Lady

Ju Hui: "..."

Why are you pinching her? Do you want to test your strength against her?

"Mr. Sheng, I apologize for being late."

"It's good that we've arrived."

Ju Hui deftly turned her wrist, professionally weighed the scales, and shook the other person up and down.

No one noticed that the driver, Bian Jiaping, was also late. No one greeted him. He stood silently at the door for a while, then lowered his head, handed Ju Hui's "tattered bag" to the staff, and turned to leave.

The room was full of friends, but Sheng Qijing ignored them and invited her to the terrace garden.

The real guests were outside. Ju Hui nodded politely, maintained social distance, and walked away on her own.

Director Wang and Yu Guangxian noticed her.

He squinted. He would recognize Ju Hui even if she were ashes. Mo Chenruobei's current decline was all because of her. Just as he was about to ignore her, Teacher Pei beside him spoke up: "Ju Hui, you've finally arrived."

Ju Hui then noticed that Pei Yao was standing among these people. He hadn't changed much from before; he had just finished his doctoral studies and was now teaching at Ruomei. No wonder he had an even stronger scholarly air about him.

"Our junior, Pei Yao's graduation project assistant," Sheng Qijing introduced her.

Ju Hui smiled, and everyone turned to look at Pei Yao.

"I told Qi Jing to come to the school to watch the singing competition, otherwise I wouldn't have had the chance to drink this Pente."

Everyone turned around, and Ju Hui smiled.

Sheng Qijing introduced her to art critics and auction house executives. When it was Mo Chenruobei's turn, Director Wang offered her a glass of wine.

Ju Hui smiled and accepted it; the red wine smelled delicious.

The other person clinked glasses with her and said, "You must be Ms. Ju. I've heard so much about you."

A person nearby chimed in, "Yes, I've heard so much about you. I was on a business trip in the UK when a friend recommended you and I saw your solo exhibition. The works were incredibly impactful. Are you planning to hold a solo exhibition at Mo Cun this time you're back in China?"

Director Wang felt a chill in his heart and glanced at Sheng Qijing. He had been ostracized by the board of directors because of Ju Hui, and there was no way she would be invited by President Sheng upon her return.

"I'm not well-known in the country."

As expected, Ju Hui was quite self-aware.

The person asking the question paused, glanced at Sheng Qijing, and, realizing their guess was wrong, smiled and turned their attention back to the tasting, urging Ju Hui to quickly try the Pente in her hand.

liquor……

The smell made her arms itch.

Everyone was waiting when she finally looked up at Sheng Qijing.

He had been watching her the whole time, then slightly raised his eyebrows, chuckled, and took the wine.

"Ms. Ju doesn't like drinking, so how about we continue talking about the exhibition? The MoChen Shanghai venue has just been upgraded, how about holding an exhibition there?"

"Doesn't Mo Chenruobei have a better schedule, President Sheng?"

Before Ju Hui could answer, Director Wang reminded her. He smiled at Ju Hui and took the wine glass that President Sheng handed him. It was ironic that this fine wine was being passed around like that.

Ju Hui was impatient and was once again dragged into the ink strokes as a target.

Just as she was getting tired of dealing with it, Xiao Huan suddenly crawled up to their legs and boldly pulled Ju Hui: "Auntie Hui Hui, Mom wants to chat with you."

Ju Hui grasped his hand: "I'm sorry, I haven't had a chance to say hello to everyone yet."

Everyone raised their glasses and nodded. The term "aunt" was used to refer to her. Was she a junior or a cousin? How did everyone know her?

This time, Xiao Huan held her hand even more intimately. Xiao Huan was less than a year old when Ju Hui left, and the fact that she was able to maintain her relationship with Liu Li after returning was all thanks to the photos and videos she shared with Ju Hui.

From crawling to walking, from kindergarten to primary school, she never missed a single step of Xiao Huan's growth. On her fifth birthday, she bought a whole bunch of yarn at a yarn shop in Oslo and knitted a hat and scarf for Xiao Huan.

