Paper Lover At Old Town Bookstore Chapter 49

From now on, the three of us

When Lin Zhiqing’s investigation results came in, I was reviewing the branch’s quarterly report. My fingertips crossed the line “source of gambling debts” and my pupils suddenly tightened.

“He Pingan has never been involved in gambling at all,” Lin Zhiqing stood in front of the desk with a solemn tone. “Mr. Xing set up a trap and forged evidence that he owed loan sharks, and deliberately raised the debt to an amount that he would never be able to repay in his lifetime.”

My fingers holding the document turned slightly white, and I remembered the panic and exhaustion in He Pingan’s eyes in the KTV corridor that day. It turned out that it was not the embarrassment of being ridden with gambling debts, but the despair of being driven away and killed.”He is an orphan and has no one to rely on. Why would Mr. Xing do this to him?”

“Because He Pingan and Xing Qingru had a better time when they studied abroad in their early years.” Lin Zhiqing added, “Mr. Xing always disagreed. He felt that He Pingan was from a humble background and was not worthy of the Xing family. Later, the two broke up, and He Pingan joined the Xing family as an assistant. He wanted to silently guard Xing Qingru, but Mr. Xing was still worried.”

That’s it.I leaned back in my chair, and the image of He Pingan’s hasty escape came to my mind.He didn’t make a mistake and run away, but he was forced into a desperate situation.In order to keep him away from Xing Qingru completely, Mr.

“Does Xing Qingru know?” I asked.

“The investigation showed that Miss Xing was opposed to it at first, but Mr. Xing forced her to do so based on family interests, saying that He Pingan would be a disaster sooner or later if he stayed with her. He also threatened to ruin He Pingan’s reputation by showing photos of the two when they were together. In the end, Miss Xing had no choice but to compromise and publicly announced that she had cut off all relations with He Pingan, and even acquiesced to his claim that he ‘run away due to gambling debts.'”

My heart felt like it was blocked by something, and I felt so stuffy that I felt panicked.I thought of Song Zhili’s seemingly glorious marriage, and of Xing Qingru’s decent but distant smile at the banquet. It turned out that behind this marriage, there was not only an exchange of family interests, but also a past that was crushed by power.He Ping’an was like an insignificant chess piece, easily sacrificed for the sake of the Xing family’s dignity.

“Can we help him?” I asked subconsciously.

Lin Zhiqing was silent for a moment: “Help him pay off the debt directly, which is equivalent to breaking up with the Xing family. And with Mr. Xing’s methods, even if the debt is paid off, he will find other reasons to suppress He Pingan.”

I looked at the endless traffic outside the window and tapped my fingertips on the table unconsciously.Mr. Xing’s ruthlessness exceeded my expectations.As for Song Zhili, does he know about this?If you knew that his choice of marriage would also mean that he acquiesced in what the Xing family did?

“Keep an eye on He Pingan’s safety first.” I finally spoke with a firm tone, “Also, after checking the details of the cooperation between Song Zhili and Mr. Xing, I always feel that his agreement to marry was not just for the benefit of the Song and Xing families.”

Lin Zhiqing nodded in agreement, turned and left the office.The room became quiet again, but I could no longer calm down and read the report.He Pingan’s experience is like a mirror, reflecting the coldness and selfishness behind the marriage of wealthy families.And I seemed to be walking into a deeper vortex step by step. The hidden truths, the sacrificed people, and the secrets hidden behind Song Zhili’s deep love were all waiting for me to uncover.In the private room of the private club, the curtains were tightly drawn, leaving only a floor lamp casting a warm yellow glow.When He Ping’an was brought in, he was still wearing the KTV uniform that had been washed white. The cuffs were frayed. His hands were subconsciously holding the corners of his clothes. His eyes were full of vigilance and fear, like a cornered animal that was forced into a desperate situation.

“Mr. Song… what are you doing?” His voice was trembling. He probably thought I was here to add insult to injury, or to threaten the Xing family with his affairs.

I was sitting on the sofa, playing with a jade ring on my fingertips – it was a token sent by the old man after taking over the branch, and now it became the town’s confidence.”Sit down.” I raised my chin, my tone was calm but with an undeniable dignity, “Lin Zhiqing, give Mr. He a cup of tea.”

Lin Zhiqing handed over the teacup politely, but He Pingan didn’t take it. He just stared at me, as if he was guessing my intentions.I didn’t beat around the bush and said directly: “He Ping’an, come and work with me.”

He raised his head suddenly, his eyes filled with astonishment.

“Lin Zhiqing will take you to start as my special assistant, with a salary three times that of yours at the Xing family.” I paused, watching the panic in his eyes gradually fade away, and continued with a bit of disbelief, “In addition, I have asked someone to pay off the full amount of your so-called ‘gambling debts’ and the unequal terms you signed. The original contract is here.”

Lin Zhiqing handed over a stack of documents at the right time, and the top one was a debt settlement certificate.He Pingan’s eyes fell on the document, and his body trembled uncontrollably. His Adam’s apple rolled several times. He wanted to say something but choked up and did not make a sound.

“The three of us will live together in the future.” I added, my tone unconsciously softer, “I bought a three-story duplex in the city center. The room is big enough and more lively. You don’t have to hide and do odd jobs anymore, and you don’t have to worry about Mr. Xing coming to trouble you again – as long as I’m here, no one can lay a finger on you.”

“Mr. Song…” He finally found his voice, with a strong nasal tone, and his eyes instantly turned red, “Why do you want to help me? I’m just…”

“Just an orphan who was abandoned by the Xing family?” I interrupted him, my tone a little colder, “But you did nothing wrong and you shouldn’t be exterminated like that.” I thought of the past between him and Xing Qingru in the investigation, and of his silent presence.Xing Qingru has been with you for many years, but in the end he ended up like this. He felt a bit of unbearable in his heart, “I help you, not because of sympathy, but because I feel that you are capable and should not be buried. Moreover, multiple people can help me and Lin Zhiqing share some of the work.”

He Ping’an looked at me, then at Lin Zhiqing, who looked gentle next to him, and finally couldn’t help but shed tears.He stood up abruptly and bowed deeply to me. His voice was choked but firm: “Mr. Song, I can’t repay your great kindness. From now on, my life is yours. I will do whatever you ask me to do!”

I raised my hand and asked him to stand up: “I don’t want your life, as long as you do your job well and live your life, let those who look down on you and suppress you see that you are not a soft persimmon who can be manipulated by others.”

He nodded heavily, wiped his tears with the back of his hand, and the light finally reignited in his eyes.It is a kind of hope to survive a desperate situation, and it is also a kind of determination to break the boat.

Lin Zhiqing patted him on the shoulder: “From now on, we are all our own people, so there is no need to be so outspoken. Tomorrow I will take you to familiarize yourself with the work, and the apartment has been packed. You have a good rest tonight.”

He Pingan thanked him again, his tone full of gratitude.Seeing him straighten his back and no longer stoop, I suddenly felt that I had made the right decision.Not only did I save He Ping’an, maybe, from him, I could dig out more secrets about the Xing family and Song Zhili’s marriage.

And this game has become even more complicated and confusing because of the participation of He Pingan.