Chapter 4 N - Heartbeat
The moment Xing Yu touched his fingers, Chu Beiling felt as if an electric current had passed through his fingertips, and a tingling sensation ran through his entire body, causing him to stop breathing.
Neither of them looked up at each other; in the quiet elevator, the sound of their heartbeats was particularly clear.
Even after just a second of contact, Xing Yu still picked up the phone and handed it to him.
Like a feather brushing past, it leaves only a hazy and light touch, almost imperceptible, as if nothing had just happened.
Chu Beiling's hand, hanging by her side, rubbed for a moment, but she couldn't hold onto that one second of the accidental touch.
After calming down for a moment, Chu Beiling took the phone: "Thanks—"
Xing Yu gripped the phone tightly. He looked up to meet his gaze and took the phone back with some effort: "Thank you."
"Your forgetfulness hasn't changed at all."
Xing Yu leaned forward slightly, meeting Chu Beiling's gaze, which was not particularly interested in looking at him, and said with interest: "Why didn't your close colleague keep an eye on things for you?"
The refreshing scent of lemon wafted over, and Chu Beiling's Adam's apple bobbed. "Xing Yu, we'll be working together from now on."
Xing Yu smiled, scrutinizing him inch by inch, not missing a single detail: "So? My client, how do you plan to drive me around?"
Chu Beiling was momentarily dazed, but quickly calmed down: "We are not in a client-vendor relationship."
He took a deep breath, not intending to ask him the specific reason; some questions, once asked, would only add to his disappointment.
only--
Chu Beiling met his dark eyes: "We've met more than once or twice. You can hold a grudge against me if you want, but Zhu Qing'an is the supervisor, so don't affect the project's progress."
Xing Yu's cold eyes darkened slightly. He straightened up and, in an instant, suppressed all his emotions: "You don't need to worry about that. Today is the first day. I need to communicate with you about the project so that I can notify my subordinates to execute it according to the requirements. The rest is not my concern, and I don't have time to deal with it."
He raised his chin and said, "Director Chu, take care."
Chu Beiling stood in the sedan chair without moving, remaining there for more than a minute before finally exiting the chair.
The elevator doors were slowly closing, and Chu Beiling stared intently at Xing Yu through the increasingly narrow crack in the doors.
Before the mouth could process it, the word "Xing Yu" had already been uttered.
But it was too late; the door had already been closed.
The bronze mirror in the elevator reflected Chu Beiling's swaying figure, his eyes pale.
Chu Beiling felt both regret and relief that he had missed out. Ten years had passed, and he had changed a lot. He would no longer be like he was in his youth, bravely and recklessly pursuing what he wanted time and time again after each failure.
It's even less likely that they'll be able to engage in a back-and-forth battle like before, with neither willing to give in.
Neither his mindset nor our current relationship is suitable anymore.
Chu Beiling turned and left. The elevator doors opened again, and Xing Yu stepped out of the car.
In the distance, Zhu Qing'an saw him approaching and greeted him with a smile, "Did you get your phone?"
Chu Beiling: "Let's go." The ride-hailing car we ordered was already at the door.
Singapore's streets are full of pavilions and walkways. Zhu Qing'an didn't have the habit of always carrying an umbrella, so the moment Chu Beiling opened his umbrella, he immediately crawled under it.
Zhu Qing'an cleverly reached out and took the umbrella from his hand: "I'll hold the umbrella for you."
Chu Beiling glanced at him. Zhu Qing'an was afraid that Chu Beiling, who didn't like anyone getting too close to him, would kick him into the pouring rain. Although he might not, he quickly said, "Don't look at me like that. I'm just not used to it and forgot to bring an umbrella."
Chu Beiling remained silent, and Zhu Qing'an knew this was tacit agreement. "A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude, I..."
Chu Beiling: "It's going to rain for a week straight. It's not like there's nowhere in Singapore for you to take shelter from the rain and relax. Just remember to bring an umbrella."
I understood the implication: if you don't bring me next time, I'll kick you out.
Zhu Qing'an quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, I'll tie the umbrella to my body when I get back." Then she realized, "What? This rain is going to last a week? Isn't it winter?"
Chu Beiling was too lazy to pay him any more attention.
The two walked towards the direction where the ride-hailing car was parked. Chu Beiling reached out and opened the back door, letting Zhu Qing'an get in first, and then got in herself, closing the transparent umbrella.
Outside, the wind was cold and bleak, while inside, the heating was on full blast, creating a significant temperature difference. A thin, hazy mist hung over the glass door, through which one could see a beautiful and dreamlike silhouette.
Xing Yu stood at the corner for a while before turning around and leaving, then re-entering the elevator.
