smoke like fire

It started with a phone call.The other party dialed my office.I didn't have much doubts, so I picked it up. A deep male voice called me by my title and asked me if I knew Zhao Kuanyi.

I paused and asked, "Who are you?"

The other party smiled and hung up the phone.I felt something was wrong and pressed the extension immediately.Secretary Elin picked up the call. After questioning, she did not transfer the call.

At that time, I couldn't figure out what the other party's purpose was.In the evening, when Zhao Kuanyi and Zhao Kuanyi walked out of the restaurant and were about to drive away, two people came up and quickly identified themselves as magazine reporters.

I was startled, but Zhao Kuanyi seemed to be still calm.He has always been silent in front of reporters, especially recently.At this time too, before the other party said more, they got into the car.

I also got in the car immediately.As soon as the car moved a step, one of the two people suddenly rushed up and almost missed the brakes.I honked the horn, but the other party didn't seem to know the danger, just raised the camera and took pictures of us in the car.The vast expanse of white, which seems to be overexposed, seems to be a harbinger of all future developments.At this moment, I realized for no reason that the inexplicable phone call during the day was from the other party.

But even if he knew, it was too late to do anything.

The newly published magazines are packaged and sent to the company by courier.Folder in other files, Elin brought in.I didn't want to take it apart and read it, so I was stunned, and when I read it, I felt even more dazed; as if I was having a nightmare.

The report described it as ambiguous, saying that Zhao Kuanyi lived with me because of an unusual friendship.I also attached photos, besides the one in the car that day, there are other places we went in and out together before, including the place where we lived, and the parting in front of Ms. Zhao's studio... There are many.

Putting down the magazine, I can't think of anything.It is absolutely unexpected that such a thing will happen.Suddenly being pushed to the cusp of the storm, I panic first, and then there is only an overwhelming blankness, as if I have lost all possible reactions.I can't convince myself it's not serious.

The phone on the desk rang suddenly, and I answered it hastily.It was Elin, and she asked, "General Manager, a Mr. Zhang who claimed to be a weekly reporter called in, and he insisted on talking to you. Would you like to answer?"

I said, "Tell him I'm busy."

"Ok."

That end hung up.I was still holding the microphone, and didn't come back to my senses until I heard the beeping sound of the microphone.I put it back and fell backward on the wide chair back, feeling helpless for a while.

Another call came, this time it was a cell phone.I straightened up, cautiously for no reason, and only picked up when I saw that the caller was Zhao Kuanyi.But don't open your mouth.Because he might open his mouth, he was about to leak his panic.

He didn't make a sound either.After a while of silence, he spoke first."I got a magazine here," he said.

I said, "Me too."

All fell silent again.I looked at one of my hands, at the platinum watch on my wrist.I counted the grids with the pointer in my heart.I can't find the sound.I really can't find anything to say, as if all the words can't express the indescribable turmoil at this time.

There are no absolute secrets in the world, I think.But we are not ready yet.

It was Zhao Kuanyi who spoke first: "Don't pay attention to it." After a pause, he said in a low voice: "It will pass."

I nodded, then remembered that he was invisible, and said, "Okay."

He said: "Don't bother with it, we'll talk about it when we go back tonight."

I said the same: "OK."

In the company that day, everything was calm, but when I returned home, there were already reporters under the building.When I saw my car, several cameras shot at each other for a while, and the flashes were dazzling.As soon as the car slowed down, someone would rush up.

The security had come to stop me, and I took the opportunity to drive into the underground parking lot.

But Zhao Kuanyi was not so lucky.He had a social event that night, and the reporters from the TV station were guarding the eating place, and when he came out, they swarmed up.Faced with questioning, he should not respond as before.Those people didn't seem to let go. On the news screen, he was entangled, and he was able to get in the car and leave with difficulty.

It was after eleven o'clock in the evening that Zhao Kuanyi arrived home.

I was in the study at that time, when I heard the movement, he was already sitting on the sofa, lighting a cigarette.He glanced at me and smoked.

I sat down on another sofa and picked up the magazine on the coffee table.I said, "I don't know when it was taken, but I didn't even notice it."

Zhao Kuanyi said in a low voice, "Maybe he was followed around that time."

At that time—it doesn’t really matter when.I twitched the corner of my mouth lightly.Originally, if these people caught one mistake, they would dig out another in all directions, and they would not stop until they made a mistake.

I asked, "What about now?"

Zhao Kuanyi was silent, and said: "This is between us, and there is no need to explain it to anyone."

I nodded, and said: "I think so too, keep silent, wait until the energy passes... probably it will be fine."

Zhao Kuanyi was silent, seemed to be thinking, looked at me after a while, and said suddenly: "Maybe come out and explain."

