Chapter 64 I miss you so much, and you miss me too, don't you...?
Chapter 64
Warm light filled the wooden building, and the faint scent of grass drifted in from outside. The natural environment made Xia Zhiyu feel comfortable, and before she knew it, only a thin layer of wine remained in the transparent glass bottle.
Alcohol and the environment gradually relaxed Xia Zhiyu's nerves, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. This was a one-sided conversation. In front of Jiang Zhiyan, Xia Zhiyu could easily pour out the emotions she had kept hidden deep in her heart.
As she spoke, she talked about the difficulties she encountered when seeking investment, the neurotic clients she had dealt with, and the several major crises that Yu Xia had faced.
"I remember the worst time was when you invested in me, right? More than five million."
Xia Zhiyu quietly raised her eyes to look at Jiang Zhiyan, her tone conveying a sense of certainty.
The man looked at her calmly and smiled, "It can't be considered an investment. How can it be considered an investment if you haven't even accepted it?"
The hazy smell of alcohol fermented in her body, and as she recalled the difficult years of the past, Xia Zhiyu couldn't help but feel her eyes welling up with tears. She joked:
"You actually came up with something, setting up a new company specifically to invest in me. I thought it was just pure luck that I stumbled upon a sucker. I almost couldn't resist the temptation and signed the contract."
"Then why wasn't it signed in the end?"
Xia Zhiyu had a very difficult time during that period. Even though two years have passed, Jiang Zhiyan still remembers how he sat in the living room all night after seeing Xia Zhiyu's current situation.
The ashtray was piled high with cigarette butts. He agonized over the memory of Xia Zhiyu humbly ingratiating herself with those investors he considered lowly, from bank loan managers to investment institutions.
Xia Zhiyu only knew that the industry was in a downturn during that period. Not only Yu Xia, but countless newly established self-media studios disappeared. It was because she refused to give up that she held her breath and tried every means to finally get government investment to support small and micro enterprises.
Little did she know that while she was busy running between bank lobbies and investment institutions with her proposal, Jiang Zhiyan was driving an inconspicuous Volkswagen, carefully accompanying her from behind.
He was afraid that Xia Zhiyu might collapse from lack of sleep or low blood sugar on the way, and he was also afraid that those unscrupulous investors might use some underhanded means to bully Xia Zhiyu.
He was even more afraid that Xia Zhiyu would find out that he had been there all along. He didn't want to see the disappointment and coldness in Xia Zhiyu's eyes, so he had no choice but to follow behind her alone without relying on any of his wealth or status.
"Because it suddenly started pouring rain that day, I didn't have an umbrella and I was sure I wouldn't get a bank loan, so I broke down and cried my eyes out in the rain. But just a few days after you suddenly appeared and took me home, a five million dollar windfall fell into my lap."
"Of course I can guess who's helping me, Zhiyan. I just can't accept help from you."
Her voice was soft, yet it sounded like a hammer blow.
The distinct fondant feathers showed slight signs of melting at the tips, and the animal-based buttercream, lacking support, had already begun to sag after only a short while. Jiang Zhiyan lowered his eyes, a feeling of helplessness and heartache rising in his heart.
Even in such difficult times?
The last drop of wine was poured into Xia Zhiyu's glass. She stared at the flowing crimson liquid, and the seed that had been hidden in her heart for so long suddenly broke through the soil, revealing its tender sprout.
"I don't want to go back to that position where I'm always inferior to you, and I don't want to be scolded by you in a cold tone. I can take anyone's money, but not yours."
It was as if an invisible fishing line suddenly appeared out of the air and gripped Jiang Zhiyan's neck, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Because I want to stand on equal footing with you, ideally so that I can see you standing next to me with just a turn of my head, wouldn't that be better?"
The short sentence sounded like a pardon, granting amnesty to a prisoner named Jiang Zhiyan.
In fact, Jiang Zhiyan is no different now than before. He still tries to protect Xia Zhiyu under his wings, like protecting a fragile seedling. Human nature will not change. The only thing that has changed is that he has been forced to learn to wait during these four years of continuous pain.
When Xia Zhiyu becomes more satisfying to herself.
Be patient, be even more patient.
Waiting for the roses to bloom, waiting for the mountain flowers to burst into bloom.
Xia Zhiyu was certain that she saw glistening liquid in Jiang Zhiyan's eyes for the second time.
He raised his glass to her, revealing a genuine smile.
The conversation went very well. Questions that were previously difficult to ask could now be asked easily over the years. Xia Zhiyu couldn't resist opening a second bottle of wine, and the two chatted and laughed for a long time.
It wasn't until Lele came panting with its tongue hanging out to find Xia Zhiyu that Xia Zhiyu remembered that the poor little dog had been playing all day, and even the usually energetic Golden Retriever was too tired to go home.
Jiang Zhiyan took the lead and took Lele's leash. "I'll drive you home. You've had a bit too much to drink, and I don't feel comfortable letting you take a taxi."
Xia Zhiyu raised an eyebrow at him, "You were supposed to come back with me anyway. I haven't given you your birthday present yet. You didn't think it was just a cake, did you?"
"Besides, if you don't drink and don't call a driver, aren't you just waiting to take me home?"
She bluntly pointed out Jiang Zhiyan's little scheme, but her eyes revealed a subtle hint of satisfaction.
Now almost thirty, Xia Zhiyu's perspective on things has completely changed. Before, she always felt that Jiang Zhiyan was not honest with her and always hid his true thoughts. But now, she only feels a little pleasure from Jiang Zhiyan's hypocritical behavior, as if he is being carefully flattered.
