Zhang Jiqing's body was recovered, and a tombstone was erected.

Zhao Hanying wasn't so lucky.

One afternoon, Jin Shu heard a loud commotion outside her office.

"A woman who had been dead for a long time was found in a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city. Later, she was recognized. Can you guess who she is?"

"Who? Who is it? Tell me quickly!"

Do you still recognize Zhao Hanying?

The crowd paused for a moment, and then someone clapped their hands.

"I know her! She was captured by bandits a few years ago, and she was the concubine of the former Marshal Liu!"

I haven't heard from her in so long, I'd completely forgotten about her.

The whistleblower sighed.

"I thought she would be tortured to death soon, but I didn't expect her to survive in the bandit's den for so long. In the end, she was hanged in the dilapidated temple a couple of days ago. It's really tragic."

"The fact that she lived that long proves she was capable, so why did she suddenly die?"

"Who knows? If she were a stable and reliable person, she wouldn't have ended up in a bandit's den."

Jin Shu listened while drinking tea, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

When she woke up again, she was still lying on the leather sofa in the office, but she was wearing a new set of clothes.

The man's overcoat still carried a faint smell of tobacco.

Jin Shu frowned slightly, pulled open her clothes, and sat up.

"You dislike my clothes that much?"

Jiang Beilou sat by the window, wearing a white shirt and black suit pants. His hair was styled with hair gel and neatly combed back, revealing his entire face. He looked both elite and capable.

"I just came back from the US and learned how to style clothes that bosses there wear. What do you think? Does it look good?"

Jin Shu glanced at it, then nodded.

"nice."

"Don't you like Western food? I own a Western restaurant in the city. I even brought back a few Michelin-starred chefs from the US this time. Would you do me the honor of joining me for a tasting tonight?"

Jin Shu shook her head without hesitation.

"It's your fortieth birthday today, why don't you stay home and celebrate with your family?"

“I don’t have any decent family left, otherwise I wouldn’t be so pitiful as to beg you to spend my birthday with me.”

After saying that, Jiang Beilou looked at Jin Shu with a smile in his eyes.

"I'm glad you remembered my birthday."

"I can't help it, I have a good memory."

This statement is true.

Jin Shu has a really good memory.

Everyone says that memory gets worse with age, but Jin Shu is different. Her memory is getting better and better. Now she can remember the personal information of the hundreds of employees she works directly with.

Jiangbei Tower also knows this.

But he would selectively ignore things. When he was with Jin Shu, he only listened to what he wanted to hear and believed what he wanted to believe.

This is also his biggest secret to being able to get along peacefully with Jin Shu for so many years.

That means not forcing her, nor making things difficult for yourself; the two of you living in your own worlds, not disturbing each other but still entangled.

"No matter what, you wouldn't refuse someone whose birthday it is, right?"

"Hmm, where's the address?"

After so many years together, Jin Shu has made it clear countless times that she is ruthless and will never fall in love with anyone in this lifetime.

But Jiangbei Tower didn't care.

He even drank quite a bit of alcohol, seemingly in high spirits.

In his view, as long as Jin Shu doesn't fall for someone else, he still has a chance.

Anyway, his original life plan didn't include marriage and having children. Now that he has an extra goal, even if he never achieves it in his lifetime, he can still consider it a gain.

So he would speak to Jin Shu in a very serious manner.

“My life is more complete than yours, Jin Shu. I am luckier than you.”

Because I have my loved one by my side, I can experience how wonderful love can be.

But unfortunately, you don't.

When he finished speaking, his eyes were filled with heartfelt satisfaction and joy, as well as a hint of heartache and helplessness hidden deep within.

Jin Shu merely smiled coldly after hearing this.

"I just need to love myself."

"But do you really love yourself? Jin Shu, I feel like you haven't lived a single day for yourself from beginning to end."

Jin Shu, what exactly are you striving for?

You wanted to succeed in your career, and now that you have, I feel no joy or satisfaction from you.

You wanted to succeed in your studies, and now you've graduated, but it all seems like a given to you.

I can sense that you're doing what you need to do, not what you want to do.

Jin Shu, I feel sorry for you, but I know I can't help you.

I hope that in the future, you can find someone who can truly help you and make you happy.

Instead of being like this now, wandering through our mortal world like a heartless and loveless bodhisattva.

After this conversation.

Jin Shu was no longer so cold towards him.

We weren't as close as friends, but we could sit together quietly and have a meal.

Just like this time.

The beautiful Western restaurant is decorated with the letter J, which is not conspicuous but is very distinctive.

Jiangbei Tower has its own unique romance.

Regardless of whether Jin Shu accepts his feelings, he continues to express his love.

"Here you go, a Coca-Cola."

Jiang Beilou handed over the bottled cola, then smiled and whispered.

"At my age, it's a bit embarrassing to have to tell foreigners that I like to drink this."

But I figured you'd never tried it before, so I shamelessly bought a lot. If you like it, you can have it all.

Jin Shu took it and tasted it.

Although it was novel, it was also a flavor that was expected.

It felt the same as trying new things before.

Unfamiliar, yet expected.

It seems that after the eyes see it, the brain automatically simulates what might happen next.

Jin Shu was used to this feeling, so she remained calm and composed.

"Is it good?"

"Hmm, not bad."

"I'm glad you like it."

The people at the next table saw what Jin Shu was holding and also asked the waiter to bring them a bottle.

When it came time to pay the bill, I asked incredulously.

"A bottle of water, fifteen yuan?"

The waiter explained that the water itself wasn't expensive, but the delivery fee was.

Jin Shu smiled.

"It's a good way to make money, and plenty of wealthy people are willing to spend the money to try it out."

Jin Shu

"It doesn't matter whether you make this money or not, you can keep it."

Jin Shu shifted her gaze to the bustling street outside the window.

"I don't need to, one bite is enough."

Not many years after that dinner, Jin Shu donated all her wealth to a newly emerging political party.

Of course, it wasn't a donation made casually; it was a choice Jin Shu made without hesitation after getting to know the person.

After making the donation, she bought a ticket and left BH City. After seeing the sights she wanted to see, she found a quiet place to leave.

(End of this chapter)