Chapter 9

Just as he reached the corner of the hallway, Chu Tianshu's boldness vanished into thin air. He repeatedly warned himself that no matter what the outcome, he must not act impulsively. He needed to do his best to leave a good impression on Ouyang Meimei before his exile, as he would need her to arrange a position for him after the one-year exile period.

When he arrived at the door of the head of the Organization and Personnel Department, Chu Tianshu stopped, straightened his clothes and hair, took a deep breath, and then gently knocked on the door. Soon, Ouyang Meimei's voice invited him in.

Chu Tianshu quietly pushed the door open just enough to slip his body through, then gently closed it behind him. He turned to face Ouyang Meimei, forcing a smile as he said, "Director Ouyang, you wanted to see me?"

"Xiao Chu, you're here. Please sit down!" Ouyang Meimei sat in her office chair, leaning back with a seductive smile. As she spoke, she gestured for Chu Tianshu to sit in the chair opposite her.

The more polite Ouyang Meimei was, the less confident Chu Tianshu felt. He sat down on the edge of the chair, barely touching it, with his hands resting on his knees and his eyes lowered, avoiding eye contact with Ouyang Meimei.

Seeing Chu Tianshu's nervousness, Ouyang Meimei was delighted. It showed that he still respected her as a leader.

Ouyang Meimei was well aware of how she had become the head of the Organization and Personnel Department. In the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), although people were outwardly polite to her, their disdain often showed through their noses or pores. Some arrogant young people even deliberately turned their faces away when they met her, leaving Ouyang Meimei both amused and frustrated.

Usually, Ouyang Meimei paid little attention to the marginal figures in the Comprehensive Department. But today, Chu Tianshu's behavior pleased her, and she couldn't help but take a closer look at the young man before her. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, a high nose, a smile on his lips, and a hint of stubble on his chin. His slightly tanned skin and upright posture, even with his head slightly lowered, exuded a strong, youthful vitality.

Chu Tianshu's appearance was not only handsome but also had a rare masculine charm that Ouyang Meimei rarely saw in the men she dealt with. She looked at him as if she had discovered a precious gem, her eyes filled with delight.

Chu Tianshu silently marveled at how Ouyang Meimei, who had started as a clerk, had become the head of the SASAC's Organization and Personnel Department, controlling the futures of dozens of bachelor's and master's degree holders. There were even rumors that she was actively working to become the deputy director of the SASAC before Guan Haoyu retired.

Clearly, in the political arena, a woman's face was an extremely important asset. Damn, the world was always shouting about gender equality, but in reality, men and women were never truly equal. Why could a woman's face and figure be an important asset in the political arena, but a man's good looks couldn't?

After a few minutes of silence, with no word from Ouyang Meimei, Chu Tianshu slightly raised his head and softly said, "Director..."

Ouyang Meimei seemed to wake from a dream. She coughed to cover her fluster and slowly said, "Xiao Chu, you've been working at the SASAC for two years, right? Director Tian said you've adapted well to the Comprehensive Department. That's good. Young people need to be tested in tough environments to grow and improve. Don't you agree?"

"Agreed, Director, you're absolutely right," Chu Tianshu said, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He thought to himself, when a weasel greets a chicken, it's often the chicken's death day.

Ouyang Meimei smiled and said, "Xiao Chu, don't be too nervous. I didn't call you here for anything serious. I just wanted to hear your thoughts on the 'Rural Residence' program."

You make it sound so easy, but this is a matter of life and death! Chu Tianshu's smile became less natural.

Anyone who had worked in an office knew that when a leader first praised and then criticized a subordinate, it usually meant bad news. This was a common leadership technique.

Saying she wanted to hear his opinion was just a polite way of informing him that the decision had already been made, making it easier for him to accept.

The worst had already happened, and being dejected would only make Ouyang Meimei look down on him. At this moment, Chu Tianshu felt a sense of relief and became more composed.

"Director, I'll follow your lead. I have no objections," Chu Tianshu said, deliberately saying he would follow Ouyang Meimei rather than the organization's decision.

This made Ouyang Meimei even more pleased.

"Ha, Xiao Chu, you'll follow my lead? Does that mean you'll do whatever I say?" Ouyang Meimei's tone seemed to carry a hint of ambiguity.

What did she mean? Ouyang Meimei's words caught Chu Tianshu off guard.

