Chapter 45 On this day, the wind was gentle and the waves were calm…
In early autumn, He Yanzhou's mother, Wang Yajie, called and asked him to find someone to clean the old house in Beidao. She and He Cheng planned to go back and stay for a while, and also to meet his girlfriend.
He Yanzhou hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Have you no longer harbored any prejudice?"
"In your heart, am I a very undignified person?" Wang Yajie finally softened her tone: "I roughly know how important that girl is to you. As long as you like her, that's fine. Our opinions are just for reference in the end."
News from the hotel earlier still reached Lincheng, and her reaction was surprisingly calm, because at that moment she finally saw her son's true feelings.
She thought she should be happy for him that he had found someone she cared about so much.
He Yanzhou sincerely thanked his mother, but ultimately only agreed halfway. He had the old house cleaned beforehand, hoping the meeting would happen naturally and not be rushed.
I left the hotel in the evening but didn't go back immediately.
Zhu Xu has been working overtime for several days in a row. He heard that he benefited a lot from the exhibition. Although he can't compare with other big companies, he has still taken a small step forward.
I asked Zheng Zhi to drive around the ring road twice, and then we drove into the city through the intersection.
As autumn deepens, a few ginkgo leaves, turning yellow, are swept away by the rustling wind.
He Yanzhou told him to park on the side of the road. They were on one of the busiest streets in the old town. Although it wasn't as high-end and luxurious as the CBD, it was full of life and more down-to-earth.
He Yanzhou rolled down the car window. "Next to the mahjong parlor, the one with the roller shutter door closed."
Zheng Zhi turned his head and saw a row of commercial shops diagonally in front of him, including restaurants, barbershops, delicatessens, and convenience stores. The shop next to the mahjong parlor in the very center had a large storefront with a roller shutter, but the storefront was dilapidated. From the faded signboard, it could be roughly seen that it used to be a seafood stall.
"I saw it." Zheng Zhi waited for his instructions.
"If it were you, what kind of business would you start?"
Without hesitation, Zheng Zhi replied, "Car detailing."
"reason?"
"I understand cars better than anyone else."
He Yanzhou smiled, his expression ambiguous. But one could sense that he seemed to be in a good mood.
He rolled up the car window: "Let's go."
"Okay." Zheng Zhi turned the steering wheel to the left and steered onto the main road. "Where are you going?"
"go home."
He glanced at his watch, estimating that Zhu Xu should have returned before him by now.
The journey wasn't long, and the ring road was clear in the evening.
As the car drove into the residential area, He Yanzhou said before getting out, "The transfer of ownership for that shop is already underway. I'll also give you 200,000 yuan to run; you can do whatever you want. But I have one condition: two years from now, when He Xi returns to China, you have to pay me back double the principal and interest." He gripped the handle, preparing to get out of the car: "Otherwise, you might not get my approval."
Zheng Zhi stared blankly ahead, as if trying to process what he had just said. It took him a while to turn his gaze back. Seeing that he was about to get out of the car, he loudly stopped him: "Wait a minute, say it again?" In his haste, he forgot to use honorifics.
He Yanzhou frowned.
"No, Mr. He, I..." He chuckled sheepishly, "Could you please say it again?"
He Yanzhou knew he had heard him clearly, so he opened the car door, stepped on the door, and said, "I'll give you three days to think about it."
"I agree."
He Yanzhou paused for a moment: "Doubling the price is 40, this deal isn't fair."
Zheng Zhi was silent for a moment, then his face returned to that listless, dejected expression: "Xiao Xi hasn't spoken to me for a long time, there's no hope between us... so it's like you're giving me another chance, it's your affirmation of me..."
"...I wasn't sure."
"You still have faith in me..."
"I didn't say I was optimistic."
Zheng Zhi scratched his head in frustration, feeling that he couldn't express himself clearly.
He Yanzhou felt a pang of regret. Wouldn't this affect his genes in the future?
He was willing to get involved in their relationship because firstly, he was a decent person, and secondly, He Xi liked him, but these factors did not mean that the two were a good match.
