Chapter 23

A month after Chu Yue left, Ji Mingfei received a call from the postpartum care center.

"Ms. Ji, hello! I am a receptionist from Jinshang Maternity Center. Your alpha, Ms. Chu Yue, booked a three-month stay for you a month ago. Just to confirm, your due date is July 3rd, is that correct?"

“Oh…right.” Ji Mingfei hadn’t fully processed the fast-paced, fixed opening line from the other person.

"Ms. Ji, considering that you are over 28 weeks pregnant, we will pay special attention to your delivery date to provide you with the best service. Please contact us as soon as possible after your hospital admission or delivery, and we will prepare the necessary supplies for you in advance. If you require transportation, we will send you our most professional caregiver. We wish you a smooth delivery!"

"…Thanks."

Have a nice day, goodbye.

After hanging up the phone, Ji Mingfei stared at the number on her phone, feeling as if she had been in a different world. She hadn't contacted Chu Yue in a long time and had gradually gotten used to life without her.

One day, that woman, like the mark on her neck, will gradually fade away until she disappears.

But Chu Yue always manages to remind Ji Mingfei that she once truly existed, and that she will suddenly appear in front of him in the near future.

After getting off work, Ji Mingfei stood at his own door and looked at the door next door for the first time in a long time.

The key to Chu Yue's house was still hanging on the keychain in her hand. She suddenly had a strong urge to go inside and take a look, even if it was just to see a room that wasn't hers.

A strange impulse drove her to Chu Yue's door. She picked up the key and inserted it into the lock, her heart pounding.

As the key turned, a dark crack appeared before him, simultaneously opening up Ji Mingfei's long-sealed heart.

The air still faintly carried the scent of Chu Yue's life. She looked towards the bedroom, as if that woman would walk out of it with a smile at any moment.

The hallway lights went out, leaving Ji Mingfei in complete darkness. She hugged herself tightly, unable to squat any further, and could only kneel on the floor.

…

My phone suddenly rang in my bag.

Ji Mingfei snapped out of his daze, fumbled for his phone in the dark, and answered it without even looking at it.

"What are you doing?" Chu Yue's voice came from the phone. "Have you been missing me lately? It's amazing that you've been able to hold back from contacting me for so long. I wish I could fly back to see you every day!"

She rarely spoke in such a flippant tone, so Ji Mingfei quickly glanced at his phone screen to confirm that it was Chu Yue's phone number.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you crying from being moved? Is my voice that sexy?" Chu Yue cleared her throat, preparing to unleash a soprano.

Ji Mingfei was amused by her, but still tried to sound normal as he said, "Why have you become so glib?"

Chu Yue was eager to defend herself, saying, "No one has ever said that to me! Everyone thinks I'm old-fashioned and unromantic."

"You're not like that at all! When you bit me..." Ji Mingfei swallowed the words she wanted to say in rebuttal, and quietly changed her tone, saying, "Thank you!"

"Thank me for what?"

“The postpartum care center called me today, why didn’t you tell me?”

"That... I just ordered it randomly. I was passing by their store when a few pretty girls grabbed me and insisted I go in and sit down. I saw how hard they were trying to sell it, so I bought it." Chu Yue's bragging skills were still as flashy and unsubstantiated as ever.

Ji Mingfei pouted, "Postpartum care is only one month, why did you book three months? Did you get scammed?"

"They said that sitting for a long time helps with recovery, and you'll be able to have a second child next year. Even if you don't have a second child, it's still good for your health. Anyway, you'll be taking care of the child alone at home, so you might as well let professionals help you." Chu Yue repeated the salesperson's words.

Ji Mingfei was speechless, and then asked, "Can I go to the postpartum care center first?"

"Of course, I'll send you the address in a bit. If you don't like it, we can change it." Chu Yue was speaking happily when her assistant came over to remind her that it was time to leave. She had no choice but to reluctantly tell Ji Mingfei, "I have to go now. Remember to give me feedback after you've read it!"

Hearing that Chu Yue was about to hang up, Ji Mingfei spoke faster, "Still working overtime so late?"

"I have social engagements."

"Drink less alcohol," Ji Mingfei advised.

"Okay." Chu Yue said jokingly, "When they toast me later, I'll say that my neighbor won't let me drink alcohol and replaced all my drinks with water."

"I won't bother you anymore, go ahead and do your work," Ji Mingfei said reluctantly.

"Okay, goodnight, go to sleep early."

The call ended, and the surroundings fell silent for a moment, with only Chu Yue's laughter echoing in his ears. Ji Mingfei pushed himself up from the floor, locked the door, and went back inside.

That night, Ji Mingfei couldn't sleep. Unable to fall asleep in bed, she went to the living room to watch TV. Around midnight, she finally fell asleep on the sofa.

In a daze, Ji Mingfei saw a figure walking towards her. The person touched her hair and smiled at her. She knew that the person was Chu Yue, but she couldn't make out her face clearly.

"I'm leaving," Chu Yue said, sitting on the coffee table as she said goodbye.

Ji Mingfei reached out to grab him, "Where are you going?"

