He really didn't want to experience that feeling again.
"Long time no see, Zhengwei." Song Qing's nose tingled, and she squeezed his hand tightly in return. She was very tired, pregnant, but she only felt more lonely and vulnerable.
Yi Zhengwei didn't say anything, got up, opened the closet, and started getting dressed.
Song Qing followed him and hugged him from behind. She wanted to hold him tightly, but she couldn't.
Having children means I'm only suited to being hugged.
Yi Zhengwei silently pushed her away, turned his back, and began to choose clothes. Song Qing felt a little helpless and wrung her hands as she went to the dining table.
"I bought your favorite breakfast."
"No need." Yi Zhengwei had already tied his tie and closed the cabinet door.
"Since we've already bought it, let's eat together." She didn't eat any.
Yi Zhengwei walked out of the lounge without looking back or hesitating. This time, he seemed determined not to back down no matter what Song Qing did.
"Zhengwei, do we really have to do this?" Song Qing couldn't help but raise his voice.
He stopped, but still didn't turn around. "If you don't trust me, why did you come all this way?"
Song Qing hurried a few steps, but still couldn't catch up with him. She leaned against the wall, and everything went black before her eyes, but the sound of the door closing was crystal clear.
She ate the breakfast meant for two in silence. It was so delicious, and it was the same breakfast she ate every day, but today it tasted so bland and tasteless.
I waited all morning, but Yi Zhengwei still hadn't returned to his office. Was the meeting really that long?
She worked in Yi Zhengwei's office for a while, replying to dozens of emails and answering several phone calls. Looking at the clock, it was already one o'clock. Lily came in and asked if she wanted her to bring her lunch. She shook her head, "Where's Zhengwei?"
"The general manager is still in the conference room on the tenth floor," Lily said with difficulty.
"I see."
Upon reaching the tenth floor, she found it quiet everywhere; all the meeting rooms were empty, as it was lunchtime. She gently pushed open the innermost office door. Everyone in the company knew that the general manager preferred to hold meetings in this office, but no one knew why.
But Song Qing now knew that Yi Zhengwei was sitting in the head seat with his back to her. From this position, she could see the top floor of the Shibing Building. Although there were several buildings in between, none of them were taller than the Shibing Building. But what did this mean? What did it signify?
Yi Zhengwei remained seated, waiting for Song Qing to come over, but she didn't. She gently closed the door behind her again.
Perhaps he was wrong; it wasn't Song Qing who came, but Lili. But he didn't want to turn back to confirm, afraid that he might be wrong or right.
Why would Song Qing come? He just left like that, and she didn't even follow.
But what if she comes? She's been so thoughtful today, bringing him breakfast.
Yi Zhengwei, Yi Zhengwei, when did you become like this? He gave a mocking laugh, got up and went back to his office. The office was empty, clean and tidy, with nothing left behind.
It's as if Song Qing came, but it was all just a dream.
"It's alright, it's alright," he comforted himself.
He never expected Song Qing to actually give up her research on Hongshang for his sake.
*
Song Qing went to Yangmingshan again. The weather was warm, and she wanted to chat with her father.
It feels like it's been a long time since I last visited. Every time I want to have a good talk with my father, it always happens when I'm in a bad mood or indecisive.
After rearranging the offerings and placing the evergreen plant on top, she smiled slightly and said, "Dad, the baby is already four months old. Time really flies. In another six months, you will be able to see your grandson. That way, you can finally put your mind at ease over there."
She stared intently at Song Jingmo's photo for a long time before saying with a half-smile, "I never wanted to talk to you before, and we, father and daughter, never had a proper heart-to-heart talk. You didn't want me to become vulnerable, and I didn't want you to know what was buried in my heart. But now, I can only tell you what's on my mind. But I just don't know if you can hear me."
"Actually, it's better not to know. These are things that only I could decide. Dad, how could I not trust him? The last time I spoke to you here, I decided to trust him. I let go of many things and didn't manage them. After the factory fire, the only work I had was the internal management of Zhenhua and Fuhua. I entrusted the power project and the new project to him. Why, why did I have to do this? I just wanted to fulfill your last wish, Dad. Hongshang was the birthday gift you didn't give me personally. It was the last time you protected me in my life. I had to complete it myself to wash away the harm that Xunan and Xiaoning caused to Fuhua. This matter has always been deeply buried in my heart. I've always wanted to make amends."
Yes, she really has a reason to complete the Red Robe research herself, so why can't Yi Zhengwei understand her?
"Dad, I'm so conflicted, I don't know what to do. Xunan and we are family after all, do we really want to both of us to suffer? I'm in control of the situation, I know when to advance and when to retreat, I know how to handle things, and I know you wouldn't want us to kill each other. But Zhengwei isn't indifferent to what happened between me and Xunan. He personally shattered the only bond between us, and the sound of breaking glass made me realize that Zhengwei wouldn't be lenient with Xunan, he would definitely try to destroy him. Dad, I really don't want things to come to this." She almost broke down in tears. How could she not know why Yi Zhengwei was so determined to take over Hongshang?
"Dad, I'm such a failure. I've made a mess of my life. Even Mom misunderstands me. Sometimes I even doubt myself. What have I become? I'm just afraid that something will happen to Fuhua day and night." She pressed her chest and choked back tears. Thinking of Yi Zhengwei staring blankly at the back of the Shibing Building, she felt even more heartbroken.
She must be really ruthless, otherwise why would she repeatedly provoke Yi Zhengwei and drive him to despair?
Shen Yang is right. She had no idea about Yi Zhengwei and Shen Xing's unforgettable past. All the things she did were just self-deception.
Yi Zhengwei, however, never reciprocated her kindness.
She talked on and on for a long time, and then went home feeling sullen.
When she got home, she didn't even eat dinner, only drinking some soup as a token gesture.
Hongshang still made no progress, and Dong Haifeng was so anxious that he was jumping up and down. He watched as Yan Xunan was busy making great strides, while they remained stagnant.
Song Qing turned off all her phones, but she still couldn't calm down.
Finally, she said she wanted to go out for a walk, and Aunt Zhou and Yi Mantian wholeheartedly agreed. These days, Song Qing's gloomy stay at home was frightening them. They were used to Song Qing's workaholic nature and sense of responsibility, but suddenly, she did nothing. She didn't turn on the phone, didn't turn on the computer, and was even absent-minded when Secretary Liu came to report on work. She often sat in the garden for an entire afternoon.
*
She still went to Yueming's ceramics street. Whenever she had a difficult problem, she would come here to make pottery to balance her mind and concentrate.
This time, the little figures they made were all unrecognizable, and it was impossible to tell who was who.
Later, they simply made it faceless.
Her craftsmanship remains as excellent as ever. At first, she only ruined a few pieces, but she improved with each attempt, becoming more and more skilled. The ceramics she fired were smooth, glossy, and flawless. When she puts her heart into something, she always does her best, just like when she loves someone wholeheartedly—perhaps it's a lifelong commitment.