Early the next morning, Lin Hai gave Hou Xianpin a call, but it was rejected.
“In a meeting. I’ll contact you after it’s over.” A little while later, Hou Xianpin texted back.
Lin Hai went downstairs. Song Qin had already finished making breakfast. He ate a bit, then got in the car and headed straight to Liu Xinyue’s house.
Today was another day for Liu Shan to take his medicine. Starting today, Liu Xinyue was going to be fully focused on preparing for the Youth Singer Competition, eating and living at school. Lin Hai didn’t want to bother her.
He rang the doorbell. It took a long time before the door finally opened.
Liu Xinqing stood at the door in her pajamas, her eyes bleary with sleep.
“You’re late. My sister already left for school.” Liu Xinqing rubbed her eyes, looking completely unawake.
“Where’s your aunt?” Lin Hai snuck a quick glance or two and swallowed hard.
“She went grocery shopping.”
“I’ll go in, give your uncle his medicine, and leave right after.”
“Oh.” Liu Xinqing yawned and stepped aside from the doorway.
Lin Hai walked into Liu Shan’s room. Liu Shan’s breathing was steady, just like he was asleep. No one could tell he was in a vegetative state.
Lin Hai took out the pill and fed it to Liu Shan.
Then, using his Heavenly Eye ability, he could clearly see that Liu Shan’s soul and body were fusing even further. They were almost completely inseparable now.
“How’s my dad doing?” Liu Xinqing asked from behind him.
“One more dose of medicine, and he should wake up.”
“Awesome!” Liu Xinqing waved her little hands happily.
“Um, I should get going.” Lin Hai felt like he couldn’t stay any longer.
As he walked past Liu Xinqing, Lin Hai suddenly stopped and pointed at her.
“Little sister-in-law, you’re exposed.”
Liu Xinqing was startled and quickly looked down.
“Ah! You pervert! You pervert…”
But Lin Hai had already run off.
At the mayoral office meeting, Tang Sen was reporting on the specific arrangements for the auction of the Hu Group’s assets, submitted by the court.
Hou Xianpin sat in a small chair in the back row, diligently taking notes.
Suddenly, his head buzzed. Then, a sexy, alluring figure with a face like a peach blossom appeared in his mind.
“Damn it, here it comes again!” Hou Xianpin was shocked and tried his best to push Taotao out of his mind, but it had no effect whatsoever.
His hand, out of his control, pulled out his phone and pressed the record button.
As soon as the meeting ended, Hou Xianpin walked into Tang Sen’s office with a pained expression on his face.
“Mayor Tang, there’s something I need to report to you.” Hou Xianpin’s entire body was trembling.
“What is it?” Tang Sen looked a bit unhappy, as if still angry about what happened yesterday.
“Mayor Tang, I didn’t intentionally leak the auction information yesterday. I… I’ve been hit by a Peach Blossom Calamity.”
“Peach Blossom Calamity?” Tang Sen was so angry he let out a bitter laugh. “So you were seduced by that woman yesterday? And you have the nerve to bring it up!”
Tang Sen slammed his hand on the table in anger, a look of disappointment spreading across his face.
He actually thought highly of Hou Xianpin. The young man was hardworking, diligent, and capable. Tang Sen had even planned to assign him to a good position outside the city in a year or two.
He never expected that, in the end, even a hero couldn’t get past the beauty test. He had fallen because of a woman.
“Mayor Tang, it’s not what you think. It’s like my mind is being controlled. I myself…”
“Enough!” Tang Sen got angrier the more he heard. “Xiao Hou, making a mistake isn’t scary. But if you don’t have the courage to take responsibility…”
Before he could finish, Hou Xianpin’s expression suddenly changed dramatically. In his mind, he received an order to send the phone recording to Taotao.
“Mayor Tang, I need to step out for a moment.” Hou Xianpin said and then ran out.
“He’s getting more and more rude!” Tang Sen was so angry his whole body trembled.
