TGSS - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Wish

"You're here."

When Chu He and Sen Sen came in, President Qin was sitting on the gray leather sofa, holding a teacup and greeting her with a kind expression. Across from him sat a young woman in a black suit.

As soon as Sen Sen entered, his eyes darted quickly around the room. Seeing none of the police officers he had imagined, the weight hanging over his heart suddenly lifted. His back was drenched in sweat, as if he had just been fished out of water. His face pale, he immediately glared at Chu He. Realizing he had been tricked, he clenched his jaw so tightly his expression looked ready to split with rage.

"Don't look at me like that. I never said I was taking you to see the police. You just insisted on understanding it that way," Chu He said, a wicked smile hanging on her lips. From beginning to end she had never said the company had already called the police. The man was just too easily frightened.

"Sen Sen."

The gentle female voice left the stunned Sen Sen unable to react for a moment. He stared in shock at the elegant and composed woman and cried out, "Rongrong, why are you here?"

Xie Rongrong's face was deathly pale. She forced a smile and said to President Qin, "Why did you bring him here? We agreed I would take full responsibility for this."

"Oh? How do you plan to take responsibility? Do you know how much money he took from Liu Ziyu?" Chu He closed the door and walked with leisurely steps to sit beside Xie Rongrong. When she had seen that amount yesterday she could not help but click her tongue. Just how much must Liu Ziyu hate Wen Xiaoying to make such a lavish move.

In fact, what Liu Ziyu had done could make Wen Xiaoying extremely unhappy, but the benefit she herself could gain was actually very limited. If she rashly tried to seize the initiative without making thorough preparations for a transformation like Wen Xiaoying had, she would not gain any real advantage either.

"But I clearly didn't receive it myself..." Sen Sen stood rooted to the spot and looked at Chu He in disbelief.

Chu He shook her head and just smiled at Xie Rongrong, a hint of mockery in her long eyes. "Your boyfriend is quite naive. In the era of big data, do you think laundering money is that easy?"

The oppressive feeling in Chu He's smile made Xie Rongrong's heart sink. Her palm pressed against the sofa unconsciously tightened, the cushion sinking beneath it. She gave a bitter smile, her expression somewhat helpless. "Since you've already investigated everything, why are you still looking for me?"

"I have some things I want to ask you." Chu He rested her arm on the back of the sofa behind Xie Rongrong, making it look as if she had the woman wrapped in her embrace. It was a highly possessive gesture. She glanced sideways at Sen Sen. "Your boyfriend did this because he loves you, after all. I'm actually quite moved. Calling the police on him would be a bit heartless. He is, after all, an employee of the company, hardworking and dutiful. Whether this matter becomes big or small depends entirely on you."

Xie Rongrong heard the threat in Chu He's tone. She bit her lip so hard it nearly bled, her palms slick with sweat. A stifling atmosphere bred and spread through the air.

"You don't have to beg her! At worst I'll go to jail." Sen Sen suddenly burst into loud laughter, his expression ferocious as he faced Chu He. "Don't think you can use me to threaten Rongrong. I have nothing to be afraid of."

Chu He covered her mouth and laughed, her long eyes curving. "Miss Xie, look at him. How could anyone bear to be harsh?"

President Qin watched Chu He put on her act and felt the veins on his forehead throb, his teeth aching. He had been worried Chu He would not be able to hold the scene and had thought he would need to chime in to help, but there was no room for him to intervene at all.

Xie Rongrong tilted her neck back and exhaled a breath of stale air, finally compromising. "Fine, I promise you. Ask whatever you want to ask."

"Then I'll get straight to the point." Chu He was too lazy to beat around the bush with her any longer. "Was there more to the story between you and Wen Xiaoying than meets the eye?"

Xie Rongrong showed an expression that said she had expected this. The corner of her mouth hooked up weakly. "You went to all this trouble just to ask me this? Wen Xiaoying is with your company now. Why do you want to know these things?"

"That's my business. You just need to answer honestly." The smile on Chu He's face did not fade. Her overtime work yesterday investigating this matter had not been in vain. Following the trail from Sen Sen had indeed led her to Xie Rongrong, the key figure.

Xie Rongrong looked very tired. She glanced at the red eyed Sen Sen and smiled bitterly. "Strictly speaking, I shouldn't tell you, but I don't have any other choice now, do I? You should know I used to be the business liaison at Wen Xiaoying's company, right?"

Chu He nodded upon hearing this, waiting for her to continue.

"My ability wasn't actually that outstanding at my previous company. For a business liaison, it mainly comes down to connections and resources. So I was quite surprised when Wen Xiaoying chose me. Of course, I only later realized it was because I had no background and no connections and relied entirely on my own hard work, so I was the easiest to control." Xie Rongrong began to recall the past. Seeing that Chu He seemed to be growing faintly impatient, she continued, "At that time Xiaoying was not as famous as she is now, and the share she could get from the business deals the company brought in was not high. It happened to be right after she broke up with her boyfriend. She was very short of money, so short that she wanted to take on resources privately and not even share them with the company."

