DEFYING FATE

Chapter 77: Celebrations

Evenings. North Heping Street.

It was early November, and it was chilly in the morning andevenings. There was a cold breeze. Dong Xuebing had only worn a shirt to work,and the material was not thick. But he was not cold. His whole body was burningdue to his excitement.

When Dong Xuebing was about to walk up the stairs, he sawhis neighbor Section Chief Xu and his son, Xiao Dong.

Xiao Dong, who was holding on to some reference books, the facechanged when he saw Dong Xuebing. He keeps staring at Dong Xuebing.

Section Chief Xu looked at Dong Xuebing for a while and toldhis son: "Let's go."

"Ok." Xiao Dong looked away from Dong Xuebing and went up tothe stairs with Section Chief Xu.

It's been a while since Dong Xuebing met Xiao Dong. The lasttime they met was at the Civil Service Entrance Exams. Xiao Dong should bepreparing for the next exams which werein the first quarter of the year. DongXuebing could felt the irony. Two months ago, he copied Xiao Dong's answers andbarely pass the exams. Two months later, Xiao Dong was still preparing for the exams,and he was already a party member and a Deputy Chief!

Level 3. Dong Xuebing pressed the doorbell of unit 302. QuYunxuan's unit.

Ding-dong, Ding-dong. No one opens the door.

Dong Xuebing was puzzled. At around 4 pm, Aunt Xuan had sentan SMS to him, telling him that she will prepare dinner. How come she was notat home? Dong Xuebing took out the spare key given to him by Aunt Xuan andopened the door. He wants to help wash the vegetables and cut the meat first.But when he entered the apartment, he could smell the fragrance of shampoo. Itwas the familiar smell of Head & Shoulders Shampoo.

"Xiao Bing?" Qu Yunxuan walked out from the bathroom withonly a white towel. Lots of her fair skin was showing. Her deep cleavage, longlegs... She was sexy...

Dong Xuebing immediately bushed. "Errr... I didn't know youare at home. I... had pressed the doorbell, and no one opened the door.

"I am using the hair dryer just now and didn't hear thedoorbell." Qu Yunxuan lowered her head and looked at herself. She was alsoblushing.

"Errr... I... I will go back first."

"Why are you going back? Come in and close the door."

"Oh... Yes....." Dong Xuebing quickly closes the door. He wasafraid other people will see his Aunt Xuan wrapped in a towel.

In the living room, Qu Yunxuan flicked her damp hair andpoured Dong Xuebing a glass of tea. "Have some tea first. I need to change."She was gentle, and her breath smells of alcohol.

After Qu Yunxuan closes the door, Dong Xuebing realized whathappened. "You are drinking just now?"

Qu Yunxuan replied from the room: "Yes. I drank with aclient during lunch. I am still feeling giddy now."

"If you can't drink, don't drink. You might get drunk." DongXuebing was worried.

"Haha, I know. When I meet clients, I will normally bringXiao Tao from my team. I seldom drink when I am meeting clients. But I had nochoice today." The bedroom's door opened. Qu Yunxuan walked out. She waswearing a cream colored silk slip dress, and she adjusts the temperature of theair conditioner. She turned to Dong Xuebing and smiled. "Tell me what you wantto have for dinner?"

"Oh, I need to tell you something first." Dong Xuebing said.He was excited to share this good news with her.

"What is it?" Qu Yunxuan laughed and rolled her eyes. "Lookhow happy you are. You are grinning like a fool."

"Hehehe.... It's..." Dong Xuebing cleared his throat and pausedfor a while. "Our branch has a Party Committee Meeting this morning. Afterdiscussion, they decided to promote me to be the General Affairs Department'sDeputy Chief. But because of my length of service and experience, my rank isstill the same, but my salary and benefits had increased. That's all." BranchBureaus under Direct-controlled municipality are Divisional level agencies. TheGeneral Affairs Department is Section level, and the General Affairs Officeunder the General Affairs Department is Deputy Section level. Unless it wasthose senior officials like Zhou Changchun that was promoted to the rank ofDeputy Chief, the rest of the deputy chiefs can only receive Deputy Chiefrank's salaries and benefits, and not hold the actual rank.

Qu Yunxuan sat down beside Dong Xuebing on the sofa andmoved closer to him. She playfully knocked his head 3 times: "Stop bluffing!"

Dong Xuebing replied anxiously. "It true. The order will beout these two days!"

Qu Yunxuan raised her arm to scare him: "You really think Iam drunk? I will beat you if you still try to bluff me."

"Ahhh... Aunt Xuan, it's real. I am not lying. Almosteveryone in my branch knows about this."

"You are only 23 years old and have just entered the bureaufor less than 2 months." Qu Yunxuan still does not believe him.

Ring, ring, ring..... Dong Xuebing's iPhone 4 rang. Heanswered. The caller spoke loudly, and Qu Yunxuan could hear it. "Hello? Isthis Chief Dong? I am Old Liu from the Political Section. I am calling tocongratulate on your promotion. Hahaha. I was still telling my wife about youyesterday. I told her that you are very capable, and you will be promoted soon.I am right. Come over to my place for dinner some time. I will ask my wife tocook something good for you."

"Thank You Chief Liu... I will visit you at your place someother day."

After hanging up, Dong Xuebing smiled and waved his HP at QuYunxuan. "Did you hear what he said?"

Qu Yunxuan was stunned. "Xiao Bing! You are really the Chiefof your office?"

"It's Deputy Chief."

"Deputy Chief is also a Chief!" Qu Yunxuan reached out andpinched Dong Xuebing's cheeks, shaking his left and right. "Since when youbecome so capable? How old are you and you are getting the Deputy Chief'ssalary and benefits? Tell me, why are you so capable?!"

Dong Xuebing was slightly embarrassed by Qu Yunxuan'spraises. "Hehe, it's all luck."

Qu Yunxuan seems to be more excited than Dong Xuebing. "No.We must celebrate your promotion. Eh, you should have told me earlier. If Iknow about your promotion earlier, I will buy more food back. Why not we eatout today?"

"There is no need to be so troublesome. Just any two disheswill do."

"Ok." Qu Yunxuan got up and wore her apron. "I will cook awonderful dinner for you now."

Dong Xuebing rolled up his sleeves and followed: "Let mehelp you."

Qu Yunxuan turned and poked his head, making Dong Xuebingmove a few steps back. "My little Chief, you don't need to do anything today.Just sit there and wait for dinner."