Chapter 72
Just as the atmosphere in the office was about to turn romantic, a knock on the locked door startled both of them. Lin Shuangzhi, recovering first, released Li Wan’s hand and went to open the door.
Li Wan bit her lip, watching Lin Shuangzhi’s back, and quickly smoothed her hair, although her appearance was still impeccable.
“What is it?” Lin Shuangzhi, seeing it was one of their team members, glanced outside; it was Friday evening, yet many people were still working overtime.
“Someone from the Finance Channel is here for Sister Li Wan, they said they need to borrow some materials.”
“Are we collaborating with the Finance Channel on anything recently?”
Lin Shuangzhi asked this just as Li Wan reached her side.
“No collaborations, probably older materials.” Li Wan was also a little puzzled, but it was common for colleagues to borrow resources from each other, helping out when needed, nothing unusual.
Lin Shuangzhi had only asked as a matter of routine, confirming it wasn’t related to their current projects, she didn’t inquire further.
“Then go ahead, don’t worry about what we were discussing earlier, just focus on your work.” Lin Shuangzhi reassured Li Wan, afraid her fiery temper might escalate the situation.
The station directors both valued and feared Li Wan and Qin Qianrou, but the restructuring wasn’t entirely up to them. Lin Shuangzhi, caught in the middle, found it difficult, but she wasn’t willing to compromise her principles.
Li Wan was slightly disappointed by the interruption, but since it was work-related, she couldn’t complain. She followed her colleague back to her office and saw two people from the Finance Channel.
“What’s going on today, Sister Chen, you came yourself?”
Sister Chen was a program director at the Finance Channel and had a good relationship with Li Wan. But she was also known for prioritizing her family, she would often skip lunch to save time, but she rarely worked overtime.
Sister Chen sighed, her face creased with worry. “What choice do I have? I was almost home when they called me back.”
Li Wan was surprised. “Called you back with just one phone call? It must be something important then.”
“It’s that Dongsheng Group matter again, I don’t think there’s a single department at the station, besides your team, that doesn’t treat them like royalty now.”
Dongsheng Group? Li Wan made a mental note, her expression, however, remaining unchanged.
“I heard you’re planning a series of reports on Dongsheng, has it started already?”
“Not yet, there’s been a last-minute change. The interview was scheduled for Monday, but Dongsheng’s director couldn’t make it then, so it’s been moved to tonight.”
Dongsheng’s director? Li Wan seemed to have guessed who it was, but she still feigned ignorance.
“Which director is so important that it made you come back to work overtime, Sister Chen?”
“Zhuo Cheng. I’m probably the only one who’s unhappy about this; all the young girls are excited, they refused to leave when they heard he was coming tonight.”
She pointed to a young woman outside, chatting with a few colleagues, “She even touched up her makeup when she heard Zhuo Cheng was coming.”
Li Wan glanced at her indifferently, not paying much attention.
“So, Sister Chen, how can I help?”
Li Wan opened her computer files, thinking she didn’t have any recent materials on Dongsheng Group, and even if she did, she hadn’t officially reported anything to the station.
“I’m not borrowing materials, I’m borrowing you.”
Li Wan looked at her, puzzled. “Borrowing me? Are you short of a managing editor? This is your program, I can’t steal the credit.”
Sister Chen knew she was joking and didn’t mind. “Director Liu’s family member is sick, he can’t make it tonight, and we need someone to oversee things. So, I thought I’d ask you for a favor.”
Li Wan really didn’t want to see Zhuo Cheng, but the mention of Dongsheng Group piqued her interest, she wanted to know more, especially with the station’s upcoming restructuring. The sudden promotion of Director Yu from the advertising department to deputy station director was truly unexpected.
She recalled Shen Yiqiu’s observation of Shao Qidong meeting with Deputy Director Ding and Director Yu privately on the weekend, which was even more suspicious. She suspected that Dongsheng’s substantial investment in advertising was a way to influence the personnel changes.
If the station was filled with Dongsheng’s people in the future, investigating them would be even more difficult.
“Alright, I’ll go.”
Li Wan was known for being straightforward and efficient, and Sister Chen, satisfied, went to inform Lin Shuangzhi.
“Team Leader Lin, thanks, I’ll treat you to milk tea another time.”
Lin Shuangzhi looked up from her pile of reports, watching Li Wan leave, her thoughts, however, on Zhuo Cheng.
A sense of unease settled over her, the reports before her blurring, she couldn’t focus.
