Chapter 45
Dinner was at a high-end restaurant in Meng City. Even though it wasn’t the weekend, there were quite a few customers. The soft piano music in the background created a romantic and elegant atmosphere.
Zhuo Cheng had carefully chosen the location. Li Wan had rarely agreed to his invitations, and she had surprisingly let him choose the place this time. This made Zhuo Cheng almost disbelieve it, feeling like he was back in university.
Back then, he had been strapped for cash, barely able to afford basic living expenses, let alone extravagant dates. But Li Wan had never complained, never compared him to others, and had always carefully protected his proud and sensitive ego.
He had earned extra money tutoring and taken her to eat street food in hidden alleys, and she had enjoyed it. He had bought her inexpensive jewelry for their anniversary, and she had praised the unique designs, never showing disdain. Li Wan’s fiery temper seemed reserved only for those who looked down on them and ridiculed him.
Yet, he hadn’t cherished such a wonderful and perfect girlfriend.
How had he been able to let her go…? During countless long, dark nights after returning to Meng City, Zhuo Cheng had repeatedly asked himself this question. But he knew, even if he could go back in time and choose again, given the circumstances and his confidence in his own abilities, he would still have chosen to go abroad.
However, perhaps he wouldn’t have broken up with her, choosing to maintain their long-distance relationship instead. Because the more people he met, the more he realized how wonderful Li Wan was.
Following his usual habit, Zhuo Cheng ordered all of Li Wan’s favorite dishes. He was tall and handsome, and now, dressed impeccably, his years abroad had added a touch of maturity. His overall charm had significantly increased since university, even attracting the attention of the young waitresses.
Li Wan’s demeanor had been indifferent since she arrived, her responses curt, avoiding eye contact. Zhuo Cheng sensed her avoidance, but it was already much better than their first encounter after his return.
He felt a surge of joy, his expression even more charming. Even in this setting, he still attracted the attention of many young women.
“No need for wine, I’m not drinking.” As they reached the end of the menu, Li Wan stopped him from ordering alcohol.
“This restaurant has a great selection of rare and limited-edition wines, it would be a shame not to try some.”
“I’m not drinking.”
Seeing her insistence, Zhuo Cheng didn’t press further, ordering two glasses of freshly squeezed juice instead.
“Xiao Wan, have you quit drinking, or are you simply unwilling to drink with me?”
Zhuo Cheng’s voice was gentle. Unlike his accommodating tone in university, he now exuded a sense of magnanimity.
Because he felt he was stronger now, capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with Li Wan, no longer the “phoenix man” who had latched onto a rich girl.
Li Wan had been detached since she arrived, not paying attention to the restaurant he had chosen or the dishes he had ordered. She just wanted to get to the point and leave quickly.
Having worked all day, she was already exhausted, and now having to deal with this annoying pest, Li Wan’s mood soured. She wondered if this counted as overtime. Speaking of overtime, it seemed the team leader was still at the office when she left. Everyone had grown accustomed to Lin Shuangzhi always being the last to leave.
Previously, Qin Qianrou had been just as dedicated, but lately, Reporter Qin had been reducing her overtime hours, while Team Leader Lin remained as dedicated as ever. The true “Iron Worker” title undoubtedly belonged to Lin Shuangzhi.
Thinking of Lin Shuangzhi, Li Wan’s expression softened, a faint smile appearing in her eyes. Zhuo Cheng, who had been observing her, naturally didn’t miss this change.
He felt a pang of displeasure. Li Wan had agreed to his invitation, but she seemed detached and distracted.
“Xiao Wan, how’s work been lately? I heard from Uncle Li that you’re so busy you rarely have time for proper dinners at home. That’s not good for your health.”
Li Wan was forced to bring her attention back to the present. Hearing Zhuo Cheng’s feigned concern, she felt even more disgusted.
“That’s how it is in the news industry, we don’t control our own time. It’s fine to eat later, but we can’t delay chasing news stories, otherwise I’ll lose my job.”
Li Wan’s casual tone revealed the demanding nature of her work.
