Chapter Thirty-Eight
domestic.
Ji Yun had just finished filming and was idly scrolling through Weibo when she came across a newly posted status update that was still gaining popularity.
She glanced at the figure briefly, intending to swipe away, but suddenly felt that the figure was somewhat familiar. She moved her fingers and flipped back.
In the photo, a handsome man and a beautiful woman embrace on the street, with a striking red hair that stands out. The surrounding area is a bustling and dazzling scene, with colorful neon lights reflecting each other as dusk falls.
The streets are decorated like a dream, and amidst the bustling traffic, pedestrians hurry by, all becoming mere background figures.
The red-haired girl wrapped her arms around the man's waist, her fair and delicate face tilted upwards, a bright smile on her lips.
Whether it was the lighting or not, the girl's eyes seemed to be glistening with a layer of water, crystal clear, sparkling with tiny lights, like a sky full of stars falling into her deep and captivating eyes.
The person being tightly embraced by the girl was recognized by Ji Yun at a glance as Lu Runxu. His sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes revealed an innate elegance and nobility that was hard to ignore.
She scrolled through the comments section below—
Wow! This couple is so good-looking. The girl is so beautiful even just from her profile.
—If I hadn't looked closely, I would have thought it was a female celebrity in the entertainment industry announcing her relationship.
—Heaven is so unfair! I've been single for 28 years. Please, let me meet a kind-hearted god this winter.
—Winter, France, embracing, the first snowfall, all the elements of romance are gathered together.
—No, no, we still need a proposal.
—Hey, do you guys think the man in the photo looks familiar?
—I also think she looks a lot like Mr. Lu, who was coaxing his wife a while ago. Could this be his wife?
—Everyone, make use of your online connections.
What was originally just an ordinary couple photo suddenly gained popularity and squeezed into the top ten trending topics.
#Mrs. Lu's face revealed# Explosion
#Lu Runxu and his wife embrace on the streets of France
...
Ji Yun looked at the comments that popped up in the comment section. Some people posted pictures, but very few people could find any photos of Xing Bei.
On the other hand, Lu Runxu's past financial interviews were dug up by netizens and became a trending topic.
The video cover alone was stunning enough, and Ji Yun slowly clicked on the video.
A man in a bespoke black suit sat casually on a brown leather sofa, his face expressionless, giving off a sense of apathy.
Yet, those fox-like eyes held a hint of deep affection. As they talked about something, the person in the video slightly raised their eyes, making the viewer hold their breath when they looked at the camera.
Even as Lu Runxu's aunt, who was used to seeing this "femme fatale" face, she was still amazed by this interview.
Just as netizens have said—
'Cold and beautiful fox'
It was already late at night when Xing Bei saw these. Looking at the trending topics, she clicked on the most popular one, "cold and beautiful fox".
Unexpectedly, what appeared before my eyes was a picture of her and Lu Runxu embracing on the street, and the comments below went from envy to gossip.
Xing Bei scrolled to the top comment and clicked on it. It was a financial interview with Lu Runxu. Just as she was getting into it, Lu Runxu came out of the bathroom.
Perhaps it was because her gaze was too direct, but the man, whom netizens jokingly called a 'cold and beautiful fox,' also looked at her.
His jet-black bathrobe was loosely tied at the waist, and it opened slightly with his movements, as if deliberately showing off his snow-white chest.
On that alluring skin, specks of rosy blush spread like the sunset, making it particularly eye-catching.
The man's bangs, which had been casually scattered across his forehead, were now gently brushed behind his head, revealing his smooth forehead and his long, deep-set eyes.
His eyes were slightly upturned, forming a faint arc, which also revealed a hint of a playful smile.
Perhaps influenced by netizens' comments, she actually felt that Lu Runxu was like a fox, and a jealous fox at that.
She went out to have dinner with Chen Qingyan, and he kept her up until midnight. If she hadn't said she had an upset stomach, she probably wouldn't have been able to sleep at all tonight.
Thinking about how her back was still a little sore made her angry. She rolled her eyes at him mercilessly, pulled the blanket over herself, turned to the side, and continued scrolling through Weibo. Lu Runxu lowered his eyes and chuckled softly.
*
Chi Qingtang gave her a VIP ticket, which was slightly to the left of the center. Xing Bei sat down at the right time.
Actually, she wasn't interested in these things, unlike Ms. Shi, who would listen to concerts every now and then and fall asleep on Lu Runxu's shoulder not long after they started.
Chi Qingtang's number was eighteen. Xing Bei had just woken up when she heard the host announce Chi Qingtang's name.
She rubbed her eyes and noticed a familiar figure in the corner of their row, but because the lights in the room were too dim, Xing Bei couldn't be sure if it was the person she was thinking of.
In that instant, the bright stage lights suddenly went out without warning, and the entire scene was instantly shrouded in darkness.
Xing Bei subconsciously withdrew her gaze, which had been wandering elsewhere, and slowly turned her attention back to the center of the stage.
