When Su Zhinian intended to listen in on Song Qingchun, since she had taken a bit too long, her call came through to his phone.
Su Zhinian thought Song Qingchun had run into some trouble, so he answered it quickly. Before he could say anything, Song Qingchun's voice came through the phone. "Mr. Su, do you mind if I not take your ride home tonight?"
Su Zhinian frowned subconsciously. After a short pause on the phone, Song Qingchun continued carefully, "It's still early, and the subway's still running. The station is close to my home, and I don't wish to trouble you…"
Before she finished, Su Zhinian pulled the phone away from his ear and ended the call.
Su Zhinian lowered his gaze and leaned back in his seat. He was quiet and immobile.After a while, he turned around to look at the Golden Corner's glittering entrance. Through the cacophony, he could hear Song Qingchun, who was still at Golden Corner, say, "Can you please help me lift him into the car?"
She was probably talking to a waiter because a respectful voice replied, "Of course, miss."
After that, it was silent. After five minutes, Su Zhinian saw Song Qingchun and a waiter carry a person between them out of Golden Corner's revolving door.
When the three of them reached the roadside, Su Zhinian had a clearer view of the person they were carrying. His hands that gripped the steering wheel tightened, and his face hardened.
So, the reason she was skipping his ride home was because she had run into Qin Yinan…
She had probably called for a taxi when she was inside Golden Corner because a taxi stopped about twenty meters in front of his car.
The waiter helped lift the unconscious Qin Yinan into the car. Song Qingchun pulled out some tips from her bag to give the waiter. After all, he must have exhausted quite an amount of energy carrying Qin Yinan from inside Golden Corner to the car. Su Zhinian could even hear Song Qingchun catching her breath when she told the waiter, "Thank you so much for your help."The waiter accepted the tips and returned a "thank you" as well. Then she climbed into the car and closed the door.
The taillight of the taxi blinked as it slowly drove into the main road.
Su Zhinian waited until the taxi was a distance away before he stepped on the gas pedal to follow it.
The taxi stopped in front of an apartment building. Su Zhinian also stopped about twenty meters behind the taxi.
He could hear clearly Song Qingchun in the taxi asking for the amount of fare. After paying, she even asked the driver for help to carry Qin Yinan out of the car.
Without the driver's help, she was wobbling, carrying Qin Yinan alone. Qin Yinan was obviously unable to stand on his own. Even though he was not heavy, he was tall. Several times, she almost fell while carrying him.
It was not until Song Qingchun and Qin Yinan disappeared into the building that Su Zhinian got out of his car. He stood in the chilling breeze in only a thin shirt and pants.
It was almost 11 pm, but the city was still alive due to Christmas.
All sorts of sounds drifted into Su Zhinian's ears, a lovers' quarrel, the sound of a baby crying, the sound of firecrackers, the laughter at a friendly gathering… However, they were not loud enough to drown out the sound of Song Qingchun's heavy breathing as she dragged Qin Yinan in and out of the elevator and into his house.
