Chapter 78
As the plane landed and taxied, Lin Langyi asked her companions how they were going to get back.
Yuan Yinghe had already turned his phone back on. After checking the unread messages from the flight, he said, "Brother Yu said he called a driver to pick us up."
Lin Langyi blinked, pulled her head back, and opened her phone. Sure enough, she saw a message from Yuan Chuyu. His tone was as businesslike and official as ever. He listed the license plate numbers of several cars and asked for her friend's address.
Lin Langyi sent Hang Qian's address, and the other party quickly replied that they had received it.
After collecting their luggage, the group went to the agreed-upon terminal exit to wait. Yuan Fei and her brother boarded first, followed by Hang Qian's pick-up car.
The driver warmly got out of the driver's seat to help her put her luggage in the trunk, and asked a few times, "Are you Ms. Lin's friend?" Hang Qian nodded and said yes. The driver confirmed the location and the person, and then left immediately.
Before leaving, Hang Qian asked Lin Langyi, "Lin Langyi, I'm leaving now. Has your car arrived yet?"
Lin Langyi glanced back a few times, then looked down at the messages on her phone, before squinting and gazing into the distance to confirm, "It seems we've arrived."
Hang Qian was relieved and got into the back seat, waving at her with a smile: "Okay, I'll go first then, I'll tell you when I get home."
"Okay." After saying goodbye to her, Lin Langyi walked towards the car. The driver recognized her, flashed the headlights, turned on the hazard lights, and pulled over. As soon as she stopped, she opened the trunk.
Lin Langyi went straight to the back of the car. When the trunk was fully opened, just as she was about to lift the suitcase, the suitcase that was placed next to her was suddenly lifted up and gently placed flat in the back.
"Thank you, Si—" Lin Langyi's words changed as she recognized the person, "You're here too?!"
Yuan Chuyu put several suitcases into the trunk, raised his arm to press the close button, and looked down at her: "I also need to go to a neighboring city for a short business trip, so we can come to the airport together."
That's what he said, but after Lin Langyi got into the car, he calmly opened the back door, took a long stride, and sat down politely before closing the door.
He expertly gave the driver the address, and the vehicle glided directly into the lane.
Lin Langyi: "...Didn't you come to the airport 'on the way'?"
"Hmm, but it's still early." Yuan Chuyu raised his hand slightly, glanced at his watch, and then let his arm hang down naturally beside his legs. "Waiting at the airport is pointless. I'll take you home before I leave."
Lin Langyi: ?
Upon arriving at Dingpu Residential Area, the driver left the engine running and waited in the parking space. Yuan Chuyu unloaded all her luggage and accompanied her upstairs.
"Did you have fun?" In the elevator, his wrist was casually resting on the handrail as he turned to look at her. "I saw you took a lot of beautiful photos; the scenery was gorgeous."
"It was taken by Cheng Yanjin; he's quite skilled."
Yuan Chuyu nodded, his tone flat: "Yes, I also took many photos with him."
Lin Langyi chuckled and teased him, "How is it? Does it look good?"
Yuan Chuyu's gaze was fixed on her face. He slightly raised his wrist and tapped his index finger on the suitcase handle. His tone was full of emotion, not impartiality: "It doesn't look as good as a solo photo. It's too crowded."
His tone was flat and even when he made his comments, as if he were just pointing out a flaw in a financial statement: "Hemu is such an open place, it's perfect for taking personal portraits. If you like going there, you can go more often in the future."
With that noble and serene face, he spoke words of jealousy, both openly and subtly. Lin Langyi laughed incessantly. The elevator arrived with a "ding," and she stepped out empty-handed, her suitcase wheels tumbling behind her as she entered her home.
"Are you hungry?" Yuan Chuyu asked as he entered the room, closing the door behind him and putting down his suitcase and bag before changing his shoes and walking inside. "Did you enjoy the airplane food for lunch?"
"Business meals are all like this." Even though it was first class, it got the same after eating it so many times. Lin Langyi rubbed her stomach. "It's fine if you don't ask, but now that you do, I feel hungry."
