Chapter 23
"Xia Wan, are you free tonight?"
"Let's have a meal together."
This brief invitation was no longer a "drop-in" ride, nor a professional exchange within the boundaries of "classmates." It was a clear, purely personal invitation that transcended all preconceived boundaries.
The dim light in the lounge, the lingering fragrance of the venue and the crisp fir scent on his body, as well as the slightly cool touch left by his fingertips as he brushed her hair away...all of this made this simple invitation full of indescribable weight and dangerous temptation.
Xia Wan's heart pounded wildly in her chest, making her eardrums buzz. She looked at Jiang Yu, at the undisguised concentration and burning passion surging in his deep eyes, at the solemn invitation etched in his tightly pursed lips. The words of refusal swirled on her tongue, but she couldn't utter them.
It wasn't that she didn't want to refuse. Rather, the door to her heart, the one she had personally reinforced, called "classmate," had already been shaken to the point of crumbling by his words, "There's light in the plan," the applause under his silent gaze, and the undisguised, burning gaze he now held. Furthermore, the fire deep within her heart, ignited by him, the one called "Xia Wan," also let out a silent cry of longing for closer proximity.
Time seemed to freeze. The sunlight from outside the window filtered through the gaps in the blinds, casting moving spots of light on the floor.
Finally, under Jiang Yu's calm yet oppressive gaze, Xia Wan nodded slowly and with great difficulty. Without saying a word, she gave her answer with her gestures.
She agreed.
The moment she nodded, Jiang Yu's tense jawline relaxed slightly. The surging undercurrent in his deep eyes seemed to settle, transforming into a deeper, almost determined light. He didn't say anything else, just nodded slightly. "Okay. I'll send you the address later."
He didn't stop, not even glancing at her. He turned and left the lounge with steady steps. The door closed gently, shutting out the noise outside and leaving Xia Wan alone in the empty room. Her heart was still beating wildly, her cheeks burning, and her fingertips cold.
She agreed.
Having dinner alone with Jiang Yu...
The shock of this realization was far more distraught than giving a presentation in front of a thousand people. She leaned against the cold wall, took a few deep breaths, and tried to regain some sense. Was that nod impulsive? Was it a faintness of exhaustion? Or was it... the longing deep within her, suppressed for a decade, finally breaking free from all restraints?
She didn't know. She only knew that when he said, "Let's have dinner together," what surged in her heart wasn't resistance, but an almost instinctive, hugely throbbing anticipation...
In the evening, Xia Wan followed the address provided and arrived at a restaurant tucked away under the shade of plane trees in the old town. The facade was unassuming, with only a small brass sign inscribed with the quaint character "Li." Pushing open the heavy oak door, she found a completely different world. The lighting was warm and soft, and the air was filled with the warm aroma of food and the faint scent of cedar smoke. The space was small, elegantly and intimately furnished, with dark wooden tables and chairs, cleverly separated by tall plants, creating separate, independent worlds.
This place is a bit un-Jiangyu.
Xia Wan mentioned the person who ordered the meal at the front desk as "Mr. Jiang Yu Jiang," and a waiter respectfully led her to a window seat at the back. Jiang Yu had already arrived.
He had changed out of his daytime formal attire, wearing only a soft, dark gray turtleneck sweater, casually layered with a matching cashmere cardigan. The warm yellow light softened his hard, cold features, making him appear less aloof and more at homely, with a certain indescribable gentleness. He was gazing out the window at the old street shrouded in dusk, the lines of his profile strikingly clear in the light.
Hearing footsteps, he turned. Seeing Xia Wan, he stood up, his eyes fixed on her. Xia Wan had also changed her clothes, shedding the sharp suit she'd worn for the presentation. She was now wearing a loose, light brown sweater and matching slacks. Her long hair was loosely combed up, and she wore only minimal makeup, her face shedding the harshness of the day, appearing gentle and quiet.
Their eyes met. There was none of the tension and heat of the backstage meeting, only a strange calm, a touch of tentativeness and even more anticipation.
"Here I come." Jiang Yu's voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible relaxation.
"Yeah." Xia Wan nodded and sat down opposite him.
The waiter brought the menu and warm water and whispered if she needed a recommendation. Jiang Yu pushed the menu towards Xia Wan and said, "Look, what do you want to eat? The Huaiyang cuisine here is quite good."
Xia Wan took the menu, her fingertips gliding across the smooth paper, her gaze wandering. The atmosphere was a bit awkward. There was no expected awkwardness, no forced small talk, only a tacit, silent silence, waiting for the opening remarks.
She ordered a few light dishes, and Jiang Yu added two signature dishes and a soup. He consulted Xia Wan and ordered a small bottle of the restaurant's signature rice wine for her and a cup of white tea for himself. "The rice wine here is not too strong, so you can have a few. I'm driving, so I'll have tea instead. Let's have a small celebration first."
