Chapter 41
In late winter, Chanjing often experiences cloudy and rainy days, but recently it has been sunny for several days.
The afternoon sun peeked lazily through the clouds and dappled the snow. Xing Bei had been staying at home for over a week when Yi Zesu messaged her the day before yesterday saying she was going back to Chanjing for a few days.
She met Yi Zesu in high school. The two had similar personalities and studied the same major in college, which made them one of Xing Bei's few good friends.
However, Yi Zesu loved freedom, and after working for only a few years after graduation, he was scattered all over the world, making it difficult to see him even once a year. Xing Bei remembered that the last time they met was at Yi Zesu's wedding.
Yi Zesu's family has always hoped that she would go back to inherit the company and did not want her to be a celebrity. So the fact that she can be so relaxed now is because she sacrificed her happiness for the next few decades.
She agreed to marry her betrothed since childhood, and only then did Grandpa Yi agree to let her go. However, recently, news has spread that they are getting a divorce.
Upon arriving at Bantuo Mountain, north of Chanjing, Xing Bei saw a disheveled woman in pink pajamas waving at her from inside the car.
"Yi Zesu, what kind of disgusting outfit is this?" Xing Bei looked her up and down. "Putting aside your messy hair, wearing sandals in the middle of winter, aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"
Yi Zesu glanced down at his outfit, then reached out and hooked his arm around Xing Bei's shoulder: "I just got up."
Back inside, Yi Zesu brought out a cup of fruit tea: "I'm not saying this to be mean, it's only been a short time since we last met, how come you're suddenly married? That's fast."
Xing Bei lay half-reclined on the sofa, a faint smile playing on her lips: "At first, it was just a contract to help each other out. I never expected that I couldn't keep my heart and would fall in love with someone without even realizing it."
Yi Zesu saw through her little scheme at a glance: "I know you well enough. If you didn't like it, would you agree to it for no reason? Don't tell me that a dignified young lady would be short of money."
Xing Bei smiled and said, "I can't help it, I just love falling in love at first sight."
"Love at first sight, then I have to mention your ex-boyfriend." Yi Zesu smiled sinisterly. "I remember you also fell in love with Zhou Xuzhe at first sight. I don't know how you managed to pick your own karma so accurately out of a large group of people."
Xing Bei stared at her speechlessly: "We've been broken up for so long, don't mention him. Besides, don't you understand that good things require overcoming tribulations to obtain?"
"Besides, how could I possibly run into Young Master Lu?" Xing Bei shook her head. "One was in Chanjing, and the other was in Qingyang. It would be strange if we could have met back then."
Upon hearing this, Yi Zesu smiled knowingly: "Miss, your family background is no less than Lu Runxu's. Perhaps you've already met your destined partner before."
Xing Bei raised her hand and poked her head: "If I had met Lu Runxu before, I would have washed my hair upside down."
Yi Zesu laughed even more heartily: "You'll keep your word, I'm waiting for the day you get slapped in the face."
Xing Bei snorted and patted her chest confidently: "I will absolutely not let you succeed."
Suddenly a bell rang in the room. Yi Zesu glanced at the note and remembered that he had important things to do today.
She hurriedly ran upstairs, then suddenly stopped on the second-floor platform: "Honey, come quickly to my room and get my manuscript."
Xing Bei got up and gave her a silent glare. She went to Yi Zesu's room, glanced at him indifferently, and didn't want to say anything more.
The dog's house might be tidier than her room. It's been less than two days since Yi Zesu returned to Chanjing, and now the whole room is filled with clothes everywhere and scraps of paper scattered all over the floor.
Based on Xing Bei's understanding of her, the manuscript that Yi Zesu was to submit today was definitely something she had stayed up all night to finish.
After Xing Bei searched the messy room for five or six minutes before finally finding the manuscript that Yi Zesu wanted, she finally understood what it felt like to look for something in a junkyard.
As Xing Bei reached the corner of the stairs, she saw a man in a dark blue suit sitting on the living room sofa. From his back, her first impression was that he was a refined and well-read person.
The closer Xing Bei got, the more familiar the man on the sofa seemed. She tentatively called out, "Brother Qingyan."
Chen Qingyan turned to the side, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "What a coincidence."
Xing Bei handed over the design draft in her hand: "This is Su Su's draft."
"I'm so sorry." Yi Zesu hurriedly changed his clothes and ran downstairs. "I just got back to China and haven't adjusted to the time difference yet. I hope Mr. Chen won't mind."
Chen Qingyan glanced over indifferently and joked with a smile, "In the whole company, you're the only one I have to personally beg you to submit your manuscript."
Yi Zesu brushed a stray hair behind his ear, his beautiful eyes smiling: "We're all old friends, why bother with these formalities?"
Xing Bei, standing to the side, watched them and a faint smile appeared on her lips. It turned out that the old-fashioned person Yi Zesu often complained about was Chen Qingyan. This world really is a circle.