The rain had been falling for a week, and this morning it started pouring again. The torrential rain made visibility even worse, and the sky and the earth merged into a chaotic mess, dark and damp, as if no hope could be seen.
Due to poor road conditions and recent busy schedule, Xing Yu did not drive himself but had his driver, Lao Sun, pick him up and drop him off. After finishing his social engagements last night, it was already late at night, so he did not go home but stayed at the hotel where he had the engagements.
Before setting off, he asked Lao Sun, who was picking him up, to pick up Yang Feng, who lived nearby, so they could go to the company together.
Xing Yu had a notebook on his lap. Chu Meng still had several projects to complete, so he didn't have much free time. He could only use the time he spent on the road to review the first draft of ECho.
After picking up Yang Feng, she consciously sat in the passenger seat and then turned around to report on her work.
"Mr. Xing, the meeting with Mr. Xu of Xingyao is scheduled for tomorrow."
Yang Feng then reminded him, "Leading Capital is hosting a dinner in Hangzhou on the evening of the 18th. The invitation has been sent over early, and you need to attend."
Leading Capital is the largest angel investor in Chumeng, so even if Xing Yu doesn't like this kind of dinner, he has to attend.
After reading the last draft, Xing Yu instructed Yang Feng: "Contact Director Chu and tell him that the first draft is complete. Ask him to visit Chu Meng when he has some free time."
Yang Feng's small head was full of big questions. She didn't know why the boss wanted her to notify Chu Beiling to come over in person. It would have been much more convenient to just send the documents to them and let them review them online, while the other side would also be monitoring Vice President Xu to supervise the project progress.
But a qualified assistant won't say much, will just agree, and immediately go and make the arrangements.
After confirming that everything was in order, Xing Yu closed his laptop and began to rest with his eyes closed. The entire carriage was silent until his phone vibrated.
Upon opening it, I saw a message from Xu Tunan: "[Check the high school WeChat group.]"
Their high school WeChat group was migrated from QQ a few years ago. Before that, they were all used to chatting on QQ and many people didn't use WeChat. After they started working, many people stopped using QQ and almost lost contact with each other.
A few years ago, someone organized and created a WeChat group where people who were friends with each other would invite each other. Class 13 had 42 people, and through this process of inviting each other, almost everyone was in the group. Except for the class monitor of Class 13 and Chu Beiling, who had lost contact with everyone else, everyone else was in the group.
At first, the group was very lively, with messages flooding in every few days. Xing Yu found it annoying and simply muted the group messages. He didn't know whether the group was now as deserted as Antarctica or as lively as before.
Xing Yu was suspicious. He found the class group chat and opened it. The chat history already had 99+ messages, and everyone was discussing Chu Beiling.
He used to be the center of attention. Although both were considered school heartthrobs, Chu Beiling was more popular than the quiet and unapproachable Xing Yu. He could get along with all the boys in the class and was the object of many girls' affections.
Who wouldn't like a handsome, gentle, and kind-hearted boy!
Wang Qi: [After Prince Fanfan dropped out of school and went to Singapore, we disappeared without a trace. Now he's actually back in China! When did he come back? I thought he wouldn't come back!!!]
Tao Yu: [He must have just gotten back, otherwise how would he have found a place to live?]
At the very bottom, a message from Ke Jincheng popped up: "So, have I added him?"
Other classmates chimed in, echoing the sentiment:
[Pull him in quickly!]
We're just missing him.
He's a member of Class 13, just pull him in!
Someone even suggested: "Chu Beiling is back! How about we find some time to get together during the Spring Festival this year?"
A short while later, the screen displayed "C has joined the group chat".
The group chat immediately became even more lively, with people tagging C or patting him on the shoulder to get him to speak.
I've spammed the chat, but I still can't get C to appear in the @ comments.
Xing Yu found Chu Beiling, clicked on his business card, his profile picture, wallpaper, and Moments background were all of West Lake scenery with the setting sun like blood. There was only one photo in Moments, taken on August 21, 2018.
The Merlion Park in front of the Fullerton Hotel, a famous landmark in Singapore, features the Merlion statue bathed in the blood-red sunset.
Between August 21 and August 27, 2018, Xing Yu happened to be in Singapore and stayed at the Fullerton Hotel, meaning they almost met during that time.
Xing Yu couldn't quite describe his feelings; he felt a mix of regret, pity, disappointment, and relief.
Lost in thought for a moment—
He clicked on the picture, intending to save it, but when he opened the larger version, Xing Yu hesitated for a moment.
In this photo, Zhu Qing'an is standing in a corner smiling, and it's easy to see that he's looking in the direction the photo was taken.
