"Alright, alright, go on." The two adults were bickering and laughing, and if they kept going like this, people would definitely think they were crazy. Qian Duoduo reached out and pushed him, then added after thinking for a moment, "Be careful on the road, I'll wait for your call."
It was indeed too late. Xu Fei finally let go of her hand and turned around. After taking only two steps, he suddenly turned back and smiled at her.
"What now?" Qian Duoduo remained standing still, her gaze lingering on him as she watched him leave. When he turned around and saw her, she felt a little embarrassed, and her face flushed as she spoke.
He still smiled and softly said three words, "Don't worry."
Suddenly, her nose was filled with a sour taste. She controlled her emotions, nodded and smiled, and replied with the same three words.
Don't worry.
Chapter 81
Driver Lao Meng had returned to the driver's seat. He had worked at UVL for many years and was familiar with both Xu Fei and Qian Duoduo. However, he knew what to say and what not to say in this job. He simply greeted Hui Zi in the back seat and then consciously kept silent, gripping the steering wheel and calculating which road to take to get to the airport safely.
The car windows were still open. There were few pedestrians near the residential area, and the car was very quiet. Suddenly, there was a low chuckle from the back seat. He looked up and saw Huizi's expressionless face in the rearview mirror. He must have misheard. He lowered his head again.
Suddenly, I heard a question in my ear, "Is it still not too late?"
When Lao Meng caught sight of Xu Fei striding over, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "It should be fine, don't worry, Miss Yamada."
She was also looking in that direction, and as she spoke, a slight smile played on her lips. "Really? That's good."
That night, Qian Duoduo couldn't sleep. Her mind was filled with thoughts, and she just wanted to talk to someone. In the past, she would always call Yiyi when she encountered this situation, but this time she couldn't even think about Yiyi's name. She could only wait for Xu Fei's plane to land.
Xu Fei dialed the number just in time, and the other end answered as soon as it rang. He laughed, "Duoduo, I just got off the plane. Didn't I tell you to wait for my call?"
"I can't sleep, something's on my mind."
He had been thinking about what had just happened the whole flight, but now his voice became serious, "What exactly happened? Tell me."
What happened? Qian Duoduo opened her mouth, but didn't know where to begin. The matter was complicated and entangled, but she didn't really have the right to comment. After thinking for a long time, she managed to utter a few simple words, and finally sighed.
She spoke simply, but when the cause and effect were connected, Xu Fei understood seven or eight parts of it. He recalled that he might have seen the girl whose features resembled Qian Duoduo before, and couldn't help but sigh, "Duoduo, don't think too much, it will be very hard."
"I know." Qian Duoduo turned over in bed, clutching the phone, her voice low. "I just feel ridiculous. It would have been fine if I had just happened to see it, but I went and went there myself, and now I've made a mess of it."
“It’s normal to care about your friends,” he answered softly, then laughed, “Want to hear a joke?”
Not again? Qian Duoduo's eyes widened, then she couldn't help but smile, and asked in a low voice, "No, it's cold."
"Okay, then go to sleep early." He liked her voice, which carried a hint of laughter, and finally felt relieved. He smiled, paused for a second, and lowered his voice, "Duoduo, I love you."
The airport was noisy, filled with all sorts of sounds even at midnight, but his voice through the microphone seemed to be right beside her. The disruptive background blended with the silence around her, creating a strange feeling. It wasn't the first time she'd heard those three words, but it still resonated with her. A smile crept onto her lips, but after the smile faded, a sudden sense of desolation washed over her.
To love someone is to want them to be happy, to go to great lengths for them, and to worry about them constantly. So, it seems that Niu Zhensheng loved Yiyi a long time ago, didn't he? But the same person, years later, turned away and stood beside another woman.
What changed everything? Marriage?
"Duoduo?" There was no answer, nor did he hear the line being hung up. Xu Fei wondered on the other end.
"Kenny." Conflicted, Qian Duoduo's voice sounded somewhat off.
What to do? She was afraid of the future, but even more afraid of missing out on the present.
"Hmm?" he answered as he walked. They were about to exit the pass. Huizi had walked ahead, remaining silent the whole way, but here she stopped and turned back to look at him.
Qian Duoduo's voice rang in her ears again, softly but very clearly, "Thank you, I love you too."
