Chapter 9 The Bowl of Rice and Self-Esteem

She knew that her complexion was not good, but at this moment, she truly had no mind to care about her appearance any longer; her heart kept sinking, sinking down.

The two of them, clearly living together, sometimes seem like two separate planets.

It is alright

Having lost her job and the year-end bonus, she also has to pay a sum of money due to this mistake

The onlookers, unable to bear the escalation of the situation, saw a few men attempting to intervene and mediate the conflict, but they were met with punches and kicks from the young man in the white hooded casual jacket, who indiscriminately treated both friends and foes alike.

The poor driver leaned against the dented car door, crying and gasping for breath as he shouted: "Call the police! Call the police! Someone has been killed..."

"A Tao, what are you looking at?"

Chiba is also aware that he has been too hasty and has spoken incorrectly. Regardless of whether the invoice can be found or not, he is now the treasurer of the company, and Xiao Shi can no longer bear any responsibility on behalf of the treasurer

This translation took an entire afternoon, yet the result was still nothing to show for it

The driver in the car rolled down the window and saw the girl who had just collided with the front of his car sitting on the ground, her white down jacket stained. Regardless of who was right or wrong, the driver, upon witnessing this scene, felt a surge of anxiety and hurriedly shouted a curse to bolster his own courage.

The young girl, after all, is still quite young and has thin skin. Compared to the worldly-wise and experienced man across from her, Qianye, this girl who has just stepped out of school, is actually not much different from that little girl Chen Yuying.

Returning to the main office in a wilted state, her tearful expression evoked Aunt Zhang's sympathy, and the finance manager unexpectedly offered her some advice: "Do you know anyone at the bank? Send a little gift, ask for a favor..."

His long and powerful fingers skillfully pressed on her shoulder, perfectly controlling both the rhythm and the pressure, making her moan in comfort: "What did you eat today?"

She desperately comforted herself in her heart

On what basis can one so arbitrarily judge their feelings? On what grounds can one so heartlessly dismiss their relationship? This is a matter between her and Qingchen; why should outsiders be allowed to meddle?

Are you back

The gossip about Ling Xiangtao spread like wildfire shortly after he was hospitalized, with insider information leaked on the company's internal BBS that was as dramatic as the most sensational novels. Qianye often scoffed at the portrayal of high-ranking officials' children in novels, not because she looked down on them, but because novels could only satisfy spiritual fantasies and could not be directly applied as examples in real life. Moreover, her own life was rather ordinary; she was more concerned about her daily meals, and the increasing numbers in her savings book each month brought her the greatest joy in life. Those lofty individuals were too distant from her.

"Little Leaf, don't be anxious," Aunt Zhang spoke softly, acting as a mediator to ease the overly tense atmosphere between Qianye and Xiaoshi. "Why don't you look again? It might be tucked away in some cabinet. After all, it's something from the past two years, so it could have been stored in some corner."

Tears were already rolling in her eyes, yet she held back, forcing herself not to cry in front of him despite her reddened eyes. Her throat felt fiery, but the voice that escaped was a tremor she could not control: "Why should it be like this?"

No ... ...

Chiba only felt a sharp pain in her arm, and then she was violently yanked backward by a strong force. After stumbling back several steps, she was unable to steady herself and fell to the ground, her vision overwhelmed by blinding lights, the headlights of the car dazzling her to the point where she could barely open her eyes

Do not like? The man across has a keen and meticulous sense of observation

Sigh, forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore, let's leave it at that

However, in this society, many times these aspects are not the only ones that are valued

She still has the morning

"Alright." The finance manager responded without raising his head.

Last time, she had also seriously circled back to this sharp question, but this time, the person opposite her clearly did not give her the opportunity to employ the same old trick again

He simply ignored it, and in the end, walked alone to the side, following his gaze to look downstairs, and then discerned the clues.

"Adrian... Well, what I mean is, doesn't he make coffee for you in the morning?" The man sat by the window, holding a pristine white porcelain coffee cup, enveloped in the warm sunlight, making it difficult for others to discern his expression while he spoke.

Have you not found it yet

She was scolded until her eyes were red, tears welling in her eyes as she dared not look up, silently biting her teeth and swallowing her tears.

Her mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, unable to determine the depth of her feelings for the morning. She liked him, but what about their future... ? ... In the future, will they be together? Will the two of them have a future?

