471: Chapter 471: Encounter with the Female Thief Again 471: Chapter 471: Encounter with the Female Thief Again Tangyu, the idler, was destined to have nothing much to do in the office.
Out of boredom, Tangyu received a call from Song Qingyu.
“Where are you?” Song Qingyu asked directly.
“I’m obviously at the company,” Tangyu answered.
Song Qingyu on the other end seemed slightly taken aback, “Be downstairs of your company in fifteen minutes, come down for a bit, I have a small matter to discuss with you.”
“Okay, I’ll come down and wait for you,” Tangyu said.
Wang Dazhuang put down his work, slid over to Tangyu with a sleazy smile, and said in a slimy tone, “Hero bro, got another date with a girl?
It’s really strange, why arrange it during the day instead of at night?
Isn’t that odd?
Could it be that Hero bro is so busy that his nights are already fully booked, and now you have to schedule during the day?”
Tangyu kicked Wang Dazhuang and decided to head downstairs first for some peace and quiet.
Just as he left the office, Tangyu saw Li Jie approaching quickly and calling out to him from behind.
Tangyu stopped, “Brother Jie, what’s up?”
“Tangyu, I wanted to ask if you’re free tomorrow evening,” Li Jie said.
“Tomorrow evening?
Is there something going on?” Tangyu asked, indicating that he should be free that evening.
Li Jie nodded and sighed, “Isn’t it just my unreasonable sister again?
Tomorrow is her birthday.
I finally persuaded her to go back to school, but she insisted on celebrating her birthday today.
Moreover, her condition was to have you there to celebrate with her, otherwise, she wouldn’t go to school.
I practically spent all of last night trying to convince her, but it was no use.
I’m running out of ways to deal with her.
I really have no choice, so I thought—Tangyu, I know my sister makes you feel uncomfortable, and you’re also aware of her personality.
If you don’t feel like going, then don’t go tomorrow.
I’ll figure out how to deal with her.
Otherwise, your presence might just make things worse for you.”
Tangyu frowned slightly, as he really didn’t want to deal with this situation, feeling a sense of resistance towards Li Xiang from the bottom of his heart.
“Who else will be there tomorrow?” Tangyu asked.
“No one, my sister only asked for you to be invited.
She doesn’t want anyone else there,” Li Jie said, shaking his head.
“Did she say I’m not allowed to bring anyone else?” Tangyu asked again.
“There’s no—no such restriction,” Li Jie said.
Tangyu nodded, “Alright then, that settles it.
I’ll go tomorrow.”
Li Jie was a bit surprised to hear Tangyu agreeing, and after a long pause, he said, “Tangyu, thank you so much.
I’m really grateful.
It’s shameful of me, as her brother, to have not taken proper care of her, to not be able to discipline her.
I’ll try harder in the future and won’t let her be so willful anymore.
This time, I’m truly out of options; she’s made a huge fuss.
If I don’t agree, I’m afraid she might do something irrational.
Anyhow, thank you, Tangyu.”
With a smile, Tangyu patted Li Jie on the shoulder, “Don’t mention it, we’re friends.
As long as you ask, I’m glad to help out.
Besides, Li Xiang doesn’t really mean any harm; I was just too harsh on her.”
Li Jie shook his head, “Don’t say that, Tangyu.
She’s too willful.
You’ve been more than kind to her.
Really, I’ve seen that all along.”
“Let’s talk more about it tomorrow.
I have something on right now, I have to go,” Tangyu said.
Once he descended the stairs and waited a few minutes, Song Qingyu arrived punctually.
Tangyu familiarly got into the driver’s seat of the car and said with a smile, “You’re really on time.
Fifteen minutes exactly, just like you calculated with a computer.”
“I’m always punctual.
In our line of work, it’s critical to be exact with time.
Otherwise, you might miss out on opportunities,” Song Qingyu replied.
“…Alright then, let’s get down to business,” Tangyu said.
Song Qingyu pulled the car over to the side and then turned to look at Tangyu, “Actually, I’m very reluctant to come to you with this matter, but the leaders insisted I talk to you, so I had no choice but to come.”
Tangyu raised his eyebrows slightly, “Is it Director Huo who sent you to find me?”
“Yes.” Song Qingyu didn’t deny it.
It wasn’t surprising that Tangyu had guessed this.
Tangyu felt rather speechless and headachy.
He had already refused clearly and straightforwardly; why were they still coming to him with this?
“Tangyu, in my personal opinion—joining the National Security would indeed bring you many benefits.
You are no ordinary person; your talents, if put to work for the country, would surely make a great impact and earn you significant trust from the state.
You might even become a legend, glorified for a lifetime.
I’ve always felt that your life should be extraordinary, yet faced with such an opportunity, you declined without a second thought.
I find that unexpected,” Song Qingyu said.
Tangyu replied nonchalantly, “I neither agree nor disagree with your view.
What I want to say is, everybody has their own aspirations, their own suitable path.
Whether my life is ordinary or glorious, I have my own way that I wish to follow.
And my path can only be clearly understood by myself, while others may only see through a fog or reflection in water.
I am very clear and aware and have never changed my desired course in life.
I don’t have great ambitions or lofty ideals.
