19. Snow in a silver bowl
◎Warmheart, do you really not want me anymore?◎
The dawn in the desert is desolate and chilly.
Shang Xin, wrapped in a thick cloak, was helped into the car by Qiao Xi.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to everyone before you leave?"
Shang Xinuan caught a glimpse of someone's tent out of the corner of her eye. After a moment's thought, she simply shook her head with a clear look in her eyes, "No, you guys have fun."
Shang Dan leaned out from the passenger seat and said, "Be careful, and come home early when you've had your fun."
Qiao Xi pouted and said, "Okay, brother." Then she waved goodbye to the two of them reluctantly.
As soon as the desert off-road pickup truck left the camp, Shang Dan put down his phone and turned around. Seeing that she looked even weaker than before, he couldn't help but nag her a bit, "There are only three months left until you start school. Go home and take good care of yourself. Don't keep running around all over the world."
After Li Xiran brought her back to the camp yesterday, she went straight back to her tent. After a phone call, Shang Zun sent his grandson to the Northwest overnight to pick her up and take her home.
Anyone with eyes can see that she went to the desert to clear her mind, and returned to Shanghai to avoid Li Xiran.
"You have no idea, your grandpa and your uncle and aunt have been talking about you for days since you left." Seeing that she was in low spirits, Shang Dan changed the subject, as if teasing a child, "Shang Xiaonuan, our family really can't function at all without you, you know?"
She leaned her head against the headrest, staring blankly out the car window.
She remained silent, blinked a few times, then closed her eyes completely, shutting out the tears that were about to well up.
The rising sun, like silk and brocade, shone through the car window onto her pale cheeks, making the fine, soft downy hairs seem to be coated with a layer of golden light.
But for some reason, she appeared even thinner than jade and porcelain, as if she could shatter into a pile of gold dust with the slightest touch.
Until the very end, her shoulders began to tremble as the carriage swayed.
Even though it was the height of summer in the desert, her heart was brewing a massive blizzard.
She was so stubborn and obstinate, as if she were sulking with someone, biting her lip so hard that she didn't utter a single sob.
It seems that only by being the one to actively abandon her can she win this battle that is too numerous to recount.
When Shang Xinu woke up again, the car had already arrived at the airport.
This time, the old man not only sent Shang Dan to pick her up, but also sent the Shang family's private jet.
She stood on the tarmac just before boarding the plane.
I remember when we arrived, we were standing in this same windy spot. Li Xiran held her in his arms and blocked the wind from all directions.
Now that we're leaving, the sky has turned gloomy.
Several dark, thick clouds on the distant horizon obscured most of the sun.
“I don’t even get such good treatment, Shang Xiaonuan. Grandpa even feels bad that you’re sitting in first class.” Shang Dan helped her board the plane, saying, “When we go back this time, I’ll also feel sorry for him and spend some quality time with him.”
"Okay," she replied.
After stepping through the cabin door, Shang Dan escorted her directly to the rest cabin to sleep.
When I woke up again after this sleep, my short trip to Northwest China was over.
-
A wind picked up in the desert today, and as the group emerged from their tents, they could see a cloud of yellow dust stretching into the distance.
The camp manager informed us that there was light rain in the city. Although it wouldn't affect the desert, it would be best to stay near the camp for safety reasons.
Qiao Xi and Ruan Songyi returned to their tent to put on makeup, preparing for a desert photoshoot.
As usual, Li Xiran got up and sat outside Shang Xinuan's tent with her computer to work on documents. However, when Qiao Xi finished her makeup and came out, neither of them came to help Shang Xinuan get up.
"Xi Xi." Li Xiran waved at her. "Isn't your name Nuan Nuan?"
Qiao Xi bit her lip, unsure how to explain to Li Xiran.
Is she still feeling unwell?
"Uncle, Nuannuan has returned to Shanghai." There was no way to hide it from her any longer, so Qiao Xi simply told her directly.
Li Xiran paused for a moment, then closed his laptop. "When?"
"This morning, before dawn, Shang Dan came to pick her up." Qiao Xi pinched the hem of her skirt. "Uncle, Nuan Nuan might really be heartbroken."
Li Xiran didn't respond further. He picked up his phone from the table and dialed Chen Ti's number.
"If there's a rainstorm in Shanghai, book a flight in the next city, wherever there's a safe landing spot, and then arrange for someone to send me a car from the airport."
Seeing that he had hung up the phone, Qiao Xi hurriedly stepped in front of him, "Uncle, it's too dangerous for you to go back now!"
The torrential rain in Shanghai just an hour ago became a trending topic, with lightning and thunder striking the Oriental Pearl Tower.
Li Xiran was naturally aware of the risks of taking the plane in the rain, but he also knew that once Shang Xinuan returned and calmed down, there would be no hope left for the two of them.
He had to quickly win the girl's heart, to win her forgiveness—the only time in his life he had ever felt such a flutter in his heart, a forgiveness born of anxiety and a lack of self-control.
