The two men got into the car. As the two women were already in the back seat, Bai Tingxin got behind the wheel while Yi Jinli sat in the passenger's seat.When the car was on the road, Qin Lianyi suddenly felt as if her rattletrap had gotten an upgrade. Others would be shocked if they knew that the president of Yi Group and the president of Bai Feng Group were both in it.On their way there, the two men in the front row were silent while the two women in the back were chatting.Qin Lianyi did most of the talking while Ling Yiran just listened."By the way, there's a very popular TV series recently. It's called The King's Lover. Have you seen it?" asked Qin Lianyi.Ling Yiran shook her head. She would go to work during the day and only went home at night. At most, she only had some time to check several news feeds on the internet before going to bed."It's pretty good. The plot... Tsk tsk... I can't spoil it. I'll give you the link for it later. By the way, the male lead is the Ga
He was angry that he was jealous of an actor and even a mere TV role. However, he could only accept it because of Qin Lianyi.If he pressured her, she could take it. If he was nice to her, she would push her luck and he could do nothing.However, Bai Tingxin suddenly felt a little more relaxed when Qin Lianyi said that Ling Yiran was also Gao Jingshan's fan.It seemed that he was not the only one to feel bitter!Yi Jinli and Bai Tingxin took turns driving the car, each driving half the way. By the time they reached the detention center in S City, it was already past nine o'clock. Bai Tingxin already had everything arranged, so they went into a room next to the meeting room.There were several large screens in the room, which showed images of the meeting room. They could see what was going on inside and hear the conversations of the people inside.After a while, the mediator came into the room where Ling Yiran was. Ling Yiran told him the key questions she had come up with and c
You Lei's eyes flickered with guilt as he said, "What do you mean by clean? I'm usually upright and honest. What is it that's not clean?""By the way, I went to your parents' house yesterday to talk to them about you. They were both talking in Shen City's dialect. Are they from Shen City?" the mediator said casually."Yes, they used to live in Shen City.""You used to live in Shen City too? Why did you settle in S City? Shen City is better than S City," the mediator said as if they were having small talk."Big cities have a lot of pressure. Although it's smaller here, it's a comfortable place to live.""That's true." The mediator smiled and suddenly said, "I almost forgot. The man you wounded asked me to ask you about Miss Hao. He said that if you're not afraid of being exposed, you'd better pay the money as he requested, or he'll tell the world."You Lei's face turned pale, though he seemed to be trying hard to hide it. "Miss Hao... I don't know what he has to expose, but I was
If the local tyrant of Shen City wanted to help someone reverse a case, it was sure to be a success!Besides, Yiran was innocent! Whoever was behind it was sure to be found out!Qin Lianyi, relieved from her gloom, brightened up. "It's almost noon. Let's have lunch together." Ling Yiran nodded, and the four of them walked out of the detention center before getting into their car.Qin Lianyi was busy going through the list of recommended food in S City and found several restaurants to try. Then, she asked Ling Yiran to choose one. The two men had no objections, so Bai Tingxin drove up to the restaurant.It was a local specialty restaurant here in S City, and it had a long-established reputation. Four of them got out of the car and asked for a private room before they started ordering.Of course, Qin Lianyi did most of the ordering, but she based her orders on the recommendations she read online. As Qin Lianyi had ordered by referring to her phone, she looked at the 20 or so dis
"All right, let's eat," said Yi Jinli.The four of them started eating their lunch. Yi Jinli offered to help Ling Yiran peel the prawns when they were eating this particular dish. Ling Yiran was a little embarrassed. After all, they were now in front of her best friend and Bai Tingxin.Qin Lianyi, in particular, even winked at her, making Ling Yiran a little speechless.Yi Jinli looked so graceful while peeling the prawns for her that he did not seem to care about other people's opinions.After the meal was over, Yi Jinli reminded Ling Yiran, "Don't forget to take your medicine 20 minutes after lunch.""Okay," replied Ling Yiran."Are you sick?" Qin Lianyi was shocked and asked with immediate concern."No, it's just some health-restoring pills. It’s medicine for the pain in my joints," answered Ling Yiran.Qin Lianyi was stunned. She knew about her best friend's imprisonment for three years. After she was released from prison, she suffered from rheumatism. Her joints would hurt
As if she could see what her best friend was worried about, Ling Yiran said, "Never mind, I'll find out the truth and give Hao Meiyu justice while clearing my name!"Never mind me. What about you? How are you with Bai Tingxin?" asked Ling Yiran."What else? That's all." Qin Lianyi shrugged and said, "We look just like a couple in a normal relationship."It was precisely because it looked too ‘normal’ sometimes that she often got into a trance, thinking that she was really dating Bai Tingxin. She even got caught up in this ‘dating’ feeling. She needed to remind herself constantly that everything was fake. Bai Tingxin was only going to take revenge after she fell in love with him."I still don't think Bai Tingxin is going to take revenge on you as you think," said Ling Yiran. If he wanted to take revenge on Lianyi, people like Bai Tingxin had a lot of ways to torment people. There was no need for him to choose such a circuitous and time-consuming method."I hope it's not what I thin
