Chapter 324 Allies
Liang Yizhi frowned, brushed Bai Ning's hand away, and strode to the VIP room next door.
However, there was no one inside.
Ji Ying had already left through another door.
"Mr. Liang..."
Seeing that he hadn't managed to find anyone, Bai Ning tried to approach him again, but Liang Yizhi turned around and headed towards the elevator.
When he chased her downstairs, he only saw Jiang Ran standing on the street, staring blankly into the distance.
"Where is Madam?" he asked.
Jiang Ran snapped out of her daze and shrugged. "She said she wanted to be alone, so she took a taxi and left."
Liang Yizhi picked up the phone to dial, but Jiang Ran handed him Ji Ying's phone instead.
"Stop hitting her, she just doesn't want to see you."
"You don't understand anything, don't make things worse!"
Liang Yizhi snatched the phone and turned to make a call to arrange for people to search for the person.
Bai Ning chased him downstairs, but Liang Yizhi had already disappeared.
She asked Yue Zheng anxiously, "Secretary Yue, is Mr. Liang angry with me?"
Yue Zheng held the velvet box, glanced unhappily at her friend beside her, and spoke in a cold tone.
"Miss Bai, how could you have forgotten Mr. Liang's instructions after only three months?"
Bai Ning's breath hitched. She wanted to explain, but Yue Zheng had already turned and gotten into the car, speeding away.
Her friend tugged at her hand, but she remained stubborn.
"Why are you being so polite with a dog? If you ask me, you should immediately find a way to get pregnant with Mr. Liang's child. Then, who among these people who treat others differently based on their status will dare to disrespect you?"
"Will this... work?" Bai Ning's voice was weak, without any confidence.
"You know, which woman who suddenly appears out of nowhere didn't use this trick to get ahead? Don't be so honest."
Bai Ning gripped the bag strap tightly, her knuckles turning white.
She did dream of marrying Liang Yizhi and becoming a woman he could be proud of.
Although Liang Yizhi dotes on her in front of others, he has never touched her in private. Is this a viable path?
...
The taxi stopped at the edge of a desolate area slated for demolition.
Ji Ying arrived at the gate of an abandoned school, where colorful cartoon patterns were still faintly visible on the walls.
Many years ago, Shen Jingxiu worked nearby, and that's why she was sent to this kindergarten.
Those were bright times. There were slides, swings, sweet snacks after her afternoon nap, caring teachers, and playmates.
At that time, she didn't care that her mother was focused entirely on her work and her father's career.
Later, when her father was transferred to another job, she had to return to the city to attend primary school.
Only after leaving this place did she truly understand loneliness.
Liang Yi went to boarding school in middle school and could only go home on weekends. When she felt too lonely, she would sneak back and stay here for a while.
Although the kindergarten had already moved by then, it wasn't as dilapidated as it is now.
It's as if simply standing in this place filled with childhood joys can slightly dispel that unspeakable loneliness.
Over time, this place became a secret refuge deep within her heart.
And now, she has fled back here once again, the reason being her second marriage.
Ji Ying's mind was in turmoil.
She liked Liang Yizhi, a fact she couldn't deny to herself.
But she is not a woman who is good at pestering or using crying to get attention.
Her inability to have children made her feel inferior in front of Liang Yizhi.
Sometimes, an absurd thought will pop up uncontrollably: if he really wants a child, should she give in to him?
This isn't the first time I've experienced loss, yet a persistent, lingering pain still wells up in my heart.
Just as this internal struggle was about to consume her, a gentle yet clear female voice came from behind her: "Ruoheng?"
Ji Ying quickly broke free from her chaotic thoughts and turned to look at Madam Pang. Her surging emotions had been forcibly suppressed, and her eyes were filled with an almost distant calm.
“You’ve mistaken me for someone else,” she said coldly.
But Madam Pang, suppressing her excitement, walked over.
"Yes, yes, I was so happy that I didn't care about anything else. I was a soft-hearted kid in elementary school and was always bullied. She would stand up for me. But I found out that she was also unhappy sometimes. Once I secretly followed her to this place, and it became our secret base. Even now, when I'm unhappy, I can't help but run here."
Although Ji Ying knew who she was talking about, she remained calm after listening and even casually changed the subject.
"Madam Pang married so well, how could she possibly have any unpleasant things to do?"
"Why not?"
Madam Pang sighed and stood shoulder to shoulder with Ji Ying, gazing at the ruins.
"Take the couples in our circle for example. They seem glamorous on the surface, but who knows what they're really like inside? It's an open secret that men have a mistress or two outside, or occasionally cheat on each other. Out of ten couples, if one of them can truly stay faithful to the end and never betray the other, that's already a blessing that others can only envy."
Ji Ying instantly understood that Madam Pang had come here specifically to find her.
Her disappearance must have alarmed many people and may even have caused quite a stir.
Otherwise, Madam Pang would never have so rashly "bumped into" her and reminisced about the past in such an inappropriate place.
"Madam Pang's current prominent status is due to her husband's patronage under Old Master Pang. However, some of the waters are murky, and it's wise to stay out of them."
Her voice betrayed no emotion, but Madam Pang knew she was reminding her and also understood that Madam Pang was wary of her.
So she moved closer to her and whispered, "Actually, I've always had some worries in my heart, which is why I come here without telling Pang Shijun when I'm unhappy. Although I can't figure out the answer, thinking about things from my childhood makes me happy. For example, that guy named Chen Yousheng, who suddenly started currying favor with my husband. I find it strange, but Shijun doesn't seem to care, so I don't say anything."
So what she meant was that Chen Yousheng was behind her discovering Liang Yizhi and Bai Ning's affair?
Ji Ying's eyes flickered slightly, but she didn't respond to Chen Yousheng's words. She simply said, "It seems that Madam Pang is very well-informed."
“It’s not that I’m well-informed, it’s that I’m just too worried to think clearly,” Madam Pang said earnestly. “From now on… just call me Shu Tang.”
Shu Tang glanced at the sky and saw that Ji Ying was still standing in the twilight, showing no sign of leaving. She then suggested, "I know a nice private restaurant about three or four kilometers from here. Shall we go have dinner together?"
“I drove here myself, so you don’t need to worry,” she added.
Ji Ying remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.
Before getting on the bus, she looked back at the abandoned kindergarten one last time.
My gaze fell on the swing set in the distance, and a sharp pain shot through my brain.
She... seems to have left something here?
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