#17 (Miss Wen Sold That Apartment...)

Leaving Wen Di’s apartment, Yan Heyu opened his navigation again.

Qin Xing called him, asking where he was.

Yan Heyu countered, “What’s wrong?”

Qin Xing sighed. Tonight, Tian Qinglu asked him to go to a bar for drinks. He thought Tian Qinglu had a profitable project to invest in with him, but once they arrived, she ordered three drinks, drank them by herself, and didn’t say a word all night.

No matter how much he asked, Tian Qinglu remained silent, then finally said, “I’m in a bad mood.”

Of course he knew she was in a bad mood; even a blind man could see it.

After finishing three drinks, she ordered two more. He didn’t dare let her drink so much, so he shared one with her.

Two minutes ago, Tian Qinglu had just left the bar to go home. In those two hours at the bar, she glanced at her phone no less than a hundred times, appearing to be waiting for someone’s call, but it never came.

After Qin Xing finished speaking, he asked, “Brother Yan, what exactly happened? Did you two have a fight?”

“What would I fight with her about?”

“Then you two...” Qin Xing spoke halfway, then thought about how pale Wen Di had looked on the road that afternoon, unable to even drive. He felt things weren’t that simple.

Yan Heyu said, “Wen Di knows.”

Qin Xing: “?”

He was bewildered.

After realizing what Wen Di knew, he asked, “Then how is Wen Di?”

At this moment, Qin Xing heard a voice from the receiver: “Continue on the current road. There’s a red light a hundred meters ahead...”

He furrowed his brow, “Why are you using navigation now? Aren’t you in Beijing?”

“I am.”

Yan Heyu lowered the navigation volume and said to Qin Xing, “I’m fine, I’m hanging up.”

“Don’t!” Qin Xing put away his usual casual demeanor and asked worriedly, “Where are you? I’ll drive for you.”

“No need.”

“Why are you being so polite with me?”

Yan Heyu wasn’t in the mood for idle chat and hung up directly.

The mechanical voice of the navigation repeated. He followed the voice directions precisely.

Upon returning home, the housekeeper and Aunt Cui were waiting for him in the living room. The house felt unusually oppressive.

Aunt Cui often went to Wen Di’s apartment to clean. When Wen Di was home, she would go over to make soup and cook. An hour ago, Wen Di called her and told her she didn’t need to go there anymore.

Yan Heyu entered the house, tossed his car keys onto the coffee table, and said, “It’s so late, aren’t you resting?”

Aunt Cui didn’t mention Wen Di for now, fearing she would add to his distress. She only asked earnestly, “You haven’t had dinner yet. What would you like me to make?”

“No, thanks. You two rest.” Yan Heyu sat on the sofa where Wen Di often lay reading. On the coffee table in front of him were still stacks of Wen Di’s unread books.

The house was too quiet, so he turned on the TV.

A message came in on his phone. Yan Heyu instinctively thought it was Wen Di looking for him, but after taking out his phone, he realized Wen Di had already deleted him.

He couldn’t receive her messages.

It was from Assistant Kang, reporting work progress.

It was still about the collaboration with the Tian family to invest in building a factory in Jiangcheng. The date for the on-site inspection in Jiangcheng had been set.

Kang Bo sent the itinerary along with it.

Yan Heyu didn’t open the itinerary and replied: [You arrange it.]

Kang Bo stared at these words, pondering for a moment. The boss seemed a bit distracted, perhaps watching TV with Wen Di, otherwise, he rarely spoke so ambiguously. [Okay.]

A few minutes later, Yan Heyu’s phone vibrated again; a call came in from Tian Qinglu.

He didn’t answer, and hung up.

Yan Heyu turned off the TV and went upstairs. The bedroom was still as Wen Di had left it after getting up that morning, with two pillows stacked together. Her pillow always rested on top of his; in her words, she had to dominate him in all aspects, even if it was just a pillow.

After showering, he placed Wen Di’s pillow on her side of the bed, just as he used to when she was away on a business trip.

In truth, he knew it was completely different now.

The next morning, Kang Bo and the driver came to pick up Yan Heyu.

Kang Bo noticed the boss’s complexion wasn’t very good, but didn’t think much of it.

Downstairs at Jingyue Tower, a white car was parked in a no-parking zone.

Passing employees couldn’t help but be curious, turning their heads back repeatedly, whispering whose car it was, so audacious and overbearing, almost blocking the company’s main entrance.

Yan Heyu was leaning back in his seat, resting with his eyes closed, unaware of the situation outside.

Kang Bo recognized Tian Qinglu’s car. He quietly told Yan Heyu, “Mr. Yan, Miss Tian’s car is at the company entrance.”

Yan Heyu opened his eyes and looked towards the building entrance.

Tian Qinglu pushed the door open, got out of the car, and walked towards him.