Before I could answer, she had already hung up, and the mechanical beeping continued.
"Kenny?" He suddenly stopped in his tracks, feeling strange. Keiko called out again, then froze.
They were almost at the exit, only a few dozen steps away, not far at all, but he ignored her calls and remained standing there alone, a smile slowly spreading across his face, shining brightly in the bustling crowd.
They were only a few dozen steps apart, not far apart, but she suddenly had the illusion that the smile came from another world, an endlessly distant place that she could never reach no matter how hard she tried.
Chapter 82
The day after Xu Fei left Shanghai, China's first anti-monopoly law officially came into effect. UVL had been in the Chinese market for over a decade. While its market share hadn't reached the level of a monopoly, it had always been dominant in its marketing channels and had just announced its overall acquisition plan for the domestic brand Hotan. It immediately became the target of public criticism.
The company's legal department's phone rang incessantly all day long, and even the marketing department was affected. Many draft project plans were withdrawn for re-discussion. Qian Duoduo had only been in office for a little over a month, and the internal situation was not yet fully stable. Suddenly facing such an attack from both inside and outside, he felt overwhelmed every day.
The news that M&C intended to participate in the bidding for the acquisition has not yet been confirmed. The acquisition of Hotan has been obstructed by other similar domestic companies and some government departments, and for a time, there was turmoil even within the company.
After Shenzhen, Xu Feifei went to Hong Kong, and then flew to London with Kairos to negotiate with the board of directors. Half a month had passed in the blink of an eye. Her original plan to return to Shanghai was postponed again and again. She could only contact him in the middle of the night, which always made her feel sad.
She hadn't missed a man like this in a long time—missing his scent, his company, and the feeling of him by her side. Sometimes, she would wake up in the middle of the night, overwhelmed with longing, and she would want to jump out of bed and rush to the airport to catch the next flight to be with him.
If she can't control herself like this, how will she get through the future? Once she came to her senses, Qian Duoduo scolded herself and then forced herself to close her eyes in the dark.
The company kept her busy, and going home late every night wasn't a solution. After working overtime for a week straight, Qian Duoduo decided to move into her own apartment as soon as possible.
She bought a serviced apartment, which was already renovated and even had furniture thoughtfully provided for the residents. Duoduo spent a weekend tidying it up a bit, and the next day she brought her parents over for a visit. Then they had a meal together at a nearby restaurant.
At first, Mom and Dad found it hard to accept, and Qian's mother was even more direct. Before all the dishes had been served, she started nagging her, "Duoduo, do you think Mom is nagging? Don't you want to go home?"
"No, that's not it," Qian Duoduo protested. "It's close to the company, so I stay here when I work overtime. If I go home too late, you won't be able to sleep well. Don't touch my room at home, I still need to sleep there."
"Duoduo, when did you buy this house? Why didn't you discuss it with us? Do you have enough money?" Mr. Qian was quite practical; as he spoke, he started taking out his savings book.
His daughter said this morning that she would take them to see a house, and he was all ready. He thought they were going to see the apartment that Duoduo was planning to buy, but when they arrived, everything was already ready. He was stunned until now and only then did he remember the folding book in his pocket.
“Exactly! You didn’t even discuss such a big thing with the family. You’re all grown up now, and you have your own opinions. What can your parents do to you? Why did you just move out without saying a word?” This time, Mom didn’t get angry. She just sighed after saying that.
Quickly pressing down on her father's hand as he reached for the bankbook, Qian Duoduo turned to look at her mother, "Dad, Mom, I didn't mean to leave you, I just, I just..."
"Okay, we understand." Not wanting his daughter to be in such a difficult position, the father patted his wife's shoulder. "Duoduo is all grown up now, she always needs some space of her own. It's not like we can't see her anymore, she still comes back to sleep, so don't be nervous. Your daughter is so capable, you should be happy."
Qian Duoduo nodded vigorously, then hugged her mother's other arm and acted coquettishly. Qian's mother was caught in the middle and couldn't hold back any longer. After sighing, she reached out and poked her daughter's forehead with her finger, "You'll drive me crazy sooner or later. Get married soon, and I'll stop caring about you. I don't want you to worry about me."
No way? Not again?
