Chapter 45 Is Nian Nian really President Li?!
Beside the fountain stands a retro gas lamp, its frosted glass shade emitting a warm, soft orange glow that circles a bright, almost otherworldly halo on the ground.
Beyond the halo of light lay the deep darkness of night. Tall European beech trees and geometrically trimmed boxwood hedges stood silently in the darkness, their outlines blurred, like loyal guardians.
The air was filled with the crisp scent of damp earth, blooming night-blooming jasmine, and moss soaked by flowing water.
"It's so quiet here. Is it really okay to sneak here after the ball?" Lin Suxing turned her head slightly to look at the man walking beside her.
Li Xinian shook his head: "It's alright, the banquet can continue even if someone is missing. If I stay there, a lot of people will crowd around, and you probably won't like that."
Lin Suxing was taken aback.
How does he know he doesn't like that kind of environment that's full of flattery and noise?
"Thank you so much for helping me today." Lin Suxing expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the other party.
As the producer of PRODUCE flipped through a magazine called "China Finance" in his dormitory, he never imagined that one day he would be dancing intimately with the head of the business empire on the cover in a brightly lit and extremely luxurious banquet hall.
Li Xinian was arguably the most unapproachable person in the group, but it was he who stepped forward to protect him when the others watched him being humiliated and ridiculed.
Lin Suxing really hoped that she could have some outstanding qualities to help Li Xinian and repay the kindness she had shown today. However, after thinking it over, she realized that she was completely incomparable to Li Xinian in terms of family background or ability, let alone able to help him.
Hearing these somewhat unfamiliar words, Li Xinian stopped and looked intently at the young man with his distinct features under the lamplight: "There's no need for such formal thanks. You deserve to be treated this way. Don't underestimate yourself in the future."
The whole world seemed to be asleep, leaving only the two of them standing in the only place of light in the flower garden, listening to the ceaseless, gentle sound of water, and feeling each other's breath so close together.
Li Xinian was unusually unsure: Lin Suxing could probably understand the hidden meaning in his words, right?
He wanted to tell Lin Suxing that she no longer needed to feel inferior because of her so-called identity or family background, and that she could openly tell him her identity as a "ghost" instead of continuing to hide it and pretend that they were just strangers.
Lin Suxing was deeply moved by Li Xinian's encouraging words, her heart bubbling with emotion: "Thank you, boss! I was indeed a bit insecure before, and you noticed that so thoughtfully... I will definitely try to become more confident in the future!"
If it weren't for the exquisite elegance of this garden, Lin Suxing would have loved to play "Brothers, Give Me a Hug" to enhance the atmosphere.
Li Xinian: "..." Does he understand or not?
The two were having a completely cross-server conversation, each saying their own thing, and each thinking they were making a lot of sense.
It was several months later when they laughed together during a post-mortem review.
The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly along the winding paths of the garden.
Nearby, an artificial stream flows gently along a cobblestone path, its gurgling sound particularly clear in the quiet spring night.
On the slope by the stream, a tung tree is in full bloom. Its small white petals are dotted with orange-red veins, and under the hazy moonlight, they seem to be shrouded in a soft glow, making them exceptionally beautiful.
Several branches of flowers in full bloom drooped low, swaying gently in the breeze.
Lin Suxing's gaze was drawn to it.
"Those flowers are so beautiful," he said softly, taking two quick steps to the edge of the slope, standing on tiptoe, and reaching out to touch the nearest cluster of flowers.
The trees are planted on a sloping earthen slope outside the cobblestone path. The ground is not flat, and because of the light rain in the afternoon, the soil exudes a fresh scent that is a mixture of grass and earthy smell.
Lin Suxing stretched out his arms as far as he could, his body swaying slightly as he stood on tiptoe, his center of gravity a little unsteady.
Li Xinian frowned slightly, and almost subconsciously took a step forward, tightly grasping Lin Suxing's left hand with his right.
"Be careful." His deep voice carried undisguised concern. "The slope is steep, don't fall."
With the support of this hand, Lin Suxing finally managed to steadily pluck the coveted flower branch.
He turned around with delight, a playful and lively smile on his face, and handed the branch with a few white tung blossoms to Li Xinian as if presenting a treasure.
“I think it looks very nice,” he said, tilting his head slightly to look at Li Xinian, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight, “so I’m giving it to my dance partner today, Mr. Li.”
At this moment, a gentle breeze of a spring night blows by, and the shadows of flowers sway between his smiling eyes and brows.
Li Xinian stared at him, a soft spot in his heart was deeply touched, and the urge to pull him into his arms surged so strong that it almost broke through his willpower, which had never failed him before.
The man clenched his fist without making a sound, suppressing his excitement.
"Thank you." Li Xinian took the flower branch, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against Lin Suxing's fingertips, sending a subtle electric current through him.
