Faced with Hu Chenrui's strong reaction, Chu Zhishui wanted to say she had never tried to figure out the deputy director's position, but she understood somewhat why he insisted on building housing.
When transferring within public institutions, employee housing allocation areas must be considered. If Director Hu was truly reassigned to another location, though they promised he could return one day, what if Kong Sang didn't have a new director even decades later? If the supernatural beings voted to remove Hu Chenrui from his concurrent position in Huaijiang and permanently keep him in Kong Sang, wouldn't that be a bitter pill to swallow without recourse?
Hu Chenrui absolutely didn't trust the verbal promises of the supernatural beings, but as long as he had housing in Huaijiang, returning there would be reasonable, plus he'd have guaranteed annual family visit leave. Undeniably, this idea both solved the housing issue and paved a path for his return to Huaijiang.
Chu Zhishui calmly said, "Director Hu, but you need to consider some practical conditions. Affordable housing has policy procedures, unlike other bureau buildings that are easier to construct. Just getting approval takes a very long time, and whether property certificates can be issued after completion is another matter entirely."
Even commercial housing faces risks of no certification, and affordable housing scrutiny is even stricter. It's possible that employees could move in only to later be forced to return the houses due to non-compliance, ultimately unable to obtain property certificates. This is why housing allocation is considered mystical - no one knows what the future holds.
"I'm well aware of all this, otherwise I wouldn't dare make such a request. If we want to buy time, this is the method that can drag things out the longest," Hu Chenrui explained methodically. "I've planned it all out. Your promotion also needs time. Let's set a small goal first - after applying, we'll build the staff quarters. By the time it's completed, you should have enough years to be promoted to full division chief. Then getting the property certificates will take a few more years. By the time the certificates are fully processed, you'll be eligible for deputy director."
Chu Zhishui thought to herself that she had been thoroughly arranged for, suddenly committed to nearly ten years, and hurriedly said, "No, no, no, Director Hu, it's like this - we can build the building, but let's discuss other matters later. Still let the bureau staff vote to decide on cadre selection."
Hu Chenrui asked in surprise, "Do you really think they might vote for someone... some other supernatural being?"
"Why not?" Chu Zhishui was confused. "I don't even have supernatural energy, and I don't understand many things. I can't handle the observation division's work."
Hu Chenrui consoled her: "I'll still be concurrent director then, not everything will be managed by you, and besides, the observation division has Miao Li."
"Then why not let Division Chief Miao..."
"Little Chu, do you want the bureau to be even more chaotic? Do you want to watch things get destroyed?" Hu Chenrui was stunned. "Do you really think Miao Li wasn't promoted because we forgot about him?"
Chu Zhishui: "?"
Hu Chenrui: "It's because as soon as he takes office, he immediately incites the masses to fight among themselves. In our kind of institution, we don't just look at ability, we also have to consider ideological awareness and positivity. Both he and the Divine Lord are backward elements, without any sense of professional responsibility!"
When the two supernatural beings heard about the dragon soul's escape, their first reaction was to give up, and they even persuaded Hu Chenrui not to care either. Chu Zhishui numbly said, "I see."
"So when it comes to promoting a deputy director, supernatural energy won't be the main consideration - other outstanding contributions will be considered," Hu Chenrui said calmly. "You've always been responsible, I have high hopes for you, and everyone will definitely vote for you."
"Of course, all this is for after we get the property certificates. I'm just giving you a heads up now."
"...Thank you."
A moment later, Chu Zhishui left the director's office. She suddenly understood Hu Chenrui's situation - because Director Hu was relatively responsible and capable, the observation bureau moved him wherever they needed him, previously to Huaijiang, now to Kong Sang, always making the most of his talents and abilities.
While she had never managed to be worse than her colleagues at work, she had somehow carved out a promotion path through slacking off, and was about to follow in Director Hu's footsteps.
