Chapter Twenty-Three
Xing Bei never expected that before she could even submit her resignation letter, Lin Yuan would arrange for her to go to the research group to discuss work.
Everyone knows that the boss of the research group has an unpredictable temper. It is said that the last time someone from his company went to discuss a contract, they were refused entry simply because they were wearing a green jacket.
She stood with Tong Wulin downstairs at the research group company and specifically asked the people there about their boss's lucky color for the day.
Xing Bei finally managed to find a white suit in the closet, while Tong Wulin wore a white shirt, looking like a high school student.
She took a deep breath, took the documents, and went inside. Tong Wulin followed behind her, inwardly complaining in bewilderment.
The company's boss is just like his brother, he likes to believe in these superstitious beliefs that have no scientific basis.
Moreover, the owner of the research group also has the surname Tong, so could he really be his brother?
The elevator doors had just closed and then reopened. Xing Bei looked over curiously and was met with a pair of indifferent phoenix eyes. After seeing who it was, a gentle tenderness appeared on their faces, like snow melting in a mountain.
"Brother Qingyan." Xing Bei looked at him in surprise, "You're here to discuss work too?"
Chen Qingyan smiled and nodded: "I'm here to see a friend about something."
Unexpectedly, he was also there to see the owner of the research group, just like her. Xing Bei followed behind him without saying a word.
Tong Wulin followed beside her and asked in a low voice, "Senior, is this your friend?"
Xing Bei looked at the back of the person in front of her and said with a smile, "He is my brother."
Tong Wulin exclaimed softly, "Your family has such great genes!"
Xing Bei did not explain her relationship with Chen Qingyan to Tong Wulin, since her mother truly treated Chen Qingyan as her son.
After following Chen Qingyan inside, Tong Wulin saw the familiar desk and instantly recognized that the person there was his brother.
Tong Yu turned around and saw two familiar faces, his brow furrowing slightly: "It's not even the New Year yet, why are you all coming here?"
Tong Wulin snatched the contract from Xing Bei's arms and shoved it in front of him without any politeness. Xing Bei wanted to stop him, but it was too late.
She closed her eyes and silently prayed for Tong Wulin in her heart.
May God bless this kid; he's just entered the workforce and knows nothing. May God also bless him so that this contract will be successful.
"Brother, I'm here to talk business with you." Tong Wulin ran over to massage his brother's shoulders very attentively. "Brother, could you please sign your name on this piece of paper?"
Xing Bei looked at the two brothers in disbelief. No wonder Tong Wulin was so bold; it turned out he was one of their own.
Tong Yu looked at his younger brother speechlessly: "Why doesn't he go to his own company? He insists on suffering outside."
Tong Wulin continued to massage his back: "Didn't we make a bold statement back then that we wouldn't go home until we became famous?"
"Is that so?" Tong Yu was about to put down his pen when he heard this and stopped. "Then I won't sign it right away. Give me a reason for signing."
Standing not far away, Xing Bei silently worried for him. Chen Yunzhou looked at the person beside him, a faint smile appearing on his lips, which Tong Yu noticed at a glance.
He looked at the person next to Chen Qingyan. The girl was wearing a white suit and stood there quietly. Sunlight shone through the one-way glass, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Chen Qingyan shielded her from the sunlight, but a sliver of light still shone into her eyes. Her eyes were crystal clear, like the moon in the sky, shimmering with a soft and cool radiance that captivated all who looked into them.
Perhaps due to nervousness, she gently bit her lower lip. Despite her striking and somewhat aggressive appearance, this gesture added a touch of playfulness.
Tong Wulin, of course, paid no attention to any of this, and gave his brother a fawning smile: "Brother, don't you know me? What kind of nonsense do you think I can come up with? Just sign it, consider it my begging you."
Tong Yu looked away, rolled her eyes at him speechlessly, quickly signed her name, and threw the contract at him: "Take it and get lost."
Upon receiving the contract, Tong Wulin's eyes lit up: "Thank you, brother."
He happily took the contract and presented it to Xing Bei, who carefully raised her hand and gave him a thumbs up.
The most powerful people in the world are those with connections; they can secure a contract in less than half an hour.
Tong Wulin smiled and looked at his brother: "Brother, let's go back first."
"Get out, get out, get out." Tong Yu sighed helplessly.
Tong Wulin pulled Xing Bei away quickly, and Chen Qingyan watched their backs as his eyes instantly returned to their indifferent expression.
Tong Yu leaned back lazily in his chair and joked, "If you keep looking at it, it'll turn into a wife-gazing stone."
Chen Qingyan gave him a cold look: "Don't talk nonsense, she is my sister."
He and Chen Qingyan have known each other since high school. In the past, he was at least a boy who said one thing but meant another. Now, he seems gentle and polite, but he is becoming more and more indifferent.
