Chapter 5

He stayed in the living room for a while, adhering to the rules and etiquette, but left midway to answer a phone call without saying a word. It was unfortunate that the room was too quiet, as Song Shijia could clearly hear a woman's voice on the phone. Her heart tightened, having not slept a wink all night

She panicked for a moment, quickly turning her face away, "Am I really such a vulgar person?"

Having not grasped the intentions of the group that kidnapped Ruan Xuebi, Gu Changfeng threw Song Shijia into a hotel and booked a suite

The girl crawled up from beside his feet, her fluffy head nuzzling into his arm, her eyes shining as she said: "Then let me help you choose one! The political arena is complex and ever-changing; why not go into business? Your mind would surely do well, and then our son could become a rich second generation."

The topic was brought up, and everyone chimed in with their comments. Song Shijia could no longer find peace in sleep, leaning against the window in a daze, reminiscing about trivial matters from six years ago

In the past, whenever he reached out his hand, she would follow without even asking where he was going, embodying a spirit of fearlessness in the face of countless obstacles. However, after today, things have changed.

Are you really planning to meet Zhou Yan like this

Song Shijia's heart still raced, and she truly could not find any logical flaws within it, so she decided to give up

Do not rush, speak slowly

He put down his hand, pretending to contemplate, "But what should I do if I only desire the beauty of the wind and moon, not the tumult of the storm?"

At first glance, Song Shijia felt a lump in her throat, not even giving herself the chance to be pretentious, she turned to escape. However, it was no different from before, as she was effortlessly grabbed by the collar and pulled back. She caught a whiff of the unfamiliar tobacco scent on him, and before she had time to process it, she was met with a barrage of reprimands.

Having broken up with Gu Changfeng for many years, she and Zhou Yan happened to meet. The youthful features had become more subdued, yet she still appeared to be indulging in a life of revelry. She did not deliberately avoid Zhou Yan due to her past with Gu Changfeng; on the contrary, she informed him that her number remained unchanged and that he could call her if needed

In a hurry, Song Shijia turned off the shower and put on her pajamas. She pushed open the bathroom door and found the living room in disarray. Half a bag of opened potato chips was scattered all over the floor, several glass cups on the coffee table were shattered, and the front door was wide open, resembling a scene of a burglary.

The man tightened his hand resting on the side and sneered: "You are indeed not—"

He returned without a word, solely to leave the most severe mark on the self-esteem she was desperately trying to preserve

She asked Gu Changfeng, who was looking at a stack of aviation modeling materials, "What about you?"

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Design companies do not typically offer high daily wages, but the bonuses can be substantial. Although Song Shijia knows that the director is merely trying to intimidate her, the disappearance of Ruan Xuebi has left her feeling unmotivated. However, frequently being absent from gatherings is not favorable, especially when one is in the spotlight

As the price of wielding the sword back then, she had long since lost him

10 minutes and 3 seconds, with a good reputation

You are malicious

At today's wedding of Ji Xiang, at the moment when she was isolated and helpless, having been knocked to the ground, he reached out like a deity, but not for her; rather, it was for the girl whom she had knocked down.

In order to stand out, Song Shijia is located at the base of the tallest building in the CBD

The next day, Song Shijia arrived at the company early, only to be informed about a gathering after work. The director repeatedly emphasized that Song Shijia must attend; otherwise, it would be considered an absence, resulting in a deduction of one-third of the year-end bonus

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Yan raised his phone in front of the person and said, "Do you want the chance to be a hero and save the beauty?"

In the police station, Song Shijia was unable to provide any useful information; she had never heard of Ruan Xuebi having any enemies, even to the extent of someone visiting her in the middle of the night

Director Fang Yinian is nearly thirty years old, has a handsome appearance but no girlfriend. The gossip among female colleagues in the company is always abundant. The official version is that Fang Yu had a first love in his youth, but she left him for someone wealthier. Every time she hears this, Song Shijia expresses sympathy, which makes Fang Yu less guarded around her

After a short while, there seemed to be some commotion outside the living room. Ruan Xuebi called out for Shi Jia several times, followed by the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground

At that time, Song Shijia had stubbornly taken Gu Changfeng's hand. In the middle of winter, she nestled in his apartment outside the school and spoke of her dreams: "In the future, I want to be a famous designer, or else I will become a journalist, saying whatever I want, and if I'm in a bad mood, I will just say anything."

The past events and Xu Nuan's hysterical accusations are vividly etched in memory, pouring down like water from a showerhead, scalding Song Shijia to the point of trembling yet unable to move. Suddenly recalling those hands that had been held countless times, she can only feel her temples throbbing incessantly.

With a brief glance at the special vehicles under surveillance, Gu Changfeng felt he had a grasp of the situation and walked out while engaging in casual conversation with the people who received him.

Having finished speaking, he walked straight past her towards the car parked by the roadside, oblivious to Song Shijia's tightly clenched jaw and the tears threatening to spill from her eyes

The mere identity of the new elite from Wangcheng was sufficient to alarm those below, prompting them to promptly and decisively retrieve the surveillance footage

The night is dazzling and enchanting, and Song Shijia comes to her senses, with the incessant chatter still ringing in her ears

Song Shijia immediately jumped up, dancing and singing "A Man Should Be Strong" for more than half an hour, until Gu Changfeng could no longer tolerate her noise and sealed her lips with a kiss, fulfilling her little intention of wanting to attract his attention

Song Shijia believed she was experiencing an illusion. This place is located in the center, and although the rent is relatively high, the safety of two girls living together is the most important factor. Therefore, over the years, she and Ruan Xuebi have preferred to spend less on food and clothing rather than consider moving to a different community

Song Shijia was disheveled, waiting in the car for the situation to unfold. During this time, Zhou Yan sent a text message asking if the two had been seen. She called him, ready to scold, but he was quite serious.