She originally had no thoughts about the staff quarters' construction timeline, but now she pondered whether it would be better if it wasn't completed before retirement, finding ways to extend Director Hu's term for decades. Otherwise, once she became a leader, she'd have more work for not much more money.
Regardless, tomorrow's troubles could wait until tomorrow. The staff quarters were still far from certain, and the bureau's current focus was planning bonus distributions.
Learning from last year's experience, Huaijiang Bureau's performance bonuses were much more reasonable this year. Not only did they increase performance pay by 200% in the first two quarters, but they also frequently issued spiritual civilization awards, striving to distribute as much money as possible within regulatory limits. Even before year-end, the annual income had already exceeded last year's.
While the supernatural beings' income levels increased, their daily expenses decreased. Now they ate and lived at the bureau, and various recreational activities had also become more abundant.
The library and cinema were officially in use, and there was also a swimming pool and basketball court for staff activities. One day, a basketball hoop was mysteriously damaged, and after Niu Shi's on-site investigation, cat claw marks were found at the scene, making the culprit obvious.
Near New Year's Day, Chu Zhishui requested her first leave since joining the bureau, planning to extend the statutory holiday to go to Danshan with Xin Yunmao. Other supernatural beings rarely took leave, mainly because their staff dormitories were in the bureau, making home leave somewhat pointless.
Conveniently, the Economic Development Section didn't have much work recently, and Jin Yu, who stayed behind, could slack off in the office as there wasn't any new work.
With the leave application completed and flights booked early, the human and supernatural being flew from Huaijiang to Danshan.
Danshan in winter had no rustling red leaves. Chu Zhishui and Xin Yunmao wanted to take it easy, so they booked a hotel in the Danshan scenic area. They didn't need to rush through their itinerary and could stay in the scenic area for a few extra days, seeing the rime frost and enjoying the hot springs, having a comfortable vacation.
The hotel's location was convenient, and the human and supernatural being had also arranged to watch the sunrise. They just needed to time it right, climbing up the mountain from the mid-central hotel to witness the moment the sun rose from the viewing platform.
Danshan's winter was a vast expanse of white, but in the moments without daylight, it transformed into a grey haze, without a trace of light visible.
In the darkness, Chu Zhishui went out wearing a down jacket. The cold wind swept across her skin, reddening her cheeks and leaving a slight stinging sensation. She let out a gentle breath, able to see the white mist appear, and unconsciously rubbed her hands together.
A warm hand brushed across her face, instantly melting away the cold like hot water, along with the knife-like pain. Seeing her bundled up like a white dumpling with her nose tip still cold and red, Xin Yunmao couldn't help but pinch her ice-cold fingers, then somehow produced gloves from somewhere and unhurriedly helped her put them on.
"How did you have these?" Chu Zhishui was startled to see the gloves. "I couldn't find them."
"They were squeezed into the corner of the sofa. I heard you mention them when you were leaving, so I got them and came to find you," Xin Yunmao had taken advantage of her checking the map to return to the hotel for the gloves.
Chu Zhishui marveled, "Teleportation is so convenient, I didn't even notice you went back."
Chu Zhishui didn't know what Xin Yunmao had done, but the gloves were warm inside, not cool at all, instantly making her fingers nimble again. With her face and hands no longer cold, energy surged through her body, giving her strength to continue climbing.
Under their feet was the well-maintained mountain path, no longer covered in snow, but still creaking with each step.
While climbing, Chu Zhishui curiously patted her hands, praising, "The gloves are so warm, did you warm them up beforehand?"
Xin Yunmao, also in winter clothing, walked ahead scouting the path and casually said, "They could be even warmer."
"What?"
He glanced back at her and said matter-of-factly, "If you held my hand, it would be even warmer."
"..."
Seeing her peculiar expression, Xin Yunmao simply turned to face her directly, crossing his arms dissatisfied: "Last time we came here, I wanted to say this - you were so exhausted then, why didn't you let me help?"
