Have you been waiting a long time for Chapter 65?
"Oh my, I feel like I'm giving away my daughter's wedding gift," Lin's mother said in an exaggerated tone as she walked down the red carpet, arm in arm with Yan Shuang.
She winked at Lin Chengyu, who was standing on the balcony, and said, "If Shuangshuang really is my daughter, that brat won't be able to get into my house."
Yan Shuang chuckled. "Auntie, the way you're talking makes it sound like I'm some kind of difficult person to please."
Lin's mother shook her head, gently tapping Yan Shuang's nose with her fingertip. "On the contrary, you're just too sensible. A good girl like our Shuangshuang," she squeezed Yan Shuang's hand tighter, her voice filled with unwavering determination, "deserves the best in the world. Isn't that right, Cheng Yu?"
Lin Chengyu, whose name was called, walked over from the intersection of light and shadow. He smiled slightly, his gaze remaining quietly fixed on Yan Shuang.
He stopped in front of Yan Shuang, lowered his head slightly, and his gaze slowly moved down from Yan Shuang's exquisite hair bun, her smooth forehead, her thick eyelashes, and finally stopped at her slightly flushed cheeks.
"yes."
It was a simple word, yet it seemed to have used up all its strength.
Lin's mother stood to the side, her eyes slightly warm.
She could almost see the secrets of her son's entire youth hidden in his deep eyes.
It also hides far too many emotions.
There is a careful and tender appreciation, a silent vigil, and a deep and gentle tenderness that has accumulated over the years.
All of it landed directly on Yan Shuang.
Her son was gazing at a girl with the most tender eyes in the world.
Twenty-seven years ago in St. Peter's Basilica, the same fervent gazes pierced through time and overlapped with the scene before me.
That day, she walked arm in arm with her father to the end of the red carpet. When she looked up, she saw her father's gaze, an almost devout look as if she were the only person left in the world.
Yan Shuang sensed something was amiss.
The moment she looked up, the dark undercurrent in Lin Chengyu's eyes quickly subsided, replaced by a perfectly gentle smile.
Something flashed by.
"So," Lin's mother deliberately put on a stern face and said to her son, "if you dare to bully Shuangshuang..."
"I won't." Lin Chengyu interrupted quickly and urgently, his eyes never leaving Yan Shuang.
That sentence didn't sound like a response to his mother; it sounded more like a promise of eternity.
Yan Shuang was a little embarrassed by this sudden seriousness. "Auntie, please stop teasing him..."
"So he's already protecting her?" Lin's mother smiled mischievously, but her heart was filled with mixed emotions. She was both happy that her son had found his true love and heartbroken for his cautious and deep affection.
Yan Shuang was already used to Lin's mother's occasional teasing. She chose to change the subject with a smile and looked up at Lin Chengyu standing to the side.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"Won't."
Lin Chengyu answered softly.
He stepped forward slowly, took Yan Shuang from Lin's mother's hands, and held her hand firmly.
Yan Shuang's hand looked exceptionally small in his palm. He slightly bent his elbow so that Yan Shuang's hand could naturally wrap around his arm.
"Let's go," he said in a low voice, which was a few decibels lower than usual.
Yan Shuang didn't notice anything amiss. She simply linked arms with him politely, their fingers loosely touching, maintaining a proper social distance.
But Lin Chengyu quietly adjusted his posture so that his arm could fit her movements more closely, making it easier for her to hold him.
Looking at the perfect couple standing hand in hand before her, Lin's mother had originally planned to stand between them tonight, with her son in his sharp suit on one arm and the beautiful Yan Shuang on the other, basking in the envious glances of everyone amidst the clinking of glasses.
But when the elevator doors opened, she suddenly stopped.
At this moment, she just wanted to give the young couple more time alone.
Yan Shuang turned around in confusion.
"You can go down first. I suddenly remembered that your Aunt Zhou was looking for me just now."
Lin Chengyu instantly understood his mother's intention.
"Go ahead." Lin's mother stepped forward and gently patted her son's shoulder.
Yan Shuang nodded obediently: "Then see you later, Auntie."
