Chapter 119: Anticipation and Fear
Ji Siyun's office occupies an excellent view on the top floor of the entire building. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows is the dazzling city night view, while only a lonely desk lamp is on inside the room.
A video was playing in a loop on the computer screen, and every frame was of Song Youning.
There are close-ups from the official promotional video of her university graduation school, showing her in her bachelor's gown receiving her certificate; there are shots of her shaking hands and talking with people on the red carpet when attending business events; there are shots of her giving an energetic speech at a high-end industry forum... All these images together piece together a picture of Song Youning who shines in front of the public.
Every shot was treasured by Ji Siyun, which was his only comfort during the countless days and nights when he could not see her.
Suddenly, the screen of the phone on the table lit up, accompanied by a slight vibration.
Ji Siyun glanced at it a little dully. It was a message from Fang Li. He didn't want to pay attention to it, but when his eyes swept over the preview text, his pupils suddenly shrank.
Fang Li: She has something to say to you face to face.
He stood up suddenly from the chair, and because of his fast movement, he even knocked over the folder beside him. Ji Siyun had no time to care about it. He rushed to the huge floor-to-ceiling window with his mobile phone in hand.
With trembling fingers, he pushed open a crack in the Venetian blinds and peered down eagerly. Sure enough, her familiar black sedan was parked in a prominent spot downstairs. Next to it, the streetlights outlined two figures: Fang Li, and the other... Song Youning.
From the distance, he couldn't really see her expression; he could only see a vague outline. But even that was enough to draw his gaze, like a magnet, unable to look away. Obsession, greed, resentment, pain... all sorts of emotions swirled in his eyes.
It had been just over a day since they last met, but he felt as if a long century had passed.
At this moment, Song Youning downstairs seemed to sense something, suddenly raised his head and looked in the general direction where he was.
Ji Siyun recoiled as if burned, the blinds snapping shut. He slid down to the floor, his back against the cold glass wall, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.
He stared at the message on his phone, his heart torn between his conscience and his desires.
He wanted to see her, wanted to go crazy, but fear and inferiority were like ice water pouring over him - what did she want to say? Was she trying to draw a line in the sand, or was she offering mercy? Either way, he couldn't bear it.
Finally, he hardened his heart and replied with trembling fingertips with two words: No see.
Fang Li downstairs saw the reply, sighed helplessly, and turned to Song Youning: "Mr. Song, look at this..."
Song Youning withdrew his gaze from the top floor, thinking that there would be a turning point. However, when he saw the short and decisive words "no see" on Fang Li's mobile phone screen, his expression was obviously stunned.
A mixture of loss and embarrassment quickly flashed across her eyes.
But she quickly straightened her expression and regained her usual composure, but the smile at the corner of her lips seemed a little forced: "Okay."
She looked at Fang Li and said calmly, "Then I'll come back tomorrow."
Fang Li was a little surprised, thinking she would be angry, but after realizing what was happening, he nodded and said, "I'll take you there."
After seeing Song Youning off, Fang Li turned around and went upstairs. He pushed open the office door and saw Ji Siyun still lying by the window, his eyes closely following the black car downstairs that was gradually moving away until it merged into the traffic and disappeared.
Fang Li placed the dinner he brought on the table and couldn't help but sigh: "Why do you want to see me but then say you won't? Isn't this just tormenting yourself and others?"
Ji Siyun turned around and walked back to his seat in silence, with his eyes lowered, still not saying a word, with a thick and unbreakable gloom surrounding him.
Fang Li knew he couldn't get anything out of him, so he shook his head, picked up the remote control and turned on the TV, hoping to break the suffocating silence: "Okay, let's eat first, don't be so hard on yourself."
The evening news was playing on TV, the anchor's clear voice echoing through the empty laboratory: "...Our latest news: A fire broke out in an abandoned factory building in City L due to aging wiring, resulting in the tragic death of a homeless person temporarily housed there. Preliminary police investigations have identified the deceased as a 45-year-old male named Ji, originally from..."
At the same time, a restored photo of the victims appeared on the screen in conjunction with the news.
“Pah.”
The chopsticks in Ji Siyun's hand fell to the ground. His pupils suddenly shrank and he stared at the screen intently, his whole body seemed to be frozen in an instant.
…
For the next three days, Song Youning showed up on time every day, but every time, Ji Siyun refused to see him.
Fang Li was caught in the middle, watching Song Youning's expression becoming more and more gloomy, his eyes becoming more and more cold. He forced a smile, but cold sweat was dripping down his back.
After sending away the low-pressure god for the third time, Fang Li immediately called Ji Siyun, his tone almost begging for mercy: "Grandfather! That's enough! Miss Song's eyes are almost torturing me! How long are you going to hide?"
On the other end of the phone, Ji Siyun was holding the phone, leaning against the cold wall, and his heart was also tormented.
How could he not want to see her?
During these three days, every rejection was like torture for him. He imagined her disappointed departure, and wondered if she would come next time, feeling both hopeful and dreadful.
