Ji Siyue made a phone call.
"Hello? Lao Yang?"
"Hello? Siyue? Why are you finally willing to call me yourself?"
"You said before that you'd bring a doctor from the US for me. When are you coming back?"
"I'm leaving for home tomorrow."
"I need you to act in a play with me..."
...
The next day.
Ji Siyue got up early and, quite unusually, put on makeup.
Nan Gongqi got up bleary - eyed. When he saw Ji Siyue with makeup on, his eyes popped out.
"I said, girl, why are you suddenly putting on makeup? I've never seen you so proactive about it before."
"I'm going to the airport to pick someone up today, so I need to put on makeup."
"Are you going to pick someone up at the airport? Do you need me to go with you?" Zhu Zhiyao also walked over sleepily and said.
"After I pick up the person, I'll go straight to see Landu. Lao Qin, come along too. We can just discuss the team's matters then."
Qin Chengyao hadn't come out yet, but after the others heard this, they silently went to wash up and have breakfast.
Ji Siyue just sat there waiting.
Soon, Qin Chengyao came out.
Ji Siyue said directly to him, "Go to the airport with me today, and then we'll go to see Landu."
Qin Chengyao hesitated briefly, then nodded wordlessly.
"The plane will be arriving soon. Don't have breakfast. Let's go directly."
"Okay, then I'll carry you downstairs?"
Just as Ji Siyue opened her mouth to say something, someone rushed over directly.
"I'll carry her downstairs!"
It was Xingxing!
After this unlucky kid rushed over, he directly picked Ji Siyue up from the wheelchair and quickly ran downstairs, as if he was afraid someone would snatch her.
Ji Siyue knew what was on this kid's mind. She smiled and patted his shoulder, signaling him to slow down.
Qin Chengyao just smiled helplessly behind and picked up the wheelchair and walked downstairs.
Fifteen minutes later, Ji Siyue was sitting in the passenger seat. Qin Chengyao drove the car and they headed towards the airport.
"Who are you going to pick up this time?"
"The boss of my company."
"Oh, is it the guy who inexplicably hid you in the US back then?"
"What do you mean by 'hid'? I just went to work with him.... No! Later, I did ask him to pick up my parents too, but how did you know?"
Ji Siyue's heart involuntarily accelerated because she learned something she had never imagined before.
"Because I've been watching you after you went to the US. But one day, I suddenly couldn't find you. That's when you disappeared. I saw you again two years later."
Qin Chengyao readily admitted what he had done in the past.
The atmosphere between the two became a bit awkward for a moment.
Qin Chengyao reached out and patted Ji Siyue's shoulder and said, "Don't worry. Those were all stupid things I did in the past. I won't treat you like this anymore. You don't have to worry that I'll do anything to hurt you."
"Looking back on the past, I really think I was quite stupid. If I could choose again, I wouldn't go abroad."
"Screech—!"
Hearing this, Qin Chengyao suddenly slammed on the brakes, pulled the car over to the side of the road, and turned to look at Ji Siyue.
"What do you mean by that?"
"It means that if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't go abroad, and I wouldn't have so many concerns. I should have believed that you could protect me. But I know there's no use crying over spilt milk. The current situation is all my own doing."
"Then why did you insist on going abroad back then?" Qin Chengyao's voice almost trembled.
"Because..."
Ji Siyue remembered that person crying on the phone and begging her to leave. She still shook her head and decided to keep this matter hidden for the time being.
"Listen to me. Don't ask anymore. You don't want to know the truth behind this."
"What if I really want to know?"
"Then go and investigate it yourself. If you can find out, then I'll be sorry to you. Let's go. It's almost time."
Qin Chengyao really wanted to find out why Ji Siyue had insisted on leaving back then, but since she wouldn't say, he had no choice. He could only start the car again.
When they arrived at the airport, Ji Siyue waited there. Soon, she waved in the bustling crowd.
"Over here!"
Two men walked over from there. One looked in his fifties and was a foreigner. The other was in his thirties and had an Oriental face.
The two men walked up to Ji Siyue.
"Siyue, I didn't expect you'd really come to pick me up."
"You're my great benefactor. You've finally returned to China after so long. Of course I have to come and pick you up." Ji Siyue said with a smile, "Boss Yang, this is Qin Chengyao, my senior."
Hearing Qin Chengyao's name, he gave a meaningful smile, nodded, and then introduced the middle - aged man beside him.
"This is Dr. Mike. He came back with me. You can make an appointment for a consultation later. He'll be staying here for a while. I'll arrange accommodation for him."
"Okay. I should have had a meal with you, but I have something to do today, so I can't accompany you. Otherwise, you..."
"I understand! Then I'll take Dr. Mike away first. Remember to call me when you have time. I have some things to tell you."
After the brief meeting at the airport, the two groups separated.
Qin Chengyao pushed Ji Siyue's wheelchair and said, "You came to pick him up, but you separated from him after just a few words. Then why did you come?"
"Whether I come or not is my business. Whether he lets me accompany him or not is his business. He's been kind to me. I have to come no matter what."
"Then have I been kind to you?"
"You... It's hard to sort out the rights and wrongs between us. Don't dwell on this for now. I contacted Landu yesterday. He'll be waiting for us in the coffee shop. Let's go there directly now."
Seeing that Ji Siyue didn't want to continue this topic, Qin Chengyao didn't press further. He nodded and then pushed her away.
It was still the same coffee shop, but there were very few people in it today. There was only one person sitting in the whole shop, and that was Landu.
Qin Chengyao pushed Ji Siyue over, and Landu stood up.
"You're here."
Qin Chengyao waved casually and said, "Sit down. We're all old friends. No need to be so formal."
But Landu still didn't sit down. He waited until Qin Chengyao and Ji Siyue were seated before he sat down too, looking a bit reserved.
It was understandable.
The last time the three of them met like this was when they were reorganizing the team for the first time, and he had rejected them. This time, he was the one trying to poach people. Ji Siyue thought that Landu probably wanted to discuss cooperation with her, which was why he had become so reserved.