The night before the wind
[Mr. Group Beijing Headquarters, Early Morning]
The sky wasn't fully light yet; the glass curtain wall resembled a vast expanse of still water. Mu Tianlang stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, his right hand fastening his cufflinks. His phone vibrated three times—a series of red dots popped up in the overseas joint venture project group chat.
"GHI is withdrawing its second investment," the CFO stated bluntly. "Reasons: a downgrade in the regional rating, coupled with warning signs in our internal risk control system. Recommendation: use a short-term bridging loan to cover the shortfall."
He lowered his brow by half a millimeter: "No loans. I'll manage the cash. Non-core expenditures will be frozen for 48 hours from now, and supplier invoices will be postponed by seven days. I'm giving you advance notice."
The legal department then chimed in: "The other party's contract contains a 'significant market change clause,' which is theoretically revocable; however, we can assert 'expectations of bona fide performance' and provide supplementary disclosures."
He replied: "Three things: First, the other party must provide a written reason before noon, and we will issue a security notice in advance; second, we must compile the risk control process and backup list for the trial operation of the cocktail party into English and deliver it today; third, the official statement should be one sentence—'The project is progressing as scheduled.' If the other party insists on a postponement, we will discuss a postponement agreement and a suspension fee."
Chen Chen responded from the other end: "We have three potential investors in mind, and we can meet online this afternoon."
He only typed two words: "Not yet."
He added, "Keep a copy of the alternative funding plan, and give me the list."
Another phone on the table lit up; it was the reserved line—Mother's. The ring was short, like knuckles tapping on jade.
He pressed the answer button.
"Tianlang," his mother's voice was as calm as ever, "I will be at the party tomorrow night. Someone needs to stand on the stage and remember your surname when it comes to the Mu family's affairs."
"Know."
"Also, don't delay any longer regarding that commercial land deal in H City. You've seen the Xu family's terms; their funding, location, and connections are all suitable. I don't want to hear any more of the gossip circulating in private."
He remained silent.
Her mother paused, then emphasized, "You should learn to exchange things. Stop always being so stubborn. Your brother died young, and you're the only one left in the Mu family."
He kept his gaze outside: "I'll handle it."
"To handle it is not to reject it."
He ended the call with "I have another meeting." After hanging up, he turned to his assistant and said, "Go over the risk control and backup plans again. There can be no mistakes at tomorrow night's party."
Assistant Xiao Zhou responded, "Yes."
[Resort back-office work area, morning]
The sea breeze bent the reeds into long, curved lines. Hu Li, wearing frameless glasses, did a final walk through the area she was responsible for: entrances and exits, corners, rain shelters, medical stations and supplies—she checked everything; the lights and power indicators were in place. Tomorrow was the trial operation reception, and this section couldn't afford any mistakes. With the last guide strip fastened securely, she glanced at the wind direction—perfect.
My phone vibrated, and a text message popped up: "Tomorrow is an important occasion for them. You know what to do."
She stared at it for a second, then put the message away without replying.
She glanced around—at this time, he usually made a round of inspections; today he wasn't. Strange. She made a mental note: he probably had something more important to do. She adjusted her glasses and continued her rounds.
[Muse Group Project Situation Room - Morning Session]
Several large screens displayed the financial flow, and Mu Tianlang's voice was as concise as ever: "I'll handle the funding. Non-core payments will be delayed by seven days; let them know first. Accounts receivable will be transferred to factoring; sign the agreement today. Advance payments will be deposited into a separate dedicated account, solely for on-site operations."
Project manager: "Yes."
Chen Chen placed an English briefing next to him: "This is to reinforce GHI's disclosure, focusing on 'event response capabilities'."
He glanced at it: "Remove the adjectives. Add another page on 'Fund Protection Actions,' clearly stating the repayment plan and factoring limit."
Chen Chen nodded: "There are two potential investors. We can discuss their intentions tonight."
He said, "Open the fast track. The terms won't lower the valuation; at most, we'll give them an observation board. We'll finalize the letter of intent tonight."
He added: "The legal department will first draft a sample letter of intent with three bottom lines: no reduction in valuation, observation board, and no interference in daily operations."
Assistant Xiao Zhou's voice came through the intercom: "Mr. Mu, GHI's regional manager, Delaney, has replied to your invitation and will be there tomorrow night."
He simply said, "Make arrangements, let him see the scene."
[Afternoon of the resort's trial operation]
The afternoon light, like a thin sheet of gold, spread along the railing. The aroma of tea wafted gently from the veranda, and the sea cast dappled sunlight like tiny bells. Just as the host finished introducing the next segment, the clouds seemed to turn a page—lowering in intensity, and a light rain began to fall from the eaves. The lights flickered, and the speakers emitted a piercing shriek.
The center console suddenly became empty, and those hands hesitated for a second.
Hu Li pressed the intercom button and switched to channel one: "Power on backup; lower the volume; host, step back and stand by."
She stepped forward and addressed the crowd in a low voice: "Distinguished guests, the weather has changed. Please move to the corridor or indoors. Tea and refreshments are prepared; please enjoy them at your leisure. We will adjust the tea and refreshments within five minutes, and then please return to your seats."
