TSMLI Chapter 33

The day after tomorrow is an auspicious and joyful day.

The event was held at a hotel in a neighboring city. Twelve provinces participated in the seminar, and the Municipal Construction Commission, Urban Management Office, and Municipal Government also participated.

The performance was scheduled for six p.m., and the banquet hall was already set up. Lin Chu popped a throat lozenge into her mouth and heard Yang Chunbei say, “Xiao Hui said that some of the leaders coming this time are from the inspection team from last time.” She made an exaggerated expression and said, “So many provinces, a total of twenty or thirty cities. When the whole hall is filled with all these leaders, big and small, I feel a bit creeped out!”

Lin Chu could not help but chuckle. “My boss’s favorite saying to me is ‘practice makes perfect,’ and we’ve already ‘become perfect’ several times!”

Yang Chunbei burst into laughter and joked around with Lin Chu for a while before changing into her performance costume and heading to the banquet hall with everyone else.

Lin Chu called Xiangyang and estimated an end time. If they could not make it to dinner at eight o’clock they would have to eat a late-night snack.

Everyone ate some snacks to fill their stomachs. The leaders’ speeches were so long that they made everyone drowsy. It took a long time before the performance started. Lin Chu’s unit’s choir was the fourth program.

The twelve girls were all graceful and elegant, and their presence on the stage immediately attracted everyone’s attention.

The choir organized by the workplace prioritizes appearance and figure over singing ability, which is why Lin Chu, who is not very good at singing, was able to get by.

The songs sung in the chorus were hardly pleasant to listen to. However, in order to complement the solemn atmosphere of the seminar, all the programs on the program had to be meaningful. Fortunately the visuals were pleasing to the eye, so the audience did not find it boring.

After finishing her song Lin Chu’s throat started hurting again, and she gulped down water as soon as she entered the backstage area. While everyone lined up to change they discussed the scene from earlier. Someone joked, “If I were to be paired with any of them, I’d quit immediately and never live like this again!”

Everyone burst into laughter and immediately started teasing them. After changing their clothes they waited backstage, wondering if the leaders had any other arrangements.

Lin Chu called Xiangyang. “It should be soon. Let’s wait and see. If everything’s alright, we can disperse.”

Xiangyang said, “I’m in your hotel’s coffee shop. Take your time.”

After hanging up the phone they waited a few more moments before the leader slowly walked in, patted his watch and praised them, then told them to go to the banquet hall for dinner.

The area at the back of the banquet hall was designated for the performers. Everyone tidied up and headed over. Lin Chu greeted Yang Chunbei, picked up her bag, and went to find the coffee shop.

The coffee shop was on the second floor, and there were not many customers. Lin Chu had not completely removed her makeup. Her originally striking stage makeup had become light makeup after she wiped it off. Xiangyang pointed at her eyes and said, “You’ve got mascara on the corners of your eyes!” He reached out and wiped it off for Lin Chu before heading downstairs to the restaurant.

As they passed the banquet hall Lin Chu pointed and said with a hint of pride, “We were just singing together in there. There were all sorts of leaders there, including the deputy secretary-general of the city. It was the first time I’d ever seen him. I never watch the news, so I had no idea what he looked like.”

Xiangyang listened to her incessant chatter with a smile, occasionally offering a word of praise, half to coax her and half to express his satisfaction.

Lin Chu was starving, and as soon as one dish was served she could not wait to start eating. She then asked Xiangyang why he was here.

Xiangyang replied, “I’m here to find funding. My old classmate, who’s my partner, has a lot of connections here. We just signed a contract with someone yesterday, so the deal is done!”

Lin Chu said, “Congratulations!” She raised her water glass and clinked it with Xiangyang’s, then asked him about his company’s situation, and before she knew it she had emptied her plate.

The banquet hall on the other side of the restaurant was bustling with noise. The performance was nearing its end, and the banquet was about to conclude.

Although the time was short, everything that needed to be communicated and reported had been clearly explained. After exchanging pleasantries once more everyone left together, and the banquet hall was immediately filled with people.

