Chapter 4
There was no misunderstanding; she was simply unwilling to accept it. She just hadn't met the right person at the right time and in the right place.
She and Li Junqian were always out of sync.
Back then, Li Junqian went to France to study a niche perfume major at a school whose name she couldn't recall. Only then did she realize why she could smell a pleasant fragrance every time she got close to him.
Sometimes, when Liang Shi missed Li Junqian too much, she would sneak into his room and spray some perfume from his closet. The familiar scents were her sleeping pills.
When she learned that the girl who had gone to France with him had returned to China to study due to language barriers and had broken up with Li Junqian, she ate three bowls of rice that night to celebrate.
For Li Junqian's sake, she, a girl from a poor, remote area of Sichuan who couldn't even speak English, started learning French as a second language. Zhao Jiaren once overheard her memorizing French words and mocked her, saying she couldn't even speak English fluently, so why was she learning French?
Knowing how hard she studied, Li Guangting even paid for her to take French classes. Liang Shi was extremely grateful. On Father's Day, she used her saved allowance to buy Li Guangting a razor.
Uncle Li had no airs of a rich man and treated her sincerely. Sometimes Liang Shi would make a wish to the stars, praying for Uncle Li's safety.
She wanted to study abroad, but she didn't dare to say it. After all, studying abroad was no small expense. The tuition, tutoring fees, and pocket money that Li Jia had paid for her alone totaled more than six figures. She couldn't even afford high school tuition, let alone the hundreds of thousands or even millions of yuan needed for studying abroad.
But Liang Shi didn't expect that Li Guangting would offer to sponsor her studies abroad first.
Of course, Liang Shi studied diligently for two years in high school, which gave him the opportunity to be in the same hemisphere and the same country as Li Junqian.
When Li Junqian learned that Liang Shi had applied to a university in France, she called him to celebrate his high school graduation and to take him on a graduation trip.
Liang Shi asked him if it was just the two of them, and indeed it was. So Liang Shi secretly chose Colmar, a bright and romantic town.
Originally, they thought they could leave behind romantic and peaceful memories, but later Liang Shi fled in a panic overnight with heavy luggage.
She never imagined Li Junqian would fall in love again, or that his current girlfriend would come to this small town to surprise him. She felt like a third wheel walking with the three of them; she really didn't...
Such a high level of tolerance. Or rather, she didn't want to see Li Junqian offer his warm smile to another woman she didn't know.
She landed in Paris, turned on her phone, and found that Li Junqian had called her countless times. She only replied with one sentence: the school started early.
Liang Shi was good at comforting himself. Who was Li Junqian? His father, Li Guangting, was a brigade commander when he was in the army and a division-level cadre after his demobilization. His mother was a businesswoman who owned three companies. With a strong family background, excellent looks, and a bright academic record, it was only natural that any girl would like Li Junqian. And he was also at the age of youthful vigor, so of course he would date.
She has no right to be jealous, nor should she be.
She channeled her resentment into motivation to study, won all the schoolships, and worked hard to earn living expenses and rent.
Liang Shi is very capable and has entered many beauty competitions. Winning the awards is secondary; her main goal is the generous prize money. Girls all love beauty, especially in France, the fashion capital. She learned to dress herself up, buying herself expensive cosmetics, skincare products, and bags. When she didn't have enough money, she would work as a model. At these times, Liang Shi would thank her parents for giving her such a great figure.
After graduating from university, Liang Shi hesitated between staying in France and returning to China. That day, she called Li Guangting, who was not only her savior but also her mentor. It was during this call that she learned that Li Junqian was still in France and had even found a job in Paris.
By then, Liang Shi, who had learned to do makeup and dress up, was no longer the ugly duckling she used to be. Now she was very confident. She wondered if she could take the initiative and express her feelings to him, would things turn out well for them?
Being in a good position, she could confess her feelings many times if once wasn't enough. Unfortunately, Li Junqian's job was too unstable; he frequently had to travel for work. Every time she mustered the courage to call and ask him out for dinner, he was either in Milan or London.
Later, because she had just joined the L'Oréal French headquarters and was busy with work, she no longer cared about her so-called love.
Two years later, she met Li Junqian at Charles de Gaulle Airport, and surprisingly, she felt calm. The man was too outstanding; even though she constantly tried to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, she felt insignificant.
Liang Shi never imagined that Uncle Li would suddenly pass away. She cried her eyes out that day. The pretense she had learned over the years crumbled in the face of her true feelings.
Her only connection with Li Junqian was gone. Without Uncle Li, what was she to the Li family? Zhao Jiaren rejected her, calling her a jinx and telling her to leave and stop bringing trouble to the Li family. She also said that no matter how she dressed up, she would always be a country bumpkin.
That day, she gave all her savings to Zhao Jiaren, but she refused, so Liang Shi insisted on giving it to her.
“Aunt Zhao, I know you look down on this little bit of money, but it’s money I earned myself, penny by penny. I’m returning all the money Uncle Li spent on me. I’m very grateful to the Li family for making me who I am today. If you don’t want to see me, I promise I won’t show up again.”
That day, after she finished speaking, she turned around and pushed away Li Junqian, who had been standing there unnoticed. She walked very quickly and landed in Paris the next day.
Then, with tears streaming down her face, she used scissors to cut up the SIM card that only contained the phone numbers of Li Guangting and Li Junqian.
For the next three years, Liang Shi constantly heard news about Karsten in the industry; Li Junqian's reputation in the circle intimidated her. While she sat in the back row at fashion shows, he was already sitting in the front row, chatting animatedly with the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine.
