The sun was blazing in the sky. The dazzling light above the apron was torn apart by the whistling wind. On the runway, a large passenger plane slid past at high speed, and the grass on both sides was undulating like waves.
The fuselage slowly stopped.
In the business class, the stewardess closed the curtain leading to the economy class, turned back to the business class, and together with the other stewardesses and flight attendants, smiled and leaned over to the passengers on both sides.
"Ms. Qin, the plane has arrived at Q City International Airport. You can take your luggage and leave through the corridor bridge."
"… "
"Ms. Qin?"
"… Sorry, did you call me?"
Beside the airplane window, the woman with long curly hair came back to her senses. She turned her eyes and gave the stewardess an apologetic smile.
"It's okay, Miss Qin. The sky in Q City is really beautiful today."
"Yeah, but I guess I'm just not comfortable enough with my name yet."
"?" The flight attendant was stunned for a moment, then smiled knowingly, "Are you used to living abroad and rarely hear people address you by your family name in China?"
The woman by the window shook her head slightly, but did not explain. She skipped the topic and asked, "Did I miss something just now?"
"No. Our flight has arrived at Q City International Airport. Here is your suitcase. You can get off the plane."
"OK, thanks."
When Song Shu walked out of the cabin door pulling her small suitcase, the flight attendants at the connecting point in the jet bridge bowed to her with smiles on their faces.
"Welcome back home."
Outside the glass of the corridor bridge, an airplane took off into the sky, its wings cutting through the clouds.
The obscured light fell again.
Song Shu stopped and looked at the familiar sky.
yes.
Welcome back.
After nine whole years of carrying deep injustice and hatred, she finally grew up from that weak and powerless child who couldn't even control her own life.
She is back.
Everyone who participated in the shocking EAG Ponzi scheme back then...
From today on, she will make them pay the price they deserve one by one.
Looking at the glass that reflected his own shadow, Song Shu slowly smiled.
That smile was like a mask, overlapping her emotionless facial features little by little, and finally fitting in perfectly.
She blinked.
The woman in the reflection also winked playfully and charmingly.
"My name is Qin Qing."
The woman in the reflection spoke softly.
In front of Exit 1 of the airport, Song Shu stopped walking and followed his gaze.
A black luxury car was parked in the temporary parking space directly in front of her. The door on the passenger side was opened, and a man in a slim suit stood beside the car, holding the door with one hand, with a gentle smile.
"Song Shu, no, I should call you 'Qin Qing'?"
The man stepped forward and took the suitcase from Song Shu.
Song Shu did not refuse, "Thank you, Mr. Yu, please come and pick me up in your busy schedule."
"It's been such a short time since we last met, and you're already so distant with me?" Yu Qisheng declined the help of the airport staff next to him, picked up his suitcase and walked towards the trunk, "You get in first."
"Um."
After some pleasantries in the car, Yu Qisheng said, "I have arranged a place for you to live in District L of Q City. You can live there temporarily. If you find a place you like better, you can move to another place."
Song Shu: "It seems that the employee benefits in Mr. Yu's law firm are pretty good."
“Not every employee has such employee benefits.”
"Um?"
"This is a unique employee benefit for my fiancée."
Song Shu was startled. Two seconds later, she turned back to look at the driver's seat. "I haven't seen you for half a year. Mr. Yu has become more humorous."
Yu Qisheng didn't respond.
The silence lasted for a few seconds, and the atmosphere in the car gradually became subtle.
Song Shu narrowed his eyes slightly, and his cat-like pupils shrank slightly.
The silence was finally broken by Yu Qisheng, who smiled bitterly.
"I won't hide it from you. I recommend you to work at Qin Lou's 'Vio Capital' not only as a law firm employee, but also as my returning fiancée."
Hearing that name, Song Shu was distracted for a moment. But she didn't speak, as if waiting for Yu Qisheng's next words.
Yu Qisheng said: "It was my fault for making the decision without informing you. But if you want to get in touch with the core of VIO as soon as possible, you need an identity that the VIO board of directors can trust."
Song Shu looked at him calmly, her eyes were cold and indifferent for a moment, but the coldness disappeared as if by illusion. She sat back and smiled.
"Of course, I understand Mr. Yu's good intentions."
Yu Qisheng fell silent again.
Ten seconds later, he suddenly turned on the emergency lights and turned into the emergency parking lane next to him.
