Chapter 35: Clearing the Air

Zhang Jun had not wanted to meet her in the first place, but after reading her message, he pondered for a moment before replying with three words: “See you tonight.”

Shen Xue replied, “The West Warm Pavilion again? I’ll reserve a table.”

Zhang Jun answered with a simple “Good.”

The end of the workday arrived.

Ma Hongqi came out.

Zhang Jun immediately went over to him.

“Xiao Zhang,” Ma Hongqi said, “I’m having dinner with a few old classmates and former comrades tonight. You may do as you please. There’s no need to see me off.”

Zhang Jun acknowledged him with a quiet yes.

After work, Zhang Jun went to the West Warm Pavilion restaurant.

The security guard had finally learned his lesson. When he saw Zhang Jun again, he recognized him at once and said with a broad smile, “Secretary Zhang, please go in. I’ll park your bicycle for you.”

Zhang Jun parked his bicycle himself, waved his hand, and walked inside.

A broad-minded man does not quarrel with a mere security guard, much less hold a grudge. There was no need for that; it would only be needless self-inflicted trouble.

As he searched the lobby for Shen Xue, he saw her standing at the head of the staircase to the second floor, waving to him.

When Zhang Jun reached the upper floor, he said, “You reserved a private room?”

“A small one, so we could talk more easily,” Shen Xue replied softly.

When she hosted broadcast programs, her speech was noticeably firmer and faster than in ordinary conversation.

He wondered whether she was this gentle only with him, or whether she treated everyone the same way.

Once they entered the private room, Shen Xue took Zhang Jun’s briefcase and placed it beside the round table. She then pulled out a chair for him and invited him to sit.

With a smile, Zhang Jun said, “You’re not giving me even the slightest chance to act like a gentleman.”

Shen Xue smiled sweetly. “Foreigners are the ones who act like gentlemen. You can simply be a man of virtue. I’m a woman, and it makes me happy to serve you.”

“Are you just as happy serving my employer?” Zhang Jun asked lightly.

A flush spread across Shen Xue’s pretty face. Tears glimmered in her eyes as she said pitifully, “I knew you had misunderstood me. The way you looked this morning made it seem as though I owed you five million and had refused to repay you.”

“I wouldn’t dare misunderstand you,” Zhang Jun said coldly.

Shen Xue pulled a chair over and sat down beside him.

A waitress entered.

Shen Xue instructed her, “Bring out the dishes I ordered earlier. Oh, and give us a pot of freshly brewed tea, green tea. I have to work tonight, so I won’t drink. Would you like something?”

The last sentence was addressed to Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun waved his hand. “Let’s not drink tonight.”

The waitress acknowledged this, arranged the cups and chopsticks for them, and left.

Before long, she brought the tea, followed closely by three dishes and a soup.

There was sea cucumber stir-fried with pickled cabbage, poached shrimp, and braised pork. The soup was made with meatballs and napa cabbage.

Shen Xue served Zhang Jun some rice, placed several pieces of sea cucumber in his bowl, and said softly, “Sea cucumber is good for men. It helps restore the body.”

Zhang Jun took a sip of tea. “You should eat too.”

Shen Xue did not pick up her chopsticks. “I need to explain everything to you first. Otherwise, you won’t enjoy this meal.”

Zhang Jun picked up his chopsticks and began eating. “We’re only ordinary friends. Some things don’t need to be explained.”

Shen Xue blinked her beautiful eyes. “If we really were only ordinary friends, you wouldn’t have been giving me that look. I’ve been suffering terribly all day. I wanted to contact you, but I was afraid you might be in a meeting or accompanying Governor Ma on an inspection. I didn’t dare disturb you. It wasn’t until nearly the end of the workday that I could no longer hold back and sent you a message.”

Zhang Jun stared at her in astonishment.

He had been through such things before. He knew that Shen Xue’s expression was not feigned; she had truly become mired in the swamp of her feelings.

Clasping a hand to her chest, Shen Xue said, “I wanted to explain this morning, but Governor Ma was there, so I couldn’t say anything. Brother Zhang, Liu Zhengjie set me up.”

