13 What qualifications do you have to teach me?
The most respectful way for adults to say goodbye is to send me one last message. If you don't reply, we'll both be strangers from now on. Don't ask why, and don't pay attention to the other person's new life. After all, no one wants to experience the bittersweet feeling of "seeing the new laugh while hearing the old cry." Jin Lang never expected that he, an old friend, would meet her new friend so soon. In the northern suburbs of Beijing, a luxury hotel adjacent to the Imperial Gardens hosted the annual Chinese Chamber of Commerce Charity Dinner. The banquet hall, a two-story Chinese-style building, was surrounded by a tranquil courtyard, rustling with swaying bamboo. The venue was brightly lit, with wooden beech beams and rafters crisscrossing, and the antique gold bricks paving the floor shone with a warm luster. Those who could attend the dinner were all entrepreneurs and celebrities who had already made waves in the business world. These people had already reached the top of the food chain, their achievements and status not needing media exposure to prove themselves; rather, they used the opportunity to strengthen their connections. As the youngest son of the Ling'an Group chairman, Ren Yiming's only responsibility is to share his brother's burden by attending company events where someone must be present. To prevent him from mistaking someone for someone else, Ren Yiming always sends his most capable and thoughtful female secretary along to help him navigate the situation. Today, when the person who came to pick him up brought a white suit, Ren Yiming didn't bother to think about how to style it and simply put it on. Jin Lang, as the newly appointed spokesperson for FINO JEWEL, was accompanying Wu Fei, the company's Greater China president. Shortly after entering the venue, he noticed a striking white figure not far away. The man looked more mature than in his photograph. Though he wore a sharp suit for such an occasion, his captivating peach blossom eyes, paired with a subtle smile, gave him the air of a playboy. The woman standing beside him, wearing a white, waist-baring dress, tilted her head slightly to whisper in the man's ear. The hand that had been resting on the woman's waist withdrew, raising her glass and nodding to the approaching person. Jin Lang's gaze was fixed on Ren Yiming, his brow furrowed. Wu Fei, noticing he hadn't moved, looked in that direction. "Know him?" Jin Lang came to his senses, lowered his eyes to conceal his emotion, and said calmly, "Not really." "Ren Yiming, the young master of Ling'an Group." "From Mr. Wu's tone, do you sound familiar?" "We had dinner together once. Well, he's quite an interesting person." Seeing the slight admiration in Wu Fei's tone, Jin Lang couldn't help but become even more curious. "Oh, how do you mean?" "He left his family business...
The most respectful farewell for adults is my last message. If you don’t reply, we will just be strangers from now on.
Don’t ask for the reason, and don’t pay attention to the other person’s new life. After all, no one wants to taste the bitter taste of “seeing the new people laugh, and hearing the old people cry”.
Jin Lang didn't expect that he, an old friend, would meet her new friend so soon.
In the northern suburbs of Beijing, a luxury hotel adjacent to the Imperial Gardens hosted the annual Chinese Chamber of Commerce Charity Dinner. The banquet hall, housed in a two-story Chinese-style building, was surrounded by a tranquil courtyard, where lush bamboo swayed and rustled. The venue was brightly lit, its wooden beams and rafters crisscrossed, and the antique gold bricks paving the floor shone with a warm luster.
Those who could attend the dinner were all entrepreneurs and celebrities who had already reached the top of the food chain. Their achievements and status did not need to be proven by media exposure, but rather they took this opportunity to strengthen their connections.
As the youngest son of the chairman of Ling'an Group, the only thing Ren Yiming can do to share the burden for his brother Ren Yian is to participate in some company activities that require someone to act as a presence.
To prevent him from mistaking someone for someone else, Ren Yian always sent his most capable and thoughtful female secretary to accompany him, so he could help him with any situation. Today, when someone came to pick him up, they also brought a white suit. Ren Yiming didn't bother to think about how to match it, so he just put it on and went out.
Jin Lang, the newly appointed spokesperson for FINO JEWEL, a luxury jewellery brand, was attending the event with Wu Fei, President of FINO JEWEL's Greater China region. Shortly after entering the venue, he noticed a striking white figure not far away.
The man looked a bit more mature than in the photo. Although he was wearing a well-ironed suit for such an occasion, his charming peach blossom eyes and faint smile made him look like a romantic and amorous playboy.
The lady standing next to him was wearing a white dress that showed her waist. She tilted her head slightly and whispered in the man's ear. He withdrew his hand that was originally on the woman's waist, raised his glass and nodded to the person coming towards him.
Jin Lang's eyes were fixed on Ren Yiming, his brows furrowed. Wu Fei saw that he was motionless and looked in that direction.
"know?"
Jin Lang came back to his senses, lowered his eyes to hide his emotions, and said calmly, "Not really acquaintance."
"The young master of Ling'an Group, Ren Yiming."
"From Mr. Wu's tone, you two are very familiar with each other?"