Seeing this, the driver didn’t drive into the underground garage. The car moved slowly. As for whether to stop, he had to wait for Yan Heyu’s instructions.

Yan Heyu took a few seconds before telling him to pull over. He rolled down the car window. Tian Qinglu was a few steps away from his car.

Since she had seen Wen Di, Tian Qinglu hadn’t felt comfortable for a moment. She didn’t know how Yan Heyu would react, and she was mentally prepared for him to come and confront her, but he acted as if nothing had happened.

The more silent he was, the more uneasy she felt.

Last night, he didn’t answer her call. Since things had come to this, she decided to go all out and came to his company to find him.

While feeling uneasy, she constantly fantasized that perhaps Yan Heyu and Wen Di had broken up completely, and he could calmly return to the right track.

She couldn’t bring herself to apologize; after all, this matter wasn’t her fault.

She had done nothing wrong.

Tian Qinglu looked at Yan Heyu, “I want to talk to you.”

Yan Heyu’s tone was cold, “There’s nothing for me to talk about with you. For business matters, you can book an appointment with Assistant Kang.”

His current attitude made her feel even more uncertain. Being cut by a dull knife was too painful; it was better to be cut swiftly.

Tian Qinglu continued talking, “I know you’re angry with me. I was angry yesterday, that’s why I mentioned Jiang Yunxing to Wen Di. You can vent your dissatisfaction as much as you want.”

Yan Heyu rested his hand on the car window, silently looking at her for a moment, then said, “Being angry and arguing is a matter between a couple. If I’m going to argue, I’d argue with Wen Di. There’s no reason to take it out on you.”

Tian Qinglu nervously picked at the car key. Luckily, her nails were short; no matter how hard she tried, they wouldn’t break.

She gave a self-deprecating smile. She still had an engagement with him, and he referred to himself and Wen Di as a couple.

“I didn’t come to ask for your forgiveness. I don’t feel I was wrong. How long can I tolerate you and Wen Di—a month, two months? Over time, I definitely couldn’t bear it. Even if I hadn’t gone to her yesterday, it would have been a matter of time.”

Yan Heyu said, “Whether you’re right or wrong has nothing to do with me. If you think what you did was right, then do it. I’m the same. As for the consequences, we can handle them ourselves.”

He glanced at his watch, signaling the driver to start the car.

Kang Bo finally understood what had happened last night.

In the elevator, Yan Heyu took the initiative to tell Assistant Kang, “Wen Di and I had a falling out.”

Kang Bo held his breath and asked, “Should I go talk to Miss Wen?”

“Talk about what?” Yan Heyu said, “No need. Wen Di has a proud temper and is petty. She already knows I’m engaged, and Tian Qinglu also told her about Yun...” Xing, he seemed to realize something. He didn’t say the word “Xing”, pausing slightly, then changed it to: “Tian Qinglu also told her about Jiang Yunxing. Even if you go to her, she won’t talk to you.”

Kang Bo swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. When the boss decided to add Wen Di’s name to the villa’s property deed, he must have been serious, but then unexpected complications arose.

The elevator stopped smoothly on Yan Heyu’s office floor. Assistant Kang held the open door button, waiting for the boss to exit, then followed.

Yan Heyu suddenly turned his face, “Wen Di resents that I treat her poorly and Jiang Yunxing well.”

Kang Bo understood the boss’s meaning, which was to ask for his opinion as an observer. He honestly expressed, “What I’ve seen is that you’ve indeed treated Miss Wen very well these past few years.”

The unspoken meaning was that this was only what his eyes could see. As for what Yan Heyu truly thought in his heart, he couldn’t say and didn’t know.

Yan Heyu commented, “Your speaking skills are getting better.”

Assistant Kang: “...”

________________________________________

For a week straight, Wen Di relied on melatonin to sleep. Regardless, at least her sleep time was ensured, and her complexion was barely presentable.

On Friday morning, she received a call from her mother.

Zhao Yueling’s flight landed in Beijing in the evening. She was having dinner with the Ming Jianjun family that night. Originally, Ming Jianjun intended to invite Qu Pei and Wen Di, but Qu Pei was still recovering from surgery and was not suitable for dining out.

Wen Di’s mind was slow now, and she was too lazy to think, so she directly asked her mother, “What does Ming Jianjun mean?”

“You suffered such a big grievance back then. I called Ming Jianjun, and he said to find a chance to sit down together, bring his wife and son, and clarify what needs to be clarified, lest the misunderstanding grows.” Zhao Yueling could not allow such rumors to spread about her daughter.

Her daughter might not care, but as a mother, she couldn’t bear to see her child suffer.

After lunch, Wen Di headed to the airport to wait for her mother’s flight. Her mother was arriving in the evening, but she went to the airport two hours early. If she stayed home, she would think about things she shouldn’t, so it was better to go somewhere crowded.

