Chapter 34
The noise of the party was reduced to a vague whisper through the green plants in the garden and the sound of the fountain.
A dim light illuminated the corners of the garden. The sounds of the evening party drifted through the greenery and the mist of the fountain, as if from a distant world, blurry and almost unreal. The fragrance of flowers drifted gently on the wind, and the night moved among the branches and leaves, leaving behind tiny shadows.
"You look very beautiful today. The red dress suits you very well." Mai Sheng's voice came from not far away, gentle and teasing, like a small stone thrown into a quiet pool of water.
Zou Ping turned around subconsciously, a flash of surprise in her eyes: "Why are you here?"
Mai Sheng took a few steps closer, and the dark color of his suit almost blended into the night under the light and shadow.
The corners of his mouth rose slightly, and his tone was relaxed: "Why can't I be here? You don't think our Yuanweifang is just a small workshop."
He deliberately prolonged the word "workshop", as if waiting to hear Zou Ping's next rebuttal.
Zou Ping smiled gently, her expression both polite and sincere: "Of course not. It's just... even if... it doesn't mean that I will happen to run into an event."
Mai Sheng raised his eyebrows, but did not rush to refute. He just nodded slightly, as if to admit that she was right.
The wind passed between them, lifting the hem of her red skirt, and the color looked like a small cluster of warm fire in the night.
He suddenly changed the subject, speaking in a slower tone: "Are you still teaching painting recently?"
Zou Ping was stunned for a moment, then shook her head: "I won't teach you anymore."
Mai Sheng chuckled softly, his voice low but filled with nostalgia: "My sister still talks about you all the time. She always compares the new teacher to you, saying that they are not as good as you."
A soft glint flickered in Zou Ping's eyes, as if touched by the warmth of some old time. She smiled softly, her voice gentle, "Mai Tian is a very lovely child, and she has a talent for drawing... Although I probably won't teach her to draw anymore,... if there's a chance, you can have her come and play with me."
When she said this, there was no deliberate emotional ups and downs. Her smile was light, but it was filled with unintentional sincerity, like the ripples on the water caused by the wind, so gentle that it made people's hearts soften.
Mai Sheng looked at her, and a subtle trance flashed through his heart.
At this moment, the moonlight leaked through the branches and leaves above the garden, cutting into tiny spots of light, falling on Zou Ping's shoulders and face, as soft as a frame from an old movie.
The red dress looked particularly dazzling in the night, like a flame that suddenly ignited in the silent world. Her beauty was not ostentatious, but had a presence that could not be ignored. The worry hidden deep in her eyebrows was like mist, adding a bit of fragility and distance to her brightness.
Mai Sheng gently withdrew his gaze and said in a low voice, "Why don't you stay inside? Why are you hiding here alone?"
He paused for a moment, then pretended to be casual and asked, "Where's Tang Yuchuan?"
Zou Ping lowered her eyelashes, her fingertips gently stroking the hem of her dress, her tone gentle and calm: "Let's go inside. I'm still not used to occasions like this."
The wind blew from the depths of the garden, carrying the night and the fragrance of flowers, and brushed against her hair.
The hem of her red skirt swayed gently, trembling slightly like water waves under the light, making her look even quieter and more distant.
The mist from the fountain turned into tiny spots of light under the light, like crushed stars, floating gently in the corners of the garden with the night wind.
The sound of music came from the banquet hall in the distance through the green plants, as vague as a dream through the mist.
Mai Sheng stood at the edge of the dim light, his profile hidden in the shadows, but his tone was gentle: "That day you took me to see the place where you painted your dreams, saying that everything was different there. I really believed it that day and thought there was magic there."
He paused and chuckled softly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I went there a few more times, but found... the magic wasn't working. Perhaps it was because I was missing a crucial factor."
"What?" Zou Ping's eyes were a little evasive. She hoped that the microphone could change the subject tacitly.
But Mai Sheng didn't. Instead, he raised the corner of his mouth, looked at her steadily, and said, "The key is, the person is not right."
Zou Ping lowered her eyes as the wind blew, her fingertips unconsciously brushing the side of her skirt. She seemed calm, but the momentary darkening in her eyes was like ripples disturbed beneath the surface of the water.
"I went back too," she said softly, as if she didn't want to disturb the night, "but it didn't work either."
She raised her eyes, her gaze gentle yet with a hint of far-sightedness. "Maybe it's just the wrong time. That was where I painted my dreams... but time has passed, and maybe the dream needs to continue in a new place."
Mai Sheng looked at her quietly without asking any further questions.
The wind blew through the gaps between the leaves, carrying away the tail end of their words, leaving only the night and the sound of water, quietly folding these few short sentences into the silent time.
"Tang Yuchuan! I'm here!"
