Chapter 44 N - Farewell Kiss
Xing Yu stared straight at Chu Beiling, then suddenly smiled and said evasively, "What do you want to know, or confirm? Chu Beiling, you're an adult now. It's not good to be too blunt."
Chu Beiling's expression stiffened, but he still pressed on, "Why?"
After a few seconds of silence, Xing Yu replied shrewdly, "Are you sure you want to know?"
The tranquil night sky was shattered by the sharp, piercing siren of a fire truck. The alternating red and blue lights stood out starkly against the night, magnifying the coldness and aloofness in Xing Yu's eyes.
Chu Beiling and he stood face to face, their voices fading into the distance, as if, like them, all their past connections had been severed, growing ever more distant.
Until I can no longer hear it.
Chu Beiling suddenly didn't want to know anymore. She knew from Xing Yu's resolute and cold gaze—
He doesn't want to hear what he says.
“Goodbye kiss,” Xing Yu was so cruel to himself, “saying goodbye to the past.”
Chu Beiling felt as if his blood had frozen. He said with a forced smile, "It's fine."
Just like Xing Yu said, it's not good for adults to say some things too bluntly.
He shouldn't have asked that question.
By not asking, at least they can pretend that nothing has happened, emptyly embellishing the situation, and then wait until the cooperation ends.
Never again.
He shamelessly approached and pressed for more information, which led to the matter being completely dropped.
It's hard for us to face each other anymore.
Xing Yu glanced at him, then turned and left.
Chu Beiling's feet felt as if they were glued to the ground, numb and rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Even after Xing Yu's figure disappeared into the hazy light and melted into the bottomless darkness of the night, he remained standing there motionless for a long time.
I can't bear to leave.
The ride-hailing car they had called again stopped by the roadside. Chu Beiling helped Zhu Qing'an into the car and headed straight for the hotel.
After settling him in his room, Chu Beiling called the front desk to tell them that the guest in the room was drunk and asked them to take special care of him.
Only after confirming once again that Zhu Qing'an wouldn't choke to death from his drunkenness did he feel relieved and leave, returning to his own room.
Chu Beiling has been too busy these past few days and hasn't had time to move into her newly rented apartment yet, nor will she move now.
He called Fu Xingzhou, and after a moment, the other end answered: "I thought you had forgotten that I, your boss, even existed."
His lips were dry, and Chu Beiling's lips were stuck together. He stuck out his pink tongue and licked his dry lips: "I can't control what happens with Chu Meng and the Hangzhou branch. Can you... find someone else to come over?"
Fu Xingzhou had just gotten off the treadmill. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and drank half a glass of water when he heard this. He froze, momentarily forgetting what he was supposed to do next.
Having spent many years with Chu Beiling, Fu Xingzhou knew that he was not the type to back down easily.
Moreover, he was the one who facilitated the cooperation and development plans in Hangzhou.
"I'm sorry, Leo." Chu Beiling breathed with difficulty. He knew it was inappropriate and that doing so was irresponsible.
But he couldn't stand it.
Chu Beiling now only wants to return to Singapore, then pretend that nothing has happened, deceiving herself and waiting alone for the day when she and Xing Yu fulfill their promise.
It's better than every phone call, every street, even the air is filled with Xing Yu's Hangzhou.
Then, cruelly, she accepted Xing Yu's indifference, his alienation, and his silent rejection when they faced each other.
as well as--
They are already a thing of the past, now strangers to each other.
He's just a coward, a wimp. Chu Beiling didn't want to face this feeling of things being different now.
“I can’t take on this project,” he said.
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before Fu Xingzhou's deep voice came through the receiver: "Chu, if you are in great pain and want to go back to Singapore, I have no objection. I will also send other people from Hangzhou, but I do not recommend it. Do you understand what I mean?"
Chu Beiling pursed her lips and remained silent.
He knew he was running away, and even if he went back to Singapore now, it probably wouldn't make any difference; he would still remember everything that happened in Hangzhou.
Things can't be the same as before.
Fu Xingzhou sighed: "Think about it again. There's no need to make a decision so quickly."
Chu Beiling didn't speak, and Fu Xingzhou continued, "If you still have this idea after the first phase of the project with Chu Meng is over, tell me and I will make arrangements."
Chu Beiling's Adam's apple bobbed: "Thank you."