If it weren’t for the fact that Hou Xianpin had worked with him for many years and they had a deep bond, he would have wanted to replace him immediately.
Back in his office, Hou Xianpin quickly called Lin Hai.
“Xiao Lin, how’s it going? That Taotao is controlling me again, making me do things I shouldn’t.” Hou Xianpin’s tone was very urgent.
Lin Hai was startled. “I’ve found a way to break it. Where are you?”
“At the city government building. Get here fast. I’ll let the guards know. Come straight to my office when you arrive. Hurry!!!”
After making the call, Hou Xianpin suddenly felt a bit dazed. As if under a spell, he sent the recording from the meeting out.
Ten-some minutes later, Lin Hai arrived. After asking the guard where Hou Xianpin’s office was, Lin Hai ran straight upstairs.
From Hou Xianpin’s tone, Lin Hai knew the situation was urgent. He had to race against the clock.
“Which department are you from? So reckless!” As Lin Hai passed a doorway, he was running so fast he nearly collided with Tang Sen, who was just coming out of his office.
“Sorry, sorry.” Lin Hai quickly apologized and ran into Hou Xianpin’s office.
“Hmm?” Tang Sen had thought Lin Hai was looking for some other leader, but instead, he went into his own secretary’s office.
Tang Sen frowned and followed him in.
As soon as he entered, he saw a strange sight.
Hou Xianpin was sitting at his desk, looking dazed, as if he had gone stupid.
And Lin Hai had somehow produced a large ladle.
Before Tang Sen could react, Lin Hai splashed a ladle full of water right into Hou Xianpin’s face.
“Here, have a face full of bathwater, my friend!”
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing!” Tang Sen was startled. He couldn’t believe someone would dare come to the city government building and cause trouble.
Lin Hai didn’t answer. Instead, he activated his Heavenly Eye ability and looked above Hou Xianpin’s head.
“It worked!” Seeing the faint peachy-pink layer slowly dissipate, Lin Hai breathed a sigh of relief.
“Sir, I’m a friend of Brother Hou’s. He was hit by a Peach Blossom Calamity. I was just helping him.” Lin Hai quickly explained.
But before he could finish, he heard a thud behind him. Hou Xianpin had collapsed onto the floor.
What the hell? What’s happening?
Lin Hai stood there holding the big ladle, completely dumbfounded.
“Someone, get him to the hospital…”
Before long, Hou Xianpin was rushed to the city’s First People’s Hospital, and Lin Hai was detained by the guards.
Lin Hai sat in Hou Xianpin’s office, staring at the two guards watching him like hawks, feeling utterly frustrated.
Damn it. What kind of situation is this?
I was trying to help him, wasn’t I?
Seeing that Mayor Tang’s secretary had been brought in unconscious, and that Mayor Tang himself had come personally, the doctors at the First People’s Hospital naturally took it very seriously.
While they ran various tests on Hou Xianpin, someone called Du Chun.
By the time Du Chun arrived, all the test results were in.
“What’s the situation?” Du Chun asked as he changed into his lab coat.
“Dean Du, it’s very strange. Secretary Hou’s tests all came back normal. It’s just…”
“Just what?” Du Chun asked as he walked toward the patient area.
“It’s just that the patient’s vital signs are gradually weakening. At this rate, in three days at most…”
“What?” Du Chun was also stunned. All tests normal, but vital signs slowly failing? That was truly strange.
“Take me to see him.” Du Chun quickened his pace.
“Dean Du, please take a good look at Xiao Hou.” Tang Sen hurried over when he saw Du Chun arrive.
“Mm.” Du Chun didn’t stop walking just because the other person was the mayor. He acknowledged with a grunt and went straight into the examination room.
More than half an hour later, Du Chun finally came back out.
“Dean Du, how is Secretary Hou?” Tang Sen’s driver, Xiao Sha, quickly came over to ask.
Dean Du didn’t say anything. Instead, he made a strange face.
