7. Snow in a silver bowl

◎Valentine's Day [Major overhaul, we recommend clearing your cache and watching again]◎

Her words were firm and resounding, but in their private office, Shang Xinuan could only hear the deafening pounding of her own heart.

In contrast, Li Xiran still wore a gentle smile on his face.

I don't know if he didn't understand what she said, or if he was deliberately pretending not to understand her intentions.

He remained silent, his emotions more intense than the shadows of the clouds drifting across the sky.

With that expression, Shang Xinuan began to reflect on her impulsive behavior.

After all, the memory of her previous drunken blackout was still fresh in her mind, and she wasn't even given the option of an open ending.

She bit her lip, ultimately lacking the courage to break the ice. "I sent the revised first draft of my thesis to my supervisor, and after an entire afternoon, she only responded with silence. This is the most difficult thing I'm facing right now."

“The thesis must indeed be written according to the school’s requirements.” A deep, alluring light flashed in Li Xiran’s eyes, and his laughter was low and gentle, as if coaxing a child. “What difficulties could I possibly have that I could help Nuannuan with?”

Shang Xinuan bit her lip, thinking of the horse farm that Yu Jiayue had mentioned that morning, and replied, "The last time I went horseback riding at Yijing was during the New Year. I miss Ruby a little."

Ruby was a chestnut pony that Li Xiran gave her four years ago.

In the sunlight, its mane flows, bright and shiny, like a ruby.

Hence the name Ruby.

"That's no problem. After your defense, I'll take you on a trip for a few days." He agreed readily, without the slightest hesitation.

The young lady's gloomy mood vanished instantly. "Okay!"

-

In the days that followed, Shang Xinuan realized that Li Xiran rarely appeared at the company each day.

Just as Chen Ti said, he was either in the conference room or on a business trip.

The only thing she could look forward to was that on days when Li Xiran wasn't on a business trip, he would always show up at the company.

The shortest time was five minutes, and the longest was a whole morning.

Even Chen Ti only stayed with her for a week. After introducing her to a group of young white-collar workers in the board office, Chen Ti disappeared.

Compared to before when I could only see him once every two weeks, now I live in the same environment he is in.

Even in the mundane routine of 10 am to 5 pm, she would look forward to those five minutes of pleasure.

During Li Xiran's business trip, the only thing that kept Miss Shang going was his promise to go to Yijing together after her thesis defense.

There are also rumors, whether true or not, that the two will get engaged as soon as she graduates.

Shanghai University finally released a notice in early May regarding the graduation defense arrangements for undergraduate students in the Department of Literature on June 3rd. It seems that all the wonderful things are about to unfold in this summer.

However, what comes before the height of summer is May 20th, the online Valentine's Day.

A week before Valentine's Day, various industries in Shanghai began their pre-Valentine's Day promotional activities.

The most popular of these is a Japanese romance film, "April Story".

The film tells the story of a girl who, because of her crush, goes to study in the city where the male protagonist lives, and her daily life and feelings about love.

Because it is graduation season, these youth-themed films capture the emotional pulse of young people.

Major portal websites have been flooded with trending topics such as "What you keep in mind will eventually come to pass" and "Unrequited love comes true."

In the comments section, young men and women were making plans to bring their crushes to the cinema and confess their feelings through the film's metaphors.

During Shangxin's lunch break, while several young women from the board office were playing in the tea room, one of them planned to ask her crush, a senior student, to go see him.

"I thought that asking someone you like to see 'April Story' was something only high school students would do."

"Love knows no age. Even at thirty, you deserve to be treated with care."

Everyone praised her courage, saying, "You're right, we support you!"

Then the group turned their attention to Shang Xinuan, "Nuan Nuan, what are your plans with Chairman Li for May 20th?"

She has a lively and outgoing personality. During the time she was writing her thesis in the board office, she remained quiet and didn't cause any trouble. She even used her connections to proactively help them with small tasks.

Shang Zun, Qiao Xi, and a group of young masters and ladies from Shanghai sent plenty of food and drinks to the Li family, and even the entire boardroom floor enjoyed the benefits.

In her private life, she would also meet up with a few young white-collar workers to go shopping and have meals.

It's hard not to like a young lady who's down-to-earth, genuine, and generous.

After becoming close to her, everyone secretly assumed she was the best candidate to be the boss's wife.

"My uncle is away on a business trip again, and it's uncertain when he'll be back," she said truthfully, holding her cup.

"It's true that it's common for Chairman Li to be away on business, but 520 is Valentine's Day!" someone said indignantly, clearly empathizing with the situation and believing that Shang Xinuan was a lovelorn girl spending Valentine's Day alone at home.

"Nuan Nuan, perhaps you could ask Chairman Li. After all, in our memory, he only takes holidays during the Spring Festival and Qingming Festival all year round."

