Chapter 22 Title and Status (See author's note)

The one-day economic forum came to a successful conclusion. When I came out of the venue, Youyue's driver was waiting for me at the entrance.

June in New York is extremely hot, with persistently high ground temperatures. The indoor ventilation system works diligently, but as soon as you step outside, you're hit by a wave of heat.

The car here is an extended version of the Phantom, which perfectly matches You Yue's usual style; even on business trips, he prefers the best.

You Yue walked to the back seat and was just about to open the car door for Cheng Hexi when a man's voice came from behind them.

He called out "Ivy".

The two turned around together.

The man looked a few years older than them, with slicked-back brown hair, dressed in a suit, and only slightly shorter than You Yue.

You Yue didn't walk over, but instead leaned against the car door with his arms crossed, watching Cheng Hexi greet the man.

They must have a good relationship. Cheng Hexi had already extended her right hand, but the man gave her a warm American-style hug instead.

She did indeed seem very happy.

The two chatted briefly, then Cheng Hexi turned around and looked at You Yue not far away, without saying a word.

You Yue understood and got up to walk over.

When she reached Cheng Hexi's side, she took a half step back, creating some distance between herself and the man, and then naturally moved closer to him, introducing the two of them to each other.

Youyue keenly noticed this subtle change and felt a sense of pleasure as a result.

Cheng Hexi introduced him in a very natural tone.

This is my husband.

Their relationship was common knowledge in Beijing's social circles; no introduction was needed, and for a while, they even had to pretend to be a loving couple.

Once abroad, even though they no longer needed to put on an act, they began to openly use the most intimate terms to give each other titles and status.

-

After dinner, Cheng Hexi rested for half an hour, and then she and You Yue tidied up briefly before heading out together.

She had already told her friend that she would be bringing her partner, but her friend still let out an exaggerated exclamation when she saw the person in person.

After exchanging greetings, he leaned close to Cheng Hexi and whispered, but exaggeratedly, "Your husband is so handsome!"

Cheng Hexi couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.

You Yue watched calmly from the side, recalling the little things they had done together after their marriage, and couldn't help but think to himself: How come I didn't realize she had so many friends before?

Cheng Hexi laughed, patted her friend on the shoulder, and introduced him to You Yue.

You Yue's gaze swept over the blond boy without any emotion, his face still displaying a polite smile and the demeanor of a wealthy young master.

The boy keenly sensed the subtle hostility beneath You Yue's polite exterior and finally remembered the proper social distance, inviting them to sit down at the bar.

His name is Jerry, and he's the owner and bartender at this rooftop bar. He's described as a boy because he's wearing a white T-shirt and silver earrings, making him look quite young.

In fact, Jerry is almost five years younger than Cheng Hexi, and he is only twenty-four years old this year, so he is still a student.

Cheng Hexi's acquaintance with him stemmed entirely from a misunderstanding.

Jerry is of mixed race; his mother is Chinese and passed away suddenly from illness when he was a teenager. He worked as a bartender at this bar before graduating from university, and at that time, he had a very strained relationship with his father because of his sexual orientation.

Cheng Hexi first came here in the height of summer.

As the night deepened and fewer people arrived, Jerry sat idly behind the bar, noticing that Cheng Hexi always came alone, ignoring any attempts to strike up a conversation and quietly drinking.

Having grown up in a foreign land and seen many blond-haired, blue-eyed Europeans, he had a natural curiosity and fondness for the Eastern face that resembled his mother, so he took it upon himself to give her a glass of wine.

Cheng Hexi initially thought the young boy was trying to pick her up and politely refused. However, they encountered each other frequently afterward, and gradually the misunderstanding was cleared up, and they became friends.

After that, Jerry explained several times that he didn't mean anything by it, and Cheng Hexi apologized to him with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Through her interactions with Cheng Hexi and Jerry, You Yue discovered a corner of her past.

This bar has an excellent location with no tall buildings nearby, offering great views and a clear view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Many people come here for a drink after get off work, and Cheng Hexi does this occasionally when she's not working overtime.

