Chapter 40 Life's Journey
After Lin Songyao got in the car, Nanjiu leaned back in the back seat with her eyes closed. Lin Songyao asked her, "Are you going home or to the company?"
Nan Jiu didn't respond, so Lin Songyao touched her and asked, "Are you asleep?"
The warmth from her elbow spread to the back of his hand. Lin Songyao sensed something was wrong and leaned over to touch Nan Jiu's forehead. Nan Jiu frowned and moved his neck.
"You have a fever." Lin Songyao turned to the driver and said, "Old Zhou, go to the hospital."
Nan Jiu sat up straight: "No need to go to the hospital, just take me home."
Lin Songyao didn't agree with her: "You had a fever, couldn't you call me in advance? You can just see my dad next time. It's not a pressing matter. I'm really impressed by you. You're sitting there talking to my dad for so long. Aren't you feeling uncomfortable yourself?"
"It's not a serious problem, can you please stop making such a fuss?"
"You can't be thorough. If you go back and get pneumonia, you'll have to be hospitalized for at least ten days or half a month. Just think about how many things will have to be put on hold if you're away for half a month."
Lin Songyao pinched Nanjiu's soft spot, and she no longer insisted.
Nanjiu had always been in good health, but this time, for some reason, his immune system suddenly shut down. That night, he'd just been out enjoying the night breeze with Nan Qiaoyu, and he'd come back with a cold. It lasted a week, but instead of recovering, he'd developed a fever.
Lin Songyao went to wait for the blood test report, while Nanjiu sat in the corridor holding a cotton ball.
The dizziness brought on by the fever came in waves, but the thoughts in her mind were more burning than the high fever, tangled in a chaotic mess. It had been a week since she returned, and her heart was still hanging in the air.
Between drowsiness and lucidity, she pulled out her phone and called her grandfather. A long, wait-and-see tone echoed through the receiver. Just as she was about to hang up, Grandpa Nan's deep, slightly hoarse voice came over: "Hello."
"Grandpa, it's me." Her voice was as weak as a thread. "Are you... okay?"
"I'm still alive. I wasn't mad at you to death." Old Master Nan's tone was harsh.
The receiver fell into an endless silence. She curled up in discomfort and asked, "Did you say him?"
"Just live your life well. You don't need to worry about things here. Xiao Jiu..." After a helpless sigh, Mr. Nan said earnestly, "Don't come back if you have nothing else to do."
Only a cold busy tone remained on the receiver, and her heart plummeted to the ground. The scar on her lip had healed, leaving only a pale mark. She pursed her lips unconsciously, and the pain resurfaced, over and over again. Nan Jiu held the phone, his eyes empty and distracted, as if the roots in his heart had just... been severed.
When Lin Songyao came up from downstairs, Nan Jiu was curled up in the cold metal waiting chair. His thin body leaned against the white wall, and his eyelashes fluttered from time to time, casting a fragile halo of light.
He walked up to Nanjiu and paused. Shadows descended, and Nanjiu slowly opened her eyes, a clear, yet embarrassed, blush filling them. There were no tears in her eyes, only suppressed grief seeping from them. One glance, and his breath caught in his throat.
He'd seen Nanjiu's unyielding edge in meetings, and her clarity and decisiveness in handling crises. She was always calm, composed, and rarely betrayed emotion. Yet now, huddled under the light of the hospital corridor, her sudden vulnerability was heartbreaking.
Lin Songyao took off his coat and put it over her shoulders. He squatted down and looked at her. His voice was filled with warmth: "My mother made some porridge. I'll ask Lao Zhou to go back and get it later."
The blush in Nanjiu's eyes gradually faded away. She blinked and a pale curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.
......
Nan Jiu never returned to Maoer Lane again. Her days became even busier. She and her parents... became complete strangers.
When she worked late into the night, she would occasionally stand by the French window with a cup of hot tea to clear her mind. Amidst the aroma of the tea, the figure of that man would quietly emerge. Like most people in this city, she had stories of her youthful fearlessness that she would occasionally recall, becoming lost in the emotions of the past, then gently putting the past behind her and continuing to run through this city of steel and concrete.
