Sun Dasheng waved his hand, cutting her off. "Let’s get to the point. Don’t waste ti with thanks."
Wang Manman sat upright and poured him a cup of liquor. She then lifted her own cup, downed it in one gulp, and began to recount what had happened.
It wasn’t complicated. A male custor had co in a few days ago and had taken a fancy to her, wanting her to be his mistress. She had explicitly told him that she had a husband and a child and refused. Afterward, various officials started showing up at her door to cause trouble. Their thods were very similar to the incident at the internet cafe; only the reason was different.
"Which departnt is he from?" Sun Dasheng asked calmly.
Resolving such matters was a matter of a single phone call for him, as long as the other person wasn’t ranked too high.
"The Administration for Industry and Comrce. Apparently, he’s a section chief," Wang Manman said, glancing worriedly at the man opposite her.
Still, the man remained completely unfazed. "Alright, I’ve got it. It’s not a big deal, so don’t worry."
Even though he said that, as long as the other shoe hadn’t dropped, her heart remained unsettled.
Before long, a commotion erupted outside.
"We’re here for an inspection! Where’s the owner?"
Wang Manman went out, her face ashen. It was the sa few familiar faces, just like before.
"Boss Wang, you’ve been issued a business closure and rectification notice. Why is your shop still open? Are you defying our sanctions?"
"My shop has always operated legally with all the required permits," Wang Manman argued forcefully. "You can’t penalize without reason."
Unfortunately, they had co with a ’mission’ and had no intention of listening to her argunts.
"The higher-ups said that as long as you’re obedient, these sanctions can be lifted," the official leaned in and whispered. "Otherwise, you’d better just accept the punishnt."
Wang Manman laughed. "Aren’t you afraid I’ll record this and post it online? I’ll drag you down with !"
The official’s expression flickered, but then he laughed again. "Don’t worry. The fish will die, but the net won’t break."
"Even if you post it, it won’t cause much of a stir. I can assure you of that."
Actually, he was nervous as he said this. He couldn’t guarantee a damn thing. But years of experience had taught him that bluffs needed to sound convincing. Most people were easily intimidated; the brave were always in the minority.
Wang Manman was not one of the brave ones. As a woman supporting her entire family, she didn’t dare to gamble. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have turned to Sun Dasheng for help.
"What’s there to be so arrogant about? My Uncle Sun is here today!" Yang Xintian stepped out at the perfect mont to help her. "All of you small-fry better watch out, or you’ll face consequences you can’t handle."
That’s right, I have backup. Wang Manman finally breathed a sigh of relief, her large eyes turning toward the private booth.
"Oh, so you brought backup today?" the official scoffed. "Even if you brought the Emperor of Heaven himself, it’s useless. Around here, what Chief Wang says, goes."
"Oh, really?" a relaxed voice drifted from the private booth as a tall figure erged.
The officials who had co to cause trouble instantly froze. The one in the lead pointed at him, stamring, "You... you... aren’t you... that..."
"What? Recognize ?" Sun Dasheng asked with a smile as he walked over.
"Mr. Sun! It’s a pleasure. We had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. We had no idea she was your friend. We’ve offended you. We’ll leave now and co back another day to apologize."
Damn it, why did it have to be this jinx? The previous chief of our departnt ended up benched because of him. Others might not know, but everyone in our office knows he’s not soone to be provoked. It looks like our new chief, the big shot we just latched onto, is about to be taken down by him too. A new broom sweeps clean? More like a new promotion sends you straight to the archives. Good grief, he’s getting to retire twenty years early.
Wang Manman watched as the group, so full of bravado just monts ago, now cowered before Sun Dasheng like mice before a cat. She finally understood the true extent of the power Yang Xintian’s "Uncle Sun" possessed.
Yang Xintian was the first to snap out of it. She happily linked her arm with Sun Dasheng’s and said to Wang Manman, "Sister Manman, didn’t I tell you? My Uncle Sun can handle your problem with ease."
"See? Was I wrong? He barely said a word and they imdiately backed down. Isn’t my Uncle Sun just the best?"
"Yes... he’s amazing," Wang Manman giggled in response to Yang Xintian. Then, she turned to Sun Dasheng and said with sincere gratitude, "Thank you so much for today, Mr. Sun. Please, you must let treat you tonight as thanks."
She bowed a full ninety degrees. The fabric of her dress strained against her magnificent chest, revealing a swath of pale, luminous skin.
"Please, there’s no need to be so formal. Stand up." Sun Dasheng moved to help her up, as she seed determined to remain bowed and motionless.
After she stood up, he saw two streaks of tears rolling down her cheeks. He took out a handkerchief and handed it to her. "Wipe your tears. Don’t let your child see, or you’ll be teased."
His voice was gentle and soft. Wang Manman stared at him, montarily infatuated. Then she ca back to her senses. Her face flushed as she turned to wipe her eyes with the handkerchief. She inwardly cursed her foolish daydreams.
I’m a married woman with a child. How could I ever be worthy of soone so exceptional? Even if... No, I can’t think like this.
She reined in her scattered thoughts. She personally went to a nearby hotel and booked a private dinner to host Sun Dasheng.
Sun Dasheng didn’t refuse. After helping her with such a significant problem, he figured it was better to accept her gesture of goodwill. Besides, if he refused, who knows how long her mind would run wild.
The dinner lasted for quite so ti, and Wang Manman drank a little too much.
How long had it been? Probably not since her husband’s accident. She hadn’t let herself relax like this in ages. It felt good. She had drunk just the right amount to be pleasantly tipsy.
It also allowed her to unburden herself of many things she had kept locked away in her heart for a long ti. Of course, her main confidante for this was Yang Xintian. Sun Dasheng, for his part, remained a quiet observer and didn’t say much.
After the al, he escorted them back.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom ca to a slow stop at the gate of her old residential complex. The back door opened. Wang Manman ducked her head to get out, smiled a goodbye to the person inside, then turned and staggered toward the building.
"Whore."
From an unseen corner, a man in a wheelchair watched the entire scene unfold. This man was her husband, Fang Fan.
She entered the apartnt and turned on the light. The house was quiet. Her husband and child must already be asleep, she thought, not giving it a second thought. She picked up her clothes, preparing to take a shower.
Suddenly, a door leading to the living room made a noise.
Startled, she sobered up instantly. A burglar! she thought, and her heart pounded. She hurried to the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and hid behind the door, ready to ambush the intruder.
CLICK.
The door opened.
"Who’s there?" she yelled, as much to embolden herself as to frighten the intruder. She raised the gleaming cleaver and faced the doorway.
Far from being frightened, the intruder let out a low, dark laugh.
"Wang Manman, are you planning to murder your husband so you can throw yourself into the arms of your lover?"
The person at the door was her husband, Fang Fan.
She lowered the cleaver, her face cold. "What do you an?"
"Hmph! You’re asking what I an? I should be asking you what you an," Fang Fan retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Did you eat gunpowder or sothing? Why are you so angry today?" Wang Manman still couldn’t understand what had set him off. Although they had been arguing frequently lately, there was always a reason. This inexplicable quarrel left her completely puzzled.
She returned to the kitchen to put the cleaver away and headed for the bathroom, deciding to ignore the raving lunatic.
He moved to block the bathroom door before she could get there.
"Fang Fan, get out of the way. I need to take a shower," Wang Manman scowled, on the verge of losing her temper.
Fang Fan sneered, "Who are you putting on an act for? Didn’t you already shower at the hotel after having fun with your lover?"
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