The seed of suspicion in Xu Qingqing's heart was planted by Lu Fenglin during lunch. After being "watered" by these photos, it had fully grown into a towering tree.
If she couldn't get an explanation from Lu Chuanbai in person, Xu Qingqing wouldn't be at ease.
After Lu Chuanbai slapped Zhuang Hailan, the little strength he had managed to muster disappeared again. His head was as muddled as paste.
Lu Chuanbai lay in the dark and cold corner of the stairwell, gasping for breath, like a patient in rehabilitation training getting used to his limbs.
Xu Qingqing stepped on the accelerator all the way and drove to the entrance of the Lu Group. Lu Fenglin, who had been waiting there for a long time, smiled and stopped her.
There was a smug smile on Lu Fenglin's face. His pale complexion was like a blooming poppy in the night.
Seeing Xu Qingqing approaching step by step, Lu Fenglin restrained the expression on his face, pretended not to know anything, and stepped forward: "What's going on? Why are you so angry?"
"It's none of your business. I'm going to find Lu Chuanbai."
Xu Qingqing reached out and pushed Lu Fenglin, who was blocking her way, aside, and rushed into the company.
Lu Fenglin smiled and stopped Xu Qingqing again. His tone was filled with sympathy and pity: "Xu Qingqing, it's better for you not to go in."
"Lu Chuanbai has done something bad. You'll get angry if you go in and see it."
"The authenticity of the photos hasn't been determined yet. Don't be sarcastic in front of me."
Xu Qingqing stared coldly at Lu Fenglin and took two steps back to keep her distance.
"Moreover, there's a high possibility that you planned this. After all, you used this trick on Lu Chuanbai before."
Hearing Xu Qingqing's words, Lu Fenglin showed a hurt expression on his face: "I did something wrong before, but I've changed."
"This has nothing to do with me. It's all Lu Chuanbai's fault."
Saying that, Lu Fenglin stepped aside to make way for Xu Qingqing, and said with the tone of a person who is innocent: "If you don't believe me, just go in."
"But I have to remind you that Lu Chuanbai is not a good person. You'll only get hurt if you try your best to help him."
"You might as well cooperate with me and help me make a connection with Mr. Smith. At least I won't bite the hand that feeds me."
After saying what he wanted to say, he would be suspected if he said more. Lu Fenglin quickly turned around and left.
Xu Qingqing glared fiercely at Lu Fenglin's back and rushed into the company angrily.
In the company lobby, Gao Bo was asking the receptionist to call Lu Chuanbai again and again, while he was arranging the public - relations team in a hurry to delete the photos on the Internet.
But neither Lu Chuanbai's work number nor his private number was answered.
"Oh, my President Lu! Where did you go after such a big thing happened?"
Gao Bo was so anxious that he was hopping around, praying in his heart that Xu Qingqing wouldn't find out.
But the next moment, Gao Bo saw Xu Qingqing rushing in with a determined look on her face.
Gao Bo gasped. As the saying goes, speak of the devil and he appears. The difficult - to - deal - with person had finally come.
"Miss Xu Qingqing, do you need anything?"
Gao Bo walked up to Xu Qingqing with a dry smile. Xu Qingqing tried to keep calm and looked at Gao Bo: "Secretary Gao, where's Lu Chuanbai? What's going on with those photos on the Internet?"
Gao Bo spread out his hands and pressed down hard, trying to suppress the anger in Xu Qingqing's heart.
"Miss Xu, you have to trust President Lu's character. Those photos must be fake."
"I can't see any signs of photo - shopping in those photos."
Xu Qingqing had a cold look on her pretty face. Her peach - blossom eyes, which used to be full of tenderness, were now as cold as ice.
"I want to see Lu Chuanbai now and let him explain it to me in person."
Gao Bo scratched his hair in embarrassment and sighed: "Miss Xu, to be honest, we're also trying to contact President Lu."
"But don't worry. I've already turned on the phone - positioning system to locate his position. We'll find him as soon as possible!"
At this time, Lu Chuanbai, who was lying in the stairwell, picked up the phone that had been thrown outside the door, and staggered out step by step, holding on to the wall.
The after - effect of the medicine Lu Fenglin had given him was very strong, which made his hands and feet uncoordinated.
Lu Chuanbai climbed all the way down to the third floor.
The third floor was a Western restaurant. Lu Qi, who was having dinner with some friends, saw Lu Chuanbai hunched over and sweating profusely.
Lu Qi greeted his friends and quickly went over to help Lu Chuanbai.
Looking at Lu Chuanbai's messy clothes and the lipstick mark on his neck, Lu Qi joked: "Lu Chuanbai, weren't you harassed by some female sex - maniac?"
Lu Chuanbai gave him a cold look, and Lu Qi quickly covered his mouth: "I said the wrong thing."
Lu Chuanbai leaned most of his body on Lu Qi and gritted his teeth: "I was tricked by Lu Fenglin."
He had fallen for the same trick again. It was really a big miscalculation.
Lu Qi clicked his tongue softly, reached out and touched the lipstick mark on Lu Chuanbai's neck. His hand was dyed red by the lipstick.
"Lu Fenglin is getting bolder and bolder. Last time he resold cultural relics, and this time he's trying to trick you."
"Don't worry about this for now. Take me home."
Lu Qi took Lu Chuanbai home. The windows of the villa were not brightly lit like other houses. It was completely dark.
Lu Qi signaled and glanced at the unlit villa out of the corner of his eye: "Hasn't Xu Qingqing come back yet?"
"She's back."
"Then why isn't there any light in the house?" Lu Qi stopped the car, helped Lu Chuanbai out, and went to the door. He pressed the doorbell several times, but no one came to open the door.
Lu Qi had no choice but to hold Lu Chuanbai with one hand and fumble for the key on Lu Chuanbai's body with the other to open the door.
Hearing someone coming back, Xu Yiyi and Xu An'an rubbed their eyes and came out of the room.
Lu Qi turned on the light and looked up to meet the innocent eyes of the two children.
Lu Qi waved to them and said with a smile, "Yiyi, go and call your mother."
Xu Yiyi and Xu An'an were each holding a doll taller than themselves and walking down the stairs.
Xu Yiyi said in a milky voice, "Mom isn't at home. She went to the company to find Dad."
"I see." Lu Qi wanted to take out his phone to call Xu Qingqing, but then he realized that he had left his phone in the restaurant.
Lu Qi had no choice but to take Lu Chuanbai's phone. As soon as the phone was turned on, dozens of missed - call messages popped up. Most of them were from Xu Qingqing.
"Oops, Xu Qingqing called you so many times and you didn't answer. She must be extremely worried!" Lu Qi called Xu Qingqing back.
Xu Qingqing, who had been waiting in the company, was shivering with cold. She hugged herself and rubbed her arms to keep warm.
Seeing that Lu Chuanbai was calling, Xu Qingqing trembled as she used her cold fingers to answer the call, but heard Lu Qi's voice on the other end.
"Lu Qi? Why do you have Chuanbai's phone?"
Lu Qi explained helplessly, "Chuanbai was drugged by Lu Fenglin. I happened to see him and took him home. Come back quickly."
Hearing this, Xu Qingqing was so angry that she gritted her teeth. She hated herself for not slapping Lu Fenglin just now.