90. New Life
After the dust settled on Chen Minghui's matter, Chen Yunsheng felt a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders, and his aura softened considerably. He remained busy, but he no longer carried the same invisible tension as before, and would even occasionally crack harmless jokes with Jiang Nan.
Jiang Nan was happy to see this happen, and sighed from time to time that Chen Yunsheng seemed to be a reserved person.
It was the weekend. Jiang Nan woke up in Chen Yunsheng's arms and moved slightly, but his sleepy, hoarse voice immediately came from above her head: "Awake?"
"Yeah." Jiang Nan rubbed against his arms, found a more comfortable position, and was too lazy to move.
Chen Yunsheng smiled softly, then tightened his arms around her, gently stroking her hair with his chin. The two of them embraced each other quietly, listening to the faint sounds of people and cars outside the window, enjoying the rare lazy morning light.
"What are your plans for today?" Chen Yunsheng asked after a while.
Jiang Nan thought for a moment. "Wenwen asked me to go to the newly opened art museum this afternoon, and maybe have dinner together in the evening." She looked up at him. "What about you?"
"I have a video conference this morning, and in the afternoon—" Chen Yunsheng paused, looking at her without blinking, "Shall I go with you?"
Jiang Nan was a little surprised. Chen Yunsheng wasn't very interested in art and had rarely participated in such activities before. "Really? Wouldn't you be bored?"
"It's not boring when I'm with you." He answered naturally, and played with a strand of her hair with his fingers.
Jiang Nan was pleased, but deliberately said, "Boss Chen's sweet talk skills are maxed out now."
Chen Yunsheng raised his eyebrows slightly, then turned over and held her under him, his eyes teasing: "There are even fuller ones, do you want to try?"
Jiang Nan blushed and reached out to push him away: "Stop it."
Chen Yunsheng smiled softly, leaned over and pecked her on the lips, but still let her go: "Get up, what do you want to eat? I'll make it."
"Whatever you cook, I'll eat." Jiang Nan watched him stand up and walk to the bathroom. Her heart felt like a sponge soaked in warm water, warm and soft, and a little full. This kind of morning conversation and intimacy between ordinary couples would have been unimaginable a few months ago.
However, she had no hope for Chen Yunsheng's cooking skills.
Although she had trained him during this period, cooking was like the saying goes: you can't get fat in one breath.
But Jiang Nan was patient and Chen Yunsheng was willing to try, so this matter continued and no one had any intention of giving up halfway.
But the richness of today's breakfast still exceeded her expectations.
Fried eggs, bacon and toast. Chen Yunsheng even tried making soy milk. Although the taste was a bit bland and there were a lot of soy dregs, Jiang Nan still drank a large glass of it out of courtesy.
"Not bad, Boss Chen, you've made progress." She bit her toast and praised with a smile.
"Master, you taught me well." Chen Yunsheng sat opposite her, looked at her lively smiling face in the morning light, and praised her gently.
Hearing this, Jiang Nan indeed felt a little happier.
After breakfast, Chen Yunsheng held a meeting in the study while Jiang Nan tidied up the house. She first watered the potted plants on the balcony, resuscitating a pot of green ivy that had been half-dead. Then, Jiang Nan tidied up the dolls on the entryway cabinet. Then, she lay on the sofa, reading and listening to music.
After Chen Yunsheng came out, the two ordered takeout, took a short rest after eating, and then set off for the art museum.
The museum is located on the riverside, and the building itself is very stylish. Since it was a weekend, the exhibition was quite crowded. Most were young couples and families with children, but there were also singles and students who came with friends.
Wenwen had already arrived. When she saw Chen Yunsheng beside Jiang Nan, she gave her a mischievous smile and mouthed to Jiang Nan, "Sure!"
Jiang Nan glared at her sheepishly and introduced, "This is Wenwen, my best friend. Wenwen, this is Chen Yunsheng."
"I've long heard of you, Mr. Chen." Wenwen greeted with a smile, his attitude natural and generous.
Chen Yunsheng nodded slightly: "Hello, I often hear Nan Nan mention you."
His attitude was calm, without any sense of superiority or alienation, which made Wenwen feel favorable towards him.
Afterwards, the three of them visited the exhibition together.
