Chapter 699 - 738
Chapter 699 of "Super Soldier in the City" introduces the scene: Chapter 699: 738Standing at the entrance was Ning Xinâer, still wearing a smile on her... Keep going!
Chapter 699: 738Standing at the entrance was Ning Xinâer, still wearing a smile on her face. "I happened to see you come back from upstairs," she said, "so I came to have a look."
Li Yifei stepped aside to let her in, collected a pair of slippers for Ning Xinâer, and said, "Come in, please."
Upon entering, Ning Xinâer saw Su Yiyi. It was her first time seeing Su Yiyi, while Su Yiyi had seen Ning Xinâer multiple times on television and the internet, and she knew that Little Yifei was Ning Xinâerâs daughter. Her face blushing, with her hands twisting her clothes, she said excitedly and nervously, "Sister Xinâer, hello, Iâm Su Yiyi."
Ning Xinâer turned and gave Li Yifei a reproachful glance. "Thereâs another one?" she exclaimed. "Iâve really underestimated you."
Li Yifei came over, took Su Yiyiâs hand, and said to Ning Xinâer, "Xinâer, Su Yiyi and I have been together for a long time, before I married Yingying."
Ning Xinâer pursed her lips, "You really have some nerve, bringing her straight to your house. Arenât you afraid your wife will catch you both and barricade you in a room?"
Li Yifei chuckled. "That wonât happen." He didnât want to explain too much; if he told Ning Xinâer that Su Yiyi had the approval of Xu Yingying, Ning Xinâer might feel upset. If she got angry, it would be quite a headache for Li Yifei.
The three of them sat down, with Su Yiyi and Ning Xinâer seated on either side of Li Yifei. Across Li Yifei, Ning Xinâer said to Su Yiyi, "Yiyi, do you know the relationship between this guy and me?"
Su Yiyi nodded quickly and said, "I know. Yifei is your daughter. I really like Yifei."
Again, Ning Xinâer gave Li Yifei a frosty look; she was furious at him internally but couldnât get mad at him. How could these girls be so foolish? They knew Li Yifei was married and even had a daughter with this celebrity, yet they still threw themselves at him, one after the other.
"You know all that, and you still hang around with this guy?"
Su Yiyiâs face turned pale. She stammered, "Sister Xinâer, I... I... If you object, I will stay far away from Brother Li."
Ning Xinâer was taken aback for a moment. Su Yiyiâs behavior seemed to acknowledge her as Li Yifeiâs official partner, a feeling she had never had before, filling her with a sense of accomplishment and straightening her posture a little. She cleared her throat and said, "That wonât be necessary; Iâm not that domineering."
Li Yifei immediately broke into a cold sweat. Ning Xinâer not domineering? If she werenât, would he have run so far away in the past, even afraid to see her?
"Whatâs with that expression?" Ning Xinâer pinched Li Yifeiâs arm forcefully and glared.
Li Yifei chuckled awkwardly. "Nothing, nothing at all."
Ning Xinâer laughed with delight. Li Yifei wasnât speaking to her as he usually did. Now he was submissive to her like a husband caught misbehavingâa delightful feeling for her.
Anxious, Su Yiyi said, "Sister Xinâer, please donât blame Brother Li. Itâs all my fault; Iâm always clinging to Brother Li."
Seeing Su Yiyiâs panic and her eagerness to shoulder all the responsibility, her timidness softened Ning Xinâerâs resolve to keep up her act. She sighed and said, "Donât say that. Youâve at least gained Brother Liâs acceptance. Iâve even had a daughter for him, but heâs always been distant toward me. I have no right to judge you."
Su Yiyi was stunned, and Li Yifei coughed and said, "Letâs not talk about that now, itâs almost noon. Iâll cook a couple of dishes for us to have lunch together." Then, he slipped into the kitchen.
While Ning Xinâer and Su Yiyi were together, Su Yiyi appeared even more nervous, but in that moment Ning Xinâer suddenly realized something. There had always been no progress between her and Li Yifei. Even with a daughter, Li Yifei kept his distance, perhaps because she was missing Su Yiyiâs considerate nature. She had always been focused on herself, how Li Yifei had wronged her, how he should be responsible for her, and it was his fault if he wasnât. Pressuring Li Yifei at every turn was likely what made him avoid her.
With this new understanding, she became even more curious about Su Yiyiâs relationship with Li Yifei. Adopting the pure and innocent demeanor of a great star, she started to chat softly with Su Yiyi.
As Su Yiyi was inexperienced in the ways of the world, she was rather flattered by Ning Xinâerâs attention. Ning Xinâer asked, and she answered, quickly spilling the details of her relationship with Li Yifei.
The more Ning Xinâer learned, the more she became convinced her thoughts were correct. She also began to admire Su Yiyi, thinking that any girl like her would not only be liked by Li Yifei but even she couldnât help but like her. Despite both of them liking Li Yifei, Ning Xinâer couldnât muster any antagonism toward Su Yiyi.
