645: Chapter 641: Going to a Meeting with Zhao Lina 645: Chapter 641: Going to a Meeting with Zhao Lina Due to fears of his identity being exposed, Ye Fan gave Shen Yan the power of attorney in person, but they parted quickly after only a few words.
After handing over the power of attorney to Shen Yan, it was time to return to Mingde County.
Ye Fan didn’t return to Huayang Martial Arts School but went to find Li Zhaojun instead.
He pulled Li Zhaojun into the bedroom, closed the door, and kissed her until she was weak in the knees before letting her go.
“I’m heading to Mingde County now, but I’ll try to make time to come see you,” Ye Fan said, holding her slender waist.
Li Zhaojun nodded reluctantly, “Mhm.”
“Also, you can visit the old master often,” Ye Fan added.
He knew Li Zhaojun felt a deep familial love for Master Li, and seeing him often might temper her cold indifference.
Li Zhaojun nodded in agreement.
Releasing Li Zhaojun, Ye Fan packed up while she helped fold the clothes.
A few minutes later, after packing the luggage and just before leaving, Ye Fan kissed Li Zhaojun one more time.
After picking up Wei Ziling, Ye Fan officially returned to Mingde County.
On Monday afternoon, Ye Fan was dealing with the usual work documents when suddenly the phone rang.
Nonchalantly reaching for the phone, his eyes still on the documents, he said, “Hello, this is Ye Fan.”
“Tomorrow morning at ten o’clock, there is a Spring Festival Security Mobilization meeting at the city bureau, and you need to attend,” came a cold voice from the phone.
Ye Fan immediately focused and asked Zhao Lina, “How long will the meeting last?”
“One day,” Zhao Lina replied in a formal tone, then hung up the phone.
The next day, due to the ten o’clock meeting at the city police station, Ye Fan arrived at work over an hour early.
Zhao Lina hadn’t arrived yet, so Ye Fan chatted leisurely with the driver, Fang Fusheng, who was driving him and Zhao Lina later.
With the current nationwide push against corruption, lavishness, and waste, officials like Ye Fan and Zhao Lina were required to carpool to city meetings, even though both had official cars as top leaders.
After about seven or eight minutes, Zhao Lina arrived in her police uniform.
Zhao Lina did not live in a rented apartment outside but stayed directly in a small apartment in the unit’s dormitory.
Seeing the imposing Zhao Lina approaching, Fang Fusheng quickly walked up, bowed, and greeted, “Director Zhao.”
Zhao Lina gave a slight nod, still coldly, and continued towards the car.
Ye Fan watched Zhao Lina with a normal expression.
After half a month of interaction, Ye Fan had managed to maintain a calm attitude towards Zhao Lina.
Beyond necessary work-related interaction, they had no other dealings.
Of course, this was just a temporary measure.
Ye Fan planned to transfer to another government department after the new year.
He couldn’t marry Zhao Lina, and since he had already firmly decided to break up, there was no need to interact daily and reignite old feelings, as that would only harm Zhao Lina permanently.
However, he had almost no connections in Mingde County, and considering his recent promotion, transferring to another government department would not be easy.
Only when Zhao Lina approached did Ye Fan calmly say, “Director Zhao, good morning.”
“Mm, Director Ye,” Zhao Lina responded coldly.
At that moment, Fang Fusheng courteously opened the car door to the leader’s seat for Zhao Lina, who unceremoniously got in.
Ye Fan didn’t put on such airs; he opened the front passenger door himself and got in.
Zhao Lina detested him immensely, so he certainly wouldn’t sit with her in the back of the car.
Fang Fusheng closed the car door for Zhao Lina, and seeing that Ye Fan had already taken his seat, he hurriedly tried to apologize.
Ye Fan waved his hands with a smile.
Then, the car started and slowly drove out of the police station.
Not long after leaving the police station, before really hitting the road, Fang Fusheng received a phone call and then immediately pulled the car over to the side of the road.
“Director Zhao, Director Ye, may I please take a leave?,” Fang Fusheng turned to Ye Fan and Zhao Lina and pleaded, “My wife is suddenly going into labor.”
“Your wife is giving birth?” Ye Fan looked at Fang Fusheng in slight surprise.
Fang Fusheng looked to be at least forty years old.
Fang Fusheng quickly explained, “It’s my second wife, we got married last year.”
Zhao Lina said, “The leave is granted.”
“Thank you Director Zhao, thank you Director Ye,” Fang Fusheng immediately expressed his gratitude, and then continued to explain, “I’m really sorry for delaying your trip.
My wife’s due date was supposed to be in half a month.
I’ll call Old Huang and have him come over right away.”
With that, he reached for his phone.
“No need,” Ye Fan waved his hand, “Director Zhao and I can both drive.
Congratulations, Old Fang.”
Fang Fusheng immediately said thank you.
Zhao Lina also congratulated him.
As Fang Fusheng was about to get out of the car, Ye Fan stopped him, “Drive to the hospital or your home first, then get out.”
In a small county town, unlike bustling big cities, taxis don’t just come with a wave of the hand; if not in a busy area, it often takes seven or eight minutes.
Fang Fusheng was in a rush to get home or to the hospital and did not have time to wait for a taxi.
Ye Fan had been in Mingde County for over two months and understood the situation quite well.
Fang Fusheng originally planned to do just that, but he couldn’t say it aloud.
Hearing Ye Fan suggest it, he immediately gratefully agreed.
Eight or nine minutes later, in front of a community gate, Fang Fusheng hurriedly got out of the car.
Ye Fan unfastened his seatbelt and moved to the driver’s seat to take over driving.
Ye Fan skillfully turned the car around and then drove towards Long’an City.
Although there was some delay, the distance from Mingde County to Long’an City wasn’t very far, about an hour’s drive, and it wasn’t even eight-thirty yet, so there was plenty of time.
Thus, Ye Fan drove at a moderate speed.
A few minutes later, the car entered the highway.
Once on the highway, driving didn’t require too much attention, but the inside of the car was still very silent.
Although there were no outsiders, Zhao Lina didn’t speak to him.
Ye Fan couldn’t help but glance at Zhao Lina through the rearview mirror and just met her gaze reflected in the mirror.
Feeling a little guilty, Ye Fan quickly looked away.
“Hmph!” A cold snort came from behind.
Ye Fan pretended not to hear and continued to focus on driving.
Seeing that Ye Fan wasn’t talking, Zhao Lina stared at him through the rearview mirror for a while, then finally closed her eyes.
The two didn’t really talk to each other at all.
Upon arriving smoothly at the Long’an City Police Department, since both Ye Fan and Zhao Lina were attending a meeting there for the first time and didn’t know the exact location, Ye Fan simply called their former superior, Tang Xianlong.
Tang Xianlong answered the phone enthusiastically, asking Ye Fan and Zhao Lina to wait in the parking lot, and that he would come over to meet them.
A few minutes later, Tang Xianlong arrived at the parking lot.
As Ye Fan and Zhao Lina approached him, they called out, “Director Tang.”
Tang Xianlong chuckled and said, “I guessed you might arrive half an hour early.
Let’s go, while there’s still time, I’ll show you around the city bureau, so it’s convenient for you to work here later, and then meet the other leaders.”