13. Snow in a silver bowl
We are no longer related.
While waiting for the wheelchair, Shang Xinuan was being carried by Li Xiran in a princess carry, which attracted the attention of many passengers disembarking from the plane.
Both of them had looks that attracted many suitors, especially Shang Xinuan, who was ill and looked particularly pitiful with her pale face.
Li Xiran has been exercising and working out for many years, and with his Caucasian ancestry, his broad shoulders and muscular build make him appear even more robust.
When Shang Xinuan was held in his arms, her slender figure created a stark contrast with his.
Because the tarmac was empty and there was nothing to block the breeze, the wind blew her long skirt, and her slender and shapely legs were partially visible, which were wrapped in Li Xiran's bulging arms.
Meeting her gaze, Li Xiran opened her clenched fist and gathered the entire hem of her skirt into her palm.
Shang Xinuan and her entire body were pressed against his chest.
Through the thin summer fabric, the scent of cedar and herbs emanating from Li Xiran enveloped her, while the hot and powerful pounding of his heart screamed out their burning passion.
When young couples pass by them, you can hear the girl's envious and coquettish voice.
"Look at that girl's boyfriend, how romantic."
"That's because his girlfriend is sick, that's why he's holding her."
"What I'm saying is that other people's princess carries make me feel especially safe."
"I'll go to the gym tonight, and try my best to make it so you can go out without your legs as soon as possible."
Shang Xi closed her eyes, out of sight, out of mind.
Li Xiran, far from being modest, even said to her, "Some people are quite envious of us."
The young lady scoffed, a classic line immediately flashing through her mind: "Really? Do you want this good fortune?"
"I am enjoying my good fortune."
Shang Xi hesitated, thinking to herself that she must have been blinded by love before, to like someone who couldn't even understand her jokes.
Seeing Qiao Xi push the wheelchair over, he hurriedly struggled, "Put me down."
The young lady's patience had run out, and she didn't want to be with him for even half a second.
At this time, the shuttle bus designated for first class passengers arrived and took the group directly to the designated location, where their rented van was waiting.
After checking in and collecting all the luggage, we were ready to depart.
Li Xiran travels frequently for work, and a tiny suitcase is all he needs to get around. Seeing that the others weren't taking him, he hailed a taxi that could go into the desert and decided to go with them.
"Young man, you're obviously not well-prepared." The driver, a weathered middle-aged man, chatted warmly with Li Xiran, "Your taxi fare this time is enough to cover the entire rental fee for other people."
"It's alright." Li Xiran smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on the rear of the van in front of him.
"Did you upset your wife? Is that why she won't take you?" The driver glanced at him and asked with a smile.
"So instead of rushing over to apologize, we should hurry up and do it." Li Xiran sighed.
"But just from the glare your wife gave you, you could tell she has quite a temper. She looks much younger than you, too." In a tourist city, drivers who have seen many tourists are naturally very outgoing.
“She’s the only girl in the family, the apple of everyone’s eye.” Li Xiran smiled, his eyes full of doting as he mentioned Shang Xinuan. “It’s no wonder she threw a tantrum; it was my fault this time.”
Too confident, always thinking that they can control everything.
But life is unpredictable, and she was also the most vibrant girl in all of Shanghai.
"Young man!" the driver said earnestly, "When couples in the midst of a cold war come to our desert or to places like snow-capped mountains and plateaus for tourism, they are mostly determined to forget about each other."
"The uncle sees her every year. You'd better seize the opportunity, otherwise the girl will really leave you once she goes back home."
Li Xiran nodded solemnly, "Thank you, I definitely will."
When the uncle smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes deepened, and his face was full of honesty. His hands, which had been rough and dark from years of driving a taxi, were also visible.
He offered him a cigarette, saying, "Have one, it's a long way to go."
Li Xiran declined, saying, "She doesn't like the smell of smoke."
The driver laughed, even throwing away his cigarette. "Alright! Hurry up, I love helping young men woo their wives."
-
Because Shangxi was warming the body, the business vehicle did not travel fast.
So every time Qiao Xi looked back, she could see Li Xiran's car following behind.
"Nuan Nuan, your uncle is following behind us."
Shang Xinuan didn't even turn her head, only gripping the hem of her skirt and coldly saying, "You're a persistent ghost."
Qiao Xi patted her back to comfort her, "Let him come along. We only have two men here, and they're both young masters. With your uncle here, he can help Young Master Yu and Boss Jiang with their work."
