The man in the back seat of the car nearly fell out when he slammed on the brakes.
Chi Zerui glanced back to confirm no one had fallen, then started fumbling with his phone.
The hospital wasn't on the way to the Songcheng Hotel.
If he took Yu Wenli there, he wouldn't be able to save Hao Lu'er.
But he remembered that Ding Xi was supposed to be in Songcheng today.
And her previous social media location tag was the Songcheng Hotel.
-
Ding Xi, who was about to leave the hotel, was surprised by the incoming call.
Chi Zerui?
They hadn't seen each other since their unpleasant parting, except at Grandpa Yu's funeral.
To save face for Wen Tingxue, they'd exchanged phone numbers and WeChat accounts.
But they never contacted each other.
With a sense of curiosity, Ding Xi swiped to answer. "Hello?"
Chi Zerui immediately asked, "Are you still at the Songcheng Hotel?"
Ding Xi looked at the large sign at the entrance and hummed in affirmation.
Chi Zerui quickly explained the situation, "I need you to help me..."
"Room number."
Ding Xi hurried back.
By the time he arrived, the bathroom door had already been kicked open.
Hao Lu'er was sitting on the floor, her arm being dragged forcefully by a man towards the bed.
Hearing the sound of the door being kicked open, both of them turned their heads.
Upon seeing who it was, Hao Lu'er showed a moment of disappointment.
She then started to cry for help.
Her superior instinctively covered her mouth with his hand,
but Ding Xi kicked him over.
After a few heavy blows, the police arrived.
Both parties were taken to the police station.
Hao Lu'er was in a bad state and was released after a lengthy questioning.
Ding Xi handed her a cup of warm water. "Are you okay?"
"...Hmm?"
Hao Lu'er blinked a few times before remembering to look up, her eyes hollow and wronged.
Her eye sockets were red from crying, and her face was deathly pale.
She looked extremely pitiful and innocent.
Ding Xi sighed and said, "Chi Zerui called me. He didn't abandon you."
When she came in, the look in her eyes was something he understood.
She had been waiting for Chi Zerui, but it was him who arrived.
Hao Lu'er froze for a moment, then took the cup of water. "Thank you."
She took a small sip, and her dry lips were moistened, regaining some color.
"But he didn't choose me either."
She gave a wry smile, but her expression held no surprise.
Ding Xi instinctively defended Chi Zerui, "He probably had something to deal with."
Hao Lu'er lowered her head and said softly, "Yes, his things are always more important than mine."
Even if her life was threatened, he would deal with his own matters first.
She was always his last option.
Ding Xi watched her quietly for a moment, then asked, "Do you have anywhere to go?"
Hao Lu'er slowly shook her head.
She had no family or friends in Songcheng.
And she didn't know where her boyfriend was.
"If you don't mind, you can stay at my place for a while?" Ding Xi asked.
Hao Lu'er didn't want to trouble him. "No need, I'll just find a hotel to stay in for now..."
Before she could finish, Chi Zerui called.
Ding Xi made an excuse to go outside.
Hao Lu'er hesitated for a few seconds before swiping to answer.
"Hello?"
"Are you alright?" Chi Zerui asked, his tone lacking much emotion.
Hao Lu'er suddenly felt very wronged. She was silent for a long time before saying, "Chi Zerui, do you know that I only called you? I was waiting for you to save me, but what were you doing?"
You abandoned me again.
Hao Lu'er couldn't even finish her words before tears streamed down her face.
Hearing her cry, Chi Zerui let out a sigh of relief and said, "Didn't Ding Xi go? You're fine, aren't you?"
Hao Lu'er immediately hung up, burying her face in her arms, sobbing miserably.
As Ding Xi flicked ash from his cigarette, he happened to look back and see her.
She was curled up on a bench, small and pathetic, looking helpless.
But many people around them had experienced similar relationships.
Fast-food love, dating today, breaking up tomorrow.
