CHAPTER 443: CHAPTER 443: COULD SHE HAVE TAKEN A FANCY TO ME?

Fan Sheng downed the entire glass of water in one go, his eyes still brimming with anger.

"You’ve seen the eligibility criteria that damned hen announced for the candidates, right? None of the key technical staff under me qualifies. What kind of competition is this? It’s blatantly about who sends the bigger bribe!"

Clearing his throat lightly, Chen Bin couldn’t help but remind him.

"Fan Tai, without solid evidence, you really shouldn’t make baseless accusations like that."

"I don’t have evidence, but I can guarantee you, if that hen isn’t using this to rake in cash, I’ll damn well kneel in front of the company building and apologize to her!"

"In both life and work, there are always going to be tough times. We have to find ways to solve problems. Throwing a tantrum isn’t going to make those problems go away."

Fan Sheng squeezed the paper cup in his hand into a crumpled ball with force, his brows tightly knitted, but he said nothing.

Chen Bin then tentatively asked, "Is there some kind of grudge between you and Lan Tai?"

"What do you think? Don’t you think it’s obvious?"

"Then what exactly happened?"

"Some old crap, things not worth bringing up."

Seeing that Fan Sheng still refused to delve into it, Chen Bin had no choice but to drop the subject.

Several days later, the competition results were announced.

Almost all the previously vacant positions were taken over by new personnel.

But what shocked Chen Bin most was that, on top of those hires, over a hundred more people had been brought in.

This made the already overcrowded TV station even more bloated.

After work that evening, Chen Bin went to Yuan Qian’s residence.

His initial intention was to probe about his marriage to Xu Ruoxuan, fully prepared to endure a scolding in the process.

What surprised him was how Yuan Qian, upon seeing him, shed her usual cold demeanor and became unusually amiable.

She even headed into the kitchen herself and made a few nice dishes for him.

"Xiao Bin, I don’t really know what kinds of food you like. See if these dishes suit your taste."

Hearing this made Chen Bin feel flattered, to the point where he cautiously asked.

"Dean Yuan..."

"Don’t be so formal. From now on, just call me Sister. It sounds more natural."

"Sis... Sister, Mayor Fu isn’t home yet. Wouldn’t starting to eat now seem a bit disrespectful?"

"Don’t worry about him; your brother-in-law has daily social engagements. He’s probably not coming back before nine tonight."

Perhaps it was Yuan Qian’s long history of reprimanding him that made Chen Bin feel uneasy despite her kindness.

Just then, Yuan Qian gave him a slice of beef for his bowl and asked with a smile.

"Xiao Bin, are you adjusting to your work at the TV station?"

"I’ve only been there for a little over half a month, so there’s still a lot to adapt to."

"Alright, if there’s anything you need, just let me know. I’ll do my best to help you."

Hearing this, Chen Bin couldn’t help but feel a lump in his throat.

He didn’t know why, but he felt a familial warmth from Yuan Qian.

This was the second time he’d felt such warmth since Zhao Xinmei.

After some thought, Chen Bin guessed this surely had something to do with Xu Ruoxuan.

After all, Yuan Qian was Xu Ruoxuan’s older cousin. If he married Xu Ruoxuan, they’d naturally become family.

So he cautiously asked, "Sis, does this mean you’ve approved of my marriage to Ruoxuan?"

In truth, Yuan Qian’s feelings toward Chen Bin were extremely complicated.

Growing up, she’d relied on her mother. Later, when she finally had a father, she had a complete family.

Even though she excelled in many ways, she’d always wished for a younger sibling.

But that was a wish that would remain forever unfulfilled.

Learning she had a half-brother now made Yuan Qian genuinely happy.

Unfortunately, this little brother had inherited their father’s womanizing ways, always leaving a trail of broken hearts.

To prevent her cousin from ending up like Chen Bin’s mother, Yuan Qian ultimately shook her head.

"No way. I’ll help you with anything else, just not the marriage to Ruoxuan."

These words left Chen Bin more puzzled than ever.

If it wasn’t about Xu Ruoxuan, then why had Yuan Qian’s attitude toward him shifted so drastically?

Could it be... she had taken a liking to him?

Thinking this, Chen Bin couldn’t dismiss the possibility.

It seemed Mayor Fu wasn’t exactly the most capable man either.

After dinner, Chen Bin left Yuan Qian’s house.

In the days that followed, he continued his routine work at the provincial TV station.

Soon, he noticed that the news department had deployed a large number of reporters to target the traffic police with negative stories.

The Tianhai traffic police weren’t backing down, stopping and fining every vehicle belonging to the provincial TV station for any violation, real or imagined.

Fan Sheng stormed into Chen Bin’s office, furious.

"That damned hen is abusing her power for personal gripes, making my life a living hell—absolutely shameless!"

"What’s going on?"

Fan Sheng explained, "After that hen’s little boy toy at the station got fined by the traffic police, she started abusing her position to take revenge, which has led to all this."

"Who’s Lan Tai’s boy toy? I haven’t heard about this lately."

"Tao Qian, that kid. With her backing, he slacks off on the job and spends all his time chasing young girls."

Hearing this, an idea formed in Chen Bin’s mind.

After Fan Sheng left, Chen Bin immediately called Cheng Zhuang.

"Are you busy these days? Let’s grab dinner together."

"No problem!"

That evening after work, Chen Bin and Cheng Zhuang met at a restaurant.

Over dinner, Chen Bin asked Cheng Zhuang to investigate Tao Qian’s details for him.

As he exited the restaurant, Chen Bin noticed a man and a woman having a secretive conversation in the parking lot.

The woman was the advertising director of the provincial TV station, Hong Ke.

The man was a salesperson in the advertising department.

Clearly, they weren’t discussing business; otherwise, they wouldn’t be sneaking around in a car.

Hong Ke seemed to be instructing something, her expression stern, while the salesman nodded repeatedly.

Once the conversation ended, the salesman exited the car and Hong Ke drove away.

When Chen Bin saw the salesman heading straight toward a bar across the street, he suggested.

"Why don’t we head to the bar too?"

Without hesitation, Cheng Zhuang nodded.

"Sure, I don’t have anything pressing tonight anyway."

Once inside the bar, Chen Bin ordered two drinks and started chatting with Cheng Zhuang.

But his gaze never left the salesman.

After about an hour, the salesman finally found his "prey."

He left the bar laughing and chatting with a tall, heavily made-up woman, his arm draped around her.

Seeing them leave, Chen Bin immediately followed.

Having already guessed Chen Bin was shadowing the salesman, Cheng Zhuang couldn’t help but ask.

"Boss, what’s going on here?"

Chen Bin didn’t offer much of an explanation.

When they saw the salesman and the woman enter a hotel, Chen Bin smiled and said.

"Those two definitely have something shady going on. Why don’t you bust them? It’ll be a good way to earn some credit."

"Sure thing, Boss. Whatever you say goes."

Cheng Zhuang owed much of his success to Chen Bin, so his loyalty was unwavering.

No matter what Chen Bin asked him to do, he wouldn’t hesitate.

Heading to the hotel front desk, Cheng Zhuang asked directly.

"Which room was that couple who came in just now assigned to?"

The receptionist shook their head repeatedly. "I’m sorry, but we can’t disclose our guests’ information."

Without another word, Cheng Zhuang flashed his police ID.

"They’re involved in a case. I need your cooperation."

Since it was a police matter, the receptionist naturally couldn’t refuse.

"They’re in Room 316. Would you like me to take you there?"

With a slight shake of his head, Cheng Zhuang replied sternly.

"No, just give me a key card that opens the door..."