Power and Wealth C.1597

It was past nine o'clock.

Royal Hotel.

The bus stopped at the entrance, and everyone got off one after another, all returning.

Dong Xuebing was the last one to get off. He struggled with the dozen or so packages for quite a while. In the end, Hou Wen took a few of them, allowing Dong Xuebing to squeeze out the bus door. He was sweating profusely and realized he had miscalculated. He had been so happy buying whatever he saw, never imagining that they added up to a considerable weight while each item wasn't heavy. It was difficult for him to carry them all.

"You bought too much," Hou Wen said speechlessly.

Dong Xuebing gasped, "It's because my wife likes it."

Hou Wen teased, "You're good to your wife. Look at you." Then he paused and added, "Um, but if I could marry such a beautiful wife, I would treat her the same way."

Dong Xuebing scoffed, "You keep talking."

"How much did all of this cost?" Hou Wen asked.

Dong Xuebing nonchalantly replied, "Not much, I didn't keep track."

Han Fang, beside them, envied, "They're all top brands. I know this bag is eighty thousand. I saw one just like it, but it was too expensive, so I didn't buy it."

Hou Wen exclaimed, "Xuebing, when did your family become so wealthy?"

Dong Xuebing calmly responded, "I won the lottery a few times, first prize."

Some people nearby overheard, finally understanding how he could afford to buy so much. But the revelation that he won the first prize, not just once but several times, left them all dumbfounded.

Hou Wen clenched his teeth and said, "We haven't seen each other for only three years since graduation. It's only been three years, sigh, there's no comparison."

Ahead, Xie Huilan turned back and said, "Xuebing, give me a few bags."

Dong Xuebing was reluctant to let her carry them, "No need, I'll carry them."

"I said give them to me," Xie Huilan smiled and walked over, taking a bag containing perfume and another with a scarf from inside, and left.

Since the perfume was heavy, Dong Xuebing felt much lighter. He also took the bag that Hou Wen had helped him carry. Everyone chatted as they went upstairs.

Many cadres and family members who hadn't gone to the casino with them probably heard about what happened at the Grand Lisboa. Seeing Dong Xuebing spending so much money on shopping, they looked at him with a strange expression, unable to understand what kind of person he was. A young man with so much money, even though he's a leader in the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and married to Secretary Xie, they increasingly couldn't understand Secretary Xie's husband. What does he do, exactly?

Upstairs.

In the executive room.

Dong Xuebing returned first and didn't see Huilan. With so many people around, he didn't know where she had gone. After entering the room, he panted heavily as he dropped the pile of bags. The volume of these bags was almost larger than Dong Xuebing himself, and he didn't know how he managed to carry them back.

So tired.

It's time for a shower.

Dong Xuebing took off his clothes and walked into the bathroom naked. After running the water, he settled into the bathtub, enjoying the hot bath and lighting a cigarette. He was delighted with this vacation. After being so busy with work for many years, he finally had a few months to rest appropriately.

So comfortable.

Such enjoyment.

Ding, the room card beeped. It seemed like the door outside was being opened.

Dong Xuebing called out to the bathroom door, "Back?"

"Yeah," footsteps approached. "What's up, taking a shower?"

"Exhausted and sweaty all over, I had to shower. Where did you go before coming back?" Dong Xuebing extinguished his cigarette and tossed it into the trash can.

"Hehe, went to chat with a few ladies."

"Put the stuff down first and come here. Let's shower together."

"There's nothing left. It's all been given away."

"Ah, what about the perfume and the scarves you just got?"

"Yeah, Sister Chen and Secretary Cheng's wife liked them."

"These cost over a thousand each. Is it okay to give them away?"

"It's not a hierarchical relationship. There's nothing between friends."

"True, strengthening relationships is good. You just arrived in Jiangnan Province; your network isn't strong enough yet. You need to establish connections quickly to carry out your work effectively."

There was silence outside.

After a while, the bathroom door suddenly opened.

Dong Xuebing was startled and turned his head to look. He saw a white figure slowly walking in, closing the door behind her and waving at him naturally.

"Make some room," Xie Huilan smiled.

Dong Xuebing swallowed hard and moved over a bit. "Um."

Xie Huilan lifted her slender legs slightly before entering the water, then her whole body submerged as she lay down in the bathtub next to Dong Xuebing.

Even though they had been married for over a year and had a child, Dong Xuebing still found Xie Huilan terrifyingly beautiful every time he saw her. That face, it was beyond description, and her figure, her skin, her temperament, he could never get enough of it. Dong Xuebing was moved and reached out to embrace her smooth back, leaning in to inhale the fragrance of her hair deeply.

"How are you so beautiful?" he asked.

"Hehe, it's natural for me," Xie Huilan replied.

"Do you think I'm worthy of you?"

"Why are you being so sentimental?"

"Just asking. Seriously, why did you marry me?"

"Do you want to hear the truth?"

"Yes, tell me."

"Because you always get into trouble, making people constantly worry. If I'm not there to keep an eye on you, if my family isn't there to clean up after you, who knows what trouble you'd cause? So I couldn't rest assured. So, I had to marry you to keep you on the right path. That's probably it." Xie Huilan smiled ambiguously.

Dong Xuebing rolled his eyes. "What kind of nonsense is that?"

"Motherly love is also a kind of affection. A woman's feelings are very complex. You should be content. You're lucky to be able to act cute and take advantage of it."

Dong Xuebing retorted, "..."

"Not satisfied?"

"Not at all. I thought you were attracted to me because of my charm," Dong Xuebing boasted shamelessly.

"If causing trouble is a charm, then you have quite a bit of charm," Xie Huilan chuckled.

Dong Xuebing grumbled, "I'm unsatisfied. Being fooled by a sudden burst of motherly love. I thought you were attracted to me."

"Okay, then I will make you satisfied today."

Before Dong Xuebing could react, Xie Huilan lowered her head and, holding her breath, submerged her head in the water, gently opening her mouth underwater.

Dong Xuebing's body trembled suddenly, and he felt like his scalp was about to explode. He gasped for air, and a chill ran down his spine. Today was truly a surprising day.