Lin Qingtong's eyes flickered, and she decisively refused.
"Alright, why are you coming with me? I'm not a child anymore. You're busy with work here, I'll be back in a few days."
Since Lin Qingtong had already said that, Shen Tinghe couldn't press the matter any further and could only agree.
Shen Tinghe stood up and watched Lin Qingtong leave Wutong Manor.
Standing in the morning sunlight, he felt something was off, and a vague unease crept into his heart.
Just then, someone from the group called Shen Tinghe, saying there was something to take care of.
He rushed over and discovered that Shen Kaixuan had actually convened a shareholders' meeting without authorization, intending to use it as an excuse to remove him from office.
Shen Tinghe found it amusing that someone would hold a shareholders' meeting so early in the morning; he must be quite something.
Fortunately, his secretary was constantly monitoring Shen Kaixuan's behavior, which allowed him to find out in time.
Shen Tinghe pushed open the door and walked in, smiling as he looked at Shen Kaixuan.
"Big brother, what are you doing?"
Shen Kaixuan was stunned for a moment, not expecting Shen Tinghe to arrive in time. He immediately wanted to make a final decision, but Shen Tinghe decisively stopped him.
"Brother, don't forget that my shares give me a maximum of one veto right."
Shen Kaixuan's expression turned even uglier, and his eyes seemed to want to kill Shen Tinghe.
But there was nothing he could do but force a smile and answer.
"I just wanted to follow everyone's opinions. A group can't always stick to the old ways and not make any changes."
Shen Tinghe smiled, his long, slender fingers resting on the conference table.
“Since you’ve said that, I have something to say. You’ve been in this position for a long time.”
"How about we switch? A branch just opened in another city, how about you go there?"
Shen Kaixuan was immediately shocked: "You want to get rid of me? Impossible."
Shen Tinghe just smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
"That's not up to you; I have to follow everyone's opinion."
Therefore, at the shareholders' meeting, Shen Tinghe began to solicit opinions on sending Shen Kaixuan to a branch office in another city.
Fortunately, Shen Kaixuan still had some prestige among the shareholders, and Shen Tinghe almost succeeded.
While the fighting raged on one side, Lin Qingtong had already gotten off the plane and was taking the village bus with her suitcase.
The old car bumped and rattled through the mountains and forests, and the ticket seller couldn't help but ask Lin Qingtong a question.
"Young lady, what are you going to Gejia Village for? You must be very poor there."
Lin Qingtong smiled and stuffed some food into the ticket seller's hand, explaining with an innocent and romantic air.
“My classmate lives in that village, and she asked me to go visit her.”
The ticket seller took the snack and jokingly asked, "Is this your boyfriend? I wonder which family he belongs to?"
Lin Qingtong had made thorough preparations before arriving, contacting a college student from Gejia Village who was studying elsewhere and using her classmate's identity.
She promised that college graduates would get jobs at her company with a million-dollar annual salary.
Only then did the other party agree to let Lin Qingtong stay at her house temporarily.
Lin Qingtong waved her hand and replied, "No, it's a female classmate."
"Does this bus only go as far as Gejia Village? I heard from a classmate that there seems to be another village in the mountains, it seems really mysterious, is that right?"
"I wonder if there are any places inside that people have explored."
Upon hearing Lin Qingtong's words, the ticket seller's expression suddenly changed, and she whispered a reminder to Lin Qingtong.
"Don't go to Tianxian Village, it's very dangerous there, and you might not be able to come back if you go."
Lin Qingtong nodded thoughtfully: "I understand, thank you, elder sister."
The ticket seller handed Lin Qingtong a business card, saying, "My husband drives a private car. If you have any urgent matters, you can contact him."
Lin Qingtong accepted the business card and thanked the ticket seller gratefully.
The bus stopped at the terminal station, and as soon as Lin Qingtong got off, she saw a round-faced little girl waving in their direction from not far away.
Lin Qingtong approached, dragging her suitcase. To be on the safe side, she deliberately wore sporty clothes, a style more suited to college students.
The little girl's name was Tan Hui. When she saw Lin Qingtong arrive, she went up to help her with her suitcase.
"You've come! My name is..."
Before she could finish speaking, Lin Qingtong took his hand and reminded him.
"You asked Auntie to cook, right? I really want to try Auntie's cooking."
At the same time, the two turned around and Lin Qingtong winked at Tan Hui, who immediately understood and spoke in response.
"Yes, I specially killed a big goose for you to eat. Go back quickly."
Lin Qingtong walked forward with her, glanced back, and found the ticket seller standing not far away, nodding and smiling at them.
When they were walking on a deserted country road, Tan Hui cautiously pressed for an answer.
"Miss Lin, was someone acting suspiciously just now?"
Lin Qingtong smiled and replied, "You can just call me Qingtong. There were a lot of people and gossip at the station just now, so it's best to be careful."
Tan Hui smiled shyly, "Okay, Qingtong, but what are you going to Tianxian Village for?"
Lin Qingtong did not answer, but simply followed her towards home.
Tan Hui's family is the only one in the village with a small Western-style house, so they seem to be well-off.
“My dad always works outside, so our family is doing alright. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to go to university.”
She poured water for Lin Qingtong and introduced her mother at the same time.
"Let me introduce you. This is my mom. She can't speak, but she's a good person."
Lin Qingtong smiled and nodded to Tan Hui's mother, thanking her, "Thank you for your hospitality, Auntie."
Tan Hui's mother only glanced at Lin Qingtong before turning around and going back to the kitchen.
Lin Qingtong suddenly felt that something was not quite right.
But the next second, Tan Hui's words drew his attention.
"If you want to go to Tianxian Village, tomorrow will be a good opportunity."
“Every now and then, they hold a gathering at the foot of the mountain, where they sell things and have performances. We used to go there all the time when we were kids.”
Lin Qingtong instantly understood that the people in Tianxian Village were not detached from worldly affairs and also needed to purchase daily necessities.
"Alright, let's go take a look tomorrow."
That night, Lin Qingtong lay in her room on the second floor. The window revealed the quiet night sky outside, exuding peace and tranquility.
Suddenly, there was a knock on Lin Qingtong's door. She went to open it and found that it was Tan Hui's mother.
Tan Hui's mother frowned and gestured with her hands. Lin Qingtong didn't understand what she was saying, but she remembered the gestures.
"Auntie, is there anything you want to say to me? Why don't you take out your phone and type it out?"
She turned to get her phone, but Tan Hui appeared in her pajamas and took her mother's arm.
"Mom, why aren't you sleeping? What are you saying to Qingtong here?"
Tan Hui's mother turned to look at Tan Hui and gestured with her hands. This time, Lin Qingtong understood that she was asking Tan Hui if she wanted to have a late-night snack.
"It's so late, don't disturb their rest. Come on, let's go back to sleep."
Tan Hui pulled her mother away, not forgetting to turn around and wave to Lin Qingtong.
"good evening!"
Lin Qingtong took her phone, turned around, and went back to her room. She then searched online for sign language gestures.
So that's what her mother was talking about.
—Never go to Tianxian Village, you'll die!
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