Double evil in the business district

"Xiao Yue..." Shen Ting looked at her affectionately, as if everything around him didn't exist.

Xiao Yue's heart sank suddenly, and an indescribable complex emotion surged in her heart. She ignored him, stood up expressionlessly, walked around him, and walked straight out the door.

"Xiao Yue, wait!" Shen Ting hurriedly chased after her and grabbed her arm. "Let me explain what happened that day..."

Xiao Yue shook his hand away and said coldly, "Mr. Shen, your explanation is too late. The damage has already been done."

Shen Ting's expression changed slightly, and a trace of pain flashed in his eyes. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his tone: "I know I did a lot of wrong things before, but I really didn't mean to do it."

"That's enough!" Xiao Yue interrupted him. "I don't want to hear this right now. Mr. Shen, if you don't have anything else to do, please don't disturb me."

After she finished speaking, she turned and left, leaving Shen Ting standing alone in the corridor. The colleagues around him watched this scene silently, with different expressions in their eyes.

Shen Ting looked at Xiao Yue's resolute back, his heart filled with regret and helplessness. He knew that his previous actions had deeply hurt her, and it would not be easy to win her heart back. He held the rose tightly in his hand, and the thorns pierced his palm, but he was completely unaware.

Xiao Yue returned to the office, trying to calm herself down and continue working. However, Shen Ting's appearance was like a stone that stirred up ripples in her calm heart.

She couldn't deny that she felt a little touched when she saw him appear with flowers in his hands. However, when she thought of his previous doubts and hurts towards her, that touch was quickly replaced by the cold reality.

She told herself that she must not be soft-hearted and must not forgive.

At this moment, the office door was pushed open again, and a charming voice came: "Hey, Mr. Shen, why are you still here? Where is Xiao Yue?"

Lin Xiao walked in, swaying her waist, with a meaningful smile on her face. She glanced at Xiao Yue, then at the rose in Shen Ting's hand, and said with a hint of sarcasm: "Boss Shen, are you... rejected?"

Shen Ting ignored her and turned to leave Xiao Enterprise.

Lin Xiao looked at his back, a cold smile on her lips. She walked to Xiao Yue's desk and said with feigned concern, "Xiao Yue, are you okay? Mr. Shen..."

Xiao Yue glanced at her coldly, said nothing, and continued to work with his head down.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao's eyes flashed with a sinister look, and she turned and left the office. She walked to the tea room and casually said to a few colleagues, "Did you see President Shen give Xiao Yue flowers? What a pity, Xiao Yue actually refused them. Oh, I don't know what she was thinking. President Shen is such a great man..."

Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for her colleagues around her to hear.

"Yes, Mr. Shen is a well-known bachelor, but Xiao Yue actually..."

"Maybe he's just pretending to be aloof..."

……

Lin Xiao listened to her colleagues' discussions, a smug smile playing on her lips. She was going to make sure Xiao Yue couldn't stay at Xiao's company anymore...

She turned around, looked towards Xiao Yue's office with cold eyes, and whispered, "Xiao Yue, the fun has just begun..."

After leaving Xiao Yue's office, Lin Xiao didn't leave the company immediately. Like a fox scenting prey, she stalked the office area with a sly gaze. She walked to the tea room, where several employees were gathered chatting. Lin Xiao sighed, seemingly unintentionally, attracting their attention.

"What's wrong, Lin Xiao? You look like you're worried about something." An employee asked with concern.

Lin Xiao pretended to hesitate, wanting to speak but stopping himself. Finally, as if unable to hold back, he said, "Well, it's nothing, actually. It's just... I saw that Mr. Shen gave flowers to Xiao Yue just now, but was rejected. I felt a little sorry."

"Really? Mr. Shen sent flowers to Xiao Yue? And Xiao Yue refused?" another employee asked in surprise, with a hint of gossipy excitement in his tone.

"Yes," Lin Xiao nodded, pretending to be regretful, "Such a big bouquet of red roses, how romantic! But Xiao Yue..." She shook her head and said nothing more, but her eyes and tone clearly hinted at something.

"I never thought Xiao Yue would reject Mr. Shen," an employee sighed. "Mr. Shen is so outstanding, so many women dream of him!"

