Du Qingyue remained silent, choosing to ignore the question.
Du Linlang didn't press further; instead, she turned her attention to Gao Panpan beside her and Jiang Yixin opposite: "You two guess as well; there's a prize for whoever gets it right."
Gao Panpan and Jiang Yixin exchanged glances, lanting internally, How does this concern us?
"I'll get the wine, you start guessing." Jiang Yixin stood up, tossing the "bomb" to Gao Panpan.
Gao Panpan was dumbfounded, thinking, We're all in this together; can't we face it jointly?
With no other choice, she hesitantly responded, "Did you perform better than her?"
"Wrong!" Du Linlang shook her head, "If it were that simple, would I need you to guess?"
"Who could possibly guess that?" Gao Panpan spread her hands, "I can't guess it."
"Since you can't guess, I'll tell you."
Du Linlang raised her wine glass to Du Qingyue, "Drink this glass, and I'll reveal the true answer."
Du Qingyue didn't waste words, handing over her glass.
"Clink!"
A crisp sound echoed, both downed their drinks, not touching a bite of the food.
Though they hadn't verbalized it, neither would start eating unless the other did.
Returning with the wine, Jiang Yixin was startled, "Another drink? Qingyue, you..."
Du Qingyue waved her hand, signaling her not to speak.
Jiang Yixin thought for a mont, considering they were at her place, drinking more wouldn't be an issue, so she sat down and placed a soft drink in front of Gao Panpan.
"Thanks!" Gao Panpan reluctantly thanked her, still harboring resentnt for being abandoned earlier.
"Can you tell now?" Du Qingyue asked.
Du Linlang nodded and replied, "You know the kindergarten is managed by the Du Family. Once, the principal ca over, and I asked if I could have a little red flower.
Next ti she visited, she brought a large sheet full of red flowers, I counted a hundred of them.
So, no matter how hard you try, you definitely can't surpass in the number of red flowers."
"I never imagined you'd be so devious from such a young age," Du Qingyue said expressionlessly.
Du Linlang wasn't angered, instead, she said, "Actually, you should reflect on why you didn't tally my red flowers.
Of course, perhaps you realized it was odd later.
I think that's why as president of Lanyue Group, you personally audit every account."
"Is there anything wrong with that?" Du Qingyue retorted.
"From a work standpoint, you're flawless, truly diligent," Du Linlang shifted her tone, "But from a broader perspective, you overdo it a bit."
Du Qingyue scoffed, "Maybe you're right, but I don't agree."
Du Linlang continued, "Whether you agree or not, you're intolerant of shortcomings, destined to be restrained. Reality won't change because of your thoughts."
"So, leaving Lanyue Group, I have no regrets, no remorse," Du Qingyue said indifferently, "If I can't change the environnt, I'll step away from it, and carve my own path."
"Well said!" Du Linlang praised, "Cheers!"
"Clink!"
With another clash of glasses, another drink went down, their faces growing more flushed.
Du Linlang's gaze seed sowhat hazy, yet she continued speaking, from kindergarten to elentary, to junior high, and then high school.
The central the was how she suppressed Du Qingyue.
Of course, she didn't just talk, as they polished off another bottle of red wine, quite an admirable capacity.
After a while, Du Linlang stood up, chuckling, "I'm really happy today, truly elated, haven't felt this joyful in ages."
"I'm happy too," Du Qingyue replied, standing up, "You said a lot, but I understand it's Xiao Feng's presence that made you feel unfair.
Yet you never considered there is no unbeatable champion.
If the winner always wins, isn't it also unfair to the loser?"
Du Linlang smiled, "I will think about that question carefully."
Having said that, she turned to walk out of the living room.
But after two steps, she turned back, "I bear you no hatred, just accustod to standing as the winner.
This ti, I won't lose either... it's not over yet!"
Gao Panpan nodded a farewell and left with Du Linlang.
As they stepped outside, a breeze made Gao Panpan shiver, tightening her clothes.
Du Linlang swayed slightly, whispering, "Support a bit, but make sure no one inside sees you helping."
Gao Panpan felt helpless, lanting why they put themselves through this.
Perhaps, what she said was true, being used to winning makes it hard to accept losing.
Truly, there's no hatred...
On the way back, as Du Linlang lay against the seat, she frowned, "I... feel like vomiting."
Gao Panpan was startled, "Hold on, we'll be ho right after the overpass, don't in the car..."
Before she finished, Du Linlang had vomited, but laughed cheerfully afterward.
anwhile, Jiang Yixin sat at the dining table, troubled, "So much food untouched, honestly, what's the point in competing with Du Linlang, drinking so much, isn't it uncomfortable?"
Du Qingyue opened her mouth, yet before she could speak, she sprinted towards the bathroom...
That night, no one knew Du Linlang returned ho, holding a flowerpot and spoke to it for half the night.
This flowerpot was the 'Confession Flower' Xiao Feng had given her on his first visit to the Du Family.
According to Xiao Feng, it needs no watering or fertilizing, nor sunshine, wanting it to bloom ans talking to it quietly at night.
Before completely falling asleep, Du Linlang murmured, "You promised a surprise when you bloom, but when will that be?"
...
In the dark cavern, Zhao Guo'an sat on the ground, his back against the rocky wall, eyes vacant and dazed, seemingly terrified.
His hair had a few hornbill feathers, ssy like a bird's nest, and his windbreaker had a large tear, a perfect image of dishevelnt and misery.
Watching Zhao Guo'an in his condition, Xiao Feng and the others were unsure how to console him.
There's a saying, 'Survive a disaster, and fortune follows.'
But for Zhao Guo'an, this saying lost its aning, better rephrased to: 'Survive a disaster, and another awaits.'
First stung by a scorpion, nearly losing a leg, then attacked by a hornbill, tearing his windbreaker.
Since entering the cavern, his clothes were ripped, pants torn, and worse beyond words.
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