The Secret Meeting in the Garden: The First Glimmer of Trust

The Secret Meeting in the Garden: The First Glimmer of Trust

After the thrilling encounter on the rooftop, Su Yao dragged her legs, which felt as heavy as if filled with lead, back home and slumped onto the sofa. Her heart was still pounding violently in her chest, and the venomous words of Zhang Feng, like a viper hissing, and his menacing, suffocating presence kept echoing in her mind. A lingering sense of fear followed her like a shadow. Su Yao stared blankly at the ceiling, her heart filled with panic and helplessness. "Why did Zhang Feng treat me like this? What exactly happened to my father back then? How did all this come about..."

Just then, the screen of her mobile phone suddenly lit up, and a dazzling light broke the silence in the room. An anonymous text message, like a mysterious command, came into view: "Su Yao, meet me at the bench by the pond in the garden downstairs of the company at noon tomorrow. I have something to tell you about your father. Come alone. Don't miss it."

Su Yao's heart skipped a beat, as if grabbed by an invisible hand. She clenched her phone tightly, her palms sweating. She was only 23 years old, having just stepped into the workplace. She should have been enjoying the beauty of youth, but she was instead overwhelmed by these successive troubles, filled with doubts. Who on earth could be so precise in discerning her deep - seated eagerness to know about her father's affairs? And why choose this time and place to meet her? A series of questions churned in her mind, but the blazing obsession with the truth finally prevailed. She gritted her teeth and secretly made up her mind: "Anyway, I must find out."

At noon the next day, with curiosity and trepidation in her heart, as if carrying a frightened fawn, Su Yao pretended to be calm and walked towards the garden. The sunlight shone on the pond, creating shimmering waves. The scenery that usually brought peace of mind now seemed to hide mysteries in her eyes, making her feel extremely oppressed. Along the winding path, her heartbeat quickened with each step, as if it was about to burst out of her chest. Her eyes searched around the bench like a searchlight. From a distance, a graceful figure was sitting quietly there, half - hidden by the green plants, like a mysterious veil, making it hard to see clearly.

As she got closer, Su Yao couldn't help but widen her eyes, her mouth slightly open, and the surprise and confusion on her face froze instantly - it was Lin Wan.

Lin Wan's attire today was completely different from her usual capable image in the company. She was like a beauty from the Republic of China who had traveled through time. She was wearing a retro dark green cheongsam. The tailored fit, like the meticulous work of a skilled craftsman, perfectly showcased her slender waist. The delicate embroidery on the cheongsam seemed to hide countless ancient and mysterious stories, whispering softly with her every move. Her jet - black hair was loosely coiled up, with a few wisps of hair falling beside her fair neck, like freehand brushstrokes in ink - wash painting, adding a touch of charm. She wore a thin veil on her face, only revealing a pair of bright and deep eyes, like the bright stars in a secluded pond. One couldn't see her entire expression clearly, but it added an air of mystery for no reason.

"Are you... Miss Lin Wan?" Su Yao subconsciously bent slightly and asked softly, her voice betraying her shock and restraint. She quickly rummaged through her mind, thinking that she seemed to have had no intersection with this elegant and mysterious woman before. She really couldn't figure out why the other party would know the secrets of her father. What was going on? Su Yao's eyes were full of inquiry, and her brows furrowed slightly as she tried to find a clue from Lin Wan's face.

Lin Wan gently raised her hand, lifted the thin veil to one side, and the corners of her mouth curved upwards, revealing a meaningful smile. "Su Yao, you're quite surprised, aren't you?" Her voice was as gentle as the breeze, gently brushing past the ear, yet it seemed to carry many unknown secrets. Lin Wan looked at the young and somewhat flustered girl in front of her, a trace of pity welled up in her heart. She looked at Su Yao softly, with a hint of relief in her eyes, as if seeing Su Yao's current appearance reminded her of some people and things in the past.

Su Yao quickly straightened up, looked at Lin Wan, with a hint of caution in her eyes, and said softly, "Sister Lin Wan, I... my mind has been in a mess. So many things have happened in the past two days, and I really need someone to talk to. But yesterday at noon on the rooftop, it was clearly the voice of a middle - aged woman. Why is it you, Sister Lin Wan?" Su Yao tilted her head slightly, her eyes full of confusion. Her hands unconsciously clasped together, and her fingers kept twisting, showing the unease and awkwardness of her age.

Lin Wan bent slightly, looked at Su Yao with gentle eyes, and explained softly, "Su Yao, you don't know. The situation was urgent at that time. I was afraid that Zhang Feng would recognize my voice and cause trouble for you later, so I deliberately lowered my voice and changed my tone to make it sound like a middle - aged woman. I really couldn't stand him bullying you and just wanted to scare him away quickly to protect you." As she spoke, Lin Wan gently patted Su Yao's shoulder, her eyes full of concern, as if telling Su Yao that she was there and there was no need to be afraid.