But he didn't know how to face her, didn't know what she was trying to say when she insisted on seeing him. Was it a showdown, or... another kind of pity that he couldn't bear even more?
And the news about Ji Kai dying in the fire made him feel an ominous premonition.
What a coincidence! She had just gone to L City to find Ji Kai, and right after that, Ji Kai died in an "accidental" fire?
He didn't dare to think too deeply, but he couldn't help but associate it.
Is this really an accident?
…
In the study of the Zheng family villa, the atmosphere was so solemn that water could drip out.
On the expensive mahogany desk, there were more than a dozen high-definition photos scattered around, clearly recording every moment of Song Youning appearing downstairs of the YNING Technology Building for three consecutive days - her figure when she got out of the car, her profile when she was talking to Fang Li, her slightly furrowed brows while waiting, and even her obviously unhappy expression when she left for the last time.
Song Zhiyan grabbed the stack of photos and slammed them down on the table. His handsome face twisted in anger. He growled, "Damn Song Youning! She pretended to be impartial in front of my father, obstructing my cooperation with YNING, and then she turned around and sneaked in to contact him! What on earth does she want to do?"
Zheng Wenhui, who was sitting nearby, quickly stood up and patted her son's back soothingly: "Zhi Yan, don't get excited. You might get yourself hurt. Even if she tries to contact him, there's no guarantee that the deal will be successful..."
"Not necessarily?" Song Yuheng suddenly interrupted his mother, his eyes bloodshot, his voice trembling with suppressed panic and anger, "Mom! The people I arranged at the hospital have already sent news. The old man personally told Song Youning that he wants to hand over the group to her!"
"What!" Zheng Wenhui's well-maintained face instantly lost all color. She stood up abruptly, her nails almost digging into her palms. "He...how could he..."
Zheng Wencheng, who had been silent and slowly flipping through the photos, finally raised his head. His face, which was somewhat similar to Zheng Wenhui's but more gloomy and shrewd, not only did not show panic, but instead revealed a chilling sneer.
Song Zhiyan looked at Zheng Wencheng anxiously, as if grasping at a lifeline. "Uncle, what should we do now? The old man is biased and is even more optimistic about her abilities! If she can secure the cooperation with YNING, with YNING's technology and prospects, her prestige in the board of directors will be unshakable! By then, the entire Song Corporation will truly be hers! All our plans for so many years will be ruined!"
Zheng Wencheng threw the last photo in his hand back onto the table. The photo showed Fang Li respectfully opening the car door for Song Youning.
He picked up the cigar on the table, slowly cut it open, lit it, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled the turbid smoke, blurring the fierce murderous intent in his eyes.
He looked at his nephew through the smoke, his voice low but filled with ruthless determination: "Zhi Yan, why are you panicking?"
He curled the corners of his mouth, and the smile was like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue.
"Leave the group to her? That depends on whether she's lucky enough to take it over!"
As soon as the words fell, the air in the study seemed to freeze.
Zheng Wenhui covered her mouth, a trace of fear flashed in her eyes, and Song Yuheng was stunned at first, then he understood the deep meaning of his uncle's words, and the panic on his face was gradually covered by a desperate madness.
…
Song Youning returned to the office with nowhere to vent her frustration. She casually threw her expensive handbag on the large desk, the force of which betrayed her unhappiness at the moment, and then sank into the soft boss chair with some fatigue.
Under the light, there was a hint of obvious anger on her face.
How long will Ji Siyun stay angry?
She thought a little irritably: She didn't mind coaxing him, and even felt that it was the right thing to do. After all, she was in the wrong about what happened four years ago.
Song Youning has always been brave enough to take responsibility for her actions, and there is nothing shameful about admitting mistakes and comforting others.
But the key is, she has to see someone before she can be coaxed!
After being turned away for three consecutive days, even her patience was almost worn out, not to mention that she was not a person with a good temper.
Just as she was frowning and feeling annoyed, there was a gentle knock on the office door. Gao Jing walked in quickly and closed the door carefully with her backhand.
"Boss, look at this."
Gao Jing handed the tablet computer to Song Youning. The screen was showing a detailed report of the fire in L City, with the names and photos of the victims listed.
Song Youning's gaze lingered on the word "Ji Kai" for a moment, and the slight irritation on his face was instantly replaced by cold solemnity.
Although she expected the Zheng family to take action, she did not expect their methods to be so cruel and decisive that they would directly take people's lives.
"Desperate, they've reached a breaking point." Gao Jing lowered her voice, her tone filled with anxiety and fear. "They're capable of such a thing! Boss, what should we do? We must immediately increase security around you! I'm worried you'll be their next target!"
Song Youning didn't answer immediately. Her fingertips tapped lightly on the cold table.
Ji Kai's death reminded her of the carefully planned kidnapping when she was eighteen years old.
If she hadn't been so alert and hadn't made an excuse to get off the bus and tried her best to escape and hide... she would probably have become a corpse buried in the mountains and no one cared about it.
Even though all the clues found later pointed to the third room, she knew in her heart that it was just a scapegoat pushed forward by the mastermind behind the scenes.
