"It must be true. Cui Yali is Jiangcheng's second-in-command, in charge of personnel. Frankly, in some ways, she has more influence than the top leader of Jiangcheng. There are countless men who want to curry favor with her. What kind of man has she not met? Do you think an ordinary man could make Cui Yali’s heart flutter?"
"Mayor Qin, your explanation makes sense. But how does one cultivate refinement?"
Chen Feng asked directly.
"You're a man, and you're asking me how to cultivate refinement?"
Qin Yan said with a smile.
"Mayor Qin, to be honest, I'm just a graduate from a second-tier university, a low-level junior official struggling in the political arena. I truly don't understand this concept of refinement."
Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"Hmm, since you don't understand. That's easy, I'll explain to you what refinement is. Refinement means having a good demeanor, being cultured, and doing things at an unhurried pace..."
"Mayor Qin, after you say that, I get it. Isn't it just pretending?"
Chen Feng replied, feeling a bit dizzy.
"You can understand it that way. Refinement means pretending. Of course, not ordinary pretending, but high-quality male pretense."
Mayor Qin said with a smile.
"Mayor Qin, do you know what kind of literature Cui Yali likes?"
Chen Feng asked unexpectedly.
"Why are you asking this?"
Mayor Qin was slightly taken aback.
"Mayor Qin, it's like this. Pretending to be refined can be done, but the problem is that forced pretense might backfire and make Cui Yali even more disgusted. I need to pretend smoothly."
Chen Feng said calmly.
Women in the political arena are very different from ordinary women!
"Smooth pretense? That's interesting, continue."
"If I knew what literature Cui Yali liked, I could use discussions about that literature to fully unleash my refined persona. Frankly, it would give Cui Yali the illusion that I am the male protagonist in the book, and she is the female protagonist."
Chen Feng explained earnestly.
"Chen Feng, to be honest, your words have given me a different perspective on you. I used to think you only had a talent for politics, but now I see that you are also wise beyond your years when it comes to women. On the surface, you seem like a direct man who doesn't understand women's psychology. But in reality, you understand women's psychology very well. Otherwise, how could I, Cheng Lu, be so smitten with you?"
Qin Yan looked at Chen Feng with adoration.
"Mayor Qin, please don't say that about me. I'm just applying what I've learned from books."
Chen Feng quickly replied humbly.
"Alright, enough joking. Let's talk business. Cui Yali really likes 'Ordinary World' by Lu Yao."
"Understood. I'll read 'Ordinary World' tonight."
Chen Feng said with a smile.
"Read it overnight? Is that necessary? There are clips and summaries of 'Ordinary World' on Douyin. You can watch those, saving time and effort."
Qin Yan suggested.
"Mayor Qin, for an ordinary woman, this method is quite good. Douyin's short videos are great for mastering knowledge quickly during fragmented time. But the problem is, Cui Yali is not an ordinary woman. She's the second-in-command of Jiangcheng, and she likes 'Ordinary World.' If I only have a superficial understanding of 'Ordinary World,' it will be difficult to impress Cui Yali."
Chen Feng explained earnestly.
Qin Yan was once again impressed by Chen Feng.
Not only did Chen Feng possess exceptional talent, but what was most admirable was his meticulousness and willingness to invest effort in everything he did.
After Qin Yan left, Chen Feng didn't waste any time. He immediately opened Baidu, searched for the electronic version of 'Ordinary World,' and began reading it seriously.
He read until past nine in the morning.
After sleeping for about three hours, Chen Feng drove to Jiangcheng at noon.
This car was a new car Chen Feng had bought with money from cashing out his study abroad funds in Mingshan Town, then modified into an older model. It felt no different to drive.
The key was that the gas money was reimbursed by Mingshan Town.
"You are?"
When Chen Feng appeared before Cui Yali, she was somewhat caught off guard.
"Aunt Cui, I am Chen Feng, sent by Mayor Qin to deliver some local specialties from Mingshan Town."
Chen Feng intentionally lowered his voice and spoke slowly.
"Oh, I know. Qin Yan mentioned you on WeChat. You must be little Chen."
Cui Yali said, sizing Chen Feng up as she spoke.
In terms of appearance, Chen Feng was quite handsome.
But whether he had substance remained to be seen.
If he wasn't refined, he'd be no different from those male escorts.
"Aunt Cui, I am Chen Feng, Qin Yan's subordinate. I am honored to deliver local specialties to you. By the way, Aunt Cui, do you happen to like reading 'Ordinary World'?"
Chen Feng deliberately steered the conversation towards 'Ordinary World.'
"Why? You like 'Ordinary World' too?"
Cui Yali asked excitedly.
"Aunt Cui, to be frank, I really like the character Sun Shao'an. He's handsome, responsible, and he silently withdrew to avoid burdening his ex-girlfriend Tian Runye..."
Chen Feng recounted with a narrative tone.
"Is it that coincidental? You like Sun Shao'an, and I like Tian Runye. I always feel that Tian Runye, a child of privilege, experiencing unrequited love, is very painful, yet also very beautiful. Ah, I'm old now. If I were a few years younger, I'd bravely be Tian Runye and pursue the Sun Shao'an I admire."
Cui Yali said with a touch of wistfulness.
"Aunt Cui, you don't look old at all right now."
Chen Feng replied sincerely.
"I'm almost fifty years old, how can I not be old?"
Cui Yali looked at Chen Feng with excitement.
It was as if the young man before her was the character from her countless dreams, Sun Shao'an.
"Aunt Cui, I'm telling the truth. You really don't look old. If you were old, how could you have such fair and tender skin and such a perfect figure? Honestly, if Tian Runye were as beautiful as you, I think Sun Shao'an would never have let her go."
Chen Feng added embellishments to his words.
"Chen Feng, to be honest, I'm quite satisfied with my skin. It's been fair and tender since childhood. As for my figure, I'm also quite satisfied. I only have one child, who is abroad now, and my husband is also abroad. Without them holding me back, my figure hasn't gone out of shape."
Cui Yali said happily.
"So that's how it is. You're starting to feel more and more like Tian Runye from 'Ordinary World'."
Chen Feng said deliberately with deep emotion.
"Chen Feng, truthfully, I didn't expect that young people nowadays would still like such an old novel."
Cui Yali looked at Chen Feng with admiration.
Over the years, she had met many young, attractive men, but after a few conversations, she lost all interest. They were all like hungry wolves, eager for three hundred rounds in bed, and then using her connections to soar.
She detested such men!
Chen Feng was different; he had taste and was refined.
"Aunt Cui, 'Ordinary World' is indeed an old novel. But the novel is old, the writing is not. I have to say, author Lu Yao's writing skills are truly profound. With just a few simple sentences, he paints beautiful scenes that make you feel like you're there. Honestly, the reason I feel so much like the male protagonist Sun Shao'an is because Lu Yao portrays the profound, unforgettable love between Sun Shao'an and Tian Runye, the kind that cannot be fulfilled."
Chen Feng said with deep emotion.
"A kindred spirit! After talking for most of my life, I've finally met one."
Cui Yali's eyes shone brightly.
"Aunt Cui, I also didn't expect to meet such a kindred spirit as you."
Chen Feng responded in kind.
"Chen Feng, do you think... if Tian Runye were in her fifties, would a twenty-something Sun Shao'an still like her?"
Cui Yali gazed at Chen Feng with dreamy, infatuated eyes.