She was a craftswoman, so she could have guessed that she would get hurt, but she didn't expect that even a light knitting would poke a hole in her hand, causing it to bleed and scab over, leaving a faint black mark on her fingertip. Sheng Qijing asked her what happened that night.

"A question you already know the answer to."

Ju Hui watched him laugh coldly, then turned over, refusing to look at the haphazardly stitched little scarf he had placed on the bedside table.

Once inside the hall, Xiao Huan let go of her and said that Liu Li and Yun Aonan had gone to the restroom. He pointed to Sheng Jiashu, who was further away, and said, "Actually, it was Sister Shushu who asked me to find you."

Ju Hui paused for a moment, her gaze shifting to the man Sheng Jiashu was holding, one of her buyers, Wei Xia.

Ju Hui then remembered something.

He ruffled Xiao Huan's fluffy head, corrected his seniority issue, quickened his pace, and recalled the lines Sheng Jiashu had sent him: "Mr. Wei, Sister Jiashu often brags about how loving you two are... I've always been particularly envious."

"Really? I envy you being able to chat with Jia Shu all night, seeing all the handsome guys she shares..."

Sheng Jiashu laughed and pinched him: "I've said it a hundred times, that was Xiao Hui's trap. I used handsome guys from China to lure her back. Xiao Hui only tells the truth. Tell me, did you come back because of that video?"

Ju Hui nodded vigorously.

After chatting about other things for a while, Ju Hui finally returned to her seat and rested for a bit. Sheng Jiashu sent her a message saying that Wei Xia wanted to ask her to make another small sculpture, and they could discuss it in detail later.

She replied: 【Thank you for your support, boss!】

Sheng Jiashu: [Thank you, boss.]

"Miss Ju."

Ju Hui, who was secretly laughing at her phone, was startled.

She looked up and met Director Wang's chest muscles. His originally neat suit was stretched open by his casual sitting posture, revealing a glimpse of skin through his white shirt.

Those who have studied painting and sculpture for a long time will subconsciously observe muscles and clothing folds. This habit awakened in Ju Hui the year she met Sheng Qijing, and her aesthetic sense improved early on. Therefore, Ju Hui always felt a sharp discomfort towards the filtered handsome men that Sheng Jiashu brought her, and the more she saw, the more she would sigh: "It still has to be Sheng Qijing..."

She frowned, while Director Wang's lips curled into a smile.

This time, they handed me a glass of orange juice.

"Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Wang Kehui, the director of Mo Chenruobei. I just did an urgent check, and your studio hasn't released any announcements about a solo exhibition. Ms. Ju, are you not planning a solo exhibition after returning to China, or...?"

—I'd like to collaborate with other galleries.

Director Wang didn't say the second half of his sentence, but Ju Hui naturally understood. She put away her phone and said, "Director Wang, I'm not famous enough."

Director Wang laughed and said the same thing again. This time, she seemed oblivious to her own shortcomings: "You're joking. Fame is earned through works. Of course, you won't be famous if you don't exhibit them. Besides, you know Mo Cun's abilities. I can help you turn the tide."

Wang Kehui prides himself on being young and promising. At the age of thirty, he was selected by the headquarters of Laorun to serve as the director of Mochen (墨皴) painting. During his work, a wealthy female investor once wanted to take him as a mistress, so he wouldn't have to work and could make money while lying down. He refused, believing himself to be a white lotus growing in the mud.

"No need," Ju Hui coldly refused.

She was disgusted by his oily, bubbly voice.

She continued scrolling through her phone, and Director Wang still wouldn't leave.

"Miss Ju...your ears."

"ah?"

Ju Hui didn't want to pay attention, but Director Wang's tone was terrified, as if he had seen an insect. She covered her right ear with her hand, but there was nothing there.

"It's the hair." Director Wang leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "Don't you want to help Sheng Qijing? He and the Bu family..."

"Director Wang."

Sheng Qijing grabbed his wrist as he touched her collar.

Sheng Qijing pulled his hand away and lifted him up forcefully. Director Wang winced in pain, but still managed a smile: "Don't be nervous, Mr. Sheng. Miss Ju said the dress tag is scratchy and asked me to help her fix it."

