Chapter 40

After taking a shower in the shared men's bathroom, Lu Zheng returned and got into bed. The hard wooden bed felt solid and reassuring. Listening to the faint sound of the sea waves, Lu Zheng couldn't help but think of many people and many things. Perhaps it was because he had drunk a bit too much today, or perhaps it was because the song "If You Sell Wine, I'll Buy" resonated with him...

He tossed and turned for a long time before gradually falling asleep.

In his dream, Lu Zheng seemed to have returned to a long, long time ago, hearing the sweet voice he had desperately tried to forget.

"I don't care, I'm going with you, no matter what others say."

"Emma, it's raining flower petals from the sky."

"You're ignoring me, you're not a human."

"Even if the whole world abandons you, you still have me..."

"I, Jiang Meimei, in the solemn and sacred prison, in front of the impartial prison guards, propose to Uncle Zhengzi, from now on, forever and ever, never to part!"

A mischievous, independent, and rebellious girl with dyed hair slowly walked out of the darkness. Lu Zheng had always hoped to forget her forever, but she existed in his memory in a way that always gave him a headache, deep in his heart.

In his past life, he was biased and didn't understand what love was until he met her, this post-90s non-mainstream girl who liked to call him "Uncle" and "Husband."

She came from a wealthy family, a typical rich second generation, with parents whose assets were not inferior to his own. At a party, due to a misunderstanding, they met...

From then on, regardless of anyone's gaze, she launched a fierce offensive, hoping to gain a sweet and fulfilling love.

He always treated her like a child playing around, but with each incident, his heart gradually softened. When he was sent to prison, she cried in the prison visiting room and proposed to him.

Then, he mercilessly rejected and humiliated her.

Later, he heard that she had drunk heavily and raced on a mountain road, resulting in a serious accident and falling into a valley.

How he wished this was just a rumor, that she would suddenly appear in front of him, driving her incredibly flashy sports car, and greet him with her snow-white hand adorned with luxurious diamond nails: "Hey, old man! Miss me?"

But she was really gone.

In his dream, Lu Zheng's heart suddenly ached intensely.

The world would be completely different. Her parents might not have married, and she, perhaps, was destined never to appear again.

He would never see her again, right? He would never have the chance to say sorry to her, never have the chance to tell her that the harm he caused was just to protect her.

In his dream, Lu Zheng suddenly burst into tears...

...

He didn't know how long he had slept when he suddenly woke up, sitting up, with his eyes still wet.

Then, he saw Wei Xiangxiu lying next to him, the thin blanket tightly wrapped around her sexy body, her deep, white cleavage barely visible, her slightly disheveled long hair mixed with sweat sticking to her cheeks, her snow-white face faintly blushing, her inviting red lips gently moving, as if she had been satisfied or was savoring something. The scene was so alluring, it drove one mad.

Lu Zheng was stunned for a moment, then his anger surged. At this moment, Wei Xiangxiu's long, black eyelashes fluttered, her dazed beautiful eyes slowly opened, and she let out a scream, quickly sitting up and looking at Lu Zheng in fear.

"What's going on?!" Lu Zheng's deep voice seemed to come from hell.

Wei Xiangxiu shivered, "I, I don't know, I, I drank too much last night..."

"Slap," a slap struck Wei Xiangxiu's face, leaving several red marks on her snow-white face.

"Get out!" Lu Zheng wrapped himself in the blanket and got out of bed, standing by the window, his back to her.

Behind him, he heard the rustling sound of her dressing, then chaotic footsteps. Wei Xiangxiu let out a scream, apparently trying to run out in a panic, but she twisted her ankle while putting on her high heels.

The door creaked, and the footsteps gradually faded away.

Lu Zheng never turned around, his mind in chaos.

This was the first time he had hit a woman, not just because she lacked self-respect, but because the girl who passionately embraced him in his dream was incomparable to anyone, and now...

Lu Zheng slowly turned around and saw his underwear scattered on the floor by the bed. When he got out of bed wrapped in the blanket, he had felt that he was naked, and he clearly remembered wearing underwear when he went to sleep last night.

Lu Zheng took a few steps, picked up the underwear, and touched it. It was dry. Lu Zheng felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Could it be that last night, he really...?

In his dream, he was still so wooden and didn't know how to express his feelings, while Meimei bit his ear and whispered, "Don't say anything, let's make love, crazy love, tell me how much you love me through love!"

Yes, that was her style, always so unpredictable, even though he had never touched her before.

Lu Zheng remembered hugging her and saying a lot of things, and they made love passionately, all his apologies pouring out in her tears...

And he vaguely remembered reaching climax.

But now the underwear was dry. Could it be that it was really with Wei Xiangxiu?

Lu Zheng gritted his teeth, almost driven mad with anger.

