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Chapter 167 The Date
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In his work report at the plenary session of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee, Party Secretary Hou said that during this "crackdown on organized crime and evil forces," the public sent in more than 10,000 letters of complaint, 80% of which were made under real names. It was also a people's war!
Lin Yao looked at the news in the newspaper and felt deeply moved. As long as an official is a good official trusted by the people, everyone will support him and be willing to contribute their efforts to assist him; a real-name report is the best proof of this.
Closing the newspaper, Lin Yao cleared his mind. He stopped thinking too much about Chongqing. Although he had lit the fuse, the aftermath was no longer his concern. He trusted the government and the army's ability to win this battle. As for lighting that fuse in Chongqing, it was merely for his own family's private affairs; his position wasn't that high, and his moral character was far from ideal.
The vines in Xinhua Park are still lush and green, and there is still a faint fishy smell in the air, which comes from the artificial lake in the park. It was here that I met the pink girl again, and that's how we first sat at the same table and had a drink together. Of course, I also have to thank the clever little Guli, who brought us together.
Lin Yao was waiting for someone, waiting for the pink girl.
It had been two months since he left Chengdu, and he had contacted the Pink Girl less than four times. Each time, she would take the initiative to send a text message, and then Lin Yao would call back. They would exchange a few casual words and then run out of things to say. But he remembered each contact vividly and deeply because he would feel hot all over at those times, and feel a little shy and embarrassed.
After returning to Chengdu, Lin Yao took the initiative to contact Pink Girl for the first time. After completely letting go of the pressure in Chongqing, Lin Yao's principles and attitudes changed significantly.
Acting on impulse, Lin Yao took the initiative to invite the pink girl out.
However, the biggest contributor, Xiao Guli, had already been sent to kindergarten with Nannan, so this meeting had a bit of a dating feel to it. Lin Yao defined it as a blind date. He really liked the pink girl, or at least he was very curious about her and wanted to know everything about her.
"Hey, handsome Yao Yao, what are you daydreaming about?" A clear female voice interrupted Lin Yao's thoughts. Without even looking up, he knew it was Lan Xiaoqing, Xia Yuwen's best friend.
If only Lan Xiaoqing didn't come, then it would be just the two of them. Lin Yao thought to himself, then looked up and saw his pink-clad girl.
Xia Yuwen stood next to Lan Xiaoqing without saying a word, about four meters away from Lin Yao. Her smiling eyes seemed to speak volumes. Lin Yao noticed that her face was slightly red and her ears were also a little red. They looked beautiful in the bright sunlight, like the ears of an elf, transparently reflecting the sunlight behind them.
"You're here?" Lin Yao's voice was very soft; he felt a lump in his throat and couldn't make a sound.
"Where's Lili, the handsome little guy?" Lan Xiaoqing asked as she pulled Xia Yuwen closer.
A gentle breeze caressed the hem of Xia Yuwen's long dress, causing the soft skirt to ripple and sway gently—it was so soft, so warm, so…beautiful.
“Lili is in kindergarten now. A child this age should learn to get along with other children, so we enrolled him in a boarding kindergarten. We can only pick him up on weekends.” Lin Yao answered Lan Xiaoqing’s question absentmindedly. He had no recollection of what Lan Xiaoqing was wearing today. He only thought that Xia Yuwen’s dress was very pretty. It was pink, and the long sleeves of the dress were also pink, making her two delicate arms look like unripe lotus roots—slender, well-proportioned, and so charming.
"Oh, then the three of us will have a date." Lan Xiaoqing walked over and patted Lin Yao on the shoulder like a good buddy. She felt a little jealous. This guy had been staring at Xia Yuwen next to him the whole time. She hadn't even attracted his attention. She had even gone to Wangfujing to buy a fashionable outfit for today's meeting, spending all of her monthly allowance, more than 3,000 yuan.
A date? Lin Yao was jolted awake by the word, realizing that something was wrong with him. Wasn't he supposed to be acting impulsively? This kind of lecherous behavior wouldn't do. With that thought, Lin Yao steadied himself, and his gaze returned to clarity.
"Xiao Qing's clothes are so pretty today, are they high fashion? So cool!" Lin Yao used a term he had just learned online to praise Lan Xiao Qing, making the little girl beam with joy.
"You look beautiful today too." Lin Yao smiled slightly at Xia Yuwen, his eyes brightening, making him seem less unattractive; at least his eyes were captivating.
"Thank you!" Xia Yuwen's voice was very soft; if Lin Yao hadn't had good hearing, he wouldn't have been able to hear those two words clearly.
"Come on, let's go boating." Lan Xiaoqing grabbed Xia Yuwen's hand and tossed her head at Lin Yao, gesturing towards the lake. She thought to herself, "Xia Yuwen is such a wild child when she's with me, how come she becomes so ladylike as soon as she sees that rascal Lin Yao? This isn't at home or at an important party, the contrast is too much!"
