Chapter 4
"Mr. He, are you free tomorrow?"
The rain that hadn't fallen at dusk started falling after dark.
The fine, dense autumn rain, carrying a bleak chill, pattered down on the sycamore-lined path.
Fortunately, the sycamore leaves have only turned yellow and a few have fallen; they haven't started falling in large quantities yet, so they can still provide some shelter from the rain.
Cheng Jiamo pulled her clothes tighter and walked quickly forward. Just as she was about to reach the dormitory building, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't told He Qingzhao about Zhu Yue yet.
On the way back, she didn't say a word the whole way, afraid of disturbing his driving, thinking she would talk to him after getting out of the car.
As a result, after getting off the bus, she forgot to say it because she was in a hurry to get back to her dormitory.
She hasn't said anything, nor has she asked He Qingzhao for his phone number, so we can't reach her even if we want to.
It was too late to go back and find him. It took her at least ten minutes to walk from the north gate to the dormitory, and He Qingzhao would have already left.
Although she didn't need to say anything, given He Qingzhao's status, he could easily find out if he wanted to help her, but she took the initiative to say that going to investigate with him was a different matter.
She asked for help but didn't ask, instead telling the other person to look it up themselves. What kind of behavior is that? And what if He Qingzhao forgot?
The thought that He Qingzhao might really forget left her completely stunned. She stood there blankly in the rain, feeling so sad that she wanted to cry.
Just as she was feeling lost and helpless, her phone rang. It was an unknown number.
She assumed it was just another one of those annoying sales calls and angrily hung up.
He Qingzhao hadn't actually left yet. After Cheng Jiamo got out of the car and left, he called Assistant Wang and asked Assistant Wang to investigate the matter.
Throughout the journey, Cheng Jiamo didn't mention a word about it, perhaps because she forgot, or perhaps because she was too embarrassed to say it.
He did remember it, but he didn't ask because he didn't want to embarrass the girl. He knew it wasn't something respectable, otherwise the girl wouldn't have asked Qi Yingjie for help.
However, before Assistant Wang could finish checking the report, Qi Yingjie called him and took the initiative to explain the whole story.
"Mr. He, please don't be angry, it's nothing serious. Cheng Jiamo came to me because she wants me to help her friend with a loan."
"That girl's name is Li Zhuyue. She is her high school classmate and is now studying at the Film Academy. She is a sophomore majoring in acting."
"Li Zhuyue took out a loan to get plastic surgery and bought designer bags and clothes to save face in order to attract rich men."
He didn't say what type of loan Li Zhuyue had taken out, because even if he didn't, He Qingzhao could find out.
The reason he made that call was to ask He Qingzhao to show mercy.
After he finished speaking, he apologized sincerely.
"Mr. He, I'm so sorry, I'm really so sorry, it's all my fault. I was blind and didn't know that Cheng Jiamo was your person."
He Qingzhao neither confirmed nor denied his statement that "Cheng Jiamo is your person," and said in a cool tone, "So you're threatening her with Li Zhuyue's matter?"
"No, no, no, how could I dare?" Qi Yingjie hurriedly explained, sweating profusely, "I was just joking with her."
He Qingzhao asked coldly, "Is it that funny?" Before Qi Yingjie could speak, he added coldly, "If you want to joke again, come to me."
After saying that, he hung up the phone without giving Qi Yingjie a chance to argue.
A few minutes later, Assistant Wang called him and recounted the whole story.
“Three years ago, after you sent her back to China, Mr. He, she returned to her hometown of Lucheng and stayed with her aunt. However, she only stayed for a little over half a month before moving into the school after the start of the semester. She attended a boarding school, spending the week at school and staying at Li Zhuyue's house on Saturdays and Sundays.”
"Li Zhuyue's parents work in Haicheng all year round, and she lives alone. Cheng Jiamo is also alone, and the two girls feel for each other and become good friends."
“Li Zhuyue helped her a lot during her two years of high school.”