Zou Ping raised her hand gently, and her dress fluttered in the wind under the light.
Her voice pierced through the mist of the fountain, carrying a hint of brightness, yet was deliberately lowered, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility of this corner of the garden.
Tang Yuchuan followed the sound, his steps neither hurried nor slow. His figure first flashed among the shadows of the green plants, and then was outlined by the light at the end of the garden.
His suit was lifted into a small arc by the night wind. His eyes were steady, carrying the lingering noisy atmosphere of the party hall. However, the moment he saw Zou Ping, his eyebrows softened silently.
He walked closer, his eyes lingering briefly between Zou Ping and the sound of the wheat. That moment of pause was so short that it was almost imperceptible, like a stone gently falling into the water, causing shallow ripples.
"Here." His voice was not loud, but it was particularly clear in the night, with a hint of calm warmth.
Zou Ping smiled, and that smile seemed somewhat serene under the light: "Come out for some fresh air."
Mai Sheng also nodded casually, saying, "Mr. Tang."
"I've heard of you for a long time, but this is the first time I've met you face to face." Tang Yuchuan responded politely.
The air in the corner of the garden seemed to be worn very thin by the night and the mist. The light leaked through the gaps between the green plants and shattered into star-like points of light.
The three of them stood in the middle, the distance between them seemed appropriate, but their words seemed to be walking on an invisible line.
Mai Sheng spoke first, his smile wide. "Mr. Tang is coming out for some fresh air? I thought you'd be comfortable in this kind of situation."
His tone was playful, but his smile was a little sharp.
Tang Yuchuan raised his eyes, his expression calm, his voice steady: "It's been so lively for a long time, it's time to quiet down for a while."
The words were neither light nor heavy, neither evasive nor evasive, yet with enough measure.
Mai Sheng raised an eyebrow and continued, "In my impression, Mr. Tang is not someone who would be bothered by the hustle and bustle. He is capable of anything in the business world."
This sounds like a compliment, but it is actually another kind of temptation.
Tang Yuchuan smiled slightly, a smile so gentle that it was almost invisible: "Maybe it's just an illusion. People who are omnipotent only exist in the eyes of others."
Mai Sheng's smile deepened, as if he was aroused by this restraint. "When you say that, it makes me seem short-sighted."
Zou Ping stood between the two men, feeling the subtle undercurrents in their words. Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the fabric on the side of her skirt. She looked up at Tang Yuchuan. His expression seemed calm, but there was a hint of fatigue in his eyes.
The brief silence was broken by the wind, and the sound of the fountain was like a whisper across time and space.
Mai Sheng suddenly changed his tone, speaking casually yet with a hint of arrogance: "Boss Tang, we've been out for a while."
He looked at Zou Ping, his eyes hinting that they came out together. After a pause, he continued, "Why don't you go in and have a drink together? I'll toast you."
Tang Yuchuan lowered his eyes slightly, as if weighing the options for a moment, then said softly, "I'm afraid not. I drank a bit too much tonight, and I'm not very good at drinking. I plan to leave first."
From the moment Tang Yuchuan walked out, Zou Ping's eyes had been on Tang Yuchuan. When she heard him say this, her voice was still as gentle as ever.
Zou Ping's heart suddenly tightened. Only then did she realize that his face was so pale that it seemed as if the warmth had been washed away by the light.
The scene of fainting not long ago flashed through her mind, like a cold needle piercing her heart.
She spoke almost subconsciously, her tone soft but resolute: "Then let's go back first."
Mai Sheng obviously noticed her sudden change in mood and raised his eyebrows slightly, but he didn't say anything else. He just smiled and said, "Be careful on the road."
His tone remained calm, but there was a hint of ambiguity in the ending, like a silent observation, or like he was watching a play that he had no intention of interfering in.
Zou Ping just nodded at him politely and didn't even force a smile.
Her hand was already tightly gripping Tang Yuchuan's wrist, her fingertips almost cold.
Tang Yuchuan nodded to Mai Sheng as a farewell, without any further explanation, he just followed Zou Ping's movements and was pulled away.
The hem of his suit was slightly lifted by the night breeze. His back was straight and his steps were steady as if nothing had happened, but his paleness became even clearer under the light.
The corner of the garden is deep and secluded, and the night and green plants are interwoven into a soft shadow.
The sound of the fountain sounded in the distance, like a thin curtain, separating them from the noise of the party.
Zou Ping eagerly led him into a small path, but was stunned at the fork in the road. The lights were sparse and the paths were similar, so she couldn't tell the direction for a moment.
Tang Yuchuan gently pressed the back of her hand, saying gently, "Not this way."
His voice was still calm, as if even his breathing had not been disordered.
Zou Ping looked up at him, but her eyes were hurt by his pale face.