"Okay, okay," Lin's mother replied with a smile.
Lin Chengyu stepped aside to let Yan Shuang enter the elevator first, saying, "You've had a hard day, spending the whole day watching shows with my mom."
Yan Shuang shook her head; it had been a long time since she had spent such a relaxed time with her elders.
She had originally only considered this trip as a necessary social activity for the business marriage, but she never expected to feel a long-lost sense of warmth from Lin's mother.
Aside from the occasional teasing from Lin's mother about her and Lin Chengyu that made her feel a little embarrassed, everything else was very pleasant.
“Auntie is a very nice person,” Yan Shuang said softly. “I like her very much.”
Lin Chengyu paused almost imperceptibly. He was silent for a moment before speaking casually, his voice deliberately tinged with a playful lightness, "And what about me?"
He pretended to be focused on the swirling diamonds under the crystal chandelier in front of him, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught every subtle change in Yan Shuang's expression.
Yan Shuang chuckled upon hearing this, taking it as a necessary line to fit the scene.
"You..." she deliberately dragged out her words, tilting her head to look him over, "barely passable."
He chuckled softly, his Adam's apple bobbing in the shadows.
The laughter was soft, with a somewhat ambiguous hoarse tone, as if it were self-mockery, or perhaps a cover-up.
The elevator doors opened, and dozens of crystal chandeliers hung from the seven-meter-high dome, illuminating the entire banquet hall as if it were daytime.
Yan Shuang linked arms with Lin Chengyu as they strolled among the elegant ladies and graceful figures.
"Cheng Yu!" A German man with a full head of silver hair walked towards them, his deep blue eyes filled with a smile.
He opened his arms warmly, and Lin Chengyu smiled slightly. The two men embraced politely: "Teacher."
He turned to Yan Shuang and introduced her: "This is my art tutor when I was studying abroad, Professor Hoffmann."
Yan Shuang politely extended her hand: "Hello, Professor Hoffman."
Hoffman took her hand, but his gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, as if deep in thought.
Before he could speak, several young, fair-skinned men surrounded him. "Cheng Yu! Long time no see!"
Yan Shuang stood aside, watching Lin Chengyu instantly switch to another state.
He spoke fluently in German, French, and English with classmates of different nationalities, exuding elegance and composure in every gesture.
Yan Shuang was somewhat dazed. This man, who was currently thriving in the world of fame and fortune, exuded a charm completely different from his private self.
She suddenly realized that she seemed to have never really understood him.
"Sorry," Lin Chengyu suddenly whispered in her ear, "Aren't you bored?"
Yan Shuang shook her head: "It's okay, you two chat." She took half a step back, giving him some space.
But the old classmates wouldn't let it go. One of the blond men winked mischievously, "What, now you even need permission to talk to us a few more times?"
The others immediately burst into laughter.
Lin Chengyu shook his head helplessly, but couldn't help but glance back at Yan Shuang before turning back to continue talking with his classmates.
Professor Hoffman stood to the side, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two.
He touched his chin thoughtfully, then suddenly his eyes lit up, and his fingers stopped in mid-air, as if he had grasped some important fragment of memory.
"Ah!" The professor suddenly clapped his hands, realizing something. "I remember now! Cheng Yu's painting before graduation that wasn't exhibited..." He excitedly pointed at Yan Shuang, "The girl in the painting is you!"
Yan Shuang frowned slightly: "What?"
“That portrait,” Professor Hoffman gestured excitedly, “Cheng Yu spent three whole months painting it, but he refused to exhibit it no matter what. Now I finally understand!”
He winked mischievously, assuming the two of them had been together for a while.
Yan Shuang's first reaction was that it was absurd.
She smiled politely and said, "Professor, you must have mistaken me for someone else."
“It’s impossible to be wrong!” Professor Hoffman said firmly, pointing to his eyes. “I’ve taught art for forty years and I have an unforgettable memory for facial features.”
He leaned closer and examined Yan Shuang closely. "The girl in the painting has almond-shaped eyes just like yours, and a tiny, almost invisible mole at the corner of her right eye."
