Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

[23:40 · Lu's Group Conference Room]

The elevator doors opened, and Lu Wen frowned before pushing open the mahogany door to the conference room.

Around the large conference table sat seven or eight senior executives from the company, each with an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts in front of them.

The projector light shone on the whiteboard, which was densely covered with development progress charts and funding flow diagrams.

"Mr. Lu, the bank says the process will take another week."

A middle-aged man who looked like a finance director wiped the sweat from his brow and spoke cautiously:

"They said the quota was tight at the end of the year, and the provincial branch held back the approval process."

Lu Zhenhua, Lu Wen's father, who was sitting in the main seat, did not get angry.

He simply rubbed his temples wearily, his voice a little hoarse:

"Didn't they say it was approved last week? Why is it stuck again?"

"I heard..." The CFO hesitated for a moment, glanced at Lu Wen who had just entered, and stopped himself from speaking.

"Speak." Lu Zhenhua tapped the table.

"I heard that a competitor left a message at the provincial branch, questioning the risk assessment of our project," the CFO said in a low voice. "It seems to be... influence from Beijing."

Beijing.

Lu Wengang sat down on a chair in the corner, and his brow twitched involuntarily when he heard the word.

"It's that same group of people again."

Lu Zhenhua sneered, but showed no panic; instead, he displayed disgust and impatience.

"Trying to force me into submission with such underhanded tactics? Dream on."

He turned to look at the CFO, his expression carrying the authority of a superior:

"Don't worry about them. I'm going to the provincial capital tomorrow to have some tea with Old Zhang. This little storm won't capsize the Lu family."

The atmosphere in the meeting room eased a little.

Now that the chairman has spoken, everyone seems to have found their pillar of support again.

"Alright, everyone, go home. It's so late, go back and get some rest."

Lu Zhenhua waved his hand.

The group of executives felt as if they had been granted a pardon and quickly packed their belongings and left.

……

The crowd dispersed.

Lu Wen followed his father into the office.

"dad."

Lu Wen called out and placed a bottle of hot coffee he had brought on the table:

"Smoke less, or my mom will start nagging again."

Lu Zhenhua looked up at his son, who was already taller than him.

A gentle smile finally appeared on his serious and tense face.

"You must be tired after I called you over so late?"

"It's alright." Lu Wen shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Anyway, I'll just be playing games when I get back, so I might as well come here and broaden my horizons. Dad, that thing you mentioned earlier... is it really that troublesome?"

Lu Zhenhua picked up his coffee and took a sip, his tone relaxed:

"In business, things are never smooth sailing. It's just normal commercial competition, that's for your father to worry about, you don't need to concern yourself with it."

Lu Zhenhua laughed heartily, concealing the weariness in his eyes, and slapped Lu Wen hard on the back:

"Alright, you brat, go back to sleep now. Come back to the company for more training tomorrow."

【early morning】

The temperature dropped by ten degrees, and winter seemed to have squeezed out autumn overnight.

Su Qinghe opened his eyes groggily, and just as he was about to call out Xie Wang, he found his throat dry and sore, and even swallowing saliva became extremely difficult.

"cough……"

She propped herself up and sat up, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, with her temples throbbing.

The blanket slipped off, and the cold air made her shiver.

"Oh no!"

Su Qinghe rubbed his groggy forehead, thinking that it was probably because he had been too cold last night, and the heat from the late-night barbecue had finally caused his body to protest at this crucial time of seasonal change.

"Knock knock knock".

The knock on the door rang precisely on time.

"Qinghe, are you awake? Breakfast is ready."

Xie Wang's voice came through the door.

Not wanting to worry him, Su Qinghe cleared her throat and tried to respond in a normal voice:

"Wake up...cough cough..."

He had barely opened his mouth when his voice cracked.

The knocking on the door stopped abruptly.

next second.

"Beep—click."

Xie Wang opened the door directly with the spare key.

He strode into the bedroom, carrying a bag of hot soy milk.

Seeing Su Qinghe's somewhat pale face.

"What happened?"

Xie Wang placed the soy milk on the bedside table and reached out to touch her forehead with the back of his hand.

Slightly hot.

Thankfully, it's not a high fever.

"Sore throat?" Xie Wang squatted down by the bed and looked at her.

Su Qinghe nodded, his voice hoarse:

"Hmm...it's a bit swollen, it might be tonsillitis."

"I said last night that the wind was a bit chilly."

Xie Wang sighed and got up to rummage through the first-aid kit in the living room.

A moment later, he returned with a glass of warm water and two anti-inflammatory pills.

"Take your medicine first."

