He seemed to revisit the past.

At that time, he had just received the university admission notice and had gone to the Civil Affairs Bureau with his father to submit his subsidy application. He still vividly remembers the disdainful looks he received from the women in those offices.

He graduated from university and worked in the county government, climbing up step by step. So many years had passed, filled with passions, frustrations, sleepless nights, and mistakes. He didn’t know how he had persevered.

Unfortunately, he was still wrong in the end.

Everything written on paper was a lie that could never be realized.

The trajectory of a bullet was so clear and cold.

If he had not met a man named Yue Qingci, he would not have risen to the top, but he would not have fallen into the abyss either.

His life was like that bullet, drawing a cold, straight line in the sun, and then falling into the muddy abyss of flesh and blood.

.

A splitting headache.

He was almost dead, but they still feel pain. This world was so cruel.

Jiang Xiaochuan opened his eyes. The gorgeous and dim chandelier on the ceiling rotated gently. The flowing, beautiful lights casted a warm glow on the four walls, illuminating the dark golden wallpaper.

There was a faint smell of perfume in the air, mixed with tobacco and alcohol. The scent didn’t feel nice at all.

His thinking stopped for a while, and then his whole brain began to operate slowly.

His chest felt slightly cold, and the air conditioner seemed to be in the room, making it a bit chilly.

He stretched out his hand to cover his eyes, blocking out the overly bright light above his head, and then realized he was only wrapped in a bathrobe.

He sat up suddenly. The room in front of him looked very familiar. He must have seen it before.

He couldn’t help but touch his head. There were no wounds. Where was the bullet?

He sat in a daze for a long time, recognizing a large, softly furnished bed in a hotel, a luxurious suite, and a bathroom.

Jiang Xiaochuan’s heart was filled with confusion, and his handsome eyebrows furrowed tightly. He probably knew what was going on.

When he stood up, he had a headache, seemingly from being drunk.

He glanced at the slightly ajar bathroom door, feeling a bit confused.

He couldn’t help but think of the oath he had seen during his trial. Regardless, he should leave this place first.

In fact, he was not naturally a corrupt official.

.

When he opened the door, his steps were unsteady, his belt was loosely tied, and his expression remained dazed.

However, a few steps outside, Jiang Xiaochuan was pulled back.

“Mayor Jiang, what’s wrong with you?”

Jiang Xiaochuan turned around. He knew he wasn’t the mayor yet, but had just been elected as the deputy mayor. In Chinese tradition, it’s customary to address a person by their higher rank, and it felt a bit awkward to call a deputy mayor, so they often called them “mayor” to avoid confusion.

When he raised his eyes, he saw the face of a young man in front of him, likely about the same age as him, around twenty-eight years old, with dark hair, bright eyes, and lips that were neither too thin nor too thick. They curved slightly, forming a fake smile.

He was a little startled, and some words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back.

“What’s the matter, President Rong?”

The handsome young man in front of him was named Rong Shaobai, the president of the Rong Family Club. He had recently taken over the family business and had many dealings with Jiang Xiaochuan, the corrupt official.

However, Rong’s Club was just a cover. Rong Shaobai’s family had ties to organized crime, and he was the underground boss of Chengzhou. Even the government feared him.

If his memory served him correctly, he had been reborn when he was just elected as the deputy mayor, but these memories were old and starting to become jumbled. He couldn’t remember everything, but he knew he couldn’t repeat the mistakes of his previous life.

Yue Qingci had admitted that he had used him. The love he thought was real had been an illusion and confusion. It had always been fake and devoid of truth.

Although the cause of his mistake was Yue Qingci, greed could paralyze people’s conscience, and Yue Qingci was always just a temptation factor. His conscience lies in the oath he took when he assumed office.

If Lian Cheng hadn’t given him this oath in his previous life, would he have said it?

In fact, he was still wondering before his death – was that considered a betrayal?

One betrays what he loves, the other betrays the country.

Which is more important and which is less important?

The Rong Shaobai in front of him was an extremely dangerous person. In his previous life, Jiang Xiaochuan avoided having too close contact with him from the beginning.

A person like Rong Shaobai, who lived in the underworld, would naturally attract criticism after prolonged contact as an official. Even if there was nothing, someone could fabricate something out of thin air, especially with him and Rong Shaobai.

Were there indeed some unclear transactions between them?

In this life, he wanted to sever all ties with these dangerous people.

Jiang Xiaochuan felt his temples pulsating suddenly. He took his hand out of Rong Shaobai’s grip and gathered his bathrobe around him. He was still standing on the cold floor with his bare feet, but at this point, he couldn’t care much.

Rong Shaobai looked at him calmly, with some consideration flashing in his deep eyes, “Didn’t Mayor Jiang agree to stay and have a good rest? The room has been prepared. Look, there are still people here, waiting for you.”

Rong Shaobai raised his sharp chin and looked past Jiang Xiaochuan, into the room Jiang Xiaochuan had just left.

