32: Chapter 32 Dinner Party and Questioning

The public announcement was brief and eye-catching.

The Station Party Committee decided to appoint Comrade Zhao Yang as the Deputy Director of the News Department.

Seeing Zhao Yang arrive, everyone started teasing him together.

"Zhao Yang, you definitely have to treat us!"

Zhao Yang glanced left and right, then lowered his voice.

"It wouldn't be good if the leaders found out. Let's have a small gathering after work tonight!"

At that moment, Gao Xiang, the Director of the News Department, took the initiative to walk over with a smile on his face.

"Zhao Yang, congratulations! Move your office to the second floor this afternoon. You take the lead on the preparations for Interview Department II!"

In the crowd, Director Xiong Bo, the Deputy Director of the Arts Department, said sarcastically,

"Wasn't it just a fertilizer case? Do you really think you can sit securely in this position?"

Zhao Yang retorted directly, "If Director Xiong isn't convinced, why don't you go interview an exposé case next time?"

Director Xiong Bo was a useless person who knew nothing about the television business; he just gave a 'tch' and rolled his eyes at Zhao Yang.

Just like a woman.

After work, Tian Ye and three other colleagues from the News Department surrounded Zhao Yang, heading to Tongan Seafood City for a big meal.

Zhao Yang smiled and agreed, "Definitely, it's all arranged!"

Just as they walked out of the park gates, the phone in Zhao Yang's pocket vibrated persistently.

Pulling out his phone to check, he saw it was a call from Sun Hongwei.

It had been over a month since their last meeting, and the Special Investigation Team had still made no progress.

Presumably, Sun Hongwei was getting a bit anxious.

Zhao Yang answered without hesitation, "Brother Sun, I'm with colleagues. If there's something, just say it."

On the phone, Sun Hongwei's voice sounded slightly tired, though still friendly.

"Zhao Yang, can you come to my house tonight?"

Zhao Yang knew Sun Hongwei must have something to discuss, but he had to host the dinner tonight.

So he said, "Brother Sun, I'm treating colleagues tonight. I don't have an interview tomorrow, so I'll head over early at noon to show off my cooking skills. We can have a few drinks then."

Beside Zhao Yang, Zheng Lei, an intern reporter who had entered the station at the same time as Tian Ye, whispered,

"Brother Yang, we were just messing around. If you have something to do, we can do it another day."

Zhao Yang shook his head at Zheng Lei, only to hear the other end of the phone say:

"Alright, I'll go to the market tomorrow to buy some hearty dishes to test your skills."

Hanging up, Zhao Yang smiled at Zheng Lei and the others.

"I agreed to treat you this morning. If you don't go, you're not giving me face."

The five of them hailed a Xiali taxi and rushed to Tongan Seafood City.

As soon as Zhao Yang got out of the car, he saw Li Hongyi walking hurriedly toward the restaurant entrance.

He was about to turn his face away to avoid him, but unexpectedly, Li Hongyi raised his voice and said:

"Xiao Zhao, what a coincidence?"

He had intended to avoid the leader, but he hadn't expected to run straight into him.

Zhao Yang had no choice but to step forward and greet him.

"Nothing much to do this weekend, so I came out with Xiao Fei and the others for a few drinks."

Xiao Fei and the others hurriedly stepped forward one by one to greet Li Hongyi.

Li Hongyi asked, "Just the five of you?"

"Just a small gathering." After saying that, Zhao Yang wanted to bid Li Hongyi farewell.

The leader had business to discuss; they couldn't spoil his mood.

Unexpectedly, Li Hongyi didn't let them go and laughed,

"Then it's perfect to join us. The other party said they only have five people too, but they booked a large room for fifteen. It's too empty."

"Director Li, is that appropriate?"

"Hey, it's fine!" Li Hongyi didn't care at all. "Our station is hosting the 'Same Song' event in Tongan. The brewery wants to use this opportunity to build their image, so they'll definitely try to get me drunk later."

Since the leader wanted them to help deflect the drinks, they couldn't leave anymore.

Zhao Yang chuckled and said, "Director Li, if you find anyone unpleasant later, just give me a look, and I'll be the first to knock him out."

"Exactly, that's the way to get ahead!"

Li Hongyi laughed and spoke to Xiao Fei and the others:

"And Zheng Lei, Xiao Fei, and you there—all of you, come upstairs with me."

Zhao Yang was a bit surprised. Old Li had seen Tian Ye many times but simply couldn't remember his name.

Yet he remembered the intern Zheng Lei's name quite well.