He was even more angry at himself. He had been on edge for a long time, too tired. Last night, he drank a lot, and being in a different place, he had relaxed. Someone had entered his room, and he hadn't even noticed.

...

In the next room, Wei Xiangxiu held a small mirror, looking at the red marks on her snow-white face. She bit her lip, this Lu Zheng, his hand was too heavy! A real thug!

Thinking of how Lu Zheng had hugged the blanket and mumbled all night, Wei Xiangxiu sneered, he was just a pervert! Wanting a woman?

Last night, Wei Xiangxiu hadn't touched Lu Zheng at all, except for the one bold move of taking off his underwear and throwing it on the floor.

Thinking of that moment, Wei Xiangxiu's face flushed slightly. She was still a virgin.

Although she had married He Dabiao, Wei Xiangxiu always felt some resentment. On their wedding night, He Dabiao, drunk, tried to get into bed, but she kicked him down.

The next day, there was a long-distance mission, and He Dabiao got it, which meant more subsidies.

After the long trip, He Dabiao slept for a day and a night, and then the accident happened.

After the car accident, He Dabiao lost a leg. Out of pity, Wei Xiangxiu wanted to give herself to him, but she found out that he could no longer perform sexually.

This secret, only He Dabiao knew.

Being open, sexy, and bold were Wei Xiangxiu's weapons to protect herself. She wanted everyone to know that she was a rose with thorns and poison, and if they wanted to bully her, they had to be prepared to be hurt.

With the housing allocation list to be announced in a few days, she finally got her chance. She had to succeed today. She didn't believe that if she didn't get a house, he wouldn't be afraid of her causing a scandal at the unit. Young leaders were most afraid of blemishes, especially in their conduct.

Dealing with Zhang Qingming was much easier. A few hints, and he eagerly promised to find a job for He Dabiao and get her a house. Once she got the house and the job, she wouldn't let him off. She didn't ask for anything else, and he couldn't rape her or fire her, right? He wouldn't want a lose-lose situation, would he? At worst, she could be sent back to a lower-level station.

Unexpectedly, the bureau chief changed, and this Lu Zheng, though young, seemed blind, completely ignoring her. Fortunately, she finally got her chance today.

Feeling the burning on her face, she hoped this slap was worth it.

...

The vast blue sea turned to a fish-belly white.

On the beach, forty joint defense team members from Qinglong County were divided into four straight rows, marching and practicing military posture on the sand, a challenging task.

The joint defense team captain, Wang Shengjun, shouted commands, and the team moved in unison.

Ma Kuishan glanced at Lu Zheng with a smug look, though he sensed that Wang Shengjun seemed a bit listless, his commands not as loud or passionate as before.

Wang Shengjun was indeed feeling bitter. They were only released by the border station at around three in the morning, but Ma Wenke and his classmates were not so lucky. They were reportedly being sent to the county detention center for fifteen days for "hooliganism."

Wang Shengjun didn't dare to tell Ma Kuishan about this, but he knew he couldn't hide it forever. In this state of anxiety, how could he focus on the training?

Lu Zheng stood silently, his gaze seemingly on the joint defense team or perhaps looking at the horizon.

Wang Yuguo, Jiao Lei, and Tan Qiang had also come, but Wei Xiangxiu was absent. Wang Yuguo had wanted to knock on her door to wake her up, but he gave up after Lu Zheng said, "Forget it."

Finally, after a "At ease," Wang Shengjun ran to Ma Kuishan's side and whispered something to him.

Lu Zheng couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could see Ma Kuishan's face turning increasingly grim.

"Director Lu, is it true about last night?" Ma Kuishan turned around, his face already ashen. He was angry at Wang Shengjun's incompetence, but now wasn't the time to hold him accountable. He was also surprised that the son of the deputy secretary of Guangning County was still being held at the border station. This Lu Zheng was truly ruthless.

Lu Zheng nodded, "You mean the incident where Ma Wenke hooliganed and harassed a policewoman? I planned to discuss it with you over breakfast. After the investigation, it turned out that your joint defense team members were unaware, so I didn't disturb you."

Lu Zheng shook his head, "Old Ma, although it was a misunderstanding, once they put on the red armband, they represent the image of the public security bureau. How could they blindly favor a group fight? I won't report this incident, but I hope we can all learn from it and ensure it doesn't happen again in the future."

Ma Kuishan didn't say anything, suddenly feeling that this Lu Zheng was quite righteous. Detaining the son of the deputy secretary and releasing him, and promising not to spread the news, he had given him enough face.

Lu Zheng checked his watch and said, "I won't watch the training. After breakfast, I need to return to Guangning to report to Secretary Qiu."

Ma Kuishan nodded, "Alright, let's go eat and discuss the joint defense infrastructure." His attitude was completely different from when he first met Lu Zheng. Ma Kuishan also glared at Wang Shengjun, clearly feeling that Wang Shengjun and his team had disgraced the Qinglong public security system.