Forty-one) The next morning, the weather was ambiguous. The taxi I was sitting in stopped in front of Starbucks. When I got out of the car, I tried my best to keep an elegant posture. I even combed my hair according to the direction of the wind. However, my eyes scanned every seat by the window at Starbucks, but I didn't see Lin Qizheng's figure. On the roadside, there was no black Jeep with the number 66888. Reluctantly, I walked into Starbucks and carefully looked for him again, but still found nothing. This guy must have been embarrassed when I saw him that day, so he didn't want to play this kind of trick again. However, it was really disappointing. After all, we hadn't seen each other for several days. When I walked into the office, there was a red invitation on the table. I opened the envelope and first saw the wedding photos on the invitation. The couple were hugging each other face-to-face. One of them turned out to be MM Gao Zhanqi! I couldn't believe my eyes at first. I opened the invitation and clearly read: "Gao Zhanqi and Bai Li will hold their wedding ceremony at 12:08 pm on September 28th at the second floor banquet hall of Jun Emperor Grand Hotel." Bai Li? Who is she? I've never heard of her. This was too fast! I threw the invitation back onto the table and couldn't help laughing. For a moment, my feelings were extremely complicated. Although I had never seriously faced his emotions, the words he said to me behind my back made me unable to forget. However, after that, he turned around and got married to another woman. This was truly ironic! Could this be what they call losing something in one place and gaining it in another? While I was thinking about this, Gao Zhanqi knocked on the door and walked in. In the past, whenever he entered my office, did he ever knock on the door? It was really different now. "Have you read it?" He gestured towards the red invitation. "Yes," I calmly replied. "What do you feel?" "I'm happy for you," I said. "I thought you might feel a little disappointed?" Fortunately, he regained some of his slickness. "There are many people who would be sad for you, but not me," I answered. He pulled over a chair and sat opposite me: "I have three tasks for you." "Go ahead, I should serve," I said. "First, help me collect gifts on that day." "No problem." "Second, help me borrow two Mercedes-Benz cars for the wedding." "Two?" I widened my eyes: "I can't even borrow one, I don't know any boss who drives a Mercedes!" "You don't know, but someone else does," Gao Zhanqi said in a very ambiguous tone. "If you know someone else, ask them. Why come to me?" I was unhappy. "I can't talk to that person, but it's different with you," Gao Zhanqi said. "Gao Zhanqi!" I said seriously: "If you still consider me a friend, please respect me and don't talk to me like that!" "Alright, alright, I'll deal with it myself," Gao Zhanqi compromised: "There are several in their company." "That's your business," I said. "But the third thing, please help me, don't be angry!" He said sincerely. "It depends on what it is," I crossed my arms, indicating caution. "You know, this world is so superficial, it's all about how people perceive you. If your friends have taste and level, you also follow suit. But if you hang out with people who can't show up, you'll be looked down upon. Especially in our legal profession, it's all about who has more connections and background..." He started talking non-stop. I roughly understood his meaning and raised my hand to interrupt him: "Alright, alright, what do you want me to do? Just say it." "Please make sure Lin Qizheng attends my wedding!" He was straightforward without beating around the bush. "Why don't you just send him a fine notice?" "Wrong. As far as I know, Lin Qizheng rarely participates in such occasions, let alone our ordinary relationship." "He's not a national leader, why must he attend?" "He's arrogant! He has a mysterious aura! Normally, he never misses such events, but he comes to my wedding, which shows that our relationship is extraordinary!" I looked at Gao Zhanqi, feeling helpless: "Old Gao, we're just a small lawyer, is it necessary?" "Lawyers, don't we eat based on our reputation? The bigger the reputation, the more we eat. Those judges and court directors, seeing my deep relationship with big bosses, wouldn't look at me differently? And they still hope I can find cases for them to complete their tasks!" I looked at him, speechless. He bowed deeply: "Please, help me talk to Mr. Lin. A word from you can solve this matter..." "Gao Zhanqi!" I hated how he always linked me with Lin Qizheng, cutting him off immediately. He ignored me and continued: "Really, Zou Yu, help me with this favor! If he comes, I'll pardon you from giving a red envelope." "Why don't you go talk to him yourself, why involve me?" "I can't talk to him much, he looks so high and mighty, it's impossible to communicate." Gao Zhanqi became somewhat anxious. Would