Chapter 3: Silent Assassination

Zuo Yuxi was almost at the point of despair.

Today, the new office building of Qingzhou No. 1 High School was being laid, and the mayor who took office in March, Zhou Yuanting, Vice Mayor Liu Sheng, Secretary-General of the Municipal Government Huang Wei, Education Bureau Director Li Dingguo, and the school leaders of No. 1 High School all attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. After the meeting, the principal of No. 1 High School invited the leaders to Fuging Building for a working meal. Zuo Yuxi was reluctant to participate, but she could not resist Li Dingguo's repeated requests and had to come to accompany the leaders. At this sensitive moment, she could not and dared not act as freely as she used to.

After the March People's Congress, her father, Zuo Jing, was transferred from the Party Secretary of Qingzhou City to the Party Secretary of Lingyang City, completing the difficult leap from a full-hall level to a deputy-provincial level. During this period, various forces were intertwined, and several factions vied for power, fighting to the death in a thrilling battle. Especially Zuo Jing's archenemy, the strongest candidate for the top position in Lingyang, the former mayor of Qingzhou, Fang Mingtang, after losing the competition, could not even take a step back. Not only did Lingyang become a mirage, but he even lost the position of Party Secretary of Qingzhou, which was once a bone in the throat, and was directly sent to the People's Congress to serve as the director.

Although Zuo Jing did not get along with Fang Mingtang, he did not want to drive him to the wall. After all, if Fang Mingtang's future was completely ruined, the two would have a mortal enmity. The political arena is a public instrument, and having such a relentless enemy would be counterproductive for Zuo Jing. However, by the time things had progressed to this point, many people were involved, and it was no longer something Zuo Jing could control alone.

Therefore, as the saying goes, "When a person leaves, the tea cools," especially in the political arena, where the warmth and coldness of human relationships can change overnight. Although Lingyang is the largest city in Jiangdong Province outside the provincial capital Guanshan City, and Zuo Jing's rank has reached the deputy-provincial level, once he left, his influence in Qingzhou quickly diminished to the minimum. If Zuo Yuxi still acted as she pleased, it would not only show her political immaturity but also invite trouble for herself.

Everything at the banquet clearly illustrated the problem. Zuo Yuxi was known in Qingzhou as a "three-cup official," one cup for the leaders, one cup for the host, and one cup for the colleagues. This had been the case for years. Not only did Li Dingguo always help her block the drinks, but Zhou Yuanting often said that they treated everyone equally in work, but at the dinner table, they should protect the female colleagues, and Zuo Yuxi should drink less.

Zhou Yuanting was previously the executive vice mayor in charge of education, and Zuo Yuxi had many opportunities to interact with him.

Today, however, things were different. Although everyone still appeared as warm and friendly as before, Zhou Yuanting smiled and talked about work with her, asking if she had any difficulties, but Zuo Yuxi knew that the kind and caring Vice Mayor Zhou was gone. In his place was the mayor of Qingzhou, Fang Mingtang's loyal supporter, and the actual absolute power holder in Qingzhou—Zhou Yuanting.

A few staff members from the municipal government began toasting, and Li Dingguo habitually stood up to block the drinks for Zuo Yuxi. However, he inadvertently saw that Mayor Zhou was talking to Liu Sheng, not smiling at Zuo Yuxi as he usually did, seemingly unaware of his subordinates' actions. Li Dingguo's heart sank, and he found an excuse to go to the bathroom. When he returned, Zuo Yuxi was already quite drunk. Li Dingguo gave a cold, dark laugh: "Without my support, let's see how you can still pretend to be so high and mighty!"

Having Zuo Yuxi as a subordinate made Director Li both happy and angry. He was happy because it provided a direct link to Zuo Jing, but Zuo Yuxi's temper always made him feel like he had swallowed a fly. Now that Qingzhou had changed, although he would not kick her when she was down, seeing the always proud Zuo Yuxi humiliated was a satisfying thing.

It wasn't until the end of the banquet that Zhou Yuanting seemed to notice that Zuo Yuxi was drunk. He scolded the few who had egged her on, but it was left at that. Who knew that on her way home, such an incident would occur...

Zuo Yuxi felt her strength was about to be drained. Her mouth was stuffed with a smelly undershirt, and no matter how loudly she screamed, only muffled sounds came out. The person on top of her was tearing her clothes more and more violently, and she could hear his heavy breathing. Although Zuo Yuxi was inexperienced, she had dated a boyfriend in college and knew what that heavy breathing meant. Two streams of tears quietly flowed down her cheeks, and a sense of despair spread through her body.

She was already in despair!

Suddenly, the man let out a惨叫, flipped over, and fell to the ground. Before Zuo Yuxi could react, she saw a little boy raise something in his hand and smash it into the man's knee, followed by a kick to his groin. The man who almost took everything from her did not even have time to let out a second惨叫 before he fainted from the pain.

Zuo Yuxi stared blankly at everything, the shock of going from great sorrow to great joy causing her beautiful face to twist with immense relief.

She looked at the little boy in disbelief. Was he her angel?

Wen Liang took a deep breath. As soon as he reached the alley entrance, he saw the hooligan pouncing on Zuo Yuxi, tearing her clothes. He quietly approached and, when the hooligan stood up to unbutton his belt, struck him with all his might at the waist. That area is where the body's vital energy converges, and once hit, it would immediately lose its fighting ability. Still not satisfied, Wen Liang followed up with a blow to the knee, ensuring the hooligan could not get up again.