After saying that, he patted President Sheng, but he didn't let go. So he looked at Ju Hui, but she seemed to be stunned and didn't say anything for a long time.

Ignoring the whispers around me.

"Director Wang, Ms. Ju is an important guest of mine."

Director Wang panicked a little: "Ms. Ju, can you say something?"

Wang Kehui felt that Ju Hui's lips had been stuck together for a century.

"It's alright, Mr. Sheng." Ju Hui touched the back of her collar in a serious manner. "This is the first time I've worn this outfit. Director Wang was a great help."

Director Wang forcefully pulled his wrist back. Sheng Qijing frowned, wondering what Wang Kehui had said to Ju Hui, otherwise she wouldn't have gone along with him like this.

Director Wang's courage swelled instantly. He sat down again, straightened his cuffs, and Ju Hui pushed her phone over at that moment.

"I'd like to know more about what Director Wang said."

"no problem."

Her WeChat QR code was exposed on the table. Wang Kehui took out his phone and scanned it. Sheng Qijing stood behind him and watched as they successfully added each other.

It's green again, a green QR code.

From now on, Sheng Qijing hates green the most.

-

After the wine tasting ended, Ju Hui drove a slightly tipsy Yun Aonan home. Yun Aonan was still sober, and while fastening his seatbelt, he asked Ju Hui, "If you wanted to see him, you could still tell me you had to leave now."

“I’m not leaving—” Ju Hui adjusted the seat angle. “Sheng Qijing and I have completely separated, just like you and Pei Yao.”

Yun Aonan and Pei Yao live in the same city. They met again today after many years, and they still chatted and laughed as if nothing had happened. Their change of status was natural and thorough.

"Because Pei Yao and I weren't separated, we were two straight lines that intersected and continued forward. You and Sheng Qijing are different, you two are like two ouroboros, biting each other's tails."

A cool breeze ruffled Yun Aonan's stray hairs. She was now very perceptive and could understand why Ju Hui was still so awkward towards Sheng Qijing.

On one hand, she left so decisively back then, feeling apologetic towards Sheng Qijing and unable to face him; on the other hand, she neither drinks nor smokes, and Sheng Qijing is the only one who can help her relieve stress, so she misses him very much.

Sheng Qijing is still single, and Ju Hui has never touched him. How did they manage to endure this?

Yun Aonan's home was far from Ju Hui's rented apartment, and it was inconvenient to take a taxi. Yun Aonan told her to wait while she called a driver, who would take her home in a little while.

Ju Hui was about to unbuckle her seatbelt when she said, "It's okay, I'll drive your car back. I'll bring the design drafts to the company tomorrow and return them to you."

The route has been changed; it will now travel from east to west.

As National Day approaches, the entire city is adorned in gold, with brightly lit streetlights and red flags everywhere. Even passing cars have red ribbons tied to their rearview mirrors, fluttering in the wind. This vibrant atmosphere is strongest in Ruobei.

Ju Hui became more and more excited, like a tourist.

She always travels in Oslo with a bicycle, and when shopping, she brings a nylon backpack and tote bag, wandering through the postmodern cubic buildings—it's beautiful and down-to-earth.

"You have veered off course; a new route has been planned for you."

Ju Hui started driving recklessly because she encountered a traffic jam on the road ahead. It was still early, and she wanted to stroll around Ruobei for a while. Even if she drove this car until it ran out of gas, she could go home and get another one!

Let's get another one...

Ju Hui was stunned for a moment, then suddenly woke up.

She has two cars and one parking space. How is she going to park tonight?

Ju Hui pulled over abruptly to the side of the road and checked the location and route again. At that moment, a WeChat pop-up appeared; it was a message from Sheng Qijing.

Sheng Qijing: [Why haven't you been to Loft these past few days?]

Ju Hui: 【What would I do at your house?】

One wrong step leads to another. If Ju Hui were to return to Yun Aonan's house and come back the way she came, it would probably take her two hours.

Sheng Qijing: [I'm flying to Shanghai tomorrow morning.]

Ju Hui didn't reply; she saw that the nearest parking lot was a shopping mall 300 meters away.