Even if she is rational and intelligent, she still has a heart of flesh and blood; she is not indestructible.

At that time, Xu Zhumeng had just returned to China when her maternal grandparents passed away one after another. She was all alone in a foreign land.

When I'm busy, it's fine, but when I have free time, I sometimes feel lonely and sad.

-

They missed the sunset, but through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Manhattan skyline slowly unfolded before their eyes.

As dusk settles, from a high vantage point, the streets are dotted with skyscrapers, and in the distance, buildings of varying heights are brightly lit, making the entire city appear dazzling and as bright as day.

Jerry chatted with them for a while before going back to work, leaving Cheng Hexi and You Yue behind.

She chatted with You Yue about a good case she had heard at the conference that day. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a couple kissing passionately not far away. She suddenly realized that they were in a bar and were talking about work.

Although they had been living together for several days, she and You Yue still didn't know each other very well. If they were to have a conversation, she didn't know what topics to use to attract the other's attention.

Jerry just mixed a cocktail for each of them; it was his own creation, and it tasted pretty good.

You Yue had reservations about the drink, but he didn't show it. While Jerry was entertaining others, Cheng Hexi saw through his thoughts at a glance, smiled, and vouched for him.

"Jerry has been a bartender for many years, you should try it."

You Yue then took a sip.

Cheng Hexi swirled her glass, tilting her head to gaze at the skyline outside the floor-to-ceiling window.

The person next to her had their phone vibrate, which snapped her out of her reverie. She looked up at him.

The man took out his phone, glanced at the screen, and gestured to Cheng Hexi that he was going to answer a call.

Cheng Hexi nodded, not caring.

She had taken off her tassel earrings while she was sleeping, but put them back on after she woke up. Her clothes remained her usual simple style: a black slit long skirt.

When she sits on the high stool, her long, straight, and well-proportioned legs are on full display.

Two minutes after You Yue left, a man in his thirties approached her with a glass of wine, placed it on the bar, and smiled politely at her.

Cheng Hexi looked up, put down her cup, and didn't say anything.

She was sitting alone at the bar drinking when a man asked her if she was Chinese and then rudely sat down next to her.

Having witnessed many such scenes, Cheng Hexi has always possessed the ability to deflect great force with minimal effort.

She recalled her first meeting with Jerry and realized that misunderstanding him back then wasn't entirely her fault.

Cheng Hexi reminded him that the seat was occupied, but the man seemed to become more determined despite the setback, so he moved to the other side, still sitting next to her.

She had just spoken in Chinese, and when the man spoke again, he switched to speaking in Chinese as well.

He was trying to find a topic to talk about, so he started by mentioning that he worked at an investment bank on Wall Street and wanted to chat with her about investing.

Cheng Hexi scoffed lightly, thinking to herself that this was her old profession. Then she wondered: What does this person mean? Is he implying that he earns a lot?

Having no interest in listening to the man's ramblings while he was lost in his own world, she endured it for ten seconds before giving up. With a cold expression, she said bluntly, "You're too close to me. I feel very uncomfortable."

This scene was witnessed by You Yue, who had just returned to the bar.

His hands were in his pockets, his gaze remained fixed on the ground, but he didn't rush over; he simply stood a short distance away.

He knew that Cheng Hexi could handle the situation perfectly well, and he didn't need to play the "hero" who "saved the beauty".

You Yue had long noticed that Cheng Hexi looked different when she smiled and when she didn't. When she didn't smile, she had a strong aura, and her eyebrows and lips conveyed a coldness.

The man, having lost face, wanted to say something more. She remained calm, showing him her wedding ring, and the seven-figure watch on her left wrist was also quite eye-catching.

Cheng Hexi tapped her fingers on the table, her tone relaxed: "My husband and I have a very good relationship."

You Yue strode over and happened to hear this sentence.

He has broad shoulders and long legs, with excellent body proportions, making him stand out even among a group of Europeans and Americans.

Even just standing there, she makes men feel ashamed of themselves.

