Julie snapped her fingers at Shu Yi'an, who was still in a daze, "Are you even listening to me, Miss?!"
"Huh?" Shu Yi'an was startled. "What did you say?"
Julie rolled her eyes helplessly. "I was saying that someone came to the company looking for you later! They're quite influential!" She mysteriously beckoned Shu Yi'an closer with her finger.
Shu Yi'an became a little nervous because of her and swallowed. "Who is it..."
"The president of Shijin."
"Jiang Beichen???" Shu Yi'an frowned and asked with a hint of disbelief.
Julie nodded. "They asked through the opportunity of collaborating with the company. The boss was overjoyed that such a large group like Shijin Group was interested in us, but when the president came, he didn't say anything else, he just asked, 'Where is Shu Yi'an?'"
Shu Yi'an gripped her water glass tightly. "What did you say?"
Julie recalled the scene of her wits and courage battle with that man, Shiqin, that day, and patted her chest.
"I arranged your transfer privately; the boss didn't know. So, I immediately and formally replied, 'President Jiang, she resigned.'" Although Jiang Beichen, that sly fox, later used various negotiating tactics to subtly probe her, Julie remained unfazed and tight-lipped. As a result, Jiang Beichen left the building looking utterly dejected, pulling out his phone and dialing.
“She’s not here. She said she resigned, but I’m sure she’s not in Beijing. You might as well check outside the city.”
Author's Note: To reiterate, there is absolutely no possibility that Miss Shu will raise her child alone for several years before finally reuniting with the child's biological father!!! Don't you think that's even more unbelievable?! Given the current pace, how could Chu Mu possibly let her live alone for so long…
I warned you from the beginning that the child was still alive. If the baby were truly gone, given Ms. Shu's personality, she and Mr. Chu would likely never see each other again and completely break up. I feel it's incredibly unfair for someone as good as Ms. Shu to lose her marriage and then her baby. Don't you want her to have a soft, adorable little one nestled in her arms, calling her "Mama"?! Besides, both parents still have feelings for each other, don't you?!
As for the girls' points about the lack of rigor... well... I really don't have the ability to make this matter seem reasonable. I'll try my best to rewrite and make up for it, and I certainly didn't mean to underestimate your intelligence!
Let's keep the story warm and sweet, don't overthink it, can we be a little more forgiving of our own inner turmoil? Thank you all!
Goodnight, sleep well, muah ...
Chapter 58 Hurry up and kiss me!
Chu Mu has been coming home very late lately, often staying in the office until dark, or he'll drive straight to Jiang Beichen's place at the Shijin Building and refuse to let him go home. This is causing Jiang, who has a wife, children, and elderly parents, a great deal of distress.
"Have you checked? It's impossible for someone to just disappear like that. I suspect she's deliberately trying to avoid you." Jiang Beichen, who had just finished a meeting, slumped on the sofa, deep in thought. "Qi Teng just said he resigned. Let me tell you, you'd better reimburse me for the money I spent on this collaboration with them."
Chu Mu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, one hand in his pocket, his thoughts a jumble of emotions.
"We only found her flight to Hangzhou. She left on the third day. By the time we found her there, we had lost all contact with her and she had changed her phone number."
Jiang Beichen thought for a moment, then suddenly composed himself. "If she can't find you, she's definitely trying to hide. Our great motherland has so many cities, she can hide anywhere. If she's willing to hide, it'll be a lot of work for you to find her. Besides, it's been more than two months. Maybe... she's already started a new life."
Chu Mu's biggest fear was that she would have a new life... He was afraid that she left so decisively just to leave him, he was afraid that she had a new lover, he was afraid that she... wouldn't remember him... Thinking of this, his gaze grew darker and darker, and the emotions between his brows easily revealed his feelings at this moment.
It seems that a trip to Yangzhou is indeed necessary.
"I heard... that the old man is interested in setting you up with Zhou Zhihan?"
Chu Mu turned his head and glanced at Jiang Beichen, his expression unchanged.
"Who told you that? I don't know anything about it."
Jiang Beichen chuckled a few times, his eyes full of mockery. "Need I say more? Everyone in the compound knows that Zhou family's daughter has been eyeing you since before you were even married... Now that she heard you're divorced, she's probably going home and pressuring her father and grandfather to play matchmaker for you."
