"I've heard this guy is quite lecherous, and many of his female subordinates have been subdued by him." Luo Ziling squinted his eyes, sizing up Xu Chen, and then complimented her a few times: "Xu, you really are an ageless goddess, no wrinkles, your skin is so good, and you've kept in shape quite well. Even a man like me can't help but be moved."
As soon as Xu Chen heard this, she burst into laughter, covering her mouth with a smile: "Ziling, your words have made me incredibly happy. Even though I know you're just flattering me on purpose, I'm still very pleased. Having a handsome national idol say I'm attractive, I won't be able to sleep tonight. It's a pity you don't fancy me, otherwise, I'd leave with you tonight."
Luo Ziling chuckled and made another joke: "I suppose, with Chen's experience, you must be pretty skilled in matters between men and women? If a young guy like me were with you, it'd be pure enjoyment every day. Might need kidney tonics after a few days."
Such straightforward words made Xu Chen blush a little, her heart racing.
Although she didn't believe Luo Ziling would subdue her, she was quite eager for a passionate encounter with this kind of young guy.
A national idol like Luo Ziling—meeting one in a lifetime is an immense fortune.
If one could become intimate once, there'd be no regrets in this life.
But she also knew Luo Ziling was simply laying the groundwork for something, and she had roughly guessed what it was.
Despite some disappointment, she was not likely, nor would she refuse Luo Ziling's request.
"I presume you've already guessed what I hope you'll help me with, Chen?" Luo Ziling smiled, "Wang Chenming has done plenty of hateful things, yet he's still doing quite well."
"Do you have a vendetta with Wang Chenming?" Xu Chen asked tentatively, "Or..."
Luo Ziling didn't answer Xu Chen's question, but rather remarked with a meaningful tone: "Chen, you've been in Yuezhou for several months, haven't you? Maybe in a few more months, after your one-year term, you'll be assigned somewhere else. If a position becomes vacant, perhaps you'll be the beautiful one to fill it."
These words made Xu Chen's heart skip a beat; she basically understood what Luo Ziling meant.
Luo Ziling didn't leave much to guess, clearly stating his intention: "Wang Chenming is lecherous. If he associates with you more, he might make advances towards you. You can use this to gather some evidence against him and hand it over to me. With that, I might help you fight for that position."
Luo Ziling laid it out clearly, greatly delighting Xu Chen.
She didn't hide her excitement in front of Luo Ziling but didn't rush to express her stance either, smiling joyfully before asking Luo Ziling in a low voice: "So what should I do?"
In such matters, asking Luo Ziling one more question is definitely not wrong.
"Just make sure you don't get yourself involved. I'm confident you have lots of experience in dealing with and enticing men." Luo Ziling said these words with a smile, then seriously added: "This isn't a joke; just devise a good strategy, and you'll surely be able to protect yourself while doing the job well."
"Rest assured, Ziling, I will definitely get this done well." Xu Chen was quite enthusiastic.
After several encounters with Luo Ziling, she finally experienced a bit of substantial "benefit."
She was also aware that the things Luo Ziling promised were basically achievable.
If she could replace Wang Chenming's position, she would advance in both position and rank, and her future prospects would be much brighter.
Luo Ziling chuckled again, then added: "You remind me of my mom; both of you are strong women. If you collaborate on this, the task will surely be done better with fewer errors."
These words stunned Xu Chen for a moment. She understood a bit more about Luo Ziling's meaning, and delight sprang forth in her heart as she immediately said: "I hope to have the opportunity to work with your mom in the future. Your mom is someone I admire and idolize; if I could work alongside her, I would definitely do my utmost to cooperate."
Talking with smart people requires much fewer efforts, something Luo Ziling found quite satisfying.
Compared to the others he discovered and planned to cultivate, Xu Chen was more outstanding.
Moreover, Xu Chen is a woman; if she were around Ling Ruonan, assisting with her work, it would cause much less trouble.
There's always more gossip about beautiful female officials, and Luo Ziling feared one day such rumors would arise from Ling Ruonan's side.
Words are powerful; even if they are mere hearsay, they could stir up trouble.
After discussing these matters, Xu Chen seemed to have something on her mind, casting a slightly uneasy glance at Luo Ziling, "Ziling, in essence, we're just passing acquaintances; we haven't known each other long. I'm very grateful that you're willing to help me, but I... I'm a little unsure how to repay you all."
Over the past few years, Xu Chen carried out her official duties honestly, not accumulating wealth through her position; although she couldn't say single-mindedly she was for the people, her goal was to advance further and fulfill her ultimate dream, yet she did produce many achievements with positive evaluations from all sides.
She didn't seek interests for herself or her family, so her family's circumstances naturally weren't particularly good.
Xu Chen was aware of some implicit rules, but she lacked the ability or means to follow those rules.
To achieve what she has now, she greatly leveraged her own beauty.
By attracting men who ranked higher than her with her outstanding looks and figure, she got them to help her, and used the conflicts among those men to ensure her safety and clear reputation. However, she also knew for her next advancement, these things couldn't be utilized anymore.
In these recent years, when she played these tricks, she was always cautious, afraid of causing trouble for herself.
She urgently needed a powerful backing, hence when she encountered Luo Ziling, she quickly devised ways to seize this support.
Luo Ziling's willingness to assist her brought her sheer delight.
But, she had nothing to offer in return to Luo Ziling.
She lacked much property, and knowing how abundant Luo Ziling's assets were, offering payback financially was impossible.
It wasn't feasible either.
Such actions could easily create problems for both parties.
If she could use her beauty as repayment, she'd be willing.
After all, Luo Ziling is different from those other men; he's a man that would captivate any woman he meets.
Having met Luo Ziling, Xu Chen also felt a flutter in her heart; if given the choice, she'd wholly agree to secretly engage in affairs with him.
But she also knew her age was similar to Luo Ziling's mother's; Luo Ziling wouldn't be interested in a middle-aged woman like her.
Having no way to repay with money or her body, and nothing else coming to mind, she felt a bit guilty.
At a certain level, not even friendships or kinship could be relied upon; what could be relied on is the exchange of interests.
She couldn't bring Luo Ziling interests; if Luo Ziling helped her immensely, she wouldn't feel at ease.
Knowing Luo Ziling is a straightforward person, she candidly expressed her concerns.
After listening, Luo Ziling smiled gently, then said with deep meaning: "Chen, you don't need to worry about those things, you'll surely find a way to repay us in the future. Right?"
Xu Chen paused a bit.