The concierges lined up like a gentle fence. The short directional strips on the ground proved useful, like a clean rhythm, leading people away from the rain.
Someone whispered in praise: "This area is so well designed, it's like an unexpected anchor point."
She smiled, stepped back to the side, picked up the water, and lightly twirled her fingertips around the stem of the cup—as if relaxing, or perhaps thinking about her next step.
In the distance, Mu Tianlang didn't intervene. His gaze lingered on her shoulder for a moment: not because he was attracted to her, but because he trusted her. He whispered to his assistant, "Upgrade her access to the scene by one level."
"Now?"
"Now."
The backup power was connected, the sound system was restored, and the host resumed the event. A round of applause followed, and the atmosphere returned to normal.
[Resort Trial Operation Cocktail Party]
"Designer Hu, it's been a long time." A familiar voice came from behind.
Hu Li turned around—Lin Jiran. His shirt was impeccably pressed, and his smile was as if seen through a pane of glass, so clean that his emotions were impossible to discern.
He raised his glass and nodded: "Still as beautiful as ever. This event was fantastic. You really do manage to handle everything as if nothing ever happened."
She said simply, "Thank you."
His smile lingered, but his tone turned sharp: "Back then you were just an assistant, and now you're the lead actor. You've gotten quite familiar with your sugar daddy, haven't you? I remember... you used to think I was incompetent."
She rubbed her fingertip along the stem of the glass, making a soft clinking sound. She looked up at him; his gaze was like cold light gliding across crystal.
She calmly and bluntly stated: "Back then, you were 'seeking warmth'—cheating on me—and then you tried to shift the blame onto me."
Lin Jiran shrugged and smiled innocently: "Feelings are two-way. You were too cold back then, so it's understandable that you wanted to find some warmth."
She pushed her wine glass back half an inch along the etched line on the tray, as if pushing the boundary back to her side: "If you're looking for warmth, don't drag me into it."
He paused for two seconds, then took half a step closer: "Is it really necessary? Can't you say a few nice words to an ex-lover when you meet?"
She raised her chin, her voice soft yet unyielding: "If love requires to tolerate a third party, I would rather walk alone."
She took a half step back, her voice even calmer: "I'm not someone you can use as an excuse."
He was about to say something when his companion on the other side waved, and the crowd moved, pushing him away.
She slowly exhaled the breath she had inhaled, turned and left—her back straight, her steps steady, without a trace of lingering attachment.
This entire scene was witnessed by those in the shadows. Mu Tianlang stood in the shadows, a tray beside him brushing past. He instinctively stepped aside, his eyes never leaving her. Something within him quietly crumbled: her strong back was like a defensive line he had never truly understood.
[Resort VIP Area in the Evening]
Assistant Xiao Zhou handed him a list: "Delaney has arrived."
Mu Tianlang nodded: "Take him to the corridor."
A gust of wind in the semi-outdoor setting lifted a corner of the napkin. After the initial pleasantries, Delaney got straight to the point: "The market is very volatile. Some members of our board are worried about the tourism sector and want to postpone it."
Mu Tianlang's tone was extremely brief: "I understand. But withdrawing investment won't diminish the wind. What you'll see tonight is how we diminish the wind."
Delaney observed the order under the eaves, then glanced at the wooden walkway at the edge of the venue—the lighting was steady, the flow of people was unhurried, the emcee's prompts were crisp, and the guests' emotions were gently soothed. "Your 'event response' is clearer than what's written in the report."
"Reports are written in words," he said. "On-site, it's all about skill."
Delaney smiled, made no promises, and simply said, "I'll bring back tonight's live stream."
【Resort's wooden boardwalk at night】
The party was drawing to a close. The wind lifted her snow-white shawl behind her, and the lights by the pool and the sea mingled, like two different tides breathing. Hu Li stood at the edge of the wooden boardwalk, holding a glass of red wine, her dark green silk satin cascading down her waist, its lines clean and sharp.
The footsteps stopped an arm's length to her right.
"Aren't you going back?" His voice was low and suppressed.
She turned around and saw that he was still wearing a suit, but all the buttons were undone, and the collar of his shirt was slightly open, his weariness tinged with a sense of relaxation. He stood at the boundary between light and shadow, like a wolf discerning the wind in the night.
"Who was that person just now?"
"Past tense." She didn't dodge the question, nor did she offer any further explanation.
He glanced at her: "He doesn't speak very nicely."
"I didn't stand on ceremony either."
He paused for two seconds, then changed the subject: "Add another set of outer lights, so people don't trip over them."
She tilted her head: "You're not here to inspect the premises, are you?"
"Yes." He paused. "Also—I don't really like people getting too close to you."
She laughed out loud: "Your comment could easily become a trending topic."
He smiled faintly and looked away: "I was referring to the hallway."
She took a sip of her drink, her eyes darting like the wind: "And what about you? If you come any closer, won't you slip and fall?"
His Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't take it.