When I saw that barely perceptible, gentle smile in his eyes, I almost thought I was hallucinating.
He walked to Chen Qingyan's side, no longer believing his claim of having a younger sister: "Qingyan, which girl do you like?"
Chen Qingyan's hands, hanging at her sides, clenched unconsciously. She glanced at him expressionlessly and said, "I already told you she's my sister."
"Oh?" Tong Yu stroked his chin and teased, "Anyway, she's not my biological sister."
"Tong Yu." The steady voice carried a hint of warning.
Tong Yu toned down his playful tone: "I was just kidding, don't take it seriously."
This ancestor's temper is getting harder and harder to handle.
Back at the company, Tong Wulin took the contract to hand in his work, while Xing Bei handed her resignation letter to Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan took it and looked at her helplessly: "Are you really sure?"
Xing Bei smiled and nodded. Chi Qingtang knew she was leaving, so she had already come over to help her pack. There wasn't much to pack in Xing Bei's office; a small box would have been enough.
She looked up at Chi Qingtang: "Are you still going to stay at the company?"
Chi Qingtang smiled and shrugged: "Where else could I go?"
Xing Bei: "You know that's not what I'm asking."
Chi Qingtang's smile gradually faded, and she said earnestly, "Mingzhu, we are different. I am a coward, and I am afraid of failure."
Xing Bei was uncharacteristically serious for once. She put her arm around Chi Qingtang's shoulder and said, "Who isn't a coward? But we all have to take this step. I can do it now, and you can too."
"Do you really want to see someone you hate get everything you like so easily?" Xing Bei knew her worries. "That's the kind of love you've cherished since you were little. Are you really willing to give it up like that?"
She was exceptionally talented from a young age, perfectly inheriting her mother's genes, but because of a premeditated scheme, she lacked the courage to face the violin she loved. Of course, she was unwilling to accept this.
Xing Bei knew her heart was wavering, so she gently patted her shoulder and said, "Opportunity always favors the prepared. I believe you are ready."
She smiled and glanced at Chi Qingtang before leaving with her suitcase. Chi Qingtang watched her retreating figure, lost in thought.
Is she really ready?
Xing Bei put the things in the trunk, looked at the bright sun in the sky, and a gentle smile curved her lips.
"Senior," Tong Wulin chased after her from inside the company, "Are you really leaving?"
Xing Bei looked at him and nodded seriously: "I've wasted too much time. Now I'm going to do what I like."
Tong Wulin didn't know what she liked, but her eyes crinkled into a smile as she said, "Senior, see you next time."
"See you next time." Xing Bei waved to him as she got into the car.
In such a good mood, and it was lunchtime, Xing Bei was planning to have a meal at Zuiyunjian when she unexpectedly ran into Chen Qingyan.
Tong Yu, who was standing not far away, spotted her at a glance and excitedly tugged at the sleeve of the person beside him.
Chen Qingyan frowned slightly, pushed his hand away in disgust, and smoothed out the wrinkles he had pulled.
Tong Yu watched his actions speechlessly, then pointed to Xing Bei's discovery: "Your sister is over there, aren't you going to invite her to have dinner with you?"
Chen Qingyan followed his gaze and saw that they were about to leave. Before he could speak, Tong Yu pulled Chen Qingyan in that direction.
"Little sister, wait a minute."
Xing Bei had just taken a step when she heard a familiar voice and stopped, looking in the direction of the sound with a puzzled expression.
She saw Tong Wulin's brother pulling Chen Qingyan towards her, and Chen Qingyan's face was full of displeasure.
Tong Yu looked at her with a smile: "Little sister, want to have a meal together?"
Tong Yu noticed her beautiful brows furrow slightly and quickly explained, "Qingyan told me you're his sister, but I didn't know your name at the time, so I called you 'sister' in my haste. I'm very sorry."
She smiled and shook her head: "It's okay, my name is Xing Bei, you can just call me by my name."
Tong Yu: "Sister Xing is so understanding."
Xing Bei: "..." These two brothers are really cut from the same cloth.
At the dinner table, Tong Yu was unusually enthusiastic, almost asking about her entire family history for three generations.
Tong Yu glanced at the person beside her, a malicious smile playing on her lips: "Sister Xing is so beautiful, she must have many suitors. I wonder if any of them have taken a liking to her?"
Xing Bei hesitated for a moment, pondering whether to reveal that she was already married. After thinking it over, she decided to keep the news a secret for the time being.
Although she knew very well that Chen Qingyan would not easily mention this matter to Ms. Shi, she still wanted to be on the safe side. If her secret were to be exposed, she would be completely ruined. She would wait for a suitable opportunity to quietly tell Chen Qingyan.