The exhibition, themed "Urban Memory," featured numerous photographs and paintings depicting the transformation of Jiangcheng. Jiang Nan and Wenwen viewed the exhibition with rapt interest, occasionally exchanging whispers. Chen Yunsheng followed them quietly. Though he spoke little, he observed attentively, occasionally adding a few words of historical information that Jiang Nan and Wenwen were unaware of.
However, when he came to an oil painting depicting an alley in the old city, Jiang Nan suddenly stopped and looked curiously.
The bluestone pavement, mottled walls, and clothes hanging out to dry in the painting look a bit old, but are full of the fresh breath of life.
"This place looks like the old town where we used to rent a house." Jiang Nan said to Wenwen with some nostalgia.
"Yeah, it was demolished last year, unfortunately," Wenwen sighed, "Now it's been turned into a commercial area."
Chen Yunsheng looked at the painting, then at Jiang Nan's slightly melancholy expression, and suddenly said, "Do you like that kind of old house?"
Jiang Nan was stunned for a moment, then explained with a smile: "It's not that I particularly like it, I just miss those days a little bit. Although the house is old and the place is small, I share the house with Wenwen. After work, we buy groceries and cook together. It's quite lively."
It was a joyous time, not long after she graduated and before her mother was ill. It was simple, yet filled with the freshness of youth and the warmth of friendship. It was the kind of ordinary life filled with chatter, joy every day, yet not quite knowing why.
After hearing this, Chen Yunsheng suddenly looked thoughtful.
After viewing the exhibition, the three of them relaxed in the museum's café. Wenwen was a lively and playful person, her witty remarks keeping Jiang Nan laughing non-stop. Chen Yunsheng sat nearby, watching Jiang Nan's carefree smile, a faint smile on his lips.
He could sense that when she was with Wenwen, Jiang Nan was more relaxed, more like the girl he first met, with a bit of cunning and exuberant vitality. He couldn't help but observe and compare, wondering what exactly was the difference between him and Wenwen.
The first difference is that he speaks too little. Thinking carefully, when they were together, it was basically Jiang Nan who was talking and he was listening. Even if he talked a lot intermittently, he would soon fall silent.
The second difference was that they had so many memories together. From high school to college and now to her current job, Wenwen had been involved in almost every aspect of her life, and they even had a very long future ahead of them. He could almost confirm right then and there that Wenwen would be the maid of honor at their future wedding.
The third difference is that he is not that humorous and cannot join in the funny fun with her. Even if he joins in, it seems that he only makes the happy occasion become cold.
Jiang Nan noticed his silence, turned her head to look at him, then held his hand comfortingly, then turned around and continued chatting with Wenwen.
Later, when they went to dinner, Chen Yunsheng tried to join in their conversation, but their speaking speed and thoughts were too fast. Before he could catch up with their discussion about the movie, they started talking about high school classmates. He wanted to talk about high school life, but they jumped to gossip about their superiors.
So Chen Yunsheng stopped forcing them and just focused on taking care of the two people's dining experience.
When they parted ways, Wenwen secretly gave Jiang Nan a thumbs-up: "Your boss Chen is pretty good. He looks cold, but he's actually quite considerate. His eyes are almost glued to you."
Hearing this, Jiang Nan turned around and glanced at Chen Yunsheng who was standing by the roadside waiting for her. He stood in the evening breeze, looking at her calmly, and he seemed very focused indeed.
Therefore, Jiang Nan was in a good mood on the way home. She sat in the passenger seat and hummed a tuneless song.
"Are you happy today?" he asked.
"Happy!" Jiang Nan said with a smile, "I'm happy to watch the game and have fun chatting with Wenwen." She paused and said in a light tone, "I'm even happier when you accompany me."
Chen Yunsheng smiled, his brows relaxed, but while waiting for the red light, he suddenly asked, "You haven't given up the lease on that small apartment yet?"
Jiang Nan didn't expect him to ask this out of the blue, so she nodded. "Yeah, I was thinking... to leave myself a way out." She felt a little embarrassed. After all, their relationship was different now, and keeping the old rental seemed a bit awkward.
Chen Yunsheng didn't care and just said, "I'll go with you to see it sometime."
"Huh? What are you going to see?" Jiang Nan was puzzled. Compared to the mansion he lived in now, that old, run-down apartment was a world of difference.
