When he woke up again, he found himself in a different place. The air no longer carried the scent of perfume but instead had a strong disinfectant odor.

Hospital?

The thought crossed his mind as he struggled to sit up.

A hand extended from the side, with a silver ring on the index finger. It helped him sit up and placed several pillows behind him.

Jiang Xiaochuan pressed his temples and finally saw the face of the man.

Rong Shaobai.

“What happened to me just now?”

He felt as if his vision had gone dark, and he remembered nothing. It was as if he didn’t even dream; it was like a deep sleep.

Rong Shaobai sat in a chair beside the hospital bed and explained: “You fainted, you’re in the club’s infirmary now. The doctor said that you were overworked and stressed, leading to a very poor mental state.”

It was hard for him to fathom how someone like Jiang Xiaochuan, who had just assumed the role of deputy mayor, shouldn’t he be enjoying his success and receiving praise?

How could he be so overwhelmed with worry?

Yet, the doctor’s diagnosis seemed to be accurate. Rong Shaobai had recruited this doctor from a famous hospital, and although he currently served in the club’s infirmary, he was highly skilled and unlikely to make a misdiagnosis.

A poor mental state…

It was truly perplexing.

But Jiang Xiaochuan knew what had transpired. During his time in prison, every day was a struggle, and there were only a few nights when he actually managed to sleep. Over time, it was inevitable for his spirits to wane.

However, during his final days in prison, his mind had been at peace.

Now, he felt that his thoughts were quite clear, and he remembered many things, but these memories were too much, and he needed to take some time to sort through them.

He remained silent for a while and then offered a smile.

“I’m sorry, President Rong. I’ve caused you trouble. Could you please arrange for someone to drive me back?”

Having just assumed the position of deputy mayor, the official car had not been delivered yet. As it turned out, the deputy mayor who had left his position was an old hand. He couldn’t continue climbing the career ladder because he lacked political achievements. He still retained the official car even after stepping down and probably wouldn’t return it until the last moment.

The entire Municipal Party Committee team seemed to be accustomed to this. Initially, Jiang Xiaochuan had been surprised by how confident these officials were, but he eventually got used to it, and everyone was behaving the same way, so it no longer seemed surprising.

Habits were powerful things. When he started to become accustomed to these strange practices within the team, he might be at risk of becoming corrupt.

Because of habit, he would believe that what he was doing was right; because of habit, he would find it normal for others to offer gifts to him; because of habit, he would think it was usual for him to bribe others to achieve his goals.

Money -for-power transactions, bribery, blackmail, and intimidation…

He did all the bad things he could.

The environment has a significant impact on people. Yue Qingci was also a victim who was tainted by the world of officialdom, but this victim turned into an offender in the blink of an eye.

.

Rong Shaobai didn’t show any concern when he heard what Jiang Xiaochuan had said. The current situation of dealing with Jiang Xiaochuan was beyond his expectations. This Jiang Xiaochuan didn’t appear deeply entrenched in the city before, but after waking up, he noticed that this man’s gaze had become much calmer, making it difficult to discern his thoughts.

It seemed that the plan to win him over needed to be reconsidered.

So, Rong Shaobai nodded and said, “I will personally escort Mayor Jiang back. We had quite a lengthy conversation earlier. Originally, we wanted to invite Mayor Jiang to enjoy our club, but in the end, we overlooked your physical condition. To make amends, please accept my request and allow me to drive you back.”

These words were logical and polite on the surface, reflecting Rong Shaobai’s good manners. However, when dissected, each word held hidden meaning.

He was hinting to Jiang Xiaochuan that what they had discussed earlier was a commitment, and he shouldn’t have second thoughts. Moreover, he mentioned the invitation to the club for entertainment, alluding to the woman he had seen when he first woke up—government-funded prostitutes. If exposed, it could spell the end of Jiang Xiaochuan’s political career. Rong Shaobai was indeed quite cunning, concealing various thoughts within a single sentence.

Although Jiang Xiaochuan hadn’t actually engaged in such activities, it was true that a woman emerged from the bathroom.

Reputation is paramount for officials, as even a minor scandal or rumor can quickly lead to their downfall. With this leverage in someone else’s hands, Jiang Xiaochuan felt as if he were stuck in a quagmire.

How could he extricate himself from this situation in the future?

Should he repeat the cycle of his past life, filled with drunkenness and peril, or should he fight to clear his name?

He knew what his choice should be, but he also understood how challenging that choice would be—clearing his name.

Although the current situation was complicated, and escaping from Rong Shaobai’s influence seemed challenging, he believed there would be opportunities in the future. For now, he just wanted to return home and contemplate his next steps more carefully.

All he desired at this moment was to return to his own place and get a good night’s sleep.

Rong Shaobai arranged for someone to bring Jiang Xiaochuan’s clothes and then exited to wait for him to change.

In black attire, Jiang Xiaochuan appeared paler, yet he exuded a sense of wisdom and composure. In that moment, watching Jiang Xiaochuan skillfully tied his tie, Rong Shaobai had an unexpected realization that this man had spent a decade in the world of politics. He wasn’t the naive young man who had just ascended to the position of deputy mayor.

