372: Absence makes the heart grow fonder

The next day, Lin Zifeng sat in the classroom, and for the first time, he rarely spaced out during class.

Thinking of Chen Yuqing's wildness last night, even Lin Zifeng, whose physical fitness far exceeded that of an ordinary person, felt both pain and pleasure.

Thinking back on it now, Lin Zifeng still found it to be a memorable experience.

Lin Zifeng spent the entire morning in a daze.

On the way to the cafeteria at noon, Zhang Chinglei, who was walking beside Lin Zifeng, asked curiously, "Zifeng, what's wrong? Why do I feel like you're so absent-minded today?"

"You took a leave of absence to go out yesterday; did you run into something good?"

"Is it that obvious? Or are you just observing me too closely?"

Lin Zifeng said with a chuckle.

"Your behavior today is poles apart from your usual self. From time to time, you show a dazed expression and the corners of your mouth curl up into a silent smile. Sitting right next to you, how could I not notice?"

"Confess honestly, did you have a romantic encounter last night?"

Zhang Chinglei said in a lowered voice.

"Brother Zhang, are you trying to set a trap for me? What romantic encounter? You're just making things up about me."

"My wife came to the capital on a business trip yesterday."

Lin Zifeng said this because, in his subconscious, he already considered Chen Yuqing his wife.

Anyway, Zhang Chinglei didn't know The two sisters, Chen Yuxi and her sibling.

Hearing his words, Zhang Chinglei nodded in sudden realization and spoke again, "I see. We've been at the Party School for advanced study for nearly a month and a half now."

"As the saying goes, a brief absence is better than a new marriage. You're so young and vigorous; did you toss and turn all night without sleeping?"

Seeing Zhang Chinglei's wicked grin, he said quite openly, "So what? I'm 'licensed to work' and I have great stamina. Just be jealous!"

"I remember when my sister-in-law came to the capital last time, your back was sore for a whole week!"

Lin Zifeng said teasingly.

Hearing Lin Zifeng's words, Zhang Chinglei huffed with rage.

Seeing Zhang Chinglei's amusing look, Lin Zifeng laughed out loud and walked quickly toward the cafeteria.

Looking at Lin Zifeng's back, Zhang Chinglei couldn't help but laugh as well.

The two of them got along very well; while they didn't share everything, it was close, and they were used to joking around like this.

In their respective units, they were both Deputy Department-Level Cadres holding great power, and most of the time, they presented themselves with a serious and solemn demeanor.

But in an environment like the Party School, and being Cadres of the same level, the two of them acted like two big boys.

Zhang Chinglei walked a few steps faster to catch up with Lin Zifeng, and after getting their food, they sat down to eat lunch together.

On the afternoon of the second day, after the last class finished, everyone couldn't wait to leave the classroom. Some students didn't even return to their dormitories and headed straight for the main gate.

Everyone looked forward to the arrival of each weekend.

Lin Zifeng was no exception, because Li Yanran was already waiting for him outside the gate.

However, he went back to the dormitory first to get his laptop before walking out again and heading quickly toward the main gate.

After getting into Li Yanran's car, the two of them embraced excitedly, and Li Yanran drove toward the courtyard house.

Lin Zifeng's pleasant weekend life began.

On the evening of the next day, just as Lin Zifeng and Li Yanran were preparing to cook dinner together, Lin Zifeng's phone rang.

He thought it was a call from Chen Yuxi! He was about to ask Li Yanran to step away, but when he took out his phone and glanced at the screen, he saw it was a call from Xu Minghao. He froze for a moment before answering.

Xu Minghao's voice immediately came through the receiver, "Secretary, are you at the Party School? Or have you gone out for some fun?"

Hearing Xu Minghao's words, Lin Zifeng asked with some confusion, "I'm not at the Party School. Today is my day off, and I'm with a friend."

"Mayor, is there something important for you to call now?"

"It's like this, Secretary. Since it's the weekend, Secretary Wei, Mayor Cao, Mayor Li, and I agreed to come to the capital for some fun."

"Since we're in the capital, how could we not look for you for a small gathering, Secretary?"

"The Comrades have missed you after not seeing you for over a month. We've already booked a private room at the hotel where we're staying and are just waiting for your arrival."

Lin Zifeng knew that Xu Minghao's claim of coming to the capital for fun was just a pretext; these few people had specifically come to the capital to see him.

Previously, when they suggested coming to the capital to visit him, he had refused.

That's why they came up with such an excuse, fearing they might cause him displeasure.

Knowing that they had all come to the capital and were kindly visiting him, how could he expose them or refuse their invitation?

So Lin Zifeng said with a smile, "Mayor, that's very thoughtful of you all. Send me the location, and I'll head over in a bit."

Xu Minghao gave an affirmative response and happily hung up the phone.

Seeing Lin Zifeng hang up, Li Yanran had also overheard the gist of it, so she asked, "Honey, did some of your local friends come to the capital to see you?"

Lin Zifeng nodded and said, "It's the Mayor of our Yushu City and three members of the leadership team who have come to visit me together."

"They've already booked a private room and are waiting for me to go over."

Hearing Lin Zifeng's answer, Li Yanran smiled and said, "They came all this way to see you; you can't let down their kindness."

"There's some fine liquor in the storage room here. Take a few bottles, and I'll drive you there."

By now, the two of them were completely intimate, so Lin Zifeng did not refuse Li Yanran's kindness.

They went to the storage room together, and Li Yanran pointed to several bottles of expensive red wine, saying, "Zifeng, take these bottles of red wine."

"That'll give you more face."

Lin Zifeng smiled and shook his head, saying, "Red wine isn't practical for us. White Liquor is more cost-effective."

After saying this, Lin Zifeng picked up a case of six bottles of White Liquor, each costing a few hundred yuan.

"Isn't this liquor too cheap? If you're going to drink White Liquor, aren't there more expensive ones here?"

"Why did you choose this cheapest case? Taking this case of White Liquor would be so low-class."

"It might be cheap to you, but for us, it's already very good and quite high-class."

"If the price were any higher, I wouldn't be able to explain it to my colleagues."

"I can't exactly tell them that I've hooked up with a rich woman in the capital, can I?"

Lin Zifeng said as he turned to walk out of the storage room.

Li Yanran gave him a charming roll of her eyes and said, "Slick-tongued," before following behind him as they walked outside.

The two of them arrived outside the main gate. Lin Zifeng put the liquor in the trunk and got into the car with Li Yanran.

Lin Zifeng told Li Yanran the hotel's location, and she drove toward the hotel.