Returning - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Phone Call

Zhao Yu went to work as usual, still maintaining the placid facade that matched her everyday persona, as if nothing had happened at all. Yet whenever she faced Xue Zi'ang, a profound unease gripped her, to the point where she dared not even meet his eyes.

Xue Zi'ang, on the other hand, was the picture of relaxed indifference. It was as if last night truly hadn't occurred; his attitude towards her hadn't shifted in the slightest.

"Get this to President Fu." He placed the documents in Zhao Yu's hands and, seeing her still looking anxious, flustered, and utterly at a loss, suddenly smiled. "Afraid I'll eat you up?"

Normally, the remark wouldn't have been out of place, but after the events of last night, the word "eat" was laden with suggestive undertones.

Zhao Yu immediately dropped her gaze, feigning bashful embarrassment, biting her lip as she stared at the toes of her shoes.

Xue Zi'ang's low chuckle continued. "Relax, I'm not that petty. I won't hold a grudge against you."

As he spoke, he stood very close to her, his warm breath fanning across her face. The last few words were soft and airy, sounding distant, laced with a few threads of intimacy.

Zhao Yu knew the playboy before her hadn't lost interest.

On the contrary, he would likely become even more brazen, finding new ways to flirt with her until her resistance utterly crumbled and she obediently fell into his arms.

This outcome was precisely what she desired.

After work, she holed up in her apartment alone, preparing her diet meal. She had only taken a couple of bites when her phone rang. The caller ID displayed "Godmother."

Seeing those two words, she froze for a moment, staring blankly for a good while before answering.

"Xi Xi, won't you come visit your Godmother's place this weekend? How long has it been since you returned to the country, and you still haven't come to see your Godfather and me? We've missed you so much."

The voice was as affectionate and gentle as ever, but it filled Zhao Yu with a wave of guilt. She reflexively lied, "I have to work overtime this weekend. Precisely because I just got back, there's a mountain of things to deal with. It feels like I haven't had a single moment free."

"I see… There was something I wanted to tell you in person when you came back, but since you're not coming, I'll just tell you over the phone."

Zhao Yu already knew what she was about to say, but still asked, "What is it?"

Her Godmother sighed on the other end. "It's about little Jin, that child. I got a call a few days ago. It was from an insurance company. They said that four years ago, little Jin bought several accident insurance policies from them, so…"

At this point, her Godmother's voice was already thick with tears. "Tell me, why would such a young girl buy accident insurance? Isn't that just tempting fate? And then, in the end, she really…"

Listening to the uncontrollable sobs on the other end, Zhao Yu's hand gripping the sofa cushion tightened until her knuckles turned white. Yet still, her voice remained calm as she consoled her Godmother.

Once the other party had composed herself a little, she continued, "The insurance company paid out the compensation. Three million. It arrived in the account today. They said one policy pays a million, and a single person can hold a maximum of three. Xiao Jin bought all three herself. Oh, that child…"

"It's possible… she was frightened when her classmate had that accident, and then she went and bought the insurance."

Anxious to prevent any suspicion, Zhao Yu hastened to shore up this lie. "Now that you mention it, I do recall. In junior year, she did talk to me about wanting to use her internship salary to buy insurance. I didn't take it seriously, thought she was just talking. I never imagined she actually went and did it."

"Yes, she not only bought it, but never said a word about it to us. If the insurance company hadn't called, your Godfather and I would never have known. I'd always heard that insurance claims are terribly complicated, so this company was quite a surprise. The client manager who helped little Jin buy the policy back then, as soon as he learned she was gone, proactively contacted us and helped with the claims process. It only took a few days for everything to be sorted."

Zhao Yu concurred, "There are more and more insurance companies these days, the competition is fierce. Naturally, they have to improve their service quality in every aspect."

Her Godmother sighed a few more times and said, "Xi Xi, if you're not coming back, then send me your bank account number. I'll have your Godfather transfer some money to you."

"Godmother, what are you saying? I have money, I earn a monthly salary. You and Godfather don't need to worry."

"Xiao Jin is gone, your mother is gone, now it's just the three of us left relying on each other. If your Godfather and I don't worry about you, who else will? We couldn't really help much before, but now, with the insurance company paying out this much… your Godfather and I already have one foot in the grave, we have no use for it. This money, we're saving it for you. You're determined to stay in the big city, you'll need to buy a house, a car, and your daily expenses are high. With this money, you won't have to struggle so hard."

"Really, I don't need it. Our company's benefits are very good, I'm about to get a promotion, and my salary is more than enough. That money was left to you by little Jin. You and Godfather can upgrade to a better apartment, get a more comfortable car. Buy whatever you want, don't scrimp and save. Enjoy yourselves properly. I believe little Jin would want that for you too."

They went around and around on this topic, but in the end, her Godmother couldn't out-argue Zhao Yu and had to concede. "Well, if you encounter any difficulties out there, you must tell me. We are a family now. Don't suffer any grievances all alone."

Zhao Yu nodded vigorously. "Mm, I know."

"During Qingming, your Godfather and I visited little Jin and your mother. We swept their graves, brought their favorite flowers and fruit. Everything was fine, don't you worry. When you're done being busy, remember to come back. Come see your Godfather and me, and go see them too."

When she hung up the phone, the television, set on mute, was broadcasting the local news. The scrolling text at the bottom read clearly:

[Lanxi Jewelry New Product Launch Grand Opening, Group Vice President Zhuang Yiqing Attends in Person to Deliver Speech]

Staring at the glamorous, radiant woman on the screen, Zhao Yu clenched her left fist even tighter, her nails digging deep into her palm.

A long while later, she slowly relaxed her hand, picked up her phone, and dialed a number.

"Zhuang Yiqing's fiancé. Has his return date been confirmed?"

"Confirmed. Day after tomorrow."

"Are you certain?"

"Certain. I've already obtained his detailed itinerary. Flight information will be in your email shortly."

"Good."

"Also, the latest status on that Assistant Ji from Lanxi has been checked. I can compile it and send it to you."

"The money will be transferred to your account shortly. Remember our agreement."

"Don't worry. In our line of work, you can lose your life, but never your credibility."

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