The waiter took the menus away, and once again, they were alone in the room. The streetlights outside the window lit up one after another, their dim glow filtering through the glass, casting mottled shadows on the dark tabletop.
"The report received a very good response." Jiang Yu picked up his water glass, took a sip, and then his gaze fell on Xia Wan's face. He started the conversation with a calm tone of stating a fact. "Just now, when I left, several experts came to me specifically to inquire about you and your proposal." He paused and added, "They were genuinely interested, not just politely."
Xia Wan's heart skipped a beat. His opening remarks were still calm, like the opening of a "love relationship," yet something seemed different. She was touched by the natural recognition and kindness in his words. "Thank you," she whispered, her fingers unconsciously caressing the warm wall of the cup. "And thanks to the information and... ideas you provided earlier."
She deliberately avoided the word "help" and used the more neutral "ideas".
Jiang Yu didn't seem to care about her words, and just nodded slightly: "The information is just the key. It's you who opens the door and walks in." His eyes were deep, with a kind of insightful calmness, "The core value of the plan is given by you."
Xia Wan felt her cheeks warm. The waiter duly began serving the dishes, exquisite Huaiyang cuisine, elegantly presented and overflowing with fragrance. The aroma of the food and the warm atmosphere slightly eased the invisible tension in the air.
The two began their meal. Initially, they were somewhat reserved, their conversation revolving around meetings, project progress, and industry news, maintaining a rational, safe flow. Jiang Yu wasn't talkative, but whenever he spoke, his words were insightful and insightful. Xia Wan gradually relaxed, too. When discussing areas she was familiar with, her eyes lit up, and her words became more fluent and confident.
As the meal progressed and a few cups of warm rice wine washed over them, the atmosphere became more relaxed and natural. As the night deepened outside the window, soothing classical guitar music drifted through the restaurant. In this small, isolated space, a warm and cozy atmosphere permeated the room. The aroma of food and the gentle music intertwined, creating an almost private, disarming atmosphere.
The conversation gradually shifted from professional to more personal. Xia Wan discussed the fascinating artisans she met during a renovation project for an old house in Jincheng, and the stories hidden within ancient woodcarvings and brickwork. Jiang Yu shared his early experiences with a project to preserve an ancient village in a remote area, exploring the wisdom and perseverance of life that was starkly different from that of modern cities.
They chatted about reading, travel, and their shared fondness for certain historical buildings... There was no forced flattery, no tentative speculation, only a natural sharing and listening based on real experience and reflection. Xia Wan was surprised to discover that, without the halo of "Mr. Jiang" and the distant shell of emotional trauma, Jiang Yu's mind was vast and profound, and his views on many things were uniquely sharp and warm.
Jiang Yu, on the other hand, felt even more deeply for the woman before him, Xia Wan. She was no longer the radiant yet unreachable expert at the podium, nor was she the distant and resolute figure at the entrance of Jincheng Alley, nor was she the fragile yet stubborn presence amid the chaos of the class reunion. Now, she sat under the warm light, her brows gentle, her eyes clear. When she talked about her passions, they sparkled with a moving light. Occasionally, she would laugh at something he said, and the corners of her mouth curved into a natural and beautiful curve, carrying a kind of unguarded liveliness.
This vividness, like a warm light, silently melted some icy corners in his heart.
Before I knew it, the meal was almost over. The last warm dessert arrived. With only a few tables left in the restaurant, the music became even more distinct.
A brief silence fell. Neither of them sought further conversation, simply enjoying this rare, comfortable, and peaceful atmosphere. The slight intoxication brought by the rice wine stained Xia Wan's cheeks with a faint blush, and her eyes took on a hazy softness.
Jiang Yu's gaze fell on her face, on her eyebrows and eyes, which were even more gentle due to the alcohol, and on the slightly curved, relaxed corners of her mouth. His eyes were deep, with an almost greedy description, as if he wanted to deeply imprint her at this moment in his heart.
"Xia Wan." He suddenly spoke in a low voice, which was particularly clear in the quiet background music, and also had a different softness than usual, almost like a sigh.
Xia Wan looked up at the sound and looked into his deep eyes. The emotions surging in them were more complex and intense than ever before.
"Do you know?" He looked at her, his voice low and slow, with a strange texture, as if it had traveled through a long time. Every word struck Xia Wan's heart clearly, "This meal..."
He paused, his gaze fixed on hers, as if he wanted to peer deep into her soul. Then, he spoke clearly and word by word, the words that instantly froze Xia Wan's blood and caused her heart to stop:
"I've been waiting for ten years."
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