He didn't say anything. He knew every corner of the house like the back of his hand. He opened the refrigerator, checked the food supplies, took out a bag of grapes, and went to the kitchen to wash them with baking soda. While they were soaking, he turned around, leaned back slightly, and rested his right hand on the bar counter, asking her, "Did you bring me any souvenirs?"
Lin Langyi blinked: "Turn it yourself."
He meant it as a joke, but upon hearing this, he raised an eyebrow slightly, got up, laid the suitcase on the ground, and checked again before opening it: "I really opened it?"
"Yes, it's inside."
He unzipped the bag, revealing a small, open pouch at the top, like one of those pink plastic bags from a two-dollar store. He turned to her to confirm, and saw her sitting with her legs apart, back to him, hugging the back of the chair and swaying back and forth, grinning smugly at him. He knew then that was it.
Inside were two small, transparent bottles with metal chains attached, their mouths sealed with corks. One bottle was empty, while the other was half-filled with water.
Yuan Chuyu turned his head: ?
Lin Langyi leaned her head back in the chair and smiled at him, her eyes crinkling: "There's snow in a bottle."
He paused, his eyes sincere: "But it melted."
"The other one is the fresh air from the Tianshan Mountains; you can smell it as soon as you pull out the plug."
Yuan Chuyu squeezed the two bottles together in his palm. The bottles were icy cold, and the chain was rough on his hand. He tried to put on a stern face and pretend to be angry, but as soon as he lifted his eyelids and saw her bright eyes, he lost his composure. He couldn't even last half a second before turning his face away, putting the back of his hand to his lips, and chuckling to himself.
Lin Langyi felt incredibly romantic and pointed to the suitcase, saying, "There are a few more bags at the bottom, containing sand from the Kumtag Desert, rock sand from Baisha Lake, dried birch branches from Qiongkushitai, pine cones from the Xiatu Ancient Road, and a complete set of refrigerator magnets as souvenirs. Oh, don't take them, those aren't for you. The pink bag is for you."
"Isn't it romantic? Pink! I chose this color especially for you. I originally wanted to collect all sorts of colorful, oddly shaped stones to make a mosaic, but I heard that you can't just pick up stones randomly because they might be radioactive."
She clapped her hands as if telling a story, frowned, and exaggeratedly said, "I thought, how can that be? We can't do without President Yuan even if Ying Yuan is gone! So I gave up on this idea immediately."
She took out her phone and sent him a few photos of herself hand-painting stones in a jade shop. She considered it a gift as long as he saw them. She used a whole set of sweet words to coax and deceive him: "When I was painting and coloring, I kept silently reciting your name in my heart. It's a small gift but a big token of my affection. I'm just giving you a sprig of spring."
Yuan Chuyu's phone rang repeatedly. He sat on the ground, one leg crossed and the other propped up, leisurely watching her lively expression, the smile on his lips never fading.
He looked through the photos of the great artist Lin that she had sent him. The rich and vibrant colors made her look as if she were covered with the atmosphere of an oil painting, which was particularly eye-catching.
The filming is really good.
He saved them one by one, and when he flipped to a close-up of a painted stone artwork in the middle, his finger paused. He then noticed that on the stone that Lin Langyi had described as being painted while thinking of him, there was a character "Cheng" written with a fine brush.
He stopped in his tracks and remained motionless in the photo.
I know she talks a lot of nonsense, but isn't it a bit too much of a con artist to use a gift she gave to someone else as an excuse?
Could this stone still be in Cheng Yanjin's pocket?
Yuan Chuyu, who had just thought the stone was a masterpiece of art, now looked at it critically and felt it was beneath him. What good could it be for Cheng Yanjin? It wasn't even as good as the gift he received himself. She went there for the snow, and brought him back snow too; it was clear they were on the same wavelength.
As for stones, there's nowhere you can't pick up stones.
Moreover, putting herself in his shoes, Lin Langyi sent him this photo, which means she didn't remember writing the character "Cheng" on the stone at all. It seems she didn't care much about Cheng Yanjin either, otherwise she wouldn't have made such a careless mistake.
