Love Bet - Chapter 6 - Leaving and Returning

Watching Mo Tianchen leave, Qiao Shuqi walked upstairs absentmindedly and began packing her already-prepared belongings into a suitcase. Standing by the window, she hesitated for a moment before taking out her phone, her trembling fingers dialing an unfamiliar number.

“I’ve packed everything. My flight is at 11 p.m. tonight. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll leave. So please, lift the restriction on all the hospitals and let my mom get medical treatment.” Qiao Shuqi’s voice was filled with a calmness and detachment that were impossible to describe.

“Alright. The car I arranged is waiting outside your dormitory building. The driver will take you to the airport,” came a faintly composed voice on the other end, unmistakably Chen Yue’s.

“No need, I can get there myself,” Qiao Shuqi replied coldly.

“You must take my car. I need the driver to personally see you board the plane. Only then will I feel at ease.” Chen Yue’s voice carried an undeniable authority. Qiao Shuqi pressed her lips together, finally agreeing.

“Alright.”

Three years later…

Inside an office building in C City, Qiao Shuqi, clutching a stack of documents, confidently strode into the general manager’s office in her high heels. She expertly placed the papers on the desk in front of her.

“General Manager, these are the design drafts for this season’s clothing.” Cheng Hao, who was busy working at his desk, looked up at Qiao Shuqi. Her professionalism was evident in her every action, and he nodded in approval. From the drawer beneath his desk, he retrieved another document.

“Shuqi, you’ve been with the company for three years now, right?” Cheng Hao asked as he glanced at her. Qiao Shuqi was momentarily stunned, then immediately smiled in response.

“Yes, three years now.”

“Yesterday, we received a task from headquarters asking us to recommend an outstanding employee. As you know, we’ve had a lot of new hires recently, and recommending them to headquarters might not be appropriate. Fortunately, you’re originally from Z City, so I decided to recommend you. This way, you’d have the chance to work in your hometown. Also, your salary will be doubled. What do you think?” Cheng Hao asked with a warm smile.

“General Manager… this…” Qiao Shuqi was momentarily at a loss for words. For the past three years, she’d deeply longed to return home. Even though her mother often called to assure her that she was in good health, Qiao Shuqi remained worried. This recommendation was undoubtedly a fantastic opportunity.

However, Qiao Shuqi hesitated. Z City was the place she had resolutely left behind. She had never dared to imagine how he might have coped after her departure. Even though three years had passed, she still felt the weight of her guilt. For three whole years, she had been afraid to return to Z City out of fear and remorse. Now, should she go back?

Cheng Hao noticed her hesitation and gently pushed the document toward her.

“This is the document we submitted to headquarters. It’s already been approved. I didn’t mention it earlier because the decision was made on short notice. I’d always heard about your mother’s poor health, so I thought transferring you back to Z City might be something you’d agree to…”

“I agree,” Qiao Shuqi interrupted with a faint smile, cutting off Cheng Hao’s explanation. “General Manager, I know you’re doing this for my good. Thank you. I’ll return to Z City and report to headquarters tomorrow.” She took a deep breath and picked up the document from the desk. No matter what, after three years away, it was time to go back. She couldn’t leave her mother alone in Z City any longer. Now, with her graduation and a stable job, she needed to step up and take good care of her mom.

As for him… perhaps they would never cross paths again. After all, she was just an ordinary worker, while he had likely already inherited the Mo Family’s empire.

Leaving the office, Qiao Shuqi packed up her belongings from her desk and bid farewell to her colleagues with a warm smile. Returning to her employee dormitory, she quickly packed her clothes and rushed to the airport.

Cheng Hao had already arranged her ticket and granted her a five-day leave to take care of her mother before starting her new position at headquarters.

Once she stepped off the plane, she found herself surrounded by a familiar yet bittersweet scene. The airport hadn’t changed-it was exactly as it had been when she left. People were scattered everywhere, reuniting with tearful embraces or farewelling loved ones. Their faces bore expressions of either joy or sorrow, each infused with deep emotions.

