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After Wen Di walked past, silence fell in the car. Yan Heyu didn’t speak, and the driver didn’t know whether to drive or remain stationary.
He glanced at Assistant Kang.
Kang Bo’s eyes responded, indicating he also had no idea.
At times like this, silence was best; anything said would disturb the boss.
The driver gently slid down the window, not daring to open it all the way, leaving only a small gap.
The wind rustled subtly through the leaves.
The oppressive silence in the car was unnerving; a little noise was better, allowing one to breathe.
Until the phone “buzz—buzz—” vibrated, breaking the cabin’s suppression.
Yan Heyu glanced at the number; it was his sister. He answered.
Yan Heyan asked him where he was.
“Outside. What do you want?”
“It’s dark. Time for dinner.”
Yan Heyu said, “I’m busy.”
Yan Heyan wasn’t asking him to come home for dinner. She had just finished work and was bored eating alone. After thinking about it, Yan Heyu was probably even more bored than her.
“I’ll treat you. Or you can treat me.”
Before Yan Heyu could refuse, Yan Heyan told him to think twice, “Are you sure you can refuse to have dinner with me if you don’t need my help in the future?”
He was always the one threatening her, and finally, she had a weakness to exploit.
In the end, he said, “Where do we eat?”
“I’ll send you the restaurant address.”
Yan Heyan won. She now had him firmly under her thumb.
Yan Heyu glanced at the message from his sister; it was a restaurant name and address he’d never heard of. He didn’t know why she suddenly wanted to go to such a place where parking was difficult.
He instructed the driver to go to that restaurant.
The car slowly drove out of the alley and didn’t encounter Wen Di at the intersection.
She must have already gotten into Qi Mingche’s car and left, Assistant Kang thought, relieved that he finally didn’t see Wen Di and Qi Mingche together.
Even he didn’t want to see it, let alone the boss.
The car twisted and turned, finally arriving near the restaurant.
The restaurant’s signboard was overly “low-key” and abstract; it took him a while to make out the words on it.
Yan Heyu took out his phone and dialed his sister’s number.
Yan Heyan slapped him on the back and hung up his call.
Yan Heyu turned around, “Next time, if you want to eat something, I’ll have someone pack it for you to take home.”
“That’s so boring. Isn’t eating out all about the atmosphere?”
Yan Heyan told him that this place had recently become popular and required reservations in advance. She also said he was lucky and had good fortune; if her best friend hadn’t been on a business trip, there would have been no chance for him.
Yan Heyu didn’t pay attention to his sister’s words; he didn’t care what made the restaurant popular.
The restaurant was not large, with two compact floors, but it didn’t feel crowded. The owner had put effort into the design and decoration.
Young people who came to eat here were mostly attracted by the dining environment.
“How is it?” Yan Heyan led the way. “Isn’t it eye-opening?”
Yan Heyu said blandly, “It’s alright.”
But Wen Di would probably like it.
She always liked strange and quirky things, like the mirror and lush vegetation design on the third floor of the club. She said it gave her inspiration.
Yan Heyan reminded him, “Watch your step.”
The wooden staircase was narrow and steep.
Yan Heyu collected his thoughts and followed the stairs to the second floor, where he paused. In the restaurant, the lighting was a seductive warm yellow, hazy and unreal, yet captivating.
Beyond the dividers between dining areas, he saw Wen Di at a glance.
And Qi Mingche.
They looked like the protagonists of an art-house film in slow motion.
Yan Heyan didn’t see them and headed straight for their reserved table.
Yan Heyu paused for two seconds, then followed his sister.
Once seated, he looked at Heyan: “Who made this restaurant popular?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t pretend.”
Yan Heyan hadn’t intended to hide it anyway. She said, “Wen Di and Qi Mingche.” She justified herself, “Wen Di and I have similar tastes. Restaurants she likes definitely have dishes I like.”
She had eaten with Wen Di a few times at her brother’s villa.
Sometimes she would go to find her brother and find Wen Di at home. There was nothing to avoid, so they would eat together.
“Why did you suddenly ask who made it popular?” Yan Heyan still hadn’t seen Wen Di at this restaurant.
Yan Heyu didn’t respond, but instead looked behind her, diagonally.
Yan Heyan suddenly turned around and saw Qi Mingche picking up a dish, bringing it towards Wen Di’s mouth. Wen Di seemed to wait a moment, swallowing what was in her mouth before eating the food Qi Mingche fed her.
When she used to eat with Wen Di, her brother would also feed Wen Di. This was mainly because Wen Di ate too slowly, chewing thoroughly and taking a long time to swallow. Her brother might have been afraid the food would get cold, so he just fed it to her directly.
“Order,” Yan Heyu tossed the menu in front of her.
Yan Heyan turned around. At this point, even if she was tactless, she wouldn’t tease him. “I didn’t know they were eating here tonight. I didn’t deliberately invite you to eat glass shards.”