I can't help but startled.I heard him say again: "Anyway, it's not fake, so it's not impossible to say it at this time."

My heart surged in an instant.But the rationality wanted to jump out and argue, and I said, "Now is not the time—I can do anything here, but you can't ignore your grandparents."

Zhao Kuanyi said silently, "The old man will always look away."

I said: "What if you can't see it? They are also very old."

Zhao Kuanyi didn't speak.I rolled up the magazine in my hand, and said in a low voice, "Let's do this first, the more you talk, the more troublesome it will be - just decide like this."

Zhao Kuanyi didn't answer, just swallowed the clouds.I know that he has no better way to veto it for a while.

But the effect of the news is never predictable.Perhaps it was because of Ms. Zhao's relationship, or Zhao Kuanyi, or various unkind reasons from all directions.

The reporters pestered them endlessly.When going out in the morning, you have to procrastinate until you can no longer delay, and enter the company at the last moment.Who in the company has not heard the news, and there is some discussion.I couldn't hide those strange eyes, I pretended not to see them.People who usually get close seem to be alienated for a while.

Going to the established entertainment, no matter who is still friendly on the face, but it is extremely shameful to turn your back or laugh at it.I tried my best not to guess, but when I was in it, I just felt that everything was in a trance.It's like stepping into the rough sea, and you can't hide from the surging waves.

And the talk show got a new theme again, and I was happy to see Lie Xin, and I want to analyze me, my background.Also talking about the Zhao family, including the conjectures of Liantian's successor, involves a wide range of things, related and irrelevant things are all mixed together.

The matter of Miss Zhao seems to be insignificant in the meantime.

It was in response to Qiu Yisen's original words.

On this day, Chen Liren asked me to go.

He sat at his desk, crossed his arms, and looked at me, "The report is too exaggerated, it has been misinterpreted to this point—you are still silent? This is not the first time you have dealt with a reporter, how come you don't know about such a fake thing?" , As long as you come out to clarify, it will pass quickly. What's the matter with you? Don't tell me that there is no way to clarify. "

I didn't know how to answer for a while.I wanted to hide it to the end and deny it to him, but I couldn't open my mouth no matter what.

Chen Liren looked at me like that, and frowned, "It's not true, is it?"

I don't feel a wry smile.This time he was silent too.He leaned back in his chair, as if he had just looked at me seriously.He said: "Are you really—what it says—really?"

I remain silent.

There seemed to be a flash of astonishment on Chen Liren's face.He frowned as well, and after a long time he said in a deep tone: "I thought before——it turned out to be like this." After a pause, "I really don't know how to say it."

I just said, "Sorry."

Chen Liren paused, looked at me, and said, "You don't have to apologize to me for this."

I said: "If it causes trouble for the company, I can—"

Chen Liren frowned and interrupted: "What can you do? I won't force you to do anything. How can you say this kind of thing, you... well, you should deal with it well anyway."

I nod.Before going out, think about it and apologize again.Chen Liren was silent, and he let out a sigh of relief afterwards, but didn't say anything.

When I returned to the department, everyone inside didn't know what to say. When they saw me, they fell silent for a while.I pretended nothing had happened and walked straight into the office.

Just as I sat back at my desk, my phone rang.Almost every day, someone with troubles called, and this time it was also an unfamiliar number.I just hit the call.

The phone rang again.

I took a deep breath and picked it up.In fact, I told my secretary, Elin, that I would not answer calls from anyone not related to me, but sometimes she seemed to forget, and would just call in without asking for instructions.

Sure enough, it was a female reporter.

"Please tell me—"

I cut her off: "Sorry, I'm busy."

The female reporter smiled and said, "Mr. Cheng, it's been so many days, you'd better face it, otherwise we won't be able to pay the job, and you won't have a good life, right?"

I didn't answer, just cut off the call directly.After thinking about it again, he dialed the extension.Elin, the secretary at the other end, quickly picked it up.I said, "Please bring in a cup of coffee."

Elin said, "Oh, okay."

After a while, there was a knock on the door, and Elin walked in with a cup of coffee, stepping on high heels.As she put the coffee on the table, she said, "General manager, your coffee."

I nodded to the file, and when I heard her footsteps seemed to turn around, I raised my head and said, "Wait a minute."

"Yes?"

I said lightly, "I should have said, don't forward irrelevant calls."

Elin replied casually: "Oh, yes."

I looked at her and said, "If you can't even handle such a simple matter, or if you ask yourself to change positions, I can change to a competent secretary."

Elin seemed to be frozen, her face was not very good, but she lowered her head and said, "I see, general manager."