Playing around when happy, scattering when unhappy.
He had seen too many such relationships.
He was starting to lose faith in love.
"Is it worth it?" he asked.
Hao Lu'er thought for a moment, then shook her head. "It's not worth it."
"But I love him."
Ding Xi raised an eyebrow. "He treated you like that, and you still love him?"
"Actually, he's quite pitiful," she said, instinctively defending him.
Ding Xi chuckled. "Aren't you pitiful?"
Being abandoned by him time and again.
Anyone would be disappointed, right?
Hao Lu'er lowered her eyes, silent for a long time, then said, "Loving someone is a gamble, isn't it? If you lose, you have to accept it. There's nothing pitiful about it. It's the path you chose yourself."
-
Hospital.
The police asked the question again.
Yu Wenli, under everyone's gaze, said calmly, "This matter indeed has nothing to do with President Qi. Someone else must have drugged me. President Qi was just trying to take me back to the hotel."
His tone was calm, not like he was lying at all.
President Qi raised an eyebrow in surprise.
But Chi Zerui and Que You frowned.
They knew Yu Wenli's personality well.
If he went so far as to jump out of the car, it definitely wasn't because he was fine!
But he...
"Then why did you jump out of the car?"
Before Chi Zerui could press further, the police asked first.
Yu Wenli said, "An accident."
Police: "?"
Police: "Are you sure it was an accident?"
Yu Wenli nodded.
The questioning ended, and the police left.
Chi Zerui, unwilling to give up, wanted to say something.
Yu Wenli asked them to leave first, saying he wanted to talk to President Qi alone.
As soon as the door closed, President Qi smiled and said, "See? You still care about me."
Otherwise, why would you defend him?
Yu Wenli dodged his reaching hand and said calmly, "I gave you face, and you must give me face too."
President Qi readily agreed. "As long as you ask."
Yu Wenli said, "You are not allowed to touch my people."
President Qi: "No problem."
"Then when will you... with me..." President Qi gave a suggestive look.
Yu Wenli chuckled. "President Qi, you probably misunderstood. I didn't identify you to the police because I didn't want to fall out with you, not because I agreed to anything."
His tone was light, but there was no trace of amusement in his eyes.
President Qi inexplicably felt a chill, and his expression turned grim.
"Then what do you mean? Refusing me?"
"What else?" Yu Wenli found it amusing.
President Qi, however, thought he was really handsome.
Even his sneer was captivating.
"Forget it."
Under the temptation of his good looks, President Qi calmed himself and relented. "You're not in a good mood today, so we won't discuss this. When you change your mind..."
He took a gilded business card from his pocket and placed it by Yu Wenli's hand.
He tapped it, emphasizing, "This is my private number."
After he left, Chi Zerui asked eagerly, "Brother Yu, what's going on? Did that bastard threaten you?"
Yu Wenli looked at the business card in his hand and said casually, "You don't need to get involved in this mess. I'll handle it."
The Qi family in Songcheng was on par with the Chi family in Jiangcheng.
Even those in the capital wouldn't dare to act rashly.
As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. No one could help him with this.
His submission was to avoid implicating those around him.
But he would settle this score sooner or later.
The business card became a crumpled mess in his hand.
Chi Zerui immediately fell silent.
He trusted Yu Wenli's astuteness and calculation.
-
Three days later, Yu Wenli and Que You returned to the capital.
The trip to Songcheng was considered successful.
Not only did they secure the theme song for "Ink City,"
but they also finalized several OSTs for film and television dramas.
Ning'an Apartment.
Wen Tingxue was researching snacks during her break.
After finally making a plate of food, she called out to Yu Wenli but got no response.
There was nothing she could do but carry the plate into the recording studio.
As soon as she opened the door, a ball of paper was thrown at her.
Wen Tingxue: "..."
Was she unwelcome?
Just as she was about to tease him, she noticed that the floor was covered with discarded drafts.