Yan Shuang subconsciously touched the corner of her right eye, where there was indeed a very faint mole.
But she still shook her head: "There are many similar people in the world..."
"It's not just similar!" The professor waved his hands anxiously, his silvery beard standing on end.
Like a stubborn old artist, he traced the image in his memory with his finger in the air. "The position of the girl's hair whorl, the shape of her earlobe, even that hesitant expression, are exactly the same!"
Yan Shuang smiled, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes.
She didn't believe it at all, only thinking that this lovely old professor probably wanted to see his beloved student happy, so he added some romance to the marriage.
But she couldn't bear to refuse the old man's kindness, so she gently agreed, "It must be a very beautiful painting."
Professor Hoffman keenly noticed the disapproval in her eyes, and his blue eyes widened even more.
Like an old pedant whose art appreciation skills have been questioned, he angrily pulled out his phone: "Luckily, I have a picture of that painting saved on my phone. I'll find it for you..."
Just then, the band suddenly started playing the prelude to a waltz, and the melodious tune instantly drowned out the conversation.
The halo of light from the crystal chandelier shifted with the rhythm of the music, enveloping the entire banquet hall in a dreamlike play of light and shadow.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the ball is now in session!" The emcee's voice boomed through the microphone.
The guests surged toward the dance floor like a tidal wave.
Professor Hoffman was about to say something more when he was surrounded by several art critics who had come to hear about him, and he had to turn around to greet them.
Yan Shuang stood there, watching the professor futilely gesturing with his phone in the crowd, and couldn't help but smile.
Lin Chengyu finished his conversation and walked towards her. "What were you talking about? You seem to be having a lot of fun."
Yan Shuang turned to look at him, examining his features so intently for the first time, trying to find something in his eyes.
After a moment, she looked away, smiled, and said, "It's nothing, just a beautiful misunderstanding."
The music then enters its climax, with a cheerful melody urging people to dance.
Lin Chengyu stretched out his hand, palm facing up.
"Is this dance okay?"
Yan Shuang nodded and placed her hand in Lin Chengyu's palm.
"good."
The moment her fingertips touched his palm, they were warmly and firmly grasped.
-
The extended Lincoln slowly came to a stop at the end of the red carpet, the door slowly opened, and Shangqiu Zhu stepped out.
The waiters at the banquet hall entrance unconsciously straightened their backs. Although the guest was not wearing a badge, his innate aura of authority made the experienced doorman bow subconsciously.
Suddenly, the spotlights at the garden site all turned, the blinding white light shining on him, but it couldn't penetrate the invisible sense of alienation surrounding him.
The surrounding laughter and chatter suddenly froze for a moment.
The other men were all dressed in elegant tailcoats, with neat bow ties, gleaming brooches, and exquisite cufflinks. Shang Qiuzhu, on the other hand, wore only a simple black suit with a plain black shirt underneath, and no tie.
He was clearly dressed as if he had just come straight from the office, but when he glanced around the room, the socialites and heiresses unconsciously stopped what they were doing.
The president of the North American Fashion Chamber of Commerce was raising his glass and exchanging pleasantries with guests when he caught a glimpse of a figure at the door. His champagne glass trembled violently. He hurriedly put down his glass and strode through the crowd.
“Mr. Shang!” He lowered his voice, his tone filled with undisguised surprise, “We sent out three invitations, and we thought you weren’t coming.”
Shang Qiuzhu's gaze swept over the crowd of people clinking glasses. He casually took the whiskey from the waiter's tray and said, "I got off work early and came to pick someone up."
"Pick someone up?"
This simple verb struck the CEO like a thunderbolt.
Having spent two decades immersed in this world of fame and fortune, he knew all too well the weight of that word.
The president's gaze swept quickly across the banquet hall:
That tech tycoon who just completed the world's largest IPO?
An investment banking partner who flew in from London?
Could it be... that mysterious Saudi prince?
These important figures who usually required him to bow and scrape before him were probably not even considered background figures in Shangqiu Zhu's eyes at this moment.
His Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty, and his voice was extremely respectful: "May I ask... which distinguished guest is Mr. Shang receiving?"
