Xu Qingzhu didn't care.
Zhou Yi'an arrived in the afternoon, and seemed no different from usual.
The HR also sent onboarding emails to the new colleagues who passed the interview, and then reported the progress to Xu Qingzhu.
Xu Qingzhu asked, "Has Su Meiqi's been sent yet?"
The HR person said, "It's been sent."
Xu Qingzhu was distracted by those words all afternoon, until she left work.
Liang Shi sent her a message: [Coming downstairs.]
She had just packed her things and left the office when she ran into Zhou Yi'an again at the elevator.
When Zhou Yi'an saw her frowning, she asked in surprise, "Weren't you supposed to be working overtime?"
Xu Qingzhu said, "I have something to do today."
Zhou Yi'an didn't respond to her, but just looked down at her phone, seemingly texting someone.
Xu Qingzhu and she took the elevator downstairs together, but there was no signal in the elevator.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Zhou Yi'an dashed out like a gust of wind. It was the first time Xu Qingzhu had ever seen her behave so out of control. She stood there stunned for a moment before walking out.
Meanwhile, Liang Shi, who was waiting downstairs, had already seen Su Yao and Sheng Yu.
There stood a big one and a small one, along with Su Meiqi, who was dressed in a flamboyant manner.
Su Meiqi squatted there, teasing Sheng Yu, while Su Yao stood there in a daze.
She had an excellent figure, standing there as straight as a tree, looking up at the building.
After teasing Sheng Yu, Su Meiqi stood up again and said something to her.
Su Yao suddenly smiled, the curve of which was very similar to Xu Qingzhu's unconscious smile.
Liang Shi looked down and sent a message to Xu Qingzhu: 【I have something to do right now, I'll go first and come back to pick you up later.】
Although he didn't know what the three of them were doing here, Liang Shi felt it was best not to let Xu Qingzhu see them.
But to everyone's surprise, Zhou Yi'an appeared as soon as the message was sent.
Xu Qingzhu followed closely behind.
Around the same time Zhou Yi'an ran up to Su Yao, Xu Qingzhu also walked out of the office building.
After making eye contact with Liang Shi, he immediately looked in Zhou Yi'an's direction.
Liang Shi: "..."
She quickly called out, "Xu Qingzhu, come here."
Xu Qingzhu stood there without moving, her gaze fixed on that direction.
The three adults and one child were talking over there when Zhou Yi'an turned around and glanced at Xu Qingzhu. His tall figure almost completely blocked Su Yao, as if he was afraid she would see him.
Xu Qingzhu smiled, her smile dazzling.
Liang Shi strode over, afraid that her emotions might become unstable again like they were at the cemetery. He squeezed her hand and whispered, "Let's go."
The people over there are already getting on the bus.
Xu Qingzhu let out a heavy breath, then took Liang Shi's hand in return. She turned to look at Liang Shi, the setting sun casting a warm glow on her face, making her appear much gentler. "Teacher Liang, no matter what I do, you'll support me, right?"
In that instant, Liang Shi understood what she wanted to do.
He simply nodded, saying, "I always keep my word."
Xu Qingzhu closed her eyes, turned her head and shouted, "Zhou Yi'an, Su Meiqi."
Zhou Yi'an's back stiffened, but Su Meiqi's eyes lit up, and she jumped up and shouted, "Sister Xu!"
Xu Qingzhu, holding Liang Shi's hand, walked resolutely towards Su Yao, step by step.
Chapter 72
It was rush hour, and the asphalt road was bustling with traffic. The chaotic red taillights of the cars reminded people that night had fallen.
Along the roadside, white-collar workers came and went, chatting and laughing in small groups as they walked toward the nearby subway station.
Xu Qingzhu's long hair was blown by the wind. She wore five-centimeter high heels, revealing her fair ankles. Black pencil pants hugged her calves, making them slender, straight, and her figure proportions enviable.
Liang Shi stood beside her, wearing a light gray trench coat, a white shirt, and black trousers—all minimalist attire.
Liang Shi is 1.72 meters tall, which is 6 centimeters taller than Xu Qingzhu. However, she changes back into flat shoes after get off work and drives, so when she stands next to Xu Qingzhu, they appear to be about the same height.
Both are tall and slender, with equally excellent body proportions.
Liang Shi walked a little further ahead than Xu Qingzhu, attempting to shield her from something.
Su Meiqi suddenly grabbed Zhou Yi'an's sleeve tightly, "Sister An, these two are such a perfect match!"
