Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 85

Qi Zheng’s TOEFL score came out, a satisfactory score for application, but not absolutely top-tier. This was already the best result she could achieve through short-term cramming, and retaking the test wouldn’t yield a qualitative leap.

Similarly, her GMAT score was also decent, 720 points, neither high nor low.

Shen Zhibing looked at her two test scores and felt they already exceeded her expectations.

She told Yun Fei, “Start the formal application process. Try to help her complete any other necessary supplementary materials.”

However, Yun Fei told her, “Xiao Qi has almost finished everything herself. Young people nowadays are faster than rabbits when they get motivated.”

Yun Fei was very pleased; Qi Zheng’s proactive attitude towards her studies saved her a lot of trouble.

Applications were submitted in April, and the school sent out offers in May. Seeing the notification in her email, Qi Zheng finally felt a sense of relief.

Yun Fei gave her a day off to rest well. She had been fully focused on preparing for the exams during this period, and there were no major issues at work, which was very rare. Qi Zheng’s potential was slowly unearthed and released under pressure; she had far surpassed her peers.

The semester started in September, but a series of procedures began after receiving the acceptance letter in May. With the Shen Group as a guarantor, many things went smoothly and conveniently.

Qi Zheng thought for a moment and went to her aunt’s house.

“Ah, Xiao Zheng, you’re going to the US to study? You never mentioned it before. Things were going well at Shen Group, why the sudden thought of going abroad?”

Qi Zheng knew they might not fully understand the specific meaning of an MBA or the necessity of studying it at this time, so she could only explain simply, “The company is sponsoring me; it’s a kind of employee benefit.”

Qi Youtian, who had been quietly staying in the corner, suddenly spoke up upon hearing this, “There’s such a good thing? You’ve only been working for a year, and they’re spending so much money to send you to the US to study?”

“There’s an agreement. I have to come back and continue working after graduation.”

Her aunt felt much less worried when she heard the company was covering the cost, and she smiled and praised Qi Zheng, “Xiao Zheng has loved studying since she was little. If your dad hadn’t loved gambling and ruined the family, Xiao Zheng might have gone to the US much earlier.”

In the same neighborhood, several of Qi Zheng’s primary school classmates had applied for scholarships and gone abroad. Parents would occasionally discuss this, and it was true they felt envious.

Qi Zheng didn’t feel much excitement. Going to B University was indeed a good opportunity, but it was ultimately an unfamiliar environment, and she didn’t know what she would encounter. But it was better than staying here; she didn’t want to get deeper and deeper into a dead end.

Leaving the person who made her sad, and letting time and distance dilute the feelings—Qi Zheng had experience with this.

It wasn’t her first heartbreak; she would still ache, hurt, and feel sad. But she understood better than before how to protect herself and how to recover.

She left some money for her aunt and grandmother, warning them not to let Qi Youtian know. She still didn’t quite believe a gambler would turn over a new leaf and felt that Qi Youtian’s recent excessive compliance was a bit strange.

But she couldn’t dwell on it; she was willing but unable to help. They couldn’t help her here, and she couldn’t take care of them more. Once in the US, she would only have herself to rely on. Aunt Xin saw her packing at home and asked if she needed help, but Qi Zheng always smiled and said she could manage herself.

At the end of July, Qi Zheng formally processed her leave of absence. She completely cleared her personal belongings from her desk, and everything returned to how it was when she first arrived.

Xin Jia was reluctant to see her go and gave her a box of cookies she had baked herself: “Xiao Qi, come back as soon as you graduate, or we’ll miss you terribly.”

Yun Fei was more reserved, and Shen Zhibing had told her that she still needed to help look out for Qi Zheng once she was in the US. The emotions of separation were relatively lighter for her.

But when someone you work with every day suddenly goes far away, there’s bound to be a bit of melancholy.

“If you encounter any problems over there that you can’t solve, tell me immediately. Don’t be like last time.”

Qi Zheng knew Yun Fei was referring to her getting sick in the US, and she smiled shyly and gratefully.

Shen Zhibing had been flying around recently, with very short periods back at the company. The results for the Miancheng branch were out at the end of June; the Shen Group was fined a huge amount of money. But at least it was a problem that money could solve, and it hadn’t escalated to a more severe level. Shen Zhibing took this opportunity to have all national branch companies conduct a self-inspection.

She would personally visit some areas with serious hidden risks. She mainly learned about Qi Zheng’s situation from Yun Fei.

Qi Zheng’s departure date for the US was set for mid-August, and Haicheng was already extremely hot. Lin Muyun asked Qi Zheng out, and the two sat in a cafe with a pleasant atmosphere.

“You’re leaving next week?”

“Yes.”

“Is anyone seeing you off?”

Qi Zheng slowly stirred her coffee, put down the spoon, and said calmly, “I don’t have much luggage.”

Lin Muyun sneered and then asked, “Is Shen Zhibing not going to see you off?”

Qi Zheng didn’t answer, taking a small sip of coffee.

There was a bitter taste on the tip of her tongue, which then spread throughout her mouth.

“Did you insist on seeing me today just to ask this?”

Lin Muyun had only heard very late that Qi Zheng was going to the US. She hadn’t expected to see her, but Qi Zheng actually agreed.

“Actually, there’s nothing specific. I just wanted to see you before you leave.”

Lin Muyun was more restrained after marriage than before, and her style of dressing was more mature and noble, meeting the requirements of a wealthy family’s daughter-in-law. She and Lian Ao currently put on a show in public but lead separate lives in private, which was quite comfortable.

