A quiet hospital.
Qin Jingxiang’s words, clear and succinct, were delivered with deliberate pauses.
Her face, usually harmless as an angel’s, was now spewing such venomous words.
Song Zhizhi looked at her.
She sneered, "Really?"
"Are you feeling very uncomfortable? Do you want to kill ? Do you want to slap to death right now?!" Qin Jingxiang stared at her, "When I found out that Ji Baijian was getting married to you, I was a hundred tis more pained than you are now! You have no idea how much I love Ji Baijian!"
The latter statent was practically yelled out.
The doctor and nurse dressing Qin Jingxiang’s burn were both startled.
At the mont, Qin Jingxiang didn’t seem to be in the mood for dressing her wound either. She glared at the doctor and nurse, her expression extrely dreadful, "Get out!"
"But Miss Qin..."
"Get out!" Qin Jingxiang’s expression was fierce.
The doctor and nurse didn’t dare to resist. They put down their things and quickly left the ward.
Qin Jingxiang just stared at her own charred palm, back of her hand, and fingers, then extended them towards Song Zhizhi, "What’s physical pain? Song Zhizhi, with and you, it’s either you die, or I die!"
Song Zhizhi never imagined that Qin Jingxiang’s hatred did not solely stem from their familial relationships. In fact, in Qin Jingxiang’s eyes, their family rivalry was trivial. What she truly cared about was Ji Baijian.
What was so charming about Ji Baijian that drove Qin Jingxiang to such madness?
What was it that had even made her, who no longer believed in love, to fall so quickly?
This man must be poisonous.
She turned around.
Song Zhizhi thought there was nothing else worth discussing with Qin Jingxiang.
She didn’t understand why she ca to visit Qin in the first place. Maybe it was because she still couldn’t let go, or maybe she was still confused about why Qin would do this to herself. A pair of hands, hands as elegant as a pair of books, ruined like this. Even if the wounds healed, there would definitely be scars.
A woman’s hands are part of her appearance. Could Qin Jingxiang really bear to ruin hers?!
Now she probably understood.
This woman was just too blindly in love.
As she was about to leave, Qin Jingxiang suddenly called out, "Song Zhizhi, do you think Ji Baijian truly loves you?"
Song Zhizhi frowned.
"Yes, I admit I’m jealous of you. I’m jealous that you can be with Ji Baijian. I’m jealous that you guys can get married. I’m jealous of Ji Baijian’s tenderness towards you. But. Song Zhizhi, do you truly believe that Ji Baijian’s love for you is pure?" Qin Jingxiang let out a cold laugh, "Yin Qin told that Ji Baijian loves you so much that he hinted at to back off. I also truly thought Ji Baijian loved you, until this incident happened!"
Song Zhizhi didn’t know what Qin Jingxiang was getting at.
She just looked at her, at how her endearing features could twist into sothing so ugly.
"Ji Baijian knew exactly how important this project of your father’s was to your family. Despite that, he watched from the sidelines. He’d rather tell you I was SWT, than tell you the extent of his hacking skills!" Qin Jingxiang said coldly, "You think the man who got my interest is only because he’s good-looking? There are so many handso n out there, why do you think I am so infatuated with Ji Baijian? It’s because he’s incredibly skilled. He’s the only one who can defeat in online combat! Don’t think I’m lying to you, you can ask Ji Baijian when you get back. Ask him why, even though he had the ability to nd the security flaw for S Country, he never told you, making you go round in circles, suffer losses against , and fall victim to my sches."
There was a tumult in Song Zhizhi’s heart, yet all she did was lightly laugh and say, "You think I’d believe what you say?"
"Believe it or not." Qin Jingxiang didn’t seem to care either way, "Anyway, all I need to know is that Ji Baijian doesn’t like you as much as he shows!"
Song Zhizhi didn’t stick around any longer, not wanting to listen to her nonsense any longer.
She turned and left without a second thought.
Qin Jingxiang watched Song Zhizhi’s retreating figure, her smile becoming even more sinister.
...
Song Zhizhi left with Luo Xiaolang.
Song Zhizhi’s face was gloomy. Luo Xiaolang could tell she was upset, so he quietly followed her.
The two arrived at the car park.