The electric boat sailed smoothly, and Lan Xiaoqing sat in the front, having a great time. She consciously gave up the back seat to the two people who were flirting.
Anyway, it's none of our business, so let's be generous. Lan Xiaoqing made the decision with a sour feeling in her heart, but she was also a little resentful. She thought: I'm just as good-looking as Xiaowen. I'm lively, cute, beautiful and generous. That little rascal is really blind. He didn't even glance at me.
Forget it, he's not handsome and his family isn't well-off. Let's just be friends. The guy on that boat ahead is nice, but unfortunately, there's a lovesick girl next to him. Lan Xiaoqing glared resentfully at the pedal boat slowly drifting towards her, brushed her long hair that was blowing in the wind by her ear, and gave the handsome guy on the boat ahead a reserved and sweet smile.
"What the hell are you looking at?!" A sharp female voice came from the pedal boat opposite, accompanied by a soft cry of pain. The boy on the pedal boat sheepishly looked away and hurriedly explained, which made the three people on the electric boat laugh in unison.
"Did you pass your graduation thesis defense? When do you start working?" Lin Yao's voice was gentle and slightly magnetic, which didn't match his current age; his tone carried the air of an elder.
The electric boat swayed gently in the breeze and on the clear blue water, creating a very comfortable feeling. Lin Yao wished he could sit there forever, inhaling the wonderful fragrance emanating from her, and he felt happiness and joy.
"I passed my defense, but I don't plan to start working right away. I'm going to stay with my grandfather for a while before I go back to work," Xia Yuwen replied to Lin Yao with a reserved tone. Her soft voice made Lin Yao feel like he was melting.
Lin Yao gave an "oh" and then fell silent, continuing to savor the fragrance lingering around him. His previously rapid heartbeat calmed down, and he felt a sense of tranquility. The laughter coming from the original spot seemed faint, and he could hear the gentle breeze caressing his cheeks. It was as if he had completely merged with this scenery, so natural and so serene.
"And you?" Xia Yuwen, who had been waiting for a long time without any response, interrupted Lin Yao's contemplation and asked a pointless question. She glanced at Lin Yao with a strange look on her side. He was in a daze, but his gaze was very deep, like that of a wise man who knew everything, which made her even more curious.
"Me? Hehe." Lin Yao smiled sheepishly. "I don't need to defend my thesis. My supervisor said that the internal thesis review before the New Year will be considered as the thesis defense. The reviewers are willing to sign it off. I can just go back to school to attend the graduation ceremony."
"Oh," Xia Yuwen replied indifferently, just like Lin Yao, and then said nothing more.
Lin Yao suddenly remembered that he had never told Xia Yuwen about his studies. Coupled with her mature attire, she must have investigated him before asking about his graduation thesis.
Lin Yao wasn't surprised by any of this. He figured that General Xia, as the second-in-command of the Chengdu Military Region, wouldn't have failed to investigate Min Hong and his own files, and it was normal for Xia Yuwen, who had dealings with him, to know these things.
"Oh no, I'm dead!" Lan Xiaoqing's exaggerated cry came from ahead. "I forgot that I had something important to do today. My mom called and scolded me. I have to get out of here right away."
Lan Xiaoqing, who was climbing over by holding onto the crossbar of the electric boat, had a comical expression. Lin Yao couldn't tell if she was happy or sad. "Xiaowen, I can't accompany you to do volunteer work this afternoon. You have to go by yourself. I'm sorry, this is an imperial decree, I have to go."
"Is it today? The thing Aunt Chen mentioned last time?" Xia Yuwen asked mischievously, pursing her lips to keep from bursting into laughter.
"Yes, yes, it's that thing." Lan Xiaoqing looked miserable and very unwilling. "You know, I'm just a young girl in my prime, why do I need to be in such a hurry? It's like I can't give her away. What's worse is that my dad actually agreed, so I have to go through the motions and give them face."
Lin Yao was completely confused and had no idea what the two girls were talking about. Fortunately, he was self-aware and voluntarily left his seat in the back row to move to the front so that Lan Xiaoqing could dock and leave in time. He had wanted to get rid of her for a long time, and this was the perfect opportunity.
"See you later, Yao Yao, don't bully my Wenwen, or I won't let you off the hook, haha." Lan Xiaoqing jumped to the shore, waved casually, teased for a bit, and then gracefully left, muttering something to herself as she went.
Lin Yao was about to reverse the small boat away from the dock when Xia Yuwen stopped him, saying, "Let's get off the boat and go for a walk on the shore."
Lin Yao let out a disappointed "oh," he had been hoping for a romantic boat trip for the two of them.
"Are you going to do volunteer work today?" After returning the electric boat, the two strolled along the small lake, and Lin Yao brought up the topic.