After staring at the photo for a while, Xing Yu exited and turned to Ke Jincheng: "How did you get in touch with Chu Beiling? Were you looking for a place?"
Everyone else in the class works in art-related industries or has some connection to them, but Ke Jincheng's career path is much more diverse than theirs. He went from being an art enthusiast to a real estate agent.
The only person they might run into is Chu Beiling, who needs to stay in Hangzhou and is looking for a place to live.
Ke Jincheng: [Yes, she was looking for an apartment and happened to come to our company with her boyfriend.]
Another comment read: "[Prince Fanfan has changed so much! He used to be such a sunny and cheerful handsome boy, but today, wow, he has such a serious demeanor, like a 185cm tall, imposing figure, exuding an aura of dominance. I almost didn't recognize him.]"
Xing Yu didn't reply again, and clicked on Chu Beiling's profile picture again.
He and Chu Beiling broke up many years ago.
So many years have passed, and a lot can happen. It's normal for him to find someone else. No one says you have to wait for someone else, especially someone you've already broken up with.
Xing Yu couldn't accept it and didn't want to; they couldn't be together because of a misunderstanding.
He checked repeatedly, only to be disappointed time and time again.
He didn't know why he needed to confirm it, when the correct answer was right in front of him—
Chu Beiling is an impatient person; he can't wait even a second longer. Once he's sure it's what he wants, he won't hesitate and will pursue it bravely without repeatedly avoiding it.
What can we expect to get upon confirmation?
The Merlion statue at the Fullerton Hotel has been removed, and Chu Beiling now has someone by her side.
Xing Yu felt increasingly tightness in his chest until he couldn't breathe, at which point he exited the group chat.
Two more group messages popped up.
Tao Yu added Chu Beiling on WeChat, but there was no reply, nor in the group chat: 【@C, if you're there, say something.】
Liu Jiaxiang: [Ke Jincheng said that Prince Fanfan and a man were looking for a house with a real estate agent at his company. They're probably busy looking at houses and dating, so they don't have time for us.]
Chu Beiling, who was supposed to be busy with a date, had just contacted his agent to arrange a house viewing when the person in charge of the office building contacted him, asking where he was. They brought the contract to him for signing. The branch company's official seal was in the hotel safe. Chu Beiling arranged to meet them at a coffee shop near the hotel and hurried back.
This trip back to Hangzhou wasn't just for the purpose of collaborating with Chumeng; ECho also plans to open a branch office in China and build a team.
Chu Beiling is the head of the domestic company and is fully responsible for all domestic affairs. He hopes that decisions made within the country will be implemented as soon as possible.
I want to settle down in Hangzhou as soon as possible; every second longer feels like a delay.
By the time everything was finished, it was already dusk.
After a busy day and looking at three or four houses, Chu Beiling was so tired that she could barely walk and went straight back to the hotel to rest.
After taking a hot shower and getting into bed, he finally had the energy to check his phone.
Chu Beiling's WeChat was flooded with messages. When she was looking at houses, she happened to run into Ke Jincheng, who was working as a real estate agent. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they added each other as friends.
I was surprised to be directly added to the class group chat.
Whether it's a coincidence or because Hangzhou is too small, he has already run into three old acquaintances in just one week since he returned.
It almost completely covers his work and life.
He didn't respond to the messages flooding the group chat about him; instead, he opened the group member list directly.
Among all the profile pictures and names, Chu Beiling immediately spotted Xing Yu.
I just opened his business card.
Ke Jincheng sent over a dozen apartment photos: "Take a close look. If you're not satisfied with anything, let me know and I'll arrange everything for you."
Chu Beiling: [Thank you for your help.]
Ke Jincheng patted his chest: "Don't be shy, we're old classmates, I'll definitely find you the best."
Chu Beiling happened to have a question she wanted to ask: "Have you and Xing Yu kept in touch all these years?"
He knew he shouldn't, but he still really wanted to know if Xing Yu had deliberately mistaken him for Ke Jincheng at the beginning.
Ke Jincheng: [We occasionally contact each other via WeChat.]
Chu Beiling: [Have we met?]
Ke Jincheng: [No, you know, he never really liked participating in group activities with classmates, and we saw each other even less often in private. Everyone has their own careers and families now.]
Chu Beiling gave a bitter smile: "Yes, thank you."
After closing the chat interface, Chu Beiling stared at Xing Yu's business card, hesitating for a long time before finally deciding not to add him.
I was probably exhausted from a whole morning, and my head was completely foggy. I was about to quit.
But they ordered:
Add friends to your contacts.
Send a friend request.
Friend request?!
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