Shang Xin pursed her lips, noticing that it was already time for work. "It's okay, work is the most important thing. I'll go back and write my thesis now."

Watching her retreating figure, the group clicked their tongues in amazement.

"No wonder she's the future chairman's wife, what a vision she has!"

"But she's too obedient. Work is important, but who wouldn't want their boyfriend by their side for a meal and a movie on a holiday?"

"I'm so heartbroken! I really want to call Chairman Li and tell him to come back and be with his wife right away, otherwise I'll have already made plans to go to the movies with Nuannuan on May 20th."

-

Back in her office, Shang Xinu looked at the printed paper on her desk, but her mind had already wandered far away.

On the laptop, Li Xiran's profile picture became increasingly clear in the pinned bar of the WeChat homepage.

The suggestion from the break room came back to her mind again.

After a long while, she finally gave in to her inner turmoil and opened the chat box with Li Xiran.

[A silver bowl filled with snow: Uncle, lunchtime!]

Li Xiran was probably busy, and replied to her message more than ten minutes later: [I'm getting ready to go now. Has Nuannuan eaten yet?]

[Silver Bowl Filled with Snow: It's already past 2 AM!]

She was sure she had already eaten, but she also felt sorry for Li Xiran who hadn't had time to eat yet.

[Uncle Li: It's good that you've eaten. Is everything alright at the company?]

Shang Xinu stared at his WeChat profile picture. The gentle photo she had taken seemed to come alive, as if it were speaking to her with tender eyes.

[Silver Bowl Holding Snow: The company is fine. Everything is good.]

[Silver Bowl Filled with Snow: I just wanted to ask when you're coming back. There's a movie coming out on May 20th, but I can't find anyone to go see it with.]

Li Xiran seemed to be busy again. It wasn't until late at night, when Shang Xinuan was about to fall asleep, that her phone rang with a WeChat notification sound again.

She immediately sat up and reached for her phone. Li Xiran replied: "[It's still uncertain whether I can go back. I'll give you an answer after I've arranged my work here, okay?]"

The young lady's longing over the past few days turned into grievance at this moment, reaching the peak of her emotions.

I can't touch him, I can't see him, and even if I make an appointment with him a week in advance, I can't get an immediate reply.

Shang Xin sniffed, turned off her phone, and rolled over to cover her head with the blanket.

I slept like that for one night, and my chest ached the next day.

Thinking that Li Xiran wasn't coming back, she simply told the receptionist in the board office that she would just stay home and do nothing.

For three days in a row, Shang Xinuan, as if in a fit of pique, turned off her phone and stayed with her grandfather, walking the birds and fishing.

On the fourth day, Aunt Hui went to the pavilion to look for her, saying, "Chairman Li called, he wants to see you."

The young lady, wearing sunglasses, was leisurely lying in a hammock, showing no intention of answering the phone.

Until Li Xiran's voice came through the receiver, "Nuan Nuan?"

Aunt Hui handed over the phone, saying, "Perhaps Chairman Li has something urgent to attend to."

The young lady pressed the speakerphone button and tossed her phone onto the coffee table. "I'm quite busy right now. I'll get back to you once I've arranged my work."

She replied, mimicking Li Xiran's tone from that day.

Hearing her words, Li Xiran just chuckled softly.

The voice coming through the receiver became even gentler, "My little darling, I promise I'll go back that day, okay?"

The young lady still felt wronged and did not respond.

"If you ignore me, I'll take that as a yes. Let's have Thai food for lunch, book tickets for the 4 pm movie, and then go to the Bund to see the night view afterward."

After a long silence, the young lady needed a way out.

"Nuan Nuan, please feel sorry for your uncle. I haven't had a break for half a month. Don't be angry anymore, okay?"

She actually understood everything; Li Xiran didn't even need to come out of his way to coax her.

He could have easily pretended not to know, but he was still willing to humble himself and meticulously plan everything to beg for her forgiveness.

The young lady could no longer stay angry. She put the phone receiver to her ear and said, "No matter how hard you work, you have to take care of your health!"

"Then why did I hear you were sick and hadn't been to the company for three or four days? You weren't replying to messages or answering the phone. Didn't you know that made people worry about you?"

"Are you worried about me?"

"Little Nuannuan, that's a heartless question."

Hearing that he was worried about her, the young lady's heart practically exploded with joy. "That's because I finished my thesis and didn't want to be bombarded by my supervisor, so I turned off my phone and rested for a few days."

He heard Li Xiran calling him again, probably for work-related reasons.

The phone call was made in a very rushed manner, but it miraculously managed to appease the young lady.

"Okay. I'm relieved to know you're alright." He said, "I'm busy here again, so stay home and wait for me to come back."

"knew."

"good!"

After he finished speaking, the phone was hung up again.

