In her social circle, she used to post updates, and Han Jifeng would always pay attention and like them, but now, it’s as if Han Jifeng has disappeared from her friends list.
This change occurred around the time when Xia Zhengguo had his issues.
Lai Shengxia has her pride, her messages seemingly vanishing into the abyss, so she stopped calling.
"If I break off the engagement now, it will only make him look down on me," Lai Shengxia said. "We haven’t been in touch for almost three months."
Ouyang Qian was surprised, turning to her daughter, "Didn’t you say that after you two broke up, you still kept in touch privately?"
"In September, he replied to my messages. When I and Yansheng returned from our holiday, Jifeng had just left on a business trip. After that, when I messaged him again, he didn’t reply, and he even missed the university classmates meet-up."
Ouyang Qian shared her conjecture, "Could it be that he thinks there’s no hope left, so he simply stopped contacting you?"
Lai Shengxia didn’t respond verbally, but she agreed with the idea in her heart.
Compared to women, men are more rational.
When men give their heart but don’t receive anything in return, over time, very few persist like women; most choose to quietly drift apart.
Han Jifeng was aloof, yet in university, he was exceptionally accommodating towards her.
Based on her past understanding of Han Jifeng, once he committed to someone, it was difficult for him to transfer his affections elsewhere, which was why she still kept in touch with Han Jifeng even after getting engaged to Qin Yansheng.
But now, Lai Shengxia’s confidence began to waver.
Han Jifeng stopped contacting her, and without any warning, he became the head of the Judicial Administration Bureau. Even if it was him who orchestrated Xia Zhengguo’s downfall, if he himself didn’t have some capability, why would the higher-ups entrust him with such responsibility?
When the appointment documents come through, Han Jifeng will either be in a principal position or deputy position.
Not yet thirty, achieving such a level in today’s political arena, these kinds of people can be counted on one hand.
As long as Han Jifeng doesn’t make any major mistakes, given time, it’s not impossible for him, like Song Baiyan, to become a department head in his thriving years.
If he does well, he might even run for election...
Thinking this, Lai Shengxia’s hand on her leg involuntarily tightened.
"It’s also his good luck," Ouyang Qian spoke slowly. "Xia Zhengguo’s downfall gave him a chance to advance, but with the term change approaching, it’s uncertain whether he can secure his position as bureau-chief."
Yet, Lai Shengxia said, "As long as he doesn’t make mistakes, there’s no reason for the higher-ups to remove him."
Even if he has to sit out a few years on the bench.
With Han Jifeng’s position there, it can’t be too bad.
"Your dad said, there are already quite a few families eager to marry their daughters to him."
Ouyang Qian sighed, "This is my fault, if I hadn’t looked down on him back then, urged you to break up with him, and just waited a while longer, the outcome would have been very different."
After a long pause, Lai Shengxia spoke softly, "Actually, there’s still a way."
Hearing this, Ouyang Qian directed her gaze back to her daughter.
Lai Shengxia revealed her plan: "Since other families are eager to make Jifeng their son-in-law, our family can too, right?"
"But didn’t you say you currently can’t break off your engagement with Yansheng?" Ouyang Qian said, then a sudden thought struck her, disapprovingly frowning, "Yuanyuan is still young, and Han Jifeng likes you. If your sister marries him, wouldn’t that make her miserable?"
Seeing her mother understood, Lai Shengxia smiled, picked up the teacup, took a gentle sip, and then said, "Don’t forget, my dad has another daughter."