The last time the human and supernatural being came to Danshan to view the red leaves, Chu Zhishui was clearly exhausted but insisted on not reaching out to him for help, silently climbing to the mountain top by herself. Xin Yunmao had waited for so long then, but unexpectedly she made it to the top in one go, thoroughly disappointing his expectations.
Chu Zhishui was bewildered: "So you were waiting for me to ask for your help then?"
Xin Yunmao raised an eyebrow: "What else?"
She said in confusion: "I thought you were challenging me with your eyes, thinking I was too weak as a human, especially since your expression was so punch-worthy."
Xin Yunmao: "?"
Seeing his indignation, Chu Zhishui quickly broke into a smile and said gently: "So I was judging a gentleman's heart with a petty person's mindset. I didn't realize the Divine Lord was so considerate then and had thoughts of helping others. Mainly, I didn't think helping with mountain climbing was feasible, so of course I didn't think of it."
"How is it not feasible?" Xin Yunmao wouldn't fall for her sweet talk though. He let out a light snort and retorted, "You could have just said you wanted to hold my hand then."
Chu Zhishui's face turned flustered as she exclaimed, "How could I hold your hand back then..."
"What about now?" Xin Yunmao extended his hand toward her. He awkwardly averted his gaze and mumbled, "Can you hold it now?"
Chu Zhishui couldn't help but smile as she reached out and took his hand, "Yes, I can."
The corners of Xin Yunmao's lips curved upward slightly as he stepped forward, leading her along the path.
Before dawn, the surrounding scenery was shrouded in mist. Hand in hand, they climbed to the viewing platform. Despite the cold season, the journey felt surprisingly bearable—even pleasant and brief—and they reached their destination almost without noticing.
The viewing platform was dim, with only a few shadowy figures visible—other tourists waiting for the sunrise.
Chu Zhishui and Xin Yunmao found an empty spot and stood hand in hand, waiting quietly for the sun to rise. Looking out, they could see nothing but thick fog.
Before long, thousands of golden rays appeared on the horizon. Accompanied by the delighted exclamations of tourists, the new sun slowly emerged.
The golden sunlight chased away the stars and the remnant moon, instantly clearing the misty sky and illuminating the ground below—revealing frost-covered trees white as jade and crystal-clear lake waters. Birds could be faintly seen taking flight, awakening all of nature from its night-long slumber.
Thousands of mountain peaks were wrapped in silver and white. If night had painted the trees in dark, claw-like shadows, then the sunlight pierced through all the darkness, instantly returning the world to a bright, vast whiteness.
The newly risen sun blazed brilliantly, its light reflecting off the rime frost in dazzling sparkles.
They gazed at the beautiful scene without blinking, afraid to miss even a moment of the sunlight breaking through the misty clouds, trying to capture every subtle change.
If autumn in Danshan was like a blazing fire, with vibrant red leaves covering thousands of mountains, then winter in Danshan was like freshly melting snow—seemingly frost-heavy yet concealing signs of life. After the quietude, there was a subtle gurgling of flowing water, representing the calm dignity that comes from weathering the changes of four seasons, covering all things in pure white.
Just as life has its ups and downs, its beginnings and endings, it radiates endless brilliance through the changing seasons, with every second holding its own unique charm.
Xin Yunmao gazed at the snowy landscape and suddenly said, "I actually didn't like snow before."
Chu Zhishui asked, "Really?"
"Yes, but now I find it beautiful," he turned his head and repeated, "Beautiful."
Chu Zhishui looked at him upon hearing this, only to meet his gaze.
His eyes were as clear as rippling emerald waves, suffused with warm golden light, making them seem even more captivating than the dawn.
Though he was speaking of the scenery, his eyes were smiling, fixed steadily on her.
She couldn't help but grip his hand tighter, unconsciously drawing closer to him.
Silver frost and golden sun, green bamboo encircling water.
They met at the Beginning of Spring, watched together the splendor of the Beginning of Winter, and would cross countless seasons ahead, welcoming brilliant dawns amidst the mists and clouds.
-End of Text
