It was Zhao Min who approached Zhang Yang, holding flowers. He had tracked down Mi Zhiguo's hospital room directly and hadn't contacted Zhang Yang beforehand, so Zhang Yang was completely unaware they would arrive.

Accompanying Zhao Min was, naturally, Zhang Keqin. The third person was Zhang Keqin's guard, Xiao Wang, who was watching everyone in the room alertly, his hand resting on his waist—his job was to ensure the leader's safety.

He stood protectively in front of Zhang Keqin; neither of them had expected the hospital room to be so crowded. Indeed, the room was a bit packed at the moment.

Setting aside Zhang Yang and his group, Long Cheng and his people alone accounted for six or seven individuals, plus the hospital leadership—altogether, nearly twenty people. "Just dealing with something quickly, wait for me a moment!" Zhang Yang murmured to Zhao Min, then turned his attention back to Qiao Chen.

"I hope you handle this matter properly. Don't wait for us to investigate ourselves, or there will certainly be more than one person held responsible later.

We have other business, so we won't impose any longer!" What Zhang Yang said to Qiao Chen was both a warning and a polite dismissal. Zhang Yang hadn't anticipated Zhang Keqin's sudden arrival.

Zhang Keqin’s presence forced him to temporarily abandon his pursuit of the immediate issue and focus on getting the hospital staff to leave first. Zhang Yang understood that Zhang Keqin was likely here to see Mi Zhiguo; in fact, this marked the first time the parents of both Zhang Yang and Mi Xue were meeting.

At this moment, Zhang Yang put aside Zhang Keqin's political standing and simply saw him as an elder, as his father. "Yes, yes, please rest assured, rest assured, I will investigate thoroughly, absolutely!" Qiao Chen felt his body trembling, and his speech wasn't as smooth as usual.

Several people had been shaking since Zhang Keqin appeared; Qiao Chen was just one of them. Fortunately, his mind was still relatively clear.

After speaking, he immediately started ushering his people out. As for that Sun Liang, he no longer possessed his earlier arrogance.

This wasn't because he recognized Zhang Keqin’s status, but rather because of the warning from his own father. He knew he had truly stirred up immense trouble this time.

"Secretary Zhang, why have you come?" As they reached the doorway, Qiao Chen plastered on a fawning smile and greeted Zhang Keqin. Sun Liang was just an ordinary doctor, so it was normal for him not to know Zhang Keqin, but Qiao Chen absolutely should have.

After all, Zhang Keqin appeared on television frequently, and watching the news was mandatory for him. Moreover, Qiao Chen himself was the director of a provincial hospital, holding a vice-departmental level position.

It was highly unusual for someone within the system not to recognize the top authority. Besides him, Vice Director Sun and other hospital leaders also recognized Zhang Keqin.

Seeing him, many of them felt a sense of disbelief, and a few were nearly scared witless. After asking his question, Qiao Chen paused blankly, then immediately wished he could slap himself twice.

What kind of question was that—'Why have you come?' Since Zhang Keqin was here, he must have a reason; there was no sense in asking such a thing. "Secretary Zhang, shall I make arrangements for you?

I wasn't aware you would be visiting today!" Qiao Chen immediately tried to salvage the situation with what he thought was a clever recovery, but in reality, he failed to grasp that Zhang Keqin didn't know him at all. "Secretary Zhang is here in a private capacity.

If you have nothing else, please leave now!" Zhao Min hurried forward. He didn't know the full context, but he absolutely couldn't let others tie up his superior, and Zhang Keqin was indeed here in a private capacity today.

"Yes, yes. We're leaving, we're leaving!" Qiao Chen nodded like a chicken pecking rice and immediately led his group out of the room.

Only after exiting the room did he realize his clothes were drenched in cold sweat; in such a short time, the perspiration had almost soaked him through. His heart hammered rapidly.

He finally understood just how untouchable a person he had managed to offend. Zhang Keqin—the top leader of the Provincial Party Committee, the highest-ranking official in the entire province!

If someone of his stature personally came to visit, Qiao Chen dared not, nor could he, contemplate the implications further. No wonder so many people had been calling him, even alarming a Vice Governor; it turned out this incident was far from a minor affair.

At this point, he had completely abandoned any thought of mediating the situation. Sun Liang had to be dealt with severely.

Zhang Yang’s earlier words were clear: if they didn't handle this properly, they might all be implicated. Previously, he might have easily dismissed Zhang Yang’s threat, but after seeing Zhang Keqin, that notion vanished instantly.

The head of the Provincial Party Committee was here; getting rid of a mere hospital director like himself would be child's play for such a person. He could only handle this matter with the utmost severity.

He decided to hand the entire process over to the hospital's Disciplinary Committee, which conveniently held some existing reports against Sun Liang, and settle everything at once. "Zhang Yang, Mi Xue!" After the hospital staff departed, the room finally felt less crowded.

Zhang Keqin stepped forward and called their names with a smile. "Uncle Zhang, why are you here?" Mi Xue responded quickly.

Her words were similar to Qiao Chen's, but the underlying meaning was entirely different. Zhang Yang just nodded.

He had been surprised upon first seeing Zhang Keqin, but now he understood the situation. Zhang Keqin was here specifically to visit Mi Zhiguo, and he was certainly here speaking from his perspective as a future in-law.

