Losing the mouse
Chen Yan, who hadn't seen him for a day but felt as if three autumns had passed, stood outside the bright chandelier, in a gloomy, dark place, her silent gaze fixed on him.
Chu Sinian curled his fingers and was the first to look away.
He had no vision, but his ears clearly brushed aside the noisy voices and found the dull thud of leather shoes falling on the carpet. He inexplicably felt that the person seemed to be getting closer and closer to him.
Chu Sinian vaguely recalled the overwhelming thunder and rain that day in the classroom and the equally approaching footsteps, and he felt inexplicably lost.
As Chu Sinian looked away, he could see that the person's shadow had already come close, gradually covering him until only the bare toes of his shoes were exposed to the light.
His back stiffened involuntarily.
Just when he thought Chen Yan was going to say something to him, the shadow slowly moved away, and his reflection swayed and followed the dazzling lights.
"Chu Sinian, what are you doing here? I've been looking for you for ages."
Ning Zicheng strode over, sat down next to him, and picked up a wine glass. "Why are you standing there? Su Shu just scolded me. I'm speechless. Wasn't it for her own good to make her exercise?"
He started gulping down the wine.
Chu Sinian twirled his fingertip around the rim of the glass, then raised his glass to clink with his. "Su Shu doesn't really like sports."
Ning Zicheng said, "Why didn't you tell me sooner? You made me get scolded for nothing."
Chu Sinian said, "I tried to persuade you, but you didn't listen."
The engagement party was about to begin. The surrounding noise subsided, and the two elegantly dressed protagonists walked to the center of the venue. The lights from all directions shone on them, and their posture and expression exuded an undisguised arrogance.
Liang Jingsi, dressed in a suit and tie, smiled and took the arm of his young and beautiful fiancée, Tang Yu. The two were a perfect match in terms of looks and wealth. Apart from their fake smiles that lacked genuine emotion, the wedding banquet could be described as perfect.
Their perfect match in terms of material wealth makes them the most compatible couple in their social circle.
Ning Zicheng glanced at Chu Sinian and whispered, "Didn't your family come?"
"They've arrived. Where should they be?" Chu Sinian turned his gaze back.
"Aren't you going to go look for him?"
I called him several times this morning, but he didn't answer any of them. Since that's the case, there's no need to keep looking for him. He doesn't want me to know where he is, and he doesn't need my comfort.
Ning Zicheng felt a little uncomfortable and frowned as she said, "He probably doesn't necessarily not need it, he's just sad and doesn't want you to know..."
Chu Sinian raised an eyebrow. "You're quite the thinker."
Ning Zicheng said speechlessly, "I thought you were sad."
Chu Sinian looked quietly at the couple, his tone indifferent: "Some losses have to be suffered, and some things are destined. I have advised him before, but this is something he cannot avoid."
The couple on stage finally finished speaking. Under the romantic pink lights, they exchanged engagement rings. Wealth and power were bound together at this moment. Everyone wore satisfied and seemingly happy smiles, marveling at how incredible love was.
Chu Sinian raised his glass as usual and followed them in toasting the main figures at the event.
Just then, a force that was not concealed fell on him again, its presence very strong.
Chu Sinian noticed this, put down his wine glass, and looked over, only to see Chen Chi sitting on the other side of the aisle watching him.
Despite the seemingly ordinary and perfectly normal look in his eyes, Chu Sinian unintentionally sensed a subtle sense of aggression.
After the two made eye contact, Chu Sinian, out of courtesy, could not ignore it and politely paid his respects from a distance.
Chen Chi didn't react much, he just silently looked away.
The engagement banquet gradually transitioned into a presentation ceremony by the two companies. Tang Yu's father, Tang Shisong, announced a collaboration with the Liang family on a project called "Refining New Technology," which was then shown on a large screen.
"Refine New" is a new technology concept developed by the two companies in the field of medical devices.
The experiment broadcast on the screen silenced everyone present. Reporters who had been summoned frantically pressed the shutter button, their ever-changing expressions flashing across the camera screens, a stark contrast to the advanced technology being broadcast.