This is probably what they mean by the right timing.
Both of them were in a pretty good state. She was willing to start over with Jiang Zhiyan, and Jiang Zhiyan still had feelings for her. Everything seemed just right.
Thanks to the freeze-dried rabbit legs and the Golden Retriever's affectionate instincts, Lele really likes Jiang Zhiyan. After entering the house, Lele always wants Jiang Zhiyan to wipe its paws. Even after a bath, the paws of a large dog are still very smelly, but Jiang Zhiyan seems not to smell it and carefully sits on the stool in the entryway to wipe Lele's paws.
Just like the foot-washing maid who stubbornly tried to warm the emperor's bed.
Lele's four black paws are almost rubbed raw.
Xia Zhiyu was amused by her own thoughts.
She took a pair of gray men's slippers from the shoe cabinet for Jiang Zhiyan. Jiang Zhiyan stared at the shoes, his expression much worse than when Lele kicked him near the nose earlier.
Xia Zhiyu curled her lips into a smile, “My dad’s slippers.”
Jiang Zhiyan's complexion visibly improved.
“Ren Yu’s size is too small, so I bought him a larger pair.”
The person's expression darkened again within two seconds.
I must say, it's quite fun, like the face-changing performances in Sichuan and Chongqing.
Xia Zhiyu leaned against the porch, and the way she looked at Jiang Zhiyan was exactly the same as the way Xia Xiaojiang stared at him from the top of the cat tree.
The emperor treated them like servants.
Jiang Zhiyan patted Lele's bottom and said calmly, "Lift this foot up, and I'll put some more Vaseline on it for you."
Lele looked innocently at her mother with clear eyes. The puppy didn't understand why it had been lying in the entryway for so long.
Although the wooden floor isn't cold to lie on, the puppy has its own big, soft dog bed three meters ahead, unlike some people...
"How about," Jiang Zhiyan gazed at her with his deep eyes and tentatively asked, "I'll help you brush Xia Xiaojiang's fur again?"
Xia Xiaojiang glanced at Jiang Zhiyan with disdain, arrogantly raised its tail, and with a few graceful leaps, it appeared on the shelf nailed to the living room wall. It didn't even want to spare Jiang Zhiyan a glance, let alone groom it.
"No need," Xia Zhiyu refused decisively. "If you want to stay with me a little longer, just say so. You've practically plucked all the hair off my Lele's legs."
"Come sit in the living room for a while. Would you like something to drink? Water or juice?"
"Anything is fine, it depends on what you'd like to drink."
Jiang Zhiyan sat down on the sofa and quietly looked around. The room was filled with Xia Zhiyu's scent. There were paintings of Lele and Xia Xiaojiang that she had drawn on the wall. Her favorite soft ornaments were piled on the sofa. The pendant of the chandelier was in the shape of a white peony, reflecting a warm white light.
He could almost picture Xia Zhiyu lounging lazily on the single sofa he was sitting on, her long legs crossed on a footstool, Xia Xiaojiang nestled in her arms, Lele lying at her feet, her favorite movie playing on TV, and perhaps her favorite watermelon juice on the coffee table, just like it is now.
The setting sun or moonlight streamed through the French windows, kissing her slender, white ankles.
During the years they were separated, Jiang Zhiyan constantly wondered how Xia Zhiyu was living. He even bought an apartment in the same building when his longing reached its peak, right above Xia Zhiyu's apartment, hoping to bump into her by chance in the elevator.
But whenever he thought of Xia Zhiyu's resolute appearance when they parted, even the strongest feelings would be suppressed, simply because Xia Zhiyu said she wanted her own life.
Jiang Zhiyan was more eager than anyone for Xia Zhiyu to achieve success. He wanted to see Xia Zhiyu, to be alone with her, to chat with her, and to know how she had spent her time all these years.
The long-suppressed desire, once fulfilled, burst forth like a sharp needle piercing through lust. The shattered fragments, like fragmented reason, screamed within the body, yearning for kisses, craving entanglement, and a passionate embrace until dawn.
Desire and love intertwine and climb inch by inch.
Jiang Zhiyan swallowed hard, suppressing his raging, explosive desire.
Xia Zhiyu opened the refrigerator and took out the juice that her aunt had squeezed. The icy-cold juice caused a layer of condensation to form on the outside of the glass. She pushed another glass in front of Jiang Zhiyan.
She parted her red lips slightly, "So you're pursuing me again now?"
"If you want," Jiang Zhiyan said gently, a chill creeping up his fingertips, "we can also skip this step and get back together directly."
"I've missed you so much all these years. Do you ever think of me at some point?"
The young man, who had become increasingly handsome and charming with the passing years, looked up at her with a slight smile, but his eyes held a compelling affection.
The air suddenly became still. Xia Zhiyu gripped the water glass tightly, somewhat at a loss, her red lips slightly parted, her expression one of astonishment.
Of course she had thought about Jiang Zhiyan, how could she not? The person she had loved wholeheartedly for so many years occupied almost every night when Xia Zhiyu was comforting herself.
The subtle expression that Xia Zhiyu unconsciously revealed in her eyes gave Jiang Zhiyan great affirmation.
The young man looked at Xia Zhiyu with polite manners, like a cunning fox finally revealing its tempting tail.
"May I kiss you, Fishy?"
The familiar inquiry carried an emphasis of longing.
Before she could get a reply, she looked up, their eyes met, and his hot palm pressed against the back of her neck. He moved across the coffee table, their lips and tongues entwined in a passionate kiss.
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Author's note: I'll definitely be able to eat it tomorrow!
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