He sighed silently: "We'll see."
"Don't worry, I will do my best." After expressing his sincerity, he hesitated for a moment: "But what will you do if I'm not by your side?"
He Yanzhou gave him a half-smile and teased lightly, "Don't worry about me, old man. I'm always out of my mind. I feel uneasy riding in your car. I'll find someone more reliable."
Zheng Zhi knew that a grown man shouldn't be too sentimental, but he still couldn't suppress the tears welling up in his eyes: "He..."
With a loud bang, before he could utter a single word of gratitude, He Yanzhou had already strode through the iron gate, his figure disappearing into the distance.
When the door opened, the room was bright and filled with a damp, fresh fragrance. He Yanzhou guessed that Zhu Xu must have taken a bath.
"You're back." Her voice came a few seconds later.
He Yanzhou responded, changed his shoes and went in. He saw her lying on the sofa, multitasking, watching a drama while flipping through several colorful advertising flyers, and holding a red apple in her hand.
He loosened his tie as he walked to her side, only to find her acting mysteriously, tucking the few pages of colored paper into her cushion.
"What are you hiding?"
"No."
He Yanzhou loosened his tie and casually draped it over the armrest of the sofa: "Tell me later, I won't listen."
Zhu Xu grunted and took a bite of the apple.
He smiled, looking at her round buttocks under her silk nightgown, bent down, and slapped her with his palm. The fleshy buttocks trembled, and he successfully heard her gasp. He couldn't help but feel pleased.
He couldn't resist pinching it a few more times.
She slapped his hand back: "You're such a pervert."
"It feels good."
"Go pinch it yourself."
He Yanzhou smiled faintly and unbuttoned his collar: "Have you had dinner yet?"
"I've already eaten," she said. "What about you?"
"I've already eaten."
Zhu Xu propped herself up on her arm and handed the apple to him. He opened his mouth and took a bite from her hand. Zhu Xu looked back and saw that a small bite had been followed by a large bite, side by side.
She was inexplicably happy just from eating an apple.
He Yanzhou went to the bedroom to change his clothes. When he came out, he went straight into the bathroom. The heat inside had not yet dissipated, and it was filled with the fragrance that he had smelled when he entered.
He took a shower and went to the kitchen to get some water.
Zhu Xu had eaten half of the apple when, shortly after, a muffled hissing groan came from inside.
She turned around and asked, "What's wrong?" She then got up and ran quickly to the kitchen.
He Yanzhou braced his arms against the kitchen counter, his head slightly lowered, his hand supporting his forehead. The doors of the upper cabinets were open, their edges sharp; he had lost count of how many times he had bumped his head there.
Although I've gotten used to it, the house is still too small, and I inevitably stumble around everywhere.
Zhu Xu quickly squeezed in front of him and stood on tiptoe: "Let me see."
He Yanzhou frowned and turned his head away.
Zhu Xu knew he had hurt himself, and used some force to pry his hand open: "Oh, it's all red."
"It's nothing." His tone was clearly not good.
Zhu Xu forcefully lowered his height, raised his chin, and let a cool breeze blow on his forehead: "Don't blame the cabinet for being short. Look at any other man who is this tall."
After a moment, He Yanzhou chuckled, and his brows relaxed.
He looked down at her: "If word gets out, people will laugh at us. How can someone who runs a company live in a tiny rented room with a bed that's not big enough, a sofa that's not long enough, and he's always kowtowing?"
She said in a very soft voice, "I didn't ask you to move in."
He turned and left.
"I was wrong, I was wrong." Zhu Xu hugged his waist tightly. She knew he wasn't really angry, but he was just very pleased with her coaxing him.
Zhu Xu pressed his face against his chest and gently swayed a few times. Seeing that his expression had not improved, he stood on tiptoe and gently kissed his lips.
He Yanzhou dodged for a moment.
Zhu Xu commanded fiercely, "Don't move!" He then cupped his face and held it in place, his movements very gentle. His tongue explored him, and his fine teeth rubbed against his lips.
