"Mr. Huangfu, you're thinking too far ahead," Song Jiaping said with a laugh. "I just want to learn in a big group. Why are you so afraid? Do you have too many secrets in your group that you're afraid people will find out?"
"Nonsense!" Huangfu Sisong said, a little agitated. "Our group is one of the top ten in Lancheng, and we've always operated legally and compliantly. You can come to the group to learn if you want, it's no big deal. But you must ensure that Yao Yao comes home to live!"
With that, he impatiently got up to leave. Mrs. Huangfu tried to stop him but failed. She could only smile at Song Jiaping and say, "I'm sorry, he's just like that. You'll know when you go to the group later; he always has the final say."
"Mrs. Huangfu, I understand. Since I promised, I will do it." Song Jiaping didn't want to stay any longer and got up, leaving the private room.
Mrs. Huangfu saw that such good tea hadn't been drunk, and it was all over.
She helplessly picked up her teacup and finished her own.
This Song Jiaping was truly strange. With her woman's intuition, he wasn't entirely indifferent to Yao Yao. He seemed to have no ulterior motives regarding the Huangfu family, but why did he say he wanted to work in the Huangfu Group?
She felt he was strange and contradictory. She only hoped Yao Yao would recover her memory soon, break up with him quickly, and then have a marriage alliance with a wealthy family that matched the Huangfu family.
...
While Song Jiaping was still on his way back, he received a call from the hourly maid.
"Mr. Song, something's wrong, Madam is gone!"
"Didn't I tell you not to let her leave the community! Weren't you at home, how could she be gone?" Song Jiaping asked.
The hourly maid said, "Madam said she wanted to go downstairs for a walk, so I accompanied her. We were walking near the community garden. But Madam said she forgot her phone and asked me to go upstairs to get it. It only took me the time to go upstairs and downstairs, and when I returned to the garden area, Madam was gone."
"Did she leave the community?" Song Jiaping asked furiously.
"I asked the security guards at the entrance, and they said they didn't notice anyone coming or going," the hourly maid said with a crying voice. "I don't know what happened!"
"Call the police, I'm coming back immediately!"
After the police reviewed the community's surveillance footage, they discovered that Huangfu Mengyao was taken away by Hong Jiaxi when she was alone in the community garden.
Soon, the responding police officers and Song Jiaping found Mengyao and Hong Jiaxi at the same cake shop.
Mengyao was looking at a lifelike puppy-shaped cake and smiling as she talked to Hong Jiaxi.
Seeing the scene, the police said to Song Jiaping, "Your wife knows this person, it seems to be a misunderstanding."
Song Jiaping saw that Mengyao was no longer afraid of Hong Jiaxi and could even chat and laugh with him. His face turned a little pale.
"I'm sorry, thank you for your trouble."
The police had him sign the incident report and then left.
Mengyao also saw Song Jiaping and quickly waved to him, saying, "Husband, why are you here? I was just about to go back after eating the cake. Mr. Hong is not a bad person."
Song Jiaping's heart sank. He walked towards them, trying to maintain a smile, and said, "Is that so? How about we pack it up and go back first?"
Mengyao immediately nodded and sweetly said to Hong Jiaxi, "Thank you for treating me to cake. I'll treat you next time."
Hong Jiaxi just smiled, "No problem."
Song Jiaping stared at him, unsure of what he wanted. He asked the waiter to pack the cake and said coldly to Hong Jiaxi, "No need for you to treat. How much is it, I'll pay you."
"Why are you being so polite with me?" Hong Jiaxi seized the opportunity and whispered in his ear, "You should return her to me."
Song Jiaping took out a hundred-yuan bill, placed it on the round table, and left with Mengyao.
Hong Jiaxi picked up the money with his fingers, folded it into a paper crane, and put it in his pocket.
He had just spoken with Mengyao. She had indeed lost her memory, not that she no longer liked him, but that she hadn't remembered.
This time, he wouldn't let her disappear from his sight again, and he would make her remember everything.
Song Jiaping wouldn't be able to snatch her away from him again.
Back home, Mengyao eagerly opened the puppy cake and, holding a spoon, hesitated about where to start.
The puppy cake was too cute; she was reluctant to spoil its shape. She looked at Song Jiaping and asked, "Husband, do you think I should eat its tail first?"
Song Jiaping sat on the sofa not far from her, his head down, silent, not looking at her, and not answering her.
Mengyao ate the puppy's tail first. Not realizing he was angry, she said, "It tastes good. I remember eating this kind of cake before. You should try some too..."
"Why did you go to a cake shop with a stranger, and not wait for the aunt who takes care of you?" Song Jiaping looked up and asked.
"You mean Mr. Hong? I met him once before, so he's not entirely a stranger," Mengyao explained. "When I was in the garden, he happened to be coming to our community to find a friend. He said he used to eat cake with me at that cake shop, and he also accurately guessed the cake I was craving."
"So you left with him without saying goodbye?" Song Jiaping stiffened.
Mengyao pouted and said, "What do you mean left? I just went out for a little while, of course, I'll come back. I also wanted to see if I could regain some past memories. You said that he and I knew each other well before, right..."
"I don't know," Song Jiaping said, having made up his mind. "It's good to find an old friend. Tomorrow I will send you to your parents. I have to go on a business trip for a while."
"Ah!" Mengyao felt it was too sudden and said unwillingly, "I don't want to go. I'll wait for you at home when you go on your business trip."
"They are your parents, they will take good care of you. I will be away on a business trip, and there will be no one to take care of you. I won't be at ease," Song Jiaping said and went to the study.
Mengyao looked at the cake she had only taken a few bites of, lost her appetite, and her eyes immediately turned red.
She got up and followed him to the study door, only to find it locked.
Actually, she didn't know what she did wrong. She wanted to ask him how long she would have to stay at her parents' house, and if he would pick her up when he returned from his business trip.
But she raised her hand to knock, and as soon as her hand touched the door, she let it fall powerlessly.
The thought that he had taken care of her for so long made her feel that he must find her annoying and a burden.
She also understood that men had their own careers and had to go out and strive.
And she was not in good health, and she still couldn't remember anything, which would only hold him back.
She didn't bother him further, feeling no mood for anything, and turned to go to the bedroom.
The next morning when she woke up, she found that Song Jiaping had not entered the bedroom.
He really didn't want to take care of her anymore, nor did he want to sleep in the same bed with her.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Mengyao, are you up? I've packed everything for you, let's go."
She swallowed her tears and responded to him in a cheerful voice, "I'm up, please wait a moment."
Song Jiaping, holding a suitcase, sat in the living room waiting for her.