Xiang Yang knocked on Xiang Wan's door, asking if she was asleep.
Xiang Wan was sitting on the bed, holding her laptop and looking at recent live broadcast data. She asked him what was wrong.
"I want to go out and buy something. Can I borrow your car keys?"
Xiang Wan was puzzled. What was he going out to buy so late?
But she still reached out and pointed him to her bag.
"I'll be back soon. Sis, get some rest if you're okay."
Xiang Yang left the door gleefully with the car keys.
Soon, he navigated to the address Lu Mingzhe had given him.
The streetlights were dim, and he was the only one standing by the road.
Getting into the car, he saw Lu Mingzhe's somber expression.
Xiang Yang asked him, "Did you have a fight with my sister? You both seemed in a bad mood today."
"Really? She's in a bad mood too?"
"Didn't you have a fight? You don't know why?"
Hearing that Xiang Wan was unhappy made Lu Mingzhe even more eager to see her.
"Your sister never tells me the truth about things and likes to bear everything herself. In the future, be smart, keep an eye on her for me, and report anything to me promptly."
"Okay,"
Speaking of this, Xiang Yang quickly handed over the business card that Tang Haichao had given him today.
"This person seems interested in my sister. Take a look."
Lu Mingzhe didn't know Tang Haichao. He glanced at it and threw the card away.
"Is he handsome?"
"...He's alright, but definitely not as handsome as you."
"Is he rich?"
"I don't know."
"What's your sister's attitude towards him?"
"She's quite polite. I heard they've known each other for quite some time."
He didn't dare to mention that Tang Haichao had helped them out today.
Lu Mingzhe fell silent, pausing for a few seconds.
"Got it. Good kid. When I marry your sister in the future, your contribution will be indispensable."
Xiang Yang smiled.
"I don't mean anything else. I just genuinely hope my sister finds happiness, and you treat her well. You'll always treat her well, right?"
"Of course."
Upon returning home, Lu Mingzhe eagerly entered Xiang Wan's room.
She thought it was Xiang Yang who had returned and was quite surprised to see him.
"Didn't you say you weren't coming over today?"
"I missed you. I'm used to sleeping with you, and I feel restless if I don't see you all night."
Lu Mingzhe walked over and sat down, burying his head in her lap.
"Do you miss me?"
It would be a lie to say she didn't.
But she didn't miss him for anything good.
Xiang Wan didn't want to answer him.
Her fingers delved into his hair, rubbing it back and forth, and she asked with undisguised jealousy, "You come here every day. What if the person at home checks up on you?"
In the past, they rarely mentioned Chen Jiaojiao when they were together.
Why did she suddenly think of mentioning her today?
Thinking about Chen Jiaojiao's behavior tonight made Lu Mingzhe annoyed.
"What right does she have to check up on me? Let her check if she wants to."
Xiang Wan, thinking about that photo, asked indirectly.
"Can you tell me what's going on between you two?"
Lu Mingzhe lifted his head, suddenly angry.
"Can we not talk about her? Let me repeat myself, I don't like her, I like you."
"Perhaps the biggest mistake I made in my life was marrying her. But it won't last much longer. Xiang Wan, I've decided to go back tomorrow and divorce her. Can you please stop minding her?"
Xiang Wan's suspicions and worries of the entire day vanished with his words.
To love someone is to trust them.
Lu Mingzhe was willing to promise her marriage, what could be a greater sign of his sincerity?
"Okay. Go take a shower quickly. It's time to sleep."
"Are you missing me so much you can't stand it?"
Lu Mingzhe chuckled mischievously and pulled her up.
"Shall we go together?"
Xiang Wan remained seated, looking at him with a gentle expression.
"You go by yourself, and be quick. I have something to tell you when you get back."
"What is it? Is it a huge secret? Can you tell me now?"
"No. I want a sense of occasion. Go wash up quickly."
Lu Mingzhe, eager to hear the news, quickly went into the bathroom.
Midway through his shower, his phone, which he had placed beside Xiang Wan, rang.
The screen displayed "Mom." Xiang Wan dared not answer and took the phone to him.
Lu Mingzhe said a few words in the bathroom, and soon, he walked out, still wet.
His face was gloomy.
"I'm sorry, darling. Something has happened, and I have to go out."
Seeing it was his mother calling, Xiang Wan thought something had happened at his home and became anxious too.
"What happened?"
"That woman in my family, her father, committed suicide in prison."
---
As the car drove halfway, Min'er also received a call.
A page was missing from an important document she was responsible for, which was supposed to be delivered to her superior.
Her colleagues were still working overtime, preparing for tomorrow's quarterly meeting, and asked her to return to the company quickly to provide a replacement.
Min'er had joined the company not long ago, her skills were not proficient, and she had gotten in through connections.
Fearing gossip, she was exceptionally diligent in her work.
Even though it was so late, upon hearing the dissatisfaction from the other end, she decided to get out of the car without hesitation.
Lu Qingxu, worried about her going alone, said he would take her to the company after dropping Chen Jiaojiao off.
"No need. I can just take a taxi. It's too much trouble to go back and forth. It's fine."
By the time she found the document, completed it, and handed it to her colleague, it was already past 11 PM.
In the elevator, she happened to run into Hu Jiasheng, who was also returning from overtime.
They were not well acquainted, so they just greeted each other. Hu Jiasheng, seeing how late it was, asked where she lived and if he could give her a ride.
Min'er felt it would be troublesome to impose on him and declined.
If only she had known what terrifying events were about to unfold, Hu Jiasheng thought.
Even if he and Min'er were not close, and even if she was polite, he would have unhesitatingly pulled her into his car.
This is what happened.
After leaving the company, Min'er walked towards the subway station alone.
After walking for a few minutes, a car stopped by the roadside.
A familiar male voice called out to her from inside.
"Min'er, Shen Min'er, hey!"
She turned her head and saw it was Director Zou.
It had been a long time. He seemed to have been drinking, his face was flushed, and he looked at her with a smile.
Every time she met him, the situation was unpleasant, and Min'er had a bad impression of him.
Since they had no business dealings anymore, she didn't want to acknowledge him.
She pretended not to hear and hurried away.
I condescended to stop the car and greet you, and you're acting like you don't know me?
Director Zou, being treated with such disrespect for the first time, was instantly enraged.
He told the driver to chase after her and block her path with the car.
"What's going on? Haven't seen you for a few days, and you've become so successful that you don't even want to talk to me?"
Besides the driver and himself, there were two other men in the car whom Min'er didn't recognize.
The other party was outnumbered and intimidating. They all got out of the car, and she felt a little scared.
She could only force a smile.
"Oh, it's Director Zou. I didn't see clearly just now. I thought I recognized the wrong person."
"So late? Aren't you going home yet?"
That was more like it.
Director Zou regained some of his pride and walked towards her with a smile.
"Go home? Not yet, there's still plenty of time. The nightlife has just begun. We're going to the next venue at President Ke's invitation."
"Are you heading home?"
Of course. It's so late. Do you think everyone is like you?
"Yes. Since you have plans, I won't disturb you. Director Zou, have fun."
Min'er was about to leave again when the man surnamed Zou grabbed her arm.