Chapter 21 Tying ribbons is the most...
Liang Qi was dressed in a black suit, standing straight and tall. The lady beside him wore a square-neck mustard yellow suede dress, carrying a small bag in one hand and naturally holding the man's arm with the other.
Surrounded by dazzling lights, the two walking together were the epitome of elegance and nobility.
Jiang Nuanyu's heart sank suddenly. Just then, Liang Qi seemed to glance in her direction. But the next moment, their view was blocked by the crowd, and she couldn't see his eyes.
After the crowd had passed, Liang Qi and the lady beside him had already arrived at the reception desk.
Xin Yan was looking at the invitation list and talking to the two of them; Liang Qi's expression was calm, but the lady next to him frowned slightly.
The other colleagues in charge of greeting guests were all busy, and after hesitating for two seconds, Jiang Nuanyu finally decided to step forward.
As she approached, her eyes met Liang Qi's. Jiang Nuanyu gave a polite smile, quickly looked away, and turned to ask Xin Yan, "What's going on?"
Xin Yan looked troubled: "This lady said she was invited by Ms. Sofie to accompany her to the party, but... Sofie and her male companion entered not long ago."
Although Julie across from her couldn't understand Chinese, she could tell that Jiang Nuanyu was more capable than the young girl at the reception desk.
Seeing her looking over, Julie curled her lips into a smile, raised her eyebrows slightly, and lifted her chin slightly as well.
It was a very confident attitude.
Jiang Nuanyu smiled and said in English, "I'm very sorry, ma'am, there was a small oversight in our initial internal communication. We apologize for keeping you and your friend waiting. Welcome both of you."
Would it be convenient for me to leave your name so I can prepare a gift for you later?
Julie glanced at her without moving, then said, "Giuli Conti."
"Okay. Thank you for letting me know." Jiang Nuanyu noted this information down in the roster memo.
As soon as she put down her pen, Xin Yan, who was next to her, realized what was happening and started putting on the entrance bracelet for Julie.
Jiang Nuanyu's fingers rubbed against the edge of the box containing the bracelet ribbon, caught in a dilemma.
Just as she was hesitating, Liang Qi reached out his hand to her.
He bent his elbow, his hand clenched into a loose fist, the veins on the back of his hand faintly bulging, his knuckles strong. Jiang Nuanyu inexplicably dared not look at him, lowered her eyes and nodded vaguely, then took out a dark gray ribbon and wrapped it around his wrist.
Liang Qi observed her eyebrows and eyes until he felt the ribbon on her wrist, then he turned his attention to the movement of her hand.
With her nimble hands, she bent one end of the ribbon into a loop, passed the other end through the loop, wrapped it around once, and then put the looped end back through. She tightened both ends, and the ribbon was tied around his wrist.
"alright."
She lowered her hand and raised her face, but her gaze remained fixed on his collar.
Liang Qi also lowered his hands.
Jiang Nuanyu waited two extra seconds before looking up, but still met his restrained yet seemingly probing gaze.
"Thank you," he said with a slight smile.
Jiang Nuanyu was stunned and couldn't even utter the words "You're welcome" in response.
It's just that his gaze was too deceptive, making her mistakenly believe that he was thinking about something else and would say something else to her.
The thought had just crossed her mind when she considered their current environment and realized that her idea was simply wishful thinking.
While she was still feeling emotional, Julie had already stepped to the side and taken Liang Qi's arm again.
Jiang Nuanyu didn't know where to look, so she looked away for a few moments before raising her hand towards the entrance of the venue: "Please, both of you."
Liang Qi didn't speak again, nodded slightly, and then turned and entered the venue with Zhu Li.
Jiang Nuanyu's gaze fell on that figure in black and yellow. She felt a mix of emotions: the relaxation after tension, confusion, disappointment, grievance, and helplessness in Liang Qi's eyes, all of which choked her and made her feel suffocated.
Those two short minutes were more tiring for her than any social gathering that evening.
"Huh? There's definitely no one named 'Julie' on this list..." Even though she had put the person in, Xin Yan was still uneasy and flipped through the roster again.
Jiang Nuanyu looked away from the entrance of the venue, regained her senses, and said, "She said that Sofie invited her. If it was that designer Sofie, I guess the other party probably verbally recommended Julie to the editor-in-chief, which is why she wasn't recorded on the list."
Xin Yan suddenly realized, "That makes sense! How come I didn't think of that before? It's a good thing you came, otherwise it would have been too tragic if I had offended someone if we had been delayed any longer."
Jiang Nuanyu didn't respond, still thinking about the possible relationship between Zhu Li and Liang Qi.
The kiss on her birthday night was still vivid in her memory, and she couldn't help but think about it every day. But now, she could only watch him walk side by side with another woman into the world of fame and fortune.
Even though she understood that their joint attendance might just be out of courtesy, she still found it hard to admit that she wasn't hurt by that scene.
