Ma Xudong shook his head and gave a bitter smile, "Dude, you're acting a bit inexplicably today! Is something troubling you in your personal life, oh, is Zhao Yan throwing tantrums again or is she threatening to get a divorce?"

Liu Zhizhong had no choice but to say, "Secretary Ma really has a divine insight!"

"Alright, it's all small stuff. When you get promoted with me, she'll see how promising her husband's future is."

"Hehe, thank you Secretary Ma."

It wasn't until Ma Xudong got into his official car and left through the City Committee gates that Liu Zhizhong heaved a deep, private sigh.

Thinking about it, what promotion?

If you take a tumble, oh man, who knows how Zhao Yan might roll her eyes at me!

It's fine, it's a good thing she didn't accept your arrangement to transfer back to work in the city, otherwise, she really wouldn't have any future prospects.

In officialdom, when a leader takes a fall, the officials he promoted during his tenure are rarely left unaffected. Almost all of them will suffer some impact, unless some subordinates have other opportunities and backgrounds.

And Liu Zhizhong?

Thinking about myself, what opportunities and background do I have? Sigh...

With Ma Xudong gone, after considering Zhang Zhenglong's words, Liu Zhizhong felt it really might be impossible for him to return.

Feeling sad and oppressed inside, he headed back to his office to tidy up before finishing for the day.

That office of the deputy director of the secretariat, he probably wouldn't be staying there for much longer!

On the way back to his office, he ran into Zhang Yue Xing, who was preparing to leave for the day with her niece and secretary, Zhang Honghong.

Zhang Yue Xing gave Liu Zhizhong a meaningful glance and said, "Honghong, you go ahead, I just happen to have something to discuss with Secretary Liu."

Zhang Honghong made a mischievous face at Liu Zhizhong and obediently left. This really made Liu Zhizhong want to smack her, but he just didn't have the heart anymore.

Feeling rather down, Liu Zhizhong asked, "Does the Director have any instructions?"

Zhang Yue Xing, this stunning Master of Extinction, didn't even acknowledge him, turning around instead to stand at the end of the corridor by the window, admiring the scenery.

Liu Zhizhong had no choice but to follow her. He gazed at her tall, flattering silhouette, beneath the snug dress, those long, slender waistlines, and those tight, exquisite buttocks that seemed would fit perfectly in one's hands—damn, it really did get the heart racing.

This woman, she truly had a flavor of her own.

But, having her look for him at this hour, it certainly couldn't be anything good.

Nevertheless, he had to follow, and said politely on the surface, "Director, what would you like to discuss?"

A faint scent of mint perfume drifted through the air from Zhang Yue Xing's body, tickling Liu Zhizhong's sense of smell—actually quite unique and rather pleasant.

She spoke in a cold, soft voice, "What's the matter, just had a dear parting with your boss?"

Liu Zhizhong was taken aback and could only respond with a concealing smile.

Zhang Yue Xing's icy gaze swept over his smiling face and she said coldly, "I've been told by Zhenglong. You still manage to smile?"

Liu Zhizhong knew it would be like this.

Now, Zhang Yue Xing wanted to knock him down a peg too?

All he could reply was, "Director, it was just a bitter smile. Can't you tell?"

Zhang Yue Xing unexpectedly gave a satisfied smile and said, "Oh? So you've gained some self-awareness? Ma Xudong isn't coming back. What will you do now?"

"Me?" Liu Zhizhong pointed at his own nose, then spread his hands, "What can I do? I'll follow the organization's arrangements."

"Hehe..." Zhang Yue Xing's cold laugh grew stronger, "With your abilities in handling personnel matters, there normally wouldn't be any major problems. But unfortunately, ah... Hongyang won't miss an opportunity like this. Kicking someone when they're down is inevitable. If you want to have an easier time in the days to come, you'd better listen to my instructions."

Liu Zhizhong knew this wouldn't be a good arrangement, but it felt like a lifeline, so he said, "Director, please tell me."

"Within two days, produce four ideologically constructive articles that can be published in the provincial newspaper. I'll send you the topics to your phone, and you can work on grinding them out yourself! This is your last chance."

"Ah? Four articles..." Liu Zhizhong's head swelled at the thought.

"What? I haven't even increased your workload yet. Got it?"

"Alright, four articles then..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Yue Xing actually raised her slender hands and patted his shoulder, "Take care!"

Then, she turned and left with a lofty air.

Liu Zhizhong watched her walk away, really wanting to grab that petite, perky butt and slam into it fiercely!

Damn Master of Extinction, she's utterly heartless.

I'm about to be implicated by Ma Xudong's crash, and she's still squeezing my labor dry! Four provincial newspaper-level ideological articles to be completed in two days—might as well fry my brain, right?

These articles, they're probably for her to claim authorship, or maybe for that Zhang Hongyang again?

Liu Zhizhong's heart felt incredibly stifled, but there was nothing he could do.

He returned to his office feeling dejected, having already received the topics from Zhang Yue Xing. He felt truly damn wronged—it was nothing but exploitation!

Fine, I'll have to work overtime tonight.

He had just sat down at his computer, prepared to start working on them, when Lu Yuqing's call came through.

"Zhizhong, your shoes and clothes have arrived, they are in my office! Working late tonight, huh? There are several materials here that you need to help me sort out and edit. By the way, shall we sleep in his office tonight?"

Liu Zhizhong's mood, quite complex, nevertheless agreed to come over.

To hell with it then, might as well enjoy the present!

And, as if nothing was wrong, I need to continue working overtime, continue the climb.

Moreover, considering what Zhang Yue Xing had said, with Ma Xudong definitely crashing, I should probably tell Lu Yuqing about it, too!

But, that's a worry for another day?