Chapter 63: Wishing You a Truly Happy New Year
Xiao He spotted Shi Zhenglin and his companions approaching in the parking lot and immediately opened the car door. Just as he was about to step over to take the luggage, Shi Zhenglin stopped him with a slight nod of his head. After a tussle in the terminal over who should ride, the adults and the sick child were exhausted. Lin Yao had said she would take the others home, and he would follow her lead. After they were all loaded into the car, Qian Duoduo dozed off again in Long Wei's arms. "Go home and get some rest," he leaned over and touched Duoduo's head. He had been clinging to his shoulder all the way, and now that they were apart, he felt like he'd lost something, a sense of emptiness. He smiled at her, closed the car door, and ran over to greet Lin Yao politely, saying thank you, thank you for her hard work, and offering to treat her to dinner another day. Lin Yao drove the car about ten meters and began to talk. "This is terrifying! Why is he acting like a family member, asking me to take care of you? He's only been here a few days, and I'm like the third person, marginalized. Are you kidding me?" she said, deliberately annoyed. The person in the back seat glanced at him in the mirror. "I was going to ask you, what's wrong with you? Why are you on his side?" "I like him now, that's all. He's so polite to me, and it's nice to be praised by him. He's a good person, and I'm willing to help him. He cares about you, and it's not out of bad intentions. If I hadn't cooperated with him, wouldn't you be stuck over there?" Long Weihe didn't respond. She glanced at her tentatively. "The two of you were looking at each other so intently, it must have been a sticky situation. Tell me, what happened?" "Nothing happened. Just drive carefully. Duoduo should wake up and not hear everything." "Okay, I get it, I get it, it's crystal clear." "What do you understand? Am I not careful about talking about love again? Haven't you cried enough before?" "I hope you'll cry because you're too happy next time." Lin Yao, a simple man, could tell that they were in love. She didn't resent Shi Zhenglin. Shi Zhenglin had gotten them out of the game before. She was angry and scolded him, but she always considered rationally whether there was a misunderstanding. In her opinion, Shi Zhenglin's character wasn't such a bad person, so she kept trying to figure out why the deal fell through. Pulling off the airport highway, she continued, "Tomorrow our college is holding a two-day pre-school orientation program. School officially starts a week later, so you'll have to worry about the deal. These past couple of days, I've been screening people at home, and I've only found a few resumes for deputy positions at listed companies. As for Ping Mei's deal, let's put it aside for now. Are you anxious to help him out?" Long Weihe was clearly distracted, lost in thought, and said she hadn't heard clearly. Lin Yao repeated the story. Then she remembered that Ping Mei's father should...
Xiao He saw Shi Zhenglin and others coming in the parking lot, and immediately came out to open the car door. Just as he was about to step over to take the luggage, Shi Zhenglin stopped him with a slight shake of his head.
They had just had a fight in the terminal hall about whose car to take. The adults and the sick child were all tired. Lin Yao said she would pick them up and he would go according to her wishes.
All the people and luggage were put into the car.
Qian Duoduo fell asleep again in Long Weihe's arms.
"Go home and have a good rest." He leaned over and touched Duoduo's head.
He had been holding onto her shoulder all the way, and now that they were apart, he felt like he had lost something, a little empty. He smiled at her, closed the car door, ran over and greeted Lin Yao politely, saying thank you and thanking her for her hard work, and even said he would treat her to dinner some other day.
Lin Yao drove the car about ten meters away and started talking non-stop.
"It's so scary! How can he act like a family member and ask me to take good care of you? He has only been involved for a few days, but I feel like the third party and have been marginalized. Are you kidding me?" She acted angry on purpose.
The person in the back seat glanced at him in the mirror and said, "I was about to ask you, what's wrong with you? Why are you on his side?"
"I like him now, that's all. He's polite to me, and I feel good when he praises me. He's a good man, and I'm willing to help him. He cares about you, and it's not out of bad intentions. If I didn't cooperate with him, you'd be in trouble over there."
Long Weihe didn't respond.
She glanced at her tentatively, "You two have such sticky eyes that something must have happened. Tell me, how did it happen?"
"Nothing happened. Just drive well. Duoduo should wake up by now. Don't let him hear anything."
"Okay, I understand. I understand. It's crystal clear."
"What do you understand! Am I not careful when it comes to feelings again? Have you cried less before?"
