Chapter 25 Cloud Peak
In the tea room in the corner of the living room, even the wafting aroma of tea seemed to stagnate. Zhou Yanzhe put down his purple clay teacup and looked at Xie Shiyan, who was sitting on the single sofa opposite him. The light outlined the cold, handsome lines of his profile. His eyes were slightly lowered, and his thick eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath them, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
"Ayan, I heard that Aunt Xie was unwell some time ago. How is she now?" Zhou Yanzhe asked with concern, trying to break the somewhat heavy silence.
Xie Shiyan raised his eyes, his gaze calm and unwavering, his voice low and steady, revealing no emotion: "Thank you for your concern. It's nothing serious now; the doctor has seen me, and I just need to rest. But..." He paused, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the warm rim of the cup...
"He was always a bit listless and depressed."
Lu Jingshen and Zhou Yanzhe exchanged a knowing glance. Melancholy? It wasn't just his aunt. In the past eight years, had this man ever truly been happy? He had no one to care for him, utterly alone.
The image of that bright, long-gone figure flashed through their minds simultaneously—if only Ningning were still here…how wonderful that would be.
“Your aunt is worried about you,” Lu Jingshen said cautiously, his tone slightly hesitant, “You should also…”
Xie Shiyan seemed to know what he was going to say, and calmly cut him off, finishing his slightly cool tea in one gulp: "Is the meeting with President Wang tomorrow set?" The topic change was abrupt and cold, clearly indicating that he did not want to dwell on this issue.
Zhou Yanzhe immediately replied, "It's settled. It'll be at the 'Cloud Top Club.' The environment is quiet, which suits President Wang's preferences. Jing Shen and I will be there on time."
Xie Shiyan nodded, indicating that he understood.
Just then, the screen of his phone, which was on a low table beside him, lit up, breaking the tranquility of the tea room. Xie Shiyan picked up the phone and glanced at it; it was a call from his secretary. He pressed the answer button, his voice regaining its cold, clear tone, as if he were at work: "Speak."
"Mr. Xie, I apologize for bothering you so late. The intelligent medical robot project team has reported some unexpected fluctuations in the verification data of the core algorithm. The development team suggests that an emergency project evaluation meeting be held at 9:00 AM tomorrow. Your personal decision is needed." The secretary's voice came through clearly and efficiently.
Xie Shiyan frowned almost imperceptibly, then quickly regained his composure: "Understood. Notify the relevant personnel to be in the conference room on time." He finished his brief instructions and hung up the phone.
As Lu Jingshen watched him put away his phone, the brief, sharp glint of work on his face quickly faded. He sat there quietly, radiating an aura of detachment and weariness that seemed out of place in the warm tea room.
The lamplight fell on him, casting a long, tall, yet lonely shadow. Looking at his friend, Lu Jingshen sighed silently.
For the past eight years, he has been like a high-speed, tireless, precision machine, isolating himself from the world through work. Wealth and status are readily available, but the desolate loneliness deep in his eyes has never truly dissipated.
Genting Club
The enormous crystal chandelier illuminated the golden hall as if it were daytime, and the marble floor reflected the elegantly dressed guests. The air was filled with the aroma of expensive perfumes, cigars, and the finest ingredients.
Jiang Yining followed behind her family like a groundhog that had wandered into a fairyland, her eyes darting around.
"Sis, snap out of it." Jiang Yunting chuckled and pinched her arm, lowering his voice, "Your eyes were practically popping out of your head."
Jiang Yining struggled to pull her gaze away from the murals on the dome, leaned close to her younger brother's ear, and exclaimed in a low voice, "How much does it cost to eat a meal here?"
Jiang Yunting raised an eyebrow and gave Jiang Yining a number that made her gasp instantly: "It's at least five figures per person, and that's just basic consumption."
"Five...five figures?" Jiang Yining's eyes widened, and she felt her heart clench with pain. Eight years ago, a five-figure sum was enough for her four years of university living expenses, making this "old soul" feel like she was riding a rocket.
"Second cousin...did he strike gold?" Jiang Yining still found it unbelievable and muttered to herself.
Seeing her bewildered look, Jiang Yunting couldn't help but whisper a little explanation to her: "My second cousin, Jiang Yunming, owns a fairly large logistics company. His wife is the daughter of the owner of the city's largest dock—a powerful alliance."
As for his older cousin, Jiang Yunyan, he's now a senior manager at Yunming Logistics, and his wife is a company employee. They're both down-to-earth and doing quite well. He paused, his tone tinged with pride.
"Your brother here, I run a construction company, not too big, not too small, but we're doing alright. Thanks to..." His voice lowered, filled with heartfelt gratitude, "Thanks to Brother Shi Yan for giving me a hand back then, the company slowly got on the right track. Your sister-in-law, Mu Qing, is now the company's CFO; she's the one I chased for three years before finally winning her over."
“Brother Shi Yan…” Hearing this name, Jiang Yining’s heart felt like it had been soaked in lemon juice, instantly a mix of sour and sweet. She asked, seemingly casually, but her voice carried a barely perceptible tension, “Then… how is Brother Shi Yan now? Is he… married?”
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