In the few days leading up to the Lunar New Year when families are about to reunite, it is a time for various industries to celebrate and summarize the year's achievements. Shopping malls are no exception, and they also held year-end celebrations.
Before the New Year, Jiang Shuya finally took some time to invite several store managers to dinner and gave each of them two exquisite gifts. The gifts weren't very expensive, but they were very satisfied and showed unexpected joy. This marked a perfect end to the year's sales performance. After a few rounds of drinks, they all expressed their determination to continue working hard for the next year's cooperation and achieve even greater breakthroughs.
She also took the time to buy a set of skincare products for Wang Tingting. Learning that Sun Qi would be discharged from the hospital in a couple of days, Jiang Shuya realized she hadn't visited him in a long time. Seeing the happy smile on Wang Tingting's face, Jiang Shuya guessed that their relationship had taken another step closer, and jokingly teased, "What a coincidence! Sun Qi is just being discharged and it's almost Chinese New Year. His bruises will have to wait a while, so I can't go home with you to visit your parents."
Wang Tingting glanced at her and said, "It's not even close to being settled yet, so you can't just say things like that. But this time when I go home, I can only lie to my parents and say I have a boyfriend. That way, we can stall for time and slowly dissuade my brother from his advances."
"Your parents will ask about your boyfriend's family background, right? If you say he's Sun Qi, won't they come straight to Xixia Village to investigate his household registration?" Jiang Shuya asked.
Wang Tingting's eyes lit up, and she sighed, "You know what, it's really possible. They're actually capable of doing something like this. I reckon my younger brother will be the first to go out with me after the New Year."
Jiang Shuya: These two siblings really have similar personalities; they're both impulsive and quick-tempered.
“Sun Qi is not bad, and she’s not afraid of being investigated. If you work harder, Jiang Island will be demolished next year. If you transfer your household registration here, you can get a share of money and a house.” Jiang Shuya said, encouraging him.
Wang Tingting blinked, seemingly quite tempted, but then became hesitant again; "Changing my household registration means we're married. I'm not his official girlfriend yet. How can I accept it if he doesn't bring it up himself? The feeling of rejection is too painful."
"Then just keep him hanging on. Don't go see him for the next few days. I don't believe he won't reach out to you. Listen to me, let's just ignore him." Jiang Shuya said with a look of disdain.
Sun Qi, who was in the hospital room at that moment, hung his head blankly, constantly recalling the scene in the snow that day. That usually warm and gentle smiling face was crying her heart out for him in front of him, speaking her heartfelt words with sorrow. Her eyes were filled with pity and reluctance. He should have been happy, but she only treated him as a younger brother. He felt a strange bitterness and sorrow in his heart, and he couldn't be happy no matter what.
It turned out she had only ever pitied him. This was probably the most normal form of comfort he could offer. Growing up without his mother's guidance, this was the first time he had ever felt anything special for a woman. From the first glance, he felt a natural familiarity with her, as if he had known her before. This made him want to get closer and fantasize about knowing her better and getting closer to her. When he actually went through life and death with her, he felt like he had gotten to know her anew. Selfish thoughts filled him with fantasies. If she weren't his sister-in-law, how wonderful it would be! He would treat her so well, giving her everything he had, even his life.
Wang Tingting indeed refrained from visiting Sun Qi at the hospital for two days. It wasn't until he was discharged that he realized he hadn't seen Wang Tingting for several days, so he took the initiative to call her to let her know he was about to be discharged and not to make a wasted trip. The moment Wang Tingting received the call, she was extremely excited and, ignoring any objections, insisted on going to the hospital to pick Sun Qi up. When she arrived at the hospital entrance, she saw Sun Qi talking to another man, and her expression became complicated. The man got out of the car, exchanged a few words with her, opened the car door, and gestured for Sun Qi to get in. Only when Wang Tingting got closer did she see the man's face and assumed he was one of Sun Qi's relatives.
She went up to him, grabbed his sleeve, and asked, "What relation is he to you?"
Sun Qi looked blank; "We're not relatives. I've only met him once, and I barely know him."
"Oh, I see. Then why did he come to see you off?" Wang Tingting asked curiously.
Sun Qi shook her head, puzzled.
The man smiled and politely greeted Sun Qi; "I'm Lin Moxiao, a friend of Jiang Shuya. I happen to have some business at the Jiangdao Police Station, let me give you a ride."
The two exchanged a glance, no longer suspecting anything, and got into the car. As Lin Moxiao drove off, Wang Tingting secretly observed him from the back seat and whispered to Sun Qi, "Is this the one who took on three people that night?"
Sun Qi nodded without speaking, his gaze not very friendly. Although he had saved him and helped Jiang Shuya, he felt that this person was not simply helping Jiang Shuya, but had other motives. He guessed, but was not so sure. Looking down, he saw Wang Tingting holding his hand, and Sun Qi's ears turned red. He avoided her gentle gaze and turned his head to look at the scenery outside the window.
Wang Tingting pursed her lips, snorted coldly, and stubbornly turned her head away, refusing to look at him. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she looked at the man in front of her; "Mr. Lin, how did you and Jiang Shuya meet?"
"I'm her senior," Lin Moxiao said in a low voice.
Wang Tingting frowned slightly and said awkwardly, "What a senior who's experienced life and death! I really envy Jiang Shuya. She has people willing to risk their lives for her, and two of them at that. I wonder what her husband thinks."
"Wang Tingting, can't you speak properly? Are you always this harsh in the business world?" Sun Qi was somewhat disappointed in her.
Ever since she witnessed the two family members expressing their deepest gratitude to Sun Qi at the hospital that day, Wang Tingting subtly inquired about the events of that night from Officer Luo. When she learned that Sun Qi and Lin Moxiao had risked their lives to save those children, she became even more certain of her judgment in people. Her long-held admiration for Sun Qi surged again. Later, after thinking about it carefully for a long time, she realized that Sun Qi and Jiang Shuya were not related at all.
Jiang Shuya was able to help Sun Qi connect with a large company like Yi Yun and find him a job. In return, Sun Qi was willing to risk his life to help Jiang Shuya. Was there some unknown secret behind this? Thinking of Sun Qi's lukewarm attitude towards her, and Jiang Shuya's calm and composed demeanor every time she saw her, she could guess that perhaps Sun Qi had some vague feelings for her, but Jiang Shuya was unaware of it. She even encouraged herself to take the plunge and support her being with Sun Qi.
A gloomy look appeared in Wang Tingting's eyes. She looked out the window forlornly, feeling very down. Her mind was filled with questions about the meaning of continuing like this and whether she should keep going.
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