As I’ve said before, what I truly want is a simple, uneventful life.
If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.”
Song Qingyu looked at Tangyu, “I don’t disbelieve you; it’s just that I feel your life should be extraordinary.”
“Heh, whether it’s extraordinary or not, what does it matter?
The most important thing is my heart, my choice.
If I’m destined to be extraordinary, then that’s merely my mission,” Tangyu said.
Song Qingyu paused briefly, sensing she had caught a glimpse of something, yet it slipped away just as quickly.
She looked at Tangyu, somewhat puzzled by the meaning behind his words.
Somehow, she felt that there was more to what he said than met the eye.
“Alright, Qingyu, if you came just to tell me this, then there’s no need to mention it.
Continuing the conversation would be pointless and fruitless.
Let’s leave it at that.
Now that we’re done with official business, how about we talk about something personal?” Tangyu said.
“Personal matters?
What’s that?” Song Qingyu looked at Tangyu, slightly puzzled.
With a smile, Tangyu said, “Talk about love, express feelings, maybe set up a date to have dinner and watch a movie together.
When are you free?”
Song Qingyu’s expression suddenly turned cold, and after a long pause, she spit out three words, “Buzz off.”
“Eh, don’t be so overreactive.
It was just a joke.
But I really do want to treat you to a meal.
Since someone owes me several dinners and still hasn’t honored their debt, I had no choice but to be a bit shameless.” Tangyu said.
Song Qingyu gave Tangyu a cold look, “Don’t worry, I remember.
It’s just that you’re a busy man, and I fear you won’t have the time.”
“I’ve got time, loads of time, every day.
I’m never as busy as you are,” Tangyu said.
“Really, you’ve got time?
Then how about tonight?” Song Qingyu said.
“…Tonight, I’m actually not free,” Tangyu said.
“See?
I told you you’re a busy man.
What about tomorrow night then?”
“Uh…
I’m not free tomorrow night either.
How about the night after tomorrow?”
“If you’re not free for two nights in a row, why can’t I be busy the night after tomorrow?
Let’s talk about dinner some other time.
If there’s nothing else, you can get out of the car now.
I have to go to work, so I won’t see you out,” Song Qingyu said.
Tangyu pursed his lips, “Alright then, I’ll call you when I’m free.”
After seeing off Song Qingyu, Tangyu planned to return to his company.
Just as he reached the entrance to the company, another call came through—it was Yang Xiaoyu calling.
“Hehe, Tangyu, hope I’m not disturbing you,” Yang Xiaoyu said cheerfully.
“No trouble at all, I’m pretty free right now.
Did you need me for something?” Tangyu asked.
“There’s nothing urgent.
Just wanted to ask when you’d be free.
Do you remember the thing I mentioned last time?” Yang Xiaoyu asked.
“Of course, I remember.
Let’s do this: how about this noon?” Tangyu suggested.
“Hehe, sounds good, Tangyu.
When should I come pick you up?” Yang Xiaoyu immediately said, excited.
“If you’re free, come over now.
I’m in the office.
Not much going on anyway,” Tangyu said.
“Great, I’ll be there soon, probably about twenty minutes.
Just wait for me,” Yang Xiaoyu replied and hung up.
With about twenty minutes to kill, Tangyu couldn’t be bothered to return to his company upstairs, so he wandered around downstairs.
After a few steps, his gaze shifted and landed on the doorway of a security office.
There, he saw two security guards in their thirties blocking a young woman.
It looked like they were arguing, and the woman was on her guard against the two men.
The scene made one conjure up unsavory images.
“Hmm, why is it her again?” When Tangyu got a clear view of the young woman, he slightly furrowed his brows.
It was the female pickpocket he had encountered twice before.
This strange twist of fate left Tangyu speechless—why was it that every time he encountered her, she was in some kind of trouble?
The first two times were for stealing wallets, and what was she mixed up in this time?
Why was she tangled up with two security guards?
Without hesitation, Tangyu walked over.
“Humph, you’ve got quite the nerve, trying to scam us.
Today, if you don’t give us an explanation, we’re sending you to the police station.”
“Is returning the money to you not enough?
What else do you want?”
“Just returning the money and you think you’re off the hook?
You’re naive if you think it’s that simple.
If that were the case, you could just keep scamming without consequences, right?
Heh heh, unless, well, you know what we mean.
Otherwise, we’re taking you to the police, and you should know what happens then.
You seem to be a student; once you’re in the station, don’t even think about graduating.”
“I didn’t scam you.
I’m just selling products, and it’s all entirely voluntary.
There’s no question of scamming at all.
It’s you who are being unreasonable and bullying me.
What kind of men are you, two grown men picking on a girl?”
“Yo, pretty mouthy, aren’t you?
But I prefer them with softer lips, heh heh.”
“It doesn’t matter if her mouth up there is tough, as long as the one down here is soft,” the other guard added.
Hearing the guards’ obscene talk, Tangyu’s face showed a touch of anger.
The frightened young woman’s eyes flickered, and then she caught sight of a familiar figure approaching.
With a jolt, she called out to Tangyu as if grasping for a lifeline, “Darling, you’re finally here.
Someone is trying to bully me.”