A dazzling light, as bright as day, suddenly shone directly onto the center of the stage.
Under the intense light, a graceful and pure-looking white swan appeared before the audience, stepping towards the center of the stage.
Holding a violin, every move she made exuded an air of nobility and elegance, as if she had descended from a dream world to the mortal realm, making it impossible to look away.
Chi Qingtang's hands were not as fair and delicate as hers. Her hands were slender and well-defined, with clear blue veins visible on the back of her fair hands, yet they were still a pair of captivating hands.
She wore a long, silver-white dress, the hem of which was covered with tiny rhinestones, as dazzling as the twinkling stars in the night sky.
As she gently plucked the strings of her instrument, beautiful notes poured out like a flowing stream, and her body began to sway slightly in rhythm with the music.
The skirt swayed with her body, each curve like ripples on a calm lake caused by a gentle breeze, elegant and natural.
The theater was very quiet, and everyone's attention was drawn to the stage, where she was like a moving painting.
Xing Bei, who was originally feeling sleepy, stared intently at the stage as she watched this scene. In an instant, Xing Bei seemed to see the person who stood on the stage shining brightly many years ago.
The violin has always been Chi Qingtang's pride, so much so that a staged car accident back then made her run away for so many years. Fortunately, Chi Qingtang herself has never given up.
Now that she's back on the stage she loves, shining brightly in her area of expertise, Xing Bei is genuinely happy for her.
After the performance, Xing Bei went to pick up Chi Qingtang with flowers she had prepared in advance. Chi Qingtang was surrounded by a group of people at the theater entrance, while Xing Bei and Lu Runxu stood outside waiting.
Xing Bei glanced at the person standing on the other side wearing a black coat, but because the baseball cap was pulled low, she couldn't see the person's face at all.
The man was holding a large bouquet of tulips, his gaze fixed on Chi Qingtang, who was surrounded by the crowd. He didn't move forward, but just stood outside and watched her silently.
Xing Bei frowned slightly. The other person seemed to notice her gaze and looked at her.
The moment their eyes met, Xing Bei recognized who it was. It turned out that her guess in the theater was correct.
The person who's been acting suspiciously lately is Lin Zhuochi.
After everyone dispersed, Chi Qingtang finally breathed a sigh of relief. She rubbed her cheeks, which were almost stiff from smiling, and Xing Bei walked towards Chi Qingtang carrying her favorite tulips.
Chi Qingtang took the flowers and proudly smoothed her hair: "How was the performance tonight?"
Xing Bei gently pinched her cheek: "Even more dazzling than back then."
“I’ve also prepared a gift for you.” Xing Bei took her arm and waved the phone in her left hand. “But you can only see it when you get back.”
Chi Qingtang smiled at her and said, "What's going on? Why are you being so mysterious?"
Xing Bei shook her head without saying anything. Chi Qingtang took her arm and left. After a few steps, Xing Bei secretly looked back.
The familiar person was no longer in the original place, as if they had left with the others.
Thinking of the way Lin Zhuochi looked at Chi Qingtang, Xing Bei didn't know how to describe it, which also reminded her of a saying:
"I don't ask you to like me, it's enough if I can catch a glimpse of you from afar, as far as I can."
After watching the performance, Xing Bei stayed in F country for a few more days. Chi Qingtang originally wanted to spend more time with Xing Bei, but unexpectedly, Master Bai had something to do and called her back.
Since she had finally come all this way, Xing Bei naturally wanted to bring back as many local specialties as possible. With a human ATM by her side, Lu Runxu would have Secretary Lin buy anything she even glanced at.
Xing Bei's hands don't get warm easily in winter, and all the way, Lu Runxu kept Xing Bei's hands clasped together in his pockets.
Bored, she would occasionally play with Lu Runxu's fingers; his bony fingers always made Xing Bei feel that something was missing.
She looked down into her pocket, as if Lu Runxu had only prepared a ring for her when he proposed to her.
Even after Sancha Siji returned and the two talked things out, she always seemed to overlook some details, and she always felt that her love for Lu Runxu was far less than Lu Runxu's love for her.
I remembered that her favorite jewelry store, Coisini, was located in France, and its wedding dresses and diamond rings were the most famous.
Xing Bei opened her phone's map app. Lu Runxu glanced at her but didn't say anything. After arriving at Coisini, Xing Bei saw a familiar figure talking to a lady in front of the counter.
"Brother Qingyan?" Xing Bei called out tentatively.
Chen Qingyan was handing over the newly arrived designs to the person in charge when a clear, crisp voice, tinged with uncertainty, reached his ears.
He turned around and saw Xing Bei waving to him, arm in arm with Lu Runxu. Chen Qingyan's gaze fell from Xing Bei's face to their intertwined hands, and he naturally noticed the barely perceptible displeasure on Lu Runxu's face.