As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, reporters surged towards them.
Song Zhizhi frowned.
Luo Xiaolang quickly shielded Song Zhizhi.
A reporter asked, "Miss Song, it was said that you had a dispute with Miss Qin Jingxiang at the Comrcial Managent and you burned her finger, is that true?"
"It’s said that she’s currently the top in the hacker world and will follow your father overseas to fix the loopholes in S Country. Aren’t your irrational actions openly sabotaging your father?"
"Miss Song, could you please tell us what the real conflict between you two is and how it escalated to physical violence?"
"So people suggest that it’s because of your husband, Ji Baijian. It’s because he once had a romantic relationship with Miss Qin Jingxiang and out of jealousy..."
Song Zhizhi did not want to respond.
She subtly signaled Luo Xiaolang with her eyes.
At this mont, saying anything would not help.
And there was no need to guess who brought all these reporters!
The more she’d say, the more mistakes she’d make.
"Miss Song, could you please answer."
"Miss Song, could you please comnt."
"Miss Song..."
"Enough!" A man’s voice suddenly rang out in the garage.
The reporters kept Song Zhizhi under siege, preventing her from leaving smoothly.
At this mont, Qin Wenguo descended from the elevator and stepped forward to the reporters, "Stop troubling Song Zhizhi. None of this is her fault."
"Mr. Qin, your daughter was scalded like this, yet you are still speaking in favor of Song Zhizhi?"
"So disputes happened between the two of them and unfortunately, it led to this accident. No one expected it. Song Zhizhi didn’t do it on purpose, and she even ca specifically to visit my daughter. As long as the misunderstanding between both of them is cleared, everything should be fine." Qin Wenguo took on the role of the good guy, "I have a good friendship with Song Shan. I hope this incident will not affect our relationship, so please don’t spread rumors."
"Mr. Qin, we surely won’t write irresponsibly since you are so magnanimous. However, we are curious as to what misunderstanding led to this accident between your daughter and Miss Song?"
"Just to avoid any wrong information from spreading, let clarify," said Qin Wenguo solemnly, "My daughter Jingxiang knew Ji Baijian from her study abroad. They did have so affection for each other, but it ended peacefully when she chose to continue her studies. After returning to the country, it was normal for them to et. It has been so many years, and they no longer have feelings for each other anymore. Furthermore, Ji Baijian is already married. Song Zhizhi misunderstood this, and that led to today’s incident. The water in the cup wasn’t hot, but who knew my daughter was allergic to warm water? A slight carelessness could cause her body to get burned, and Song Zhizhi didn’t know about it. The one who doesn’t know is not guilty! Jingxiang has already explained her relationship with Ji Baijian, and Song Zhizhi also regrets her irrational behavior in the office. They have reconciled. Please, journalists, don’t ddle anymore for no reason."
"So did your daughter indeed have a past romantic relationship with Mr. Ji?" The reporter could not just let it go like this.
Qin Wenguo’s face seed a bit ugly as he replied irritably, "I have already explained everything, what more do you want? Zhizhi, let walk you to your car."
Saying this, he assud the absolute good man role, accompanying her to her car.
Song Zhizhi bit her lip tightly.
Qin Wenguo’s action was certainly not for her. It only served to show off how magnanimous the Qin family was. And, more importantly, if Song Zhizhi continued to argue with them in front of the dia, she would be drowned in public opinion!
Such a strategy really left her with no way of fighting back at this mont.
Qin Jingxiang was really not simple!
Just a few days ago, she had put the Qin family in a difficult situation, and now they shot back fiercely.
Under his escort, she got into the car.
Luo Xiaolang drove away quickly.
Looking at the car go, a flash of hatred passed through Qin Wenguo’s eyes.
Did Song Zhizhi actually think she could defeat his high intelligence daughter? It was suicidal!
Recalling the humiliation they suffered in front of Ye Taiting and how triumphant Song Shan was, Qin Wenguo felt giddy with satisfaction now!
Song Zhizhi looked back one last ti, catching Qin Wenguo’s undisguised smirk.
She turned around and picked up an incoming call on her phone.
She gritted her teeth, "Dad."
"Return ho now!"
Before Song Zhizhi could respond, Song Shan had already hung up the phone.
