224: Chapter 224 Attending the Banquet

The sedan drove steadily along the main road of the provincial capital.

The driver Director Xu Jie had found was as dull as a piece of deadwood.

Ever since the two of them sat in the car, he hadn't even turned his head once, his eyes locked firmly on the road ahead.

He didn't listen, didn't look, and didn't ask.

Zhu Wenhao leaned back in the rear seat, withdrawing his gaze from outside the window and letting it fall on Su Qinghan beside him.

Her hands, folded on her lap, had knuckles that were slightly tense.

Zhu Wenhao reached out quite naturally and gently took hold of her left hand, which was folded on her lap.

His palm was broad and warm.

Su Qinghan's fingertips trembled slightly, then her tensed features relaxed little by little.

She interlaced her fingers with his, and her heart, which had been hanging in mid-air, settled back into place thanks to this steady strength.

The car passed through the bustling commercial district, turned into a quiet, tree-lined avenue, and finally came to a slow stop in front of the portico of the Jingjiang Hotel.

Looking through the car window, the Jingjiang Hotel was decorated quite simply.

Its gray and white stone exterior walls lacked any luxurious neon embellishments, and even the sign at the entrance exuded a sense of age.

However, the Jingjiang Hotel bore the responsibility for Jiangnan Province's external reception tasks.

It was the designated lodging place for visitors from The Capital and the dedicated venue for major provincial meetings.

Although it was nominally open to the public for social weddings and banquets, it was by no means a place where just anyone could book a few tables.

This was a threshold that money could not measure; it was purely a symbol of status and connections.

The parking lot was already filled with quite a few vehicles.

Looking around, they were uniformly low-key.

There were no flashy sports cars, mostly common commuter cars like Audis, Passats, and Magotans.

Zhu Wenhao's car was parked steadily at the main entrance.

Ahead, Director Xu Jie's lead car had already stopped.

She pushed open the car door, stepped out, and stood at the edge of the steps, waiting quietly.

Zhu Wenhao and Su Qinghan pushed open their doors and got out. After meeting up with Director Xu Jie, the three of them walked into the lobby together.

The lobby was brightly lit and bustling with activity.

The crowd naturally divided into distinct small circles.

Birds of a feather flock together.

As the three of them entered, several gazes instantly swept over them.

Zhu Wenhao's expression was calm as his gaze swept across the venue unhurriedly.

Under the crystal chandelier on the east side, Study Committee Member Cao Rui was holding a stemmed glass, right at the center of the crowd.

As the leader among the students from the prefecture-level cities in the Spark Class, he was surrounded by young cadres who had rushed over from various cities below.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui chatted with everyone with ease, enjoying this feeling of being the center of attention.

In the lounge area in the northwest corner, Zhou Xu sat on the sofa.

As Governor Zhou's own nephew, he should have been one of the focal points of this banquet.

But he had a bored air about him, toying with his phone and showing no interest in conversing with the surrounding sycophants.

Beside Zhou Xu stood a tall, well-dressed man—Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao.

Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao was holding a wine glass, trying to strike up a conversation with Zhou Xu.

However, Zhou Xu only responded perfunctorily, not even bothering to lift his head.

When Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao's gaze crossed the lobby and caught sight of Director Xu Jie entering with Zhu Wenhao, he put down his wine glass.

He immediately strode over in their direction.

Further away, under a pillar, stood the Organization Department cadre, Shen Zhe.

This Spark Class life committee member had received a good evaluation in the graduation assessment.

After the new year, once the organizational procedures were completed, he would naturally be promoted to deputy section level.

As soon as Shen Zhe saw Zhu Wenhao arrive, he immediately straightened his tie and wove through the crowd to approach them.

At the other end of the lobby, a pair of extremely resentful eyes were hidden.

Class Monitor.

The once arrogant and overbearing young master of Liu Family was now standing all alone by the cold buffet table.

Liu Family had been undermined by Zhu Wenhao, leaving them in a miserable state.

The power the old man had accumulated over most of his life had been largely absorbed by Governor Zhou, and now only some marginal, unimportant resources remained to barely maintain their dignity.

In the past, wherever Class Monitor went, he was surrounded by followers.

And there was Lei Zhenzi to help him save face.

Now that Lei Zhenzi had been arrested by the Provincial Public Security Department for gang-related activities, the so-called friends around Class Monitor had long since run off.

With new and old grudges intertwined, Class Monitor's gaze toward Zhu Wenhao was one of pure hatred, as if he wanted to swallow him alive.

Zhu Wenhao felt that hatred, but he couldn't even be bothered to spare a glance for that loser.

His gaze was interrupted by Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao, who was walking towards him.

Director Xu Jie naturally also saw her "fiancé" approaching step by step.