Conflicts between women can easily arise; a single word or a minor incident may turn them into enemies. But becoming friends is just as easyâif they find a common topic and connect on it, they can become close girlfriends.
Ning Xinâer, having honed her interpersonal skills over the years, had become quite tactful and adept at dealing with people. With her cunning ways, it was easy for someone as naive as Su Yiyi to quickly become good friends with Ning Xinâer, should she desire it.
As Li Yifei cooked, he kept a covert watch on the two women. Although he couldnât hear what they were saying, he noticed that Ning Xinâer was constantly speaking gently and smiling, and Su Yiyiâs nervous expression was gradually relaxing. This brought a silent joy to Li Yifeiâs heart, as it at least confirmed that Ning Xinâer wasnât making things difficult for Su Yiyi.
The meal was simple but replete with color, aroma, and taste. Ning Xinâer ate with great relish, yet she couldnât help but feel a tinge of melancholy within. Li Yifei should have been cooking for her, but now she was dining on his food as if she were mooching off him, which was quite uncomfortable for her.
After dinner, Su Yiyi took the initiative to wash up and tidy up. Ning Xinâer surprisingly pitched in as well, working with a composure that belied her usual pampered upbringing. There wasnât a trace of the delicate airs one would expect from a lady of her status.
Li Yifei was taken aback by this, and upon seeing his expression, Ning Xinâer immediately rolled her eyes at him and said, "When I was pregnant, I lived alone and didnât have much money. I had to rely on myself for everything. Donât think that Iâm helpless. These past few years, Iâve endured plenty and can take care of myself just fine."
Li Yifei cracked a smile and didnât dare to continue that topic. However, he truly admired Ning Xinâerâs tenacity and stubbornness. Considering that girls like Ning Xinâer were usually coddled and waited upon hand and foot, her independence was indeed rare.
While they chatted, Li Yifei returned to the bedroom and called Ye Yunzhu to tell her about Su Yiyi being extorted earlier that day. The news enraged Ye Yunzhu, who was a local authority herself and detested anything that undermined the morals of society. After learning that Li Yifei intended to deal with the head of the office at the Bureau of Commerce and Industry, she readily agreed to help.
Li Yifei also called Brother Hu to take care of Er Pi, as he needed his help with something. Brother Hu was only too eager to agree.
Although Ye Yunzhu was only the Deputy County Head and the Bureau of Commerce and Industry was not under the countyâs jurisdiction, she had the support of the Ye family behind her. A single call from her to the family, mentioning that Li Yifei was behind the request, set things in motion.
The Old Master of the Ye Family, now well aware of Li Yifeiâs attitude toward him, had made his stance clearâa stance the Ye family was well acquainted with. And since the matter wasnât considered significant, a phone call from the Ye family was all it took for the Bureau of Commerce and Industry to act immediately.
Zheng Dawei, the brother-in-law of Er Pi, was reprimanded harshly by Li Yifei, leaving him fuming. His father-in-law had also been scolded to the point of embarrassment, ranting about returning home, but finally calmed down after much coaxing. Only then did Zheng Dawei head back to his unit.
As soon as he sat down in his office, his phone rang. Checking the caller ID, he saw it was his director and quickly picked up with an ingratiating smile, saying, "Director, you wanted to see me?"
"Come to my office." The directorâs brief command was followed by an abrupt end to the call.
Zheng Dawei didnât take it to heart, as a call from the director usually indicated a brief verbal message that would inevitably be followed by him scurrying over as usualâtoday was no different.
Upon entering the directorâs office, he saw his superior sitting behind the desk with a grim expression, clearly in a foul mood. This made Zheng Dawei uneasy, as a cranky director often meant someone would bear the brunt of his irritation, and he hoped it wouldnât be him.
"Director!" Zheng Dawei stepped up to the desk, his face plastered with an obsequious smile, giving a cautious greeting as he bent slightly at the knees and waist.
The director looked at Zheng Dawei, sighed, and said, "Dawei, youâve been working in the office for some years now, havenât you?"
Zheng Dawei paused, then his heart leaped with joy. Typically, such questions from a superior implied a potential transfer, something he had been angling for, albeit without feedback. Today seemed to spell out a positive outcome, which excited him as he responded, "Yes, Iâve been the head of the office for over four years now."
The director nodded and said, "Then letâs make a change in your work."
Overjoyed, Zheng Dawei quickly replied, "Iâll follow the leadershipâs arrangements."
The director nodded again and stated, "Then youâll go down to the township office."
Zheng Dawei was initially disappointed by this, as working in the township office was a lateral move rather than a promotion, but the real power of being a township office chief was much greater than that of an office head, so it wasnât bad. He hurriedly said, "No problem, no problem."
"Good, then start at Lanjia Village as a staff member."
"What?" The word burst from Zheng Dawei as he questioned his own hearing. Was he not being appointed as a chief but rather as a staff member? Wasnât this essentially a demotion?