Song Zhizhi pursed her lips and said to Luo Xiaolang, "Take to the Song Family house."
"Yes."
The car sped up.
Luo Xiaolang noticed that Song Zhizhi’s face was not in good shape, so he tried to cut as much ti as possible to allow her to sort things out.
They arrived at the main entrance.
Luo Xiaolang had just parked, and Song Zhizhi got out of the car directly.
Luo Xiaolang went to park the car.
After parking the car, she headed towards the hall.
It seed that her master was waiting for her.
At this mont, Luo Xiaolang felt an inexplicable emotion and didn’t want to see her master for a second. Perhaps, it was because she had many opportunities to put the surveillance device on Yin Qin, but so far, she hadn’t finished the task.
"Xiaolang." Wei Ziming was very serious.
Luo Xiaolang didn’t respond.
"Not yet?" Wei Ziming asked.
"Hmm."
"Now, do you have your own thoughts? Master’s words are useless, right?" Wei Ziming asked.
Luo Xiaolang hung her head, feeling the sha of a child who had done sothing wrong and dared not face their elders.
"Will I harm Song Zhizhi?" Wei Ziming asked her.
Luo Xiaolang shook her head.
"Will Ji Baijian?" Wei Ziming asked again.
Luo Xiaolang was stunned.
"Who do you think is more reliable, or Ji Baijian?"
"But Yin Qin has nothing to do with you." Luo Xiaolang countered.
"Isn’t Yin Qin Ji Baijian’s best friend?"
Luo Xiaolang looked at her master, and seriously told her, "Yin Qin is a very simple person."
He didn’t play so many tricks.
"So we can only learn about Ji Baijian’s actions from Yin Qin. Xiaolang." Wei Ziming put his hands on Luo Xiaolang’s shoulders, "Everything master does is just because he wants to protect Song Zhizhi. If Ji Baijian poses no threat to Song Zhizhi, the surveillance device will be useless to them. I’m just being cautious."
Luo Xiaolang bit her lip.
"Promise , put the device on Yin Qin as soon as possible." Wei Ziming was very serious, and it felt demanding.
Luo Xiaolang took a long while to nod, "If they don’t harbor such thoughts, can we retrieve it earlier? I heard that invading people’s privacy is a very unethical behavior."
"I promise you, just for one month. If nothing happens within a month, we’ll take it back."
"Okay." Luo Xiaolang nodded and agreed.
Wei Ziming patted Luo Xiaolang’s smooth short hair, "That’s my good disciple."
Luo Xiaolang.
Actually, she was really cute when she smiled.
The joyous atmosphere in the hall was a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere in the study.
Song Zhizhi sat opposite her father.
Unusually, her younger brother had also returned.
Song Zhidao was silent at the mont, aware of the oppressive atmosphere in the study.
"We only have two months left of Mr. Ye and we missed such a good opportunity!" Song Shan spoke out angrily.
He seed to be upset even now.
Song Zhizhi was biting her lip, remaining silent.
Song Zhidao looked at his sister’s complexion and tried to console, "Dad, I believe Zhizhi feels very guilty now, blaming her won’t help. We should think about how to solve this problem instead."
"I can’t think of any solutions." Song Shan said despairingly.
Song Zhizhi also didn’t have any ideas for the ti being.
She was wholly focused on finding an IT genius. Finding one would be the only way out of their predicant. Now that the opportunity was suddenly gone, she felt sowhat distraught.
"Forget it." Song Shan’s face was very ugly, "I don’t expect anything from you two."
Song Zhizhi felt very sick at heart.
She had finally earned her father’s trust, and now she had disappointed him again.
"Zhidao." Song Shan called for his son, "You’re 20 this year. It’s about ti for you to join Comrcial Managent. Don’t wait until you graduate. The school allows you to work while studying. As long as you pass the exams, it’s enough."
Song Zhidao was stunned and turned to look at his sister.
Song Zhizhi said, "Please help Dad. I’m not capable enough on my own."
"Sister," Song Zhidao called out to her.
Song Zhizhi had already stood up from the study at this mont, "I’ll leave first."
Saying that, she left directly.
Song Zhidao gave his father a glance, then chased after her.