She always kept her head down, thus she did not notice the profound meaning that flashed in his eyes

Hmm?

Everything for life

He saved her, but as soon as she saw his face, she began to replay the words he had said, and the more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. She unexpectedly sat down in the middle of the road and started to cry. Ivan merely stared at her, not saying a word from beginning to end, and his gaze was one that seemed to wish he could swallow her whole

Ling Xiangtao took a full month of sick leave, but the benefits that should have been deducted during the salary settlement remained intact, with only bonuses and commissions being deducted as a single amount

Aunt Zhang pouted and said, "Xiao Shi, could you help Xiao Ye look for it?"

In recent days, she has been running back and forth between work and the bank regarding work matters, enduring scoldings from her superior at the company and putting on a smiling face at the bank, begging for favors like a grandson. After all this effort, she has ultimately gained nothing. With the end of the year approaching, if this issue is not resolved soon, she will truly have no choice but to pack up and return to her hometown. Initially, she had made up her mind to seek help from Ling Xiangtao with a mindset of trying her luck, but unexpectedly, early this morning, she ran into Ivan at the entrance of the company building. As soon as they exchanged glances, he suggested they chat after work.

Upon hearing that the bank could reissue the documents, Chiba felt a slight sense of relief. However, when she arrived at the bank the next day, she discovered that the branch where she opened her account was not responsible for this matter and directly referred her to the main branch to seek assistance from the management. After making her way to the main branch, the staff there shook their heads vigorously like a rattle drum upon learning that she needed the account statements from two years ago.

No matter how much harm there is, it does not matter

"Do not risk your life; you short-lived one, are you trying to extort by staging an accident?"

Chiba unconsciously furrowed her brows. If the morning merely consisted of her finding various ways to eat potatoes, it would be one thing, but he, apart from being able to prepare Western cuisine, could not use any Chinese cooking utensils at all. At first, Chiba accompanied him for a week of Western meals, but in the second week, she had to make excuses about working overtime to eat out. By now, it seemed that this excuse had become a habit.

Her voice was very low, low enough to be lost in the dust. This was the first time she spoke in such an unconfident tone. Although Su Qianye, who had outstanding achievements, was usually modest, she had always been confident in her work abilities

The private room they reserved is located on the fourth floor in a refined setting, overlooking a street. Looking down from the window, a crowd has gathered below, and with a quick glance, one can see that there are people fighting amidst the lively throng.

Chiba sighed quietly to herself

Chiba was completely bewildered at that moment

She has always been afraid of embarrassment, yet an embarrassing situation is currently unfolding before her.

The year-end internal audit of the company is a very normal occurrence. Qianye did not take it to heart and nodded, saying: "Okay, I understand."

As soon as the words were spoken, a dark figure suddenly lunged towards the front of the car, and the car door was forcefully kicked with a loud "bang". The man in the driver's seat was startled; before he could comprehend who had kicked the door, an arm swiftly reached in through the window and firmly gripped his neck.

Chiba is a newcomer, experiencing for the first time the madness that comes with the approach of the year-end. It is not that she lacks talent or is unwilling to work hard, although there are outliers like Ling Xiangtao who have dampened her motivation to strive. However, in order to establish herself in this city, whether actively or passively, she is making every effort to breathe, to work, and to use her hands to improve her life a little bit.

The liquid in the cup gradually cooled down, and Ivan leisurely engaged in trivial small talk, not mentioning anything about financial matters. Qianye gradually became restless and secretly glanced at the time; it was already past eight.

Xiao Shi's face was tense, but in the end, he still gave Aunt Zhang some face and slightly softened his tone: "Let's go, open all the cabinets and search through them."

The dramatic fight continued until the man in a suit, who had originally been standing beside the girl, rushed over and desperately pulled the young man away by his waist, finally bringing it to a halt

Is Xiaoye not leaving yet? Aunt Zhang picked up her bag, looking as if she was ready to get off work

If it were any other time, she would definitely have taken a detour along the wall to avoid Ivan. However, at this moment, she was driven to a state of panic and had no choice but to act recklessly. Ivan was the CFO of the company, and how to handle her minor mistake was surely just a matter of his word. Thus, in her eyes, that annoying big boss suddenly became her last lifeline. Not to mention that he personally suggested having coffee and chatting after work; even if he asked her to go out at midnight to stroll the streets and drink the cold wind, she would certainly be willing to accompany him at the cost of her life and show up as promised. Therefore, in her eyes, that annoying big boss suddenly became her last lifeline. Not to mention that he personally suggested having coffee and chatting after work; even if he asked her to go out at midnight to stroll the streets and drink the cold wind, she would certainly be willing to accompany him at the cost of her life and show up as promised.