Su Qinghe obediently swallowed the medicine from his hand, and the warm water soothed her throat, relieving the stinging pain slightly.

Don't go to school today.

Xie Wang tucked the blanket into her clothes.

"I'll ask Lao Li for leave for you. You can stay home and rest."

"no."

Su Qinghe refused without even thinking.

She threw back the covers and tried to get out of bed, but swayed because she got up too suddenly and was caught by Xie Wang.

"There will be a review session for the combined science mock exam this morning."

Su Qinghe held Xie Wang's arm, his eyes somewhat unfocused, but his attitude was stubborn:

"That was the last chance to correct my thinking on the big questions. Old Li said this review was very important, and I couldn't miss it."

Su Qinghe has an almost obsessive dedication to learning.

Even if I'm sick, as long as I don't fall ill, I will never miss a class.

"you……"

Xie Wang looked at her stubborn expression and laughed in exasperation:

"Ms. Su, do you think you're made of iron? What's the big deal about missing one class? It's not like I don't know the material. Can't I explain it to you when we get back?"

"no the same."

Su Qinghe pushed him away and insisted on going to wash up:

"I've already taken the medicine, I'll feel better in a bit, and it's just a sore throat, my mind is still clear."

Xie Wang stared at her back for a few seconds.

In the end, he was defeated.

"OK."

Xie Wang turned around and started rummaging through the wardrobe.

When Su Qinghe finished washing up and came out, Xie Wang had a thick, off-white turtleneck sweater in his hand, along with her cashmere scarf.

"You can go."

Xie Wang walked over and, without saying a word, put the thick sweater on her, then wrapped the scarf around her twice tightly.

Until her chin was buried in the soft cashmere, leaving only her eyes showing.

"Dress warmly. Also, I've filled your thermos with loquat and monk fruit. Don't drink cold water."

Su Qinghe was wrapped up like a dumpling and felt a bit hot. Just as he was about to protest, Xie Wang glared at him and shut him up.

"If you say another word, I'll carry you back to the bed and tie you up."

……

The two entered the classroom.

The classroom windows were open for ventilation, and it was a little chilly.

Xie Wang immediately went over and closed the window next to Su Qinghe's seat, then gave her a cushion to sit on.

Shen Hao was doing his homework when he saw Su Qinghe wrapped up so tightly and exclaimed in surprise:

"Su Shen? Is it that cold? Your outfit... are you going on an expedition to Antarctica?"

Xie Wang kicked his chair: "Shut up and do your homework."

Although Xie Wang didn't use much force, it still made Shen Hao shudder and obediently shut up and shrank back.

"Fragile……"

"This is the most poignant part of the essence of life, like a white rose about to wither in late autumn, possessing a broken beauty."

As the mystical voice rang out, a head popped out from the book.

Road 1.

"Su, your energy field is out of control."

Su Qinghe was delirious from the fever. Hearing this mystical opening, he weakly tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Lu Yi slowly stood up, his movements very light, like a wandering soul floating to Su Qinghe's table.

He very solemnly pulled out a... from the side pocket of the bag that always contained poetry collections.

Those old-fashioned "Golden Throat Lozenges".

"Take it."

Lu Yi's tone was deep and melancholy:

"This is the fuel I always use when reciting the long poem 'The Waste Land.' Although it tastes spicy, like the hardships of life, it can give your throat a new lease on life, like a flower blooming on the frozen ground."

Su Qinghe looked at the tin box, and although his throat was burning with pain, he almost burst out laughing.

"……Thank you."

At this moment, Lin Lu also turned around and directly interrupted Lu Yi's spellcasting.

Upon seeing Su Qinghe's weak appearance, her eyes immediately reddened. She completely ignored Lu Yi's nonsense and frantically rummaged through her pink backpack.

"Oh dear Qinghe! How did you get so burned! Lu Yi, stop making trouble!"

Lin Lu, like Doraemon, kept pulling things out:

"Quick, quick! Hand warmers! I have one of those heated eye masks here, you'll feel more comfortable if you stick it on the back of your neck! And this, my mom brought me some effervescent vitamin C tablets..."

While muttering to herself, she tore open a hand warmer without saying a word and was about to stick it on Su Qinghe.

At the same time, a timid figure shuffled over along the edge of the table.

Xu You held a pink thermos in both hands:

"Susu... this is freshly made warm water, I added honey to soothe your throat."

Su Qinghe's body, which had been drowsy and cold due to a fever, seemed to have been warmed up by this group of strange yet adorable friends.

"Thanks……"

"I'm fine, I just have a slight fever."