Having said that, Zhang Yuxing tapped her chopsticks heavily on the table, then tossed them aside.

She picked up a napkin and elegantly wiped her mouth.

Liu Zhizhong looked utterly baffled, continuing to feign confusion, "Explain what? What is there to explain? This is our secret, which I will forever keep. Isn't that enough? Do you think I, this honest man, would go around spreading it and then..."

"Enough! I get it! Stop calling yourself an honest man. If you were honest, there'd be no scoundrels left in the world! Remember what you just said, or you'll regret it!"

With that, Zhang Yuxing stood up and walked towards the door.

Of course, she picked up her handbag, leaving Liu Zhizhong to handle her suitcase.

She had already changed into a snow-white dress, and she truly looked proud and spirited—her shadow was so enticing that Liu Zhizhong felt like shooting her right then!

But Liu Zhizhong asked naively, "Can't handle it, so I have to deal with it?"

Zhang Yuxing turned at the door, responding coldly, "Yes, can't handle it, so you have to deal with it!"

"Fine, Secretary Zhang is so beautiful and sexy. I would love to take you home, but sadly I have a beautiful wife and you're out of luck!"

"You..."

Zhang Yuxing's face turned red with rage, wondering how this bastard could be so sharp-tongued.

Liu Zhizhong said calmly, "Let's go, I won't say anything, and that's that. Don't say anything more, I'm an honest man."

"Honest my ass!"

With that, Zhang Yuxing really left.

Liu Zhizhong could only secretly chuckle, dragging her suitcase and following her out.

When they got outside, Liu Zhizhong had already reparked the car.

He even ran over to personally open the car door for Zhang Yuxing.

Zhang Yuxing enjoyed the moment, lifting her leg to get into the back seat.

Liu Zhizhong, from behind, supported her by the buttocks, pushing her in while saying, "Darling, take it easy, take it easy."

In reality, that was no mere support—it was more like a secretive slap and squeeze, his hand overjoyed with the illicit touch.

Zhang Yuxing cried out in surprise, turning her head as if her bottom was on fire, ready to erupt in fury, but Liu Zhizhong slammed the car door shut with a bang.

Zhang Yuxing was left with her face flushed with anger and irritation.

Liu Zhizhong opened the trunk and placed her suitcase inside. That's when Zhang Yuxing turned and snapped, "You bastard, how dare you take liberties..."

"Bang!!!"

Liu Zhizhong forcefully shut the trunk door, cutting off Zhang Yuxing's words once again.

Infuriated, Zhang Yuxing waited until Liu Zhizhong got into the driver's seat before she cursed, "Are you crazy? My car's trunk has an automatic door. Why did you close it manually? You'll pay for any damages, you know?"

Liu Zhizhong, sitting in the driver's seat, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, "Yes, I'll take full responsibility. After all, I'm an honest man, and if something goes wrong, it's on me!"

Zhang Yuxing was steaming with anger and immediately warned, "Don't think just because of what happened last night you can be so arrogant and lawless in my presence..."

"What happened last night? As an honest man, I don't remember."

Liu Zhizhong started the car, cutting off Zhang Yuxing's words, then drove off.

Zhang Yuxing was fuming.

The nerve of this guy, really playing the honest man—it was infuriating!

But fortunately, Liu Zhizhong drove carefully the entire way, not uttering a single word and maintaining silence.

This made Zhang Yuxing feel somewhat better. Sitting in the car, she watched the scenery on both sides.

The highland skies were clear, which lifted her spirits a bit.

The car passed through Mulang River Valley and began climbing the mountain.

On the mountain roads, it was possible to see many Yi people living there. Their unique short wooden houses clustered on the mountain terraces in the sunlight, showcasing their ethnic character.

It was only after reaching halfway up the mountain, over an hour into their departure from Mulang Town, that Liu Zhizhong finally let out a sigh, "Ah~~~~"

Zhang Yuxing asked coldly from the backseat, "Honest man, what are you sighing about now?"

Liu Zhizhong replied mildly, "I was just thinking about the fate of the Yi people."

"What does that have to do with you?"

"I am an official, and the Yi people are the citizens. How can I be a good official if I don't think about the welfare of the people?"

"Good my ass! You think you're a good official? You're just another bastard among the men of officialdom..."

Liu Zhizhong chuckled, "You can't speak so conclusively. I am genuinely thinking about the Yi. Aren't they divided into the White Yi and Black Yi?"

"Yes, so what?"

"White Yi were serfs, and Black Yi were the landholding class. Your ex-boyfriend Luo Kejibai is of White Yi origin, right?"

"That's right, what about it?"

"Nowadays, those who are implicated in scandals, those who make money in business or prosper as officials—their ancestors were all Black Yi, right? There are very few from the White Yi, correct?"

"Um... this..." Zhang Yuxing fell silent because Liu Zhizhong was right.

"The Black Yi ancestors were landlords; they had money and could afford to educate their children. Consequently, their descendants prospered whether in business or officialdom and the legacy carried on. For White Yi, it's different—they're just the chives of the Yi Clan, to be harvested. The world is the same, regardless of Han people or minorities—the pattern of power succession is universal, like AIDS, passed down. It's like power AIDS, you understand?"

"Talking nonsense, how can you compare power to AIDS?"