Vоlumе 1 Сhаpter 7: Таking Неr Нome
Sitting in the раssenger sеat, Seсrеtаrу Хiаng listenеd tо thе bаck-and-fоrth between the twо in thе baсk аnd hаd аlrеadу guеssеd about еightу to ninеty perсent оf the situation.
If thе meеting matеriаls were rеally neеdеd, thеу could simрlу аsk thе township рartу secrеtary tо send them оver. Why bothеr gоing in рersоn tо copу them?
Моreovеr, coрying filеs wаs suсh a triviаl matter, уet theу hаd tо arrange for two peoрlе to do it.
And what а сoincidenсе—by the time they finished copying and came downstairs, the other two colleagues from the Broadcasting Center had already left.
It was already past quitting time—what urgent matter could there possibly be?
With so many people at the Broadcasting Center, why insist on calling two who were already out on assignment?
Most importantly, these two were accompanying the county magistrate. Who would dare to casually call them away?
There was only one possibility: this was all arranged by the county magistrate himself.
As for the reason—as the county magistrate’s secretary and having been in this circle for so long, having witnessed so many situations, if he couldn’t figure this out, then he had wasted all that time.
His boss’s intentions were clearly not about the wine.
Even if someone needed to accompany him for the rural inspection, they should have been selected from the county government.
With so many employees in the government building, couldn’t they find a single person?
Not just one—they could have found ten. Why go all the way to the Broadcasting Center to transfer someone, especially a newcomer who didn’t know much?
In just a few short minutes, Secretary Xiang had pieced together the entire story, yet his expression remained unchanged.
As a competent secretary, his leader’s orders were his most important task.
All he needed to do was carry out his superior’s commands well. As for everything else, he firmly avoided prying into matters he shouldn’t.
That was the way to survive long-term in the workplace.
Shu Miao had been praying inwardly for the driver to go faster. Sitting next to a powerful figure like this made her feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles, completely uncomfortable.
Meng Yuchuan, on the other hand, was quite relaxed, leaning lazily against the seat, utterly at ease.
From time to time, he glanced at the restless little figure beside him, who was pretending to be calm, finding her utterly adorable. His mood grew increasingly pleasant.
His gaze gradually softened, and an indescribable emotion swirled and slowly grew in his heart.
Shu Miao endured the entire journey, and when she finally saw the car enter the county’s main road, her eyes lit up, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief: Finally, we’re almost there.
Her sudden relaxation did not escape the man beside her.
Meng Yuchuan’s lips curled into a smile, his dark eyes as captivating as obsidian.
Secretary Xiang turned around at just the right moment, respectfully asking Meng Yuchuan about the next arrangement: “County Magistrate, will you be returning to the office?”
“No, take me directly home. You can take the car afterward,” Meng Yuchuan said calmly.
Secretary Xiang understood perfectly: “Understood. We’ll take you home first.”
Meng Yuchuan gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.
Listening to their exchange, Shu Miao thought to herself that since they were taking Meng Yuchuan home first, she would simply get out of the car afterward and then take a taxi home.
She really didn’t want to ride in this car any longer.
Her cultivation wasn’t deep enough, her skills too shallow—she couldn’t handle the pressure of riding in the county magistrate’s car.
Finally, she wouldn’t have to face Meng Yuchuan anymore. She had been holding it in the whole way, almost giving herself internal injuries.
After a while, the car arrived at the entrance of a residential complex.
Shu Miao recognized it as Aoyuan Community, the most upscale residential area in their county.
One elevator per household, few buildings, and very large spacing between them, ensuring ample sunlight for every unit from the first floor up.
It hadn’t been on the market for long, and the price per square meter had been very high at the time.Most importantly, it wasn’t just about having money; you also needed connections, otherwise you simply couldn’t buy it.
It sold out the moment it went on sale, yet Meng Yuchuan managed to get one—he must have bought it as soon as the project launched.
It seems he knew in advance that he would be transferred here.
