiang Zhengdong went over to greet him and shook his hand.

Just as Song Guanchao was about to speak, Jiang Yiren said, "Where did you just go?"

Song Guanchao froze for a second, wanting to say I just got here, when he heard Jiang Zhengdong say, "Don’t ask this and that. Director Song holds an important post, he’s very busy."

"Waiter, change to a cup of hot tea." Jiang Zhengdong called out. Song Guanchao looked at the teacup on the coffee table and was suddenly jolted.

Good thing he hadn’t spoken just now, otherwise it’d be impossible to explain at this point.

They went over and sat down, accepted the hot tea the waiter handed over. After chatting for a bit, the door to the private room pushed open again, and Yu Susu walked in.

Her cheeks were even more dewy, like seedlings in spring that had just been watered, her whole body radiating a dazzling glow. Even Jiang Zhengdong couldn’t help but look at her twice.

Their divorce hadn’t gotten out, not even Jiang Yiren knew.

They still maintained a cohabiting arrangement, but they had long since moved into separate rooms.

"Director Song." Yu Susu gave him a perfectly measured smile and nod, then sat down to the side.

"Yiren, go tell the waiter to bring the dishes up." Jiang Zhengdong said.

Ten minutes or so later, the food was served, and the few of them took their seats at the table.

During the meal, Jiang Zhengdong raised the purpose of this invitation.

He actually wanted Song Guanchao to talk to Qu Xiangru, persuade her to go home more often.

Jiang Yiren and Yu Susu listened, baffled, unable to understand why Jiang Zhengdong would ask Song Guanchao to go and persuade Qu Xiangru.

Were those two very close?

They didn’t know, but Jiang Zhengdong did.

Back when Song Guanchao was still in Lingjiang working as secretary for Wu Qiangwei, one New Year, Song Guanchao had once, for Qu Xiangru’s sake, taught a lesson to a few of the Jiang Family’s brats.

At the time no one cared, but when Song Guanchao came to Jiangzhou and took up an important post, they suddenly remembered that incident.

As someone who’d been around the block, the Old Lady of Jiang had seen at a glance that there was probably something unusual between Song Guanchao and Qu Xiangru.

But the identities of those two were too sensitive; they hadn’t spread it outside, and it wasn’t easy to spread.

They only hoped Song Guanchao could persuade Qu Xiangru to interact more with the Jiang Family and open her heart.

After all, when you got down to it, for Qu Xiangru to have the status she had today, the Jiang Family really had put in effort.

Song Guanchao frowned and said, "I may not have the standing to speak on that kind of private matter."

Jiang Zhengdong was puzzled. Could it be the Old Lady had just imagined it? That those two didn’t have that kind of relationship?

"Sigh." Jiang Zhengdong sighed and said, "That kid Xiangru, she went through a lot when she was little. At that time I wasn’t valued in the clan either, I wanted to protect him, but no one gave me any face. Her resentment, I can understand. She only returned to the clan after she was grown, and blood ties can’t compete with upbringing. No matter how thick the blood, if you haven’t interacted for ten-plus years, there won’t be any feelings."

"From the Old Lady’s side, the idea is that the family will do its utmost to support her from now on."

As he talked, Jiang Zhengdong couldn’t help grumbling in his heart: "I’ve always been extremely dissatisfied with the clan’s earlier decisions. Even setting aside the fact that Xiangru is my eldest brother’s child, she’s at least a Deputy Governor now, and an executive one at that, and a Provincial Committee Member. The clan ought to cultivate that relationship, instead of..."

Realizing he’d misspoken, Jiang Zhengdong cut himself off in time, shook his head and said, "Let’s not talk about this. This matter really does put Director Song in a tight spot. If you can talk to her, then do, and if you can’t move her, just let things take their course."

Song Guanchao gave a quiet "mm," feeling puzzled as well. Just like Jiang Zhengdong had said, leaving everything else aside and speaking purely in terms of interest—

Given Qu Xiangru’s status as Deputy Governor, the Jiang Family ought to be currying favor, not suppressing and disciplining her.

But the Jiang Family had insisted on doing exactly that.

If it weren’t for the Jiang Family’s huge assets, Song Guanchao would really suspect that whole extended clan of theirs had something wrong with their brains.

Otherwise, how could they pull something this stupid?

His analysis was that the Jiang Family was riddled with internal factions, and they were worried that if Qu Xiangru gained control over the Jiang Family, she would seize the opportunity to take over the Jiang Family’s wealth.

"There’s something else." Song Guanchao switched topics; he planned to talk to Jiang Zhengdong about the fixer role.

Jiang Zhengdong looked at him, waiting for what he would say.

Song Guanchao said, "Over in Gusu City, a few foreign companies may be pulling out soon."

"The city wants to get in touch with those foreign companies."

"People like us aren’t convenient to go, and we can’t find a suitable person for the job."

He laid out the situation plainly, and Jiang Zhengdong immediately understood.

Jiang Zhengdong thought for a few seconds and said, "If Director Song trusts me, I’ll make a trip."

Song Guanchao nodded. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Mr. Jiang."

Jiang Zhengdong shook his head. "If it weren’t for Director Song’s support, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Plenty of people are fighting to do this kind of thing—helping the City Government build connections—but Director Song handing this job to me is showing trust in me. Besides, if it can be pulled off, those foreign companies will become part of my own network too."

Song Guanchao smiled, picked up his glass, and lightly clinked it with his.

The dinner broke up around eight in the evening. Song Guanchao disliked pointless socializing; once the business that needed discussing was done and his stomach filled along the way, that was enough.

After dealing with him a few times, Jiang Zhengdong also understood his crisp, no-nonsense way of working.

Leaving the restaurant, Song Guanchao stood at the entrance waiting for the designated driver. Seeing this, Jiang Zhengdong exchanged a couple of polite lines and then cleanly took his leave.

Yu Susu left with him as well. Before she went, taking advantage of the fact that father and daughter weren’t paying attention, she shot Song Guanchao a look.

Song Guanchao gave a slight shake of his head and waggled his phone, indicating that he still had someone to meet later. Though Yu Susu felt a bit regretful, she’d at least had a good meal tonight, so she didn’t stay.

Jiang Yiren, on the other hand, stayed. She felt that tonight the time, place, and people all lined up; she could take advantage of the fact that Song Guanchao had been drinking to let something happen.

She’d spent enough time around Song Guanchao that she’d developed her own set of tactics for dealing with him.

If Song Guanchao wasn’t going to make a move, then she would.

She’d already confirmed that Song Guanchao didn’t dislike her, and that his body reacted to hers.

That showed she still had charm; it was just that Song Guanchao was unusually good at holding back.

In that case, she just needed to find a chance to be alone with him and take him down in one go!

As for status, titles, all that, she’d thought about it before, but she didn’t anymore.

"I’ve been drinking, I can’t drive you home." Song Guanchao flicked the ash off his cigarette and said.

"I’ll go back with you." Jiang Yiren stepped forward boldly, wrapped herself around his arm, and pressed the softness of her chest firmly against him.