Chapter 314: The Contest (Part 2)

Chapter 314: The Contest (Part 2)

“What time is it?” Duan Ying lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, a sense of contentment washing over her.

Hou Weidong opened his eyes, glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand, and said, “It’s still early. Not even seven. Sleep a little longer.”

He reached out, his hand gently stroking Duan Ying’s lower abdomen, and let out a hoarse chuckle. “Three times last night, I think. We were really indulging ourselves. Careful we don’t overdo it.” They had made love three times, each encounter intense and frantic. They had moved from the bedroom to the living room, and finally to the bathroom, shifting battlefields throughout the night.

Hou Weidong had been careful to close the windows tightly, ensuring their moans remained contained within the room.

Duan Ying stared at the opposite wall, where a large wedding photo of Hou Weidong and Xiaojia hung. The man was handsome, the woman beautiful; they looked like a match made in heaven, perfectly harmonious.

The photo was glaringly obvious. Duan Ying thought silently, This is the last time. This really is the last time.

The thought brought a dull ache to her heart. Every time she was with Hou Weidong, she repeated this warning to herself, which served as the psychological foundation for her own recklessness. Yet, pressed against this strong man’s body, his warmth acting like a magnetic field, she found herself unable to stop. As she whispered “last time” in her mind, it felt like a needle piercing her heart.

She turned over and embraced the man beside her. Her soft breasts pressed firmly against Hou Weidong, like the vanguard of an army.

Hou Weidong was unaware of the countless thoughts racing through Duan Ying’s mind. He buried his head in the quilt, rubbing his face against her chest. After a moment, he took her nipple into his mouth, biting and sucking gently.

Every woman has her own sensitive spots, and Duan Ying’s chest was the most responsive. As Hou Weidong bit and sucked, she felt a contraction in her lower abdomen. Waves of pleasure rippled through her body. Seizing the moment when Hou Weidong briefly loosened his grip, she climbed on top of him with a sense of finality. Supporting herself with her hands on the bed, she adopted the position that allowed her to kiss her own chest most easily.

After a while, Hou Weidong became aroused again, his erection standing firm. He told Duan Ying, “Sit up. Stay on top.” He slapped her buttocks lightly and said, “Don’t doubt my stamina. Let me in.”

He reached forward to touch her. She was already wet.

“Mmm, ah, harder. Push harder.”

As they were in the midst of their passion, Hou Weidong suddenly remembered something. He reached for his mobile phone on the nightstand and shushed Duan Ying, asking her to pause her moans. He spoke into the phone, “Don’t pick me up this morning. I’ll call you when I’m ready with the car.”

Duan Ying sat on Hou Weidong. When he hung up, she grabbed his shoulders and said fiercely, “No more phone calls.” Then she began to move vigorously.

By 8:30, Hou Weidong and Duan Ying were fully dressed. Duan Ying stood before the mirror, applying makeup. She noticed the array of cosmetics on the vanity, all of the Yami brand—Xiaojia’s favorite. Seeing these bottles and jars, her heart tightened, and a sense of emptiness washed over her. Her mood sank. She adjusted her appearance in the mirror for a moment before stepping out.

After the intensity of their encounter, with hormones flooding her system, Hou Weidong was in a good mood. He took some milk, bread, and braised beef from the refrigerator and invited Duan Ying to sit down for breakfast.

The room was filled with Xiaojia’s presence, which made Duan Ying uneasy. She ate a few bites hurriedly, as if completing a task, and said, “I’m ready to go. Wang Hui and the others are waiting.”

Hou Weidong opened the security door and peeked out. Seeing the corridor was empty, he quickly stepped out. Duan Ying followed closely behind. She was sensitive to his movements, and tears nearly welled up in her eyes, but she held them back.

Fortunately, this was the Professors’ Building. Most of the professors’ children had succeeded in getting into prestigious universities and no longer worked in Yiyang. Thus, the building was inhabited mostly by middle-aged and elderly people who preferred to stay indoors. The corridor was clean and quiet, and they encountered no strangers.

Once they were in the Bluebird sedan, they were safe from running into acquaintances from upstairs. Hou Weidong breathed a sigh of relief.

Duan Ying said nothing as she got into the car. When the car drove out of the school gate, she forced herself to regain her professional demeanor as a journalist. Calmly, she said, “From Director Wang’s tone, it seems they plan to write a detailed article on the economic development of inland counties, using Yiyang as a case study.”

Hou Weidong smiled. “Does that mean the New Management Zone isn’t involved?”

“The New Management Zone is a banner for Yiyang. How could an article about Yiyang omit it? The section on the New Management Zone is assigned to me.”

Duan Ying pulled down the mirror on the passenger side and examined her face carefully. Seeing nothing amiss, she pushed the mirror back up and said, “Secretary Yang is a cadre from the General Office of the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee. He places great importance on public opinion and propaganda work. Generally, leading cadres who value propaganda have room for advancement. That’s just experience talking.”

Hou Weidong was usually reserved and disliked discussing work matters casually. So, he did not reveal the true reasons behind Yang Senlin’s emphasis on propaganda. Instead, he smiled and asked with concern, “You didn’t rest well last night. Sleep a bit, or you’ll age prematurely.”