The car braked to a stop.
Song Shu's body leaned forward due to inertia, and was pulled back to the backrest by the seat belt. With a dull sound, the back of Song Shu's head hit the soft leather pillow.
She didn't know whether it was the sudden brake, the collision, or something else that caused her to feel dizzy, but she suddenly became dazed.
It was like a sudden flashback to the last May many years ago. Qin Lou and her car drove along the narrow coastal road all night and braked suddenly before the beach at dawn.
The young man leaned over, his eyes hiding the only darkness in the dawn, but it was more scorching than the light. He held her face but dared only kiss her eyelids. He was her most fanatical believer and the most devout madman.
That kiss was so hot and suffocating that she still remembers it vividly today.
The sound of "Song Shu" in her ear brought her back to her senses. The focus in Song Shu's pupils was fixed again.
Unlike the originally blurry young boy's handsome and sharp face, what she saw in front of her was Yu Qisheng's slightly frowning face.
"Do you really understand my intentions? If you do, why do you have to join VIO? You clearly know that it is Qin Lou's company, that he is a complete lunatic, and that he loves you..."
Yu Qisheng stopped talking, as if he was annoyed by his slip of the tongue. He turned back and punched the steering wheel with his clenched fist.
"And how do you know that he didn't know about that incident? The witnesses, evidence, and testimony of that case are all closely linked. Who in the Qin family and the company can you guarantee is clean?"
"I'm not sure." Song Shu calmed down and spoke calmly. "But vio is the only way I can go, no matter if the person in charge is Qin Lou or not. And... Qin Lou is only related to Song Shu."
"Of course I know he is related to you. That's why I don't agree with you joining VIO."
"No. Song Shu died nine years ago - I am not Song Shu, I am Qin Qing."
“…” Yu Qisheng turned his head, “He will recognize you.”
Song Shu's pupils trembled slightly, and after a moment she squinted her eyes and smiled softly, "As long as you don't say it. Who would remember a person who has been dead for nine years? How can you recognize him?"
Yu Qisheng pursed his lips, frowned and said nothing.
I don't know how long it took, but he sighed as if he had compromised.
"Since you insist, there is nothing I can do to stop you. But I want to remind you that once you enter Vio, you will have to face more than just Qin Lou, the old people."
"Who else?"
"Luan Qiaoqing, your cousin."
Song Shu was stunned. This was the first time since they met again that Yu Qisheng saw such an unexpected expression on her face.
"How come... Qiaoqiao got into vio?"
Yu Qisheng was silent for a few seconds, then sneered, "When you were away all these years, Luan Qiaoqing relied entirely on Qin Lou's care. Now in the venture capital industry, with Qin Lou's reputation as a genius madman, who doesn't know that he doesn't care about any other woman, but only takes good care of Luan Qiaoqing?"
Yu Qisheng paused and looked at Song Shu.
"Luan Qiaoqing has been taken care of by you since she was a child. She has been with you two, but she has been ignored and inferior to you in every way. Does she really not covet Qin Lou at all? At that time, you two sisters had a deep affection for each other, and she would restrain herself for you. But you have been away for many years, which is enough for her to take advantage of the opportunity thoroughly. Maybe in Qin Lou's heart, you have already been replaced."
Song Shu was distracted by what she heard. When she looked back, she met Yu Qisheng's meaningful gaze.
She laughed, "Song Shu is dead. I will not and cannot stop Qin Lou and Luan Qiaoqing from being with each other. Besides... you don't need to test me."
"How do you know I was testing you and it wasn't the truth?"
"Because if you really believed this rumor, you wouldn't have fabricated an identity for my fiancée, right?"
Yu Qisheng was stunned and shook his head helplessly, "You are always smart and sharp. I admit that the identity of your fiancée not only makes the board of directors of Vio trust you, but also adds a protective shield for you in Qin Lou."
"Protective shield?" Song Shu lowered his eyes and smiled, not knowing what he was thinking. "Then you still don't know him well enough."
"Huh?" Yu Qisheng frowned and turned back.
"If he really confirms my identity, the fiancée thing will only make him... crazy."
"… "
Yu Qisheng's expression suddenly became serious.
Song Shu quickly came back to her senses from the fragments of memory that had flashed past her. She raised her head and smiled brightly.
