Chapter 159 I Need to Find Him
But as soon as she finished speaking, her heart skipped a beat.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a voice drifted in from outside the door: "Who said they were taking my girlfriend away?"
Yuan Peipei shuddered, her eyes darting around, and quickly shrank behind Song Zhiwei.
Sheng Tingzhou gave a soft hum, his gaze quietly fixed on her.
"Let's go, I've already had everything taken care of over there."
Song Zhiwei turned around and waved to Yuan Peipei.
"Mengxi, please take care of yourself. If you need anything, feel free to contact me."
Before leaving, he didn't forget to turn back and take one last look at her.
"Okay, I'll take good care of myself."
Yuan Peipei forced a smile and nodded vigorously.
She didn't want Zhiwei to worry about her when she left.
So even though she was reluctant to part with him, she forced herself to appear relaxed and at ease.
The two went downstairs together and got into the car.
The early sun shone on the car roof, casting a soft halo.
Song Zhiwei leaned back in her chair, watching the familiar buildings outside the window gradually recede into the distance, a feeling she couldn't quite describe welling up inside her.
The driver in the front seat had changed; he was now a middle-aged man in his early forties.
He sat upright, his hands firmly on the steering wheel, and glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror.
Sheng Tingzhou gave a brief introduction: "Uncle Wang, you'll be my driver from now on."
Uncle Wang turned his head, his attitude respectful.
"Miss Song."
He turned slightly to the side and nodded to the back seat.
Song Zhiwei nodded, a slow smile curving her lips.
Twenty minutes later, the car came to a smooth stop in front of a manor.
The car slowly drove in along the winding stone-paved road.
The tall sycamore trees on both sides cast dappled shadows.
When the view suddenly opens up, a European-style manor surrounded by greenery comes into view.
The gate is engraved with dark bronze vine patterns.
In the center of the large lawn stands a three-tiered fountain.
Song Zhiwei's eyes lit up, and she quickened her pace involuntarily.
Wow, you keep so many koi here?
She squatted by the pond, her eyes fixed on the nimble fish.
Sheng Tingzhou stood beside her, looking down slightly at her focused profile.
"like?"
"Yeah, I used to keep two of them abroad... but unfortunately they didn't survive."
Song Zhiwei sighed softly, turned her gaze away, and stared blankly at the water.
She had just arrived in the United States and was unfamiliar with the place and its people.
Language barrier, heavy workload, and unfamiliar faces all around.
Every day after class, when I get home, there's only one lonely light on in my apartment.
She doesn't dare to keep cats or dogs, afraid that she won't be able to take good care of them.
So I bought two koi fish, put them in a small glass tank, and placed it on the windowsill in the living room.
In less than six months, one of them died due to water quality issues, and the other gradually sank to the bottom due to improper feeding.
At that moment, she stood on the balcony holding the small body, and for the first time, she felt how powerless one's life could be.
"But it's so cold now, won't they get cold outside?"
She looked up at Sheng Tingzhou, her brows furrowing slightly.
Sheng Tingzhou chuckled lightly, raising his eyebrows slightly.
"There is a constant temperature system under the fountain, so the water temperature is always kept at a suitable level."
"Come on, let me show you inside."
He took her hand and led her across the lawn.
The two walked side by side across the wide lawn.
Upon reaching the door, he released her hand and unlocked it with his fingerprint.
Then, bracing against the heavy oak door with one hand, he slowly pushed it open.
A warm, pine-scented aroma wafted towards me.
The lobby floor is made of polished marble.
Black and gold marble slabs are laid out underfoot.
A crystal chandelier cascades down like a waterfall, hanging in the center of the hall.
Upon reaching the second floor, Sheng Tingzhou pointed to several rooms.
"There are three bedrooms on this floor. Pick one you like."
Song Zhiwei pushed open the door beside her.
Suddenly, a breathtaking view opened up before me—a rooftop garden.
The room is five meters high, with one wall made of floor-to-ceiling glass, extending out to a semi-open terrace.
"This one will do."
She stood at the doorway, looked around, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.
This place is just like the home she had dreamed of.
Sheng Tingzhou raised his eyebrows, looking at her with slight surprise.
"Won't you take another look?"
He knew this was the most special and the most difficult to book for renovations to be completed.
But she chose it at first glance.
"No."
She pursed her lips, hesitated for a few seconds, and then spoke.
"Um... how much rent would be appropriate for me to pay you each month?"
It wasn't that she was too serious, nor did she deliberately try to calculate everything precisely.
Rather, the two had just started dating and their relationship was still in the early stages.
She couldn't bring herself to always let him pay and put in the effort.
She doesn't want to become someone who depends on others.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Tingzhou frowned, then laughed.
"Am I so poor that I have to rely on my girlfriend to pay my rent?"
He took a few steps closer and reached out to pinch her cheek.
"This is the room I prepared for you, not a rental apartment. Do you think I'd let you move in and then charge you money every month?"
Song Zhiwei pursed her lips, eager to clarify.
“That’s not what I meant… I just feel uneasy because you’re always giving so much.”
She raised her head, looking directly into his dark eyes, her voice slightly strained.
“I know you genuinely care about me, but the more you do, the more afraid I am of not being good enough, and of becoming a burden to you. I just want to know if there's anything I can do, even just to share the burden a little, so that I can feel like I'm a part of our lives.”
Zhao Xueran's case is going to trial this week.
This lawsuit not only concerns the rights and interests of the parties involved, but also affects the nerves of the entire law firm.
The opposing legal team was well-prepared and had all the necessary materials.
In order to avoid any mishaps at this critical juncture.
Song Zhiwei spent several days specifically investigating the background of all the evidence.
Every document is verified repeatedly to ensure that the source is reliable and the procedure is legal.
She was busy until noon before she finally finished sorting out all the materials.
She rubbed her slightly sore eyes and stood up.
She went downstairs to eat with Xu Xiaoting, her colleague who had been keeping her company while she worked overtime.
The two walked along, discussing the case in hushed tones.
The elevator doors opened with a "ding".
They walked out of the building together.
As soon as I entered the lobby, I saw a strange woman standing at the front desk.
"I'm looking for Sheng Tingzhou."
Chen Yun's tone was stiff, and her voice was clearly impatient.
The receptionist smiled slightly.
"Hello, miss. Do you have an appointment? According to company policy, visiting clients need to register or make an appointment in advance before we can arrange to go upstairs."
Chen Yun frowned.
“Mr. Sheng and I are old friends, why would I need to make an appointment? Just call him and give him my name, he will definitely let you through.”
The receptionist looked slightly embarrassed, but her tone remained gentle.
"I'm sorry, but it's company policy that we can't let anyone in without an appointment. If you are really familiar with Mr. Sheng, you can call him now to confirm, and we can make the necessary arrangements."
Chen Yun's face darkened, and her tone instantly became sharp.
"Are you deaf? I already told you I know him very well! Why don't you just let me go up there? Why all this fancy procedure? Be careful, or I'll have President Sheng fire you! You believe me?"
The receptionist lowered her head and remained silent, her fingers trembling slightly, her heart pounding.
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