Chapter 139 –Xie Huilan is in danger! (1/2)

It’s the 2nd day of Lunar New Year.

Luan Xiaoping had planned to return yesterday. But she was elated by the news of her son’s promotion and decided to stay one more day to accompany Dong Xuebing. This morning, Dong Xuebing sent her to the bus stop. Before she left, she cried. She felt Dong Xuebing had made her proud and want him to visit the village when he is free. Dong Xuebing was not close to his mother’s side of relatives and rarely go back. But seeing his mother’s tears, he promised he will visit her when he got the time.

Dong Xuebing returned back to his apartment alone.

Qu Yunxuan was still at her parents’ place. Chang Juan and the rest had also visited him yesterday. There should be no one visiting today.

Dong Xuebing felt bored. He went online to see if any of his former classmates were online for a chat. But all of them were offline. After switching off the PC, Dong Xuebing wondered if he should buy some gifts to his leaders. This was not bribery. It’s the Chinese culture to send gifts during festivals. Since it’s not convenient for him to visit the State Security Branch quarters, but it should be fine for him to visit Xie Huilan. Xie Huilan had helped him a lot with the incident at the Newspaper agency. He has to pay her a visit to thank her again.

That’s right. Visit Sister Xie. She is a leader in the Central Government. It will not be a bad thing to be close to her.

Dong Xuebing immediately went to the nearby shopping mall and bought a bottle of perfume worth over 1,000 RMB.

Giving gifts to leaders had lots of unspoken rules too. Firstly, Dong Xuebing cannot call up and tell the other party that he will be visiting them in advanced. He will be rejected. He will also not know if the other party was being courteous or really mean it. If he wants to give gifts, he had to visit the leaders’ straight or give them a call when he reached their place. The gift must also be specially selected. The leaders will not accept expensive presents and they will not be happy with him. If the gift were too cheap, the leaders would think that Dong Xuebing had no respect for him. That’s why Dong Xuebing picked this bottle of perfume. It’s not too expensive or cheap, and it’s suitable for female leaders.

Beiqiao.

This was the place when Dong Xuebing met Xie Huilan the first time. She mentioned that she was living in her department’s quarters nearby.

Dong Xuebing asked around and finally got the address of the Publicity Department, News division’s quarters. It was a small and old estate. There was a concrete wall surrounding the estate, and there were 3 to 4 grey apartment buildings. When the guards saw Dong Xuebing holding on to a gift, they knew he must be here to visit the leaders. They did not stop him and let him enter. The security guards there will not stop people who came here with gifts. They will only stop those who acted suspiciously.

It was quiet outside the estate, but when Dong Xuebing entered the estate, he got shocked. It was very crowded inside.

Some people were walking out empty handed, and some were walking up the stairs with lots of gifts in their hands. Outside of an apartment building, 3 people were carrying their gifts and waiting outside the gate. After someone had exit, one person outside will enter. The other two continued to remain there. They seem to be queuing up to send gifts.

Dong Xuebing was dumbfounded. The Central Government’s departments were different.

Dong Xuebing took out his phone and called Xie Huilan. He still does not know if she was at home.

The line got through. “Hello.”

Dong Xuebing quickly say: “Sister Xie, thank you for your help with the newspaper agency. I am at the News division quarters. I would like to pay you a visit. Errr…… is this a good time?” Before Dong Xuebing knew about Xie Huilan’s position, he did not speak politely with her. But after he found out that she was the Deputy Director of the News Division, Research Department, he changed the way he talks to her. He got no choice. Her rank was way higher than him.

Xie Huilan laughed. “Don’t be so courteous. I had owed you a favor in the past, and that’s returning your favor.”

Dong Xuebing replied: “How can your help be compared to my favor? I must thank you personally.”

“Fine. Since you are here, come up to my place. I am staying at block 6, unit 303. Come up 10 minutes later.”

After hanging up, Dong Xuebing realized that block 6 was the apartment building where all the leaders from the News Division were staying. Those people who were queuing up were waiting to enter block 6. There should be someone in Xie Huilan’s apartment now. If not, she will not ask him to wait for 10 minutes.

10 minutes later, it was almost lunchtime. The crowd in the quarters thinned.

Dong Xuebing walked up to the electronic gates of block 6 and pressed unit 303. “Sister Xie, it’s me.”

This was the intercom to Xie Huilan’s unit. Clicked. The electronic gate was opened, and Xie Huilan said over the intercom. “Come up.”

Dong Xuebing quickly entered the building. But before he could walk up the stairs, he heard someone talking upstairs.

“Director Xie, you don’t need to walk me out.”

“Old Xu, then I will not send you.”

“Yes. Please go back.”

When Dong Xuebing reached the second level, he walked past Old Xu. He was in his 40s, and they looked at each other without saying a word. Xie Huilan had not closed her doors and was waiting outside her unit. She smiled when she saw Dong Xuebing. Dong Xuebing quickly walks over. It’s not good to let a leader wait. “Sister Xie, Happy Lunar New Year.”

Xie Huilan smiled. “Happy New Year to you too. Come in.”

Dong Xuebing entered her apartment and saw a cabinet full of gifts. There were cosmetics, wine, health supplements, fruit baskets, etc. Dong Xuebing looked at all those gifts and placed his perfume on the cabinet. After that, he chatted with Xie Huilan as they walked over to the living room. This was an old apartment, but it was well decorated.

“What tea would you prefer? Flower or red tea?”

“No need. Plain water will do. I will pour myself.”

“Hahaha. You are too courteous with me.”

Dong Xuebing poured a glass of water for himself and sat upright on the sofa.

Xie Huilan was wearing a white shirt and black pants. Her hair was tied up in a bun and had crossed her legs. She was wearing skin-colored stockings with a pair of black high heels. She was very sexy with a slim and tall figure, coupled with her beautiful features.

Dong Xuebing had a hard time controlling his eyes. His eyes kept drifting down to look at her body.

Damn! What am I thinking? Sister Xie is a bigshot! What am I looking at? I already have Aunt Xuan, and I am still not satisfied?

Dong Xuebing scolded himself in his heart and took a sip of water to hide his embarrassment.

Xie Huilan was looking at him with a smile. She gracefully picks up a piece of orange and eats it. She smiled and pushes the fruit platter towards Dong Xuebing. “Have some fruits. Oh, Xiao Dong, I still do not know what you are working as.”

Dong Xuebing straightened his back and replied. “I am also working for the government agency. I am working at Western District State Security’s General Affairs Office.”