"Why were you all laughing so happily just now? What were you talking about?" Shuya maintained a reasonable distance from Lu Weimin, but the faint fragrance from her body wafted into Lu Weimin's nostrils, even more captivating than the strong scent of Helin from before.
Lu Weimin smiled and recounted the conversation he had with Guo Huaizhang and Helin. Shuya also chuckled lightly.
Sliding into the center of the dance floor, the crowded crowd forced Lu Weimin and Shuya to take the smallest steps to avoid bumping into the surrounding dancers. Seeing the couples around them immersed in love, hugging and cuddling, Lu Weimin and Shuya both felt a bit awkward. However, they couldn't just leave, so they had to tough it out.
Finally finding a gap to slip out, both Lu Weimin and Shuya couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Lu Weimin even felt his shirt back drenched in sweat.
"Weimin, it's too stuffy in here. Why don't we go for a walk?" Shuya glanced at the classmates still chatting in the corner and suggested, "It's much cooler by the lake."
Lu Weimin didn't expect Shuya to make such a request. He turned to look at the other side, trying to find Guo Huaizhang. Since it was Guo Huaizhang who organized this event, leaving without saying goodbye seemed impolite.
"We can come back later. I don't like the environment here," Shuya said softly.
"Alright, let's go for a walk." Lu Weimin knew he would be the subject of gossip among Guo Huaizhang and the others, but he was always soft-hearted and easily swayed by women. This was perhaps his greatest weakness in his previous life. Both Yue Shuanti and Ye Man had brought him endless trouble. If not for Yue Shuanti, he might have already been the Party Secretary of a district or county. If not for Ye Man, he wouldn't have faced such a tragic incident that night, and perhaps he wouldn't be here now.
What were Yue Shuanti and Ye Man doing now? Lu Weimin was momentarily lost in thought.
Noticing the change in Lu Weimin's mood, Shuya was surprised. She had never encountered a boy who could still focus on something else in her presence. In college, the boys who pursued her were countless, but none of them gave her a special feeling. Perhaps it was also because she knew they would all face the challenge of graduation and job allocation, so she didn't put much effort into it.
Today, Lu Weimin left a unique impression on her. Although Guo Huaizhang seemed more outstanding to other classmates, with a leadership demeanor in his words and actions, Shuya felt that Lu Weimin was the one who truly had hidden depths, exuding a unique charm in his every move.
Shuya didn't know why he left such an impression on her, but she always felt he was like an endless mountain, standing there, radiating boundless charm.
"Lu Weimin, what are you thinking about?"
"Oh, sorry, I was a bit distracted, thinking about some old things." Lu Weimin took a deep breath to regain his composure.
"Things from your school days?" Shuya raised an eyebrow.
"Not entirely, many things, and some reflections," Lu Weimin said casually, then noticed the girl's attentive gaze beside him and spoke with confidence, "I was thinking that I originally wanted to stay and work in Changzhou, but it didn't work out. Now that I'm back in Nantang, I'll do my best to make a difference here, to live up to this arrangement by fate."
Lu Weimin's words touched Shuya's heart. "Weimin, you're a secretary now. They say being a secretary is a great platform. If you can gain the favor of your superiors, there's a lot of room for advancement. Guo Huaizhang often says he'll only work in the county government office for three years before moving on. What about you?"
"Shuya, I'm a bit different from Huaizhang. He serves as a secretary to the main county leaders, and he has a better foundation, having worked for a year already. Everyone speaks highly of him, so the possibility of him moving on is high. I just started, and I'm serving as a secretary to the deputy county magistrate and vice-secretary, and it's a temporary position, so I'm quite different from Huaizhang."
Lu Weimin's demeanor was calm and composed, but in Shuya's eyes, it added a different kind of surprise. To her, Guo Huaizhang already had a distinguished air, but this Lu Weimin, just starting his career, exuded a completely different aura in his words and actions, drawing her in and making her want to understand him better. A flush of heat made Shuya subconsciously try to control her emotions.
"I also heard that Secretary Shen will be leaving soon. What will you do if he goes?" She took a careful breath of the cool air from the lake, using the act of brushing her hair from her forehead to hide her discomfort. She had clearly heard the conversation between Zhang Jun and Guo Huaizhang and was now very concerned about Lu Weimin's future.
"There's always a way when you reach the mountain. A living person can't be held back by a little trouble," Lu Weimin smiled.
By 9:00 PM, the streets of Nantang were mostly empty, except for the central crossroads, which still had some people. The other streets were sparsely populated. Beyond the south street, there was the Lingxi Pond, not large but surrounded by some pine forests left over from a special period. The county had always wanted to turn this area into a park, but the tight budget had forced several leaders to give up on the idea.
However, this place had become a favorite spot for young couples to date. It was right by the city, with the pine forests along the lake providing just the right amount of privacy. In the hot summer, the county had set up some stone benches and chairs, making it a favorite among young people.
Lu Weimin and Shuya didn't realize they had walked to this place until they saw couples holding hands and sitting on the benches, cuddling. Shuya immediately felt her face flush.
Lu Weimin didn't have any particular feeling, but he was lost in a nostalgic reverie, remembering the brief and intoxicating moments he had once shared with someone here.
"Weimin, let's go back." Although it was dark, the passionate actions of the couples couldn't help but catch their eyes. Shuya felt a bit embarrassed, wondering how