Chapter 23 Even if it's just an act, you still have to ask for something...
Lincheng is inland, so the temperature is higher than in Beidao.
The weather was hot and dry, and the sun was blazing, baking the ground.
Zheng Zhi drove the car up the gentle slope and parked it right in front of the revolving door, making it as convenient and comfortable as possible for the boss.
Not long after, He Yanzhou, dressed in a misty blue shirt and black trousers, walked quickly out of the office building, pushed open the side door, bent down to get into the car, and headed to the factory in the suburbs.
The car drove for a long time; the journey wasn't short, and the area became increasingly deserted, with hardly any people around. After turning a corner, an iron gate appeared ahead, with the words "Jintu Fireworks and Firecrackers Factory" engraved on a stone plaque next to it.
This is just one of Jintu's production areas, covering 200 acres, with nearly 5,000 square meters of warehouse space and four complete production lines.
After completing the round of inspections, it was already noon.
During the employees' lunch break, He Yanzhou went to check out the monitoring room. An entire wall of monitors meticulously divided every corner of the factory, maximizing the monitoring of fire safety.
There was another meeting in the afternoon, attended by heads of various districts, the design department, and the production department. The meeting was about the National Day fireworks show, and it ended at 4 p.m.
During this time, his mother, Wang Yajie, called twice to urge him to come home for dinner as soon as he finished his work.
By the time we reached the city, it was already getting dark.
A villa complex in a prime location where land is extremely valuable.
Just as He Yanzhou placed his hand on the fingerprint lock, the door opened from the inside, and the person who opened it surprised him even more.
He paused for a moment, said nothing, but nodded and slightly raised his lips.
"You're back." The other person's face was full of smiles. He first explained, "I went to Austria a while ago. The chocolates there are delicious. I thought my aunt would like them, so I brought some back and brought them over today." Her eyes were full of complex emotions, including nervousness, timidity, and undisguised joy: "...I also brought you a gift."
He Yanzhou replied indifferently, "Thank you."
After a few seconds of hesitation, she seemed to have found a topic and said "Oh": "I just saw your car come in from the kitchen, and I thought I'd come out and say hello, so..." Her voice trailed off.
He Yanzhou had nothing to say. "Please go ahead, I'll go upstairs and take a look first."
Before she could answer, He Yanzhou had already passed by her. She subconsciously took half a step back, feeling a gentle breeze brush past, and his clean, refreshing scent wafted into her nostrils, familiar yet long-lost.
In the living room,
He Xi turned around and placed her hands on the back of the sofa: "Brother."
He Yanzhou frowned: "Why are you back?"
"I'm on summer vacation," she said confidently.
He Yanzhou then realized that it was almost August. He nodded and continued walking upstairs to his study, casually asking, "Where's Dad?"
"In the study." Seeing him rushing over in three steps, He Xi quickly called out again, "Brother."
He Yanzhou stopped and turned to look at him.
He Xi: "Can I borrow your car?"
Where are you going?
"I'm meeting a friend and will buy a few books while I'm at it." She twirled the end of her hair with her fingers, feeling less confident than before.
He Yanzhou asked, "Did you take your driving test?"
"No... Zheng Zhi can lend me his."
He Yanzhou glanced at her, the warning clear: "Is he an object? You can borrow him if you want." But he still doted on his younger sister, and raised his wrist to check the time: "One hour, hurry back, I don't live at home."
He Xi jumped up from the sofa with a "whoosh" and blew a kiss from afar: "Yes, ma'am."
She beamed with joy, skipping and hopping like a happy little bird.
He Yanzhou couldn't help but smile and continued walking upstairs.
He had a beautifully packaged round paper tube in his hand. He knocked on the door and went in. He saw his father sitting at the table wearing reading glasses, holding a magnifying glass, studying a collection of famous people's manuscripts.
He spoke up: "Dad."
He Cheng looked up, glancing over the top of the reading glasses, and then at the object in his hand; his eyes brightened.
He Yanzhou turned around, closed the door, and handed the items over.
He Cheng asked, "How much did you pay for it?"
80.
"It's not expensive." He carefully unpacked the package; he never thought it was too expensive for his beloved items.
This is a letter written by a salt merchant during the Qing Dynasty to his relatives and friends. It is covered with a transparent film, and the old, yellowed paper inside is clearly visible. Although the corners are slightly damaged, the handwriting is still vigorous and bold.
He Cheng loved it dearly.
When he was young, He Yanzhou didn't understand what was so precious about those yellowed and worn-out letters. Only in recent years has he come to realize that He Cheng loves the stories and history behind the paper.