"Your child will definitely look like you in the future. You have your own child."

Ji Mingfei was suddenly terrified. She chased after Chu Yue until she could no longer see her back... Her body trembled and she suddenly opened her eyes.

The familiar living room was empty; the television was playing commercials. Chu Yue hadn't returned; she was home alone.

Ji Mingfei picked up her phone to check the time; it was already one in the morning. She lay on the sofa, recalling her dream, the feeling of fear still vividly enveloping her.

She tapped the call button on her phone, staring at Chu Yue's number, but hesitated to press it.

She's definitely asleep by now. Wouldn't it be bad to wake her? But what if that dream was a bad omen? The safety situation is so bad abroad; what if she gets into danger? ...

Lost in thought, my finger pressed the button, and the call connected.

Oh no!

Ji Mingfei frantically tapped on his phone screen before finally hanging up.

A few seconds later, the phone suddenly rang.

Chu Yue called.

Ji Mingfei took several deep breaths before answering the call, "...You're still awake?"

"What's wrong? Why are you calling so late?"

"It's nothing... I just accidentally pressed the wrong button." Ji Mingfei held his phone, curled up on the sofa.

"Press the wrong number? Why aren't you sleeping at this hour? Who are you planning to call?"

"No, no! I just woke up and was checking the time on my phone when I accidentally dialed your number."

"Oh, then you can rest now, I'm hanging up."

Before Ji Mingfei could say goodbye, the phone call ended.

…

Chu Yue was in so much pain that she was covered in sweat. She gritted her teeth and leaned against the car door. She put her phone in her inner pocket and her hand, which was resting on the rearview mirror, was dripping blood.

"Boss, the ambulance is here!"

Chu Yue picked up the spent cartridge case from the ground and stuffed it into Deng Jie's hand, saying, "Personal purchases of firearms must be registered. Go check it out. Shen Jianan hasn't even been released from prison yet, and those people are already so eager?"

Deng Jie helped Chu Yue up and asked, "This overseas inspection trip was the board's decision. Could it be that the board members have all been bribed?"

“He doesn’t need to bribe the board members; as long as the next project is overseas, that’s enough.” Chu Yue’s eyes darkened. After dealing with them for so many years, they still only knew this one trick.

"Should we inform President Shen about tonight's events?"

"No need, I'm not dead yet, they won't take the initiative to make trouble for Shen Qing'an."

After treating Chu Yue's wound and conducting a series of physical examinations, the doctor determined that it was just a penetrating injury and that she would recover after a period of rest.

After Deng Jie returned from giving his statement to the two police officers, he closed the ward door and said, "Boss, I couldn't understand a single word the police said. They just recorded my voice and left. Is that how perfunctory they are?"

"Didn't catch them?"

"Not yet." Deng Jie walked to the table and poured Chu Yue a glass of hot water. "It seems the project inspection will have to be postponed for a while. Why don't we go back first? Who knows if they have any other tricks up their sleeves."

Where is Chen Qian?

"She said she wasn't feeling well and has been staying at the hotel." Deng Jie suddenly realized something and asked Chu Yue, "Could it be a coincidence?"

Chu Yue smiled thoughtfully and said to Deng Jie, "Go and complete the discharge procedures, and ask the doctor to prescribe more painkillers while you're at it."

Deng Jie looked at Chu Yue's arm and said worriedly, "Given your condition... it would be better if you stayed in the hospital for the night."

"This injury won't kill you."

Deng Jie suddenly remembered something, stopped trying to persuade her, and immediately went out to complete the formalities.

…

The next morning, Shen Qian, who had a good night's sleep, dressed elegantly and came out of her room, knocking on Chu Yue's door next door.

As expected, he wasn't there.

Shen Qian couldn't wait to take out her phone to call her mother and report the situation. After two rings, a middle-aged woman's voice came from the phone.

"how's it going?"

"Mom, she's not here. I was just about to eat and go find out what happened! I wonder if Shen Qing'an's arm is lying in the morgue or in the hospital's emergency room?"

"I haven't arrived at the company yet, so I don't know the specifics. Let's keep in touch."

Shen Qian hung up the phone in a good mood. As she turned around, she saw Deng Jie standing behind her with his phone in hand, smiling slightly at her.

"..."

In the room, Chu Yue leisurely ate breakfast, while her phone on the table played the conversation Shen Qian had just had.

Sitting across the table, Shen Qian watched the woman opposite her warily. Not only was she alive, but she was also lively and energetic in front of her.

The recording has finished playing.

Chu Yue put down her knife and fork, looked up at her, and asked, "Did you pass the CET-4 and CET-6? Your spoken English should be pretty good, right?"

"..."

Deng Jie suddenly stood up and gave his comments on the written record to Shen Qian, saying, "Foreigners don't understand Chinese. What Mr. Chu meant was that when we get to the police station, he was worried that you might have trouble communicating with the locals."

"???"

Shen Qian was young and panicked immediately. "Sister Chu, I didn't do that, nor did my mother arrange it. My mother just happened to find out."

Chu Yue leaned back in her chair and looked at her with interest: "Tell me about it."