"Hongtao, don't panic yet. The higher-ups still favor you. Once we win over the other Standing Committee members, the Executive Deputy Department Director position will definitely be yours."
Tian Zhengbing sighed inwardly. He had thought everything would go smoothly, only for Zhou Yi to appear out of nowhere and nearly ruin Gou Hongtao's chances.
Another half-rank promotion within six months might seem impossible, but there was actually nothing impossible about it.
Exceptional promotions, and consecutive exceptional promotions, were tailor-made for precisely these supposedly impossible situations!
Meanwhile, Gan Yongsheng watched Gou Hongtao's expression shift from delight to stunned disbelief, then to furious frustration. A thought stirred in his mind. Could that appointment have fallen through?
So he feigned concern and asked, "What's wrong, Hongtao?"
Gou Hongtao shot a resentful glance toward Zhou Yi, then forced a smile. "Nothing. Department Director Tian called. There's been a slight hiccup with that matter of mine, but it's nothing serious."
"What went wrong?" Gan Yongsheng pressed, deliberately sounding surprised.
Knowing he couldn't keep it secret for long anyway, Gou Hongtao revealed the truth irritably. "That bastard Zhou is trying to snatch it out from under me!"
"Seriously?" Gan Yongsheng asked, a little excited, nearly failing to keep his expression under control.
Gou Hongtao stared at him grimly. Could you fucking rein it in a little when I'm right here?
That smug, gloating look on your face makes me want to slap you twice across the mouth!
Deputy Department Director Zhou knew nothing about any of this. After lunch, he went back to his office with Jian Shuyue and sat for a while, then the two of them headed home together like a happy married couple.
There was nothing much to do at work that afternoon anyway. They might as well go home and keep doing