Her former drinking buddies gradually fell out of touch, leaving only a few close friends to occasionally get together. The closest ones were Lin Songyao and Ding Jun. When people are in sync, relationships are always more solid.
Years ago, Ding Jun's wife gave birth to a big, fat boy, and he devoted some of his time to his family. Only Nan Jiu and Lin Songyao were left together, still running day and night on this road.
Nanjiu finally bought a car, because she always felt it was inconvenient and wanted to buy a car to get around. Lin Songyao recommended a luxury car manager he knew to Nanjiu and asked her to choose.
Nan Jiu did not contact the manager. She test drove an SUV that had both road and off-road performance. It had a large displacement and was fun to drive. She enjoyed the feeling of speeding.
Also galloping forward was Xingyao's ever-evolving industrial landscape. Nanjiu moved from the flagship store to the office building, officially settling into Xingyao's headquarters and taking full control of Xingyao's business and development.
Xingyao, starting as a chain of dance training institutions, is transforming into a comprehensive performing arts group. They are establishing professional dance troupes and implementing a project-based fee structure. They are also building a comprehensive online and offline content ecosystem. With Fengshi as their core city, they are integrating their proven direct-operation model into a standardized franchise program, accelerating its replication and promotion across the province.
As time goes by, Xingyao has gradually transformed into a comprehensive dance ecological platform integrating education, performing arts, events, retail and online content.
Lin Songyao's focus began to shift towards the family business, with Nan Jiu steering the overall direction of Xingyao. Ding Jun, needing to balance family matters, took a backseat and played a supporting role.
Lin Songyao would occasionally visit Xingyao to discuss various issues with Nanjiu. Over the years, they had developed an extraordinary rapport. When they discussed matters, a single glance was enough to tell them the strategic direction. Despite occasional disagreements over strategic planning, they always found the right balance. They shared common company shares, joint investment projects, and overlapping client resources, creating a web of intertwined interests.
Xingyao's strategic planning and positioning are steadily being realized. Nanjiu's blueprint is becoming more and more comprehensive, with every inch marking her milestones. She has completely bid farewell to the past and sculpted an ideal statue for herself.
......
The days of Maoer Lane passed as slowly as an old man's stroll. Ever since Old Man Nan's birthday, no one in the teahouse mentioned Xiao Jiu's name again.
She was like an untouched taboo, being forcibly erased day after day.
Song Ting continued his busy, repetitive routine. He began building a new tea plantation, spending dozens of days at a time there. He traveled extensively across the country to negotiate distribution deals, while also taking care of Old Man Nan. His life had returned to its normal trajectory—peaceful, stable, like a stagnant pool.
The afternoon Mr. Nan received Nan Jiu's call, the sky over Maoer Lane was overcast. The weather in South City had been unbearably humid lately. The sun hadn't risen in over two weeks, and clothes never dried. Song Ting had simply bought a dryer and placed it at the end of the second-floor hallway.
At the entrance of the teahouse, a truck had just pulled in, and Song Ting was directing the driver to park. The truck was hauling a load of tables, chairs, and benches. The tables were so old, worn and wobbly, they had been repaired and refinished until they were no longer in good shape. Only then did Old Man Nan finally agree to replace them.
Elderly people always have a soft spot for their familiar belongings. They've been with them through thick and thin for decades, so when the time comes to replace them, Mr. Nan is always reluctant. The replacement of the old with the new is a natural law of the world, and no one can escape it.
Until the ringing of the phone pulled Old Man Nan out of his emotion. He staggered to the counter, his expression lingering for a long time before he said in a calm voice, "Do you still remember that you have a grandfather like me?"
Song Ting turned his head and glanced at the old man.
"when?"
"Find some time and bring it back to me."
After hanging up the phone, Mr. Nan slowly raised his cloudy eyes and fell on Song Ting's silent back.
A few steps away, the deep wrinkles on Old Man Nan's face twisted into a ball. "Xiao Jiu called," he said after a long stare. "She's getting married."