Qian Duoduo and her father, as if on cue, simultaneously lowered their heads and buried themselves in their rice bowls, diligently working on their food. Qian's mother, having barely begun her long-winded explanation, found their annoyance and amusement both. She opened her mouth, then sighed and began to drink her soup.
Chapter 83
The next day at noon, Qian Duoduo finally called Yiyi. It rang for a long time before being answered. Around noon, there was music in the background, as if in some special space. Yiyi spoke slightly haltingly. Qian Duoduo wondered if it was just his imagination, but something felt off.
After parting ways with MMK that day, Yiyi never contacted her again. She didn't know what to say to Yiyi, so Qian Duoduo made a lot of effort when she dialed the number. But now, as soon as she heard Yiyi's voice, she started to have difficulty speaking, while Yiyi answered very quickly.
"A new apartment?" A rustling sound came from the other end, as if she was getting up and moving around, then the background noise quieted down. "Sure, I was just about to talk to you. When is a good time? Tonight?"
"Steve's not here again?" Qian Duoduo blurted out. Yiyi didn't answer but instead asked, "Should I come?"
Qian Duoduo sighed inwardly, then glanced at her calendar and nodded: "Okay, see you tonight."
I had planned to have a good talk with Yiyi tonight, but even though I rushed around, I still couldn't get away from work until after 7 pm.
As she entered the building, she hurried towards the door, reaching into her bag to reach for her phone to call Yiyi. Suddenly, a bright light flashed behind her, startling her so much that she almost jumped up. Qian Duoduo turned around sharply.
Behind her was a familiar black car. Yiyi got out of the passenger seat and smiled at her.
The car didn't stop; as soon as Yiyi got out, it drove towards the gate. Qian Duoduo, whose eyesight wasn't good and who had only glanced at the car quickly, looked in the direction the car had disappeared with a puzzled expression and asked, "Huh, did you change your driver?"
"Alright, stop worrying about that. Take me on a tour of the new house." Yi Yi didn't answer, but pulled her into the building.
Qian Duoduo ordered food delivery. When she entered the house, the table was already neatly set out. As she took off her shoes, she marveled at the convenience of modern life. Yiyi had already sat down on a pile of cushions on the floor before her, exclaiming, "So comfortable, Duoduo, I'm so envious!"
"It's one thing for others to say that, but don't come at me like that. My tiny apartment isn't even as big as your garage, is it? You're just envious of yourself." Qian Duoduo walked over and pulled her, shaking her head with a smile.
"You like it? Then let's change." Yiyi didn't get up, but instead dragged her down.
"You're so good at telling jokes." Actually, she didn't have much of an appetite, but Qian Duoduo sat down. When they were little, the two of them would huddle in their small bedroom, each with a pillow, and chat all day long. As they grew older, they gradually moved their base to restaurants and cafes. Now, suddenly reminiscing about the past, she felt very emotional. She pulled over her pillow to make herself more comfortable and replied with a smile.
"Really, I'm not kidding." Yiyi suddenly looked straight at him, her face well-maintained and beautiful. Over the years, time seemed to have left no trace on it, but at this moment, her beautiful eyes were filled with incredibly complex emotions, which stunned Qian Duoduo.
"Don't you want it?" Yi Yi smiled awkwardly, turning her head away from her. "That's true. If I were you, I definitely wouldn't want such a life riddled with problems."
Startled awake, Qian Duoduo stared wide-eyed at Yiyi without saying a word.
"Duoduo, Niu Zhensheng and I talked this morning." Yiyi still didn't turn around, holding the cushion tightly in her hands, her fingers sinking into the soft fabric.
Not knowing what to say, Qian Duoduo remained silent for a long time before finally gently placing her hand on her shoulder and whispering, "It's okay."
When Yiyi turned around, the corners of her mouth twitched as if she wanted to laugh, but she couldn't quite manage it. "Duoduo, I really should thank you. If it weren't for you, I don't think he would have ever told anyone about this in his entire life."
Qian Duoduo sighed, "He doesn't understand me. Actually, I won't say it. I will only advise you to be careful about transferring assets and to plan ahead."
Yi Yi smiled through her tears and turned back to grab her hand.
The events did not unfold as Qian Duoduo had anticipated. This morning, Niu Zhensheng sat down with Yiyi in the bedroom and talked. His so-called confession did not initially shock Yiyi much; she was not even surprised and listened very calmly.
