Chapter 35
The Gold Award selection process has concluded, and the Jinzhou Old Bank Building vault reinforcement project has unsurprisingly won this year's "Historic Building Preservation and Innovative Application" Gold Award. The news was met with jubilation throughout the design institute. This recognition is not only a testament to the project's innovative value and technical difficulty, but also a tribute to the professionalism of the entire team, particularly Xia Wan, the core driving force behind the project.
The celebration banquet was even grander than the previous one. Xia Wan was still the center of attention, but this time, standing beneath the dazzling lights, accepting the torrent of praise and congratulations, she felt remarkably calm. The joy of this honor was genuine, but the deeper satisfaction stemmed from the fact that she had used her expertise, wisdom, and perseverance to truly solve a difficult problem, preserve a piece of history, and realize her own value. No longer the girl hiding in the corner, she could now confidently stand in the spotlight, her radiance emanating from her own Xia Gong.
Jiang Yu was also among the invited guests. He didn't deliberately approach Xia Wan, but simply followed her quietly through the crowd. He watched her calmly respond to the congratulations from all sides, her words were well-spoken, her smile was gentle and confident, and her deep eyes were filled with undisguised admiration and pride. When Xia Wan's eyes inadvertently met his through the crowd, he would nod slightly, and the corners of his lips would curl up in a clear and warm arc, as if silently saying, "Look, this is your light."
This time, Xia Wan didn't indulge in the drink. She held her champagne glass, sipping only briefly, remaining sober and elegant. Su Qian also arrived, but perhaps still feeling the lingering influence of Jiang Yu's public defense last time, she simply watched from afar, a complicated expression in her eyes, ultimately not daring to approach and provoke.
The banquet was drawing to a close. Xia Wan had just said goodbye to several important partners when she turned around and saw Jiang Yu holding a glass of warm water, waiting quietly not far away.
"Are you tired?" He walked forward and handed her the warm water, his tone as natural as that of a partner who had been together for many years.
"Not bad." Xia Wan took the glass of water. The warm touch from her fingertips dispelled the slight chill of the champagne. She looked at the clear concern in his deep eyes, and her heart warmed. "Thank you."
"I'll give you a ride?" He made the invitation, not just because it was "on my way" but because it was a matter of course.
"Okay." Xia Wan agreed with a smile.
The car pulled away from the bustling banquet hall and merged into the bustling night of Jinzhou. Soothing jazz music flowed through the car, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Xia Wan leaned back in her chair, looking out the window at the glittering street scene, feeling the tranquility after the hustle and bustle, and the comforting companionship of those around her.
"Congratulations." Jiang Yu's low voice broke the comfortable silence with sincere joy.
Xia Wan turned her head and met his profile as he focused on driving. The light from the streetlight flickered on his chiseled features. "Thank you," she said softly, pausing before adding, "You contributed to this, too. That paper, that information..."
"It's just a key." Jiang Yu interrupted her, his tone calm and firm, "Open the door, walk in, and let everyone see the light behind the door. It's you who will do it. Xia Wan, your light never needs anyone's blessing."
It’s “your light” again.
Every time she heard him speak, it carried a weighty force, striking the very depths of her heart. It wasn't just polite praise, but a heartfelt, profound recognition based on professional insight.
Xia Wan's heart felt like it was being submerged in warm water, soft and full. She stopped talking, simply watching him quietly, observing his calm silhouette as he focused on driving, and feeling the pure appreciation and strength in his words. This "seeing" made her feel more grounded and precious than any trophy.
The car stopped downstairs of the apartment building. Xia Wan unbuckled her seatbelt and prepared to get out.
"Wait." Jiang Yu called her.
Xia Wan looked back in confusion.
Jiang Yu leaned over and naturally brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen onto her cheek. His fingertips were dry and warm, gently brushing against her skin, sending a subtle, electric-like shiver through her.
This action was so intimate and natural that Xia Wan's heart skipped a beat and her cheeks felt slightly hot. She looked at him with wide eyes, a hint of shyness and inquiry in them.
Jiang Yu paused, his deep gaze fixed closely on her flushed cheeks and clear eyes. Undisguised love and a near-rapacious focus surged within them. The carriage was so quiet they could hear each other's subtle breathing. The air seemed to ignite, a silent tension permeating the air.
He leaned in so close that Xia Wan could clearly smell the crisp scent of fir mixed with a hint of tobacco, and feel his hot breath brushing against her forehead. His eyes fell on her slightly parted, seductively glossy lips, and his Adam's apple rolled almost imperceptibly.