When Bai Tingxin saw Qin Lianyi's twinkling eyes, his mood inexplicably turned sour.When the car drove back to Shen City, it arrived at Yi residence first. Yi Jinli and Ling Yiran got out of the car while Bai Tingxin went to the driver’s seat."See you next time, Yiran," said Qin Lianyi as she bid Ling Yiran goodbye."Sure," replied Ling Yiran. "Thank you for today, and be careful on your way back!" With that, she and Yi Jinli walked through the large iron gates of Yi residence.Qin Lianyi kept her eyes fixed on Yi Jinli and Ling Yiran who were now behind the iron gates. Then, she heard Bai Tingxin's impatient voice. "Haven't you seen enough?""I'm just looking, that's all," muttered Qin Lianyi. When she met Yi Jinli at Yiran's rental house previously, although she did not perceive him as a hobo, she never thought of him as the local tyrant of Shen City!Then, a pair of hands grabbed Qin Lianyi's face. Her face was turned to face his. "Didn't you say you liked looking at my face
Fine, he was her creditor anyway!…After Ling Yiran and Yi Jinli returned to Yi residence, Yi Jinli asked, "Are you disappointed today? We went to S City but didn't find anything useful."Ling Yiran shook her head. "No.""You're not disappointed?" He seemed somewhat surprised."Because you're willing to help me find clues and clear my name. I'm happy regardless if we find something useful or not," she said.It was as if he really trusted her, and the original estrangement between them was slowly disappearing.He stared at her. He understood her desire to reverse the case, only... He could clear her name, but he could not tell her the truth.Even though it was a truth she wanted to know."As long as you're happy." He smiled slightly and sidestepped the topic by saying, "What are you going to do the next few days if you're not going to work?""I'm going to visit Grandma in a couple of days," she said. She was so busy with her work that she did not have time to call her grandmo
He clenched his jaw and felt his teeth ache. 'Yeah, she’s broken up with me. She has every right to find a new boyfriend, but... the thought of her smiling at another man, and kissing and hugging him makes me uncomfortable.’ Gu Lichen could not help feeling irritated."You can't find one! Do you think you can find another man like me to love when you love me so much?" he said.Zhong Keke retorted with a slightly red face, "You... You're too confident. Who are you to say I can't find one? I love you now, but I can slowly get over you. Besides, I don't need to find a man like you in the future. I just need to find an ordinary man with a good personality who treats me well! I’ll give him all my heart, and he’ll do the same!"It was more like she was telling herself that.'Yes, I can move on from him. I can do it!'However, her words seemed to have provoked him as he turned the steering wheel sharply, slammed on the brakes, and pulled over at the roadside.She was thrown forward and
The fact Zhong Keke accepted was that she feared she would love him more and more!When Yi Jinli and Gu Lichen returned to the ward, Ling Yiran was still chatting with Zhong Keke about the children, not only the new baby but also the triplets."Alright, Lichen and I are going home first. Yiran, have a good rest. I'll visit you and the baby again next time," Zhong Keke said and got up after seeing the exhaustion on Ling Yiran's face.Ling Yiran replied, "Okay. I'll let you meet my triplets next time.""Sure."After Zhong Keke and Gu Lichen left, Yi Jinli lay on Ling Yiran's bed and said, "If you're sleepy, sleep first. The doctor said you need more rest."Ling Yiran said, "I'm a little sleepy, but I had a nice chat with Keke today. Jin, you know what? I think it's great that Lichen has fallen in love with Keke. Keke's a wonderful woman, and Lichen has finally found his happily ever after."She said as she slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.Looking at his wife's sleeping fac
"Thank you! It's a good painting, and I like it very much. I didn't expect you to draw my daughter like that.""I saw the baby when I came to the hospital that day, so I remembered," said Zhong Keke."I heard from Jin that you and Lichen both came to the hospital that day. I didn't scare you, did I?" said Ling Yiran.Zhong Keke smiled softly, "All that matters is that you're safe. Being alive is better than anything."The two women chatted while the two men looked at each other. Then, Yi Jinli said, "Lichen, let's go get some air."The two men got up and walked out of the ward.Zhong Keke looked uneasily at the ward door.Ling Yiran said, "They’ll be back soon. Don't worry. My Jin won't kidnap Lichen."Zhong Keke smiled, knowing that Yi Jinli probably had not told Ling Yiran about what happened that day."By the way, how are you and Lichen's relationship? Does he treat you well?" Ling Yiran asked."He treats me well." It was true. He treated her well. He would give her everyt
