Chapter 124 N-Enduring
Xing Yu reached out, his hand trembling, and gently touched Chu Beiling's cheek, then pressed his own cheek against hers.
Chu Beiling turned her head slightly and leaned closer, placing one kiss after another on his lips: "Xing Yu, don't be sad. I will personally deliver the gifts to you from now on."
Xing Yu pursed his lips and breathed slowly, his chest rising and falling. He ran his fingertip across the corner of Chu Beiling's eye, then slowly slid it down, cupped his cheeks, and kissed him very forcefully.
This kiss was no longer a raging storm; it was tender, slow, and gentle, as if fulfilling a contract, a careful touch.
Chu Beiling's love is forever passionate and sincere.
And what were his feelings as he sent gifts back from abroad year after year, only to have all his hopes dashed in the end?
Whenever Xing Yu thought about it deeply, his heart felt like a crushed persimmon, sour and astringent, so painful that he couldn't breathe.
The lights outside the window flickered past, and one car after another drove by, converging into a sea of lights.
The room was so quiet that only the sounds of their breathing and the water as they kissed could be heard.
In a hazy, confused state, Chu Beiling was carried to the bathroom by Xing Yu, where he was pressed against the all-black glass tile wall.
Behind me was a chill, in front of me a blazing heat—a world of contrasts.
He couldn't take it anymore, opened his mouth, and breathed shallowly.
"Chu Beiling".
"I am here."
Xing Yu lowered his head and kissed his lips, then gently placed his hand on top of his, their fingers slowly intertwining: "Chu Beiling, Chu Beiling."
"Yes, yes."
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Xing Yu's forehead, dripping onto Chu Beiling's collarbone and spreading a small patch of hot, dampness: "How can you be so good to me?"
“Because… because…” Chu Beiling raised her head, enduring and embracing, her fingers digging deep into the muscles of Xing Yu’s back, her voice breaking in the flowing waves: “Because you are worth it.”
Xing Yu bit down on his Adam's apple: "Hold me tight."
Chu Beiling slowly closed her arms around his lean waist.
The next morning, Chu Beiling was sore all over and unable to get out of bed. Xing Yu carried her to wash up and took care of her with his eyes closed.
Chu Beiling didn't even sit down in the dining chair, remaining slumped on the sofa without moving. Xing Yu leaned over, touched his forehead, and placed a fever-reducing patch on it: "Stay home and rest today?"
"I didn't go to the company yesterday. My schedule is packed today. I have to meet with a business partner. It was arranged a long time ago, and I can't get out of it." Chu Beiling's voice was hoarse.
Xing Yu patted his head: "You've really worked hard, President Chu."
Chu Beiling lifted her eyelids slightly. "Then who's to blame?"
"It was my fault."
Chu Beiling scoffed.
They talk a good game, but when it comes to actually doing things, it takes a long time.
In order not to affect his work the next day, Xing Yu usually restrains himself. He will stop when Xing Yu tells him to. Last night, he even begged for mercy, but Xing Yu still wouldn't let him go.
And tell him that he can do it.
In the end, though, they let him go.
—But he was the one who gave Xing Yu the gift, so he should be the one paralyzed here unable to get up. Instead, he gave Xing Yu the gift, and now the gift is paralyzed here unable to get up.
This is such a loss, such a loss, such a huge loss.
Seeing that he was absent-minded, Xing Yu raised an eyebrow: "What are you thinking about?"
Chu Beiling beckoned him over, saying, "Come here and give me a couple of bites to vent my anger."
Xing Yu chuckled: "Wasn't last night enough?"
"..." Chu Beiling raised her foot to kick, but the movement aggravated the overused area, causing her to wince in pain.
Xing Yu placed his hand on his leg and rubbed his head: "Are you feeling alright?"
Chu Beiling: "Alright, this feud is over. Don't even think about touching me for a week."
Xing Yu: "Okay, you decide."
Chu Beiling squinted one eye, looking at him suspiciously: "So easy to talk to?"
"You need to rest well to have..." Xing Yu smiled and whispered in his ear.
Chu Beiling's face instantly turned red, and she pushed him away, saying, "Xing Yu, you shameless bastard."
Xing Yu laughed until his shoulders and back trembled; he was incredibly wicked.
Unfortunately, Chu Beiling wanted to beat him up but couldn't get him to move, so she could only glare at him angrily, angry, angry, angry.
Xing Yu raised his hand and pinched his cheeks: "Stop fooling around, I'll go make you breakfast, what do you want to eat?"
The human and machine Chu Beiling remained unchanged: "The same as always."
"OK."
Just as they got up, both of their phones received messages at the same time.
It was a wedding invitation from Ke Jincheng.
Xing Yu seemed to be deep in thought, then turned to look at Chu Beiling: "Shall we go?"
Chu Beiling checked the time and saw that she was free: "Sure, let's go."
Xing Yu nodded: "Okay, I'll get back to Ke Jincheng."
Ke Jincheng's outdoor wedding is scheduled for the Beginning of Autumn, by the sea in Xiangshan.
These past few days, several storyboard scenes for "Sword Song Beyond the Clouds" have been scouring the seaside and film and television base in Xiangshan. Chu Beiling and Xing Yu arrived a day early, intending to come and communicate with the director and storyboard artist to ensure that the creative direction and market strategy goals are consistent, and to avoid a lot of rework in later stages.
Xing Yu took the room key from the staff and led Chu Beiling to the room.
Ke Jincheng has a lot of influence. Apart from Xue Ziang, he brought all the members of Class 13, who were scattered in different places at home and abroad, as well as Lin Tingdao.
