Chapter 54

The next day, Yu Lei went back to the class teacher and brought back more information about the real Tong Jiayu. For example, Tong Jiayu's birthmarks and scars, movement habits, dietary preferences, etc., compared with the Tong Jiayu Tang Ruxin knew, basically confirming that they were two completely different people.

Tang Ruxin was like a rubber band that had been stretched to the extreme and had lost its elasticity. She was exhausted from the inside out, sitting at the head of the bed watching TV series with her laptop in her arms.

Yu Lei knew that she hadn't thought it through yet, so he didn't urge her. He and Chen Jingzhou checked what needed to be checked, collected the evidence, and then packed up and went home.

Tang Ruxin didn't say a word the entire way. Unless she was asked, she would only lazily offer up a few words. She spent most of the time sleeping, and it wasn't clear if she was truly asleep or resting, but she rarely opened her eyes. This forced Chen Jingzhou to speak in a low voice, afraid to make any noise.

It was already evening when Tang Ruxin landed in Donghe City. She still did not go home and found a hotel to stay in.

She spent the next few days in peace, answering calls and receiving packages as if nothing had happened, without having to choose a direction or consider right or wrong.

On New Year's Eve, Tang Jiulin asked her to go for the New Year's Eve dinner, and only then did she step out of the hotel.

Tang Ruxin forgot that Tang Jiulin was still in Donghe City. He had been abroad during the Chinese New Year in previous years, and she had long been accustomed to celebrating the New Year with Tong Jiayu.

Tang Ruxin didn't prepare any holiday gifts in advance and was too lazy to go shopping, so she simply went to the door empty-handed.

Tang Jiulin is not a person who likes to be lively, but he is traditional. When he saw Tang Ruxin standing in front of him with her hands waving, his face immediately darkened.

"Are you behaving like that?" Tang Jiulin raised the cane in his hand and pretended to hit Tang Ruxin.

She quickly jumped away two steps and shouted loudly, "Don't hit children during the New Year."

"You unfilial son! You hold a grudge against me after I fired you. You haven't even called me these days. If I hadn't called you today, would you have come?" Tang Jiulin started coughing as he spoke, choking on his saliva.

Of course not. The events of the past few days were like a series of tsunamis that had completely drowned her until not a hair was left. She was lucky to still be able to breathe, so how could she even remember to have New Year's Eve dinner with Tang Jiulin?

Tang Ruxin hurried forward to pat his back to calm him down, and then she acted like a spoiled child and tried to coax him, only then did Tang Jiulin's expression improve a little.

"Let's eat. I can smell the delicious food. Sister Liu's cooking is so good, it would be a shame if it gets cold."

Tang Ruxin dragged Tang Jiulin's arm towards the restaurant, but he pulled her to a stop.

"Wait a minute, everyone isn't here yet." Tang Jiulin said, motioning her to sit down first.

Tang Ruxin was stunned. "Yu Zhe was discharged from the hospital?"

Hearing this, Tang Jiulin's face turned sour again, and he raised his crutch and wanted to hit her again.

"You! I'm really going to give you a good beating one day. Ever since he got into trouble, have you ever visited him once? What deep hatred do you have? Are you afraid that you won't even show up at his funeral?"

Tang Ruxin gasped and asked in surprise, "He's dead?"

Tang Jiulin was so angry that he stood up from the sofa and strode towards Tang Ruxin while swinging his crutch.

Tang Ruxin began to run around the pillar and around the sofa.

"No, Dad, what you said was ambiguous. You can't blame me for misunderstanding... Hey, be gentle!" After being hit on the butt, Tang Ruxin immediately jumped onto the sofa with a loud shout, jumped over the handrail and ran towards the door.

At this moment, the door at the entrance was pushed open.

"Mr. Tang, Mr. Luo is here... Oh my God!" The servant who had just opened the door from outside was frightened by Tang Ruxin's running figure before he could finish his words. He subconsciously slid sideways to avoid her.

