New York rainy night

Chapter One: First Encounter in New York

New York's autumn nights always bring an unexpected damp chill. Fine rain slants across the skyscrapers of Fifth Avenue, blending the neon lights into a hazy halo. The warm light from the rooftop terrace party pierces through the rain and mist, intertwining with the endless stream of car lights below, casting flowing patches of light on the wet glass curtain wall, like an overturned palette.

Ning Zhichu stood at the elevator entrance, raising her hand to smooth her shoulder-length black hair. Raindrops dampened the ends, a few slightly curled strands clinging to her fair neck, exuding an unintentional softness. She wore a champagne-colored velvet slip dress, the fabric hugging her curves and accentuating her slender yet upright waistline. The hem fell just above her knees, revealing her straight and shapely calves. Nude stilettos completed the look, making her figure appear even more graceful. The girl, only three months out of college, still carried the lingering naiveté of campus life. Her eyes shone like shattered starlight, but the grip on the gift box betrayed a hint of awkwardness in this unfamiliar social setting.

"The Beginning! Here!"

A familiar shout came from the entrance to the terrace. Ning Zhichu looked up and immediately saw Su Xiaoran waving in the crowd. Her childhood friend was wearing a sequined mini-skirt, her long hair styled in an elegant updo, and a bright smile on her face. She was surrounded by several friends of similar age. The two had been friends since college, and now that they were both settled in New York, their friendship had deepened. Su Xiaoran had specifically asked her to attend this birthday party.

"Happy birthday, Ranran!" Ning Zhichu walked over quickly, handed over the exquisitely packaged gift box, her voice sweet, with a slight hoarseness from just coming in from the rain, "I specially picked out some niche fragrances for you, I hope you like them."

"I'll definitely love it! Everything you gave me is wonderful!" Su Xiaoran took the gift box and handed it to her friend. She then grabbed Ning Zhichu's arm and affectionately nuzzled her shoulder. "Introduce me to some of your friends. They're all my colleagues from the company, and there are also a few senior students. It'll be good for us to look after each other in New York."

Ning Zhichu smiled and nodded, then was pulled by Su Xiaoran into the crowd. She was rather introverted, preferring to spend her time in the library or the newsroom rather than a noisy party, but seeing her childhood friend's happy expression, she was willing to temporarily set aside her inhibitions. The long table in the center of the terrace was laden with exquisite desserts and champagne, while sparkling wine bubbled in an ice bucket. The clinking of glasses, laughter, and soft jazz music blended together, creating the unique hustle and bustle of an urban nightlife.

She exchanged a few pleasantries with Su Xiaoran, but feeling rather uncomfortable in the setting, she slipped away under the pretext of getting a drink to a corner of the terrace. Here, far from the crowd, only a vintage wall lamp cast a warm yellow glow, and raindrops, whipped by the wind, occasionally landed on her bare arms, bringing a slightly cool touch.

Ning Zhichu held a glass of non-alcoholic sparkling water, her fingertips brushing against the cool glass, her gaze unconsciously drifting to the street scene below. The New York nightscape was breathtakingly vibrant; skyscrapers stood like a steel forest, car headlights forming a flowing galaxy, and the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance traced a graceful arc against the night sky. She took a deep breath; the air was a blend of the crispness of rain, the sweetness of champagne, and the aroma of steak wafting from a distant restaurant—this was the taste of New York, the place where she dreamed of settling down. As a recent journalism graduate, she longed to write warm and powerful reports, to become the kind of journalist she had always wanted to be.

Just as she was lost in thought, a tall and imposing figure came into her view.

The man leaned against the railing not far away, his back to her, his nearly 1.9-meter height standing out conspicuously in the crowd. He wore a custom-made dark gray suit, impeccably tailored, perfectly fitting his broad shoulders and narrow waist, his back straight and ramrod-like, without a single wrinkle. The cuffs were casually rolled up, revealing his smooth forearms, and on his wrist was a low-key black wristwatch, its dial occasionally flashing a cold light under the lamplight.

Ning Zhichu's gaze lingered for a few more seconds without her noticing. It wasn't that she was deliberately scrutinizing him, but the aura surrounding the man was too peculiar—despite being in the midst of a noisy party, he exuded a coldness that kept strangers at bay, like an isolated iceberg, completely out of place with the surrounding liveliness.

