Chapter 4: Ten Years Like a Day
Ouyang Bin’s case has come to an end.
He Qian seems to be very busy these days, with a full schedule that requires him to leave early and return late. Song Li hasn't seen him for two consecutive days.
When it was time to get off work, as usual, she drove the car back to Ciyun Pavilion and then went to the Jinye International Hotel, where she worked part-time.
In order to support herself, she has to work several jobs as her mother is old, her sister is seriously ill, and her brother will graduate from college next year.
Tidying hotel rooms, washing dishes in restaurants, doing housekeeping, playing piano in banquet halls, selling alcohol at night stalls...
Everyone knew Song Li was the glamorous secretary of the president of Qiliang Group. They all thought she was a high-paid employee with a car and a house. But she was the only one who felt the bitterness in her heart. The house was used to imprison her, and the car was given to her because He Qian could call her at any time.
As for salary, she never had any.
Not a penny, the same thing for ten years.
He Qian told her on the first day she joined Qiliang that Song Li did not deserve a salary.
After finishing work at the hotel, I hurried to Yueting Heng Street, which is the old city area of Yuancheng. In the past two years, it has developed into the most popular street for night snack stalls, and it is extremely popular at night.
Song Li came here to wash dishes tonight, and took on work for five stores in total.
It was the beginning of winter, and the water at night was particularly cold, but Song Li didn't care about that because dirty dishes kept coming in, basket after basket...
If she stops for even a moment, her family's life will be in jeopardy.
The nights grew colder, and Song Li toiled until he was drenched in sweat. The constant stream of people, the endless washing of dishes, and the never-ending cycle of fingers began to cramp...
It wasn't until two in the morning that there was a break.
Song Li looked at her watch and thought about He Qian's social event at the New World Club tonight, which was almost over. She hurriedly took off her gloves and apron, as she had to get back before He Qian.
Because he had known the bosses for a long time, and there were not many customers now and not much work left, Song Li paid the bosses in cash and prepared to leave.
At the south exit of Hengjie, I ran into Du Zhanrong, who was being hugged by a woman and seemed to have just finished eating and was about to leave.
"Song Li!" Du Zhanrong was the first to jog over and say hello.
"Mr. Du." Song Li was too tired to speak and was thinking about how to end the conversation as soon as possible.
"Are you coming here to eat too? I should have made an appointment with you earlier, but why are you alone?" Du Zhanrong looked at her. Her hair was messy, her expression was tired, and there were water stains on her trouser legs.
"Well, I'm getting ready to go back. It's getting late. Mr. Du, I'm leaving first." Song Li lifted his heavy eyelids.
"This is my cousin, Chen Yao." Du Zhanrong didn't want to end it yet, so he pulled the woman over, both to explain and to find a topic to talk about.
"Hello, Miss Chen." Song Li had seen her before. She was the daughter of Chen Pharmaceutical.
Chen Yao stared at her for a long time with her clear eyes. She had often seen this woman around He Qian before and didn't think anything of her. But recently Du Zhanrong kept mentioning her, and all he talked about was Song Li, which made her interested in her. "Miss Song, what a coincidence. Do you also like to eat in this old town? My cousin doesn't believe in the food here. I brought him here once, and now he forces me to accompany him every night!"
"What did you eat tonight? I'll try it next time! Which restaurant is it?" Du Zhanrong said while deliberately looking in the direction she came from, as if to confirm the reason why she appeared here tonight.
What are we having for dinner tonight? Song Li opened her mouth but was speechless for a moment. She didn't even have time to drink a sip of water tonight. She seemed to have long been accustomed to such a busy life.
"Just something to eat." Song Li was in a hurry to go back and had no mood for small talk. "Mr. Du, Ms. Chen, it's getting late. I'm leaving first."
Chen Yao glanced at Du Zhanrong, as if to say: See, everyone wants to avoid you!