Even Song Zhenglan, her father, doesn't know who the real mastermind behind this is?
Of course he knows.
But at that time, how could she, a daughter who was still young and had not yet made a name for herself, compare to his eldest son Song Zhiyan, who had been carefully cultivated for more than 20 years and whose mother's family was very powerful?
At that time, her value was not enough for her father to shake his established succession structure for her.
It was also from that day that she clearly realized that only by standing at the highest position and mastering absolute power could she control her own destiny and make those who tried to hurt her pay the price.
Thinking of this, Song Youning curled up a very faint but chilling sneer at the corner of his mouth.
There was no fear in that smile, only years of pent-up hatred.
…
Ji Siyun paced around the office for the whole morning.
The hands of the clock on the wall had long passed the time when Song Youning usually appeared, but the familiar place downstairs was still empty.
Isn't she coming today?
Once this thought arose, it quickly turned into great panic.
Was he going too far? He had shut her out for three days straight. It was unprecedented for someone as proud as her to lower herself to appease him.
What was he arguing about? What was he hoping for? Was she getting fed up? Was she finally tired of his unpredictable and unpredictable nature? Was she… done trying to appease him?
Ji Siyun lay in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his forehead against the cold glass, his eyes fixed on the entrance of the building. Every car that came into his sight made his heart rise, and then fall heavily when it was not her.
He is so stupid!
Why was he hiding? Why did he have to think so much?
She was willing to come and coax him, that was enough! Why be so greedy?
Just as he was regretting, the office door was suddenly pushed open from the outside, hitting the wall with a loud noise.
"Bang!"
Fang Li stood at the door, his face pale and his chest heaving violently, obviously he had run here.
He looked at Ji Siyun with horror in his eyes. He opened his mouth, his voice intermittent due to rapid breathing, with a sense of difficulty: "Ji Siyun, I just received news that there was a serious car accident on the ring road highway..."
He took a deep breath, as if he had exhausted all his strength:
“…It’s, it’s Song Youning’s car!”
"Buzz—"
Ji Siyun only felt a cold and numb feeling rushing from the soles of his feet to the top of his head in an instant, and a sharp and long-lasting ringing sound rang in his ears, as if a steel needle had pierced his eardrum.
He watched Fang Li's mouth opening and closing in front of him, but he couldn't hear a word.
…
"Mr. Ji, please."
Ji Siyun followed Gao Jing and walked quickly through the solemn corridor of the hospital, arriving at the door of the ward which was guarded by five or six men in dark suits.
Ji Siyun almost rushed to the glass, his eyes piercing through the cold barrier——
Song Youning lay quietly on the pure white hospital bed, with several tubes inserted into his body, connected to the monitoring equipment next to him that made a regular ticking sound.
Her face was so pale it almost blended with the sheets. Her usually sharp, bright eyes were closed, her long lashes casting a fragile shadow beneath her lids. An oxygen mask covered most of her face, and every weak breath left a thin layer of white mist on the mask.
Such a dazzling person, now like a fragile piece of porcelain, lying there lifeless.
Ji Siyun's eyes instantly turned red, and his eye sockets were swollen. He couldn't believe what he saw, and his fingers unconsciously pressed against the cold glass, trembling slightly.
How could this be true? She had come to see him just yesterday...
"After emergency treatment," Gao Jing's voice rang out, heavy and oppressive. "The doctor said the boss is still in danger. The head impact caused significant damage to his brain."
She paused, and every word hit Ji Siyun's heart like a hammer. "Now, it depends on whether she can wake up."
Gao Jing turned to Ji Siyun and said earnestly, "I took the liberty of asking Mr. Ji to come here because... we understand that the core brain-computer interface technology of the real-mirror system developed by YNING can theoretically be used to non-invasively stimulate a person's deep consciousness. This may help wake the boss."
She was worried and said with difficulty: "I know, Mr. Ji, you may not want to see the boss. But her current situation..."
"Okay!" Ji Siyun interrupted her almost without thinking, his voice hoarse but extremely firm, "How can I help her? What do you need me to do?"
He wished he could do something right now, anything to make her open her eyes.
Gao Jing felt relieved when she saw him agree so quickly. She explained, "The attending doctor suggested stimulating the most profound and emotionally moving memory nodes deep within her memory. This might activate her cerebral cortex and help her wake up."
"It's just that her consciousness is very fragile right now. If someone could use technology to reach the edge of her consciousness and guide and call her, the effect might be much better."
Then, a perfectly balanced look of embarrassment crossed her face. "With my boss in this state right now, there are so many things I need to deal with immediately to stabilize the situation. I'm really overwhelmed. Also... entering consciousness requires absolute trust, and I don't know where to find someone who is both technically savvy and subconsciously trustworthy enough to take on this risk..."
"I'll do it." Ji Siyun didn't hesitate at all. He took a deep look at the fragile figure in the glass window.
"Let me in," he repeated. "I know the real mirror better than anyone, and I want her to wake up more than anyone."
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