Three years later, however, the name Karsten was gradually overshadowed by others, disappearing without any reason, as if it were water vapor. Of course, she wouldn't actively investigate, after all, Li Junqian was just a familiar stranger to her at that time.
He never expected that she would return to Shanghai and become his subordinate.
With people coming and going at the subway station, Liang Shi didn't want to talk about such a distant past with Li Junqian in front of everyone.
"The Huangpu River has beautiful scenery, but I've never seen it before, Karsten. Let's find a place to talk."
Perhaps a certain word struck a chord with the man before him, for Li Junqian actually smiled.
So, is a form of address really that important?
"Get in the car, I'll take you somewhere."
The place they were talking about turned out to be Li Junqian's home! This was something Liang Shi never expected.
As she changed into her slippers, she feigned composure: "Mr. Li, aren't you afraid your girlfriend will be angry if you bring me home?"
As soon as she changed into her slippers and looked up, she saw him with his head slightly lowered, his brows furrowed, and his expression somewhat serious: "Call me Karsten."
Because her high heels had been replaced with slippers, she appeared seven centimeters shorter, and even at 1.7 meters tall, she paled in comparison to him. From her angle, Liang Shi couldn't reconcile the man before her with the sunny, boyish figure she remembered.
The saying that time can turn a naive boy into a mature man is absolutely true.
What to do? Her heart was pounding like it was on steroids.
"Fine, Karsten, is that enough?"
Upon hearing the satisfactory answer, Li Junqian gentlemanly made way and led her to the balcony with a wide view.
"It's beautiful here. Really beautiful. Even more beautiful than the Seine."
Having spent over two years in Shanghai, she practically lived a life confined to her school and villa, always studying and never appreciating the bustling metropolis.
Actually, she has no regrets at all. Without her past efforts, she wouldn't be standing here today in a house worth hundreds of millions of yuan, overlooking this place.
"You are welcome to come anytime."
Liang Shi leaned against the balcony, the river breeze was still quite cold, but he maintained his posture, not wanting to lose face.
"Won't your girlfriend be jealous if she finds out?"
Li Junqian found a blanket and draped it over her: "I'm the only one living here. It's cold outside, come inside."
Does that mean her girlfriend never came?
Liang Shi felt a surge of emotion within him.
Unlike other spoiled rich kids, Li Junqian truly has excellent family upbringing.
Even her cooking skills are amazing.
Liang Shi sat facing him in the open-plan living room, eating the steak Li Junqian had prepared. She could hardly believe that one day she would be in such an ambiguous situation with him.
"You didn't want to talk to me? What do you want to say?"
Well, I hadn't even taken a few bites of my steak before this disappointment hit.
Liang Shi wiped his lips with a napkin and forced a smile: "Karsten, the two men I am most grateful to in this world are your father and you. You are the gentlest and kindest Shanghainese I have ever met. I am who I am today because of your tolerance and acceptance of me, without any discrimination or disdain. This glass of red wine is a toast to Uncle Li in heaven, and to you."
After saying that, Liang Shi drank all the red wine in her glass. It was sweet and bitter, just like her life.
When Li Junqian first met Liang Shi, he couldn't see what the girl looked like. She had thick bangs and always kept her head down.
Unlike now, her haughty chin was the beginning of her confidence.
"This wine has a strong aftereffect, drink less."
Liang Shi felt nothing at all, and stubbornly poured himself another cup.
“There’s no story without wine. Actually, there was no misunderstanding at all. I was just too insecure. With Uncle Li gone, there was no one to back me up. Your mother’s words were too hurtful. She told me to leave Shanghai and leave the Li family. I’ve been scolded for so many years, and I’ve accumulated resentment, okay? So I’ll leave and never have anything to do with you again.”
Liang Shi said she wanted this line because she felt her acting was really good. Actually, what she really wanted to say was that she liked someone, but she could never get a response. She felt that it was better to end it quickly than to suffer for a long time, and that only by letting go could she become stronger.
"I'm sorry, my mother did go a bit too far."
Liang Shi downed another full glass and laughed, "There's nothing to apologize for. I'm the one who barged into your happy family; I'm the unwanted one..."
She was so sad. She didn't want to recall it anymore, nor did she want to talk about those things anymore. Alcohol is a good thing; it can turn you from sober to unconscious.
She pretended to be drunk, resting her head on her arm.
She heard Li Junqian call her Xiaoshi, and she continued to pretend to be drunk, then fell into a warm embrace and onto a soft bed.
As the saying goes, alcohol emboldens the timid. Can she take this opportunity to 'steal' something she's wanted to do for so many years but never dared to?
"Mom and Dad, don't go, I'm scared..."
Liang Shi waved his hand and grabbed his sleeve, as if he had seized his last chance.
With acting skills like hers, she probably deserves an Oscar, right?
Perhaps it was her tragic past that moved Li Junqian. The bed sank in, and Liang Shi never dared to imagine that she could sleep in Li Junqian's arms.
The scent emanating from him was so pleasant, captivating and calming, instantly putting her at ease. She recognized the fragrance as 'Plaquemine,' a French fragrance that will be launched in China on Singles' Day, which translates to persimmon in Chinese.
But this taste doesn't seem to have anything to do with persimmons?
Liang Shi never sleeps well when he has something on his mind, but at this moment, although his heart is pounding, his eyelids are getting heavier and heavier...
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