"Your uncle is the eldest young master, okay?" The Li family's board office has a hundred employees dedicated to taking care of him alone. The Li family has four or five housekeepers just to clean for him, and the famous chefs from various departments work in shifts.
Then look at his hands, his face, even the strands of his hair exude an air of nobility.
"No, no," Qiao Xi said cryptically. "My uncle actually had a terrible childhood."
When Li Xiran was ten years old, Li Qianyun died in a car accident, and Anya disappeared in Chen Shaoyi's hands.
He bore almost all of Chen Shaoyi's hatred.
Her husband's decades of betrayal made him undoubtedly a source of trouble.
So before he officially took over the Li family business, he was left alone by Chen Shaoyi to live in Wan Gong No. 1.
Despite the enormous size of the manor villa, Chen Shaoyi did not arrange any nannies or housekeepers.
The abandoned yard was overgrown with grass taller than a person in autumn.
The evening breeze rustled and whispered, making everything seem like a ghostly spectacle.
“My uncle is nothing more than a bargaining chip for Shaoyi’s maternal grandmother to secure her position in the Li family. He has been doing everything since he was a child: washing clothes, cooking, cleaning. When the light in my old apartment broke, my uncle fixed it for me.”
"Sometimes, he might not be deliberately unresponsive. It's just that for too long, he's been all alone. No one has given him life advice, and he's always made decisions on his own."
Shang Xinuan was leaning back with her eyes closed and her head tilted, when she suddenly looked at Qiao Xi and was startled. "Why are you suddenly telling me all this?"
Although Li Xiran is somewhat distant from outsiders, he values family relationships very much.
Qiao Xi is the only girl among the younger generation of the Li family, and from childhood to adulthood, she has almost always had her requests granted.
Qiao Xi quickly shook her head, "No, no, I was just explaining why he could help."
Shang Xinuan squinted and clicked her tongue, "You look like you're very guilty."
“You’re my half-sister, so of course I’ll stand by your side without hesitation!”
Just kidding! I'm sleepy, give me a blanket to cover myself with.
Qiao Xi smiled broadly and quickly covered the young lady with a blanket, then thoughtfully put a heated eye mask on her as well. "Warm baby, be good!"
Seeing that everyone was busy with their own things, Qiao Xi patted her chest.
Normally, she would stand by her sisters without hesitation.
But this time, my uncle gave way too much!
On the plane, everyone was asleep.
She received a paper airplane from Li Xiran, which said that if she helped him appease Shang Xinuan, he would give her anything she wanted.
Qiao Xi turned around, her smile malicious.
The paper airplane read: "Private islands and yachts in Australia, thank you Uncle! Sending love!"
A minute later, the paper airplane flew back and told her: Of course, he would kindly take her to the island to feed the sharks.
Qiao Xi immediately stopped laughing. When she looked back at the old man, she saw a sinister and terrifying smile in his eyes, which gave her the illusion that she had seen a group of sharks in Australia.
As a second-best option, she dug out a picture from her phone of her beloved father's rejection.
Paper airplane: A top-of-the-line green Lamborghini!
The thoughtful niece, worried that her uncle might buy the wrong car and waste money, even enlarged the photo and held it up to him from the side.
The paper airplane that came back told her: No problem!
Islands and yachts are secondary options.
Sports cars are also a good choice.
Of course, she would never forget her best friend.
Looking at Shang Xinuan's sleeping face, Qiao Xi made a silent promise in her heart: From now on, the passenger seat of my little Lan Niu will definitely be labeled "Princess Nuannuan's Special Seat"!
-
As the sun begins to set, the entire Tengger Desert transforms into a golden kingdom.
The convoy arrived at their first stop – the desert camp – when the wind blew through the grass and cattle and sheep appeared in the shimmering lake.
Shang Xinuan was carried out of the car by Yu Jiayue. By the time Li Xiran arrived, she was already sitting on a soft chair in front of the camp tent.
The young lady wore a sun hat that was two sizes bigger than her face, and she didn't spare Li Xiran any attention.
She only clicked her tongue in displeasure when he blocked her sunlight.
Li Xiran just smiled and placed her thermos and medicine on the table next to her. "The water is hot. Wait for me to come over in a bit and let it cool down for you."
Beneath her sunglasses, the young lady's beautiful amber eyes seemed to be rolling to the sky as she silently repeated his words in a sarcastic tone.
