The Beautiful County Magistrate
Chapter 222: Goodbye First Love!

Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Goodbye First Love!

Listening to his own father’s roar, Lu Mingtao was completely dumbfounded.

Damn it, what’s happening here?

Normally, he caused plenty of trouble and provoked people, and every time, his dad would say, "Our family is rich and powerful, so why be afraid? Just mess around outside, and if anything happens, I’ll take care of it for you."

But today was different. He had just provoked Xu Qianli, and his dad was actually instructing him to go apologize and kowtow to Xu Qianli?

Thinking he had heard wrong, Lu Mingtao said, "Dad, you must be joking, right? Why should I apologize and kowtow to him? Isn’t he just a minor official in Jiang City? Even if he dealt with Lu Chen and Fang Xiong, that’s because they’re both in the system. Our family is in business, not in the bureaucratic system. Why should we be afraid of him?"

"Afraid of him?"

"Can’t believe you have the nerve to say that!"

"Don’t you know that Lu Chen and Fang Xiong were taken down by him? Do you even realize that last night, Feng Jiang got screwed over by someone, and a lot of dirt dug up, getting shot was inevitable."

"It was Xu Qianli who made the move!"

"Son of a bitch, you want to kill me, don’t you? Stop your nonsense, hurry up and apologize to him on your knees. If you can’t get his forgiveness, I’ll disown you, and I’ll legitimize a bastard instead!"

The words from Lu Wen’s phone grew louder until he was roaring them out.

Lu Mingtao was completely terrified.

Fucking hell, Feng Jiang got screwed over by Xu Qianli and was destined to be shot?

Others might not know Feng Jiang, but Lu Mingtao understood him well, having often hung out in Feng Jiang’s Emperor Nightclub; drinking, fooling around with women, and sniffing illegal powders. He knew how wealthy and capable Feng Jiang was, certainly no less than his father Lu Wen. Moreover, Feng Jiang had connections in both the underworld and law enforcement, a formidable figure indeed.

Such a character, not to mention him, even his dad, Lu Wen, didn’t dare to provoke. And he got screwed over by Xu Qianli?

In that moment, Lu Mingtao’s face couldn’t look worse, his legs went weak, and with a thump, he knelt before Xu Qianli.

"Bro, I was wrong."

"Please be magnanimous, forgive me this once."

"From now on, I will never dare to mess with Du Rumeng, no, I mean your sister-in-law."

"If you’re still angry, just come and beat me up, beat me to death."

"Please forgive me this time, I am sincerely remorseful ..."

Lu Mingtao completely caved in, kneeling beside his car, endlessly begging for mercy.

Xu Qianli said, "If you are sensible, since you’ve called us brother and sister-in-law, I’ll let this go just this once. But remember, I’m only sparing you once. If you ever harass my woman again, there won’t be a next time!"

Too lazy to deal with him anymore, Xu Qianli stepped on the accelerator and drove off with the beautiful Du Rumeng.

As he watched the car disappear into the distance, Lu Mingtao still couldn’t get up.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to; his legs were just too weak to stand.

Fucking hell, he couldn’t understand it—wasn’t this guy just a minor official in Jiang City? How was he so mighty, so domineering?

No matter what, he was someone he couldn’t afford to provoke, truly couldn’t afford to.

Back in Xu Qianli’s car, as he drove, he wrapped his arms around Du Rumeng and said with a wicked smile, "Beautiful, I just helped you out big time, how are you going to repay me?"

"Mmm, don’t touch me recklessly!"

"You really have a way with words, I’m already yours, and helping your own woman swat away flies, yet still expecting a thank you — you’re something else."

"Uh, not there, it still hurts."

"You know just how bad you were yesterday, acting like you haven’t touched a woman in ages, everyone’s scared of you."

"Hehehe, you really had a manly vibe just now."

"I actually thought you’d be at a disadvantage against Lu Mingtao, but you handled him effortlessly, made him kneel and beg for mercy — that’s impressive."

Du Rumeng spoke with increasing softness and charm as she talked, the temperature around her rising, her gaze becoming seductive to the extreme, with an irresistibly enticing aura.

It’s all Xu Qianli’s fault for being so annoying, trying to stop him was pointless.

Xu Qianli said, "If I weren’t capable, how could I have won you over? I have something to discuss with you, accompany me to a banquet later. If I get drunk, take care of me."

"What kind of banquet, and why would you get drunk?" Du Rumeng was full of curiosity.

"It’s a business investment banquet in Zhongzhou City. As for why I might get drunk, don’t ask, just make sure to take care of me, whether sending me back to your place or finding a hotel room for me."

Xu Qianli didn’t feel like explaining since he was meeting an old flame and anything could happen.

The worst-case scenario would be leaving in disarray, or even stirring the deepest pain inside, which could likely lead him to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

Without further explanation from Xu Qianli, Du Rumeng didn’t press on. She knew Xu Qianli must be hiding something in his heart; rather than annoying him with questions, she’d rather stay silently by his side and see what was actually going on.

Soon, they arrived at Shangri-La Hotel, Xu Qianli and a visibly flustered Du Rumeng, with her blushed cheeks and wobbly stance, got out of the car and entered the hotel, quickly heading to the banquet hall.

The banquet hall was bustling with socialites and clinking glasses.

Zhongzhou City’s political leaders and business magnates from various places had gathered here for the grand occasion.

Xu Qianli casually sipped a glass of wine, deliberately scanning the crowd for that familiar figure.

Unfortunately, after a full round, he still hadn’t found Chu Qingyu.

Suddenly, Du Rumeng remarked, "Is she pretty?"

Xu Qianli replied, "How did you know I was meeting a woman?"

Du Rumeng rolled her eyes, scrutinizing Xu Qianli like he was a fool, and said impatiently, "Just by the way you look, anyone could tell you’re waiting for an old flame. Now, answer me, is she pretty? Is she more beautiful than me? Does she have a better figure?"

Before Xu Qianli could respond, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance.

Du Rumeng shifted her gaze towards it, her eyes lighting up instantly.

She saw a crowd of people, stars surrounding the moon, ushering a woman in a sapphire blue gown.

She had never seen this woman before; her beauty caused even Du Rumeng, a woman herself, to skip a beat, her eyes wide open in awe.

"Oh my, where did Zhongzhou City get such a stunning woman? Look at that face, that figure, and that regal demeanor — simply flawless, perfect."

"My dear, what exactly is her status? Why do all the political and business big shots of Zhongzhou City seem so deferential in her presence?"

"Wow, so beautiful, if only I could be that gorgeous."

"Hey, I’ve been talking for so long, why aren’t you saying anything?"

Du Rumeng chattered away, and glancing sideways, she saw Xu Qianli with a complex expression, transfixed on the woman.

Du Rumeng blurted out, "Her, could she be the one you’re here to meet?"