I said, "Go out."

she left.Distraught and irritable, I lit my cigarette and looked at my phone. After thinking about it, I decided not to dial Zhao Kuanyi's number.His situation has never been any better than mine.

When the time comes, I pack up and leave.I called the elevator to come up, the door opened, there was someone inside, and the other person seemed to be coming out, but when he saw me, he had another meal and couldn't get out.

I looked at Ye Wenli and was startled for a moment.

Ye Wenli pressed the door open button and raised his eyebrows slightly.I hurried in.The elevator doors closed, and he asked me, "Are you ready to go?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

Ye Wenli seemed to say casually: "There seems to be a reporter at the door downstairs. There may be guards at the entrance of the parking lot. If you go out at this time, you must be stopped."

I froze for a moment and looked at him, "How do you know?"

Ye Wenli said: "Anyway, I have news." After a pause, he looked at me, "You can take my car and go together, they will never think of it."

I was still in a daze, the elevator had reached the basement.Ye Wenli went out first, stopped again, and turned around to urge me.I hurried out and followed him to the parking space.

Ye Wenli said: "Go to the back seat and lie down for a while." Then he threw a coat over, "Cover this."

I was stunned for a moment, although I felt that it was not feasible, I still listened to his arrangement in the back seat.Well he drove.The car drove out at a steady speed, probably no one expected it to leave smoothly.

I just sat up.Looking at the situation outside, there is already a long distance from the company.It was driving in the direction of Ye Wenli's residence.

Ye Wenli said at the front: "Go to my place first." After a pause, "The reporter can't ask you a question, and can't make a job. They probably asked some of your former friends—the news has been reported all afternoon. They waited at the door of the company. I will also guard your residence."

I am silent.Who doesn't have a few paragraphs of the past, when you were in love with me, and I was not serious.I can't even think of today.If you ask me, I can't deny it.

I looked at him and only asked, "Aren't you afraid to be on the news when I come to your place?"

Ye Wenli didn't speak, but smiled from the rear-view mirror.

Soon to his rented apartment.There are several cardboard boxes piled up in the living room, and books and newspapers are stacked on the sofa and coffee table.I haven't been here for a long time, but I don't spend much time in the living room, so I don't think anything has changed.

Ye Wenli moved a stack of books and newspapers on the sofa, and said, "It's a bit messy. I've been tidying it up for the past two days. I'm going to move back to my parents' place in two days—sit down."

I sat down and he went into the kitchen to pour tea.Then my cell phone rang suddenly.I picked it up and saw that it was Zhao Kuanyi.I paused, and unconsciously looked at Ye Wenli's position. He was still in the kitchen.

I just picked it up, "Hello?"

Zhao Kuanyi asked at the other end, "Are you still in the company?"

I hesitated and said, "I'm away, at a friend's place."

Zhao Kuanyi didn't answer.

I am also silent.It was so quiet for a while.Thinking that he might also see new news, I said, "You may have heard some—"

"It's nothing." Zhao Kuanyi immediately interrupted, then remained silent, and said, "Why don't you stay at your friend's place for one night, or two days later, and then come back after seeing the situation."

I was stunned, but I agreed in my mouth.

There seemed to be nothing left to say.The call ends abruptly.Holding the phone, I was a little dazed, and I didn't come back to my senses until I saw a water glass placed on the coffee table in front of me.

I looked towards Ye Wenli who was standing there.He also looks.

He smiled and said, "I really didn't expect you to regard me as a friend."

I didn't answer, stood up, and said: "Thank you for your help, I should go back."

Unexpectedly, Ye Wenli came to stop me, "You want to go back? Didn't I tell you that there may be many reporters—"

I laughed at myself: "Will I see fewer reporters these days? Not one or two more."

Ye Wenli paused, and then said, "You don't have a car now either."

I couldn't help laughing, and said, "I can always get a taxi."

Ye Wenli was still looking at me, and suddenly said: "I heard you talking on the phone just now."

I stared blankly, silent.

Ye Wenli continued on his own: "If I'm not wrong, he wants you not to go back."

I took a deep breath, and just said: "I will live in a friend's house, and I won't go back for a while. Let's do this first, I'm leaving."

Ye Wen suddenly grabbed me.I froze as he hugged me.I couldn't help but froze.

He whispered in his ear: "Give up, this road won't work, especially with him."

I broke free, frowned, and said, "What are you talking about?"

Ye Wenli looked calm, and said: "Others may be skeptical, but I know that the report is true. You and Zhao Kuanyi have been together. Don't be stupid, even if there is no report today, you and him will not be able to continue in this society." go down."

With a heavy heart, I looked at him and said, "Anyway, thank you for your help today."

He shouted: "Cheng Jingcheng!"

I just walked away.