Chapter 5 2005 Flow of Time
Autumn goes and spring comes; time flies by in the blink of an eye.
Even the most unbearable past will eventually be let go with the passage of time.
He Peiru's life in the first twenty-odd years was full of ups and downs.
The lucky start was thanks to Feng Shiqi's help, which gave her the opportunity to try her luck at Wuyang and eventually meet Yuyin.
Wu Yang uses high-quality ingredients and has an outstanding taste, which has led to an increasing number of customers and the plan to open a branch.
Yu Yin knew how hard she worked, and out of consideration for her, she intended to give her some of the work at the Tsim Sha Tsui branch.
He Peiru was naturally overjoyed; by all accounts, she was the beneficiary, as this part-time job with Wuyang would allow her to continue her entire secondary school career.
only……
She couldn't help but think of the man she had met in the back alley.
Although He Peiru knew nothing about him, perhaps he simply felt that she was young and had a difficult life, so he showed her more concern.
But even if she knew who the other person was, it wouldn't mean much to her at this stage.
After high school, you no longer need to worry about book expenses; the most important thing is to consider university tuition.
Only by studying hard can she truly escape her misery.
After having the funds, He Peiru's first priority was to fulfill her promise to Feng Shiqi.
At the dinner table, Mrs. Feng repeatedly expressed her feelings about He Peiru's hardships, and her eyes even welled up with tears as she spoke.
Feng Shiqi hurriedly grabbed a tissue and handed it to her mother, saying helplessly, "Oh dear, Mom, you'll scare Aru like that."
"I'm just happy." Mrs. Feng smiled shyly. "Aru finally doesn't have to worry about money anymore."
She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled back, saying, "I know Auntie was worried about me."
As long as He Peiru can maintain her current grades, getting into her ideal university will be no problem at all. Moreover, if she can become even more outstanding, it would be even better if she could get a scholarship and free accommodation.
Her goals were clear, and the effort she put in was bound to be evident.
-
Before she knew it, He Peiru was a senior in college.
Her college life was busy and fulfilling, but she never had a romantic relationship. Whenever someone confessed their feelings to her, that hazy figure would always flash through her mind.
Even though they were clearly out of reach and she didn't know if they were still in the city, she used this as a reminder that now was not the time to think about these things.
On her way to the library, He Peiru received a phone call from a teacher at the college.
Liang Wenlei usually only contacts her this way when it's urgent, so she quickly stopped, walked aside, and answered, "Teacher Liang, what can I do for you?"
"Here's the thing," Liang Wenlei said in a consultative tone through the receiver, "Our college is planning to hold a lecture, and the guest speaker has already been confirmed. We were wondering if you would be interested in following up and hosting the event? It won't take up too much of your time."
Before the words were even finished, she eagerly replied, "I'm interested!"
Such opportunities are rare, and she didn't hesitate at all.
Every year, the University of Hong Kong invites prominent figures from the community to give lectures on campus, which is also the only way to get to know those people who are out of reach in Ho Pui-yu's eyes.
Even though the preparations were complicated and might take a lot of time, she still wanted to seize the opportunity.
Liang Wenlei continued, "This guest is no ordinary person. If he has a good impression of you and is lucky, he might even get an internship."
"Okay, I will prepare well."
Soon, she received an email from Liang Wenlei containing information about the guests.
Jiang Yi resigned.
She didn't even need to search for the name; its frequency of appearance in various news reports made it familiar to her, and the other party's prestige was beyond her reach.
He Peiru silently reminded herself not to be intimidated.
After briefly reviewing the information Liang Wenlei sent, she noted down the contact information for Jiang Yici's assistant and carefully considered her words before making the contact.
In the past two years, she and her classmates have hosted several guest speakers, and their temperaments have been vastly different.
But to be on the safe side, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and muster her courage.
Jiang Yici's assistant is named Li Jiale. He Peiru was in contact with him from the very beginning when the time was confirmed until it was actually implemented.
This was something she had expected.
Given Jiang Yici's status, it's already quite remarkable that she's willing to give a lecture; she now needs to focus on fulfilling her duties.
-
On the day of the lecture.
He Peiru waited for Jiang Yici at the agreed intersection.
Not long after, an Alphard minivan stopped in front of her, and Li Jiale sat down in the passenger seat first.
She had met Li Jiale when they were discussing matters, and after recognizing him, she said, "Mr. Li."
"Hello." Li Jiale nodded to her, and then the back door opened automatically.
Even without his reminder, He Peiru knew that she had finally met Jiang Yici in person.
The other person was dressed in a well-tailored suit, exuding an air of nobility with every gesture. However, when she met Jiang Yici's deep eyes, a strange sense of familiarity welled up in her heart.
She couldn't recall where she had seen it before.
After getting out of the car, Jiang Yici first extended his hand to her and said, "Hello, I am Jiang Yici. You must be the student who liaised with my assistant?"
He Peiru immediately snapped out of her daze, quickly shook off the distracting thoughts in her mind, grasped the other person's hand in return, and replied, "Hello Mr. Jiang, I am the person you are dealing with. My name is He Peiru."
This polite gesture ended quickly, and Jiang Yici nodded, explaining to her, "I've been busy with business meetings lately, so I had my assistant coordinate with you. Today's arrangements and plans are quite good."
"Thanks."
Unexpectedly, she received Jiang Yici's approval first, and He Peiru felt that her efforts had not been in vain.
He added, "I am a graduate of the University of Hong Kong, so we are alumni, no need to be so polite."
He Peiru suddenly felt like she had been caught red-handed. While she was worried about the procedures to follow, she was also afraid that Jiang Yici would think she was impolite, and she was in a state of anxiety.
