Everyone Seems Familiar

"Secretary Zhang, what are you..."

Zhang Xingyong followed him inside, beads of sweat already forming on his forehead.

Others might not know Zhang Wei's identity, but how could he not?

This was the chief secretary beside Zhou De, the top official of Liu City—an existence at the deputy-departmental level!

Yet now, such an important figure was actually being incredibly respectful to a young man.

Most importantly, he had just offended this very young man, even calling him unappreciative!

"It seems Liu City is quite small. I didn't expect to run into acquaintances everywhere just by coming out for a meal."

Qin Ning smiled faintly, glancing at Secretary Zhang. "I'm just here for a class reunion. Go about your business, you don't need to mind me."

"Yes, yes, then I won't disturb Young Master Qin. Please enjoy your meal."

With that said, Secretary Zhang hastily backed out of the room.

"Right," Qin Ning called out suddenly.

"Young Master Qin, is there anything else?" Zhang Wei quickly stopped in his tracks.

"Do you know this Director Zhang-whatever?" Qin Ning pointed at Zhang Xingyong.

Secretary Zhang froze for a moment, confused, but quickly realized the situation. He had noticed Zhang Xingyong's complexion looked a bit off just now. From the looks of it, this blind fool must have offended Qin Ning.

"I know him, but we aren't close," Secretary Zhang replied.

"Have someone take him back and investigate him thoroughly later. This person isn't very clean." After saying this, Qin Ning waved his hand dismissively.

Hearing these words, Zhang Xingyong's legs instantly went soft from fear, and he nearly passed out.

Whether he was clean or not, he naturally knew better than anyone.

Recently, the city had been strictly cracking down on disciplinary issues. Once an investigation landed on his head, he was absolutely doomed.

"Young Master Qin... I-I... I accidentally offended you just now. Please be the bigger person and forgive me, I-I..."

Terrified, he dropped straight to his knees.

"Whether you offended me or not isn't important to me. What matters is whether there are issues with your own discipline. If there are no problems, then this matter will naturally pass. Or could it be that Director Zhang has a guilty conscience?"

Qin Ning spoke with a smile, too lazy to say more to the man. With a simple look, he signaled Secretary Zhang to take the man away.

Inside the private room, everyone was dumbfounded, their faces full of disbelief.

They never imagined that Qin Ning would be so incredibly powerful.

With just a few simple words, he had terrified a section-level official into kneeling and begging for mercy.

Du Ya was the same. At this moment, she stared at Qin Ning in shock, completely dumbfounded.

Remembering the warnings Luo Ze and Lin Hongying had given her over the phone earlier, she suddenly understood.

The current Qin Ning was no longer the Qin Ning of the past.

His current background was so massive it was simply unimaginable!

"Qin Ning, that person just now was..." a classmate couldn't help but ask.

They really wanted to know what kind of existence could make even Zhang Xingyong too afraid to offend.

"Oh, a friend," Qin Ning smiled faintly, showing no intention of explaining further.

"I heard Zhang Xingyong call him Secretary Zhang just now..."

A female classmate's eyes lit up. She had an administrative position and was a low-level civil servant.

"I remember the chief secretary of our Liu City seems to have the surname Zhang?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the room was stunned.

Judging by Zhang Xingyong's extremely respectful attitude just now, this Secretary Zhang was very likely the actual chief secretary of the city.

But how did Qin Ning know a figure like that?

...

Meanwhile, outside the hotel, the uncle and nephew pair, Zhang Xingyong and Zhang Dongxi, were escorted into a police car. Both were pale-faced, looking as if they had lost all hope in life.

Zhang Xingyong knew he was absolutely finished this time, and no one could save him.

The same went for Zhang Dongxi. The small company he had just founded had massive issues with its finances and many other matters. Once investigated, prison time was inevitable.

"Take them back and lock them up first. I will personally bring people over to interrogate them tomorrow," Secretary Zhang told several police officers before turning around and heading back into the hotel.

He arrived at a certain private room.

At this moment, Zhou De was inside, accompanying some important guests from out of province.

Recently, Liu City had been vigorously developing, and higher-ups had issued supportive policies. Many dignitaries from other provinces had caught wind of this and naturally rushed over, wanting a piece of the pie.

As the top official, Zhou De had been doing nothing but hosting non-stop during this period, with at least three social engagements every day.

Zhang Wei pushed open the door to the private room, walked to Zhou De's side, and leaned in to whisper something in his ear.

Hearing this, Zhou De was instantly startled. He quickly stood up and said, "Everyone, please excuse me for a moment."

The people seated all held high status. Almost all of them, like Zhou De, had departmental-level ranks, and among them was even a provincial deputy.

Seeing Zhou De suddenly leave the table in such a hurry and exit the room, they couldn't help but feel curious.

At the same time, outside Qin Ning's private room.

Zhou De knocked gently on the door.

Only after receiving a response from inside did he dare to push the door open and enter.

"Young Master Qin, I didn't expect you to be here too."

Holding a glass of wine, he walked up to Qin Ning with a smile.

"Uncle Zhou."

Qin Ning smiled faintly, raising his glass to clink it against the other man's. "I'm just here for a class reunion. How did I end up startling you over here?"

Clearly, Zhou De must have also been having a dinner here and found out about his presence from Secretary Zhang, prompting him to rush over.

Zhou De felt extremely flattered. He lowered his glass during the toast, and after clinking glasses, he downed the drink in one gulp.

Following that, Secretary Zhang poured him another glass of wine. Zhou De raised his glass to toast everyone present and said with a hearty laugh, "I apologize for the sudden intrusion, please don't take offense, classmates. I offer this toast to everyone."

After speaking, he downed it in one gulp again.

"Young Master Qin, I won't disturb you any longer. If you need anything, you can call for me at any time. I'm just in the private room across the hall."

Soon after, Zhou De led Secretary Zhang out of the room.

"Wasn't that person just now... Secretary Zhou of our Liu City?"

Only now did the crowd finally react, dumbfounded once again, their faces filled with disbelief.

The top official, Zhou De, had actually come over personally to toast Qin Ning. And that respectful demeanor... recalling it now felt so surreal, as if they were in a dream.

How could this be possible?

Just what kind of terrifying identity did the current Qin Ning possess?

To think that even an existence like Zhou De would be so utterly respectful to him.

Such a thing, even when seen with their own eyes, was hard for them to believe was real.

Just a moment ago, many people secretly thought that Qin Ning was definitely living off Su Xingwan as a kept man, but looking at it now, that wasn't the case at all.

Because Qin Ning himself possessed a terrifying power that was beyond imagination.