As Li Hongyi walked, he gave earnest instructions:

"Tongan is so small; you should have more contact with leaders from all sectors. One more friend means one more path."

He even glanced at Zheng Lei while speaking, as if teaching his own nephew.

Upon entering VIP Room 888, the people from Tongan Brewery had already arrived and were playing Fight the Landlord on one side of the room.

Seeing Li Hongyi and the others enter, Liu Junjie, the brewery director, hurriedly put down the cards and stood up to shake hands with everyone one by one.

After introducing both sides, Li Hongyi said, "Our station's Director Xiong will be here soon. You can talk to him later about the program."

Zhao Yang's brow furrowed. Director Xiong? Wasn't that Director Xiong Bo?

Had he known he was coming, Zhao Yang would never have come under any circumstances. How awkward.

Zheng Lei muttered softly beside Zhao Yang, "Why is he here?"

He had always respected Zhao Yang's character and had always been resentful and annoyed by the fact that Director Xiong Bo had 'stolen' Zhao Yang's girlfriend.

Zhao Yang shrugged, indicating he had no idea and could only take things as they came.

About ten minutes later, Director Xiong Bo arrived.

His floral shirt was unbuttoned at the top, he wore wrinkled camouflage pants, but the military boots on his feet were polished to a shine.

Behind him was the tall, youthful, and beautiful Su Yawen.

Seeing the two appear together, Li Hongyi was momentarily surprised.

He had thought Zhao Yang was still dating Su Yawen.

He immediately explained to Zhao Yang beside him, "Xiao Zhao, I didn't know..."

"We just broke up, not many people know. I don't blame you."

Zhao Yang patted the back of Li Hongyi's hand, showing he didn't mind.

However, when Su Yawen saw Zhao Yang sitting next to Li Hongyi, after her initial surprise, a flash of realization and obvious regret appeared in her eyes.

It turned out this guy had somehow connected with someone and won over Li Hongyi.

Her originally smiling face gradually turned somewhat gloomy.

At this kind of dinner party, there wasn't much serious business to discuss.

Everyone was just meeting to get acquainted, flattering each other while showing off how impressive their connections were.

While Li Hongyi and Liu Junjie were boasting excitedly, Director Xiong Bo suddenly leaned back and picked up his phone.

"Hello, Director Wang? Oh, why didn't you say so earlier? I have a gathering tonight. What? Waiting for me? No need to wait..."

Zhao Yang hadn't heard his phone ring, nor did he see the screen light up.

No one was calling him at all; this kid was making up big talk to puff himself up.

Zhao Yang laughed inwardly and typed a line of text on his phone:

"I bet he graduated from the acting department."

He held the phone in front of Zheng Lei. Zheng Lei nodded repeatedly and, without showing any expression, dialed Director Xiong Bo's number.

"What? Mayor Tian is there too?" Director Xiong Bo was speaking with great animation when unexpectedly, the phone by his ear suddenly rang.

The piercing ringtone startled him so much that he hurriedly pulled the phone away.

Failing to grip it steadily, it hit the floor with a 'thwack'.

"Uh, the phone suddenly disconnected, and another call happened to come in."

Director Xiong Bo blushed as he bent down to pick up the phone. Seeing it was Zheng Lei calling, he immediately hung up, looking extremely embarrassed.

Zheng Lei's father was the Executive Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department, outranking Director Xiong Bo's father. He wanted to lash out but didn't dare, his face turning blue and white with rage.

Su Yawen couldn't sit there any longer. Making an excuse about having things to do, she picked up her handbag and left the room.

Fortunately, both Liu Junjie and Li Hongyi tactfully ignored the matter, and the drinking session went quite pleasantly.

After the dinner ended, Zhao Yang leaned toward Zheng Lei.

"It was enough that you knew; why did you have to expose him?"

Zheng Lei chuckled, "Brother Yang, I just wanted to verify if Director Xiong was really that talented."

Tian Ye was beside them, laughing mindlessly, "Haha, I really learned something new today. Another trick mastered!"

...

After ten o'clock the next morning, Zhao Yang arrived at Sun Hongwei's residence in the Garden Community on Changhua Street.

By this time, Sun Hongwei had already returned from buying groceries and was cleaning the vegetables.

Without a word, Zhao Yang found an apron, put it on, and joined in cleaning the vegetables.

The two chatted about the recent reforms of state-owned enterprises in the city while they worked.

Seeing the atmosphere was right, Sun Hongwei changed the subject.

"Zhao Yang, you have a good understanding of the public security system. Why do you think the Special Investigation Team has been unable to crack the case? Where is the problem?"