She was only slightly injured, not paralyzed. It was just a matter of getting some water.
"Ouch!" She got burned.
Li Xiran, who had only gone halfway, turned back.
The man half-squatted in front of her, took a tissue to wipe her palms, and blew on them to cool them. "Did it burn?"
The young lady said irritably, "Try burning yourself, then you'll know if it hurts or not."
Then Li Xiran took the remaining half-cup of water and poured it all over the back of his hand, saying, "It hurts."
The young lady gasped for breath in anger, "Li Xiran, can you please stop hanging around in front of me?"
My bones were already aching, and seeing him made me so angry that my chest ached even more.
But if she hears that he's not following behind her, she gets even angrier.
The young lady felt that she must have been driven crazy by Li Xiran, which caused her to become somewhat mentally unstable.
The most unusual thing was that when Qiao Xi told her about Li Xiran's childhood, she actually had a moment of wanting to put herself in his shoes.
"Nuan Nuan, the reason I came here is to apologize and make peace."
"Chairman Li, don't you have a job? We're a bunch of idle rich kids who're going to be having a blast in the Northwest for ages. If you can't appease us in the end, don't blame me for interfering with your work."
"Is Nuannuan worried about me?" Li Xiran tucked the blanket around her. "Don't worry! Li's Group has tens of thousands of employees. My remote work won't delay my work progress."
"Get out!" The young lady, unable to bear it any longer, gritted her teeth and cursed fiercely.
Seeing the young lady's furious reaction, Li Xiran chuckled and stood up. "Alright. I'll go help them move their things and prepare dinner."
Shang Xinuan ignored him and turned her head to look into the distance.
Before leaving, the man patted her head.
"Li Xiran, if you touch my head again, I'll have Grandpa beat you to death!"
The young lady was so angry that her cheeks turned red. She crossed her arms over her chest, her cheeks puffed out, making her look like a hamster.
While being scolded, Li Xiran couldn't resist pinching her cheek.
It exploded! It exploded!
The young lady is really about to explode!
"I'm leaving. This time I'm really leaving."
Qiao Xi stood with her hands on her hips in front of the car with Ruan Songyi. "It's unbelievable! He can't believe he has such a despicable side!"
Ruan Songyi chuckled twice, "Miss, you used to talk about Chairman Li with eyes practically sparkling."
Now there are two of them.
One is like a pungent chili pepper, the other is like a childish devil.
"Is your uncle really 32 years old this year?" Ruan Songyi clicked her tongue. "The last time he dared to tease Nuannuan like this was when he was a male classmate in the first grade of elementary school."
Finally, Shang Dan pinned the man against the wall and beat him up before he admitted that he didn't mean to bully the young lady; he just thought she was pretty, liked her a lot, and wanted to pursue her.
Qiao Xi looked at the people walking towards them and chuckled twice. "Please understand, this old man has never had a woman by his side all these years. It's just that his methods for pursuing girls are a bit old-fashioned and childish, but it's already pretty good."
At least, he wasn't a pervert.
"What old man?" Li Xiran asked as he approached.
"No, we were talking about the techniques for pursuing girls at your age."
"How is it? Is it alright?"
"It looks like an unearthed artifact."
"A classic?"
Qiao Xi suddenly turned her back and spat, "No wonder it's a desert, there's so much 'dust'."
Li Xiran waved his hand, "You're uncultured. The desert is all sand, where would you find soil?"
Qiao Xi and Ruan Songyi smiled at each other. "Yes! Uncle, you are so knowledgeable. We'll go keep Nuannuan company now."
Accompanied by a string of silvery laughter, the two squeezed onto the bamboo mat next to Shang Xinuan.
The three girls sat together, and the camp staff first brought them some local specialties.
The other three men, having just finished moving their luggage, were setting up the barbecue stall and projection screen for the evening.
As they remarked that the fruits here were sweeter than those in the city, their gazes invariably fell on Li Xiran, who was helping Jiang Xiangzhuo move charcoal.
He had already taken off his white knit sweater, and the cuffs of his short-sleeved T-shirt were rolled up over his shoulders.
His deltoid muscles, with their firm and well-defined lines, were exposed, including the dark feather tattoo on his arm.
In the past, when he appeared in front of them, he was always dressed in a distinguished business elite style.