The young lady put down her phone. Just moments before, she had thought the artificial hill and fountain weren't beautiful enough; now, even the birdsong in the courtyard sounded melodious.

-

The following day, Shang Xinuan appeared at the Li family's office on time and continued her previous work-study sessions.

During her lunch break, she was pulled into the break room by several white-collar workers for a chat.

Are you feeling any better?

"I'm fine. It's just that after I finished writing the thesis, all the energy I had was suddenly depleted, which is why I got sick."

"That's good. We were all quite worried about you since you haven't come for several days."

As they chatted, the topic gradually veered off course. "Yesterday afternoon, the company gave us a last-minute notice that the entire group would have a half-day off on May 20th. It was specially approved by the chairman."

Shang Xinuan held the cup, her heart inexplicably racing.

"We guessed at the time that it must be Nuannuan's doing."

"Tell me quickly, are you and Chairman Li going on a date?"

Before Shang Xinuan could even speak, the happy smile in her eyes was already impossible to hide.

"I knew it."

"It's great when the boss is dating; we get to enjoy it too."

Shang Xin pursed her lips and corrected him shyly, "We're not dating."

"I know, I know. You're getting engaged soon, you're betrothed."

The young girl, who had harbored a secret crush for years, was suddenly and openly blessed by someone.

Even though her relationship with Li Xiran hadn't truly reached that point yet, the fireworks in her heart still instantly lit up the whole world.

Shang Xinuan seemed to have also glimpsed Li Xiran's difference and favoritism towards her through them.

-

Finally, on May 20th, Shang Xinuan got up early and dressed up carefully.

She wore a pink dress and had her makeup done in a lovely pink peach blossom style, perfectly matching the Valentine's Day theme.

Li Xiran did not disappoint, and rushed back to the company just before lunchtime.

I hadn't seen him for half a month, and he had lost a lot of weight; the outline of his jawline was even more pronounced.

She must have gone back to freshen up before coming, wearing a short-sleeved white T-shirt and a light beige suit.

It combines business-like appeal with a touch of leisure and summer coolness.

The two looked at each other, both filled with amazement.

Shang Xinuan excitedly ran over and jumped into his arms. Only when she was enveloped in the fragrance of herbs did she feel real.

"Little princess?" He ruffled her hair. "You look beautiful today."

She buried her head in his neck; she missed him so much.

She missed him so much that even if he stood in front of her and she held him, it still wasn't enough.

“I’m beautiful every day,” she said in a humming voice.

Yes, especially today.

The young lady always appreciated his praise. She quickly tidied her handbag and then took his arm as they went downstairs.

It was the time to get off work, because the Li family had the afternoon off.

Many employees saw Li Xiran personally warming the car door for Shang Xi at the group's entrance.

Valentine's Day, May 20th.

The chairman granted him a half-day leave.

Li Xiran and Shang Xinuan went on a date alone.

With various topics converging, the Li family's internal network experienced an unprecedented explosion that day.

The restaurant on May 20th also agreed that it was a huge success.

As soon as Shang Xinuan, dressed in traditional Thai clothing, pushed open the door to the private room, she was stunned by the room full of roses.

The heart-shaped jigsaw puzzle and the "love" banner look like a confession scene.

She was almost stunned on the spot. Just when she thought her dream had come true, Li Xiran explained, "I only found out it was Valentine's Day when I booked the restaurant. Every private room they have is themed for couples."

In an instant, her rosy fantasies were shattered, and the young lady couldn't help but feel disappointed. "Oh, is that so!"

That meal was just a brief interlude.

She reminded herself not to let it affect her mood.

When the two came out of the restaurant again, Chen Ti arrived at the door in his car.

Upon seeing them, I prepared to open the car door.

"Uncle, the movie theater is not far away, let's walk there." She thought that if they took their time, time would slow down, and she could spend more time with him.

Li Xiran glanced at his watch and said to Chen Ti, "Then help me park the car in the underground garage. You can have the afternoon off too."

This was a stroke of good news for the working class, and Chen Ti immediately thanked Shang Xinu.

"Aren't you going to thank me?"

"Thank you, Chairman Li."

On their way to the movie theater, almost all the couples passing by were holding hands.

They walked side by side, their shoulders occasionally bumping into each other, which became their most intimate gesture.

Shang Xinuan nodded and looked at his naturally lowered hands.

An impulsive thought popped into her head: she wanted to take his hand.

"Watch out!" Just then, someone from the opposite direction almost bumped into her.

"There are too many people." Her little scheme was thus thwarted.

Li Xiran raised an eyebrow and put his arm around her shoulder.

His protective gesture was evident in his clenched fist, preventing his hand from even touching her skin.

"He's such a child who never grew up."

As they suddenly closed in, her breath was filled with the fragrance emanating from Li Xiran.

