Fixing his gaze on Chen Bin’s eyes, Xu Tai slowly uttered three words.
"Xiong Guoqiang!"
Confused, Chen Bin shook his head and asked, "Who is this person? Is he powerful?"
"Xiong Guoqiang isn’t the powerful one; it’s the Xiong family that’s really remarkable—especially old master Xiong, who even now holds great renown in the Imperial Capital! Feng Huzhou once saved Xiong Guoqiang’s life, and that’s why he is where he is today."
"Then does Cao Sanjin know any big shots in the Imperial Capital?"
"Of course, he knows people, but he’s nowhere near the level of Xiong Guoqiang. Cao Sanjin’s achievents co mostly from his own abilities, along with help from key patrons. But admiration is nowhere near comparable to a life-saving debt."
"That’s fair enough, but what should I do next?"
"Things have already co to this point—are you willing to bow your head and admit defeat? If you ask , Feng Huzhou won’t be around much longer; once he retires, chances are he’ll stop investing any effort in you."
After a mont of contemplation, Chen Bin decided this reasoning seed sound.
When Feng Huzhou returned to frontline work after leaving Renmin University, he was already sixty years old.
At his current age, further promotion was nearly impossible, so stepping down seed quite likely.
Feeling more at ease, Chen Bin bade farewell to Xu Tai and Yuan Cuiping.
On his way back to the county, he received a ssage from Xu Ruoxuan.
"Did my dad ask you about the child?"
"No, he didn’t. Your mom did."
"How did you reply?"
"I told the truth, of course. They’ve already figured it out—no point in hiding it any longer."
Xu Ruoxuan seed a little flustered and quickly followed up with another question.
"What did my mom say?"
"She said we already have a child, so there’s no need to bla . She just hopes I’ll treat you and the child well—that’s all."
The two continued chatting about other topics, maintaining a nice and relaxed atmosphere.
As Lunar New Year approached, Liao Ruoji called Chen Bin after the holiday began.
She said Liao Ruoli was coming to pick her up and take her ho, but she wanted to see him one last ti before she left.
After hesitating, Chen Bin decided he should clarify the matter, so he returned to the faculty dormitory.
Just after knocking on Liao Ruoji’s door, Liao Ruoli appeared with a smug look on her face.
"Oh, I see—ca to send my sister off knowing she’s leaving, huh?"
Not in the mood for jokes, Chen Bin shot her a glare.
"What, is that a problem?"
"Pfft, look at you acting all high and mighty. Do you want to beat you up, huh?!"
Hearing the commotion at the door, Liao Ruoji imdiately ca out.
"Ruoli, can you not make trouble—hurry up and let him in!"
With a cold snort and an unhappy pout, Liao Ruoli stepped aside to let Chen Bin through.
After he stepped inside, Liao Ruoji poured him a cup of hot coffee.
"It’s so cold out there—have so coffee to warm up."
Chen Bin didn’t respond, only fixed her with an icy stare.
Picking up on the tension, Liao Ruoji refrained from asking too much due to Liao Ruoli’s presence.
Once seated, the three began chatting together.
To be precise, it was more like Chen Bin and Liao Ruoli chatting, while Liao Ruoji sat silently on the side, practically invisible.
The more lively the conversation between Chen Bin and Liao Ruoli grew, the darker Liao Ruoji’s expression beca.
After drinking too much coffee, Liao Ruoli headed to the restroom, giving Liao Ruoji the chance to glare at Chen Bin with fury.
"Why? Why are you doing this to ?"
Feigning ignorance, Chen Bin replied, "What do you an?"
"Why are you being so cold to ? Did I do sothing to wrong you sohow?"
"Didn’t you?"
Staring at Chen Bin with disbelief, Liao Ruoji asked, "What... what are you implying?"
"Last ti I ca to see you, you spent the entire ti alone with another man in your room. I didn’t even dare knock on your door so as not to ruin your mont!"
"What? What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think I’m that kind of woman?!"
At this mont, Liao Ruoji abandoned her usual quiet deanor, her entire deanor resembling a furious kitten.
But Chen Bin remained unmoved.
"I’m not talking nonsense. I waited downstairs for three whole hours, and the man never ca down. Dare you say there was nothing going on between you two?!"
Taking a deep breath, Liao Ruoji explained.
"Yes, I did have that man over, but it’s not what you think. He was introduced to by my family—I couldn’t possibly..."
"I know, his na is Xiong Wubing!"
The ntion of the na left Liao Ruoji stunned.
"How did you know it was him?"
"He’s my colleague. Guess how we t?"
"No, I didn’t an to keep this from you—I..."
Before Liao Ruoji could finish her explanation, Chen Bin waved her off dismissively.
"Xiong Wubing is young, working locally on assignnt from the Ministry of Agriculture, and his family clearly has a strong background. You’re both Imperial Capital natives—it’s a perfect match! I should’ve never inserted myself into the picture. Let’s end things here."
To Chen Bin, everything Liao Ruoji had said about the situation was a lie.
She had co to Tianhai solely to develop her relationship with Xiong Wubing.
In their lives, he was nothing more than a cheap clown.
Seeing Chen Bin’s resolute expression, tears began streaming down Liao Ruoji’s face.
"You’re certain you don’t want to be with ?"
Without hesitation, Chen Bin nodded firmly.
"I’m certain. Since you already have a fiancé, it’s better for us to stay friends."
In truth, Chen Bin had been reflecting on things lately; realizing that he himself already had a fiancée, it didn’t feel right to keep leading Liao Ruoji on. It was better to cut ties cleanly, letting her move on and marry soone else.
Whether Liao Ruoji had lied wasn’t particularly important anymore.
"It’s over—everything between us is over! And rest assured, I will never be friends with you!"
With that, Liao Ruoji fled into her room in tears.
Returning from the restroom, Liao Ruoli had overheard their entire conversation.
Although she was the younger one, the difference between her and her sister was re minutes.
Watching her sister suffer such grievance, she reprimanded Chen Bin angrily.
"I told you long ago that you and my sister weren’t right for each other. She already has a boyfriend—why did you have to ss with her?"
Chen Bin looked away, unable to face the striking resemblance between the two sisters.
Glancing at the room, Liao Ruoli whispered to Chen Bin.
"What exactly happened between you and my sister? Don’t tell you two already went that far."
Turning back, Chen Bin retorted uncomfortably.
"Why do you care so much about and your sister?"
With a scoff, Liao Ruoli’s dissatisfaction grew.
"What’s wrong—feeling guilty? You call yourself a County Magistrate, yet you’re scared to own up to things you’ve done. How disgraceful!"
"What’s there to feel guilty about? I was with her for so ti, but as for things like that—it didn’t..."
Before Chen Bin could finish, Liao Ruoli cut him off.
"I’ll ask just one question: Did you or didn’t you sleep with my sister?!"
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