"Take a look at where you used to live," Chen Yunsheng said calmly. "And move any things you want to keep here. You can give up the house now."
Hearing him say this, Jiang Nan couldn't help but turn her head to look at him concentrating on driving. She hummed softly and agreed, "Okay."
Although Jiang Nan agreed to Chen Yunsheng, he thought he would have to wait at least a week.
However, Chen Yunsheng's speed was incredibly fast.
While she was still thinking about what she could leave in the small apartment, Chen Yunsheng set aside his Sunday time and dutifully accompanied Jiang Nan to the small apartment she had rented for several years.
The house is in an old residential building. There is an elevator, but you can feel its age as soon as you walk in. The lighting in the corridor is also a bit dim, and it is almost impossible to see the road clearly. If you are not careful, you will trip over the debris piled in the corridor.
"It's just up ahead." Jiang Nan took out her phone to light the way, feeling a bit embarrassed. Chen Yunsheng was quite frank, even asking about Jiang Nan's past habits when she got home from work.
Then, the two of them walked through a corridor while talking, and finally stopped in front of a door.
Then Jiang Nan took out the key and opened the door.
As soon as the door opened, a faint smell of dust, as if no one had lived there for a long time, hit me in the face.
The room was small, with one bedroom and one living room, and the furniture was simple. Besides a sofa and table, there were only the necessary appliances like a refrigerator and a washing machine, but it was tidy and cozy. On the windowsill were a few pots of drought-resistant plants, which looked healthy and still tenaciously alive.
In addition, there are some funny photos of Jiang Nan and Wenwen on the wall, and the bookshelf is filled with books and miscellaneous small items.
Traces of Jiang Nan's past life remain here, independent, simple, and with a touch of youthful dreams and the imprint of friendship.
Chen Yunsheng silently surveyed this small yet vibrant space. It was hard for him to imagine that Jiang Nan had spent her first few years of life here, and that it was here that she received the news of her mother's serious illness and shouldered the immense pressure and fear alone.
He felt a sharp pain in his heart and couldn't help but reach out and pull Jiang Nan, who was chattering and sorting old things, into his arms.
At that time, Jiang Nan happened to be flipping through a photo album from college when he suddenly hugged her. She was stunned for a moment and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Chen Yunsheng said softly, "I just feel that I made you suffer so much alone before."
Jiang Nan understood what he meant, and her heart softened. She also reached out to hug his waist and put her face against his chest: "It's all in the past. Besides, it wasn't too hard back then with Wenwen by my side."
Her tone was relaxed, but Chen Yunsheng hugged her even tighter.
After a long while, Chen Yunsheng finally let her go.
Afterward, the two spent the better part of the day sorting. Jiang Nan packed up some mementos, like photos with her parents, souvenirs from her travels with Wenwen, her student notes and award certificates, and some small ornaments she loved but might look out of place in her current mansion.
"Should I take this with me?" Chen Yunsheng picked up a rough, handmade ceramic cup. He stared at the crooked sunflower pattern on the cup, wanting to comment, but restrained himself.
That was a handmade cup that Jiang Nan made with Wenwen when they were out at university.
"Yes!" Jiang Nan snatched it and wrapped it carefully. "It's ugly, but it's unique."
Chen Yunsheng watched her movements, his eyes softening. He liked how she cherished these little things that bore the marks of her past; it made her seem real and full of life.
Finally, the two of them packed out several boxes of things.
When it was almost time, Chen Yunsheng called the moving company workers to move the boxes downstairs.
At that time, Jiang Nan stood in the empty living room, looking around, feeling a little melancholy in his heart, but more of a sense of relief and determination to move towards a new stage.
After the agency completed the inspection, she returned the keys and went downstairs holding Chen Yunsheng's hand.
The weather gradually warmed up, and the cicadas began to chirp in the shade of the trees in Jiangcheng. Along with the chirping, the sky was filled with clouds, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the sun shone through the tall trees on both sides of the community, casting fragmented shadows on the ground.
Chen Yunsheng and Jiang Nan walked along the road, through the endless stream of light, and slowly walked towards their car parked downstairs.
"Let's go," Chen Yunsheng held her hand, "go home."
"Well, go home."
New home, new beginning.
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