There is a subtle, unspoken understanding between husband and wife. Whether the other person's heart has wandered is something you can know simply by honestly asking yourself how you feel, without needing anyone's reminder.
So when Niu Zhensheng said those three words, "I'm sorry," with some difficulty, she actually felt sorry for him.
It's understandable. Even a celestial being would get tired of being stared at for so many years, let alone a woman.
But what he said next plunged her into despair. He said, "I'm sorry, Yiyi, let me finish. You know how much I've wanted a child all these years. I've never thought about divorcing and remarrying, and I can't divorce you now, but I really want a child. She's pregnant, and it might be mine. I just want her to give birth to this child."
"And then what?" She shivered with cold all over, unable to speak clearly. She bit her tongue to stop the trembling, until her mouth was full of the taste of blood, and finally she managed to utter a sentence.
“I’ve thought about it. She’s still a young girl and won’t try to take our child away from us. After she’s born, I’ll give her some money and send her to settle abroad. We’ll treat the child as if she’s adopted. You and I still have our child, so our family will be complete. What do you say?”
He spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, but her vision blurred, and the familiar face before her was distorted and deformed. Was this Niu Zhensheng? The man she had known for over ten years, her husband—was it him? Why didn't she recognize him?
He was still there, talking on and on. She stood up silently and walked out. He caught up with her. She stopped at the end of the stairs, glanced back at him expressionlessly, and then reached out and swept the crystal vase at the corner to the ground.
The heavy vase, filled with water and a large bouquet of lilies, shattered on the marble steps, splashing water everywhere, petals falling, and hundreds of sharp crystal edges reflecting a cold light, just like her eyes.
Startled by the loud noise, Niu Zhensheng abruptly stopped in his tracks.
Across the flowing water and scattered debris, there stood his young wife, the woman he loved. He had poured his heart and soul into her, waiting for her to grow up, giving her marriage, and providing her with a luxurious life. To this day, he did not feel that his love had disappeared; he still felt that she was the little girl from back then, and he was willing to take care of her for the rest of his life.
But he was getting old and really wanted a child. He met Qingqing in the business world. He was half drunk at the time, and the first thing he said to her was, "You look a bit like my wife's good friend." He thought it was just a drunken foolishness, but a month later, she told him that she was pregnant.
He only wanted to wait until the child was born and confirmed to be his before adopting him, but Qian Duoduo's appearance caught him off guard. After thinking it over, he decided that it was better to tell Yiyi himself than to have a third person tell her. Unexpectedly, she looked at him with the eyes of a stranger, and there was even disgust and resistance in her eyes. Suddenly feeling defeated, he didn't want to explain anymore, so Niu Zhensheng turned around and walked out.
Watching his figure disappear outside the gate, followed by the sound of a car starting and leaving, she stood alone, feeling as if all the glamorous background around her was now just ruins.
Not wanting to stay there for another second, she grabbed her car keys and headed out. By the time Aunt Zhang chased after her, she had already stepped on the gas, leaving the familiar mansion far behind in the blink of an eye.
She sped all the way to the building, heading straight for the top-floor office she had only visited once. Perhaps her expression was too terrifying, because no one stopped her along the way. When she knocked on the door, it opened in response. He was talking to someone, and perhaps he had already been informed, because his expression was not surprised. He simply told the other people in the office who were dumbfounded to leave, and then led her away.
Chapter 84
All she could hear were her husband's last words before he passed away: "She's pregnant. I just want her to give birth, to give birth, to give birth..."
Feeling like she was about to explode, she wasn't thinking about what to do next; she just wanted to find any reason to hurt him. For so many years, she had walked with loneliness, sticking to her choices and playing her role well. She didn't even expect her husband to love her as he had in the beginning; all she wanted was to maintain her current life, to live comfortably without worrying about food or clothing—that would be enough for her. Unexpectedly, step by step, without realizing it, in the blink of an eye, this path had led to a dead end!
The best hotel, the best room—the moment she entered, he embraced her tightly, the sweet scent of her memories filling the air. She responded forcefully, tearing at his clothes until he called her name in a frenzy of passion, leaning down to kiss her, finally catching her uncontrollable tears.