She cried, in the last second before she resolved to take revenge on her husband, under the body of the man she had longed for for so many years, in the arms of the man she thought she had only ever truly loved. She wailed, her heartbroken expression like that of a little girl who knew she could never go home again.
All activity ended with her crying. Unable to continue, they lay quietly on the large, boundless bed for a long time. She didn't speak, and he didn't urge her. Finally, it all ended with a call from Qian Duoduo.
"Yiyi, are you alright?" Qian Duoduo asked with concern as she watched her best friend silently weeping in front of her.
I want to forget, I don't want to repeat it all. Some words, some things, are best left buried deep in my heart, covered up, so that even I never want to think about them again.
She cupped her face in her hands and gently shook her head: "Duoduo, I just want to cry for a bit, and that will make me feel better."
Neither of them touched the food on the table that night. Time passed slowly. Yiyi's phone rang again and again, but she didn't respond. Qian Duoduo didn't dare to answer it either. Finally, it rang her own phone. After hesitating for a moment, she picked it up and answered. Her mother's voice sounded strange: "Duoduo, Yiyi's driver just called. He said he couldn't reach Yiyi and asked me where you are."
"Huh? Doesn't he know the place?" Qian Duoduo was taken aback. She turned around and saw that Yiyi had already walked onto the balcony. Startled, she hurriedly put down the phone and followed her. Following Yiyi's gaze, she looked down and saw Niu Zhensheng getting out of the car and looking up.
Qian Duoduo's apartment was on the ninth floor. From such a distance, Niu Zhensheng looked very small. No one knew what he was seeing, but he just stood there motionless.
Yi Yi didn't move either. Qian Duoduo didn't know what to say. After a while, she suddenly heard Yi Yi ask her, "Duoduo, should I go down?"
How was she supposed to answer that? Qian Duoduo remained silent for a few seconds.
Yiyi didn't look at her, still staring straight at that spot downstairs. Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears, and her voice trembled, "Tell me, how am I supposed to get down?"
Startled, Qian Duoduo grabbed her hand, "Yiyi, don't do anything rash."
She didn't answer. The little guy downstairs started moving and walked into the building. Yiyi finally looked away and looked at her, slowly wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, a childlike action, as if she had returned to her childhood.
After wiping her face, she smiled again, her expression miraculously regaining its composure. She pulled her other hand out of Qian Duoduo's grasp and walked towards the door.
“Yiyi, you…” Qian Duoduo was terrified and followed closely behind.
She had already reached the door, and as she passed the sofa, she didn't forget to pick up her bag. With her hand on the doorknob, she turned back and smiled, "Thank you, Duoduo, I know what to do."
She wanted to ask her, "So what are you going to do?" But before she could speak, the door had already been opened. When Yiyi walked out, her back was resolute. The elevator door opened, and the light was pale, making Yiyi look like a snow sculpture. She wanted to rush over and grab her, but she didn't know what she could do if she grabbed her. Qian Duoduo stood at the door, her whole body stiff, watching helplessly as the elevator door slowly closed, the numbers jumped, and it went down.
The sight of those flashing red numbers stung Qian Duoduo's eyes for the first time, and she retreated into the house. Unable to stand still, she turned around and ran to the balcony.
On the ninth floor, the night was deep and her vision was blurry, but she still saw Yiyi walking out of the building with Niu Zhensheng. When they got into the car, Niu Zhensheng opened the door. She paused for a moment, then finally bent down and sat down.
Never before had she felt so powerless, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head. Qian Duoduo's jaw clenched, and she couldn't move at all. She watched helplessly as the large black truck disappeared outside the gate of the residential area. Finally, her shoulders slumped, and she slowly closed her eyes.
Chapter 85
That night, Qian Duoduo stayed alone on the balcony for a long time. After returning to bed, she had a splitting headache and felt heavy all over. Xu Fei called in the middle of the night. She hadn't closed her eyes at all and answered the phone as soon as it rang, but her throat was dry and hoarse, and she couldn't even make a sound when she said "hello".
"Duoduo?"
