Zhou Qin regarded Li Yuanbo and her father, Zhou Keqiang, with a mixture of suspicion and unease, resembling a nervous, wary fawn ready to bolt at the slightest disturbance.

Zhou Qin looked at Zhou Keqiang and asked in a low voice, "Dad, what is it?"

Li Yuanbo, standing nearby, let out a laugh. "Old Zhou, you’ve startled Qinqin!"

Then, Li Yuanbo beckoned to Zhou Qin. "Qinqin, come here. Ignore this old fellow. Sit next to your Uncle."

Having grown up in the compound, Zhou Qin had a very close personal relationship with Li Yuanbo, who had always treated her like a daughter. Reassured, she walked over and sat down quietly beside him, asking, "Uncle Li, what exactly is brewing between you two?"

Li Yuanbo smiled and countered, "Qinqin, answer me honestly: what have you been busy with lately?"

Zhou Qin froze, unsure how to answer the question. She replied awkwardly, "Uncle Li, can I perhaps decline to answer?"

"Hey!" Li Yuanbo drew out his voice, feigning anger. "No way, absolutely not!"

A thought sparked in Zhou Qin’s mind, and she ventured tentatively, "Then, Uncle Li, are you perhaps interrogating me on behalf of the organization?"

"Qinqin, how can you speak to your Uncle Li like that!" Zhou Keqiang stated gravely. "If it weren't for Uncle Li back then, would you be living peacefully with your sweetheart now?"

Zhou Qin’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson. Annoyed, she retorted, "You both already know everything and are still playing games asking me? You're so annoying!"

Zhou Qin abruptly stood up. Li Yuanbo quickly interjected to smooth things over. "Oh dear, sit down, sit down! Qinqin, why are you getting angry with your Uncle? I watched you grow up, girl. Are you really going to deny me face now?"

Zhou Qin reluctantly sat down again. Though inwardly mortified, she quickly took a deep breath, silently circulated her energy to adjust her breathing. Slowly, the flush faded from her face, and she became composed, calm, and self-possessed once more.

Li Yuanbo watched her, inwardly clicking his tongue in admiration. He studied her as he praised, "Qinqin, you’ve changed so much since I last saw you! That control over your spirit is impressive. Who taught you? Your sweetheart?"

The moment they mentioned it, Zhou Qin’s mind, which had been as still as water, was disturbed again. Her cheeks reddened slightly, and she said irritably, "Uncle Li, if you keep talking like that, I’m leaving."

Li Yuanbo burst into laughter and turned to Zhou Keqiang. "Just now, I saw Qinqin’s mastery of controlling her agitation was quite good, and I thought she had matured. Turns out, she's still the same old Qinqin! That’s the Qinqin I know!"

Zhou Keqiang chuckled darkly. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his inner pocket and offered it to Li Yuanbo. Li Yuanbo gestured that he didn’t smoke, so Zhou Keqiang took one out himself, lit it, and took a drag. "Her temper will never change in her lifetime. I used to wonder which man could tame her, but now, there’s a man who seems capable, only he has no official standing!"

Hearing her father speak, Zhou Qin didn't get angry immediately. Instead, her gaze fixated on the cigarette in his hand, her eyes flickering as she seemed to ponder something.

Li Yuanbo chuckled, "Qinqin, when are you bringing your sweetheart around for us old folks to meet?"

Zhou Qin remained silent, lost in contemplation of the cigarette in Zhou Keqiang’s hand.

Zhou Keqiang frowned slightly in annoyance. "Qinqin, Uncle Li is speaking to you!"

Zhou Qin snapped back to attention. She looked meaningfully at her father and asked slowly, "You've regained your position, haven't you?"

This question instantly froze both Zhou Keqiang and Li Yuanbo. These two veterans, accustomed to storms and stresses, stared at Zhou Qin in shock, unable to utter a word.

It wasn't until the ash on Zhou Keqiang’s cigarette fell that he finally managed to ask, his expression still shaken, "How did you know? Who told you?"

Li Yuanbo was equally amazed. "Qinqin, you are remarkably well-informed! I only just found out this news myself. How did you know?"