"Don't try that on me." His voice was muffled, but his words didn't match his true feelings.
Zhu Xu smiled, his eyes crinkling.
Before she knew it, He Yanzhou braced his hands on the kitchen counter, locking her inside. He bent down, tilted his head slightly to the side, and began to suck on her tongue.
Zhu Xu finally didn't have to exert himself to reach him anymore; he put his arm around Zhu Xu's shoulder and tilted his head slightly.
The perfectly matched angles made their kisses incredibly intimate.
There wasn't a sound inside; the warm light from the kitchen streamed through the door frame, and the air was thick with the scents of the room.
They never knew that just kissing could make them both sweat profusely.
After a long time, they finally parted ways, and He Yanzhou was still panting heavily.
He lowered his eyes, scrutinizing her features and red lips up close: "Zhu Xu, let's move."
"Okay." She readily agreed. "Do you know what I was looking at just now?"
"Hmm," he hummed, waiting for her to continue.
“These are a few properties I’ve been considering recently.” Zhu Xu jumped off the kitchen counter. “Could you spare two hours for me tomorrow? I want to take you to see the one I like the most.”
In a way, she revealed it in advance, reminding me: "I plan to transfer my confidence to fixed assets, and you are not allowed to interfere."
He Yanzhou smiled and said, "Okay."
The property she was interested in wasn't near the sea; it was located in a new town.
The surrounding environment is nice, but the amenities are still lacking. The development is nearing completion and the units are ready for occupancy. It takes 40 minutes to drive to the company and half an hour to the hotel. The initial payment and price per square meter are within my budget. Considering everything, it's a pretty ideal property.
The real estate agent took them there to have a look.
Of the nine floors, Zhu Xu chose the seventh. It has two bedrooms and two living rooms, and is well-ventilated from north to south. Although the area is not large, it is a world of difference compared to his previous rental apartment.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, separated by a construction site, lies the wetland park.
Zhu Xu asked, "How are you feeling?"
He Yanzhou affirmed, "Very good." From his perspective, this place still couldn't compare to a detached house of several hundred square meters, but over the past two years, watching Zhu Xu come this far, her achievements today seemed to be proportional to her efforts. He couldn't help but be happy for her.
He put his hands in his pockets and said, "I like it here."
Zhu Xu smiled and asked, "Would Mr. He be interested in coming to live with us?"
"Otherwise what?"
Zhu Xu took his arm: "Let's put a super king-size bed in the bedroom, replace the sofa with a spacious one, and make the wardrobe taller." She pointed towards the small bedroom: "You'll also have a place to work now."
He Yanzhou was extremely satisfied, his gaze falling on the villa complex under construction outside the window.
In fact, he had long planned to buy property in the North Island. Originally, he only intended to use it for long-term business trips, so he only reserved a room in the hotel for permanent use.
Things are different now; in the future, I will spend most of my time here, and may even settle down here.
He turned to the real estate agent and asked, "Do you own that area of houses too?"
The other party nodded: "Same developer, it's considered a high-end project in Phase III."
It was noon when I came out of the sales center.
Today, He Yanzhou drove the car himself, and Zhu Xu sat in the passenger seat.
She lowered the glass all the way down, leaned her head close, and felt a cool breeze brush past her ear, her hair fluttering. She was in a very pleasant mood at that moment, yet she was somewhat quiet.
While waiting at a red light, He Yanzhou turned his head and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"When will I be able to buy a villa outright without batting an eye, just like you?"
He Yanzhou smiled and said, "Buying a house was also part of my plan. It wasn't an impulsive decision. You must have done your research beforehand. It just so happens that I like that place, which saved me some trouble."
"Right?" Zhu Xu was overjoyed.
He Yanzhou smiled along with him.
Zhu Xu rolled up the car window and straightened up: "I will work even harder next year to try and get a more comfortable working environment." She turned to look at him: "The moment you signed your name was very inspiring."
"My pleasure."
"Thank you, kind neighbor."
/
With September almost over, Zhu Xu had two days off.
