Chapter 74: It’s Not
Zhou Tianzui had never seen this side of You Ruxu before, actually voicing a request. Although it was Zhou Tianzui who had initiated it, You Ruxu’s willingness to participate, to express her desire, made Zhou Tianzui very happy. And this happiness, unrestrained, led to them being entangled until late into the night. You Ruxu’s fair skin was flushed, partly from bites, partly from the lingering alcohol. The next day, when she woke up, her chest ached, even more so than her head.
You Ruxu frowned and looked down; the red marks were still there, faint, but a dull ache remained when she touched them.
She moved slightly, and Zhou Tianzui woke up.
Her slender hand reached for the bedside table, grabbing her phone, “It’s only six, not sleeping anymore?”
You Ruxu couldn’t sleep. After releasing her pent-up emotions last night, she woke up feeling a little dazed, followed by a rare clarity, her rationality returning, putting everything back in its place. You Ruxu said, “I’m not sleeping anymore, do you want to sleep a little longer?”
Zhou Tianzui turned over, “Just five more minutes.”
She was actually still in bed. You Ruxu chuckled, tucked her in, got out of bed, and put on her pajamas. Yao Zhao was already awake, reading in her room. Hearing the noise outside, she came out and offered to make breakfast.
Her movements were even more practiced than You Ruxu’s.
You Ruxu said, “I’ll do it.”
“I know how.” Yao Zhao said, “Sister, you and Dr. Zhou have been taking care of me for so long, it’s the least I can do.” She bit her lip, “And Sister, I’m moving back to the school dormitory.”
You Ruxu looked at her, hearing this.
Yao Zhao looked up slightly at You Ruxu. It was still dark outside, the kitchen light illuminating You Ruxu, who was wearing a black pajama set, her hair loose, her bangs tucked behind her ears, revealing her fair forehead and delicate profile.
You Ruxu asked, “When?”
Yao Zhao looked at You Ruxu and said, “In the next couple of days. I talked to my homeroom teacher yesterday, she told me before school ended that I could apply for boarding. Sister, you even paid the fees for me, I’ll…”
“Just focus on your studies during the summer break.” You Ruxu said, “Call me if you need anything.”
Yao Zhao paused.
She had no experience with owing money. She had never even borrowed fifty cents from her classmates before, because she wasn’t sure if she could pay them back. She never participated in any school activities either. When it came to group purchases of extracurricular books, the class representative would always skip her, saying, “She clearly can’t afford it.”
People would laugh at her, calling her “Little Mute,” and she wouldn’t even retort.
She was quiet and withdrawn, no one wanted to be friends with her. She would always endure such remarks in silence, because they were right.
She really couldn’t afford it, she was just a mute whenever such matters arose.
You Ruxu paying her school fees was a big deal to her, but You Ruxu’s casual attitude, as if it was just a small, insignificant gesture.
Made Yao Zhao yearn, yearn to be able to do the same one day, to easily help others in need.
The seed You Ruxu had planted in her heart was growing steadily, about to blossom.
You Ruxu continued making breakfast, putting the buns in the steamer. After finishing, she went back to the living room. The documents she hadn’t finished organizing last night were still on the coffee table. You Ruxu sat down and started sorting through them. Yao Zhao sat beside her and asked, “Sister, are you working?”
“Just some documents.” You Ruxu put them aside after organizing them and heard a noise from the bathroom. She turned; Zhou Tianzui was awake.
Zhou Tianzui casually put on a pajama top, a languid look about her. You Ruxu looked at her, “What’s for breakfast?” She could already smell the aroma.
You Ruxu said, “Plain noodles and steamed buns.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded, walked over to the sofa, and sat down. Yao Zhao was still a little afraid of her, not daring to approach, staying close to You Ruxu. You Ruxu put her laptop in her bag and received a call from Shi Qi.
Shi Qi didn’t seem to be in a good mood, asking directly, “Xiao Xu, has Zhou Heng contacted you?”
You Ruxu said, “He sent a friend request, but I haven’t accepted it yet, why?”
“Negotiations broke down last night.” Shi Qi said, “Be careful.”
You Ruxu frowned, “How did they break down?”
Shi Qi said, “He wanted us to apologize, to say there’s nothing wrong with the cars.” She scoffed, “He said he would pay any price.”
Fengyuan’s headquarters wasn’t in Jindu, just a branch office. Zhou Heng had come to deal with the V1 incident. He had originally planned to stay for half a month, but with the New Year approaching, the matter still wasn’t resolved. Several board members were unhappy with him. Zhou Heng, already frustrated, was naturally aggressive during the negotiations last night.
He thought everyone was afraid of Fengyuan.
If he had been reasonable, Shi Qi would have given him face, they could have sat down and discussed it properly. But coming in with guns blazing, Shi Qi didn’t have to put up with it. She rejected him outright.
Zhou Heng didn’t say anything, just smiled and left.
Shi Qi, after much deliberation, still decided to warn You Ruxu. Although it was she who offended Zhou Heng last night, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t target You Ruxu, as it was her news report after all.
You Ruxu said, “I understand.”