"It's just a joke. Don't take it seriously. Like we were just saying - it's been nine years. Everything has changed. Who would remember someone who's been dead for so many years? Sometimes I stand in front of the mirror and I can hardly recognize myself. He... wouldn't do that either."
After Song Shu finished speaking, he didn't want to continue this topic and turned to the window.
Yu Qisheng remained silent and started the car again.
He looked in the rearview mirror and flicked the steering wheel, frowning nervously.
With the crazy and resolute feelings Qin Lou once had for Song Shu... would things really go as smoothly as she said
Jet lag is undoubtedly a painful thing. Two days after Song Shu fell into a coma, the appointment notice to join VIO was sent to her mailbox.
The fourth day after returning to China was a Monday. Song Shu rushed from the high-end apartment chosen by Yu Qisheng for her to the investment headquarters of Vio Capital in Q City.
After listening to Song Shu's explanation, the receptionist at Vio made an internal call. After a few simple words, the other party hung up, and the receptionist put down the phone and smiled at Song Shu.
"Ms. Qin, please wait a moment. The Human Resources Department will arrange for someone to come downstairs to pick you up."
"OK, thanks."
Song Shu turned and walked towards the sofa area.
Yu Qisheng's law firm is well-known in Q City and even in the domestic industry, and has long-term cooperation and good reputation with many investment companies. It is not surprising that the consultants it dispatched enjoy higher salaries and trust in VIO - this is also one of the main reasons why Song Shu chose to use Yu Qisheng to enter VIO.
Sure enough, about two minutes later, a figure appeared in the lobby.
"Miss Qin, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." The person who came forward smiled and extended his hand to Song Shu, "I'm the person in charge of contacting your law firm, Dennis."
Song Shu shook hands with the other party and smiled, "Hello, I am Qin Qing who came here today to handle the job application."
"Miss Qin, please follow me upstairs."
Song Shu followed. After taking two steps, her bag vibrated slightly. Song Shu took out her cell phone.
Yu Qisheng: Happy birthday.
Song Shu stopped suddenly.
Birthday…
“Death anniversary” is more like that.
The woman standing there unconsciously raised a slightly cold curve at the corners of her lips.
"Ms. Qin?"
"Hmm?" Song Shu looked up. The person in front of her stopped and looked back at her in confusion. The emotion in Song Shu's eyes quickly disappeared, replaced by a gentle and soft smile. "Sorry."
She started moving again and walked forward.
Dennis led Song Shu into the elevator and swiped his employee card. Then he remembered something and took out a light gold card from his pocket and handed it to Song Shu.
"Ms. Qin's employee card can only be issued after the entry procedures are completed. Before that, please use this highest-authority visitor card. VIO's concept is open, and you are always welcome to visit other departments."
"Thank you." Song Shu did not refuse and took it with a gentle smile.
Then, Dennis began to introduce the company to Song Shu.
Vio was born out of the Qin Group before the restructuring, and is now an internationally renowned venture capital company. In addition to offices in core cities around the world, Vio's headquarters in City Q occupies an entire office building, with 23 floors, not counting the rooftop.
Under Qin Lou, who is both the main shareholder and the general manager, Vio has set up two deputy general managers, a financial director and three committees. The two deputy general managers and the financial director are in charge of more than three departments respectively.
The Legal and Compliance Department that Song Shu is about to join is under the Risk Management Department and reports directly to the company's Vice President named Lin.
After listening to Dennis' introduction of the various departments and their corresponding floor distribution, Song Shu raised his hand and pointed to the top floor, the only floor that was skipped in the elevator.
She looked back and asked with a smile, "There are no departments or offices on the 23rd floor?"
"No, the 23rd floor belongs to Mr. Qin."
"Isn't the general manager's office on the 22nd floor?"
"Yes, but the 23rd floor is not the general manager's office..." Dennis scratched his head and said awkwardly, "In fact, that floor is not an office area. It is Mr. Qin's private floor."
"Private floor?"
"Boss Qin lives in the company."
Song Shu was stunned. "He... doesn't want to live at home?"
"It's not for us employees to ask about the general manager's affairs." Dennis smiled awkwardly, turned his head and saw the fair and beautiful profile of the woman under her soft long hair. His heart moved, and he subconsciously added, "I don't know the specific situation, but I heard it was due to personal reasons. Although Mr. Qin has a lot of assets at a young age, the properties under his name have always been vacant, and he has always lived alone in the company."