The relationship between the Zhou and Chu families wasn't particularly deep or shallow; it was a connection forged through their respective patriarchs' work. However, both families knew that Zhou Zhihan, the daughter of the Zhou family, harbored feelings for Chu Mu, and Zhou's mother had subtly mentioned it to Sui Qing on several occasions. At the time, Chu Mu was dating Tao Yunjia, only saying that there was no longer a chance for them. Later, Zhou Zhihan studied abroad for a few years. Upon hearing about what happened at Chu Mu's engagement party, she rushed back, only to find that Chu Mu had just married his wife, Shu Yi'an. One time, Chu Mu had just returned home from a dinner party when Zhou Zhihan blocked his doorway, insisting on being with him. Chu Mu, though outwardly refusing her, was terrified, his legs trembled slightly as he went inside and went upstairs. When Zhou's father learned of this, he angrily sent his daughter back to school in England.
Everyone in the circle knows Zhou Zhihan. Because of her incredibly brave feelings and her fierce pursuit, Ji Hengdong even gave her a nickname: "The Sucker"—no matter who dumps Chu Mu, Zhou Zhihan will be there to wait and be ready to marry him.
Just thinking about it gave Chu Mu a headache. He rubbed his face with his hand.
"I don't know how she found out. I saw her sitting at home when I returned to the compound that day. I didn't dare to stay long, so I put down my things and left. The old man mentioned it twice."
"Then what are you going to do? This girl is not easy to deal with... You'd better weigh the pros and cons yourself."
Jiang Beichen could somewhat understand Chu Mu's predicament. On one hand, Chu's father hoped he could be able to let go easily, and he already had enough work pressure every day. On the other hand, he also had to secretly use every means to find his ex-wife... He really had no choice but to...
Jiang Beichen patted him on the shoulder and gave him a look that said, "Take care of yourself."
"Don't be too hard on yourself. If it's meant to be yours, it won't run away no matter what."
In truth, Chu Mu didn't understand why he was so determined to find Shu Yi'an. He knew perfectly well that she could live a good life, but the feeling of not being able to let go made it impossible for him to convince himself to let go. He always felt that she was slowly suffering alone...
Before they knew it, the year was drawing to a close. Beijing had experienced several heavy snowfalls. Everyone was busy preparing for the two major holidays, New Year's Day and the Spring Festival, and even the streets were much less crowded. Chu Mu looked at the dim, yellowish sky outside the window and silently closed his eyes.
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Unlike the dry winters in the north, the weather in the south is damp and cold at this time of year.
Shu Yi'an's belly was already about half the size of a small ball. Since becoming pregnant, her originally slender body had gained some weight, but she still looked very thin. The people in the office were very considerate of Shu Yi'an. Because she was an expectant mother, many of her colleagues would help her with tasks involving the photocopier and computer.
In reality, her colleagues mostly offered her help and sympathy. Spending every evening together, while showing concern for Shu Yi'an, a single mother, they also privately condemned the unfaithful man they imagined for her a thousand times over.
She commutes to work by bus for a few stops each day, keeping her apartment impeccably tidy and gradually giving it a homey feel. Occasionally, Julie and Su Ying would visit her under the guise of business trips, bringing her baby clothes and blankets. Looking at those small, soft items, Shu Yi'an's heart would melt. Gradually, she became more and more accustomed to this life, a life where she could create a home without relying on anyone.
Just after getting off work that evening, Shu Yi'an was heading towards the bus stop when she faintly heard someone calling her name from the street corner. The voice made her tremble for no reason, and she looked up abruptly, but the light in her eyes quickly disappeared.
Xiao Ke shrugged helplessly, his expression meaningful. "You're so unhappy to see me?"
The two chose a very light Suzhou restaurant. Inside, in the antique-style decor, a man and a woman dressed in long robes with Chinese knot buttons were singing and discussing in a soft, melodious voice.
Shaw took a sip of the tea beside him and smiled gently. "Surprised?"
Perhaps it was because of a different mindset, but when Shu Yi'an saw Xiao Ke again, she was no longer nervous or awkward. Instead, she was very calm and at ease, just like when she was dealing with an old friend.
"The truth? Not too surprising. Julie told you, didn't she?"
He glanced at her silently, then clinked his glass together. "What I said to you back then still stands, doesn't it? I've been waiting for you all this time."