They chatted about work, but Xing Bei wasn't really interested. She remembered that she had come here once before while sketching, and there was a temple on the mountaintop. She had prayed there once and it was quite effective.
Xing Bei left a message for Yi Zesu on WeChat and headed up the mountain.
The ancient temple is nestled among verdant mountains, like a paradise untouched by the world. A winding bluestone path leads to the mountain gate, with ancient trees towering on both sides, their branches and leaves overlapping, shielding the temple from the hustle and bustle of the world. Occasionally, the sound of birds can be heard from the empty valley.
The higher you go up the mountain, the thicker the snow becomes, and tiny icicles hang from the branches. It's so cold that there aren't as many people here as usual.
Xing Bei put her hands in her pockets and strolled around the temple. Thinking of the man who was still working hard, Xing Bei walked into the temple, intending to pray for a blessing for Lu Runxu.
Xing Bei hung the red strip she had written on on the century-old tree in the courtyard. It took her a while to find a suitable spot. Watching the bright red strip flutter in the cold wind, Xing Bei smiled.
The black lettering on the red strip was almost clearly visible.
My first wish is for my parents to be healthy and live long lives.
My second wish is for my work to go smoothly and for my wife to be happy.
My third wish is for my beloved to be safe and well, and for us to stay together forever.
This year seems to be a year of divine favor for her. She quit her original job and returned to the field she loves, and has always been loved by fans. In terms of love, she also unexpectedly met the person she wants to spend her life with.
"Miss, isn't your partner with you this year?"
Xing Bei looked away and turned to the person behind her. The elderly host was smiling as he walked to her side, put his hands together, and bowed slightly. Xing Bei politely returned the gesture.
"Master, are you sure you're not mistaken? I've always been alone when I came here before," Xing Bei asked doubtfully.
A hint of surprise flashed in the master's eyes, but it was quickly masked by a smile: "Is that so? Perhaps I've misremembered."
*
Xing Bei lingered on the mountain for a while before coming down. By then, Chen Yunzhou had already left. As soon as Xing Bei sat down, Yi Zesu came over with his phone.
After seeing the contents of her phone, Xing Bei twitched her lips speechlessly.
Is she having a run-in with paparazzi lately? She went for a walk in the mountains and got photographed and made into a "couple with the most romantic atmosphere in winter." She's really impressed.
However, she really didn't know that Chen Yunzhou was standing behind her at the time. Looking at the photo on her phone, Xing Bei felt that something was vaguely wrong.
Yi Zesu, ever the gossip, leaned closer and asked, "Mingzhu, don't you think you two look like a perfect match in this picture?"
Xing Bei rolled her eyes: "Su Su, Qingyan and I are really siblings."
“They’re not even siblings.” Yi Zesu muttered under his breath. “Besides, Chen Qingyan looks like the kind of person you’d date and marry. I don’t know why you chose that bastard Zhou Xuzhe back then.”
When Yi Zesu first learned that Xing Bei liked Zhou Xuzhe, she was the first to object. Her first instinct was that Zhou Xuzhe was not a suitable person to date, but Xing Bei just wouldn't listen to advice.
However, she was quite surprised that Xing Bei and Lu Runxu were together now. Ever since she learned that Xing Bei and Zhou Xuzhe were together, she felt that Lu Runxu and Xing Bei were not destined to be together. She never expected that the two of them would come together again after all the twists and turns.
Back when Lu Runxu suddenly added her on WeChat, she thought it was her luck with love. But later, when Lu Runxu kept asking her questions about Xing Bei, she knew something was wrong.
Later, when she visited a friend with her mother, she learned that Lu Runxu's home was not in Qingyang, and he only had the opportunity to come to Qingyang when he had a day off each week.
Thanks to the relationship between the two families, she and Lu Runxu could be considered friends. At the time, she was amazed that there was such a sentimental yet cowardly person in the world. Every time she saw Xing Bei, she couldn't help but want to tell her that there was someone else who secretly liked her.
And so she kept in touch with Lu Runxu. She was very willing to help the two of them get together, since she knew them well.
Throughout their high school years, as long as it didn't involve Xing Bei's private matters, she had talked to Lu Runxu about almost everything.
It wasn't until she told Xing Bei that she and Zhou Xuzhe were together that Lu Runxu started chatting with her much less, but Lu Runxu still kept an eye on Xing Bei from time to time.
Several times she couldn't stand it anymore and told him to confess his feelings, but Lu Runxu always had an excuse. Later, when she heard Xing Bei say that she and Lu Runxu were getting married, she actually felt a sense of relief.
Hearing her words, Xing Bei looked at her with some disdain: "How come you've become like Ms. Shi, judging people based on their status?"
Previously, Ms. Shi had been constantly mentioning Chen Qingyan in her ear, using every word she could to describe him. If Chen Qingyan really was her biological brother, her position in the family would definitely be threatened.
As she pondered, Xing Bei's gaze involuntarily fell back to her phone. Perhaps it was because of the filter, but the surrounding atmosphere had a tranquil yet mysterious feel.