Workers jumped out of the truck and unloaded the fully wrapped tables and chairs one by one. The teahouse was empty, but soon filled up again with the busy figures of workers.
Song Ting stood in front of the door, his figure seemed to fall into a bottomless hole, separated from the busy scene.
"I asked her to bring her back to me. If you don't want to see her, just stay away."
Song Ting turned around, the fabric rubbing against his back muscles, leaving tiny wrinkles. The air froze for a moment as he paused.
"I also want to see what kind of man she finds."
......
Ding Jun knocked on Nan Jiu's office door. She was still working overtime. Nan Jiu looked up at him and asked, "Haven't you left yet?"
"You haven't left yet, have you?" Ding Jun pulled out a chair and sat down casually. "The bride-to-be isn't busy with wedding arrangements, but is still hanging around at the company?"
Nanjiu scrolled the mouse, his eyes fixed on the page: "Don't we have a wedding planning company? Why worry about it myself after spending the money?"
"I find that you are becoming more and more like Yaozi. You will never do things yourself if you can solve them with money."
"There's still a difference between him and me." Nan Jiu clicked the mouse, closed the page, and slumped back in his chair. "I spend my time wisely. I only use money to solve things that aren't worth my time."
Ding Jun laughed. "Are you saying that the wedding with Yaozi is not worth the time? Don't let Yaozi hear you, or he'll be furious."
"I heard it." Lin Songyao walked in from outside the office and patted Ding Jun on the shoulder. "You two were talking about me behind my back. At least close the door. The noise is spreading into the corridor."
Ding Jun stood up and offered his seat to Lin Songyao. "Please sit down, Mr. Lin. Mr. Lin is a very busy man now. It's rare for him to visit us. Would you like some tea or coffee?"
"Don't try to play tricks on me. I won't even see you at night."
Ding Jun shrugged: "My wife wants to have a second child, and she is very strict. After you get married, you will see if your wife still controls you."
"She..." Lin Songyao glanced at Nan Jiu.
Nan Jiu looked back at them with a half-smile.
"I'm going home. I won't disturb your world of two."
Ding Jun closed the office door when he went out.
Nanjiu's eyes fell on the computer again and he clicked on the page: "I have to work overtime tonight and don't have time to have dinner with you. You can find someone else."
Lin Songyao sneered and said, "Who should I look for?"
"I don't care who you look for. By the way, my grandfather wants to see you."
"Your grandfather's home is in South City, right?"
"Um."
Lin Songyao picked up Nanjiu's phone and opened it. The lock screen background was the default page. He swiped twice and asked, "What's your phone password?"
Nanjiu glanced at him and said, "What for? Checking my phone?"
Lin Songyao nodded without hesitation: "Let's see if you have a man outside."
Nan Jiu's mouth corners tilted slightly. He snatched the phone, unlocked it, and threw it to Lin Songyao.
Lin Songyao flipped through Nanjiu's chat history, locked his phone, and threw it back to her: "Boring."
Nanjiu held out his hand: "Where's yours?"
Lin Songyao raised his chin slightly: "Are you sure you want to see my phone?"
Nanjiu's eyes curled up with sarcasm: "You've already seen mine, so why can't I see yours?"
Lin Songyao said nothing and looked at her calmly.
Nanjiu withdrew his hand, his tone slightly cold: "Don't ask me to do something you can't do yourself."
Lin Songyao lowered his eyes and chuckled.
"What kind of youngster does your grandfather like?"
"Not me anyway."
Lin Songyao stood up and said, "I understand." He opened the door and asked, "Who else is in your grandfather's family?"
Nanjiu frowned and turned his gaze to the side: "Why are you asking this?"
"Prepare something. Am I going to come here empty-handed?"
Nanjiu paused for a few seconds, his voice stuck in his throat: "There is also an uncle."
......
Lin Songyao originally planned to arrange for Lao Zhou to drive there, but Nan Jiu told him not to make such a fuss and insisted on driving back by himself.
