Chapter 60 A Year Away

A surge of immense courage welled up from the bottom of her heart, and Ruan Yao's voice was filled with undisguised joy.

"Can I treat you to dinner? I'm about to get off work, I only have half an hour left."

After she finished speaking, she looked at him with expectant eyes.

However, those eyes that had just clearly reflected her figure now slowly lowered, avoiding her gaze.

"I need to go back to work at the company."

The light in Ruan Yao's eyes dimmed at a visible speed.

She said "Oh," and lowered her eyelashes somewhat dejectedly.

But this low mood only lasted a few seconds before she quickly cheered up.

It's okay. I was able to see him unexpectedly today and even got a positive answer from him, so I've already made a huge profit.

Don't be too greedy.

Huo Yanzhi looked at her self-comforting, forced-to-cheer-up expression and felt a slight pang in his heart.

"Go back now," he said softly. "I'm leaving."

Ruan Yao shook her head and put on a bright smile again.

"It's okay, you go first, I'll watch over you."

Huo Yanzhi did not insist further.

He opened the car door and got in.

The car smoothly drove away from the roadside and merged into the traffic flow in the rainy night.

Huo Yanzhi looked in the rearview mirror at the slender figure standing by the roadside with an umbrella.

She didn't move, she just stood there until his car turned the corner, and her figure became a blurry little dot, no longer visible.

He looked away and stared straight ahead.

The carriage was deathly silent, with only the windshield wipers working monotonously.

The bright, radiant daisies on that umbrella, and her sparkling eyes as she looked up, flashed alternately in his mind.

She said she had never been happier than she was now.

After a while, Huo Yanzhi picked up his phone and dialed Qin Feng's number.

The call was answered almost immediately.

"Mr. Huo."

"That senior executive project the company will be sending to the European branch for a year next month," Huo Yanzhi's voice was calm and undisturbed, "has the person been chosen yet?"

Qin Feng was taken aback, somewhat surprised that he would suddenly ask this question.

"Not yet, Mr. Huo. There are several senior directors on the shortlist, and the HR department is making the final evaluations."

The neon lights outside the car window flickered across Huo Yanzhi's face, their brightness shifting.

He spoke again.

"No need to make a decision."

"I'll go myself."

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

Qin Feng thought he was hallucinating.

Is Mr. Huo going to Europe?

It will take a whole year?

What... what's going on?

Huo Yanzhi didn't give him a chance to ask further questions and hung up the phone directly.

He tossed his phone aside, leaned back wearily in his chair, as if he had unloaded something.

In this life, Ruan Yao has a happy family and a successful career.

Her life trajectory is healthy and bright.

Her happiness can be complete without him.

He dared not gamble on the tragedy of his past life.

After a year's absence, time and distance have allowed everything to return to its original course.

This was the only solution he could think of.

*

Two weeks later.

Ruan Yao was nestled on the sofa, studying Lexing Island's marketing plan for the next quarter on her tablet, when Ruan Sheng's head popped out from behind her.

"Are you done with your work, my great designer?" He strolled in with a grin, carrying a cup of her favorite milk tea.

Ruan Yao took the milk tea, took a big sip, and the sweetness dispelled some of her fatigue.

"What is it? I'm very busy."

"Tonight, that kid Gu Huai is throwing a private party at his private club. Are you going?" Ruan Sheng winked and leaned closer. "Let me tell you, Gu Huai and I are best buddies now. He personally sent me the invitation."

Upon hearing that it was a party, Ruan Yao shook her head with little interest.

"It's all your bunch of rich kids, what would I do there? I'm not going."

"No, they're not just rich kids. Lots of people from Beijing's social circle are going." Seeing her listless look, Ruan Sheng knew what she was thinking. He lowered his voice mysteriously, "Guess who else will be going?"

Ruan Yao's eyelashes fluttered.

Ruan Sheng continued, "Huo Yanzhi! Gu Huai is throwing a party, and Huo Yanzhi is his childhood friend. How could he possibly be absent? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Think about it, what a great opportunity this private party is! You'll look gorgeous and stand there, and Huo Yanzhi will be completely captivated. Then Gu Huai and I can create some opportunities for you two to be alone, and that'll solve the problem, right?"

Ruan Yao's previously droopy ears perked up instantly.

Since that day, when Huo Yanzhi gave her such a heartwarming response, he has disappeared again.

For two whole weeks, there was no word from them.

To go or not to go?

She sat up straight on the sofa with a somersault, her voice becoming eight octaves louder.

"Wow!"

"That's more like it!" Ruan Sheng snapped his fingers happily. "Hurry up, go upstairs and change! My sister has to be the most dazzling girl here tonight!"

Meanwhile, at the top floor of the Huo Group, in the president's office.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the skyscrapers of northern Beijing stand side by side, and the afterglow of the setting sun gilds the city with a warm golden hue.

Qin Feng neatly placed a document and two plane tickets on Huo Yanzhi's desk.

"Mr. Huo, the legal department has approved your assignment contract to the European branch." He pushed the plane ticket forward. "This is your ticket to Zurich in three days. All handover procedures and your apartment there have been arranged."

Huo Yanzhi shifted his gaze from the computer screen to the contract and the plane ticket.

"knew."

He simply responded with a faint "yes" and then refocused his attention on his work, as if it were just an ordinary document rather than a decision that would change the course of his life for the next year.

Qin Feng stood still, without moving.

Having followed Huo Yanzhi for so many years, this was the first time he couldn't understand his thoughts.

Just a short time ago, Mr. Huo and Ms. Ruan's relationship had made a breakthrough. How could they suddenly make the decision to go to Europe for a year?

This is illogical.

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but looking at Huo Yanzhi's aloof and indifferent profile, he ultimately swallowed all his questions.

Just then, Huo Yanzhi's personal cell phone rang.

The caller ID showed "Gu Huai".

Huo Yanzhi glanced at it, then casually pressed mute and didn't answer.

The phone kept ringing, as if it would keep calling until he answered.

Finally, Huo Yanzhi impatiently swiped to answer the call.

"What's up?"

"Hey Mr. Huo, what's going on? You didn't answer my calls? So aloof." Gu Huai's nonchalant voice came from the other end of the phone. "You haven't forgotten my party tonight, have you? Hurry up, you're the only one missing."

"I'm not going." Huo Yanzhi's answer was simple and straightforward.

"No, my dear brother!" Gu Huai wailed. "What's wrong with you lately? You've made yourself look like you're half-dead. Where did your spirited, dashing, and debonair self go? You're cooped up in the company all day. Are you planning to spend your whole life with documents? Come out and get some fresh air. I just got a few bottles of good wine, and I'm waiting for you to enjoy them!"

Huo Yanzhi pinched the bridge of his nose with some impatience.

Just as he was about to hang up the phone, something suddenly flashed through his mind.

The limited edition watch I brought back from Switzerland last time was a birthday gift for Grandpa Gu Huai, and I had been forgetting to give it to him.

"I have something for you." He finally relented. "I'll be passing by later, I won't be staying long."

"Alright! Just come on over!" Gu Huai immediately beamed. "Perfect timing, come over for a couple of drinks. I'm telling you, there's a surprise tonight..."

Huo Yanzhi hung up the phone before he could finish speaking.

He stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the bustling city below.

The flow of cars formed a golden river, but it didn't stir up any ripples in his eyes.

I'm leaving.

That's fine.

Let his shady thoughts remain sealed away in this city he is about to leave.