10. Snow in a silver bowl
She placed herself above all interests.
"Grandpa," Shang Xin said in a choked voice, her eyes brimming with grievance.
"Oh dear!" Shang Zun rushed forward and hugged the person he cherished dearly. "My little troublemaker, you really break your grandfather's heart!"
Shang Zun is nearly eighty years old, but because he has an entire medical and health team to take care of his daily life, he hardly shows any signs of aging.
Upon hearing that Shang Xinuan had fallen from her horse, the old man's hair turned white overnight.
The family sat around her bedside, chatting about everything under the sun, but no one mentioned Li Xiran to her.
Shang Xinuan tried to speak up several times, but the harmonious atmosphere of the family always dissuaded her from doing so.
My maternal grandfather lost his father at a young age and his mother in adulthood. Just when his children reached the age to get married, his daughter disappeared. The next time he received a message from Shang Chenshu, it was to say that she had given birth to a daughter alone and died far from home.
When she was five years old, she was brought back to Shanghai, and the old man gave her everything he could.
Shang Chenxi and Chu Ling treated her like their own daughter. She had everything that Shang Dan didn't have, and she had twice as much of everything that Shang Dan had.
Shang Danze has always been a calm and composed person since childhood, and his every word and action has been cultivated in the direction of becoming a successor.
The only time she recklessly beat a business partner's son half to death was when that person mocked Shang Xinuan for having no parents.
Her whole family doted on her, letting her do whatever she wanted and buy whatever she liked.
Shang Dan teased her, saying that with his family backing him up, even if he were forced to marry into another family, he would never give his sister away for a political marriage.
As she thought about it, the young lady couldn't help but shed tears.
"Why are you crying again? Are you feeling unwell?"
She shook her head, her eyes red, "I just feel sorry for my grandfather, uncle and aunt and cousin."
Feng Ruochu had just scolded her, and the whole world wanted to praise her highly, with stars and moon adorning her, yet she was hurt to this extent because of Li Xiran.
Shang Zun wiped away her tears, "I told you before that these extreme sports are dangerous. I warned you a thousand times, but you wouldn't listen and even secretly went to Yijing to open a venue."
"You wait, when Li Xiran comes back, I'll break his legs and make that brat pay for it."
The conversation then turned to Li Xiran.
"My uncle..."
"I don't know, even I, the teacher, don't know."
Shang Xi nestled into Shang Zun's arms, feeling his gentle pats on her back to comfort her. "I want to hear what he has to say."
After a long while, she heard Shang Zun sigh, "What a nemesis, they're all nemesis. Listen! If he doesn't speak well, Grandpa will beat him until he can speak well."
-
Shang Xinuan stayed in Yijing Hospital for a week. Although her internal organs and bones were fine, she did not return to Shanghai until her body recovered more steadily. She usually moves around in a wheelchair.
That night.
She kept scrolling through her phone.
No one in Shanghai is talking about her injury anymore, and the group still hasn't responded to the marriage between the Li family and the Bai family of Yijing.
Throughout the week, wealthy second-generation individuals from Shanghai came to visit her one after another, and white-collar workers who were on good terms with her in the board office called her.
The whole world cared about her, but that person seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Shang Xinuan opened her chat window with Li Xiran again; the messages were still from last week.
She angrily closed her phone, turned over, and went to sleep.
Around midnight, she vaguely felt someone stroking her hair, gently and softly.
The familiar scent of cedar and herbs seemed to soothe the lingering pain in her body.
She opened her eyes groggily, but apart from the bright moon shining through the window, the room was empty.
The next day, the five-person team played with her in the hospital room.
The young lady was still thinking about yesterday's dream, her mind elsewhere.
"Nuan Nuan, it's your turn to play."
Shang Xinuan quickly drew a card and threw it into the deck.
"Hahaha, you lost, Nuannuan." Ruan Songyi reached out her hand, "I want your cloak."
"I don't even know how many times I've worn this. I'll just buy you another one." The young lady was true to her word and was about to text her high-end luxury sales associate as she spoke.
“It will take at least three months for the goods to be delivered again. We’re planning a graduation trip to the desert at the end of the month.” After saying that, Ruan Songyi added regretfully, “It’s a pity you can’t come with us.”
“Actually, Nuan Nuan can go if she wants. We can get a campervan and a wheelchair. Miss, you can just enjoy the sunset and the camels,” Jiang Xiangzhuo said, crossing his legs.
Shang Xinuan shook her head, "Never mind, you guys have fun."
She figured Li Xiran would be returning to Shanghai by the end of the month, and she might not even be in the mood then, so it was best not to spoil the mood.