Tang Ruxin couldn't stop in time and fell forward. The servant standing behind her didn't have time to move out of the way and had to reach out to catch her.

"I'm sorry, I..." Tang Ruxin raised her head and saw the face of the person in front of her clearly. Her words died silently between her lips and teeth, and she couldn't utter a word.

—Luo Yi. The only person she had ever passionately loved, who disappeared without a trace on her eighteenth birthday.

"Chairman Tang, Happy New Year." Luo Yi greeted the breathless Tang Jiulin, and at the same time let go of Tang Ruxin calmly.

He lowered his eyes to look at her, his smile carrying just the right amount of politeness and distance, and said, "Long time no see."

Tang Ruxin had imagined countless times what it would be like to see him again. She'd thought about scolding him, beating him up, or even pretending to be mature and aloof, saying that she'd been immature and that everything was over. However, after so many years, none of her fantasies had ever come true, and she gradually began to feel that they would never see each other again.

It was like she had been preparing for the college entrance examination for many years, and finally found out that the exam was cancelled. She threw away all her books, but suddenly showed up in the examination room - so helpless and embarrassed.

"I've been waiting for you for a while. Come in and sit down." Tang Jiulin calmed his breathing and returned to the sofa with his crutches. "Ruxin, come here too."

She stood there without moving until the servant gently supported her elbow.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

Tang Ruxin fled in panic, she had to at least pick up the book!

Luo Yi looked at her disappearing back, helplessness in his eyes.

"This kid..." Tang Jiulin also smiled helplessly, "He looks like he's grown up, but as soon as you appear, he immediately reverts to his original form."

"You didn't tell her I was coming." Luo Yi handed the New Year gift to the servant and sat down on the sofa opposite Tang Jiulin.

"I want to give her a surprise." Tang Jiulin said with a smile.

"Really?" Luo Yi picked up the tea that had just been served and took a sip.

His expression and tone were always indifferent, and apart from the literal meaning, there was no emotion expressed.

However, after hearing those two words, Tang Jiulin felt a bit uncomfortable, as if his thoughts had been exposed. He recalled how many years ago, when Luo Yi was still young, he had been unable to hide any of his intentions from him. From family background to knowledge and ability to deal with things, they were completely crushed. He had never expected that it would still be the same today.

He had deliberately not told Tang Ruxin, wanting to see her true reaction when she saw Luo Yi. If she could just laugh it off, then his subsequent plans might be in vain.

When Tang Ruxin came out of the bathroom, Tang Jiulin and Luo Yi had already gone to the restaurant.

"When did you come back?" She pulled out a chair and sat down next to Tang Jiulin, looking at Luo Yi across the dining table.

"It's been a week." Luo Yi replied slowly.

He sat upright as always, and his gaze back at Tang Ruxin was calm and indifferent, without any guilt for leaving without saying goodbye, or joy for meeting again after a long separation.

"Did you consume a lot of preservatives while abroad?" Tang Ruxin asked, staring at his face. Eleven years had passed, and his appearance and figure had barely changed. It was unbelievable.

"Make fewer expressions and you will look younger." Luo Yi smiled. The compliment was so sincere that it was hard not to be happy.

Tang Ruxin immediately retracted her raised eyebrows, and Luo Yi's smile became even brighter.

"Luo Yi will be back for a while this time, so you should spend more time with him. Anyway, you're suspended now, so you have plenty of time." Tang Jiulin bluntly exposed her past, then raised his glass and said, "Come on, Happy New Year."

Her rebuttal was suppressed, so Tang Ruxin could only raise her glass, clink it with the two of them, and take a small sip.

"Are you back to play? I need an escort."

Tang Jiulin made a "tsk" sound and subconsciously wanted to pick up his crutches again, "Just talk properly!"

Luo Yi put down his wine glass and said:

"Come and acquire Donghe Refining."