Chapter 141: Eager to Hear the Details

After nearly an hour, Zeng Xiaofan finally resumed driving.

He remained silent throughout the journey until he dropped Lin Yuru off at her doorstep; between them, not a word was exchanged.

Lin Yuru stepped out, her beautiful legs clicking in sandals as she walked to her front door. Zeng Xiaofan’s expression grew complicated as he prepared to leave.

Suddenly, Lin Yuru tossed her hair, turned her head with a radiant smile, and called out, “Hey!”

Zeng Xiaofan rolled down the window, glancing back at the alluring Lin Yuru, his voice slightly hoarse as he asked, “Wh-what is it?”

Biting her lip with a mischievous smile, Lin Yuru said, “Let’s… still be friends, okay?”

Zeng Xiaofan was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then chuckled softly to himself before looking serious again. “No,” he said firmly. “I don’t have friends as rogue as you.”

With that, he shook his head and pressed the accelerator, kicking up dust as he sped away.

Lin Yuru burst into laughter, covering her mouth. “You little rascal…”

Not long after Zeng Xiaofan left, his phone rang. When he answered, the crisp, youthful voice of Chen Lini came through: “Hey… you stinky owner! Why haven’t you replied to all my messages?”

“Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts?”

Zeng Xiaofan smiled calmly. “Don’t worry, when Zeng Xiaofan makes a promise, he keeps it.”

“If I agreed to accompany you to the teacher’s banquet, I’ll definitely go.”

“I was just busy before and didn’t have time to reply.”

“Busy with what? Not even a moment to check your phone?” Chen Lini teased lightly.

Hearing this, Zeng Xiaofan’s face flushed, and he mumbled, “Why are you asking so much, little girl?”

“Adult matters—don’t butt in.”

Chen Lini chuckled mischievously and lowered her voice. “Brother Fan, you know there are some things I can meddle in…”

Zeng Xiaofan spat out a mouthful of saliva, shaking his head in helpless amusement. “Alright, alright, I don’t want to argue with you. What time did you say I should pick you up?”

“Forget the time. You’d better come up right now. It takes an hour from your place to Taoyuan County, then another hour from here to Biyuan City. If we add some other errands, time will be tight!”

Zeng Xiaofan frowned slightly. “Your teacher’s banquet is being held in the city?”

“Aren’t your teachers and classmates all from the county?”

Chen Lini shook her head. “Yes, originally everyone was pooling money to hold it in the county, but the big shot son of the class insisted on paying out of pocket to upgrade it to a grand banquet at a luxurious city restaurant called Peach Blossom Feast.”

“Everyone’s really looking forward to it.”

“Alright, I’ll come pick you up then.”

After hanging up, less than an hour later, Zeng Xiaofan arrived at Chen Lini’s home.

The county magistrate, Chen Jianghe, was busy with work and not at home.

The butler led Zeng Xiaofan inside. As he entered the living room, he saw a strikingly mature woman in a cheongsam sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, smoking, and watching TV.

This woman was none other than the county magistrate’s wife, Wang Yanfan.

Wang Yanfan’s cheongsam slit was very high, so as she casually crossed her leg, her entire snow-white leg, clad in sheer black stockings, was revealed.

Even the pale skin just beneath the top of the stockings, which the fabric could not cover, was exposed in broad swaths.

Meanwhile, Wang Yanfan’s lips, painted a fiery red, gently held a slender cigarette between them.

As she inhaled and exhaled the smoke, the subtle movements of her slightly parted red lips exuded a wild, seductive charm.

Zeng Xiaofan furrowed his brow slightly, sensing that Wang Yanfan’s aura now was completely different from the first time he had met her.

But with a moment’s thought, he understood—those in high positions often have contrasting public and private demeanors.

With that in mind, Zeng Xiaofan smiled politely and greeted her, “Good day, Madam.”

Only then did Wang Yanfan register his presence. Upon seeing Zeng Xiaofan, a flicker of unease crossed her eyes.

But she quickly regained her composed and elegant posture, gently tapping the cigarette ash into the ashtray with her delicate hand before standing up gracefully.

Her black-stockinged leg was naturally concealed once more by the silky cheongsam, enclosing all that springtime allure within.

“Oh my, Xiao Fan is here!” she exclaimed.

“I’m terribly sorry—I didn’t know you were coming, so I wasn’t prepared to welcome you properly!”

“You really should have given me a heads-up when Doctor Zeng was coming!”

“I had no time to prepare at all—how rude of me!”

The butler, hearing this, broke into a nervous sweat and stammered, “I apologize, Madam… Miss asked me to greet Doctor Zeng at the door and bring him straight in as soon as he arrived…”

“I didn’t notice you had also come down to the living room…”

“That’s enough, go on!”

“And remember next time, please inform me in advance of any visitors!”

“A lapse like this is very discourteous! It makes Doctor Zeng laugh at us.”

Wang Yanfan smiled softly; though her words were scolding, a gentle warmth remained on her face, making her seem very approachable.

Zeng Xiaofan quickly laughed it off. “Haha, no need for all these formalities…”

“Madam, you are too kind.”

“I didn’t realize you had a habit of smoking?”

Wang Yanfan smiled sheepishly. “I’m just imitating others…”

“It’s been stressful lately, and someone said smoking can relieve stress…”

Zeng Xiaofan shook his head with a smile and interrupted, “That’s wrong, wrong!”

“Smoking to relieve stress is a completely mistaken notion, a misconception spread by TV shows and movies.”

“Smoking not only fails to reduce stress but actually adds to it, because it’s a process of nicotine addiction.”

“Oh? There’s such a theory?”

“I’d like to hear more.”

Wang Yanfan elegantly raised her hand and offered him a cup of tea, smiling gently at Zeng Xiaofan.

He felt as if bathed in spring breeze. As he took the cup, his fingers inadvertently brushed against Wang Yanfan’s delicate hand...