Thursday. Morning.
Ring… ring… ring…
Dong Xuebing, who was brushing his teeth, answered his phone. Deputy Mayor Zhao Xinglong had called.
“Xiao Dong, are you aware that the County Party Committee Ball is starting tonight?” Zhao Xinglong asked.
Dong Xuebing threw his toothbrush into the sink. “Ball? I don’t know anything about this, as I had been out of the office to get investments these few days.”
“This ball is a monthly event suggested by Party Secretary Xiang. This is to provide some recreational activities and increase the interaction between leaders.” Zhao Xinglong knew Dong Xuebing had only come to Yan Tai County for a year, and he explained. “The former Party Secretary Chang had stopped this monthly event, and Party Secretary Xiang suggested to restart this event this year. Tonight is the first ball, and Party Secretary Xiang, Mayor Xie, and all other leaders will be attending. If you are not busy, represent the Investment Promotion Agency to attend and know other leaders. This will help you with your work.”
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Mayor Zhao, I don’t know how to dance.”
“Haha… you don’t need to dance if you can’t dance.”
Dong Xuebing thought to himself. It’s not as easy as you think. What if someone invites me to dance but was rejected? It will offend the other party. After hanging up, Dong Xuebing dressed up and left for work. Is Xiang Daofa too free? The County Lunar New Year celebrations, this ball is not important at all. He should be spending his time on his work.
8.30 am.
Dong Xuebing saw Lin Pingping at the entrance of the Investment Promotion Agency.
On their way in, Dong Xuebing asked Lin Pingping about the Chicken Excrement processing plant project’s progress.
Lin Pingping smiled and said. “It is going on smoothly. After we left Mr. Peng’s house, I called him in the evening. Mr. Peng had canceled his trip to the neighboring county. Xiao Hu must have helped us a lot. I spoke to Mr. Peng for a while and noticed he is not as firm as before. He even asked me to bring him to the Excrement processing plant’s site for a visit again. I can tell he will be investing in this project.”
Dong Xuebing smiled and nodded. “Great. You must follow up closely with him.”
“Yes.” Lin Pingping still doesn’t understand why Xiao Hu become so close with Dong Xuebing suddenly.
“Oh, Sister Lin.” There are no one around, and Dong Xuebing addressed Lin Pingping casually.
Lin Pingping heard it and quickly said. “Just call me Xiao Lin will do.”
“It’s not working hours yet.” Dong Xuebing respects the ones who respected him. During work hours, he will address others normally. But privately, he will address them casually. For example, he will address Lin Pingping as Sister Lin, Luo Haiting as Sister Luo. This will bring them closer. After all, Lin Pingping is a few years older than him. “… do you know how to dance?”
Lin Pingping hesitated and replied. “I know a little. What about you?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “There is a ball this evening at the County Party Committee’s hostel. Can you represent our agency to attend?”
Lin Pingping replied apologetically. “I promised my son to bring him to the movies tonight and had bought the tickets. Err…” Lin Pingping knew her rank is not high and don’t dare to represent the agency.
Dong Xuebing smiles. “It’s alright. Accompanying your son is more important.
Luo Haiting passed by them on her electric bike. She had just arrived and is parking her bike.
Lin Pingping blinked. “Chief, Director Luo is good at ballroom dancing.”
“Really?” Dong Xuebing was surprised.
Back in his office, Dong Xuebing lit a cigarette and thought about all the agency leaders. He realized that he only knows them on the surface. For example, his impression of Lin Pingping is a pretty and capable woman. But who knows that she is a single mom with a four years old son. Also, he thought Luo Haiting, who is about his mother’s age, will be mature and conservative. But as he got to know her more, he realized that Luo Haiting has no motivation at all. She delegates most of her duties to her staff. Other than the tasks assigned by Dong Xuebing, she basically doesn’t care about other things. She also likes to doll up, and Dong Xuebing’s first impression of her is just a pretense.
Dong Xuebing thought back to the first few days he arrived. He had also put on a false front then.
Noon.
Cafeteria.
Dong Xuebing got his food and sat by the window. He saw Luo Haiting and called her. “Director Luo.”