But just a week later, she suddenly saw a post on WeChat Moments from a junior employee in the board office, saying that Li Xiran had just arrived in Shanghai at noon.
The young lady's long-calmed heart began to boil again, but she waited all afternoon and still didn't see Li Xiran come to Yijing to see her or send her a message.
As evening approached, she could no longer sit still and decided to return to Shanghai.
She wanted to ask Li Xiran about the engagement rumors in person, whether they were true or false, she wanted to give her youth a proper ending.
Yu Jiayue and Qiao Xi were worried about her, but they couldn't stop her, so they chose to go back with her.
The young lady nearly broke all her bones during that takeoff and landing.
However, this did not prevent her from going to the Li'an Hotel, where Li Xiran was entertaining guests, as soon as she landed.
-
Seeing Li Xiran again felt like a lifetime had passed.
In the European-style banquet hall, he sat at the head of the long glass table.
He wore a dark business suit, exuding a refined and dignified air.
He was wearing the watch that Shang Zun had lost to him, and the English tattoo on his wrist was faintly visible as he moved.
A banquet with flowing water and wine cups, a riot of flowers, and clinking glasses.
He wore his usual faint, gentle smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. But this didn't stop him from being surrounded and flattered.
"We've been discussing business the whole time and haven't had a chance to congratulate Chairman Li yet." Wang Weide has been in charge of building material orders for small-scale construction projects for the Li Group. This special visit was to try and secure the order for the family resort.
"Mr. Wang, the outcome of the Zurich project won't be known until next month at the earliest. Congratulations too soon," Chen Ti replied with a smile.
"President Chen, you've misunderstood. I was congratulating Chairman Li on his upcoming wedding." Wang Weide still had a smile on his face, almost pressing his face against Li Xiran's.
Li Xiran stroked the rim of the cup with his fingertips, showing no intention of drinking. "Then congratulations are premature. It will take at least two or three more years."
"Oh! Congratulations on finding such a wonderful fiancée. I've heard she's very dignified, composed, polite, and gentle."
"Mr. Chen, you should listen to less gossip news. These two words don't quite capture the essence of my wife."
"Understood, understood, it's necessary for work, it's necessary for work." Wang Weide nodded repeatedly.
The banquet hall was filled with cheers and laughter, and no one noticed the three people standing outside the door.
Shang Xinuan listened as he spoke to someone about his fiancée in a doting tone.
It turns out that Miss Bai Quesi, who appears dignified, composed, polite, and gentle, can also be domineering and coquettish with him in private.
He's such an introverted and rigid person, he must be enjoying it.
The young lady thought to herself, "Isn't my body injured from the fall? Why does my heart hurt so much?"
It felt sour and stuffy that I could hardly breathe.
Meanwhile, Wang Weide's voice continued to echo from inside the banquet hall, "I've been hearing about your affair with Miss Shang, and you even gave her half of your office to use as a study."
Li Xiran's smile deepened, and his voice softened. "Nuan Nuan helped me secure my first contract worth hundreds of billions, so it's perfectly reasonable to give her an entire office building as her study."
Wang Weide clapped his hands, not understanding the meaning, and said directly, "Yes, yes, yes. I knew that a powerful figure like Chairman Li, who is good at strategizing in the business world, would not spend his days revolving around a spoiled and willful little girl."
"Chairman Li, I salute you."
A metallic taste of blood immediately filled Shang Xi's throat, and a sharp, piercing sound filled his ears.
With almost all her remaining strength, she said, "Let's go."
She finally understood all these years, all these feelings.
Yu Lixiran's help was timely and a business-oriented gesture.
As for himself, it was nothing more than the tolerant acceptance of an older person.
She was just a young girl, yet all of Shanghai knew about her loving gazes and probing words.
How could they possibly hide it from Li Xiran, who was a master strategist in the business world?
Unless, of course, they're simply too lazy to respond.
She's just a young girl; if you spoil her and pamper her, she'll eventually get tired and weary and won't bother him anymore.
The night wind outside the hotel was bone-chillingly cold.
Yu Jiayue and Qiao Xi quickly covered her with a blanket, also wanting to see her expression.
But I found that her eyes were so empty and numb.
"Nuan Nuan, if you want to cry, then cry."
“XiXi, I’ve been crying for four years. Suddenly, I can’t cry anymore.”
Perhaps it was a case of despair being the greatest of all, but she felt as if the seed planted in her heart by Li Xiran had withered away in that instant.
"I want to go to the desert with you all and forget all those past events." The young lady stared blankly ahead, then actually laughed.
Most importantly, Li Xiran was forgotten.
"Nuan Nuan, are you alright? I'm so worried about you."