“Get up,” he said.
Qiao Xi's eyes were red, knowing that she couldn't stop Shang Xinuan, let alone Li Xiran.
Even off-road pickup truck drivers who were originally unwilling to take risks were moved by his sky-high reward and decided to risk giving him a ride.
Fortunately, the journey from the desert to the city was only accompanied by overcast skies, not rain, and the airport announcement only stated that flights to Shanghai were suspended.
The driver who took Li Xiran was the same person who had previously driven them back to the camp from the desert post office.
I just delivered Shangxi Nuanhe and Shangdan this morning.
"Are you trying to woo that girl from Cambridge?" In this tourist city, the driver's enthusiasm was excessive.
"Um."
"How did you offend her? That girl seems incredibly wealthy; she sent a private jet to pick you up." The driver was already curious early in the morning. After all, when they drove into the city in the early hours, he sensed that the people in the car were no ordinary individuals.
"Pretend to be mute, pretend to be blind," he replied dejectedly.
Although this was not his intention, he still cannot deny his indifference over the years.
The driver gasped, "Young man! I've been married for many years, and the lesson I've learned is this: never remain silent in a relationship."
"Especially for sensitive girls, if they don't feel loved, then it means there is no love."
Li Xiran pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yes, I was indecisive and hesitant before, and I let her down."
“But from what I’ve observed, the reason that girl is heartbroken is because she still has feelings for you.” The driver looked at him through the rearview mirror. Although the man looked haggard, he couldn’t hide the air of a wealthy Shanghai tycoon. “If you really can’t live without her, you must keep trying to win her over and don’t give up. Otherwise, someone who can walk back from our desert in despair, no matter how deep their feelings are, is probably in jeopardy.”
Li Xiran's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was low and hoarse, "Yes, thank you, Master."
The driver shook his head helplessly and sighed, "Besides, I can tell you're all rich and powerful people, so you're definitely not short of money. When it comes to winning over girls, you have to find the right techniques."
"Tell me about it?" he asked, staring at the driver in the rearview mirror, as if seeing a glimmer of hope.
"I won't explain it; you have to figure it out yourself, otherwise it's unfair to the young lady." The driver's expression was relaxed, and his demeanor resembled that of a wise hermit.
Li Xiran smiled and nodded, "Yes, I should find a way to get her forgiveness myself."
-
When Li Xiran arrived at the Northwest Airport, it was nearly 3 p.m.
More than two hours passed after he landed in Kunming.
Due to the torrential rain in Shanghai, the sky over Kunming, which is on the border, was also gloomy.
The entire city was shrouded in dark clouds; the sky, though clearly in the afternoon, felt more like dusk.
Chen Ti arranged for the vice president of the Kunming subsidiary to wait at the airport, and upon seeing Li Xiran, he immediately helped him carry his luggage.
"Chairman Li, let me take you back to Shanghai."
Li Xiran planned to go straight to the Shang family's house, so he didn't want to bring any strangers with him. "Give me the key, you don't need to come along."
"Mr. Chen told you that you don't drive often and haven't had a proper rest recently, so driving alone would be very unsafe."
Li Xiran didn't listen to his words. He took the car keys, opened the car door, and disappeared like a gust of wind.
On a dark, rainy night, a black Maybach drove across an overpass where thunder roared.
A fierce wind swept through the pouring rain, carrying a deadly attack that tore through time and space, stirring up layers of rain and mist.
Li Xiran floored the accelerator, the dappled light replacing the dense raindrops that streaked across his cheeks.
His eyes, usually as gentle as a peaceful night, were now swirling with turbulent waves, stirred by the shattered sky.
Li Xiran acted as if he were risking his life, or as if he were making a bet with the voice in his heart.
It seems that as long as a certain deadline is not exceeded, he still has a chance to make amends.
With a final, sharp screech of brakes, scorching white smoke billowed in front of the headlights.
Directly in front of the car headlights is the carved wooden door of the Shang Mansion.
He took a deep breath and pushed the door open, only to find his knees felt weak.
Before he could even stand up straight, his legs were already kneeling on the blue stone steps in front of the door.
Today, due to the heavy rain, the bright red gate of Shang Mansion was tightly closed, and the lights in the security booth were turned off.
Li Xiran braced his arms against the stone lion in front of the door, unable to get up for a long time.
Wearing a dark shirt and black trousers, he seemed to blend into the rainy night.
Only a car headlight behind him illuminated half of his shadow, and also revealed his disheveled appearance.
-
Just a wall away, a room filled with girlish charm is decorated with scented candles, creating a rich and peaceful tranquility.
Shang Xinuan lay on the soft couch. The pampered young lady usually disliked rainy nights, but today she was particularly interested in admiring the rainy garden outside the window.
But she forbade the courtyard lights to be turned on, so she watched the rain beat against the flower branches and spring blossoms fall to the ground during the brief moment of thunder and lightning.