He and Song Qingyao were not even friends."You don't have to explain this to me," said Zhong Keke. They had broken up, and she did not need these explanations.Besides, she knew better than anyone that he had always been in love with Yiran.Thinking of Yiran, Zhong Keke said, "I want to go to the hospital to see Yiran. Can I?" The last time she visited Yiran, Yiran was still unconscious, so she wanted to check on her.Hesitation flashed across Gu Lichen's face."Don't worry. I won't say anything to trigger Yiran. I’ll still pretend to be your girlfriend in front of Yiran. If Yiran asks you, you can say we're doing quite well. When Yiran has recovered, I can make an excuse to say we've broken up. Of course, I can take all the blame. For example, I thought being with you attracted too much attention, or I couldn’t get used to being with you, or I had fallen for someone else—"Before she could finish speaking, she was suddenly pulled into a wide embrace.His hands held her tightly
Zhou Xinmian: [I said you were living with Gu Lichen now. Then they said nothing and left readily.]"..."Zhou Xinmian: [Did you block their phone numbers? They said you're not answering your phone.]Zhong Keke: [Yeah.]She should have blocked her uncle's family's phone numbers long ago. Even blocking them now was considered late!Zhou Xinmian: [Well done! But didn’t they try calling you using another phone number?]Zhong Keke: [They did. But as soon as they spoke and I heard their voices, I hung up and blocked their phone numbers.]In other words, she did not give them a chance to talk.She did not want to listen to what they had to say anyway. They had worn out the last of her affection.Zhou Xinmian: [Have you made up your mind this time?]Zhong Keke: [I’ll just consider that my grandparents only gave birth to my father!]In other words, she no longer considered her uncle and his family her family!Zhou Xinmian: [You should have done that long ago! They told me Gu Lichen
It was why he had said such things at the time to keep the woman from leaving!"Maybe I've liked you since then." It probably started earlier than he thought.Zhong Keke's eyes watered as tears were about to pour out. She raised her hands and covered her eyes, "Gu Lichen, stop telling me such things!"Such things would only make her waver when her resolution was hard-won. Did he know how much determination and perseverance it took her to ask for a break-up and keep her distance from him to stop loving him when she loved him so much?Though her hands shielded her eyes, they could not stop the tears.His fingers pulled her hands away. "Alright, I'll stop. I'll stop talking. Don't cry."Her tears had always left him flustered.He hugged her and coaxed her. The indifference in his phoenix eyes had become affection.Zhong Keke finally stopped crying, but she still sniffled occasionally.Holding a tissue, Gu Lichen carefully wiped the tears from her face. After a moment, he said,
"Do you care about me?" She smiled bitterly. "That word isn’t only something you say but..." She did not continue speaking after a pause.However, he already knew what she was going to say.Gu Lichen turned pale. He knew that the incident at the comic fiesta was something that bothered her.He was the one who caused it!"Also, I think we'd better talk about the possibility of me getting pregnant!" she said."Okay, go ahead," he said as he asked the others in the living room to leave."Will you insist that I have the baby if I get pregnant?" she asked, looking at him."If you’re pregnant, I don't want to lose the baby," he said. He had never longed for children even though his parents had always wanted grandchildren, even if it was out of wedlock.However, such ideas had never occurred to him.Now, he wanted to have the baby because they would be... his baby with Keke!"Even if I don't want the baby, are you still going to stop me from having an abortion?" she asked.He was s
Even though he did not love her, she still thought she was a better candidate than Zhong Keke.However, to her disappointment, the way Gu Lichen looked at her was still icy."I'm not interested in you. The Song family you're so proud of will no longer exist in Shen City a year later. Perhaps the Song family can keep some things if you start planning now. Otherwise, you'll have nothing left."With that said, Gu Lichen left the ward, leaving Song Qingyao standing where she was in a daze.Other than reluctance, resentment, and jealousy, there was more shock and fear on her face.'Does Lichen intend to eradicate the Song family within a year? Is... Is he going that far for Zhong Keke? He doesn't love Zhong Keke, right? Why is he doing it? Why?' Unfortunately, no one could give her the answer.Gu Lichen walked out of the hospital and got into the car. He slowly closed his eyes as Song Qingyao's last words flashed through his mind.'It doesn't matter... even if I don't love her?'Kek
Song Qingyao's heart sank. Sure enough, he could find out anything he wanted to."Why did you do it?" Gu Lichen said coldly.Song Qingyao suddenly laughed. "You're asking me why? Gu Lichen, I’ve loved you for so many years. What do you think?""I wouldn't love you even if Zhong Keke didn't exist. If I wanted to fall for you, I would have done so from the beginning," said Gu Lichen.Song Qingyao's mouth was full of bitterness. She knew that!However, knowing was one thing. Her being reluctant and unwilling to accept it was a different matter!She shouted, "Why did you choose Zhong Keke? You love Ling Yiran because Ling Yiran saved your life when you were a child. What about Zhong Keke? Why her?"She accepted losing to Ling Yiran because she had never saved Lichen's life.However, how could she accept losing to Zhong Keke? "Because she's the one who saved me from the messy relationship," replied Gu Lichen."What do you mean?" Song Qingyao was puzzled.Instead of explaining, he