C4 Chapter 4

At the same time, back in Liancheng—

Inside the towering Rongxin Building, assistant Qin Chao stood with a file in hand, delivering his report respectfully:

“The cooperation project with Digin was officially signed this morning. Preliminary profit estimates are over ten billion dollars.”

“Wellsor is interested in the Songjiang deep well we’re putting up for sale, but they’re hoping we’ll come down a little more on the price. They’ll send someone to our company at 8:00 tomorrow morning to discuss it in detail.”

“The latest quarterly report for Lingchuang Clothing, a subsidiary of Rongxin Group, is out. The company is still operating at a loss. Compared with last quarter, performance is down 12 percent, and compared with the same period last year, it’s down 18 percent. Lingchuang Clothing has been losing money for two years and eight months straight, which has already caused considerable dissatisfaction among shareholders. They want the company to pull out of the clothing market completely and stop sinking effort into a business that isn’t paying off.”

The man behind the desk darkened slightly at the report. A glacial chill settled in his deep-set eyes, and his entire presence gave off a suffocating, intimidating pressure.

Qin Chao glanced at him discreetly.

In truth, the shareholders had been calling for an exit from the apparel market for a long time. Even he thought there was no need to keep that business going. But his boss, usually decisive and ruthless, had held on to it with unshakable determination. Qin Chao couldn’t understand it.

Still, no matter how puzzled he was, he knew it wasn’t his place to question the decision.

Lowering his eyes, he continued with the rest of the report.

After finishing everything, Qin Chao closed the folder and added, “There’s news from London.”

After listening to the entire report, he finally looked up at Qin Chao. His narrow eyes were dark and unreadable, giving away none of his true emotions.

His voice was low, rich as a cello, but when he spoke, it carried no warmth or feeling—only cold detachment and the oppressive authority of someone long used to being in command.

“Miss Xia booked a flight back for 10:00 the morning after next. Based on the fact that she’s been looking for places to rent back here, it seems she’s planning to stay for the long term this time.”

His back stiffened, the words “staying for good” echoing in his mind.

So she had decided to come back?

Lowering his gaze, he said flatly, “Got it.”

“Would you like me to arrange a pickup at the airport?”

“No.” His tone was cool and detached, his expression unreadable.

Qin Chao quietly withdrew, while Saang Shijuan kept his eyes lowered.

His thick, long lashes blocked the sunlight streaming in through the window, casting a heavy shadow beneath his eyes.

She was just a stranger, so why did hearing that she was coming back stir a faint sense of excitement in him?

What exactly was he excited about?

Was it the thought of that month of endless intimacy, or was he actually hoping something more might happen between them?

With a quiet scoff, Saang Shijuan brushed aside the ridiculous thought.

A day later, the sun was shining brightly over Liancheng, but the air still carried a sharp chill.

The moment they stepped out of the airport, a biting wind rushed at them. Xia Bing quickly and carefully tightened Xia Yanyou’s scarf, but Xia Yanyou didn’t seem cold at all. If anything, he was bursting with excitement, his soft little voice ringing out in a delighted scream. “Ahhh! I’m finally back!”

Xia Bing had been worried that her son, coming here for the first time, might have trouble adjusting, but seeing how thrilled he was, she realized she had worried for nothing.

She hailed a cab and headed with him to the apartment she had arranged in advance.

The move-in process went smoothly. The landlord was kind, and the apartment was fully furnished, though it was a little cramped. It was supposed to be a one-bedroom with a living room, but part of the living room had been sectioned off into a tiny extra bedroom.

Still, she didn’t have a job yet, and no source of income. With a young child to support, she had to be careful with the money she had managed to save over the years.