Yan Heyu said nothing, nodding his chin towards the menu.
Yan Heyan first ordered a few dishes he liked, then added one of her own favorites.
She glanced at her brother from time to time, noticing that he kept looking at his phone and no longer looked in the direction of Wen Di’s table.
“Bro.”
“Just say what you want to say.”
Yan Heyan was still cautious, considering for a few seconds. “Do you regret it?”
“Regret what?” Yan Heyu didn’t even look up.
“Regret the engagement.”
“What’s there to regret?”
Alright, Yan Heyan closed her mouth.
On the table’s fruit plate, there were various small snacks and candies.
Yan Heyan took a peppermint candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.
She and her brother rarely had such quiet moments; today was an exception.
A few minutes later, Yan Heyu put away his phone and looked up. “How are things on Dad’s side?”
In his peripheral vision, there was still a familiar figure.
He slightly adjusted his posture, avoiding looking in that direction.
“Are you talking about the day Dad went to Tian Qinglu’s house?”
“Mhm.”
Yan Heyan played with the candy wrapper between her fingers. “It’s alright, but he’s definitely angry. If it were you, and your child did this, treating marriage like a game, breaking off an engagement less than half a year after getting engaged, wouldn’t you be angry?”
Yan Heyu said, “Change the topic.”
“Didn’t you ask first?” Yan Heyan knew he found her last sentence verbose.
“Just make sure you talk to Dad and prepare him mentally.”
Yan Heyan stared at her brother. “What do you mean?”
Yan Heyu: “The days I’ll anger him are still to come.”
“...”
Just then, the waiter served the dishes, and their conversation came to a halt.
Throughout the meal, Yan Heyan noticed that her brother drank two glasses of water and rubbed his stomach area several times, seemingly uncomfortable. He didn’t eat much tonight either.
“Your stomach hurts again?”
“It’s nothing.” Yan Heyu peeled a peppermint candy for his sister. “Let’s go.”
He paid the bill, and the two went downstairs.
At the staircase landing, Yan Heyan purposely turned to look at the table Wen Di had been sitting at. It had already been turned over, and a young couple was sitting there.
Downstairs at the restaurant, Yan Heyan asked him if he was going back to the old mansion to sleep tonight.
Yan Heyu nodded. He still had to go back to the company to work overtime. “Leave a light on for me in the living room.”
He was staying at the old mansion now. He hadn’t been back to the villa since Wen Di publicly announced her relationship. Her pillow was still stacked on top of his.
The villa was too quiet; there wasn’t even a sound of talking.
Going back to the old mansion, at least he could hear Yan Heyan’s rambling, just for the human presence.
Traffic was jammed on the way, with the car stopping and starting.
Assistant Kang also noticed his boss rubbing his stomach frequently, looking very uncomfortable. He asked, “Mr. Yan, do you want to go to the hospital?”
“No need.” Yan Heyu suddenly asked about the situation of Ming Jianjun’s company.
Kang Bo understood and had someone investigate.
Yan Heyu then instructed, “Also, compile all of Ming Jianjun’s company’s upstream and downstream enterprises for me.”
Kang Bo didn’t ask what his boss intended to do and complied as instructed.
Yan Heyu rested his chin in his hand, distractedly looking out the window.
Today was the third time he had seen Wen Di.
Seeing her on the sidewalk wasn’t surprising. She and Qi Mingche had eaten at that restaurant, and she would take this road to get back to her apartment.
Qi Mingche held the second-hand bookstore bag in one hand and Wen Di’s hand in his right. They had a pleasant dinner tonight and didn’t see Yan Heyu. Wen Di had eaten a few more bites, so Qi Mingche told the driver to take the car back and he walked her home.
Wen Di’s shoelace came undone. She pulled her hand from his and prepared to tie it.
“I’ll do it.” Qi Mingche handed her the bookstore bag, stepped back, and squatted down to tie her shoelace.
Wen Di had been staring at his hands. “Your way of tying it is very unique.”
“I used to like playing basketball, and my shoelaces would often come undone, so I figured out a way to tie them myself,” Qi Mingche stood up and took the books from her.
Wen Di offered him her hand to hold. “When we get back, teach me how to tie them.”
“You don’t need to learn. I’ll be responsible for tying them for you from now on.” There was no one passing by. Qi Mingche took her hand, pulled her into his arms, and lowered his head to kiss her lips.
Then the two naturally held hands and slowly strolled forward.
By the roadside, tree shadows danced.
On the motorized lane, the car drove past. The person inside withdrew their gaze.
The car cabin was dim, and Assistant Kang couldn’t make out his boss’s expression.
________________________________________
The next day, Wen Di woke up early, washed up as soon as it was light. Today, she was accompanying Qu Pei to the doctor.
