Chapter 106 The next leg of your journey will surely be even happier and more fulfilling.
"Shangqiu Zhu, get up! If you're any later, you'll miss the first incense offering!"
It was still dark when Yan Shuang woke up earlier than Shang Qiu Zhu. She quietly got out of bed and couldn't help but nudge the man next to her.
Her voice was incredibly devout.
Shangqiu Zhu had actually been awake for a while, but was resting with her eyes closed.
When he opened his eyes, he saw her kneeling by the bed, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. Her hair was a little messy and disheveled, and her face was plain, yet she was more captivating to him than when she was dressed up.
He let her pull him out of bed, wash up, and change into relatively casual clothes, and she urged him to leave the house.
The Wong Tai Sin Temple was already packed with people, and the incense was burning brightly.
Shangqiu Zhu herself did not believe in these things, and simply stayed silently by her side the whole time, watching her earnestly offer incense, light it, kneel and pray, and make a wish, performing each step meticulously.
The hall was filled with the smoke of incense and the aroma of sandalwood.
He stood half a step behind her, watching her through the wisps of smoke.
As Yan Shuang emerged from the main hall, she carried a yellow prayer charm in her hand, which she carefully tucked away.
Shangqiu Zhu's gaze swept over the talisman, and he finally couldn't help but speak.
"Believe in me, not this."
Yan Shuang looked up at this and snorted in dissatisfaction, "It's not like you can do anything for me."
He lowered his eyes and gazed at her.
The sunlight fell perfectly into her upturned eyes, and in that clear, bright light, he seemed to see her longing for the distance.
It clearly points in the direction from which he parted ways.
Shangqiu Zhu felt as if something had suddenly clenched his heart.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he felt a sharp, stabbing pain as he inhaled the cool morning air.
A few seconds of silence lingered in the atmosphere of the flourishing incense offerings.
In the end, with great difficulty, he nodded.
"……meeting."
Yan Shuang smiled, clearly not believing her, "You're lying."
But she didn't seem to really want to dwell on the issue, and just waved the prayer charm in her hand, saying, "They all say the gods here are very efficacious."
Shangqiu Zhu did not refute further.
He watched her carefully put away the prayer charm, then reached out and took her slightly cool hand in his palm.
The trees lining the mountain road were lush and green, and the scent of incense gradually faded away.
"Let's go." His voice was devoid of emotion as he simply took her hand and slowly, step by step, walked down the stone steps.
The next two days felt like a dream stolen from our busy reality.
Yan Shuang originally thought that, given Shang Qiuzhu's workaholic nature, it would be the limit for her to accompany her to Wong Tai Sin Temple on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year. What followed would surely be countless conference calls, mountains of documents, and an immediate return trip on a private jet.
But he didn't.
The phone was unusually quiet.
He was simply standing beside her, dressed in casual clothes, no longer the imposing CEO of the Shang Group.
They really looked like any ordinary young couple, blending into the crowd.
Yan Shuang pulled him through the crowds in Yau Ma Tei to buy freshly baked egg tarts, her fingertips burning red from the heat as she blew on them. He naturally took the paper bag from her hand and held it for her, watching her eat with satisfaction, taking small bites.
He gently wiped away a few crumbs from the corner of her mouth.
She suddenly had the idea to take the Star Ferry, feel the breeze of Victoria Harbour, and point to the skyscrapers on the opposite shore, asking him which one was his property.
He just smiled, without answering, and tucked her wind-blown hair behind her ear.
On the escalator in Mid-Levels, Central, she skipped and hopped ahead of him, occasionally turning back to wave at him, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
He followed behind at a leisurely pace.
......
She led him through the bustling crowds of Temple Street Night Market, holding up fish balls for him to try. She stood on tiptoe in front of a graffiti wall in Central, making a peace sign so he could take a silly-looking photo with his phone.
She even dragged him to Lan Kwai Fong in the early hours of the morning just to buy a cup of trendy milk tea, then took a sip and shoved it at him, wrinkling her nose and saying it was too sweet.