Zhuo Cheng looked at her with feigned concern, his gaze lingering. Although he didn’t receive a response, he continued expressing his “care.”
“You’ve been working for quite a few years now, why tire yourself out so much? Have you considered resigning, or changing jobs?”
Li Wan frowned and looked at him sideways. “Resign? So I can become a freeloader at home?”
Her teasing tone was laced with sarcasm and disdain. She was young, capable, had dreams and aspirations, and like-minded friends by her side, why would she resign?
“If you’re willing, I can take care of you, I’m willing to give you all my earnings. You don’t have to be a freeloader, you can maintain your current lifestyle, or even live better.”
Although Li Wan’s father was the deputy mayor, his responsibilities weren’t related to finance or industry, and being an upright official, his income wasn’t particularly high. Most of the Li family’s current assets were actually from Li Wan’s mother’s dowry; as an only child from a wealthy family, she had inherited most of her family’s wealth.
“Zhuo Cheng, I hope you understand. I agreed to have dinner with you tonight only to ease the awkwardness between us and to avoid making things difficult for my father. But our relationship is just that, nothing more. As for your offer to take care of me, to give me your money, that’s crossing the line. You’re an adult, you should know what’s appropriate to say and what’s not.”
Li Wan’s tone was calm, but her words were rapid-fire. Zhuo Cheng knew her well; this was a sign of her simmering anger.
She used to be like this in university, but back then, it was to defend him.
He felt a pang of bitterness but persisted.
“I misspoke, I didn’t mean to pressure you, I just wanted to express my feelings. If you’re willing, I can fulfill my promise anytime.”
Li Wan raised her hand irritably. “Enough, if you continue like this, there’s no point in having this dinner.”
“Okay, okay, I won’t say anymore. The steak here is famous, even better than the other place, I only found out after coming back.”
Zhuo Cheng wasn’t a foodie, and Li Wan didn’t doubt his sincerity, but things had changed. The feeling was gone, and anything he did now only disgusted her.
“My boss recommended this place to me, he practically knows every good restaurant in Meng City.”
Li Wan, who had been losing interest, suddenly perked up upon hearing Shao Qidong mentioned. To avoid being noticed, she suppressed her excitement and feigned indifference.
“I heard you’re a highly sought-after talent, why did you choose to work for Dongsheng? I’m sure many companies offered you positions.”
Dongsheng was indeed a prominent company in Meng City, but it wasn’t the only one. It was wealthy, but seemed lacking in other aspects. As a financial expert, Zhuo Cheng could have gone to a more specialized firm.
“Because Dongsheng offered the best terms and the greatest opportunities for development.” Zhuo Cheng unfolded his napkin and placed it on his lap. “You know me, I hate feeling hopeless.”
Li Wan pursed her lips, thought for a moment, then asked, “Your salary abroad wasn’t low, you’ve worked hard for so long, and you were willing to give it all up to come back. It seems Dongsheng is really willing to spend money. Can you tell me how much they offered, to impress me?”
Zhuo Cheng didn’t suspect anything, even feeling a little pleased that she had asked.
“Three times my salary abroad, plus stock options. More importantly, it allows me to quickly establish myself in Meng City.”
Being overseas, a high salary meant nothing; he was still a foreigner, an outsider. Different race, different skin color, always adrift. But Meng City was different, it held cherished memories and the people he cared about.
“I thought you would be the CFO of Dongsheng, but your name doesn’t appear on the company website. Your boss spent so much money to recruit you, and he gave you an insignificant position?”
Their steaks arrived, and Zhuo Cheng picked up his knife and fork, slowly cutting his steak.
“I didn’t expect you to pay attention to such things. I thought you never cared about what I was doing.”
Perhaps because he had been so successful in recent years, with women constantly vying for his attention, Zhuo Cheng subconsciously assumed everyone was interested in his every move.
Li Wan rolled her eyes inwardly, maintaining a calm expression.
She looked down and cut her steak. Her smooth forehead, her dark hair, her elegant yet sensual posture, and the faint scent of her perfume, all captivated Zhuo Cheng.
