Liu Zhizhong had a genteel smile on his face, his eyes glinting like bright stars in the candlelight, his magnetic, provocative words sending Luo Yanling's heart aflutter.

Her gaze rested on his handsome, jade-like face, and for a moment, she was almost entranced but quickly realized she was losing her composure.

She immediately laughed, "Ah, Secretary Liu, cut it out. Your wife is prettier and sexier than me. How could I dare? Don't think that just by treating me to a western meal, I'm going to sleep with you, okay?"

Liu Zhizhong's face turned serious as he said earnestly, "Well, that's not impossible. After all, we live in a wonderful age where a bowl of spicy soup can hook you up with a girl. How many bowls could my meal be worth?"

Luo Yanling was amused again and laughed, "Alright, alright, I know you're a joker. Enough with the jokes already. I'm Secretary Ma's woman; you can't afford to sleep with me. You didn't become his secretary easily, don't throw away a bright future over a woman."

During the meal, Liu Zhizhong had actually been frank about some of his own affairs.

Thus, hearing Luo Yanling speak in this manner was somewhat touching for him. Indeed, this woman's nature was not at all bad.

Luo Yanling had also shared her past over dinner, which Liu Zhizhong found moving. She too came from the lower echelons, was born into poverty, and had entered officialdom reluctantly.

Liu Zhizhong smiled, nodded, and said, "Fine, too costly to sleep with, so let's not for now. We'll see about the future. Let's talk business..."

"Sure, let's talk business. I'll start."

Luo Yanling was quick to speak, even cutting off Liu Zhizhong.

"Alright, you go first."

Liu Zhizhong didn't compete and elegantly lit a cigarette, slowly exhaling the smoke.

Luo Yanling was privately irked. Why did he look so dashing even when smoking?

Observing his calm, refined face through the curling smoke, Luo Yanling still managed to compose herself and spoke sincerely,

"Secretary Liu, this meal has made me feel a lot. Thank you for not retaliating or holding any hatred against my arrogance and recklessness. You're a man of perspective and magnanimity."

"I'm different. I'm just a little woman who would give even her body and soul to climb up the ladder. So, when you blocked my way, I was furious, enraged, I hated you. But now, I forgive you, because you're outstanding and because..."

Luo Yanling took a sip of her juice and continued, "No choice, you hold that video, you have leverage over my life! Frankly, if you threatened me with the video, asking for money or even a person in exchange, I couldn't resist, I'd have no choice but to succumb. Since you're so handsome, so strong and formidable in a fight, I'd consider it not a loss."

"Here, I'll make a statement! From now on, Luo Yanling won't cause you any trouble at work. I'll be at your beck and call, ready to assist and fully cooperate with you. I mean what I say."

"Additionally, I am Ma Xudong's lover, so I ask you to keep it a secret. Therefore, I am willing to offer you ten million as thanks. This ten million, sigh, it's all I have, and I ask you to delete the video permanently, pretend you never saw anything. Is that okay?"

Towards the end, her naturally charming face lost its vixenesque allure and instead gained a touch of melancholy and sorrow.

Her shiny eyes reflected a pleading light in the candle's glow, and it seemed they were glistening with tears.

Liu Zhizhong felt a twinge of pity; he had been continuously nodding and cooperating.

Now, he could only smile broadly and say, "Director Luo, you are clear-headed and self-aware. Fortunately, we didn't drink tonight, or we couldn't have had this positive discussion."

"Thank you for being so open with me. I like honest people, and I especially appreciate your stance, which is spot on. Of course, money is secondary. I may not be Jack Ma, but I'm not interested in money either. I just want the Secretary's office to operate more smoothly and for everyone to collaborate better."

"Even if you could cooperate with my work while still giving me the cold shoulder, I wouldn't care. What matters is that the work progresses seamlessly."

"So, keep the ten million as your dowry. We won't discuss where it came from, but you earned it with your youth and soul. I don't need it. As for the video, I can crush it permanently right now."

Having said that, Liu Zhizhong pulled out his phone and deleted the video permanently in front of Luo Yanling.

Luo Yanling's tears were nearly uncontrollable as she dabbed at them with a tissue, gratefully saying, "Liu Zhizhong, thank you, really thank you... I truly underestimated you, honestly..."

She felt a tremendous weight lifted from her heart.

She was truly becoming more fond of Liu Zhizhong.

This man was indeed magnanimous!

But seizing the moment, Liu Zhizhong pressed on, "However, I still have something to say, and I hope you'll agree."

"Mm-hm, say it, I'll definitely agree."

"In fact, I can tell that you are a capable and skilled woman, and I'd like to keep you by my side, but for other reasons, I still have to ask... please leave the Secretary's office, leave the City Committee Courtyard, and take a position as an executive at the division chief level in a local position."