Yangdong City’s busiest downtown area had, at some point, welcomed a new bar called Four Seasons.
With its understated and restrained decor and an entrance that hardly caught the eye, it almost went unnoticed by the average passerby.
Ning Yichen showed his ID in haste and swiftly made his way to the third floor, turned around, and pushed open the only private room on this level.
"You’ve arrived?" Yun Shenhan looked up at him, smiled faintly, and pushed a glass of wine towards him, "Jingyao will arrive in five minutes, please wait."
Ning Yichen took the cocktail Yun Shenhan handed to him and drank it in one gulp, visibly tired, he exhaled with relief, "It’s okay, I’m free tonight."
"That’s rare." Yun Shenhan raised an eyebrow, "You’re now the President’s Chief Secretary. He’s actually willing to let you go?"
Ning Yichen curled his lips into a mocking and cold sneer but said nothing.
The President mentioned by Yun Shenhan was no longer Cheng Youlin, but Zhuo Yuwei, the former Vice President.
The explosion four years ago had left Cheng Youlin alive but in declining health. Ultimately, he announced his resignation six months prior. Since he had not completed his term, Vice President Zhuo Yuwei naturally became the new President.
In these years, Ning Yichen had been at the center of power and had privately gained the trust of Zhuo Yuwei. After Zhuo Yuwei became President, Ning Yichen was appointed as the Chief Secretary—a situation that no one, including Ning Yichen himself, could have imagined four years before.
He was never a man of ambition. Initially serving as an Internal Affairs Officer in the President Mansion, due in part to the First Lady’s appreciation and partly in fulfilling his responsibility as a member of the Ning Family, he never believed he could walk far on the path of power. However, Zhixi’s death had, for the first time, ignited his longing for power—only by being as close to the center of power as possible, could he uncover the truth behind the explosion.
The girl he hadn’t managed to do much for while she was alive was gone. He was shocked to discover that he’d lost all opportunities to make amends. All he could do now was seek revenge for her.
Due to this shared objective, he had unexpectedly become... friends with He Jingyao. Even if they weren’t friends, they were at least partners.
The explosion had changed more than just his own fate.
The He Family had been wealthy but stayed away from the political center. After that event, He Jingyao took the opportunity to shift his focus to Yangdong City. With his immense wealth and aggressive approach, he influenced the political situation, making even Zhuo Yuwei step aside and avoid his edge.
Yun Shenhan watched He Jingyao turn Yangdong City upside down and decided to relocate some of his resources here too. Sheltered by the vast umbrella of HI, he made a fortune and even opened another Four Seasons Bar here. Despite the name being mercilessly mocked by people like Huo Yanhui, it didn’t prevent this place from becoming the new gathering spot for the elite of Yangdong City.
Ning Ruixin, who was responsible for the security on that day, resigned to take the blame. She didn’t mind, and took a role with the United Nations forces instead, her presence found wherever there was unrest in the world. Over the years, she came back in a rush only one or two times, and her marriage with Shen Qiao’an was delayed as a result. Her father raised the issue of calling off the engagement several times, but Shen Qiao’an refused to consent, his reasoning a mystery.
But at least, all of them were living well, except for Zhixi...
At that thought, Ning Yichen sighed deeply.
"Jingyao is here," Yun Shenhan suddenly brightened, looking past him.