He carefully put the flower branch away, then naturally took Lin Suxing's hand and continued walking forward, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Lin Suxing followed him for a few steps, then belatedly realized that Li Xinian had not let go of his hand.
That warm, dry, and strong hand still firmly enveloped his hand.
I feel like this is a little strange.
Lin Suxing thought that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei probably wouldn't be walking hand in hand in a sea of flowers like this.
But at this moment, an indescribable emotion welled up in his heart, and his heart suddenly raced. For some reason, he did not choose to withdraw his hand.
Letting Li Xinian lead the way, the two continued to stroll side by side along the babbling brook in the quiet spring night.
On the cobblestone path, two figures were elongated by the streetlights, appearing so intimate as if it were only natural for them to be this way.
"I'll take you home after the banquet." Seeing that Lin Suxing looked somewhat tired, Li Xinian brought up the arrangements after the banquet.
Lin Suxing shook her head: "Thank you, but no need. My brother will come to pick me up and we'll go back together."
“...Hmm.” Li Xinian remained silent, as if the suggestion had been made casually.
As the banquet ended, Lin Suxing suddenly remembered the most important thing and started tapping the system: "Hey! Give me the whereabouts of Niannian's mother right now! Otherwise, I'll be a killer today, you understand?!"
The system trembled: "Host, given that you have completed the task of [Stealing the Show at the Spring Banquet and Outshining Lin Ke], the reward of 300 points has been issued! All is currently collecting information fragments, which will take 24 hours to piece together, and is expected to be sent to you by 10 PM tomorrow. But I can tell you now that Niannian's mother did not die as he imagined..."
"Instead, she left on her own initiative and broke free from her father's control, creating the appearance of 'fake death.' At this moment, she is still alive and has already cultivated her own new power on the other side of the earth."
Li Xinian: !?
The flames grew stronger and stronger, almost setting him ablaze.
Ecstasy and relief, like a burst dam, swept away the cognitive walls that had held for years that her mother had passed away.
He gripped Lin Suxing's hand even tighter, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, as if it were the only piece of driftwood that could anchor him to reality and prevent him from being overwhelmed by this sudden news.
Lin Suxing was also very happy: "Niannian's mother is still alive, that's great! I'll tell him about it later! Like mother, like son. He's so amazing, and his mother must be amazing too. Even if she left China, she was able to make a comeback."
Seeing that Lin Suxing didn't seem to want to blame her any further, the system continued, "Yes, yes, but host, I think you should be careful when telling Li... cough, Niannian about this."
"Why?" Lin Suxing was completely confused.
The system spoke mysteriously: "Think about it, if his mother is still alive and doing well, with technology advancing so fast these days, why not send a letter to inform Niannian, so that he can escape from the pain and guilt that has haunted him for so many years?"
“There must be something going on,” Lin Suxing frowned, disliking the system’s attempts to sow discord. “If Niannian’s mother treated him badly, how could he possibly think of her like that? Do you even have a brain? Or did your brain get launched into outer space like Yun Tianming in The Three-Body Problem?”
"I'm so happy! I'm sure Niannian will be happy to know this too. He won't have to feel sad or guilty about it anymore! It was worth it for me to shoot this wet-body magazine that I didn't want to do before, sob!" Lin Suxing still felt a little embarrassed thinking about having to take off her clothes when shooting that magazine before.
Despite having already pre-ordered 1,000 copies of next month's issue of Figaro, Li Xinian suddenly felt an urge to buy out the entire magazine.
Lin Suxing only took this magazine photoshoot for him, so he... should buy it all as a collection.
"Sigh, I didn't understand before, but now I understand everything. I've been busy for days, but it's all worth it for his smile." Lin Suxing finally understood those people who work hard but are willing to spend 648 yuan on a certain online shopping platform.
Playing games is both time-consuming and requires spending money.
The man listened quietly, feeling even warmer inside. He had never imagined that anyone other than his mother would treat him so selflessly.
He had gradually come to terms with the fact that his mother was still alive. The turbulent excitement in his heart had slowly subsided, replaced by relief and joy.
His mother is still alive, which gives everything he does now even more meaning.
Once he has defeated those despicable rivals, he can bring his mother back, and they can continue to live together in the manor where they lived as children, just like before.
Li Xinian couldn't help but think about what changes his mother had undergone in the past ten years, and he worried about whether his mother had adapted to life on the other side of the ocean.
Perhaps we will know all this after the system compiles the data tomorrow.
"Su Xing!" Lin Siyi had just chatted with Wang Shunyue and Wang Shunyu for a while after the ball, and then came out to look for her younger brother.
He had just seen Lin Suxing and Li Xinian drinking red wine together during the intermission of several dances, so he dared not let Lin Suxing be alone with Li Xinian outside.
Lin Siyi passed through the side door of the banquet hall and stepped into the moonlit garden. With a quick search, she found the two figures under the tung blossoms not far away.