Shangqiu Zhu did not answer. His gaze swept over the guests who were raising their glasses and about to speak, and over their carefully made-up faces.
Just as he was about to look away, his eyelashes suddenly trembled slightly.
As if he had suddenly caught a signal, his gaze swept back.
The president stared in astonishment at this business tycoon who was usually unsmiling, and then suddenly strode off in that direction.
Shangqiu Zhu's steps remained steady and elegant, but the curve of the hem of her suit jacket seemed to carry a hint of imperceptible urgency.
Everyone instinctively made way for the man who suddenly took action.
In the center of the dance floor, Yan Shuang's fingertips gently rested on Lin Chengyu's shoulder.
Her body spun as he guided her, but her mind had already drifted to the financial lab at USC.
If it weren't for accompanying Lin's mother, she wouldn't have been willing to take leave. She never missed a project meeting, let alone a crucial discussion before the final report.
Lin Chengyu led her through a graceful turn, her skirt blooming like a flower, but what floated into her mind was the volatility surface model she had just constructed yesterday.
If variance reduction techniques were used on that unfinished algorithm, perhaps the computational efficiency could be improved by 30%?
In twelve hours, she will be able to return to that place filled with numbers and dreams.
The joy this financial project brought her was far more real than any haute couture gown she wore on the runway.
The academic hall that Shangqiu Zhu personally sent her into has now become her most cherished haven.
The melody of the dance music became ethereal, and Lin Chengyu's breathing gradually faded away.
She suddenly remembered the abrupt phone call that afternoon. Why would that man, who calculated time down to the second, suddenly call to chat?
Yan Shuang's brows furrowed slightly involuntarily. Could it be that something was wrong with the company?
But the next second she shook her head and denied the guess.
Where Shangqiu bamboo is located, it's as if the most sophisticated algorithm is running, with every variable strictly controlled and every risk hedged in advance.
He cannot, and will never, make a mistake.
Lin Chengyu's palm rested on her waist, and his fingertips could feel the subtle rise and fall of her breath.
He lowered his gaze and stared into Yan Shuang's slightly unfocused eyes, which reflected a kaleidoscope of colors, but none of them showed his own reflection.
The emotions in her eyes were not because of him.
The music softened, and he took the opportunity to bring her closer.
What can she do to make him care about her even a little bit?
But he didn't dare disturb her distraction.
Only at moments like these would he dare to do so, so brazenly and almost humbly, to etch her image into his mind.
Yan Shuang suddenly staggered, and Lin Chengyu immediately tightened his arms around her.
She looked up as if waking from a dream, a hint of apology flashing in her eyes: "I'm sorry, I..."
"Tired?" His voice was low.
The music suddenly changed pitch, and Yan Shuang's gaze unconsciously went past Lin Chengyu's shoulder, through the swaying champagne tower and the clinking of glasses among the crowd.
In a daze, I seemed to see a familiar figure standing at the entrance of the banquet hall.
"Yan Shuang?" Lin Chengyu's voice came from afar.
She blinked sharply.
Looking again, all that could be seen were the flickering lights of the dance floor, and the crystal curtains being lifted and lowered by the draft.
"It's nothing." She snapped out of her reverie. "I'm going to the restroom."
"Okay." He finally let go of her.
Yan Shuang deliberately bypassed the main entrance of the banquet hall and walked along the corridor covered with rose petals towards the depths of the other side hall.
The night breeze, carrying the fragrance of flowers, finally allowed her to catch her breath.
A day of socializing had exhausted all her energy, and now she just wanted to escape this glitz and clamor.
Yan Shuang wandered aimlessly. Neatly trimmed shrubs lined both sides of the corridor, and the sound of a fountain could be faintly heard in the distance.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, a melodious piano tune drifted into my ears.
She stopped and listened intently.
It was the deep melody of the cello, flowing slowly like the night, interspersed with the light embellishments of the violin.
She recognized the piece; it was Anna Rossum's "The Planets," but the performer imbued it with a deeper tranquility, as if capable of soothing all restless emotions.
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