Chen Qingyan told the person beside him to wait a moment and then walked towards Xing Bei, his eyes crinkling with a smile: "You're here to choose the wedding rings?"
“Yeah.” Xing Bei glanced furtively at the person beside her, her face expressionless, then looked at Chen Qingyan.
Chen Qingyan nodded, smiled, and looked up at the person beside her: "No need for introductions."
Xing Bei paused for a moment, then took Lu Runxu's hand and shook it: "This is the man I told you about before, my lover, Lu Runxu."
Lu Runxu extended his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Nice to meet you. I've heard Xing Bei mention you before, and I've long wanted to meet the brother she spoke of."
Xing Bei's lips twitched when she heard the word "brother" being emphasized.
This person is as naive as ever.
Chen Qingyan maintained his smile throughout: "I've also been eager to see what the person our Mingzhu has taken a liking to looks like. Just as the rumors say, she's a cold and beautiful fox."
Lu Runxu chuckled lightly: "Brother Qingyan is no less impressive, gentle and refined."
Anyone can be disgusting to each other.
Chen Qingyan: "..."
Seeing that things were not going well, Xing Bei quickly changed the subject: "Brother Qingyan, did you found Coisini?"
Chen Qingyan smiled and nodded: "We just received some new products today. If you see anything you like, just tell the manager, and consider it a gift from me."
No wonder all the gifts he gave her before were from the Coisini brand. She thought Chen Qingyan knew she liked the brand, but it turns out it was his own brand.
Xing Bei: "Then thank you in advance, Brother Qingyan."
"It's nothing." Chen Qingyan glanced at Lu Runxu. "I have something to do today, so I won't keep you company for now."
Xing Bei nodded: "Okay, you can go ahead and get busy."
Watching Chen Qingyan's departing figure, Lu Runxu felt that Chen Qingyan was somewhat different from before. He glanced at the person beside him and looked up towards the door.
He lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, "Is he really that good-looking? My eyes are practically glued to him."
Hearing the hint of jealousy in his voice, Xing Bei looked away and laughed: "Aren't you childish? You get jealous over everything."
Lu Runxu gave a soft hum, and Xing Bei led him inside.
After walking around, Xing Bei was dazzled by all the sights. She thought that Lu Runxu often traveled for work, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him to wear anything too flashy.
Moreover, a grand ring should be reserved for the wedding. When choosing a wedding ring, one can opt for something more glamorous. Xing Bei thought about the wedding scene and the corners of her lips involuntarily turned up slightly.
Xing Bei pulled Lu Runxu along as they continued shopping, their eyes finally drawn to a pair of exquisite star and moon rings. The rings lay quietly in the display case, radiating a captivating glow.
The tiny diamonds set on the ring sparkle like stars, radiating a dazzling brilliance under bright lights, as if the entire starry sky were condensed into this small ring.
When the store manager handed it over, Xing Bei took it and immediately pulled Lu Runxu's hand to put it on him.
Lu Runxu's hands were pale and slender, with a strong bone structure, making them look like a carefully carved piece of jade, exuding a charming luster and warm texture.
The star and moon ring on his hand was like the most dazzling star in the night sky fallen to earth, complementing his pale and slender fingers. It was breathtakingly beautiful, and its charm was simply indescribable.
If there weren't other people around, Xing Bei really wanted to kiss these hands a few times.
Lu Runxu took another pair and put them on Xing Bei. His beautiful fox-like eyes curved into a smile, and Xing Bei looked up and met those affectionate eyes.
The financial interview automatically came to mind, and she felt that Lu Runxu's eyes were like little hooks, making her heart itch.
Xing Bei silently withdrew her gaze, silently cursing the male vixen in her heart; he had bewitched her with just one smile.
*
After returning to China, Lu Runxu was not in a hurry to go back to the company and spent more time at home with Xing Bei.
Secretary Lin brought over the things she bought in F country. Xing Bei immediately got up from Lu Runxu's arms, her eyes shining as she looked at her treasures. She abandoned the clingy Lu Runxu and went to greet her little darlings.
Watching the barefoot person running upstairs, Lu Runxu shook his head helplessly, picked up the bear slippers next to the sofa, and followed upstairs.
Xing Bei carefully placed the jewelry from the black safe one piece at a time into the special glass cabinet for jewelry. Lu Runxu placed the teddy bear slippers at her feet.
He wrapped his arms around her slender waist and gently lifted her up. The sudden movement startled Xing Bei, who gasped and gave Lu Runxu a playful glare.
"Put on your shoes. It's been chilly lately, be careful not to catch a cold," Lu Runxu gently reminded him.
Xing Bei gave a soft "oh" and gently slipped her feet into the fluffy slippers. Lu Runxu smiled and let her go, and Xing Bei continued to fiddle with the jewelry.
Lu Runxu glanced around the room at the mess of gift boxes and the wardrobe that was almost overflowing. He sighed softly.
Given Xing Bei's purchasing speed, it's time to get Mingzhu a bigger walk-in closet.
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