After Huang Zhaofat departed with his head held high, Qin Feng wasn’t only unbothered—he looked genuinely relieved. This surprised Mei Hui. Given her understanding of Qin, he should have been upset. Though he often spoke of being "steady as a rock," no one had ever seen him truly embody that quality. She didn’t know that Qin actually welcomed Huang’s criticism—more scathing the better—so he could feel even more justified in his "revenge" against Huang Xiaozi. "Qiong, are you alright?" the beautiful CEO asked warmly. Today’s Qin was quite different from usual. While it was understandable that he’d agreed to attend the dinner party, he hadn’t even flinched or responded when Huang Zhaofat launched a series of criticisms. Qin smiled pleasantly. "What’s wrong? I’m fine, Huihui. Our main objective today is simply to meet Wu Secretary." This made the beautiful CEO even more puzzled. She knew Qin Feng well—when had he ever become so eager to court the powerful? Among the guests attending the evening reception, most were plump middle-aged men. The only ones who stood out were their female companions, each dressed exquisitely and speaking with a voice so seductive it seemed to come from deep within their bones. According to the invitation, the reception was to officially begin at 8:08 p.m., yet it wasn't until 8:15 p.m. that Wu Dong appeared before everyone. Immediately, the sturdy men rushed to greet him, showering him with praise and attention. In China, whether or not a company earns a profit is far more closely tied to government policies than to the quality of its employees or its business strategies. Despite decades of advocacy for a market economy, in practice it often remains just empty rhetoric, always outmatched by a single statement from a government official. For these so-called successful individuals, securing the government's backing is paramount, so they won't miss a single opportunity to showcase themselves. Though Wu Dong has taken on the role of hosting the reception, he's someone who can actually speak directly to the top leader and leave a strong impression—far more impactful than simply courting the Party Secretary. Wu Dong maintained his signature warm smile, gestured for everyone to be quiet, and then said aloud, "I'm truly sorry for arriving late—traffic congestion on the way. I hope you'll forgive me." Everyone else responded with great grace, except Qin Feng, the young Qin. Traffic congestion? Seriously, that's a joke. If you claim the traffic was bad before seven, I'll never dispute it. After seven thirty every evening, the rush hour eases and the roads clear up. I leave at seven thirty and have a smooth, unimpeded journey—where exactly were you all stuck? Once the main character arrived, the host immediately announced the reception was now in session. Wu Dong spoke at length under the warm support of the crowd, much like delivering an official government report, with the main focus on the development direction of Plain City and actively encouraging these wealthy individuals to invest in manufacturing. Why we're so keen on manufacturing is simple—it not only delivers impressive production figures to the government but also provides a substantial number of jobs. With Huang Zao leading the charge, several key figures immediately pledged full support for the government's development strategy and committed to expanding investments relentlessly. Wu Dong felt deeply encouraged. In a casual glance, he spotted a familiar face. How could it be him? Wu Dong had first noticed Mei Hui, then Qin Da, standing beside her. Prior to the dinner, he had specifically inquired—only to learn that the Qin Group would not be attending. Yet here they were, showing up unexpectedly, making them rather uninvited guests in a sense. Their eyes met, and neither expressed particularly warm sentiments. "It's our turn now," Qin Feng quietly reminded the beautiful CEO. "Great, let's see what I can do." Mei Hui understood immediately, took his arm and walked with him. After they had walked about fifteen paces, she turned to greet Wu Dong: "Good morning, Wu Secretary. It's been several months since we last saw each other, and you're still as vibrant and radiant as ever." Wu Dong gave a polite, somewhat symbolic smile and replied, "Mei President is no less dazzling—indeed, throughout the entire reception, whether in demeanor or appearance, no other woman can quite match her." As soon as these compliments were uttered, Mei Hui instantly became a sore point among the other women. Qin Feng interjected, "Of course. Huihui truly stands out—not only because of her striking appearance, but also because she is the Executive President of Qin Group." The women all fell silent, each of them having a dual identity: publicly, they were secretaries, but in reality, they were their bosses' mistresses, only showing their professional capabilities when they were in bed—far from being true secretaries. "May I ask who this is?" Wu Dong deliberately pretended not to recognize him. "Qin Feng, chairman of the Qin Group." Qin, the young heir, introduced himself proactively, not hesitating to be direct in front of someone like Wu Dong. Wu Dong was a master at performance, feigning surprise: "I've long heard that Qin Group's new chairman is a young talent of exceptional promise. Today's meeting confirms that—your vision is truly outstanding. The development of our Pingplain City truly depends on young people like you. Qin Chairman, what do you think of my earlier development strategy? Is Qin Group ready to invest in this direction?" Everyone certainly knows that government officials in economic matters are all rather brainless—but does anyone really have to put it so bluntly? Wu Dong's face turned pale, yet he maintained his previous tone: "Young man, you're truly not sparing your words. Qin Director, I had actually hoped to get to know you better, but you're simply—." Qin Feng cut him off immediately: "Wu Secretary, do you really think we could ever get to know each other?" The usually eloquent Wu Dong found himself completely at a loss for words.