After picking up her mother, Wen Di held her arm and asked her questions.

Zhao Yueling was observant. A glance at her daughter told her if she had been getting enough sleep lately. “Are you staying up late writing scripts again?”

Wen Di instinctively raised her hand to touch her face. “You can tell, huh?”

After struggling for a while, Wen Di finally decided to tell her mother the truth; she couldn’t hide this for long anyway. Getting into the car, she grabbed her mother’s hand and played with it like she used to as a child. “Mom.”

Zhao Yueling smiled at her daughter. “What’s wrong?”

Wen Di opened her mouth several times before finally saying, “I’m planning to sell the apartment I’m currently living in.”

Zhao Yueling’s smile froze, but quickly, she composed herself and still smiled, saying, “You decide. If you don’t like it anymore, sell it. You should live somewhere you feel comfortable.”

Her mother was so smart, she must have guessed that she and her boyfriend had broken up.

But her mother wouldn’t pry.

Zhao Yueling enlightened her daughter, “I think you should be happy instead.”

Wen Di put her hand on her forehead, smiling lightly as she met her mother’s gaze, “How so?”

Zhao Yueling said, “If you can’t be together, it means you’re not suitable. There are plenty of suitable people ahead. Aren’t you curious about what kind of person you’ll meet in the future? I am, anyway.”

Wen Di chuckled, “When you put it that way, I am a little curious.”

She was smiling on the outside, but still heartbroken on the inside.

After that, the mother and daughter deliberately avoided talking about relationships.

Zhao Yueling received a message from Mrs. Ming, which was the restaurant address.

The restaurant for tonight’s dinner was reserved by Mrs. Ming in advance, according to Wen Di’s taste and preferences.

At six o’clock, Mrs. Ming and her youngest son arrived at the private room early.

A total of five people were having dinner tonight. Ming Jianjun had a meeting in the afternoon and was still on his way to the restaurant. Zhao Yueling and Wen Di hadn’t arrived yet either.

Qi Mingche sat on the sofa in the private room looking at his phone, occasionally sipping coffee.

Mrs. Ming refilled her son’s coffee and repeatedly instructed, “When Wen Di and her mother arrive, don’t you dare look glum, or I’ll deal with you when we get home tonight!”

“I know,” Qi Mingche replied. Regarding his father’s affair, he knew it wasn’t that simple. Now that Wen Di was ruled out, it didn’t mean it wasn’t someone else.

“Mom, are you deceiving yourself or...”

Mrs. Ming interrupted her son, “Do you think your mother is that useless in your eyes? If your dad really had a mistress, would I just watch the money I worked so hard to earn be spent on a mistress?”

Qi Mingche was powerless to refute.

Mrs. Ming picked up her coffee cup, sipping it absently.

Her husband did indeed have an affair, but she hadn’t found solid evidence yet. She now needed to keep her son stable, to prevent him from suspecting his husband, doing so would disarm her husband’s vigilance.

She had only recently discovered that her long-trusted secretary was actually Ming Jianjun’s person. She was both angry and annoyed, but she couldn’t make a fuss and let the secretary detect anything unusual.

She decided to play along and then catch them all at once.

She had wondered before why she had searched for so long but couldn’t find strong evidence of Ming Jianjun’s affair. It turned out that no matter what she did, Ming Jianjun knew everything clearly through her secretary.

Next, she would play along with him until he was completely unguarded against her.

For a couple to reach this point was unspeakably sad.

At 6:30, everyone had arrived.

Mrs. Ming and Zhao Yueling had met once before. Upon seeing each other, they exchanged pleasantries, with Ming Jianjun occasionally interjecting a couple of sentences.

Wen Di and Qi Mingche often ate together during the show’s recording. Now that the misunderstanding was gone, they chatted off and on, avoiding awkward silence, but not being particularly warm.

During the meal, Mrs. Ming still didn’t pay much attention to Ming Jianjun, but when dishes he liked were served, she would pick up a piece for him.

Ming Jianjun knew that his wife’s gesture of goodwill meant she believed he hadn’t cheated.

For a moment, he felt a mix of emotions. He had considered breaking up with Xin Yuan completely and treating his wife well, but then he thought about Xin Yuan being with him for seven or eight years and couldn’t bear to end it.

Since his wife suspected him of having an affair, he hadn’t seen Xin Yuan again.

Two days ago, Xin Yuan called him, saying she missed him and asked if he could visit the set of “As If in Shadow” (Ru Ying Sui Xing). Qi Mingche was also on the set, so if he went to visit his son, no one would suspect anything, and she could use the opportunity to see him.

He was still considering whether to visit the set.

Ming Jianjun said casually, “How many episodes of your show have been recorded?”

Wen Di replied, “We’re recording the fourth episode next week.”