"We had dinner together once. How should I put it? He's a very interesting person." Seeing that Wu Fei's tone contained a hint of appreciation, Jin Lang couldn't help but become more curious.
"Oh, how do you say it?"
"He gave up his family business and insisted on opening a bar. It's said that Mr. Ren had already secured an Ivy League offer for him, but he was so arrogant that he secretly went to Germany to study for a master's degree in order to prove himself, which pissed off his father half to death."
"But it's also because he has his own unique pursuits that he and his brother Ren Yian have a good relationship, and there hasn't been any sibling rivalry."
Jin Lang was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Is he married?"
Wu Fei was a little surprised to hear Jin Lang suddenly say this, but he immediately laughed, "Marriage? Look at him, does he look like the kind of person who would give up his entire flower garden for a woman?"
"I haven't even heard of any of his girlfriends lasting more than six months."
"But in a family like theirs, marriage is most likely an exchange of benefits. Who knows, maybe one day we'll witness the wedding of the century."
At this time, someone was walking towards them. Wu Fei nodded slightly to the person, a perfect smile on his face, and turned to Jin Lang and said, "I'll go say hello, you can do whatever you want."
Amidst the elegant attire and the sounds of laughter, Jin Lang's gaze followed the figure in white. He unconsciously tightened his grip on the goblet, his knuckles turning white. Emotions surged within him: anger, jealousy, and a hint of indescribable bitterness.
"Sir, would you like a change?"
The waiters were dressed in uniform and had professional smiles on their faces.
"No, thank you."
Jin Lang came to his senses and placed the empty glass on the waiter's tray. He took a deep breath, unbuttoned his suit with one hand, and strode towards the man.
Ren Yiming had actually seen him a long time ago. When he saw Jin Lang walking towards him, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he tilted his head and said to the secretary next to him, "You don't need to introduce this person. I know this big star too."
"Hello, Mr. Ren, I'm Jin Lang."
Jin Lang walked a few steps to Ren Yiming, stood in front of him and extended his right hand to him. Although he had an urge to hit him, he still maintained basic politeness on the surface.
Ren Yiming casually placed one hand on his female companion's shoulder and picked up his wine glass from the table with the other hand. He looked up and down at the person opposite him with a playful smile.
Jin Lang felt that he was being deliberately made difficult for her, and he became even angrier, but he didn't want to lose his composure at this moment, so he asked a passing waiter for a glass of champagne.
Seeing that he responded calmly, Ren Yiming slowly raised the cup in his hand and gently touched the high-heeled glass picked up by the visitor.
"Mr. Jin, I've heard of your great name for a long time!"
The three words "Mr. Jin" were like a flying knife. The last person to call him that was Liu Yuwei.
Jin Lang looked at the way he hugged the woman. His posture and expression were almost exactly the same as the photo he had seen at Liu Yuwei's house before, except that the person in his arms was different. His brows twisted uncontrollably.
Seeing that the other person's eyes fell on his female companion intentionally or unintentionally, Ren Yiming started to tease him.
"Did the big star come here alone? Why doesn't he have a female companion?"
"Where's your rumored girlfriend?"
He paused deliberately at the words "rumored girlfriend", the provocation in his eyes obvious.
Jin Lang knew that he must have seen the photos online and was trying to intimidate him. Such an occasion, with so many people talking, was definitely not suitable for a showdown.
"Mr. Ren, would you mind speaking with me for a moment?"
"Just wait for me here, don't go too far, I'll be back soon." Ren Yiming softly instructed the secretary.
The man's considerate and gentle words pierced Jin Lang's heart like a steel needle, and he could no longer suppress his anger.
Ren Yiming followed Jin Lang, and the two of them walked through the bustling banquet hall, pushed open the Chinese-style hollow wooden door carved with exquisite patterns, and walked to the railing of the outdoor terrace.
Ren Yiming pulled out a metal lighter, and with a click, a flame leaped up. He lit a cigarette, the white smoke swirling in the night. He continued with a cynical attitude, "What does a big star want from me? We don't know each other, do we?"
"It's true that we don't know each other." Jin Lang paused for a moment, as if he was choosing his words.
He really didn't want to beat around the bush anymore, so he spoke again in a serious tone.
"I have no right to judge Mr. Ren's attitude towards life, but please don't hurt Liu Yuwei."
Hearing the name "Liu Yuwei", Ren Yiming probably guessed the other party's intentions. He must have misunderstood something and ran to warn him. But belated sincerity was cheaper than grass. Ren Yiming didn't want to explain, and there was no need to explain to him.
The person who was originally leaning against the railing stood up straight, looked at Jin Lang with contempt, and spoke in a tough tone.
"I hurt her? If it weren't for me, Liu Yuwei would have gotten drunk eight years ago and had to sleep against a telephone pole on Berlin Avenue."
He glanced at the other person and snorted coldly, "What qualifications do you think you have to teach me a lesson?"
