CHAPTER 475: CHAPTER 197: CALM UNDER PRESSURE

Su Ziceng was still caught in her previous astonishment; murmurs had initially filled the conference room, and then, one by one, the managers all filed out.

In the office, only Su Ziceng and Secretary Wang remained.

"What exactly did I say just now?" Su Ziceng murmured softly, as her nerves belatedly tensed up. She had actually persuaded Su Qingzhang, that Su Qingzhang who never took her opinions seriously.

"Miss," Secretary Wang’s voice sounded a bit off.

After entering the conference room, Secretary Wang hadn’t spoken a word, not even taking a look at the accident management plan that was provided.

He had planned to announce his own decision during the meeting, but after observing Su Ziceng’s performance earlier in the room, he couldn’t help but hold back his words.

Was this the same delicate Miss who had followed behind Secretary Wang asking for Su Qingzhang’s whereabouts?

Secretary Wang couldn’t help but feel his eyes welling up with tears; unlike the other people of the Su Family, he had watched Su Ziceng grow up. The haughty and arrogant Miss in the eyes of others was a kind soul who secretly gave candies to soothe the upset little secretary scolded by Su Qingzhang for making a typographical error.

She was also the person who sat in the Su Family conference room crying because she couldn’t find her father. But now she had grown up; she could sit in the conference room, strategizing without a second thought to others’ doubts.

"Miss, you have grown up, and I have grown old," Secretary Wang extended his hand, resting it on Su Ziceng’s shoulder, patting her shoulder with the distinct firmness of an elder. At that moment, he was no longer the hired old secretary; he was simply an elder lamenting the cruelty of time.

"Secretary Wang," Su Ziceng, sensing the sadness in his words, remembered that Su Qingzhang and Yan Wuxu had appeared together, and that Secretary Wang had followed close behind them. Could it be that the three of them were together earlier? Then why hadn’t they answered their phones?

"Miss, I’m resigning. The master no longer trusts me," Secretary Wang removed his hand, sighing as he sat down beside her, his hands flat on his knees.

The events from an hour earlier still gnawed at Secretary Wang’s heart.

Yan Wuxu on the balcony was petrified upon hearing the words that blurted out from Su Qingzhang’s mouth.

The cane that Su Qingzhang had borrowed for stability had tumbled down the stairs, emitting a dull "thud."

Up on the fourth-floor tower, the barely discernible figure caused an overwhelming sense of fear to spread through Yan Wuxu; every limb and every blood vessel was filled with dread. Her fair teeth bit down on her lip, as if wanting to tear it apart.

"It’s just an empty tower, and besides, the stair railing isn’t fixed; the stairway is tight and steep, not convenient for walking," Yan Wuxu regretted a bit. She should have brought Fei Qing out more openly and introduced him to Su Qingzhang. But now, by awkwardly hiding him in the tower, if Su Qingzhang discovered this, what would it represent?

"It’s fine, the lady wouldn’t mind supporting the chairman up the stairs," Secretary Wang remarked, showing a desire to enjoy the view, and walked toward the staircase leading to the tower, taking the lead up the stairs.

"Wait," Yan Wuxu left Su Qingzhang behind and approached the staircase, confronting Secretary Wang for a moment, managing to say with difficulty: "Secretary Wang, with the chairman here, it’s not your place to walk in front."

She steadied her steps, facing the increasingly fierce sea wind, and placed Su Qingzhang’s arm on her waist.

The anxiety in her heart manifested as an unusually warm body temperature; Yan Wuxu’s arm was already covered with a layer of sweat.

By the time it reached Su Qingzhang, it had turned cool.

As Su Qingzhang took the first step onto the staircase, he was slightly unsteady, causing Yan Wuxu to also sway a bit.

Secretary Wang followed behind, watching as the dense array of steps ahead became fewer and fewer. On the narrow tower pathway, he could already feel the sea wind blowing down from above.

Carrying the scent of salt and blood, it smelled like the taste of blood. Yan Wuxu’s lips were already bleeding; what should have been a staircase leading to heaven was now her stairway to ruin.

She seemed to hear Fei Qing’s breathing entwined with the sea breeze, swirling around her ears.

"I’m tired," Su Qingzhang put his hand on the wall beside the staircase, turned to look at his body being nearly dragged upwards by Yan Wuxu, and at Secretary Wang following close behind.