Zhou Qin let out a cold, mirthless laugh, full of bleakness and realization. She pointed to the cigarette in Zhou Keqiang’s hand and explained, "For as long as I can remember, he never asked anyone for permission when he smoked. The only time he asked was when he stepped down and stayed home with me in the hospital; even then, if he wanted a smoke, he’d sneak off to a corner, at least considering my feelings. But now, he’s smoking again without asking anyone—that shows he’s found the feeling of being an official again and isn't considering others' feelings."

With a cold smile etched on her face, Zhou Qin addressed Zhou Keqiang, "So? Did you call me back today because you want to use your authority to force me into doing something?"

Zhou Qin’s words were like sharp knives, stabbing Zhou Keqiang until he felt utterly ashamed.

Zhou Keqiang awkwardly and hastily stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, his face deeply embarrassed. He said stiffly, "Qinqin, how can you speak to your father like that?"

Li Yuanbo sighed as well. "Qinqin, it's just an old habit of many years; it's understandable that he can't break it immediately."

Zhou Qin smiled faintly. "It takes more than one cold day for water to freeze three feet deep. Stop beating around the bush. Tell me, why did you really ask me here today?"

Zhou Keqiang and Li Yuanbo exchanged glances. They hadn't expected Zhou Qin to deduce Zhou Keqiang's reinstatement from such a small detail as a cigarette, nor had they anticipated the coldness and hostility she displayed.

Both men offered wry smiles. Zhou Keqiang shook his head, his face a mask of helplessness.

Li Yuanbo smiled and said, "Qinqin, you don't need to be so tense. After what happened with the He family, who would dare force you now? Aren't they afraid of causing a death? Everyone in nearly half of China’s officialdom has heard of Miss Zhou’s fiery, unyielding nature; they all admire it! They say you are truly an anomaly among the children of current officials."

Li Yuanbo continued, "We asked you here today for a few things. First, the organization has reinstated your father. His position? Haha, consider it a promotion, though he’s being transferred to another province. The exact details of his appointment should be finalized in about ten days. We want to ask you now: do you plan to accompany your father to his new post?"

Zhou Qin’s expression was placid, as if the person being reinstated wasn't her father but a complete stranger. She replied coolly, "Why would I go?"

Zhou Keqiang urged her anxiously, "What kind of talk is that? You are my daughter! If you don't come with me, who do you plan to go with?"

Zhou Qin stated coldly, "That's none of your business!"

Zhou Keqiang was furious and turned to Li Yuanbo. "Old Li, look at this child! She—she's trying to make me die of anger!"

Li Yuanbo smoothly mediated, "Old Zhou, calm down, don't rush. Kids these days are highly rebellious; you shouldn't be so harsh!"

Zhou Keqiang huffed and sat down to sulk. Li Yuanbo smiled at Zhou Qin. "Qinqin, what you said earlier was improper. How can you say ‘Why would I go?’ just because your father is taking an official post elsewhere? You are father and daughter, after all. No matter the conflict, blood is thicker than water."

Zhou Qin sneered, "He is the one going to be an official, not me! Is what I said wrong?"

Li Yuanbo laughed. "That leads perfectly into the second thing I wanted to ask! Have you ever considered entering politics and becoming an official yourself?"

Zhou Qin immediately became highly guarded, her eyes filled with antagonism. "What? Are you trying to find me another fiancé?"

Zhou Keqiang jumped up, enraged. "Are you a porcupine? Can’t we just talk civilly?"

Zhou Qin shot back, not yielding an inch, "If you hadn't tried to set me up with that He guy back then, none of this would have happened!"

Seeing the father and daughter about to erupt into a full-blown argument, Li Yuanbo quickly intervened. "Stop arguing, both of you! Old Zhou, sit down. Qinqin, don't talk back! Listen to your Uncle for a moment!"

Zhou Keqiang sulked and plopped back into his chair, instinctively reaching for his pocket to grab a cigarette. But as soon as his fingers touched the tobacco pack, he remembered Zhou Qin’s words. He immediately threw the cigarettes far away with a sharp snap.

Zhou Qin turned her head away, stubbornly cold and distant, refusing to look at her father, her gaze fixed on the doorway, silent.

Li Yuanbo offered a wry smile. "Qinqin, you’re overthinking things. We just feel that with your talent and intelligence, it would be a terrible waste not to enter politics! Look, just now, you deduced that Old Li was reinstated just from the minor detail of him smoking. That shows your powers of observation are extremely sharp, and your reaction and deductive abilities are powerful! Moreover, you have the inherent qualities for it. It's a waste if you don't serve!"