-

You Yue had always known that Cheng Hexi was beautiful and charming, but no one in Beijing dared to approach her until today. Only then did he realize how popular someone like her was among people.

She must have been pursued quite a bit when she was in school.

Thinking this way, I casually brought it up.

Cheng Hexi hadn't expected him to inquire about this one day, and smiled: "Inquiring about my romantic history, Mr. You?"

You Yue didn't know whether she meant to say it or not, so he skipped the joke and focused his gaze on her.

His eyes were deep and captivating; Cheng Hexi had long realized that those alluring eyes were quite deceptive.

“Okay, to be fair, you go first.” She didn’t back down: “What about your romantic history?”

You Yue thought: I'm not losing out at all.

“When we first officially met, everything I said was true.”

Cheng Hexi said "Oh," realizing that she actually remembered his words. "You mean, what the media wrote was all baseless?"

You Yue: "Yes."

He said at the time that he was completely innocent, had never even been involved in any ambiguous relationships, and would not give anyone the opportunity to approach him with ulterior motives.

As for some unfounded rumors or even distorted facts, he originally didn't care at all, but now he regrets it and feels that he shouldn't have let them write whatever they wanted.

He never imagined he would have such a day.

Having grown up at the pinnacle of extravagance and debauchery, You Yue has seen and heard far too much. From the age of eighteen, he has been able to keenly and decisively reject any frivolous hints or flattery in any situation, and he does not take pride or pleasure in it.

In the world of fame and fortune, some succumb to despair, while others remain clear-headed; he has always been the latter.

Cheng Hexi raised her eyebrows, showing no disbelief.

She smiled and asked curiously, "When you were in school, were there many people who liked you?"

Why do I keep asking him questions? Isn't the point to be fair?

You Yue thought to herself, but answered the question seriously.

He said, "No."

Cheng Hexi was initially a little surprised, but after thinking about it, she realized that perhaps the young master had never cared about the feelings others had for him, and those who truly liked him probably didn't dare to pursue him for various reasons.

As for whether it will be popular or not, that's for sure.

In fact, You Yue was rarely at school, and when she was there, she was only busy learning things that interested her. Her social circle was not large, and she really didn't pay attention to these things.

When it was You Yue's turn, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "And you?"

"Neither do I." Cheng Hexi smiled, slowly touched You Yue's glass with the rim of her glass, and drank the wine in her glass in one gulp, mimicking his words: "Completely innocent."

Before her mother passed away, Cheng Hexi lived in an ivory tower, thinking only of herself and her family, without considering these things.

After going abroad, I often lost all my emotions and desires, even my appetite, let alone anything else.

You Yue noticed that her cup was empty and her lower lip was moist, recalling the way she looked at him on stage during his speech that afternoon.

He couldn't help but wonder, since she had never been attracted to anyone, what kind of person would attract her?

In truth, everything she had acquired and strived for over the years was nothing in Cheng Hexi's eyes.

She lacks nothing: wealth, power, ability, knowledge, and connections.

You Yue felt that he was the one who should be asking this question.

Do many people like you?

-

The marital relationship is a legally binding fact, but the lack of affection is also a fact.

Cheng Hexi felt that the topic they had just discussed was a bit ambiguous, but she knew that You Yue had just asked casually and didn't mean anything by it, so she didn't dwell on it too much.

The glasses in front of the two were empty; Jerry was busy entertaining guests and had no time to pay attention to them.

When asked by another bartender, Cheng Hexi politely shook her head, indicating she didn't want to drink anymore.

The people around her were swirling their glasses and watching her.

You Yue smiled and said, "How about trying my cocktails next time?"

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Author's Note: Just the delightful sight of the arrogant king getting jealous! ^_^

Thank you everyone for your comments and nutrient solutions. Thank you for your encouragement. See you tomorrow!

The compatibility question continues:

6. Which sentence best reflects your view on love?

Xi: Love is the downfall of free will.

Yue: As Tagore wrote in his poem, "Let my love surround you like the sunshine, and give you a radiant freedom."