Everyone felt more or less depressed. After this feast, they would go to different places, and nobody knew when they would get together again. Though Qin Sheng said that it wouldn’t be long, nobody knew what the future held.

It was out of everybody’s expectation that Qin Sheng, who used to be so successful in Hangzhou, would now be in such a tight corner that he had to leave this city. Gu Xiaobo was affected the most. He thought that Qin Sheng was a very capable person, but was actually not. He was now deeply disappointed. Gu Xiaobo remembered what the others had said when they were being held by the police, so he hesitated again.

This feast was for welcoming, as well as parting. Qin Sheng really wanted to get drunk with these good brother-like friends. But his situation now didn’t allow him to do so, and he had to remain sober. The red wine on the table was far from enough to get anyone drunk.

After lunch, Gu Qingyang sent Gu Xiaobo and Tang She back. Chang Baji asked them to have a good rest, preparing for their plan tomorrow. In fact, everybody knew that the so-called plan was to protect Qin Sheng to leave Hangzhou safely. Nobody was discontent with this arrangement, except for Gu Xiaobo, who had complained a little.

Chang Baji and Hao Lei didn’t leave. Among these people, they were the closest to Qin Sheng were his most trustworthy friends. They had been following Qin Sheng from Xi’an to Shanghai, and from Shanghai to Hangzhou. Qin Sheng never hide anything from them.

The three people sat in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel, chatting. Hao Lei was still thinking about what Qin Sheng just said. He asked, “Are you really going to leave Hangzhou?”

“I don’t have a better plan. So leaving is the best choice now for me. I don’t want to get Uncle Cao involved in these things. His greatest strength is not in Hangzhou, so he couldn’t stand in opposition to the Qu Family and Yan Family. Besides, he is not capable of dealing with these things here. Though Sister Xue is willing to help me, you all know about the relationship between her and me. I don’t want to bother her. As for Uncle Zhuang, I lost contact with him a long time ago. And others… I don’t expect them to help. So, now I have no other way. If I stay, I will die,” Qin Sheng said honestly.

Chang Baji said in a soft voice, “There is a saying in The Art of War that sometimes leaving might be the best strategy. When you chose to confront Yan Chaozong directly at Yuerong Manor, the result was already written. In fact, you should have made that decision earlier, when you met Yan Chaozong. Now you know. Yan Chaozong never wanted to let you go. No matter what you do, you’ll always be his target.”

“Hmph, what a f*cking world…” Hao Lei cursed. Obviously, he was complaining about fate’s arrangement.

Qin Sheng laughed at himself and said, “Hmm… You should always accept fate, or you’ll pay for it. Now I get it. China is such a big country. I believe that I’ll finally find my position somewhere.”

“Of course. I trust in your ability. No matter where you go, you’ll become somebody there. I’ve made up my mind to follow you. You’ll never leave me,” Hao Lei said firmly. He had followed Qin Sheng, experiencing a lot of unimaginable things. This was much better than looking for a normal job in Xi’an, killing time until death. Besides, his and Qin Sheng’s friendship had lasted for years.

Chang Baji sighed and said, “Since I’ve made my choice, no matter if it’s right or wrong, I’ll always be with you.”

“Hahahaha, don’t worry. I’ll be back,” Qin Sheng said with firm eyes.

Hao Lei suddenly remembered something else and asked, “What about Lin Su? What’s your plan for her?”

“I’ve sent her back to Ningbo. It’s safe for her to stay with the Lin Family. Hmm… She had suffered a lot since she stayed with me. I hope that I have the chance to make it up to her one day,” Qin Sheng said with a forced smile.

Hao Lei said with mixed feelings, “Now Han Bing must feel terrible. She finally made up her mind to leave Shanghai for Hangzhou. She just started her business here, but we’re going to leave. I don’t know what her future holds or what she’ll think of us. By the way, Su Qin… She’s still in Hangzhou, right? Have you contacted her after you were released?”

Qin Sheng was kind of surprised by what he said. He replied, “I won’t bother with that. Say goodbye to her for me after I leave, please. I hope she can understand me. I’m not a cold and selfish person, but the situation made me do so.”

“OK, got it. Don’t worry about this,” Hao Lei said and sighed.

After the talk, Chang Baji and Hao Lei went back and Qin Sheng left for Jiuxi Rose Garden. Before he left, he should at least say goodbye to Cao Da, who had given him the opportunity to gain what he had now. For reasons of social relations or for friendship, he was supposed to tell Cao Da he was leaving in person.

Today, at the Cao’s mansion at Jiuxi Rose Garden, everybody was present. It was the weekend and the mansion was unusually lively. People there were all laughing and chatting warmly and happily, which was what an ideal life looked like. Cao Da had struggled his whole life to win the felicity that he now had as he was older. Qin Sheng admired their life and couldn’t help thinking about his elderly life. He hoped that he wouldn’t be alone in those days.

“Wow, Qin Sheng’s here. I haven’t seen you for a long time. Come and sit here,” Ji Jing said happily after she saw Qin Sheng. It had really been a long time since she met Qin Sheng last.

