Volume One, Chapter 127: Your Son Has Been Kidnapped!

Before her lay a slender, pale pink pen.

In her mind, she saw the pen slipping from her fingers, falling to the conference room floor, and herself fleeing in panic without even picking it up.

After a brief moment of stiff silence, Sang Wan finally understood what had happened.

Lou Ye had been here.

What had he said?

No, that wasn’t it.

He hadn’t needed to say anything at all.

All he had to do was appear by her desk, place the pen—originally hers—into the pen holder, then leave with a calm expression.

Everything else, they would fill in the gaps themselves, wouldn’t they?

A feeling of wanting to explain but having no words to do so spread from the depths of her heart.

Sang Wan was certain once again.

Lou Ye had done it on purpose.

But what benefit could he possibly gain by confirming this matter?

None whatsoever.

Only more people would be left wondering if he was blind or had lost his mind.

He was Lou Ye, after all!

He didn’t even need to wave his hand; just one glance from him would draw countless beautiful women from equally matched backgrounds clamoring to be near him.

Yet he was willing to ruin his own reputation.

All because of her.

“Sister Sang, are you okay?”

“Engineer Sang, are you alright? Director Cheng asked us to have a quick meeting.”

The concern from Xiaobai, the colleague’s reminder.

Sang Wan snapped back to reality. “Alright.”

Her mind was a tangled mess.

“Half an hour ago, the International Architecture Association released a competition announcement for a grand architectural event to be held next month. The detailed rules you can study later…”

Cheng Jingran looked around at the two department managers and several senior architects before her. “According to past practice, individuals signed up and the Capital Architecture Association organized participation uniformly. But I’ve reviewed this time’s rules, and we will be registering as a team.”

In a brief half-hour meeting, a brand-new group was formed.

Their goal: to represent the Lou Group, to represent China, and to achieve dazzling results at the architectural competition.

As they left, Sang Wan lagged behind last. “Director Cheng, will I seem out of place in this group?”

Lin Qiyue and Wang Rui from the Second Department were both department managers and senior architects.

The others were naturally no exception.

And now she was still just a junior architect.

By qualifications and seniority, she seemed hardly fit for this.

At this critical moment, Sang Wan didn’t want to give anyone a reason to gossip.

Cheng Jingran smiled. “I personally favor you, but I didn’t mention it. They each approached me, hoping you would join.”

A blessing in disguise.

Had it not been for the relentless misfortune and sleepless nights, she wouldn’t have taken refuge in the study to distract herself.

Had it not been for the bottled-up frustration fueling her desire to prove she hadn’t gotten into Lou Group by riding Lou Ye’s coattails, she wouldn’t have poured all her inspiration into the blueprints.

Unexpectedly, everything was taking strides beyond her expectations.

“Sister Sang, good luck!”

Cheng Jingran smiled. “Who knows? You might become the first architect at Lou Group to leapfrog a position.”

Sang Wan’s abilities were beyond doubt.

It was just that she had never had the opportunity to showcase them before.

With her talent, she should have been a renowned top architect in the field long ago.

Today’s first glimpse of her edge was only the beginning.

If she achieved results at next month’s architectural event, it would be effortless to jump from junior to senior architect at the year-end performance review.

“Thank you, Director Cheng!”

Sang Wan thanked her and returned to her desk, still feeling unreal, as if floating on a cloud.

“Sister Sang, it’s after work. Aren’t you leaving?”

“Sister Sang, I’m heading out. Bye…”

“…”

Time passed too quickly. Only when Sang Wan glanced at the top right corner of her computer screen did she realize it was already past six.

The office bustled with people coming and going.

Suddenly, she felt a bit anxious.

Four words kept turning over in her mind.

Sweet and sour pork ribs.

She checked her phone and saw she had blocked Lou Ye—no calls, no WeChat messages from him.

She didn’t dare take the elevator, fearing that when the doors opened on the first floor, she’d run into Lou Ye standing there.

Hesitating, lingering.

Until her phone dinged—Xu Yiyi sent a WeChat message.

“Where are you? I’ve made the dishes. Aren’t you off work yet?”