Jiang Xiaochuan was accustomed to this kind of attire, at least in his previous life. In reality, there was no need to dress so formally when working in government.

In this life, Jiang Xiaochuan felt a touch of nervousness due to his recent appointment. He wasn’t entirely acquainted with the responsibilities of this position, and he had a lot to learn.

.

After getting dressed, Jiang Xiaochuan walked out of the club with Rong Shaobai and quickly got into Rong Shaobai’s luxurious black car.

Jiang Xiaochuan currently resided in a government-allocated house due to his unique family circumstances. He only had one parent, and his father was disabled.

Consequently, the house assigned to him was also special—it was a complete unit within the government compound.

Rong Shaobai’s car was beautiful.

In the past, Jiang Xiaochuan might have been envious, contemplating his humble background. But now, he only reflected on how his modest background which had driven him to work hard to attain his current position.

The saying “It is easier to start a business than to keep it” applied not only on a national scale but also at the personal level.

Many lower-ranking officials began their careers with dedication and a commitment to serving their country and people. However, once they risen through the ranks, they often lost touch with their origins, succumbed to greed and hedonism, resisted progress, and gradually became corrupt.

Jiang Xiaochuan himself had once been among them, though his reasons were different from others.

Ultimately, it all came down to one word: temptation.

Those who cannot resist temptation, whether they were “red skeletons” (corrupt officials) or “blue skeletons” (criminals), they would eventually fall from grace and died as a skeleton.

Jiang Xiaochuan began to reflect on the trajectory of the bullet again. Seeing him deep in thought, Rong Shaobai wisely refrained from interrupting.

He realized that Jiang Xiaochuan seemed to be intentionally creating distance between them. When Jiang Xiaochuan entered the car, he chose to sit in the back seat instead of the front passenger seat. Rong Shaobai occasionally glanced at him through the rearview mirror and continued driving.

Jiang Xiaochuan’s changing attitude wasn’t good news for Rong Shaobai or the entire Rong Club.

Soon, the car arrived at the building where Jiang Xiaochuan lived. He opened the car door and stepped out, finally feeling at ease.

His home was on the ground floor, a consideration due to his father’s disability. Government leaders had given this matter special attention.

When he was working in the municipal department, the old mayor had arranged for him to receive this house.

With shifts in personnel, the old mayor had advanced to become a provincial official.

Rong Shaobai initially intended to help him open the door, but Jiang Xiaochuan moved swiftly. He decided to stay in the car, rolled down the window, and placed his hand on the window frame. “Mayor Jiang, I’ll drop you off from here.”

“President Rong has already gone out of his way,” Jiang Xiaochuan expressed his gratitude, then turned and walked toward the entrance of the building.

At that moment, a white-haired elderly man slowly emerged from the door, leaning on the wall for support. When Jiang Xiaochuan spotted him, his eyes welled up with tears.

He raised his head resolutely, but the emotions surging within him could not be suppressed.

.

During his time in prison, what worried Jiang Xiaochuan most was his father. How would he manage without his care? After all, he had been an ungrateful son. He had become a corrupt official, associated with shady characters, and never let his old man hold his grandson.

He hurried forward to assist his father. “Dad, why are you outside? Let’s go inside.”

Jiang Xiaochuan’s father is a former soldier named Jiang Encheng. He had been injured and left lame during the Vietnam War, failing to return to the camp in time.

He was treated as a deserter, making the life for father and son quite challenging over the years. Last year, Jiang Xiaochuan submitted an application detailing Jiang Encheng’s situation at the time, which led to him receiving the benefits entitled to retired soldiers.

Jiang Encheng, though in his fifties, appeared weathered by life. He held his son’s hand and slowly walked back. “I just came out when I saw you returning. You’ve become the deputy mayor now, but son, don’t forget your roots…”

Jiang Xiaochuan held back the tears welling up in his eyes and nodded.

Upon entering the door, he caught a glimpse of the black car parked outside the building in his peripheral vision. Rong Shaobai was seated inside the car, waving at him.

A chill ran down Jiang Xiaochuan’s spine, and he hurriedly entered the building.

As Rong Shaobai sat in the car, he suddenly grasped the potential breakthrough point to win over Jiang Xiaochuan. He realized that one should not fear those who uphold integrity but rather those who lack weaknesses.

Jiang Xiaochuan’s father was likely his weakness.

Jiang Xiaochuan, standing inside the house he had called home for more than a year, surveyed the not particularly spacious space. It might have felt a bit cramped for the two of them, but here, he found cleanliness from head to heart.

His phone rang suddenly. Jiang Xiaochuan helped his father take a seat before answering the call.

“Deputy Mayor Jiang, Major Yue Qingci from the Military Region has confirmed the inspection time with you as discussed yesterday. He requested that I remind you to be punctual tomorrow.”

Jiang Xiaochuan hung up the phone, his expression blank