The man was rendered speechless again.
Then, he nervously chuckled. “Hehe, Chief Shen, you’re a kind man. Don’t hold me accountable for this, okay?”
Shen Peichuan was not taking revenge at work for his private grudges; he actually knew how capable the man was. “I’ll give you ten more days.”
The man stuck out two fingers. “Two months. I’ll need two months at least.”
Shen Peichuan lifted his head to look at him. “You’re pushing your luck.”
The man knew that Shen Peichuan had not given him the case impulsively; they had worked on a case together in the past. This was Shen Peichuan giving him an opportunity.
“I don’t care. You have to give me two months for this. The case is complicated, and I’m getting involved midway. I have to re-investigate many things. Forty days is too short,” the man said solemnly.
“You get another five days. I want the results in one and a half month.”
“I don’t have enough time,” the man complained with a frown.
“Think of something yourself.”
The man took in a deep breath.
He thought, I really shouldn’t have joked with my superior. Look at how miserable I am now.
In the evening, after Shen Peichuan got off work, he called Zong Jinghao and Su Zhan, inviting them for dinner.
He had returned from his outstation work and had been successfully promoted. Thus, he had to update them about it.
Sang Yu went out to shop for groceries. She had planned to celebrate the joyous news with Shen Peichuan, but she received a message from him, telling her that they were going out for dinner.
Therefore, she could only keep the groceries she bought away. Then, she headed to the restaurant Shen Peichuan had told her. When she reached, he was still nowhere to be seen.
Sang Yu took out her phone, about to call him when a car turned in from the main road. It stopped at the entrance of the restaurant. Soon, the passengers came down from the car. It was Song Yaxin and a man.
They seemed intimate with each other. The man was Song Yaxin’s new partner that someone introduced to her. He was divorced, but he had no kids. His looks were average, but he had a good job, and they seemed to be suitable for each other.
Song Yaxin only agreed to date him because she felt that the man had a good job. His looks and societal status were better than Shen Peichuan’s; Shen Peichuan was already very capable as he had achieved the position of chief at his young age.
Of course, a part of his success was due to Captain Song. When he retired, he recommended Shen Peichuan, who was already a capable man himself. Shen Peichuan had resolved the outstation case magnificently. The case had a three months deadline, but he had resolved it before then. That was why his superiors knew he was a good candidate for the position.
Hence, they had promoted him immediately when he returned.
Right then, Song Yaxin spotted Sang Yu, who stood at the doorway. The jealousy had its hands wrapped around her heart, and she could not hide the look of hatred on her face.
Shen Peichuan should have been mine. It’s because of Sang Yu that I lost him.
“You know her?” her boyfriend queried.
The corner of Song Yaxin’s lips curled upward. “Of course I do. Don’t assume that she’s harmless because she’s young. She’s proficient in seducing men. She’s the one who stole my last boyfriend.”
The man turned to look at Sang Yu. “She does look young…”
“She is young, but she’s a scheming one.” Song Yaxin wrapped her arm around his. “Come. Let’s go in.”
When Sang Yu saw them, she walked aside and continued her plan to call Shen Peichuan.
Soon, the call went through. “Sang Yu.”
“When are you reaching? I’m already here,” Sang Yu muttered.
“I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you.” At that, she ended the call.
Song Yaxin was still standing at the doorway. She sized the younger woman up and mocked, “An ugly duckling will never become a swan. You look the same as ever. No matter how much you try to cling to the best, you’ll never be one of them.”
Although Shen Peichuan had given her his bank card, she did not indulge in excessive purchases or branded items. Her spending habits remained the same. She only bought things that fit her well.
Sang Yu dressed up plainly, and the most expensive item on her was the necklace Lin Xinyan gifted her.
However, Song Yaxin assumed it was from Shen Peichuan.
“You’re so young, but you’re already seducing men and persuading them to buy you stuff. Well, as expected of the daughter of a murderer. How cunning,” Song Yaxin gritted out. If not for the man beside her, she would have rushed forward to wreck Sang Yu’s face.
Sang Yu was young and pretty. Naturally, the other women would feel jealous of her. Moreover, Song Yaxin felt that Sang Yu was the one who stole Shen Peichuan from her, so that was why she hated her even more.
Not wanting any conflict, Sang Yu stepped away from her. However, Song Yaxin grabbed her arm. “What’s wrong? Do you have the courage to steal my man but not the courage to admit it?”
Coldly, Sang Yu uttered, “I don’t know you that well. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Ha!” An angry laugh escaped Song Yaxin. “You’re already admitting it.”
Sang Yu struggled to break free from her grasp. “Let me go.”
Just then, Song Yaxin’s boyfriend intervened. He pulled Song Yaxin back and reminded, “Let the past stay in the past. We’re in a public space. If you keep this up, the people will crowd around us.”
Those who were entering and exiting the restaurant were already staring at them when they walked past them.
“That’s right. Everyone should stare at a shameless woman like her!” Song Yaxin raised her volume.
Sang Yu furrowed her brows. She’s being absurd.
“Let me go, or else I’m going to call the cops.” Sang Yu glared at the other woman.
I should’ve checked my horoscope before leaving home. What ill-luck to meet this clingy woman.
“Call the cops? Sure, call them now.” Song Yaxin was taking advantage of the fact that Sang Yu was alone at the restaurant. She became more and more unruly as she grabbed and pulled Sang Yu closer to her by her arm. “Sang Yu, I’m sure you know well how you got together with Shen Peichuan. Do you dare to say that you didn’t seduce him with your youth?”
“Only disgusting people have disgusting thoughts in their minds.” Sang Yu shot a glare at her. “Naturally, he won’t like a woman like you.”
Sang Yu had not wanted to fight with her, but the other woman was insistent. She had no other options as she could not endure her horrible words silently anymore.
A ferocious look crept upon Song Yaxin’s face as she bellowed, “Do you know what you’re talking about?”
“I’m sure you know what kind of person you are. If you’re a good woman, Peichuan would have chosen you. Am I not right? You have a better family background than mine. Why would he choose someone like me? I have a lousy family background and no one to back me up. Why didn’t he choose you? Why don’t you look at yourself in the mirror and think about why?” Sang Yu hissed. “You’re born into a respectable family, but you’re clinging onto me in public. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
Song Yaxin had not expected her to be as sharp-tongued as this. For a moment, she could not find the words to refute her.
Widening her eyes in rage, she yelled, “I dare you to say that again!”
Sang Yu ignored her as she struggled to break free.
Sang Yu’s struggles infuriated Song Yaxin even more, and the latter raised her hand. “Shameless b*tch!”
As she spoke, she swung her hand toward Sang Yu’s face.