She hung up and looked at the friend request, staring at Zhou Heng’s name for two seconds, lost in thought. Zhou Tianzui walked over, “What’s wrong?”
You Ruxu turned around, about to say “nothing”—
Then changed her mind, “It was the boss, she said the negotiations with Zhou Heng broke down last night.”
Zhou Tianzui’s brow furrowed. Yao Zhao looked at them. Although she didn’t know who Zhou Heng was, she instinctively felt that You Ruxu was in trouble, but she couldn’t help.
She bit her lip. You Ruxu glanced at her, “Let’s have breakfast.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded.
The three sat at the dining table. Yao Zhao, in a very adult-like manner, served them noodles and steamed buns. Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu and said, “Should I drive you to work after breakfast?”
You Ruxu shook her head, “I’m going out today, it’s more convenient to drive myself.”
She was always like this.
Zhou Tianzui suddenly thought of the missing infant case You Ruxu had investigated. It seemed unrelated, but she couldn’t help but make the connection. Back then, You Ruxu had insisted on investigating, publishing the story even after receiving three warnings. Someone had provided a tip to the police based on her report, and the subsequent arrests were swift and successful. Everyone thought the case was closed, but You Ruxu was attacked.
In broad daylight, stabbed.
If the blade had deviated even slightly, she would have lost You Ruxu.
Seeing Zhou Heng in the ward that day had made her heart clench. His eyes, filled with malice, reminded her of the attacker, the resemblance unsettling. The thought made Zhou Tianzui’s face darken. You Ruxu, just as she was about to leave for work, pulled her into the bedroom, “What’s wrong?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “A Ran…”
“I know you’re worried.” You Ruxu said, “But Zhou Heng is the owner of Fengyuan, he wouldn’t resort to something so drastic.”
Indeed, there was no need.
Zhou Tianzui’s expression relaxed slightly, but she was still worried, “What if?”
You Ruxu said, “You really don’t wish me well.”
“It’s not about wishing you well or not.” Zhou Tianzui said, “It’s a possibility.”
You Ruxu said, “Any job carries risks.”
It was just that the risks associated with her job were slightly higher.
Zhou Tianzui couldn’t argue with that. She just looked at You Ruxu, who smiled at her, “I have to go to work now.”
She left the room. Yao Zhao was standing in the living room. Usually, You Ruxu would drive her to school, but today, she said to Zhou Tianzui, “You take her, I’m running late.”
She usually left at this time, saying she was running late was just in case, so Yao Zhao wouldn’t be late if something happened.
Saying she didn’t care, but still preparing for the worst.
Zhou Tianzui felt a surge of frustration. In the car, Yao Zhao, sensing her mood, sat up straight, her body tense. Stopping at a red light, Zhou Tianzui asked, “Are you tired?”
Yao Zhao, as if being questioned by the principal, immediately straightened her posture further, “No.”
Zhou Tianzui, suppressing her frustration, actually chuckled.
She said, “Why are you so nervous? Do I look like I’m going to eat you?”
Yao Zhao said, “No, you don’t.”
The light turned green. Yao Zhao looked at Zhou Tianzui’s profile and asked softly, “Dr. Zhou, are you unhappy?”
“Is it because of Sister?”
Zhou Tianzui’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, hearing Yao Zhao ask, “Is Sister’s job dangerous?”
“Yao Zhao,” Zhou Tianzui asked, “What do you think of reporters?”
Yao Zhao thought carefully. To her, reporters seemed glamorous, appearing on TV every day, always elegant and composed. She said, “I think reporters are amazing.”
Zhou Tianzui chuckled, “Omnipotent?”
Yao Zhao, slightly embarrassed, nodded. To her, reporters did seem somewhat omnipotent.
Zhou Tianzui said, “Actually, it’s the opposite.”
Not only were they not omnipotent, they were also often constrained. Yao Zhao didn’t quite understand. She looked at Zhou Tianzui, who said, “Do you know how high the mortality rate is for reporters?”
Yao Zhao shook her head.
But she could imagine.
Yao Zhao murmured, “Is it that dangerous?”
Not only dangerous, but the unpredictable nature of their work was also a major factor. Besides all the occupational hazards, reporters also had to follow up on events, keeping a close watch even after everyone else had moved on.
Yao Zhao whispered, “Then Sister must be very scared.”
Zhou Tianzui’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, her frustration growing, although her expression remained unchanged. They arrived at the school. Yao Zhao got out of the car and politely said goodbye to Zhou Tianzui. Zhou Tianzui watched her walk into the school, Yao Zhao’s words echoing in her ears: “Then Sister must be very scared.“
Perhaps she shouldn’t have said those things this morning.
Zhou Tianzui felt a pang of regret.
She should have hugged You Ruxu this morning.
She should have held her close.
Zhou Tianzui, thinking this, called You Ruxu. The ringing echoed in the car. Several rings, but no answer. Zhou Tianzui frowned.
Was she driving?
She would be using Bluetooth, no need to hold the phone, there was no reason for her not to answer.
Zhou Tianzui’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately called You Ruxu again, the ringing now sounding impatient and echoing in the empty car. Her palms were sweating. Just before the last ring, the call was answered.
But it wasn’t You Ruxu’s voice.
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