Chapter 77 p1
The situation at the television station was more complicated than they had anticipated. After the weekend, Lin Shuangzhi, following their plan, went to the city government, making one last attempt. As expected, the officials in charge were evasive and noncommittal.
Lin Shuangzhi was furious, but she couldn’t show it. She was disappointed, and also, as she had expected, it was a disaster.
Leaving the city government building, a light drizzle had started. Winter rain, not at all romantic, only intensified the damp coldness, and Lin Shuangzhi, her hands in her pockets, glanced at the gloomy sky, her heart heavy.
Tomorrow, she would go to the provincial government. Hopefully, the weather would improve, and hopefully, there would be a turning point.
She walked forward numbly, then suddenly stopped. Li Wan, holding an umbrella, was standing in the distance, seemingly waiting for her.
Lin Shuangzhi slowly walked over. “Why are you here?”
“I was worried you might be upset, unable to drive.”
Li Wan’s attitude towards her had softened slightly since that day at her apartment, and she had even messaged her this morning. Lin Shuangzhi hadn’t expected her to come in person.
Lin Shuangzhi took the umbrella from her, tilting it slightly towards Li Wan as they walked side by side. “I’m not that fragile, I was prepared for this.”
“It seems there were no pleasant surprises.”
Lin Shuangzhi sighed, her voice filled with disappointment. “No, just as I expected.”
Li Wan’s heart ached, knowing Lin Shuangzhi was going to the provincial government tomorrow.
“Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal, just a few more trips, it’s not like you’ll lose an arm or a leg.”
Li Wan bit her lip, avoiding Lin Shuangzhi’s gaze, quickening her pace, and stepping out from under the umbrella.
Lin Shuangzhi was taken aback, unsure why she was suddenly angry, but afraid she might catch a cold in the rain, she hurried after her, holding the umbrella over her.
“Xiao Wan, wait for me, it’s raining harder now, don’t catch a cold.”
“Are you… concerned about me?”
Lin Shuangzhi nodded. “Yes.”
“Then I’m also concerned about you, but you don’t seem to care at all.”
Lin Shuangzhi thought for a moment, realizing she was referring to her earlier comment about “not losing an arm or a leg.”
“It was just a figure of speech, don’t take it literally.”
Li Wan, however, ignored her and said softly, “You think these things won’t happen, but you don’t know how ruthless those people can be. Haven’t you seen the news reports over the years? Those who persist in seeking justice, how many of them haven’t suffered?”
Both she and Lin Shuangzhi were experienced professionals at the television station, having handled many sensitive stories, some unsuitable for broadcast, but they were both aware of the dark underbelly of society.
“I won’t let anything happen to me.” Lin Shuangzhi’s tone was serious, no longer pretending to be nonchalant.
Li Wan sighed helplessly, she couldn’t do anything more.
“I hope you can keep your word.”
Qin Qianrou, after learning about the situation, decided to extend her leave by two days, which meant more time in Meng City. However, she actually spent less time with Shen Yiqiu, which Shen Yiqiu understood and fully supported.
Wen Yirong had asked Qin Qianrou if she needed any help from the family. Qin Qianrou hesitated, then decided against involving them for now. Her grandfather’s health wasn’t good, and knowing about this would only worry him further.
Wen Shao Ze had called her a few times, but some things couldn’t be discussed over the phone.
“Qianrou, I’m going to Meng City tomorrow, there’s been some progress with the information you asked me to look into.”
“Okay.”
After saying this, Wen Shao Ze seemed hesitant to end the call.
“Anything else?”
“That… I’ve decided to talk to him.”
Qin Qianrou immediately knew who he was referring to, she hadn’t contacted Yuan Qi since learning about his relationship with Shen Yiqiu.
“Have you thought this through?”
Wen Shao Ze paused, then said firmly, “I have, instead of waiting in the shadows, it’s better to face him directly.”
“Since you’ve made up your mind, then I wish you all the best.”
The matter between Yuan Qi and Wen Shao Ze was complicated, a history spanning many years, and they hadn’t been in contact during that time. Yuan Qi’s current feelings were unknown.
Qin Qianrou had probed, and it seemed Shen Yiqiu didn’t know about the relationship between Yuan Qi and Wen Shao Ze, she had even been vague about her own relationship with Yuan Qi. Qin Qianrou decided not to bring up their past, respecting Yuan Qi’s decision.
If he wanted to talk about it, he would tell Shen Yiqiu himself.
Qin Qianrou had taken a week’s leave to stay in Meng City, but she hadn’t gone to the television station, and even Li Wan had taken two days off. With the major personnel changes underway, apart from the regular programs, everything else was practically at a standstill, and many people weren’t focused on their work.
Li Wan, hugging a pillow, sat on Qin Qianrou’s sofa.
“I offered to go with her today, but she refused, I don’t know why she’s being so stubborn!”
Qin Qianrou took a sip of tea, “You going with her wouldn’t have helped, she doesn’t want you there, she doesn’t want to involve you.”
“If she gets into trouble, how can I just stand by and do nothing? I’ve already prepared myself, if nothing else works, I’ll ask my father to intervene.”
Qin Qianrou wasn’t surprised, it was Li Wan’s unusual calmness these past two days that was more concerning.
