Chapter 2653: South City Tonight Has Rain 15

The three-day holiday passed in a flash.

Xie Linzhou returned to the Lead Wood Office, officially starting work; the office's sign was still there, and this turf also had to be held.

Fortunately, there were not few projects he could take on domestically.

In the morning, Jin Chen drove him to work, the car parked below the office; Xie Linzhou was rather reluctant to get out, he put his arms around Jin Chen's neck, leaned in and lightly kissed his lips, lingering affectionately.

He glanced at the sky outside the window, gray and overcast, the clouds hanging low. 'It might rain today.'

"Good boy," Jin Chen murmured, coaxing him, "I'll come pick you up this evening."

"Okay," Xie Linzhou said, finally feeling a bit of anticipation.

But once out of the car, Xie Linzhou's softness and dependence retracted, reverting to the steady, reliable, composed Mr. Xie in the employees' eyes.

Jin Chen watched his back disappear into the building, then slowly started the car, navigating according to the address Ling Gun Gun provided into the Old City District, turning into a narrow alley.

【Host, this Song Qi really isn't a good person now.】

Jin Chen parked the car at the alley entrance, found a household according to the door number, and knocked on the door.

Footsteps came from inside, the door was pulled open a crack, revealing Song Qi's wary, flustered face: 'How did you find this place? What do you want…'

Jin Chen stood outside the door, the dim hallway light casting a cold, hard side profile: 'You're the person Xie Shao arranged.'

Song Qi's expression froze, his smile fading; he glanced back inside, where a little girl with twin buns poked her head out curiously. Song Qi quickly lowered his voice: 'Yaya, go back and do your homework!' Then he pushed the little girl back inside, stepped out sideways, and closed the door.

In the narrow hallway.

"Do you mind if I smoke?" Song Qi tried to ease the tension, his hand slightly trembling as he reached for the cigarette pack.

Jin Chen stepped back two paces: 'I mind.'

Getting his stench all over me.

Song Qi: '……'

He sheepishly shoved the cigarette pack back into his pocket; this person really doesn't understand human relations.

He licked his dry, chapped lips, lowered his voice: 'Little Xie… does he know too?'

"He will find out." Jin Chen said.

Sooner or later, everything will be known.

Song Qi lowered his head, saying nothing.

After a moment, he spoke with a hoarse voice: 'I… I also don't want to deceive him; this kid is sincere, values feelings. But Xie Shao really did fire me; I… you've seen my family's situation, I need that money…'

Jin Chen looked at him, a chill passing through his heart.

Why do these people always find seemingly reasonable excuses for actions that hurt Xie Linzhou?

But even my former self was like that.

He had just wanted to say something more when Song Qi's phone rang in his pocket; the bell signal sounded piercingly loud in the quiet hallway.

Song Qi took it out and saw the caller ID showing Xie Linzhou.

He instinctively glanced at Jin Chen.

Jin Chen's face was expressionless: "Answer."

Song Qi, seeming to be cowed by his aura, his fingers slightly trembling as he slid open the answer key: "Hey, Little Xie…"

From the other end of the line, Xie Linzhou's voice came; he hesitated a moment, then spoke, saying the office had many projects lately, and if Uncle Song still hadn't found suitable work, he could bring his résumé over for a chat.

Jin Chen lifted his gaze, coldly staring at Song Qi, a silent pressure.

Song Qi, under the pressure, could only make excuses to refuse, his words halting: "Ah… that… Little Xie, thank you for still thinking of me. But no need, I've already found a job, yes, just found it… so I won't bother you."

On the other end, Xie Linzhou was a little surprised, didn't say much more, exchanged a couple of polite remarks, then hung up.

Song Qi stared at the darkened screen, a fine sweat beading on his forehead, not daring to meet Jin Chen's eyes; he really felt a bit intimidated by this young man.

Jin Chen said nothing more, turned, and with steady steps left the old residential building.

Back in the car, Jin Chen had just fastened his seatbelt when the phone rang.

The call connected, and Xie Shao's voice came, suppressing anger, blasting out: 'Jin Chen! What do you mean? Is it you who ruined Song Qi's affair? What exactly do you want to do?'

Jin Chen's long fingers lightly tapped the steering wheel, his tone indifferent: 'Just as you thought.'

Xie Shao immediately let out a scoff: 'You really have fallen for Xie Linzhou! But what's in it for you doing this? Don't forget, you still have a leverage in my hands!'

Jin Chen couldn't be bothered to listen to his nonsense, and hung up directly.

He pulled up the file he had received on his phone and browsed its contents.

Quite a coincidence; he also held in his hand quite a few things Xie Shao didn't want to see the light of day.

——

In the evening, Jin Chen went to the office building's lower level to pick up Xie Linzhou.

The sky grew even more overcast, dark clouds blanketing the entire South City under a gray haze, cold air sweeping in, a damp chill.

Xie Linzhou opened the car door and got in, first leaning over to steal a kiss, like recharging.

He leaned against the seatback, somewhat fatigued, closing his eyes to recuperate.

After returning to the country, there were more things to handle than he had anticipated, and they were more varied.

The phone screen lit up with a new message; he opened his eyes and tapped it.

The sender showed as Uncle Song.

Uncle Song: "Little Xie, that little buddy who was with you that day…… came to see me today. Little Xie, sorry, Uncle Song let down your kindness. If there's a chance, Uncle will apologize to you in person."

Xie Linzhou stared, brows furrowed in doubt: "Did Jin Chen go look for Song Qi?"

Was it because of Jin Chen that Uncle Song refused to come to the office?

Why?

Doubt and a faint unease, like a silent mist, crept up into his heart.

He turned his head to look at Jin Chen, who was driving; before he could sort out his thoughts, a muffled boom came from outside the window.

The accumulated gloom of the whole day was broken, raindrops struck the car window, forming a dense water curtain, blurring all scenery outside the window.

Southern City, it's raining again.