After I Was Gone, Mr. Song Said He Loved Me

Seeing my submissive demeanor, Song Yu refrained from saying anything harsh.

He started the car and drove out of the detention center courtyard.

I didn’t ask where he was taking me; it wasn’t up to me anyway.

After a few minutes of driving, Song Yu suddenly asked, “Do you hate me?”

I bit my lip, staying silent-not because I harbored deep hatred for Song Yu, but because there was a stubborn knot in my chest, neither rising nor falling. After all, Lu was the one who attacked first, and Song Yu just took advantage of the situation to manipulate me once more.

“Do you think I’m too heartless?” Song Yu glanced sideways at me.

“No,” I replied, lying through my teeth.

Song Yu chuckled, stopping the car at a red light.

After a few seconds, he said, “Bai Yu, I used to be naive like you, thinking right is right, wrong is wrong, and that hard work should be rewarded.”

“But where in this world is there so much fairness? Fairness is a luxury reserved for those in power. If you want to talk fairness and terms with me, you first need to reach my level.”

“Otherwise, no matter how unwilling you are, you have to comply.”

I scoffed, “Easy for you to say. How could I possibly reach your level?”

Song Yu reached out and ruffled my hair, half-jokingly saying, “Then work on increasing your value, so that I need you all the time and can never leave you.”

Even though I knew Song Yu wasn’t sincere, and his words carried a hint of mockery, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement.

Yet that feeling vanished almost instantly. I knew this was just Song Yu’s psychological game, and I couldn’t let myself be swayed again.

“If I really create the value you want, can you have the police release Lu early and clear his record?”

Song Yu gazed at me intently, his sharp eyes scanning my face like a laser, as if faced with an incomprehensible puzzle.

“I’m curious, since you don’t like Fan Lu, why do you do so much for him?”

“Just because he’s your friend?” Song Yu laughed inexplicably, seemingly dismissive of the word “friend.”

“You don’t understand,” I said coldly. “Lu is my friend, but he treats me like family, caring for me, supporting me. These things are even more precious than love. Just like when I’m bullied, Lu would fight for me, and when he’s in danger, I’d give up everything for his safety.”

“This kind of selfless affection, how could you possibly understand?” I looked at Song Yu, my tone gentle yet my gaze unwavering.

Song Yu looked back at me, a hint of intriguing surprise in his expression. I didn’t know what he was thinking-perhaps he thought I was just spouting nonsense. In his eyes, even the love he had pursued for years was insignificant, let alone the intangible bonds of family and friendship I spoke of.

Just then, a car behind us honked impatiently; the light had turned green.

Song Yu snapped out of his thoughts and restarted the car.

I sat there, hesitating, trying to confirm if Song Yu would agree to my request, so I asked again, “President Song, does what you said earlier still stand?”

“What?” Song Yu raised an eyebrow.

“You know, what you said… if I still have value to you, making you… unable to… to be without me…” The last few words made my cheeks flush, but I pressed on, “Would you then arrange for Lu to be released early and have his record cleared?”

Though I haven’t read much, I understand the impact a criminal record can have on a person-not just on Lu himself, but potentially affecting his future generations as well.

I couldn’t let that happen.

“If you truly prove your worth, I wouldn’t mind taking that risk for you,” Song Yu glanced at me, his expression indifferent.

“Really?” My eyes lit up, my voice unable to hide the excitement.

“Really,” Song Yu replied coolly.

With Song Yu’s promise, I suddenly had a new goal. Despite his cold and unfeeling nature, one thing was certain: if he promised something, he would follow through.

I wasn’t worried about him going back on his word.

—-

I had assumed Song Yu would take me back to the hospital, but instead, he drove me to his villa.

As the car stopped at the gate, a myriad of emotions surged through me.

Previously, my visits here were mostly filled with passionate encounters with Song Yu. This time, however, my heart was filled with an intense reluctance.

It wasn’t that I feared anything happening with Song Yu; given my current condition, even if I agreed, he might not dare.

It’s just that the dynamics between Song Yu and me had become more complex, or perhaps it was my own mindset that had changed.

Song Yu unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to me, saying, “Get out.”

I nodded obediently.

Uncle Zhang was cleaning the fish pond in the yard. Seeing us return, he quickly dropped the hose and came over.

“President Song, why didn’t you call ahead to let us know you were coming back? I could have had Aunt Zhang prepare lunch,” Uncle Zhang said, ready to go find Aunt Zhang, but Song Yu stopped him.

