"Mmm."

The moment Zhang Lei's fingers made contact, Chen Wenxin let out a soft moan. A tingling sensation spread through her chest, and her cheeks flushed a deeper red.

Zhang Lei's fingers sought out the pressure points, instinctively pressing a little deeper—so soft...

His very soul seemed to groan in response, but Chen Wenxin shot him a warning glare.

Zhang Lei quickly suppressed his wayward thoughts and focused on the massage.

Soon, a warm sensation spread from her lower back up through her entire upper body.

"You're actually pretty good at this," she admitted.

"Just so-so," Zhang Lei replied modestly, adjusting his pressure with practiced care.

When he finally finished, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

They chatted for a while longer before Zhang Lei took his leave.

week passed in the blink of an eye.

That weekend, Zhang Lei hitched a ride back to Jiangzhou City with Chen Wenxin. Along the way, he learned that Zhou Bingchen was still on a business trip.

With that knowledge, he wasted no time heading straight to Xie Yuwei's place.

All night, he poured his focus into their lovemaking, savoring Xie Yuwei's eager responses with deep satisfaction.

Yet even as he moved above her, a question lingered in his mind: What would it feel like if the woman beneath him were Chen Wenxin instead?

Afterward, Xie Yuwei lay languidly in his arms, her fingers idly tracing patterns on his chest as she murmured, "Has work been going smoothly lately?"

The question brought Zhang Lei back to earth with a sigh. "Not bad. But Zhou Bingchen's still away on business. I've been trying to get in his good graces, but I can't even catch a glimpse of him."

Xie Yuwei chuckled. "You idiot. He's not 'on business'—he's deliberately avoiding you. With the county party secretary position up for grabs, he can't afford any scandals."

Zhang Lei's eyes widened in understanding. Zhou Bingchen was shielding himself from any potential backlash over their backdoor deal.

The realization sent a pang of anxiety through him.

If Zhou Bingchen was just avoiding him, that was one thing—but what if he actively started undermining Zhang Lei to protect his own position? His career in Sanjiang County could be over before it even began.

"Come on..." Just as Zhang Lei was lost in thought, Xie Yuwei's gentle hand pulled him back to the present. Her fingers traced lazy circles over his chest, and the desire he'd just sated flared to life once more...

Just as he rolled onto her, another thought struck him—the scene he'd witnessed in the office...

If Pan Changlin's scandal came to light, wouldn't that eliminate one of Zhou Bingchen's rivals?

Pushing the tangled web of possibilities from his mind, Zhang Lei resumed his efforts.

The next day, Zhang Lei returned home.

Zhang Mei still wasn't there. He packed a few clothes in his bag, preparing to head back to Sanjiang County.

But as he reached the door, a strange odor stopped him cold.

Male.

His home reeked of male scent—with him not even here, how could that be?

Frowning, he looked down to see crumpled tissues in the wastebasket by his feet.

Staring at them, he inhaled sharply. That smell... Lifting one, he caught the faint but unmistakable traces of evidence. His heart hammered against his ribs.

His vision blurred as he scanned the room, rage bubbling beneath the surface.

Then his eyes landed on a single curled strand of hair on the bedsheets.

Zhang Lei's breath hitched. Picking it up, he examined it closely. Zhang Mei's? Or...?

The more he studied it, the more his doubts grew. Zhang Mei's hair was fine and soft—this strand was coarser, thicker.

It wasn't hers.

So whose was it?

His pulse roared in his ears as he fumbled for his notebook, carefully tucking the hair between its pages.

Then another thought struck him. He strode to the door and yanked open the shoe cabinet.

His slippers—usually placed toe-inward—were now facing outward.

The realization hit him like a punch to the gut.

Zhang Mei hadn't just been cheating.

She'd brought the man home.

Though he'd suspected as much after her repeated late nights, the confirmation ignited a white-hot fury in his chest—followed by a chilling question: Who was this guy? And how had he gotten so close?

Zhang Lei collapsed onto the sofa, chain-smoking as he tried to steady himself.

Divorce.

The word echoed in his mind with terrifying clarity.

But even as the thought formed, he shook his head.

Divorce now would only let Zhang Mei walk away with half the apartment—a place he and his parents had sacrificed to buy. She wouldn't get a single cent.

He needed to catch the man red-handed.

With grim resolve, Zhang Lei returned to Sanjiang County, stashed his bags at the county guesthouse, and collapsed into bed. When he woke again, it was past 11 PM, his stomach growling.

He headed to a nearby diner, ordered two dishes and a bottle of Erguotou, and drank alone.

The weight of his professional and personal failures pressed down on him.

The more he drank, the darker his thoughts became.

By the time he finished the bottle, his vision swam as he stumbled to the counter, paid, and left—too agitated to return to his hotel.

He wandered the empty streets aimlessly.

It was well past midnight. The roads were deserted.

Unknowingly, he found himself standing in front of the Sanjiang County Government building. Most windows were dark, save for a few where night-shift workers kept vigil.

The guard recognized him and didn't stop him as he slipped inside.

Taking the stairs two at a time, Zhang Lei approached the propaganda department's offices. Only one door showed a light beneath it—the deputy director's office.

Chen Wenxin's office?

At this hour?

He crept closer, the door slightly ajar.

Before he could peek inside, a woman's voice drifted out.

His heart skipped a beat. What was Chen Wenxin doing here this late?

His fingers curled around the doorknob...