However, Lillian Lewis had already made up her mind; even if she had to pester endlessly, she was determined to be with Nathaniel Johnson. She simply didn’t believe that Nathaniel Johnson’s heart was made of stone. So, Lillian Lewis still forced a smile and continued chatting and laughing with Paige Walker.

Noah Johnson came out of the study, trying his best to hide the embarrassment on his face, but in the end, he couldn’t completely conceal it. Fortunately, Quinn Lewis didn’t notice and simply sat down on the sofa in the Zhou family’s living room, habitually crossing his legs like a leader. He took a cigarette handed over by Noah Johnson, didn’t mind that it was a cheap brand, lit it, and took a puff.

“Old Zhou, I asked Charles Cooper from the Economic and Trade Commission for you today. He said there are no positions, but he’s just talking nonsense... Alright, I’ll take care of this. I believe Charles Cooper will still give me this bit of face. In a couple of days, I’ll talk to Charles Cooper again. I heard they happen to have two openings. If it doesn’t work out, let Little Nathaniel and Lillian Grant both go over. They grew up together, and now that they’re working, being in the same unit means they can look out for each other... Don’t you think so, Old Zhou? Hmm?”

Quinn Lewis actually took the initiative to show concern for Nathaniel Johnson’s job, which surprised Noah Johnson.

But what surprised him even more was what Quinn Lewis said next.

“Old Zhou, you’ve been promoted to deputy division level for a few years now, right? Have you ever thought about moving to a new position? Hmm? People thrive when they move, trees die when they’re transplanted! Recently, Deputy Director Old Lane of the Municipal Party Committee Office was transferred... Do you have any thoughts? If you do, I can talk to Secretary Scott about it. It shouldn’t be a big problem, haha.”

As soon as Quinn Lewis said this, Nathaniel Johnson immediately sensed trouble. Noah Johnson was already somewhat “half-believing, half-doubting” what Nathaniel Johnson had said, and now Quinn Lewis suddenly dangled a “big cake” in front of him while he was wavering—a deputy director of the Municipal Party Committee Office is usually also the deputy secretary-general of the Municipal Party Committee, a full division-level post with real power. Faced with such a once-in-a-lifetime promotion opportunity, how could he not be tempted? Compared to such a real chance, his son’s baseless “warning” was nothing.

Quinn Lewis looked at Noah Johnson with a smiling face, secretly sneering in his heart. He thought, if your son wants to marry my daughter, your rank is still too low... Fine, for Lillian Grant’s sake, I’ll give your Zhou family a hand. But it still depends on whether you know how to play along.

……

……

After seeing off the father and daughter from the Lu family, Noah Johnson hid alone in the study, smoking gloomily, restless and indecisive. At this moment, he no longer cared why Quinn Lewis was suddenly so eager to help him, and had completely thrown his son’s words from noon out of his mind. Now, all that filled his head was the prospect of the “Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Municipal Party Committee Office” position.

Nathaniel Johnson stood at the doorway and glanced at his father’s ever-changing expression, then silently walked into his own room. Closing the door, he stood there quietly, knowing that things had reached a point where he could no longer hesitate.

For people in officialdom, a promotion is simply a fatal temptation, like a moth to a flame. Especially for someone like Noah Johnson, who had long been suppressed and whose career had been unsatisfactory, the chance to transfer from the Public Security Bureau to the Municipal Party Committee Office as a high-ranking and powerful deputy secretary-general was an attraction beyond words.

Faced with temptation and opportunity, and with Quinn Lewis proactively extending an olive branch, Noah Johnson had almost no resistance. Nathaniel Johnson knew this very well; he could almost immediately conclude that, despite how conflicted his father looked now, it wouldn’t be long before he “came around,” took the initiative to “make nice” with Quinn Lewis, and might even go so far as to offer bribes and gifts—all for the sake of a promotion and a turning point in his career.

As for what Nathaniel Johnson had said, he might just take a chance, or simply ignore it subconsciously.

In fact, Nathaniel Johnson knew his father all too well. At this moment, Noah Johnson’s mind was spinning, comforting and reassuring himself: How could I believe the nonsense of a mere child? At Quinn Lewis’s level, even if there are some issues, nothing major will happen, right?

What a mess!!!!!!! Nathaniel Johnson gritted his teeth. If Noah Johnson was tempted and took action, he would drag himself and the Zhou family into an abyss of no return. Even if they didn’t get truly implicated in Quinn Lewis’s case, they would still ruin their own future.

Moreover, there was an even bigger ticking time bomb beside Noah Johnson—the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and Director of the Public Security Bureau of Haidu City, William Thompson. William Thompson and Quinn Lewis were like grasshoppers tied to the same rope; if one prospered, so did the other, and if one suffered, so did the other. Quinn Lewis and William Thompson committed crimes together... Both of them were very close to Noah Johnson, and with the slightest carelessness, he could easily get dragged in.

At this thought, Nathaniel Johnson immediately made up his mind.

……

Just as Nathaniel Johnson was about to go out, Paige Walker, who was bending over to clean the floor, frowned, “Nannan, it’s so late, where are you going?”

“Mom, I’m just going out for a walk. I’ll be back soon.” With that, not giving Paige Walker a chance to ask more, Nathaniel Johnson pushed the door open and left.

……

……

Early the next morning, as soon as Paige Walker got up and was about to make breakfast for the father and son, she suddenly heard noises from the kitchen. She went over to take a look and found that it was Nathaniel Johnson busy in the kitchen, wearing her apron and seemingly frying eggs and making porridge.

A wave of comfort washed over Paige Walker’s heart—her son had grown up and become even more sensible and considerate.