Chapter 44 Exclusive Release Chapter 44 "Safe Journey, W..."
The warm and inviting study felt strangely chilly.
Capitalists' methods have always been astonishing.
This is a high-stakes gamble. And the house seems to have set the rules in a way that is extremely advantageous to them.
“You can also choose not to sign, Ms. Wynne. There are other ways to move the Casanova project forward.”
Yuan Ning slowly shook her head: "No, I want to sign, Elias. Adventure is in my nature. Besides, I've already pushed things this far, I can't let it go."
Elias leaned back slightly and raised an eyebrow very subtly.
“Whatever,” he uttered, his tone unreadable—whether it was approval, sarcasm, or nothing at all—“Then sign it.”
He pushed the documents and his pen toward her.
Yuan Ning took a deep breath, walked to her desk, and picked up the heavy Montblanc fountain pen.
She bent down and, using the smooth mahogany tabletop, carefully wrote her name in the designated signature area for the second party:
Wynne Meng
Next to it is her Chinese name: Meng Yuanning.
After signing, she straightened up, gently placed the pen back in its original position, and then pushed the agreement with her signature to the center of the desk.
Elias's gaze lingered on her signature for about two seconds. Then, he reached for his pen, unscrewed the cap, and neatly signed his name in the client's signature section:
Elias van der Berg
The agreement was in duplicate. He pushed one copy in front of her. "Yours."
Yuan Ning accepted the agreement and sincerely thanked him: "No matter what, thank you for helping me this time, Elias."
Elias gazed at her silently, his icy blue eyes unfathomable. After a long pause, he spoke slowly, his voice low but each word clear:
“Wynne, this is the path you chose.”
Theodora appeared in the study doorway, carrying a stack of caramel cookies. The cookies were baked to perfection, their edges gleaming an enticing golden brown. The warm, sweet aroma of butter and caramel filled the air, a stark contrast to the atmosphere already permeating the study.
"Looks like the important business is over?"
She seemed completely oblivious to the atmosphere in the room, her face bearing her usual gentle smile: "Would you like some cookies, Wynne?"
Elias gestured for his mother to come in, and she entered gracefully, placing a delicate porcelain dish on the corner of the desk.
"Thank you, Theodora." Yuan Ning immediately adjusted her expression and put on a polite smile.
"The weather outside doesn't seem too good. Charles just said that it's foggy on the east side of the river, and it might not be safe to drive back at night."
She turned to Yuan Ning, "You look like you need something hot to eat."
Yuan Ning pursed her lips; her face was indeed pale.
"Thank you for your concern, Theodora, but I'm fine."
Theodora asked her to sit down, where there was black tea and biscuits, a perfect setting for the three of them to have a simple chat.
"Martha already told me about the dress. When are you planning to leave?"
Yuan Ning picked up the bone china teacup, using the rising steam to conceal her unease.
"If all goes well, I'd like to set off within three days. There's not much going on at the academy lately, and the expert friends I've contacted in China say we can start working anytime. I want it to be as soon as possible."
Theodora nodded thoughtfully, as if recalling something: "The Viscount has collected several pieces of Song Dynasty porcelain from China. The purity and restraint of their aesthetics still fascinate me. I would like to visit China sometime in the future."
"Of course. Especially Dunhuang. One of the core inspirations for this restoration plan comes from the combined use of mineral pigments and plant dyes in Tang Dynasty murals."
Elias didn't touch the tea or snacks. He sat in the armchair with his long legs crossed, appearing relaxed.
“That sounds interesting.” Theodora smiled approvingly, then put down her teacup and rose gracefully. “The air in the study is a bit stuffy. How about we move to the greenhouse? Charles just finished tending to it today, and a few of the winter orchids are in full bloom. We can also try the elderflower wine I made last year.”
Theodora was extremely skilled at controlling the rhythm. Yuan Ning had no idea whether the weather outside was as bad as she said, but her body was already moving according to Theodora's instructions.
The greenhouse, located in the east wing of the mansion, stands in stark contrast to the somber, classical atmosphere of the study.
The enormous arched glass dome frames the night sky like a deep blue canvas, while the interior is warm and spring-like, filled with the fragrance of earth, green leaves, and various flowers.
The tall fiddle-leaf fig and the uniquely shaped monstera cast swaying shadows under the soft light, but the most eye-catching are the several pots of blooming winter orchids on the white stone flower stand in the corner, their petals pure white and translucent, emitting a delicate fragrance.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Theodora gestured for them to sit on the wicker chairs. Dorotha appeared silently, removed the black tea, and replaced it with small crystal wine glasses and a bottle of golden sweet wine. “Life blooms most quietly in the cold.”
