Chapter Thirty-Nine
The two exchanged a few greetings, but Huo Yuzheng didn't say much.
Mo Wansheng advised, "Get some rest early and don't stay up late."
The call finally ended, and Mo Wansheng breathed a sigh of relief.
She turned to look at He Zihang, her face full of apology.
"Sorry, something came up just now."
He Zihang simply shook his head, his expression remaining gentle.
"fine."
He took the hot cocoa he brought out of the paper bag and handed it to Mo Wansheng.
"The hot cocoa here is really good. I brought you a cup, please try it."
Mo Wansheng took the hot cocoa; the paper cup was still warm.
She took a small sip, and the rich, silky texture melted on her tongue; it was very sweet.
"Thank you. It's delicious."
He Zihang's lips curved into a smile, the twilight outside the window enveloping him.
He solemnly declared, "Welcome to Paris."
Mo Wansheng took the dinner off the food cart and placed it on the dining table in the suite.
"Since we've already prepared everything, let's not waste it."
The dinner that Huo Yuzheng had booked was indeed very lavish, with appetizers, main courses, and desserts all included, more than enough for two people.
He Zihang didn't stand on ceremony and naturally stepped forward to help set the table.
The two of them tacitly set out the food and sat facing each other across a small table covered with a white tablecloth.
This meal was much more relaxed.
Amidst the flickering candlelight and the aroma of delicious food, Mo Wansheng listened intently as He Zihang talked about Paris.
He doesn't just introduce the well-known tourist attractions.
Instead, it's about sharing the charm of the secondhand bookstalls along the Seine, the aroma wafting from a bakery in a back alley in the early morning, and those best angles for appreciating the rooftops of Paris that only locals know...
After finishing the last dessert, He Zihang looked out the window at the night.
He suggested, "How about we go sit in a nearby pub? It's still early, and it's very close by, only a five-minute walk."
Mo Wansheng agreed without hesitation.
She put on her coat and walked with He Zihang on the cobblestone streets of Paris.
The sky is a deep blue at this moment.
He Zihang slowed down the angle and walked side by side with Mo Wansheng.
He would occasionally point out the uneven parts of the road, showing great consideration.
“It’s that house up ahead.” He pointed to a small house under a warm light not far away.
Mo Wansheng quickened her pace, and He Zihang pushed open the heavy wooden door. The two of them walked into the tavern together.
A warm current, mingled with the aroma of wine and old wood, wafted in, while slow jazz music filled the room, and the guests chatted animatedly over drinks.
“Looks good.” Mo Wansheng smiled and sat down on the bar stool in front of the bar with He Zihang.
The boss seemed to know He Zihang well, and the two chatted happily in French.
He seemed pleasantly surprised by Mo Wansheng's arrival.
"What would you like to drink?" He Zihang turned to look at Mo Wansheng and gently pushed the wine list in front of her.
She thought for a moment and said seriously, "The alcohol content should be lower."
Seeing those fancy cocktails brought back a flood of memories of being drunk.
The last time I went to a bar with Huo Yuzheng, I was so confused that he kept emphasizing the bite mark for days.
Mo Wansheng thought it best to drink less, lest she mess up something important while she was out.
He Zihang nodded knowingly, without the slightest surprise or questioning.
He looked at the shopkeeper and said in fluent French, "Please give this lady a glass of Royal Kiel, and half the amount of blackcurrant liqueur."
After taking your order, he turned around and explained gently, "This has a low alcohol content and a sweet, fruity flavor. You should like it."
Mo Wansheng: "Thank you."
The drinks He Zihang ordered were delivered quickly.
The Royal Kiel in front of Mo Wansheng was an elegant rose-red color, with fine bubbles rising along the sides of the glass.
He ordered himself a glass of deep-colored Burgundy red wine, and the two clinked glasses lightly.
Mo Wansheng took a sip, and as he said, it was indeed sweet and refreshing.
She couldn't help but exclaim, "It tastes really good!"
He Zihang watched quietly as the joy sparkled in her eyes, and smiled along with her.
“Wansheng”.
"Hmm?" Mo Wansheng put down her wine glass and looked at him.
The dim light in the tavern outlined his clear profile, but she couldn't discern the emotions churning in his eyes.
He Zihang's voice remained gentle, "I heard from my classmates that you got married."
Mo Wansheng asked, puzzled, "Hmm, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing." He Zihang picked up his wine glass and swirled it gently.
"I just remembered that you told me in college that you probably wouldn't get married because you wouldn't meet someone you liked."
Mo Wansheng was slightly taken aback; she had indeed said that back in college.
However, that was a long time ago.
"Did you call today?"
Mo Wansheng nodded and took another sip of Royal Kiel.
She then added, "He brought dinner over."
He Zihang paused for a moment as he swirled the wine in his glass, looking down at the liquid rippling within.
The overhead lights shattered into an irreparable golden glow on the surface.
"Really?" He tried to keep his voice flat. "Then he's really thoughtful."
Do you like him?
Mo Wansheng did not give an answer immediately.
