Zuo Qiushi paused for a moment, then walked over as instructed. He stood in front of the folding screen and, though it was a bit blurry, he could still make out Cao Hai wearing a white undershirt, his chest casually exposed, lazily leaning against the edge of the bed.

As he walked over without saying a word, Cao Hai took a drag from his cigarette and then said, "Mr. Xun, are you alright?"

Zuo Qiushi: "Just caught a chill, no big deal."

Cao Hai nodded as he sat up from the bed, observing Left Qiu Shi's reaction. He continued, "You didn't even ask me. I specifically brought you here for something."

Zuo Qiushi: "... Since Boss Cao called me here, there must be something. There's no need for me to ask the obvious."

Even though separated by the folding screen, Zuo Qiushi could still feel the penetrating gaze from across the room, as sharp as a knife and as fierce as a torch, making him extremely uncomfortable. He didn't like the way Cao Hai looked at him with such eyes. Therefore, he chose to lower his head and avoid it.

Cao Hai: "You know what, Lao Zuo, this is what I appreciate about you. You're very clever and you don't talk as much as before. You've learned not to ask what you shouldn't."

Faced with this "overt praise and covert sarcasm," Zuo Qiushi remained silent. On the surface, he appeared indifferent, but his hand hanging by his side couldn't help but tighten slightly. "Boss Cao is overestimating me."

Cao Hai: "You are too humble."

Cao Hai stood up and walked out from behind the screen, approaching Zuo Qiushi.

Cao Hai raised his eyebrows and put on the greasy smile that he usually used to appear friendly. He said, "But today, there is indeed something I need to tell you."

Cao Hai extended his hand and placed it on Zuo Qiushi's shoulder, giving a pat with inexplicable meaning.

Cao Hai: "Master Xun, I have already accepted Director Liu's gift."

Zuo Qiushi: "What did you say?!"

Liu Xingzhang, the vice president of Citibank in Shanghai, full name Liu Yizhong, is now over fifty. This person is extremely lascivious. After becoming the vice president, he immediately sent someone to surrender to the Japanese and completely became a traitor and running dog. It is precisely because he had the support of the Japanese behind him that Liu Yizhong's beastly behavior became even more bold and arrogant. In the following two years, he took in four concubines and had countless unofficial lovers. As a perverted ruffian like him, his reputation has long been foul, spreading among the common people, who gave him a nickname - "Old Dog Liu." Zuo Qiu Shi had met Liu Yizhong in the pear garden before, but it was only a passing encounter. He had never heard Liu Yizhong's name from Xun Zimin's mouth, let alone the matter of him wanting to take her as a concubine. So, when Zuo Qiu Shi heard Cao Hai say this, he felt as if the sky had collapsed. He stared at him incredulously, "It's impossible... Xun'er has never mentioned this to me, she couldn't possibly agree! You're lying to me..."

Looking at his appearance, Cao Hai smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Cao Hai: "Lie? Hah, I do enjoy deceiving people, but do you think I have any reason to deceive you?"

Cao Hai's words were spoken with a smile, but they were sharper than any blade. They pierced straight into Zuo Qiushi's heart, leaving him in almost suffocating pain. He stared at Cao Hai, unable to speak.

Cao Hai: "Lao Zuo, there's something you should ask yourself too."

Taking another puff of his cigarette, Cao Hai blew smoke rings onto Zuo Qiushi's face. The smoke rings dispersed, momentarily obscuring Cao Hai's expression from Zuo Qiushi's sight. However, the cold and merciless voice continued to reach his ears.

Why is it that you always want to protect others, but they always run away from you? If you don't understand, let me tell you, it's because you will always only consider your own emotions.

The final words spoken by Cao Hai stayed lingering in Zuo Qiushi's mind, unable to dissipate. As he walked out of Cao Hai's residence, he stopped in his tracks. He wanted to turn back, but his movement abruptly halted, and in the end, he chose to let go.

Zuo Qiushi: "From the very beginning, you have been the person who understands me the most. You have always had a special understanding of me... You know all my thoughts, you know what I am truly like, but there is one obvious thing that you just can't seem to understand..."

The butler said, "Master Cao, a call from your hometown."

Shortly after Zuo Qiushi's departure in a dazed and bewildered state, a household servant walked up to Cao Hai and said this.

Putting on his coat, Cao Hai nodded.

I picked up the phone, and on the other end was the voice of a middle-aged man who sounded somewhat weary. It was clear from his tone that his face must have been stern as he spoke, "There has been a serious problem with stray dogs recently, and I'm really worried about our hometown. We can start culling them now."

Cao Hai: "Understood."

After hanging up the phone, Cao Hai let out a sigh of relief and murmured to himself, "What a coincidence! Two happy occasions coinciding, it must be very interesting."

Qin Xuan: "Where are we going?"

After Liang Wan drove away from Ting Xiaolou, Qin Xuan curiously asked.

Liang Wan continued driving the car out of downtown Shanghai. Watching the surrounding scenery gradually become lush, Qin Xuan knew that they were heading up the mountain. Liang Wan parked the car by the roadside and spoke, "We've arrived."

Upon hearing her words, Qin Xuan quickly looked out the window. During this moment, Liang Wan was the first to get off the car. She opened the car door for Qin Xuan and reached out her hand with a faint smile on her face, saying, "Get off the car, I'll take you upstairs to have a look." Qin Xuan looked at Liang Wan's outstretched hand. She was about to shake it but suddenly remembered the pipa at the back. She then held the pipa in her arms and ultimately did not reach out her hand.

Liang Wan: "You always catch me off guard like this."

This time, Liang Wan didn't really care. Being controlling is her old problem. Liang Wan has always prided herself on being calm and composed, but recently, she found that Qin Xuan seems to effortlessly manipulate her emotions. Being controlled by someone is something Liang Wan absolutely won't allow to happen to herself.

So, today after receiving Qin Xuan, she has already made up her mind - she wants to regain control.

Qin Xuan: "Huh?"

But obviously, her "opponent" was unaware. After hearing her words, Qin Xuan appeared somewhat surprised. Holding the pipa, she turned around and looked at her, with a confused expression on her face. Liang Wan's eyes dimmed, and she walked up to Qin Xuan, taking the pipa from her and cradling it in her own arms. She started speaking, "This is She Shan, the most beautiful place in the entire Shanghai beach. My mother told me that she and my father met here. So, I wanted to bring you here to see it."

Rainbow sleeves extend warmly, holding a jade bell.

In the past, Pianque was infatuated with Yanhong's charming beauty.

Under the swaying willow trees, a new moon shines upon the low, elegant tower.

The wind sweeps beneath the fan of peach blossoms, as the song comes to an end.

After parting ways, I reminisce about our meeting.

How many times have our souls intertwined in dreams?

Tonight, only a silver candlestick remains lit,

Fearful that our meeting was merely a dream.