Chapter 5 — After the Storm, the Sky Is Blue for Thousands of Miles

Have you ever thought, the customer name she mentioned, you have never heard of, nor do you have any contact information - yet you think that is normal? My voice wasn't loud, but each question made his head bow lower.

“I…” he said with difficulty, “At that time… my mind was foggy.

She said this customer affects the company's important layout in the next half year, I... I'm scared, so..."

“Panic?” I laughed coldly, "Is it panic, or guilt?"

Chu Du An immediately raised his head and looked at me in surprise:

“Chich Chich, what do you mean? What do you have to feel guilty about?”

“I do.” I said frankly and without mercy, “Because I know she likes me, but I feel sorry for her.

So, when she used the excuse of 'help' and 'emergency' to approach him, he couldn't refuse. Even because of the so-called 'guilt', he agreed to cheat on me and had to follow her request. Chu Du An - in your heart, me and your career combined are not worth the meaningless 'favors' to her, right?" His face immediately turned white.

“That's not true! Chich Chich – it's not like that!”

He grabbed my hand in panic, squeezing so hard that it seemed like he wanted to crush my bones.

“In my heart, you are the most important person!

I just... I just don't want her to bother you anymore. I think if we solve it once, we won't have any problems in the future..."

“Solved?” I yanked my hand away and stood up.

“Solve it by wearing a bathrobe in a hotel room?”

“Chu Du An – you still don't understand?

The problem isn't her - it's you! Where are your boundaries? Where are your principles? Where is your head?” I don't want to hear any more explanations. All explanations, before the truth – are meaningless. I picked up my bag, turned around and left.

“Chich Chich! Where are you going? Chu Du An ran after me and grabbed my hand.

“Where I go is none of your business.” I didn't look back.

“No! Related!"

He held me tightly, his voice filled with pleading:

“Chich Chich, don't go!

Listen to my explanation - I really know my mistake! Give me one more chance – okay?”

“Opportunity?” I stopped walking, turned around, and looked at him coldly.

“I gave you a chance.

From last night until now, I've always given you a chance. It was you - the one who threw it away one by one." I pointed towards the door:

“I don't want to see you now.

Before I calm down – you better not appear in front of me.” Having finished speaking, I didn't give him a chance to hold back, shook my hand vigorously, quickly walked out of the room, and slammed the door. Stepping out of the hotel lobby, the bright sunlight shone on me, but I didn't feel any warmth. I walked along the beach with no clear goal. In my head, I kept replaying each scene that had just happened. Hua An's madness. Chu Du An's stupidity. And my own pain. I thought I was rational enough, calm enough. But when trust collapses – all lines of defense cannot withstand it. I went to an empty cliff and sat down. Waves crashed against the rocks, emitting a roaring sound like thunder. I took out my phone and opened the recording. Hua An's bitter voice, Chu Du An's frantic voice, and my own cold voice - dan intertwined like a ridiculous play. I listen again and again. I want to engrave this feeling. Remember the feeling of being betrayed by the person you trusted the most at the same time. Suddenly, a thought flashed in my head. Hua An was able to pull off such a complete play - surely she wouldn't leave any loopholes? But the logic of her words was full of loopholes, yet she was extremely confident. Why is she so sure that I will believe her, and not Chu Du An? Unless – she has another card in her hand. Or to put it another way - she had prepared everything to completely break Chu Du An and me. I stood up. No – I can't let it end like that. I cannot let a schemer achieve his goal. I can't let ten years of my love end in such obscurity. I have to investigate. The whole thing must be made clear – from beginning to end. I turned around and strode back to the hotel. This time, my target – not room 1808, but the hotel reception desk.

06

“I want to check the surveillance cameras.” I told the front desk manager, my tone calm.

The manager is a woman in her thirties, with a professional smile on her face:

“Miss, how can we help you?”

"I suspect my friend encountered a scam at your hotel. I want to extract the video recording of the 18th floor hallway from last night to this morning."

The manager's smile became a bit awkward:

"Sorry, according to regulations, hotel surveillance cameras cannot be arbitrarily shown to guests, unless there is police intervention."

“I can report it to the police.” I looked straight into her eyes, with a determined attitude,

"But then the matter will be made into a big deal, and it's not good for your hotel's reputation, right? I just want to verify a few things. If my friend is really okay, I will leave immediately."

Manager hesitated. She looked at me from top to bottom - I was dressed neatly, although my face was tired, I didn't look like someone who came to cause trouble.

“So here goes,” she thought for a moment,

“Can you provide your friend's full name and room number? I need to verify first.”

“Hua An, room 1808.”

The manager worked on the computer for a while, then raised his head, looking at me with a somewhat strange expression:

“Your friend Hua En, Ms. Wen, when booking the room, named you as the emergency contact. According to our procedures, in some special cases, we may provide limited information to the emergency contact.”

My heart fluttered. Did she list me as the emergency contact? Act really well. She is truly a stage genius.

“Please follow me.” The manager led me into a small surveillance room.

The technician quickly pulled out the recording of the 18th floor hallway from last night. Starting at 10 p.m. On the screen, the hallway was deserted without a single person. Fast forward to 11:30 a.m., the elevator door opened, Hua An appeared alone with her suitcase, swiped her card to enter room 1808. From then until 1:50 a.m., she never went out. Then, at 1:50, she opened the door, stuck her head out and looked left and right for a moment, then retreated back inside.