Liaojiang District
1261 Words
6 AM.
Jiangcheng.
Liaojiang District.
A luxurious residential area.
Sun Yun, the director of the district and head of Jiangcheng’s sanitation bureau, was abruptly awakened by a call from his immediate superior early in the morning.
So abruptly—
That he almost forgot to put on his pants before rushing out the door.
But when he opened the door, he was utterly stunned.
His always carefree, responsibility-dodging boss—
Was standing downstairs in a perfectly pressed suit, his gaze fixed on Sun Yun’s apartment.
The sheer absurdity of this sight almost made Sun Yun confess to embezzling funds last month to buy a new car.
But thankfully—
It seemed like his boss wasn’t here to investigate him today.
Instead—
The middle-aged man waved at him with an amiable smile.
"Xiao Sun, if I recall correctly, you’ve been in charge of Jiangcheng’s Lantern Festival for years now, right?"
An Hour Later…
Sun Yun was now seated inside his boss’s private car, heading toward Liaojiang District.
Jiangcheng as a city was built along a massive river, one that stretched across the entire southeastern region of the Empire.
And among all the districts, Liaojiang was the best location by the river—
Its prosperity second only to the commercial center of the city.
For someone as young as Sun Yun to be in charge of such a prime district, most people assumed he had a bright future ahead.
But in reality—
Few knew the truth.
A decade ago, due to his mismanagement, he had caused a major public incident—
And was demoted multiple ranks, ending up as a mere district chief.
Now, as he stepped out of the car, the morning breeze by the river cleared his mind slightly.
Even so—
He still felt a bit dazed.
Because according to his boss, an incredibly important figure was about to visit Liaojiang District.
If he served this person well—
He wouldn’t have to worry about his future ever again.
Sun Yun shook his head, trying to dispel his lingering confusion.
Then, he hurried toward the entrance of the district.
The Liaojiang District Entrance
Despite the early hour, the place was already packed.
Hundreds of Jiangcheng residents stood in long lines, waiting for the park gates to open in half an hour.
Liaojiang District was renowned for its picturesque scenery, making it a favorite among young people.
And now—
With the Lantern Festival approaching, it had become a hotspot for tourists and social media influencers.
Even before sunrise—
Countless young people had rushed over from nearby hotels, eager to be first in line.
Yet, despite the huge crowds, everyone waited patiently—
Occasionally muttering complaints, but never breaking the line.
An Unexpected Development
When Sun Yun arrived, he was wearing casual clothes.
But even so—
The staff members recognized him instantly.
A few of them immediately ran up with flattering smiles.
"Director Sun! You’re here for an inspection?"
"Haha, come sit here! Have some tea, Director Sun!"
Sun Yun nodded indifferently.
He wasn’t sure why—
But while he acted like a servant in front of his own boss—
He had no intention of being overly kind to his subordinates.
He waved them closer, then pointed at a large, unopened entrance gate nearby.
"Open that gate."
A Mysterious Gate Opens
The staff members hurried to obey—
And their actions quickly drew the attention of the people waiting in line.
The crowd watched as a group of workers unlocked and opened an additional fourth entrance.
Few people knew this—
But while the Liaojiang District had three main entrances, a fourth gate had been built during construction.
However—
It had never been used, not even during peak tourist seasons.
It was only reserved for important figures during official visits.
Now—
As the gates swung open, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Huh? They’re opening another entrance?"
"They should’ve done this ages ago! Look at this line—it’s way too long!"
"Let’s go check it out! Maybe we can get in faster!"
A few people became restless, considering moving toward the new entrance.
But most of the crowd remained cautious, opting to wait and observe.
Conversations in the Crowd
Further down the line…
A short, college-aged boy turned to his taller, pockmarked friend with excitement.
"Hey, Yang, I used your ID to enter the Lantern Festival lottery! Who knows? Maybe I’ll actually win!"
The taller guy, Yang, snorted.
"Are you serious? These things are always rigged. If you actually win, I’ll eat sht."*
The shorter boy pouted, but then noticed the commotion ahead.
"Hey, hey! They opened another gate!"
"Come on, Yang! If we go now, we’ll get in right away!"
Yang, however, simply chuckled knowingly.
"Forget it, kid."
"This is just like that scam lottery you entered. Normal people like us aren’t even qualified."
Saying this, Yang folded his arms, watching a few eager visitors approach the new entrance.
"Just wait. They’ll be coming back with their tails between their legs."
Sure enough—
A few minutes later—
The eager visitors returned, frustrated.
The staff had turned them away.
"Damn! Who is this entrance even for?!"
The shorter boy turned back to Yang, shocked.
Yang, meanwhile, just smirked.
"Kid, you’re too naïve."
"See how those workers are acting? That’s the kind of groveling they only show to real power."
"In a few minutes, a major figure will be arriving…"
True Power in Jiangcheng
Yang’s tone turned serious.
"You think those big-shot streamers, actors, or business tycoons actually matter?"
"To real power, they’re nothing but glorified clowns."
His friend’s eyes widened.
It felt like he was peering behind a curtain, catching a glimpse of the true hierarchy of the Empire.
"Take Jiangcheng’s Governor, Su Mingshuo, for example…"
"The Su family controls nearly everything in this city—healthcare, education, infrastructure. Every citizen depends on them."
"And that’s just a single regional power. Compared to the true aristocratic clans of the capital…"
But then—
Yang abruptly stopped talking.
Because—
A black sedan had arrived.
Hundreds of people watched as it pulled up to the exclusive entrance.
A group of staff members immediately rushed forward, their smiles overwhelmingly polite.
And then—
A middle-aged man stepped out of the car.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, with streaks of gray in his hair—
His very presence radiated authority.
The moment Sun Yun saw him, he rushed forward with a fawning smile.
"Director Su! What an honor! I didn’t expect you to come in person!"
Yang smirked.
"See that? That’s Su Changsha—one of the most powerful men in Jiangcheng."
"Old man, you just witnessed real power—"
But then—
Yang’s words caught in his throat.
Because Su Changsha had stepped aside—
And opened the car door himself.
And from the back seat—
A young man stepped out.
Tall. Handsome. Elegant.
No older than them.
Yet the powerful Su Changsha was bowing slightly, smiling with pure reverence.
Yang’s mind went blank.
"Who the hell is this guy?!"
- Writer
