Chapter 69 The Storm and the Seagulls
After their last emotional breakdown, Pu Xia and Xie Sheng no longer needed to play games with Xiao Lu, who was unaware of their true feelings.
So, in the few days they spent together, President Xie's originally aloof image successfully degenerated into a clingy, large dog in Xiaolu's eyes.
Pu Xia's work ethic was always demanding and undisturbed, so conversations like this often took place at the resort—
"Brother, I can't concentrate with you here. Can I go out first?"
"Brother, you're blocking my view. Can we go to another room first?"
"elder brother……"
"You've been working for an hour, it's time to take a break. Remember to balance work and rest."
"Thump."
(Sound of door closing)
...
Xiaolu politely suppressed her laughter, but Li Ke, unlike her, showed no mercy and said directly, "Mr. Xie, you still have a lot of work to finish. Instead of bothering people, why don't you work in your study for a while?"
“I’ve been dealing with that mess for the past few years, what’s wrong with taking a vacation?” Xie Sheng scolded irritably, but despite the argument, he still walked towards the study. “And what do you mean by being annoying? You won’t get your salary next month.”
“I’m telling you, I’m annoying.” Li Ke followed behind, closing the door behind him, and went into the study with Xie Sheng.
Xiaolu finally got a chance to be alone with Puxia, and she immediately ran over and cautiously began to speak.
"Sister Xia..."
She was filled with doubts, but Li Ke said nothing.
What they say is irrelevant; they can only talk about their own affairs if they want to.
She didn't understand why it was hard to talk about mutual affection; anyone could see the deep, inseparable bond between the two.
But in the past few years, there has been absolutely no trace of Xie Sheng in Pu Xia's life, and they will meet again in this way.
She found their relationship very strange.
Hearing Xiaolu's voice, Pu Xia put down his tablet, looked up, and asked, "Do you have a cigarette?"
"Um."
Xiaolu took out a cigarette from her pocket and handed it to Puxia, then sat down next to her and lit one for herself.
As with most days over the past few years, the two of them quietly smoked a cigarette together.
But there are still some differences. In the past, Pu Xia was like smoke that would always drift away and eventually disappear into the air.
But today, the drifting dandelion has finally found the soil to take root in. It will take root and sprout here, and will not leave until the last moment of its life.
The two gazed at the eternal horizon in silence.
Pu Xia spoke first.
"Xiaolu, I'm going out to sea in a few days."
"Are you with Mr. Xie?"
Pu Xia gently shook her head. "I'm all by myself."
"Then take me with you."
Looking at Pu Xia's expression, Xiao Lu's heart started beating inexplicably fast.
"No, I can only go to sea alone this time... but I need you to do a few things for me."
Xiaolu didn't immediately agree to Puxia's request as usual. "Sister Xia, you have to tell me what you want me to do first."
Pu Xia tapped his cigarette with his fingertips, flicked off the ash, and told Xiao Lu.
-
[3 days to go]
"Xiaolu, you and Xiaxia have arrived in Gangcheng, why haven't you contacted me?"
"You know Sister Xia, once she comes across a project that interests her, she won't let anyone disturb her. If you come, Brother Ming, you'll probably be locked out, so I thought I wouldn't bother you."
"Really? I'm a little curious, what project made Xiaxia willing to leave S City?"
"It's a retirement home for an elderly couple. To be honest, I don't know why Sister Xia is so interested in it."
"Let her be. Send me your address, and I'll come visit you when I have time."
Xiaolu's heart was in her throat. She tried to keep her voice steady, "Brother Ming, aren't you putting me in a difficult position? Sister Xia said not to let anyone disturb us..."
Am I disturbing you?
"No, no, no, that's definitely not it! Oh dear, I'm so bad with words. You're my future boss, how could I be bothering you? How about this, I'll send you a message as soon as Sister Xia finishes her manuscript, and she'll be in a better mood then."
"Xiaolu, what are you nervous about?"
!
That damn lawyer's intuition.
"Of course I was nervous. A couple of days ago, I wasn't careful and gave Sister Xia's contact information to a junior in the club... and I got scolded for it..." Xiaolu said miserably.
"Haha, you've really caused Xiaxia trouble. Okay, I'll wait for your news. Don't forget to let me know when she finishes designing it."
"Okay! Thanks, Ming-ge!"
