[The translation continues in this manner, maintaining the original tone and style.]
Xiao Yao fell silent.
She thought about Ju Qing’s silent persistence and the price he might have to pay… At this moment, she suddenly understood the words he had said – “I won’t let you be a third party.”
So he had already made plans? And was facing all the problems alone, including her lack of understanding… Xiao Yao’s heart began to ache subtly.
“Think about my words carefully,” Shao Zun pursed his lips, letting out a laugh mixed with a sigh, “These days, dating is full of tricks. Eternal vows are no longer in fashion. Life has too many variables. If there’s a flower worth picking, you must pick it while you can.”
Looking at her usually roguish boss’s rare “sensitive” appearance, Xiao Yao couldn’t help but ask, “What about you? Do you have such a flower?”
“Me?” Shao Zun was stunned, then burst into a toothy laugh, making a snake-like gesture with his hand, “Yes, a turtle shell flower.”
“Ah?” Xiao Yao widened her eyes, tilting her head after a while and muttering, “Seems quite fitting.”
After ending the conversation, Xiao Yao returned to her workstation, her fluctuating thoughts constantly circling around a certain point.
Holding her phone for a long time, she finally made a decision!
She dialed that familiar number – “The number you have dialed is currently suspended…”
Xiao Yao stared at her phone in shock. Could something have happened to him?
A few days later.
Unable to contact Ju Qing for so long, Xiao Yao’s unease had reached its peak. She had even considered going to Huawei Company or directly rushing to his villa… Finally, she thought of Shao Zun.
Perhaps she could get some information from him!
As a result, Shao Zun gave her this answer: “I think he won’t see you for now. He only asked me to take good care of you.”
“Why? What kind of reasoning is this!?” Xiao Yao, incredulous, her eyes reddening.
“This is also for your own good. Go and check today’s newspaper and you’ll understand.”
Xiao Yao immediately found the newspaper and opened it – the financial section’s headline read in large characters:
Huawei Rocked by Internal Strife, Another Family Feud Exposed.
The names in the article were even more shocking –
…Today, Huawei’s young heir Gao Ju Qing formally submitted his resignation to the US headquarters, causing a stir in business circles and numerous speculations; whether the originally promising Gao-Su alliance will change remains to be seen.
It is reported that Gao Ju Qing and Hu Cang Yue Ling recently broke up because Hu Cang was dissatisfied with his overly close relationship with another “Xiao X” lady. Whether this is the reason for his resignation remains unconfirmed, but the love affairs of this diamond-level bachelor are sure to become a hot topic again.
Slap. Xiao Yao quickly closed the newspaper, her face turning pale.
How could this happen? How did it become like this…
“Miss Xiao!” A colleague suddenly rushed towards her, excited: “Did you win an award or a competition? There are a bunch of reporters in the reception room wanting to interview you!”
Xiao Yao heard this, and her blood instantly froze.
Shaking off the reporters wasn’t difficult. What truly troubled her was thinking about her dad who reads the newspaper every day. But maybe… her dad wouldn’t notice?
When she returned home, Xiao Yao confirmed this was just her self-comfort.
“Miss Xiao X, you’re finally back!”
Xiao X? Xiao X? Hmm… it seems someone is about to go crazy.
“Mom—” she tried to explain something.
“Don’t say anything! Starting tomorrow, you don’t need to go to work. All connections with that Gao boy are to be cut off completely! You’re not allowed to see him again, and he’s not allowed to come to our home. If he dares to come, I’ll… set the dog on him!”
“Honey, we don’t have a dog,” Xiao Wen Jun hummed from the side.
“I can incite the neighbor’s Little Yellow!” Ji Juan said impatiently, then turned to her daughter and repeated: “Remember what I said? You absolutely cannot see him again! A good girl being talked about like some fox spirit…”
Xiao Yao didn’t respond, just slumping her shoulders and returning to her room.
The words “fox spirit” meant nothing to her now. She only cared about one thing – what did she say to him that day in the parking lot?
Don’t make me cry for you again, I really don’t want to…
How could she say she didn’t want it? When he was trying to hold onto something, she told him to let go…
“It’s me, it’s my fault… Stone, where are you? What should I do? I miss you so much, I want to see you…” Covering her face, she burst into loud sobs.
The next morning, another wave of controversy arose about whether Xiao Yao would resign.
After a heated argument with her mother, who was determined to cut all ties, Xiao Yao finally agreed to her father Xiao Wen Jun’s compromise – take a long leave to avoid the current situation.
With Shao Zun’s special consideration, Xiao Yao indeed took a long leave.
Half a month passed.
Xiao Yao waited every day for any news about Ju Qing.
Until one day, Shao Zun suddenly called, and his first words were shocking:
“He’s almost gone. Go see him quickly!”
That night, Xiao Yao secretly left home, got into Shao Zun’s car, and drove straight to the provincial highway under the heavy night.
“Woo… woo woo…”
“Save some, you’ve used up half the tissues. Really, you can cry so much. It’s not like we’re going to a funeral…”
“Ah? Wah…” The remaining half box of tissues was gone.
Okay, I’ll be honest with you. He’s fine, his pride won’t kill him, at most he’ll just look bad. He clearly misses you to death, yet he’s stubborn, and I’m afraid he might really give up, so I thought I’d bring you here to see if you can cure his stubborn ways.
“You…” she laughed, Xiao Yao finally showing a smile, but then – “Woo…”
“Wow, why are you crying again?”
“I… I’m just too happy.”
“Tsk! Crying when sad, crying when happy, women are really…”
Just like that, the car drove past the provincial road to the suburbs, winding and turning, arriving at a quiet mountain foot.
“We’re here.” Shao Zun pointed to the faintly lit house nearby.
Xiao Yao hurriedly wiped her eyes, craning her neck to look. “He… lives here?”
“Yes. He doesn’t want to deal with those reporters, so he found a quiet place to stay. Well, I’ll drop you off here – you go in yourself -” As soon as the words fell, the car door was already opened.
Xiao Yao got out, lifting her skirt and running all the way.
Almost there, he’s right in front of her… In the misty moonlight, Xiao Yao moved inside the house, following the light.
Arriving at a certain door, through the slightly ajar door crack, she saw him!
Xiao Yao tightly clenched her fists, her nasal cavity sour, choking out a broken call: “Shitou…”
Shitou, who had been drinking with Shao Zun earlier, heard her voice and wondered if he was too drunk? Turning around, his eyes swept to the figure at the door, his back straightening, his eyes instantly brightening.
“Yao! You… how did you come?”
“I shouldn’t lie, I shouldn’t have deceived you…” She answered irrelevantly, just shaking her head and mumbling.
“What did you lie to me about?”
“I told you to let go, I said I didn’t want to cry for you anymore, I said I didn’t want it anymore, but… what can I do? You let go, but my tears still can’t stop. Tell me, what should I do?”
She moved two steps closer, her glistening eyes tightly entangled with his.
“Yao…” his heartbreaking call echoed through the room.
The next moment, heaven and earth seemed to stand still, with only the air circulating and transmitting their heated breaths.