he? I thought. I always felt he was a boss who didn't put on airs, could he behave differently in front of me? Gao Zhanqi leaned back against the chair, adopting a lazy posture: "Zou Yu, I initially really didn't understand, thinking it was unfair to wait for you for so long. If you married him, I'd willingly admit defeat, but you..." He swallowed the rest of his sentence. I stared at him, waiting for him to say something good. He shifted his feet, Moonbasa, and continued: "Out of anger, I ran to find him, and he casually said: 'The matters between me and Zou Yu don't need to be discussed with you.' Truly arrogant! He completely disregarded me, making me even angrier, wanting to quit working under him. Later, a friend of mine enlightened me, that girl also knew Lin Qizheng. I asked her, if Lin Qizheng and Gao Zhanqi were options, who would you choose? That girl didn't even hesitate and said, if the question included Lin Qizheng, whether it was A, B, C or D, he would always be the correct answer." Gao Zhanqi suddenly slammed the table: "That one sentence made me fully realize, competing with him is futile. Instead, I should thank heaven for having a super-iron friend with him, which benefits me more. So, now, I have no objections to your choice." Listening to his words, I only felt melancholy. Lin Qizheng, in my view, is love, but in others' eyes, it's just money and power. Gao Zhanqi kept talking: "So, Zou Yu, you have the task of improving the relationship between me and Lin Qizheng. This wedding is the starting ceremony!" I was preparing to reply when the phone rang, it was Zuo Hui. "Where are you tonight?" I asked. "Tianyi Hotel Ruyi private room, I booked for 6:30." "Again Tianyi? Don't you get tired? Isn't there any other place to eat in this city?" I complained. "Leaders all like the abalone there." "Alright." "Shall I pick you up on my way?" "No need, no need, I'll go myself." While I was talking, Gao Zhanqi left the office with an expression that seemed to understand everything, mouthing to me: "Don't forget to invite him!" He must have thought I was talking to Lin Qizheng. I helplessly shook my head. In the afternoon, when I was about to leave for Tianyi Hotel, Lin Qizheng called. I apologetically told him about the dinner engagement I couldn't miss that evening. Coincidentally, he said he also had to accompany guests for dinner, so we agreed to meet after dinner. I stepped into the private room, and Zuo Hui and Director Li arrived shortly after. Director Li was Zuo Hui's superior, and we were acquaintances, so we greeted each other warmly. We talked happily, and regarding Zou Yue's matter, he promised to try his best to help. After a few rounds of drinks, Director Li began playing matchmaker, earnestly saying to me: "Little Zou, Zuo Hui is a good colleague, works diligently, has a strict style, and has a bright future. In the past, he took some wrong turns, which was due to my lack of teaching and supervision, the responsibility lies mainly with me. However, young people, making some mistakes is unavoidable. You should be forgiving and generous, forgive him, give him a chance. I know he has always had feelings for you and hasn't forgotten you. Reconciling would be a good thing. How about it?" He patted my shoulder while speaking. I couldn't think of a response, so I could only smile and shake my head. Zuo Hui sat beside me, lowering his head and drinking silently, as if lost in thought. Luckily, Director Li's phone rang, relieving us from the awkward situation. After chatting for a while, I suggested taking Director Li to a foot spa. Director Li eagerly agreed. Zuo Hui stood up and walked out of the private room. I estimated he was going to pay the bill, so I quickly followed him out. Sure enough, he was reaching for his wallet at the front desk. I rushed over and stopped him: "No need, no need, I'll pay." "It's fine, I can pay too," he insisted, pulling out his credit card from his wallet. "No! No! This is my sister's matter, how can I let you pay!" I held his hand and pulled out my own wallet. Just as we were struggling over who should pay, I suddenly saw a familiar pair of eyes. Lin Qizheng was walking down the stairs near the front desk with a group of people, and he happened to see this scene. I felt flustered, thinking bitterly how coincidental it was, like in a TV drama. Lin Qizheng parted from the crowd and walked straight toward Zuo Hui and me. I hadn't seen him for several days, and meeting him suddenly made my heart flutter. He seemed to have drunk quite a bit, his face slightly flushed. "Director Zuo, long time no see," he first shook hands with Zuo Hui, then glanced deeply at me and nodded. Zuo Hui hurriedly said: "Mr. Lin, the last two times I went to your company, I wanted to see you, but unfortunately, you were on business trips." "I'm really sorry, someday I'll specially invite Director Zuo to visit our company," Lin Qizheng said. "Not necessary, not necessary, as