"Miss Cheng, are you busy right now?"
Time was tight, and Chen Feng didn't want to waste any more time. He went straight to the point and asked Cheng Lu.
"I'm just an intern, so it's alright. I don't have much to do."
Cheng Lu stopped what she was doing and looked at Chen Feng with a smile.
For some reason, the man in front of her seemed to get handsomer the more she looked at him.
"If you're not too busy, Deputy Town Mayor Qin wants you to go to Jiangcheng with her."
Chen Feng continued to state the facts.
"Are you going? If you go, I'll go. If you don't, I won't."
Cheng Lu continued to look at Chen Feng.
"Miss Cheng, did you forget? I'm Qin Yan's driver. If Qin Yan goes to Jiangcheng, I'll definitely go too."
Chen Feng looked embarrassed.
"Oh dear, look at my memory. Alright, wait for me at the main entrance. I'll go change my clothes."
Cheng Lu said, her face flushed with shyness.
"Change your clothes? Is that necessary?"
Chen Feng was taken aback.
"It's a girl's matter. You wouldn't understand."
Cheng Lu chuckled, playfully chided him, and then ran off to the lounge to change.
Before long, Cheng Lu changed her clothes and arrived by Qin Yan's car.
"Cheng Lu, you can sit in the front."
Qin Yan said calmly.
"Deputy Town Mayor Qin, the front seat is most suitable for you. I'll sit in the back."
Cheng Lu said humbly.
Qin Yan was Chen Feng's superior, and she couldn't afford to strain their relationship. Otherwise, Chen Feng would be caught in an awkward position.
"I'm feeling a bit carsick today, so I won't sit in the front."
"Alright then."
Cheng Lu suppressed her excitement and, feigning composure, got into the front seat.
The entire journey, Cheng Lu didn't look at anything else but Chen Feng.
It was strange, many drivers drove, and none seemed particularly special, but watching Chen Feng drive was incredibly captivating.
Especially when he had to turn or accelerate, the way he would call out "Be careful," his voice was so magnetic that it made her heart tingle.
Half an hour later, the three arrived in Jiangcheng.
"Cheng Lu, you're from Jiangcheng and know a lot of people here. Can you help me find some connections in the land department? The town's Kai Rui Garment project has a small issue with land use that needs to be changed."
Qin Yan asked softly.
"Deputy Town Mayor Qin, it's a bit difficult to find connections in Jiangcheng. I'm afraid I can't help."
Cheng Lu politely declined.
The Kai Rui Garment project in Mingshan Town was the responsibility of Deputy Town Mayor Xiao. There was no need for her to find connections for someone she wasn't very familiar with.
Connections were something that should only be sought when absolutely necessary.
"I know it's hard to find connections in Jiangcheng, but if this project fails, Chen Feng's study tour will have to be indefinitely postponed."
Qin Yan said, feigning nonchalance.
"Deputy Town Mayor Qin, what does the Kai Rui Garment project have to do with Chen Feng? Isn't it Deputy Town Mayor Xiao who's in charge?"
Cheng Lu retorted anxiously.
"It's true that Deputy Town Mayor Xiao is in charge of the Kai Rui Garment project, but this project was attracted by me and Chen Feng from the provincial capital. If it fails, Chen Feng won't have enough qualifications to attend the town's study tour and will have to wait."
"Deputy Town Mayor Qin, I just remembered. My dad knows someone in the land department. I can ask him to help."
Cheng Lu's attitude did a complete 180-degree turn.
"Then I'll trouble you."
Qin Yan said with a smile.
Cheng Lu gave Chen Feng a lingering glance and got out of the car to take a taxi home.
"Dad, I have something I need to ask you for a favor."
Upon returning home, Cheng Lu got straight to the point.
"Did I hear that correctly, Xiao Lu?"
Cheng Liren was stunned.
His daughter had always been stubborn since childhood and had never actively asked him, her father, for anything.
Was the sun rising from the west today? She was actually asking him, her father, for something.
