stjorthotic Chapter 100 Just as Handsome as You
Chapter 100 Just as Handsome as You
Chapter 99 As Handsome as You
The revelry of the party was still in full swing, and the light reflected from the crystal chandelier was dazzling.
Lin Chen had just finished receiving the award and settled into his seat when the host's loud voice pierced the noise once again, announcing the presentation of the last major award: the Best Flood Relief Commander Award.
When the list of award winners was read out, the first name Lin Chen clearly heard was Liao Shen, the leader of the Suixian Flood Control Command Center. This name was well-deserved. But the moment the second name entered his ears, his blood almost turned to madness. Yixin Haishi Company, once glorious.
Grass!
Honestly, Lin Chen almost jumped out of his seat when he heard his name.
Their award was also quite prestigious. Unlike Lin Chen and the other four, who only received eulogies, the big screen immediately lit up and began playing videos showcasing the achievements of the two award winners. Liao Shen's segment was simple and unadorned, consisting entirely of real footage of him carrying sandbags and guarding the dike. However, when the video switched to Zeng Huihuang, the style changed abruptly.
Although Zeng Huihuang was covered in mud and grime, he was tall and handsome, rushing to the accident scene against the flow of traffic at high speed without hesitation. He was decisive and ruthless, using a truck to block the breach without hesitation. He took the lead and jumped into the floodwaters without fear of danger. He was short in stature, but he carried sandbags with all his might, one, two, or even three bags at a time, but they could not break his spirit. He did not act like a big shot, but squatted on the bank, eating his boxed lunch alone. His expression was full of determination, and his figure was full of strength. Every action and every frame showed a conscientious and dedicated person who devoted himself to the people until his dying breath.
The video also interspersed footage of the devastation, collapsing houses, the evacuation of residents, and rescue operations by inflatable boats. The helpless expressions of the people and Zeng Huihuang's unwavering belief were intertwined, deeply moving the audience. The video concluded with Zeng Huihuang standing atop the breach in the dam, delivering his impassioned speech. His voice resonated throughout the event: "Floods can destroy our dams, they can destroy our homes, but they cannot destroy the fighting spirit of the Xinhai people, nor can they destroy the faith of the Xinhai people..."
'
After watching the video, Lin Chen felt extremely uncomfortable, as if someone had bitten his groin. When did using a truck to block the gap become Zeng Huihuang's idea? How could this be plagiarism?
He was the one who jumped into the floodwaters first, and by the time he arrived, it was too late. He's shameless! And that guy in the background carrying three sandbags—is that him? He's clearly a worker at the water station; why would they use a stunt double?
"Your city company leader is so handsome, just like you." A soft laugh came from the side. It was Luo Huiwen, the rural female teacher who was also commended. She was probably moved by the video. Her eyes were sparkling. After she finished speaking, she realized that her words were a bit ambiguous. Her cheeks flushed red. She hurriedly lowered her head, her fingertips clutching the hem of her skirt. She dared not look at Lin Chen again.
Lin Chen smirked, his tone almost overflowing with sarcasm: "Yeah, so handsome, and such great acting skills. It's such a waste that he doesn't go into acting and win an Oscar."
The applause from the audience was like a tidal wave, almost lifting the roof off.
Zeng Huihuang, a man of strong will throughout his life, stood up, wearing a well-fitting navy blue suit and with his hair slicked back. He tilted his head slightly and hugged and shook hands with the leaders around him one by one, looking just like he had won an Oscar.
The lights shone on his face, outlining a perfectly humble smile. Amidst everyone's applause, he strode to the podium. His demeanor showed no trace of the embarrassment of being criticized by the company; instead, he was full of vigor and unparalleled in his success.
Lin Chen's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the certificate, his knuckles turning white, and he even felt like throwing a few eggs at him.
At 10 p.m., the grand farce finally came to an end. Lin Chen didn't want to stay a second longer, so he got up and rushed towards the door. In his haste, his ankle accidentally caught on Luo Huiwen's skirt.
With a soft "rip," he lost his balance and fell forward. A faint milky scent lingered around his nose, mixed with the refreshing smell of shampoo, so pleasant that it made him feel a little uneasy.
"I'm sorry," Lin Chen said, standing up to apologize.
Luo Huiwen's face was already as red as a ripe apple. She hurriedly pulled up her skirt, shook her head, and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "N-nothing—are you in such a hurry to go back and celebrate with your girlfriend? Why are you in such a rush?"
"I don't have a girlfriend," Lin Chen breathed a sigh of relief and said truthfully, "I just want to go back to Suicheng as soon as possible."
Luo Huiwen's eyes brightened, and after hesitating for a few seconds, she bit her lower lip and asked softly, "Are you driving back? Could you—"
"Give me a ride? My home is also in Suicheng."
"Of course," Lin Chen readily agreed.
The two walked out of the venue side by side. In the parking lot, Lin Chen pressed the key, and the BMW X5 not far away turned on its headlights and made a soft "beep" sound.
Luo Huiwen was stunned for a moment, his expression showing surprise.
"Get in the car," Lin Chen said with a smile as he opened the passenger door. "You can sit in the front or the back."
Luo Huiwen's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. She bit her lip, her fingertips gripping the backpack strap, and whispered, "Sitting in the passenger seat... won't your wife yell at me?"
