In a specially arranged office in Zhonghai, Ning Guangyao, unaware that Lin Ruoxi had fainted from the overwhelming stress, was left holding the phone. He assumed she was still furious with Ning Guodong and, by extension, with him as well. Shaking his head with a bitter smile, he put the receiver down.
Lost in thought, Ning Guangyao pulled out his wallet. Unlike ordinary wallets that hold cash and credit cards, his contained meaningful mementos, photographs, business cards, and other small keepsakes. He extracted an old photo, encased in plastic and tucked away in the innermost pocket. Though slightly yellowed with age, the photo remained clear.
It depicted a young woman in the attire of an educated lady from a bygone era, sitting on a stone bench, absorbed in a book. Her serene demeanor suggested that the world outside was of no consequence to her.