Assistant Wang asked Cheng Jiamo's high school homeroom teacher about these matters.
Because she was well-behaved and sensible, and had good grades, all her teachers liked her, and her homeroom teacher cared about her a lot. So her homeroom teacher knew everything about her.
If it were a different, mischievous, and poor student, the homeroom teacher wouldn't care at all and might not even know about it.
After explaining Cheng Jiamo's situation, Assistant Wang returned to talking about Qi Yingjie.
"Two weeks ago, Qi Yingjie went to M University to see his uncle and took a liking to Cheng Jiamo, wanting her to be with him. Cheng Jiamo refused, so Qi Yingjie threatened her with Li Zhuyue's naked loan."
"Cheng Jiamo originally didn't know about Li Zhuyue's naked loan. Li Zhuyue didn't tell her. It was Qi Yingjie who found out after investigating and told her. He even showed her the photos."
"Qi Yingjie first threatened and then coaxed, saying that if Cheng Jiamo agreed, he would have Li Zhuyue's photos destroyed and would make Li Zhuyue a big star."
"That girl is loyal and righteous. Because Li Zhuyue helped her, she wanted to help Li Zhuyue in return. Qi Yingjie probably saw this too, which is why he used Li Zhuyue to threaten her."
He Qingzhao sneered and said through gritted teeth, "He really has guts."
Assistant Wang realized that He Qingzhao was angry and was somewhat surprised.
The head of the He family is known to be refined and cultured, and he doesn't get angry easily. Even when he is angry, he doesn't show it on his face.
However, today, he was gritting his teeth and speaking because of a little girl he had never even heard of.
That's strange, really strange.
Assistant Wang paused for a moment, then offered a frank suggestion: "President He, in my opinion, simply destroying the photos will suffice. After all, Qi Yingjie is..."
After all, he is Su Zhiguo's nephew. Su Zhiguo is currently the head of a department in Dongguan City. After this year, he will likely be transferred back to Beijing. Even if he doesn't return to Beijing, he will still be a high-ranking official in the local government.
He Qingzhao interrupted coldly: "Act according to the law."
Assistant Wang was taken aback; this meant a thorough investigation was to be conducted.
“Okay, I’ll have someone take care of it right away. But I still suggest that President He stop here. After all, that girl has no relation to you. Even if you pity her, it’s not worth offending the Su family for her sake. Helping her destroy Li Zhuyue’s photos is already a huge help to her. As for punishing Qi Yingjie, it’s completely unnecessary.”
He Qingzhao felt a surge of indescribable warmth in his heart as he thought of Cheng Jiamo's repeated assurances that "he is very good."
He spoke as if to himself, or perhaps to his assistant Wang, in a low, languid tone: "I can't let the young lady's wish go unfulfilled."
Assistant Wang was startled. Could this person be...?
Before he could think further, He Qingzhao's deep voice rang out again: "Go and contact Li Zhuyue, and let her know that it was Cheng Jiamo who helped her."
Assistant Wang was even more shocked, but didn't ask any further questions.
He Qingzhao then said, "By the way, send me her number."
The "she" in this context naturally refers to Cheng Jiamo.
He Qingzhao opened the number sent by Assistant Wang, dialed it, and after ringing for a few seconds, it was ruthlessly hung up.
Inside the Bentley parked by the school gate, He Qingzhao stared at her phone screen, almost laughing in exasperation.
This was the first time he had ever called a girl, only to be hung up on without any hesitation.
He didn't call back or send Cheng Jiamo a message to explain. He threw his phone on the center console and drove away.
This girl is really something, both adorably naive and infuriating.
He wanted to see how she would find him.
-
Cheng Jiamo eventually returned to the North Gate, running all the way there, but the silver car outside the gate was no longer there.
As expected, He Qingzhao left.
She found a pavilion to shelter from the rain and sat inside to call Qi Yingjie.