In the early morning, unable to sleep, a energy-saving lamp is lit in the living room, under the light rests an English version of "Twilight". He has been reading this book for over a month, as if he would never finish it.

Though they are all human, it is often easier to be infuriated by others than by oneself

He did not speak

Chiba opened her mouth, but the words that followed "Director Yi" could not be spoken. Under his calm yet indifferent gaze, her face gradually turned red.

Tears blurred her vision, turning everything into a haze. She wiped the traces of tears from her face with the back of her hand, but soon realized that the more she wiped, the more there were. Her face felt cold; it turned out that no matter how hot something is, it can become cold in just a few seconds.

In the conclusion of the novel, lovers will eventually become partners, and Cinderella and the prince will ultimately live happily together

The body felt weak, the hands and feet were cold, and as the hand rested against the edge of the cabinet door, it found the keyhole but could not manage to insert the key.

Anyway, there is still some time before the New Year, and she... still has to deal with the endless overtime and the year-end audit from the head office

Qianye was held in his arms, and he kept murmuring, "Don't be afraid, I will take you to the hospital right away, you will be fine..." It was unclear whether he was comforting Qianye or himself.

Upon returning to the company to explain the circumstances, Chiba experienced another side of Brittany for the first time. Usually diligent in her work, Brittany seeks not to achieve merit but to avoid mistakes. Although she is merely a novice, her performance at work is commendable. Brittany gives her the impression of a senior at school, speaking humorously and treating others with courtesy. It was truly the first time she had been berated in such a manner, with Brittany pointing at her nose and slamming the table in the office.

Chiba felt a sense of injustice in her heart. Although she rationally understood that her feelings of imbalance were quite unreasonable, the fact that someone could rise above others in every aspect simply due to their illustrious family background made her, a small person who worked so hard, feel a twinge of sadness

The neon lights on the street flicker, in red, green, yellow, and a myriad of colors, creating a stunning visual display

Is there something?

The brothers have gathered today to celebrate you, yet how is it that the main character has instead retreated to a corner to play the melancholic figure? Have you truly become foolish from being hospitalized?

With a silent sigh, she was very tired, so tired that she no longer wanted to think about such brain-draining issues

Even if that person is the brother of the morning, it is still not acceptable

Then I will go back with you

Several cabinets were opened consecutively, and the ledgers were flipped through one after another, haphazardly piled on the floor and the table

Turning his head to look at his face, wanting to grasp that fleeting confidence, wanting to ... ...

The detailed cash transfer document provided by Xiao Shi was written extensively, spanning over ten pages. In the end, Qian Ye indeed confirmed the accuracy of the transfer document and signed it, but... but... at that moment, she could no longer remember how many items she had actually counted.

This is not that

The driver was flustered and defended himself by saying: "It has nothing to do with me; she crashed into me herself!"

Little Leaf! Brittany rushed out of the office and called out to her just as she was about to leave, "Could you come here for a moment... At the end of the year, the headquarters needs to conduct an inventory check, so please organize the reconciliation statements in the next few days."

Qingchen immediately regained his composure in the early morning, no longer violent. Ivan released his grip, and Qingchen ran to Qianye, squatting down in front of him, his face full of concern: "Are you alright?"

In the early morning, thinking that she was seriously hurt, he reached out with a pained heart and lifted her up: "Don't be afraid, I am here... I will take you to the hospital, don't be afraid..."

"Well, let's go." It was getting late, already past 9 o'clock. She picked up those account books, preparing to put them away in the cabinet, one by one, filling the entire cabinet. As she locked the cabinet door, a strange thought flashed through her mind, feeling as if something was amiss, but she couldn't recall what it was at the moment

Regarding the statement, I will resolve it for you... Please consider it

She could no longer endure it, and jumped up directly from her seat, grabbing her bag and leaving

His words rendered her silent. Upon reflection, it is surprising that during the more than one month he had been staying at her home, he had not brewed coffee even once in the mornings

The bound ledger is somewhat loose, with the stacked sheets appearing uneven as if they would scatter with a slight shake. Qianye sighed, hesitating whether to take the time to remove the binding thread and re-stitch it.