The courtyard walls are made of blue bricks, and there are artistic tiles with openwork decorations.
Walking through the garden and focusing your gaze, you can see the hazy light outside the wall, and naturally you can also see the man kneeling and struggling to stand in front of the stone lion.
His knees had been injured before when he accidentally stepped into a hole while inspecting a construction site.
Although he fell from the second floor and was young, he still took more than half a year to recover, and suffered a lot on rainy days.
The young lady blinked her thick, upturned eyelashes, neither sadness nor laughter reaching her eyes.
The phone, which she had carelessly tossed aside, echoed with a deep, gentle male voice singing softly.
The screen kept displaying unfamiliar numbers from Shanghai; you didn't need to guess who they were.
When she blocked the third number, the young lady completely lost her patience and simply turned off her phone.
Less than a minute later, Aunt Hui knocked on the door, holding the public address card for the Shang Mansion.
Aunt Hui did not answer, waiting only for the young lady to pronounce a death sentence or an acquittal.
However, the judge today was too impartial and did not spare that phone call any leniency.
Aunt Hui understood, sighed, hung up, and turned to close the door for her.
"You see, if he had wanted to explain to me back then, there would have been a million ways," Shang Xinuan murmured softly, as if she were having a heart-to-heart talk with herself.
No sooner had Aunt Hui left than someone knocked on her bedroom door again.
"Nuan Nuan, that's Grandpa."
Shang Xinuan quickly got up and saw Shang Zun enter wearing a long robe and pajamas.
"It seems our little princess is still angry."
The spoiled princess syndrome of the young lady is so pronounced that she selectively chooses to show it in front of specific groups of people.
Upon seeing Shang Zun approach, she immediately threw herself into the old man's arms.
"Sigh, I've really raised a bunch of troublemakers." Shang Zun looked at her with pity and gently stroked her hair. "My dear girl, Xi Ran was wrong this time, but there's no need to make things too tense."
"Grandpa, you mustn't speak up for him. I'm the one who's been wronged, and no one can speak up for him."
Shang Zun smiled, his tone full of compromise, "Okay. Our Nuannuan is the precious gem that Grandpa raised from the ground up, and Grandpa will definitely not favor outsiders. It's just that Grandpa is afraid you'll regret it in the future, that's all."
She was young and ambitious, and had been pampered by her whole family since childhood.
Furthermore, relying on the immense power of the Shang family, and indeed the entire city of Shanghai, who would dare to disrespect Miss Shang?
“As long as our Nuannuan says she likes it, Grandpa will take care of all that mess with the Li family.” Shang Zun patted her back gently to comfort her, his expression and tone full of doting affection. “We don’t know how many times our little princess will live in this world, but since she’s become the Shang family’s golden nugget, Grandpa will never let her have anything she can’t have.”
Overwhelmed by days of suppressed emotions, Shang Xinuan sobbed, her shoulders trembling. "No! I don't want Grandpa to be criticized by outsiders for my sake anymore. Nuannuan knows everything. There is no one in this world who loves me more than Grandpa."
When Shang Zun saw her cry, his eyes also reddened. "Silly child, you really won't regret it later?"
Shang Xin sniffed, biting her lip as she finally managed to utter two firm words, "No!"
"Okay!" Shang Zun wiped away her tears with tenderness in his eyes. "If you don't regret it now, then don't see him now."
"If he regrets it later and wants to see her, Grandpa can just tie him up again, even break his legs, so that our princess can see him."
The young lady was amused, and for a moment, tears and laughter were mixed together.
The old man coaxed the young man for a long time, and it wasn't a waste of his time staying up all night with him, before he left, looking back every few steps.
-
The young lady, feeling relieved, lay down on the bed.
Looking at the lightning and thunder outside the courtyard, a chill ran through my heart.
So she started looking for the remote control for the electric curtains, deciding to completely shut out the outside world.
Before she could have enough time to search, the French doors leading from her bedroom to the courtyard were suddenly pushed open.
The drizzling rain and the earthy smell rushed into the fragrant room at once.
The timely flash of lightning and thunder directly revealed the face of the culprit.
Li Xiran was completely soaked by the torrential rain; his shirt clung to his chest, and his trousers and shoes were covered in mud.
The once refined and elegant face of an English gentleman is now as if it has been torn apart by lightning.
The young lady was so frightened that she forgot to scream. She just stared blankly at him, who was full of lust, as he approached her step by step.
It wasn't until she was pulled into a distinctly cold yet intensely warm chest that Shang Xinuan realized what was happening and tried to push away the person restraining her.
Perhaps due to extreme horror, her voice was choked back by the surging lightning.
All she could hear was Li Xiran's hoarse, mournful voice, "Nuan Nuan, do you really not want me anymore?"
A note from the author:
Chairman Li asked me to inquire, saying that everyone just wants to see him pursue his wife and make amends for the young lady's past hurts.
It's not that I really hate him, nor that I want him to never be forgiven, right?
------------------------------------------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