A slight upturn of her lips revealed a radiant smile, as bright as spring blossoms, as she softly said, "I already have a boyfriend, and I'm planning to bring him home at the end of the year."
Upon hearing this, Tong Yu cautiously glanced at Chen Qingyan, only to find that the other party remained expressionless.
If he hadn't noticed out of the corner of his eye that the veins on his hands, which were resting on his thighs, were bulging, he would have believed it to be true.
He smiled faintly: "As expected, all the pretty girls belong to other people."
As night deepened, the boundless darkness enveloped Chanjing, and the dazzling neon lights flowed like a long river, reflecting a vibrant and bustling scene.
On the third floor of Zuiyun Pavilion, Lin Zhuochi, standing in the corridor, gently nudged the person beside him and asked in confusion, "Isn't that my sister-in-law?"
Lu Runxu looked up and followed the direction Lin Zhuochi was pointing. Xing Bei was saying goodbye to Chen Qingyan and the others. Looking at the bright smile on her face, he felt inexplicably irritated.
Xing Bei smiled and waved to them, saying, "Be careful on the road."
Tong Yu: "See you next time, Sister Xing."
He turned around and moved closer to Chen Qingyan: "Qingyan, why do I feel a faint killing intent around us?"
Chen Qingyan pushed him away with disgust: "You've had too much to drink. Do you think you're some kind of martial arts hero who's being killed?"
Tong Yu: "..."
He looked back and saw nothing unusual amidst the bustling crowd. Could he really be drunk?
After watching them leave, Xing Bei turned and walked towards the parking lot. She had just taken a step when she stopped as if sensing something.
Those eyes, as clear as spring water, involuntarily looked to the right, their gaze seemingly piercing through the crowd and the noise, fixing on a blurry figure.
The figure looked somewhat familiar, which stirred a strange feeling in Xing Bei's heart.
Could Lu Runxu be here too?
She shook her head, trying to shake the unrealistic idea out of her mind. Lu Runxu should be at home at this time; he couldn't possibly be here.
After leaving Zuiyunjian, Xing Bei didn't rush back to Zhuqing Bay. Thinking that the snack cabinet at home was almost empty, she went to the supermarket to restock.
It was almost eleven o'clock when I got home. As soon as I opened the door, I saw the person sitting on the sofa. Under the dim and hazy light, the man seemed like a mysterious being hidden in the darkness. His handsome face was obscured by shadows, making it difficult to see the emotions on his face.
The only thing clearly visible was a pair of long, strong hands with distinct finger bones, which were gently tapping their knees in a seemingly casual yet rhythmic manner.
Xing Bei stood at the door, her hand still on the doorknob, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw this scene.
Could it be that the figure she saw from behind really was him?
Before she could even prepare to run away, the man's gentle, steady voice came from the sofa: "Girlfriend, aren't you coming in?"
Such a cold tone prompted Xing Bei's body to act before her brain could.
Wait, what is she so afraid of?
She was just having a meal with her brother; she didn't do anything illegal. Why should she be so pathetic?
Suddenly, Xing Bei became defiant and swaggered towards the sofa: "It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?"
Lu Runxu smiled casually: "I can't sleep without Mrs. Lu by my side."
Xing Bei's sixth sense told her that this man was jealous.
"So, Mrs. Lu, don't you have anything to explain?"
Sure enough, it was him.
Xing Bei sat down beside him: "You've misunderstood me, that person is my brother."
Lu Runxu chuckled: "Oh, it's my lover. As expected, Mrs. Lu knows how to have fun."
Xing Bei: "..."
What kind of lover is he?
Xing Bei smiled and cupped his face, explaining earnestly, "You really misunderstood me. He's my mother's biological son. If there were anything between us, our marriage certificate would already be for us."
These words made Lu Runxu laugh in anger. He took her hand and rubbed it as usual, then looked down at her. Xing Bei suddenly felt a chill down her back and followed his gaze.
"Mrs. Lu, where is your wedding ring?"
Xing Bei was stunned for a moment. Looking at her empty ring finger on her left hand, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't worn it since it fell off when she took a shower last time.
The main reason is that it was such a valuable item, and she would be heartbroken if she lost it outside. Over time, she forgot about it.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Xing Bei quickly got up from the sofa and ran upstairs to the dressing room. Lu Runxu watched her back and slowly followed behind her.
She took out the simple yet luxurious diamond ring from the jewelry cabinet and put it on the ring finger of her left hand.
Lu Runxu leaned against the door and watched her quietly. After Xing Bei finished dressing, she dangled her head in front of him as if to show off.
He lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, "Mrs. Lu, there can't be a next time."
Xing Bei tilted her head and looked at him: "There will absolutely be no next time."
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