Therefore, it does not matter how much the process is wronged

There is nothing, nothing at all... there is nowhere to be found.

Those who wish to mediate dare not intervene any further, and can only stand by and shout repeatedly: "Let’s talk it out, don’t resort to violence!"

The mind suddenly went blank

The sorrow of anger, along with jealousy that even she herself was unaware of

Chiba was still sitting on the ground, unable to get up, but she was so frightened that she had forgotten to cry. At first, she did not quite remember how the car had come so close to her; at that moment, she was lost in thought, distracted to the point of being oblivious. By the time she regained her senses, she had already been pulled aside by Ivan. Due to Ivan's excessive strength, she lost her balance and fell directly to the ground.

She struggled to break free but could not. Turning back, she glared at him, yet her eyes had unknowingly begun to glisten with tears.

In this past month, everyone in the finance department has been extremely busy, from the Christmas holiday at the end of last month to the New Year's Day this month, with one holiday following another, creating a vibrant festive atmosphere that has them spinning like tops in a linear fashion. Going to work, working overtime, and leaving work late into the night until eight or nine o'clock has become a common occurrence, and everyone knows that the busiest time of the year has arrived.

Indeed, between the male and female protagonists who are mutually in love, there always appear some discordant villains. They resort to all means and spare no effort, solely to separate the male and female leads.

Chiba felt a wave of numbness in her upper body, nearly collapsing into his arms, and she barely managed to compose herself to say: "I am going home for the New Year—my hometown"

He reached out, his five fingers firmly gripping her wrist

Chiba was already stunned, with tear stains still on his face, and when the cold wind blew, it felt like a knife cutting through him

Chiba felt a tingling sensation all over her body, as if she had been jolted by a strong electric current, from her scalp down to her little toes. In that instant, she regained her composure and cast a piercing gaze across at the other side.

Ling Xiangtao has been standing by the window for a while, and his complexion is becoming increasingly poor

A man stood beside the girl, dressed in a suit, tall and robust, with a refined face adorned with glasses, glaring fiercely at the girl on the ground. The girl was simply crying, tears streaming down her face. Gradually, a crowd gathered along the roadside to watch the commotion, with some calling out, "Hurry and take her to the hospital; judging by the girl's appearance, it seems she has been seriously injured." Others pointed and whispered, secretly taking pictures of the license plate with their phones. The girl was simply crying, tears streaming down her face. Gradually, a crowd gathered along the roadside to watch the commotion, with some calling out, "Hurry and take her to the hospital; judging by the girl's appearance, it seems she has been seriously injured." Others pointed and whispered, secretly taking pictures of the license plate with their phones.

He told her not to be afraid, yet he himself seemed to be terrified to the utmost, his lips pale and his voice trembling uncontrollably

She continued to ask, "Potatoes?" In fact, it was no longer necessary to ask. Qingchen's habits were entirely Western. If Qianye, who was accustomed to eating Northern-style noodles, found it difficult to adapt to the refined rice dishes of H City, then Qingchen, who was used to having potatoes as a staple food, was even less suited to the lifestyle of H City

The colleagues in the office were chattering away, exchanging ideas, and somehow the topic meandered to the popular gossip figure Ling Xiangtao. In the end, someone suddenly blurted out: "Xiao Yezi, you could try to find Ling Xiangtao and see if he can help you out; he must have connections."

The bespectacled man shouted even louder than him: "Adrian, be quiet!"

She is still not accustomed to facing this man alone, although his well-dressed appearance is very gentlemanly

Perhaps Qianye was too anxious, and the inquiry was too direct, to the point of sounding somewhat accusatory. Xiaoshi immediately jumped up: "Why didn't I hand it over to you? The handover list is clearly stated, and everything has been counted one by one..."

Receiving such a response, Qianye's heart felt like ashes, unable to even cry. Setting aside the magnitude of the mistake of losing the reconciliation statement, just the thought that this job, which had only just stabilized, might be lost, is distressing, especially with only a little over half a month left until the Lunar New Year

I am doing this for your own good. He looked at her seriously, tilting his head back, his fingers tightening momentarily before he relaxed his grip

Then someone rushed out and smashed the car door

It is already 10:30 PM by the time I get home from the company. Recently, not only has work been exhausting, but for the past month, sharing the same bed with her in the early mornings has caused her to wake up frequently, resulting in very light sleep. Over time, my overall mental state has also become sluggish.

