Todesanzeige 2 Schicksal

Kapitel 4

However, Zheng Qi rationally considered another possibility: that Luo Min's magical abilities were so profound and unfathomable that even someone like Zheng Qi, with his considerable cultivation, couldn't discern them. If she truly was the latter, then the Luo Min he faced would be an immeasurably formidable opponent. Thinking of this, Zheng Qi couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

The office was eerily quiet all day. Aside from the occasional brief exchange of words about work, everyone was quietly focused on their tasks. Even Meng Ping, usually so playful and joking, seemed like a different person, silently and diligently working. The door to the director's office remained tightly shut, and Director Wang hadn't appeared all day. Luo Min, meanwhile, wore a somber expression throughout, not uttering a single word to anyone. Her gaze remained fixed on the manuscript in her hands, conveying everything through silent actions, except for the occasional unspoken intentions she felt compelled to express. She didn't even utter a soft cough. Zheng Qi seriously wondered if she was mute, or simply a cold, emotionless person.

Zheng Qi was truly baffled by her. What kind of person was Luo Min? Why did Sister Zheng and the others treat her with such respect and fear, and even Director Wang seemed to give her some leeway? It seemed that to unravel this mystery, they really had to find a breakthrough by examining her as a person.

In the evening, upon returning to his residence, Zheng Qi took out the spirit-testing talisman from his pocket, only to find it had turned into a pile of ashes.

"What should I do?" Looking at the pile of ashes, he asked himself silently, feeling that the matter was not as simple as he had thought, and he was somewhat at a loss.

"If Luo Min is truly a powerful demon, then if Zheng Qi tries to remain still, he will only be waiting to die. It seems that I must take action first, find out who Luo Min really is, and strike first!"

Thinking of this, Zheng Qi sighed deeply. He began to miss his senior brother Mo Han. If Mo Han were here now, he could talk to him and ask him for advice. He wouldn't be fighting alone now, feeling so helpless and frustrated!

Early in the morning, Zheng Qi arrived at the newspaper office and cleaned the office inside and out.

Meng Ping, still half-asleep and yawning, staggered over.

"Meng Ping, are you free tonight?"

Meng Ping, who was feeling drowsy, suddenly perked up when he heard Zheng Qi's words.

"Dude, what's wrong? Is it because of tonight...?"

With a fawning smile, Meng Ping put his arm around Zheng Qi's shoulder in a seemingly affectionate manner.

"Hehe, it's nothing, I just wanted to treat everyone to some fun tonight!"

Zheng Qi slowly removed Meng Ping's hand from his shoulder and said shyly.

"Okay, buddy, I'll definitely give you face tonight. Haha!"

Meng Ping patted Zheng Qi's shoulder forcefully and burst into laughter.

"Oh, so you're acting innocent after getting a good deal? Some people are getting more and more shameless!"

As Chen Qing strode in, her high heels clicking softly, she gave Meng Ping a disdainful look and spoke contemptuously.

"Hmph, that's still better than some people who just sit back and reap the benefits!"

Meng Ping crossed his arms, squinted at the ceiling, and retorted slowly and deliberately, unwilling to back down.

"you!"

Chen Qingxing glared angrily, her baby face instantly turning bright red.

Meng Ping stood aside, still with a playful smile on his face. Zheng Qi saw that a battle was about to begin and was about to speak to the two of them when...

All that could be heard was:

"Alright, what are you two bickering about so early in the morning? Don't you see that this is a new guy who's been busy cleaning for you since early morning?"

Sister Zheng appeared at the door with a beaming smile, carrying half-eaten breakfast in one hand.

"Sister Zheng, you're here!"

Zheng Qi was grateful to Sister Zheng for helping him resolve a verbal battle in the office, and greeted her warmly.

"Xiao Zheng, you should take a rest. You've been busy since early this morning, you must be tired!"

Sister Zheng put the breakfast on the table and rolled up her sleeves, intending to help Zheng Qi clean up.

"It's alright. By the way, Sister Zheng, are you all free tonight? I'd like to treat you all to some fun!"

Sister Zheng paused for a moment.