Song Shu lowered his eyes and murmured, "Am I... alone?"
"bite."
The elevator arrived at the floor where the Human Resources Department was located.
Dennis looked back blankly, "Huh? Miss Qin, what did you just say? I'm sorry I didn't hear clearly."
"Nothing." Song Shu smiled faintly, raised his hand to put a strand of long hair behind his ear, and concealed the emotion that was exposed, "Let's go."
"Oh, this way please."
Joining Vio was not as smooth as Song Shu had imagined.
"I'm sorry, Miss Qin, your personnel appointment letter must be signed by management above the vice president level. The responsible vice president is not in the company now." The staff in the archives room of the human resources department looked apologetic.
Dennis asked unexpectedly: "Is Mr. Lin not here?"
"Mr. Lin is on a business trip this week."
"Oh, so, let's send it to Mr. Qin and ask him to sign it?"
"..." The man behind the desk changed his expression slightly, winked at Dennis, stood up and walked to the side.
Dennis hesitated and followed.
Song Shu's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes tightened. She followed the two people and vaguely heard the discussion coming back from the other side.
"You went to see Mr. Qin today, are you crazy?"
"Boss Lin is not here, isn't it normal procedure to ask Boss Qin to sign?"
"Have you forgotten what time of the week it is?"
"What happened this week—" The voice stopped abruptly, and a few seconds later, there was a sharp breath, "Fuck, I really forgot about President Qin's annual Hell Week."
"… "
After another conversation, the two separated and Dennis walked back to Song Shu.
"I'm sorry, Miss Qin, we have an unexpected situation here. Director Luan from the Human Resources Department will be here later, and we need to ask her for advice."
Song Shu stopped nodding, "Minister Luan is... Luan Qiaoqing?"
"Miss Qin knows our minister?"
Song Shu was silent for a few seconds, his eyes curved slightly, and he smiled and shook his head, "No. I just heard about it."
Dennis seemed to have thought of something and smiled vaguely, "It seems that Miss Qin has also heard about what happened in the company."
Song Shu smiled but said nothing.
At this moment, there was a knock on the glass door of the conference room behind them, and the sound of high heels clattering was heard along with a female voice.
"I just received a call that the new employee's appointment letter is stuck?"
Dennis's expression fell, he walked around Song Shu and greeted him attentively, "Minister Luan, sorry to bother you. It's about the personnel appointment of Miss Qin from Junsheng Law Firm. Here are the relevant contract documents."
After the sound of shuffling documents, "This is a document for vice presidents and above. There's no point in asking me. Is CEO Lin on a business trip?"
"Yes, so we want to send it to the 23rd floor..."
The meeting room suddenly became quiet.
A few seconds later, Luan Qiaoqing said unhappily, "He won't be handling any affairs this week. He has been in the company for several years, and do I still need to remind you of this?"
"… "
"She's here to get the job?"
"Oh, yes, this is Qin Qing, Qin Xiao—" Dennis turned around and stared at the back in shock, "Miss Qin?"
Song Shu tightened his grip on the leather handle of the handbag, his fingertips turning slightly white. After a few seconds, he suddenly loosened his grip.
She turned around, and her slightly curly long hair drew an arc in the air.
Beneath the not-so-good-looking black-framed glasses, the woman's smile exudes an unconcealable charm.
"Hello, Minister Luan... I'm Qin Qing."
Luan Qiao flipped through the documents and walked over with her head down, "Hello. Miss Qin is Mr. Yu's fiancée, right? She is as beautiful as the rumors say—"
The voice suddenly stopped.
Luan Qiaoqing's expression froze as she walked in front of Song Shu, and the rest of her words got stuck in her throat. She opened her eyes wide, as if she had seen a ghost.
The pretty face opposite her was still bright and beautiful. "Minister Luan?"
"… Feel sorry."
Luan Qiaoqing came back to her senses after a while, and countless complex and sad emotions flashed across her eyes in an instant.
After more than ten seconds, she finally found her voice and said, "Ms. Qin... I can't process the job this week. Please come back next week."
Song Shu smiled.
"I understand. Goodbye, Minister Luan."
She was carrying her bag and walked past Luan Qiaoqing.