She actually has something to discuss, but it is a matter in which she seeks his help. "No, it's nothing," she said slowly, feeling frustrated and lowering her head.

The Finance Department and the Human Resources Department have recently been at an impasse. Brittany wants to transfer the authority over payroll from the Human Resources Department to the Finance Department, but the Human Resources Manager firmly opposes this. Although Qianye does not understand the thoughts of these senior leaders, she vaguely senses that the disputes are merely superficial. As a minor figure, Qianye cannot manage the complex thoughts of these leaders, yet her desire for a stable life now forces her to bear the brunt of Brittany's anger due to the loss of the reconciliation statement. Although Qianye does not understand the thoughts of these senior leaders, she vaguely senses that the disputes are merely superficial. As a minor figure, Qianye cannot manage the complex thoughts of these leaders, yet her desire for a stable life now forces her to bear the brunt of Brittany's anger due to the loss of the reconciliation statement

Since childhood, Chiba has only remembered her father coming home drunk, smashing chairs and breaking bowls, and scolding her in this manner.

"What are you doing?" She obediently walked over and was pulled into his embrace.

Qianye imported the salary settlement sheet provided by the Human Resources Department into a USB drive, claiming that she felt no resentment was purely self-deception. Ling Xiangtao joined the company later than her, being more than half a year younger in age, and in terms of education, she had already graduated and obtained her degree certificate, while he was merely a fourth-year intern.

One cannot tell that the young man, tall and slender, with such a beautiful face, could be so fierce in a fight. His punches were truly powerful; after just two strikes, the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident was immediately left with swollen eyes, blood streaming from his nose, and he howled for mercy, utterly defenseless.

She forced a faint smile and said, "Alright, I will look for it again."

The auditor displayed a puzzled expression, speaking in a tone that was neither warm nor cold: "Then hurry up and ask. The bank statements for the past three years are required. You only have the twelve months from last year; you also need to bring out the statements from the year before and the year before that for reconciliation."

She has the morning

The aroma of coffee wafted gently to her nostrils, and the warm steam rising from the cup enveloped her heart. She stirred the coffee with a spoon, gazing down at the brown liquid mingling with the whiteness of the milk. Though she had not yet taken a sip, she could already feel a bitterness filling her mouth

On what basis

Finally, she turned her head in despair, her eyes anxiously meeting those of an auditor, "Xiao... Xiao Shi, it might be that Xiao Shi did not hand it to me"

She had nothing to say, and she didn't even bother to lock the cabinet door; she hurriedly went to find Xiao Shi

Going back with her? This is certainly not something to joke about! How could he go back with her? If they go back to meet the parents, wouldn't that indicate that their relationship has been confirmed? ... But ...? ... Are they really that close?

By the time she realized what was happening, the morning had already seen the driver dragged out of the car and beaten on the ground.

Chiba did not completely blindly trust these rumors, but the cleverness of her led her to recall the various clues from that day in the hospital, and she immediately understood that the middle-aged woman who served tea and water to everyone in the hospital could not possibly be Ling Xiangtao's mother

Common plot devices often found in novels and scenarios that occasionally unfold on television

It is precisely because it is so distant that the sudden revelation of such a figure in her vicinity made her realize that the gap between novels and reality is not trivial at all

The two auditors began to grow impatient and repeatedly reminded before leaving: "If it cannot be found again, then hurry to the bank to reprint it tomorrow"

The statement can be printed by the bank. If you are unable to have them reissue it, do not come back!

There is gossip on the website, and internal rumors within the company; this is an ironclad law.

She does not ask why, she only wants to ask on what basis.

Do not mention the previous two years; even last year's cannot be produced

The young man, upon hearing this, became furious again and struggled to shout: "If you want to seek death, I will fulfill your wish"

As he turned back, his lips pressed firmly against hers, sealing the kiss. She shuddered slightly, and before she could struggle, he had tightly wrapped his arms around her waist.