Parking costs 15 yuan per hour.

She gasped.

Sheng Qijing: [Location]

Sheng Qijing: [I can arrange for someone to pick you up from a hotel near your home.]

Ju Hui clicked on it and took a look. The location was two kilometers away, the road was clear, and there were free parking spaces. Ju Hui was a little tempted...

Ju Hui: [I'm staying at Ao Nan's house tonight.]

Ju Hui: [Have a safe journey tomorrow.]

Ju Hui changed the destination, but the address was still in the history. She tapped it, and the interface froze for a moment. She exited the app and casually tagged the location as "Home".

She'll be sleeping in the persimmon courtyard tonight.

The Persimmon Courtyard, as Ju Hui calls it, is now bathed in clear skies. The fruit and branches are outlined on an indigo canvas, creating a painting that is irresistibly beautiful, but she longs to cut down the trees.

The original garage was to be converted into a studio, and the persimmon tree had a long root system, so the space was just big enough for her to park a car.

Ju Hui went to the supermarket in front of the courtyard to buy some daily necessities, toiletries, pajamas and water. The small basket was full. When she went to the counter to pay, she bumped into a silver-gray laser box on the shelf.

Ju Hui picked it up, glanced at the size, and put it back.

This stuff, including the daily necessities she just bought, is all stored in Sheng Qijing's loft, more than enough. If she had a key, she could go in and get it herself.

Ju Hui happened to have that bunch of black coal-shaped keys in her bag.

Before leaving, she used an ear pick to dig out the invitation from the crevice. Sheng Qijing teased her, and Bian Jiaping helped him by running all the way to her living room to tell her to change her clothes. Ju Hui sullenly went into the bedroom and lay on the table to write him a reply.

Her pen strokes were equally powerful, but she just couldn't fill a whole line with characters—there was no way around it, writing always involved more thought than speaking, and Ju Hui knew she shouldn't have cursed the people she had hurt.

Fifteen minutes later, Ju Hui came out of the room, looking composed, and put the key in her bag just in case.

Now is that "what if" moment.

It was nearly midnight when she arrived at the loft. A quiet breeze swept across the ground as she took out her key, unlocked the door, and pushed it open.

The wheels made a dull thud as they rolled over the stones. Ju Hui skillfully turned the car and parked it in the yard. She turned off the engine, and the lights dimmed. She reached for the plastic bag on the passenger seat and grabbed it safely and loudly.

The plastic bag was making a crackling sound, which sounded like her name.

"Ju Hui".

Sheng Qijing called out again.

Sheng Qijing stood at the main entrance, either having just finished showering or in the process of showering. His hair was dripping wet, a bath towel was draped over his broad shoulders, partially concealing his abs, and his gray-white loungewear pants hung on the edge of his hips.

Is he not wearing underwear?

"Where are you looking?"

Sheng Qijing asked, smiling as he watched her get out of the car in embarrassment. She didn't know that he couldn't see who was in the car at all.

Sheng Qijing and she were not on the same wavelength. She appeared when he was considering studying abroad and left when he decided to stay. He always complemented her, knew why he attracted her and skillfully used it. He opened his arms and called her over.

Ju Hui clutched her handbag and large plastic bag, which he held in his arms.

He smelled wonderful, gently cupped her cheeks, and kissed her tenderly and cleanly, his lips cool and refreshing.

Ju Hui brainwashed herself, claiming she was coerced.

She suppressed her subconscious initiative, and the kiss became incredibly tingling. She paced back and forth, and even the cold wind felt like a redemptive scrape.

Ju Hui pushed him away.

Her arms were incredibly itchy.

Sheng Qijing drank alcohol. Her body clearly sensed the alcohol, even though she couldn't taste it. She couldn't even drink alcohol indirectly.

"Feel sorry."

Sheng Qijing realized it too, and reached out to wipe away the lipstick stains from the corner of her mouth, then her cheeks, earlobes, and the back of her neck...

Ju Hui frowned and squinted at him: "The day I first came back to China to find you, you actually didn't drink, did you?"