"Elder Peng, look at my situation. Do I need to be a fawning sycophant who caters to every whim?"
Chen Feng replied with feigned nonchalance.
"Chen Feng, I admit you're handsome. But in the provincial capital's power circles, there are countless men more handsome than you, and they all eagerly play the sycophant. Why can't you?" Peng Jie retorted.
"Elder Peng, that's a classic question. The reason I don't need to be a sycophant, and why they do, is simple: their capabilities in the power game are mediocre; they can only rely on sycophancy to survive. I have good looks, but I don't rely on them to make a living. I rely on my ability. I firmly believe I can conquer you with my capabilities."
Chen Feng responded smoothly.
"But right now, I don't need your capabilities. I only need your looks. I'll ask you this: are you willing to be a sycophant and serve me?"
Peng Jie asked deliberately.
If Chen Feng had caved and said, "Elder Peng, I am willing to be a sycophant and serve you," then, unfortunately, he would have been kicked out immediately.
The reason was simple: she was the Deputy Director of the Provincial Land and Resources Bureau and the Provincial Economic Development and Security Bureau. What she lacked least were sycophants.
What Peng Jie didn't expect was that Chen Feng wouldn't answer verbally but instead slapped her.
"Are you sick? Why did you slap me?"
Peng Jie's intoxication cleared by half.
"I had to. I've said it many times, I won't be a sycophant, not even if I die. Yet, you insisted on egging me on to be a dog. I think you're quite drunk, so I slapped you to wake you up."
Chen Feng said with feigned righteousness.
"..."
Peng Jie was completely convinced.
This was exactly the male subordinate she had been looking for, one who wasn't intimidated by her power.
A man who refused to be a sycophant was a good man.
With that thought, Peng Jie wasted no time and began to undress.
"Elder Peng, what are you doing?"
Chen Feng asked deliberately.
"A man and a woman, alone in a room. What do you think we can do?"
Peng Jie said with a blush.
"I'm not a blockhead, of course, I know what you want. However, you shouldn't undress yourself first. You should undress me first, understand?"
Chen Feng looked at Peng Jie with calm composure.
"Chen Feng, you're going too far. You don't have to be a sycophant, that's fine. But you can't make me your sycophant, can you? I'm a big shot in the provincial capital's power circles. Making me a sycophant, isn't that over the top?"
Peng Jie glared fiercely at Chen Feng.
"Yes, I want you to be my sycophant. A woman who isn't a sycophant is not a good woman."
Chen Feng said deliberately.
"What if I refuse to be a sycophant?"
Peng Jie continued to glare fiercely at Chen Feng.
"If you refuse to be a sycophant, it's very simple. I'll leave right now. I told you, I have looks and ability, and you're not the only big shot female figure in the provincial capital's power circles. There are countless women willing to secretly be my sycophant."
Chen Feng continued to act潇洒 (xiāosǎ - chic/debonair).
"Can you bear to leave?"
Peng Jie deliberately tested Chen Feng.
Chen Feng, without further ado, got up and prepared to leave the hotel private room.
Seeing Chen Feng seriously intending to leave, Peng Jie became anxious.
She quickly relented.
"Chen Feng, don't go. I'm willing to be a sycophant, alright?"
Peng Jie said, lowering her head.
"Speak up."
Chen Feng seized the opportunity and replied.
When a woman likes the feeling of being conquered, conquer her ruthlessly.
"I'm a woman, I'm embarrassed."
Peng Jie continued to speak with her head down.
"I just like seeing you shy. Hurry up and look up, say you're willing to be my sycophant, and then kneel down to help me undress."
Chen Feng said with feigned潇洒 (xiāosǎ - chic/debonair).
"As long as you don't leave, I'm willing to do anything."
Peng Jie was enjoying herself immensely.
For a moment, she felt utterly debased.
She had many subordinates with stunning looks and who were eager sycophants, yet she felt nothing for them. Instead, she was enjoying the feeling of being a female sycophant.
It was exhilarating, her blood surging.
"Then let's begin, don't be so hesitant."
As he spoke, Chen Feng slapped Peng Jie hard again.
A real, solid slap, without any gentleness.
Peng Jie loved being singled out and pushed to her limits, and she wanted to be pushed even further.
Peng Jie felt incredibly comfortable being repeatedly slapped by Chen Feng. Without another word, she obediently knelt and began to undress him.
As she undressed him, she even uttered with a smug expression, "Chen Feng, I'm willing to be your sycophant."
...
Three hours later, Peng Jie was thoroughly satisfied.
"Tell me, what capabilities do you possess that would make me willingly become your sycophant?"
After a fierce battle, Peng Jie said contentedly while dressing.
"Elder Peng, has Sanshui Province gone many years without a new prefecture-level city?"
Chen Feng asked directly, without being coy.
"Not just Sanshui Province, but all provinces in China haven't seen a new prefecture-level city in recent years. The emergence of a new prefecture-level city signifies economic prosperity. For economic development, some county-level cities must be elevated to prefecture-level cities. Sanshui Province is not a coastal developed province, so how could a new prefecture-level city emerge?"
Peng Jie retorted directly.
"Elder Peng, can you believe that I can develop Mingshan City into a prefecture-level city in a few years, and eventually into a directly administered municipality?"
Chen Feng asked back directly.
"How could I possibly believe that?"
Peng Jie said dismissively.
"Peng Jie, do you know anything about the current Mingshan City?"
Chen Feng asked Peng Jie softly, unperturbed.
"I don't know Mingshan City very well. However, I have a general idea. Mingshan City was once a town, then developed into a district, and later into a county-level city. It took a very short time and has unlimited potential..."
Peng Jie replied truthfully.
"To be honest, Elder Peng, Mingshan City took off because of me."
Chen Feng replied without any false modesty.
To conquer Peng Jie with his capabilities, he had to be high-profile.
"Are you the legendary rising political star of Sanshui Province?"
Peng Jie's eyes flashed with brilliance.
"Yes, I am the rising political star of Sanshui Province. I started as a driver for a deputy town mayor and developed Mingshan City step by step, earning the title of Sanshui Province's rising political star."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"I still find it hard to believe you have such great capabilities. You're too young. How about this, I'll test you. As long as your answers satisfy me, I will acknowledge you as a rising political star, and I will help you with whatever you ask."
Peng Jie said seriously.
"Elder Peng, I am willing to accept the challenge."
Chen Feng said confidently.
"I've been in a deputy director position in the provincial capital for over a decade, and I've never had the chance to be promoted to a full director. What should I do to break through this awkward situation?"
Peng Jie asked word by word.
"Elder Peng, the reason you haven't been promoted to full director isn't a lack of ability, but because you've overlooked one point..."
Chen Feng said with calm composure.
Over the years, he had researched Sanshui Province thoroughly from top to bottom, and he was well aware of the unsavory dealings within the provincial power structure.
"Speak."
Peng Jie's eyes shot out a sharp gleam.
"Elder Peng, the reason you've been stagnating in your promotion is because there is a higher-ranking female official above you. As long as she is there, you will never be promoted to full director."
Chen Feng explained calmly.
"And why is that?"
Peng Jie retorted with interest.
"It's simple. In order to show foreigners that we don't practice gender discrimination, China will certainly appoint women to several important positions. However, to prevent the healthy development of the power structure, the number of women holding key positions will be strictly controlled. With a more powerful woman above you, naturally, when there are good opportunities, they will think of her first, not you..."
Chen Feng explained word by word.