She was terrified, her legs unsteady.
Tianyi turned off the monitoring screen and said, "Stop watching. There's no need to sympathize with such a madman."
As he spoke, Tianyi supported Susu and said, "Come, let's go home and talk."
Susu came back to her senses, coldly pushed him away, and asked, "What did you do to Sophie? Why was she fine before and now she's like this? And what does she mean you want to avenge Chen Ma?"
Tianyi looked at her with bloodshot eyes, recounting how Chen Ma was murdered and how Sophie had long harbored feelings for him, even stealing his clothes.
Susu was utterly shocked, frozen in place for a long time.
Tianyi frowned and looked at her, "Don't you believe me at all? Are you still protecting Sophie, who has completely lost her mind?"
Susu regained her composure and immediately said, "No, I believe you. It's just, why has Sophie become so terrifying... Since she killed someone, shouldn't we hand her over to the police..."
"I want her to suffer endlessly. I will never hand her over to the police," Tianyi interrupted her and walked out of the room.
Susu quickly followed him, "Where are you going? Can you listen to me first?"
"Don't say anything. I don't want to hear anything you say." Tianyi quickened his pace, knowing what Susu would say, but he didn't want to listen or do as she wished.
He got into the car. Susu ran to catch up with him, standing by the car and asking, "Where in the mansion did you lock Sophie up?"
Tianyi didn't look at her and said coldly, "It's enough for you to know what evil deeds she has done. Don't worry about anything else. Chen Ma cannot die in vain!"
As he spoke, he turned to look at her, his eyes filled with an undeniable sternness.
Susu knew that nothing she said now would be of any use. Chen Ma had been murdered like this, and anyone would find it unbearable, let alone Tianyi.
She closed her mouth, silently opened the car door, and sat in the back seat.
The amount of information about Sophie was too overwhelming, and she needed to calm down and digest it, not wanting to have any more conflict with Tianyi.
They didn't speak for the rest of the journey. Tianyi drove her directly to the entrance of the seaside villa and said, "I have some business at the company, so I'll be leaving now."
Susu felt extremely distressed about Chen Ma. As she got out of the car, before she could even say another word of apology, he had already driven away.
Susu stood alone, stunned, her heart aching. On one hand, there was Sophie whom she wanted to help; on the other, there was the tragically deceased Chen Ma, and she had also neglected Tianyi's feelings all along.
Tianyi had discovered this matter long ago but hadn't told her, bearing it all silently, which also pained her deeply.
She tried to let go of her sympathy for Sophie and face the matter squarely. It was time to reflect that her boundless kindness had instead harmed Sophie and Chen Ma.
...
As night fell, Zhan Jiayi had already packed her belongings. With one hand on her suitcase, she gazed out at the dimly lit window.
When car headlights illuminated the road in front of the villa, she knew it was time for her to leave.
Zhao Jianhua, who was in the room, also heard the commotion outside the villa. He walked into the living room and, like seeing off a soldier going into battle, said to Zhan Jiayi, "Xie Zhendong's car should be here. Don't forget our agreement, and don't forget who brought you to Xie Zhendong."
"Don't worry, I won't forget," Zhan Jiayi smiled at him, but her heart was filled with hatred for him.
She didn't need him to remind her; how could she forget the experience of being treated like a gift?
At that moment, the car parked downstairs honked a few times. Zhao Jianhua solicitously offered to help her with her suitcase, "Let me help you into the car."
She held down the suitcase, smiled, and stood up to refuse, "No, I can manage it myself."
With that, she dragged her suitcase and resolutely left the villa that Zhao Jianhua had provided for her.
As soon as she reached the car, the driver immediately got out to help her put her suitcase in.
She got into the car and found no one else there except the driver who came to pick her up. It made sense; a prominent figure like Xie Zhendong wouldn't come in person.
Moreover, the road ahead was still an unknown path, but she was no longer the foolish woman who exchanged her sincerity for a future. She would never be the former Secretary Zhan again.
Zhao Jianhua stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the car disappear into the night.
After taking Zhan Jiayi to meet Xie Zhendong last time, he had tentatively contacted Xie Zhendong the next day.
Xie Zhendong, of course, understood his intentions. Before he could even speak directly, he said, as if handling official business, "Alright. Have her prepare. I'll send someone to pick her up tomorrow night."
"Okay, okay, as long as Mr. Xie is satisfied," Zhao Jianhua said, his heart blooming with joy.
"Don't worry, once your cultural wall project is completed, you won't be doing charity for nothing. There will be plenty of benefits for you."
"No, no, it's my duty to do anything for you, Mr. Xie. I don't seek any benefits, just give your orders," Zhao Jianhua said obsequiously.
Xie Zhendong asked, "What's her name? Is she clean?"
"Zhan Jiayi, very clean. She's only been working for a few years since graduating from school," Zhao Jianhua guaranteed, "I'll have someone send you her medical report this afternoon."
"Hmm, she does look a bit like a student," Xie Zhendong said indifferently. "Then that's settled. I have other things to attend to."
"Alright, please proceed..." Before Zhao Jianhua could finish his fawning words, the other party had already hung up.
However, he didn't care about Xie Zhendong's superficial attitude. Knowing that his plan had worked, he was very pleased.
Zhang Yuyun, who had come to ask him about this matter, saw his beaming face and asked with a wry smile, "What's making you so happy?"
"Wife, please sit," he said quickly. "The matter of placing someone by Xie Zhendong's side has been successful."
"Who has he taken a liking to? Is it the fifth one you're keeping?" Zhang Yuyun asked unceremoniously as she sat down.
He vehemently denied it, "I don't know what you're talking about. I just helped him find a girl who just graduated from school. I think he likes pure ones."
"Oh." Zhang Yuyun guessed it was probably the fifth one, Zhan Jiayi. She felt a lot more relieved.
Among the women Zhao Jianhua kept outside, she honestly feared Zhan Jiayi the most. Even as the fifth one, she was so aloof and had truly captivated Old Zhao.
Sending Zhan Jiayi away had truly removed a major worry for her.
Zhao Jianhua said, "Xie Zhendong just said on the phone that we won't be shortchanged. This cultural wall project will definitely not be done in vain."
"That's great." With that, Zhang Yuyun got up and left his office with a smile.
Their marriage had long been a facade; they both knew it.
However, their connection was tied to the group's interests and many shared assets, making divorce impossible. Therefore, as long as things appeared to be going well on the surface, they would maintain this pretense.
Zhao Jianhua was left alone in the empty villa, feeling a sense of loss. He picked up his phone and called a young woman he had recently befriended, asking her to come over to fill his emptiness.