The bespoke double-breasted suit, paired with an expensive watch and exquisite cufflinks, exudes luxury from the trouser pleats to the leather shoes.
The person wiping sweat from his brow, backlit by the light, has a hint of muscular abs, giving him a youthful and masculine aura.
His tattoos, especially on his shoulders and arms, exude a roguish yet restrained charm. In this vast desert of yellow sand, the charcoal ink smeared on the back of his hand and cheek reveals the wildness of a mature man, unrestrained and impossible to conceal.
"My goodness!" Ruan Songyi excitedly bumped Shang Xinuan's arm. "Your man's temperament is amazing. No wonder you have such good taste, Miss. You've never made a bad choice."
Shang Xinuan, wearing sunglasses, quickly looked away, almost scalding her lips with the water from the thermos lid. "What do you mean, my man? Don't talk nonsense."
After a moment of distraction, the young lady comforted herself, saying that every woman is susceptible to beauty and temptation.
"Oh! I forgot, not yet." Ruan Songyi patted Qiao Xi's arm again. "Your uncle's aura is amazing. Do you even have an uncle?"
Qiao Xi nodded, "Yes! He wears a priest's robe every day, and carries a wooden mallet and a book."
Ruan Songyi didn't react for a moment, "A monk?"
"Are you illiterate? That's called a judge!"
The young lady almost choked, clutching her chest and laughing, "That's why Xixi is so afraid of her uncle."
"Your family is incredibly cool!" In comparison, Ruan Songyi's family is full of painters, from meticulous brushwork to oil painting, from Eastern to Western styles, they have it all. "A carefree young master, a once-popular singer, a big banker, a high-ranking judge, a great designer, a big boss. Amazing!"
Qiao Xi nodded and patted Shang Xinuan again, "Young Miss!"
Shang Xinuan put down the cup lid, pulled out the wooden hairpin that Qiao Xi had used to style her hair, and said, "I remember this hairpin is from our family museum."
Qiao Xi snatched it away guiltily, saying, "However, I remember it might have been a gift you gave me on a whim sometime."
The young lady lifted her sunglasses, looked at her updo, and said, "Who would just casually steal a hundred million?"
“Him!” Qiao Xi raised her eyebrows and pointed defiantly at Li Xiran, who was starting a fire.
Seeing Li Xiran looking over at the sound, Shang Xinuan immediately put her sunglasses back on.
Ruan Songyi rested her chin on her hand, "Does Young Master Yu have absolutely no chance?"
The young lady pretended not to hear and continued blowing on the warm water in her thermos in the evening light.
"You'll be full after drinking for a while longer." Qiao Xi took the cup and pushed the fruit in front of her. "Have some fruit."
By this time, the entire desert was shrouded in night, and the sky was filled with stars.
A movie was playing on an open-air screen, and wisps of smoke rose from the barbecue stalls.
Three girls sat on a straw mat, looking up at the sky and down at the three men working.
“Imagine this: a few years from now. We’re traveling the world with our husbands.” Ruan Songyi is an art student and a typical romantic.
Qiao Xi shook her head, "Only Shang Xi Nuan can imagine this place; we can't really immerse ourselves in it!"
The young lady who was singled out has become numb.
From the moment she boarded the plane, she seemed to have been labeled as Li Xiran's wife.
Now, Ruan Songyi and Qiao Xi are playing along, making them seem more like a young couple having a falling out and going through a cold war during their trip.
"Yes! Yes! My husband will bring over some food in a bit, so make sure you eat plenty!"
It's probably a desert place; whoever you say, they'll arrive.
Li Xiran was carrying over the freshly cooked fish soup when he overheard the entire conversation between the three of them.
"Aren't you angry anymore?" He first went around to Shang Xinuan's side, placed the casserole containing fish soup on the table, and then picked up a bowl to serve the three of them. "Here, you two eat more!"
Looking at the young lady's ashen face, Ruan Songyi and Qiao Xi went through all the sad things in their lives.
"If you want to laugh, just laugh. If you hold it in, I won't be responsible." Shang Xinuan said expressionlessly, ignoring the man next to her. She even frowned. "The body odor is too strong. Can you move me to another seat?"
Whoever it is, they know in their heart.
Li Xiran put the lid back on the soup and wisely left.
"I'm sorry, Nuannuan. This is the first time I've seen you so assertive in front of my uncle, while he's so humble. It's quite a sight."