Du Zhanrong looked a little depressed. "Ask the driver to take you home and text me when you get home."
Chen Yao paused for a few seconds, and before she could open her mouth to scold him, she ran after Song Li.
Du Zhanrong strode towards Song Li and stood shoulder to shoulder with her. "It's so late, shall I take you home?"
Song Li was not in a hurry and did not stop his hurried steps. "You should send your sister back. I'm used to it."
"She has a driver, I want to give you a ride."
"Boss Du, I remember I made it very clear last time that I don't want to meet you unless it's work-related."
"Besides work, can't we be friends?"
"But you confessed your feelings, you pursued me, and I rejected you! So, I don't want to be friends with you!"
He Qian didn't want her to be treated badly if he saw her with Du Zhanrong again!
Asking her to receive Ouyang Bin is an example!
Du Zhanrong laughed instead. It was the first time he met someone who was so direct and didn't leave him any room for maneuver!
"Okay, okay, let's not go that far. It's too late, shall I take you home?"
"Please don't follow me, okay?" Song Li looked in the direction of the shared bicycles parked on the side of the road.
"My car is over there!" Du Zhanrong wanted to go over and pull her over, but then he heard her cell phone ringing.
Song Li was instantly horrified, and for a moment she thought that He Qian had gone back and couldn't see her, so he called her to make trouble!
But I didn’t expect it was my mother calling... A bad premonition came to my mind. It was two o'clock in the morning, and I got a call from home. Something must have happened!
When Du Zhanrong saw her answer the phone, he stopped pestering her and waited there, maintaining a gentlemanly and polite distance.
"You Ran is missing?" Song Li was shocked. Her mother was so nervous that she was talking nonsense, saying that her sister seemed to be missing!
Song's mother Fan Wuju woke up in the middle of the night and found that her second daughter Song Youran was missing. She searched everywhere inside and outside the house but couldn't find her!
"I'll be back soon. You look around first. Don't go too far!" Song Li hung up the phone and saw three or four taxis waiting for passengers on the street. He was about to rush over.
Du Zhanrong heard that she was in a hurry and pulled her over without saying anything, "I'll take you there!"
He couldn't help feeling happy in his heart, but he definitely didn't feel gloating because he happened to be by her side when she was in trouble.
Song Li was actually a bit bewildered. Her sister Song Youran's disappearance had caught her completely off guard. She was exhausted, and she still had to figure out how to deal with He Qian...
My scalp goes numb just thinking about this!
Du Zhanrong dragged her into the car. He could see that she was distracted, so he didn't dare to ask any more questions. "Address."
Song Li's eyes darted around, unfocused. "Tianyun District... East, No. 72 Dongmei Road."
Du Zhanrong quickly searched the navigation system and fastened her seatbelt. When he approached her, he noticed that her body was shaking slightly. He realized that the situation might be serious. "What happened at home?"
Song Li was silent. She heard him asking, but she didn't know how to answer for a moment. The fear choking in her throat was painful, and she couldn't speak.
Du Zhanrong was driving very fast and the distance was not far. Song Li also made a phone call on the way. She called "Mom" and it seemed that her family was urging her to go. However, the accident happened at this time, so it was probably a bit serious.
Song Li held the seat belt tightly, trying not to panic and staying awake to think about where his sister would go if she ran away.
Where would she go...where would her sister go? How could a mentally ill patient be aware of where she was going!
Song Li felt so distressed that she wanted to cry. Her sister, Song Youran, was in her prime, but three years ago, she was assaulted by two beasts. This incident later tormented her to the point of schizophrenia, leaving her demented and mad all day long...
To make the suffering family even worse, the mother stopped her work and took care of the child every day, but the condition never improved. The treatment and medical expenses almost bankrupted her.
This was also a "wake-up call" given to her by He Qian.
Because before Song Youran got into trouble, Song Li tried to leave He Qian, but was discovered by him. He said viciously that he would make her pay the price!
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