She was still so beautiful, even more so than before.
Zhuo Cheng’s heart raced, his guard gradually lowering.
Seeing Li Wan’s silence, afraid of the conversation ending abruptly, he explained, “Dongsheng is setting up a new branch, and a large number of new projects will be transferred there. I’m mainly responsible for that aspect.”
“A new company? Such a big move, I haven’t heard anything about it.”
“It’s still in the planning stages, it hasn’t been officially announced yet. And it involves international collaborations, so they’re being cautious.” He smiled at her. “Xiao Wan, this is confidential business information, you’re not going to report it, are you?”
Although he said this, there was no real concern in his tone. Li Wan, however, was displeased and glared at him. “What, are you questioning my professional ethics, or my character?”
“I absolutely trust you.”
Li Wan thought to herself, Shao Qidong is secretly setting up a new company, what for? Is he expanding his overseas operations? Dongsheng owns a lot of self-developed technology patents, which received substantial government funding during the R&D process. If he’s planning to sell these patents abroad, wouldn’t that be…
“Xiao Wan, why aren’t you eating? Is it not to your liking?”
“No, I was just thinking about something. The food is good, your boss has decent taste.”
“He’s a loner, so he only has these kinds of hobbies.”
Seemingly displeased by Li Wan complimenting someone else, Zhuo Cheng’s tone carried a hint of jealousy.
Li Wan naturally noticed his feelings and took the opportunity to say, “He must be too ambitious, only wanting to be a rich businessman. You’ve been with him for so long, you might become like him too.”
“Absolutely not, I’m not a workaholic. And although this project is large-scale, the preparations are going quickly, I don’t intend to stay with him forever.”
Li Wan glanced at him. It seemed Shao Qidong was in a hurry with his overseas collaborations.
Having achieved her goal for tonight, further conversation might arouse Zhuo Cheng’s suspicion. She knew him well and knew when to stop.
So, she put down her knife and fork, wiped her mouth, having only taken a few sips of her juice.
Zhuo Cheng was surprised, his knife and fork still in midair. “You’re full already?”
Li Wan placed her napkin on the table and smiled brightly. “I just remembered I have some unfinished business at the station, I need to go back.”
Finally free from this annoying pest, her smile was genuinely bright.
Zhuo Cheng’s heart melted at her smile, and he quickly put down his cutlery, offering to drive her back.
“You enjoy your meal, don’t waste your boss’s recommendation. I’ll call a taxi myself, it’s still early, and it’s safe.”
Zhuo Cheng watched her leave, disappointed as her figure disappeared from view.
They had been having a pleasant conversation; he hadn’t expected it to end so soon. He had even been planning his next invitation, but Li Wan had left abruptly.
Working at a TV station is truly demanding. How can Xiao Wan handle it?
Zhuo Cheng’s thoughts wandered, feeling a sense of unease. He ordered a bottle of wine, opened it sullenly, and drank glass after glass by himself.
**
When Qin Qianrou went to request leave from Lin Shuangzhi the next day, Li Wan happened to be in the team leader’s office as well. This was a common occurrence; as managing editor, discussing project proposals and program progress with the team leader was part of her job.
However, Qin Qianrou sensed something was off with the atmosphere in the office today. They seemed reluctant to speak, their conversation strictly business, without any casual banter.
Although the team leader wasn’t as outgoing and playful as Li Wan, she had never discouraged Li Wan’s jokes and would even laugh along, quite supportive.
What’s going on today…?
Suppressing her curiosity, Qin Qianrou stated her purpose. Lin Shuangzhi took the leave application form and looked it over.
“You’re taking leave to go to Hai City?”
“Yes, personal matters.”
Qin Qianrou specifically emphasized “personal matters,” afraid the team leader might think she was still pursuing the He Chao matter.
“You have enough leave days remaining. I’m just asking as a formality, don’t mind me.” Hearing it was a personal matter, Lin Shuangzhi didn’t ask further and readily signed the form.
“Things are a bit hectic at the station lately, so please ensure a proper handover before your leave. And also, keep your phone on during your leave, maintain clear communication. These are the station’s rules, don’t think I’m nagging.”
