After the New Year, Mao Bocheng officially bid farewell to the Yanxi political scene and transferred to another province to continue serving as governor.
Even though he and Chen Bin had sworn brotherhood, his heart was always full of fear and trepidation.
Afraid of inadvertently provoking Chen Bin one day and being set up again.
Now that he finally left Yanxi, he could finally put his mind to rest.
As soon as Mao Bocheng left, the governor's position attracted the attention of countless people.
However, the Imperial Capital was in no hurry to make an appointment, so the matter was put on hold.
That day, Chen Bin was once again invited out to dinner by Cheng Liusha.
As soon as he sat down in the private room, Cheng Liusha placed two marriage certificates on the table.
"Xiao Chen, I have good news for you, Cailian and I are married!"
Hearing this, Chen Bin was suddenly taken aback.
He only intended for Lu Cailian and Cheng Liusha to date, how did these two end up married?
"Secretary Cheng, when did you get the certificate?"
"This afternoon."
Cheng Liusha held Lu Cailian's jade hand, his face full of joy.
"Cailian originally wanted to tell you this in advance, but I didn't let her, planning to give you a surprise."
"Oh, that's really great, I wish you everlasting happiness!"
Chen Bin looked at Lu Cailian with a smiling face, only to find a deep sadness in her eyes.
Obviously, the marriage was not Lu Cailian's intention.
After the food and wine were served, the three continued to talk about marriage.
Compared to Cheng Liusha's high spirits, Chen Bin and Lu Cailian seemed a bit absent-minded.
A glass of wine only added to their worries.
To avoid looking too upset, Chen Bin took the initiative to change the topic.
"Secretary Cheng, when do you think the new governor might take office?"
"I'm not sure. The Liao family and the Xiong family in the Imperial Capital are competing fiercely for the governorship of Yanxi Province."
Upon hearing that the Liao family was also involved, Chen Bin immediately asked.
"In your opinion, which family has a better chance?"
After pondering for a moment, Cheng Liusha shook his head.
"Currently, both sides are evenly matched, so I can't say for sure. However, in terms of capability, the Liao family has a better chance. But in officialdom, there's no telling what will happen. Whoever gets the governorship will force the other to concede some interests."
In Chen Bin's view, Liao Ruoji was now his woman, and if the Liao family could secure the governorship, it would certainly be beneficial for him.
At that moment, his WeChat notification sound suddenly chimed.
He took out his phone and saw a message from Zha Qiuling.
"I've already flown to Tianhai, currently at Radio and Television International. Where are you?"
Chen Bin replied, "Wait for me in the lobby for a bit, I'll contact you once I'm done."
Faced with Chen Bin looking at his phone, Cheng Liusha didn't get angry.
Instead, he proactively asked, "What are your thoughts on the future? Do you plan to stay at the TV station indefinitely?"
Putting away his phone, Chen Bin replied with a smile.
"Well... I don't really have any plans for now, I'll just follow the organization's guidance."
"In my opinion, there's not much point in you staying at the TV station. You've worked your way up from the grassroots, and your resume is quite complete. If you can spend a few more years as a city leader, it would be perfect."
"But I don't know anyone, becoming a leader seems difficult."
Sighing, Cheng Liusha also looked thoughtful.
"Actually, after Fu Hongtu left, I originally wanted to make you leader of Tianhai, but you seemed focused entirely on the position of propaganda minister, so I didn't bring it up."
Hearing this, Chen Bin's expression gradually turned grim.
If he had known about Cheng Liusha's intention, he would have changed his mind.
Now that Fu Hongtu's position was taken, he had no options.
Cheng Liusha continued, "Don't be disheartened, I hear that the Imperial Capital plans to build several first-tier coastal cities, and Tianhe City is under consideration."
This piqued Chen Bin's interest immediately, "Secretary Cheng, could you elaborate?"
"If Tianhe gets selected, it will become a deputy-provincial-level city. You're an expert in economics, you could develop there, and once conditions mature, you'll have a good chance of being promoted to a provincial-ministerial-level position."
"Will this plan be implemented this year?"
"I can't say for sure, but it should be finalized by next year at the latest."
Nodding, Chen Bin found the prospect appealing.
He also knew that he had almost reached the top in the publicity department.
Going to Tianhe City would be an excellent opportunity.
Compared to Tianhai, developing Tianhe City would allow him to achieve more in governance.
Cheng Liusha took a bite of food and continued.
"If you want to go to Tianhe, once it's selected, I promise to recommend you strongly in the Imperial Capital."
Chen Bin raised his glass and said with a smile.
"Alright, I'll thank Secretary Cheng in advance then."
Chen Bin drank quite a bit during this meal. Thinking about Lu Cailian marrying Cheng Liusha, he felt a pang of distress.
After dinner, seeing off Cheng Liusha and his wife, Chen Bin felt a bit dizzy.
Once in his exclusive suite on the top floor, he remembered Zha Qiuling was still waiting for him, so he called her and told her the room number.
Not long after, there was a knock at the door.
As soon as Zha Qiuling walked in, she wrinkled her nose from the strong scent of alcohol.
"How much did you drink?"
Chen Bin didn't answer but asked a question instead.
"Guess what day it is today?"
Zha Qiuling was dressed with elaborate makeup, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders.
She wore a form-fitting strapless dress, topped with a long white down jacket.
A pair of 13-centimeter black high heels adorned her feet, captivating Chen Bin's gaze.
Clearly, Zha Qiuling had come prepared.
After thinking for a moment, she slightly shook her head.
"Today seems quite ordinary, is it some kind of holiday?"
Chen Bin calmly said, "Secretary Cheng and his wife got their marriage certificate this afternoon."
Zha Qiuling was startled but chose not to say anything.
Chen Bin gently lifted her delicate chin and seriously asked.
"Your ex-husband got married. Don't you have anything to say?"
Zha Qiuling didn't avoid his gaze, instead she looked directly at Chen Bin.
"I never liked him anyway. The divorce was my liberation, so what's there to be upset about?"
Zha Qiuling suspected that Cheng Liusha was already involved with another woman before their divorce.
Otherwise, no one would step into the role so quickly.
Chen Bin's fingers slid down, tracing circles from Zha Qiuling's neck to her chest.
The tingling sensation made Zha Qiuling's heart race.
But due to her nature, she took a deep breath, trying to feign calmness.
With a playful smile, Chen Bin asked with interest.
"As his ex-wife, you must know him well. How long does he last in bed each time?"
Zha Qiuling replied resolutely, "That's something you should ask him yourself."
Chen Bin, however, didn't let her off the hook, continuing his questioning.
"No, I want you to tell me personally..."