He Yanzhou sat patiently in the chair opposite him for a while, until He Cheng had finished looking at the book and carefully put it away, before he asked, "Ningning is outside, did you see her?"
He Yanzhou: "Mm."
What are your thoughts?
He Yanzhou said, "I have no idea."
He Cheng sighed softly, "I have a close relationship with your Uncle Sun, and our families used to visit each other frequently. Your relationship with Ningning was supposed to be a good thing, but who would have thought you would break up with him." He took a sip of tea, picked up the teapot and poured another cup, waiting for He Yanzhou to come and take it before continuing, "Things are different now. I ran into Old Sun the other day, and he didn't look happy at all."
He Yanzhou lowered his head and sipped his tea. "Dating doesn't always have a good outcome. If things go smoothly, you get together; if they don't, you break up. It's quite normal."
"But they are acquaintances after all."
He Yanzhou paused for a moment: "It was my fault." This was the only thing he ever regretted.
The He and Sun families had been on good terms for many years, and he and Sun Ning had known each other since childhood. Both sets of parents had long approved of the couple, believing that they knew each other well, came from similar family backgrounds, and were a perfect match, so they actively tried to bring them together, both openly and secretly.
That year, He Yanzhou was 22 years old and had never really had a girlfriend before, and his understanding of relationships between men and women was also very shallow. Sun Ningren was beautiful and had a lively personality. He spent some time getting to know her, and found that he quite liked her, so they established a romantic relationship.
The relationship lasted for more than half a year. He gradually realized that his feelings for her could not deepen, and he gradually understood that there was nothing special between them.
He Cheng was quite understanding: "Your mother seems to have high aspirations."
He Yanzhou didn't respond immediately, and put down his teacup: "Your tea is too weak."
"At my age, I can't handle anything too strong."
“I have a box of Lion Peak Longjing tea, I’ll bring it to you another day.” He looked at his father: “I’ve been here for a while, but I haven’t seen you ask about anything at the company.”
"I won't ask," He Cheng said. "With the company in your hands, what else could I possibly worry about?"
He Yanzhou smiled and said, "Take this as a compliment."
Although his father said he wouldn't interfere, he still recounted some of the company's recent initiatives to him and listened to a few suggestions before the two of them left the study one after the other.
The mother, Wang Yajie, cooked two of her signature dishes; the rest were prepared by the nanny.
Sun Ning helped pick and wash the vegetables, keeping herself busy from start to finish.
At the dinner table, Wang Yajie tried her best to bring them together, working in concert with Sun Ning. However, He Yanzhou focused on eating, his expression indifferent, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Wang Yajie was furious. After their breakup, she had arranged blind dates for him, but none of them suited his taste. She wondered what kind of perfect match he was looking for. Now, Ningning still had feelings for him and only wanted them to be a good match. If they could make it happen, it would be a happy ending for everyone.
She placed a piece of fish on He Yanzhou's plate: "Your hotel in Beidao must be doing well, right?"
He Yanzhou laughed and said, "Even my dad doesn't care, why are you interested now?"
"You've grown wings." She smiled and gently scolded, then added, "Take Ningning with you when you go back to North Island this time. I heard that not only is the air fresh there, but the seawater is also crystal clear." After saying that, she turned to Sun Ning and smiled, "Ningning, just think of it as a vacation and relax."
Sun Ning glanced at He Yanzhou furtively and said, "Auntie, I..."
Wang Yajie immediately turned to the other side: "Yanzhou, did you hear that?"
He Yanzhou's brow twitched slightly, already quite annoyed, and he simply said, "Things are complicated here, and the date of my return is uncertain."
He was so upset by the meal that he made an excuse to leave as soon as He Xi entered the room.
On the way, he thought of Zhu Xu. He had been away from Beidao for half a month, but she hadn't called him once. He thought to himself how ridiculous his longing was, but in despair, he still dialed her number.
Not long after, her voice came through the receiver, carrying a hint of cheerfulness: "President He."
In an instant, a soft spot in He Yanzhou's chest softened. She was used to calling him that, and it didn't feel like a subordinate addressing a superior; rather, it carried a unique kind of intimacy.
He asked, "What are you doing?"
"Just got back from the store, about to take a shower."
He Yanzhou glanced at the time: "Why is it so late?"
Zhu Xu turned on the speakerphone, changed out of her sweaty clothes, and turned on the air conditioner: "Zhao Siqiao has a wedding and needs a nearly three-meter-high flower wall as a backdrop. I just went to meet with them and finalized the style." She then brought the phone back to her ear, her voice noticeably clearer: "I also want to thank President He for helping me build connections."
He Yanzhou laughed: "Just verbal thanks?"
The other person pretended to be clueless: "We'll split the money in half with you later."