As for the final kick, it was purely out of anger.

Wen Liang hated three things the most, and the top one was forcing women into sexual acts!

"Are you okay?"

Wen Liang bent down and looked at the unfortunate, alluring woman. Yes, alluring!

The streetlights faintly illuminated her, her black hair like silk, making her porcelain-like face even more radiant. Her long, delicate eyebrows framed a pair of large, dark eyes that seemed to shimmer with water when they moved. Zuo Yuxi raised her head slightly, her tears washing away the blush on her cheeks, her alluring lips slightly parted, as if in a mournful plea.

Her black blouse was torn open, revealing a white, plump chest, and the deep cleavage was clearly visible through the unbuttoned shirt. Wen Liang sighed and took off his short-sleeved shirt to cover her, saying softly, "Get up, it's okay, it's okay..."

Zuo Yuxi felt a pair of bright, black eyes watching her, and a distant, low voice, like a spark of light in the cold winter, warm, comforting, and strangely alluring. For years to come, the deep impression left in Zuo Yuxi's heart would always be those warm, jade-like eyes and that captivating gentleness.

Zuo Yuxi had been immersed in the political arena for many years. If it were any other matter, she would not be as helpless as she was now. After all, tonight's experience was the most terrifying for any woman. By the time Wen Liang covered her with his shirt, Zuo Yuxi had regained her composure, stood up, and looked at Wen Liang's young, innocent face, saying softly, "Thank you!"

Wen Liang shook his head and pointed to the unconscious hooligan, "No need to thank... What about him?"

Zuo Yuxi did not even glance at the hooligan, straightened her dress, and pulled Wen Liang's hand to the car, opening the window to take out a phone. Wen Liang saw it was a silver-gray Ericsson GH337, a G** phone that had just been released in January, weighing only 220 grams, the successor to the "big brother" phones, and a true symbol of status at the time.

"110? I am..."

"No!"

Wen Liang snatched the phone, seeing Zuo Yuxi's shocked expression, realizing he had been abrupt. Zuo Yuxi had just been through a terrible ordeal and was very sensitive. He didn't want her to misunderstand that he was after her belongings...

He quickly handed the phone back, apologizing, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, don't be afraid, I have no ill intentions..."

Zuo Yuxi laughed, touched by his words. She patted Wen Liang's head, her eyes full of warmth, and said sincerely, "Why would I be afraid? You saved me, you are my savior... I was just surprised why we can't call the police..."

Perhaps it was the sudden appearance of Wen Liang in her moment of despair, or his fierce expression when he hit the hooligan, or the stark contrast between his small, thin body and his decisive actions, that made Zuo Yuxi feel an inexplicable closeness, as if they had known each other for a long time, without suspicion or doubt, trustworthy and reliable.

Women are emotional, especially after a great ordeal.

Wen Liang felt the sincerity of the beautiful woman and thought, "If I'm going to help, I'll help all the way." "Sister, you are a woman," he turned and pointed behind him, "It's better not to call the police in such a situation. If it gets out, it will..."

A smart person understands with a hint. Zuo Yuxi exclaimed, "Oh," and hugged Wen Liang in gratitude, "I'm a bit confused, you are so smart! Yes, we can't call the police! Absolutely not!"

Zuo Yuxi repeated it, breaking out in a cold sweat almost instantly. Some girls might call the police, as they had not been truly harmed, but for her, it was different. Not only because she was in the political arena, but also because she had a powerful father.

If she called the police, it was obvious that the matter would be exposed and distorted. In the political arena, there were too many people with ulterior motives! Moreover, this time, her father had made many enemies, and many people were waiting to see his downfall.

If someone used this to maliciously slander her father, he would lose face and credibility in Lingyang. Thinking of this, Zuo Yuxi subconsciously tightened her grip on Wen Liang.

Wen Liang's short-sleeved shirt was on the beautiful woman, and his bare upper body was pressed against her soft chest, almost feeling the slight protrusions through the thin fabric. The faint fragrance wafting from her was refreshing and invigorating.

Saving someone in his free time seemed not so bad. Wen Liang leaned on Zuo Yuxi's shoulder and smiled.

Letting go of the little boy, Zuo Yuxi smoothed her hair, her face suddenly cold, her eyes filled with hatred as she glanced at the deep alley. She walked to the side and dialed a number, "Old Nine? Yes, in the middle of Dong Street Alley... a dead-end alley, bring a few people... yes... cripple him..."

Wen Liang was startled and took a few steps back to show he had heard nothing, thinking to himself: "More terrifying than offending a beautiful woman is offending a beautiful woman in the political arena." He was also puzzled by Zuo Yuxi's delicate appearance and unexpected ruthlessness. Could people in the political arena be so reckless?

Later, Wen Liang learned that this was the so-called Qingzhou style.

Seeing Zuo Yuxi act as if nothing had happened after the call, Wen Liang opened his mouth but swallowed his words. Although Zuo Yuxi's revenge was justified, it still made him wary.

What kind of people are in the political arena?

They kill like grass and hear no sound!

With this realization, Wen Liang was hesitant, unsure whether to share his thoughts with Zuo Yuxi.

Because he believed that tonight's incident was a conspiracy.