"Who knows," Lin Xiao said meaningfully, "Maybe he's just pretending to be aloof, trying to whet Mr. Shen's appetite."

"That's possible," another employee chimed in. "Some girls these days just like to play hard to get."

Lin Xiao listened to their discussion, a barely perceptible sneer curling up at the corner of her mouth. This was exactly the effect she wanted, to make Xiao Yue the target of public criticism in the company.

These words spread like a virus throughout the company. Initially whispered, they gradually became public discussions. Some employees, unaware of the truth, began pointing fingers at Xiao Yue, their eyes filled with contempt and confusion.

At the end of the day, Xiao Yue walked out of the company building and rubbed her temples tiredly. Everything that had happened today had left her exhausted. She just wanted to go home quickly and have a good rest.

However, a black car suddenly stopped in front of her, blocking her way. The car window slowly lowered, revealing Shen Ting's sharp face.

"Xiao Yue, let's talk." Shen Ting's voice was low and hoarse.

Xiao Yue's heart suddenly sank, and a wave of irritation surged in her heart. She said coldly, "There's nothing to discuss between us, Mr. Shen, please move aside."

"Xiao Yue, I know you are still angry with me, but..."

"I'm not angry," Xiao Yue interrupted him, "I just don't want to have anything to do with you anymore. Please don't disturb my life again."

Shen Ting's expression turned a little ugly. He took a deep breath and tried to control his emotions: "Xiao Yue, give me a chance to explain, okay?"

"Explain? What else is there to explain?" Xiao Yue's tone was icy. "You've already proved everything with your actions. Mr. Shen, please respect yourself."

After saying that, she walked around the car and left without looking back. Shen Ting sat in the car, watching her back as she drove away, feeling powerless. He knew that he had hurt her too deeply this time.

Xiao Yue returned home and collapsed on the sofa, exhausted. She closed her eyes, trying not to think about what had happened today. However, Shen Ting's face kept appearing in her mind again and again. She scratched her hair in frustration, stood up and walked to the window, looking at the flashing neon lights outside, feeling a mixture of emotions.

Xiao Yue's eyes fell on an exquisite photo frame on the bookshelf. It was a photo of her and Shen Ting taken at the amusement park.

The beautiful memories of the past flooded back into her heart like a tide, making her feel suffocated. She picked up the photo frame with trembling hands, tears blurring her eyes. She squeezed her eyes shut, took a deep breath, and placed the photo frame upside down on the table.

"Xiao Yue, you can't go on like this," she said to herself in the mirror, "He no longer belongs to you. You must forget him and start your life again."

She put away the photo frames and other small items related to Shen Ting on the table and locked them in the deepest part of the drawer. She knew it would take time, but she had to do it.

Meanwhile, Shen Ting returned to Shen's Enterprise. He sat in a large office chair, his brow furrowed, a pen clutched in his hand, tapping the table repeatedly, a dull thud. Xiao Yue's resolute figure and her cold words recurred in his mind. He knew he had hurt her deeply this time. Lin Xiao's lies, his hesitation and doubts, were like sharp knives, piercing Xiao Yue's heart.

"What should I do to make you forgive me?" he whispered to himself, his tone full of helplessness and pain.

He knew that a simple apology was not enough. He needed to prove his sincerity with concrete actions and make up for the mistakes he had made. However, Xiao Yue was now full of defense and resistance towards him, and he didn't even have the chance to get close to her.

He picked up his phone and scrolled through Xiao Yue's WeChat Moments. In her Moments, Xiao Yue's life remained as peaceful as ever, without a single ripple. He seemed to see again the strong, independent, optimistic Xiao Yue, the girl who had once made his heart flutter.

He put down his phone, stood up, and walked to the French window, overlooking the bustling city. Night fell, and the lights of countless homes couldn't illuminate the haze in his heart. He lit a cigarette and took a deep puff. The taste of nicotine calmed him down a little.

He knew that this would be a long and difficult pursuit, but he would not give up. He would use all his efforts to win back Xiao Yue's heart and make up for the mistakes he had made.

Suddenly, the phone vibrated and an anonymous text message popped up: "Mr. Shen, do you really understand Xiao Yue? Do you think she is a simple and kind woman? I advise you to be careful and don't be fooled by her appearance."