The refined man unconsciously slowed his pace.
At this moment, the tall and slender young man was speaking with his head slightly tilted back. His profile, bathed in the hazy moonlight and the warm glow of the streetlights, appeared exceptionally handsome and gentle, and his bright, jewel-like black eyes sparkled with starlight.
The mixed-race man standing in front of him was so tall and imposing that he almost enveloped him. His usually cold and hard features were now adorned with a faint and indulgent smile.
The two stood very close, and the corner of Lin Suxing's clothes even lightly brushed against the dark suit trousers of Li Xinian.
Li Xinian lowered his head slightly, listening attentively to Lin Suxing's words. His usually deep and unfathomable gray-blue eyes were now reflecting the dappled light and the shadow of the person in front of him.
Lin Suxing seemed to say something and even raised his hand to gesture. His posture was completely relaxed, without the unconscious distance and guardedness he usually showed when facing outsiders.
Li Xinian, the heir of the Li family who was known for his distance and oppressive aura, actually listened attentively, a faint but real smile curving his lips.
The moonlight was like water, and the shadows of flowers swayed. Occasionally, white petals from the tung tree would fall and adorn their shoulders.
"A good match".
Lin Siyi stood there, watching her younger brother's relaxed and trusting demeanor in front of that person, a sight she hadn't seen in a long time. A mix of emotions welled up inside her.
He could tell that Li Xinian had a special relationship with Su Xing, and Su Xing seemed to be... particularly comfortable around Li Xinian.
This obvious intimacy brought him, as the older brother, both some comfort and a deeper sense of unease.
He didn't go forward immediately, but stood quietly at the boundary between light and shadow, unwilling to disturb the peaceful and intimate atmosphere under the flowering trees.
Meanwhile, the two siblings from the Wang family, following behind him, were already buzzing with gossip: "Brother, how can you say this isn't love? They openly broke the rules at the ball, refusing to exchange partners, dancing together from beginning to end. After the ball, they slipped away together, running to the garden to chat hand in hand..."
After hearing his sister's sigh, Wang Shunyu couldn't help but laugh: "That's why I said, even if I can't find a dance partner and some people laugh at me for a year, it's still worth it. Seeing someone like Li Xinian acting so willfully and seemingly in love is something I never thought I would do before."
Wang Shunyue looked at the two people in the flower bushes: "They are such a perfect match, like a picture from a movie. To be honest, I never thought that people like them could do such a thing for the person they like."
“Liking someone is one thing, but getting married is another,” Wang Shunyu said, a suppressed pain flashing in his eyes. “In a family like ours, marrying the one you love is a luxury. If it were a collateral branch, it would be fine, but someone of Li Xinian’s position and status would have to choose a business marriage.”
“...Yes.” Wang Shunyue’s smile was tinged with bitterness, clearly having long understood this principle. “It’s only when I see everyone doing impulsive things for love that I feel they’ve become themselves again, instead of playing the roles they’re supposed to play in the family.”
“If Li Xinian ultimately doesn’t choose a business marriage, then I will also consider following my heart.” Wang Shunyu smiled, but didn’t take his words seriously.
The Wang siblings stood there sighing for a long time. Lin Siyi also came out of her hesitation and walked towards the couple who looked particularly well-matched in the flower shadows: "Suxing, I've come to pick you up."
Upon hearing Lin Siyi's voice, Lin Suxing suddenly looked up and flashed a bright smile: "Brother, you're here."
Li Xinian followed his gaze to Lin Siyi, and the two were even closer, almost touching.
Lin Siyi felt increasingly conflicted and decided to take her younger brother away quickly: "President Li, the banquet is coming to an end. Su Xing and I both had some drinks, so we're planning to head back now."
"Alright, if you can't hold your liquor, have some hangover soup here before you go back." Li Xinian didn't say anything more.
After arguing with the system for a long time, Lin Suxing finally convinced it. He glanced at the silent Li Xinian beside him and said to the system, "Hey, don't you think it's a coincidence? President Li's name also has the character 'Nian' in it. Do all domineering CEOs like to use this character in their names?"
System: "..." As the system that knows everything, it's exhausted.
It can't give away any spoilers, otherwise it will be disqualified from the excellent system selection. But seeing Lin Suxing's innocent appearance, who is clearly with the other person but doesn't know that the other person is a companion CP, the system is surprisingly tired.
Lin Suxing found it increasingly reasonable as she spoke: "And their personalities are somewhat similar, neither of them talks much... Although it's hard to see clearly through that pixelated interface, Nian Nian's eyes also seem to be this light gray-blue."
At Lin Suxing's casual words, Li Xinian's face, which had been carrying a slight smile, suddenly froze.
What does it mean to say "very coincident" or "somewhat similar"?