When she learned that He Yanzhou was about to go to the island, she went along to relax.
The guesthouses on the hillside are under construction, and if all goes well, they are expected to be ready to receive tourists during the peak season next year.
He Yanzhou took her to see the renderings, which were in a very modern container style, emphasizing environmental protection while also blending well with nature.
The houses are made of natural wood and are arranged in a staggered pattern following the contours of the hillside.
The interior is simply and cleanly decorated, with a full wall of sliding French doors leading to a meticulously landscaped courtyard. In the morning, you can simply use voice control to draw the curtains and greet the first rays of sunlight and the boundless sea view from your bed.
The surrounding area features restaurants, tea rooms, open-air cinemas, and infinity pools.
Being in such an environment must be extremely comfortable and pleasant.
After leaving the construction site, the road down the mountain was a bit difficult to walk.
He Yanzhou held Zhu Xu's hand tightly, taking half a step ahead of her so that he could support her weight well if she stumbled.
Zhu Xu carefully stepped off the rock: "I hope the prices here won't become outrageously expensive in the future."
"Not really," He Yanzhou said honestly, "but it's not suitable for budget travel."
Zhu Xu sighed, "So, those who know how to make money enjoy the world first."
He disagrees: "The original intention of travel is to release emotions. If you have the right travel companions and stay in hostels according to your own financial situation, you can also realize your value."
Zhu Xu smiled and said, "I've discovered something."
"What?"
"You can be quite love-obsessed sometimes."
He Yanzhou watched the path beneath his feet and sighed helplessly, "Yes, I'm also troubled." The next second, he felt her bump into him from behind.
He swayed slightly, then reached back to scoop up some more cloth: "Be careful."
Zhu Xu held his arm tightly, "Lower your head a little."
"how?"
"Hurry up."
He Yanzhou bent down slightly, and Zhu Xu gently and solemnly cupped his face, planting a deep kiss on his lips.
After navigating a short, difficult stretch of road, we arrived at the parking lot.
Zhu Xu suddenly looked up and was delighted to find what appeared to be a building hidden among the trees in the distance.
She pointed it out to him: "Is that red wall over there the temple we visited before?"
He Yanzhou glanced at her and answered yes.
"They're so close." She glanced at the construction site on the hillside, realizing something: "Aren't some of the rooms facing the temple?"
“That’s right.” He said casually, “Should I reserve a room for you?”
Zhu Xu, still looking rather naive, replied, "Okay."
He glanced over there again.
Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting lingering shadows on the thick, towering wall. The branches atop the wall seemed to be laden with bright red fruit, but they were too far away to see clearly.
A gentle breeze stirred, and the tranquility of that place surpassed even the vastness of the sea.
Zhu Xu turned back to him and asked, "After we've seen Grandma Yuan, shall we go for a walk over there?"
"Okay," He Yanzhou said.
Grandma Yuan knew they were coming today, so she went to the beach at early tide and brought back a lot of fresh oysters, and also picked up some seaweed on the rocky beach.
The two walked into the yard and saw a young man squatting in the corner repairing the fence.
He Yanzhou's lips curled into a smirk, a rare roguish smile appearing on his face. He whistled.
The young man turned his head, paused for a few seconds, stood up, casually wiped his hands on his pants, and walked over.
The two embraced each other, patting each other's backs as if they were using all their strength.
After a moment, they separated.
He Yanzhou said, "My girlfriend is Zhu Xu."
Then he looked at Zhu Xu and said, "Wei Zan."
The two shook hands and greeted each other, when a voice came from behind: "You weren't one last time, but this time you can finally introduce yourself to us openly?"
Grandma Yuan slowly walked out of the door, carrying a basin for washing vegetables, her face kind.
Zhu Xu faced the old woman, smiled, and bowed slightly: "Hello, Grandma Yuan."
"Good child, come in and sit down."
Zhu Xu ignored the two people who were still chatting, went inside alone, placed some tonics on the wooden table by the wall, and exchanged pleasantries with the old man.