No matter what she meant, he thought, if it's a blessing, it's not a curse; if it's a curse, it can't be avoided. Since the decision was already made, he had to face it bravely.

Chu Tianshu lifted his head and looked at Ouyang Meimei with a determined gaze. This look made Ouyang Meimei's heart skip a beat.

The timid and helpless Chu Tianshu was gone, replaced by a man with a sharp, penetrating gaze that reached straight to her heart.

This was the first time Chu Tianshu had looked at Ouyang Meimei so closely, and it felt like he was back in a dream. In the bright sunlight streaming through the window, Ouyang Meimei's face glowed, her eyes were hazy, and her moist, slightly parted lips carried a hint of a smile. Even in a seated position, her tall and curvaceous figure was evident.

Her beautiful, fair face had a seductive, rosy hue. She wore a thin, yellow, three-quarter-sleeve blouse with a slightly low neckline, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, firm, and breathtakingly full chest, with a tantalizing curve between her breasts.

Any man who saw her would first notice her chest.

Ouyang Meimei subconsciously covered her chest, and Chu Tianshu seized the opportunity to say, "Director, you're so beautiful!"

"Really?" Ouyang Meimei leaned forward, her eyes sharp as she asked, "More beautiful than Deputy Director Jian?"

Damn! This was a tough question.

Chu Tianshu had never expected Ouyang Meimei to ask this and was momentarily stunned.

"If you can't answer, you don't have to," Ouyang Meimei's face darkened, and she stared at Chu Tianshu intently.

No matter how beautiful a woman was, she was always jealous of those more beautiful than herself. A jealous woman was not to be provoked.

Before Jian Ruoming joined the SASAC, Ouyang Meimei's status as the top beauty was undisputed, even among younger women like Liu Chunna. Even handsome young men like Chu Tianshu and Fan Yibing couldn't help but swallow a few times when they saw Ouyang Meimei's graceful back.

However, on the first day Jian Ruoming entered the SASAC building, Ouyang Meimei, who had dressed up for the occasion, stood on the steps with the others to welcome the new leader. The moment the two beauties shook hands, Ouyang Meimei's less proportionate figure, especially her chest, waist, hips, and legs, became glaringly obvious in comparison to Jian Ruoming.

Moreover, time was a ruthless sculptor, especially for women. The marks of time, no matter how much high-end cosmetics were used, could not be erased. Thus, Jian Ruoming, who was five years younger than Ouyang Meimei, had an undeniable advantage.

Fortunately, Chu Tianshu had similar training in his dreams. He feigned difficulty and hesitated, saying, "Director..."

"Stop!" Ouyang Meimei interrupted, her face stern. "Don't call me Director right now."

At some point, the middle-level departments in the city's various commissions and offices had been renamed from "sections" to "divisions," and their heads were naturally called "directors." Although they were called directors, they were still at the level of a section chief. Only someone like Jian Ruoming, who had reached the position of deputy director of the SASAC, was a true division-level official.

Chu Tianshu's repeated use of "Director" had pleased Ouyang Meimei, but when it came to comparing herself to Jian Ruoming, she suddenly felt a strong jealousy towards the title and stopped him.

"Then, what should I call you? Sister Mei?" Chu Tianshu looked at Ouyang Meimei teasingly.

Seeing Ouyang Meimei's sudden jealousy, Chu Tianshu was secretly amused. Since he was about to be exiled, teasing this woman who had risen through the ranks by her looks was a way to find some pleasure before the pain.

"Whatever, just don't call me Director," Ouyang Meimei said coldly. "Chu Tianshu, you still haven't answered my question."

"Sister Mei," Chu Tianshu tested the name, seeing no sign of displeasure on Ouyang Meimei's face. "Do you want the truth or a lie?"

"Of course, the truth," Ouyang Meimei huffed.

Chu Tianshu hesitated for a moment and then said very seriously, "To be honest, Sister Mei, you're not as beautiful as Jian Ruoming."

Ouyang Meimei's face turned extremely ugly.

"But, you're cuter," Chu Tianshu said softly. "Ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times cuter."

Ouyang Meimei's expression immediately softened, and a hint of a proud smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

Chu Tianshu added slowly, "A cold woman like her, which man would like? Only a woman who can captivate men is a true beauty. Sister Mei, you are such a woman!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ouyang Meimei's face lit up with joy.