A sudden realization struck her, and she remembered what Pei Ran and Jiang Qing had said about his background. His reputation was indeed well-deserved.
Seeing the barrier lift and the car about to drive in, Shu Miao grabbed the back of the front seat and called out, “Wait.”
The driver stepped on the brake. Meng Yuchuan looked at her. “What’s wrong?”
Secretary Xiang also turned around.
Shu Miao bit her lip, looking directly at Meng Yuchuan for the first time during the entire ride.
She tentatively spoke up, “County Magistrate Meng, maybe you could just drop me off here. I can take a taxi back myself.”
Hearing this, Meng Yuchuan smiled gently. “It’s fine. You can get off with me first. I have to go out later for some business anyway, so I can drop you off on the way.”
Shu Miao was stunned to hear he intended to take her home.
She hurriedly waved her hands in refusal. “No, no, that’s too much trouble. Besides, my place is still quite a distance from here. I wouldn’t want to delay your business.”
Meng Yuchuan remained insistent, his tone carrying a hint of pleasure. “It’s no trouble at all. I’m not in a hurry.”
Shu Miao wanted to say more, but Meng Yuchuan didn’t give her the chance. He directly ordered the driver to proceed.
Having driven for the leadership for so long, the driver naturally knew whose orders to follow. Without delay, he stepped on the accelerator, and the car drove over the speed bump straight into the complex.
Secretary Xiang, sitting in the front, was already mentally staging a full-blown drama.
It seemed this young comrade was still unaware of their leader’s intentions.
Well, she was a fresh graduate, after all. Her thinking was bound to be quite naive.
She probably still thought today was genuinely just about coming out to support the work.
The car drove directly into the underground parking garage. Meng Yuchuan got out, but Shu Miao remained seated inside, unmoving.
She sat there, hands nervously clenched together, head bowed as she stared at her knees.
Her mind was racing, trying to figure out how to refuse Meng Yuchuan’s offer to take her home, when the car door suddenly opened.
Looking up, she met Meng Yuchuan’s deep eyes and his handsome face wearing a faint smile. His tall, straight figure stood firmly beside the open door.
Seeing she still hadn’t moved, he said, “Get out first. My car is right over there.”
Shu Miao held her breath, her eyes wide with shock.
What was she doing? She was actually making the county magistrate himself open the car door for her and wait outside. Was she trying to reach for the heavens?
Her mind spun rapidly. A few seconds later, her body moved faster than her thoughts, and she stepped out of the car.
Her brain was still in a daze. By the time she regained her senses, Meng Yuchuan had already driven out of the residential complex.
Shu Miao turned to look at the man focused on driving, her tone somewhat anxious. “County Magistrate Meng, maybe you should just drop me off by the roadside. My home really isn’t close. Please don’t let me delay your business.”
Meng Yuchuan, however, didn’t mind at all. “It’s fine. My business isn’t urgent.”
“Besides, you missed your own ride because you were helping us with our work. By all accounts, it’s only right that I take you back.”
His reasoning was sound and his words appropriate.
Shu Miao could find no further excuse to refuse. She could only awkwardly fall silent, sitting quietly to the side, her gaze lowered to her feet.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Meng Yuchuan driving beside her. Good-looking people could withstand scrutiny even from the side.
Meng Yuchuan’s profile was smooth, his jawline sharp and well-defined, the skin on his cheeks taut.Glancing down, she caught sight of a large, well-defined hand resting on the steering wheel. The fingers were slender and the skin fair—Shu Miao thought it could rival the hands of hand models she had seen in magazines.
Noticing the car emblem on the steering wheel, she recognized it as a Hongqi sedan.
“Do you live in the eastern part of the city?”
Shu Miao answered honestly, “Yes.”
“Which neighborhood?”
Shu Miao replied directly, “Huating Jiayuan.”
Meng Yuchuan lived in the center of the county town, while she lived further east, closer to her workplace, making her daily commute more convenient.
Shu Miao kept giving Meng Yuchuan directions, her mind occupied, and for a moment, she forgot the awkwardness between them.