"Before, Chairman Li exuded an aura of elite power that kept strangers at bay. Now, Chairman Li is all about the pitiful, husbandly feeling of begging for his wife's forgiveness. I'm absolutely blown away!"
"..." This time, the young lady picked up her bowl and remained silent.
When the two men saw that her expression had changed, they stopped arguing.
Are you angry?
Despite her reddened eyes, Shang Xinuan still managed to drop tears into the fish soup.
"I'm sorry, Nuannuan. Let's not talk about it anymore."
The young lady sniffled, choking with grievance, "He was clearly in the wrong first, so why does the whole world think I should forgive him just because he coaxes me a little?"
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
“You have no idea what those posts in Shanghai are saying about me. They say I'm shameless and clingy, and they also criticize my grandfather for only knowing how to make money and not how to raise children, saying he raised one brainless, love-obsessed kid after another. They call my mother stupid, my uncle stupid, my aunt hypocritical, and my cousin pretentious.”
"All of this is because I liked Li Xiran for a while when I was young and naive."
Shang Xinuan clutched her chest, sobbing uncontrollably, "I've waited four years, and I haven't received a single answer."
"I don't want to play this game of unrequited love anymore. Just let me press the pause button and never mention it again."
Qiao Xi bit her lip and wiped away her tears. "Okay! Let's have fun and not mention it to each other again."
"Yes, yes, yes! The most important thing is that Nuannuan is happy!" Ruan Songyi patted her back, stopping Yu Jiayue and Jiang Xiangzhuo who came over.
Standing by the barbecue grill, Li Xiran watched as she cried uncontrollably.
For the first time, the once-powerful financial tycoon felt helpless and at a loss.
He tried to comfort her, but found that the only words he could say were a promise that he would never love her again.
But he couldn't say it, nor could he stop loving her.
After an unknown amount of time, Shang Xinuan finally calmed down.
He no longer drinks fish soup, but sits in his wheelchair looking up at the stars.
The person was pale and weak, with moisture still clinging to their long, curled eyelashes.
She tried to recall the desperate gambles of the past few years, only to find that she couldn't have imagined it no matter how hard she tried.
It's as if her nervous system knew that it would hurt her heart, so it automatically activated its defense system.
At this moment, the camp owner came over and asked who Li Xiran was.
"I am."
"We've already set up the fireworks. This is the remote control for launching them."
Ruan Songyi and Qiao Xi exchanged a glance, neither daring to mention it in front of her.
Shang Xinuan was looking down at her phone while Shang Zun was asking her if she was eating well in the desert, if she was used to it, and if she needed someone to pick her up and take her back to Shanghai the next day.
[Silver Bowl Filled with Snow: Grandpa, don't worry, I'm doing great here. We're having a barbecue and watching an outdoor movie.]
Grandpa: Then Grandpa can rest assured. Contact Grandpa immediately if anything happens; I'll be waiting for your messages on my phone!
The young lady smiled and replied with a goodnight.
Looking up again, she took a deep breath at the vast desert.
She is blessed with warmth and love, doted on by her maternal grandfather and loved by her uncles and aunts.
Her whole family dotes on her, and she has a group of friends who try to make her happy.
Why should I suffer so much for someone who doesn't cherish me?
He wanted to make amends, so he came to apologize.
That's to be expected; she doesn't need to understand his feelings or his predicament.
"Nuan Nuan?" Qiao Xi asked tentatively, "Uncle... someone wants to set off fireworks. If you find it too noisy, we can take you back to rest?"
"No need, we're tourists after all. We've paid for this, why should we punish ourselves by going back to our tents and missing out on such a beautiful night view just because of others?"
Ruan Songyi chimed in, "Exactly! We haven't taken any nice photos to post on WeChat Moments yet!"
The young lady laughed, "Oh dear! I didn't put on makeup today, I'll do it tomorrow before taking the photos. You and Xixi go take them!"
"Then Xixi and I will go take pictures?"
"Go ahead, go ahead!"
Suddenly, a firework blared from the opposite side of the dune, followed by golden starry sky balloons that lit up the entire desert night.
As another type of firework climbed layer by layer, a dazzling array of colors, like mayflies in the deep sea or millions of jellyfish in the desert, lightly and dreamily filled the entire sky.
Finally, there were countless fireworks, like a meteor shower, like a dream falling from the Milky Way.
The sudden, stunning view attracted all the tourists at the camp to take photos.
