Lingering On and On

Chapter 5: Owing Him a Favor

The big outer office had already made Tong Yuling marvel at its luxury. Little did she know that Long Chase's office was truly magnificent and splendid. The whole environment and facilities were almost on a par with the presidential suite of a five-star hotel. Its floor area alone was several times that of her own home.

The office was divided into three areas: the reception area, the office area, and the lounge area.

The reception area and the office area were open, with nothing separating them. In the reception area, there was a circle of genuine leather sofas, two clear and refreshing glass coffee tables, and two lush green lucky bamboo plants symbolizing prosperity. In the middle of the office area was a magnificent and gorgeous large desk, like the platform of a novel-shaped redwood sailing ship. The spacious armchair was filled by Long Chase's tall and muscular body. Behind it stood a row of background cabinets of the same color series. On the left was a giant root carving of an eagle spreading its wings, and on the right was a vivid green bonsai. As for the lounge area, it was at the innermost part. The delicate red wooden door was closed mysteriously, and one couldn't see the layout inside.

"Are you done looking around? Did you come here just to check out the decoration and layout of my office?" The teasing question brought Tong Yuling back to her senses.

A hint of embarrassment and a blush flashed across her delicate face. Tong Yuling then began to worry, thinking that he might bring up what happened in the morning and take the opportunity to make things difficult for her.

However, it seemed that fortune was on her side. Long Chase didn't pursue that matter but switched to another thing.

"Do you know what day it is today?" His deep voice suddenly took on a lonely tone. Long Chase picked up the photo frame made of pear wood on the desk, stared at the person in it, and murmured to himself, "Today is the sixth anniversary of me and her dating. She should have become my fiancée today, but she left without saying goodbye, saying she wanted to fulfill her so-called dream."

Tong Yuling listened and watched, extremely shocked. Why... was he telling her all this?

"Originally, I could have stopped her, but something unexpected happened on the way. By the time I rushed to the airport, the flight she was on had already taken off. Turns out, she had called me before boarding the plane, but my cell phone was out of battery. At such a crucial moment, my cell phone was out of battery!" Long Chase clenched the photo frame tightly, and the veins on his hands were clearly visible.

Tong Yuling had no idea what he was talking about. In order to comfort him and make it easier for her to plead later, she just commented on the matter at hand, "Mr. Long and your girlfriend must have had a deep relationship since you've been in love for so many years. She'll surely come back to you as soon as she fulfills her dream! Don't be sad..."

"Who said I'm sad? Who said I'm upset!" Long Chase snapped in a low voice and then continued to stare at the person in the photo, looking lost in thought.

Tong Yuling was extremely worried. What on earth did he want? With his status, would he really be dumped by a woman? Also, what should she do? Was she just going to waste time here listening to his seemingly real or fake "pathetic lament"? After thinking it over, Tong Yuling summoned up her courage, put on an uneasy smile, and said to him, "Mr. Long, how about... we talk about my father's embezzlement of public funds first?"

"For you women, which is more important, your dream or your lover?" Long Chase seemed to ignore her words and was still stuck on his own question. However, his voice wasn't as cold as before.

Tong Yuling was very cautious and didn't dare to answer easily.

"Hey, I'm asking you a question!" Long Chase showed a hint of impatience.

"Uh, the dream... No, it should be love... It's the dream..." Tong Yuling stammered, not knowing what to do. Since she had never been in love before, she naturally couldn't understand the importance of a lover. But she was worried that telling the truth would irritate this strange man in front of her.

Unexpectedly, Long Chase suddenly changed the topic. "You're a friend of Long Hao's? When did you two meet?"

"Very... a long time ago, about more than ten years ago!" Tong Yuling knew she was lying, so she pushed the time back to many years ago. Anyway, the vaguer this matter was, the more advantageous it would be for her. "Maybe he doesn't remember me, but I remember him. Once when we were playing in the park, he was surrounded by a few kids, and it was me... I helped him out."

"You helped him?" Long Chase glanced at her slender and delicate figure with a look of contempt and disdain, and then his gaze gradually moved up. Her long hair was soft and shiny, her fair and flawless skin had a faint blush, her big eyes were clear and bright, her willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows were curved, her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, her nose was small and cute, and her lips were as delicate as rose petals. She was... passable-looking!

While Long Chase was sizing Tong Yuling up, she couldn't help but look at him too. He had thick and black short hair. Under his heroic and straight eyebrows were a pair of charming peach-blossom eyes, full of amorous feelings, as if one could easily fall for him. He had a high and straight nose, and his sexy thin lips were tightly pursed. His facial features were angular, extremely handsome, as if carved by a master sculptor. On the outside, he seemed a bit wild and unrestrained, but the sharpness that inadvertently showed in his eyes made people not dare to underestimate him.

"You can leave now!" Long Chase was always unpredictable, changing his mood without warning, catching people off guard.

Tong Yuling was completely stunned. "Then... my father's matter..."

"Do whatever you want. I'll ask Assistant Gao to follow up on it." Catching sight of the sudden excitement and joy on her face, Long Chase couldn't help but say, "Remember, you owe me a favor!"

"Owe you a favor??"

"Two favors in exchange for keeping your father out of prison. Shouldn't you be happy?" Long Chase snorted coldly.

Two? Didn't he just say one? How did it suddenly become two?

Seeming to sense her confusion, Long Chase made an exception and explained, "One is to repay what Long Hao owed you when he was a kid, and the other is what you owe me now!"

Tong Yuling suddenly understood and couldn't help but say, "Actually, a person as prestigious as Mr. Long has everything and hardly ever needs to ask others for help. I'm sure I won't be able to repay the favor I owe you. How about..."

In life, the most unfortunate thing is to owe a favor to a rich person, especially a rich person like Long Chase who is powerful, eccentric, and completely unpredictable.

"Don't want to, right? Then we'll handle it according to the rules!" Long Chase frowned.

"No, no... I owe it, I owe it!" Tong Yuling quickly agreed.

Long Chase gave her a cold final glance, picked up the phone, and called Gao Zhijie. "Assistant Gao, come in and see the guest out!"

In less than ten seconds, Gao Zhijie's tall figure flashed in.

"Handle her father's matter as she requested." After giving the instructions, Long Chase immediately lowered his head and focused his attention on the photo in front of him again.

Gao Zhijie was full of shock. After being stunned for a few seconds, he asked Tong Yuling to follow him out.