"I was just about to talk to you about something." She changed the subject, her tone natural, but the end of her sentence carried a subtle hint of flirtation. "Before you hide behind the wall."
He remained silent, only taking a half-step closer. The aroma of wine shortened the distance between them, and their breaths mingled in the same breeze.
"You don't look as cold as usual today," she said.
"You're the one who pushed me to the brink of losing control," he whispered.
The air went still for a moment.
She chuckled softly, leaning against a wooden pillar, her gaze fixed on the water: "You know what? This is actually a great place to kiss."
His fingers tightened, and the rim of the glass slipped across his palm. He steadied the glass and lowered his voice, "Do you know what you're saying?"
She looked at him, the moonlight reflecting in her pupils: "I'm waiting for you to bite me."
He gripped her wrist, pulling her into a deeper corner of shadow, against a wooden pillar. He almost gritted his teeth: "Say it again?"
She raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Scared?"
"I'm afraid—I'll swallow you whole, bite by bite, and never let go."
She tiptoed, her lips brushing against his chin like a feather, a provocative and tentative gesture. He finally lowered his head and bit the corner of her lip. The kiss was short and fierce, as if pressing all the words spoken during the day back into his chest.
A patrol's flashlight streaked across the distance, and a walkie-talkie buzzed. His knuckles tightened around her wrist, then slowly released, his forehead pressed against hers, their breaths mingling between them.
"Don't say anything more," he said in a low voice. "If I take another step forward, I'll regret it." He paused, then lowered his voice even further: "I don't want you to regret it either."
She looked at him, a smile still playing at the corners of her eyes: "So, are you afraid, or are you going to endure it?"
He didn't answer, but took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders: "That's it for tonight."
She didn't tease her harshly, but simply straightened her coat collar: "Then I'll take it as a bite, and make a note of it."
He chuckled, but didn't approach any closer. The two walked back, one after the other. He deliberately kept an arm's length distance between them.
He stopped at the fork in the road leading to the staff dormitory, tapping his finger on the doorframe as if drawing a small circle. "A mark," he said. "For when I can bite."
She turned to the side and glanced at him: "Don't keep me waiting too long."
He didn't answer, but watched her go in and close the door behind her.
[Late at night in the resort parking lot]
The car was as quiet as underwater. He got in but didn't start the engine immediately. His phone lit up—Chen Chen: "GHI said they saw your on-site handling tonight, and the interim board is inclined to postpone the decision and not withdraw for now."
He only replied, "Received." Then he added, "Let's talk again at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
Her mother's name also came to mind: "Go back to the city tomorrow; the Xu family wants to see you."
He stared at the words, his fingers tightening and loosening repeatedly. Finally, he turned the screen black.
The distant sound of the sea was low, like the longest breath of the night. He rested his forehead lightly on the steering wheel for a moment, then lifted it, started the engine, and the headlights cast a beam of light against the wall before disappearing.
[Night at the Resort Staff Dormitory]
Hu Li removed her earrings and placed them on a porcelain plate. She spread out her sketchbook and drew two parallel lines for a wooden boardwalk, adding a few strokes of water below; a fox and a wolf stood by the railing, with only three stars dotted in the sky, leaving a finger's width of space in the middle.
My phone lit up again; it was that number: "Progress?"
She didn't reply. She closed the sketchbook, pushed it to the edge of the table, then pushed it back half an inch. She stood up, walked to the balcony, and let the night breeze dissipate some of the heat on her shoulders.
[Resort CEO's Overnight Office]
Mu Tianlang returned to his office, poured himself some water, but didn't drink it. He poured the water back into the matte black glass, leaving a faint mark on the wooden table at the bottom. He didn't wipe it, but simply moved the rim of the glass outwards by half an inch, as if making room for someone.
He sent out the risk control changes for that night: "Add lights to the outside, brighten the corners, keep everything else simple."
Only after sending the message did he move the cup back. A short email flashed in the lower right corner of the screen: Delaney – "Appreciate the on-site demonstration. Our Board will reconvene next Tuesday. In the meantime, keep us posted."
He replied, "We will."
The sea outside the window was a deep, still black. The wind slipped through the cracks, like an invisible hand pressing down on something, then slowly releasing it.
【Resort Morning】
As dawn broke, the motion-sensor lights in the corridor began to illuminate the room. She carried her folders through the inner courtyard, her steps light, as if walking on the wind. Around the corner, he happened to be approaching from the other side.
She tilted her head: "Good morning."
He nodded: "Good morning."
She looked up at him: "Last night, you won."
His gaze was indifferent: "Hmm."
She laughed: "Then—one step slower?"
He didn't answer, but simply stepped aside to give way, saying, "Move over a bit."
She brushed past him, the hem of her skirt lightly brushing against his knuckles. He neither dodged nor grabbed her, but simply watched her retreating figure as she walked away.
A breeze blew from the end of the corridor, gently rustling a row of small bells. Restraint hadn't ended; it had simply been replaced by a deeper light, drawing them closer together. Next time, perhaps it wouldn't be "endurance," but rather "choice."
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