Comparing the two, Yuan Zong logically and well-foundedly concluded that he had the upper hand by receiving the empty bottle.
Yuan Chuyu casually clicked on the close-up photo of the painted stone, knowing full well that Cheng Yanjin must have included his own personal touches. So he decisively deleted the photo and continued to scroll down to save the photos of Lin Langyi's paintings one by one.
His phone won't have photos of the two of them together, or photos of broken stones, but it can have all sorts of beautiful and happy photos of her, the more the better.
After Yuan Chuyu finished doing all that, he went to drain and wash the soaked grapes.
While plating, his good mood was frequently interrupted by strange feelings. Several times he turned around and looked around with an inscrutable expression. When he turned back, the familiar yet eerie feeling lingered around him for some reason.
It made him feel like an insect in a petri dish under a microscope.
Just like when I was a child, I felt like I was being watched by several pairs of eyes hidden in the background.
Yuan Chuyu lowered his eyes, washed the grapes one last time, turned off the tap, and glanced thoughtfully at the cabinet.
Lin Langyi went crazy while having fun, but only after returning home did she experience the aftereffects of the trip, feeling so tired that she just wanted to lie in bed like a corpse.
Yuan Chuyu placed the fruit plate in front of her, and she lay down on the table and ate grapes one after another.
She spat out the grape skins: "Oh, right, there are also local specialties to eat, sent back by express delivery. I'll share some with you when they arrive."
"Hmm." After finishing his errands, Yuan Chuyu took out two tissues, slowly wiped his hands, and returned to the dining table to talk to her. "I've been out of town for the past two days and won't be back until the day after tomorrow."
Lin Langyi popped another grape into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out, distracted by what he was saying.
“But I’ll still be earlier than Cheng Yanjin.” He leaned against the table, looked down at her with tender eyes as she noticed a small piece of grape skin on her lips. He gently rubbed it away with his hand, and said softly, “I came to see you as soon as I got back, and brought you a gift.”
His fingertips tickled her lips, as if brushed by a feather.
Lin Langyi rubbed her chin with her knuckles: "How do you know better than I do when my fiancé will be back?"
"Because we're not qualified to travel together, I can only secretly save the photos I like by using other methods." He sighed softly, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have anything left."
His phone beeped, urging him to leave before it was too late. Yuan Chuyu had no choice but to say a few more words to her before turning to walk towards the entrance and suddenly frowning.
For no apparent reason, he turned his head and moved his shoulders slightly, then glanced at the wall in the living room.
Lin Langyi was still peeling grapes, not looking up. When he stopped, she took a moment to say goodbye: "I won't see you off. Take care on your journey."
Yuan Chuyu pulled his thoughts away from his vague intuition, his gaze fell on her face, his expression softened, and he said, "Okay, I'm leaving."
The door closed, but Yuan Chuyu didn't move. He stood there, his right hand on his bow tie, adjusting its position slowly.
He could have gone into the elevator, where the reflections of people could be seen, to tidy himself up, but instead he stood outside the door adjusting himself for a long time.
Before leaving, he raised his face and glanced at the door frame almost imperceptibly.
*
Yuan Chuyu returned earlier than expected. His flight was supposed to arrive in City A in the afternoon, but he worked overtime last night to finish his work and flew back early this morning.
It was the weekend, and Lin Langyi was able to sleep in late, so he didn't bother her. He figured it was almost noon before sending her a message.
Lin Langyi didn't even get out of bed. Since Yuan Chuyu knew the password for the electronic lock anyway, she replied "I'm awake," indicating that he could open the door himself if he wanted to come.
He brought her a set of expensive jewelry from the auction and bought a lot of fresh dishes, and the two of them enjoyed a meal cooked by him at home.
On the coffee table in the living room is a small pot of amethyst and rose quartz crystal tree, with many extra small mineral stones and auspicious flowers from a temple scattered underneath.
Yuan Chuyu, chopsticks in hand, glanced over there several times before finally asking, seemingly casually, "You've been to Laoshan Temple?"