She rested her chin on her hand, watching the bar owner's smooth movements as he mixed drinks for other customers.
The shaker traced a clean arc in the air, the sound of ice cubes colliding crisp and distant.
Her gaze followed the movement, as if searching for an answer, or as if deliberately avoiding the questioner's gaze.
It's been more than three months.
It seems she doesn't want to leave Huo Yuzheng anymore.
When she landed in France, the first person who came to her mind was him.
Finally, Mo Wansheng turned to look at He Zihang.
Her eyes revealed her determination: "I think I should like it."
He Zihang looked into the unwavering determination in her eyes, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
He wanted to offer a blessing, but the muscles in his face wouldn't obey him.
In the end, he could only nod slightly, suppressing his surging emotions.
"That's good."
He picked up his wine glass, only to find it was empty.
So I put it down, my fingertips feeling slightly cool.
Mo Wansheng continued, "Actually, our marriage was initially an arranged marriage between our families."
"But he's doing well."
The words "family marriage" struck He Zihang's heart like a heavy hammer.
He suddenly looked up, staring at her in disbelief.
Under the dim light, the shock in his eyes was almost impossible to hide.
So it wasn't a romantic encounter, nor was it the kind of love that would change her life plans and make her feel like she couldn't live without him.
It was merely a marriage alliance.
In an instant, countless "what ifs" flooded his mind.
If only he had been braver back then, if only he hadn't thought there was still plenty of time, if only he had said those words before she graduated.
Would the outcome be different?
These thoughts grew wildly like weeds, almost breaking through the dam of his reason.
Mo Wansheng simply shared her thoughts: "After spending time with him, I found that he respects me a lot and knows how to take care of people. Life is much more peaceful than I imagined."
She took the last sip of the wine and said, "This wine tastes really good, thank you."
As she spoke, she didn't even notice the smile that never faded when she mentioned Huo Yuzheng.
That smile wasn't a deliberate display, but rather a genuine and natural expression from the heart.
But it is precisely this unconscious smile that is more lethal than any declaration.
He Zihang's gaze lingered on her slightly upturned lips, his heart gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
When he heard the words "arranged marriage," he thought she was just compromising and accepting her fate.
He even had a fleeting illusion that he might still have a chance.
But now, he understands.
Sometimes, love isn't always dramatic.
It's more likely to be hidden in the gentle flow of companionship, eventually transforming into a tenderness in the corner of one's eyes and brows when that person is mentioned, without even being aware of it.
He buried those hidden regrets in his heart forever.
"If you like it, that's good." He heard his own voice say, his tone surprisingly calm.
"Let me take you home, it's getting late."
On their way back, they retraced their steps.
The sound of shoes on the cobblestone path gently tapped at He Zihang's heart.
He didn't mention her or him again, but only talked about some interesting things that had happened during his years in France.
The Parisian night breeze, carrying the moisture from the Seine, gently caressed my face.
The roadside cafes were still lit with warm lights, and the faint sounds of laughter could be heard, but the liveliness belonged to others.
They walked side by side, with a polite and restrained distance between them.
Mo Wansheng occasionally echoed, a polite smile playing on her lips.
He Zihang recounted those stories, some humorous, some awkward.
They remain friends.
"Let's leave it here."
The two stopped at the hotel entrance. Mo Wansheng waved to him, "Thank you for the hospitality today. The wine was really good."
"By the way, I'll come to your shop the day after tomorrow to discuss the competition."
He Zihang nodded. "Okay, get some rest."
Mo Wansheng returned to her hotel suite, cheerfully.
Huo Yuzheng happened to send her a message. She estimated that it should be four o'clock in the morning in Jin City.
She opened the message.
"Mrs. Huo, I can't sleep."
Mo Wansheng couldn't help but laugh out loud; she really couldn't figure out why Huo Yuzheng couldn't sleep.
After all, his daily routine has always been regular.
She was teasing him on purpose.
"Didn't Mr. Huo used to sleep very well when he slept alone?"
The phone vibrated quickly.
"That was back then, when Mrs. Fok was still alive."
"So you're blaming me?"
She quietly walked to the French windows and took a picture of the Parisian night view.
He sent the photos to Huo Yuzheng.
Huo Yuzheng: "Yeah, I miss you."
Mo Wansheng was stunned when she saw the words. She seemed to have never seen him express his feelings so directly before.
Just as she was about to reply, her phone vibrated again.
Huo Yuzheng: "The night view of Paris is beautiful."
Mo Wansheng dialed a video call, which was answered almost instantly upon ringing.
On the screen, Huo Yuzheng leaned against the headboard, a hint of weariness in his eyes.
It looks like he didn't sleep all night.
But his features softened when he saw her.
Mo Wansheng asked softly, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Huo Yuzheng: "I'm waiting for you to say goodnight."
At four in the morning in Jinshi, he was waiting for her to say goodnight to him.
Good night, Mr. Huo, get some rest.
Huo Yuzheng smiled slightly. "Good night, Mrs. Huo."
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