"I hope the next time you cry it's because you're too happy."
Lin Yao is a piece of shit, but you can tell that the two of them are in love.
She didn't resent Shi Zhenglin. She'd been angry and scolded him for getting them out of business before, but she'd always considered the possibility of a misunderstanding rationally. In her opinion, Shi Zhenglin wasn't such a bad person, which was why she always wanted to find out why the deal had fallen through.
Pulling off the airport highway, she continued, "Tomorrow our college is holding a two-day pre-school orientation program. School officially starts a week after that, so you'll have to worry about the orders. These past two days, I've been screening people at home and only found a few resumes for deputy positions at listed companies. As for Pingmei's order, let's put it aside for now. You're anxious to help him out, right?"
Long Weihe was obviously absent-minded, thinking about other things, and said he didn't hear clearly.
Lin Yao said it again.
Only then did she remember that Pingmei's father should be discharged from the hospital today. She looked at Pingmei's WeChat and sent her a message, saying that they had returned to Guangzhou and asked if her father had been discharged from the hospital.
A few minutes later, Ping Mei replied to her, saying that she had been discharged from the hospital and was preparing to return to Guangzhou. She also said that she had forgotten to return her charger that she had taken from the hospital that day, and she would find time to make an appointment with her.
She still couldn't get over what happened during her visit to Pingmei. She had a strong feeling that she and Pingmei were destined to be together.
Shi Zhenglin got in the car and went straight to the company. On Friday afternoon, he came back and worked for half a day.
As soon as he entered the office, the secretary arranged the schedule for next week with him.
"The boss's secretary is going to book flights. Please confirm if you're on the same flight as the boss. He's flying to Hefei early on Sunday. You and I will have lunch there at noon. The next day, Monday morning, we'll take the high-speed train to Shanghai. We'll return on Tuesday morning from Shanghai."
"The outbound journey is the same, but the return journey is different. I'll be back on the latest flight on Monday."
He had just returned from a business trip and was considering Shi Shi, so he tried to shorten his time as much as possible.
The secretary checked the flights on the spot. "The latest flight leaves Pudong at 10:20. It's too late. It won't land until 1:00 in the morning."
"Order it." He looked at his phone.
Ping Mei called.
He straightened up instantly after leaning back in his chair. He called his secretary to leave first.
"Sister Pingmei." He said in a complicated voice, stood up and walked to the window.
"Okay?"
"Fine. How are you?"
"I'll be in Guangzhou for a few days next week. Let's have dinner together if you're free."
"Well, it's been a while."
"I'm on vacation until next Wednesday. I'm in Yunnan now and will be back the day after tomorrow. Any of the days after I get back will be fine, depending on your availability."
She ended her trip early, three or four days earlier than originally planned, anxious to bring her father back for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
"Tuesday night?"
"Can."
He called his secretary in.
"Book a flight to Tianjin tomorrow afternoon, and fly directly from Tianjin to Hefei on Sunday morning."
"Going to Tianjin tomorrow?"
"right."
When Tianjin was added to the itinerary, the secretary was at a loss as to what to do.
He had just been to Yunnan and hadn't returned home yet. He was out for three days straight, and he was thinking about how to process Shi Shi's emotions. Traveling to three different places in a row wouldn't be convenient for him to take her with him. He rested his elbow on the table, nudging his forehead with his fist.
He sent a message to Long Weihe, saying that he was going on a business trip for a few days and wanted to go over to see Duoduo in the evening. He would go home first to have dinner with Shi Shi and would come over around nine o'clock.
She replied yes.
Lin Yao cooked dinner at Long Weihe's house that night, saying it was a reward for the mother and son's long journey. Qian Duoduo ate a little and felt much better.
"I have an appointment with a hairstylist to do my hair tonight. I'll be at school tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, so you can contact me anytime by phone." Lin Yao was about to leave after finishing his meal.
"Why are you finally changing your hairstyle which has remained the same for thousands of years?" Long Wei glanced at her long straight black hair.
"School is starting, so I'm going to get a new hairstyle to welcome the new year."
"Wait a minute." Long Weihe went to her room. When she came back, she took out a Cartier rose gold hoop necklace and handed it to her. "I bought it a long time ago. It's a back-to-school gift for you."
Lin Yao complained about the price, "What the hell! I can't even bear to buy it."