She called Qu Pei in advance, saying she’d arrive in about half an hour.
Qu Pei: “Why are you up so early?”
“Aren’t you up too?”
Wen Di had a quick breakfast, grabbed her car keys, and left.
At the entrance of her apartment building, a luxurious car was parked.
She was very sensitive to this car model now; the one she rear-ended before was from this series. Sometimes, when she saw the same car on the road, she would subconsciously glance at the license plate.
Wen Di hadn’t reached the building entrance yet when a hurried figure strode past her.
The man was of medium height, around forty years old, giving off a serious and capable vibe.
The man pulled open the passenger side door of the luxury car. After he got in, the car turned around.
The car had been parked sideways just now, so she hadn’t seen the license plate. Now, with its rear facing her, the license plate was very familiar.
Wen Di was certain it was the car she had rear-ended.
Now that she’d encountered it, she had to pay for the repairs.
She chased after it for a few steps, signaling the driver to stop.
The car paused briefly. The driver must have seen her in the rearview mirror and heard her voice, but then drove off anyway.
“Mr. Xiao.” The secretary who had just gotten into the car turned to the person in the back seat and said, “Are you sure you don’t want to stop? Miss Wen chased for a few steps just now.” When he passed Wen Di earlier, he saw her staring at their car and realized she had recognized it.
Xiao Donghan finally spoke, “She has too much money with nowhere to spend it.”
The secretary said, “Perhaps.” If it were anyone else, they would have said not to compensate, which would be a blessing. “Wen Di is Wen Changyun’s daughter, Jiangcheng’s richest man. She’s not short on money.”
Xiao Donghan offered no comment.
The secretary continued, “In Jiangcheng, Yunhui Group has the strongest comprehensive strength. If we want to enter the Jiangcheng market, we can’t avoid cooperating with Wen Changyun.”
Xiao Donghan nodded slightly, indicating he understood.
Soon, their car drove onto the main road.
Within two minutes, Wen Di’s car also drove by, but going in the opposite direction to Xiao Donghan’s car.
Wen Di arrived at Qu Pei’s house, picked her up, and headed straight to the hospital.
Qu Pei hadn’t slept well at night, and her face looked drawn.
“Teacher, why don’t you nap for a bit?”
“Not sleepy.”
She was feeling unwell, so she couldn’t sleep well either.
“Director Ruan would be so worried if he knew you were like this.”
So she couldn’t tell him. She only told him she was seeing a specialist for a check-up, considering it a routine follow-up.
Qu Pei said, “Thanks to you. My son and daughter-in-law said they must thank you properly when they return to the country for all your hard work.”
“If you say that, you’re treating me like an outsider.”
At the hospital, after seeing the specialist and undergoing a series of examinations, the situation was a little worse than expected.
That day, Wen Di completed the admission procedures for Qu Pei.
Although she had an auntie and a caregiver with her, Wen Di was still worried. Every day after work, she would go to the hospital room for a while to talk to Qu Pei.
On her fourth consecutive day of visiting, Qu Pei’s spirits improved significantly. “You don’t need to come every day. Just call and ask.”
Wen Di: “If I don’t come, who knows if you’ll hastily check out and sneak off to the company for a couple of rounds?”
Qu Pei laughed. “Not this time.” Although she really disliked the smell of disinfectant, if she didn’t listen to advice this time, she could risk her life.
She remembered that Wen Di was planning to visit Shen Tang on set; it was almost the end of the month, and she hadn’t gone yet.
“Didn’t you plan to go to Haitang Village? You go. Don’t delay because of me. I’m much better now.”
Wen Di said, “In the next couple of days, when Qi Mingche finishes his work, he’ll accompany me.”
Mentioning Qi Mingche, Qu Pei asked, “How are you two doing?”
Wen Di smiled, “Very well, sweet and loving.”
Qu Pei didn’t say anything more. If she felt good about it, then it was good.
Perhaps what she wanted now was just a simple, ordinary relationship.
Wen Di glanced at her watch. Qu Pei had just had an examination, and it was about time. “I’ll go get the films.”
She took the receipt and went to the building next door to collect the examination results.
After getting the films, she couldn’t quite understand them, so she went to find the attending doctor.
At the elevator entrance on the first floor, voices were noisy.
She stood in line for the odd-numbered elevator. She was wearing a mask and glasses, so no one recognized her.
“Wen Di.” A soft voice, amidst the surrounding noise, reached her ears.
For a moment, she wondered if she was ill too.
She was experiencing auditory hallucinations again, hearing Yan Heyu calling her name.
It had happened once before, several months ago, at the airport. She vaguely heard him call her, turned around, and there was no one around.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Yan Heyu had originally intended to take the stairs upstairs, but seeing Wen Di’s figure, he quickly walked over.