He just let her make a fuss.
Yan Shuang thought he was probably in a great mood because he rarely gave himself a break.
Little did he know that every second he spent with her in Hong Kong was a pre-emptive loan of happiness.
He was accumulating enough memories to sustain him through the lonely years to come.
In fact, he should have let go decisively when he heard her heart-wrenching accusations in the hospital room that night.
But he still selfishly managed to squeeze out these two days from the cracks of fate.
Knowing full well that this brief moment of tenderness was like drinking poison to quench thirst, and would only make the withdrawal symptoms more intense when they were separated later, he still tilted his head back and drank it without hesitation.
He was willing to exchange countless lonely and desolate days and nights for every single moment she was laughing and playing vividly beside him right now.
On the third day, Yan Shuang wanted to eat spicy crab under the bridge. She ate until her nose was sweating, her lips were red and swollen, and she was hissing as she breathed, but she still couldn't help picking up another piece.
Shangqiu Zhu sat opposite her, slowly peeling the crab claws for her and putting the whole crab meat into her bowl. He didn't eat much himself, but just watched her enjoy the crab.
After finishing the meal, he wiped his fingers clean with a wet wipe and watched her rub her stomach contentedly. "Where would you like to go next?"
Yan Shuang picked up her iced lemon tea, took a big gulp, and then shook her head with a smile. "No, no, you've been playing with me for two days already. That's enough. Boss Shang, you should go back to work, or the company will be in chaos."
Shangqiu Zhu looked at her, his gaze lingering for a moment on her smiling, crinkled eyes.
He stood up and said okay.
The two returned to the Repulse Bay villa, where their luggage had already been packed by the servants and placed quietly in the foyer.
As the car drove towards the airport, Yan Shuang was still enthusiastically looking through the photos on her phone from the past two days, occasionally pointing to a group photo to show him and complaining that his expression was too serious.
He pulled her into his arms.
Upon arriving at the airport, Yan Shuang headed towards the VIP passage leading to the Los Angeles flights.
However, the next second, her wrist was gently grasped by a warm force.
Shangqiu Zhu stood beside her, his deep gaze calm and serene, subtly leading her in the exact opposite direction, where the London Heathrow sign above the international flight check-in counters was flashing clearly and brightly.
Yan Shuang hesitated for a moment, then looked up. "Hmm? Aren't we... going that way?"
She gestured with her eyes to the road leading to Los Angeles, their originally planned route home.
Shangqiu Zhu did not meet her gaze, but calmly looked at the surging crowd ahead, "Let's go this way today."
He half-protected her in his arms, and she blended into the bustling crowd as he walked.
Yan Shuang's heart began to race, and she couldn't help but look up at Shangqiu Zhu.
Amidst the surrounding clamor and her anxious speculation, Shangqiu Zhu led her to a corner where they stopped.
Then, he turned around and faced her.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the crowd, he took out a file folder and handed it to her.
Yan Shuang looked down and immediately saw her passport and a plane ticket to London Heathrow Airport peeking out from the transparent interlayer.
The time was just over an hour later.
Yan Shuang was completely stunned.
"This is……"
Shangqiu Zhu didn't give her time to process her emotions. She simply opened the file folder, took out the contents one by one, and began to give instructions:
"Du Yunchuan's older sister, Du Xiwei, lives in Cambridgeshire. She will pick you up when your plane lands and help you settle in. You can contact her directly if you have any questions, so don't feel like it's a hassle."
He paused, his tone carrying an undeniable air, completely severing any possibility of politeness from her: "The Du family owes me a favor. You can order her around without any guilt. It's purely a resource exchange, understand?"
"In terms of studies," he said, pulling out a concise outline and a business card. "If you encounter any academic difficulties, besides Roger, you can also go to Professor Henry. He is an authority in the field of finance. You can try to combine the latest market algorithm models, especially cases of irrational bias in high-frequency trading, which is also an opportunity for you to make a name for yourself."
He pointed out one of the points: "Use small sample data for modeling, even if it's not mature. Remember, in top academia, value and scarcity are always the top priorities."