Zhou Yi'an: "..."
It's quite an eyesore.
Su Meiqi's eyes sparkled as she rushed over and called out to Xu Qingzhu, "Sister Xu."
She then greeted Liang Shi, "Sister Liang."
Last time they came down from Yunfeng Mountain, Su Meiqi had already naturally become familiar with the two of them in the car.
Even now, when we meet again, we're still incredibly friendly.
"What a coincidence!" Su Meiqi said. "What are you two going out for? A date?"
"Mm," Liang Shi replied first, "I'm planning to go eat."
“We are too,” Su Meiqi said. “My aunt treated us to dinner to celebrate me finding a job.”
"That's quite a coincidence." Xu Qingzhu's expression was indifferent, but her gaze fell on Su Yao.
Su Yao wore sunglasses, stood elegantly, had a long, slender neck, and her natural black hair made her skin appear even whiter.
You wouldn't guess she's a woman in her early forties.
Xu Qingzhu suddenly thought of a saying: Time never defeats a beauty.
Because Sheng Yu tilted her head and said, "She's Rainbow's mom's colleague."
Su Yao then looked at Liang Shi, smiled and nodded, "What a coincidence, we meet again."
"Hmm." Liang Shi maintained a polite yet distant demeanor. "Hello."
As if afraid of being ignored, little Shengyu tried her best to make her presence known, tilting her head up and asking Liang Shi, "Auntie, do you work here?"
Liang Shi: "..."
Suddenly I felt an arrow in my knee.
But he couldn't say anything, so he could only reply, "My wife is here."
"Wow!" Sheng Yu's eyes sparkled with hearts. "This lady is so pretty!"
Liang Shi: "?"
Are you polite?
Liang Shi's expression changed slightly, but he didn't argue with the way he addressed a five-year-old child. Instead, he said ambiguously, "You'll be just as beautiful when you grow up."
Following Sheng Yu's words, Su Yao finally turned her gaze to Xu Qingzhu.
More accurately, it was eye contact.
A few seconds later, Su Yao's tears fell down her cheeks.
Xu Qingzhu frowned slightly, pursed her lips, looked at Su Yao, and asked with a sharp air, "Do you know me?"
Su Yao was in a daze. She shook her head very slowly, as if her body, which had been stiff for a long time, was just beginning to move.
"Then you..." Xu Qingzhu had just begun to speak, her prepared and aggressive speech still unspoken, when Su Yao opened her mouth, trying to speak several times but unable to, while two lines of clear tears slid down her face.
Startled, Su Meiqi immediately rummaged through her bag for tissues and whispered, "Auntie, what's wrong?"
Su Yao then realized that she had shed tears and immediately raised her hand to wipe them away. In her panic, she knocked off her sunglasses, revealing one lifeless eye and the other eye, which was red and watery.
Xu Qingzhu pursed her lips and tightened her grip on Liang Shi's hand, as if she were trying to gain leverage from her.
After Su Yao wiped away her tears and put her sunglasses back on, she apologized gently, "Miss, I'm sorry, I... I lost my composure."
"It's nothing." Xu Qingzhu paused. "May I ask why you gave me that kind of expression when you don't know me? It could cause misunderstandings."
Su Yao shook her head. "I don't know."
Her voice was muffled, hoarse from sobbing, "I have no idea what happened."
In fact, her mind went completely blank when she saw the woman opposite her.
It seems as if natural emotions are driving my tear ducts, and I burst into tears for no reason. Even after I realize it, I don't know what I'm doing.
She herself wanted to ask this question.
But Su Yao could only shake her head, "I'm really sorry."
His tone was sincere and apologetic, making it difficult for anyone to put him in a difficult position.
But Xu Qingzhu had already come over and taken the first step, so there was no reason for her to back down.
She gave a reasonably polite smile. "Is it because you've seen me before?"
"No." Su Yao seemed a little blank when she met her gaze, and simply shook her head slightly: "I don't think I've ever seen you before."
“But you give me a very familiar feeling.” Su Yao looked at her features and pursed her lips, saying, “You look a bit like my husband.”
"Your husband?" Xu Qingzhu's tone rose. "Is he this child's father?"
“Yes,” Su Yao said, “he has passed away.”
Su Yao was very wary of Liang Shi. When Liang Shi asked her for information before, Su Yao refused to reveal a single word.
But now, facing Xu Qingzhu, she naturally revealed her information.
Moreover, it's very confidential information.