25: Until next time?

Qian Ning said nothing, just raised her cup and took a sip of wine.

For the rest of the time, the two of them just chatted idly.

When they left the bar and returned to Qian Ning's room, she suddenly hugged Wu Fan tightly and said, "Haven't you ever liked me? Do you think I'm a very casual woman?"

Wu Fan was startled and stroked her long hair, comforting her, "Silly Girl, my liking for you is genuine, why would you doubt it?"

Qian Ning silently shed a few tears, "Actually, I feel really good about you..."

Wu Fan slowly broke free, took a step back, and looked at her with tender eyes.

Qian Ning's eyes flickered, her shy appearance was beautiful...

The next morning, Wu Fan looked at the sleeping Qian Ning and, not wanting to wake her, carefully got up, went home to settle Yao Yao, and sent her to school.

When he returned to the hotel where Qian Ning was staying, the Waitress told him that Qian Ning had checked out and left.

Wu Fan stood frozen, suddenly feeling a sense of loss.

Could it really end like this?

She left, why didn't she even say goodbye?

Suzhou is not too far, not too close. If they really wanted to meet, it would only be a few hours of boat and car travel.

He quickly pulled out his phone and called Qian Ning.

It took a long time for the phone to connect on the other end: "What do you want?"

Wu Fan said, "You left without saying anything, I could have seen you off."

Qian Ning smiled indifferently, "Anyway, we were going to part eventually, so what's the point of saying anything?"

Wu Fan sighed and asked, "Are you on the boat yet?"

"The boat departs at 9:30, there's still a little time."

Wu Fan said without hesitation, "Wait for me a moment, I'll be right there, I have something to give you."

Qian Ning was about to say there was no need, but found that Wu Fan had already hung up.

He drove quickly to Jiayi Shopping Mall and picked up a pair of guitar-shaped gold earrings from the gold jewelry store.

Wu Fan had custom-ordered these earrings when he bought a bracelet a few days ago.

After getting in the car, he stomped on the accelerator and rushed to the pier.

He checked the time, 9:15, still enough time, but boarding should have already started.

After getting out of the car, Wu Fan quickly ran inside.

The waiting hall was crowded, but he spotted Qian Ning with her guitar at a glance.

She stood out so specially in the crowd.

A long queue had formed behind the ticket gate, but she alone was still looking around anxiously.

Wu Fan waved vigorously at her.

A sweet and lovely smile instantly appeared on her face.

Wu Fan jogged over, stopped about a meter away from her, and looked at her with deep affection.

Qian Ning stepped forward without hesitation and hugged Wu Fan tightly.

After a long while, the announcement urging passengers to board for ticket inspection sounded again.

Wu Fan handed the earrings to Qian Ning and said, "I hope to have the chance to see you wearing these earrings and singing on stage someday."

Qian Ning took them, opened them for a look, then nodded heavily.

Watching her disappearing back, Wu Fan surprisingly felt tears welling up in his eyes, a sudden sadness washing over him.

He wondered if Qian Ning was a temporary girlfriend or a temporary casual partner in his life?

Human emotions are so strange, so hard to explain.

As Qian Ning was about to turn the corner and leave, she turned back and waved at Wu Fan once more, then was swallowed by the surging crowd.

Wu Fan looked up at the sea not far away, connecting with the blue sky, completely integrated.

From then on, on the other side of the sea, there was someone worth caring about.

Wu Fan sighed softly and turned to leave the waiting hall.

He looked up at the sky, which was dull and lifeless. Even the white clouds were motionless like silly geese, not pretty.

Liu Yue suddenly flashed in his mind, that woman he hated to the bone, so annoying.

Wu Fan wiped his face with his hand, no longer wanting to think about it.

This woman wasn't worth thinking about, yet he still thought of her. After all, the person he loved most hurt him the deepest.

He pulled out his phone and sent Qian Ning a wechat message: "Have a good trip, hope to see you again."

He waited for a long time, but did not receive a reply from her.

Wu Fan lit a cigarette, opened the car window, and took several deep drags.

The phone rang. He looked at it; it was Chen Lu: "Hello, Manager Chen."

"Stop joking, what manager? Are you free now?"

Chen Lu's tone carried a hint of urgency.

Wu Fan said, "No customers right now, just lying flat at home every day."

Chen Lu said, "Then hurry to the office. CEO Gu and the others are all here, there's something important to discuss."

Wu Fan heard the urgency in her tone, agreed readily, and then sped towards his workplace.

When he walked into the office, a bald man was drinking tea, and CEO Gu was on the phone.

Wu Fan roughly understood that it must be about the contracted fleet.

He hadn't met the chairman of Island Transport Car Rental Co., Ltd., but he had heard his nickname, 'Light Bulb'.

The bald man's head shape really resembled a light bulb, with a large face and a small head, very fitting.

After nodding and greeting, Wu Fan sat down on a chair in the corner.

Chen Lu stood up and briefly introduced the bald man. Wu Fan had guessed correctly; it was indeed Meng Xianglong, the chairman of Island Transport Company.

CEO Gu spoke first: "Our company's five large buses, I really don't have the energy to manage them anymore. There's video surveillance, and safety officers to assign, it's too much trouble. To be honest, just handling the travel agency business already gives me a headache. The competition among travel agencies has been too fierce these past few years, so I can't afford to be distracted by other things."

She paused and continued, "Chairman Meng has an interest in contracting the fleet, which I'm very happy about. However, our Master Wu also has an interest in contracting, so let's all sit down and talk about how to handle it."

CEO Gu was an old hand in business.

Wu Fan had driven for her for so many years, he knew her character inside and out.

If one were to use an idiom to describe CEO Gu, 'stingy' would be the most fitting.

Of course, 'money-grubbing' would also be very apt.

When Wu Fan used to smoke, he often thought that if he had half of CEO Gu's shrewdness, he might have become a big boss long ago.

Now that CEO Gu had called him and Meng Xianglong together, it was clearly just to get more money for the contracting fee, it was obvious.

To put it bluntly, Wu Fan would know what CEO Gu was thinking just by her posture.

After all, they had dealt with each other for so many years, he knew her too well.

Wu Fan wanted to smoke, but he held back. Smoking was prohibited in the office, so he could only remain silent and observe the situation.

Meng Xianglong put down his teacup and said directly, "CEO Gu, just name your price. How much for the fleet contract per year? If I find it suitable, I'll contract it. If not, then we'll wait for another opportunity to cooperate, wouldn't you agree?"

He was also a straightforward person, not at all indecisive...