Lin Chu and Xiangyang also happened to walk out of the restaurant and saw a large group of people heading toward the hotel entrance and elevators. Several familiar figures were mixed in among them. Lin Chu’s eyes blurred, and she seemed to see Yang Chunbei walking with a middle-aged man. From the side the man looked like the Zhang surname leader from the previous inspection team.

Xiangyang called out a few times, “What’s wrong?”

Lin Chu looked away, shook her head, and said, “It’s nothing.”

Despite saying that Lin Chu was still somewhat uneasy. Old Zhang was a hypocrite, and she remembered Yang Chunbei praising this leader for not having any airs of authority. The two of them could never get along, unless it was as Lin Chu thought.

Xiangyang noticed her distracted state and asked, “Are you tired? Do you still want to go to the food street?”

There is a famous snack street in the neighboring city that Lin Chu had longed to visit before even arriving. She was returning to Nanjiang tomorrow and wanted to take the opportunity to stroll around. Although Yang Chunbei was a friend of hers they were just ordinary colleagues. Lin Chu had no right to interfere in other people’s private lives. She figured Yang Chunbei was more experienced and should know how to read people and protect herself. With that in mind Lin Chu simply stopped overthinking.

It happened to be the city’s food festival, and the snack street was packed with people. Xiangyang led Lin Chu through the crowds, picking out foods they had never tried before. Lin Chu could not eat much. She bought a portion, tried a few bites, and tossed the rest to Xiangyang. As she ate Xiangyang asked her about her relationship with Shen Zhongxun. Lin Chu gave a shy, perfunctory answer. Xiangyang laughed. “Back in your freshman year I emailed you asking about this. You said the boys at your school were too immature, and you wanted to find someone about three years younger. This Shen Zhongxun is probably more than that?”

Lin Chu nodded. “He’s thirty already.” Then she added, “But he doesn’t look old. He usually looks a bit old-fashioned in suits, but you’ve never seen him in a T-shirt. He’s quite handsome!”

Xiangyang laughed loudly and vigorously rubbed Lin Chu’s head.

It was nearly midnight when the two drove back. The night was dark. The neighboring city was different from Nanjiang City. The urban area was not as prosperous as Nanjiang. There were no neon lights everywhere, and the night was much darker than in Nanjiang.

They arrived at the hotel shortly after. Xiangyang opened the car door for Lin Chu, gave her a few words of advice, and watched her walk into the lobby before driving away.

Lin Chu rubbed her swollen belly as she entered the elevator and slowly walked toward her room. As soon as the door opened she noticed the television was on, playing a movie that sounded both melancholic and plaintive.

Lin Chu never dared to watch horror movies alone, but upon hearing that sound she immediately mustered her courage and shouted, “Beibei, I’m back!”

Lin Chu closed the door and went inside, but Yang Chunbei did not respond. There was no one in the small room either. Lin Chu looked around curiously and then went to the bathroom to take a look, but there was still no one there.

A sudden scream came from the television, startling Lin Chu, who screamed back. She quickly ran to turn it off, and as she turned around, patting her chest, she noticed something lying on the floor near the window. She had not seen it before because the small bed had blocked her view. Lin Chu’s heart jumped, and she hurriedly took a step back, not daring to approach.

She called “Beibei” a few more times, but still received no response. After standing there for a while, until the cold air from the air conditioner gave her goosebumps, she finally moved her feet and carefully shuffled toward the window.

The person lying on the ground was indeed a person.

Lin Chu called out nervously a few times, “Hey, hey, get up!”

The person remained motionless, facing the ground, with faint traces of deep red on the back of their head. Only then did Lin Chu notice that Yang Chunbei’s cosmetics were scattered in the corner, with a blue glass bottle shattered beside it, its faint fragrance wafting around.

Lin Chu was startled and hurriedly ran forward a few steps. She squatted down and shook the man, called out to him a few times, and then forcefully turned him over. The man’s face was revealed, and Lin Chu screamed in shock. She fled to the other side in a panic, not caring whether the man was alive or dead.

Just as she was about to run out the man suddenly lifted his eyes, groaned, and moved his arm.

Lin Chu swallowed nervously. She saw the person close their eyes tightly, seemingly in great pain. After recognizing Lin Chu they spoke in a hoarse voice, “It’s you?”

