Chapter 1936

“Mayor Sun, what’s the honor?”

In a high-end beauty salon, Zhang Yan lay on the bed, with the beautician giving her a facial massage.

“Do you have time tonight? I’d like to treat you to dinner.”

“Sure.”

Zhang Yan also wanted to know how he was handling things.

Evening came quickly, and in the private room of a private restaurant, the waiter closed the door after serving the last dish.

Sun Jiajun hesitated, not saying anything useful for a long time.

He could endure it, and Zhang Yan didn’t ask.

After they had almost finished eating, Sun Jiajun complained: “That Song Guanchao, he’s quite alert.”

Zhang Yan put down her chopsticks, sipped some tea and rinsed her mouth: “Didn’t succeed?”

“No.” Sun Jiajun shook his head and sighed, not wanting to elaborate on how Song Guanchao solved the issue, and Zhang Yan wasn’t interested in the details.

“The first batch of foreign enterprises finished their inspection and left one by one, no chance for this time. Sam’s inspection team is probably arriving in the next few days. I have an idea; can you give me some advice?”

“Let’s hear it.”

“I want to send Song Guanchao away. Without him, it’s easier to proceed.”

Zhang Yan agreed: “It’s a good idea.”

Sun Jiajun said, “The idea is good, but I can’t think of a way to get him to leave. Do you have any suggestions?”

The feasibility of this idea is very high, and Zhang Yan thought about it seriously.

“Since you took harsh measures against the executives of those few foreign companies, he’ll definitely be suspicious if you suddenly send him away now.”

Zhang Yan analyzed it for him: “So you can’t come forward directly. It’s better if someone he trusts makes him leave Jiangzhou.”

Sun Jiajun said: “The only one he trusts and can reassign him is Mayor Wu.”

“Investment!” Zhang Yan suddenly said.

Sun Jiajun looked at her, puzzled.

Zhang Yan said, “Isn’t she trying to develop an industrial park? Then find a company from outside, under the name of investment, and let her send Song Guanchao to make contact.”

Sun Jiajun’s eyes lit up; it’s a good idea!

But…

“Isn’t it too obvious?” Sun Jiajun was still worried; at this exact time, a company happens to want to invest in Jiangzhou… it’s too much of a coincidence.

Zhang Yan said: “It’s not about the company reaching out to Wu Qiangwei directly, just let her know there’s a company interested in relocating. She’ll approach them herself.”

Sun Jiajun suddenly understood.

Zhang Yan continued: “The company must be large enough to interest Wu Qiangwei, and the investment intent must be strong, or she won’t send Song Guanchao over immediately.”

The hope that had just risen in Sun Jiajun turned into bitterness again; these two conditions are too stringent, almost impossible to meet.

Zhang Yan observed his reaction, smiling silently.

Noticing her gaze and smile, Sun Jiajun was moved.

Since she suggested it, she must have a way to help him.

“Do you have a way?”

Seeing her just smile without answering, Sun Jiajun was more convinced she had a way.

“There is a way, but I won’t help you,” Zhang Yan said.

Sun Jiajun was puzzled: “Why not?”

Zhang Yan chuckled lightly, not explaining, leaving Sun Jiajun baffled.

He racked his brains, then a flash of insight told him something.

She’s not unwilling to help, but doesn’t want direct involvement. She’s concerned that if things go wrong, Wu Qiangwei would trace it back to her.

She finally secured a stable retirement and, despite any desire for revenge on Wu Qiangwei, she can’t show it, let alone act on it herself.

Once he understood the reason, Sun Jiajun thought of a solution.

“You tell me what to do, you don’t need to get involved; I’ll handle it.”

She only needed to provide the method without direct involvement. Even if Wu Qiangwei eventually found out, it wouldn’t trace back to her.

Besides, he’s not an idiot, and he would definitely avoid leaving traces when doing such a dirty job.

Even if everyone knew he did it, they wouldn’t have proof.

Zhang Yan said: “Two methods.”

“First, find an official from another province to help you contact a strong foreign company, then have that company release news about relocating investments.”

Before assuming office in Jiangzhou, he was just an obscure Vice Mayor in an eighteen-line small city, without such connections.

“What’s the second method?”

“Find a middleman.”

Sun Jiajun’s eyes shone with a sense of sudden realization.

Yes, all he had to do was find a middleman, and this matter would be easily settled!

“Do you know any reliable middlemen?”

“Don’t even think about it; no legitimate middleman would help you do something that offends people.”

Zhang Yan picked up a napkin, wiped her lips, and slowly stood up, taking her handbag: “I have to go.”

Sun Jiajun didn’t stop her; she had said all she would. He couldn’t expect her to spoon-feed him, right?

That would be too incompetent.

Being so useless, he shouldn’t think about playing dirty tricks and honestly continue being an extraneous Vice Mayor.

Sun Jiajun lit a cigarette, focused his thoughts on where to find a middleman.

Zhang Yan was right, no respectable middleman would do it.

Once things are exposed, Wu Qiangwei would be thoroughly offended.

But since a respectable middleman wouldn’t do it, why did she still suggest it?

Sun Jiajun felt he was close to grasping the key point, but still lacked something.

He kept replaying Zhang Yan’s words in his mind, suddenly, he figured it out.

If a legitimate middleman wouldn’t risk offending others, then find an illegitimate one, or better yet, pay someone to play the role of a middleman!

As long as the act seemed professional enough, no one would suspect the middleman was lying.

Once his thoughts were clear, Sun Jiajun couldn’t suppress his excitement.

The immediate task was to find someone to pretend to be a middleman, spread the news, spark Wu Qiangwei’s interest, and keep in contact.

When Sam’s inspection team arrived in Jiangzhou, they’d arrange for Wu Qiangwei to send Song Guanchao away.

…

Early the next day, Qu Xiangru woke up, looking at Song Guanchao still asleep beside her, she lightly got out of bed.

After a crazy night with him until midnight, she was severely sleep-deprived.

She stood without much energy by the sink, brushing her teeth and washing her face.

She went back to the room, picking up clothes scattered everywhere, and was just about to put them on when she woke Song Guanchao.

“Why are you up so early?” Song Guanchao scratched his head and sat up from the bed.

“It’s seven o’clock.” Qu Xiangru, with her back to him, sat on the edge of the bed, took off her nightgown, and put on a shirt.

Suddenly, Song Guanchao pounced, hugging her slender waist from behind, climbing upwards with his hands and squeezing tightly.

Then he laid his chin on her shoulder, tilting his head to kiss her earlobe.

The simple action instantly banished her drowsiness, leaving her alert and hyper-responsive.

“Move your hands away.”

“You worked so hard last night; sleep a little longer and go at noon.” Song Guanchao bit her earlobe.

“Stop it, I have a meeting this morning.”

“Is the meeting important? If not, reschedule it.”

Seeing her hesitate without saying whether it was important, Song Guanchao knew it wasn’t. He lifted her onto the bed, swiftly shifted to be on top of her, pinning her down beneath him.