Nan Jiu drove the car, wearing sunglasses, all the way to South City. Her black leather jacket and neutral work vest struck a delicate balance on her. Every time she turned the steering wheel, her aggressive, dashing presence caught Lin Songyao's eye.
Lin Songyao lowered the back of his chair, rested his hands behind his head, and laid back, chatting with her about the past in the teahouse. Most of the time, they talked about Nanjiu's childhood. Whenever the topic progressed to her adulthood, Nanjiu would not go into details.
The car stopped at the entrance of the alley, and Nanjiu got out. Her high-waisted flared pants stretched her waistline to the extreme, and her big wavy hair was draped behind her.
Li Chongguang, who was checking the chassis on the roadside, was attracted by her. After a few seconds of identification, he straightened up and asked in surprise, "Are you Nanjiu?"
Nan Jiu turned around and saw that it was Li Chongguang. He took off his sunglasses and said with a smile, "Don't you recognize him?"
"I almost didn't recognize her. Where did she come from?"
Li Chongguang's eyes moved to Lin Songyao who walked down from the passenger seat, and he looked at him silently.
"I'm going back to the teahouse now. We'll talk later."
Lin Songyao's eyes passed over Li Chongguang.
Walking into Maoer Lane, Lin Songyao glanced at Nan Jiu and asked, "Is he your old lover?"
Nan Jiu glared at him: "Do you have a magnifying glass in your eyes? Everyone you see looks like a love affair?"
Aunt Wu cooked a table full of dishes today, but she was not in a hurry to go back. She wanted to stay and take a look. After all, she had watched Nan Jiu grow up, and her life was settled, which was a happy event in Aunt Wu's eyes.
Nan Jiu and Lin Songyao entered the teahouse one after another. Old Man Nan, who was already waiting at the counter, saw them return, picked up his cane, and slowly stood up.
Lin Songyao was dressed more neatly than usual. He took off his expensive watch and luxury brands and wore a low-key and well-made shirt. He looked noble and steady.
Old Man Nan put on a kind face and walked around the counter to Lin Songyao. In just a few steps, he had already sized up the young man from head to toe.
Lin Songyao, visiting for the first time, brought with him a large amount of expensive cigarettes, alcohol, and high-end supplements. Old Man Nan took a quick glance and saw that the young man came from a well-off family.
Aunt Wu was beaming, staring at Lin Songyao intently. Old Man Nan exchanged a few pleasantries with Lin Songyao, but since Old Man Nan couldn't hear clearly, Lin Songyao bent down to speak to Old Man Nan.
Under Lin Songyao's careful packaging, his innate vanity and cynicism were cleverly restrained, presenting an image of well-educated, dignified and steady.
Nan Jiu glanced at him, then silently looked away, glancing at the electronic lock on the teahouse door. "They use high-tech now. When did you change it?"
Aunt Wu told her, "It was replaced last year. Your grandfather always forgot to bring his keys and locked himself out several times. Song Ting simply replaced it with an electronic lock, so he doesn't need to bring a key when he goes out."
When the name was mentioned unexpectedly, both Nanjiu and Old Man Nan fell silent for a moment. In the teahouse, no one except the grandfather and grandson noticed the subtle atmosphere. Nanjiu quickly changed the subject: "Does this lock have fingerprint recognition?"
"Yes, I brought it. Your grandfather's fingerprint is always hard to record. He always enters the password."
"Can you remember the password?"
"Why can't he remember? How could he not remember his birthday?"
Nan Jiu laughed: "He invited half the people in the alley to his birthday party and even used his birthday as a password. Isn't he afraid of being robbed?"
"That's impossible. We don't use cash anymore. What would a thief steal? They can't steal tea bowls, right? Besides, with Song Ting here, who would dare to come and steal things in the middle of the night?"
Nan Jiu didn't respond, nor did she ask where Song Ting had gone. She had informed the old man of her return date in advance. Although it wasn't stated explicitly, everyone knew it, and they would avoid suspicion to some extent. He probably wouldn't be in the teahouse at this time.
Just as Nan Jiu was thinking this, footsteps were heard on the stairs.
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