Zhou Yan answered the phone, and Song Shijia was already in a state of confusion. She spoke intermittently to clarify her intentions, and Zhou Yan agreed without hesitation.

He turned the page without looking back, "No dreams."

Gu Changfeng still ignored him and stepped outside, hearing a malicious reminder from behind: "I said it would be ten minutes, you know."

At nine minutes and forty seconds, she saw a black Navigator driving almost as if it were floating on the smooth road from a distance, ultimately coming to a stop right in front of her.

At that time, when the capital had a good opportunity, why not seize it? Instead, one was preoccupied with her remark about wanting her son to become a rich second generation in the future. Being rejected is not shameful, and still holding on is not shameful either; lacking the confidence to win her back is what truly diminishes one's dignity

The person in front had a solemn expression, and Song Shijia was at a loss for words. Asking how you ended up here sounded a bit foolish. Still hesitating, he threw out a phrase: "Entrusted by others."

She hurriedly ran to the window in her slippers and happened to see Ruan Xuebi being forced into a white sedan by several men in black suits. Her eyes widened in alarm, and she turned around to chase after them down the stairs. After a moment's thought, she rushed back to grab her phone, calling the police while continuing her pursuit.

Having been in the circle for over twenty years, Song Shijia is certainly not a three-year-old child. She is well aware that there are too many cases that have sunk without a trace, and she cannot sit idly by. However, with the early connections to the Song family now scattered like monkeys fleeing from a fallen tree, the only one who can offer assistance is Ji Xiang, yet today's wedding has severed his two paths.

The person opposite, impatiently taking off his cigarette, stood up. Zhou Yan quickly called out to him: "Are you going or not? We are still waiting for you."

Seeing that Song Shijia did not respond, Gu Changfeng discreetly withdrew his arm and exchanged a few casual words with others before saying goodbye. Turning back, he looked at her with a smile that had already faded, "You wouldn't be trying to act out lingering feelings with that expression of yours, would you?"

Changfeng Group is a rising star in the internet sector in recent years, with its headquarters not located in Wangcheng. Suddenly, it has opened branch offices, taking significant steps to expand its territory. Many people wish to get involved and share in the profits, yet they find themselves unable to assess the founder's intentions and background.

What can one do upon seeing it again

The handsome man lowered his eyes under the dim light, tilting his head with a cigarette in hand, his indifferent demeanor infuriating Zhou Yan

"Sprite has gone home," he said

Song Shijia then realized that in her haste, she was still wearing her pajamas and sleep pants

Gu Changfeng did not respond, his expression unchanged as he grabbed the car keys from the bar. This elicited a laugh from Zhou Yan, who seized the opportunity to take credit: "There are rumors in the jianghu that reporting insider information to the male lead can yield some benefits. What do you think? Should I hold a stake in Changfeng Group, or should we arrange for me to have a role in this election? Help me make some connections?"

The young lady was dressed entirely in fabric devoid of any logos, yet her demeanor was uniquely her own, exuding a true elegance akin to that of a swan, even when she stumbled, she did so with style and grace. Gu Changfeng extended his hand to lift the swan, disregarding Song Shijia, who was right beneath his nose.

Please wait there, I am nearby and will arrive in ten minutes

Song Shijia quickly responded, "Thank you." Then, feigning calmness, she reported the situation and went to the police station with him again

Her ears were itchy, so she moved a bit farther away from the other person and waved her hand. A female colleague, however, started to tease, saying that the director was biased, as everyone here had drunk no less than three cups, yet he had not inquired about anyone.

After the singing concluded, someone suggested moving to another venue, and everyone eagerly took a taxi to the seafood barbecue.

Moreover, the other party is very cautious, moving only through blind spots of surveillance, barely allowing a glimpse of the edge of a black coat

As she was about to get off the bus, a text message notification sounded. Upon seeing the display, Song Shijia realized that after six years, Gu Changfeng's phone number had not changed. Although she had not called it again, it was still saved under the note "Song Shijia Terminator"

As the taxi passed by a shopping mall in the CBD, Song Shijia was resting with her eyes closed when she heard the girl in the front passenger seat turn around and ask everyone in the back seat: "Hey, did you see that? The piece of land under construction just now is said to have been purchased by the CEO of Changfeng, and I heard it was given to a beautiful woman right after. How enviable!"

I am also considering your friend. In terms of finding someone, he is definitely better than me by twofold

Cars were coming and going in front of her, and Song Shijia, standing by the street, was in a state of indecision until she recalled the figure of Zhou Yan

bathroom

Song Shijia, eager to save someone, jumped out of the car as soon as she saw him, wanting to inquire about the situation. Gu Changfeng understood her intention and reached out to pull her over to introduce her to the people nearby, but Song Shijia's steps were firmly halted by this action.

Song Shijia was formulating a baseless plan, yet the person in the driver's seat did not get out for a long time. The windows were painted on the inside, making it impossible to see the situation inside. She knocked on the window in suspicion and then heard the sound of the lock being released. With a click, someone gracefully descended and nearly bumped into her as they pushed the door open

Having followed Old Song through various venues since childhood, Song Shijia naturally had a moderate tolerance for alcohol. However, even after a few drinks, she couldn't help but feel a bit tipsy. Just as her bottom touched the sofa, she heard the director whispering in her ear, "Are you alright?"

He had no intention of taking this path, but his family pressed him hard, and he was on the verge of running out of water and food, so Zhou Yan had no choice but to surrender

At the party in the KTV, Song Shijia was delayed by a client and was teased into taking three drinks as a penalty