"Yes, I'm listening." She coughed and finally spoke. She was used to talking to him in the dark, and no matter how busy or tired she was, she always answered appropriately. But this day had been difficult, and she couldn't help but want to seek comfort, but she didn't know where to start. In the end, she just sighed softly.
"What's wrong?" Xu Fei said only one sentence before the phone rang again. He was a little helpless. "Duoduo, I'm going to take this call. It'll be quick. Don't hang up."
She heard him answer the phone in English. She glanced at the LCD clock on her pillow in the dark. It was past midnight. She had only heard him say that morning that he had just returned to Hong Kong from London and was busy until the wee hours of the morning every day. This man could really participate in a triathlon.
"Okay, Duoduo, how was your day?" He ended the call quickly, returning to speak a minute later.
"Kenny, when are you coming back? I miss you so much." Not wanting to answer that question, she lay on her back on the bed, covering her eyes with her elbow, and slowly uttered those words.
There was silence on the other end, and after a long while, he replied, "Duoduo, I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Okay." She nodded in the darkness, her elbows cold, unsure how to express her longing to hug someone, and finally uttered only one word.
He remained silent on the other end, then finally whispered two words, "Go to sleep."
The hotel suite was spacious and luxurious, with a view of the moonlit sea outside the window. The summer night was calm, with a thin mist shrouding the sea. The phone was still in his hand, its monotonous dial tone ringing out. Facing such a beautiful scene, he frowned, feeling very uncomfortable.
Her voice was weak on the phone just now. She asked him when he would be back and said she missed him very much. Duoduo was straightforward and rarely said such things, but he didn't feel any sweetness when he heard it; only heartache.
These are the last few days; everything hinges on this moment, and he cannot leave now. She is thousands of kilometers away, and he doesn't have wings; no matter how fast he tries, he can't possibly travel back and forth overnight.
I miss her. No matter how busy I am these days, I can't help but see her smiling at me, her childlike little gestures, and the way she frowns when she's worried. The thought of her being by my side torments me.
Is she the same? Missing someone, unable to control herself, her mind filled with thoughts of that person day and night.
The phone rang again. He glanced at the number and answered immediately. It was Zhang Qian on the other end, who blurted out, "The results are in. You haven't signed them yet, have you?"
Xu Fei, who said he would be back soon on the phone, disappeared without a trace the next day. Qian Duoduo had a full schedule and a headache. He didn't get home until late at night. Finally, he felt something was wrong and called him.
The phone was switched off. She dialed twice before finally giving up, collapsing onto the bed and closing her eyes.
The next day, Qian Duoduo had a hard time getting up. Her whole body ached, as if she had been run over a thousand times by a road roller. Every joint of her body was cracking when she sat up. But when she thought of the mountain of work on her calendar, she took a breath, gritted her teeth, and got out of bed.
Seeing her haggard face in the mirror, Qian Duoduo felt a pang of self-loathing as she splashed cold water on her face—she hadn't even experienced the devastation of heartbreak or divorce yet, and she was already this useless.
Because it was really hard to be seen in public, she spent a lot of time applying foundation to at least cover up her disheveled appearance. Spending too much time in front of the mirror made her workday very rushed. She rushed to the company and was relieved that she hadn't hit a fire hydrant on the way to the parking lot.
When she approached the marketing department, she sensed an odd atmosphere. Even Xiaolan's smile when she greeted her was forced. Not knowing what had happened, she could only return the smile with a smile.
The intercom rang immediately after I sat down in the office. I picked it up and it was Li Weili's voice. His tone was different from any I had heard before; it was very serious. "Director Qian, could you please come to my office immediately?"
She took a deep breath in the elevator, repeatedly thinking about every task she had recently completed. She felt that she had done everything perfectly, but she still couldn't explain why her superiors had suddenly summoned her. She couldn't help but frown.
The general manager's office was on the 30th floor. The elevator was empty except for her. It went up without stopping, giving her the illusion that she was the only person left in the world. When the elevator doors finally opened, she stepped out.
A knock came at the door, and Li Weili's voice came from inside, "Come in."
The door was only slightly ajar, but she pushed it open and entered. Inside, there was not only Li Weili, but also another familiar face, who was sitting on Li Weili's desk, flipping through documents with a furrowed brow.
