Looking at He Qing, Chu Ge felt a bit helpless and asked irritably, "What do you want now?"

Although Qin Ruojing had already accepted the "fact" that Chu Ge was He Qing's cousin, seeing him talk to He Qing like this left her a bit stunned.

Was Chu Ge's reaction really so casual? Could it be that they were very close cousins?

Under Qin Ruojing's somewhat dazed gaze, He Qing said in a consultative tone, "Here's the thing, I was planning to go back to Kyoto tomorrow, but there was a last-minute change, so I have to go back today. It's rare for us to all be gathered here discussing this matter. I want to take the opportunity to have a meal with the mayor and the municipal party secretary, which would also facilitate the company's future development."

Chu Ge shook his head, "I'm not interested, you all can go eat with them."

Qin Ruojing was again taken aback by Chu Ge's reaction. He spoke with such a grand tone, looking completely indifferent? It seemed like dining with the city's top leaders meant nothing to him?

Not only Qin Ruojing thought this way, but Chen Jiatong and Xu Jingyuan also felt the same, increasingly convinced of Chu Shao's immense influence, and they became more determined to connect with him.

He Qing naturally anticipated Chu Ge's response and chuckled, saying, "Cousin, you are the president of the company, and it stands to reason that you should meet them. Don't worry, since you want to live a low-key life, they'll definitely not disturb you without reason. You can live however you like, just help me this once, alright?"

Chu Ge frowned. He really didn't want to have any ties with the local bigwigs, but under He Qing's expectant gaze, he eventually gave in, as the saying goes, a good person does things to the end, and a monk saves all the way to the west. If he left now, it wouldn't make much sense.

With a helpless nod, Chu Ge finally said the two words He Qing was waiting for, "Alright."

After speaking, he looked at Chen Jiatong and Xu Jingyuan, "Two beauties, I don't wish for today's incident to be known by others, okay?"

The two women, eager to curry favor with Chu Ge, naturally had no objections when they heard him say this. They quickly nodded, "Rest assured, Chu Shao."

Watching Chen Jiatong and Xu Jingyuan show such obedience to Chu Ge, hearing them sweetly call him "Chu Shao," Qin Ruojing felt uncomfortable, like obedient maidservants pleasing a wealthy landlord.

And before today, this "wealthy landlord" was just her driver.

With Chu Ge's consent, He Qing then made two phone calls.

However, when the calls connected, although her voice was still pleasant, the tone was nothing like the soft-spoken way she talked to Chu Ge, with a hint of request. Instead, it was a rather indifferent tone, purely notifying the first and second leaders of Lidu City.

After He Qing hung up, Chen Jiatong hesitated for a moment and softly asked, "Ms. He, Chu Shao, since the city leaders are coming later, shouldn't we go downstairs and meet them at the door?"

He Qing smiled faintly, "No need, I've already told them the room number. If they can't even find the place, they might as well not be in their positions."

Hearing He Qing's bold words, Xu Jingyuan was also a bit worried. She pursed her lips and nervously added, "Ms. He, leaders take such matters very seriously. We should..."

Although she didn't finish, everyone could understand what she was worried about. If they failed in etiquette in this regard, it might negatively affect the company's future development.

It had to be said that Chen Jiatong and Xu Jingyuan were not brainless eye-candies. Since they boarded He Qing's ship, they knew they had to stand on He Qing's side in their words and actions.

Although making decisions was not their place, they still needed to maintain the right attitude, at least letting He Qing know that they had the company's interests at heart.

Qin Ruojing also nodded, "Yes, Ms. He, I think it's better if I bring Chu... I mean, if I go to meet them at the door?"

Initially planning to say she'd take Chu Ge to meet the city leaders, halfway through speaking, Qin Ruojing realized that Chu Ge was no longer as he used to be, and she changed her words to say she would go herself.

However, just as Qin Ruojing was about to stand up from the sofa, He Qing smiled and waved her hand, pulling Qin Ruojing back into her seat.

"Miss Qin, that's really not necessary. I would go personally for a friend like you, but I don't have any relationship with them. Just inviting them to a meal is already giving them a lot of face. If they want to pick on such small things, hehe..."

"Besides, since I said I would attach the company under the Tianjiao Group, it's just right to take the opportunity today to give them a new perception of you. In the future, whatever you want to do will also be more convenient."