Yuan Ning's gaze was drawn to the orchids, and her tense nerves found a moment of relief in this vibrant tranquility. She murmured, "Yes, there is a kind of...unyielding elegance."
Elias poured himself a small glass of sweet wine, but didn't drink it. Instead, he slowly turned the stem of the glass, his gaze sweeping over the orchids before finally settling on the blurry starry sky outside the glass dome. He seemed to be listening, yet also seemed lost in thought.
The conversation continued, guided by Theodora, with Yuan Ning answering quietly, while Elias remained silent throughout.
The conversation moved from orchid varieties to the Van der Berg family’s greenhouse project in the Netherlands, and then glided to the upcoming Metropolitan Museum of Art charity gala in New York.
Theodora even inquired about the recent situation of Yuan Ning's mother, Qiao Yiya, in a casual tone, as if she were greeting an old friend.
"When you get back, please remember to give my regards to your mother."
“Okay, Theodora.”
The atmosphere seemed to gradually become more harmonious, even creating a false sense of ease.
Every time Yuan Ning looked at Elias, his deliberate avoidance made her feel a little embarrassed.
He was lost in thought the whole time, and it's unclear how much of the information Theodora gleaned from her was actually taken in.
Theodora suddenly turned to Elias: "Elijas, can you be a gentleman?"
Yuan Ning was somewhat puzzled; she didn't know what Theodora was accusing Elias of.
Theodora's gaze was sharp, the unspoken message being, "Your performance is almost suffocating for the girl."
Elias suddenly put down his wine glass, looked at no one, and walked straight to the other end of the greenhouse.
Half-hidden by several lush green ivy vines, a well-maintained classical grand piano was visible. Its body was a warm walnut color, resembling a silent, old dream nestled among the plants.
Elias sat down on the piano bench, opened the piano lid, and sat silently for a few seconds.
Then raise your hand.
Yuan Ning's gaze once again drifted uncontrollably toward Elias.
At that moment, he resembled a prince, a true prince.
But he was also like a meticulously sculpted marble statue, excessively cold and hard.
The information Theodora gleaned from her about her itinerary, China, and even her family's current situation seemed to merely pass through the warm air beside him, failing to stir even a spark in his icy blue eyes.
The sour and astringent sensation is like the aftertaste of elderflower liqueur; it is initially sweet, but then a stubborn, slightly stinging emptiness rises deep in the throat.
She clutched the soft tassels of the thin blanket on her lap.
The moment the fingers touched the strings, a prelude from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier flowed out.
Theodora sighed softly, almost imperceptibly.
This is an exceptionally simple, clean, and even somewhat monotonous melody.
The music continued, stubbornly, over and over again, as if it would play for eternity, sealing all the unspoken emotions of the night within these seemingly flawless, cold notes.
At 10 p.m., Yuan Ning got up to say goodbye.
Theodora's claim that the weather was bad was clearly a lie.
But she was still grateful that Theodora had made it a decent night for her in this way:
The two people never cross paths, yet their paths are subtly intertwined.
She knew he was listening to what she was saying to Theodora, and she was also listening to his music.
Yuan Ning walked to the door of the greenhouse: "Theodora, thank you for the cookies and wine."
"Wynne, I wish you all the best."
The two ladies gave each other a polite hug.
Elias stopped pressing the piano keys.
"Goodnight, Elias." Yuan Ning nodded slightly in that direction.
Elias slowly stood up and walked a short distance behind her.
"good evening."
Their clothes never touched, their breaths never mingled, yet in the half-second of passing each other, a handover was perhaps completed.
All the chaotic passions, tender illusions, and false masks of the past are temporarily sealed here.
"Have a safe journey, Wynne." Theodora stopped on the steps.
Yuan Ning took a deep breath of the crisp winter night air, turned around, and gave Theodora a genuine smile, one that had shed all pretense: "Thank you, Theodora. For everything tonight."
She got into the driver's seat and closed the door. The low rumble of the starting engine shut out the tranquility of the mansion.
She glanced one last time in the rearview mirror. Theodora turned back from the porch, and further in, Elias was still standing there, indistinct like a shadow, but soon she could see nothing at all.
The car slowly drove down the slope and merged into the quiet night scene of Willow Street.
The road ahead stretched out under the headlights, clear and cold.
She stepped on the gas, and there were things in the ashes of this end, things that even she herself couldn't clearly see the shape of.
