Hearing Ji Qinglin's words, Ai Li felt a slight movement in her heart, as she keenly captured a blind spot.
Her twin ponytails, one pink and one blue, slightly lifted as she asked, "When did you encounter them?"
Ji Qinglin hesitated briefly, then said, "It should have been around 10:30."
Ai Li let out a slightly disappointed "Oh~."
Ji Qinglin adjusted his glasses and looked at her skeptically, asking, "Why that expression? What are you thinking?"
Ai Li leaned back casually and said nonchalantly, "It's nothing."
"I was just thinking that Qiu Tu is a handsome guy and Guan Xiao is a stunning beauty. There might be something between them."
She paused, then said indifferently, "You know... these beautiful female subordinates, they love to throw themselves at such young, handsome bosses."
"Qiu Tu is also the type who doesn't refuse beauties; there might be some ambiguous relationship between them."
Hearing Ai Li's words, Ji Qinglin shook his head and then said, "That shouldn't be the case."
He continued, "I saw Minister Guan at 10:30, when he was already at work. They couldn't possibly be having an affair in broad daylight, could they?"
After speaking, Ji Qinglin suddenly paused as if he had thought of something. Then he adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and asked with a puzzled face, "Wait a minute."
"You said these beautiful female subordinates like to throw themselves at young, handsome bosses?"
"I... why have I never encountered that?"
Ai Li glanced at Ji Qinglin's face, which looked older than Huang Shangzong and rather mediocre:...
Ji Qinglin blinked blankly and then turned to the always silent Lü Cheng beside him, "Old Lü, have you ever encountered that?"
Lü Cheng, a young man with a crew cut and decent looks, was not looking very old.
Upon hearing Ji Qinglin's question, Lü Cheng scratched his head in a simple manner and said, "I haven't encountered it either…"
Hearing Lü Cheng say the same, Ai Li quickly smoothed things over, "Then it looks like it was just my misunderstanding."
"Since that's the case, there might indeed be a real issue between Qiu Tu and Guan Xiao."
Encouraged, Ji Qinglin nodded in satisfaction and adjusted his glasses, his eyes sharp and wise behind the lenses...
"But… after all, Guan Xiao was brought up by Qiu Tu."
"It might be difficult to break through directly with her."
"I think… we can start with Guan Weihua."
"Then we'll strategically target Guan Xiao."
"Guan Weihua is a pivotal force in our 'Academic Faction.' He's on the same side as us. It won't be hard to sway him."
"After we pull him to our camp, we will have four votes in the upper echelons, gaining the advantage."
"Then, he can persuade his niece, Guan Xiao."
"After persuading Guan Xiao, we can keep her identity hidden but let her continue to infiltrate Qiu Tu's side as a spy."
"It would not only blind Qiu Tu but also keep us informed of all the crucial intelligence about him."
"It would be killing two birds with one stone."
By the end, Ji Qinglin's face bore a scheming smile.
"So, my suggestion is, we go all out to sway Guan Weihua! Spare no expense!"
After listening to Ji Qinglin's plan, Ai Li looked a bit hesitant. She asked tentatively, "Is this plan not a bit too idealistic?"
"Every single part must go flawlessly to achieve the effect we want."
"Besides, isn't it a huge cost to sway a high-level official? Could it be a case of losing more than we gain?"
Ji Qinglin clearly understood Ai Li. Smiling at her words, he said, "Ai Li! Isn't life just a huge gamble?"
"Going all in is a kind of wisdom!"
Hearing Ji Qinglin's words, a fiery look appeared in Ai Li's eyes!
She seemed to have made up her mind! Then she clenched her fist tightly, a fervent look on her face as she declared, "That's right! Going all in is wisdom!"
"It's just a gamble!"
"If we win, we become the Bureau Chief!"
"If we lose, worst case… I'll just end up pushing Qiu Tu's buttons!"
Hearing Ai Li, Ji Qinglin looked at her and nodded emphatically!
After finalizing their plan, Ji Qinglin turned to the Special Duties Department Director, Lü Cheng, and asked, "Old Lü, what do you think?"
Lü Cheng smiled simply, then said, "I'm just a blunt man. I'm good at fighting but analyzing these things, I don't understand."
"You guys make the decision. I'll completely follow orders!"
Hearing Lü Cheng's words, both Ai Li and Ji Qinglin nodded in satisfaction.
With that, they temporarily set the plan to sideline Qiu Tu and dispersed from their little meeting.
After escorting Ji Qinglin and Lü Cheng out, Ai Li closed the door, then stood in the office that originally belonged to Tang Feifei, filled with the battle traces of Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei, opened her arms, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath in intoxication!
Then she opened her eyes, spiritedly walked to the window, and gazed at the night view of Xinjie City!
This job adjustment had decreased her power, but it had also brought her to a larger platform with higher potential for rising!
So, although this job transfer wasn't necessarily good, it was not a loss either.
—Especially since she had originally thought she was going to end up in prison.
But, it was indeed because of this transfer that Ai Li found out from Huang Shang more about the insides.
She learned that Qiu Tu had met a Mysterious person, knew that Qiu Tu had already discussed with the high-level officials of the Sanctuary regarding Larilo's release.
She also knew… Qiu Tu had intentionally used this incident to scheme against her and Huang Shang, to intimidate them and blackmail benefits.
This made her disdain for Qiu Tu grow even deeper.
Especially when she thought of the heartbroken Yanyan, forced by Qiu Tu to be despondent at home, her hatred for Qiu Tu intensified even more.