"You..."
Mr. Gao wanted to speak but stopped.
Gao Jian didn't even look at him. "I finally got out. I don't want to argue with you now. I really want to rest."
Mr. Gao was naturally unwilling to give up and wanted to say something more, but was stopped by Shen Qingqing. He immediately felt displeased.
"What do you mean?"
Shen Qingqing said lightly, "Mr. Gao, I advise you, some things cannot be forced; they require time to heal."
Mr. Gao was stunned.
Shen Qingqing looked at Gao Jian. "Let's go."
This time, Mr. Gao did not stop them again. He stood in place, watching their departing backs, his face filled with dejection.
Shen Qingqing brought Gao Jian back to the company. Lü Shu and Ke Lin were very happy and each gave him a big hug.
"You're finally back."
Gao Jian smiled heartily. "Thank you for your concern and worry."
Ke Lin patted his shoulder. "I'll arrange a dinner tomorrow to welcome you."
"Okay."
Gao Jian was very happy and turned to look at Lü Shu.
Lü Shu was relieved to see he was alright and put on a proud expression again. "What are you looking at me for? I wasn't the one most worried about you during this time."
"I know, I know." Gao Jian was very familiar with the young man's pride. "The one most worried about me is of course Ke Lin."
Lü Shu froze and suddenly glared at him. "You're like an idiot!"
With that, he turned and walked away huffily.
Gao Jian and Ke Lin exchanged glances. Ke Lin suppressed a smile and said, "That's just his personality. He means no harm, please don't take it to heart."
"Of course not." Gao Jian was no longer a teenager. "I'm truly happy to be back safely and to work with you again."
Ke Lin looked at Shen Qingqing. "Then you should really thank President Shen. During this time, President Shen has been running around for your matters. Without President Shen's help, it would have been difficult for you to get out so quickly."
"President Shen, thank you." Gao Jian turned to look at Shen Qingqing, his face filled with gratitude. "From now on, if you say east, I won't go west. I'll do whatever you say."
Shen Qingqing found it both amusing and exasperating. "Alright, alright. You're my employee, and if you have problems, of course, I'll help you. The most important thing is that you're innocent. If you had really done something wrong, I wouldn't have abetted you."
She patted Gao Jian's shoulder.
"Thank yourself."
Gao Jian was startled and suddenly felt fortunate that he had never let his emotions cloud his judgment and done anything irreversible.
...
Shen Qingqing settled him in and went home. After talking to the two children for a while, she went to the study to find Fu Jingshu, who was working.
As soon as the study door closed, he shed his professional demeanor. The capable and decisive man in front of outsiders, and the gentle and kind man in front of his children, lounged lazily on the sofa.
"So tired."
Fu Jingshu closed the files and put them aside. He got up and walked towards her, casually pulling his wife from the sofa into his embrace. Then he sat down on the sofa. "I told you long ago I'd handle it for you, but you refused."
Seeing his wife's tired face, he felt a pang of sympathy.
Shen Qingqing pouted. "What would you have handled? He's my employee, and you have a lot of things going on yourself. You're already too busy."
Fu Jingshu said softly, "What else is more important than you?"
Shen Qingqing blinked, a happy smile on her face. "I know, I know. I know your heart is full of me."
Fu Jingshu was taken aback. He turned his face away somewhat uncomfortably and accurately reached out to touch her cheek, gently pinching it.
"Thick-skinned."
Shen Qingqing was displeased. "Why are you pinching me? Did I say something wrong?"
Fu Jingshu pursed his thin lips. "No."
Shen Qingqing immediately wore a triumphant smile. "I want to eat your vegetable noodles."
This was probably the only thing Fu Jingshu could cook.
"I'll go make them for you." Fu Jingshu said this, but his hands were reluctant to let go of his wife. After a while, he placed her on the sofa. However, as he was about to leave, she hugged his neck.
To avoid crushing his wife, he had to support himself with both hands on the sofa, looking down at her.
"What is it?"
Shen Qingqing's smile was bright. "These matters are finally almost settled. I should have a lot of free time from now on. How about I go to the company to help you!"
"You should rest at home."
Shen Qingqing tilted her head. "What do you mean? You don't want me to go?"
"I just don't want you to be too tired."
Fu Jingshu's thumb gently stroked his wife's face with a hint of tenderness.
Shen Qingqing tilted her head and lightly rubbed it against his palm. "I'm not tired, and you're so busy with work, coming home so late every day. If I could accompany you, we could see each other every day. Don't you want that?"
She squinted slightly, as if threatening.
Fu Jingshu did not hesitate. "Of course, I do. If you could come to the company and keep me company, I would be very happy."
"That's more like it."
Shen Qingqing pulled at his neck, bringing their faces closer, and kissed him on the cheek. "Then it's settled. Tomorrow I'll prepare a big feast, and we'll have a good meal as a family. The day after tomorrow, I'll go to the company with you. Don't forget, I used to hold a position in your company."
This statement made Fu Jingshu feel as if he had returned to the time when they first met.
Back then, they were like needles against wheat, sometimes clashing, sometimes acting.
Fu Jingshu's gaze fell on her lips, and he murmured, "If I had known I would love you this much, I would have fallen in love with you at first sight."
Shen Qingqing's heart fluttered.
Then, a warm touch landed on her lips. The corners of her mouth curved upward, and she slowly closed her eyes, accepting the passionate kiss with contentment.
...
Unfortunately, their family's sumptuous meal the next day fell through.
Shen Qingqing received a phone call.
Gao Jian had been attacked.
She and Fu Jingshu rushed to visit him. Gao Jian seemed unharmed, but his complexion was not good.
"Why are you here?" He gestured for Shen Qingqing and Fu Jingshu to sit down and went to the kitchen to pour them two drinks.
Shen Qingqing was not in the mood for drinks. "Officer Wang told me you were attacked, so I came to see you. Are you alright?"
Gao Jian shook his head. "I'm fine."
"What exactly happened?" Shen Qingqing asked sternly. "Officer Wang told me you were attacked on your way to work this morning. Did you see the faces of those people?"
"No." Gao Jian rubbed his face, his tone very heavy. "This morning, on my way to work, I passed a small alley. Suddenly, several men rushed out and dragged me into the alley..."
These men were fierce and struck with extreme force, beating Gao Jian severely.
Gao Jian was caught off guard and could only protect himself as best he could.
But these men did not stop their assault. Gao Jian thought he would be beaten to death until someone passed by outside the alley.
It was a group of students on their way to school.