Come here. He waved to her

Aunt Zhang interjected, saying: "The bank statement can actually be reprinted. I remember someone did it before, and it seems that the cost for printing all twelve months of statements is around 2,500."

"Enough, Adrian, enough..." Ivan pulled away from the morning, "You go check on Chiba, take her to the hospital, go... hurry up and go... leave this to me..."

Do you love the morning

Cold skin pressed against warm lips, he delicately and passionately kissed her neck, sliding down to her collarbone: "Wherever you go, I will go." His voice was deep, enchanting enough to make one's heart tremble

Two thousand five hundred for one year, which amounts to five thousand for two years. Qianye gritted her teeth in silence; this would take away two months of her salary. However, the current issue is that even if she is willing to spend two months' salary, there is no one to rely on. She is merely a temporary worker from another city, adrift and rootless, without any background or anyone to depend on.

There is nothing to cook, right? The place where I live is small," she explained softly, knowing full well that someone as refined and particular as that in the early morning would not be willing to settle for instant coffee.

If there is something, you may leave first

The sharp sound of brakes was immediately followed by a hurried honk.

If you are not serious about the morning, then please let go

Chiba softly murmured "mm," leaning back, allowing her back to completely sink into the cushioned seat.

Hmm. She changed into slippers and took off her down jacket; she was already too tired to say much

It is alright, it is alright

Standing at the entrance of the bank, I looked up at the sky, which was shrouded in a gray haze. No matter how bright the sunlight was, it brought not a trace of warmth to my body

As usual, she stayed late at work in the evening. After organizing and binding the reconciliation statements for December into a ledger, she recalled Brittany's reminder. Thus, she took the key and began to sort through all the statements stored in the cabinet. It is now January; although the Lunar New Year has not yet arrived, everything must be calculated according to the Gregorian calendar. The reconciliation statements for the past twelve months were successfully organized, with the last few months bound by Qianye, while the earlier ones were sorted by Xiaoshi. It is now January; although the Lunar New Year has not yet arrived, everything must be calculated according to the Gregorian calendar. The reconciliation statements for the past twelve months were successfully organized, with the last few months bound by Qianye, while the earlier ones were sorted by Xiaoshi.

In the early morning, he held her in his arms, his breath brushing against her neck, her hair entwined, her skin slightly itchy. She sleepily asked, "In the early morning, where do you plan to go for the New Year?"

Chiba

Ivan deliberately avoided looking at the expression of humiliation on her face, instead intertwining his fingers and resting his hands on the table, his eyes behind the lenses calm and devoid of any ripples: "You are not suited for the morning, the two of you... are not compatible"

She cried until her head felt swollen, and then ... and then ...

Moreover, regardless of the circumstances during the handover, the key issue is that the bank statements from the previous two years are missing

"Director Yi." She emphasized his surname with a stronger tone, recalling the last time she had mistakenly assumed his surname was Ruan. Although he did not refute her at the time, he had mentioned in the morning that he, as the second brother, was quite displeased when others mispronounced his surname

Is that so? He put down the cup and after a long while continued, "During this time, I have troubled you in the mornings."

Qianye was so anxious that sweat was almost dripping down. The auditors dispatched by the headquarters were waiting in Brittany's office, and the colleagues in the finance department were all on edge, being extremely cautious and careful to deal with these leaders who were not their direct superiors.

Ling Xiangtao's mother has the surname Xiang. The Secretary of the Municipal Committee of H City posted a photo of Secretary Xiang on the BBS, along with his resume and position, everything one could expect. The comments below were even more explosive, with some claiming that Ling Xiangtao's grandfather was involved with the Central Military Commission, and his father held a position somewhere else. The list of the entire family was increasingly shocking, and that post was highlighted on the company's BBS for several hours before it was promptly deleted. However, the gossip that circulated afterward was even more exaggerated.

Ivan continued to sip his coffee quietly, as if the pretentious and nauseating question that had just been posed had not come from his own mouth

I am going to the bank!" She closed the computer, stood up, and called out loudly

She let out a cold, despondent laugh, staggering towards the door without looking back

The excessively polite tone instead made Qianye feel inexplicably anxious. Since Qingchen lost his job, this older brother had not only failed to show up but had not even made a phone call. If it weren't for Qingchen's own admission of their relationship, Qianye would never have dared to believe that the expressionless man Ivan sitting across from him was actually Qingchen's biological brother.