Just as she was about to look away, the man seemed to sense something and slowly turned around.

Ning Zhichu's breathing suddenly stopped.

It was a striking face, its features deep-set and sculpted like a meticulously crafted sculpture. Sharp brow bones, slightly upturned eyes, and a deep, almost inky black pupil, calm and still like a frozen pool, without a ripple. A high, straight nose with a well-defined tip, and thin, tightly pressed lips conveyed a sense of aloofness and coldness, yet this did not diminish its breathtaking handsomeness. A few stray strands of hair, damp from the rain, clung to its full forehead, adding a touch of casualness that softened its sharp features.

His gaze swept over them without lingering, but when it briefly met Ning Zhichu's eyes, her heart skipped a beat. His gaze was so profound, as if it held endless shrewdness and stories, carrying the composure and scrutiny of someone long accustomed to a position of power. She subconsciously tightened her grip on the cup in her hand, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Ning Zhichu hurriedly looked away, her heart pounding uncontrollably. She didn't know who this man was, but she felt that he possessed an indescribable sharpness, not a deliberately flamboyant display, but a restrained aura that was deeply ingrained in his bones, completely different from the others at the party.

Holding her cup, she turned around to return to Su Xiaoran's side, but as soon as she took a step, she heard low voices behind her.

"Mr. Wei, I've sent you the meeting minutes. The other party would like to schedule another meeting with you regarding next week's project coordination." It was a respectful male voice, with a clear air of a junior colleague.

The man addressed as "General Manager Wei" grunted in response, his deep, magnetic voice like the bass strings of a cello, gently brushing against people's hearts, yet devoid of warmth: "Tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock, arrange it in the company's conference room."

"OK."

Ning Zhichu paused. President Wei? He sounded like a businessman. Without thinking further, she quickly returned to the crowd. Su Xiaoran was looking for her everywhere. Seeing her return, she immediately pulled her aside and complained, "Where did you go? I was just about to introduce you to my senior. He's a big shot in the financial world. Maybe he can provide you with news leads in the future."

Ning Zhichu smiled and shook her head: "I just went to get some fresh air. You know I'm not used to noisy places."

“I know, I know, our top reporter is all about her work.” Su Xiaoran joked, handing her another glass of juice. “But seriously, there are quite a few industry elites among the people here today. It won’t hurt to get to know a few more; it’ll give you more avenues for future news reporting.”

Ning Zhichu nodded, but the image of the man from earlier still lingered in her mind. Holding her juice, she glanced unconsciously at that corner again, only to find it empty, with only traces of rain remaining on the railing. It was as if that cold, imposing figure from earlier was merely a fleeting illusion she had in the autumn night in New York.

She didn't know that the man called "President Wei" was Wei Yan.

Wei Ting had just finished a three-hour multinational meeting. His business partner had specially arranged this party on the rooftop terrace. He had intended to leave immediately, but was forced to stay and exchange a few pleasantries. Just now, in the corner, he hadn't been paying special attention to the girl; he had only caught a glimpse of her standing there alone, her eyes as pure as unpolluted starlight, so out of place in this party filled with exchanges of interests. That's why he subconsciously glanced at her a few more times.

He was already seated in the car waiting downstairs, his fingertips swiping across his phone screen as he looked at the next work schedule sent by his assistant. Outside the car window, the rain was still falling. The figure of the girl in the champagne-colored sundress, her eyelashes glistening with raindrops, was like a pebble that had accidentally fallen into a still lake, creating a barely perceptible ripple before being instantly submerged by the dense work schedule.

Wei Ting withdrew his gaze, closed his phone, and his eyes regained their composure. He came to New York for work; the power struggles in the financial world allowed no room for distraction.

As for a chance encounter, one where you don't even know the name, it's just one of countless fleeting moments in a bustling city, not worth mentioning.

Ning Zhichu quickly put this brief encounter behind her and joined Su Xiaoran in the lively party. Little did she know that this first meeting on a New York autumn night, without a single word exchanged, would be the beginning of the most magnificent chapter in her life.