Ever since the previous municipal head had been taken away by Zhong JW, everyone in Jiangcheng had been buzzing about who would take over the position.
The most talked-about candidate was the current Executive Deputy Secretary, Liu Mingyuan. A native of Jiangcheng, his father had once served as the city’s top official.
After graduating from university, Liu Mingyuan had worked continuously in the municipal government—from a junior clerk to deputy section chief, section chief, director, then deputy bureau-level officer, head of a bureau, deputy secretary, and finally executive deputy secretary. His rise had been smooth, and he had established solid roots and connections in Jiangcheng.
By the time the city’s top official was taken away, he had been in his current position for four years.
He had always aspired to take the next step and become Jiangcheng’s true municipal head.
But although the rank difference between the first and second-in-command seemed minor, everyone in the system knew it was a gap almost impossible to cross.
He also understood that to become the city’s top official, having local roots and connections wasn’t enough; one needed backing in the provincial capital.
So he leveraged his father’s old connections and the new ones he had built over his career, trying to maneuver himself into the top spot.
But things didn’t go as he hoped.
When Shi Anlan’s appointment letter arrived at the municipal government, Liu Mingyuan was stunned for a moment—but then felt a strange sense of relief.
If it had been anyone else, he surely wouldn’t have accepted it gracefully—but Shi Anlan made him concede without resentment.
Who was Shi Anlan?
A rising star in politics. At only 35 years old, his career accomplishments were something most people could never hope to achieve in a lifetime.
He had previously served as Secretary-General of the provincial municipal committee and had been both county magistrate and county party secretary at lower levels.
Why had he achieved such dazzling success at a young age?
Two main reasons.
First, his ability, courage, and political savvy. He cared for the people and delivered tangible results, yet was also a decisive, iron-handed figure. Swift, precise, and ruthless—this had always been his principle.
Second, his family background. Shi Anlan’s father held a high-ranking position in the provincial military district; his mother was a department-level official. His eldest brother went into business and now headed a listed company. His grandfather had held a central government post. In short, he had connections and resources in the military, political, and business spheres.
Such a background gave him a significant head start compared to others.
Even more crucial, he didn’t lack money. Anyone trying to bribe him or manipulate him invariably failed.
Facing such a man without any vulnerabilities, his rivals could only consider themselves unlucky.
The only flaw was his personal life.
Early on, considering his political future, his parents had arranged a political marriage with the granddaughter of another central government official.
They had met briefly, confirmed the relationship, and married.
Because of long-term separation and a weak emotional foundation, the wife left less than six months after giving birth, saying, “I want to find true love,” and ran off with her former boyfriend—leaving behind an infant.
In the following six or seven years, Shi Anlan never remarried.
There were many rumors about why.
Some said he was inadequate, reasoning that with his looks and family background, the wife wouldn’t have left without cause; the only possible reason was that he couldn’t satisfy her.
Others speculated about his sexual orientation, claiming the marriage and child were merely a cover. With the child born, he had fulfilled his duty to continue the family line, so separation was natural.
Whatever the truth, over the years, no woman—whether openly courting, subtly flirting, or trying to approach with ulterior motives—ever won his favor.
Shi Anlan was aware of the gossip but chose to ignore it.
The pure would remain pure; the corrupt, corrupt. He had no need to explain.
Although having a stable family might have benefited his political career, he refused to repeat past mistakes.
A political marriage? No way!
He despised it—and didn’t need it.
If he were to find someone, it would be someone he truly liked and wanted to spend his life with.
What surprised him, however, was that person appeared sooner than he expected.
On Monday, the school held a flag-raising ceremony. Zhou Nuan arrived at the office at 7:40.
No sooner had she sat down than she received a call from an unfamiliar number.
“Hello, are you Teacher Zhou? I’m Shi Xuzhi’s cousin,” said Shi Yan over the phone.
“Oh, hello. May I ask what this is regarding?” Zhou Nuan instinctively sat up straighter upon hearing it was about Shi Xuzhi.
“It’s like this, Teacher Zhou. I brought a small gift for every student in the class and left them at the reception. Could you please take them and distribute them to the students?”
“Huh?” Zhou Nuan was momentarily stunned.
“Last Friday, when Shi Xuzhi enrolled, the students gave him gifts. Knowing this, Shi Xuzhi’s father felt embarrassed, so he asked me to prepare a small return gift for each student,” Shi Yan politely explained.
“Sir?” Zhou Nuan was taken aback. That formal address still existed?
“Yes, Xuzhi’s father. I’m used to calling him ‘Sir.’”
“And you are…?” Zhou Nuan asked.
“I’m Xuzhi’s cousin, Shi Yan. We met last Friday,” Shi Yan explained.
Cousin? Zhou Nuan suddenly realized she had assumed Shi Yan was Xuzhi’s mother. Looking back, she remembered that the “Mother” column in the school records was blank, which had seemed odd at the time.
“You and your husband are too polite. These are just the kids’ small tokens—nothing to worry about,” Zhou Nuan quickly said.
“These are also a small gesture from Sir and Xuzhi. No need for you to feel obliged,” Shi Yan replied.
“All right. I’ll thank you and Sir on behalf of the students,” Zhou Nuan said with a smile.
“You’re welcome, Teacher Zhou. We’ll leave Xuzhi in your capable hands from now on,” Shi Yan added.
When Zhou Nuan arrived at the reception, seeing the large bag of beautifully packaged snacks, she was genuinely astonished.
Who would have thought that the busy Shi Secretary, with his countless responsibilities, could be so meticulous and thorough!
This was Zhou Nuan’s second impression of Shi Anlan.