He Yanzhou laughed again: "I don't lack money."
Zhu Xu curled up on the sofa, his deep, pleasant laughter ringing in her ears, as if he were a thousand miles away, right beside her. She pursed her lips, afraid he might say something inappropriate, and changed the subject, "Laughing so much, are you in a good mood today?"
He Yanzhou looked out the window: "This is not bad."
Zhu Xu then asked, "Are you still outside?"
"I'm getting ready to go back." He Yanzhou suddenly remembered, "The flowers in my office are probably almost wilted."
"The roses only bloom for a little over a week, so they should have withered long ago."
"Go change it for me."
Zhu Xu paused: "Doesn't anyone clean your place? And how can I easily come and go from your office?"
“I didn’t let anyone touch those flowers.” He switched hands to hold the phone, letting his other hand hang down casually on his lap. “You can go; my secretary knows you.”
After a moment, Zhu Xu replied, "Okay." He lowered his eyes and wiped the mud off his ankles, which he didn't know had gotten on them. He teased him, "You don't have anything particularly valuable there, do you? Be careful I don't run away with the money."
Sure enough, He Yanzhou smiled again.
He lowered his voice, the threat clear: "You dare."
Zhu Xu's heart skipped a beat. This tone had once echoed in her ears, a tone of gritted teeth, as if she wanted to crush her.
She didn't reply, but reached out and pulled back the curtains next to the sofa. The moonlight outside the window was hazy and ethereal, as if veiled by a thin layer of gauze.
"It's getting late, go take a shower and go to bed." The quiet atmosphere was getting a little unbearable, so He Yanzhou ended the conversation first.
Zhu Xu didn't hang up immediately. After a brief silence, he asked, "How... is everything going over there?"
"You want me to come back soon?"
Zhu Xu didn't give a half-hearted "no," but only mumbled a vague "hmm."
These days, she has considered contacting him, but she has restrained herself, afraid that the walls she built around him would be gradually torn down by herself.
She was caught in a web of inner conflict, unaware that her relationship with him was no longer a simple, direct one, but rather like a tangled ball of yarn, increasingly difficult to untangle.
For a moment, they were only concerned with burying their heads in the sand, comforting themselves that even if it was just an act, they still had to try to please the other person.
"I'll try." The dark clouds in He Yanzhou's heart completely dissipated. "You're planning to rest for a couple of days when you get back, and then come with me to Jilin Island to clear your head?"
“Okay,” Zhu Xu said.
At this time, the roads were unusually quiet, and Zheng Zhi drove fast and steadily.
He Yanzhou hung up the phone, turned his head, and suddenly saw the casserole restaurant where he had met Zhu Xu on his right. Since dinner wasn't to his liking, he asked Zheng Zhi to slow down and stop the car so they could grab something to eat there.
Zheng Zhibo drove his car in, and when he went in, the owner had already ordered the food—two mutton meatball casseroles, two side dishes, and several crispy baked flatbreads.
When He Yanzhou is in a good mood, he is very easygoing and has no airs at all when eating or chatting with others.
“Try it,” he said.
"Okay." Zheng Zhi picked up his chopsticks, guessing that he was in a very good mood. He had passively listened to the entire conversation in the car, and was amazed at how resourceful Miss Zhu was, since he still had a cold face when he came out of the old lady's place.
Zheng Zhi pointed to the side: "The table where Miss Zhu sat back then, right?"
He Yanzhou glanced to the side: "What do you want to say?"
"Miss Zhu is currently single. Boss, you have a chance. You should seize the opportunity."
He Yanzhou gave him a look: "Mind your own business."
Zheng Zhi chuckled, took a bite, and half the sesame seed cake was gone: "How did you and Miss Zhu meet?"
"High school classmate."
"Then how did you lose contact?"
The mutton meatballs were piping hot, and He Yanzhou blew on them, saying, "I only stayed for half a semester before transferring away."
Zheng Zhi asked, "Were you together back then?"
"No. We don't have much interaction," He Yanzhou said.
At that time, Zhu Xu liked to use the caps of carbon ink pens as hair clips. Her hands were very nimble; with a press and a snap, the pen caps would obediently gather the stray hairs on her cheeks, revealing a fair and radiant face.
She was a quiet person, unlike the other girls in the class who were loud and boisterous. She was also a little rebellious at times, and would deliberately do the opposite of what the teacher told her to do, quietly going about her own business.
They met on the island during the summer vacation, but she didn't recognize him at all.
This puzzled He Yanzhou, and even made him feel a little disappointed.
One day, he and Liu Chuang switched seats. She dozed off in class and almost fell off her chair, but he reacted quickly and stood up to support her shoulder.
