Chapter 11: Zero multiplied by more extravagance is in vain
At Fenghua Manor, Du Zhanrong finished talking to his mother on the balcony. He was in a bad mood and went straight to the kitchen after entering.
Song Li was concentrating on making dinner and was completely unaware that there was someone standing behind him.
It was around six o'clock in the evening in winter and it was already dark outside the window. Song Li only used the spotlight on the operating table. Perhaps he was too focused and did not notice that the surroundings were getting darker.
Her busy little body cast a shadow, making the kitchen flicker with light. Du Zhanrong stared at her quietly, her long hair all tied back, her thin waist tied with an apron bow. Sometimes she stretched out her hands, sometimes she raised her feet, sometimes she bent over... It was as if an inexplicable emotion suddenly surged out of her...
He reached out and flicked the switch, and the kitchen suddenly lit up brightly.
Song Li regained consciousness, turned around, and saw him. "Are you hungry? It will be soon. Wait another ten minutes."
Du Zhanrong smiled and said, "Nothing, I just came here because of the aroma. I didn't expect that everyone in Qiliang said you are very capable at work and you are also very good at cooking!"
Song Li continued to busy himself with the food in his hands.
Approaching the stove, Du Zhanrong took a special look at the location of the seasoning bottle. The sugar used for making porridge this morning, in a green bottle, was indeed placed far away.
He seldom cooks, so the ingredients and seasonings in the kitchen are very simple and not specially labeled, but at least Du Zhanrong himself can tell which color bottle contains which seasoning.
"Go out and wait." Song Li turned off the fire and walked to the dining table with the soup.
"I'll help you." Du Zhanrong said as he picked up a plate of food with his left hand.
Song Li put down the soup and quickly took the dish from his hand, "Just sit down, I'll do it."
After the dishes were served, Song Liluo sat on his right so that she could take better care of him.
After taking the first sip of the soup, Du Zhanrong understood everything.
Song Li didn't notice the solemn expression on his face for a moment, and was just busy picking up food for him.
Du Zhanrong continued to drink soup and eat, trying his best to act natural.
Song Li didn't think much about it. Apart from keeping an eye on his bowl, she also hurried to eat. Even if He Qian didn't look for her tonight, she had to go out and earn money.
Seeing that she was eating "happily" and had no unusual reaction, Du Zhanrong felt even more depressed.
"Song Li."
"Hmm?" Song Li looked up, not understanding why he suddenly called her, and his tone was serious.
"I wonder if Ah Qian has told you before that I want you to work at Qihang?"
Qihang Technology is a company founded by Du Zhanrong after he returned to China. It is said that his mother only gave him two years, and if he did not achieve any results, he would have to return to Chen Pharmaceutical without any conditions.
Song Li thought for a few seconds. He Qian seemed to have mentioned it briefly.
"How have you considered it?" Du Zhanrong asked, looking at her profile. "Your boss told you to think about it yourself!"
Song Li was not surprised. He Qian's words were nothing more than throwing the problem to her, letting her refuse it herself. "I haven't thought about changing jobs."
"As long as you agree to go to Qihang, you can set any conditions. How much is your salary at Qiliang? I will give you... ten times!" Du Zhanrong said without blinking. After all, Qiliang is a large enterprise admired by thousands of people. As the secretary of the top boss, her salary and benefits must be generous. He just asked for ten times the salary, which should have moved her to some extent.
Song Li felt as if she had been slapped hard in the face, and her face was burning... Haha, her salary, she had never had a salary. She had been working in Qiliang for ten years and had never received a penny of compensation.
Ten times… so what if it’s ten times!
As expected, no matter how much extravagance one indulges, it is all in vain...
Du Zhanrong thought she was really hesitating, but when he looked more carefully, he noticed the grievance in her eyes, "Or are you worried about something? You can tell me, I will discuss it with Ah Qian, he is not difficult to talk to."
Song Li lowered his head and continued eating. "No, I really don't plan to change jobs. I don't want to leave Qi Liang yet."
How could she not want to leave Qi Liang? She even dreamed about leaving He Qian! Moreover, it's not like she hadn't taken action before. She tried, and she paid a heavy price...
During the first few years when she was threatened and imprisoned by He Qian, Song Li secretly thought of a way to send her younger brothers and sisters abroad to study first, and then send her mother over after a while. Only when they were all stable abroad could she get out of this situation safely.
However, although He Qian had great powers, he still couldn't escape his clutches.
