Allen put on his coat and opened the door. “Sasha, what’s up? It’s late.”
Standing outside, Liu Sasha was covered in moonlight, her skin sparkling like a fairy from the heavens. Allen couldn’t help but feel that Sasha’s eyes were a bit unnatural, and he could even smell a faint scent of alcohol.
“I… it’s a bit cold outside. Can I come in to talk?”
Allen nodded. This was Sasha’s place, and he was just staying here temporarily. How could he refuse his host?
“Of course, come in and talk.”
The environment of the orphanage was not great, and Allen’s room only had the advantage of being clean. Even the lighting in the room was from light bulbs over a decade ago, casting a dim light as Allen sat on a stool, waiting for Sasha to speak.
Sasha looked around the room, noticing there was no one else there, and took out a small box from her pocket with great care.
“Actually, there’s nothing much going on. I just wanted to give you this.”
Allen was taken aback. It was just a gift. Was it necessary to be so secretive? He immediately wanted to see what was inside the box.
Just as Allen touched the button on the box, Liu Sasha screamed, “No, don’t open it!”
Allen looked at Sasha in confusion, wondering what was going on. Wasn’t this gift meant for him? Why couldn’t he even take a glance?
Sensing her own inappropriate behavior, Sasha quickly said, “I’ll go now. Open it after I leave.”
As if there was some evil spirit in the room, she fled outside.
Allen watched her depart, shaking his head before opening the box.
Inside was only a small handkerchief, exquisitely crafted and seemingly belonging to Sasha. However, there was something else there too.
Peering closer, Allen noticed that two lines of text had been embroidered onto it. What was so secretive about this? Why had Sasha acted so strangely? He didn’t need this item either.
But once he read the two lines, he suddenly lost his composure.
“Trees have branches, the heart delights in you, but you remain unaware.”
This was an ancient story about a woman who loved a man, and Sasha had given him this item as a way of expressing her love.
Deeply exhaling, Allen thought for a moment before placing the handkerchief back into the box. He couldn’t accept Sasha’s feelings, not when his own heart already belonged to someone else.
Having dressed himself, Allen stepped out into the moonlit night. Some say that time is the best medicine, capable of erasing all things, including emotions. Allen planned to let time slowly diminish everything, until the day that Liu Sasha found someone who truly loved her, and he could silently offer his blessings.
Allen knew roughly where Zhuang Chengren’s hotel was, and he booked a room there. The next morning, while Allen was still in bed, Liu Sasha knocked on his door – her face red and wanting an answer.
But before her hand could reach the door, it opened on its own – Allen had forgotten to lock it when he left the night before.
“How strange… where did he go?” Liu Sasha saw the box she had given Allen sitting on the table, with a note beneath it.
Curiosity getting the best of her, Sasha walked over and picked up the note.
“There are some matters to attend to with Zhuang Chengren, I will go over there first. You don’t need to wait for me.”
“Master, I am ready. Let’s go back to the company now!” This matter had to be dealt with as soon as possible. By going early, they could also find out what Ye’s family was up to and plan accordingly. After all, Zhuang Chengren had already decided to compete with Ye’s family for the company left by his father, and this was a step he would eventually have to go through.
Allen gave Zhuang Chengren his room number, and before long, there was a knock on his door. Allen opened it and saw Zhuang Chengren, who looked noticeably weathered. There were bloodshot eyes sunk deep into his eye sockets, and he looked like he had aged twenty years.
“Master, what are you doing here?” Zhuang Chengren was surprised to find Allen here, as he had been hiding here because he couldn’t go home. Allen, on the other hand, was not in the same situation. Even if he had stayed here because of danger, why hadn’t he seen Ava Smithhere?
In his memory, his master and his master’s wife were always inseparable. Allen waved his hand and frowned. “Take care of yourself. You are a doctor yourself. You haven’t slept for days and have exhausted your body. How can you avenge your parents like this?”
Zhuang Chengren knew the reasoning behind this, but every time he closed his eyes, he saw his parents buried in the ground.
It seemed like Zhuang Chengren was still talking to someone, and in this situation, how could he possibly sleep?
“I know, master, but I feel like I won’t be able to sleep until I have avenged my parents by resolving Ye’s family.” Allen took a deep breath and knew that this matter was a heavy burden on Zhuang Chengren’s heart. If they didn’t solve it, it would affect him completely.
“Fine, let’s go take a look! Do you have someone you can trust in your father’s company?”
As they say, it’s easier with acquaintances. Having someone trustworthy in this complex situation would definitely put them in a favorable position. At the very least, it would be better than now and help them understand the situation within the company.
Zhuang Chengren thought for a moment. “There is one person like that. My father saved his life, and he has been working under my father ever since. He is now the manager of the public relations department.”
Upon hearing this, Allen hurriedly said, “Then let’s go find him and learn about the situation first.”
Zhuang Chengren nodded and took out his phone from his pocket, dialing a number.
…
“Master, he has agreed to meet us. He is downstairs at our hotel.”