However, her heart had always been set on Qi Zheng. Hearing that she was going to the US, she was not sad but rather a little secretly pleased.

As long as she wasn’t by Shen Zhibing’s side, there was a chance. Shen Zhibing was so busy, and with the distance, how could she manage so much? Besides, Qi Zheng might become free-spirited once she got to the US; everything would be a new chapter.

Just when it seemed like she was heading for defeat, the opportunity for a revival appeared because Qi Zheng was going to study. Lin Muyun was so excited that she hadn’t slept all night.

“I know some friends over there. If you need anything, you can look for them.”

Lin Muyun handed her a piece of paper with handwritten names, phone numbers, and WeChat IDs.

Qi Zheng looked at the paper handed to her and found it ridiculous.

During the days Lin Muyun was out of contact abroad, no matter how much the original owner searched or left messages, there was no response. Now, before she even left, she was offered plenty of so-called “contacts” in the US.

Qi Zheng felt that the person who single-handedly gave in a relationship was truly ridiculous and humble, and her heart felt a dull ache. She felt sorrow for the original owner and sadness for herself.

She thought she had truly misunderstood, believing Shen Zhibing liked her, which was why they had that kind of relationship.

Qi Zheng had mentioned terminating the contract to Shen Zhibing when she received the acceptance letter. Shen Zhibing was straightforward, and seeing that she had indeed gathered the liquidated damages, she didn’t make things difficult and verbally agreed.

However, she had been busy with business trips afterward, and Qi Zheng was busy with handovers and procedures for going abroad, so the matter had been dragging on until now.

Qi Zheng hadn’t lied to Lin Muyun; she really didn’t have much luggage. The luggage she brought from the dormitory to the villa when she graduated was still intact there, and what she was taking now was only from that collection.

Qi Zheng wasn’t taking anything from the villa with her.

The flight ticket was initially booked through the company. Yun Fei knew the date, time, and flight number. Shen Zhibing had instructed Yun Fei to adjust her work schedule on the day Qi Zheng left so she could see her off.

The flight was scheduled for 4:30 PM. Shen Zhibing planned to head straight from the company after lunch to pick up Qi Zheng. There was supposed to be a department meeting that afternoon, but Yun Fei had rescheduled it to a video conference in the evening.

Shen Zhibing’s car arrived at the villa. Aunt Xin came out and asked, “Third Miss, why are you here at this hour?”

Shen Zhibing was also a little puzzled and asked in return, “Isn’t today the day Qi Zheng leaves for the US?”

The implication was that she was here to pick up Qi Zheng and take her to the airport.

Now, Aunt Xin was not just confused but surprised and nervous. Did Miss Qi not tell CEO Shen?

Shen Zhibing saw the sudden change in Aunt Xin’s expression and felt her heart sink, asking, “What’s wrong?”

“Miss Qi left very early this morning.”

Shen Zhibing’s face darkened even more: “How early is ‘very early’?”

“It was barely light. She said she had an early flight, so she had to go to the airport early.”

Shen Zhibing’s face was almost black. “Did Old Yu take her?”

Aunt Xin shook her head: “Miss Qi booked a car online herself. She said she didn’t have much luggage, so she didn’t want to trouble Old Yu.”

As Aunt Xin spoke, she felt a little sad. Qi Zheng had also said this morning that because she was leaving early, she wouldn’t trouble anyone to make breakfast for her. Qi Zheng’s last words were, thank you for taking care of her during this time.

Seeing Shen Zhibing’s expression, Aunt Xin knew that Miss Qi definitely hadn’t told her about the change in the flight.

“Third Miss, will Miss Qi be back later?”

Shen Zhibing suddenly felt irritated, folded her arms, and walked into the villa: “I don’t know!”

She went straight upstairs to Qi Zheng’s room. The door wasn’t locked. She paused as she walked in.

The room had been restored to how it looked before Qi Zheng moved in. Shen Zhibing almost didn’t recognize it.

She glanced around. There were indeed no items of Qi Zheng left behind. She had taken all her things.

Shen Zhibing opened the closet. The clothes she used to wear were neatly hung on the left side, and the new clothes that hadn’t been tagged yet were on the other side.

Shen Zhibing forcefully slammed the closet door shut and returned to her own room.

When she wasn’t at the villa, her room door was also left unlocked for the convenience of the maids for cleaning. As soon as she entered, she habitually looked at the sofa; it was empty.

She walked further in. There was a document envelope on the desk.

Shen Zhibing opened it, and a black card, a silver savings card, and a letter fell out.

It was more accurately a note than a letter, only because the cover had the three words, “To CEO Shen.”

Qi Zheng’s message was concise, matching her report-writing style. Use data for explanation whenever possible, and use logical reasoning for what lacked data support.

She said: “CEO Shen, according to our previous verbal agreement, the day I pay the liquidated damages is the day our contract is officially terminated. The liquidated damages have been deposited in the savings card. The password is 081616.”

Shen Zhibing suddenly remembered that today was August 16th.

She didn’t say goodbye, not even a formal farewell. Shen Zhibing suddenly felt a surge of repressed anger and crumpled the note into a ball.

She then noticed a bracelet also sitting on the desk. It was shiny and clear, clearly having just been maintained.

Shen Zhibing, of course, recognized it. Ever since she put it on Qi Zheng, it seemed to have never been taken off.

Each time they were intimate, this bracelet would move with its owner’s hand, bringing a slight coolness to her heat, then igniting a bigger spark.

Shen Zhibing held the crumpled note in one hand and the bracelet in the other, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.

And a faint sadness.

Qi Zheng had left without saying goodbye.