Ren Yiming's words were like a heavy punch to Jin Lang's heart. He remained silent. The words "eight years ago" echoed in his mind. They had actually known each other for eight years. Exactly eight years.
"Jin Lang, since you chose to let go back then, then it's not your turn to worry about her affairs in the past, present, and future."
Ren Yiming saw Jin Lang not saying a word with his head down, and thought that he knew he had nothing to say, so he just walked back.
"Ren Yiming, you have the capital to retreat unscathed. When you've had enough fun, you can just walk away. But have you ever thought about what to do with her?"
Jin Lang suddenly spoke again, his voice sharp, breaking the silence of the night.
He took two steps forward and wanted to grab the other person's collar directly, but in the end he took the occasion into consideration and grabbed Ren Yiming's arm forcefully.
"If you can't give her commitment and happiness, you should let her go."
Ren Yiming snuffed out the cigarette in his hand, swung his hand away, raised his eyebrows, and replied provocatively.
"Who told you I was playing? Besides, what happens between the two of us has nothing to do with you, an outsider."
He took two steps, still not satisfied, "Even if I let go, it won't be your turn."
The wooden door slammed shut. Jin Lang stood outside, took a deep breath, and tried to suppress his chaotic heartbeat.
Ren Yiming's final words were like a match, igniting the rage that had already built up. Jin Lang clenched his fingers, veins popping on the back of his hand. He punched the stone railing, and his joints immediately showed a little red, but he felt no physical pain at all.
…
Lin Yuwei rarely had the opportunity to attend a prestigious business dinner. She had no real connection with these people on a daily basis. Even just getting to know them so she could strike up a conversation with them in the next opportunity would be helpful.
Although she was always following the man beside her, she was always keeping an eye on the people around her.
A man in a white suit caught her eye. She didn't know why he looked familiar. Could he be a former suitor?
Lin Yuwei, who had been secretly paying attention to the movements of the strange man, unexpectedly discovered that Jin Lang was also at the banquet, and he seemed to know the man in white. Not only did the two of them clink glasses and drink together, but they also walked out of the banquet hall together and went to the terrace.
Unable to suppress her inner curiosity, she wanted to know what the connection was between these two eye-catching men. However, the terrace was shaped like a single line, so anyone standing anywhere would easily notice her.
Lin Yuwei suddenly had an idea and quickly descended the stairs to the first floor. She pushed open the corridor door and stepped into the quaint Chinese courtyard. The night was dark, and the heavy shadows of the bamboo just obscured her figure.
The cold winter wind blew away the conversations between the men upstairs. From a distance, she could only hear fragments of their conversations: "Liu Yuwei," "Berlin," "Ren Yiming"...
When these keywords were arranged and combined together, Lin Yuwei's mind suddenly read a fragment of memory from her college days.
...
Lin Yuwei was a beautiful child from a young age. Confident in her appearance, she always yearned for the entertainment industry. However, she later secretly attempted to take the art exam but failed. To dissuade her from pursuing a dream, her parents sent her to study at a university in Europe.
In her junior year, she applied for an Erasmus+ exchange program in Germany to experience the grandeur of the Berlin Film Festival. It was also during that time that the young and energetic Lin Yuwei experienced her first taste of rejection.
"Ren Yiming, I like you very much. Do you want to try it with me?"
"Excuse me, I have a girlfriend."
"Impossible. I asked around, and your classmates all said you were single."
"I just got married. Look, she's buying me some curry sausage..."
Seeing that she seemed unconvinced, the boy shouted to the food truck not far away, "Liu Yuwei, I'm hungry, hurry up."
Lin Yuwei saw a tall girl with a ponytail looking in her direction and waved with a smile. The girl was fair-skinned with curved eyes. Lin Yuwei felt that compared to herself, she was too ordinary, but this person was also called "Yuwei".
She had always been the one who took the initiative to reject others. This was not something worth remembering for the arrogant Lin Yuwei at the time, and she had long forgotten it over the years.
Unexpectedly, I heard that name again in such an occasion today and met the man who had rejected me before.
Back in the banquet hall, Lin Yuwei didn't see Jin Lang anymore, but Ren Yiming and his female companion were still there. She walked past the man and accidentally stepped on the edge of her skirt. She thought he would lend a hand, but the woman next to Ren Yiming was quick to support her arm.
"Thank you," she raised her eyes and thanked him "sincerely."
Lin Yuwei felt the man's gaze sweep past her without stopping. Clearly, he didn't remember her at all.
After a dinner party, some people left happily, while others left in frustration.
…
After the dinner that day, Jin Lang was upset by Ren Yiming's provocative attitude. What made him even more incomprehensible was why Liu Yuwei wanted to be with such a playboy and gave birth to a child for him even though they had no official status.
After finishing the wine in the glass, he decided to go to Liu Yuwei the next day to ask him clearly.
Unexpectedly, no one was at her house for several days. Jin Lang couldn't help but wonder if his impulsiveness had alerted Ren Yiming, so he tied Liu Yuwei to his side.
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