He smiled and replied, "Okay."
The day was packed with activities, and they didn't linger where they were, heading towards the auditorium where the lecture would be held.
Jiang Yici was more approachable than He Peiru had imagined, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She had arranged the subsequent procedures well in advance, and they went quite smoothly. However, as soon as the lecture ended, Jiang Yici left in a hurry because he had other work to do, so she didn't need to see him off.
But he still left her a card, without saying anything else.
He Peiru was a little confused when a message from Liang Wenlei popped up on her phone.
Liang Wenlei: [Mr. Jiang just praised you for your excellent arrangements.]
Liang Wenlei: [I think if you ever want to find an internship, you can try submitting your resume to their group. I'll put in a good word for you.]
She believed that she was only responsible for ordinary and normal procedures, and at most, she asked Jiang Yici about his schedule for the day when confirming the details.
I've been scolded for meddling, and I've also been praised for it.
She could only try her best to do these things well, otherwise, if any problems arose, she would ultimately be blamed.
He Peiru: [Thank you, teacher. I will think it over carefully.]
Just as He Peiru was about to refocus on her studies, she received another message from Li Jiale a few days later. The reception work had clearly come to an end, and she opened it with confusion.
Li Jiale: [Ms. He, are you free today or tomorrow?]
He Peiru: [Yes, is there something wrong?]
Li Jiale: [The matter is a bit complicated; it's more appropriate to discuss it face-to-face.]
Lai Ka-lok: [If you are worried or have any concerns, we can meet directly at the University of Hong Kong.]
He Peiru felt strange, especially since Li Jiale had brought it up, which aroused her curiosity.
Meeting at school is impractical, as many people know Li Jiale, and if others see them, gossip is inevitable.
He Peiru: [Could we meet somewhere near the school? You can decide on the time, and I'll come over once we've agreed.]
Li Jiale: [No problem.]
Li Jiale acted quickly, and soon sent the name of a restaurant.
He Peiru knew it was a Michelin three-star restaurant near the school; she had passed by it many times.
But I've never been inside.
She couldn't guess what Li Jiale wanted to talk to her about; it seemed he was determined to keep quiet.
Completely confused, I felt it necessary to tell Liang Wenlei about it.
Liang Wenlei, with a kind smile, listened to her recount the events and then told her, "They've already contacted me, so you can go without worry. It might be good news for you."
"What?"
She was so surprised by this situation that she exclaimed in her office.
Liang Wenlei maintained his smile but shook his head, also unwilling to tell her what it was about.
Undeterred, she tried to get more information out of him: "Is it related to school matters?"
Liang Wenlei did not express his opinion, but only emphasized: "You'll know when you get there."
He Peiru could only arrive at the agreed restaurant with doubts, give the reception desk the name Li Jiale, and then follow the waiter who led the way inside.
There were other customers in the restaurant, so she couldn't openly look around. Instead, she secretly glanced at the interior decor out of the corner of her eye.
The design here is simple yet sophisticated. She couldn't imagine how expensive this meal would be. As she looked away, she quietly tightened her grip on the chain of her handbag.
If possible, I should have arranged to meet Li Jiale at school.
He Peiru was still lost in thought when the waiter stopped.
She saw that there was more than one person sitting in the area, and in her panic, she hurriedly greeted them: "You... hello everyone."
Besides Li Jiale, who contacted her, there was also Jiang Yici, whom she never expected to appear.
He Peiru sat down hurriedly and asked, "What do you want to see me about?"
Li Jiale turned to look at Jiang Yici, and hesitated before speaking, "It's like this, the reason I asked you out today is because..."
"I asked you out today to confirm something..." Jiang Yici interrupted his assistant and asked, "Your mother's name is Jiang Yiyan, and your father's name is He Yi, right?"
A note from the author:
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Next book: "The Uselessness of Words"
[Movie mogul x up-and-coming screenwriter / Stubborn x reserved / Long-awaited reunion / Wife-chasing drama]
In the eyes of others, Shen Chongyan, a directing major, and Qi Guiluo, a dramatic literature major, are a perfect couple, a match made in heaven.
Films made by them are guaranteed to sweep awards.
Unexpectedly, on the day Shen Chongyan took his master's graduation photo, he was alone and searched everywhere but could not find Qi Guiluo.
-
At Shen Chongyan's graduation dinner, Qi Guiluo was late because of his busy schedule. Outside the private room, he overheard someone inside saying confidently, "Don't forget to invite us when you and Qi Guiluo get married."
She stopped at the doorway, wanting to hear Shen Chongyan's answer—
"We are partners."
The private room was silent. Qi Guiluo no longer hesitated and turned to leave without looking back.
These seven words seem to indirectly confirm that all the hard work she had put in over the past year was worthless, and that her precarious relationship had been completely shattered.
-
later--
Shen Chongyan is a recognized film investor with discerning eyes, while Qi Guiluo is a promising new screenwriter.
One has a discerning and demanding eye for scripts, while the other is reserved and meticulous in disguise.
After much effort, Shen Chongyan finally contacted the creator of his desired script and extended an offer.
To reassure Qi Guiluo, an investor familiar with the industry told her, "Rumor has it that President Shen is not interested in women, so Miss Qi can rest assured."
The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious, and the cooperation was agreed upon in a few words.
Unexpectedly, when Qi Guiluo went out to answer the phone and turned around, Shen Chongyan, who had followed her out, grabbed her wrist.
Before Shen Chongyan could speak, she shook him off and said, "We are business partners, Mr. Shen, please have some self-respect."
-
sc, three-year age difference
*Book title adapted from Juno Mak/Karena Lam's *Dictionary and Bible*
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