long as Mr. Lin has time to receive us once in a while is fine," the two began exchanging formalities, which sounded uncomfortable to my ears. "Are you also eating here today?" Lin Qizheng asked. "Yes, inviting an old leader." Lin Qizheng turned to the receptionist and said: "Charge it to my account." Zuo Hui hastily said it wasn't necessary, but Lin Qizheng didn't allow him to refuse, leading his group away confidently. I stood there dumbfounded, expressionless, not uttering a single word throughout. Zuo Hui shrugged and said to me: "Well, having a big boss pay the bill is good." I forced a smile and nodded. Soon after, Zuo Hui and I supported Director Li, who was already half-drunk, out of the Tianyi Hotel gate. Zuo Hui asked me to support Director Li while he went to fetch the car. I stood by the door, supporting Director Li's swaying body, and unintentionally noticed a large black Jeep directly facing the entrance, with the license plate number 66888. Then, I vaguely saw Lin Qizheng sitting in the driver's seat inside the car. In the dim interior, I couldn't clearly see his expression. By this time, Zuo Hui's car had already parked beside us. Zuo Hui got out of the car and helped Director Li into the back seat. Having no choice, I sat in the passenger seat. The car left the hotel, and my phone rang. "Do you have to sit next to him?" Lin Qizheng asked stiffly on the phone. "No," I couldn't answer truthfully with Zuo Hui and Director Li present. "Where are you going next?" "I have something else to do." "What else do you have to do?" He pressed further. "I'll contact you later." "Alright, I'll wait for your call," he hung up first, showing obvious dissatisfaction. I put the phone back into my bag, feeling somewhat annoyed, thinking that I had caused him unhappiness, and somehow felt guilty. "Who was it?" Zuo Hui asked inappropriately. "None of your business!" I snapped at him, venting my frustration. He didn't seem to care and continued: "Zou Yu, Director Li is my old superior, who knows me best. He means well, don't blame him." I turned back to look at Director Li, who was already unconscious on the back seat. "Director Li is also doing this for our benefit..." Zuo Hui continued. "Zuo Hui!" I interrupted him: "If you think I've been alone waiting for you, you're completely wrong." This sentence silenced Zuo Hui for a while. After a long pause, he hesitantly asked: "Is there absolutely no possibility between us anymore?" "Absolutely none!" I harshly replied. "I'll wait by your side until the day you forgive me," he said. I suddenly wanted to laugh. Men always easily promise forever, Gao Zhanqi, Zuo Hui, and Lin Qizheng are all the same. But women, like me, only choose the words we are willing to be moved by. "Let's take Director Li home," I suggested. With the help of Director Li's son, Zuo Hui and I struggled to carry Director Li upstairs. Back by the car, I retrieved my bag and told Zuo Hui: "You go back first, I have something else to do." "This late, where are you going? Let me drive you," Zuo Hui curiously asked. "No need, I'll go myself," I said. Zuo Hui had no choice but to drive away. Once his car disappeared from sight, I called Lin Qizheng. "Hello?" he answered. "Where are you?" I asked. A car braked sharply beside me, stirring up some wind. It turned out he had been following us all along. Lowering the window, he gestured for me to get in. I got in, and seeing his displeased expression, I rolled up the window and drove forward. "How did you switch to such a big car, with dark tinted windows, so dark that you can't see anything from outside, like a tank," I changed the subject, trying to lighten the atmosphere. He didn't respond, just gazed ahead. "Today was for Xiao Yue's matter. Xiao Yue is applying for a civil servant position at the tax bureau, passed the written exam, only the oral exam remains. Zuo Hui invited the deputy director in charge of personnel for dinner, hoping to smooth things over," I explained the dinner of the day. "If you want to enter the tax bureau, why didn't you ask me! Not just the tax bureau, any agency Belong wants to enter, I can handle it," he spoke, but his tone carried some dissatisfaction. "All the previous steps of registration and exams were decided by Xiao Yue herself. Now we've reached this point, yesterday when we mentioned this matter, I thought it would be better if it worked out. Since I know Director Li, I agreed to have dinner," I further explained. "Were you with Zuo Hui yesterday? Weren't you introducing Belong to someone?" He remembered everything clearly. "No, when I was sending Belong downstairs, I met him, and we mentioned this matter," I clarified. "So late? How did you happen to meet him?" "He lives downstairs from us!" He didn't speak anymore. The car stopped at a crossroads. When the green light lit up, the car in front started slowly, and he frowned, pressing the horn forcefully. The sound startled me. "Will there be a