0015 015 In the blink of an eye
The car drove smoothly towards home. Qi Yu glanced at the silent figure beside him, secretly smiled, but still deliberately kept a cold expression.
"They even went to visit him in prison this morning. They're getting bolder and bolder."
His mention of it reminded Qi Shuyao of the question she wanted to ask him. She jumped up and turned around, but when she saw his sour face, she turned back.
Qi Yu quickly raised his hand and pinched her cheek, then grabbed her left hand and shook it. This was a tacitly agreed-upon gesture between them. The little girl's heart blossomed, but on the surface, she maintained the same poker face as her father.
But just before she could speak, Qi Yu suddenly blurted out another sentence.
"Okay, I'm not going to yell at you, so stop looking so sad."
"No, I was wondering why she suddenly wanted to appeal again. What... you want to yell at me!"
The first half of her sentence was a muttered question, but then she raised her voice and shook off his hand, looking even angrier.
Qi Yu's hand, which had been flung away, remained suspended in mid-air. After a long while, he raised it and rubbed his head. He had been so busy lately that he had no time to care about such insignificant people. However, after hearing that Qi Shuyao had gone to the detention center today, he had sent someone to investigate. But he suddenly realized that compared to other people's affairs, he seemed to have lost the ability to get along with her in a calm and joking manner. Since moving to Linhai Manor, the two of them either didn't talk to each other or started arguing after just a few words. The scene of the little girl always rushing into his arms no matter what was going on was now a thing of the past. His mindset, her age, and her experience meant that they could no longer treat each other without any ulterior motives.
He tried hard to suppress these emotions and calm himself down. As long as he suppressed this evil thought, she could stay by his side forever.
Even just listening closely to the tone of his voice reveals some emotion.
"Regarding Li Qing's case, I heard she got a very good lawyer. The lawyer even came to her door to seek her out. Recently, they have been reorganizing their approach, focusing on the harm she has suffered and the suppression she has endured over the years. When the appeal goes to trial, they may ask you to testify."
“I’m definitely going. All the disgusting things their family has done should be exposed.”
"Don't get so agitated. In court, whoever is more emotional doesn't necessarily have the upper hand. I'll go with you to the second trial."
"No need, I don't think anyone would dare to tamper with things in court."
"What are you thinking? You are still a minor and need to be accompanied by a guardian."
"oh."
She looked out the window at the tall trees receding at a steady pace. Each one was similar, yet each one was different. If you paid attention, you could tell the difference between them.
She couldn't help but speak up.
"Will things stabilize after this? Will the Gu and Lin families be able to recover?"
Qi Shuyao rarely paid attention to political affairs. Even when he took her out, she would not listen to or ask about anything he heard. Qi Yu glanced at her and raised an eyebrow without saying a word.
She immediately panicked.
“I’m worried about you. Before, that Lin guy was trying so hard to win you over on the surface, but who knows what he might have done behind your back? In the current situation, no one can rise up in the short term. I’m afraid some people in his family will be dissatisfied and will use you as an example.”
Qi Yu tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, seemingly in a good mood and not worried at all; he even had the mind to tease her.
"I didn't even know that my little Yao Yao had become so insightful about politics. From now on, I'll talk to you about everything before making a decision?"
"No, no! I don't want to get involved in this. It gives me a headache. I'm just worried about you because I saw how badly Sheng Sheng's family has been treated. You know her family's company went bankrupt, and it's even related to Pei Yuzhou. But Yang Xun is even more of a bastard, all he thinks about is reproduction."
She had witnessed too many things that the outside world couldn't see by following Qi Yu, and she had learned a thing or two: not to judge right or wrong. She didn't think Pei Yuzhou was particularly heinous, nor did she think there was anything wrong with the Song family doing things for the Pei family; it was all just for their own benefit.
“The Song family is not to be trifled with. Her father may look weak, but he has been preparing for his own future all these years. As for the little things between the children, Yang Xun can’t cause any trouble.”
"His dad's up now. He's going to dominate Yangcheng. I thought Xiang Zhiyu could put up a fight with him, but he ran away first."
Mentioning Xiang Zhiyu, Qi Shuyao secretly glanced at Qi Yu. She saw that he looked normal and didn't look at her. As before, he still hadn't noticed her. She breathed heavily, her mind was on him. It was clearly hers, but she didn't dare to look directly at him.
"Don't think about it. In the end, other people's problems are their own to solve. Tonight, Aunt Liu made your favorite pumpkin soup and caramel pudding."
"Then I'm going to have a big meal. I didn't eat enough at noon today."