[Photo.jpg]

Three dishes, a soup, and two bowls of rice; Xu Yiyi had thoughtfully washed and artistically arranged some fruit.

Thinking of how Xu Yiyi and Lou Ye had each other on WeChat.

Xu Yiyi also knew Lou Ye used to come to her home for dinner every day.

And at this moment, there were no sweet and sour pork ribs on the table.

Did that mean Xu Yiyi had already asked Lou Ye, and Lou Ye said he wouldn’t come for dinner?

An inexplicable relief washed over her.

Sang Wan replied, “Heading home now,” and decisively shut down her computer.

There was no Lou Ye by the elevator.

Stepping out of the company’s front door, no sight of his flashy Maybach either.

Only after rounding the Lou Group building did Sang Wan exhale a long, slow breath.

In late autumn, the sky over the capital was already dimming past six.

Yet the area housing Lou Group and the apartments glowed brilliantly with lights.

Along the way, she passed hurried middle-aged commuters rushing home.

Couples walking hand in hand, whispering softly.

Occasionally, families out for a post-dinner stroll.

Sang Wan watched and walked, the turmoil of her day gradually settling.

Those unnoticed, mottled memories sharpened as well.

In the underground parking garage, as the Ferrari roared forward, she had pressed herself against the passenger seat, wishing to disappear with nerves she couldn’t hide, begging him to park the car far away.

When they met again, his car had become a Maybach.

In the bustling lobby on the first floor, Su Baohui had shouted arrogantly, ordering her to get out of the capital like a dog.

He had also been the first to appear, standing up for her.

And that loft incident...

She had never asked what became of Wan Jianye, and Lou Ye never mentioned it.

As if it were just a nightmare she had once had.

Waking up, the nightmare ended, no ripple added to her life.

“Sang Wan, can I go home now?”

“I want to eat sweet and sour pork ribs, is that okay?”

The elevator dinged open, showing the number 19 fading from bright to dark.

Sang Wan let out a low breath.

If he wanted to leave, then let him.

Sweet and sour pork ribs, she’d make them for him next time.

Just as he said, since he had given her the first time, he had to take responsibility!

No more twisting and turning during the day; Sang Wan decided to stop dwelling.

She pushed open the door, washed her hands, and sat down to eat.

“Do you think I should go back to cancel my leave and attend class, or take this chance to rest a few days?”

Xu Yiyi’s mood had been bubbling with cheer since morning.

Sang Wan wanted to say, “Whatever you want,” when the TV screen suddenly switched to an advertisement for Yun City Cultural Tourism, surrounded by verdant mountains.

“I’ve decided. I’m going home for a visit…”

Xu Yiyi’s eyes lit up. “Then this New Year, I can spend it in the capital, with you and Mom. No need to deal with my parents’ nagging about marriage or the sudden blind dates from relatives.”

Without hesitation, Xu Yiyi ate while scrolling on her phone.

Before Sang Wan finished her bowl of rice, Xu Yiyi had already booked a flight three hours later.

Thus began an impromptu trip home.

The dishwasher hummed, the floor cleaner dragged across the tiles.

Sang Wan helped Xu Yiyi pack her suitcase.

Ten minutes before leaving, a delivery rider brought the gifts Sang Wan had bought for Xu Yiyi’s parents.

Going downstairs again, the ride to the airport had arrived.

“I’ll bring back some flower cakes for you…”

“Remember to miss me!”

As the car drove away, night deepened.

It felt as if overnight, her life, which had plunged to its lowest, was returning to its normal course.

Sang Wan exhaled softly and turned to go upstairs.

Opening the door and walking a few steps in, she froze in the living room.

Since coming home from work, something had felt off; the sensation resurfaced in her heart.

Murmuring softly, Sang Wan drew back the curtains, checking the bedroom, study, and guest room.

Then, with a puzzled expression, she dialed Xu Yiyi’s number.

“Where’s my cat?”

On the other end, Xu Yiyi laughed loudly, “Honey, your kitten’s been kidnapped!!! You only just noticed?”

Sang Wan: …