Lin Langyi had just finished washing up, and the stray hairs on her forehead were still wet. She nodded and said, "Yes, I went yesterday. They were having an event where you could draw lots and tie a marriage rope. Cheng Yanjin called me and said he heard from Aunt Feng that the temple was offering services for finding a good match. After much persuasion, I went and tied it."
Yuan Chuyu put down his chopsticks and turned the platter of fresh crayfish in front of her: "Did you go to tie a sachet?"
"Mmm," she answered crisply.
"It has your and his names on it?"
"Yes, I couldn't find the place at first. Aunt Feng was performing a ritual and led me in."
Yuan Chuyu fiddled with his chopsticks with his fingers: "And what about me?"
Lin Langyi sucked on her fingertips, neatly arranged the shrimp heads on the bone plate, and said inexplicably, "How could I possibly write about you?"
She was about to say, "Isn't this like planting landmines to self-destruct?" but seeing his wistful look, she changed her mind and comforted him, "It won't work. We materialists don't care about those things, okay?"
After saying that, she muttered to herself: Cheng Yanjin clearly said "feudal superstition" dozens of times when he went to Laoshan last time, but yesterday, for some reason, he kept pestering her on the phone to tie the red thread and the sachet.
Lin Langyi took a bite of the shrimp meat, which was as white and sweet as lychee flesh. She thought to herself that the shrimp was such a kind and understanding person. She was willing to give up the chance to sleep in on Saturday morning and climb the mountain to exercise and tie the knot of love.
She had nothing else to do, so she bought the half-finished marriage tree. All she had to do was assemble it in a simple way, and then she took two pictures and sent them to Cheng Yanjin. He couldn't hide his emotions, and it was easy to tell from his tone whether he was happy or not.
He said, "Put it on the coffee table, in the middle, and I'll enshrine it when I come back."
Lin Langyi chewed on her words, thinking about why she had been so compliant with him. Firstly, he had recently won her favor, and secondly, Cheng Yanjin's voice on the phone was rough and hoarse, sounding like he had just recovered from a serious illness. He used that grating voice to plead with her, employing both soft and hard tactics. She was worn down and thought that she should just grant the patient's request.
Yuan Chuyu still seemed somewhat nonchalant, but he had stopped eating and appeared to have finished. He said, "You've always been quite patient with him."
"Hmm?" Lin Langyi looked up.
He suddenly asked, "Have you thought about when to break off the engagement?"
"Let's wait until the time is right." Lin Langyi didn't shy away from the topic at all, but unusually, she didn't say anything sweet to coax him. Instead, like every playboy who changes his attitude when asked about divorce by his lover, she refused to make any promises.
Yuan Chuyu quietly lowered his eyes and looked at the bowl and chopsticks in front of him, without saying a word.
"Oh, by the way, I should be able to pay back the initial 40 million yuan commercial loan to Yingyuan within about half a month. Yingshan Lake's cash flow is quite good right now, and!" Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shone like clear crystals when she mentioned this good news, "The financial subsidy funds for the characteristic town project have arrived. I originally kept the money in reserve, thinking I could use it to advance the development of the characteristic town myself, but now that the special funds have arrived, all those debts can be paid off."
She was still very grateful to Yuan Chuyu for his timely help, and said in a clear voice, "It will take about five months, but I plan to pay you back the principal and interest within a year. Thank you!"
Yuan Chuyu frowned, feeling a subtle sense of unease rising in his veins for some reason. That empty feeling of insecurity returned, as if the knotted red thread between them, which should have been intertwined, had been untied. He didn't want to receive this money at all.
"No need to be so polite, you—"
"Yes, can a piece of bread when you're starving be the same as a piece of bread when you're rich and have delicacies every day?" The unwavering determination she displayed when discussing such matters revealed her usually decisive and efficient style.
She gazed into his eyes, then suddenly softened her tone and said solemnly, "Yuan Chuyu, no matter what, I am truly grateful to you."
Despite the warm and peaceful atmosphere, the sincere gratitude, and the early return of a large sum of money, Yuan Chuyu showed no smile at all, and even the polite and distant mask he usually wore was gone.