The next morning, Yuan Ning emailed Marta to arrange a meeting with Mrs. Olivia, and then, carrying the guarantee agreement signed by Elias van der Berg, successfully obtained the precious dress from Olivia's house.
“Although I can’t trust you yet, since Elias van der Berg is willing to vouch for you, I can give you this opportunity. If you can really fix it, little girl, I will give you what you want.”
After receiving the dress that was carefully wrapped in a special dust cover, Yuan Ning did not immediately immerse herself in the joy of success.
On the contrary, she felt a real increase in weight on her shoulders.
This dress, which carries the emotions and history of two generations, is now physically under her care.
Yuan Ning called her mother to tell her that she would be returning to China for a while.
Qiao Yiya was overjoyed. She hadn't seen her daughter in a long time and had no idea how her daughter had been doing alone in New York City.
But Yuan Ning could tell from the phone call that her mother had completely adapted to life in her hometown of Nancheng.
"Nini, what time is your flight? Mommy will come pick you up!"
"I'll arrive in the capital the day after tomorrow afternoon, then transfer to Dunhuang. I won't be going back to Nancheng for now, Mom. I'll find a chance to come back and see you after I've settled in there."
As Yuan Ning spoke, she subconsciously tucked her phone between her shoulder and ear, freeing her hand to check the suitcase lock.
According to Gao Ran, the entire restoration work may last one to two months. Yuan Ning has not returned to China for the Chinese New Year for many years, and her mother may need her company this year.
She thought she might as well put everything here aside, go back to China to have a proper New Year, and visit her grandparents.
As for her other home... she didn't know.
She stored all the valuables in her home, including the brooch, in a safe.
Finally, she met with Eleanor: "I'm going back to my country for a while. If anything happens at the college after the semester starts, please contact me anytime."
Although Eleanor was very reluctant to part with her best friend, she also knew that returning home was an inevitable part of her life.
Finally, Yuan Ning and Richard completed the handover of their work as Elias's dressing consultant.
Richard told her that he would hire a new dress consultant to replace her during this time, and Yuan Ning expressed her understanding.
In any case, this job helped her get through the most difficult period of her life.
“Ms. Wynne, if you are still interested in this job after you come back, you are welcome to return at any time.”
Yuan Ning declined, saying, "I have graduation matters to attend to and new work to handle. Richard, thank you for your help."
"Understood."
Richard's responses, like his boss's, were always concise and devoid of unnecessary emotion.
After hanging up the phone, Yuan Ning stood in her apartment for a while. Outside the window, the endless stream of cars and lights of New York City stretched out before her.
She was supposed to go back to repair an expensive dress that could bring her endless profits, but she kept feeling like she was about to go to another world.
She zipped up the last suitcase and locked it. Only two suitcases and a backpack remained in the living room.
Unbridled ambition, emotional entanglements, and the rules of high society are now all left behind.
On the day of takeoff, she arrived at the airport early, wearing comfortable flat shoes and clothes that allowed her to move around freely.
After settling into her seat in first class, she put on a silk eye mask, ordered a glass of warm water, and as the powerful push pressed her into the back of the chair, a distant memory suddenly flashed through her mind.
She misses her mother very much.
Richard did not leave the study immediately after ending his call with Miss Wynne.
He stood before the heavy mahogany desk, quietly awaiting the next instruction.
Elias van der Berger sat behind his desk, with not a quarterly financial report or merger and acquisition documents spread out in front of him, but a catalog of ruby tiaras from Christie's auction house.
His gaze lingered on the page, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the smooth paper surface, yet his icy blue eyes were empty, as if piercing through the picture book and looking at some non-existent focal point.
"Is everything handed over?" Elias finally spoke, his voice lower than usual and his speech slower, as if confirming a trivial detail.
“Yes, boss.” Richard bowed slightly. “Ms. Wynne has organized and filed the work logs, client travel preferences, and the wardrobe’s digital coding system very clearly. The headhunter has recommended three new consultants, and their information has been sent to your email.”
"Aside from that, Ms. Wynne only explained the work-related matters and apologized for the inconvenience caused by the temporary handover. She declined the invitation to continue working together in the future, citing graduation matters and new work arrangements."
The air was silent for a few seconds. Elias gently closed the catalog and pushed it aside, as if he had finally lost interest in the illusory light and shadow in the water.
He leaned back in his high-backed chair, raised his hand to rub his temples—a rare gesture that revealed a hint of fatigue.