“What, is your relationship better now?”
Li Wan, preoccupied with Lin Shuangzhi’s situation, didn’t think before blurting out, “Not really.”
Then, realizing what she had just said, she quickly added, trying to cover it up, “It wasn’t that bad before either, pretty much the same as always.”
The more she tried to explain, the more suspicious it seemed.
“Did something happen while I was away?”
Li Wan’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she avoided her friend’s gaze, her chin resting on the soft pillow. Qin Qianrou, seeing her shyness, was lost in thought.
She had sensed the strange tension between Li Wan and the team leader but couldn’t figure out what had happened, now it seemed it wasn’t as simple as she had thought.
Li Wan gathered her courage and looked up, “The team leader and I… slept together.”
A crack appeared in Qin Qianrou’s usually calm and composed facade, she hadn’t expected this.
Li Wan looked away uncomfortably, her gaze fixed on a potted plant in the distance.
“Don’t ask me why, I don’t know why either, perhaps the moon was too beautiful that night, the night was too enchanting, I wasn’t myself.”
Qin Qianrou gently placed her hand on Li Wan’s, not asking any further questions.
They had been friends for many years, and although Li Wan was usually boisterous, bold, and proactive, when it came to relationships, she was serious and cautious.
Even during her university years, deeply in love, her relationship with Zhuo Cheng hadn’t gone beyond kissing, he had made advances, but Li Wan had always held firm to her boundaries.
Thankfully, Zhuo Cheng had respected her decision and hadn’t pressured her further. Qin Qianrou hadn’t expected Li Wan and the team leader, their relationship still undefined, to have taken such a significant step.
“Are you surprised?” Li Wan didn’t sound triumphant at all, her tone hesitant. “Even I find it unbelievable, but it just… happened.”
“The team leader, she also… likes women?”
Li Wan shook her head. “I don’t know, she hasn’t said anything.”
Qin Qianrou looked at her, puzzled. “Then what’s your current situation…?”
“Our current situation? Same as always. Just slept together once, nothing’s changed.”
Li Wan’s tone was casual, as if she didn’t care, but Qin Qianrou could clearly see the concern and disappointment hidden within.
“After this matter at the station is resolved, find a chance to talk to the team leader, I don’t think she’s a casual person.”
Although she didn’t understand why Lin Shuangzhi would suddenly take such a step with Li Wan, after years of working together, Qin Qianrou didn’t think the team leader was frivolous.
“I thought so too, but it might be difficult now.”
“Why?”
Li Wan shifted the pillow in her arms and said worriedly, “That day, she also told me, if she loses her position at the station, she’ll just go home and inherit the family business.”
Qin Qianrou hadn’t known about Lin Shuangzhi’s background before, the team leader rarely mentioned her family, she rarely even talked about her hometown, Yong City.
“I only realized that day how little I actually know about her.”
Qin Qianrou thought that if the team leader really went home, they would be separated by distance.
“Although Yong City is a bit far, transportation isn’t a problem, and besides, the situation might not be that dire. If you want to protect her, you can.”
Simply preventing her from being promoted, keeping her in her current position, Li Wan could probably manage that.
Li Wan sighed again. “She’s incredibly stubborn, she refuses to let me help.”
Qin Qianrou understood; Lin Shuangzhi wanted to handle this alone, she didn’t want to implicate Li Wan.
“That’s just how she is.”
Li Wan had initially been angry, but after thinking about it, she understood her intentions.
“She’s so foolish, wanting to protect me, can’t she understand my feelings?”
You want to protect me, but don’t you think I care about you too?
Li Wan wanted to knock some sense into Lin Shuangzhi.
Qin Qianrou didn’t have much experience offering relationship advice, all she could do was listen.
“By the way, how are things with Shen Yiqiu? Have you… slept together yet?”
With Shen Yiqiu at school, and just the two of them at home, Li Wan was less guarded in her speech.
Qin Qianrou glared at her, not answering.
“So you haven’t.”
Li Wan took a sip of tea, clearing her throat, as if preparing for a speech.
“Qianrou, listen to my advice, as someone with experience, if you’re planning on… doing it, you absolutely have to be prepared.”
Qin Qianrou wasn’t interested in this topic, but Li Wan was speaking so earnestly, she couldn’t rudely interrupt her.
“Firstly, you have to remind Shen Yiqiu to trim her nails. Secondly, take it slow, don’t rush, don’t just… fumble around cluelessly. And lastly, absolutely remember, aftercare is crucial, you have to comfort her.”
Qin Qianrou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, they had discussed such things before, but applied to herself, it still felt strange.
But Li Wan’s serious tone, her increasing fervor, made Qin Qianrou realize this was probably a lesson learned from personal experience.
“It seems your experience wasn’t very pleasant.”
“It was a disaster.” Li Wan thought that if it weren’t for the alcohol that night, she would have kicked Lin Shuangzhi out of bed.
She had thought, even if not a pro, at least she would be somewhat experienced, who knew she wasn’t even a beginner?
She sighed, she had been a blank slate, and encountering a complete novice, she didn’t know whether it was fortunate or unfortunate.
“Take it slow, practice makes perfect.”
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