**
Shortly after Li Wan arrived at the Finance Channel, Zhuo Cheng arrived as well. He looked tired, probably from overwork recently, which explained why he hadn’t been bothering her lately.
Zhuo Cheng hadn’t expected to see Li Wan here. He was stunned at first, then smiled warmly and greeted her, “Xiao Wan, I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
Sister Chen was surprised. “Director Zhuo knows Editor Li?”
Zhuo Cheng nodded, “We’re old friends.”
Li Wan suppressed her annoyance, if not for giving Sister Chen face, she would have turned and left. Old friends? Hah! Who gave you such confidence, is it that face of yours, stretched taut like a drum?
Sister Chen was delighted. “That’s wonderful, it’s always easier working with familiar faces.”
She thought that with them being acquaintances, the recording would go much more smoothly. Hopefully, they could finish early tonight, so she wouldn’t have to come in to work overtime this weekend.
While the others prepared for the recording, Zhuo Cheng walked over to Li Wan and said softly, “How have you been lately? I was abroad recently, so I couldn’t contact you.”
Li Wan didn’t look at him, her arms crossed as she observed the busy crew. She said coldly, “You don’t need to report your schedule to me, we’re not that close.”
Li Wan’s attitude displeased Zhuo Cheng, but he didn’t show it.
“Are you free tonight? After the recording, I’d like to invite you for a drink, it’s been a while since we last chatted.”
Chat? What could we possibly have to chat about? Li Wan instinctively wanted to refuse, but then, thinking about the Dongsheng matter, she decided to use this opportunity to probe and see if he knew about the station’s restructuring.
“We’ll see.”
Zhuo Cheng, watching her retreating figure, smiled confidently, Li Wan hadn’t explicitly rejected him, which basically meant she had agreed.
Although young, Zhuo Cheng was highly capable and adaptable, and with his charming appearance, the recording went smoothly. It was essentially a promotional program for Dongsheng Group, so naturally, there weren’t any difficult questions. Zhuo Cheng cooperated fully, and the recording was a success.
Li Wan had been observing from the side, not offering much input, only suggesting a few changes to enhance the promotional effect.
The recording ended quite late, and while the crew continued working, Zhuo Cheng expressed his gratitude and offered to treat everyone to a late-night snack. Handsome, wealthy, and generous, such gestures easily captivated the young women at the station.
Lin Shuangzhi, at some point, had arrived and watched for a while from the doorway. She had wanted to observe the recording of Zhuo Cheng’s segment and then invite Li Wan for a drink.
They had been too busy with work lately, it had been a while since they had a proper chat.
Seeing the crew packing up, Lin Shuangzhi was about to enter when she saw Zhuo Cheng standing in front of Li Wan.
“Xiao Wan, I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”
Li Wan’s expression didn’t show any joy, but unlike before, there was no resistance either, she simply responded with a quiet acknowledgement.
She said goodbye to Sister Chen and returned to her office. Most of her colleagues had left, only a few remaining, packing up their things. To her surprise, Lin Shuangzhi’s office door was locked, and the lights were off.
“Has the team leader left?”
A colleague, bag in hand, walked with her towards the elevator, “Yes, about fifteen minutes ago. She suddenly came back to get something, then left.”
Suddenly came back? Li Wan pondered this, feeling something was amiss as they reached the elevator.
“Where did the team leader go?”
“She said she was going to check on the Finance Channel.” The colleague seemed to realize something and asked, “Didn’t you see her, Sister Wan?”
Li Wan shook her head, but before she could say anything more, someone greeted her at the entrance.
Not wanting to attract attention, Li Wan didn’t waste any time, walking straight to the car and getting in.
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
Li Wan, forcing herself to be patient, said, “Didn’t you suggest having a drink?”
Zhuo Cheng, although slightly stung by her tone, didn’t take offense; this meant she was letting him choose the place.
The luxury car smoothly pulled away from the curb, but Li Wan felt no excitement.
She was wondering, The team leader went to the Finance Channel? Why didn’t I see her?
**
Li Wan, as usual, subtly inquired about Dongsheng. The atmosphere in the bar was even more relaxed than at the restaurant, and Zhuo Cheng, having had a few drinks, wasn’t as guarded.
Li Wan asked indirectly, and he answered, thinking he wasn’t revealing anything confidential. These fragmented pieces of information, pieced together, were enough for now.
Li Wan glanced at the time, it was almost 11 pm. Although she had told her family she was working overtime, she was exhausted and wanted to go home.
“It’s late, I’m leaving.”
Just as she stood up, her hand was grabbed, the grip firm.
She looked down and saw Zhuo Cheng, slightly drunk, looking at her.