For lunch, we had seaweed and pork buns and deep-fried oysters.
Zhu Xu washed his hands, which could be of some help.
Grandma Yuan kneaded the dough and rolled out the wrappers: "When Yanzhou was little, he loved eating the seaweed buns I made. He could eat five or six at a time and still not be satisfied." She looked at Zhu Xu and coaxed him like a child: "Has Xiao Xu ever tried any?"
"No," Zhu Xu said with a smile. "I grew up inland, and many of the local foods I've never seen before since coming to Beidao."
Grandma Yuan said, "On this small island, we live off the sea and basically don't need to buy vegetables all year round. What nature gives us must be incredibly delicious food."
The old man was very grateful. Zhu Xu listened quietly, then used a small spoon to scoop up two whole oysters and placed them on a sheet of dough covered with seaweed.
Grandma Yuan took it, pinched the pleats to seal it, and put it in the steamer: "These are all home-style flavors, let's try something new today."
“Okay,” Zhu Xu replied.
The two sat on small wooden stools in the kitchen, chatting as they made dumplings.
Zhu Xu turned his head unintentionally and saw He Yanzhou sitting on a rattan chair in the courtyard, his elbows propped on his knees, talking to Wei Zan who was repairing the fence next to him.
His suit jacket was draped over the armrest, and his shirt shone brightly white in the sunlight.
She couldn't hear what they were saying, but his relaxed and at ease demeanor was unusual.
Zhu Xu looked away: "Grandma Yuan, was Yanzhou naughty when he was little?"
"Pi, he and Weizhan were both incredibly mischievous." Grandma Yuan's face was full of smiles when she talked about their childhood. "But Yanzhou got better as he grew up. He focused on his studies and stopped being so silly and naughty."
At this point, the old man seemed to remember something, so he clapped the flour off his hands, stood up, and asked Zhu Xu to wait a moment.
Not long after, she slowly walked back and handed a worn photo album to Zhu Xu: "I wanted to show this to you last time, but I have a bad memory and forgot where I put it. I found it in the storage box under the bed when I was cleaning the attic the other day."
Zhu Xu flipped through the photo album; each page contained four photos, mostly pictures of two boys together.
She looked closely and pointed to one of them: "Is this him?"
“Yes.” Grandma Yuan smiled and said, “Yanzhou is taller and sturdier than Weizan.”
Zhu Xu flipped through the pages one by one, and Grandma Yuan had marked the time of the photo in the upper right corner of each picture. He had gradually transformed from a child with a childish face into a young man with distinct features.
A strange feeling gradually rose in her heart, but she couldn't quite pinpoint the reason for it.
She stared at a photo of him squatting in the yard eating watermelon and couldn't help but laugh, saying, "He's so dark-skinned."
"The island is exposed to wind and sun, so the children all have the same skin color."
She slowly turned to the last page of the photo album and closed it.
He paused, then suddenly began to unfold.
Her gaze lingered on a photograph in the upper left corner, in which a boy sat on a high rooftop, gazing calmly at the camera. Above him was a blue sky and treetops swaying in the wind.
Zhu Xu nervously pursed his lips and murmured, "This one is..."
Grandma Yuan looked over: "This was during the summer before I entered high school. He went upstairs to help me repair the roof. His face was the darkest then. Later, after returning to Lincheng to recuperate, it gradually became fair again."
This angle and that look suddenly reminded Zhu Xu of something. When she was 15 years old, she came to Beidao for the first time and received a kind gift from a boy by the temple wall.
She looked up and saw the boy with dark skin and short hair that covered his eyebrows.
The image of him in the photo largely matched the one in her memory, yet she could never reconcile it with the boy with the clear face and extremely short haircut she first met in her first year of high school.
Zhu Xu suddenly turned her head, and the courtyard was filled with sunlight. This time, He Yanzhou seemed to sense something and also turned his gaze to her.
The two looked at each other silently. He suddenly smiled, his eyes asking her what was wrong.
Zhu Xu felt a mix of emotions, shook his head, and only after a long time did he finally look away.