"Protect your core strengths. Your intelligence and focus are your greatest assets. At the doctoral level, depth is more important than breadth. Focus your time and energy on the areas with the highest returns, just like you would an investment."
Yan Shuang stood frozen in place, all the surrounding sounds instantly fading away, leaving only his calm voice buzzing in her ears.
His voice was deep and steady, clear and distinct, and he had already arranged everything about her in Cambridge perfectly, without any oversight.
He was seeing her off.
Yan Shuang's tears fell silently.
She never expected that he would push her into the future in such a way, when she was least prepared.
After a long while, she finally found her voice, which trembled and became incoherent:
"Didn't you say... you wouldn't let me go?"
She looked at him, more questions choking in her throat.
Didn't you say you wanted me to stay by your side?
Didn't you say you would take care of me for the rest of my life?
Are these words no longer valid?
However, Shangqiu Zhu simply gazed at her silently for a long time before giving a very soft reply.
"Um."
This admission was so understated it was almost cruel.
Then, a faint, bitter smile appeared on his lips, and his voice deepened: "I was just trying to comfort you."
How could I possibly not care about your thoughts?
These words, though seemingly light, struck her more heavily than all the previous calm arrangements.
The immense shock and overwhelming reluctance brought her to tears. She wanted to say something, but only broken sobs could escape her throat.
Seeing her face streaked with tears, Shangqiu Zhu trembled as she reached out and gently wiped away her tears.
"You've memorized it all?" he asked.
Yan Shuang, with tears streaming down her face, shook her head and nodded frantically.
He looked at her intently, then gently turned her toward the security checkpoint and gave her his final instructions.
"Go in."
Overwhelmed by immense sorrow, Yan Shuang felt as if she were being pulled by invisible threads, walking step by step toward the security checkpoint.
Every step felt unreal, almost dreamlike.
Just as she was about to pass through the security gate, she looked back one last time.
The figure that had been standing still, like a silent mountain, moved almost the instant she turned around.
Shangqiu Zhu strode across the distance, and without the slightest hesitation, opened his arms and tightly embraced her.
He held on so tightly, using all his strength to fight against the impending separation of thousands of miles.
They didn't speak, and just held each other tightly for a long, long time in the bustling airport hall.
In the end, it was Shangqiu Zhu who loosened his grip.
He lowered his head, his forehead gently touching hers, his deep eyes almost touching hers.
It contained turbulent emotions, but ultimately transformed into a gentle, deep sea.
He stared at her red eyes and the tip of her nose.
“Yan Shuang,” he called her name, “go live the life you want.”
After saying that, he didn't give her any time to react or cry. He resolutely let go of her, gently turned her towards the security checkpoint, and then, with all his restraint, took a step back.
This step was like parting a celestial river.
Yan Shuang's tears welled up again. She watched his retreating figure through her blurry vision, then finally bit her lip, turned around, and joined the security check line.
There was no turning back.
He stood there, watching her disappear at the end of the security checkpoint, motionless for a long time.
Yan Shuang left for Cambridge on September 29th.
The next day was Shangqiu Zhu's birthday.
At that time, at an altitude of 10,000 meters on the way to Cambridge, the cabin lights were dim, and the other passengers were already fast asleep.
She gazed out the window through teary eyes, feeling as if her heart, like the sea of clouds, was being torn apart by invisible currents, drifting towards a distant future where he would never be again.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the man she had just left personally turned down all celebratory invitations on his birthday, which should have been filled with blessings and celebrations.
I sat alone in my master bedroom in Los Angeles all night.
It wasn't until her birthday the following year that Shangqiu Zhu learned what exactly Yan Shuang had wished so sincerely at the Wong Tai Sin Temple that day.
That wish was indeed not something he could decide.
Even if he is incredibly wealthy and powerful, able to easily pave the way for her to the world's top universities and protect her under his wings from any storm.
He could not control that most unpredictable thing in the universe.
A year has passed in the blink of an eye.