After the call ended, Xiaolu breathed a long sigh of relief.
She kicked the sand, looked at the layers of clouds and the dock not far ahead, and thought of Pu Xia's instructions.
Even though Pu Xia didn't tell her the details, she had more or less guessed what was going on: Xie Sheng and Li Ke, who had gone to country X together this morning, and the elderly couple who had suddenly appeared.
She sighed heavily.
[7 days in the morning]
...The weather was terrible on the day Pu Xia set sail. The dark clouds hung low, close to the horizon, and the wind was fierce. The clear seawater seemed bottomless, and the waves that used to gently lap against the rocks were now throwing a tantrum, crashing against the rocks and splashing white spray everywhere.
Pu Xia wore a long red dress, her fair skin almost glowing against the dark background. She stood on the deck, watching the seagulls circling low in the sky, their low cries like warnings filling her ears.
The wind tousled her hair, her silver-gray strands fluttering like banners. She stood on the deck, looking down at Xiaolu, who was on the verge of collapse, and smiled.
"I'm leaving now. Stay in your room and don't forget what I taught you to say."
Looking at Pu Xia's calm face and unfathomable eyes, Xiao Lu's eyes reddened. "Sister Xia, you'll be alright, won't you?"
"I will."
"Do you really have to do this...?"
“I’ve been waiting for this day.”
A faint smile appeared on Pu Xia's face, as if what lay ahead was not a deep sea poised to plunge into the sea, but some kind of destined destination.
After saying that, she turned and walked towards the cockpit. Xiaolu also turned and walked towards the manor on the hill. The roar came from behind, and the white ship, like a giant white seagull, cut through the sea and sailed into the distance...
Before long, the long-simmering sea was swept by strong winds and torrential rain, making the sky seem to collapse.
Although it was broad daylight, the sky was as dark as dusk, and the sea was churning and rolling, as if a giant beast hidden deep in the sea was about to break free of its cage.
Xiaolu stared intently at the apocalyptic scene outside the window, then dialed the phone...
[That day, 6 PM]
The torrential rain that had been pouring down for most of the day finally stopped, and the dark clouds in the sky turned into rainwater that poured down. Now the sky was clear and clean, like a clean canvas.
The once quiet private beach was now crowded with staff in red rescue suits, and a crowd of people outside the cordon discussing the situation.
Inside the cordon, a woman who looked very elegant was having a heated argument with a staff member. The young man next to her was patting her shoulder, trying to calm her down, but his eyes were also bloodshot.
Looking at Yang Ning, whom she had met once before, and Xiao Chengming, whose face was full of sorrow, Xiaolu felt both sad and tormented.
Li Chun stood not far away, cooperating with the search and rescue team, introducing the situation of the entire sea area. His expression was not particularly unusual, which Xiaolu took as a symbol of Pu Xia's personal safety.
Seagulls circled and soared in the sky, sounding like a victory horn that had triumphed over the storm.
"Xiaolu, is it convenient for us to chat for a bit?"
Xiaolu looked at Xiao Chengming who was walking over, her voice hoarse, "Brother Ming, I've said everything I needed to say."
"Then please tell me again."
“I really tried to stop Sister Xia, but I couldn’t. She said she was going out to sea for inspiration, and she wouldn’t tell me anything else…” Xiaolu repeated weakly.
Xiao Chengming stared intently into her eyes, asking no further questions. After a moment of silence, he gave her a sorrowful smile.
"In Xiaxia's eyes, aren't we and this life that restricts her pretty boring...?"
Xiaolu didn't answer him, but instead looked at the sea.
The sky was clean after the storm, and the evening sun was about to set, but its afterglow still illuminated the entire sky.
She suddenly remembered Pu Xia's fiery red dress and the light in her eyes when she stood on the deck, just like the sun at this moment, quiet yet intense.
"Um."
Let her go.
————————
That's about it for this story. There will be some occasional bonus chapters later.
Thank you for your company during this time.
The outline for my next story, "An Immoral Tale," is almost complete. I originally planned to continue writing about siblings, but in the end, I decided to put it on hold for a while before writing "The Wild Summer."
So, I thought I'd write a melodramatic story about a wife-chasing tragedy, featuring a brother and sister, a noble and beautiful woman versus a crazy, seemingly innocent but actually cunning man.
Welcome back to all our old friends!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
