~Date:~September 21~
Night.
A little after nine.
In Dong Xuebin's business suite, after the reunion broke up and everyone said goodbye at the hotel entrance, Pang Shuo and Du Juan followed Dong Xuebin back to his room.
Pang Shuo asked, "Xuebin, how have you developed over these past few years?"
Du Juan was also curious. "Yeah, how did you become Fuchu Level so quickly?"
Dong Xuebin smiled bitterly. "I earned quite a few merits over the years. Otherwise, at my age, even getting promoted to deputy section level would have been difficult. I guess I got lucky. Sometimes, when I think about it, it still feels pretty risky. If I'd handled certain things even a little wrong, I wouldn't have climbed to where I am now."
Du Juan sighed. "You've really made it now."
"Don't say that." Dong Xuebin waved his hand. "I actually envy you two. To be honest, I may have risen quickly these past few years, but I've also offended a lot of people. There's nothing we can't say among old classmates. Take the Municipal Party Secretary of Fenzhou City, for example—he already has it in for me. In my situation, what else can I even talk about? Sigh, I don't know what I'm going to do in the future. For now, I'm just taking things one step at a time."
Pang Shuo was startled. "You offended Secretary Wan?"
"Yeah." Dong Xuebin gave an awkward smile. "And badly, too."
Du Juan sighed with emotion. "Even so, you're still doing far better than us. A twenty-five-year-old Fuchu Level official—I'm serious, I've never even heard of one. It's too unbelievable."
Pang Shuo looked at him. "Xuebin, you're one of Fenzhou City's leaders now. We all work in the same city, so if you need anything in the future, just