That evening, Qi Shuyao specially asked Aunt Liu to make two new puddings for Song Yusheng to take to school the next morning. She excitedly ran into the classroom with the small lunchbox, but did not see Song Yusheng until the bell rang.
"Is everyone here?" The first period this morning was the homeroom teacher's class.
"Teacher, Song Yusheng didn't come."
"Oh, she dropped out of school and was sent abroad by her parents last night."
Qi Shuyao and Yang Xun exchanged a rare, unspoken glance, their eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.
They finally managed to endure until the end of get out of class, but before the homeroom teacher had even left, the two of them pulled each other to the back of the classroom.
"What happened? What did you do to her again last night?"
“I told you yesterday that I had a banquet at my house last night and I didn’t see her at all. You don’t understand me, do you?”
"Then why did she leave overnight?"
"Who are you asking? Didn't you go home with her last night?"
"I went home last night."
"And this is supposed to be a friend?"
Faced with Yang Xun's sarcasm, she had no words to refute him. She could only dial Song Yusheng's number again and again, listening to the mechanical voice telling her time and time again, "The number you dialed is not in service."
She called Qi Yu again, but the call was hung up as soon as it connected. When she called again before the next class started, he replied with three words.
"Don't worry about it."
Qi Shuyao, clutching her hair, could only return to her seat, her vision gradually blurring.
At the same time, Qi Yu put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the obsequious businessman opposite him.
This cleanup not only brought down the Pei family's power, but also removed Director Han of the Jingyang Land Management Bureau from his post. This director had been in office for nearly thirty years and held real power in his hands. With his departure, the entire department was paralyzed. Qi Yu was temporarily transferred to help, and in less than two days, he understood why the old director didn't even want a promotion and stayed here all this time.
The real estate tycoon blatantly approached, carrying large and small bags of gifts, making no attempt to conceal it and brazenly defying the rules. Qi Yu glanced casually at the small but exquisite gift boxes, showing no desire to open them.
The generous Boss Cheng arrived with his son, showing great sincerity. He spent the entire day in Qi Yu's office, all for the sake of the piece of land that was about to be developed.
As dusk approached, knowing he would miss picking Qi Shuyao up from school again, Qi Yu tidied up the items in his pocket and left with Boss Cheng.
"Tonight, I've brought out my most prized possessions. Please come over and enjoy yourselves, Secretary Qi."
The car passed through a construction site, and after driving two kilometers further, the central city buildings from the end of the last century were still well preserved here. However, the once colorful neon signs were now covered with cobwebs, and the buildings were dark and gloomy, exuding the dust of history. Even the once prestigious name "Xiangtiancheng" had been changed to "Abandoned City".
The bodyguard stepped forward, knocked rhythmically a few times on the door, then, wearing white gloves, pushed open the rickety door and invited them in.
As Mr. Cheng walked, he introduced the place with a tone full of pride, but he didn't notice the calm expression on Qi Yu's face.
"This building was the most open dance hall gathering place at the end of the last century. Every night, it was brightly lit and the party didn't end until dawn. It was a unique product of the open policy at that time. It was also the base of the Gu family before they stepped down. Later, when Lin came to power, the policy suddenly tightened, which was obviously aimed at them. This place gradually declined. But then again, when an industry that was once extremely prosperous reaches its peak, it will slowly decline. But the Gu family is gone. If they were really gone, how could this land have been preserved intact?"
Boss Cheng, as if he'd had too much to drink, raised an eyebrow at Qi Yu, looking like he was teasing a young girl.
"But what people outside don't know is that this place is still filled with revelry every night."
The words stopped on the third basement floor. As his voice faded, the dim lights came on. The bustling and decadent atmosphere here was incongruous with its dilapidated appearance and out of touch with modern society.
Colorful lights flashed, and glamorous dancers performed a seductive dance, twisting and turning their bodies wantonly.
"Secretary Qi, this way please. I have specially reserved this seat for you, which offers a panoramic view of the entire room."
In such situations, Boss Cheng becomes even more comfortable and at ease, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement.
"Quickly bring all the most discerning girls here."
Qi Yu didn't stand on ceremony with him. After sitting down, he kept his eyes on the stage and occasionally glanced to the side.
Boss Cheng was very satisfied with his performance, but Young Master Cheng lowered his head and scoffed several times, and he also found the obsequious tone towards his father even more unbearable.
"I wonder if Secretary Qi was in Jingyang at the end of the last century, and whether he experienced the most prosperous scene here at that time. Although technology has advanced now and the lights are more beautiful, it is far from the grandeur and atmosphere of the past."
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