It's another birthday.
Inside Hong Kong's top-tier clubhouses, crystal chandeliers gleamed, and toasts were exchanged.
Du Yunchuan invited a group of friends to celebrate with him, and the scene was grand and lively.
"Happy birthday, Mr. Shang! May all your wishes come true!"
"Qiu Zhu, this drink must be finished!"
"Mr. Shang..."
Shangqiu Zhu stood in the very center of the crowd, holding a wine glass in her hand, a perfectly timed smile on her lips, responding to the endless stream of people who came forward to congratulate her.
He remains the king who controls a vast business empire, even more awe-inspiring than a year ago.
In that year, the Shang family's territory expanded at an almost ferocious pace into Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with swift and decisive methods that instilled fear in their opponents.
Du Yunchuan stood next to him, smiling as he clinked glasses with others, but he couldn't help but steal glances at the man beside him.
Even though he was surrounded by bustling activity, the vibrant scene had nothing to do with him.
Even though he was surrounded by people and was the absolute center of attention, why did he always seem so lonely?
"Hey, what are you daydreaming about?" Du Yunchuan nudged him with his elbow and handed him a freshly poured glass of wine. "Birthday boy, you must enjoy yourself to the fullest today!"
Shangqiu Zhu took the wine glass, the smile on his lips unchanged, tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp, his movements swift and decisive, drawing cheers from those around him.
The feast was in full swing, and the atmosphere reached its climax.
Amidst the commotion, Shangqiu Zhu put down his wine glass.
He patted Du Yunchuan on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "I'm leaving."
Du Yunchuan was taken aback: "Huh? You, the main character, are leaving? It's only this late..."
He nodded slightly to the crowd of people who were casting questioning glances at him, as if to say goodbye, then turned around and walked unhesitatingly through the clinking glasses of the crowd toward the exit.
Du Yunchuan watched his retreating figure disappear behind the gate, shook his head, and downed the wine in his glass in one gulp.
The driver took him back to his villa in Repulse Bay.
He didn't turn on the headlights, but slowly walked upstairs by the light coming through the window from the dazzling lights across Victoria Harbour.
Everything in the room remained the same, regularly cleaned, spotless, yet lifeless.
His gaze swept aimlessly across the dressing table, which was empty except for what appeared to be something in one corner.
He moved closer.
The moonlight and distant neon lights intertwined, falling on the dressing table.
There, lying quietly, was a yellow amulet with slightly frayed edges.
He reached out and picked up the amulet.
On the inside, near the bottom, a line of neat but slightly faded characters clearly comes into view.
May the bamboo of Shangqiu be free from illness and pain, and enjoy peace, health, and prosperity year after year.
Every stroke reveals the girl's carefulness and seriousness when she put pen to paper.
The space inside the amulet was so small that her handwriting was exceptionally small, cramped together, as if she wanted to condense all the best wishes in the world into this small space and pray for him a little more.
His heart stopped for a moment.
Beneath the amulet was a small, warm-looking jade Buddha pendant, next to which was a folded card.
He picked up the card and unfolded it. It still bore that neat handwriting, but with more words than the one on the amulet, and more casual, as if carrying a hint of her nervousness and endearing awkwardness as she wrote it:
Shangqiu Bamboo:
Happy birthday!
I've been thinking for a long time about what to give you... but I can't seem to think of anything. (A small, slightly disappointed smiley face is drawn next to it.)
I know that all the precious things in the world are readily available to you.
Then, I can only offer you the simplest of wishes.
This small jade Buddha was once offered before the Buddha and listened to the chanting of Buddhist hymns.
I know you may not believe in these things, and you may not like wearing them.
But please, please don't throw it away if you don't like it.
"How about I put it in your bedside table or a drawer?"
The date was a year ago.
His tall frame swayed slightly, unable to contain himself.
"It's as if all the precious things in the world are readily available to you."
But the reality is that the only treasure he was truly willing to give everything for had already left thousands of miles away.
He finally lowered his head slowly and hung the jade Buddha around his neck.
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