A flash of thought crossed Su Yao's eyes. She carefully recalled what had happened yesterday. Although the voice had sounded like that of a middle - aged woman, the dignity in the tone and the timely appearance indeed matched the Lin Wan in front of her. She looked at Lin Wan again and, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, gradually found the answer in her heart. She nodded slightly, and the tense look on her face relaxed a little.

Lin Wan gently took Su Yao's hand, led her to the bench, and they sat side by side. Lin Wan's hand held Su Yao's tightly all the time, as if to give her endless comfort and strength. "Su Yao, don't be afraid. It's all over," Lin Wan said gently. "Yesterday on the rooftop, it was indeed me who spoke up for you." Lin Wan's voice was gentle yet firm, and her eyes exuded a reassuring power. She gently stroked the back of Su Yao's hand, trying to dispel the fear in her heart.

A flash of surprise and relief appeared in Su Yao's eyes. She looked up, and there was still a trace of panic in her eyes. "Sister Lin Wan, it was really you! I thought I was... done for at that time. Thanks to you, I don't even know how to thank you." Su Yao's eyes were slightly red, her voice choked with sobs. Her hands tightly held Lin Wan's in return, as if it was the only life - saving straw for her at this moment. Her young face was filled with gratitude.

Lin Wan gently patted Su Yao's hand, her eyes full of warmth and care. She slightly turned sideways to face Su Yao, her eyes becoming distant as if lost in memories. She slowly began to speak, "Su Yao, this story is a long one. I'm just a few years older than you. My hometown is a remote and poor small mountain village in Jiangnan. Life there was tough. The transportation was blocked, and there wasn't even a decent road. My parents are honest farmers. There are many children in the family, and it was difficult to even have enough to eat and wear, let alone afford to send me to school. But I've loved learning since I was a child and always dreamed of getting out of the mountains and changing my fate." Speaking of this, a trace of desolation flashed in Lin Wan's eyes, and her voice trembled slightly.

"In order to save tuition fees, I worked in a small factory in the town during summer and winter vacations. I got up early and worked late every day, so tired that my bones seemed to fall apart. Even so, by my sophomore year, my family really couldn't afford the money anymore, and I was facing the dilemma of dropping out of school. At that time, I felt like the sky was about to collapse, and all my efforts seemed to be in vain." Lin Wan slightly raised her head, trying her best to hold back her tears, but her red - rimmed eyes still revealed the bitterness in her heart.

"Just then, I went to participate in an industry exchange event, hoping to find some funding opportunities by chance. The venue was full of industry elites. I was nervous and self - conscious, at a loss in the corner. Your father, Su Rui, as an invited guest, was particularly conspicuous in the crowd, exuding a calm and wise aura. He seemed to notice my embarrassment and took the initiative to come over and talk to me. After learning about my difficulties, he not only wrote me a full - amount check on the spot to solve my tuition problem but also encouraged me to persevere in my studies, saying that I was a promising child and would surely achieve something in the future." Lin Wan's face was filled with gratitude, and her eyes showed deep respect for Su Yao's father. She knew well that if it hadn't been for Su Yao's father's help back then, her life might have been completely different.

Su Yao's eyes widened in disbelief. "Sister Lin Wan, so my father did such a thing!" Su Yao's heart was filled with both surprise and pride. She had never thought that her father had such a past of helping others. Her respect for her father grew deeper in her heart, and at the same time, it strengthened her determination to seek justice for her father. The stubbornness sparkled in her young eyes.

Lin Wan nodded slightly and continued, "From then on, I studied even harder, only to live up to your father's expectations. After graduating from university, I joined the Li Group. At first, I didn't pay much attention to the past relationship between the company and the Su family. Until one time, when I was sorting out various past documents, I accidentally discovered that the business exchanges between the Su family and the Li Group were extremely frequent back then. Moreover, from some high - level meeting minutes and cooperation memorandums, it could be seen that your father, Su Rui, had a close relationship with several senior figures in the Li Group. They worked together on many major projects, trusted each other, and jointly explored the market. At that time, the two families were very close and had an extraordinary friendship." Lin Wan slightly furrowed her brows, a hint of solemnity showing in her eyes, as if she realized that there were unknown crises hidden behind those good old days. As a professional who had been working in the group for several years, she keenly sensed something strange.

Su Yao leaned forward, her eyes fixed tightly on Lin Wan. "Sister Lin Wan, what did you find? Tell me quickly!" Su Yao's hands tightly grasped the edge of the bench, her body trembling slightly. Her anxiety and eagerness for the truth had reached their peak. How could the young and impulsive her hold back her impatience?