He even looked away, his thin eyelids half-closed, his long eyelashes obscuring his jet-black pupils, causing the corners of his eyes to extend upwards in a thin crease, making his eyes look even more profound.
He didn't ask any further questions, but sat quietly for a while. After a long while, he raised his chin and glanced aimlessly at the ceiling, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he took several deep and shallow breaths, as if trying his best to suppress his turbulent emotions.
Then, he got up and washed his hands. When he came back, he didn't say anything, but just took a clean bowl and helped her peel shrimp.
After they finished eating and drinking, the two of them cleaned up the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Lin Langyi stood aside and washed her hands with hand sanitizer. Suddenly, she heard him say, "I'm wearing the birthday present you gave me today."
Lin Langyi subconsciously looked at his waist and saw a seamless Nile crocodile leather belt with a super sparkly diamond buckle.
!
She didn't expect him to actually wear it.
That day, she was already in a rebellious mood, so when shopping, she didn't choose a low-key and modest belt that suited his calm temperament, as he usually did. Instead, she spent money like a nouveau riche boss showing off his mistress and bought the most expensive all-diamond buckle.
Its extreme flamboyance and shimmer make the rare leather even more aggressive, probably out of place in Yuan Chuyu's wardrobe.
What did she say back then? She said, "If you're going to buy something, you have to buy something different," "It'll remind me of her extravagant spending when I open the closet," "It's so sparkly it's almost like her wedding shoes"...
With just three sentences, he won over Mr. Yuan, whose taste, vision, and appreciation were all top-notch, and he eventually acquiesced to this outrageously extravagant belt as a birthday gift.
Lin Langyi didn't say the most important thing:
"This is the kind of gift you would never wear in public, which is perfect for our relationship that will never be in the public eye."
Lin Langyi took a step back, tilted her head, and looked him up and down:
In fact, Yuan Chuyu has a calm and reserved temperament. The only thing that stands out in his dark suit is the belt that accentuates his waist, making him even more charming. It gives him a kind of glamorous and attractive feeling, like he's wearing a silk nightgown without a bra under his coat. With his face and figure, he looks good no matter what.
Her hands weren't completely dry; a drop or two of water still clung to her fingertips. But his waist was so beautifully outlined that she couldn't resist reaching out and hooking her fingers under his belt, pulling it out to see what his shirt, clinging to his skin, would look like when it was loosened.
He stood firm in place, unmoving, as if he were secretly wrestling with her.
The moment he pulled his hand back, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and pushed her two steps forward, shoving her onto the countertop.
His broad, upright shoulders cast a small shadow as he completely embraced her, pressing her slightly backward. Her vision was completely blocked by him, and he held her fingers, kneading them inch by inch, gently and firmly.
Her fingers were sore and numb from his pinching, and her mind was a jumbled mess of memories of when he peeled the crayfish earlier. His long, clean fingers were almost indistinguishable from the translucent color of the crayfish, and the faint blue veins under his fair skin were like the delicate patterns on white jade, with distinct joints.
He whispered in her ear, "You can still wear your suit and not take off your belt today... if you like."
"I wore this to see you."
*
Cheng Yanjin stayed in his car in the underground parking garage for more than four hours.
The car wasn't started, the windows were tightly closed, and every corner of the car was as dark and oppressive as a swamp. Half of his face was hidden in the darkness, as still as a statue.
His phone rested on its stand, the screen dark. He had turned off all notifications. The usually noisy notification sounds were now like a still, stagnant pool, and even the air seemed thin.
He arrived in City A when Yuan Chuyu was having dinner with Lin Langyi.
As he sped along the airport expressway, flooring the accelerator, he envisioned countless ways to smash bowls and overturn tables. He planned how each punch should land on Yuan Chuyu's face, how each elbow strike should target his vulnerable spots. If Yuan Chuyu's refined yet depraved face had even a patch of unblemished skin, then he wasn't acting like a mad dog enough.
He must kill him.
He turned the brightness of the phone monitor to its highest setting. Cheng Yanjin's hand rested on the steering wheel, and he saw Yuan Chuyu glance at the camera several times.
