Chapter 639 - 595: Jiang Ruoxuan's Request (Third update, asking for monthly ticket)_1

The phone number was unfamiliar, which made Nie Zhenbang pause. Generally, he always ignored such unfamiliar calls to his private number.

After some hesitation, Nie Zhenbang answered the phone: “Hello, who is this?”

From the other end of the phone, a clear voice came through: “Mayor Nie, I hope I’m not disturbing your work.”

Jiang Ruoxuan? Hearing this voice, Nie Zhenbang immediately pictured Jiang Ruoxuan’s figure in his mind, that somewhat boldly independent female reporter who once ventured alone into a gambling den for an undercover investigation of police-criminal collusion.

To some extent, the two shared some rapport. Moreover, Nie Zhenbang didn’t want to appear overly serious in front of a woman. Therefore, he said with a smile, “Reporter Jiang, hello. How come you have time to call me? Let me make it clear first, I don’t do personal interviews.”

Nie Zhenbang shouldn’t have brought up the personal interview because it irked Jiang Ruoxuan. In her office, she stamped her foot, saying, “Mayor Nie, you’re still bringing up that matter. Last time, my personal interview was specifically focused on you, but why was it replaced by the propaganda department?”

Regarding the personal interview matter, at that time, Lin Mohan was still in Wanghai and hadn’t been transferred. It was actually Nie Zhenbang who deliberately let Lin Mohan arrange it. At this moment, Nie Zhenbang naturally wouldn’t mention it. Instead, he said with a smile, “Reporter Jiang, I’m not very familiar with the work methods of the propaganda department. If it didn’t go on air, it just shows that our work is not up to par. So, Reporter Jiang, did you call me especially because there’s something you need?”

This was simply an empty talk, which made Jiang Ruoxuan feel irritated. The municipal committee’s propaganda department is under the municipal committee’s jurisdiction. You, Mayor Nie, as the deputy secretary and mayor of the municipal committee, shouldn’t you know what can be put on air and what can’t? However, Jiang Ruoxuan didn’t dare to say this. Though she was familiar with him to some extent, she understood the need of keeping a professional distance.

Right now, hearing Nie Zhenbang asking if she needed anything, Jiang Ruoxuan hesitated and felt a bit embarrassed.

Seemingly, her heartbeat suddenly accelerated. In the quiet office, it felt as if there was a thumping sound resonating.

Humbly, Jiang Ruoxuan didn’t know how she came up with such a bold idea. After a while, she fell silent.

“Reporter Jiang? Are you still there? Do you need anything from me?” Nie Zhenbang was confused and asked again.

On the other end, Jiang Ruoxuan quickly spoke, “Mayor Nie, can you accompany me to a banquet?”

She spoke so swiftly that by the time her words reached Nie Zhenbang’s ears, all he heard was ‘Mayor Nie, banquet.’

“A banquet? What banquet? Reporter Jiang, you speak too fast,” said Nie Zhenbang, feeling somewhat baffled. What was going on with Jiang Ruoxuan today? Her speech was so unusual.

At this moment, Jiang Ruoxuan’s face also felt hot. It was so embarrassing. Why did she think of calling Mayor Nie for her alumni gathering? Her girlfriends had a strict rule: every one of them had to bring a boyfriend. The male alumni also had to bring their girlfriends.

However, Jiang Ruoxuan didn’t have a boyfriend. There were several bachelors in her office, but for some unknown reason, she overlooked those potentially good men. Naturally, she recalled the calm voice she heard over the phone that night. As if bewitched, she dialed this number.

Listening to Nie Zhenbang, Jiang Ruoxuan also calmed down slightly. Either way, the situation had reached this point. She was too lazy to care about it. “Die or not, who cares?” she thought. Subsequently, she asked timidly, “Mayor Nie, can you accompany me to an alumni gathering?”

She explained, “Mayor Nie, this time, it’s a two-year reunion of our news and media department at Wanghai University. This time, there’s a strict rule that everyone has to bring a companion of the opposite sex. Mayor Nie, if you’re busy, never mind.”

After saying this, Jiang Ruoxuan felt as if she had dropped a load off her chest and relaxed. On this side, Nie Zhenbang started to contemplate. He generally disliked attending such gatherings. However, he was in a dilemma. His acquaintance with Jiang Ruoxuan was superficial, virtually non-existent. Yet, he believed he had some understanding of her. Despite her outward strength, she was a fragile person deep down. If he declined, it might greatly hurt Jiang Ruoxuan’s self-esteem.