"Mr. Qi, could you please send me Mr. He's phone number?"
Qi Yingjie asked in surprise, "You don't have He Qingzhao's phone number?"
Cheng Jiamo honestly replied, "No."
Qi Yingjie suddenly chuckled: "That's interesting."
He was now certain that Cheng Jiamo and He Qingzhao were not familiar with each other, and he estimated that He Qingzhao did not even know her before today.
But He Qingzhao got angry over a young girl he had just met.
That's interesting, really interesting.
He Qingzhao, a cold-hearted and emotionless man who rarely showed his emotions, actually fell in love with a young girl at first sight and was even emotionally moved by her.
Hearing his confused words, Cheng Jiamo asked, "What's interesting?"
Qi Yingjie smiled and said, "It's nothing."
Cheng Jiamo asked again, "Would it be convenient for you to send me his phone number?"
"sure."
Qi Yingjie readily sent He Qingzhao's phone number to Cheng Jiamo, sending it six times.
Cheng Jiamo stared at the string of numbers on her phone and gasped in surprise, thinking, "This is the big boss! He has six phone numbers!"
She wasn't sure which one would get through, and she didn't want to ask Qi Yingjie again, so she could only try them one by one.
The beeping sound rang out, and as she waited, her heart raced with nervousness.
After the call connected, her voice trembled slightly: "Mr. He, hello, I am..."
"Hello Ms. Cheng, my surname is Wang, and I am Mr. He's assistant. This is his work number."
Cheng Jiamo was stunned for a moment. Her rapidly beating heart seemed to stop for a brief moment before quickly returning to calm.
She composed herself and asked politely, "Hello, Assistant Wang, may I ask which number Mr. He is using?"
Qi Yingjie gave her six, but she wasn't sure which one it was. She figured she might as well ask him and call his private number later to avoid trying them one by one.
Assistant Wang gave out the number, then added, worried that Cheng Jiamo might not remember it, "I'll send it to your phone."
Cheng Jiamo politely thanked him, "Thank you, Assistant Wang."
She looked at the number sent by Assistant Wang and felt it looked familiar, but she was in a hurry to call He Qingzhao, so she didn't think much of it.
The phone rang for a long time before being answered.
Having already experienced nervousness before, she wasn't as nervous this time.
"Mr. He, hello, I am Cheng Jiamo."
He Qingzhao was initially angry because she hung up on him, but his anger vanished instantly upon hearing her sweet and soft voice.
"What's up?"
Cheng Jiamo bit her lip and said softly, "You told me to contact you about my friend's matter."
He Qingzhao replied indifferently, "Yes, I understand."
Cheng Jiamo thanked her softly, "Thank you."
He Qingzhao's voice remained calm: "You're too kind."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, and the phone call remained unresolved.
On a cool, rainy autumn night, Cheng Jiamo's palms were covered in a sticky layer of sweat.
She gripped her phone tightly, her breathing becoming rapid with nervousness.
"Mr. He, are you free tomorrow?"
He Qingzhao didn't answer her directly, but asked instead, "What is it?"
Cheng Jiamo softened her voice and said gently, "I would like to invite Mr. He to dinner to thank you for your help."
Hearing her soft, mellow voice, He Qingzhao felt half of his body go numb, and a surge of heat coursed through his body, like a ferocious beast that had been imprisoned for a long time, thrashing about and trying to break free.
He forced down his agitation and replied in a calm voice, "I'm not free tomorrow, let's do it another day."
Cheng Jiaming was slightly disappointed, but still smiled sweetly and gently: "Oh, okay, I'll treat you again when you're not busy." She switched the phone to her other hand and said politely, "Then I won't bother you anymore, goodbye."
Before she hung up the phone, He Qingzhao said in a slightly hurried tone, "I have time the day after tomorrow."
[Author's Note]
Mr. He: She wants to invite me to dinner, but it's not that easy. I have to make an effort.
One second later...
No, I can't hold it up.
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