Three days before school started, the elderly couple brought several bags of food and drinks, along with Liu Man's Li Xing (a type of cigarette), and took their daughter to school. She finally received the award she had been longing for and was overjoyed. Now, if anyone dares to say that Liu Man isn't as beautiful as a fairy from heaven, the entire Zhao family would tear their mouths apart. Liu Man is beautiful, absolutely beautiful! They wouldn't trade her for Chang'e!

The elderly couple had a frame made and hung it in the main room. Zhao's mother complained that Zhao's father hadn't hung it well, so she took matters into her own hands! After it was hung, it looked absolutely beautiful!

It's so beautiful! Everyone in the Zhao family would wipe this certificate eight times a day! They'd take it down and show it to anyone who came by, afraid that no one would have seen it.

Because of her son's poor academic performance, Wei Shuqing didn't dare to join groups of parents of good kids. She usually avoided people talking about their children. Now, she's full of energy and radiant. One day, she heard from a colleague that the department store had some wool sweaters in stock and that the quality was excellent! She didn't even go home with Zhao Dahu after work, thinking of buying Liu Man a wool sweater, since it would be warm to wear.

It's quite a coincidence, really. The women's sweaters only come in two colors, red and green. The men's only come in black and blue. After thinking about it, I decided on green! It looks good with a white shirt, no matter how you wear it.

"Wei Shuqing?" Wei Shuqing, who had just received the sweater, turned around and looked at a woman with wrinkles and spots on her face. She looked a bit old and was about ten years older than her. For a moment, she was stunned, but after looking closely, she could vaguely tell from the features and clothes that it was Qi Zhifang. She frowned and said with disdain, "How did you get so old!"

She pursed her lips, as if looking at her was torture, and turned to leave. Qi Zhifang was trembling with anger. She looked at Wei Shuqing and saw that she was still the same as when she was in the machinery factory. She hadn't gained or lost weight, and she didn't have any gray hair. There were just a few more wrinkles on her face. This person didn't seem to grow old when she was young, and she didn't seem to age when she was old either. She was still the same annoying person.

Actually, Wei Shuqing wasn't insulting her; she was telling the truth. After all, Qi Zhifang used to be so smooth and delicate, pampered like a princess. Compared to now, she and Qi Zhijun really are from the same family. Even their aging rate is the same.

She had no idea how much harm those seven words had caused Qi Zhifang. She even lost the desire to buy a wool sweater. When she got home and looked at herself in the mirror, she saw wrinkles and age spots on her face, and her black hair was mixed with a few gray hairs. She was no longer the pretty girl she used to be.

Does she still look good enough for Xiao Dai? Will he still treat her like a precious jewel? The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. She couldn't wait any longer and had to get to the bottom of it, but she couldn't ask without a legitimate reason!

It's not that Qi Zhifang is stupid; she's just focused all her energy on finding a man. She took four steamed buns she'd made and went to find Xiao Dai. "If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain myself," she thought. "If you're not interested in me, can you at least help me find a place to stay?" Arriving at a two-story building, a young and pretty girl on the first floor greeted her warmly, "Auntie! Who are you looking for?"

Calling her "auntie" really upset Qi Zhifang! Looking at the pretty girl, she opened her mouth but ultimately said, "I want to see your General Manager Dai!"

It turns out this pretty girl really has a connection with her. If Wei Shuqing, that great traitor, hadn't left, she would be Wang Dong's wife, Sun Yan. The girl smiled and said, "Auntie, if you need anything, please let me know in advance, and I'll make an appointment for you. Our boss, Mr. Dai, is also very busy and needs to schedule time to meet with guests."

Qi Zhifang was extremely upset as she held the lunchbox, tears welling up in her eyes. After holding back her tears, she said, "Just tell him that Qi Zhifang is looking for him!"

Upon hearing Qi Zhifang's name, Sun Yan thought, "Isn't that Wang Dong's mother, the infamous slut of Beijing?" Her smile faded slightly, but she still said, "Please sit down first. I'll go ask Director Dai. Please don't wander off!"

She turned and left. About twenty minutes later, Sun Yan came out and looked at Qi Zhifang warily, saying, "Auntie, please come with me."

Qi Zhifang, suppressing her heartache, followed Sun Yan to an office. As they entered, she saw Xiao Dai writing something with his head down. Sun Yan said gently, "President Dai! Aunt Qi is here!"

Xiao Dai looked up at Qi Zhifang, nodded to Sun Yan and said, "You go out and get busy. Oh, by the way, come work with me tonight. We need to go out and meet with the deputy director of the planning bureau! Go to the finance department to get some money to buy a decent set of clothes! Be at the company before 5 p.m.

"Yes, Mr. Dai!" Sun Yan said respectfully as she left, closing the door behind her. Xiao Dai then looked Qi Zhifang over again, noticing her flustered state, and smiled. "Sister Fangzi, what brings you here? Aren't you at work today?"

Qi Zhifang was embarrassed by this remark. She nervously twisted the knot in the handkerchief containing the lunchbox. Just as Qi Zhifang was about to flee, Xiao Dai stood up and walked over, gesturing politely to the sofa, "Come sit down and let's talk!" Qi Zhifang felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, unsure how to respond to Xiao Dai. She felt like Xiao Dai was a sword sheathed, ready to be drawn at any moment and potentially harm her.

Xiao Dai brewed a pot of tea and brought it over, pouring her a cup. "Have some tea? What made you decide to come here?"

Every word felt like a needle pricking her skin. How could she possibly say anything? "I got arrested again for having an affair, I'm unemployed now, and my old lover is supporting me. I'm asking if you can take me in. If you say no, I'll just marry Lao Xiao instead?" Even though that's how it is, she couldn't say it outright!

She masked her inner unease with a fake smile. She didn't know why she had been so hurt by Wei Shuqing and Sun Yan that day. She felt the helplessness of a beauty fading with age! She could no longer use her beauty to commit crimes.

After a while, she said, "I...I made...I made steamed buns today, and I wanted you to try some. I remember...I remember, you used to love my cooking the most." As she said this, she thought of the times she and Xiao Dai cooked together in her little room, sharing intimate moments and chatting. Those scenes seemed like they happened just yesterday...

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