Richard continued his report: "China Eastern Airlines MU588, a Boeing 747, is a direct flight from Kennedy to the capital of China. It took off at 9:05 a.m. local time."
Richard's answer was accurate to the minute; that was his professionalism.
Elias remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "It's nothing, Richard." His voice regained its usual calm. "You decide on the new consultant."
"Okay, boss."
The massive Boeing 747, with a deafening roar, slowly landed on the concrete runway of Beijing Capital International Airport.
The aircraft was shaking, and the captain's announcement in both Chinese and English, accompanied by static, came over the intercom.
Yuan Ning lifted her blindfold and looked out the window at the sky, typical of a winter in North China, shrouded in a layer of gray-yellow mist, and the slightly dilapidated outline of the airport terminal in the distance.
The cabin door opened, and a unique smell, a mixture of coal smoke, dust, and cold air, rushed in. Yuan Ning instinctively pulled her cashmere coat tighter around herself.
The sound of suitcase wheels rolling on the ground brought by returning travelers, the relaxed conversations in various regional accents as they returned to familiar surroundings, and the faint sounds of construction machinery in the distance.
Yuan Ning carefully protected her suitcase, trying to stand in a less crowded corner.
After passing through customs and the last glass door, the true "domestic atmosphere" hit you right in the face.
The arrival hall was bustling with people and filled with noise.
People holding up various signs to pick up people, shouting the names of their relatives and friends, crowding in front of public phone booths to make phone calls, and vendors selling plastic toys and snacks weaving through the crowd.
A cacophony of smells filled the air: the stench of human sweat, cigarette smoke, cheap leather, and car exhaust drifting in from the doorway. The lighting was dim, and the high ceiling made the space feel somewhat empty and cluttered.
Yuan Ning pushed the cart, feeling somewhat lost. She needed to transfer to a domestic flight to Dunhuang.
In 2001, she landed in the capital and was able to clearly perceive the gap between her motherland and the outside world.
She felt very uncomfortable, and frowned as she walked on the not-quite-clean ground.
She's been gone for far too long.
She belatedly realized that Meng Qianyue's decision to send her away at such a young age was a complete exile.
In other words, she was not capable of surviving in this place.
It wasn't just that she couldn't adapt to the environment; her habits, friends, and way of doing things were all Western.
It's not her fault.
The facilities in the domestic transit area are even more basic.
The queue at the check-in counter was crooked and the flight information on the electronic display screen flickered intermittently, with the font being a dot-matrix green.
The female voice on the loudspeaker spoke clearly and distinctly, but the tone was shrill, repeatedly broadcasting flight information and warnings that "flammable and explosive materials are strictly prohibited."
She found the check-in counter for her flight, completed the procedures, and checked in her large suitcase.
During the security check, the aluminum case once again attracted attention, leading to another explanation and inspection. The inspection was conducted by a designated person in a specific room, and fortunately, all the documents were complete.
She felt somewhat helpless and couldn't help but reminisce about the trips she had taken on Elias's private jet.
And that man.
With him by her side, it seemed he would never let her get into such a terrible situation.
Entering the waiting area, the environment was relatively better, but it was still noisy.
She asked the staff where the first-class waiting area was.
The other party told her that there was no first class, only business class, and no dedicated lounge.
She accepted and found a seat near the boarding gate.
On the opposite wall, there were posters promoting the "Western Development Strategy." Some passengers were flipping through "Reader" or "Zhiyin" magazines, while others were talking loudly on their Motorola flip phones, which were still considered fashionable at the time.
Boarding has finally begun.
Business class seats are separated from economy class seats by only a curtain, and the seats are only slightly wider and have a wider pitch.
She took out the restoration plan faxed to her by Gao Ran and the materials from the Dunhuang Academy, trying to immerse herself in the work.
It was afternoon when the plane landed at Dunhuang Airport. The airport here is much smaller, almost rudimentary.
She hadn't even had time to get used to the capital city before she suddenly landed in the Gobi Desert from the skyscrapers of New York.
Stepping out of the cabin, the dry, cold wind carrying sand across the unobstructed northwestern Gobi Desert completely jolted her awake from her dazed state of being on the journey.
At the exit, a young man wearing an old dark blue down jacket, his cheeks reddened by the wind, held up a sign with messy handwriting on what looked like cardboard just torn from a box: [Meet Meng Yuanning].
The moment Yuan Ning saw him, she almost wanted to turn back.
"Are you Professor Meng Yuanning? I am Professor Gao's student, my name is Li Hang."