"Xiao Zheng, don't take Meng Ping's words from the day before yesterday seriously. He's the kind of person who loves to stir up trouble for no reason. Just ignore him!"

Sister Zheng said with concern, a slight smile playing on her lips, and glanced at Meng Ping with a slightly angry look.

"I am very grateful for your care these past few days. I am also a very sociable person, so I would like to have some fun with everyone tonight."

"Little Zheng..."

"Sister Zheng, we can't refuse Xiao Zheng's kind offer. We'd better accept it respectfully."

Meng Ping glanced at Zheng Qi and interrupted Zheng Jie.

Sister Zheng smiled meaningfully, said nothing more, and looked up at Chen Qing, who was making coffee with her head down.

Zheng Qi returned to his seat and started working. Luo Min, who was sitting opposite him, hadn't arrived yet, but Zheng Qi knew in his heart that Luo Min definitely wouldn't be attending his dinner party tonight.

By noon, the group of people who would go out for some fun that evening had been basically decided.

Just as Zheng Qi had expected, Luo Min softly uttered two words from her cherry-like lips. These were the only two words Zheng Qi had received from her during the two days they had spent together: "I'm not going."

Zheng Qi smiled and didn't press her further.

Mr. Dong declined, saying he was too old and not interested in such gatherings with young people. After several unsuccessful attempts to persuade him, Zheng Qi had no choice but to give up. Director Wang claimed he had already made plans with friends that evening and couldn't go either, so Zheng Qi could only regretfully say that they would reschedule for another time and invite him to join in the fun. In the end, only Sister Zheng and three others went together that evening.

Zheng Qi smiled slightly; all of this was within his expectations.

After work, Zheng Qi found a relatively upscale hotel near his workplace to host a banquet for Sister Zheng and her family.

During the meal, glasses clinked and drinks were raised, and Sister Zheng and the other three enjoyed the delicious food while chatting and laughing.

Seeing that the atmosphere was quite lively and that the time was almost right, Zheng Qi, noticing that Meng Ping was starting to get a little tipsy, began to bring up Luo Min, intentionally or unintentionally.

"Hey, who's this Luo Min? Why is she so arrogant?"

The moment Luo Min's name left Zheng Qi's lips, an instant silence fell over the room.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Zheng Qi quickly laughed it off and said:

"Let's not talk about her anymore, sorry to spoil everyone's fun. Come on, Sister Zheng, Meng Ping, Chen Qing, eat up!"

The three of them, including Sister Zheng, sat there without touching their chopsticks, and the atmosphere began to become a bit tense.

"Dude, let me tell you, Luo Min is a beautiful woman, but she's a poisonous rose! You know what a poisonous rose is? Don't touch her!"

Meng Ping was a little drunk. Sister Zheng tugged at him under the table, but Zheng Qi saw it and pretended not to notice.

Meng Ping ignored him, paused for a moment, looked around, and saw that no one spoke, but they were all staring at him with a strange expression.

Meng Ping, reeking of alcohol and burping, pulled a cigarette from his shirt pocket, and Zheng Qi, standing beside him, quickly lit it with a lighter.

Sister Zheng glared at Meng Ping reproachfully, but ultimately said nothing, turning her gaze back to the dishes on the plate in front of her, lost in thought.

Meng Ping took a deep drag of his cigarette, tilted his head back slightly, and slowly exhaled a ring of smoke towards the sky above him.

Chen Qing frowned, pressed his nose, pursed his lips, and remained silent.

Meng Ping gave a sarcastic smile, glanced at Zheng Qi and the other two, and then lightly flicked the cigarette between his fingers with his index finger. A small piece of grayish-white ash fell silently to the edge of the plate. He then gently twirled the ash with the lit cigarette butt between his fingers.

Everyone remained silent, watching Meng Ping play with the cigarette ash on the edge of the plate.

Finally, Meng Ping squinted his alcohol-reddened eyes and looked at Zheng Qi slowly, saying:

"Roses are beautiful, but they have thorns and prick you. Poisonous roses are not only beautiful and have thorns and prick you, but more importantly, they are also poisonous."