She wanted to complain, but didn't know who to complain to.
*
Before the reception officially began, the work of greeting guests was finally over.
When Jiang Nuanyu returned from the restroom, Ji Meng had already finished her opening remarks, and the host went on stage to announce the start of tonight's special event—a mini fashion show.
She had already talked too much that night and really didn't want to wander into crowded areas, so she simply found a spot backstage near the stage where she wouldn't interfere with the models' entry. This spot also offered a better view of the entire venue compared to sitting at the organizers' table.
After the host left the stage, the lights suddenly dimmed with a "click," and the room fell silent.
A series of spotlights flowed in a cycle, gradually increasing in speed until the entire runway was illuminated.
As the music began, models appeared one by one, wearing designs from past collections of various brands, creating a clever echo with the latest autumn/winter collections displayed on the screen.
Jiang Nuanyu's gaze followed the model to the center of the venue and recognized the person sitting in the very center as Sofie, Luneel's core designer.
I heard that the other party came to Beijing to prepare for the brand's anniversary fashion show, and that taking the time to attend tonight's cocktail party is a great honor for the magazine.
Sofie looked at the models on the runway and turned to whisper to the person next to her.
Jiang Nuanyu looked closely and saw that the person chatting and laughing with Sofie was none other than Zhu Li, who was traveling with Liang Qi.
Her gaze shifted again, and sure enough, on Julie's other side, Liang Qi sat there, his gaze indifferently fixed on the direction of the stage.
The moment she saw him, Liang Qi seemed to sense something and glanced at both sides of the stage.
Jiang Nuanyu's heart raced instantly, and she instinctively lifted her foot, trying to dodge; but she quickly realized that she was in the shadows and he couldn't actually see her at all.
She then stared at him almost directly, almost brazenly, across a brightly lit catwalk, with only the models intermittently cutting off her view.
Suddenly, Liang Qi turned his head to the side, as if listening to the person next to him talking.
The runway light spilled into the front row, creating a dim and contrasting light that clearly defined the outline of his profile, precisely separating him from the surrounding environment.
"Are you looking at him?"
A voice suddenly rang in my ears.
Jiang Nuanyu was taken aback.
She didn't turn around, but she knew the person speaking was Shi Youning.
Shi Youning also looked in the direction below the stage and said, "Whether on stage or off stage, he always makes himself stand out at a glance."
Jiang Nuanyu still didn't turn around or say anything.
After a brief silence, Shi Youning asked, "Do you know why we broke up?"
Jiang Nuanyu frowned slightly and turned her head to the other side.
Shi Youning chuckled to herself and said, "You don't need to be so wary of me. This time I'm not forcing you to answer my questions. Besides, I bet you want to know why we broke up."
Jiang Nuanyu remained rooted to the spot. Shi Youning had guessed correctly.
Shih Yu-ning said, "Actually, I only recently truly understood the answer to this question."
"When he first returned to China after retiring, he often went to his friends' gatherings. He liked being in those lively places, but he rarely participated; he mostly just sat quietly on the side."
He didn't seem to have changed much, and he didn't say anything, but I knew that besides his physical health, he was also suffering psychologically. After all, he had ended the career he thought he would dedicate half his life to.
Once I went to his place to look for him, but I found him smoking on the balcony.
Athletes strictly limit their intake of tobacco and alcohol, which is why that scene was so shocking to Shi Youning.
She felt a surge of both pain and love in an instant. Without saying a word, she took the half-smoked cigarette butt from his mouth, climbed up his neck, and kissed him.
He didn't push her away.
Perhaps that kiss, like that cigarette, was one of the few things in his life at the time that could bring him excitement.
“That’s how we got together. Later, I had the idea of going back to Europe to continue my studies. At that time, his work at Tianqi was starting to focus more on Yunjing, and Yunjing had many resort projects in Europe. So I brought it up with him with great anticipation. He didn’t stop me from going, but he refused to go with me.”
“He never said he loved me, but he respected everything about me.” Shi Youning looked at Jiang Nuanyu and said, “I think that’s love.”
"So I thought that even if we were separated for a short time, we would get back together sooner or later. Because he loves me."
But I was wrong.
Now I finally understand that from the moment I chose to leave him, it was already over for him.
As Jiang Nuanyu listened to Shi Youning's remarkably calm narration, her heart felt icy cold.
She could sense the faint regret hidden in Shi Youning's relief, and the lingering pain that followed.
She neither disliked Shi Youning nor sympathized with her.
People always have to pay the price for their choices. For every choice you make, you gain something, but you're also destined to lose something else entirely. These two are often like the two poles of an electromagnetic field, incompatible.
Shi Youning has indeed gotten what she wanted. Everything she has now is the result of her original choice.
Nevertheless, Liang Qi's attitude towards Shi Youning still surprised her. His respectful letting go was nothing less than a cold and cruel form of torture.
