Spellbound Hearts - Chapter 74 - She Has No Heart

Song Zhaoli was asking what he wanted to eat.

But in Qiu Lin’s eyes, every word was a dagger.

And it was a dagger hanging over his head, ready to fall at any moment.

Qiu Lin didn’t dare delay for even a second. He immediately exited WeChat and dialed Song Zhaoli’s number.

When the call connected, Qiu Lin spoke nervously, “President Song, let me explain.”

Song Zhaoli’s voice was icy, “You’re making excuses.”

Qiu Lin was at a loss, almost in tears, “It’s not an excuse.”

Song Zhaoli let out a cold laugh, “Then go ahead, let me hear your sophistry.”

Qiu Lin, “…”

Even without seeing him, Qiu Lin could easily imagine Song Zhaoli’s expression.

Qiu Lin held his breath, caught between a rock and a hard place. If he didn’t explain, he feared losing his job; if he did, he feared making things worse.

As the silence stretched on, Song Zhaoli’s patience wore thin, “Are you waiting for me to give you an explanation?”

Qiu Lin felt as wronged as a character from a tragic opera and hurriedly said, “President Song, I swear, I have absolutely no inappropriate thoughts about Manager Ji.”

Song Zhaoli, “Are you done?”

Thinking about his interactions with Ji Xuan over the past week, Qiu Lin bit the bullet and said, “President Song, Manager Ji is a good woman.”

Song Zhaoli detected the subtext in his words and responded coldly, “And then?”

Qiu Lin, sympathizing with Ji Xuan’s situation and admiring her resilience, couldn’t help but speak up for her, “President Song, Manager Ji and Wu Rui have a good relationship. I think it’s unethical to disrupt others’ relationships.”

Song Zhaoli was so amused by his words that he laughed, but his voice turned icy, “Good, very good, Qiu Lin. Yan City is indeed a place that nurtures talent. You’ve only been there a week, and while your skills haven’t improved, your backbone certainly has.”

Qiu Lin, “…”

A second later, Qiu Lin heard the dial tone from the other end of the line.

Qiu Lin moved the phone in front of him, staring at the dark screen as he took a deep breath.

Being a good person is hard.

It’s hard to be a good person.

On the other side, after hanging up, Song Zhaoli irritably tugged at his tie and tossed his phone onto the coffee table in front of him.

After a while, he picked up the phone again and replied to Ji Xuan’s message: “Oh, I couldn’t possibly trouble you.”

Ji Xuan: “It’s no trouble. I mainly want to thank you for your help this past week.”

Song Zhaoli: “I heard from President Song that a kidney donor has been found. Aren’t you going to thank him?”

Ji Xuan: “I will. I plan to work hard to repay President Song.”

Seeing Ji Xuan’s message, Song Zhaoli was so angry he laughed, feeling a blockage in his chest.

The way to thank Qiu Lin was to cook a meal personally, while the way to thank him was to work hard.

Truly, she kept business and personal matters separate.

Seeing no response from him, Ji Xuan sent another message: “No rush, take your time to think about it. Let me know when you do. Thanks again for your help this past week.”

Song Zhaoli’s long fingers typed a string of words on the screen, but he deleted them all, replying with just one word: “Okay.”

After finishing her message exchange with “Qiu Lin,” Ji Xuan returned to the hospital room to chat with Mother Ji.

Mother Ji gently stroked Ji Xuan’s hair and smiled warmly, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely listen to the doctors and cooperate with the treatment.”

Ji Xuan lay on Mother Ji’s lap like a child, speaking muffledly, “Mom, you’re my entire emotional support right now. You have to be okay.”

After this ordeal, Mother Ji had come to understand many things. She couldn’t stubbornly love Ji Xuan in the way she thought was best for her, “Yes, I will.”

The next day.

Early in the morning, Ji Xuan took Qiu Lin’s car back to Qing City.

She first went to Wansheng for a handover, then reported to Song Group for her new position.

Perhaps because Song Zhaoli had given advance notice, everything went smoothly and efficiently.

Once all the paperwork was done, someone from the HR department took her to the Project Department.

Her position remained unchanged; she was still the Project Department Manager.

Ji Xuan had just settled into her office and hadn’t even had time to get familiar with the environment when she received an internal call from Song Zhaoli.

Ji Xuan answered, and Song Zhaoli’s deep, indifferent voice came through the line, “Ji Xuan, come to my office.”

Ji Xuan replied in a businesslike tone, “Yes, President Song.”

After hanging up, Ji Xuan got up and headed to Song Zhaoli’s office.

Taking the elevator straight to the top floor, she stepped out and immediately saw Qiu Lin and a group of executives standing in the hallway with grim expressions.

Ji Xuan paused for a moment, then walked steadily forward.

As she passed by Qiu Lin, she heard him whisper, “Elder Song is in there, be careful.”