Chu He pondered for a moment and interrupted her. "You say she was very short of money?" This was a bit strange. Wen Xiaoying had already been an influencer with over a million followers at that time. Even after breaking up with her ex boyfriend, she should not have been that short of money.

"Yes, she was extremely short of money. The offer for that business deal she received at the time was very high. In order to take a cut from it, she reached an agreement with the other party's liaison and had the resource routed to me, so I would negotiate with the company. That way the channel would look more formal and legitimate, and she could keep herself clean."

"Put that way, she could have completely skipped the step involving you and directly negotiated the kickback with the other liaison herself and reported it to the company. After it was done, no one would have known she took a cut," Chu He raised a timely doubt.

Xie Rongrong nodded. "I just thought at the time that she wanted to shift the risk and didn't trust that liaison, so she left the whole negotiation to me and kept her own hands clean. I was also possessed at the time, believing she treated me as a friend. Of course, I was also too greedy myself, so I helped her do it. After it was done, I obediently followed her instructions and withdrew most of the kickback in cash and gave it to her. Who would have known..."

"Who would have known she would turn around and report you to the company." Chu He looked her up and down, almost finding it absurd. "Did it never occur to you to keep some evidence when you were helping her?"

Xie Rongrong said nothing, tacitly admitting it.

"So the company found your payment records and your cash withdrawal records through an audit, and you had no way to defend yourself." Chu He's head ached for a moment, as if she had been stunned by her foolishness. "You used your own bank card to receive the money, but she asked for cash."

"What do you know? Wen Xiaoying came prepared at the time. Rongrong is so innocent, of course she fell into her trap," Sen Sen could not help but argue for his girlfriend when he heard Chu He's tone.

Chu He did not even bother to glance at him, just staring fixedly at Xie Rongrong until she forced a smile. "It can't be said that there is completely no evidence, but that little bit of material simply cannot form a chain of evidence and would only bring me endless trouble, so I... don't plan to use it to threaten her."

Chu He understood. Sometimes the same thing could have completely different effects in different hands. Only after Xie Rongrong promised to hand the material over to her did Chu He see Sen Sen and Xie Rongrong out with a pleasant expression.

Once that heavy, vintage door was closed, Chu He walked leisurely toward President Qin. She unceremoniously picked up the purple clay teapot and poured herself a cup of tea, watching the clear tea flow and hit the bottom of the cup. Her gold-rimmed glasses slid down her high nose bridge. She lifted her phoenix eyes slightly to look at the hesitant President Qin.

"Xiao He, you went to all this trouble and went in such a big circle just to get a hold over Wen Xiaoying?" President Qin's stern face was full of disapproval. "Just so Liang Zhouyi can work here steadily without being targeted by Wen Xiaoying?" He suddenly felt he could not understand Chu He. With her abilities, Wen Xiaoying had no way to get past her to do anything to Liang Zhouyi.

"Uncle Qin, I'm grateful you were willing to cooperate with me. But this is a personal matter, no comment," Chu He said with a faint smile as she set down her teacup, the tassels on her shawl swaying with the movement.

She did not have much time left. Whether Liang Zhouyi chose to continue working here or to leave, she would do her best in the limited time she had to do a few more things for Liang Zhouyi, to clear away as many obstacles as possible and make Liang Zhouyi's future brighter.

Someone like Wen Xiaoying, Liang Zhouyi might choose to forgive and not hold it against her, but Chu He could not tolerate someone who had hurt Liang Zhouyi still bouncing around perfectly fine in this world. Leaving the final choice to Liang Zhouyi was because she respected Liang Zhouyi, not because she could swallow her anger and do nothing.

In the end, Sen Sen's matter was minimized within the company and quietly settled. As for what went on between Wen Xiaoying and Liu Ziyu, how they wanted to use public opinion to put fans through an emotional wringer was a matter for Wen Xiaoying and the public relations team.

"Sen Sen was fired?" When Liang Zhouyi asked her, she seemed not to have expected the matter to be handled so simply. "Even if the company doesn't pursue it further, will Wen Xiaoying let him off?"

"What Wen Xiaoying wants to do in private is beyond our control, but the company's official document has already been issued. Compensation for economic losses plus dismissal." Chu He gave her a meaningful look. Publicly, that was indeed what was said, and it was in line with the company's usual practice. Making a big fuss would ultimately have a bad influence.

"You definitely did something." Liang Zhouyi snorted coldly. Seeing that Chu He was still holding something back from her, she felt a trace of displeasure. "Your attitude changed so much from beginning to end. You've already gotten what you wanted?"

Chu He burst into laughter. She reached out and put her arm around Liang Zhouyi's slender shoulders. "As expected of Zhou Yi, so sharp. Come on, I'll treat you to dinner."

"I'm not in the mood." Liang Zhouyi struggled for a moment but failed to shake off Chu He's arm, so she gave up resisting and let Chu He half drag her outside.

Chu He drove Liang Zhouyi to a park near the city center. Every night, the office buildings that felt oppressive during the day lit up with light shows, no longer as terrifying as a prison in daylight. In her previous life, Chu He often came here for a walk after work. Looking at those prosperous buildings, her heart, battered by work, would become firm again. Under the night lights, looking at such a beautiful city, her ambition would be reignited. So this place became one of the sources of motivation for her to start her own business.

