Mei Hanqing's steps only slightly hesitated for a moment before she continued walking forward.

As if she hadn't heard Jian Yunong's words.

Meanwhile, Jian Yunong had already turned around, gazing at Mei Hanqing's back. Her face was filled with an indescribable pain, her once charming eyes now brimming with loneliness and desolation.

For over twenty years, Jian Yunong never gave up looking for Mei Hanqing.

Now she had found her, and both knew about their relationship, but there was such a sense of estrangement between them, even more so than with strangers.

Jian Yunong wanted to acknowledge Mei Hanqing, wanted to make amends, but Mei Hanqing simply didn't give her the opportunity.

But who could be blamed for this?

Blame Mei Hanqing?

Probably not!

Back then, it was Jian Yunong and Su Bingzhi who abandoned Mei Hanqing, and for over twenty years, they hadn't given her even a bite to eat or a sip to drink, let alone the so-called fatherly and motherly love!

Now, more than twenty years have passed, and Mei Hanqing has grown up and established her own career.

Although her parents have appeared before her, and she knows she is the daughter of the Su family from Suhang.

But what difference does it make?

The hatred, resentment, and bitterness of over twenty years, how could such feelings be put aside just like that?

Mei Hanqing once tried to persuade herself to let go and thought she had, but upon meeting Jian Yunong again, she realized she couldn't, really couldn't!

She could calmly face Jian Yunong without fuss or noise, but she couldn't bring herself to accept them.

"Han Qing..." Jian Yunong couldn't help but call out once more.

But Mei Hanqing still acted as if she hadn't heard, not only walking away without looking back, but her steps unconsciously began to quicken.

Just like a defeated soldier fleeing!

Watching Mei Hanqing's rapidly disappearing back, Jian Yunong felt her heart twisted like a knife, her beautiful eyes gradually clouding over with a mist of tears.

In an instant, those captivating yet bright eyes dimmed, as if the clear moonlight had suddenly been obscured by dark clouds.

Jian Yunong wanted to chase after her, but she didn't dare.

Also, if she did, what could she possibly say?

Talk about her mistakes, seek redemption?

......

"Hoo!"

Mei Hanqing, like a soldier retreating from the battlefield, made it to Qiu Ruoxi's office door in one breath.

The unexpected encounter with Jian Yunong seemed to have drained all her energy, leaving her spirit depleted and her strength sapped, as she leaned against the wall, breathing somewhat heavily.

She hadn't expected to meet Jian Yunong at Huangtu Group, nor did she know what to say to her!

Though they were mother and daughter, there were no topics to speak of between them.

After all, twenty years had been enough to widen the distance between them, despite being mother and daughter.

She hadn't raised her, nor did her memories include her!

Even if they sat together, what could they possibly discuss?

After taking several deep breaths, Mei Hanqing slowly adjusted her emotions, then raised her hand and gently knocked on Qiu Ruoxi's office door!

Meanwhile, Jian Yunong stood in the corridor, her face full of bitterness and loneliness, her once alluring and graceful figure now incredibly solitary, with a deep sadness seemingly flowing from her heart, infecting the surrounding atmosphere with a sense of mourning.

Jian Yunong stood there dazed, her face slightly pale, her eyes looking hollow as if her soul had been taken away by something.

No one knows how much time passed before the sound of clicking high heels tapping against the floor suddenly arose, but Jian Yunong seemed oblivious, standing motionlessly.|

The footsteps grew closer to Jian Yunong, yet she remained unmoved, as though she had entered another world.

Finally, the footsteps began to sound beside Jian Yunong.

"Huh..."

A puzzled voice suddenly emerged: "Miss Jian, are you alright?"

Jian Yunong still appeared blank, as if she hadn't heard anything.

"Miss Jian, Miss Jian..."

At last, Jian Yunong emerged from her world, and after seeing the young woman in a beige tailored business suit in front of her, she took a deep breath and said: "You are Qin Muge, Miss Qin, right?"

"Yes!" Qin Muge nodded: "Miss Jian, you seem unwell, is everything alright?"

"I'm fine!" Jian Yunong lightly shook her head: "You were...?"

"Oh, I was going to see President Qiu, happened to see you standing here in a daze, so..."

"I just remembered something, lost my composure for a bit." Jian Yunong said, somewhat embarrassed.

"It's nothing!" Qin Muge gently replied: "I was worried I might have disturbed you!"

"By the way, were you here to see Han Qing?"

Suddenly hearing Qin Muge mention Mei Hanqing, a look of pain immediately flashed across Jian Yunong's face.

Qin Muge caught this subtle change on Jian Yunong's face, cautiously speaking again: "Miss Jian, did... did I say something wrong?"

"No... no!" Jian Yunong quickly shook her head: "Are you and Han Qing very close?"

"Pretty much!" Qin Muge didn't think much of it and replied frankly: "Han Qing is very strong, though it hasn't been easy for her, she has managed well by herself over the years, often facing rumors and whispers!"

"But she's gotten through it, and now that you've found Han Qing, she should have a better future." Qin Muge sincerely and admiringly said.

Indeed, Qin Muge felt envy, envy towards Mei Hanqing!

Though Mei Hanqing had been alone and helpless before, she, Qin Muge, was too?

She had a family, a father!

But was that really a family? Was that really a father?

Her father completely saw her as a tool, a tool for arranged marriages, a tool for family gains.

Moreover, her uncle even kidnapped her, and her father personally came to take her away!

Compared to Mei Hanqing, Qin Muge felt Mei Hanqing was much happier.

Although Mei Hanqing had lived through hardship during those twenty years, in the future, she would be the one everyone envied.

Because she is the daughter of the Su family.

The guilt of over twenty years, Jian Yunong could only compensate; it's impossible to compel her to do anything else, and under such circumstances, wouldn't Mei Hanqing be much happier than her?

Jian Yunong was also aware of the rumors Mei Hanqing faced, yet there was nothing she could do.

After all, she wasn't there for Mei Hanqing at the time, everything had to be fought for by Mei Hanqing herself.

An orphan without a background, wanting to establish herself in this city and make a name for herself, gossip was inevitable, especially for a woman in a PR department!

"Has she... has she ever thought about changing jobs?"

"Probably not!" Qin Muge said uncertainly: "Back then, President Qiu suggested she move to the HR department, but Han Qing declined."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure." Qin Muge shook her head: "But now that you're here, even if Han Qing doesn't change jobs, no one would dare speak ill of her anymore!"

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