The people under the century-old tree were intently watching the red ribbons fluttering on the branches. Not far behind them, a man in a dark black suit stood tall and straight beside a lamp.
His face was aloof, with sharp eyes and strong features, yet his gaze held an imperceptible gentleness. He could be seen as a figure who would be remembered for a lifetime among the crowds around him.
This reminded Xing Bei of her childhood. If Chen Qingyan had been born into a happy and fulfilling family, he would have been a well-read, gentle, and humble young master, a true prodigy.
However, after being tempered by the world, Chen Qingyan has become more and more mature. His temperament, honed by time, is irreplaceable, and his gentleness, tinged with a faint sense of detachment, brings him a different kind of charm.
At the foot of Bantuo Mountain, the black Maybach stood out conspicuously. Inside the car, a flamboyant young woman was defiantly bowing her head.
Chen Qingyan looked at her calmly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness: "Tell me, how did you find out about my itinerary?"
Cheng Yuexin secretly glanced at the person in front of her, then looked up with a wronged expression: "I asked your mother for it. I'm going to join the crew in a few months, and I really want to see you. Besides, I didn't know there would be paparazzi with so much free time."
Chen Qingyan looked away, not intending to expose her lie: "I'll have my secretary take you home later. If you do this again, I won't let you know any more of my information."
"I didn't mean to." Cheng Yuexin lowered her head in disappointment, still muttering to herself, "You never let me know your schedule, and I can't find you even when I want to."
Chen Qingyan glanced indifferently at the person beside her. Her bright and beautiful face showed obvious dissatisfaction, and her eyebrows were slightly furrowed. She looked like a wronged but speechless little cat.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you?" Chen Qingyan said casually, as if it were just a casual remark.
Cheng Yuexin was stunned for a moment, then her previously dejected eyes brightened instantly: "You have to have dinner with me."
Chen Qingyan glanced at her, neither answering nor refusing. The person beside him immediately understood his meaning and happily grabbed Chen Qingyan's arm, shaking it from side to side.
"I knew Qingyan was the best to me." The girl's voice was full of undisguised joy.
Chen Qingyan looked down at his rumpled sleeves, about to speak, but met a pair of bright, autumn-water-like eyes. He calmly looked away, a faint curve appearing on his profile reflected in the car window.
*
Lu's Group.
Secretary Lin, who had just been surfing the internet, hadn't even finished reading the Weibo post that popped up before it was taken down the next second.
Fortunately, whenever he sees something that is deliberately done to an adult, the first thing he thinks of is taking a screenshot.
However, upon seeing the man in the photo, Secretary Lin fell into deep thought. The man in the photo was the same man who used to be with his wife.
Could it be that your wife has lost interest in Mr. Lu? Is she fickle and in love with someone else?
That's impossible. With so many tricks up his sleeve, it's impossible for Mr. Lu to let his wife get bored with the old and crave the new.
Secretary Lin looked towards the staff in the president's office who were handling their work. After some hesitation, Secretary Lin took her phone and went inside.
Lu Runxu noticed the person beside him hesitate, his slender fingers lightly tapping the table: "Secretary Lin, what is it that makes you so reluctant to talk about it?"
Secretary Lin chuckled and coughed lightly, handing over the phone: "Boss, Madam was secretly photographed again while out having fun, but the photos were quickly deleted."
Lu Runxu took the phone and slowly swiped it up and down. Secretary Lin stood to the side, watching the emotionless man, unable to guess what President Lu was thinking.
After an unknown amount of time, Lu Runxu asked Secretary Lin to send him these photos and instructed him to go to the west of the city to buy a strawberry cake and a mango cake.
Upon hearing about the mango cake, Secretary Lin hesitated and looked at the person to the side. He remembered that President Lu was allergic to mangoes, so why was he being asked to prepare a mango cake?
Seeing that the people around him were not moving, Lu Runxu glanced at them indifferently and said, "What are you all standing there for?"
"Oh, I'll go right away." Secretary Lin realized what was happening and went out with the things in her arms.
Just as she reached the elevator, a lady in a cheongsam approached. Secretary Lin paused for a moment, then respectfully greeted her, "Mrs. Lu, what brings you to the company?"
Mrs. Lu smiled and looked at him: "It's nothing, I just came to deliver something to Ah Xu. You go ahead and do your work, don't worry about me."
Pushing open the office door, Lu Runxu looked up at the entrance and said, "Mom, what brings you here?"
Mrs. Lu sat down opposite him, took out a few photos from her bag and handed them over: "When Auntie was cleaning the room today, she accidentally knocked some books off the bookshelf, and these photos fell out from there."
Lu Runxu took the photo and gently stroked it with his fingertips. In the photo, the girl's face was full of a bright smile, her eyebrows and eyes were curved, and she was as delicate as a porcelain doll.
"She doesn't know yet, does she?" Mrs. Lu asked softly.
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