Chapter 273: Chapter 273

"What’s the matter with gathering and organizing indirect evidence?"

Xiong Jie was blunt: "You haven’t forgotten, have you? Gathering, organizing, and further digging into indirect evidence is one of the most common methods used by media people."

"Remember the term ’further digging,’ which requires in-depth analysis and interpretation based on facts. But what have you done? Yours is just rumor-mongering and fabrication!" Shi Nian was so angry that she trembled slightly.

The reverb buzzed in the corridor, and she could only clutch her elbows tightly, trying to control her emotions.

Xiong Jie heard this and laughed even louder: "What a pity. It’s not up to you to decide whether it’s rumor-mongering and fabrication. The readers see everything clearly, and now they all believe it. Even those around you believe it, so you can’t take it anymore, right? Shi Nian, you can’t deny it either. My reasoning is logical, and only the truth is the most terrifying!"

Shi Nian took a deep breath: "Xiong Jie, there’s a grudge between us, so no matter how you write about me, I’ll accept it. But you shouldn’t drag Mr. Tang into this, and you can’t insinuate anything about the Tang Family and the police department’s honor. What you’re doing is really too much!"

"Too much?" Xiong Jie laughed out loud: "Just because you say I’m too much, I am? If you really think I’m too much, go ahead and sue me. Be it the police or the Tang Family, I welcome it. Oh right, doesn’t the Tang Family have two big lawyers? Let them directly file a lawsuit, I’m waiting."

"Moreover, let me tell you, I’m not just targeting you with this article, but also Tang Yanqing. I remember his warning to me very well. Didn’t he say that I’m not even qualified to talk to him? Fine, I won’t talk to him. Without his exclusive interview, I’ll show him that I can write an exposé on him first!"

The two parted on bad terms. Shi Nian squatted against the wall, holding her head.

At this moment, Shen Wan called and said she wanted to have lunch with Shi Nian.

Shi Nian agreed, went back to the office to give brief instructions, and then left.

Entering the agreed restaurant, Shi Nian was actually mentally prepared for what Shen Wan wanted to say to her. In Tang Mingyi’s campaign team, there’s a group of PR personnel responsible for collecting and handling all articles related to Tang Mingyi in the media every day. They must have seen Xiong Jie’s article by now.

Sure enough, when Shen Wan apologized, she said: "Shi Nian, could you please endure temporarily and treat the relationship with Yanqing with a cold shoulder?"

Shi Nian then smiled, "Auntie, you’ve misunderstood. Mr. Tang and I are not officially dating at all. Previously spending time with him was mostly because of the police’s 24-hour protection, but today the police have officially informed me that the protection has ended."

Shen Wan bit her lip, looking quietly at Shi Nian.

After a long while, she said: "Shi Nian, I’m sorry if I might have hurt your self-esteem again. But I still want to say, I’m not implying what you think. I don’t want to break you two up, just hope you two handle it low-key, not to publicly go out as a couple for now. But you can still be together privately; I won’t oppose it."

Shi Nian lowered her head, tried to smile, and shook her head.

"Auntie, you’ve also misunderstood. We already made it clear in our last meeting. I’ve roughly understood what kind of person you are, so I won’t misunderstand your meaning. Auntie, what I say comes from the heart." Find the newest release on novᴇlfire.net

Shi Nian lowered her head, her fingers already tightly clenched under the tablecloth.

"First, my relationship with Mr. Tang hasn’t reached the point of forming a formal relationship. Although I don’t deny that I really like him and am very attracted to him... but I’ve also told him, I want to pause for a while, I want to find someone. After I find that person, once I’m sure of my heart, I’ll give him an answer."

"Moreover, I indeed feel now is not a good time. After all, I’ve just had a divorce, and Uncle Tang is at a critical pitch of election, my presence could inconvenience everyone. I can’t be selfish; I should consider the greater good."

"And for this article of Xiong Jie, it’s mainly because of personal vendetta with me. She’s a stubborn person, once she decides on something, she’ll persist relentlessly, which will bring immeasurable negative impact on the police and the Tang Family."

"Since these issues exist, I think it’s better to treat it coldly for now. I’ll sort things out first, and then reconsider my relationship with Mr. Tang."

Shen Wan reached out, crossing the table to hold Shi Nian’s hand.

