Chapter 40 Out of Reach
“That woman has nothing to do with me. She used the project she was working on with the Jiang family to try to get an internship at the company, and she kept trying to get close to me under various pretexts. I eventually had the security guards take her out, and I never let her step into the gate again.”
"oh."
She lowered her head and continued eating. As she chewed, Song Zhiwei responded softly, her tone still indifferent.
But deep down, I felt a sense of relief.
She loosened her grip on the chopsticks slightly, and her tense shoulders slumped down.
It turned out that he didn't treat relationships as casually as she had imagined.
At least……
He didn't truly accept that woman.
-
It was evening, and the night was deep.
The city lights outside the window twinkled like stars.
Sheng Tingzhou leaned back on the living room sofa, his slender fingers rapidly tapping on the laptop keyboard.
Song Zhiwei sat at a desk not far away.
He was holding a thick collection of legal cases, the cover of which was already somewhat worn.
She turned to a page, but her gaze lingered on the words.
She was just pretending to be watching intently, using this to hide the turmoil in her heart.
She originally wanted to go back to her room and stay quietly, but the "old man" next to her wouldn't let her have any peace and quiet. He half-forced her to sit in the living room, claiming it was "to make it easier for him to do things."
Sure enough, he spoke up not long afterward.
"Pour me a glass of water."
Song Zhiwei pursed her lips, said nothing, and obediently got up to go to the kitchen to pour him a glass of warm water.
Then he silently sat back down.
The room fell silent again, with only the sound of keyboard typing and the soft rustling of pages turning.
Suddenly, the crisp ringtone of a cell phone shattered the tranquility.
Sheng Tingzhou casually picked up his phone from the sofa armrest, looked down, and saw two words displayed on the screen.
He gave a soft "hmm," swiped to answer the call, and held the phone to his ear.
"Hello?"
A familiar voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Tingzhou, how about we get together tonight? Come on! We've already made plans with a few old friends."
Sheng Tingzhou glanced casually in Song Zhiwei's direction.
She was still looking down at her book, not even lifting her eyelids.
He looked away and replied calmly, "No."
"No!"
Mo Huaizhi's voice immediately rose several octaves.
"I heard there's a special show at Xinghai Bar tonight, the live band is amazing, the atmosphere is absolutely amazing. All the guys are here, just waiting for you, aren't you coming?"
Sheng Tingzhou rested his chin on his hand, tapping his jawline lightly with his knuckles, and asked casually, "Is Zhou Zhiwei going?"
"Since Yi Qing went, how could he not come?"
Mo Huaizhi chuckled.
"Are you afraid to see your ex-girlfriend?"
Sheng Tingzhou didn't respond to that, but instead suddenly looked up at Song Zhiwei.
"Little Spring, want to go out tonight?"
Song Zhiwei was suddenly startled, her fingers trembled, and the book almost turned over.
She slowly raised her head, her eyes full of confusion, and subconsciously pointed to her nose.
Are you calling me?
Upon hearing this, Mo Huaizhi on the other end of the phone was immediately furious.
"Holy crap! Tingzhou! There's still someone at your house this late?! Who's Little Spring? Is she a new little sister? Or did you finally give up and bring your sweetheart home?!"
Sheng Tingzhou didn't bother to explain the series of questions; he just stared at Song Zhiwei and asked her again with a deep gaze.
"Shall we go?"
Song Zhiwei trembled slightly under that gaze, her thoughts drifting back to the fierce argument she had with Zhou Zhiwei earlier that day.
She still remembers the way he frowned, and the disappointment and confusion in his voice.
If they go now, they will inevitably run into each other, and the scene will definitely be very awkward.
What bothered her even more was that Zhou Zhiwei would see her appearing with Sheng Tingzhou.
People would probably immediately assume that she was deliberately currying favor with the powerful and wealthy, trying to please them for her own future or personal gain.
He never understood her, nor did he want to understand her.
Even those who know her best can misunderstand her like this.
What about those complete strangers?
Once the rumors start spreading, she won't be able to clear her name no matter what.
She didn't want to get herself into these troubles.
She lowered her head, her fingertips gently stroking the hem of her clothes, and finally shook her head softly.
"No, thank you."
Sheng Tingzhou watched her movements, his eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't say anything.
He looked away and put the phone back to his ear.
"I'm not going, you guys have fun."
On the other end of the phone, Mo Huaizhi was still patiently trying to persuade him.
"No way! Zhiwei is in a bad mood tonight, so the brothers have to keep her company, right? At times like this, no one can do without the other."
Sheng Tingzhou raised an eyebrow slightly, his voice carrying a hint of languor.
"Feeling down? What's wrong, got dumped?"
Song Zhiwei was about to turn around and leave.
Upon hearing this, my heart tightened suddenly, as if someone were gripping it.
She instinctively stopped in her tracks, her fingertips feeling slightly cold.
"It shouldn't have come to that."
Mo Huaizhi's voice came through the receiver, tinged with hesitation.
He did ask Zhou Zhiwei before he came.
However, the other party remained silent and refused to explain the reason.
When it comes to matters of the heart, no matter how clearly outsiders can see, they have no way to interfere.
But as a brother who grew up together, it's my duty to have a drink with him and listen to him talk.
"Let me think about it some more."
Sheng Tingzhou casually replied.
Before he could finish speaking, he had already pressed the hang-up button decisively.
As Mo Huaizhi was speaking, his phone suddenly beeped.
He glanced down at the screen, which displayed the words "Call Ended," and couldn't help but sigh.
"Never mind," he thought to himself, "some things can't be forced."
He turned and walked back to the private room at the end of the corridor, and pushed open the door.
The lights were dim, the music was somber, and Zhou Zhiwei sat on the sofa in the corner.
He was clutching a glass of wine that he had barely drunk.
Mo Huaizhi walked over, pulled out a chair, sat down, and asked softly, "What happened? What exactly happened between you and Yi Qing?"
Zhou Zhiwei didn't look up, but slowly raised her wine glass and took a small sip.
The alcohol burned my throat, but it couldn't suppress the dull pain in my heart.
He lowered his eyes, the dim light shining on his sharply defined profile.
Suddenly, he spoke, his voice so low it was almost drowned out by the music.
"Huaizhi, tell me... what does it really feel like to like someone?"
Mo Huai was stunned, his relaxed expression freezing instantly.
He turned to look at Zhou Zhiwei, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
A moment later, he sat closer and teased with a smile, "Oh? Could it be that you've actually developed feelings for Yiqing after spending so much time together?"
Zhou Zhiwei still didn't answer, but silently took another sip of wine.
Mo Huaizhi suppressed his smile and looked at his brother, with whom he had grown up since childhood, a mix of emotions welling up in his heart.
He slowly leaned back in his chair, recalling his innocent and naive relationship from ten years ago.
After a long pause, he spoke in a low voice: "It's probably because you can spot her at first glance in a crowd. No matter what she's wearing or where she's standing, you can always see her immediately."
"Even if she just chatted with someone for a few words and smiled, you would feel uncomfortable, with a vague sour feeling, as if someone had stepped on the tip of your heart."
After listening, a figure involuntarily appeared in Zhou Zhiwei's mind.
The figure was both blurry and clear, as if standing right in front of you, yet unreachable.
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