Fu Xingzhou chuckled, "No need for thanks. As for space, I'll just create value for it."
Chu Beiling laughed along with him, called him a capitalist, and then talked to him about the current project progress and briefly about the Hangzhou branch.
A few days later, Chu Beiling returned to the Chu Meng review project, where she was met by Zhuang Mingyue, the production director.
After calming down her bad mood, Chu Beiling exchanged a few pleasantries with Zhuang Mingyue, and then she led Zhu Qing'an into the reception room.
In the spacious and bright reception room, a projector casts a soft blue light, illuminating the messy yet creative sketches on the whiteboard, while documents and materials are piled up in front of them.
Chu Beiling avoided anything related to art and looked at other content instead.
Zhu Qing'an frowned slightly and pointed to the main character's image in the draft: "This design is different from the overall futuristic mecha style of the game 'Conquer the World'. Your design accurately conveys the Chinese charm, but it lacks a sense of futuristic technology. Compared with other characters, it looks like it's from two different dimensions, and the integration of the world view is not enough."
Zhu Qing'an continued, "Since this character is positioned as an Eastern assassin who breaks into future technology, while retaining the traditional Chinese style, we also need to incorporate elements of traditional mecha. This way, players will feel a sense of familiarity without losing their sense of novelty."
Adding mecha to a Chinese style, this requirement is simply... almost like a colorful white. Zhuang Mingyue's veins throbbed, but she still maintained the qualities expected of a miserable client, recording and responding at the same time:
"Understood. We originally focused on highlighting the traditional Chinese style, the coordination of clothing design and overall style, but that's not enough. We'll work on the accessories, for example, by adding traditional elements like Chinese knots, paper cutting, and spiked balls, and attaching them to the waist or arms. We'll also redesign the clothing, making it more of a modern Chinese style, with the kind of portable clothing we have now."
Zhu Qing'an nodded and began to talk about weapon design. After discussing the weapons, she started to talk about a brand new map scene and 3D modeling.
On a rainy day, the whole environment was shrouded in mist. Inside the room, only Zhu Qing'an and Zhuang Mingyue were discussing. The sound of rain accompanied their conversation, like hypnotic white noise. Chu Beiling propped his head up with one hand and was about to fall asleep.
He is the project management director and does not review art-related requirements. He only supervises the project progress. Whether he comes or not is actually the same. He just needs to make timely adjustments and decisions based on Zhu Qing'an's feedback.
Xing Yu won't come. Staying here is like sitting on pins and needles, more unbearable than torture.
Meanwhile, the two people in the conference room were still having an endless discussion, and Chu Beiling suddenly felt a little annoyed.
"I'll go out for a bit, you guys continue." He took a deep breath, didn't even glance at the sketch on the whiteboard, and got up to leave.
Chu Beiling walked to the end of the corridor, took out a medicine box from his pocket, put two voloxetine pills in his mouth, and swallowed them dry without water.
A bitter taste spread across his tongue. Chu Beiling stood straight by the window, looking out at the world shrouded in rain through the clean glass.
In the distance, the large trousers-shaped building of Laifu Center appeared and disappeared in the rain, as ethereal as a mirage.
Xu Tunan came down from his office upstairs to the marketing department to preside over a meeting. Just as he was about to turn into the conference room, he was stunned to see Chu Beiling standing at the end of the corridor.
He walked over and asked, "Is the project review finished?"
Chu Beiling was startled and trembled all over.
Xu Tunan frowned slightly, finding it difficult to describe his current feelings. He said, "I didn't expect you to react so strongly."
Having just taken the medication, Chu Beiling's mind was a little blank. After a moment of reflection, she finally spoke: "I was thinking about something. Sorry, I didn't notice."
Xu Tunan took a deep breath. "Why are you here alone? The project has been approved."
Chu Beiling's tongue felt numb. He took a breath and said, "No, Zhu Qing'an is here. He's in charge of the art department."
Bringing up a sore spot, Xu Tunan asked, "Why aren't you the one reviewing the art-related matters?"
"I'm not a beauty supervisor." Chu Beiling looked up to meet his astonished gaze, forced a smile, and said, "A dream from my youth isn't a lifelong dream; things always change."
He looked away from Xu Tunan's disappointed and incomprehensible expression, and said casually, "No one can... stay the same, right?"
