Men who are like-minded communicate and get things done swiftly and decisively, without wasting words. Of course, Zhou Qishen has passed the stage of being constantly picked on, so he naturally doesn't need Secretary Xu to fight. But Secretary Xu is strict with her own skills, and she has never neglected her Mantis Fist and Iron Sand Palm techniques.
So Zhao Xiyin listened to him explain the boxing moves. "Xiao west, practicing boxing is very beneficial. I tried to persuade President Zhou, but he was very stubborn and always wanted to go see Dr. Lin."
Zhao Xiyin turned her head to the side, "Dr. Lin?"
Secretary Xu realized she had misspoke and replied perfunctorily, "He is a pain specialist."
“He’s a psychologist,” Zhao Xiyin calmly corrected.
When Zhou Boning came to Beijing, she saw a medicine bag with the name printed on it at Zhou Qishen's house: Lin Yi, a national level-two psychological counselor.
Secretary Xu's expression remained unchanged. "I'm sorry, I did lie to you on purpose. Dr. Lin has been in charge of Mr. Zhou's psychological counseling for nearly two years. Their relationship is better than that of ordinary patients. Last year during the Spring Festival, Mr. Zhou even asked me to deliver some special products from Xi'an. That day, there was a huge rainstorm in Beijing, and he wouldn't let me reschedule. I damaged the tire on the way, and he didn't reimburse me for the repair costs."
The atmosphere inside the car changed from that point on.
Zhao Xiyin remained silent, her lips pressed tightly together. The city's neon lights shimmered on her face, their vibrant colors resembling a short-circuited reflector.
While waiting at a red light, Secretary Xu subtly adjusted his glasses, achieving the effect he desired.
Over here, Zhou Qishen finished his video conference around 11 p.m. He came out of his study with his laptop, closed the screen, and casually tossed it onto the sofa. In the next half hour, he received two phone calls.
The call came from lawyer Qi Yuming, who personally asked whether the case entrusted by Zhao Xiyin should continue.
Zhou Qishen said, "Do as she says."
The other call was from Dai Yunxin. Coincidentally, both calls were for the same person. Dai Yunxin always managed to find out who was "aiding and abetting" Zhao Xiyin, and she flew into a rage, yelling, "She's not thinking straight, and you're joining in the chaos? If this blows up, who'll suffer? Your precious woman will!"
Zhou Qishen, uncooperative and nonchalant, retorted with a casual remark, "Whatever she cherishes, I cherish too."
Dai Yunxin angrily hung up the phone.
Zhou Qishen picked at his ear, not paying any attention. The living room lights were on, bright and clear. He looked at the yoga mat that hadn't been put away yet, and finally a faint smile appeared on his lips. It was a very faint smile, but it was gentle and warm, revealing a continuous tenderness and determination.
Zhao Xiyin went to the dance troupe for training as usual.
Yesterday's argument with Ni Rui left her with small cuts all over her face and neck from shards of porcelain. The deepest one was on her forehead, which she found in the way, so she just put on a band-aid. The other members, not knowing why, came to ask her what happened.
Zhao Xiyin only said that she was pounced on by a dog.
She trained very hard, like a sunflower growing towards the sun, completely unaffected. Midway through, Zhang Yijie came in once and, in front of everyone, gave Zhao Xiyin a bag of ointment, smiling subtly and understandingly, "I'm giving this to you on someone's behalf."
Who else could it be?
Meng Weixi almost rushed in, but Zhang Yijie stopped him with a single sentence: "President Meng, with so many people watching, Xiao Zhao might not be willing."
Later, Dai Yunxin also came over, and she was extremely harsh and demanding, scolding all the staff members at once. After scolding them, she nitpicked at Zhao Xiyin, turning all her resentment into childishness, making her dance again and again.
Zhao Xiyin was stubborn; she figured she might as well jump—she had plenty of strength.
Later, Meng Weixi couldn't stand it anymore and had Zhang Yijie come forward, using an excuse to call Dai Yunxin away. As soon as Dai Yunxin saw Meng Weixi, her temper flared up immediately. "Another one protecting her! Go ahead and protect her, I'm not going to care anymore!"
She dared to say she wouldn't care, but then regretted it. Dai Yunxin made a phone call and, furious, ordered, "You, come up here."
Zhao Xiyin maintained the same expression, indifferent and aloof. As soon as the door closed, she addressed her as usual, "Master."
Dai Yunxin was exasperated. "Zhao Xiyin, you're not listening to me anymore."
Zhao Xiyin remained silent.
"You've really gotten yourself into a good position now, even managing to hire Qi Yuming's legal team. What are you planning to do? Sentence your sister to death or life imprisonment?" Dai Yunxin said sarcastically, her tone full of disappointment. "The assessment is next week. I beg you, please don't cause trouble. Can you just bear with it, my little darling?"
Meng Weixi sat on the sofa, legs crossed, one hand on the armrest and the other supporting her chin, silent and still, her gaze fixed on Zhao Xiyin.
Zhao Xiyin raised her head. "Master, why should I endure it?"
Dai Yunxin: "So as not to cause trouble for yourself, so as to reach a bigger stage, so as to realize your dream."
After a two-second pause, Zhao Xiyin simply smiled and said calmly, "In order not to involve the man behind Ni Rui, in order not to affect your business partner, and in order not to ruin his reputation, because he has a wife and children."
Her eyes were clear and bright, like the brightest moonlight on the first or fifteenth of the lunar month, as she looked at Dai Yunxin. "Is that so, Master?"
Dai Yunxin's face turned pale instantly, and the tip of her finger pointing at her trembled slightly. "You, you... is this what you think of me?"
Zhao Xiyin's eyes immediately dimmed, and she hesitated, clearly regretting her decision.
Meng Weixi stood up at the right moment and stood between the two. He faced Dai Yunxin and had not yet spoken, but this action clearly showed that he was on Zhao Xiyin's side.
"Teacher Dai, you..."
"Don't call me Teacher Dai, and don't call me Master either. You two are in cahoots, and I find it annoying just looking at you. Zhao Xiyin, you're a traitor. Go ahead and call whoever you want your Master. I, I, I'm going to be so angry with you!" Dai Yunxin stormed off, her eyes red with rage.
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Zhao Xiyin gasped for breath, feeling as if her lungs were about to explode. She squatted down, hugged herself, and took deep breaths. Meng Weixi also squatted down and gently comforted her, "It's alright, there's no lasting grudge between master and disciple."
When Zhao Xiyin looked up again, her eyes were red, just like Dai Yunxin's.
After squatting for a while, her legs went numb, and she stumbled as she stood up. Meng Weixi instinctively steadied her, gripping her arm tightly.
"Thank you," Zhao Xiyin whispered, but she could no longer pull her hand away.
Meng Weixi's palms were burning hot, and his knuckles tightened, binding and locking Zhao Xiyin like iron chains. The more Zhao Xiyin struggled, the harder he exerted himself. A tug-of-war ensued, a silent confrontation, one filled with resentment, the other with a sense of loss and change.
Back home that evening, Yan Pinlan still tried carefully to please her son, painstakingly mending their long-broken mother-son relationship. She personally brewed the tea and peeled the loquats cleanly. Meng Weixi remained indifferent, dismissing her with a simple "I'm tired," and closed his bedroom door early.
Yan Pinlan sobbed outside the door again, "Mom didn't go to her on purpose, Weixi, did Mom do something wrong again? But Mom is really worried about you."
Sobbing turned into weeping, but Meng Weixi remained as still as a dead lake.