It was actually Kairos! He had been negotiating with the board in London recently, but now he had suddenly returned to the Asia-Pacific headquarters and summoned her alone in Li Weili's office. Qian Duoduo immediately sensed something was wrong and her heart skipped a beat.
But since she was already standing there, and things had come to this point, there was no room for retreat. Instead, she calmed herself down and greeted them, "Willie, I'm here. Kelos, it's been a long time."
"Dona, it's been a long time." Kelos looked up at her as he spoke, but his expression remained serious.
"Thank you. May I ask if you have any questions for me today?" Unable to guess their intentions, she decided to speak directly.
“Willie, could you step outside for a moment? I need to speak with Dona alone.” His first words weren’t directed at her.
Li Weili brushed past her, glancing at her as they passed, his expression quite interesting.
It's strange how one person's face can change so many times; Qian Duoduo was speechless.
Chapter 86
"Dona, sit here." There was a chair for meetings in front of the desk. Qian Duoduo walked over and sat down, looking at him without saying a word.
"Dona, have you heard that the acquisition project in Hotan has run into some trouble?"
"Is it related to market monopoly? I've heard a little about it." Everyone in the company already knew about this, but Qian Duoduo still carefully chose her words.
"What else?"
Keros, not yet fifty, had managed to rise to the position of CEO of the Asia region amidst a bloody power struggle, which undoubtedly made him a very capable person. Qian Duoduo had already sensed his deep and calculating personality during their last meal together in Hong Kong. Now, speaking face-to-face, his questions were brief but ambiguous, creating a tremendous sense of pressure. Unsure of his intentions, Qian Duoduo unconsciously tightened his grip, feeling stiff all over.
After thinking for a moment, she slowly spoke, "Are you referring to the rumors that M&C is going to compete with us for Hotan?"
"Before today, this was indeed a rumor, but we have just received confirmation that M&C has officially submitted an application to the Ministry of Commerce to participate in the bidding, so now this is no longer a rumor, but a fact."
Qian Duoduo was taken aback. "But we have already reached a preliminary consensus with Hotan on the initial contact and acquisition plan. An acquisition of this scale requires a long period of preparation and planning. M&C cannot catch up with us in this regard. Such a sudden application is likely just an attempt to buy time."
"Do you feel that way too?" He asked expressionlessly, then pushed a document in front of her.
She passively took the document and opened it, only glancing at Qian Duoduo before abruptly looking up at Kairos. She recognized it; it was the same offer letter from M&C she had received before. Shocked, she spoke again, her voice dry, "Why is this…?"
“Dona, the fact that M&C recognized your talent first and foremost speaks volumes about your abilities.” He stood up and looked at her, his grey-blue eyes sharp as blades. “But if this was achieved by betraying the company’s interests, the company will hold you accountable.”
Her fingers clenched uncontrollably, the smooth paper crumbling under her grip. The black letters flickered before her eyes, each one a struggle to stay silent. Afraid that she would utter something she would regret, Qian Duoduo gritted her teeth and remained silent for a long time before finally raising her head. Her voice was slow and deliberate. "Kailos, M&C did contact me through a headhunting firm, but I unilaterally declined. Besides, I just accepted the position of Marketing Director. There's considerable room for growth at UVL. Logically and morally, do you think I would do something so pointless and unprofitable?"
She spoke at length, each sentence logical and reasonable. She had thought for a long time before speaking. After listening, Kairos smiled and said, "Dona, in terms of career development, isn't the position offered in this offer more attractive?"
A blurry fragment flashed through her mind, and Qian Duoduo spoke again, her pace gradually quickening, "Okay, then let me put it another way. The acquisition plan and scheme are huge and complex. The marketing department is just the execution department. How could I possibly leak such crucial details as the premium and floor price?"
"All the key parts are in the hands of only a few people. Are you trying to imply that I, the board of directors, or Kenny himself leaked the information?"
"You yourself said that all the key parts are in the hands of a few people and are considered trade secrets. Given my position in the company, it's impossible for me to be included in that scope, right?"
"Of course, but given your special relationship with Kenny, plus this offer, I have to have my doubts about you."
