After feeling troubled for a while, Xia Xiaolan quickly came to terms with the situation.

She truly had no intention of using her mother for social climbing.

In her heart, her mother deserved anyone.

However, others might not think the same way, just like how some people still thought she and Zhou Cheng weren’t a good match.

If her mother were to get together with Tang Hongen, they would likely face considerable opposition.

At his age and with his authority, Tang Hongen could certainly make his own decisions about marriage. But with how busy he was, how could he fully attend to her mother’s emotional needs?

The more Liu Fen showed signs of getting closer to Tang Hongen, the more vigilant Xia Xiaolan became.

People often viewed relationships and marriage through vulgar eyes, but Xia Xiaolan refused to give in. She felt compelled to maintain her mother’s dignity.

While Xia Xiaolan was determined to acquire land and build a house, hoping to settle the land matter before leaving Peng City for school, Tang Hongen, provoked by Ji Ya, suddenly wanted to visit Liu Fen in Beijing.

He understood Liu Fen fairly well. She was simple-minded yet carried heavy burdens. Though she didn’t dislike him and even seemed to favor him, she remained hesitant about being with him due to various concerns.

Tang Hongen didn’t believe in social hierarchies. He came from an ordinary family without pretentious rules, and his current position was earned through his efforts.

Therefore, he could make his own decisions about marriage.

This wasn’t a sudden whim for Tang Hongen, nor was it mere physical attraction, and it certainly wasn’t about getting back at Ji Ya.

In the decade since divorcing Ji Ya, Tang Hongen had never considered remarrying. His current intentions came after careful consideration.

His affection for Liu Fen developed naturally, leading to his recent actions.

Yet his feelings weren’t without reason. While Liu Fen worried about their social gap, Tang Hongen appreciated her simple family background. She had cleanly broken ties with her troublesome ex-husband’s family, had a sensible and filial daughter, and a reliable older brother Liu Yong. Starting a new family with Liu Fen wouldn’t involve dealing with complicated family matters.

She wasn’t more beautiful than Ji Ya.

She didn’t have a more prestigious background than Ji Ya.

But Liu Fen was suitable for him. Looking at life partners with mature eyes now, Tang Hongen wouldn’t choose a pampered lady again.

With this mindset, Tang Hongen flew from Peng City to Beijing.

While he spoke of mere compatibility, his actions were more honest than his words. When he arrived at the Shichahai home, he found only Grandmother Yu.

“Ah Fen is watching the store in Xidan. She won’t even take one day off, saying she needs to earn money to pay the loan.”

As a mother caring for her daughter, Tang Hongen couldn’t say anything against it.

Although it was late August, the weather was still hot. Tang Hongen remembered their last meeting when Liu Fen’s clothes were dampened with sweat, showing the outline of her undergarments… Mayor Tang maintained a stern expression: “Then I’ll go to Xidan to see her. Auntie, please rest at home. No need to trouble yourself coming along.”

Grandmother Yu nodded, “You should go see her. When courting someone, you need sweet words and quick feet. Little Tang, if you don’t move quickly, others will move in your place. Before you know it, even a cooked duck can fly away, and you might find yourself attending someone else’s wedding!”

Being a clever person, Tang Hongen clearly understood Grandmother Yu’s implications.

She meant that Ah Fen had a new suitor.

This wasn’t surprising – Liu Fen’s good qualities weren’t visible only to him.

Though Tang Hongen understood this reasoning, sitting back in his car, he still felt irritated.

Young Wang, this fool, hadn’t noticed his leader’s mood and drove turtle-slow through Beijing’s streets. Tang Hongen wanted to give Young Wang a hint but remembered how after Du Zhaohui had hit Kang Wei, he had said it was better to drive slowly for everyone’s safety – telling Young Wang to speed up now would be contradicting himself.

But Tang Hongen’s mood truly carried some urgency.

He wasn’t afraid of competing with other worthy men; what worried him were the less outstanding ones.

Liu Fen didn’t care about a man’s power. She might feel less pressure with someone slightly above average, and through continued interaction might agree to be with them… Why else would Grandmother Yu talk about cooked ducks flying away and him potentially attending someone else’s wedding?

“The duck isn’t even cooked yet…”

They had only held hands once, and that was his sudden move. Liu Fen hadn’t pulled away immediately, probably because Ji Ya was watching.

At this moment, Tang Hongen’s mind was exceptionally clear in analyzing his relationship progress with Liu Fen.

He could have struck while the iron was hot, but Xia Xiaolan had taken Liu Fen to Jiang City, and he hadn’t seen Ah Fen for a month.

That girl – hadn’t he been good enough to her?

If she wouldn’t help, at least she shouldn’t interfere.

Young Wang heard Tang Hongen muttering and thought his leader wanted duck: “The Quanjude ducks must be ready by now – it’s so late, how could they not be cooked if they want to stay in business! Should I make a reservation at Quanjude for you?”

Tang Hongen glanced at Young Wang, “It’s too hot for roast duck, it’ll cause internal heat. Don’t worry about food, just focus on driving.”

How could he think about a roast duck when Ah Fen might be taken away by someone else?

Young Wang wasn’t as sharp as Secretary Peng. He needed a few more years of training before being assigned to a suitable position.

Young Wang felt wronged after this unexpected rebuke and quietly focused on driving, feeling very confused. He was sure he hadn’t misheard – the leader had mentioned something about ducks, and wasn’t Beijing most famous for its roast duck?

They soon reached Xidan.

Tang Hongen asked Young Wang to drive slowly, and sure enough, they soon spotted the Citroën that Xia Xiaolan had bought for Liu Fen.

“Leader, that’s the car.”

Young Wang had helped choose it at customs, so he couldn’t be mistaken.

If the car was here, the person must be nearby.

Young Wang parked the car, and after a short wait, they saw Liu Fen walking side by side with a middle-aged man in uniform. Given Liu Fen’s personality, such relaxed conversation suggested they weren’t strangers… Young Wang secretly observed Tang Hongen’s expression. His leader’s lips tightened briefly before quickly returning to normal.

Was the leader unhappy?

Of course, he wouldn’t be happy! Flying eagerly to Beijing only to see such a scene – wasn’t this like having cold water dumped on his head?

While Young Wang was lost in thought, Tang Hongen had already opened the car door and stepped out. Young Wang panicked and hit his head on the steering wheel, seeing stars from the pain.

Tang Hongen ignored poor Young Wang.

He walked casually up to Liu Fen, and Station Chief Ma, who had been talking to Liu Fen, noticed him first.

Tang Hongen wore gold-rimmed glasses and looked very refined and scholarly.

But in terms of presence, a mere police station chief, even with his fierce appearance, was no match for Tang Hongen. At this moment, Tang Hongen knew he couldn’t show his usual approachability – which was reserved for common citizens. The uniformed man before him was his competitor.

“Ah Fen, you’re not finished here yet?”

Liu Fen was startled, and Station Chief Ma looked uncertain. This bespectacled man had such a commanding presence and spoke so familiarly with Liu Fen!

Could this man be Liu Fen’s older brother?