Lin Chen looked at her frankly: "I don't have a wife either; I'm single right now."
"Oh..." Luo Huiwen's cheeks turned even redder, but she couldn't help but smile. She quickly walked to the passenger seat, bent down and sat down. The soft seat gently enveloped her, so comfortable that she almost groaned.
The car smoothly drove away from the parking lot and merged into the traffic flow in the night.
The atmosphere in the carriage was subtly quiet. Luo Huiwen sat properly with his hands on his knees and his eyes on the neon lights flashing past the window.
For some reason, she couldn't help but steal glances at Lin out of the corner of her eye. His fingers on the steering wheel were long and beautiful, and the lines of his profile were sharp and distinct. When he was driving seriously, his brows were slightly furrowed, which made him even more pleasing to the eye than when he was receiving an award at the party.
"Your car is really comfortable," Luo Huiwen broke the silence first, her voice soft.
Lin Chen focused on the road conditions: "It's alright."
"It seems your water company pays very high salaries," Luo Huiwen remarked.
Lin Chen twitched the corner of his mouth: "Not the best, but not the worst either."
"You've already bought a BMW, and you're still so modest," Luo Huiwen chuckled.
Lin Chen didn't want to mention his extra money from writing novels, so he casually made up a lie: "I'm a very proud person, and I've invested all my savings in this car. Don't be fooled by this car; I'm actually penniless."
Luo Huiwen was skeptical and didn't say anything more, but was just thinking about something.
Suddenly, a large pothole appeared in the road ahead. Due to the darkness and poor visibility, Lin Chen couldn't avoid it in time. Despite slamming on the brakes to slow down, the car still lurched violently. Luo Huiwen was wearing a low-cut dress, and half of her breasts popped out.
"Ah, sorry!" Lin Chen's eyes were burning, he hadn't expected her to be so wealthy.
"It's nothing." Luo Huiwen pulled at her upper chest to cover her private parts, but her cheeks were so red they looked like they could bleed.
As the car entered Suicheng's territory, Lin Chen glanced at the navigation system and turned to ask, "Where are you getting off?"
Luo Huiwen said softly, "I live in Yujing Manor. Just drop me off wherever is convenient for you, and I'll walk back by myself in a bit."
Lin Chen was taken aback for a moment: "What a coincidence, I also live in Royal View Manor."
Upon hearing this, even Luo Huiwen was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, "What a coincidence? What building and floor do you live in? We're not neighbors, are we?"
"I'm in the villa area." Lin Chen had nothing to hide.
"Ah!" Luo Huiwen's eyes widened instantly, and surprise surged up in his heart. His chest pounded as if he had a rabbit in his hand.
"Then I'll just drive in."
The car eventually stopped in front of a villa with a courtyard. The wrought iron gate opened automatically, and the lawn lights in the courtyard lit up, illuminating the fence covered with roses, creating a warm and grand atmosphere.
Lin Chen turned off the engine and turned to look at her: "Teacher Luo, you can go back by yourself, right? You can go straight through this passage."
Luo Huiwen didn't move. Her gaze was fixed on the French windows of the villa, where a faint warm light shone through. Something in her heart seemed to have been gently bumped, causing ripples to spread. She wanted to go up and do something.
Lin Chen clearly didn't have that awareness. He unbuckled his seatbelt, said "Be careful on the road," then got out of the car, walked straight into the villa, and slammed the door shut.
Lin Chen was in a hurry to get back and write his novel.
The incident at Wushan Water Station has finally come to an end, and we've returned to our normal work routine.
The office is now completely different. Zhang Junmin has been transferred to the water plant. Sister Shan hasn't come to work for a long time because her husband, Tan Huasheng, was dismissed. The company hasn't paid attention to it either, since Tan Huasheng is seriously ill and hospitalized. Old Man Cheng retired a few days ago and gave Lin Chen a cake of tea and a few pornographic books.
Two new people have joined the office, a man and a woman. The man is named Liu Haoran, and the woman is named Cheng Ke. They are both new colleagues who have been working in the township for three years. They are quite enthusiastic about their work. Lin Chen noticed that the two of them were exchanging glances and making a lot of small gestures in private. Sometimes the man would touch the woman's hair. He guessed that they were probably a couple, but they were afraid of being discovered.
When Zhang Junmin was around, Lin Chen thought he was really annoying, but now that he's gone, he feels a bit empty. The whole office seems to have lost some kind of vitality. After all, without him, Chen Ya basically works with him all the time, which is sometimes quite awkward.
Of course, now that Tan Huasheng has been dismissed, the company has entered a completely new phase. Song Jiehui seems to have become a completely different person, showing extremely high work enthusiasm and efficiency. Moreover, the company doesn't seem to have been delayed at all since there is no deputy. He is in charge of both business and personnel, and both are very capable.
In the past, Song Jiehui would not speak too loudly in meetings, and he was always open to discussion, making him seem amiable. But after Tan Huasheng was dismissed, he seemed to have suddenly awakened. He straightened his back, raised his voice, and started to act like he had the final say, and he would also make personal attacks at the drop of a hat.
Lin Chen still prefers the old him, at least he wasn't so manipulative. Now, his official mannerisms are becoming more and more natural, and his various methods of manipulating people's hearts and minds are faintly reminiscent of his former glory.
Zeng Huihuang is no longer just an individual, but a phenomenon.