Chapter 1539: Chapter 1539: Sir, We Are Not Acquainted (1)
C City, winter, Hanjue Hotel, twenty-ninth floor.
A wine party was underway here, the hall bustling with people coming and going.
Men and women held tall stemmed glasses and moved about, chatting casually.
Xia Chuqing had drunk a little too much. She sat on the sofa, her eyes half-closed, holding her forehead.
Even though it was winter, the hall was warm, and her outfit was rather revealing.
A sky-blue one-shoulder bodycon dress hugged her perfect, curvaceous figure tightly. Her jet-black hair was styled in a bun tied at the back, with a swinging pearl necklace brushing against her ears.
Yesterday, she had flown from Paris to C City because there was this wine party today.
She was still six months away from graduation, but a few days ago, she had learned some news: her father had long since been taken into custody and imprisoned under the "two-regulations" system.
She could no longer remember how she felt upon hearing the news—pain? Numbness? Or an unspeakable despair?
Holding her forehead, her thoughts drifted back to a few days earlier.
"Chuqing, don’t be sad. I heard he’s only been sentenced to four years; he’ll be out in a year and a half," the woman who had delivered the news was Yao Jia, a friend visiting Paris who had casually brought it up in conversation with Xia Chuqing.
"Why was my father arrested? Tell me!" Xia Chuqing was agitated and clutched Yao Jia’s hand.
"I heard it was because someone reported him."
"Who? Tell me, who reported him?"
"I don’t know either. They say it was someone from another city. Come to think of it, no one from this city would dare report him." Yao Jia looked troubled.
"Why didn’t I hear anything about this?"
"Maybe someone deliberately kept it a secret from you? Anyway, it wasn’t a big uproar, and I heard the person who reported him has a lot of power, capable of suppressing the news." Yao Jia explained.
"Why is it like this? Why did my mom and dad both keep it from me..." Xia Chuqing clutched her head in anguish.
"Ah, they must have wanted to spare you the pain."
"Yao Jia, do you have any way to help?"
"How could I have any way? I’m just a worker; my family doesn’t know any officials. I can’t help you. Your dad had plenty of friends in office, didn’t he? Try reaching out to them. I’m sorry."
Later, Yao Jia told her that Director Guan, the person in charge of the matter, would attend this wine party in C City, so she could attempt to plead with him.
Even if the plea doesn’t succeed, at least putting in a word might help.
With that thought, Xia Chuqing took another sip of wine, resting her chin in her hand. Yes, even if the plea doesn’t work, saying something is better than nothing.
As his daughter, she hadn’t learned of the news until now. As a daughter... could she even call herself one?
Thinking about this, Xia Chuqing smirked bitterly; everyone had kept it from her.
For two years abroad, she hadn’t sensed a single anomaly. Her heart swelled with self-reproach.
Her father must have suffered terribly in prison, hadn’t he?
She called her father’s former close friends, but each of them avoided her as if she were the plague, ending the calls after a few brief words.
The coldness of human relationships was evident.
With no choice left, she managed to secure an invitation to the wine party and snuck in without drawing attention.
Director Guan...
She searched for Director Guan’s figure in the crowd.
Judging from the photographs, Director Guan was a middle-aged man, neither tall nor short, with a round belly.
Sitting on the sofa, she scanned the room, comparing the faces around her to the photo on her phone.
After much looking, finally, she spotted Director Guan in the center of the hall!
She had intended to approach him right away, but hesitated upon seeing the crowd surrounding him.
She had already rehearsed what she wanted to say. If she could meet Director Guan later, she would plead with him, ask him to reveal the truth, and see if there was anything she, as a daughter, could do to help.
One and a half years left—she couldn’t bear the thought of her father enduring another year and a half in prison!
A prison was no place for anyone!
Director Guan held a high position of power, and the people surrounding him showed no sign of dispersing, continuing to speak with him incessantly.
Xia Chuqing couldn’t find an opportunity and kept her eyes locked on Director Guan’s whereabouts!
As the party was nearing its end, Director Guan, clearly intoxicated, left the hall to rest in his room.
Xia Chuqing seized the chance, hurriedly stumbling after him.
Tonight was a rare opportunity. If she could grasp it, she might be able to put in a good word for her father.
Following him in her high heels, it wasn’t until they reached a secluded area that Xia Chuqing mustered enough courage.
But unexpectedly, instead of opening the door, Director Guan seemed to sense someone tailing him. Stopping at his room’s entrance, he turned around.
"Miss... you seem to have been following me this whole time?" Director Guan squinted his eyes and gazed at Xia Chuqing.
Xia Chuqing froze in place, her face betraying her embarrassment.
"I..." For a moment, she didn’t know what reason to give. Or maybe she should state her purpose outright?
"Looking for me about something? Or... just passing by?" Director Guan smiled at her but didn’t unlock his door.
Xia Chuqing stood several steps away, yet the strong smell of alcohol still reached her.
"Are you Director Guan?" Xia Chuqing summoned her courage.
"Young lady, don’t beat around the bush. Just tell me, what’s the matter?" Director Guan seemed entirely used to such situations, his smile unchanging.
Xia Chuqing’s nose stung, and she thought of her father again.
"Director Guan, do you... do you know Xia Yongfang, the former Mayor Xia?"
"Xia Yongfang? Doesn’t ring a bell."
"The former mayor of A City, Xia Yongfang!" Xia Chuqing exclaimed, her tone urgent.
"Sounds familiar... Let me think..." Director Guan rubbed his temples.
Xia Chuqing stared at him eagerly, waiting for him to recall.
"My head hurts—drinking makes my memory worse." Director Guan rubbed his head and casually opened the door to his room. "Let me drink some water and try to remember. Knowing too many people isn’t always a good thing, huh? Aren’t you coming in?"
Xia Chuqing hesitated at the doorway.
Should she enter or stay out?
Director Guan appeared approachable; surely he would be able to help.
Thinking this, Xia Chuqing finally stepped inside.
"Xia Yongfang... I think I do recall him!" Director Guan said after a sip of water. "What’s your relationship with him?"
Unversed in such matters, Xia Chuqing blurted, "I’m his daughter."
"His daughter, huh? You do look a bit like him. So, what’s the issue? Why are you looking for me?"
"Director Guan, I want to ask for your help. I’m an unworthy daughter who only recently learned that my father had been detained and imprisoned under the two-regulations system. I heard he was sentenced to four years. I want to ask for your leniency to let me visit him, and maybe consider ways to mitigate his sentence."
"Ah... this matter..." Director Guan’s eyes slid over Xia Chuqing, his gaze sweeping her figure. "This isn’t easy; it’s a major issue. I’m afraid I can’t help you."
"Please, Director Guan, I’m begging you. I heard you’re the person handling this case. It took me so much effort to find you."
Director Guan’s gaze lingered on Xia Chuqing, profound and suggestive. Unquestionably, the former mayor’s daughter was stunning.
His eyes stayed fixed on her, unapologetically scanning her from top to bottom, never looking away.