Xu Tunan licked his lips, amused and exasperated: "Chu Beiling, you really are very good."
Chu Beiling once treated painting as his girlfriend, declaring that they would love each other for a lifetime and that he would never give up on painting, no matter who gave it up.
At least, that's what Xu Tunan always thought.
“You have indeed changed. You can even give up painting, which used to be more important than life itself, so easily. No wonder you can abandon your friends and loved ones in China without any regrets and stay in Singapore without ever returning to China.”
Chu Beiling felt a hand gripping his throat, tightening its grip until he could barely breathe.
After a moment of silence, he managed to utter two words: "I'm sorry."
Xu Tunan pressed his aching temples, almost getting sick from anger: "Chu Beiling, one should still have some sense of past relationships, but if you don't care at all, then don't blame us for being shrewd."
He sighed dejectedly: "You, Xing Yu's ex-boyfriend, have no right to enjoy his care and favoritism. Go find Xing Yu now and return the 6,600 yuan red envelope he transferred to Ke Jincheng intact."
Chu Beiling's pupils dilated: "What did you say?"
"I don't want to give it to him, but I'm afraid it will upset him." Xu Tunan stared straight at him, waiting for his answer.
Chu Beiling forgot to respond for a moment.
Xu Tunan sneered and mocked, "Chu Beiling, you might as well not have returned to the country. That way, you wouldn't have turned everyone's lives and moods upside down."
Chu Beiling's thoughts were entirely focused on the extra 6,600 yuan red envelope that Xing Yu had given Ke Jincheng for finding him a house.
Moreover, no matter how much Xu Tunan mocked, got angry, or used the most vicious language to criticize him, it didn't matter.
He deserves all of this; he has no choice but to suffer.
The assistant came over to urge Xu Tunan to go to a meeting. As before, he chatted with him for a few words and then turned and left without looking at him again.
Chu Beiling snapped out of his daze and quickly caught up: "Hu Tutu, wait a minute." He calmed his chaotic mind: "Which floor is Xing Yu's office on?"
Xu Tunan gave a number and then gestured to his assistant to give Chu Beiling his access card: "Use this, otherwise you won't be able to get into the president's office."
Chu Beiling accepted it, "Hu Tutu, thank you."
Xu Tunan snorted coldly and led his assistant into the conference room.
Chu Beiling, carrying Xu Tunan's assistant's access card, arrived at the president's office without any hindrance.
Xu Tunan had already instructed his assistant to give prior notice. After asking a few questions at the front desk of the president's office, the receptionist led Chu Beiling to Xing Yu's office.
"President Xing is in a meeting and should be finishing soon. Please wait in his office for a moment."
Chu Beiling walked into Xing Yu's office, and just as he was shocked when he first saw Xing Yu's home years ago, he was shocked once again when he saw Xing Yu's office.
Back then, Xing Yu's home in Zhalongkou was as desolate as a showroom, while now this crowded yet uncluttered office resembles a large painting warehouse.
And the furnishings of his home in Zhalongkou back then.
Exactly the same.
The only thing on the bookshelf that had Doraemon around it was that Doraemon wasn't there; instead, it displayed various awards and trophies, as well as his art books.
That picture book—no, it shouldn't be a picture book anymore—had all its pages removed and covered with a plastic film. The pages from 2012 to 2014 were arranged in the order of January to December, with the same months stacked together in ascending order of date.
After their breakup, Chu Beiling never found the sketchbook again. He practically turned his house upside down in Zhanongkou but still couldn't find it. He even asked Li Dong to search for it in the dormitory and classroom.
Li Dong told him that he hadn't found it and asked him to look around his house again.
Chu Beiling thought he would never see it again, but unexpectedly Xing Yu took it and placed it conspicuously on his bookshelf.
Chu Beiling's stalled thoughts gradually began to stir again, and he relied on his memory to find the papers and read them one by one.
Beating up Xing Yu, The Human Touch at Zhalongkou, Wahaha, Chu Beiling is number one, A Blooming Path, Sixteen-year-old Xing Yu, The Battle of Yu and Ling...
Every moment I used to paint was filled with overwhelming ideas.
The moment the sky collapsed and the earth split open.
Xing Yu reached out and supported him, preventing him from having close contact with the ground.
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