Luo Haiting saw Dong Xuebing and carried her food over to his table. She is dolled up today. Her hair is tied up, and she is wearing a long dress with an embroidered knitted sweater. She also put on makeup, covering most of her freckles, and the bright red lipstick made her look more matured and seductive. She looks several years younger.
Dong Xuebing thought to himself. Why are you dressing up more and more attractively every day?
Dong Xuebing felt weird, but the rest of the leaders and staff members were used to it. In fact, they felt weird when Luo Haiting was dressed up in ladies’ suits and office wear during Dong Xuebing’s first few days. All of them are used to Director Luo dressing up attractively. After getting to know Chief Dong and knew he is easy-going, she started to show her true colors.
Luo Haiting smiled. “Chief, are you looking for me?”
It was still the same smile, but with Luo Haiting’s dressing and makeup, she looks more seductive.
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Sister Luo, I heard you are good at ballroom dancing.”
“… I can dance a bit.” Luo Haiting replied.
“The Party Committee Ball will be starting tonight, and the first ball this year is different. We can don’t attend the other monthly ball, but someone must attend the ball tonight. I hope you can attend it on behalf of the agency.”
Luo Haiting’s eyes sparkled. “You are asking me to be your dance partner?”
Huh? I did not mention this.
Dong Xuebing replied. “I will not be attending as I don’t know how to dance. You will represent our agency to attend.”
“… alright.” Luo Haiting loves to participate in these activities.
“Can your husband dance? You can bring him along.”
Luo Haiting replied firmly. “No need. He doesn’t know how to dance.” She sounded angry when Dong Xuebing mentioned her husband.
“Oh…” Dong Xuebing suddenly thought about Xie Huilan. If Sister Xie is attending the ball, she might be dancing with someone else. Dong Xuebing’s eyes twitched. “I might be attending if I finish my work.” He had thought that he might embarrass himself as he doesn’t know how to dance and forget about Sister Xie. He is possessive of his future wife and will not allow other men to dance with her.
After chatting for a while more, both started eating their lunch.
Luo Haiting is not in a good mood today, but she forced herself to smile in front of Dong Xuebing.
Luo Haiting is a woman and is not passionate about getting more power at work. She had approached Dong Xuebing and supported his work is just to keep her position. Her desire to climb up the ranks is not strong. All this while, she had been lazing around at work and is contented with her life now. But this morning, she argued with her husband. Her husband had heard rumors that Chief Dong likes mature women, and when he saw Luo Haiting putting on makeup, he got jealous. He suspected her of having an affair with Chief Dong and ignored her explanations. Thus, they had a huge fight.
Everyone in the agency knew Luo Haiting and her husband are very loving. They can be considered the model couple. But even model couples will fight, and Luo Haiting and her husband are not as loving as other thought.
This fight had made Luo Haiting very disappointed. Dong Xuebing is in his twenties, and how is it possible that he will be attracted to a forty-year-old woman, let alone to have an affair? Although Luo Haiting had misunderstood Dong Xuebing at the hotel, she doesn’t want to hear it from her husband. She felt there is no trust in her marriage.
Luo Haiting hides her emotions well, and Dong Xuebing did not notice it.
After office hours.
Luo Haiting collected her emotions and went to Dong Xuebing’s office to ask if he will be attending the ball.
Dong Xuebing thought for a while and asked Luo Haiting to go to the ball first.
Suddenly, Luo Haiting’s handphone rang. She looked at the number, and it was from her husband. She knew he must be rushing her to return home to stop her from mixing with other men after work. When she thought about this, she got mad and hung up without answering. You are suspecting me of having an affair outside?! I will not tell you that I will be attending the ball. Go ahead and suspect me! She looked at Dong Xuebing subconsciously.
Dong Xuebing could tell something was wrong. “Sister Luo, do you need to rush home?”
Luo Haiting quickly kept her phone. “It’s fine. My child is asking me if I am going home for dinner. I will call him later. Err… Chief, I will go to the ball now.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Ok.”
Luo Haiting turned and walks out of Dong Xuebing’s office. Her long beige dress swayed to her hips as she walks.
Dong Xuebing’s eyes were drawn to her voluptuous butt, and he quickly looks away. He thought of Xie Huilan and could not sit still. He rushed to the cafeteria to have dinner and drove to the ball. Even if he doesn’t know how to dance, he must also prevent other men from dancing with Xie Huilan.