"Grandma Yuan, may I have this photo?"
The old man smiled gently: "Take it."
They ate and chatted during lunch, and everyone was very supportive, finishing off all the food the old lady had prepared. Zhu Xu especially loved the seaweed and pork buns; each one was bigger than her fist.
She ate two, but Grandma Yuan forced another one on her. Zhu Xu could only eat a few bites before she couldn't eat anymore, so she secretly put it into He Yanzhou's bowl.
It was past noon when we left, and the whole island was quiet.
He Yanzhou held Zhu Xu's hand and walked along the coast toward Qingfeng Temple.
In late autumn, the sun is extremely scorching.
He glanced at her furrowed brows and used the suit jacket he was wearing to cover her head.
“I can’t see it anymore.” Zhu Xu lifted the collar of his suit jacket with his palm.
"I'll watch the road for you."
"They won't take it into the sea, will they?"
He Yanzhou hugged her waist tighter: "Possibly."
"Feeding sharks again?"
"The shark is taking a nap."
Zhu Xu smiled and lowered his hand. His suit completely blocked his view, and the scent of his refreshing cologne, like a clear stream, reached his nose.
She followed him with peace of mind, going wherever he took her.
At this time, the temple was completely silent.
Before stepping across the threshold, Zhu Xu had already returned the suit to He Yanzhou and straightened his clothes.
The two went inside the hall to offer incense and put some change into the donation box. When they encountered a monk, He Yanzhou stopped, nodded respectfully, and exchanged a few words with him.
After that, I wandered around aimlessly and unknowingly ended up at the eastern wall.
Zhu Xu couldn't help but look up; the branches were laden with hawthorn berries. She suddenly remembered that when she was 15, it was also around this time of year.
"Shall I pick two for you to try?" He Yanzhou suddenly said.
"May I?"
“Why not?” He took off his suit jacket and handed it to her, unbuttoned his cuffs, and rolled up his shirt sleeves to his wrists.
Zhu Xu looked up. The wall was at least three meters high, and its surface was covered with slippery moss, making it difficult to get a foothold. Moreover, his attire was extremely restrictive.
She stopped her, saying, "Don't go up there, it's a bit dangerous."
"rest assured."
Zhu Xu said with a serious expression, "Your old arms and legs are getting old, you'd better be careful."
He Yanzhou glanced over and said indifferently, "Don't go looking for trouble." As if to prove something, he stepped on a slightly bent tree trunk next to him, used the momentum to climb up, pushed off the wall with one foot, and at the same time raised his hands to grip the top of the wall, climbing up in a few steps. His movements were handsome and agile.
Zhu Xu breathed a sigh of relief and stood below, looking up at him quietly.
His trousers were covered in dust, and his shoes had scratches on the toes. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, casting its light on his face.
That mature and rugged face could not be compared to the boy she was back then, but some fragments of her memory became clearer and clearer.
I hate myself for being so slow to realize things.
She asked loudly, "What can I see from up there?"
He Yanzhou paused sharply, then lowered his gaze.
It seems that it was on such an afternoon that she, a little girl, sat under an ancient tree and asked a similar question. At that time, she had just experienced a separation and had no idea what twists and turns her future life would bring.
At that time, she looked innocent and beautiful, her hair flowing freely in the wind.
He Yanzhou did not answer, but sat there silently watching her.
The distant chimes of the temple bells drifted through the air. He licked his lower lip with the tip of his tongue and said, "If..." He suddenly paused, not finishing his sentence.
if……
Zhu Xu thought, how could there be a "what if"?
She had simply taken a longer, thorny path, and though she had harbored resentment at times, she now realized that all those years of wandering had still been worthwhile.
She secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and happily pointed upwards: "I want the biggest one."
He Yanzhou swallowed lightly, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Okay." He leaned forward to pick it. "Here."
Zhu Xu raised his hands.
A plump red fruit traces a beautiful arc in mid-air.
On this day, the wind was gentle, the waves were calm, and the sun shone brightly.
—End of text—
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