Zhang Jun stopped eating and asked, puzzled, “How did he set you up?”

Shen Xue pressed her lips together. “After the broadcast last night, he told me that Governor Ma wanted to see me. Of course I was delighted, but I also found it strange. Why would Governor Ma summon me in the middle of the night? So I got dressed and went to the guesthouse. Guess what happened?”

Zhang Jun naturally knew the answer. Although he had not been a secretary for long, he already understood his employer’s schedule fairly well.

“Governor Ma was already asleep. He always goes to bed before midnight.”

Shen Xue nodded. “That’s right. He had already gone to bed. I didn’t know what to do, and I didn’t dare call Governor Ma, so I rented a room at the guesthouse and spent the night there. If you don’t believe me, you can check. I got up early this morning and waited outside Governor Ma’s door. He was surprised to see me and asked why I was there. I told him Liu Zhengjie had arranged for me to come and report on my work to the leader. Then I asked whether he had thought last night’s broadcast was good.”

So that was it, Zhang Jun thought.

Liu Zhengjie had selfish motives from the beginning. He wanted to use Shen Xue as a means of currying favor with Ma Hongqi.

Liu Zhengjie was entirely capable of something like that.

Shen Xue continued, “Governor Ma invited me inside and spoke with me for a few minutes, but he didn’t even have any tea. Then you arrived, and I left. That’s everything that happened. Thinking back on it afterward, I realized Liu Zhengjie had deliberately set me up, sending me to disturb Governor Ma in the middle of the night.”

You’re still too inexperienced, Zhang Jun thought.

Liu Zhengjie had sent her to see Ma Hongqi for more than the simple purpose of disturbing the leader. There were all sorts of hidden implications involved, and naturally, Zhang Jun could not explain them to her in detail.

Shen Xue spoke with such sincerity that, seeing Zhang Jun’s expression soften, she asked, “You’re not angry anymore, are you?”

Seeing how adorable she looked with her lips pursed, Zhang Jun said, “What right do I have to be angry with you?”

“Don’t say that.” Shen Xue’s voice was faint and sorrowful. “In my heart, I regard you as a very, very good friend. You understand that.”

Zhang Jun trembled slightly and gave her a long, searching look.

Shen Xue was careful about her figure, so she ate only half a bowl of rice and a little of the food.

Zhang Jun, on the other hand, ate heartily, sweeping away the dishes as though a gale had passed through.

“Brother Zhang, do you have any other plans tonight?” Shen Xue poured him more tea. “If not, shall we go for a walk?”

Zhang Jun glanced at his watch. It was only half past six.

“You have work tonight. We won’t be able to stay out for long.”

“We can walk until ten, and I can still return to work afterward. There isn’t any especially important news to broadcast tonight. The programs are actually recorded in advance. I’m going in mainly to be on standby in case some breaking news needs to be added at the last minute, like Governor Ma’s inspection of the hospital.”

“I knew it. Surely you don’t produce live broadcasts in the middle of the night? So they’re all recorded in advance.”

“The requirements for live broadcasting are too demanding. In the news business, we record whenever we can. We can’t afford the slightest mistake. Even live broadcasts are usually delayed by about a minute, to give the anchor and director time to change scenes and react.”

“There’s knowledge to be found in every little detail. Interesting.”

Zhang Jun finally let go of his earlier resentment and chatted and laughed with Shen Xue.

The two of them left the private room and happened to see Liu Zhengjie.

Liu Zhengjie had been dining with a friend and had just finished eating. The moment he came out and encountered Zhang Jun and Shen Xue, his expression turned strange.

“Well, well, my friend,” he exclaimed with a laugh as he approached. “You told me you didn’t have time, but it turns out you had a date with a beauty. You’re really the sort who abandons his friends for a woman!”

He punched Zhang Jun playfully and draped an arm over his shoulder. Lowering his voice, he said, “Shen Xue spent the night at your employer’s place yesterday. You know that, right? We need to make good use of this woman.”

Zhang Jun’s eyes turned cold.

Old Liu, old Liu—are you looking for death?