Lin Chu gave a dry laugh and took a few steps back. “Are you… are you alright?”

Old Zhang remained silent for a moment, his consciousness not fully returning. The pain in the back of his head actually made him more alert. Just as he was about to speak he heard a sound coming from outside the door. Someone pressed the doorbell and said to the person next to them, “I’m starving. I wonder if Yang Chunbei is here.”

“I know Lin Chu isn’t here. I saw her with a man when I was at the hotel.”

The two men chuckled and started talking. Just as Lin Chu was about to run to open the door Old Zhang grabbed her leg. She instinctively called out, and the two men outside immediately stopped talking, banging on the door and shouting, “Beibei, are you there? I heard your voice! Stop pretending to be asleep, get up and have some midnight snacks!”

Old Zhang said with a sullen face, “Don’t make a sound!”

Lin Chu moved her leg. “You’re injured. I’ll call an ambulance for you!”

“No need!” Old Zhang slowly got up from the ground, sat down on the edge of the bed, and, listening to the two people calling from outside the door, said in a low voice, “I’ll just sit for a while. Don’t let anyone in!”

Lin Chu’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately realized the possible truth by piecing together the events. Seeing the hostile look on Old Zhang’s face she nervously stood by the wall, pondering how to protect herself.

Old Zhang said, “Just pretend you never saw me. I’ll go out after everyone leaves.”

Lin Chu hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Five minutes later there was no more noise outside. Lin Chu opened the door, glanced inside, and turned back to say, “Nobody’s here!”

Old Zhang staggered, swaying a couple of times before finally standing up. He then rubbed the back of his head and slowly made his way to the door, warning Lin Chu once again, “Remember, you’ve never seen me before!”

Lin Chu nodded and stepped aside.

But just as the door opened a loud shout rang out. “Haha, watch me catch him…” The voice stopped abruptly when the disheveled Old Zhang was seen.

The two colleagues were dumbfounded, and Lin Chu was speechless.

Old Zhang coughed, his face dark, and strode toward the elevator. But after only a few steps he felt dizzy and the lights in the corridor flickered. He immediately lost consciousness.

Lin Chu and the other two did not have time to say anything else and immediately ran toward Old Zhang. The bloodstains on the back of his head were clearly visible. One of them immediately called an ambulance and notified the leader living upstairs. The group worked in a flurry and it took a long time to get Old Zhang to the hospital. They had just caught their breath when the police arrived.

Lin Chu accepted the order and completed the formalities. When she returned her supervisor waved to her. “That’s Xiao Lin. She’s the one who discovered it!”

Lin Chu inwardly cursed her bad luck, steadied herself, and stepped forward to tell the police everything that had happened that night. She was questioned for nearly an hour before being released. Old Zhang’s family members had also arrived and surrounded the ward.

Lin Chu sat nervously to the side, waiting for her leader to give her instructions.

Given this situation, since an ambulance has already been called, no one with common sense would notify the police. The leader had just secretly questioned Lin Chu and confirmed that none of them had called the police, which makes the situation seem suspicious.

The only way to get to the bottom of this is to find Yang Chunbei. Once the police arrive the whole story will be out in the open. Unfortunately Yang Chunbei’s phone goes unanswered. Unable to reach her Lin Chu becomes increasingly anxious. No matter how she tries to explain it will only seem like she is trying to cover something up to others.

In the middle of the night Lin Chu finally returned to the hotel, collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep immediately. She had no mind to think about what might happen tomorrow, but the scenes in her dream were more like a horror movie, so oppressive that she could hardly breathe. She finally struggled to wake up, and the sky was already turning white.

Yang Chunbei did not return home all night, and Lin Chu initially thought she had run away, but unexpectedly found her acting as if nothing had happened at the restaurant.

Colleagues gathered to discuss last night’s events, and those with inside information had already relayed the latest updates. “…After waking up he said he bumped into something by accident, and no one attacked him, but the location of the bump was…” She stopped speaking as soon as she saw Lin Chu walking toward them.

Lin Chu did not have time to think about anything else and immediately asked Yang Chunbei, “Where did you run off to last night?”