“What do you mean by this?”
“Xiao Wan, don’t go, okay?”
Li Wan took a deep breath and repeated, “I’m leaving.”
Zhuo Cheng didn’t let go, he stood up unsteadily and moved closer.
“Xiao Wan, I’m sincere about you, after all these years, there’s been no one else in my heart. You’re the best woman I’ve ever met, can you give me another chance?”
Li Wan was tired of hearing these words, especially from Zhuo Cheng, they meant nothing to her.
However, who could truly be indifferent to past hurts?
She could forgive, she could let go, but she couldn’t simply pretend it never happened.
Her past pain didn’t need to be repaid, but she had truly suffered.
“Now you realize how good I am?” Li Wan looked at him, her disgust growing.
“Yes, you’re the best. Xiao Wan, as long as you’re willing to give me a chance, I’ll do anything.”
Emboldened by the alcohol, Zhuo Cheng didn’t want to wait any longer, a sense of unease growing within him, he felt he was losing her.
Li Wan pulled her hand away and scoffed, “You realized too late, I don’t want anything to do with you now. Don’t keep bringing up the past, you’re not worthy.”
Zhuo Cheng felt a tightness in his chest, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He grabbed Li Wan’s hand and tried to kiss her.
Li Wan, trapped in his embrace, unable to escape, struggled with all her might. She swung her bag, hitting him hard, then, taking advantage of his momentary daze, slapped him across the face.
This sobered him up.
“That slap is to teach you some manners.”
Li Wan turned and left without looking back, ignoring Zhuo Cheng’s embarrassment and the stares of others. She felt disgusted, his alcohol-laced breath repulsive, she couldn’t bear it for another second.
Then, she felt a wave of grievance, an inexplicable sense of being wronged, her heart aching, desperately needing a comforting embrace, a familiar voice, a familiar scent.
She took out her phone and saw a message from Lin Shuangzhi, sent half an hour ago, asking what she was doing.
Li Wan called her directly, and after a long while, the call was finally answered, the background noise unexpectedly loud.
“Where are you?”
Lin Shuangzhi put down her glass, the bartender taking it away, and gestured for another.
This was her third drink, she drank occasionally, but such uncontrolled, consecutive drinking was rare.
The person on the other end asked again, “Team Leader, where are you?”
“I’m having a drink, want to join me?”
Half an hour later, Li Wan spotted the familiar figure at the bar.
She quickly walked over, and the bartender, familiar with both of them, reported without being asked, “She’s had quite a few tonight.”
He held up four fingers.
Li Wan frowned and gently placed her hand on Lin Shuangzhi’s shoulder.
“Why are you drinking so much?”
She had had drinks with Lin Shuangzhi a few times before and knew this was her way of unwinding when she was upset. But she was usually more restrained, not like this.
Lin Shuangzhi, aware of her arrival, felt her frustration easing slightly, but her mind was already clouded by the alcohol, and she mechanically reached for her glass again.
Li Wan, seeing her continue drinking without answering, felt her suppressed anger resurfacing.
She snatched the glass away and, almost shouting in the noisy bar, said, “Working so hard every day, and instead of resting after work, you come here and drink so much, do you have a death wish?”
Lin Shuangzhi finally turned to look at her, her gaze unfocused, wandering for a moment before settling on Li Wan’s face.
An angry rose, with thorns, yet even more alluring.
Lin Shuangzhi leaned closer, her body almost touching Li Wan’s.
The scent of alcohol mingled with Lin Shuangzhi’s light fragrance, like a freshly mixed cocktail, and Li Wan’s face flushed, but her hand instinctively steadied Lin Shuangzhi.
“Xiao Wan, where did you go tonight?”
Lin Shuangzhi seemed fixated on this question, she had already asked in her message, and now she was asking again.
Li Wan, recalling the infuriating scene earlier, said irritably, “I went for a drink with Zhuo Cheng…”
Before she could finish, her words were silenced.
The strong scent of alcohol enveloped her, and Li Wan felt instantly intoxicated.
The soft touch on her lips made her forget to think, and it took her a few seconds to realize she was being kissed.
Caught off guard, Lin Shuangzhi had kissed her, just like that.
The noise of the bar faded away, Li Wan’s mind blank.
She remained frozen, kissed again and again by Lin Shuangzhi.
After a long while, those soft lips finally parted, but Li Wan didn’t dare to look at the person who had kissed her.
Her heart pounded, and she felt strangely timid, unable to even respond.
She was afraid that her overflowing affection would be dismissed as drunken behavior.
