CHAPTER 198: CHAPTER 198: ZHOU LI’S NEW JOB

"What are you talking about? He and I are just ordinary friends. Don’t speak nonsense, it’ll be awkward if he hears!"

Zhou Li hurriedly tugged at her roommate’s sleeve in secret, her cheeks flushing, sneaking a glance at Li Jing in the car, fearing he might overhear.

Her roommate, seemingly someone who enjoys stirring trouble, deliberately said, "Oh? Is that so? If he’s just an ordinary friend, then I’m single too. I haven’t dated a handsome guy with a sports car yet. Let me get his contact information..."

"Hey?! You can’t do that..."

Zhou Li was startled, instinctively wanting to stop her roommate, but her roommate had already turned around, triumphantly smiling as if having guessed correctly, "You still say you and he are just ordinary friends? Would you care so much if he were?"

"I..."

Just as Zhou Li wanted to explain, Li Jing opened the driver’s side door and stepped out, saying to the two by the roadside, "Ready to go? Let me help you put the luggage in the car, the trunk’s full, so it’ll have to go in the back seat."

"Oh, no problem, I can do it myself."

Seeing Li Jing coming over to help with her suitcase, Zhou Li hurriedly stepped forward to take it with an air of wanting to handle it herself.

"It’s quite heavy, let me do it."

Li Jing naturally knew she was pretending, ignored her polite refusal, and took the suitcase, placing it directly in the back seat.

Then he turned to Zhou Li’s roommate beside her, asking, "Is this friend also riding with us? The back seat is full, there might not be room."

"No need, thank you, I was just helping Section Chief Zhou bring down her luggage."

"Section Chief Zhou?"

Li Jing was a bit surprised by her roommate’s words.

Zhou Li glared at her roommate, knowing she was deliberately calling her title in front of Li Jing, quickly waving her hand, "I’m just acting as, don’t listen to her, let’s go."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing, although slightly puzzled, didn’t ask further, turning to sit back in the car.

Her roommate shouted loudly on the roadside, "Section Chief Zhou, take care! Remember to tell the secretary when you get home, she’s concerned about you!"

"This troublemaker again..."

Zhou Li, sitting in the front passenger seat, quickly closed the car door, fearing Li Jing would hear.

While she was grumbling to herself about her roommate, her phone received a message from her roommate.

"How’s that? I was a great wingman. You’re just too shy, I helped showcase your advantages, and your impression on him will definitely be better now."

Seeing her roommate still claiming credit, Zhou Li immediately typed a reply, "I said there’s nothing between me and him, stop meddling."

"Okay, okay, keep blushing shyly in front of him, I won’t interfere anymore."

"Who’s blushing shyly?"

"Look in the mirror yourself. Unless he’s blind, he’s already seen it."

Reading her roommate’s words, Zhou Li was startled. She quickly opened her phone’s camera to check her face, indeed finding her cheeks flushed, feeling even more embarrassed and annoyed with herself:

Why do I blush so easily? So embarrassing.

As Li Jing drove onto the road, he glanced at Zhou Li in the front passenger seat, smiling mildly, "I didn’t expect after just a few months, you’ve become even prettier."

"Ah, really? Not really."

Surprised by the praise, Zhou Li replied modestly, but inwardly she was delighted.

Li Jing’s compliment wasn’t just polite talk; Zhou Li had indeed made herself prettier with today’s careful dressing.

Zhou Li typically had the kind of beauty that looked good even without makeup, and when she did dress up, she was stunning.

However, her overly shy and introverted personality, along with her quiet and low-key manner, often overshadowed her appearance. Otherwise, Huang Jun wouldn’t have called her the hidden beauty of the class.

She still sported neat short hair, fresh and pretty, showcasing a capable aura.

She wore a caramel-colored mid-length double-sided wool coat, the collar naturally open to reveal a white shirt beneath, with a small black bow tied at the collar, adding a touch of elegant sweetness. Her bottom half was a pair of black wool wide-leg pants, with a nice drape that made them look especially sleek. She carried a deep brown chain-strap bag on her shoulder, simple yet high quality in design.

Though Zhou Li’s overall outfit was not as fashionable as An Tong’s, not as sexy as Zhang Xinxin’s, and not as formal as Wei Jia’s, it nevertheless showcased her unique quietness and sophistication, like the daily outing style of an elegant and serene female celebrity.

"Are you working in Tianhai now?"

This time, Li Jing took the initiative to speak, somewhat puzzled by her roommate’s earlier words.

He recalled when he last saw Zhou Li; she was still working within the system in Lishui City.

"Yes, I came here through the selection exam."

Zhou Li nodded, not mentioning she made this decision because of him.

In fact, during the months since passing the exam, she hadn’t figured out how to contact Li Jing.

If it weren’t for the lack of other options during her recent trip home, she wouldn’t have gathered the courage to reach out to Li Jing herself.

"Selection exam?"

Li Jing didn’t know much about exams within the system, but assumed this was a good thing, and congratulated, "Congratulations then! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I’m also in Tianhai. You can reach out to me if you need anything."

"Really?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Li’s eyes brightened, she quickly turned to look at his side profile, "Aren’t you usually busy?"

"I’m just a free person. Give me a call in advance, I’m mostly available."

Li Jing said, "Anyway, you have my WeChat and phone number. Message me if you need anything. I’ve been in Tianhai for many years, so I know more people than you do. If you have trouble, I might be able to help."

Zhou Li was pleasantly surprised he was willing to help her and expressed her gratitude quietly, "Thank you."

Li Jing glanced at her, amused, "You’re already a section chief; why are you still so shy?"

"I-I’m not a section chief, the old chief is in the hospital, I’m just acting..."

Zhou Li quickly explained, "And it’s also because the secretary likes me, otherwise my qualifications aren’t good enough to even be acting..."

"Having leadership who likes you is your advantage."

Li Jing was somewhat surprised Zhou Li got appointed acting section chief within just months, realizing her leadership must indeed be quite fond of her. He asked, "Which unit are you at now?"

"I’m at the city’s J Commission..."

"J Commission?" Li Jing was slightly astonished, not expecting she joined that department.

Zhou Li continued, "Perhaps the secretary finds me diligent and sincere, hence likes me, saying I remind her of her daughter. I think she’s quite lonely; she divorced her husband, and her daughter passed away from illness a few years back, so she’s all alone."

"Your secretary is a woman?"

Li Jing raised his eyebrows, then said, "Maybe this is a chance for you. Your unit’s secretary holds a high rank; if you follow her well, it might change your life."

Zhou Li nodded; she might be shy, but not foolish.

In fact, her outstanding performance at the new unit gave her the opportunity to become acting section chief beyond her usual qualification, with plans set by the organization granting her a chance to officially get appointed.

So long as the secretary doesn’t get transferred, Zhou Li’s future looks bright.

This time Zhou Li turned to Li Jing, gathering courage, "Although I don’t have many connections or resources, if you ever need my help in the future, feel free to ask. We are good friends."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing’s expression slightly changed, but he didn’t speak, just nodded.