He strode forward and caught up with Song Zhizhi, "Sister, don’t be upset. Dad told about the situation. I know it’s not your fault. Qin Wenguo would never let his daughter help us. Dad was just daydreaming. And no normal person could anticipate Qin Jingxiang’s damaging tactics. Dad just couldn’t accept it, but don’t let it get you down."
Song Zhizhi gave a small smile, "I know, I’m just also kind of disappointed. I thought I could help dad, but I ended up wasting all the effort. I even raised his hopes unnecessarily."
"Sister, don’t say like that! We’ve seen all the things you’ve done for our family all these years. If you hadn’t uncovered Nie Wenzhi’s conspiracy, Dad might not be here anymore. You are our family’s ritorious minister, and I look up to you as an idol! You can’t get discouraged!" Song Zhidao comforted, "Besides, even if we’ve lost this opportunity, it’s just that we’ve lost a competitive platform. We’re on the sa starting line with other CEOs. It’s uncertain who will win in the end. Why should we give up?"
Song Zhizhi looked at her younger brother.
It seed like Song Zhidao had grown up overnight.
He was no longer that playful child and had learned to be considerate of others at so point.
Thankfully, he was here.
Otherwise, she didn’t know if she would have been driven into despair.
She said, "I haven’t given up. I’m just a bit shaken!"
She was really hit hard by Qin Jingxiang.
She thought she was more thoughtful than others since she had lived longer, but she was caught off guard by a woman who was one year younger than her and was outwitted.
She doubted herself.
"While you’re on your wedding leave, take a few days off to adjust your emotions. I’ll go to school in the afternoon to apply for a leave of absence, and I’ll be with you and dad in the Comrcial Managent in the future."
Song Zhizhi nodded, "Okay. What I want to see most is your success."
"Of course. In the future, I will definitely be brilliant and successful, make our family skyrocket, and let you and Dad enjoy a peaceful life."
"I’ll be waiting." At this mont, Song Zhizhi was amused by Song Zhidao. She said, "Can you also persuade Dad for ? He is old, and his blood pressure is high. Don’t think so much, health is the most important."
"Okay. You can rest assured and go back. I’m here. I’ve grown up, and I’m a real man."
"I’ll leave it to you, man."
"Okay."
Song Zhizhi talked with her younger brother for a while before leaving the Song residence.
When she got back to her car,
In the end, her interaction with her younger brother was just an attempt to disguise herself.
So emotions couldn’t be passed so easily.
She sat in the car, gazing vaguely at the passing scenery outside the window. She had many thoughts in her mind, but it felt blank at the sa ti.
The car swayed and arrived at the garage.
Song Zhizhi sat in the car without intending to get out.
Luo Xiaolang looked back at her.
Song Zhizhi was still silent.
"Song Zhizhi, we’re here." Luo Xiaolang reminded her.
"Hmm." Song Zhizhi responded.
"Are you going sowhere else?" Luo Xiaolang asked in surprise.
Song Zhizhi shook her head.
Shaking her head, she opened the car door and got out of the car.
She admitted that, at that mont, she wanted nothing more than to avoid returning there, to avoid seeing Ji Baijian.
But...
She made the choice on her own to be here.
She stepped into the elevator and went ho.
In the spacious living room, Song Zhizhi sat directly on the sofa without going upstairs.
She just lay there quietly on the sofa.
It had been a long ti since she felt so lost. Since her rebirth, everything seed to go the way she wanted it to, notwithstanding the mystery of who lurked behind the curtain and Yi Wenhan’s true identity. She had eliminated the biggest threat to her father and saved their family’s lives, for now. She had so sense of accomplishnt.
But now...
She suddenly realized that she isn’t as strong as she had thought. There are always bigger fish, there is always a higher sky!
The so-called Ji Baijian... The so-called Qin Jingxiang...
The so-called unknown persons pulling strings behind the scenes...
Could she truly resist them all?
She closed her eyes, not wanting to think anymore.
She was afraid that she might fall apart today, but she couldn’t give up.
No matter what, she mustn’t die in such a confining way!
Before she knew it, she fell asleep.
When she woke up, it was the maidservant calling her.
She opened her eyes.