A warm breath by her ear, “Xiao Wan, I’m not drunk.”
**
Qin Qianrou, after finishing her work and emerging from the bathroom, saw Shen Yiqiu still awake, sitting on the bed, looking at something on her phone.
Qin Qianrou composed herself, calmly walked over to the other side of the bed, pulled back the covers, and sat down beside Shen Yiqiu, leaning against the headboard.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
Shen Yiqiu put her phone on the nightstand and casually wrapped her arm around Qin Qianrou from behind. “Reading web novels, there are a couple of good ones I’m following.”
“Weren’t you tired earlier? Why are you still awake so late?”
Although Shen Yiqiu was holding her, they both felt a little awkward and restrained in bed, not exactly uncomfortable, just a little unfamiliar, after all, sharing a bed was a first for them, they were inexperienced.
“How can I sleep before my girlfriend arrives?”
Qin Qianrou, unlike before, wasn’t as calm and composed, especially at this late hour, sitting in bed, leaning against Shen Yiqiu, her words were incredibly alluring.
“Such sweet talk at such a young age.” She gently tapped Shen Yiqiu’s nose, her tone playful.
Shen Yiqiu stared, mesmerized, Jiejie without makeup was even more beautiful, and the scent of her shower gel made her feel intoxicated.
She leaned closer and gently kissed Qin Qianrou.
Her kiss wasn’t forceful, cherishing Qin Qianrou’s lips, gradually softening into a gentle caress.
Qin Qianrou, almost breathless, had to push her away.
Her cheeks flushed, the warmth in her body unsure if it was from the lingering heat of the shower or from Shen Yiqiu’s proximity. Qin Qianrou couldn’t help but marvel at a young person’s energy and passion.
“It’s late, let’s go to sleep.” Qin Qianrou smoothed her hair, avoiding Shen Yiqiu’s intense gaze.
Shen Yiqiu was content, being able to kiss Jiejie again before bed, she felt incredibly happy.
“Mm, together.”
Shen Yiqiu had thought she would have sweet dreams tonight, her heart filled with joy, but in the middle of the night, the scenes in her dream made her break out in a cold sweat, her body paralyzed, unable to speak or even cry out, she could only watch in helpless terror.
She was frantic in her dream, terrified yet powerless.
She felt a familiar, sharp pain in her chest, her precognitive ability.
But she couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality, she wasn’t sure if the scene she was witnessing was a premonition or just a nightmare.
Her sleep became increasingly restless, her body tossing and turning, finally waking the person beside her. The dim bedside lamp came on, and Qin Qianrou’s voice by her ear pulled her back from the abyss of fear and helplessness.
“Bad dream?” Qin Qianrou’s hand gently touched her cold, sweaty forehead.
Shen Yiqiu, still dazed, simply stared at the person before her.
“Don’t worry, it was just a dream.” Seeing her like this, she knew it must have been a nightmare, and she had been terrified.
Qin Qianrou didn’t know if Shen Yiqiu often had nightmares. She thought it might be because they were in Hai City, triggering her memories.
They had talked quite a bit today, about Yuan Qi, and about their experiences in Hai City. Shen Yiqiu still carried the scars of her past.
Qin Qianrou mentally scolded herself for being careless, she shouldn’t have discussed the past with her.
Shen Yiqiu’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Jiejie, I had a bad dream.” Then, she reached out from under the covers and pointed to her chest. “And it hurts again.”
Qin Qianrou’s expression turned serious, “Is something about to happen?”
Shen Yiqiu struggled to sit up, her forehead still damp with sweat.
Her voice was filled with lingering fear. “I’m not sure, I dreamt of you… with someone I don’t know.”
“What kind of person?”
Shen Yiqiu frowned, trying to recall the details of her dream. “I couldn’t see his face clearly, but I’m sure it was a man, not very old, around Shao Ze-ge’s age, and he was wearing a bright yellow tie.”
Qin Qianrou thought for a moment, unable to immediately identify the person.
“And what were you and this man doing in your dream?”
Shen Yiqiu’s expression darkened, and she bit her lip, seemingly reluctant to continue.
Qin Qianrou, sensing her hesitation, gently wiped the sweat from her forehead with her cool hand.
“If you don’t want to talk about it now, you can tell me tomorrow.”
Shen Yiqiu, however, had made up her mind, people often said dreams were easily forgotten, now was when the memory was clearest, she might not remember the details tomorrow.
“I dreamt that you were embracing, and then… he tried to kiss you.”
Qin Qianrou froze, speechless.
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