Shen Nian was about to sneak away when her phone in her pocket rang, instantly drawing the attention of those nearby.
Sensitive, everyone quickly checked the time and found it was around 8 o'clock, excitedly asking, "Shen Nian, is that Lu President's call?"
"It's probably him. Lu President is arriving in the capital at 8 o'clock. He might have called his assistant Shen Nian right after getting off the plane to give her work instructions."
"Shen Nian, quick, check if it's Lu President's call!"
Liang Jinghe immediately came over upon hearing and gazed at Shen Nian expectantly.
Under everyone's gaze, Shen Nian had no choice but to take out her phone. The employee closest to her saw the caller ID.
The contact name Shen Nian had for Lu Lingchuan was his full name, so no one would discover their relationship through the contact name.
"It really is Lu President!"
Seeing that it was indeed Lu Lingchuan, everyone became excited.
"Assistant Shen, hurry and answer!"
"Remember to be tactful and find an excuse to lure Lu President here!"
Urged by everyone, Shen Nian answered the call.
"Hello..." Her voice was light and faint, "Lu President."
"..." On the other end, Lu Lingchuan frowned upon hearing Shen Nian address him like that.
Over the years, they had argued big and small, and every time they were in a cold war, Shen Nian would call him "Lu President," clearly separating their relationship with that title.
Plus, Shen Nian's voice was so faint, making Lu Lingchuan think she was still in a cold war with him.
Lu Lingchuan's originally somewhat agitated heart was doused with cold water, and his voice was also cold, "I've gotten off the plane."
"Hmm." Shen Nian responded, but said nothing else. Lu Lingchuan didn't say anything either, and the atmosphere became awkward.
Seeing that Shen Nian didn't get to the point, everyone was getting anxious, making all kinds of subtle gestures to urge her on.
Under everyone's pressure, Shen Nian had to steel herself and continue, "Do you have time now?"
Hearing Shen Nian say that, Lu Lingchuan was a bit surprised, not knowing what she wanted, so he didn't immediately agree, only saying, "Go on."
Shen Nian's head was throbbing more and more, and her voice grew softer, "I have some things I need to discuss with you in person..."
Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.
After a pause, she added another sentence, "Is that okay?"
When Lu Lingchuan heard Shen Nian's soft and gentle "Is that okay?", the heart that had been doused with cold water started beating rapidly again.
But thinking about her coldness, Lu Lingchuan didn't immediately agree, only coolly leaving her with, "Tell me more."
Then he hung up.
Lu Lingchen, who was beside him, only spoke after he hung up, "Shen Nian?"
"Yeah." Lu Lingchuan replied.
"Something happened?"
"She said she has something she needs to discuss with me in person." Lu Lingchuan frowned, "I wonder what she wants to say."
It was precisely because he didn't know what she wanted to say that Lu Lingchuan didn't agree right away.
The main reason was... when Shen Nian said that, her voice was so cold and indifferent that it gave him a bad premonition, and panic attacked his nerves.
He was afraid... that Shen Nian wanted to break up with him.
If that was what she wanted to say, Lu Lingchuan would absolutely not go see her!
"Discuss something?" Lu Lingchen carefully thought about it, then said, "Is it about what's happening online?"
Online? Lu Lingchuan's eyes flickered.
Lu Lingchen said, "Shen Nian called me too, but I was too busy at the time to respond. With how big this has blown up online, she must know that we're behind it, and this matter is also somewhat related to Ling Rui's case. Is what she wants to discuss this?"
After Lu Lingchen mentioned it, Lu Lingchuan's uneasy heart was slightly soothed.
"Brother." Lu Lingchen looked at Lu Lingchuan with a serious expression, "You care about Shen Nian in your heart. If this goes smoothly, you two should be together properly and stop tormenting each other."
"..." Lu Lingchuan's body stiffened.
Lu Lingchen knew he had gotten through to him, so he continued, "You two have been mutually tormenting each other for so many years. Ultimately, your knot is Ling Rui, and her knot is also Ling Rui, including Mom's knot also being Ling Rui."
"A small stream may appear calm on the surface, but you never step into the same river twice, for the water is always flowing. Even if the water in this stream is very turbid, it won't be long before it becomes clear again—because the murky part has flowed away."
Lu Lingchen said earnestly, "Brother, I just want to tell you that time won't stop, and we can't live only for that memory. Even if today is unsatisfactory, when you wake up tomorrow, a new day will still come."
"..."
"Mom likes Shen Nian, but because of Ling Rui's death, seeing Shen Nian pains her; you clearly can't let go of Shen Nian, but because of Ling Rui's death, you can't move on either."
"So..." Lu Lingchen paused, then continued, "If we win this lawsuit and avenge Ling Rui, Mom's knot will be untied. You and Shen Nian can start over."
"..."
Lu Lingchen's every word struck Lu Lingchuan's heart.
Start over...
Start over.
With each repetition of those four words in his mind, his heartbeat accelerated.
Like a person trapped in a quagmire grabbing a lifeline, the only hope to live.
Visions of Shen Nian holding a child in a warm, domestic scene flashed through his mind.
They could start over...
Right?
Lu Lingchuan abruptly raised his head, "I won't go see Mom at the hospital today."
Lu Lingchen was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Mom has me looking after her. Dad's flight back to the capital is tomorrow morning, so you don't need to worry about the family."
Without saying anything else, Lu Lingchuan hurriedly left the airport and sent Shen Nian a message as he walked.
[Are you at home?]
He was about to send the message when he suddenly remembered that there had been wind sounds during their call earlier, so she should be outside.
He deleted the four characters in the input box and retyped the message.
[Address]
Then he sent it.
...................
On the other side, after Lu Lingchuan coldly hung up, Shen Nian's heart, which had been hanging by a thread, finally settled. She shrugged at everyone, and they all looked dejected.
"Ah—even Assistant Shen can't deceive him. What do we do now?"
Just now, some people had huddled close to Shen Nian and heard Lu Lingchuan's cold words.
Liang Jinghe lowered her eyes, a flicker of disappointment visible in them.
Shen Nian didn't want to stay here any longer. Every second here was filled with Liang Jinghe's love for Lu Lingchuan, and she only wanted to hastily flee.
"It's nothing important. I'll go first."
With that said, she turned to leave.
At that moment, a "ding dong" notification sound came from the phone.
Someone immediately exclaimed, "Is it a message from President Lu?"
With these words, everyone's interest was reignited again, and they said in chorus:
"Very likely."
"Shen Nian, you check it quickly!"
Urged on by the crowd, Shen Nian had no choice but to open her phone to prove it wasn't him.
But as she opened the message, she was taken aback.
[Address] Just these two simple words.
The sender was Lu Lingchuan.