"Dad, just say yes or no. If you say no, I'll find someone else."
Cheng Lu pouted.
"You need to tell me what it is first. If it's within my capabilities, of course, I can help."
Cheng Liren looked at Cheng Lu with confusion.
"The Kai Rui Garment project in Mingshan Town has a small hiccup with its land use, and it needs to be changed. However, the Jiangcheng land department refuses to sign off, so I wanted you to make a call to them..."
Cheng Lu explained.
"No need to make a call."
Cheng Liren refused immediately.
"What do you mean?"
Cheng Lu felt dizzy.
This was the first time she had asked her father for a favor, and he had refused. Was he even her biological father?
"The Mingshan Town Kai Rui Garment project was something I specifically instructed not to approve."
Cheng Liren said very seriously.
"Why? The Mingshan Town Kai Rui Garment project is a招商 (investment attraction) project for Mingshan Town. It's beneficial and has no downsides. Why are you making things difficult for them?"
Cheng Lu questioned him, utterly perplexed.
"There are too many complexities involved, and you don't need to know. All you need to know is that the Mingshan Town Kai Rui Garment project must be halted."
Cheng Liren continued to say seriously.
"Dad, I'm your daughter. You have to tell me the truth. If Mingshan Town made a mistake, I won't say anything if you do this. But if Mingshan Town did nothing wrong, I definitely won't agree with you doing this."
Cheng Lu stared intently at Cheng Liren.
"Mingshan Town didn't make any mistakes. To be honest, your Deputy Town Mayor Qin Yan is a very capable woman, and the Kai Rui Garment project is a good development project."
Cheng Liren replied truthfully.
"Since they didn't do anything wrong, why are you making things difficult for Mingshan Town?"
Cheng Lu angrily questioned Cheng Liren.
"Xiao Lu, you're not a simple university student anymore. You're part of society now. There are some things you should understand; you can't simply measure them by right and wrong."
"I don't understand."
"If you don't understand, then I'll tell you. If the Mingshan Town Kai Rui Garment project is launched, the garment industry in Jiangcheng will be affected. I am the head of Jiangcheng, and this factor must be considered!"
Cheng Liren's explanation suddenly made Cheng Lu understand.
"Dad, I used to think you were noble. Now I realize you're despicable."
Cheng Lu said fiercely.
"I'm thinking about Jiangcheng. How am I despicable?"
Cheng Liren retorted.
His daughter, Cheng Lu, now had her own thoughts, which meant she had grown up. This was something to be happy about.
"As the head of Jiangcheng, why is your thinking so narrow-minded? Jiangcheng is Jiangcheng, but is Mingshan Town not part of Jiangcheng? Also, it's a market economy now. Whoever is capable should lead, isn't that normal?"
Cheng Lu retorted fiercely.
"Xiao Lu, you're thinking too simply. There are many things involved here."
Cheng Liren shook his head with a wry smile.
In reality, Cheng Liren didn't really want to do this. However, he had to consider the thoughts of his many subordinates. Otherwise, his work would be difficult to carry out in the future.
"Dad, tell me the truth. What are you really struggling with? Tell me, and I'll help you solve it, instead of you acting so chaotically. You are the head of Jiangcheng, and you acting like this shows a lack of perspective."
"Xiao Lu, if you were really that capable, why would your old dad do this? In fact, I don't feel good about doing this either. But in the arena of power, one is not free to act according to their will. I have to consider all aspects, understand?"
Cheng Liren explained earnestly.
"I'm not that capable, but I have a colleague who is very capable. He has a way to alleviate your concerns."
Cheng Lu immediately thought of Chen Feng.
"Are you talking about that strong woman, Qin Yan?"
"No, it's Qin Yan's driver, Chen Feng."
"Xiao Lu, are you joking? You, a high-achieving graduate from a prestigious university like Chengdu University, are not as good as a town driver?"
Cheng Liren looked at Cheng Lu with utter astonishment and confusion.