His gaze was deep and unfathomable, like the ocean, carrying a hint of smug arrogance and a malicious provocation projected through the monitor screen.
Several times.
The mistress who came to the wife's door, the camera that she actively captured, and the clues she deliberately left for the wife to see.
Those heavy gazes pierced through the screen and met Cheng Yanjin's eyes. The muscles in his arms trembled slightly from this offensive provocation, his hands gripped the steering wheel and cracked, and even his eardrums vibrated rapidly. An uncontrollable rage ignited within him.
Bastard.
Tao Zi.
How could he not understand Yuan Chuyu's hints and transgressions?
Surveillance can fool others, but it can't fool Ying Yuan's successor, who has been observed like a specimen since childhood.
Yuan Chuyu noticed the security camera in the house. Instead of trying to hide it, he arrogantly took advantage of his favor and deliberately showed his determination to have Lin Langyi in front of the surveillance cameras.
Cheng Yanjin clenched the flesh inside his mouth, and faint streaks of blood appeared on his iris.
His vision was limited to the narrow space in front of the driver's seat, as if his pupils were squeezed into a line, and he knew nothing but the endless road ahead.
The surveillance footage only showed Yuan Chuyu lifting her onto the table and kissing her ear. He completely shielded her with his body, and although he did nothing but hug her, it seemed as if he was trying to avoid exposing her to the camera.
Cheng Yanjin found it utterly absurd.
What a hypocrite, biting the hand that feeds him while claiming innocence and thoughtfulness. What does he mean by this? Is he worried that the surveillance footage will expose Lin Langyi's privacy? Or does he think he's an outsider among the three, so he's isolating him like a thief?
Who is the thief?
During the final stretch of the journey, even though he floored the accelerator and the engine roared, the video ended with only the scene of Yuan Chuyu lifting her high up, gently patting her back through her long hair, and carrying her into the bedroom. After that, the living room, kitchen, and entryway remained quiet.
The unchanging surveillance scene over a long period of time creates a strange and unsettling feeling, like being trapped in a maze. There is nothing in the camera, but Cheng Yanjin's mind is filled with a jumble of thoughts that are about to burst his skull.
The steering wheel was turned fiercely and abruptly. When parking, the steering wheel was turned sharply, making a screeching sound as the car skidded off the ground and came to a stop right on the line. The exhaust pipe was still vibrating loudly as it emitted exhaust fumes.
Cheng Yanjin grabbed his collar, trying to relieve the dizziness that was making him feel like he was suffocating.
He couldn't breathe.
The car was still running, and the engine, still spinning at high speed, was causing the car body to vibrate. He swallowed his dry throat and closed his eyes for what felt like the umpteenth time.
On the way, he was filled with rage and wanted nothing more than to devour her flesh and drink her blood. But when he got downstairs, he knew he could just take the elevator, kick open the door, drag the shameless mistress out of bed, grab her by the neck, and beat her to the ground.
But at this crucial moment, just before the goal was achieved, his body seemed to be imprisoned in his seat, unable to move.
His body continued to tremble, his breathing became disordered, and a trace of fear was peeled away from his boiling rage.
If he rushes in now, how will he and Lin Langyi continue their relationship?
His fingers twitched slightly, and his whole body suddenly swayed slightly.
That sliver of fear was like a gleaming steel wire, slicing his manic and frenzied heart in two, the seeping blood extinguishing his desire to go on a rampage like a bucket of cold water.
If he were to rush up and wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace, would there really be a winner in such a straightforward and irreversible confrontation between the three?
Most importantly, what choice will Lin Langyi make?
A hoarse, muffled gasp escaped Cheng Yanjin's throat, like the mournful cry of a wounded wild animal. His hands, which had been resting on the steering wheel, finally slid down limply as if their tendons had been pulled out.
He turned off the remote monitoring command on the mobile app, uninstalled the software, and finally reached out to turn off the ignition key.
The vibrations from the vehicle's standby mode abruptly ceased, and the world finally fell into endless silence.
He leaned his head back, his whole body seemingly sinking into the seat, sitting alone in the car downstairs for four hours like a lifeless wooden figure.
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