Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

The two were already sitting at a small table when the restaurant owner hurriedly came over and said to Wang Fei, "Thank you so much for coming, but someone will be injured in the restaurant soon. Why don't you two come to a private room instead?"

"Thanks."

Wang Fei did not insist. He thanked the owner and got up to follow him to the private room.

It was obvious that the shop owner did not recognize Yang Che.

However, the three diners knew each other, and they looked at the two men's backs with gossipy expressions.

Yang Che's phone rang while he was ordering food.

Upon seeing the familiar landline number, Yang Che asked the owner to leave the private room, and then turned on speakerphone to answer the call.

"Hello Yang Che, I'm sorry to bother you so late."

Yang Che said unemotionally, "Director Zhang is working so late; that's the real hard work."

Zhang Lei paused for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly and began to speak.

The gist of the statement was that they hoped Yang Che would consider the bigger picture and drop the charges against Liu Xinmo.

"A lawsuit can drag on for a long time, and if it continues, the public will inevitably find out, especially with this kind of rumor, where rumors can spread like wildfire. The Olympic Bid Committee can't use the plans and publicity materials you painstakingly designed. After all, the Olympic Bid Committee has to consider public opinion and international impact, so it can only adopt temporary risk isolation measures."

Zhang Lei was not threatening Yang Che, but stating the facts.

When a statement is repeated dozens or hundreds of times, many people with little knowledge will assume that "so many people are saying it, it must be true."

These people don't trace the source of information; they only judge its authenticity based on the breadth of its dissemination, and over time they naturally come to believe it without question.

For example, some comments say that Gao Yuanyuan ruined her whole family after marrying Zhao Youting.

In fact, if any family member or friend works within the system, they wouldn't believe this argument; it's too absurd and ridiculous.

..........

When Zhang Lei finished speaking, Wang Fei took Yang Che's hand, looked at him with a reassuring gaze, and shook her head.

This made Yang Che feel quite strange. After he finished releasing his pent-up desire on her, he was no longer so impatient or anxious.

Zhang Lei's words make sense; from both a public and private perspective, withdrawing the lawsuit is the best option for Yang Che.

Yang Che suddenly chuckled: "Director Zhang, do you think bad people will ultimately be punished?"

Zhang Lei was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I don't know."

Yang Che sighed, "This person is truly intelligent."

"Let them come to me."

After responding, Zhang Lei still said, "Yang Che, whether you believe it or not, I have to say this: from beginning to end, I have never had any ill intentions towards you or me."

Yang Che smiled: "I believe you, because you don't care about me. An elephant doesn't care about the joys and sorrows of an ant."

"That's how it started. Now I hope we can become friends."

"Perhaps."

Goodbye then.

"goodbye."

As soon as she hung up the phone, Wang Fei shoved a menu she had already drawn in front of her.

"See what else you'd like to eat."

Yang Che looked at her and said helplessly, "Sister, would it kill you to hear me praise you?"

Wang Fei rolled her eyes: "If you're not going to order, hurry up and place the order, I'm starving."

Yang Che felt a little annoyed, but he still obediently got up to find the boss to place an order and urge the food to arrive.

After he left, Wang Fei burst out laughing. Her little boyfriend looked so cute, begging for praise.

She was quite moved, noting that her boyfriend was not only a creative genius but also had a very broad mind.

Indeed, when individual justice based on individual rights and conscience conflicts with collective justice based on public interest and order, how can there be an absolute either/or situation?

He was certainly aggrieved, she knew.

However, after laughing, Wang Fei felt very disappointed.

If things were resolved quietly like this, then there would be no need for her and him to go public with each other.

She longed to be like Gao Yuanyuan, having him hold her hand and say "This is my girlfriend" in front of reporters.

She's Wang Fei, why does she have to keep her relationship a secret?

During the rest of the meal, the two didn't talk much. When they did exchange words, it was only about the food, just like how they usually interacted.

Wang Fei would occasionally send text messages or something.

Yang Che also sent a text message; it was Zhang Lei who sent him his private mobile phone number.

He also received a call from the police station, and Yang Che could hear the relief in the officers' voices through the phone.

This made him feel a bit stifled again.

"I have something to do right now, I'll go later."

After the meal, Yang Che paid the bill and left the private room, with Wang Fei, who was wearing a mask, following behind him.

Upon entering the restaurant's main hall, a bustling noise filled the air. There were no empty tables inside, and four or five people were waiting outside, demonstrating the restaurant's popularity.

Yang Che turned to the side and then extended his right hand toward her.

Wang Fei paused for a moment, then bit her lower lip behind her mask.

At that moment, she felt it was all worthwhile.

She reached out her hand, then lowered her head slightly and let him lead her behind him.

Just then, as the two passed by a table, a woman in her thirties at the table exclaimed in surprise.

"Wang Fei!"

Yang Che almost shook off Wang Fei's hand because of that shout, but he realized what was happening and held her hand even tighter.

Many people in the store saw that Wang Fei's eyes were crinkled with laughter, and they all understood what that smile meant.

The two of them left quickly, under the watchful eyes of everyone in the store.

Then a lot of people rushed out of the store to see what was going on. When they saw the two of them had already walked up to the Grand Cherokee, some of them even shouted.

"Wang Fei! Is this your boyfriend?"

Who is it?

Yang Che looked up, raised an eyebrow, and gazed into the distance.

But Wang Fei scolded him, "Don't mind it, get in the car."

Afterwards, we drove to Jialin Garden.

"Once you get there, don't go inside. Just go about your business."

"No rush."

"The sooner it's over, the sooner you can rest easy. While you're tormenting those people, someone else is tormenting you too."

"Tsk tsk, Lao Wang, you're so pretentious."

"Yang Che, you're really despicable."

Of course! When she doesn't express her feelings, he complains. But when she does, he calls her pretentious. Isn't that just being pathetic?

However, Yang Che laughed and reached out to take her hand. She tried to pull away a couple of times, but then let him hold her hand, and even gently tickled his palm.

We arrived at the door.

After getting out of the car, Wang Fei said, "Don't come over when you're done. I'm going to stay with Tongtong."

Without waiting for his reply, she slammed the car door shut.

Yang Che was deeply moved and felt incredibly awesome.

If she hadn't had that sudden inspiration to take Gao Yuanyuan's hand in front of so many people, she probably wouldn't have been as happy as a little wife all this way, and she certainly wouldn't have let herself comfort Gao Yuanyuan right now.

So Yang Che was still happy as he sped all the way to the police station.

While he was happy, it didn't mean Yang Che would really let nothing go.