Li Hang wore glasses, his cheeks were chapped and red, and his lips were dry and chapped.
He wore a faded dark blue down jacket, the cuffs and collar worn smooth, paired with bulky army green cotton trousers and a pair of old, dusty canvas shoes. He looked no more than twenty-five years old and was already pursuing a doctorate.
"I am Meng Yuanning." Yuanning composed herself. "Thank you for your help."
Li Hang visibly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately stepped forward to take the suitcase from her hands.
"Professor Gao has an urgent meeting at the institute this afternoon and can't leave, so he asked me to pick you up. The car is outside, I'll get it, it's heavy." He moved quickly, thinking to himself, this is a distinguished guest who may donate 1 million RMB to the institute in the future.
Now, not only him, but many people in the institute have been called in to work on this project.
"Thank you." Yuan Ning let go, watching her Rimowa suitcase make an uneven scraping sound on the rough cement floor.
They walked out of the low-ceilinged arrival hall, which was actually a larger room with half of the walls painted green and the floor made of cement.
As soon as you step outside, the true atmosphere of the Gobi Desert hits you.
Before me was a parking lot made of compacted sand, with a few jeeps, minivans and tractors scattered around, covered in mud and dust.
Li Hang pointed to a Jeep parked next to the parking lot, its paint peeling so badly that its original color was almost unrecognizable.
"That one, teacher, we need to hurry, the wind is about to get stronger."
Yuan Ning wrapped her MaxMara coat tighter around herself, took out her Loro Piana cashmere scarf and wrapped it around her to protect her face and neck.
When Yuan Ning got into the car, it was even older than she had imagined.
When Li Hang helped her close the car door, it made a loud bang, which startled her.
The seats are made of cotton cushions with peony patterns, which have been worn black.
Yuan Ning took a few deep breaths and ultimately resisted the urge to turn back.
She'd already lived in cheap rentals in Williamsburg, so what else couldn't she accept?
Li Hang struggled to start the engine several times before it finally emitted a reluctant, sputtering sound, causing the vehicle to shake violently. He skillfully shifted gears, and the jeep lurched forward, driving onto a bumpy asphalt road.
Yuan Ning kept looking at the sparse poplar trees on both sides of the road, their branches bare, swaying wildly in the wind like demonic claws.
The sky was high and the land was vast, yet there was a compelling sense of desolation and silence.
"Professor Gao asked me to take you directly to the institute's guesthouse. The conditions may be rather basic, but it's close to your studio and safe."
Li Hang shouted as he tried to keep the steering wheel steady.
"You've come back from abroad, so you might not be used to it. Winters here are like this, with strong winds and sandstorms, and it's very dry."
Yuan Ning nodded without saying anything. She really wasn't used to it.
Even in her most disheveled moments in New York, she knew how to maintain a respectable facade, knowing that around the next corner might lie cafes, boutiques, taxis, and familiar rules.
But here, all the sophistication and pretense are brutally stripped away by the raging wind and the desolate wilderness. The people here don't recognize the designer brands she wears, so everything about her loses its value.
She was no different from any other woman here; for the rest of the time, all she needed to worry about was having enough to eat and wear.
My phone suddenly popped up with a message from Eleanor that had been there for several hours.
"Honey, are we safe now?"
Yuan Ning replied to the text message immediately, but the message took a long time to forward.
Li Hang glanced at her and told her, "If you want to make a call or send a message, do it now. Once you're completely out of the city, you'll only be able to receive domestic signals intermittently. If you want to receive international text messages, it will be absolutely impossible."
Yuan Ning opened her mouth, holding her phone, speechless for a moment, unsure of what to do.
This was something she hadn't expected.
"In other words, I may no longer be receiving many messages."
"Of course."
As the jeep drove into the deserted area, Yuan Ning gripped her phone tightly, pondering who she should send the final text message to.
She felt she might have missed Elias's text message; Elias knew all the details of her flight, and it was impossible for him not to ask her.
But her text message list was empty.
However, Elias might not ask her at all; he's angry with her now, and might even hate her.
Who knows?
But she came to such a remote place all by herself, how could he not ask her?
The signal bars were down to a meager one or two, but they were still stubbornly beating.
A sour feeling welled up in her throat again. She stared at the blank text message screen, hoping to see more messages.
She deleted and typed again, typed again and deleted again.
Just as Li Hang finally reminded her, the jeep jolted again.
The signal bars have completely disappeared.
All that remained on the screen were the three cold Chinese characters "No Service".
Just then, a new message popped up in the text message list, as if it had struggled to get in.
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