Perhaps because Qin Qianrou rarely took personal leave, Lin Shuangzhi couldn’t help but reiterate the leave regulations as she handed the form back to her.
“I understand, thank you, Team Leader. Then I’ll be going.”
Li Wan hadn’t spoken a word throughout the entire exchange, her silence unsettling. Before leaving, Qin Qianrou couldn’t help but glance at her, puzzled, but she couldn’t ask in front of the team leader.
Li Wan stood up. “I’ll be going as well. Let’s postpone our discussion for now.”
Then, she quickly followed Qin Qianrou out of the office.
A soft sigh came from behind them, from Lin Shuangzhi.
Back in Qin Qianrou’s office, Li Wan’s mood hadn’t improved, but she was more talkative than before.
“Xiao Wan, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, same as always.”
“Really? You look very unhappy.”
Li Wan paused. “That obvious?”
Qin Qianrou nodded, a faint smile on her lips.
Li Wan bit her lip, her annoyance growing. “It’s that obvious, and she didn’t even notice!”
This is infuriating! Infuriating!
Qin Qianrou was increasingly baffled by her friend’s emotions, but Li Wan was clearly different from her usual self.
“Did something go wrong with your date last night?”
Date last night?
Li Wan looked at her, puzzled. “Who told you that?”
Qin Qianrou didn’t want to betray her colleagues, so she simply gestured vaguely. “Someone saw you getting into a luxury car yesterday, said a handsome man picked you up. I was just curious, it’s fine if you don’t want to talk about it.”
“They’re truly talented gossipers, our team should be renamed the ‘Rumor Mill.’ It would be a waste of talent otherwise.” Li Wan sighed heavily. “I had dinner with Zhuo Cheng last night, trying to get some updates on Dongsheng. I didn’t expect it to turn into a ‘date’ by the time I got back to the office.”
Li Wan almost gagged, and Qin Qianrou gave her a sympathetic look.
Neither of them enjoyed socializing or flattering others. Having dinner with Zhuo Cheng to gather information about Dongsheng was already awkward enough for Li Wan; Qin Qianrou wouldn’t tease her about it.
“By the way, why are you suddenly taking leave? Family matters?”
Hearing that Qin Qianrou was going back to Hai City, Li Wan was curious.
Qin Qianrou rarely went back home on her own accord.
“Nothing’s wrong at home, it’s just that He Chao’s trial is coming up soon.”
Li Wan hadn’t expected Qin Qianrou to be following up on the He Chao matter, but then she thought, if it was a personal matter, Qin Qianrou had no personal connection to He Chao.
“Are you going with the little one?”
“She said she wanted to attend the trial, and I’m also a little interested, so we’re going together.”
Oh, “a little interested,” “going together,” those aren’t the important parts. The important part is “together.” Li Wan quickly grasped the key point: they were going back to Hai City together.
“You’re so good to the little one, going back to Hai City for her without hesitation. Your family will definitely be jealous if they find out.”
Qin Qianrou looked at her helplessly. “Feeling wronged by the team leader, so you’re taking it out on me?”
Li Wan’s expression faltered. “No, no, I wouldn’t dare. I just think, since you’re not so resistant to going back to Hai City anymore, you should take this opportunity to mend your relationship with your family.”
Qin Qianrou didn’t deliberately ignore this topic like before, but seemed lost in thought.
“We’ll see.”
**
Wen Yirong received her daughter’s call one afternoon, just as she was about to leave for afternoon tea with her friends. Hearing that Qianrou was in Hai City, she immediately cancelled her plans.
“Xiao Rou, you’re so well-behaved this time, calling your mother as soon as you arrive.”
Qin Qianrou could sense her mother’s delight.
“Mm, but I still can’t stay at home this time, so I’m just letting you know.”
“Still can’t come home? Why?” Wen Yirong paused, then asked, “Did you bring someone back again?”
Qin Qianrou glanced at the person sitting beside her, sipping a drink, and responded with a simple “Mm.”