The moment the technical simulation finished, the serious faces of the researchers on the screen suddenly disappeared, replaced without any pause by a series of ambiguous photos.
The photo shows Liang Jingsi, who is holding a man's waist and kissing him deeply in a hotel room. In just a second or two, the photo is immediately replaced with a video, and the passionate French kiss makes everyone present feel goosebumps.
"Where are the staff? Turn it off now!" Liang Jingsi's father, Liang Dezhong, shouted, his face ashen.
Tang Shisong wasn't in much better shape either. He immediately sent someone backstage while he and his daughter took the stage to host the banquet.
Meanwhile, Liang Jingsi, another key figure at the banquet, picked up a chair and smashed the large screen to pieces.
A row of reporters were blocked, pushed, and pulled by security guards, but they still managed to take pictures of Liang Jingsi's crazy behavior. Their faces were full of joy for tomorrow's headlines, and they showed no anger at being driven away.
Even those who came to the banquet, even if they wanted to watch the excitement, left with regret due to etiquette. The elders left one after another, while some young people were still gloating and making a big fuss.
The constant chatter and shouts of expulsion were even louder than before the banquet began, giving everyone a headache.
Ning Zicheng, following closely behind Chu Sinian, was so shocked she didn't know what to do. "Holy crap, could Yu Shi have done this?"
Chu Sinian ran quickly to find the person, then said, "He can't do this kind of thing."
Ning Zicheng, panting, chased after him, "Then why did you blur his face?"
"The guns are aimed at the Tang and Liang families, and Yu Shi is just an afterthought, so there's no need to offend him."
Ning Zicheng was still in shock. Such a thing would be shocking anywhere, let alone for people like them who are rich and powerful and care the most about their reputation.
Being exposed in lesbian nude photos at an engagement party is absolutely outrageous! This method is so dirty and shameless!
The banquet hall was very large. Chu Sinian searched around without success, then ran to the area near the restroom aisle. He looked around and was about to leave when he noticed someone standing quietly at the corner of the aisle.
As soon as the man saw Chu Sinian, he ran away without looking back. Chu Sinian chased after him and shouted in a low voice, "How long are you going to hide?"
The man slowed his pace, then tried to run forward again, but Chu Sinian caught up and grabbed him, saying, "Come with me first. Liang Jingsi won't let you go if she finds out you're here."
Yu Shi hurriedly said, "I didn't do this."
As Chu Sinian pulled him along, he said, "Whether you did it or not is not important; they will definitely be caught in the crossfire."
Ning Zicheng silently blocked Yu Shi's body from the side, thinking to himself, "Damn it, he really came. Chu Sinian really knows him."
The group of people discreetly followed the crowd toward the gate.
Tang Shisong and Liang Dezhong went to investigate the people behind the scenes, while Liang Dezhong contacted the media to keep quiet. As for the couple, they maintained proper etiquette and cleared the area.
They saw an elder off to the door. The elder was very understanding and didn't seem to mind their clearing out of the area. Tang Yu's forced smile then softened a little.
The two were about to leave after seeing him off at the door when Liang Jingsi suddenly stopped and stared intently at someone.
Tang Yu suppressed her temper and looked over, only to see a face that was not exactly familiar, but exceptionally handsome and dashing – the renowned Chu Sinian.
He was putting his arm around someone in a protective posture.
The person next to her, with their back to her, had striking orange hair. She immediately recognized Ning Zicheng from that signature arrogant demeanor and hair color.
Before she could even say hello, someone darted out like a monkey.
Then she saw her incredibly stupid and morally questionable fiancé rip off the mask that Chu Sinian was using to protect the other person with lightning speed.
A pale, docile, and haggard face was revealed.
Tang Yu leaped forward and slapped Liang Jingsi hard.
"Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough already?!"
Liang Jingsi was slapped to the ground, his upright and excellent demeanor gone. He propped himself up and said to Yu Shi, "You have ruined my future."
