Xia Qingtian hastily powered off her phone, completely stunned.
Had those two people become that brazen and arrogant?
In broad daylight, in the office...
Xia Qingtian's expression stiffened, even her exquisite makeup seemed unnatural.
"Qingtian? What's wrong? What happened?" Li Xiaoxiao, sitting beside her, had no idea what was going on. She saw Xia Qingtian talking fine, then suddenly hang up and turn off her phone, which startled her.
"Nothing," Xia Qingtian finally came to her senses, her mind a bit jumbled. "I just... I just remembered I haven't sorted out my work, and I was afraid your boss would rush me."
"Pfft, so that's it." Li Xiaoxiao didn't think much of it and waved her hand with a smile. "What's there to worry about? Gu's Entertainment is swamped with the new project right now. Mr. Gu doesn't have time to rush you. Unless he's a robot, or he has 48 hours in a day and is a pure time management master, he might as well find more work for himself."
"Yes... he is indeed a time management master." Xia Qingtian's gaze flickered, and images that couldn't be described without blurring flashed in her mind. "If you want to do something, you'll always find the time..."
"I don't understand you career-driven people. I'm content just completing my department's tasks," Li Xiaoxiao frowned and pondered for a moment. "Although there's quite a lot of work."
Xia Qingtian looked at Li Xiaoxiao and managed a weak smile.
Just then, Er Ya's voice called from a distance, waving her arms. "Qingtian~ Xiaoxiao~"
Xia Qingtian and Li Xiaoxiao looked towards the sound and saw a white-haired old man following behind Er Ya. As they approached, Xia Qingtian recognized him as Professor Tang, who had high-handedly hired Er Ya for the research lab.
"Professor Tang?" Li Xiaoxiao clearly recognized him too, her expression a bit surprised. Why had Er Ya brought this old professor along?
"Can you believe how outrageous he is? If I don't keep an eye on him, he won't even eat. He said he's not eating today either. He's old, every meal he eats is a gain, but he doesn't cherish the time he has to eat," Er Ya spoke carelessly. "When your time comes, you'll only eat incense and candles, and that will truly be like chewing on wax. You'll regret it then, but there will be nowhere to turn!"
Hearing Er Ya's words, Xia Qingtian and Li Xiaoxiao's expressions turned subtle.
While what she said was true, the way she said it was inappropriate.
"You're so annoying." Professor Tang glared at Er Ya with a frown. "Aren't we going to eat! Lead the way!"
Seeing that Professor Tang didn't seem angry about Er Ya's words, Xia Qingtian and Li Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Xiaoxiao knew the way and took the lead. Professor Tang, being impatient, walked alongside Li Xiaoxiao in silence.
Xia Qingtian and Er Ya walked side-by-side, chatting softly.
"Why didn't you tell me in advance that you were bringing Professor Tang?" Xia Qingtian asked in a low voice.
"I called you on the way, but your phone was off," Er Ya asked. "Did your phone run out of battery?"
"Mm..." Xia Qingtian answered vaguely. "Something like that."
"There's such a thing as 'something like that'?" Er Ya's mouth twitched. "I'm not going home with you tonight. I'm going back to see Da Ya."
"You are quite affectionate with Da Ya," Xia Qingtian curved her lips.
"Of course! Da Ya is my sister!" Er Ya patted her chest with a smile, saying proudly, "Da Ya is really attached to me now."
"Then you two have a good time." Xia Qingtian was infected by Er Ya's smile and her own smile became gentler.
"Hehe." Er Ya's beautiful large eyes curved into small crescent moons as she smiled.
A burly man standing at the entrance of Z University struggled to hide behind an ornamental stone statue. His eyes were full of shock as he watched Er Ya gradually walk away.
That's... Mingzhu!
A Long's jaw dropped in surprise.
There was no mistake, that was his Mingzhu!
As one of the few who had seen Mingzhu's true face, A Long recognized her at a glance.
He had initially harbored doubts about Gou Wen's words and requests. He had only come today to talk to Xia Qingtian before making a decision.
But who knew that when he arrived at the Z University entrance, he would see Xia Qingtian with his Mingzhu? No wonder Xia Qingtian seemed to know so much before.
Could it be... Mingzhu told her everything?
Mingzhu...
A Long looked at Er Ya's retreating back, his expression tinged with bitterness.
Mingzhu had never shown such a radiant smile at the Tang family's residence.
"Mingzhu, since you are safe, why didn't you contact me..." A Long's voice was muffled. "Is it because of Ah Hu's betrayal that you no longer trust me either?"
A Long felt a deep ache in his heart.
But he also knew that his existence was to be a sharp blade for the Tang family's Mingzhu.
If Mingzhu wanted him to live, he lived.
If Mingzhu wanted him to die, he died.
His life was to clear the path for Mingzhu, to be Mingzhu's sharpest knife.
Now, although he didn't know Mingzhu's arrangements, she must have her own reasons. Since that was the case, A Long only needed to clear the obstacles for Mingzhu.
And that obstacle, naturally, was Gou Wen, who had ordered him to kill Xia Qingtian.
A Long's eyes turned cold. His hesitation about Gou Wen's words was correct.
That ruthless bitch was no good!
"Hmph!" With a cold snort, A Long turned and left.
In a private car across the street, Gou Wen, sitting in the back, was closely monitoring A Long's every move.
Gou Wen never easily entrusted his trust to anyone. Even those she chose, she would take precautions to ensure the smooth progress of her plans.
Therefore, as soon as A Long left, she followed him out.
Her purpose was to ensure whether A Long had contacted Xia Qingtian and whether A Long would betray her.
If it were in the past, she wouldn't have to personally handle these matters. But now, with the organization intending to get rid of her, it was inevitable that some of the pawns she had cultivated would develop rebellious thoughts, forcing her to act personally.
Anyone alive could potentially betray her.
Gou Wen was running out of time, and she couldn't afford to gamble.
Seeing that A Long did not contact Xia Qingtian but left angrily after seeing her, Gou Wen slowly loosened her grip on the gun.
If A Long had gone to Xia Qingtian and said anything today, she would have immediately shot him dead.
Only the dead could keep secrets.
"Now, shall we go back?" Song Junhan, sitting in the driver's seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel trembling slightly, his eyes occasionally glancing at the gun in Gou Wen's hand through the rearview mirror.
A Long couldn't die. If A Long died, even his own life would be in danger.
"Let's go back," Gou Wen said casually.
Song Junhan finally breathed a sigh of relief and drove the car back, unaware that even greater trouble awaited him at home.