The maidservant was incredibly respectful, "Miss, we’ve brought your al. You’ll catch a cold sleeping here."
Song Zhizhi sat up.
Was it already ti for dinner?
She didn’t realize she could sleep so long.
She got up.
Step by step, she climbed upstairs.
She was married now, she had married already, where could she run?
She ascended.
Ji Baijian was sitting in the room reading a book, reading "The Art of War" this ti.
She walked straight into the bathroom and said as she went, "I’m going to take a bath, the maid brought dinner. It’ll be ready soon."
Ji Baijian just watched Song Zhizhi’s retreating figure.
He then put down his book, watched the maidservant bring dinner, dish by dish, setting it on the dining table in the middle of the Sky Garden.
Under the twinkling garden lights, Ji Baijian waited a long while before Song Zhizhi, fresh out of the shower in her pajamas, sat opposite him.
Song Zhizhi picked up her chopsticks to eat.
Ji Baijian also quietly ate.
Neither of them initiated a conversation.
As Song Zhizhi was eating, she picked up her phone and started scrolling through the news aimlessly.
She guessed that she must have hit the headlines today.
As expected, the words Qin Wenguo supposedly had spoken to open doors for her didn’t benefit her at all. Instead, it exaggerated the greatness of the Qin family, making it seem like the one who was petty was only her, Song Zhizhi.
She quietly scrolled through the news, looking at comnt after comnt, filled with righteous indignation.
"Eat so at." Ji Baijian said.
He picked up a piece of beef steak and placed it in Song Zhizhi’s bowl.
For a mont, Song Zhizhi’s hand trembled slightly.
The steak fell onto the table.
Song Zhizhi glanced at it, then lowered her head back to her phone. "No need, I’m on a diet."
"You’re not fat."
"I’m not hungry." Song Zhizhi was blunt.
Ji Baijian looked at her and said, "About the news..."
"Hmm." Song Zhizhi imdiately put down her chopsticks, "I’m a bit tired today, and I don’t really have an appetite. I’ll leave you be."
And then, she left.
Ji Baijian watched Song Zhizhi’s retreating figure, watched her increasingly distant back, and his lips tightened.
Back in her bedroom, Song Zhizhi brushed her teeth and laid down on the bed.
She dimd the lights a bit, leaving Ji Baijian’s side of the bed lit, and switched off her own.
She wasn’t lying to Ji Baijian, she really wasn’t hungry. It wasn’t just because of the day’s events. Perhaps she had caught a chill sleeping on the sofa in the afternoon. She felt a bit cold.
She drifted off to sleep.
She felt Ji Baijian moving around in the room several tis, maybe taking a bath, or going to the bathroom, or turning off the lights, until after quite a while, he laid down beside her.
He felt a bit too close.
She moved further away.
It seed to be intentional.
She moved away again.
The mont when she was about to tumble off the bed, Ji Baijian quickly caught her.
Song Zhizhi opened her eyes.
Their eyes t.
Ji Baijian said in his husky voice, "Today marks two days since..."
"Ji Baijian, do we need to be together?" Song Zhizhi interrupted him.
She was like a bucket of cold water, drenching him without reservation.
She could feel the stiffness of his body.
Song Zhizhi said, "Maybe, we should not be together."
"Why?" Ji Baijian asked her.
"Because I’m scared." Song Zhizhi said, trying her best to keep her voice calm, "I just realized that I’m not as strong as I thought I was. I could be squashed by anyone, trampled underfoot, never to rise again."
"Is it because of Qin Jingxiang?"
"Not just her." Said Song Zhizhi, her tone heavy, "I admit, Qin Jingxiang is indeed smart and her actions have greatly affected . But what’s more unacceptable is..."
Ji Baijian was very quiet, waiting for her to speak.
"You watched as she played ."
A ripple ran through Ji Baijian’s throat.
What Song Zhizhi had to say felt devastating.
She asked, "Ji Baijian, are you good with computers?"
Before Ji Baijian could speak...
Song Zhizhi said slowly and precisely, "Don’t lie to ."
She just wanted to know the truth, the complete and absolute truth.
Be it yes or no.
She would believe him, as long as she didn’t know the truth beforehand.
The silence filled the space, making it feel as if the entire world had co to a halt, everything so still.
