CHAPTER 593: CHAPTER 356: A CHANCE ENCOUNTER

"Lianlian, you’ve been in touch with Jiujiu all this time?" Xing Nong was surprised, "How come you never mentioned it in your letters before?"

Luo Lian put down her chopsticks and sighed, "I was afraid you’d be too impulsive, so I never brought up Jiujiu’s situation. Remember when we left, we gave her money for school? But her aunt sold her to an old bachelor in the neighboring village the following year.

A 13-year-old child, that woman was too immoral. Luckily, Jiujiu was clever. She got the old bachelor drunk and escaped, running until she found a phone booth and called me.

Indeed, it was a coincidence. At that time, I happened to be visiting China to see my stepfather, so I asked him to come with me to rescue Jiujiu. Afraid of being caught by her evil aunt, Jiujiu curled up in a hayloft and hid there all night.

When my dad and I found her, we took her to report the incident. In the end, that despicable aunt claimed she was lying, so nothing substantial happened to her after a long back-and-forth.

Ultimately, I brought her to Sha City. She said she wanted to learn martial arts, for her passion and for self-defense. So I asked my stepfather to help out, and we sent her to Sha City Sports School.

She graduated last year and is now working as a fitness coach. Before coming here, I thought it over and notified her to come help.

With me by her side, I can also encourage her to learn more skills. A girl can’t just fight and kill her whole life, right?"

"Damn it, if I had known at the time, I would have stabbed that damn woman with a knife!" Xing Nong said angrily, her face flushed red, "Where is that woman now... what happened to her?"

"See, I knew it would have caused trouble if I had told you back then. That woman..." Luo Lian’s lips curled up slightly, "I may not be able to deal with her, but the wicked will surely be punished. On a dark windy night, after winning some money in a game of mahjong, a dispute arose, and she ended up with a broken leg."

Xing Nong gritted her teeth in hatred, "That’s not enough; in my opinion, she should be bedridden, unable to move. She had the heart to harm a 13-year-old girl; she’s nothing but a beast!"

"Jiujiu is not her biological niece; she picked her up, so from the beginning, she probably never had good intentions," sighed Luo Lian. "Let’s drop it, no need to talk about her anymore."

"That vile woman, I really hope I never run into her. I’m afraid I won’t be able to control my urge to kill her," Xing Nong said indignantly, "The parents who abandoned Jiujiu deserve to die too. If they didn’t want to raise her, why did they even give birth?"

Luo Ye handed a glass of water to Xing Nong, "Qiu’er, cool down. It’s precisely because this world is filled with all sorts of people that all these conflicts and sufferings arise. These aren’t issues we can solve just by talking about them.

Jiujiu wasn’t hurt and found Luo Lian, which is already quite fortunate. Always look on the bright side, and you’ll be much happier."

"Alright, I just can’t understand those people," Xing Nong downed a glass of water, "It seems I am blessed, though. Even though my parents have been busy with work and didn’t spend much time with me, they’ve always written letters and called. They didn’t abandon me, so that’s not bad..."

Luo Ye knocked on her head, "Stop talking nonsense. Is it the same thing? By the way, tell me the truth, does Commander Yan onstage today have any connection to your family?"

"He’s my grandpa’s younger brother," said Xing Nong innocently, "It wasn’t that I deliberately ignored him; he cut ties with the Yan Family many years ago, and it wouldn’t have been appropriate for me to eagerly approach him, right?"

Luo Ye poked her on the forehead, "Look at how guilty you are acting; it just shows you’ve been too unreliable on a regular basis, it’s become a conditioned response now!"

Xing Nong pouted, "That third grandpa of mine is the one who’s really unreliable. The family of my third grandma and the Yan Family are sworn enemies, but he insisted on being with my third grandma, causing a huge rift in the end."

"It seems your third grandma’s family is also quite powerful," muttered Yaoguang.

"Almost the same as the Yan family," exhaled Xing Nong, "Let’s not talk about them; it’s frustrating, all this endless bickering. Oh right, Luo Lian, where are you staying?"

"I’ve been staying at a hotel with people from the French academic exchange delegation for the past few days. They’re going back tomorrow, so I plan to move to the company residence."

Xing Nong frowned, "Is that convenient?"

"The renovation was handled by my dad, and it finished yesterday. My room was the first to be completed; it has a kitchen and bathroom, everything’s fully equipped, so it’s pretty convenient."

"What about security?" Luo Ye asked, concerned.

"With my Yong Chun Fist skills, I am more than capable of self-defense. Next week, Jiujiu and Qiuqiu will be here, and Yunxin Building has 24-hour security; don’t worry."

"Okay," Luo Ye glanced at the time and urged, "It’s almost two o’clock; hurry up eating, then we’ll accompany Luo Lian to buy some essentials."

"Okay," Xing Nong and Yaoguang sped up their pace.

Luo Ye thought for a moment, "Once you finish eating, wait for me on the first floor. I’m going to call Qu Yue now to ask for a car; that would make things more convenient."

Luo Lian smiled gratefully, "Thank you, Luoluo."

"Don’t mention it. Just say the word if you need anything in the future. If it’s within our power, we will do our best to help," Luo Ye said as she walked out.

Less than two minutes after calling Qu Yue, Li Xiaoting came in with the keys to an X5, "Miss Luo, the car is parked on the first floor. I’ll take you there."