Ming Jianjun nodded slightly, smiling, “I only sponsored it; I still don’t know how the show is actually doing.”

Wen Di followed up, “When you and Auntie have time, you can come and see.”

Mrs. Ming waved her hand, “I can’t go. It’s fine as long as Mingche and I aren’t standing together, but if we’re in the same frame, no one can miss that we’re mother and son. He doesn’t want to make a big deal about it, saying he wants to rely on himself. If I go, it’s definitely going to expose him. His dad can go by himself.”

This suited Ming Jianjun’s wishes perfectly.

The group chatted until ten o’clock before leaving the restaurant.

Wen Di and Qi Mingche walked behind the elders.

“Wen Di,” Qi Mingche called out to her.

Wen Di stopped, waiting for him to catch up, “What is it?”

Qi Mingche walked in sync with her, hands in his pockets. “You’re planning to sell your apartment?”

Wen Di stared at him, surprised by how well-informed he was, considering she had only listed the apartment with the agent that afternoon.

Qi Mingche had always regretted not being able to live in that apartment before his father sold it. It was almost an obsession, but there were never suitable properties on similar floors in that area. Today, an apartment finally came on the market, and the platform immediately notified him, asking when he would be free to view it.

He looked at the listing and realized it was Wen Di’s apartment.

As for why she was suddenly selling a perfectly fine home, he wasn’t concerned.

“If you don’t mind, you can sell it to me.”

Wen Di barely hesitated. “Okay.”

She explained to him beforehand, “I can sell the apartment to you first, but it will take me about a month to move out.” She hadn’t figured out where to live yet, and she had too many things at home to move all at once.

Qi Mingche was easygoing. “Two months is fine too.”

Soon, they would be filming the fourth episode of “As If in Shadow,” and Wen Di would have even less time to find a new place to live.

This was probably the fastest transaction in history, completed in under a minute. Qi Mingche didn’t bargain, and she forgot to tell him the price. Now, the property deed wasn’t just in her name; Yan Heyu would also need to sign for the sale.

Back home, Wen Di called Assistant Kang.

After receiving the call, Kang Bo worried about how to convey the message to Yan Heyu. He pondered over his documents for a few seconds, knowing he couldn’t not report it. He got up and went to Yan Heyu’s office. He knocked and entered, finding Yan Heyu closing his computer.

“Mr. Yan, Miss Wen just contacted me.”

Yan Heyu’s hand paused, “What did she say?”

But he seemed to guess: “To remove her name from the property deed?”

“No.” Kang Bo couldn’t help but lower his voice: “Miss Wen has sold that apartment and arranged with the buyer to complete the transfer of ownership next Monday. She asks that you be there to sign.”

Yan Heyu held the mouse, looking at the darkened computer screen, and didn’t speak for a long time.

The office was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Yan Heyu stared at the computer screen, occasionally clicking the mouse.

Kang Bo remembered that when he entered earlier, the boss had already turned off the computer.

He stood in front of the desk, deliberating how to report the next words appropriately.

After a long silence, Yan Heyu said, “I didn’t plan to sell that property.”

Kang Bo: “...” Wen Di was right after all.

Wen Di had said on the phone: “Your Mr. Yan is the kind of person who is used to being in control, used to having the final say. No matter what it is, no matter if he needs it or not, if it’s something he doesn’t intend to let go of, he won’t tolerate others making decisions for him. If he doesn’t want to sell the apartment, please relay another message to him for me. If he still refuses to sign, then I’ll have no choice but to pursue legal action.”

“I don’t want to make a messy scene over an apartment.”

“Miss Wen said,” Kang Bo stumbled slightly, delivering Wen Di’s message to Yan Heyu, “Miss Wen said that if it were Jiang Yunxing who wanted to sell the apartment, you would definitely sign without hesitation, unwilling to make things difficult for Jiang Yunxing. Perhaps you would even handle the property matters proactively before Jiang Yunxing even had to ask. She also said that she hopes, for the sake of three years and for the sake of an amicable parting, you would consider her once, give her one instance of preferential treatment, and sign the document.”

These were Wen Di’s exact words; he was just relaying them.

Yan Heyu looked at Assistant Kang, “What else did she say?”

“That’s all.” Kang Bo, though standing, felt as if he was on pins and needles. Handling tough work matters was no challenge for him, but when it came to his boss’s personal relationships, he was caught between a rock and a hard place and completely out of his depth.

Yan Heyu tossed the mouse aside and leaned back in his chair. “All day long, she just threatens me.” If he didn’t sign, if he didn’t agree to sell the apartment, she would again accuse him of not caring about her, of never considering her feelings.

“Sign for her.”

Kang Bo asked if he should entrust a lawyer to go.

Yan Heyu said, “I’ll go myself.”

That apartment was where he and she had lived for three years, and she was just selling it like that.