Taking a deep breath, Qian Duoduo stood up abruptly. "I understand. If the company doubts my loyalty, I am sorry. But any command requires solid evidence, especially since your accusations have unjustifiably involved my private life, which I cannot accept."
He sat there watching her speak, his brows furrowed, his hands clasped together on the table, his voice cold, "The matter is still under investigation. We won't make any conclusions about you until we have the results. However, in the meantime, the company requires you to take a break and await further notice. You can leave now."
Qian Duoduo was silent for a few seconds, then nodded, turned and walked away. At the door, she suddenly turned back, looked at him, and slowly asked the last question, "Kelos, does Kenny know about what you discussed with me?"
The man behind the desk was also watching her, his gaze cold as he spoke slowly and clearly, "Of course, with such a major leak, do you think we would have found you so quickly if it weren't for his reminder?"
She didn't answer, took a step, and left the room. The elevator was empty; her jaw was clenched painfully, her mouth tasted blood, and she felt her heart pounding as the elevator plummeted. Yet, the confined space seemed to echo with countless frenzied and bizarre sounds.
"Dodo, are you going to leave me to fight this battle alone?"
I see, Kenny, I see.
Since someone has to sacrifice, and since someone has to stand up and give me an explanation, shouldn't Daozi feel honored that this person is himself?
Afraid of losing control, she instinctively reached out her right hand to pinch her left wrist, her nails digging deep into her skin. The stinging pain kept her awake, her eyes throbbing as if they were about to burst. Not wanting to see her reflection in the mirror, she finally turned her face away and tightly closed her eyes.
Chapter 87
When she walked into the marketing department again, everyone else was incredibly busy, and the atmosphere was strange. Xiao Lan saw that she looked worried but dared not say anything. She understood what was going on. Qian Duoduo gave her a forced smile and went into the office alone without any explanation.
There was a knock on the door, and Ren Zhiqiang walked in. She was reaching for her bag when she turned to look at him without saying a word.
"Dona, are you leaving already? I'm just here to let you know. Vice President Li just came over and announced that I will be temporarily taking over as director while you're on leave. Is that alright?"
Qian Duoduo remained silent. He didn't sit down but stood in front of her and spoke, suddenly showing a concerned expression on his face, "What's wrong? You look so pale. Are you sick? If you are, stay home and rest. Your health is more important than anything else."
The headache that started in the morning was getting more and more intense, and her temples were throbbing. She didn't need to look in the mirror to know how bad she looked, but she had already persevered to this point, so how could she give up in front of this man and become a laughing stock?
"Manager Ren, thank you for your concern, I won't forget it." With a smile, Qian Duoduo pointed to the door, "I still have a few handover documents to complete, please close the door behind you when you leave, thank you."
The sound of him closing the door was a little louder, a bang that seemed to shake the computer screen. The office fell into a deathly silence. Her bag was still beside her. She reached for her phone and looked down to see several missed calls, all from Xu Fei.
She slept like she was in a coma last night, and went straight to the 30th floor this morning, but didn't answer a single call. Not wanting to look anymore, Qian Duoduo flicked her finger and cut off the power.
In summer, the temperature rises early. When Qian Duoduo walked out of the company building, she was greeted by the sweltering heat. It was not during rush hour. The street was lined with top-tier shopping malls, and elegant women carrying shopping bags of all sizes strolled by leisurely. She stood on the street corner, reaching out blankly. Her vision was blurry, and her head still ached, but she had become numb to it and no longer found it unbearable.
I just want to see him, to see him in person, face to face, eye to eye, and ask him only one question: Why? A taxi stopped in front of me, and the driver asked, "Miss, where to?"
Her reply was brief: "Airport, thank you."
The young woman who got into the car was only carrying a briefcase, clearly having just come from the company. She had no luggage and was heading to the airport. He rarely saw customers like this. He wanted to ask, "Picking up a friend?" But a quick glance in the rearview mirror revealed her deathly pale face, a shocking sight even in the sunlight. Startled, he buried his head in his car and drove off, not daring to say another word.
With more than an hour to go before the next flight's departure, the airport waiting area was bustling with tourists and business travelers dragging their luggage of all sizes.