Early the next morning, after the awkward situation the day before—when everyone had been waiting for her to start the meeting—Lei Shaoxin arrived at Zhuosheng Group much earlier than usual.
The meeting wrapped up quickly.
When she stepped into the elevator, she didn’t press the button for the basement parking level.
Ding. The doors opened on the sixth floor.
She stepped out, glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then pushed open a door marked “Emergency Exit.”
She climbed two flights of stairs to the eighth floor. Cracking the door open just a sliver, she immediately spotted the records room diagonally across the hallway.
Still cautious, she scanned her surroundings again. Once she was sure the coast was clear, she slipped out of the stairwell.
Click. She turned the handle of the records room door—it wasn’t locked, just as she had expected.
After another quick check to confirm no one was around, she slipped inside and quietly shut the door behind her.
There was no time to waste. She quickly located the cabinet labeled “Finance Department.”
Inside, she found the storage boxes for the relevant years—but there were far too many documents.
With time running out, she skimmed through them, but couldn’t find what she was looking for.
Footsteps occasionally echoed outside the door. It wasn’t safe to linger. She put everything back in place.
Standing by the door, she pressed her ear against it, waiting until the hallway fell silent. Only then did she open the door and slip out, closing it quietly behind her.
Acting as if nothing had happened, she walked to the elevator and pressed the button. As she stepped inside, she glanced up at the security camera on the ceiling, a thoughtful look crossing her face.
“Mr. He, the surveillance cameras caught Miss Lei entering the records room. Her behavior seemed… unusual.” The assistant handed over a phone displaying the footage.
“Strengthen security,” He Zhuosheng said, his grip tightening around the phone, veins standing out on the back of his hand.
At 3:30 in the afternoon—tea time.
“Miss, I’d like to order,” Lei Shaoxin said, raising her hand. “French toast, iced milk tea, curry fish balls, and iced lemon tea.”
“You’ve been back this long and only now you come see me? After all these years, you’re still heartless,” Hu Wenwen teased while washing dishes.
Lei Shaoxin smiled faintly. “I’ve been busy. I’m working at Lei Group now.”
Hu Wenwen poked at the lemon slices in her drink. “You came back just to work for that place?”
Lei Shaoxin didn’t beat around the bush. “Wenwen, I need a favor—help me hack a few surveillance systems.”
“Easy,” Hu Wenwen replied casually, stuffing a piece of French toast into her mouth. “By the way, a friend’s band is performing tonight. Want to join?”
At the mention of it, Lei Shaoxin felt a familiar itch. “Sure.”
She hadn’t played electric guitar since returning to the city. Hearing her agree, Hu Wenwen immediately lost interest in finishing her tea.
“They’re rehearsing right now.” She grabbed Lei Shaoxin and pulled her out of the café.
They stopped by Lei Shaoxin’s place to pick up her electric guitar and change clothes.
Only when they arrived did Lei Shaoxin realize—the performance venue was V Club.
After meeting the band members, they started rehearsing. She hadn’t lost her touch at all—in fact, her playing blended seamlessly with the group, and the addition of her electric guitar elevated their sound even further.
The band leader was so impressed he even wanted her to join permanently.
“Boss Fu, Shaoxin is performing at the bar tonight,” Li Mingxian said over the phone. He had just arrived and spotted her on stage tuning her guitar, immediately calling Fu Haoyan.
Fu Haoyan glanced at the time. “I’ll be there soon.”
On stage, Lei Shaoxin also noticed Li Mingxian and nodded in greeting.
The crowd had already filled the floor—there were nearly twice as many people as usual. Whether it had anything to do with her was unclear.
Even before the performance started, people were already trying to send her flowers or invite her for drinks.
She turned them all down.
When Fu Haoyan arrived and saw the scene, his mood instantly darkened.
But when Fu Haoyan saw the girl on stage—head lowered as she adjusted her electric guitar, a charming smile on her lips—he couldn’t help but smile along with her.
The performance began.
As he watched her, he realized how different she looked. He was used to seeing Lei Shaoxin with her hair in a high ponytail, but now, dressed in a cropped top that revealed her slender waist, she carried the energy of a true rock girl.
Even as the crowd behind him kept pushing forward, he showed no irritation—his attention was fixed entirely on her.
Under the stage lights, she shone, playing her electric guitar with effortless confidence. She was captivating.
When the performance ended, the band stepped off the stage, celebrating their success.
Lei Shaoxin’s smile was genuine—something Fu Haoyan hadn’t seen since reuniting with her. It was a smile that came straight from the heart.
Li Mingxian clapped enthusiastically by the stage. “Shaoxin, you should perform here regularly—tonight’s business is booming thanks to you.”
Behind him stood Fu Haoyan, hands in his pockets.
When Lei Shaoxin noticed him, she paused—she hadn’t even realized when he arrived. The memory of that night at the parking lot flashed through her mind.
Turning to Li Mingxian, she joked, “Then I’ll be counting on you to look out for me, Brother Xian.”
Just then, Hu Wenwen pushed through the crowd and rushed to her side.
“That was amazing, Shaoxin!” she said, wrapping her arm around her.
Hu Wenwen was about twelve centimeters shorter, and with her straight bangs, she looked especially petite leaning against Lei Shaoxin.
Lei Shaoxin began introducing her. “This is Hu Wenwen, my chil—”
Before she could finish, the sharp sound of shattering glass rang out behind them.
Fu Haoyan reacted instantly, pulling Lei Shaoxin into his arms to shield her.
Li Mingxian also moved quickly, grabbing Hu Wenwen amid the chaos and leading her toward the back office.
With his other hand, Fu Haoyan grabbed Lei Shaoxin’s wrist and hurried toward the exit. Startled, she let him lead her without resistance.
Near the door, a drunk man blocked their path, trying to grab Lei Shaoxin and drag her into drinking with him.
Instinctively, she raised the electric guitar in her hand to fend him off—
Before she could act, Fu Haoyan turned, his expression darkening. He lifted his leg and kicked the man hard. Even in the noisy environment, the crack of breaking bones was unmistakable.
The man collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest and gasping in pain—likely with broken ribs.
By then, they had already made it outside.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” Fu Haoyan turned her around, carefully checking her from head to toe. Seeing no visible injuries, he relaxed slightly.
She shook her head, then leaned her face against his shoulder, whispering softly, “My guitar… it’s broken.”
A moment later, he felt warmth on his shoulder. Looking at her, he saw her trembling slightly.
He gently patted her back with one hand while taking the damaged guitar from her with the other.
“My mom gave it to me… and now it’s ruined.”
Whether from fear or heartbreak, her arms, which had been hanging at her sides, slowly wrapped around his waist as she began to sob quietly.
Fu Haoyan stiffened at the sudden contact.
He glanced down at the guitar—the body was indeed cracked.
Under the warm glow of the streetlights, their shadows stretched long across the ground.
He drove her home.
Lei Shaoxin carried the broken guitar inside.
Fu Haoyan stayed outside, looking up at the lit window of her room.
Then he took out his phone and made a call.
“A-Le, order an electric guitar.”
He immediately sent over a photo—the one he had secretly taken just moments earlier.