But he admired Jiang Ruoxuan’s stubbornness and persistence. Few people upheld righteousness and truth in this era. Jiang Ruoxuan’s personality was valuable, making her an excellent material for the propaganda department and a person worth cultivating. With this thought, Nie Zhenbang asked, “About how long will it take?”

Nie Zhenbang’s words filled Jiang Ruoxuan’s heart with delight. She had not expected that Mayor Nie would actually agree. At this moment, Jiang Ruoxuan returned to her relaxed state with an upbeat tone: “It starts at seven o’clock tomorrow evening, and it will likely end around ten. Mayor Nie, don’t worry, it won’t interfere with your regular working hours.”

…

A whole day passed in a flash.

At the end of the workday, Nie Zhenbang remembered his commitment to attend Jiang Ruoxuan’s class reunion with her that night. He then walked out and said to Li Jupeng: “Jupeng, place a call to your sister-in-law for me, tell her I won’t be home for dinner tonight.”

This statement barely surprised Li Jupeng. Mayor Nie working overtime wasn’t anything strange anymore. For Jupeng, accompanying the Mayor during overtime was normal. Now, it was somewhat better with his wife in Wanghai City as the Mayor could still manage to come home every day. In the past, Mayor Nie pretty much worked overtime here every day.

Li Jupeng then nodded and said: “Yes, I’ll call right away. Mayor, what would you like for dinner? Let me prepare it for you.”

It seemed that Li Jupeng assumed he would be working overtime. Upon hearing this, Nie Zhenbang laughed: “No need to prepare, Jupeng. Tonight, Jiang Ruoxuan has a class party. She asked for my help, everyone has to bring a person of the opposite sex. She requested my help to pose as her friend of the opposite sex. Are you all like this after graduating from university now?”

Even though Nie Zhenbang wasn’t that old, he was a few classes ahead of people like Li Jupeng. After all, the age at which he went to university was basically equivalent to when Jupeng and others were in high school. Thus, it wasn’t unreasonable for him to put it that way.

Now, he had deep trust in Li Jupeng. In front of him, there was no need for Nie Zhenbang to keep anything secret. Naturally, he spoke the truth.

Just after Nie Zhenbang finished speaking, Li Jupeng’s eyebrows furrowed, and he said in a low voice: “Mayor, there’s something I’m not sure whether I should say.”

Seeing Nie Zhenbang’s annoyed look, Jupeng continued: “Mayor, would doing so have a negative impact on you? There will surely be many of our city’s cadres attending Jiang Ruoxuan’s class reunion. If this gets out, your public approval might take quite a hit.”

Li Jupeng’s words were not without reason. After all, Mayor Nie was a married man, and attending such a meeting implied that the opposite-sex friend likely refers to boyfriends and girlfriends. If that got out that Mayor Nie was keeping a mistress and the news became widespread, whether true or not, it would massively impact Mayor Nie’s prestige and reputation.

Nie Zhenbang smiled in response: “Jupeng, I have considered this issue. However, thinking about Jiang Ruoxuan’s feelings, I finally agreed to this. Public opinion can be terrible, which is true. But we cannot ignore problems just because of that. I prefer to believe in the fairness of people’s hearts rather than fearing public opinion.”

He had said so much that Jupeng did not know what else to say. After all, as the secretary, he was only qualified to propose suggestions, while the final decision was the leader’s business.

Jupeng then nodded and said: “Alright, since you’ve cleared it up, Mayor, should you still worry about my perspective?”

This time, the venue for Jiang Ruoxuan’s class reunion was chosen to be a rural resort in Tongping District, WangHai City.

By half-past five, Jiang Ruoxuan had already arrived at the intersection of the street in front of the Wanghai City Municipal Party Committee and City Government.

A few moments later, a black Mercedes-Benz G550 off-road vehicle pulled up next to Jiang Ruoxuan. It was a boxy, rugged-looking machine that was incredibly ugly but had a lot to offer beyond its looks. Only true car lovers would appreciate such a vehicle.

The car window rolled down, revealing Nie Zhenbang in a white short-sleeved T-shirt, dark trousers, and sporting a pair of large-frame sunglasses on his nose. He looked extremely stylish, completely different from his usual strict image.

Seeing Jiang Ruoxuan’s astonished expression, Nie Zhenbang laughed: “What’s the matter? Reporter Jiang, why are you in a daze? Don’t you recognize me? Get in the car.”

At this moment, looking at Nie Zhenbang, Jiang Ruoxuan seemed somewhat flustered. Nie Zhenbang was simply too excellent. He was young, handsome, unmatched in terms of career, and exuded an irresistible confidence and charisma. (@@novelbin@@

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