Shen Ting looked at the text message, his brows furrowed. Who sent it? Why did he say that about Xiao Yue? Could it be that Xiao Yue was really hiding something from him? His heart began to waver, and a feeling of unease washed over him. He gripped the phone tightly and replied, "Who are you?"

The other party didn't reply. He sent another message: "What do you want to say?"

Still no reply.

Shen Ting irritably threw his phone on the table, walked to the liquor cabinet, poured a glass of whiskey, and drank it all in one gulp. The acrid taste of alcohol made him more sober, but also more confused. He didn't know whether to believe the text message, nor did he know what to do next.

Just then, his phone vibrated again. He picked it up and saw a new anonymous text message: "Want to know the truth? See you tomorrow at noon, at the same place."

Shen Ting lay awake all night. The contents of the anonymous text message were like a thorn in his heart, leaving him tossing and turning. He replayed every moment he had spent with Xiao Yue, trying to find any clues to prove the text's authenticity. Xiao Yue's clear eyes, her resolute tone, and the resilience she displayed in the face of adversity were completely different from the image portrayed in the text message. However, once the seed of doubt was planted, it grew and spread, difficult to contain.

The morning sun streamed into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but it couldn't dispel the gloom within Shen Ting. He yanked his tie loose, walked to the window, and gazed at the bustling street, trying to clear his chaotic thoughts. Then, his phone vibrated again. It was another message from the unfamiliar number: "Want to know her true character? Tonight at 12:00 PM, at the 'Qingcheng' Café, I'll show you her true face."

The choice of the "Qingcheng" coffee shop as a location seemed to have a deeper meaning. Shen Ting hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to go. He wanted to know who this mysterious whistleblower was and what secrets he knew about Xiao Yue.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yue was busy at work. Ever since breaking up with Shen Ting, she had poured all her energy into work, trying to numb herself with the busyness. However, Shen Ting's presence would inadvertently intrude into her mind, disrupting her thoughts. She tried hard to control her emotions, forcing herself not to think about him or reminisce about the good old days.

At noon, Xiao Yue received a call from her best friend, inviting her to have lunch together. Her best friend had specifically chosen the "Qingcheng" coffee shop, saying that they had a new dessert that tasted delicious. Xiao Yue happily agreed, as she hadn't had a good chat with her best friend in a long time.

Shen Ting arrived at the "Qingcheng" coffee shop early and chose a window seat with a clear view of the cafe's entrance. He ordered a cup of coffee and waited anxiously. As time passed, he became more and more uneasy.

At exactly twelve o'clock, a woman in a black windbreaker walked into the cafe. She was wearing sunglasses and a mask, covering most of her face, making it difficult to see her features. She walked straight up to Shen Ting and took off her sunglasses and mask, revealing a delicate face.

"Lin Xiao?" Shen Ting looked at the woman in front of him in surprise. He didn't expect that the person who leaked the information was her.

Lin Xiao smiled gracefully, sat down opposite Shen Ting, and said, "Mr. Shen, long time no see."

"Were those text messages sent by you?" Shen Ting's tone was cold, with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

Lin Xiao nodded and did not deny it.

"Why are you doing this?" Shen Ting asked.

"I just want you to see Xiao Yue's true face," Lin Xiao said calmly, but a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes. "She is not as innocent and kind as you think."

Just then, Xiao Yue pushed the door open and walked in. She immediately saw Shen Ting sitting by the window, and Lin Xiao, smiling sweetly, sitting across from him. She paused, a strange feeling of unease welling up in her heart.

When Lin Xiao saw Xiao Yue, a smug smile appeared on his lips, and he said to Shen Ting: "Speak of the devil, and he will appear. See for yourself."

Shen Ting followed Lin Xiao's gaze and saw Xiao Yue standing at the door. He stood up suddenly and wanted to walk towards Xiao Yue, but Lin Xiao grabbed his wrist.

"Don't be impatient," Lin Xiao said in a low voice, "the fun has just begun."

Shen Ting looked at Lin Xiao in confusion, not understanding what she meant. Lin Xiao smiled mysteriously, turned her gaze to Xiao Yue, and said slowly: "Xiao Yue, do you still remember... that night?"