Hearing these words, tears instantly filled Duan Ying’s eyes. Her professional mask crumbled. “Weidong, we can’t go on like this. I feel a deep sense of guilt. I’ve let Xiaojia down. I’ve destroyed your family.”

Hou Weidong was surprised by Duan Ying’s sudden emotional breakdown. He pulled the car over to the side of the road. The windows of the Bluebird had been tinted; one could see out, but outsiders could not see in. After stopping, he rolled up the windows.

Duan Ying cried freely. Hou Weidong patiently handed her a dozen tissues. When her tears subsided somewhat, her emotions stabilized. She pulled down the mirror again to touch up her makeup and said, “Let’s go. Director Wang is still waiting for me.”

The car soon glided to a stop near the small guesthouse. Hou Weidong parked and said, “I won’t go in.”

Duan Ying’s face was filled with sorrow. Unaware that the windows were tinted, she still turned sideways to embrace Hou Weidong, seeking his lips and kissing him passionately. She wanted to bite his lips, to leave a mark, but remembering he had work in the morning, she restrained herself.

During the deep kiss, Duan Ying’s eyes turned red again.

“I love you. I will love you forever.” Duan Ying’s resolve was firm. She hugged Hou Weidong tightly, rubbing her chin against the top of his head. His short, stiff hair pricked her skin, causing pain.

“This is our last time. I will always keep a place for you in my heart. I will always love you.” After saying this, Duan Ying resolutely got out of the car. Wearing a short coat and carrying a small handbag, she walked toward the small guesthouse at a steady pace, never looking back.

Hou Weidong said nothing. He opened the sunroof, lit a cigarette, and watched Duan Ying’s retreating figure. When she entered the guesthouse, he flicked the cigarette butt far away, pressed the accelerator, and drove forward, speeding past the gate of the guesthouse in an instant.

At 9:30, Hou Weidong, Zhang Jin, and Zhang Xiangyu arrived at the small guesthouse in the unit’s Mitsubishi vehicle.

Just as they met with Wang Hui and the others, Liu, the head of the Propaganda Department, and Yang Dajin from the County Party Committee Office also arrived to see them off. Yang Dajin shook Wang Hui’s hand and said, “Director Wang, please stay in Yiyang for another day. Secretary Yang is attending a meeting in Shazhou this morning and will return by noon. He specifically instructed me to insist that you stay.”

Through field investigations and other insights, Wang Hui had a good impression of the Yiyang New Management Zone. He smiled and cupped his hand in a traditional gesture of respect. “Minister Liu, Director Yang, Director Hou, we have several other regions to visit on this return trip. Our schedule is tight, so we cannot stay long. Yiyang’s work is the most solid among all counties in Lingxi, and the New Management Zone has developed the best. This will be reflected in our report.”

He added with a smile, “The guest departs, the host remains in peace. Please convey my gratitude to Secretary Yang for his hospitality.”

Hou Weidong remained silent, watching Duan Ying out of the corner of his eye. Their gazes met in the air, like an electric shock, and then quickly averted.

After Wang Hui and the others left Yiyang, Hou Weidong returned to the New Management Zone with the staff. On the way, Zhang Xiangyu cheerfully said, “Duan Ying used to work at the Silk Factory. After dating Liu Kun, she was transferred to the newspaper office. Then she moved from the Yiyang newspaper to the Shazhou newspaper, and then to the Lingxi newspaper. Such a smooth career path makes one wonder how many leaders’ sons she dated.” He added, “I wonder how Minister Liu feels seeing Duan Ying.”

Everyone in the car laughed, except Hou Weidong. The more grassroots the civil servants, the more explicit their jokes tended to be. There was no malice, just a desire for verbal release, a form of folk culture. Hou Weidong occasionally joined in.

But this time, the words struck Hou Weidong as particularly刺耳 (ear-piercing). He said coldly, “Liu Kun is my classmate. Duan Ying is a guest of the New Management Zone. Why do you need to say such things? Is it interesting?”

Hou Weidong’s tone was harsh, leaving Zhang Xiangyu stunned. He stopped talking awkwardly, thinking, What’s the big deal about talking about Duan Ying? Could Hou Weidong have something going on with her? Zhang Xiangyu merely thought casually and did not realize that Hou Weidong truly had a close relationship with Duan Ying.

The atmosphere in the car became awkward. After getting out of the car, Hou Weidong’s expression softened slightly. He said, “Notify the secondary leadership team to meet in the conference room.”

As soon as the reporters from the Lingxi Daily left, the reporters from the Special Programs Department of the Lingxi Television Station arrived from the highway. Minister Liu personally went to the highway exit to welcome them.

These were distinguished guests invited by Minister Liu through his connections. He was representing County Mayor Ma Youcai in welcoming them. The documentary focused on the changes in Yiyang’s transportation infrastructure.

Since taking office, Mayor Ma Youcai had focused on promoting transportation construction. Over the past few years, Yiyang’s transportation network had undergone significant changes, with a basic road network established, facilitating travel for the masses and boosting local economic development.

The construction of Yiyang’s transportation network could be considered one of Mayor Ma Youcai’s main achievements.