Luan Qiaoqing didn't look away until the figure disappeared at the end of the floor outside the glass door.
"Dennis, what did you say her name was?"
"Qin Qing."
"Yu Qisheng's fiancée introduced by Junsheng Law Firm?"
"Yes..." Dennis asked cautiously, "What's the problem, Minister?"
"No." Luan Qiaoqing's eyes dimmed, "It's just that she came at a very coincidental time. It reminded me of someone who has passed away."
The meeting was silent for two seconds, and Luan Qiaoqing looked up and said, "Let's keep Qin Qing's appointment letter for now."
Dennis was stunned. "Ah? Aren't you going to give it to Mr. Qin next week?"
"No, he can't see it!"
Luan Qiaoqing's sudden increase in volume startled Dennis. When she came to her senses, she frowned and the document in her hand was wrinkled.
"Qin Qing won't work. She... looks too much like that person. Contact Junsheng Law Firm and ask them to send someone else."
"Minister Luan, isn't this inappropriate—"
"Do as I say."
"… yes."
Song Shu walked into the empty elevator.
The smile is like paint on canvas immersed in water, peeling off and fading away bit by bit.
The elevator door is closed.
"Please swipe your card." An electronic female voice sounded.
Song Shu closed her eyes. After more than ten seconds, she finally regained her composure, took out the highest-authority visitor card from her bag and pressed it on the card swipe area.
"Please press the floor number."
"… "
Song Shu's fingertips moved to the number 1 at the bottom, but stopped. A few seconds later, she raised her hand and pressed the number 23 for some unknown reason.
The expected "insufficient permissions" reminder did not sound.
The elevator started and slowly went up.
Song Shu was stunned for two seconds, then lowered his eyes and smiled, muttering to himself, "Security loophole."
The elevator stopped on the 23rd floor.
The elevator door opened.
As expected, unlike the minimalist white office style of the previous floors, when you walk into the 23rd floor, the first thing you see is the deepest purple velvet diamond-shaped wall upholstery.
There was a roaring sound in my ears:
"Why don't you lockup with joy and kisses?"
"lockup with love?"
"chain to your heart's desire"
“I don’t want you stop”
“lockin and hold this moment, never get enough…”
Song Shu stood in front of the staircase.
After a few seconds, she lowered her eyes and smiled.
Originally, she was a little worried about him when she heard from Vio's employees that he only lived in the company and had no contact with the outside world during this week every year... She never expected that this floor was more like a party.
Song Shu smiled and turned back to the elevator.
However, just before entering the elevator, Song Shu suddenly stopped. She frowned and looked sideways at the entrance of the flat.
The roar of the stereo came from the darkness.
Along with it came a faint smell of... blood.
Thinking of something, Song Shu's pupils suddenly shrank.
The next second, she dropped her handbag and turned around and rushed into the darkness—
The 23rd floor was a large flat without partitions, and the unclear floor was covered with a mess of debris and wine bottles.
Song Shu was so nervous that she was breathing rapidly. She stumbled and fell several times before she finally adjusted to the darkness in front of her under the cover of the thick curtains. She could vaguely make out the figure leaning against the corner not far away.
The thin figure was sitting against the wall with his head lowered.
No breathing could be heard in the dead silent room.
Song Shu felt a tightness in his chest.
She rushed forward without thinking too much, but when she was still half a meter away, her foot slipped and she knelt on the hard floor with a bang.
However, the pain from the impact on her knee could no longer be felt by her numbed senses, so she just used trembling hands to feel the man's carotid artery.
The fingertips are cold but throbbing.
“…!”
Song Shu breathed a sigh of relief, but the air with a strong smell of alcohol that suddenly rushed into her lungs choked her and made her cough violently.
She was so furious that she almost wanted to raise her hand to slap the familiar drunken face in front of her.
After clenching her fist for a few seconds, Song Shu finally withdrew her hand. She suppressed her cough, supported herself on her knees and slowly stood up.
My wrist was suddenly clamped.
Song Shu was stunned.
The next second, she felt a huge pulling force and was thrown forward unexpectedly.
As the world spun before her eyes, she was turned over and pressed down on the cold floor.
Darkness before my eyes.
The senses were filled with hot breath, scorching bodies, and hoarse whispers filled with the smell of blood:
"Song Shu—"
"!!"
Song Shu suddenly froze.
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