I froze, thrown by his assumption. Before I could say a word, he scoffed, "You'll have the money in three days." With that, he changed his clothes and walked out of the apartment. I wanted to laugh, but the sound wouldn't come. *So that's what this was?* He'd come here for one last time, and was now tossing me some hush money? How generous of him. A phone on the nightstand started ringing, its unfamiliar tone startling me. It wasn't mine. A glance confirmed it: Gu Zhizhou's. He'd left it behind. It kept ringing. After a moment's hesitation, I answered. "Hello?" Silence on the other end. I checked the caller ID, my frown deepening at the name. It was Lu Ke'er. "Tang Li?" the woman on the other end asked, her voice stripped of its usual warmth. "Speaking," I replied. She didn't bother with another word, simply hanging up. His fiancée calling, only to have another woman answer his phone. I didn't need to guess how Lu Ke'er was feeling right now. Gu Zhizhou's visit left me sleepless. I finally drifted off as dawn broke. The next day. After settling things with my landlord about the apartment, I went to the police station to check on my father's case. I learned that Lu Yi was already looking into it. It seemed my father would be released soon. I had just left the station when Chen Jie called. The June sun was scorching, so I found a spot in the shade to answer. "Ms. Chen, it's been a while. Are you calling with a new gig for me?" I’d known Ms. Chen since college, where I did freelance translation. She knew I was always short on cash and had always looked out for me, and we'd kept in touch since graduation. She laughed on the other end. "You know me too well, Tang Li. It's a conference interpreting gig. The client's a major corporation, and this is important to them. You're experienced and skilled; I wouldn't trust anyone else with it. I thought of you immediately. Are you free?" "I am," I said, though she couldn't see my nod. "Where and when?" My major in college was translation. And while I hadn't held a formal job during my years with Gu Zhizhou, I'd always taken on freelance work whenever I could to make some money. Hearing I was available, Ms. Chen sounded relieved. "Fantastic. Lu Corporation, eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Just head straight there; someone will be expecting you." *Lu Corporation?* The name gave me pause. "And it's definitely conference interpreting?" I asked, just to be sure. "That's right," Ms. Chen confirmed. "Lu Corporation is partnering with a British tech firm. They'll need you for about ten days. Your English is excellent, and you have a knack for technical terminology, so it should be no problem for you." That wasn't my concern. A ten-day assignment at Lu Corporation meant I'd inevitably run into the Lu siblings. "Ms. Chen, I..." The refusal died on my lips. A baby started wailing in the background on her end. "Oh, Tang Li, I'm so sorry to impose," she said hurriedly, "but I'm completely tied up. My daughter's had a high fever for days, and I'm at my wit's end. Please, I'm counting on you." The crying intensified, and after a few more rushed words, she hung up. The protest lodged in my throat, but I swallowed it back down. I hesitated for a moment outside the Lu Corporation building before finally stepping inside. I'd already agreed. Might as well see it through. After checking in at reception, I was led to a conference room. There, a manager named Ms. Liu briefed me: my job was simply to provide real-time translation of all important discussions from the other party. Soon, people began to file into the room. Then Lu Yi entered, dressed in a custom gray suit with his assistant trailing behind him. A knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach at the sight of him. But he walked in, greeted the partners, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, the meeting began. He didn't seem to recognize me in the slightest, and I let out a quiet breath of relief. They say a man is most captivating when he's focused on his work. Lu Yi's charm seemed to be an innate gentleness that permeated his every action. By the time the meeting concluded, both parties appeared satisfied. I handed my translated notes to Ms. Liu. After a quick review, she looked up at me. "Ms. Tang, could you wait just a moment? I'll get you the itinerary for the next few days so you can plan your schedule."