Zhang Yuxing blushed and scolded, "You jerk, what's inside your head? What do you think about all day long? Why would I not be able to leave you? Isn't that just too self-indulgent?"

Liu Zhizhong chuckled, feeling that her shy and angry demeanor was even more flavorful than before.

Their relationship seemed to have grown closer now.

He said, "Well, that's not necessarily true. Women, you know, often say one thing and mean another. Yadan and her husband both think we make a great pair! These past days, the way they looked at me clearly had 'brother-in-law' vibes, hehe..."

"Get lost, get lost, get lost, stop flattering yourself. It's disgusting, I feel embarrassed for you!"

"Don't, don't, I don't feel embarrassed..."

"..."

Anyway, bickering and teasing each other along the way was quite fun.

Liu Zhizhong flirted subtly, and Zhang Yuxing, with her petulant shyness, made him feel great, hehe...

Passing through Mulang Town, Liu Zhizhong mentioned, "Ah, wife, I really miss that night—lamb restaurant, small hotel, thunder, heavy rain, and even a power cut, hehe..."

Zhang Yuxing was irritated, "You jerk, shut up. Why are you so disgusting? We agreed not to mention it, and yet you bring it up?"

"I haven't mentioned it to anyone else, just between us, the couple. Can't we talk about it?"

"Who's 'us, the couple'? Don't push your luck!"

"Don't say that. If you really let me gain an inch, I could really give you an inch..."

"You... Ah!" Zhang Yuxing realized after a moment what he had meant, and she couldn't stand it!

She moved up from the back seat, leaned on the driver's seat, and landed several punches on Liu Zhizhong's shoulder.

"You jerk, you jerk, why are you so bad, so bad, so disgusting, disgusting, disgusting..."

Liu Zhizhong just laughed heartlessly.

The more he laughed, the more Zhang Yuxing hit him, still laughing, still hitting, hehe...

Would you say, back in the past, would Liu Zhizhong dare to joke like this with Secretary Zhang?

Definitely not, that would be courting death!

Now, it seems nothing is too much, haha...

And you know, ever since they left Mulang Town, all the way back, Liu Zhizhong kept calling her 'wife,' and Zhang Yuxing, embarrassed and angry yet helpless.

Later on, it felt almost like a habit, where could you even argue about this?

By the time they reached the Provincial City, it was already evening. Liu Zhizhong then said, "Wife, let's spend the night in Provincial City, and then head back to Yangzhou?"

Zhang Yuxing had no way to refute, seemingly accepting this 'wife' title, she coldly said, "Why are you going back to Yangzhou? Just go report to the Party School tomorrow!"

"Uh..." Liu Zhizhong paused and said, "Why shouldn't I return? I safely brought my wife to Dingkang, and I should safely take her back to Yangzhou, right? Isn't it important to account for that to the Zhang family? Is the Party School more important, or is my wife more important?"

"You... really are shameless, absolutely shameless!"

"For my wife, I might as well be shameless..."

"You jerk..."

Somehow, Liu Zhizhong's foolish antics were somewhat pleasing to Zhang Yuxing.

But she agreed with Liu Zhizhong; the two found a hotel in the outskirts of Provincial City and checked into a standard room.

Liu Zhizhong's idea was that they should share a room for ease of care. Even if she didn't want him on her bed, having him nearby was at least some protection, right?

What if they encountered those kinds of tattooed men again? Provincial City is not like Mulang Town—it's bigger, with more complex crowds. How could he afford to let something happen to such a delicate wife, still a virgin bride, no less?

Zhang Yuxing looked at his earnest face, feeling a mix of anger, embarrassment, and the urge to laugh, sigh...

This jerk, you really can't do anything with him.

When it came time to sleep at night, Liu Zhizhong behaved very gentlemanly, not making a single inappropriate move.

Instead, Zhang Yuxing was somewhat bashful. After her shower, she changed into pajamas and climbed into bed like she was avoiding a lecher, pulling the blanket over her, wrapping it tightly around herself.

Liu Zhizhong chuckled on the side, saying, "Hey, wife, don't be so shy, making it seem like I'm going to eat you tonight."

"You shush, shut up, dog can't spit out ivory! Just go to sleep early. Aren't you tired from driving all day?"

"Driving? Man's favorite activity, how could I be tired? I drove during the day, I can drive at night too."

"Give it a break, look at you getting all cocky, if you're so capable go ahead and drive now..."

"Better not, your car is nice, but driving it this late might be scary..."

Liu Zhizhong was speaking and driving when a ringtone from his cellphone interrupted him.

Picking it up, he laughed and said, "Oh? Wife, a call from our nephew!"

"Which nephew...oh, you..."

Zhang Yuxing realized immediately, it must be Zhang Hongyang.

Liu Zhizhong gave her a slight smile, "I'll answer on speakerphone, wife, don't make a sound, hehe..."

"You're really disgusting..." Zhang Yuxing blushed and glared at him, unable to make any more sound.

Because Liu Zhizhong really did answer the call on speaker, and Zhang Hongyang's voice began to sound...