"Shi Nian, I still want you not to forget, I like you very much. If after sorting things out, you still decide to be with Qingqing, I’ll welcome it with open arms."

"Okay," Shi Nian smiled with effort, "In fact, all this time, I have felt like a child being supported to walk by adults. When I first arrived in M Country, there was Xiang Yuan, and then I soon met Mr. Tang. Now I also want to try living completely independently for a while, like taking a vacation for myself."

After lunch, Shi Nian stood by the roadside, smiling as she watched Shen Wan’s car drive away. She withdrew her gaze and smiled with effort. Looking up at the azure sky.

From now on, truly alone.

Out of habit, her eyes couldn’t help but glance back... there used to always be a shadow quietly standing behind her, like a shadow following.

From now on, she must adapt to life without him.

She tried to smile, her wrinkles showing at the corners of her eyes from the broad grin.

She silently reminded herself: Shi Nian, please only remember these adjectives—freedom, ease, independence. As for everything else, pretend you didn’t feel them at all.

A large black car silently stopped in front of her.

This wasn’t a place to stop, and traffic lined up behind. But perhaps the car’s presence was too imposing, none of the following cars dared to honk in urge.

Shi Nian was momentarily stunned. It was indeed Huangfu Huazhang’s car.

The rear seat window silently slid down, revealing Huangfu Huazhang’s elegant face: "Get in."

Shi Nian hurriedly waved her hand: "No need. I’m heading back to the office, there’s a bus ahead."

Huangfu Huazhang glanced at her briefly, then sat back without saying anything more. However, the window didn’t go up, nor did he instruct them to drive. The black Rolls-Royce, like a massive shadow, remained motionless on the road, while the cars behind grew increasingly congested.

Shi Nian was startled; could it be that his intention was not to leave unless she got in?

Shi Nian awkwardly bent down: "Director, there are many cars lined up behind."

Huangfu Huazhang’s smile vanished entirely, casting a faint glance her way: "Let them wait; it has nothing to do with you. You don’t need to worry."

Shi Nian took a deep breath and reluctantly opened the car door and sat inside.

As she sat down, she seemed to catch a brief smile at the corner of his lips. He then casually instructed: "Drive."

Shi Nian felt anger rising, unable to hold back from glaring at his profile: "Director, what’s going on? As the Director of Kangchuan University and the Chairman of Fude Group, many people recognize your license plate. If this gets reported by the media tomorrow, how many people will say you’re being capricious!"

"Let them say what they want." He placed both hands on top of the crystal skull emblem, slightly tilting his head, with a thin smile watching her: "I’ve been discreet and rigorous for 35 years; I rarely act impulsively, who can stop me?"

That strange feeling came again... just like the last time he deliberately set a five-minute limit, as if he intentionally wanted to see her without makeup, like a mischievous young boy; and now, once again.

Shi Nian lightly bit her lip: "Director, I’m sorry, but may I ask: why?"

No need to elaborate on the ’why,’ she believed with his intelligence, he would understand upon hearing.

No need to make it too clear, sparing herself the embarrassment.

Upon hearing her words, Huangfu Huazhang slightly raised his chin, narrowing his eyes: "Why? When you asked that question, deep down you already know why."

He turned to look at her eyes: "They say ’what one cannot forget will always have an echo.’ Do you agree?"

Shi Nian was mystified: "Director, what are you talking about?"

Immortalized in memory, certain echoes of the past refer to timeworn events or feelings that have settled in the river of years yet still refuse to be abandoned, enduring and ever-fresh.

But with this man before her, from meeting him to today, it’s only been a brief two months. How can one speak of unforgettable memories or any echo?

"You don’t fail to understand, you simply forget it all." He gently smiled: "They say ’what cannot be forgotten,’ you’re Nian Nian, how did you forget everything so easily?"

Seeing that Tang Yan Yi was displeased, Guan Liang could only continue silently searching for any information related to Huangfu Huazhang, hoping to make Tang Yan Yi smile.

Suddenly startled by a message from China, he stood up quickly to call Tang Yan Yi: "Xiao Yi, come over, look at what I discovered?!"

Tang Yan Yi hurried over, and upon seeing the message on the screen, was also shocked into widening his mouth.

"How could this happen?"

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