Shang Xin wrapped herself in the blanket, her sigh seemingly filled with relief, "Xi Xi, you should be happy for me."
Her fall from the horse caused a sensation throughout Shanghai.
Even Feng Ruochu, who was always at odds with her and wished she could die, ran over, afraid that she would do something foolish.
Her grandfather's hair turned white from worry, and she received care from her family and companionship from her friends.
The world loved her far more than she had imagined.
Why would she, the most distinguished young lady in Shanghai, be so suicidal?
-
At that moment, the atmosphere in the banquet hall took a sharp turn for the worse after Wang Weide said, "Yes, yes, yes. I knew it. How could a shrewd businessman like Chairman Li spend all his time with a spoiled and willful young girl?"
Even when he picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, Li Xiran didn't react at all.
"Chairman Li?" Wang Weide swirled his glass, a fawning smile on his face.
At this moment, Chen Ti stood up, picked up Li Xiran's coat that was placed aside, and said politely to Wang Weide, "President Wang, Chairman Li came here specifically to discuss business with you, but you seem to be more interested in Chairman Li's family affairs."
"But what our Chairman Li dislikes most is talking about family matters with people he doesn't know well."
Only then did everyone notice that Li Xiran's face had darkened. He slowly dusted the dirt off his knees, got up, and walked out the door.
With a formal smile, Chen Ti nodded to everyone in farewell, "Oh, by the way, Mr. Wang, the young lady you mentioned is the eldest daughter of the Li family. Please use a more respectful term next time."
As soon as they stepped out of the banquet hall, Chen Ti spat out a mouthful of phlegm. "What a piece of trash. Anyone with eyes knows that Nuannuan is above all interests in our Chairman Li's heart."
-
Li Xiran lowered the window of the silver-white Maybach.
In the darkness of night, there was only him and Chen Ti in their own space.
The usual gentle mask on his face was removed, replaced by an indifferent expression.
He held a cigarette between his fingers, its crimson glow flickering dimly in the night.
The dark, white smoke swirled around his deep-set eyes, naturally revealing his innate sense of oppression.
"You haven't smoked in a long time."
"Um."
He wasn't a heavy smoker, but being in this circle meant he couldn't avoid socializing with cigarettes and alcohol.
Besides, the young lady doesn't like this taste.
But now, blending into the vast darkness of the night, amidst the ceaseless flow of traffic...
Those who held high positions and were inevitably subjected to drinking and socializing seemed to have been freed from such constraints.
It allows one to temporarily remove the mask of gentleness, revealing the dark and flawed side of oneself.
"I heard that Miss Nuannuan has returned to Shanghai."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiran subconsciously stubbed out his cigarette.
He chuckled softly only after watching the wisps of white smoke rise.
It's as if he's going to see her.
"What did Xixi tell you?" Li Xiran asked.
"Miss Nuannuan is very sad and has been waiting for your explanation."
“Chairman Li, I think we can tell Miss Nuannuan about what happened in Zurich. She will understand.”
After he acquired the family-friendly resort in Shanghai, Chen Shaoyi's patience finally ran out.
Furthermore, without his complete knowledge, she acknowledged Bai Quesi's identity, officially breaking ties with him.
During his trip to Zurich, the group's "Empress Dowager" faction, who accompanied him, set traps for him along the way.
It was four days before he learned that Shang Xinuan was injured.
"Besides, it's not that you didn't go back to see Miss Nuannuan."
As early as the first week, Li Xiran couldn't sit still in Zurich.
However, all his communication devices were being monitored by Chen Shaoyi, and in the end, he still chose to take the risk and secretly return to China with Chen Ti.
Taking advantage of the two-hour layover time difference, I sat by her bedside for five minutes.
It was during those five minutes that he decided that some past entanglements needed to be put to rest.
He took off his watch, revealing a knife scar and an English tattoo—Andrea—hidden beneath the watch strap.
Andrea, his mother's name. He disappeared from Chen Shaoyi's care when he was ten years old.
“Chen Ti, I need an absolutely safe environment before I dare to bring her to my side.”
He dared not allow the slightest mishap in his life.
Therefore, he was extremely cautious in everything he did, and he would never reveal the slightest desire until he had succeeded in the final step.
Shang Xi was incredibly kind to him, taking care of him with utmost care and consideration.
"However, Miss Nuannuan is different from the business world. She is a living, breathing person with feelings. Most girls are emotional and sensitive, and they need clear expressions of love as emotional support."
Looking at the flickering lights outside the car window, Li Xiran asked, "I haven't asked you recently, are you dating someone?"
"I dare not lie to you, I do have a girlfriend and we are already preparing for our wedding, so I have had some epiphanies about relationships."