Sitting in her wheelchair, Shang Xinuan saw a figure walking straight towards her against the dazzling light.
She was all alone, her hands resting on her legs. As the person drew closer, she nervously gripped the blanket covering her legs, her palms aching from the pain of her nails digging into them.
Li Xiran stopped a step away from her, pointed to her hand, and said, "Relax, it hurts a lot if you scratch yourself."
He rewrapped the gauze on the back of his hand, but because he was in the desert, it was inevitable that it would get covered in mud.
The once noble and refined man is now covered in dust and dirt.
Even the way he looked at her was cautious, as if afraid of disturbing the butterfly that had landed on the flower branch.
"You should take your medicine. I just came to get you a glass of water."
Shang Xin loosened her grip on the blanket and nodded, "Oh."
That was a way of giving him permission to step forward.
"There's only one here. Do you want to play?" Li Xiran waved the item in his hand, which was a sparkler.
Fireworks were still going off in front of the sand dunes; she was someone who enjoyed lively celebrations.
But because wheelchairs are not easy to use in the desert, I'm just sitting here watching others play.
The young lady bit her lip; she wanted to play, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Li Xiran didn't wait for her answer about whether she wanted to play or not. He lit the sparkler and handed it to her, saying, "Here you go."
The sparkler's light wasn't strong, but it was enough to accentuate his facial features.
Those beautiful eyes, which she once longed to be filled with love, she now fears being filled with love.
She averted her gaze, avoiding his fingers, and only took the sparkler.
She didn't say a word, and he simply picked up the thermos on the table to fill it with hot water.
In the time they missed each other, one of them pretended to be watching the fireworks intently, while the other secretly turned around, raised his phone, and took a beautiful picture of her.
When Li Xiran returned, the sparkler in her hand had already finished burning, leaving only a small, dark stick.
As soon as his toes appeared on the wooden steps, the stick fell to the ground with a thud.
"Unfortunately, the shop owner said this is the only one left. If you like it, come back to Shanghai..."
"I don't like it."
She quickly interrupted him, and Li Xiran didn't continue speaking.
I simply unscrewed the lid of the thermos and let the water cool down for her.
Shang Xinuan tried desperately to ignore him being beside her, so she looked up at the fireworks that were still going off.
I wondered how much money this sucker had spent.
"Take your medicine."
By the time I finished taking my medicine, the dazzling fireworks display had come to an end.
The sky was once again filled with stars, and the crowd gradually began to disperse.
The four of them returned after taking enough photos and were showing her the videos they had taken in front of the fireworks.
The young lady's eyes held an indescribable envy. "So beautiful."
"We're planning to go back to that lake to take some more night photos, and then we'll sing when we get back!"
"Then please be careful!"
"Chairman Li, shall we go together?" Jiang Xiangzhuo called out.
"No, I'll stay with her."
Shang Xinuan showed no change in expression this time, and simply continued holding the empty bottle cap.
Would you like some more water?
"Need not."
In the past, when the two were alone together, she would always stick to his side, but now the atmosphere was filled with awkwardness.
"I just took a picture of you holding a sparkler, do you want me to send it to you?"
"No need, you can delete it."
She had already deleted and blocked all his contact information, so even if he wanted to send it to her without permission, he wouldn't have the chance.
Li Xiran stopped talking and the two sat there quietly.
They waited until the four of them returned before setting up the open-air karaoke room.
The camp delivered special cocktails to them separately, and judging from their delighted expressions, it must have been Li Xiran who made them again.
It's quite remarkable that he, a big boss of a company, would go to such lengths to create a pleasant atmosphere for them.
"Thank you for the drinks, Chairman Li!" Jiang Xiangzhuo, known as the "Prince of Bars," is a master at warming up the atmosphere. "I'm usually the one treating others to drinks; this is the first time someone has given me drinks as a gift."
"Chairman Li, I'll definitely give you the first song!"
Li Xiran did not hesitate to step forward and take the microphone.
He seems to have a very inclusive temperament; he can quickly blend into any atmosphere, no matter what kind of people he's with.
Ruan Songyi whispered in Qiao Xi's ear, "I never imagined that one day I would be hanging out with Li Xiran."
Someone like him seems only fit to appear in financial news, business weekly reports, or business elite negotiation summits.
Qiao Xi also lowered her voice and replied, "Love makes people willing to bow down and submit."