Jiang Xiaochuan turned around and saw a voluptuous woman casually wrapped in a bathrobe, stepping out of the bathroom. Seeing no one in the room, she appeared both surprised and anxious, looking around.

When she noticed Jiang Xiaochuan standing outside the door, her expression immediately shifted to surprise, and she quickly approached. Her fair and shapely thighs were partially visible during her movements, adding to her charm.

“Hey, Mayor Jiang, why are you out here? Can’t you wait? It’s all my fault for keeping you waiting.” As soon as the woman spoke, her voice was soft, and she winked at Jiang Xiaochuan.

Then, she smiled at Rong Shaobai and continued, “Boss Rong, I didn’t entertain Mayor Jiang properly. Please don’t blame me. I’ll make sure to entertain Mayor Jiang well and celebrate with Mayor Jiang…”

Jiang Xiaochuan felt his mind racing. It was as if a taut string vibrated with each word the woman spoke, leaving him feeling agitated. After her words, his mind was filled with confusion, and he suddenly became impatient. He waved his hand, signaling the woman to keep her distance.

The face of the charming woman turned pale.

Rong Shaobai sensed that something was amiss. Jiang Xiaochuan, the newly appointed deputy mayor, was responsible for several critical departments, including public security, justice, the legal system, the armed forces, firefighters and China Disabled Persons’ Federation. He was exactly what they considered their “nemesis.”

They worked in the underworld because they feared that without someone on their side in the government, their illicit activities could be exposed. The Rong family’s grand ambitions were at risk.

Jiang Xiaochuan had been transferred from the Municipal Government’s Judicial Branch, and his recent promotion at the National People’s Congress made him a vital figure to win over. If they could gain Jiang Xiaochuan’s support, the Rong family would hold immense influence in Chengzhou.

He had previously extended an invitation to Jiang Xiaochuan. This man still had a somewhat pretentious air about him, but he already displayed the demeanor of a deputy mayor in every move and gesture. His words were impeccable, but many times in the government, there are unwritten rules.

The power in Jiang Xiaochuan’s hands restricts Rong Shaobai. Why couldn’t Rong Shaobai restrict Jiang Xiaochuan?

Jiang Xiaochuan’s responsibilities include overseeing the city’s public security, and what officials seek was political performance. Good political performance leads to promotions, while poor performance results being overtaken, and mediocre officials were quickly excluded from the inner circle of power.

Jiang Xiaochuan’s political performance relied on his cooperation with Rong Shaobai, and Rong Shaobai’s performance also hinged on Jiang Xiaochuan’s willingness to facilitate matters. Many things in this political circle required mutual assistance.

Jiang Xiaochuan must also understand this reality, so when he received an invitation from Rong Shaobai, he didn’t decline.

However, is Jiang Xiaochuan going to regret it now?

Rong Shaobai’s heart was filled with conflicting emotions, but he ultimately smiled elegantly and asked, “Mayor Jiang, are you feeling unwell?”

Jiang Xiaochuan was indeed feeling unwell and wanted to leave this place now.

Having been reborn, he had many matters to contemplate, and he couldn’t afford to waste time dealing with Rong Shaobai.

He placed his hand on his forehead and closed his eyes. Alcohol had a numbing effect on his brain, and he must have consumed a considerable amount before.

He felt a bit dizzy. “I’m sorry, President Rong, I’m genuinely not feeling well. I’m afraid I have to bid farewell for now.”

Rong Shaobai wasn’t entirely sure if Jiang Xiaochuan was genuinely unwell or feigning it. He didn’t want to force him to stay. Between them, one was an official and the other was a gangster, it wasn’t easy for them to meet but he couldn’t do anything against the man.

A cold gleam flickered in his eyes, but he said casually, “It’s alright, Mayor Jiang. Your health is of utmost importance. We’ve covered almost everything in our conversation anyway. I just hope you can recall it clearly so we can meet again in the future. There’s still a long road ahead, Mayor Jiang, don’t you think?”

What had they discussed before?

A sense of impending doom intensified within Jiang Xiaochuan. His memory remained in a state of confusion, and he felt as if his mind was on the verge of exploding, causing intense pain.

Jiang Xiaochuan’s face went pale almost instantly. He wasn’t sure whether it was due to the pain or something Rong Shaobai had mentioned. He attempted to say something, took a step forward, but immediately staggered back.

When his vision darkened, he fainted and collapsed.

Rong Shaobai never anticipated that the man would faint right as they were talking. Even someone like him, with his experience in high-stakes situations, felt flustered.

How could this man collapse just from talking?

After all, he was still a deputy mayor. If anything happened at his club, even with his great abilities, he wouldn’t be able to absolve himself. He would face a significant predicament.

“What are you waiting for? Go and fetch the doctor in the club!”

The big hospitals were not an option for now.

Rong Shaobai placed his finger on his lips and pressed firmly to force himself to calm down. He laid Jiang Xiaochuan flat on the ground in his arms, not daring to touch him. The deputy mayor’s bathrobe spread out, and he extended his hand to start tying him up, preparing to wait for the doctor’s arrival.