This time it wasn’t a hallucination. Wen Di said, “It’s Teacher Qu.”
She moved two steps to the side, maintaining her distance from him, and didn’t speak to him again.
Yan Heyu waited for her to ask him why he was also at the hospital.
She didn’t.
Wen Di received a call. Yan Heyu unconsciously looked at her, scanning the contact name on her phone screen, which only read “Che.”
Wen Di answered, “Mhm, at the hospital.”
“How is Teacher Qu?”
“Good, better than the last two days.” Wen Di frowned, “Are you catching a cold? Your nose sounds so congested.”
“I’m fine.”
“Drink more hot water.” She glanced at the elevator, which was almost at the first floor. “I’ll buy you some medicine later. If you’re still uncomfortable tonight, take a dose. We’ll talk later, the elevator’s here.”
Wen Di hung up the phone and walked forward with the crowd.
Yan Heyu hesitated slightly, then still stepped into the elevator.
He stood at the door and pressed “3”.
Wen Di stood behind him; he couldn’t see her. Their shadows overlapped on the elevator door for only a short ten-odd seconds. The elevator stopped on the third floor, the door slowly opened, and the shadows disappeared.
Yan Heyu got off. Yan Heyan stood at the emergency exit, waving at him.
As he approached, “Didn’t you say you’d take the stairs up?” She pushed his arm. “Hurry up, it’s almost your turn.”
His stomach had been uncomfortable these past few days. Yan Heyan was worried, so she made an appointment for him, informing him that he had to come for a check-up for peace of mind.
After a series of examinations, there were no problems.
Yan Heyan breathed a sigh of relief. No illness was good. “It’s probably because you haven’t been sleeping well lately and are under a lot of mental stress. Get a good night’s sleep when you go home tonight.”
Yan Heyu said, “I shouldn’t have come.”
Now his stomach hurt even more.
If he hadn’t come to the hospital, he wouldn’t have met Wen Di, wouldn’t have seen the contact name she used for Qi Mingche on her phone, and wouldn’t have heard her expressing such concern for Qi Mingche.
Yan Heyan didn’t know he had encountered Wen Di and said carelessly, “It’s still good you came. Mom and I are both relieved.”
The siblings went downstairs.
This time, Yan Heyu took the stairs down.
His footsteps echoed on the steps, one by one, like treading on his own heart.
“Bro.” Downstairs, Yan Heyan called out from behind him.
“What is it?”
“Do you want me to buy you some sleep aid medicine?”
“No need, I have some at home.”
Yan Heyan waved to him and went to the parking lot to get her car.
As she walked, she messaged her mother: [Don’t worry, my brother’s health is fine. He’s probably just feeling upset inside, and he thought it was a stomachache.]
Yan Heyu’s car was parked next to the outpatient building. Seeing him come out, Assistant Kang went up to him, concerned, “Mr. Yan, what did the doctor say?”
Yan Heyu said, “Nothing. Heyan was making a fuss.”
He said it was nothing, but Assistant Kang noticed that after getting into the car, his boss pressed his stomach twice.
Back at the company, Yan Heyu asked about the situation with Ming Jianjun’s company.
Kang Bo said, “I’m already compiling it. I’ll summarize it for you shortly.”
Investigating Ming Jianjun’s company took some time. He had just received the feedback an hour ago.
The investigation revealed that Ming Jianjun’s company was in a financial crisis.
Everything was triggered by his extramarital affair. Mrs. Ming finally found evidence of his infidelity, although not complete, it was enough to prove that he had indeed cheated with Xin Yuan.
The couple completely turned against each other over company control.
The resulting problem with their capital chain was not intentional, but they didn’t pay attention to it in their anger.
By the time they realized the financial crisis, it was already too late.
The outside world didn’t know their company was in trouble. They were trying to recover losses, but since they dared not speak out, solving the funding problem became even more difficult.
Yan Heyu closed the file. “Now is a good time for capital to enter their company.”
Kang Bo nodded. “Yes.”
And they could also dictate terms.
Sometimes, being short of money was like being a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
But Yan Heyu had no intention of doing that. He said, “Get me a savings card.” He wrote a number on a sticky note, a long string of zeros.
After writing it, he peeled off the sticky note and handed it to Assistant Kang. “Transfer the money to the card. Then arrange a meeting with Qi Mingche for me.”
Assistant Kang understood. His boss intended to intervene and use money to make Qi Mingche break up with Wen Di.
He looked at the sticky note, hesitating to speak.
Yan Heyu glanced at his assistant. “What, do you think it’s dishonorable for me to approach Ming Jianjun?” He said slowly, “We’re already snatching people; what’s the point of all that?”
Kang Bo: “...Right.”
His own moral compass was quickly going askew too.
Yan Heyu closed his pen cap. “This kind of good deed, helping their family through a financial crisis with money, doesn’t come around all the time.”
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