CHAPTER 443: CHAPTER 443: THIS WINTER IS REALLY COLD (PART 3)

For two consecutive days, Tang Yanqi hadn’t received a call from Sheng Jianan. She tried calling, but either there was no answer or the phone was off.

Listening to the busy signal on the phone, Tang Yanqi frowned. Is he really that busy? So busy that he doesn’t even have time to take a call?

But soon, Tang Yanqi had no time to worry about whether Sheng Jianan answered the phone.

The agency contacted her with news that all the arrangements for selling the house had been finalized. She only needed to sign, and the fifty million yuan from the sale had been transferred into her designated bank account in two installments.

As she walked out of the agency, looking at the card in her hand, Tang Yanqi felt it weigh a thousand tons.

Putting the card back in her bag, Tang Yanqi hailed a cab and went straight to the Tang Family home.

"Here is the fifty million you wanted. As we agreed, I want to see my mother."

Tang Ruhai frowned: "Why are you the one bringing it?"

"How it got here isn’t important. What’s important is that I’ve given you what you wanted. Please keep your promise to me."

"Alright."

Tang Yanqi left the card with Tang Ruhai. Fifty million is a substantial amount and even with the card, he wouldn’t be able to transfer all the money without her personal presence. She wasn’t worried about him going back on his word.

They agreed to set off early on the 2nd. These past few days, Tang Yanqi felt indescribably heavy-hearted. She confirmed the details with Bai Bing multiple times. She felt guilty for involving her friend, but Bai Bing comforted her instead: "Tangtang, don’t worry. It’s not like you’re asking me to commit a crime. Trust me."

"Thank you."

"Don’t mention it."

On New Year’s Day, Sheng Jianan still hadn’t returned. Tang Yanqi was called back to the old house for dinner and was pulled aside by Mr. Sheng for a long conversation. By the time she got back to the villa, it was already ten o’clock at night. Calculating the time difference, it should be early morning in the United States.

Even though she knew Sheng Jianan might be asleep, Tang Yanqi couldn’t help but call him.

She wanted to hear his voice, to give her courage, to make her feel at ease.

Unexpectedly, the previously unresponsive Sheng Jianan answered this time.

"Hello?"

Even though the voice on the phone was very familiar, inexplicably, Tang Yanqi felt like it had been ages, and she found herself momentarily speechless.

The person on the other end seemed impatient, and after a two-second silence, they hung up first.

It was only when she heard the busy signal that Tang Yanqi snapped back: "Hello, hello..."

It was too late. All she could hear from the phone was the "beep beep" sound.

When Tang Yanqi called back, the phone was already off.

Vaguely, Tang Yanqi felt something was wrong, but she just didn’t know what exactly.

Since she and Sheng Jianan got together, this was the first time such a situation had occurred.

Pressing her lips together, Tang Yanqi sent Sheng Jianan a message: [When are you coming back? I need to go out tomorrow and will return the day after. I have something to tell you when you get back.]

The message was sent, but there was no reply.

——

Across the ocean, Sheng Jianan stood with his phone in hand, looking out at the Manhattan night view from the hotel’s top-floor window, holding a glass of red wine.

The calm he had managed to regain over the past few days was shattered by the phone call he inadvertently answered just now.

Frowning deeply, Sheng Jianan suddenly threw the wine glass in his hand to the ground with force.

The dark red liquid splattered across the carpet with a dull thud. Frustrated, Sheng Jianan raked a hand through his hair, turned, and went back into the bathroom, letting the cold water from the shower wash over him.