Looking at He Qing's calm and serene smile, Qin Ruojing blankly nodded, then her heart was stirred like a storm!

She had been running a company for more than a year or two, having dealt with these officials quite a bit. Saying she treaded cautiously, like walking on thin ice, was not an exaggeration, fearing that if she made one wrong move, some official might feel not adequately respected and then find trouble with her from every angle.

But as for He Qing, she didn't even bother with the simplest facade, what kind of audacity is this?

Even though He Qing still appeared as serene and graceful as ever, in Qin Ruojing's eyes, she exuded a sense of loftiness, like surveying picturesque landscapes.

Moreover, there was one more thing; He Qing's attitude towards her was noticeably more cordial than towards the mayor or the municipal party secretary. How could she not feel a warmth in her heart?

Being able to collaborate with someone like He Qing, Qin Ruojing felt increasingly motivated. No matter what, she would ensure the company about to affiliate with Tianjiao Group achieves some results.

Of course, Qin Ruojing didn't know yet that He Qing's favorable attitude towards her was only twenty percent due to her, and the remaining eighty percent because of Chu Ge.

At this moment, Chen Jiatong and Xu Jingyuan, seated nearby, were also doubting their ears. Although they were in the entertainment industry, they weren't entirely ignorant of these official matters.

As the saying goes, "people do not fight with officials," because officials have the authority to influence many things.

Generally speaking, businesses, even when dealing with departmental leaders from industry and commerce or tax authorities, need to maintain courtesy. When it comes to the directors of these departments, they must always wear a smile.

Yet He Qing, on the other hand, didn't even regard high officials like the mayor or municipal party secretary, what kind of massive background must one have to speak like this?

While shocked, Chen Jiatong and Xu Jingyuan sneaked a glance at Chu Ge, who just mentioned he couldn't be bothered to meet any city leaders. Did this imply he too possessed such immense power?

Chu Ge glanced at He Qing and couldn't help but find it amusing. Despite all her bold words, he hadn't seen her go downstairs to greet Qin Ruojing earlier.

Nonetheless, just having the courage to say such things was commendable, and her attitude was very much to his taste.

After all, he also held little regard for these official protocols.

For one, he found dealings with them tedious, their words never straightforward, forcing others to figure things out on their own—it's as if they couldn't communicate properly.

Secondly, and most importantly, Chu Ge only wanted a peaceful and leisurely life now, with no need to interact with any leaders, so no matter how high-ranking, they were no different from ordinary people in his eyes.

Indeed, it is precisely because of Chu Ge's mentality that he felt so at ease in front of He Qing, treating her as a friend, completely ignoring her background.

Not even ten minutes had passed since He Qing hung up the phone when there was a knock on the door, and two middle-aged men in shirts and suits walked in.

These two were naturally Lidu City's top leaders: municipal party secretary Liao Zhengran and mayor Li Duo.

"Miss He, sorry to keep you waiting, there was a bit of traffic," Liao Zhengran, the municipal party secretary, opened with an apology as soon as he entered the room.

As the knocking sounded, Chen Jiatong and Xu Jingyuan were contemplating: could it be that the mayor and municipal party secretary have arrived? Timing-wise, it seemed unlikely this could be so fast.

Yet as the door opened, they were quietly shocked to find out it was really them, feeling a bit apprehensive—would He Qing's dismissive treatment of these top city leaders provoke their displeasure?

However, the most surprising thing was that these two city giants' first sentence upon entering was an apology.

Less than ten minutes had passed, and they were saying, "sorry to keep you waiting?"

The feeling of shock was truly inadequate to describe Chen Jiatong and Xu Jingyuan's state of mind. These two were the city's top leaders, yet in front of He Qing, they were even deferential to the point of humility?

Eying He Qing in bewilderment, they then looked at Chu Ge, feeling their hearts skip a beat. Just what were the identities of this Miss He and this Eldest Young Master Chu?

Qin Ruojing appeared to be composed; not that she wasn't shocked, but ever since she stepped into this private room today, startling things kept happening. She had become somewhat numb to the shock.

Taking a quiet breath and glancing at Chu Ge on the sofa, Qin Ruojing reflected on everything that had happened since she met him. She suddenly realized so many events surrounding Chu Ge were unexpected, even miraculous.

The more she looked, the more familiar yet unfamiliar Chu Ge became in her eyes.

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