Li Xiran let out a long sigh. "I originally wanted to wait until she turned twenty before giving her a response. But even when she turned twenty, I still felt the timing wasn't right."
“Even long after she turned twenty, I still felt she deserved a better man than someone like me.”
He carries too many hidden responsibilities, and upon closer examination, he is hardly a suitable partner.
"I have done background checks on Mr. Yu, who is by Miss Nuannuan's side. Both his family background and his personality are outstanding. He is a man who can be trusted."
Li Xiran looked up and saw Chen Ti looking at him in the rearview mirror.
A cunning confidant always knows how to provoke the boss's resentment with a single sentence.
Li Xiran still remembers the scene when he first met Shang Xinuan.
In the early spring garden courtyard, she wore a floral print mini-skirt. The light and shadow transformed the fountain mist into a rainbow, serving as a backdrop for the young woman.
She was vibrant, cunning, and more radiant than the spring sunshine.
As a normal man, it would be hard for him not to be attracted.
That year, she had just turned eighteen.
Thinking of this, Li Xiran murmured, "But it's normal for immature children to not be able to distinguish between love and infatuation."
Chen Ti withdrew her gaze and asked in return, "Then, can you distinguish the mature Chairman Li?"
The car stopped at the entrance of a high school in Shanghai. It was the time when senior high school students were leaving their evening self-study session, and the traffic light at the intersection turned red.
Many students in school uniforms walked past his car, their faces radiating youth and genuine smiles.
Li Xiran glanced back at the car that had been following them and said to Chen Ti, "Let's shake them off and go to the Shang family."
A note from the author:
Good news: He loves it!
Bad news: She needs to forget him!
--------------------------------
I'd like to recommend a friend's article; feel free to check it out if you're interested!
"Post-Marriage Depravity" by Dong Qi
*A Slow and Steady Man's Journey: The Old Fox and the Fallen Heiress*
After disappearing for many years, Ding Xiayi met Qiao Shiyi again at an auction. She was being chased by creditors and accidentally entered a private room. In the darkness, Ding Xiayi clutched the hem of Qiao Shiyi's clothes.
The pampered young lady of the past was now like a little white rabbit waiting to be slaughtered, her eyes filled with tears as she begged him for help. She was completely different from the bright and beautiful Ding Xiayi in Qiao Shiyi's memory.
Qiao Shiyi knelt down and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his voice calm and indifferent, "What benefit would I get from helping you?"
Ding Xiayi gripped his clothes tightly, refusing to let go, and asked him through sobs, "What do you need?"
Qiao Shiyi's eyes were fixed on her face, his heart tightened, and the clear spring in his eyes turned into spring water.
"I lack nothing, except a wife."
——
Rumor has it that Qiao Shiyi, the head of the Qiao family, is ruthless and powerful in the business world, and everyone avoids him.
Some say he harbors feelings for a long-time crush, but no one knows who it is.
Later, no one expected that Qiao Shiyi would get married in a flash. When the news spread, everyone bet that this ruthless boss Qiao was only getting married for profit and that he would definitely dump the woman within two months. The bets were even higher and higher.
One day—
Someone saw Qiao Shiyi being pushed onto a sofa by Ding Xiayi at a bar, with the soft lighting between them.
Ding Xiayi, her face flushed with drunkenness, leaned close to his ear, her posture alluring, her voice rising at the end: "I want to do something exciting."
Qiao Shiyi took off his silver-rimmed glasses, gently pinched her earlobe, and slowly coaxed, "I do have something exciting to tell you,"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ding Xiayi's face was lifted up, his breath hot against her nose, his deep, pleasant voice resonating from his throat, the atmosphere tender, "Want to kiss me?"
——
Later, someone revealed to the person in question that Qiao Shiyi was secretly harboring feelings for someone else, warning her not to be deceived.
That evening, Ding Xiayi talked to Qiao Shiyi about the matter. The latter put his arm around her slender waist and pressed her against the mirror. "It's my fault. It's because my brother has been thinking about Xia Zhi for so many years but hasn't dared to say it."
After saying that, Ding Xiayi tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek to comfort him.
Qiao Shiyi pointed to his own lips and coaxed, "Come on, kiss me here."
#Every day after I stopped being human is happy#
#Little White Rabbit Raising Series#
#SteveJoy's Self-Strategy#
Quick tips:
*A long-awaited reunion, a marriage of convenience that blossoms into love*
*A Slow-Paced Story: The Old Fox vs. the Seemingly Innocent Little Rabbit*
*SC/1V1/6-year age gap, father-like husband*
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Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: LUMI (10 bottles); Naizhuochen (1 bottle);
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