Other people heard that and all looked at the door, seeing Qin Sheng coming in. They all greeted Qin Sheng and he also greeted them with a smile in return.

Other people had no idea of what had happened to Qin Sheng these days, aside from Mi Na. She knew that Qin Sheng had to have something to say to Lao Cao, but she said nothing.

As Mi Na expected, Cao Da just stood up and said, “Help yourselves. I’ll talk about something with Qin Sheng.”

Then, he took Qin Sheng to his study.

In the study, Cao Da took a seat and then asked, “Have Lao Chang and the others been released?”

“Yes, I just had lunch with them,” Qin Sheng answered, realizing that Cao Da was following the progress of these things.

Cao Da frowned and said, “What’s your plan then? I wonder what you’re thinking about.”

“This is why I came here today to talk to you, Uncle Cao. We’ve decided to leave Hangzhou,” Qin Sheng said calmly. He had made up his mind and received this result.

Cao Da’s complexion was cloudy. “Really?”

Qin Sheng nodded as he said, “Yes.”

Cao Da asked, “Does Miss Xue know of your decision?”

“I told Sister Xue before, and she agreed with me. I know she doesn’t want me to leave, but I don’t want to trouble anyone this time.” Qin Sheng showed a bitter smile.

Cao Da sighed and said, “Qin Sheng, I’m sorry that I can’t help you. Please forgive me.”

“Uncle Cao, never mind. I’m not a selfish person. What I’ve achieved in Hangzhou was all because of you. I’ll never let you get into any more troubles,” Qin Sheng said with guilty.

Cao Da nodded and said, “That’ll be fine. You know me. I’m rooted in Hangzhou.”

“Well, by the way, Uncle Cao, I lost contact with Uncle Zhuang a long time ago, so would you mind conveying my plan to him? I hope he’ll understand me.” Qin Sheng remembered that he should inform Zhuang Zhou of this and asked Cao Da for help.

Cao Da was quite surprised, but he didn’t show it. “Well, I haven’t been in touch with him for some time either. Don’t worry. I’ll tell him about this.”

“Thank you, Uncle Cao,” Qin Sheng said with a relieved smile.

Cao Da said in a low voice to comfort him, “We are friends.”

“In addition to that, I have something else to ask for your help with. It’s about the branch company. I had asked Ms. An and the others to come to join me, and they’re my good friends. Since I’m leaving, I hope you can take care of them instead of me. I hope they have the freedom to choose to leave, or to stay. The branch company is just on the right track, but I have to go now. To be honest, I’m really sorry, Uncle Cao,” Qin Sheng said with difficulty. This was the other reason why he came to meet Cao Da. Ms. An and Yu Fengzhi came from Shanghai to Hangzhou for him. Now that he was leaving and disappointing them, he had to inform them later at least.

Cao Da didn’t hesitate to say, “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of them even though you’re not here. If they choose to stay, I’ll definitely support their work.”

“I really appreciate your help, Uncle Cao.” Qin Sheng was relieved.

Cao Da gave Qin Sheng a cigarette, lit it, and said, “So, are you ready to leave?”

“Yes, I’m ready,” Qin Sheng said.

Cao Da thought for a while and asked, “When will you go?”

“Tomorrow evening,” Qin Sheng said in a low voice.

Cao Da was surprised, for he never expected that Qin Sheng was in a hurry to go. But it made sense since the sooner he left, the safer he would be.

“I wish you a smooth journey. I hope to see you again,” Cao Da said and sighed.

Qin Sheng, having mixed feelings, stood up and bowed to Cao Da. “Uncle Cao, thank you for your help for such a long time. If I have the chance, I hope I could do something for you in return.”

Cao Da said nothing. He had no complaints about Qin Sheng, who was a capable person, knowing what he should and should not do.

But Cao Da was thinking about the reasons why Zhuang Zhou disappeared and why Qin Changan didn’t appear. As Qin Sheng’s father, how could Qin Changan allow others to bully and drive away his own son?

Or maybe, Qin Changan had his plan.

When Qin Sheng and Cao Da went out of the study, the sitting room was still in the happy and warm atmosphere. Cao Zhang was kidding Yu Er, Mi Na was joking with Cao Yin, and Ji Jing was looking at them, laughing and getting a word in occasionally.

They heard Qin Sheng and Cao Da coming downstairs and stared at them. Qin Sheng thought it over and said, “First Aunt, Second Aunt, I’m leaving Hangzhou. I’ll be back to see you if I have the chance. Thank you for caring about me these days.”

Everyone here was astonished by this news, with their smiles freezing. Nobody had expected that Qin Sheng would leave.

Qin Sheng laughed bitterly and said, “So, I got to go.”

Cao Da walked Qin Sheng to leave his home while the others were still drowned in this unexpected news. But everyone could tell the pressure and sorrow hidden behind Qin Sheng’s laughter and stooping.

Every person would choose a way to go to his own destination.

At dusk, Qin Sheng invited Ms. An, Yu Fengzhi, and Lyu Yuan to eat out. He had to say goodbye and ask for their forgiveness.

At the same time, Gu Xiaobo was drinking with Gu Qingyang at a food stall.