Xia Wan's heartbeat was like a drum, and blood seemed to rush to her cheeks. She could feel the heat in his gaze, the aggressive attraction emanating from his body. A long-lost, instinctive throbbing awakened deep within her body, making her almost want to close her eyes and welcome the kiss that might fall.
However, Jiang Yu simply stared at her deeply for a few seconds, then, with great restraint, withdrew his hand and distanced himself. He leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath, as if trying to calm his surging emotions. The undercurrent of lust in his deep eyes had not yet completely faded, but what was even more clear was a strong sense of self-control and... respect.
"Good night, Xia Wan." His voice was low and clear with a barely perceptible hoarseness. "Have a sweet dream."
No kiss.
Just a restrained "good night".
After a frantic pounding, Xia Wan's heart slowly settled back to normal. A profound sense of loss washed over her, along with a strange sense of reassurance. Lost in the kiss that had been so close yet unattainable, reassured in his immense self-control and the respect he maintained even in the heat of the moment—he was still living up to his promise to "choose while sober."
"Good night," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. She pushed open the car door, her cheeks flushed and her heart still pounding, and walked quickly into the apartment building.
Back in the quiet of her apartment, Xia Wan leaned against the cold door, her hand caressing her still-hot cheek. That brief, tense moment in the train car was etched vividly in her mind. His approach, his gaze, the warmth of his fingertips, his final, restrained step back... it all left her feeling uneasy.
She walked to the desk, her eyes instinctively falling on the drawer containing her diary. That corner held all her secret thoughts. Jiang Yu only saw the page about "dreams." That fleeting glimpse gave him a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg of her youthful thoughts, unaware that beneath the surface lay a bottomless ocean of unrequited love that had stretched on for a decade.
A strong urge surged within her. She opened the drawer, pulled out the dark blue diary, and flipped to the page containing the dream. The childish handwriting, the vague description of the dream, and the murmur of a sleepy night... Her fingertips gently brushed over the words, as if she could touch the panicked, throbbing heartbeat of her eighteenth-year-old night.
He saw this.
He had asked her about this.
As a result, he had a vague understanding of her past youthful thoughts.
A complex mix of shyness, sweetness, and relief enveloped her. She closed the diary and, instead of returning it to the drawer, gently placed it on the corner of her desk. It was like a ritual, allowing those dusty, secret years that belonged only to her to breathe in the sunlight, a silent dialogue with the real her now, enveloped in love.
She didn't need to tell him everything.
But the existence of this diary, this page he had accidentally glimpsed, became a glimmer of light connecting her past and present. She knew he respected her reservation, and she no longer needed to feel ashamed or uneasy about it. It was there, a part of her, quietly witnessing the happiness of this moment.
My phone vibrated. It was a message from Jiang Yu.
"Home?"
These three simple words, with his usual calmness, were like a small stone, accurately dropped into the lake of her heart that had just calmed down.
"Yeah. Just arrived." Xia Wan replied, with a slight trembling at her fingertips.
"Just now..." The screen showed that the other party was typing, and after a pause of several seconds, the message came: "Sorry, a little...out of control."
He was referring to the unfinished kiss, the burning closeness.
Xia Wan's cheeks flushed again as she read the message, but her heart softened. He had so openly admitted his "loss of control" and expressed his apology.
"It's okay," she replied, then thought for a moment before adding, with a hint of coquettishness and testing she herself didn't even notice: "Just... next time, could you... not park so close?"
After sending the message, Xia Wan's face instantly turned red, like a cooked shrimp. She almost wanted to withdraw it immediately! Oh my God, what was she talking about! This was simply... simply teasing him!
The phone vibrated quickly.
Jiang Yu's reply consisted of only two words, but it carried an unmistakable deep smile and a heart-pounding promise:
"As you command."
Xia Wan looked at those two words, imagining the curl of his lips at that moment, the light that might flash in his deep eyes. A huge sweetness mixed with shyness instantly overwhelmed her. She buried her burning cheeks in her palms, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise high.
The moonlight outside the window sprinkled coolly on the desk, illuminating the open diary and the happy and shy smile that leaked from between Xia Wan's fingers.
The past is like dust, quietly settling.
The future is like light, and warmth is expected.
And at this moment, this fragmented interaction with throbbing and shyness is like the warmest breeze in spring, gently blowing on the heart, allowing the seedling called "love" to quietly stretch and thrive in the interweaving of light and dust.
The moonlight from the window coolly falls on the desk. The past is like dust, quietly settling. The future is like light, with warmth to look forward to.
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