Zhou Qin was silent for a moment before she slowly spoke. "Uncle Li, if this were before, I certainly wouldn't refuse your kind offer. But now…"

Li Yuanbo pressed eagerly, "Now what?"

Zhou Qin subconsciously clenched her fist slightly. She could feel a power beyond the mortal realm surging and flowing through her veins. She was no longer the ordinary Zhou Qin; she already had one foot on the threshold of cultivation. How could she possibly turn back now?

Zhou Qin shook her head. "It's impossible now, Uncle Li. Don't ask me why, but it simply can't be done. I don't want to enter politics; I just want to walk my own path."

The path Zhou Qin referred to was the path of cultivation. Li Yuanbo and Zhou Keqiang exchanged glances, assuming she meant the path of romance with Li Yundong.

The two men, both well past fifty, sighed simultaneously. Zhou Keqiang chuckled darkly. "See? I told you it was useless to call her back."

Li Yuanbo sighed ruefully. "Young people always choose unconventional paths. Alas, if this were my child, I would force them back onto the established road. But you are different; your spirit is too fierce. I dare not push you; I don't want to spend the rest of my life watching you confined to a bed. Forget it, you chose your path. We won't pressure you. If you ever decide you want to return to this road, remember to tell me immediately!"

Zhou Qin offered a faint smile and stood up. "Uncle Li, thank you for your concern. As you said, this is the path I chose. No matter how lonely or solitary it is, I will walk it myself until the end, and I will never regret it." With that, she nodded to Zhou Keqiang and said, "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now."

Zhou Keqiang asked, "Aren't you staying for dinner?"

Zhou Qin shook her head slightly. "No, I have other things to attend to." Saying this, she turned and walked out the door without looking back, leaving with a graceful finality, without a hint of hesitation or lingering sentimentality.

Zhou Keqiang sighed deeply. "I told you so, but you wouldn't listen! With her personality, how can she enter politics? What does politics demand? Compromise! Have you ever seen her compromise? Especially when she deals with that kid named Li Yundong! It drives me mad—showing up when he pleases and leaving when he pleases."

Li Yuanbo laughed. "That's not entirely fair. Is anyone born suited for politics? Qinqin was very well-behaved before! It's just that love, often, changes a person. Alas, this is her destiny; there's nothing we can do!"

Zhou Keqiang snorted and stood up, placing his hands on his hips. "Hmph, that rascal Li Yundong! If he ever falls into my hands, he’ll get what’s coming to him!"

Li Yuanbo nodded at him and laughed. "See? The bandit temper is back! Before your reinstatement, you told me about this boy's merits every other day. Now look—you’ve reversed course. All the good points have turned bad. That’s not right; you need to be corrected!"

Zhou Keqiang laughed heartily, but just as he was about to speak, he heard a brisk knocking at the door. Zhou Keqiang called out loudly, "Come in!"

"Report!" A military secretary in uniform entered, holding a file folder. "Sir, the materials you requested have arrived."

Zhou Keqiang grunted. "Put it here," he directed, pointing to the desk.

The soldier placed the file folder down, offered a crisp salute, and turned to leave.

Li Yuanbo laughed. "Oh? What treasure is this? Let me see!" Without waiting for Zhou Keqiang’s permission, he opened it. After a close look, he exclaimed in surprise, "Hmm? You’re investigating Li Yundong?"

Zhou Keqiang snorted. "Nonsense. If my daughter is involved with someone, shouldn't I investigate to be sure?"

Li Yuanbo read for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "It seems your future son-in-law is in a bit of trouble right now?"

Zhou Keqiang raised an eyebrow. "What’s the situation? Let me see?"

He took the file and, after only a few glances, began to sneer repeatedly. "Hmph. These bastards. Now that I’m out of office, they think the welcome has worn thin and rush to kick a dog when it’s down? They dare to make trouble for the man my daughter favors!"

Li Yuanbo burst out laughing. "Old Zhou, oh Old Zhou, just now you were threatening to discipline this boy!"

Zhou Keqiang snorted and asserted stubbornly, "If these scoundrels bully the man my daughter likes, doesn't that mean they are bullying my daughter? If they bully my daughter, doesn't that mean they are bullying me? Hmph. These sons of bitches think that just because I, Zhou, have fallen, I can never rise again? Hmph! I want to see which blind fools dare to step on my toes!"