“I’m not eating at home. Mr. Bai will be staying here for a while. Have Aunt Zhang prepare the meals he had before,” Song Yu instructed, his expression unchanged.

Listening to this made my face flush. The last time I stayed here was because Song Yu had worn me out, and Aunt Zhang had taken care of my meals, ensuring they were meticulously prepared to avoid any further injury.

Uncle Zhang seemed momentarily confused by Song Yu’s words, but quickly nodded in agreement. Suddenly, he pointed at Song Yu’s right hand, alarmed, “President Song, what happened to your hand? It’s bleeding so much! You need to go to the hospital right away.”

Song Yu glanced at it casually, “It’s nothing.”

Then he turned to me and said, “I’ll have someone handle your discharge paperwork. For now, stay here and recuperate. Don’t think about anything else.”

Song Yu wasn’t asking for my opinion; it was an order that left no room for argument.

I didn’t refuse him. After all, having someone take care of me was better than struggling on my own.

After arranging everything, Song Yu didn’t even enter the house before getting back in his car and driving away.

Uncle Zhang led me back to the villa and repeated Song Yu’s instructions to Aunt Zhang. Upon hearing them, she immediately busied herself with making soup and porridge for me. I offered to help, but she firmly pushed me out of the kitchen.

Perhaps it was because they knew about my relationship with Song Yu, or maybe it was my sweet-talking nature, but Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang were exceptionally courteous and respectful towards me. They consulted me on everything, making me feel almost like the owner of the place.

Since they didn’t need my help, I didn’t insist. I just asked Uncle Zhang to prepare a guest room for me.

Though Uncle Zhang seemed a bit puzzled, he didn’t say much and prepared a room next to Song Yu’s bedroom for me.

Once everything was settled, I lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, my mind in turmoil.

If I hadn’t gotten jealous and acted with Chi Jin at the party to provoke Song Yu, would I have ended up in the hospital? Then Lu wouldn’t have been hurt defending me, leading to his current predicament.

In the end, it was all my fault. My immaturity caused all these problems, not only harming myself but dragging others down with me.

But what’s done is done, and there’s no turning back. I could only grit my teeth and push through, especially since there was still hope for Lu’s case. I couldn’t afford to fall apart now.

With that resolve, I picked up my long-neglected work phone and returned to my old profession.

Only by creating more and greater benefits could I have the leverage to negotiate with Song Yu.

As soon as I turned on the phone, countless messages and missed call notifications flooded the screen, most of them from Chi Jin, with a few from bosses inviting me to dinner.

While I was contemplating how to respond to these messages, Chi Jin’s name suddenly flashed on the screen.

I hesitated for a few seconds before answering the call.

Chi Jin’s commanding and aloof voice immediately pierced my eardrums.

“Where have you been these past two days? Why haven’t you been in touch?”

Faced with Chi Jin’s questioning, I politely brushed it off with a few words, but he wasn’t satisfied with my response.

“Did Song Yu threaten you?” he asked.

“No,” I replied almost without hesitation.

It wasn’t that I was defending Song Yu; he really hadn’t threatened me.

After Song Yu agreed to let me leave that day, the police hadn’t contacted me again about Wang Li’an’s matter. If Lu hadn’t acted impulsively, I would have already been on a plane to Guiyang by now. I hadn’t expected this turn of events.

After my response, there was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Chi Jin spoke again, “So you’re planning to continue being Song Yu’s personal public relations, right?”

I hesitated for a moment before replying, “Yes.”

Chi Jin let out a derisive laugh, “Bai Yu, you’re really something. First, you begged me to help you sever ties with Song Yu. I gave you face in front of the whole company, even using my father’s influence to pressure Song Yu, and now you say you’re going back to being his public relations?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

I bit my lip, struggling for a while before saying, “I’m sorry.”

Chi Jin’s words left me speechless. He had indeed stood up to Song Yu for me at the party, even planning to have his father transfer me out of the Public Relations Department, publicly declaring me as his girlfriend to silence the gossip. Yet, in the end, I betrayed his trust.

Even though I knew it was just a tactic for him to oppose Song Yu.

Still, I couldn’t shake the unease in my heart.

After a moment of silence, Chi Jin finally said, “You don’t need to apologize to me. You’re my nominal girlfriend now, and I don’t want to lose face in front of the company, especially not in front of Song Yu. I think you understand what I mean.”

Though he casually reminded me, the underlying warning was clear.

I took a deep breath and hesitantly replied, “I understand.”

After hearing my response, Chi Jin said nothing more and hung up the phone.