Chapter 433: Chapter 433

Her hair was slightly disheveled, with a handsome face that was red and swollen to alarming proportions, and an air of utter dejection: this was a distinctly different Liu Zhizhong.

As soon as he appeared, the entire room was stunned.

At this moment, even the high-ranking officials who had been waiting to meet with Zhang Yuxing—all seven of them, including deputy mayors and bureau directors—were there.

They sat in a row, sipping tea, eating fruit, each one dumbfounded, exchanging glances, unable to believe that Liu Zhizhong had returned to report to Mayor Zhang. Not only had he taken his time, but he'd also been slapped, looking so wretched!

Zhang Xueyao's heart ached a bit!

Was the little auntie too harsh?

This was the man she adored, whom she dreamed of marrying one day, and he had been hit.

Looking at his face, it was so swollen it broke her heart! Follow current novᴇls on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾·𝗇𝖾𝗍

Liu Zhizhong forced a smile as he looked at everyone, and with a simple greeting, he said directly, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mayor Zhang is not in a good mood today, and my timing for returning... Well... Maybe it's best to discuss any matters tomorrow. Today, it really is... Oh..."

After finishing, he shook his head, looking like the embodiment of bad luck.

Hearing this, oh, the seven city and bureau leaders were gone in a flash, slipping away faster than rabbits.

Nobody wanted to catch Zhang Yuxing's bad mood — that would be unpleasant!

Even a super internet celebrity like Liu Zhizhong was unwelcome; those officials were truly terrified!

Forget it, forget it, just run, run, no need to seek her out. Poor Liu Zhizhong, indeed!

In the waiting room that had been full just moments before, it was now deserted, leaving only Zhang Xueyao, who had been sitting with them all this time.

Zhang Xueyao stood up, looked at Liu Zhizhong's face with concern, and said, "Ah, what happened to you? My little aunt really... did she have to hit so hard? Weren't you careful? You've managed to make her angry again? But you are... Mr. L!"

This truth, despite Liu Zhizhong's attempts to dispel the rumors, was still known to the important figures in Yangzhou officialdom.

Liu Zhizhong smiled bitterly, "What Mr. L? I'm just a punching bag! Haha..."

Zhang Xueyao understood the mispronounced 'L' and couldn't help but complain, "You still feel like joking? Does it hurt?"

"Mm, it must hurt a lot, right? Oh, wait a second... "

As she spoke, Zhang Xueyao ran back to the office, and soon came out with a bottle of red medicine.

She brandished the liquid and said gently, "Come on, let me spray this on you. It's an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving tincture. I bought it when I hurt my knee last time; it's really effective."

Liu Zhizhong felt warmth in his heart, "Really?"

"Oh come on, would I lie to you?"

"Haven't you lied to me before?"

Liu Zhizhong's tone was suggestive.

Zhang Xueyao suddenly remembered something but couldn't admit it; anyways, Liu Zhizhong was fine that time.

"When have I ever lied to you? I've always been... always been... "

She blushed, unable to finish her sentence.

Liu Zhizhong, however, was playfully pressing, "Always been what? Can't you be a bit more honest?"

"Oh, you're so annoying, are we going to spray it or not? If not, I'm going back to the office!"

"Okay, okay, okay, spray spray spray..."

Liu Zhizhong decided not to tease her anymore; he really didn't want to get sprayed.

"You gotta bear with it, okay? It stings at first, like really spicy, but after a bit, it starts to feel good."

Zhang Xueyao was indeed thoughtful. After saying that, she carefully sprayed Liu Zhizhong.

To protect his eyes from the spray, she even used her small hand to shield them.

His heart itched a little with her soft, fragrant hand covering his eyes, ha!

But soon, Liu Zhizhong was in pain, grimacing in a way that was both pitiful and amusing to Zhang Xueyao.

"Just hang in there, it'll feel better soon, really comfortable soon... How do you feel now? How is it?"

Liu Zhizhong clenched his fists and bore it for a while, and it indeed became much more comfortable. He nodded, "So much better, that cool feeling after the burn is really great! Thanks, Director Zhang!"

"No problem, as long as you're feeling better. Here, take this, you need to spray it for three days in a row to get better faster. Only spray it twice a day, twelve hours apart."

"Alright, I've got it, thanks!" Liu Zhizhong took the bottle and put it in his briefcase. Then he said, "Mayor Zhang was angry just now, but he also said you'll stay and I'll stay. You'll mainly handle the daily work, and I'll continue to deal with the important matters, such as..."

After a detailed run-through, which was essentially a job handover, Zhang Xueyao listened intently, nodding continuously.

When Liu Zhizhong finished, her expression was somewhat surprised. "I say, Director Zhang, why are you so obedient and attentive now? I remember back in the day, I would always run into you in officialdom, and you were never with me."

Zhang Xueyao's face suddenly turned red, "Go away, it's all your fault, isn't it? If you were... if you were..."

She really wanted to say if you were nicer to someone, they wouldn't give you the cold shoulder, the cold eye, and the cold treatment.

Liu Zhizhong looked puzzled: "If I were what? What's with you today, always leaving things half-said?"

Biting her lip, Zhang Xueyao's face became taut and flushed, "If you hadn't married Zhao Yan but me, I wouldn't have treated you like that!"

After blurting that out, she covered her face and darted back to the office. She really felt too embarrassed...

Liu Zhizhong chuckled to himself, little did she know, he understood her true feelings, haha!

Zhang Hongyang, you fool, have you thought about this turn of events?

But Liu Zhizhong didn't go after Zhang Xueyao; he left the office and headed toward the parking lot.

Along the way, the greetings people offered him were unnatural; their stunned faces seemed genuinely sympathetic towards him.

How popular Mr. Billionaire was, and to return to such a reception?

The news of that slap had already spread throughout the City Government. By the time Liu Zhizhong reached the parking lot, he felt as though from every window of the old building, heads were poking out and staring at him!

No big deal though, the effect was quite satisfactory!

All of you uninformed spectators, you could never guess how I actually treated the beautiful Mayor just now, and that I even put on a show for her, right?

He maintained his dignified aura and steady stride, exuding extraordinary charisma, as he walked to his car.

Once again, murmurs of amazement rose.

"Look how badly he's been beaten, check out his face. Who would believe Mr. Billionaire got whacked if we said it?"

"Poor guy... yet still so dignified, as if it were inherent."

"True to Mr. L's style, such a strong presence..."

And Liu Zhizhong settled into his car, the air conditioning on and rapidly cooling.

It was only then that he pulled out his phone to send a message to Zhang Yuxing.

"Shui Xing, the effect was extraordinary. Everyone knows you've 'abused' me, you bad beautiful Mayor, hehe... But your slap seemed to make your niece want to care for me, love me, and marry me. What now?"