Chapter 42 N-Isolation
Before the ground had even had a chance to dry, suddenly, the leaden sky began to rain again.
The rain intensified, the downpour pounding wildly against the car windows. Within two or three meters, only a thick curtain of rain remained, the road surface glistening from the rain, reflecting the gray and mottled sky.
The entire city was shrouded in mist and rain, making it feel somewhat dull and oppressive, almost suffocating.
On the way to Chumeng, Chu Beiling's mind replayed every moment with Xing Yu like a film reel.
This was probably the result of Chu Beiling repeatedly ruminating on past memories over the past ten years—
His expression, his tone, the words he spoke—every scene is still fresh in my memory.
It was clear as if it happened just yesterday.
But when he came to his senses again, the surrounding environment clearly told him that a very, very long time had really passed.
The ride-hailing car stopped downstairs at the Chumeng Building. Chu Beiling hurriedly closed the door and rushed inside without even opening her umbrella.
He was in a hurry and had previously declined on-site audit projects. He didn't have an appointment and could only tell the receptionist his purpose for visiting.
Since he had been here a couple of days ago, the receptionist recognized him and called to confirm.
Chu Beiling waited anxiously for a short while before the receptionist put down the phone and said, "I'm sorry, Director Chu, Mr. Xing is not here."
Chu Beiling: "Could you tell me when he's coming back?"
The receptionist shook her head to indicate that she did not know, and then said, "You can contact Assistant Yang; she knows Mr. Xing's schedule."
Chu Beiling: "Xu Tunan, no, your Vice President Xu, isn't here either?"
"Wait a moment." Just as the receptionist was about to make a call, Xu Tunan came downstairs and was about to leave when she called out to him, "Vice President Xu, Director Chu is looking for you."
Xu Tunan stopped and looked over. Chu Beiling quickly walked up to him, pinched her thumb hard, and then slowly asked, "Hu Tutu, where is Xing, Xing Yu?"
Xu Tunan was taken aback. Apart from Xing Yu, no one had called him that in a long time. This "Hu Tutu" instantly brought him back to his youthful days of playing and having fun.
It would have been better if he hadn't yelled, because his outburst reignited his barely suppressed anger: "Chu Beiling, who do you think you are, coming and going as you please? Since we already agreed on online verification, why did you come here?!"
Xu Tunan's voice wasn't quiet, and the probing gazes around them immediately swept over them. Chu Beiling felt uneasy and lowered his head, pursing his lips: "Sorry."
“I…” He paused for a moment, then said, “Vice President Xu, please tell me where President Xing is. I really need to see him.”
Xu Tunan choked, almost unable to catch his breath, "You—"
Despite his anger, he still told Chu Beiling, "Xing Yu went to Beijing on a business trip and won't be back for another two days."
Chu Beiling immediately pressed, "Can you tell me where he is in Beijing?"
Xu Tunan replied, "You can ask Yang Feng for the specific address. He's been to quite a few places these past few days, and I don't know his exact schedule right now."
"Thank you." Chu Beiling looked at Xu Tunan's angry gaze and said cautiously, "If you'd like, I'll treat you to dinner another day."
"No need for a meal, it won't make a difference if you give me one more meal." Xu Tunan mocked, "The most affectionate people are the most heartless. I never thought you could be such a cruel person. You are really too cruel."
"I'm sorry, you can hit me or yell at me if you're angry." Aside from that, Chu Beiling didn't know what else to say.
Xu Tunan's voice became agitated: "I really want to beat you up, but the person who truly has the right to beat you up won't."
Many years have passed, and they are no longer in the naivety of youth. The world and reality have taught them how to be good people.
Arguing, complaining, or bickering with the other person and losing your temper are all just ways of venting bad emotions.
In the adult world, we must learn to let go and get used to being let down.
Even if you understand perfectly well, you should tell yourself to learn to accept that relationships between people are only temporary, and to calmly accept the impermanence of life instead of asking why.
Xu Tunan couldn't help but feel sorry for Xing Yu.
Why did Chu Beiling abandon them so easily back then? Why did he have a completely new life and a lover, leaving Xing Yu alone to wait in solitude for ten years?
Xu Tunan stared at him, his gaze reaching deep into his pupils: "Chu Beiling, I really want to know, in your heart, what do friends and lovers mean? Are they just fleeting passersby at a certain stage of your life, people you can discard without a second thought, without any lingering attachment?"
He spat out each word clearly: "Do you even have a heart?"
He did go too far back then and betrayed their friendship. Chu Beiling couldn't deny that, and he deserved the result.
But--
Chu Beiling's throat felt like it was blocked by something, dry and painful, each breath causing a slight pain: "Hu Tutu, I did feel sorry for you back then, but you don't understand what happened between Xing Yu and me back then."
"No, Chu Beiling, I saw it very clearly." Xu Tunan said resentfully, "Is it that hard to buy a plane ticket back to China? After all these years, you should have crawled back to China from Singapore by now."
Having grown up to this point, I know that adults have many choices they have no choice but to make.
But he still harbored resentment, a lot of resentment, if their relationship hadn't been so good in the past.
Chu Beiling pursed her lips: "Sorry."
He had no way to defend himself.
Xu Tunan's Adam's apple bobbed: "Even if you can't come back, you shouldn't... just disappear. At least you should let us know whether you're doing well or not."
"I'm sorry, it's my fault." A bitter smile appeared on Chu Beiling's lips.
Xu Tunan almost choked on his breath: "You, all you can do now is apologize? Who wants you to keep apologizing!"
Chu Beiling was like a candle flickering in the wind, teetering on the verge of collapse, unlike any of them anymore. "Hu Tutu, hug me..."