To accommodate 42 people and their families, he specially booked an entire floor of the hotel.
Chu Beiling and Xing Yu put down their luggage, slung their cameras over their shoulders, and headed outside.
The door next door opened just then, and they bumped right into Li Dong.
Chu Beiling was stunned for several seconds before she realized that the woman in front of her, wearing a black shirt and suit, high-top Martin boots, silver-rimmed glasses, and with her long hair slicked back, was Li Dong.
Compared to her outgoing and aggressive self back then, she now possesses a more refined and abstinent air; in today's terms, she's practically a refined scoundrel.
"Tangtang, it's been a long time." Chu Beiling greeted her.
Li Dong was also surprised by Chu Beiling's current appearance.
After a while, she smiled and said, "It's amazing. I thought you didn't care about anything, but you actually came back."
Li Dong's smile was not friendly; it carried a hint of sarcasm.
Everyone was angry about Chu Beiling's disappearance back then, except for Xing Yu. Li Dong scolded him a couple of times in dissatisfaction, but then let it go. Of course, she never mentioned Chu Beiling again.
One reason was that she was afraid Xing Yu would be upset, and the other was that she was genuinely angry.
After the initial period of anger passed, I went from being naive to mature and experienced too many farewells.
Only then did I understand—
Everyone has their own choices and their own difficulties.
Back then, we were young and carefree, our dictionary only contained the word "forever," not "goodbye." But in the end, we must learn to smile and wave goodbye to those who leave.
Seeing that Chu Beiling was about to apologize, Li Dong waved his hand to interrupt: "Are you two free? Let's go have a drink together."
When old friends meet, they don't refuse and follow Li Dong to a bar near the hotel.
Li Dong ordered a bottle of whiskey, Xing Yu ordered a glass of freshly squeezed juice for Chu Beiling, and drank with Li Dong.
While waiting for the drinks, Li Dong pulled a pack of Marlboro cigarettes from his pocket and waved it at them: "Do you want some?"
Chu Beiling wanted to take it, but seeing Xing Yu standing to the side, she ultimately waved her hand.
Li Dong glanced at the two of them out of the corner of her eye, chuckled, and ran her fingers, stained with red nail polish, over the lighter's roller. She held a cigarette in her mouth and leaned closer; as the tobacco touched the flame, wisps of smoke rose slowly.
"How have you been these past few years?" Li Dong asked Chu Beiling, taking a drag of his cigarette.
"Neither good nor bad, it's alright."
"You're planning to stay in the country and not leave?"
"right."
Li Dong flicked his cigarette ash: "That's good."
A question and an answer, nothing serious.
Chu Beiling had never liked this kind of atmosphere; it was too oppressive and made him restless. His childhood sweetheart was someone he grew up with, someone he could talk to about anything, and someone who would tease him whenever they spoke.
As time passed, only polite formalities remained, and they became familiar strangers.
It made him feel so embarrassed and uncomfortable that he wanted to run away.
Xing Yu probably sensed his emotions, so he took his hand, rubbed it in his palm, and started talking to Li Dong to ease the atmosphere.
"After traveling all over the world searching for stones for years, you've finally come back. Do you miss the weather in the Yangtze River Delta region?"
Li Dong stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, glanced at him, and said, "Summer is hot and humid, winter is damp and cold. Who would miss it?" Suddenly remembering something, he added, "Oh, right, there's a 20 off for every 30 spent. Such a big discount is definitely worth considering."
After a moment of silence, the three of them burst out laughing at the same time.
The awkward atmosphere was broken up by this joke, and the whole booth relaxed a lot.
"Chu Fanfan." Li Dong swirled his wine glass, looking at the condensation on the glass: "What are you doing right now?"
Chu Beiling: "Let's play a game."
Li Dong scoffed, "A black hole in games, what were they thinking? What's wrong with them?"
This was the way Chu Beiling was used to hearing him speak, so Li Dong stopped being polite and relaxed a lot.
Chu Beiling shrugged helplessly and said with a smile, "There's nothing I can do about it. I can't paint anymore, so I have to settle for second best."
Li Dong paused in his act of biting the cigarette, glanced at him, and then looked at Xing Yu beside him.
After a long pause, she ultimately asked nothing, only lowered her eyes, lit a cigarette, and said in an emotionless tone, "...Is that so!"
In less than half an hour, Li Dong had smoked half a pack of cigarettes and drunk half a bottle of whiskey.
Chu Beiling was shocked: "You're smoking and drinking so heavily now?"
Li Dong flicked his cigarette ash, not caring much: "Emotions and sexual desires that have nowhere to go always need an outlet."
"..." Chu Beiling and Xing Yu were both stunned, exchanged a glance, and then looked away.
For a moment, I really didn't know how to respond to her simple and blunt words.
Chu Beiling tentatively asked, "You and Sheng Xia...?"
Xing Yu wanted to interrupt, but it was too late.
Li Dong laughed twice, almost to the point of tears: "Chu Fanfan, it's been eleven years since we last met. The first thing we do is rub each other the deepest and most painful wounds. You're really a friend, a blood relative."
They used to be crazy, one after another, and when they went crazy, they were incredibly powerful, but back then their actions were abstract.
Now--
Chu Beiling had the illusion that Li Dong was even more seriously ill than he was.
He pursed his lips, looked at her with concern, and hesitated to speak.
"We broke up, several years ago." After a half-second pause, Li Dong said indifferently, "Sheng Xia cheated on me."
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