That's when the two of them finally crossed paths.
Later, I often changed seats.
He was also somewhat familiar with Zhu Xu.
She liked to play Gomoku in a notebook, drawing the board with a carbon pen and the pieces with a pencil. After a game, she would erase the drawing and reuse it.
He Yanzhou thought he was quite quick-witted, but when he faced her, he lost eight out of ten times.
The chessboard was placed on the upper right of his table. She turned her head to the side and drew a hollow circle with a pencil at a certain position, blocking the path of his solid circle. At the same time, the four points were aligned, and the outcome was already decided.
The teacher was still lecturing on the podium when she gave a faint smile, winked at him playfully, and mouthed, "You lost again."
He Yanzhou smiled and shrugged.
The sun was shining brightly outside the window, its rays filtering through the classroom glass and reflecting a golden light onto the desk. She was bathed in this light, and tiny, dancing specks of light danced on her eyelashes, the tip of her nose, and her lips.
Every time she turned her head, he couldn't help but glance at her.
He Yanzhou didn't know when he fell in love, but that image remained in his mind for many years.
After the game ended, she pulled the notebook back, erased the chess pieces with an eraser, and prepared for the next game.
He Yanzhou watched her retreating figure, put his hand in his pocket, and felt for a lucky charm. He had originally thought he had left it on Jidao Island, but when he was packing his things that day, he found it in a hidden compartment of his backpack.
For many years afterward, he kept it in good condition. Then some things happened, and the amulet became very meaningful to him.
...
The meatball soup in front of me was no longer piping hot as it was when it was fresh out of the pot, but it was just right to eat.
Zheng Zhi wanted to find out more, and was about to speak when He Yanzhou frowned, clicked his tongue, and said, "Are you checking my household registration?" He glanced up at him, then lowered his gaze slightly, landing on the inside of Zheng Zhi's right upper arm, and paused for a moment: "You have a girlfriend?"
Zheng Zhi was startled and instinctively replied, "No."
He Yanzhou raised his chin. "What's that tattoo? Who's a decent person to get something like that tattooed?" He tossed back a remark: "Wear long sleeves from now on."
Zheng Zhi inwardly groaned, but repeatedly answered "yes".
He had just finished eating and was sweating profusely, so he rolled up his short-sleeved shirt. On the inside of his upper arm was a recently tattooed design, an abstract line depicting a man and a woman embracing passionately.
He had been spoiling that person, and was begged to get it tattooed.
He pulled his sleeve down, trying his best to cover it up.
He Yanzhou glanced at him subtly.
Zheng Zhi's facial features are nothing special, but he has an upright and masculine appearance and is quite reliable. In addition, he is tall and strong, which can give people a sense of security. He should be the type that little girls like.
Putting aside other people, I've had peace of mind and no worries during the years he's been by my side.
He added, "If you're going to talk, talk properly. Don't try any tricks."
Zheng Zhi thought to himself that he would never be so arrogant again, and quickly replied, "Yes."
/
When He Xi came out after taking a shower, Sun Ning was still there.
Wang Yajie pulled her into the living room to talk, and she went to the kitchen to get some water, vaguely hearing some of what was being said.
"Ningning, what exactly caused you and Yanzhou to break up back then?"
Sun Ning had a pained look on her face, and she couldn't explain why.
The two chatted for a long time, and when He Xi came downstairs again, she found that only her mother was left on the sofa.
He Xi leaned against the island counter: "Mom, please let my brother go. There's no future for them. Don't bother." She took a bag of potato chips from the storage compartment and prepared to go upstairs.
“What do kids know?” Wang Yajie turned her head: “Your school doesn’t start until next month, right? Go to Beidao for a trip in a while, and bring your sister Ningning with you.”
He Xi: "No."
"Tsk." Wang Yajie frowned: "Be obedient."
"What are you doing? My brother already has someone else."
Her words ruined everything.
Realizing she had said the wrong thing, He Xi quickly shut up and slipped back into her room. But before long, Wang Yajie caught up with her and kept asking her questions until she couldn't get the truth out of her. In the end, she even threatened to cut off all her allowance.
He Xi is used to spending money lavishly; she can lack anything but money.
Wang Yajie has always been a person of her word, and she has experienced this firsthand.
Thinking it wasn't a big secret, he explained, "My brother just has a close female friend, but I don't know anything about their relationship."
Wang Yajie pressed further: "What's your educational background? What's your family background?"
"How would I know?" He Xi said, annoyed. "I haven't met her many times. She's very beautiful and gentle. It's very comfortable to be around her."
"So what does she do?"
He Xi said, "I used to be a designer, and now I run a flower shop in a hotel."
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