“Is it that child from last time?”
“Yes. We’re here to attend He Chao’s trial, we won’t be staying long.”
Wen Yirong’s excitement gradually subsided, and Qin Qianrou could picture the disappointment on her mother’s face.
Her heart twinged slightly, and she hesitantly said, “But we can arrange to have dinner together. If the timing is right, we can also invite Uncle, and Shao Ze.”
“Of course!” Wen Yirong hadn’t expected her daughter to be so proactive and was delighted.
But she quickly realized, “Did you see them last time you were here?”
“Mm, we ran into them on the street.”
Wen Yirong didn’t say anything more, letting out an almost inaudible sigh. “That’s fine, your father is busy anyway, he just left before you arrived, you always miss each other. Let’s have dinner together first, there will be other opportunities later.”
Qin Qianrou had informed her mother of her arrival and was about to hang up when she heard Wen Yirong suddenly say, “Remember to bring that child along, together.”
Qin Qianrou hesitated slightly. This was a family dinner; would Shen Yiqiu feel uncomfortable?
“I’ll ask her.”
Wen Yirong’s interest in Shen Yiqiu now surpassed even her interest in her own daughter. This child had prompted Qianrou to come to Hai City multiple times. And now she was even asking for her opinion, it was just a meal, was it really necessary?
Qianrou’s concern for this child, so subtle and unspoken, hidden in the smallest of details, made Wen Yirong feel it was unusual.
On their way to the hotel, they had agreed to stay at the same hotel as last time. Perhaps they both disliked change; once they found a place they liked, they were reluctant to switch.
Besides attending He Chao’s trial, Shen Yiqiu had other matters to attend to this time. The traffic police had contacted her, saying there had been a major breakthrough in her parents’ case.
Despite the limited leads, justice had prevailed. Chen Kang excitedly told her that the mastermind behind the accident had been apprehended! And unable to withstand interrogation, he had confessed everything.
The entire case was now clear. Shen Zhifeng and his wife had died in a deliberately caused car accident, and the culprit had been caught.
Everything seemed to have reached its conclusion, but Shen Yiqiu knew that the so-called mastermind was just a scapegoat thrown out by Shao Qidong. He had been afraid the investigation would lead back to him, so he had found someone to take the fall.
Now, everyone believed her parents had been harmed by that person, with all the evidence pointing towards him. Only Shen Yiqiu hadn’t forgotten that the true culprit was Shao Qidong.
Regardless, the assets under Shen Zhifeng’s name, which had been temporarily frozen, were now released, and Shen Yiqiu rightfully inherited them. This trip was to handle the inheritance procedures.
Gu Chao and the others, hearing of their arrival, eagerly offered to handle all the arrangements, but Shen Yiqiu politely declined, even asking Zhang Meng to help dissuade them.
“They’re so enthusiastic, I’m afraid to tell them anything anymore.”
Shen Yiqiu grimaced; she was always a little overwhelmed by excessive enthusiasm.
After checking into the hotel, Qin Qianrou and Shen Yiqiu were given the same room as last time. High-end hotels tended to remember their guests’ preferences, and since their previous room was available, it was naturally assigned to them.
“They’re genuinely kind and grateful people, although I’m also not quite used to such enthusiasm.” Qin Qianrou, unpacking her luggage, understood Shen Yiqiu’s feelings.
“Jiejie, what kind of repayment do you prefer then?”
“Me? I don’t need any repayment. I didn’t do those things for a reward.”
Shen Yiqiu thought for a moment, feeling she hadn’t phrased her question correctly.
“I mean, if someone wanted to show their gratitude, would you consider it repayment, or something else?”
Qin Qianrou hadn’t considered this question before. She paused and thought carefully.
“It depends, it depends on the person.”
It depends on the person… Shen Yiqiu pondered her words, unsure what to ask next.
“Don’t just sit there, unpack your things.”
They had a meeting with the lawyer handling the inheritance procedures that afternoon. Shen Yiqiu wouldn’t be able to handle it alone, which was why Qin Qianrou had accompanied her.
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