Chapter 2: First Encounter

Qingyang City is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Jiangzhou Province, with a population of around four hundred thousand. Despite the winds of reform and opening up blowing through, the effects of reform are not particularly evident for this county-level city, which lacks heavy industrial foundations and tourism resources.

The Resource Management Bureau is considered a decent unit in Qingyang City, not far from home. It takes about twenty minutes by bus to get there.

Today is my first day reporting for duty. I dressed relatively formally, specifically changing out of a T-shirt and into a white shirt that I rarely wear, paired with a pair of dark blue trousers.

Little did I know, as soon as I stepped out of the bus station, an Audi A6 raced past me, splashing mud all over me from a puddle. I glanced down and saw my once clean white shirt now covered in mud spots, prompting me to curse: "Can't they drive properly?"

The Audi A6 came to a stop, and only then did I notice the driver was a woman, appearing to be in her thirties, with delicate features and a mature allure.

"What's wrong?" the woman furrowed her brows slightly, looking at me with a puzzled expression, her eyes seemingly carrying an electric charge. When she noticed the mud on my clothes, she apologized, "I'm sorry, I was in a hurry and drove too fast. How about this, I'll compensate you, and you can take your clothes to the dry cleaner to get cleaned."

Although I've seen beautiful women before, I couldn't resist the woman's direct gaze. After a moment of staring, my anger from earlier seemed to dissipate all at once. I smiled wryly and waved my hand, "It's okay, it's nothing. I'll just wipe it off with water later."

The woman's sensual lips curled up slightly into a smile as she said, "Thank you, then I'll be on my way."

With that, she chuckled lightly, stepped on the gas pedal, and the Audi A6 sped away in a flash.

I stood in place, staring at the mud spots on my shirt, shaking my head. Thinking about the woman just now, I couldn't help but click my tongue.

That woman's charming demeanor when she spoke, those electrifying eyes, what a beauty, truly a wonder, who knows who lucked out.

Walking along the rain-soaked street for over a hundred meters, I arrived at the Resource Management Bureau of Qingyang City. Inside the building, I first reported to the Personnel Department, submitted my health examination certificate, dispatch certificate, and other documentation. The Personnel Department instructed me to report directly to Deputy Director Gao's office.

As I walked through the office corridor, I found Deputy Director Gao Qirong's name on the main leadership propaganda board. In the photo, Deputy Director Gao had a round face and a neat hairstyle, exuding an air of leadership.

When I reached the staircase landing, I saw Deputy Director Gao coming from the other end of the stairs. His face was flushed, and he seemed a bit unsteady on his feet, probably just had a drink. Holding a phone in his hand, he had a smile on his face as he whispered into it.

After all, this person would be my supervisor in the future. Seeing this, I went over and supported Deputy Director Gao's arm, smiling, "Director Gao, take it easy, be careful."

Deputy Director Gao Qirong, with a flushed face and shiny complexion, was laughing on the phone and didn't pay attention to who was supporting him.

I supported the somewhat unsteady Deputy Director Gao to his office door. Still chatting on the phone, he chuckled, "That's how it is. Come to my office later, I'll be waiting for you."

Deputy Director Gao hung up the phone and, holding the door handle, glanced at me with slightly closed eyes, trying to clear his head a bit. He asked in a somewhat tipsy manner, "Young man, which department are you from?"

I smiled respectfully, "Director Gao, I'm Ye Qingquan, just started working at the bureau today."

Deputy Director Gao lifted his head, shook it, closed his eyes for a moment, and looked at me with a smile, "Oh, you're Little Ye. I remember now. You're the talented student sent from Jiangzhou University. Welcome! You're starting work today."

I nodded respectfully, "Yes, Director Gao."

Deputy Director Gao opened the door, saying, "Well then, come in."

I linked arms with Deputy Director Gao and carefully helped him into the office. It was a luxurious office, spanning over thirty square meters, with a small suite inside, probably for the deputy director to rest.

Leaning back in his chair, Deputy Director Gao took a few breaths and said, "Little Ye, a few days ago, our bureau leaders discussed before you arrived. You'll temporarily serve under me for a while. How does that sound?"

As a new recruit, how could I have any objections? Whatever the leader said was the rule. So, I quickly smiled and nodded, "Sure, Director Gao, I don't have any personal opinions. I'll listen to the leadership."

Hearing my response, Deputy Director Gao nodded with a smile, rubbed his temples, and said, "Little Ye, I'm a bit tired today. I'll rest for a while. You familiarize yourself with the office environment outside. Without my permission, don't let anyone knock on my door."

I nodded and said, "Okay, Director Gao, I understand."

Finishing our conversation, I escorted Deputy Director Gao to the door of the suite, opened it, and said with concern, "Director Gao, get some rest. If you need anything, just let me know."

The deputy director entered the suite and closed the door. Standing outside in the spacious office, I looked around and felt quite pleased. With the leader resting, I didn't dare make any noise. I casually picked up a newspaper from the coffee table and started flipping through it.

After a while of reading, I started to feel a bit bored. Hesitating for a moment, I was about to take out my phone when there was a knock on the office door. Afraid of disturbing Deputy Director Gao, I hurriedly walked over and opened the door, only to come face to face with a voluptuous woman in the corridor, who turned out to be the woman who splashed mud on me while driving just now.

Both of us were a bit surprised, and we stared at each other for a few seconds.

The woman looked puzzled for a moment, then regained her charming expression and asked softly, "It's you? What are you doing in Deputy Director Gao's office?"

I smiled and replied, "I'm working here."

The woman glanced at me with surprise, a hint of smile appearing on her lips as she asked, "Oh! Is Deputy Director Gao in?"

I whispered, "Deputy Director Gao is resting. Do you need to see him? I can inform him when he wakes up."

The woman glanced at me and then directly walked into the office without a word. I was taken aback for a moment and hurried to follow her, intending to stop her, but she had already reached the door of Deputy Director Gao's resting room and opened it.

I thought this was bad. On my first day of work, I failed to handle the task entrusted to me by the leader, and I would likely face criticism afterward.

To my surprise, after the woman entered Deputy Director Gao's room, he didn't get angry. Instead, I heard murmuring voices from inside.

After a while, the door opened, and Deputy Director Gao, with a flushed face, stuck his head out and instructed me, "Little Ye, how about this? Since you just arrived today and are not familiar with the environment, you don't need to work this afternoon. Take a rest and start your formal work tomorrow morning."

Seeing his expression, I understood that it might be inconvenient for me to stay outside, so I nodded understandingly and said, "Okay, Director Gao, then I'll go back first."

Leaving the Resource Bureau, I passed by a famous red-light district street in Qingyang City. On both sides of the street were various hair salons and massage centers.

As I reached the alley entrance, the girls in the hair salons, dressed provocatively, started speaking in various dialects, trying to seduce me to enter. At the same time, they tapped on the glass and called out to me with suggestive gestures.

"Hey handsome, come in and have some fun."

"Hey, handsome guy, come in for a little play. Come on in, my little sister wants to talk to you."

I ignored these women, quickened my pace, and quickly disappeared at the alley entrance.