In Pengcheng.

At the Industrial and Commercial Bank office.

Sheng Xuan, wearing a fitted suit, hurriedly walked into the office.

Her life had been rather difficult lately. She had merely tried to arrange a casual meeting with Tang Hongen, but couldn’t achieve even that.

Though he hadn’t accepted her favor, Qihang still managed to navigate through their crisis smoothly.

Perhaps it wasn’t even a crisis – something easily resolved.

But Sheng Xuan’s days had become difficult. Pan Yijun, the former credit director whom she had previously dismissed, was now hounding her like a mad dog, observing her with a magnifying glass 24 hours a day, just looking to find fault.

The leadership above still trusted Pan Yijun.

Even when Pan Yijun was suspended for investigation, nothing came of it. There were rumors in the bank that Director Pan had powerful connections.

Sheng Xuan had been parachuted into her position and didn’t have many of her people, while Pan Yijun was a veteran here. With his strong backing, most people sided with him, making it very difficult for Sheng Xuan to carry out her work.

One’s position was important, but having subordinates was even more crucial. Without them, a title was just empty – like being a general without an army!

What troubled Sheng Xuan was that yesterday, Ying Jinchuan from Qihang had come to discuss loan repayment. The 16 million yuan loan, including principal and interest, could now be repaid by Qihang in one lump sum.

Qihang had proven themselves to be quality clients, and now it was the bank that didn’t want Qihang to repay early.

The interest would be less, and the bank wouldn’t meet its loan targets.

While this matter was still being disputed, it didn’t involve Sheng Xuan at all. This was what troubled her – Qihang had completely bypassed her, negotiating with the bank through Pan Yijun, effectively sidelining her… Sheng Xuan’s face darkened, her beautiful features as cold as frost. But she wouldn’t be defeated so easily.

Tang Hongen wouldn’t like a pretty vase with nothing inside. The bank work was also very important to Sheng Xuan – if she couldn’t excel at her job, how could she prove her worth?

If she wasn’t excellent, she naturally wouldn’t be worthy of Tang Hongen.

Sheng Xuan told herself to remain calm and first sort out her work matters.

Her high heels clicked as she walked into the office, while those fence-sitters who had been won over by Pan Yijun secretly watched her, their gazes full of curiosity and scrutiny.

Sheng Xuan was confused.

“Director Sheng, Secretary Peng from the government is waiting in your office.”

Secretary Peng?

This secretary had been by Tang Hongen’s side for several years and was his confidant.

Sheng Xuan quickened her pace while maintaining a casual smile:

“Oh, why didn’t he give notice before coming?”

Her tone was relaxed as if she were quite familiar with Secretary Peng.

This performance was enough to make people exchange questioning glances.

Was their parachuted Director Sheng familiar with the mayor’s secretary?

Everyone said Director Pan had deep connections, but it seemed Director Sheng was no less connected.

Those who had completely sided with Director Pan began to worry about future retribution… While everyone harbored their thoughts, they didn’t know Sheng Xuan was putting on an act – she knew of Secretary Peng but had never actually interacted with him.

She wanted to get close to people around Tang Hongen but feared causing his disapproval.

“Secretary Peng, what an honor! I’m sorry I wasn’t there to welcome you!”

Sheng Xuan greeted him warmly, the frost on her face completely melted away, and she actively reached to shake his hand.

Beautiful and warmly gracious – this was Secretary Peng’s impression of Sheng Xuan.

Unfortunately, the leader had no such intentions. Secretary Peng felt no sympathy for her. What he was about to do was somewhat cruel, but sometimes when things weren’t made clear, some people liked to play dumb.

While Sheng Xuan was still wondering about Secretary Peng’s purpose, he directly took out a box of wedding candy:

“Comrade Sheng Xuan, the leader specifically asked me to deliver this.”

The bright red candy box stung Sheng Xuan’s eyes.

“What does this mean?”

Secretary Peng sighed, “Director Sheng, you’re a smart person. Do you not understand the leader’s meaning? The leader is already on marriage leave. He was very displeased with what happened recently, but for Second Madam Song’s sake, he didn’t make things difficult for you… However, Director Sheng, you should know that some things only happen once. Some of the rumors you previously spread were very inappropriate. The leader doesn’t want to hear similar gossip spreading in Pengcheng. Director Sheng, you’d better take care of yourself.”

Wedding candy, marriage leave.

Secretary Peng had been direct enough.

Tang Hongen and Liu Fen were married!

This was like a bolt from the blue for Sheng Xuan.

Before she could implement her many plans and strategies, Tang Hongen and Liu Fen were already married!

Having been burned once in marriage, Sheng Xuan thought Tang Hongen wouldn’t rashly enter marriage again without spending years understanding a woman. She thought she still had time.

Tang Hongen hadn’t followed her expected timeline at all!

Sheng Xuan’s head was buzzing.

Was she out of the game just like that?

She had wasted several years of her youth in Tang Hongen.

She had even noticed Tang Hongen earlier than others.

Sheng Xuan found herself speechless.

The office door was slightly ajar, as was workplace custom – a man and woman alone in a room would cause gossip. Sheng Xuan hadn’t expected Secretary Peng to say these things when she entered – which meant everyone outside had heard everything.

Sheng Xuan forced out a smile:

“Secretary Peng, please convey my blessings to May… Mayor Tang. Wish him and his wife a happy marriage and lifelong happiness.”

Secretary Peng narrowed his eyes. Sheng Xuan was truly adaptable – this woman had even deeper schemes than Madam Ji.

A woman like this might still cause trouble for the leader if she persisted.

Secretary Peng absolutely wouldn’t allow that!

It wasn’t that he particularly supported Comrade Liu Fen – he was protecting Tang Hongen.

One divorce didn’t affect Tang Hongen’s career path; that was a divorce during special times, and China had many similar cases. But a second divorce and a third marriage? How could his leader continue to advance?

Being gentle with Sheng Xuan would be cruel to both the leader and Secretary Peng himself.

Discovering Sheng Xuan’s deep schemes, Secretary Peng decisively twisted the knife, raising his voice slightly:

“The leader and his wife are truly very much in love. Director Sheng, you should also try to settle your marriage soon. With a stable family foundation, one can focus completely on work. Don’t you agree, Director Sheng?”

The gossip flames were fully ignited.

Why would a city leader send wedding candy to Director Sheng?

After delivering the candy, why emphasize the good relationship with the new wife, and why hope for Director Sheng to marry soon?

Oh my, Director Sheng was so beautiful, yet still single at thirty! Was it because she didn’t want to marry and wanted to devote herself to work, or because the person she wanted to marry didn’t want her?

City leader, wedding candy, urging marriage… The implications were terrifying!

Secretary Peng thought, you think you’re the only one who dares to spread rumors?

He was giving fair warning – if she dared to fabricate more baseless rumors, Secretary Peng would destroy her before Tang Hongen needed to act.

He didn’t care if she was related to the Song family or how beautiful she was. Once Tang Hongen and Liu Fen were married, any woman trying to seduce Tang Hongen into making mistakes became Secretary Peng’s enemy!

Secretary Peng had come to deliver wedding candy, but this candy was wrapped around sharp knives, cutting Sheng Xuan until her face turned pale and her internal organs ached.