As soon as the intro to "Can't Help Falling in Love" started, all three of them except Yu Jiayue retreated to Shangxi to warm up and quietly gave Li Xiran a thumbs up.
The cheerful song style and rhythm, sung by Li Xiran, have a different feel.
His voice was deep and slightly hoarse, his breath steady and resonant. Each lyric, uttered from his chest, sounded even more tender.
He sang: "I can't forget the first time I saw you, your captivating eyes. They linger in my mind."
As if in response, it wasn't just Shang Xi who felt a ripple in her heart upon their first meeting.
Even someone as mature and composed as him would have no choice but to act against his will.
During the climax of the song, Li Xiran took a step forward and stood on a straight line parallel to her.
His eyes, like glass, were filled with a torrent of love against the backdrop of a starry sky.
He stared directly into her eyes and sang, "I'm afraid I'll fall in love with you. I don't dare get too close. I'm afraid I have nothing to give you. Loving you also takes a lot of courage."
"I'm afraid I'll fall in love with you. Maybe one day I won't be able to stop myself. Missing you will only make me suffer. Falling in love with you is something I can't help."
Shang Xinuan, unusually, did not avoid his gaze and calmly felt the deep affection in his eyes at that moment.
The song was chosen perfectly; it felt like a confession, like an explanation.
It's as if all the unavoidable circumstances of the past are being sung to her through the lyrics of a song.
Shang Xin pursed her lips and smiled brightly at him, "Boss Jiang, give me the microphone."
Can't you sing?
Don't they use songs to express their feelings?
She will too.
"Oh no, the young lady is going to sing 'Xiao Ban'."
The gentle, soothing guitar accompaniment quickly and directly leads into the lyrics.
Just like the feelings she couldn't wait to express, "I dare not look back, I look around unnaturally and secretly like it, I feel restless and uneasy because I can't stop trying to strike up a conversation, and it feels empty and heartbreaking to try to say goodnight."
Shang Xinuan's voice was soft and gentle, and a few lines of lyrics sounded like a tender accusation against Li Xiran.
These were all things she did when she first met him. Some of these habits even persist to this day.
I can't help but look at him, and my heart leaps with joy whenever I hear his name.
"Muttering with head bowed, my favoritism towards you is too blatant. The clown, spinning in place, is constantly heartbroken. How embarrassing and difficult it is to leave empty regrets. Let go, be languid, enjoy yourself. After time dries up, you and I will no longer be related."
Just as the emotions were running high, Shang Xinuan raised her hand and pressed the pause button on the music.
The lyrics of this song are basically her feelings of unrequited love over the years—long-lasting but unrequited.
She likes to approach, speculate about, is shy about, and is obsessive about.
Then my heart turned cold, and I let go.
Her gaze toward Li Xiran was both resolute and sorrowful.
As if with an unwavering resolve, she laid bare all the love she had shown over the years.
Complaints or accusations are all acceptable.
At this moment, all of this turned into a relieved smile, she repeated the lyrics.
"After time has dried up the dust, you and I will no longer be related."
After singing the last line, she threw the microphone on the table.
After saying, "I'm sleepy, I'm going back to sleep," he drove away in his electric wheelchair.
Unexpectedly, Li Xiran strode directly toward her.
The man's arm muscles bulged with veins as he gripped the handles at the back of the wheelchair firmly.
Sensing resistance, Shang Xinu turned around, "Li Xiran, can't you understand what I'm saying?"
Looking at Li Xiran, his eyes were completely red.
He stared directly into her eyes from his height and replied, word by word, "Yes! I didn't understand!"
The next moment, Li Xiran picked her up from the wheelchair.
He strode briskly toward his tent.
Feeling the overwhelming aura, Shang Xinu straightened her back, glared angrily, and shouted, "What are you doing!"
Li Xiran kept walking, his eyes burning with intense passion.
Even his voice carried a suppressed, turbulent sense of danger. "We're alone, in silence. You tell me what those words meant."
A note from the author:
This chapter is a combination of the double updates from April 24th and 25th.
The next update will be at 24:00 on April 26th~ Still bringing you a long, satisfying chapter~
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Watching the "wife-chasing-after-the-cremation" drama is so satisfying!
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Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 00:20:25 and 23:18:32 on April 23, 2023!
Thank you to the little angels who threw the grenade: Wuyou and Qiqi who can't wake up;
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Little Friend, Ru Gui, Fermented Rice Puff, and Qing 1 bottle;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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