She was so flustered that her speech quickened a bit: "Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?"
Tang Yuchuan smiled slightly, as if he had just made up an excuse: "It's okay, just an excuse to leave early."
"But you look really bad." Her voice softened, and her panicked expression could barely be concealed.
"It's a matter of light." He said without hesitation.
Zou Ping was skeptical, but did not ask any further questions.
She felt his fingertips slide to her palm and gently clasp it. "Okay. Actually, I'm worried that you're not comfortable here. It's getting late, so I'll take you home."
The words made her heart tighten.
She looked up at him, and the worry in her eyes changed again, turning into another kind of caution: "Is it okay to leave early like this?"
Tang Yuchuan's profile was soft under the dim light, and his tone remained calm and composed: "The main part has been completed, which is the donation and the auction. The rest is just some pleasantries to maintain relationships. This kind of thing is not just today."
Zou Ping hummed softly, her voice so soft that it was almost blown away by the night wind.
She actually wanted to say that she didn't like this kind of occasion, and even wanted to directly admit her escape.
But she also knew that if she stayed by his side, nights like this would only become more frequent.
She looked down at the hand she was holding with him, and secretly told herself that she should try harder next time, try to adapt, and try to stand by his side competently.
To break her awkwardness, she forced a smile and casually started a conversation: "There's a delicious rose tart today. I ate several."
Tang Yuchuan followed her tone and said casually, "Really? Then I'll ask who supplies it and ask them to send some over regularly in the future."
His tone was light, as if it was just a trivial matter.
"That's not what I meant." Zou Ping said softly.
Tang Yuchuan glanced at her sideways, his eyes gentle and his voice lowered: "I know. I also know that you don't like this kind of occasion. I know that I made you unhappy today. From now on..."
Before he could finish the word "later", Zou Ping interrupted him, her tone light but revealing a hint of uneasiness: "We'll talk about the future later."
"I don't really dislike it." Zou Ping added. She knew he never asked anything of her, but she didn't want to make things difficult for him.
Tang Yuchuan turned his head and glanced at her. His eyes were still gentle, but with a hint of depth under the soft light.
He was silent for a few seconds before speaking in a low voice, "I'm not asking you to force yourself to like this kind of occasion. I asked you to go to that table to toast today simply because I think it wouldn't be bad for you to get to know the people at that table."
His tone sounded as if he was giving a casual explanation, but also as if he was afraid she would misunderstand his meaning. "Ma Pingwei manages several galleries. You should have heard of Li Li, a cutting-edge painter who's been very popular in recent years. He's the one who brought him to prominence. He's very skilled at promoting artists."
"You probably know Du Tonghai. He's a critic, and his words carry a lot of weight in the circle. He's particularly fond of oil paintings. From what I understand, your paintings might be very popular with him."
"And Shu Zijin. She's not very old and looks like a fun-loving girl, but she's actually a private collector with more works than many of the older artists."
When he said this, his tone was always gentle, without any sense of coercion. It was more like he was quietly pushing the door open, waiting for her to decide whether to go in.
"It's my fault," Tang Yuchuan smiled softly, a hint of apology in his smile, "There have been a lot of things going on these days, and I forgot to tell you clearly in advance, so you felt it was sudden."
Zou Ping's gaze stayed on Tang Yuchuan for a long time.
The night wind blew by, and the sound of water in the distance and the remaining music from the party intertwined into a hazy background. He stood at the junction of the lights and shadows, his voice gentle and his manners measured. When he introduced those names and relationships, he was as calm as if he was talking about an ordinary little thing.
She suddenly realized that she had never looked at him like this before.
In her familiar impression, Tang Yuchuan has always been gentle and self-restrained, noble and polite, the kind of person who people can rely on with peace of mind.
But now, she saw another side of him. He was not the kind of person she thought could survive on his own merits. He knew how to use his connections and how to quietly and effectively lay out the situation.
At that moment, she actually felt a slight sense of strangeness.
Then she burst out laughing herself.
What was he thinking? How could a successful man like Tang Yuchuan be so ignorant of the ways of the world? If he wasn't shrewd and didn't understand people's hearts, how could he have supported such a huge enterprise? How could he have gained a foothold in a place like Beijing?
I don’t know if she is naive or he is disguising himself too well.
Zou Ping lowered her head in frustration, feeling she wasn't living up to her expectations. She knew he was hiding something from her, that she hadn't even touched his innermost self, but her first reaction was always to be seduced by his gentle voice and smile, easily believing he was a good, reliable man.
This feeling of being touched is warm and fragile, like a thin thread that will break at the slightest touch.
Zou Ping felt that she was probably beyond help.
She sighed secretly, and when she raised her eyes, her gaze had returned to calm, but her fingertips quietly tightened in his palm for a moment.
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