Chapter 429: Chapter 408: Your Classmate is the Mayor?_1
Watching Huang Xuyang’s excited demeanor, Yang Jinke found it quite understandable. From an ordinary staff member to becoming the Mayor’s secretary, although he had not yet received the Mayor’s approval, being the first to step up, he had seized the opportunity. If he performed well, he would gain recognition. Next, his rank was bound to rise. Though perhaps not immediately promoted to the position of deputy secretary-general, at the very least, he would certainly be made a deputy head of the Secretarial Department. More importantly, once he became the Mayor’s secretary, even if his rank was not high, he would be regarded as the Mayor’s representative. All heads of various municipal departments and the political and government cadres of each district would have to treat him like a brother. Thus, the role of a secretary was not high-ranking but held significant power.

Yang Jinke had already approached Huang Xuyang, lightly patting him on the shoulder affectionately and said with a smile, “Xuyang, prepare yourself, go to Mayor Nie and put on a good show. From here on, it’s up to you to bring honor to the Secretarial Department.”

Once Yang Jinke had left, the younger members present wore stunned expressions, with jealousy and resentment flashing in the eyes of the young man surnamed Tan. However, they were helpless. His father was only a bureau chief, holding a position equivalent to the director rank. From now on, it seemed he would likely have to address Huang Xuyang as ‘Uncle Huang’.

Although it was difficult to accept this circumstance, after calming himself down for a moment, Huang Xuyang quickly returned to normal. Eight years of grind had honed his mentality to a high level, although not yet to the degree of remaining unmoved even if Taishan Mountain were to collapse in front of him.

But in his eight years within the system, Huang Xuyang had seen countless cases of young individuals rising to prominence and well-established individuals falling from grace. His mentality had long since reached a resolute level.

Becoming a secretary was still a premature thought. Huang Xuyang was no child and well understood that without Mayor Nie’s approval, everything else counted for nothing.

With this in mind, Huang Xuyang tidied his desk swiftly and from the small cabinet next to it, pulled out his briefcase.

It was an older model briefcase, a hand-held type with a black leather exterior. Much of the paint had already peeled off, making it look somewhat mottled.

He had purchased it just after graduation, painfully parting with two months’ worth of salary. Back then, he had fantasized about carrying this briefcase and holding the leader’s teacup while accompanying them on rural inspections and higher-level reports. Regrettably, even though he had the briefcase, reality had proven to be incredibly cruel and he had had to wait for eight long years. The briefcase was no longer as glossy and bright as it used to be.

After sighing deeply, Huang Xuyang stride out of the Secretarial Department, took the elevator directly to the eleventh floor. The moment he stepped out of the elevator, despite his eight years of experience, he started to feel somewhat nervous.

Standing at the door, staring at the five big characters ‘Mayor’s Office’ on the door, Huang Xuyang felt rather jittery, and sweat had already started to bead on his forehead.

He knocked on the door and immediately a voice came from inside: “Come in.”

As soon as he entered, Yi Jun stood up and looked at Huang Xuyang. Yi Jun appeared very welcoming, nodding as he said, “Xuyang has come, come inside, the Mayor is waiting for you.”

Saying this, Yi Jun knocked on Nie Zhenbang’s door and quietly said, “Mayor, Comrade Huang Xuyang is here.”

Upon hearing Yi Jun’s words, Nie Zhenbang straightened up and nodded, “Oh, let him in.”

Looking at Huang Xuyang standing in front of him, Nie Zhenbang’s gaze was very sharp, making Huang Xuyang somewhat uneasy. At this moment, Nie Zhenbang laughed, he was indeed the one. Although many things had changed over the past eight years, he could still find many traces of his youthful self in his current appearance.

With a wave of his hand, he indicated the chair in front of him saying, “Huang Xuyang, please sit.”

Watching Huang Xuyang nod and sit down, stable and poised with half of his buttocks perched on the edge of the sofa, Nie Zhenbang nodded in approval. Eight years of friction indeed transformed a person significantly. However, Huang Xuyang was in a good state now. As a secretary, he would face many temptations. Various kinds of people, officials within the system, grassroots leaders, political opponents, even businessmen in society would try to maintain connections with the Mayor through a secretary. An impatient person would certainly not do. This was the reason Nie Zhenbang had picked Huang Xuyang.

Immediately afterwards, Nie Zhenbang laughed and said, “Xuyang, you shouldn’t feel restrained here. There are no outsiders. Don’t you remember me, you lad? If I hadn’t seen your profile, I wouldn’t have been able to recognize you. Now, seeing you in person, I’m completely sure.”

At his words, Huang Xuyang immediately raised his head and looked at Nie Zhenbang in astonishment. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “You, you’re that one from our class…?”

Nie Zhenbang nodded. He already knew what Huang Xuyang meant without having to hear it; the last phrase would certainly be ‘that mysterious student’.

At this moment, after hearing Nie Zhenbang’s validation, Huang Xuyang did not display much delight. This actually pleased Nie Zhenbang. Typically, a person who felt they had been underappreciated would have an ecstatic reaction upon discovering that the grand boss of the city, the head of the city government, and the second highest-ranking individual in the municipal party committee was actually a former classmate. Almost everyone would assume, with such a classmate, would they not experience a meteoric rise?