Qiao Shuqi sighed softly. If she had never left back then, would her life have turned out differently? But the reality of life left no room for “what ifs.” There were only outcomes and consequences.

Pulling her suitcase behind her, she exited the airport and hailed a taxi, heading straight for her small hometown. The journey took her to an aging residential building, the kind that held years of stories within its walls.

Step by step, she climbed the stairs until she stopped in front of a familiar door on the first floor. The heavy, old door was shut tight. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took a deep breath and suppressed the lump in her throat. Lifting her hand, she knocked firmly on the weathered door.

Moments passed before a faint voice sounded from within, followed by the creak of the door opening. Her mother’s weary and haggard face appeared, startling Qiao Shuqi.

“Qi?” Zhang Ping’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the daughter standing at her doorstep.

“Mom…” Tears finally spilled down Qiao Shuqi’s cheeks uncontrollably. She reached out to touch Zhang Ping’s frail shoulders, her words choked with sobs.

“Mom, what happened…? How did you become so tired and thin? Didn’t you tell me… that you were feeling better… that you were healthy?” Qiao Shuqi’s voice trembled as she wept. Zhang Ping, her own eyes brimming with tears, gently pulled her daughter into the room. Her hands, rough with years of toil, tenderly wiped the streaks of tears from Qiao Shuqi’s face.

“Don’t cry, Qi…” Zhang Ping said quietly, her voice laced with love and worry, as her fingers brushed against her daughter’s tear-stained cheeks. The warmth of their reunion was heavy with unspoken emotions.

“Qi, you’ve grown up. It’s been three years, and you’ve become even more beautiful,” Zhang Ping said softly.

“Mom, I’ve missed you so much…” Qiao Shuqi grasped Zhang Ping’s hands and hugged her fragile body tightly, letting her tears fall freely.

“Mom has missed you too, Qi. Now that you’re home this time…” Zhang Ping’s voice trailed off, full of warmth.

“I’m not leaving this time. The company has transferred me back to Z City’s headquarters, and they’ve also given me five days off to spend with you.” Qiao Shuqi wiped away her tears. “Mom, let’s go to the hospital in the next few days and have a detailed check-up, okay?”

“I’m fine, really. It’s just that the weather’s been cold recently-I probably just caught a chill… cough cough,” Zhang Ping said with a weak smile as she gently stroked Qiao Shuqi’s slender hand.

Qiao Shuqi studied her mother carefully. Time had etched fine lines at the corners of her eyes, but her youthful beauty still lingered faintly beneath the surface, and her face radiated a familiar warmth and kindness.

“Mom, after we finish dinner, we’re going to the hospital. Please don’t argue with me. How can we just let it slide if you’re not feeling well? Now that I’m back, I’m going to make sure you’re healthy and strong again-no more excuses.” Without waiting for her mother to protest, Qiao Shuqi stepped into the kitchen. “Mom, you go rest. I’ll take care of dinner.”

After dinner, the two of them went to the city hospital, where Zhang Ping underwent a full-body examination. The doctor, holding the test results with a grave expression, explained to Qiao Shuqi that Zhang Ping’s condition was serious and required hospitalization for observation. Any further delay could lead to the development of uremia.

Panicking, Qiao Shuqi immediately completed the hospital admission procedures and settled her mother into a hospital room to begin treatment.

“Qi, Mom’s really fine. I’ve been like this for years, and haven’t I been okay all along? Let’s just go home; there’s no need to stay in the hospital,” Zhang Ping said, looking worried as she lay in her striped hospital gown.

“Mom, we’re not going anywhere until your illness is cured. Didn’t you hear the doctor? Your condition is already very serious-we can’t afford to delay any longer,” Qiao Shuqi said firmly as she adjusted her mother’s blanket. “And don’t worry about the medical expenses. Over these three years, I’ve saved up a lot. Plus, now that I’m at headquarters, my salary will double.”