This realization brought a touch of warmth to Zhang Yang's heart, even if he didn't express it. "You child, your father had such a serious incident and you didn't even tell me?

Do you not have me, Uncle Zhang, in your heart?" Zhang Keqin smiled gently at Mi Xue; it sounded like a reprimand, yet it carried a tone of affection. Mi Xue’s face flushed instantly, and she shook her head vehemently to explain.

It hadn't even occurred to her not to tell him; Zhang Keqin’s status in her mind was simply too elevated. "Zhang Yang, you carry on with your business; we'll take our leave now.

Goodbye, Uncle Zhang!" Su Zhantao came over, spoke softly to Zhang Yang, said a word to Zhang Keqin, and left with Long Cheng and the others. They, too, had recognized Zhang Keqin’s identity.

Though these men held no official rank themselves, they were not ordinary citizens, and they were aware of many important figures, especially since Zhang Keqin was Zhang Yang’s father. Zhang Keqin's presence surprised them as well, but they didn't dwell on it.

This was a private family matter, and there was no point in them overthinking it. Once Su Zhantao and his group left, the room felt significantly emptier, finally escaping the chaotic noise of before.

Su Zhantao and the others were not foolish; they knew this was not the time to linger. Zhang Keqin glanced at their retreating figures, a smile returning to his face.

"This must be Shao Qiang’s child!" The Shao Qiang he mentioned was Su Shaoqiang, his colleague in leadership circles. This was the first time he was meeting his colleague's son.

"Yes. Zhantao is just like this.

We knew each other before you two came here," Zhang Yang replied with a light nod, deliberately adding the clarification to convey that his friendship with Su Zhantao was independent of their fathers, and that he hadn't known their fathers would end up connected. Zhang Keqin nodded, said nothing more, and walked toward the bedside.

He had long understood the relationship between Zhang Yang and Su Zhantao; their acquaintance was independent of him, merely a matter of fate between the younger men. Zhang Keqin wouldn't press the matter.

Besides, Zhang Yang and Su Zhantao being good friends posed no disadvantage to him. In fact, it could even positively influence his relationship with Su Shaoqiang to some degree.

"Secretary, Secretary Zhang!" Zhang De wasn't sure what he was thinking; his body was also trembling uncontrollably. Director Li beside him was faring even worse.

His face was flushed crimson, and he couldn't utter a single word. He had actually wanted to leave earlier, but being in the inner circle, he hadn't been able to escape.

Zhang Keqin offered them a slight smile and walked directly to the head of the bed. Mi Xue, Zhang Yang, and even Wu Fenglan followed him over.

Up to this point, Wu Fenglan still hadn't recognized Zhang Keqin. Wu Fenglan generally paid little attention to politics and seldom watched the news, so her failure to recognize him was understandable.

However, even she now realized the visitor must be a figure of great importance, judging by everyone else's reaction. "Uncle Mi, this is my father!" Zhang Yang made the introduction to Mi Zhiguo.

He paused slightly on the word 'father'; these were the first words he had spoken calling him that in ten years. Zhang Keqin’s body gave a slight tremor.

Only his personal secretary, Zhao Min, noticed the subtle shift and understood it best. The decade-long paternal conflict was finally resolved.

The ones whose bodies trembled slightly were Mi Zhiguo and Zhang De. Hearing Zhang Yang’s words, Zhang De first felt like fainting.

He had always assumed Su Zhantao was the most powerful figure among them; he believed the resolution of the previous incident in Lieshan County was entirely due to Su Zhantao. He had befriended Zhang Yang hoping to latch onto that connection.

He never imagined that Zhang Yang's background was even stronger than Su Zhantao's—Zhang Keqin was his father. Zhang De was so shocked he couldn't process anything.

A moment later, he thought of the Yu father and son. He now felt the Yu father and son were fortunate.

At least Yu Wenwu had only been removed from his post, not demoted in rank. To offend the head of the Provincial Party Committee and receive such a result was, by all accounts, incredibly lucky.

"Secretary, Secretary Zhang!" Mi Zhiguo stammered, staring at Zhang Keqin in utter shock. This was Zhang Yang’s father.

This outcome was far beyond his wildest expectations. He suddenly recalled that Zhang Yang had previously claimed his father was just a civil servant—just a civil servant, yet one who held such immense influence.

At this moment, he simply didn't know what to say. "Don't be so distant.

We are both parents of these children. I am quite fond of Mi Xue too.

Last time, I mentioned we should find an opportunity to meet and discuss the children’s future. I never expected you to have such an incident, and our first meeting would be here," Zhang Keqin said with a slight smile.

He was indeed here in a private capacity today, not viewing himself as the Provincial Party Committee Secretary. Furthermore, he considered this a meeting between future in-laws; constantly being addressed as 'Secretary Zhang' made things feel overly formal and distant.

"Yes, yes, I will follow your lead, Secretary Zhang!" Mi Zhiguo nodded repeatedly, but the title 'Secretary' involuntarily slipped out again as he spoke. There was no helping it; the weight of Zhang Keqin's position exerted immense pressure on him.

The gap in status was considerable, vast even. In normal circumstances, he would have to look up to someone like Zhang Keqin if they met, and he never imagined he would be sitting here speaking as an equal to the highest-ranking official in the province.

(To be continued) RQ