After breaking off the engagement, she became the CEO's favorite

"It turns out that grandma saw an acquaintance."

On the way to the editor's residence, Lu Ranran sighed meaningfully.

The editor's name is Ma Zhiyuan, and he is a senior editor of "Weekly Film Review". "Weekly Film Review" has been published for 30 years, and he has also worked in the editorial department for 30 years.

When "Weekly Film Review" ceased publication, Mr. Ma also reached retirement age.

The contact information in the magazine has long been invalid.

Through Zhang Yuzhi, Shen Xiling finally got the address of Mr. Ma after much inquiry. Like many elderly people who are used to doing writing work, Mr. Ma does not have a mobile phone, but only an old telephone at home.

The phone was always busy, so Shen Xiling and Lu Ranran had no choice but to go directly to Mr. Ma's residence.

On the way, Shen Xiling talked about Cai Wenshu's strangeness at that time.

"Ma Zhiyuan was my grandmother's college classmate. I heard that they had a relationship and were even discussing marriage."

"But my grandmother wanted to go abroad at that time, but Mr. Ma disagreed, and the two of them had a very bad relationship."

"After my grandmother went abroad, she sent many letters to Mr. Ma, but received no reply. That's when she felt that Mr. Ma was determined to break off relations with her. Later, the two of them didn't seem to have any contact."

Lu Ranran sighed:

“I wonder if grandma recalled her past when she saw this name.”

"Maybe she also wants to know why there is no reply to the letters she sent..."

The car drove right out of the main road and came to a narrow lane with dense tree shadows. According to Zhang Yuzhi's information, Ma Zhiyuan lived in an old alley not far from the city center.

That area was originally the staff dormitory of a certain factory and was also one of the first residential buildings built.

As time goes by, the old concrete floor is mottled and dilapidated, and it looks stubborn and weak under the pressure of the surrounding high-rise buildings.

Ma Zhiyuan lives on the first floor of one of the buildings.

Each floor here has a yard. Most people just pile some sundries there and neglect to take care of it, but Mr. Ma's yard is full of various flowers, like a small and exquisite garden.

The dense vines and leaves block any prying eyes.

The entire community was quiet. Only a few elderly people who were playing chess under the shade of trees cast wary glances at the two men.

"Hey, there's a puppy."

Lu Ranran saw a khaki puppy digging something in the corner of the yard, pulling the vines on the wall.

Just as she was about to move closer to take a look, an old and angry voice broke the silence.

"Little bastard, where are you running to!"

Just as Lu Ranran turned her head, she saw a thin stick falling with a "swoosh".

Immediately afterwards, Lu Ranran's eyes went dark, and the wooden stick hit someone's back with a "bang".

Shen Xiling frowned slightly.

Lu Ranran raised her head in panic and glanced at Shen Xiling worriedly.

"Are you okay?"

Shen Xiling smiled and shook his head, but Lu Ranran could feel that the hand he held on her shoulder was exerting a little force.

At this moment, many elderly people holding brooms, clotheslines, etc. had gathered on the side where the beating was taking place.

"We finally caught them! We can't let these little thieves get away this time!"

"Why do you have to be a thief when you are so young?"

They were talking at once, and were about to charge forward again.

Lu Ranran hurriedly stopped in front of Shen Xiling and explained:

"Old man, you misunderstood! We are here--"

"Who cares what you're doing here! You have bad intentions anyway!"

"That's right, no decent person would sneak around in the corner!"

The noise came in waves, making Lu Ranran's head buzz.

At this time, Shen Xiling took a step forward to stand in front of Lu Ranran, and held Lu Ranran behind him with one hand.

"Dear elders," the 1.80-meter-tall man spoke with much more authority than Lu Ranran, "We want to find an old man named Ma Zhiyuan. Do you know him?"

The originally radical crowd stopped moving forward.

Hearing the three words "Ma Zhiyuan", several elderly people couldn't help but look in a certain direction in the crowd.

"Great! Thieves nowadays are so smart. It seems they have investigated the names and family backgrounds of everyone in the community!"

A thin old man with gray hair, wearing a white shirt and gray trousers shouted with full energy.

This sound once again ignited the emotions of the whole audience.

"Yeah, damn liar! Stay away from us!"

"Call the police! Call the police and jail you for ten or twenty years!"

As they spoke, they rushed forward excitedly, holding brooms and clotheslines.

Seeing that something was not right, Lu Ranran rushed to Shen Xiling and shouted at the thin old man in the crowd:

"It was Grandma Cai Wenshu who asked us to come!"

"What is Cai Wenshu or Cai Wushu? We don't know this person—"

"Okay!" The old man interrupted the people around him with full energy.

He put down the clothesline in his hand, looked up and down at Lu Ranran and Shen Xiling, and finally looked at Shen Xiling's face.

After a while, he waved to the two of them and said, "Come with me if you're looking for me."

"Hey, Lao Ma, what's going on? Why are you still helping the thief——"

"What thief! If you don't have any evidence, don't talk nonsense. I'll sue you for defamation!"

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the building, motioning for the two to follow him.

The people gathered together felt bored and stared at the backs of the two for a long time. Before entering the door, Shen Xiling turned around and smiled at the group of elderly people gathered at the door, as a greeting.

The crowd dispersed in dismay.

The door is a very honest double door of sliding iron door and wooden door. The furnishings in the house are simple, the decoration has a bit of the style of the 1970s and 1980s, and you can hear the crackling sound from the radio.

Ma Zhiyuan asked the two to sit on the black wooden sofa, and he walked towards the kitchen tremblingly.

When walking, the loose trouser legs swing back and forth.

"I'm sorry, we are all elderly people living here. Last time, a strange young man came and swindled the pensions of several old friends, saying that he was doing some kind of investment and financial management."

"In the end, they took the money and disappeared. After I called the police, I still don't know if I can get the money back."

He opened the lid of the enamel cup, took a sip of the hot tea, and raised his chin to signal the two people opposite him to have a taste as well.

"It's hot outside, don't drink too much cold drinks, it will cause internal heat."

Lu Ranran could only carefully hold the rim of the glass, blew away the hot steam rising from the hot tea, and took a careful sip.

"Tell me, what do you want from me?"

Ma Zhiyuan seemed very satisfied with these two "polite" juniors, and his tone and expression were not as tense as before.

Lu Ranran put down the quilt and placed her hands on her knees nervously.

"Ma, Mr. Ma, do you still remember the name 'An Ning'?"

"An Ning..." Ma Zhiyuan murmured, as if he was lost in thought.

Suddenly, he stood up and walked into the house with a limp.

After a sound of rummaging through boxes and cabinets, Ma Zhiyuan came out holding a large iron box.

The iron box was opened, and it was filled with khaki envelopes.

"I remember," Ma Zhiyuan said as he searched, "this girl submitted many manuscripts to our magazine, and her writing was very creative."

As he spoke, he handed a large, thick envelope to Lu Ranran.

"Look, this is the manuscript she sent me that year."