An hour later, Luo Ziling met Xu Chen at a simply decorated but very clean Chinese restaurant.
Xu Chen was dressed quite beautifully, so beautifully that you completely ignored her age.
Although time is a butcher’s knife, it appears relatively dull on some people.
Like women such as Ling Ruonan and Xu Chen.
There are also many well-maintained men whose age you completely cannot tell.
"Chen, you’re absolutely radiant today!" Luo Ziling praised with a smile after assessing Xu Chen who approached him twice, "So elegant, probably mesmerized many men on your way here, right?"
Xu Chen chuckled after hearing that: "Ziling, you really know how to talk, you’re so charming!"
As she spoke, she came over and took Luo Ziling’s arm, pulling him into the private room and sitting with him on the sofa.
Which woman doesn’t like hearing flattering remarks from a man?
The private room Xu Chen chose was very large, with a reception room, a dining table in another room, and decorated very luxuriously.
"Just the two of us having dinner seems a bit much for such a grand place, right?" Luo Ziling sat down, took a look around the private room’s decor, and teased Xu Chen with a smile, "Looks like today, Chen, you’re planning to really drain me, right?"
"You’re young, wealthy Mr. Luo, since you’ve agreed to treat to dinner, it wouldn’t make sense not to take advantage of you!" Xu Chen sat closely next to Luo Ziling, laughing lightly, "This place is quite nice, I’ve been here once before, and hosted a few high officials from the Capital in this room. But unexpectedly, the oldest official actually tried to take advantage of me here!"
Luo Ziling could clearly feel Xu Chen’s body pressing against him a bit, but he didn’t mind, joking with a smile: "Chen, you should be pretty skilled at handling such situations, right?"
"Not at all, that time I nearly capsized. They got me drunk, but luckily I had a backup plan and let a colleague come to take me away. In front of others, they didn’t dare to go overboard and let me leave." Xu Chen sighed as she said this.
Luo Ziling knew that things wouldn’t be as simple, but Xu Chen didn’t want to make it too complicated.
If it’s a casual topic, why explain it in such detail and complexity?
Luo Ziling followed with a sentiment: "Women in the officialdom encounter more troublesome issues than men, especially pretty women like you, too many people want to take advantage of you!"
"If it were someone like Mr. Luo wanting to take advantage of me, I’d certainly be happy to, maybe even cooperate voluntarily!" Xu Chen hugged Luo Ziling’s arm tighter, giggling, "Really want to be the cow eating tender grass, then there’d be no regrets!"
Seeing Xu Chen’s seductive laughter, Luo Ziling treated her words as a joke, so he didn’t mind.
He turned his head and looked at Xu Chen, whose figure was accentuated by her form-fitting sweater after taking off her coat, and said with a smile, "Chen, have you ever used your charm as a strategy?"
"I came this time specifically to discuss this matter!" Xu Chen suddenly became serious, released Luo Ziling’s arm, and sat up straight, "I inadvertently discovered Zhu Hanjun violating disciplinary rules, and it’s quite a serious issue."
"Oh?!" Luo Ziling was a bit surprised.
Although he guessed Xu Chen came to Yanjing to report an important matter, he didn’t expect it to be something so significant.
Xu Chen, in the process of intentionally or accidentally seducing Zhu Hanjun, discovered evidence of Zhu Hanjun’s illegal activities, and it was quite a major mistake, indicating she’s gotten hold of Zhu Hanjun’s weakness.
"If these things were handed over, it’d be enough to trouble Zhu Hanjun a great deal!" Upon seeing Luo Ziling’s expression, Xu Chen had to elaborate since Luo Ziling didn’t speak further.
"Understood!" Luo Ziling certainly thought of this, and after Xu Chen pointed out the implication, he agreed readily and after pondering, said to Xu Chen, "I will take you to see my mother in a moment, I guess she should be free."
"Okay!" Xu Chen was delighted.
Two hours later, Xu Chen accompanied Luo Ziling to the villa.
To avoid drawing attention, Luo Ziling deliberately concealed his whereabouts.
After seeing Ling Ruonan, Xu Chen followed her into the study to discuss things.
Luo Ziling did not go in with them; he went to chat with Lin Lan.
Wu Xiao was working by Lin Lan’s side, Luo Ziling hoped that with cooperation between these two women, they could better manage Ling Ruonan’s matters.
While discussing matters with Lin Lan, Wuyue reported that Zhen, who had met him before, wanted to meet Luo Ziling again that evening, asking whether Luo Ziling was willing to meet.
"Then let’s meet, let her pick the time and place!" Luo Ziling agreed without much consideration.
"Okay!" Wuyue immediately went to arrange it.
Originally intending to discuss some important matters with Luo Ziling, Lin Lan held back and only talked about some of Ling Ruonan’s work-related issues.
Luo Ziling asked Lin Lan to inform Ling Ruonan and Xu Chen that he would return soon.
In a café not far from where he stayed, Luo Ziling met Zhen dressed similarly to last time.
"Mr. Luo, I’m so sorry to bother you again!" Zhen immediately apologized upon seeing Luo Ziling and explained the reason, "I’ve come across some matters and felt it necessary to discuss with you; I hope you understand!"
"No problem!" Luo Ziling responded with a smile, "If there’s anything, just contact me directly next time!"
He shared his contact information with Zhen.
Zhen promptly noted it down.
She didn’t engage in much small talk and directly informed Luo Ziling about a matter.
She said that Wu Dongfang had indeed deployed many people to collect blackmail information on Ling Ruonan and had gathered some.
She pushed a USB stick in front of Luo Ziling, saying it contained some compiled materials for Luo Ziling to review at home.
After listening, Luo Ziling took the USB stick with a grim expression, and seriously thanked Zhen.
He didn’t mention offering money or goods as a reward, knowing that such a gesture might offend Zhen.
In these circumstances, no one dares to accept money or goods, especially since Zhen is responsible for investigating such illegal activities, and knows the severity of accepting gifts. Luo Ziling only told Zhen to feel free to ask for his help when needed.
Sometimes owing someone a favor is the best reward.
"Definitely lots of things will need Mr. Luo and Miss Ling’s help!" Zhen didn’t hesitate and readily agreed, saying she would directly ask Luo Ziling and Ling Ruonan for help when necessary.
Zhen informed Luo Ziling that the investigation into Ling Ruonan, Luo Ziling, and other members of the Ling Family had been paused, but there’s no telling whether it might restart.
"Whether it restarts isn’t the most important thing; what’s important is the data they’ve collected." Luo Ziling recognized the seriousness of the matter and said he would discuss a strategy with Ling Ruonan immediately.
Luo Ziling’s quick thinking satisfied Zhen.
She told Luo Ziling that she would reveal her true identity at their next meeting.
"Then next time I’ll get to see the real face of Sister Zhen!"