"Secretary Zhu," Director Xu Jie tilted her head slightly, "I have something I need to take care of."

Zhu Wenhao glanced at Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao: "Do you need me to step in and help?"

Director Xu Jie pushed up the half-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose: "No need. However, if I need anything, I will call on you. As for the alliance we reached, don't you go backing out when the time comes."

"My word is my bond," Zhu Wenhao promised.

After saying this, Director Xu Jie walked straight towards Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao.

The two met halfway.

Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao just wanted to put on that familiar air, but Director Xu Jie didn't give him a chance to speak at all, coldly dropping a line: "There are too many eyes and ears here; let's go to the corner and talk."

After saying that, Director Xu Jie turned around neatly and walked towards the less crowded side hall.

Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao had been given the cold shoulder, but constrained by the occasion, he could only grit his teeth and follow.

With the area cleared, Zhu Wenhao was just about to respond to Shen Zhe, who had already approached.

A crisp female voice rang out abruptly.

"Secretary Zhu, what a coincidence. I actually saw you here."

The person who arrived was wearing an expensive professional suit with exquisite makeup.

It was Principal Zhou's niece, General Manager Zhou Shutong, who controlled substantial venture capital.

Zhu Wenhao turned his head to look at this high-and-mighty female capitalist.

"General Manager Zhou Shutong," Zhu Wenhao said in a polite tone, "It is indeed a coincidence. I didn't expect to see you here."

General Manager Zhou Shutong thought her status had caught his attention: "Secretary Zhu, regarding the Heishi Town mine development and deep restructuring we mentioned over the phone last time, I happen to have time now. I wonder if Secretary Zhu is interested in going over there to talk about it in detail?"

Condescending, trying to take charge.

She attempted to use the weight of capital to sway the pace of a town committee deputy secretary in public.

Zhu Wenhao looked at her quietly.

The merchant class could be used as an aid, but they must never be allowed to supersede government orders.

"Talk, of course, we can talk," Zhu Wenhao said in a calm voice.

General Manager Zhou Shutong was just about to turn and lead the way, but Zhu Wenhao's next sentence nailed her to the spot.

"However," Zhu Wenhao's tone shifted abruptly, "I need to greet someone else first. If General Manager Zhou Shutong is truly sincere, you might as well wait on the side for a moment. When I finish dealing with my private affairs, I will come back to you."

This was not a negotiation; this was clearly an order from a superior.

After saying this, Zhu Wenhao didn't even spare a glance from the corner of his eye. He turned directly, reached out his right hand to Shen Zhe, who had already reached him, and greeted him warmly, completely ignoring General Manager Zhou Shutong behind him.

General Manager Zhou Shutong froze in place.

She managed huge amounts of capital; wherever she went, local staff would always welcome her with smiling faces.

Today, she had taken the initiative to lower herself to socialize, only to be left hanging in public by a township-level deputy official, and even ranked behind an obscure little cadre.

Her face turned green and then white. General Manager Zhou Shutong couldn't leave or stay, finding herself in an extremely awkward position.

Just as this embarrassment was about to fester, Su Qinghan stepped forward.

"General Manager Zhou Shutong," Su Qinghan stepped forward a small half-step.

"Shen Zhe is a close friend of Secretary Zhu from their time in the Spark Class. The two haven't seen each other for quite some time, so this reunion of old friends inevitably requires a bit more chatting. Please excuse us, General Manager Zhou Shutong."

These words both explained that Zhu Wenhao's negligence was due to his valuing old friendships and quietly gave General Manager Zhou Shutong a graceful way out.

General Manager Zhou Shutong suppressed the dissatisfaction in her heart and re-examined the woman in front of her who was covering for Zhu Wenhao.

Wearing a dress that wasn't luxurious but showed great temperament, her composed manner of speaking was definitely not that of an ordinary social climber.

"Who are you?" General Manager Zhou Shutong asked, her tone inquisitive.

Su Qinghan met the other woman's gaze with poise, without any nervousness.

"Linjiang Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, Third Discipline Inspection Office, staff member, Su Qinghan."

She stated her official position, then her tone softened slightly as she added the most important identity.

"I am also Zhu Wenhao's, female companion."

A discipline inspection cadre—this identity inherently carried natural pressure, enough to make any capital holder restrain some of their arrogance when facing it.

A trace of surprise flashed in General Manager Zhou Shutong's eyes.

She had originally thought this was just a vase brought by Zhu Wenhao, but she hadn't expected her to be an actual cadre within the system holding supervisory power.

She put away that careless arrogance and extended her right hand.

"Nice to meet you," General Manager Zhou Shutong put on an impeccable business smile again.

Two hands, equally slender and fair, yet representing vastly different powers, gently clasped in mid-air.