She didn’t know how long it had been, didn’t know how long she waited.
Just when Song Zhizhi thought that Ji Baijian wouldn’t tell her and would avoid answering as usual.
She heard Ji Baijian say, "Yes, I am very capable, even more so than Qin Jingxiang."
Song Zhizhi laughed sarcastically.
At first, she was just heartbroken.
Now, she felt nothing.
Feeling nothing was rather good; there wouldn’t be any emotions, or pain, or anger!
In fact, there really was nothing to be angry about.
Her initial marriage to Ji Baijian was driven by self-interest.
She shouldn’t demand one hundred percent from Ji Baijian, after all, it’s mutual benefit, she has constantly benefited from him while Ji Baijian had gained nothing in return.
Why should she be angry?
She had no right to be angry.
She said calmly, "Okay, I understand."
Song Zhizhi pushed Ji Baijian away.
Ji Baijian did not stop her.
With her back to Ji Baijian, she said, "Go to bed early, it’s late, and I still have to work tomorrow."
She closed her eyes silently.
She thought, the relationship had reached this point, and that was about it.
At least Ji Baijian gave her a clear answer.
She forced herself to sleep.
"Madam," Ji Baijian called her.
Song Zhizhi did not hear him.
This title did not belong to her.
"Madam," Ji Baijian said, "We should..."
"Should divorce." Song Zhizhi enunciated each word clearly.
The person behind her suddenly froze.
Song Zhizhi said, "I should not have fallen in love with you, nor should I have arrogantly thought I could control you. I have limited abilities, Ji Baijian, let’s part on good terms."
The man behind her fell silent.
His silence ant consent, right?
Song Zhizhi threw off the blanket, "I’ll go downstairs."
As soon as she stood up.
Song Zhizhi was forcefully restrained, unable to move.
She didn’t scream, knowing it was useless.
She heard him say, "You once said, alive you are mine, dead you are my ghost! You said, I would never leave you. Now, where do you think you’re going?"
"Ji Baijian..."
"In this lifeti, you are not going anywhere!" Ji Baijian said, his voice cold and cruel, "Unless I, die!"
Unless...I die!
Song Zhizhi closed her eyes.
She owed him.
In her previous life.
She would give it back to him.
In this life.
He had saved her ti and again. She would repay!
Repay with herself!
From then on, they parted ways!
One night... dawn broke.
The doctor said, three to five months.
It turned out.
It was a lie.
She opened her eyes, looking at Ji Baijian as he got out of bed, and changed his clothes.
Then, leaning on his crutches, he left.
So is this the end?
It was her who should have left, why did Ji Baijian overstep?
The house belonged to him.
She was the one who proposed the breakup.
But if he insisted on taking the initiative, she was not going to oppose.
She closed her eyes.
It was still early when Ji Baijian left, dawn had just broken, she hadn’t slept all night, but she could sleep soundly now.
When she woke up.
The sun was already high in the sky.
She glanced at her phone.
It was 11 am.
As expected, she slept well.
She slept deeply.
She got up from the bed, walked barefoot into the bathroom.
She took a serious bath
Perhaps it would take a long ti to clean herself thoroughly.
But in fact, she did not regret it.
Not a bit.
Giving each other a perfect ending, that’s good.
After her bath, she changed into her outdoor clothes and left.
Just because Ji Baijian had left, it did not an she could take his place, she never thought about asking him for anything.
She went downstairs.
Enduring the pain, she went downstairs.
Just as she got to the bottom floor.
Her eyebrows furrowed.
Why is Zhang Qingi here?
But Zhang Qingi, seeing Song Zhizhi awake, quickly ca up to her, "Zhizhi, you’re awake."
"Auntie, why are you here?" Song Zhizhi smiled, feeling a bit awkward at this mont.
She would not have any relationship with Ji Baijian in the future. Having Zhang Qingi bring her lunch alone made her feel guilty.
"I had nothing to do, so I ca to bring you lunch. I heard you like the soup I make, so I specially made it for you. It nourishes the blood and is good for a woman’s health. Make sure you drink plenty today," Zhang Qingi quickly said, very enthusiastically.
Song Zhizhi’s mind was running.
How she should refuse her...
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