Zhang Ping sighed quietly. She knew her daughter had a determined streak ever since she was a child. Once Shuqi set her mind on something, no amount of persuasion could change it.

Over the next five days, Qiao Shuqi emptied her savings to cover her mother’s medical expenses. She hired a caregiver to look after her mother at the hospital while she prepared all the materials and documents she would need for her new position. Once the five days were up, she headed to the company to report for duty.

Upon arriving at the company, Qiao Shuqi completed the paperwork for her employee ID card and applied for an employee dormitory. Thanks to Cheng Hao’s prior arrangements, the usual long wait for dormitory approval was completely avoided. She quickly received the keys to her new dormitory, moved her belongings in, and returned to the company to officially start work.

As the deputy director of the Design Department, Qiao Shuqi was informed on her very first day that she would need to attend the department’s annual meeting. The director of the Design Department was a young man with a permanent smile, approachable and kind to everyone. However, when it came to work, he turned deadly serious and rigid, leaving Qiao Shuqi to secretly wonder if he might have an extreme case of a split personality.

“Does the Design Department have meetings in the conference room often?” Qiao Shuqi asked as she followed Director Yin Fengyu into the elevator.

“Not really. Usually, we just have small meetings within the Design Department. As for the annual meeting, it happens twice a year, and the president himself attends,” Yin Fengyu replied casually. Then, with a playful nudge to her shoulder, he grinned. “You’re so lucky! First day on the job, and you’re already part of one. Let me tell you, our president is super cool-a total heartbreaker for all the girls in the company!”

“Hmph. Do I look like someone who fangirls that easily?” Qiao Shuqi rolled her eyes before stepping out of the elevator when the doors opened. With the documents in her arms, she walked directly into the conference room.

After a brief wait, the room was filled. The doors then swung open again, and instinctively, Qiao Shuqi looked up. That one glance was all it took to make her eyes lock onto him, unable to look away.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His sharp, handsome features were impossibly refined, exuding an air of icy aloofness. A chilling coldness surrounded him, warning others to keep their distance.

Without a sound, Mo Tianchen strode through the room, his every movement commanding attention. Reaching the other end of the long table, he sat in the president’s chair, lowered his gaze to the documents in front of him, and uttered just two words with zero expression.

“Let’s begin.”

Flipping open his file, Yin Fengyu began to speak.

“For this quarter’s fashion designs, we will be using the submissions from the branch company in C City as our main style line. I’ve already distributed the sketches to everyone. Additionally, I’d like to introduce our new deputy director of the Design Department, Miss Qiao, who has joined us from the branch company in C City.” As Yin Fengyu finished, he gave Qiao Shuqi a slight nod. Gathering her composure, Qiao Shuqi took a quick glance at Mo Tianchen seated at the head of the table, whose face remained expressionless and glued to the documents in front of him. Taking a deep breath, she slowly rose to her feet.

“Hello, everyone. I… I’m Qiao Shuqi, the new deputy director of the Design Department,” she began. However, upon hearing that voice-a voice he hadn’t heard in years-Mo Tianchen’s head shot up, his deep, piercing gaze locking onto her instantly. Meeting the intensity of his stare, Qiao Shuqi faltered. Her voice caught, and her composure crumbled. She quickly ended her introduction and sat back down, her heart rattled.

For the rest of the meeting, Qiao Shuqi kept her head low, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Never-never in her wildest imagination-had she thought that the president of the headquarters would turn out to be him. And yet, there he was. But what unnerved her even more was the way Mo Tianchen’s eyes never left her. The searing intensity of his gaze carried an undeniable storm of hatred.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the meeting concluded. Qiao Shuqi willed herself to steady her shaking hands, quickly packed her documents, and bolted out of the conference room, closely following Yin Fengyu.

Meanwhile, Mo Tianchen sat frozen in place, his eyes dark as they followed her familiar figure. A glacial chill overtook his expression as his thin lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.

“Qiao Shuqi,” he murmured icily.