The guarantor for her overseas study was Lu Linlin, her high school deskmate of six years. Her family was well-off, owning a small business, but they were financially comfortable. While her application for overseas study was still underway, her company was targeted and went bankrupt overnight. Her father was also reported and imprisoned, leaving Lu Linlin in a state of turmoil.
What made Song Li most heartbroken was that Lu Linlin was distracted by family matters and got into a car accident, and she couldn't be rescued...
Song Li was sad for a long time. Lu Linlin was her best friend, and she helped her without hesitation many times. However, when such a big thing happened to the Lu family, she could not help at all, and finally watched her die in front of her!
Later, one time, when Song Li was tidying up He Qian's desk, she found a pile of information. It was information about Lu Linlin and her company, as well as the schools and addresses of her younger brother and sister abroad!
It turns out that He Qian had known for a long time that she wanted to send her younger siblings abroad. It turned out that He Qian had already investigated everything about the Lu family, including the company's situation. In order to prevent her younger siblings from going abroad, he did not hesitate to take action against the Lu family and destroy the Lu family!
She suddenly realized that it was He Qian who was responsible!
Otherwise, how could the Lu family's company collapse so suddenly! He Qian was so cruel and ruthless that Song Li thought he was only targeting her. Unexpectedly, he also went after Lu Linlin's elderly father and indirectly killed Lu Linlin!
Song Li felt a suffocating pain every time she thought about this. If she hadn't asked Lu Linlin to be a guarantor, the Lu family wouldn't have been targeted by He Qian, her family wouldn't have been in trouble, and she wouldn't have died...
Du Zhanrong saw her lowering her head, and guessed that something must be bothering her. "Don't be in a hurry to answer me. Think about it carefully. You can talk to me anytime."
Song Li's hand, gripping the chopsticks with such force, turned pale and trembled slightly. Even the mere thought of Lu Linlin's death made her feel uncomfortable, as if she had just survived a catastrophe...
The Lu family no longer exists, Linlin is dead, but she, Song Li, is still alive. What kind of feeling is this? She can't express it in words.
After that, she tried her best to keep a distance from people around her and was too timid to make friends.
Seeing that she didn't respond, Du Zhanrong didn't ask any further questions. He lowered his eyes and continued eating.
Chen Yao happened to open the door at this time and saw the two of them eating. "I can smell the delicious food at the door!"
"There's no portion for you tonight. If you haven't eaten, go out or I'll order takeout for you!" Du Zhanrong was really confused. Why did she show up at this time?
Chen Yao trotted over and sat down, pretending to be aggrieved. "Sister Song Li, my brother has never spoken to me so loudly like this! In the past, even if there was only one portion of food, he would give it to me! Now he has changed!"
"Please sit down, I'll get you a bowl." Song Li stood up.
Du Zhanrong pulled her back, walked around to Chen Yao's side, and nudged her. "It's good that you know. Go out tonight and don't disturb us here! We finally have some time alone!"
These words are tantamount to a confession and a declaration.
Chen Yao stuck out her tongue, as if what she said made sense. "But, but, your sister has been tortured for the entire afternoon and is now starving. Do you really have the heart to kick her out of the house?"
"What's wrong with you?" Song Li saw that she indeed looked sleepy.
Du Zhanrong quickly pulled Chen Yao away and said, "If you're hungry, go out and eat. Let your senior Xu come pick you up. I'll also create some time for you two."
"Don't you even ask who tortured me? I'm telling you, my aunt caught me at the school gate. She asked why you weren't hospitalized, and why the nurses and nannies weren't allowed to come and take care of you, and she wasn't allowed to come and see you!" Chen Yao instinctively retorted, "My aunt is a recognized goddess, and you're asking me a million questions!"
Song Li knew that the aunt Chen Yao was referring to was Du Zhanrong's mother, Chen Qinzhu. The family's only son being injured and hospitalized was a serious matter, but he didn't allow his family to be around, and she knew why.
With a family background like Du Zhanrong's, how could Song Li possibly fit in? She would only bring shame upon herself. It was precisely because He Qian knew this relationship that he deliberately "generously" allowed her to stay.
"My aunt also asked me, the doctor said it was a woman who discharged you. Who was that woman?" Chen Yao glanced at Song Li with a smile, "Let me make it clear first, I didn't say anything! But! But... it seems she went to find Sister Qianyuan..."
Du Zhanrong felt a little breathless when he thought of his mother. Fortunately, his cousin and cousin Du Qianyuan would both stand on his side, but he was also upset by her phone call just now. His mother's desire for control and possessiveness was too strong, and what he feared most was that it would embarrass Song Li.
How could Song Li not understand Chen Qinzhu's purpose? And maybe she already knew that she was the woman next to her son...
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