The soft, doting voice in her ear was enough to make her heart melt.

"Sir, your girlfriend is so beautiful, why don't you give her a rose?" A flower girl suddenly appeared and stopped the two.

Such intimate behavior makes it somewhat awkward to explain that they are not a couple.

To everyone's surprise, Li Xiran didn't refuse. He smiled and pointed to the largest bouquet in the flower basket, "I want this one."

The flower girl blushed. "Sir, one flower is 52 yuan."

The bouquet he chose had 11 flowers, symbolizing a lifetime together.

Li Xiran is well aware of the premium pricing strategy for Valentine's Day.

"What should we do?" He lowered his eyes, his gaze filled with tenderness, his voice brimming with laughter, "I just want to give Miss the best."

The flower girl quickly pulled out the bouquet she had carefully arranged from her basket. "Miss, your boyfriend really loves you so much. I wish you happiness!"

Neither of them denied it; they simply exchanged a knowing smile.

In this moment of sweetness, Shang Xinuan almost forgot their true identities.

And the atmosphere of Valentine's Day has fully arrived, thanks to the bouquets of roses.

-

When I arrived at the cinema, the 4 p.m. showing of "April Story" was being announced and tickets were being checked for entry.

Because it was a popular movie, the entire screening room was packed.

The two walked around half a row before finally sitting down.

"Uncle, I thought you wouldn't like crowded and noisy places."

Li Xiran first took off his coat and covered her exposed knees. "I originally wanted to book the whole place, but I thought that Miss likes a lively atmosphere, so it would be nice to experience it."

Shang Xin hugged the roses, but still felt surrounded by his fragrance. "So, how was the experience?"

Li Xiran raised an eyebrow. "Very good. The warmth of everyday life truly comforts the heart."

The lights in the screening room slowly went out, and the movie officially began.

At the beginning, 17-year-old Uzuki is being seen off by her family as she travels alone from Hokkaido to Musashino University in Tokyo.

The first fifty minutes of the sixty-minute film are dedicated to the small, fragmented story of Uzuki facing a new city and a new school on her own, and how she integrates into the community.

It's so plain that there's no captivating plot; instead, it's more like a prose poem about spring.

In April, all things speak.

Cherry blossoms fall into the girl's arms, her hair flutters in the wind.

Under the shade of the trees, the light fell on Maoyue's cheeks.

The falling cherry blossoms and rain seem to carry a faint sadness belonging to youth.

Shang Xinuan couldn't help but recall that the year she first met Li Xiran was also in April of spring.

He sat in the spring-scented pavilion, standing within the gaze of her entire youth, capturing all the heart-fluttering moments of her girlhood.

He understood all her weaknesses, cowardices, pride, and arrogance. He calmed her chaotic 18th year, driving away all the gloom and ruins of her youth.

He appeared when her love was at its peak, and in the years that followed, he easily won her over.

And all of Uzuki's awkwardness, shyness, and desperate courage were hidden in the lens.

She searches for the person she likes in the crowd and secretly peels off the tag from the boy's locker and hides it.

That moment embodied the innocence, loneliness, persistence, and courage of youth.

It was as if they were mirrors reflecting the years that Shang Xinuan had spent pursuing Li Xiran.

Light streamed through the window and fell on the male protagonist's face.

Shang Xinuan also secretly glanced at Li Xiran at this moment.

He seemed so engrossed in watching that he didn't notice her overly direct and intense gaze.

At this point, the film begins its countdown.

The hidden courage hidden within Maoyue is completely revealed with the appearance of the male protagonist.

I studied hard and got into a school that even my teachers considered a miracle.

She could always be seen outside the orchestra, repeatedly going to the bookstore cashier to inquire about shift change times.

Only after calculating his work hours did he get a reply from him: "I remember you, what a coincidence."

But that one sentence, "What a coincidence," was actually the result of the girl's long-planned scheme.

The film ends abruptly with a downpour and a small, tattered red umbrella.

In a conversation where words are left unsaid.

She said you are very famous.

He replied, right? I don't know.

Maoyue smiled faintly, without revealing the reason.

But the wind, the cherry blossoms, and the falling rain at that moment seemed to answer for her.

"Yes, for me."

This is perhaps what youth is like: wanting to say something but holding back.

Subtle yet timeless.

The lights in the screening room came on as the film ended, and many people sighed with regret.

Seeing that she did not get up immediately, Li Xiran was not in a hurry and continued to sit there with her.

Until the end credits finished playing, only the two of them remained in the entire screening room.

"Uncle," Shang Xinuan suddenly asked, "Do you think the female lead's crush will come true?"

A note from the author:

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2023-04-18 00:00:07 and 2023-04-19 00:43:36!

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: grape-flavored double-skin milk and 1 bottle of Shengbao;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!