""

Luo Ye waved her hand: "No need, I can just press the central control to find out where it is. You go ahead with your work." After a few steps, she instructed, "I’m not here for office work, so you might as well let someone else use this office—it’s a waste otherwise."

Li Xiaoting looked troubled: "President Luo, this was arranged by President Qu, and I have no authority to change it."

"Forget it, I’ll talk to him later," Luo Ye said helplessly, shaking her head, Mr. Qu, she really didn’t need the grandeur.

"Luo Ye?" After walking a few steps, hearing a puzzled voice behind her, Luo Ye quickly turned around to see Lin Tuanzhang standing not far behind her, accompanied by a young couple.

Luo Ye’s gaze fixed on the woman’s face for a moment, catching the panic in her eyes before quietly shifting her gaze back to Lin Tuanzhang: "Hello Lin Tuanzhang, what a coincidence."

"Yes, I thought you looked familiar." Lin Tuanzhang pulled the young man forward a few steps and pointed at Luo Ye: "Yaoyuan, this is Xiao Xuan’s girlfriend, Luo Ye."

"Hello, Luo Ye." Yaoyuan offered a faint smile: "I never expected Xiao Xuan to have a girlfriend. I always thought it was just a rumor."

Luo Ye replied politely: "Hello Brother Yao, do you work in Sha City?"

Yaoyuan nodded: "Yes, I am now Secretary Wen’s assistant."

"I see." Luo Ye’s gaze swept past the woman behind him, a smile playing on her lips: "It really is a small world, so many acquaintances from Sha City."

Yaoyuan quickly brought the woman to the forefront: "This is my girlfriend, Fan Rui."

"I know..." Luo Ye looked at Fan Rui with a smiling gaze: "Miss Fan, surely you haven’t forgotten about me, right? We’ve had dinner together, remember?"

"Ah?" Fan Rui pretended to be deep in thought, tapping her forehead: "Right, right, look at my poor memory, I forgot. No wonder you looked familiar."

Lin Tuanzhang affectionately took Luo Ye by the arm: "Ye’er, what a fate we have. How about we all find a place to have tea together, shall we?"

"Lin Tuanzhang, I really would like to have a chat with you, but I’ve made plans to help a friend buy some housewares." Luo Ye held up her car keys: "I just borrowed a car from the hotel, and my friend is waiting for me below."

"Is that so?" A hint of disappointment flashed in Lin Tuanzhang’s eyes, then he smiled: "Okay then. When you go to Beijing, remember to let your mother-in-law inform me, and we can get together."

"Alright, Lin Tuanzhang, Brother Yao, I’ll take my leave first!"

Not until Luo Ye’s figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs did Lin Tuanzhang withdraw his gaze. He took his son by the arm: "Yaoyuan, don’t underestimate this young lady. She was the host of the New Year’s Day performance—she’s got the looks and the talent. Although she’s just a freshman, her English and French are terrific..."

Yaoyuan interrupted impatiently: "You don’t understand anyway, just listening for the lilt."

"I may not understand, but the foreigners in the audience do, and those who understand English and French do, and so does your Aunt Su Sha." Lin Tuanzhang looked displeased at his son: "Such a good daughter-in-law, yet Su Sha is still picking and choosing. I can hardly live with myself when compared to her."

"Why didn’t you give birth to a capable son?" Yaoyuan’s complexion darkened: "You’ve always been comparing me with Xiao Xuan, isn’t it exhausting? I don’t understand, given my age and position, what are you dissatisfied with? Must I join the military to make you happy?"

Casting a glance at Fan Rui standing to the side, trembling with tears brimming in her eyes ready to fall, Yaoyuan hugged her tenderly: "Xiao Rui, it’s not that mom dislikes you, she’s just disappointed that her son hasn’t brought her glory. It has nothing to do with you."

Lin Tuanzhang sighed: "Forget it, there’s still work to do back at the group, I won’t bother you any further." With that, she waved her hand and headed downstairs. Looking at her lonely figure, Yaoyuan’s heart softened, and he called out softly: "Mom!"

"Hmm?" Lin Tuanzhang turned around.

Yaoyuan smiled: "Take care, go slow."

"I know." Disappointment flickered in Lin Tuanzhang’s eyes. She reached the ground floor, couldn’t help but look back, but her son was nowhere to be seen. With a sigh, she quickened her pace, as she left the entrance, she happened to see Luo Ye waving to several girls to get in the car. Hesitating for a moment, she jogged over: "Luo Ye!"

"Lin Tuanzhang." Luo Ye got out of the car to greet her: "You’re leaving so soon? Do you want me to give you a lift?"

"No need." Lin Tuanzhang sighed: "To be honest, I am really not satisfied with that Fan Rui, but my son is bewitched by her and it’s caused a big rift between us. I’ve been here for several days and he hasn’t even shown his face. If it weren’t for me taking the initiative to come today, I wouldn’t have seen him at all. Auntie wants to ask you for a favor..."

Seeing Lin Tuanzhang hesitate to continue, Luo Ye guessed her intention and smiled: "Please speak directly. If I can help, I will do my best."

"I would like to ask Secretary Wen to consider his work performance and send him down to the countryside. I want to see if his love is as indestructible as he claims it to be."

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Second update, tomorrow more 8000. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)