"Jin Zhao gege, why didn't you call the police to arrest them?"
Xu Yaoyao was very confused. Tao Qiyue's efficiency should have given Zhang Lian a hard time, and it could have also led to the exposure of Su Hao behind Zhang Lian, killing two birds with one stone.
Chen Jin Zhao smiled and asked, "Do you think I was too lenient with him?"
In fact.
He hadn't even laid a hand on Zhang Lian yet.
After a moment of hesitation, Xu Yaoyao nodded, stating that Zhang Lian was guilty of heinous crimes and should face legal judgment.
Under the night sky, Chen Jin Zhao's hawk-like eyes gleamed, and he sneered, "Calling the police would be letting him off easy. From what I know of Su Hao and his ilk, Zhang Lian wouldn't survive the night."
Xu Yaoyao seemed to understand but not fully, and she told herself that Chen Jin Zhao might be right.
"Forget it."
"Let's not talk about such unlucky things. I'm glad I asked Jin Zhao gege to accompany me tonight, otherwise something bad would have happened," Xu Yaoyao said with lingering fear. Chen Jin Zhao smiled without speaking. From what he knew of Xu Yaoyao, this girl was innocent and naive towards her own people, but extremely guarded towards outsiders. Without his accompaniment, Xu Yaoyao would never have come to Lin Xi Mountain Villa alone.
Chen Jin Zhao also sighed, "It's a pity, this was a trap."
"I've already heard about the norms in the entertainment industry from Cheng Xue, and it makes me start to doubt whether supporting you to enter this circle was the right decision."
Xu Yaoyao's expression became dejected, and she sighed, "I underestimated the wickedness of society. From now on, I will try to participate in talent shows as an individual and will no longer have dealings with these agencies."
These agencies were full of pitfalls, and one could easily be forced into a contract of servitude if not careful.
"From now on, Jin Zhao gege will be my agent. What do you think?" Xu Yaoyao hooked her arm through Chen Jin Zhao's. Chen Jin Zhao smiled faintly, "If you don't mind my poor business skills, then there's no problem."
"Oh, right. Gou Chen Pharmaceutical is currently filming a new advertisement and is looking for an image ambassador. Would you like to try out for it?"
Xu Yaoyao's interest was instantly piqued.
Chen Jin Zhao also made it clear in advance that he would not interfere with the selection process for the ambassador, nor would he tell Yu Mengzhi about it. She would compete entirely based on her own abilities.
"You're really just like my grandfather. No wonder he values you so much," Xu Yaoyao pouted, but she didn't ask Chen Jin Zhao to give her a shortcut. Her heart was already full of eagerness.
In the deep autumn night, a chill permeated the air.
A gust of wind swept in from the distance of the night, blowing down the yellowing leaves of the plane trees lining the road. The leaves swirled and danced in the air before falling to the ground, eventually settling into silence.
A sense of loneliness and desolation welled up in her heart.
Xu Yaoyao released Chen Jin Zhao's arm, smiled, and walked in front of him.
She was like a fairy descended from the heavens, exuding youthful vitality in the cold autumn wind, which brought back a few moments of Chen Jin Zhao's interactions with Xu Nian Qing, but he quickly suppressed them.
The past is gone, and cannot be pursued.
Xu Yaoyao didn't notice Chen Jin Zhao's unusual behavior. Her youthful face still bloomed with a smile, "Jin Zhao gege, I've actually been secretly practicing dancing. I've never performed it in front of anyone."
"Can you be my first audience?"
Chen Jin Zhao snapped out of his thoughts, was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "It would be my greatest honor."
Xu Yaoyao's smile became even sweeter.
To allow herself to perform at her best, she took off her canvas shoes and stood barefoot on the fallen leaves on the road, making a rustling sound.
The wind played music, the fallen leaves provided the scenery, and Xu Yaoyao danced with the wind.
Before this, Chen Jin Zhao didn't understand dance. It wasn't until he witnessed Xu Yaoyao's movements that he truly felt the visual impact of dance.
At this moment, Xu Yaoyao was like a spirit of the wind, displaying graceful and gentle dance moves, her every smile and glance captivating the soul.
*Pat-pat.*
Chen Jin Zhao lit a cigarette for himself and thought that Xu Yaoyao indeed had a talent for this.
He also marveled at why ancient emperors loved watching dances.
This joy made one forget about Shu.
By the time Chen Jin Zhao finished his cigarette, Xu Yaoyao's graceful dance was coming to an end.
Chen Jin Zhao extinguished the cigarette butt, flicked it, and it drew a beautiful arc in the air before landing precisely in the trash can by the roadside. He then applauded and said with a smile, "Your dance was beautiful and pleasing to the eye."
He couldn't comment from a professional perspective, so he could only express his true feelings.
Xu Yaoyao's cheeks turned rosy, perhaps from dancing or some other reason. She picked up her shoes and walked to within fifty centimeters of Chen Jin Zhao.
Chen Jin Zhao looked down at her, and Xu Yaoyao looked up to meet his gaze.
One represented maturity and stability, the other represented youthful vivacity. No matter how one looked at it, the combination of the two seemed somewhat incongruous.
Chen Jin Zhao distinctly saw something new in Xu Yaoyao's eyes, so he reached out and ruffled her hair, "So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. You've grown from a little girl into a young lady."
When they first met, Chen Jin Zhao was less than twenty, while Xu Yaoyao was only a little over ten.
Xu Yaoyao hastily lowered her head, feeling as if her thoughts had been completely seen through by Chen Jin Zhao, which also filled her with a sense of loss.
She knew very well that Chen Jin Zhao was ostensibly reminding her that she had grown up, but the underlying meaning was to remind her to maintain an appropriate distance.
"Hmph!"
Xu Yaoyao let out an arrogant snort, "After this year, I'll be nineteen and a legal adult. I know clearly how I should proceed from here."
Chen Jin Zhao was speechless.
It seemed his reminder had no effect; Xu Yaoyao hadn't taken it to heart at all.
Glancing at the time, it was nearing midnight. Chen Jin Zhao then said, "It's getting late. I'll take you back to school."
Xu Yaoyao said "Oh" and obediently followed behind Chen Jin Zhao.
Meanwhile.
Zhang Lian had already been rushed to the hospital by Cheng Xue.
Upon hearing this, Su Hao rushed back from Jiangning overnight, wanting to seek justice for Zhang Lian.
Someone he protected had been bullied?
If this were to get out, what would happen to Su Hao's authority, and who would be willing to work for him in the future?
Upon arriving at the hospital, Zhang Lian was just being wheeled out of the operating room. Zhang Lian looked utterly defeated, offering no response no matter how Su Hao questioned him.
Helpless, Su Hao turned to ask the doctor what had happened. The doctor sighed, "We did our best, but the patient's injury in that area was too severe to be repaired. Therefore, we performed an amputation."
Su Hao rubbed his forehead. Zhang Lian was considered one of his key subordinates, and now he had been castrated!
This was unbearable.
After bidding farewell to the doctor, Su Hao went to Zhang Lian's ward. Zhang Lian had gradually regained consciousness and was now weeping inconsolably in the ward, looking as if he wanted to die.
No matter how Cheng Xue tried to comfort him, she couldn't stop him.
Hearing Zhang Lian's cries, Su Hao felt a surge of annoyance and immediately yelled, "Enough! What are you crying about, a grown man? You're like a woman."
"If you don't want revenge, I'm leaving right now!"