Liang Zhouyi walked side by side with Chu He. She watched Chu He lead her familiarly across a large lawn and up a long flight of steps, gradually moving away from the crowd. Chu He stepped beside the small, round white lights lining the steps and turned to smile at Liang Zhouyi. The scene was so beautiful it felt almost unreal, as if certain things were within reach.

Chu He led Liang Zhouyi climbing for a long time. She leaned against the wall, panting as she looked at the flickering lights around her and sighed. It really was no different from her own world.

"Liang Zhouyi, in the new year, do you have any wishes?" Chu He's eyes were moist in the night, her amber eyes seeming to glow. She said earnestly to the person beside her, "I once said I would make you more and more lucky. Whatever wish you have this year, let me help you make it come true, okay?"

"Then... I want the person I like to like me back. I hope I can be with her this year." Perhaps the atmosphere under the night sky was just too good, Liang Zhouyi suddenly found a bit of courage. She still had reservations, but like a clam she extended the softest part of herself just a little to test the waters.

"You will. You definitely will. You're so wonderful. How could she bear not to like you?" Chu He's brows furrowed slightly, her radiant face freezing for a second. After a long moment she said it in a tone of blessing.

"Thanks for your kind words." Half of Liang Zhouyi's heart went cold. She suddenly felt afraid. She could no longer tell what Chu He meant by those words. For the first time, a possibility she had never considered appeared in her mind.

What if Chu He's kindness to her was not because she liked her? But how could that be? Everything she said and did proved her affection. She was probably just worrying needlessly.

The corner of Chu He's eyes held an almost imperceptible melancholy. She found it somewhat difficult to avoid Liang Zhouyi's gaze, looking at the colorful buildings, the bustle by the mall and the roads, feeling as if she did not belong.

"Chu He, what about you? What do you want?" Liang Zhouyi's long hair was blown loose, her voice carried on the wind to Chu He's ears.

What did she want? Chu He was taken aback by the question. What she wanted she had already obtained, and through her own hard work, it was waiting for her in her own world.

"Me? I want your wish to come true." Chu He's voice was muffled. She sniffed from the cold, the tip of her fair nose slightly red. Beneath her shawl she looked tall but slender. Perhaps because Chu He always acted so strong and invincible, it was the first time Liang Zhouyi realized that Chu He was just a young person only a few years older than herself.

"Chu He, when it's your birthday, can I give you a gift?" A hint of longing appeared on Liang Zhouyi's delicate face. She did the math. Chu He's birthday was not far off. If she sped up the handover, she could wrap up everything on this side.

"Okay." Chu He's red lips parted, her voice very gentle. Although she knew she might have to disappoint Liang Zhouyi's kind intentions.

The argument with the System that day was still vivid in her ears. The System said, "Host, don't you think Liang Zhouyi likes you?"

"Sys, I've never been in love, but I'm not stupid. Would I not know whether someone likes me or not?" An indefinable mix of happiness and sadness colored Chu He's tone.

"Then why doesn't the Host just agree to be with Liang Zhouyi? Your mission progress is only a little short. Help Liang Zhouyi find love and untie the knot in her heart. If you agree to be with her, it won't be long before you can go home."

"I've noticed you seem to be working very hard to bring us together," Chu He said with a soft laugh. It was not the first time she had noticed the System acting very enthusiastically.

The System stuttered for a moment, mumbling to change the subject. "Host, please don't slack off. Your humble System is only thinking about mission progress."

"Fine, then let me ask you. After I leave, what will happen to the butterfly effects I caused in this world? How will you reasonably erase my existence? And Liang Zhouyi... she found her love and untied the knot in her heart, but if I just walk away, won't that become a new knot for her?" Chu He's voice was a little broken, and a faint sob could still be heard.

"Your humble System... I cannot say, but Host, please believe me, it won't be worse than before," the System comforted Chu He.

Chu He fell silent. Thinking of Liang Zhouyi's previous life, it indeed could not get any worse.

"After I leave, Liang Zhouyi won't remember, but you want me to remember. Isn't that a bit unfair?" Chu He stared blankly, her thoughts drifting to the possible future direction of this world.

"If Host needs it, your humble System can also erase your memories."

"Get lost." Chu He cursed it immediately. She did not need that. This was her own possession. Why should it be erased, and who had the right to do so?

"Chu He!"

Liang Zhouyi's shout jolted Chu He awake from her dream. She blinked hard and only then realized she had been staring into the distance and spacing out for a long time.

"Time to go home, Chu He." Liang Zhouyi had pulled her collar up to the top, almost covering her chin and half her mouth. She jumped down from the steps, her ponytail bouncing up and then falling. Seeing this, Chu He could not help but lift the corners of her lips.

"Coming. Let's go home."

Chu He heard the sense of belonging in her own voice. She too was someone with a home. It turned out that for her, home was not a residence or some fixed asset bought with money, but a person.

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