Just then, Shi Youning asked, "Do you think he ever loved me?"
Jiang Nuanyu was surprised that she would ask so directly. Her expression softened slightly, but she finally said, "I still can't answer your question."
Shi Youning saw the reluctance beneath her seemingly calm demeanor, chuckled, and said, "You're quite interesting."
Jiang Nuanyu didn't say anything more.
Before turning to leave, Shi Youning paused for a moment.
“I feel I need to apologize to you about what happened at the bar,” she said. “I was…sort of out of control. If I offended you, I hope you can believe that it wasn’t my intention.”
She left without waiting for Jiang Nuanyu's response after she finished speaking.
Jiang Nuanyu stood there, her heart filled with complex emotions.
*
As the party drew to a close, several editors from Florian magazine, who were seeing off guests at the stairwell of the banquet hall, wore friendly but tired smiles.
Jiang Nuanyu is the same.
She had just seen off a rather enthusiastic and talkative fashion blogger, and as she turned around with a sigh of relief, she saw Liang Qi and Zhu Li walking towards her.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she frantically searched her mind for a suitable official response to the two of them. She smiled and was about to step forward when Ji Meng went to greet her first.
Ji Meng extended her hand to shake hands with Liang Qi: "Mr. Liang, I apologize again for not sending you an invitation. It was a serious oversight on my part. Your presence tonight would be a great honor for our party."
Liang Qi smiled faintly: "Editor-in-Chief Ji is too modest. The reception was well prepared in all aspects, the process was perfect, the relevant personnel responded quickly, and the entry stage was very professional."
Ji Meng smiled and said, "Thank you for your high praise."
Julie watched the two exchange pleasantries with curiosity, and Ji Meng explained, "Mr. Liang is a sponsor of Florian."
Julie exclaimed in surprise, "Really?! What a coincidence!" She tilted her head to look at Liang Qi, "No wonder you rejected me at first but then agreed to come. It turns out there's this connection between us."
Liang Qi didn't reply, but glanced at Jiang Nuanyu who was not far away.
Jiang Nuanyu could vaguely hear the conversation between the three people, but she didn't look in that direction.
Her heart jumped when she heard the farewell.
She held onto the stair railing behind her back with one hand, her head bowed, yet she felt as if a gaze was drawn closer and closer to her.
She couldn't help but look up, and sure enough, it was Liang Qi looking at her. Their eyes met, and he turned and walked towards her.
Although she was standing right where people had to go downstairs, there was no need for her to come over and say hello.
She was genuinely surprised and flustered, but the polite words that had been swirling in her mind just a minute ago had vanished into thin air.
Seeing Liang Qi stop in front of her in a few steps, she quickly greeted him, "Mr. Liang."
Liang Qi nodded in response to her greeting, looked at her for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Is your foot feeling better?"
Jiang Nuanyu was completely taken aback when Liang Qi asked her this question at this moment. She paused, then nodded. "...Oh." "Much better. Thank you."
Liang Qi didn't respond to her politeness; his gaze lowered slightly and landed on her lips.
Jiang Nuanyu quickly lowered her eyes and pursed her lips uncomfortably.
His casual glance seemed like some kind of code, reminding her of what had happened on her birthday night.
She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but Liang Qi's initiative in walking towards her, his words of concern, and the look in his eyes seemed to be forcibly shattering the unfamiliar atmosphere she had worked so hard to establish between them that evening.
Her heart was churning. When she looked back, Liang Qi had already raised his gaze and looked into her eyes.
"When will you be done?" he asked.
"It should be soon." Jiang Nuanyu answered him subconsciously, then realized what he might mean and glanced at Zhu Li next to him.
Liang Qi caught her gaze, his eyes narrowed for a moment, and he finally understood why she was still so polite even though there were no other colleagues around.
He didn't speak for a moment, but Julie asked, "Can we go now?"
Liang Qi glanced at Jiang Nuanyu, nodded to Zhu Li, and said, "Anytime is fine. I'll send a car to take you back to the hotel."
Liang Qi seemed to mean that he wouldn't leave with her. Zhu Li's expression changed slightly, and he turned to look at Jiang Nuanyu.
Jiang Nuanyu, for reasons unknown, or perhaps to compete with someone, took advantage of Julie's inability to understand the Chinese she had just spoken, and deliberately said in English a very formal statement: "Thank you both for attending tonight, it's an honor. Take care. Goodbye. Good night."
Liang Qi paused slightly.
Having said all that, he naturally wouldn't say anything more, only saying, "Goodbye."
Jiang Nuanyu lowered her eyes, forced a smile, and nodded, not daring to look at him again.
After their figures disappeared at the top of the stairs, she regretted her impulsive decision to draw a line between them.
But then I thought about it again. He was always seen going in and out with other people, but had he ever considered her feelings?
No matter how you look at it, she's feeling terrible!
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