Yang Chunbei put down her knife and fork and replied, “I went to a classmate’s house last night and didn’t have time to tell you.” She hesitated, then added, “You last night… Oh right, I only saw the call notification this morning.”

A colleague who was on good terms with Yang Chunbei spoke up. “Lin Chu, you said last night that you saw Yang Chunbei with that… whatever. You can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want.”

Someone else comforted them, saying, “Everyone, stop talking about it. It’s nothing serious!”

Lin Chu stood there stunned, looking at Yang Chunbei in disbelief. After a long while she said coldly, “Are you sure you weren’t with anyone yesterday, and that you didn’t go back to your room after dinner?”

Others could not see Yang Chunbei’s guilty conscience, but Lin Chu saw it clearly. Yang Chunbei smiled and said, “Really, no, Lin Chu. I don’t know what you’re trying to say. Let’s sit down and eat!”

Lin Chu smiled and looked around, saying, “Maybe I remembered wrong, but I definitely went out with friends yesterday. Xiao Hui saw me too. I really don’t know what happened, but there should be CCTV footage.” With that she turned and left, returning to her room hungry. She angrily started packing her clothes and then, in a fit of rage, messed up Yang Chunbei’s bed, scattering all the clutter on the floor and colliding with bottles and jars.

Yang Chunbei finally returned from the restaurant. She quietly pushed open the door, but did not go inside. She just stood in the entryway and whispered, “Lin Chu, the car is stuck in traffic and might be delayed by half an hour.”

Lin Chu ignored her and just leaned against the headboard, pressing the remote control.

She knew this matter would be settled quietly. Old Zhang would not publicize it, much less reveal Yang Chunbei’s existence. But even if he did not publicize it his colleagues had already spread the word. Last night someone saw him emerge from Lin Chu’s room disheveled, with only Lin Chu behind him. Lin Chu truly had no way to defend herself.

She tossed aside the remote, pressed a few buttons on her phone before speaking. “Tell me what exactly happened. Do you know that if this happens I’ll have to take the blame? How will I face people if word gets out?”

Yang Chunbei seemed about to cry. “I really didn’t mean to. I didn’t know he was that kind of person. He just said he would bring me back, but I didn’t expect him to… to do that. I was so scared after I smashed it, so I ran away!” She approached Lin Chu, tears streaming down her face. “Lin Chu, things have already come to this. It’s my fault. I didn’t have the courage to say it. You still have Manager Shen from Min’an to protect you. He’s President Shen’s son. We all know that. But I’m all alone. I didn’t dare!”

Lin Chu could not believe it. “Why should I dare to do it just because you don’t? Yang Chunbei, don’t forget there’s hotel surveillance footage. Why should I take the blame for you for no reason!” The more she thought about it the angrier she became, and she blurted out, “Besides, you’re an adult. You agreed to let him take you back to your room. Didn’t you anticipate what would happen afterward? What are you pretending to be so innocent and ignorant in front of me!”

Yang Chunbei shook her head and said, “I don’t know, I don’t know!” She wiped away her tears, clenched her fist and said, “I’m sorry, Lin Chu. Anyway, things are already like this. After a while everyone will forget about it and no one will mention it again. Consider it my apology to you. I’ll do whatever you ask me to do from now on!”

Lin Chu was too exhausted to argue with her, so she turned her head away and stopped looking at her. The two of them went about their own business and it took them a long time to pack their luggage before they silently rejoined the others.

She wanted to ask the hotel for the surveillance footage, but her boss had already spoken to her before she returned last night, telling her not to make a big deal out of it. Lin Chu understood that they did not need the truth. They just needed stability. Rank can crush anyone, and Lin Chu was helpless.

Yang Chunbei was right. News in Nanjiang City was constantly emerging. New gossip would circulate in the workplace every few days, and after a few days no one would mention it anymore. No one would talk about the same topic over and over again for months, but Lin Chu could not stand it even for a day.

The bus headed toward Nanjiang. Lin Chu sat alone in the back seat, making a phone call, surrounded by endless gossip. Yang Chunbei sat in the front, chatting and laughing with her colleagues, while Lin Chu sat alone in the back, feeling utterly miserable. Lin Chu gritted her teeth in hatred.