"I wish you a truly happy new year."
She was speechless for a moment.
It’s really about welcoming the new year, she understood it.
She stopped secretly looking at Pei Yifeng's photos. If she continued to act like a fool and guard her one-sided regret, she would despise herself.
As soon as she left the house, Long Weihe glanced at the time. Thinking that Shi Zhenglin had said he would come to see Duoduo around nine o'clock, she tidied up the house and cleaned up herself.
A little after nine, the doorbell rang.
"Uncle is here to see you." She reminded the person sitting on the sofa playing with toys and hurried to open the door.
When she opened the door, she was stunned. Qian Pingtao was leaning against the door frame with his hands, reeking of alcohol, and staring at her with red eyes.
She realized he was drunk and quickly closed the door, but he held it open. "Awei, listen to me. Give me a chance and I'll say a few words."
She couldn't resist his strength, and his whole body had squeezed in, so she couldn't push him away.
He was upset at the airport today and he was unwilling to accept it. He drank alone in the evening and his mind was unclear.
"Dad!" Qian Duoduo heard the noise and ran down from the sofa.
She could imagine him being so drunk he'd act recklessly in front of the child. Since their divorce, she'd always protected Duoduo from seeing any unpleasant scenes or hearing any unpleasant words. Afraid he'd be frightened again, she hurried over to him, "Mommy and Daddy are chatting, can you go to your room and watch some TV?"
"Okay!" He had just been clamoring to watch TV, and he was happy to see Qian Pingtao coming, so he agreed readily.
She carried him into the room where Huang Yun would sleep, put him on the bed, and turned up the volume of the TV.
"You can't interrupt us while we're chatting. If you do, you won't be able to watch TV anymore."
"Um."
She closed the door and came out.
Qian Pingtao blocked her at the door, his bloodshot eyes frightening her.
"You want to talk, right? Come on, let's talk in the living room. Don't disturb the children." She led him to the living room.
"I didn't want to influence him. I just wanted to talk to you, Avi. I've wanted to have a good talk with you for a long time." He shook his body and followed her to the entrance.
"Go home first. The child is sick. We can talk tomorrow." She moved her feet towards the door, trying to lead him to it, which was still open.
He held her arm and said, "Avi, don't treat me like this. I never thought of leaving you. I made a mistake and I deserve it. I have been punishing myself for more than a year. I haven't been involved with anyone else. This is enough punishment, right? Can we start over?" His eyes were blurred.
"Impossible, it will never be possible. Qian Pingtao, you should move on. It's over when it's over."
"The three of us will live a good life together. I can do anything as long as you want. I can't stand it. I can't accept you being with someone else. Do you know, I can't stand it." He leaned his face forward.
If he didn't leave, she had to leave. She led him out the door. He was probably too drunk to make rational judgments. He hugged her from behind and pushed her against the door, rubbing his face against hers. "Give me one chance, we'll get remarried, and we'll be very happy..."
"You're crazy! Go away!" She slapped him.
He let go, and seeing her heading out the door again, he grabbed her elbow and said, "Don't go, I won't hurt you. I'm sorry, Awei, I just beg you to give me a chance..."
He said he came at around nine o'clock. He heard the sound as he got out of the elevator. Seeing that she was struggling to break free from him, he grabbed the drunken man's arm and threw him to the ground outside the door.
When the neighbors heard the noise, some of them came out to look.
She shrank back and looked at him in horror, then looked at the miserable person on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
He came up and hugged her shoulders, "Come in."
He closed the door, and the person on the ground staggered to their feet, yelled a few times, and banged on the door loudly. The neighbor said he would call the police if he banged or made any more noise. Then there was silence.
When she entered the house, she went to see Qian Duoduo, who was still sitting on the bed watching cartoons and laughing. His father was nowhere to be seen. When he saw Shi Zhenglin behind her, he immediately asked, "Where's my dad?"
Shi Zhenglin had a conversation with him.
She stood on the balcony and couldn't calm down, wondering how Qian Pingtao, who was once a decent and considerate man, could have become so disgraceful today.
He came out of the room and touched her shoulder. "Has he been pestering you like this for a long time?"
She shook her head. He had seen such an unbearable scene, and she couldn't say anything to him.
"Do you need me to deal with it?" he asked again.
"I can handle it myself. I want to be alone. Sorry, you can go back first."
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