Yu Shi was both angry and aggrieved, "I didn't do it! I didn't ruin your engagement party, I just came to check on things..."
Chu Sinian put his arm around him, "No need to explain to them."
Liang Jingsi tried to grab Chu Sinian, but was suddenly kicked away.
He clutched his stomach in pain, looked up in astonishment, and saw Chen Chi, whom he had only heard of for a long time but never seen, standing before him.
Chen Chi's gaze did not fall on them; his eyes were fixed on Chu Sinian, but after a few moments, they lingered on Yu Shi's shoulder where they were touching.
Chen Chi was exactly as rumored; he was just as indifferent, just as sinister, and just as unpredictable.
Ning Zicheng was startled and didn't know where to look.
The collapsed Liang Jingsi, the weeping Yu Shi, the calm Chu Sinian, the seemingly random Chen Chi, the fierce fiancée, and the two elderly people, Tang and Liang, busy cleaning up the mess.
He felt that he would never have experienced a more chaotic scene in his life.
Chu Sinian spoke first. He looked at Chen Chi and then said to Liang Jingsi, "Lianxin has suddenly appeared, and many people are secretly coveting it. Instead of repenting, you're chasing after your ex-lover. You've got a good brain."
He said to Tang Yu, "It's not such a bad thing that the engagement banquet is ruined. It's better to be alone than to be tied to him for life." After saying that, he led his men out the door.
Outside the gate, there was an empty road, surrounded by towering buildings. In the distance, employees earning meager salaries were busy at work, while behind them, chairmen of various companies were staging a farce.
Occasionally, the bustling Beijing Avenue is punctuated by faint sobs.
Chu Sinian, Ning Zicheng, and Chen Chi, who hadn't left yet, all listened silently to Yu Shi crying.
After a while, Ning Zicheng wondered where all that water was coming from, and then she saw Chu Sinian return with two bottles of mineral water and expertly hand them to Yu Shi.
There was another bottle, which was handed to her, but Ning Zicheng shook her head to indicate that she didn't want it.
Chu Sinian paused for two seconds, then handed the water to Chen Chi, who hadn't left yet. Chen Chi took it without even looking at him.
The three of them stood still, waiting for the others to finish crying.
After an unknown amount of time, Chu Sinian spoke up: "How many mistakes in your life have you solved by crying?"
Yu Shi fell silent, staring blankly at him.
"If they censor it this time, what about next time?"
Chu Sinian looked at him intently.
He had been with Yu Shi for so many years, and he knew that Yu Shi was emotionally fragile, easily frustrated, easily cried, and easily saddened, but deep down he was surprisingly persistent and determined, and would never let go of what he set his sights on.
He had received kindness from Yu Shi, and it was his unwavering determination to never give up during the most difficult years that pulled him back to reality.
He and Yu Shi comforted each other like two birds that had lost their eyes, and the years they spent together became nourishment for him to protect Yu Shi. He protected her openly and secretly, almost taking on the missing father role in his own life.
Unfortunately, while he can get involved in everything, he can only be an observer when it comes to relationships.
"Yu Shi, you've been reckless and impulsive for so many years, it's time for you to grow up."
He waited for Yu Shi's reply, but received no response for a long time.
Suddenly, a faint, eerie voice drifted over.
"I never knew you had the potential to be someone's father," Chen Chi said, looking at him.
Chu Sinian was caught off guard and his overflowing sadness was wasted.
He sneered as if pulling up a security check mark, "Why haven't you left yet? Nobody invited you to the show."
"I'm here to see my team members, it's none of your business."
Ning Zicheng was inexplicably brought up, and tactically took two steps back, saying, "I don't know anything."
Chen Chi stared at Chu Sinian, his lips curving into an unhappy smile. "You haven't changed at all, you love to meddle in other people's business."
Meddling in other people's business?
Ning Zicheng looked up at the coach in disbelief.
Chu Sinian said slowly, "I'm not like you; I'm kinder."
Ning Zicheng opened his mouth in astonishment.
Is it considered kind to throw a mouse into a nine-year-old's room?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