Xu Tunan was both annoyed and heartbroken. Chu Beiling's pitiful appearance made it seem as if he was bullying someone who had done nothing wrong and was innocent and miserable.
Instead, it made him seem like a heinous criminal.
Xu Tunan ignored him and angrily brushed past him.
Chu Beiling clenched his fists at his sides until they turned white before loosening them. He took in and out breaths, stood there for a long time, took out his phone, booked the next flight to Beijing, and hurried to the airport.
Even after the plane landed in Beijing, Chu Beiling was unable to contact Yang Feng. In such a vast city as Beijing, not knowing the exact address made it even harder to find him than in Hangzhou.
The airport exit hall was bustling with people, hugging, laughing, and chatting, their voices mingling together. Every passenger exiting from the domestic terminal showed a joyful reunion on their face when they met those waiting outside.
Chu Beiling stood alone in the center of the crowd, with no origin and no destination, looking completely out of place amidst the bustling yet unfamiliar noise.
He suddenly felt both ridiculous and pathetic, and despite his uncertainty, he still chased after them.
I want to ask Xing Yu why he stole a kiss from me while I was unconscious.
The phone in his hand vibrated, a message had come in, and Chu Beiling immediately checked it as if on cue.
It was sent by Zhu Qing'an: "I have reviewed the first draft of Chumeng's manuscript. There are still many issues that need to be discussed with them. I contacted their manager and requested an in-person meeting; a time has already been arranged."
Zhu Qing'an sent a cheeky message: "Thank me."
Chu Beiling: [Understood.]
Zhu Qing'an asked suspiciously, "You seem unhappy. Did my arrangements go wrong?"
Chu Beiling gave a slight smile: "Your arrangements are excellent."
However, Xing Yu will not meet with them.
So keep trying; you can't rekindle your relationship without contacting each other.
Zhu Qing'an became increasingly excited as she spoke: "[You find a lot of faults, have them revise it dozens of times, then when you win him over, you tell him, 'I want the first version,' and the project is finished, you've got the guy, what do you think of my suggestion?!]"
Chu Beiling ignored him, exited the message box, and continued to send messages to Yang Feng.
I don't know if something important happened, but they still didn't answer the phone or reply to messages.
Chu Beiling was getting anxious waiting at the airport and was on the verge of another attack. He had no choice but to have his assistant contact Xu Tunan's assistant to inquire about Xing Yu's current location.
Xu Tunan had just come from the joint investors. The company has an important animated film to start production in the first half of next year. Due to the complexity of the film, the release date will be delayed by six months. He needs to determine whether they will increase their investment.
As soon as he entered the company gate, his assistant told him, "Director Chu contacted us and needs to confirm General Manager Xing's travel itinerary."
"Wait a minute." Xu Tunan didn't know what Xing Yu meant, so he had to contact him to confirm.
The call had just been made when it was disconnected. Xing Yu's voice came from behind me: "What's up?"
Xu Tunan was startled. "Where did you come from?" After a moment of silence, he realized what was happening and asked, "Why are you back? Did you resolve things in Beijing?"
Xing Yu: "Mm."
Xu Tunan asked, "Chu Beiling couldn't reach you, but contacted me. Have you contacted him?"
Xing Yu nodded slightly and brushed past Xu Tunan.
Xu Tunan asked with concern, "Didn't he say anything else?"
Xing Yu glanced at him indifferently: "What else can we talk about besides the project?"
“That’s true.” Xu Tunan walked into the elevator car with him. “Next, Chu Fanfan will definitely be coming with Zhu Qingan to review the project. Are you planning to avoid seeing them and have the production director handle it directly, or will you handle it yourself?”
Xing Yu didn't respond for a while, so Xu Tunan tentatively called his name.
He snapped out of his daze and finally restrained his despicable urge to steal her away. He slowly looked at Xu Tunan and said, "Do you think I'm so idle that I have nothing better to do?"
Xu Tunan met Xing Yu's gaze, which had softened from intense to distant, and patted his shoulder: "Chu Fanfan has a boyfriend now. I just hope you can truly let go."
Xing Yu removed his hand and said emotionlessly, "I know."
As darkness fell and night descended, the streetlights gradually came on, and people hurried home from get off work. Upon learning that Xing Yu had returned to Hangzhou, Chu Beiling rushed back from Beijing.
Flying from the humid south to the dry north, and then back to the misty Jiangnan region, the extreme weather changes, coupled with the back-and-forth travel, had left Chu Beiling physically and mentally exhausted.
But he had no time to rest. As soon as he landed, he rushed back to the Chu Meng Building.
It was pouring rain, and it was rush hour, so Chu Beiling didn't arrive at the Chu Meng Animation building until 8 p.m.
The animation industry operates on a 24/7 schedule, with no days off. When he arrived, the building was still brightly lit, showing no sign of closing time.
The receptionist was the only employee in the building who was still working, and she had already gone home, so Chu Beiling had no choice but to contact Yang Feng.
A short while later, Yang Feng came down and advised him to go back first: "Director Chu, President Xing has an important project meeting tonight and doesn't have time to see you right now. Why don't you come another day?"
A bitter taste rose from the root of Chu Beiling's tongue, then surged down his throat, reaching his heart, so bitter that he could hardly breathe.
This feeling—that he wanted to take a step forward, but the other person desperately retreated, leaving him empty-handed—was like the icy, bone-chilling moisture of the night, seeping into his consciousness and enveloping him in an endless, despairing darkness from which he could not escape.
There was no solution; he could only swallow it down.
Chu Beiling opened her mouth, but it took her a long time to speak: "Okay, I understand."
Anyway, they had an appointment in a couple of days to review the first draft at Chumeng Animation, so there was no rush, Chu Beiling comforted herself.
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