Chapter Thirty-Four: Eliminating Future Troubles

"Heh... Sorry, Aunt Yuan. I really had something urgent that day. As soon as I finished, I came to see you," Zhang Ye said, a little embarrassed, scratching his head and feigning innocence.

At that moment, Yuan Yuqing had just washed her hair, her head still damp as she dried it with a towel. Yet this did nothing to diminish her charm; if anything, it heightened her allure, making her all the more captivating.

She wore simple loungewear—nothing fancy—but on her curvaceous figure, even the vaguest outlines took on a tantalizing quality that left one unable to look away.

"Alright, I’m not blaming you," she said, pulling Zhang Ye to sit beside her. Then, taking his hand with a gentle smile, she added, "Tell me, what brings you here? As long as it's within my power, I’ll help you." She was very earnest as she spoke.

Every time she recalled that moment on the bus, remembered Zhang Ye’s upright bearing, she felt a sense of security—a feeling, a memory, that she knew she would never forget.

"You figured it out?" Zhang Ye scratched his head, hesitated, then decided to be forthright. He recounted everything: sneaking into Gao Ming’s house, taking Gao Ming’s notebook.

As he spoke, he took out both the notebook and the booklet containing evidence of Gao Ming’s uncle Hong Jiang’s bribery, handing them to Yuan Yuqing.

"I've always believed that our Lihua County was free of corrupt officials, but I never imagined Hong Jiang would do such things. If I hadn’t found out, maybe it wouldn’t matter—but now that the truth is revealed, we can’t let someone like him keep harming the people of Lihua County. I’m just a young man, with little influence. If I handed this in myself, it would come to nothing. After much thought, I decided to bring it to you, Aunt Yuan. You’re an official too—I believe you’ll be able to bring him to justice," Zhang Ye said, letting just the right amount of indignation and anger color his words, embodying the righteous fury of a young man witnessing corruption.

Yuan Yuqing paid little attention to Zhang Ye’s expressions. Taking the booklet, she flipped to the last pages and began to read, her brow furrowing, her gaze turning ever more serious.

"This is what you want to do?" After a long while, Yuan Yuqing’s expression relaxed again, her smile returning as she asked.

From her face, Zhang Ye couldn’t discern her true thoughts. Somewhat awkwardly, he replied, "A corrupt official like that must be rooted out. He can’t be allowed to keep hurting the people." Was she suspicious? Zhang Ye couldn’t help but wonder nervously. But his performance should have been convincing.

"You haven’t shown anyone else, have you?" Yuan Yuqing asked.

"No, I came straight to you after I found it," Zhang Ye replied quickly, shaking his head.

Guo Xiangqing, who had been listening with a faintly furrowed brow, soon lost interest. She yawned and, bored, went to watch television, soon bursting into carefree laughter. Though she was the daughter of officials, she’d been around this kind of talk often enough to be indifferent to it.

"Very well, I’ll take care of this. I’m sure there’ll be results in just a few days," Yuan Yuqing said, smiling as she put the booklet away. As for Gao Ming’s personal notebook, she handed it back to Zhang Ye. "When the time is right, give this notebook to Director Ye—he’ll know what to do."

Zhang Ye was overjoyed, quickly tucking the notebook away. He knew that the matter was now settled. Even if someone discovered he’d stolen into Gao Ming’s home for the notebook, with Yuan Yuqing’s help, he had nothing to fear.

"Thank you, Aunt Yuan. You’ve always been so good to me," Zhang Ye exclaimed, grasping her hand and shaking it enthusiastically.

"You saved my life—this is nothing in comparison," Yuan Yuqing replied, naturally stroking his cheek. Then she said, "Stay for dinner tonight. Last time you missed it—this time, you can’t refuse."

After a moment’s thought, Zhang Ye nodded in agreement.

They chatted a little longer before Yuan Yuqing rose to change. Though her position as deputy director at the education bureau was not overly demanding, she still had to go to work.

Taking advantage of Yuan Yuqing’s absence, Guo Xiangqing, a little embarrassed, said to Zhang Ye, "I’m sorry. I misjudged you and was unfriendly just now." The reproach in her eyes only made her beauty more striking.

Zhang Ye shook his head with a smile. "No problem, I didn’t mind." He certainly wouldn’t hold a grudge, especially since Guo Xiangqing had apologized. In school, after all, she was always cold and aloof.

"I’m off to work," Yuan Yuqing said. "Xiangqing, you and Xiaoye stay here. I’ll come back early this afternoon. If you get bored, watch a movie—I have some discs in my room." With that, she opened the door and left.

With two young people alone in the apartment, the atmosphere instantly grew a shade more ambiguous.

"So, what movie do you want to watch?" After a while in silence, Guo Xiangqing asked.

"Anything. Whatever you have is fine," Zhang Ye replied casually. Movies, after all, weren’t such a novelty to him—he’d seen countless blockbusters in his previous life, so they held little appeal now.

"Well then… come with me to my aunt’s room, I know she has lots hidden away," Guo Xiangqing said, grinning mischievously.

She had discovered before that Yuan Yuqing kept some unseen movie discs in her room, but had never been allowed to watch them. Now that she had the chance—and with her aunt’s own suggestion—she wasn’t about to be polite. She headed straight for Yuan Yuqing’s bedroom.

Zhang Ye hesitated, then followed.

Only then did Zhang Ye realize how tall Guo Xiangqing really was. At 1.76 meters, he wasn’t short, but standing next to her, she was nearly his height—at least 1.72 meters, maybe taller in heels. With her slender waist, well-shaped hips, and generous curves…

Zhang Ye felt almost wicked for noticing.

Guo Xiangqing, full of excitement, entered Yuan Yuqing’s room first. The walls were painted a soft pink, as were the bedding and even the wardrobe, creating a warm, cozy atmosphere. On a desk opposite the bed sat a color TV and a VCR, surrounded by scattered discs—historical martial arts dramas, period pieces, romance films—everything one could want.

But instead of picking from the discs there, Guo Xiangqing told Zhang Ye to turn on the TV and went straight to the bed, pulling a small box from beneath it. From inside, she drew out several discs whose covers couldn’t be seen.