Even someone as intelligent as him couldn't immediately grasp the meaning behind Lin Suxing's words.
Or perhaps he clearly understood, but dared not believe it.
...Judging from Lin Suxing's words, he does not believe that the "Niannian" he was close to in the past is "Li Xinian".
So, this is why he has always been excessively distant from himself in reality, completely lacking the clinginess and intimacy he displays as a "ghost."
It turns out that Lin Suxing wasn't deliberately keeping her distance from me because she liked me but was too insecure to confess.
...He genuinely believed he was a stranger, which is why he kept avoiding him.
The joy that had accumulated between the two of them tonight seemed to be wiped out in an instant, leaving Li Xinian somewhat bewildered.
"Mr. Li, my brother is here to pick me up. I'm going back now?" Lin Suxing waved to Li Xinian and tilted her head to look at him.
Li Xinian pursed his lips, seemingly unsure how to react, and simply said in a low voice, "Mm."
After a moment, as if he had just gone through an internal struggle, he added softly, "...Goodnight."
Lin Suxing laughed when she heard his attempt to cover up his misunderstanding: "Good night, President Li!"
That polite yet distant "President Li" was like a fine needle, gently piercing the little-known expectation in Li Xinian's heart.
He gazed into Lin Suxing's clear, unadulterated eyes, where there was gratitude and ease, but not the kind of flutter he had secretly hoped for.
It turns out that those close moments during the spins, the warmth of the whispers, and the turmoil he felt in his heart were, to the other person, just a perfectly timed escape and a pleasant social experience.
He took a barely perceptible breath, his lips still maintaining a proper curve, but deep within his gray-blue eyes, a certain intense light, like a candle flame in the wind, flickered slightly before silently dimming.
It was as if the Milky Way had fallen, leaving only a silent night sky.
"You're welcome." He heard his own voice ring out steadily, even calmer than usual. "Take care on the road."
Lin Suxing remained oblivious, still smiling and nodding: "Mr. Li, goodbye too."
He turned and merged into the departing crowd, his steps light and quick, never looking back even once.
Li Xinian stood there, watching the elegant figure disappear around the corner of the corridor pillars, his shoulders, which had been straight, relaxed almost imperceptibly.
The night outside the corridor was deep, casting a chill over him. He stood alone in the silence that followed the clamor for a long time before slowly turning around and walking in another direction.
***
As dusk settled, the black Bentley Mulsanne smoothly drove onto the city's elevated highway, like a nimble fish merging into a torrent of steel.
Outside the window, the afterglow of the setting sun casts a flowing gold hue on the glass curtain walls of the towering buildings, while dazzling neon lights gradually illuminate, winding forward and outlining the pulse of the city.
The streetlights below, like a tapestry of car headlights, converge into rivers of light that flow towards the unknown distance.
Inside the car, isolated from the hustle and bustle outside, the only sounds are the very faint airflow from the air conditioning system and the barely audible friction of the leather seats as the body moves slightly.
Lin Suxing leaned back in the seat, turning his head to look at the scenery rushing past outside the window, but his eyes did not focus on any particular light.
His handsome brows furrowed slightly, a lingering worry lingering between his features, a stark contrast to the dazzling night view outside the window.
The driver looked in the rearview mirror and saw that the young man in the back seat was just quietly gazing out the window, his expression carrying a melancholy that seemed out of place on the eve of the celebration banquet. It was as if he was heading not to a noisy celebration, but to some unknown mystery that he had to face alone.
As dusk settled, the agreed-upon decoding time with the system was fast approaching.
Lin Suxing, feeling uneasy, opened the companionship module, remembering the gossip the system hadn't yet decoded, and poked the pixelated figure inside: [Niannian, what are you doing?]
The pixelated night sky is a deep cobalt blue, with stars like tiny diamonds carefully set on a velvet backdrop.
In the distance, the indigo pixelated sea gently undulates, white waves breaking into neat little squares, endlessly lapping against the virtual shore.
The terrace railing is made of brown pixelated grids, with a pixelated figure marked with the words "Year After Year" standing quietly.
He wore a comfortable smoky gray loungewear set, the soft material perfectly rendered with varying shades of gray pixelation. The evening breeze ruffled his short, dark hair, causing the ends to sway gently.
His response was the silence of a petty person.
For the past two days, the pixelated character has shown no reaction to either speaking or interactive options.
Why did the people who silently accompanied him in his system world suddenly disappear like the tide, leaving no trace and only a vast, unsettling silence?
Year after year...
The name lingered in his mind, carrying a strange and hesitant feeling.
Lin Suxing felt increasingly uncomfortable, feeling wronged and confused. She couldn't understand what she had done wrong to be so unresponsive to the other party.
I used to be so happy to see him, and I would always stick to him.
Is it a problem with the system settings? Or is there some other reason?
But he maintained daily interactions with Nian Nian, so it didn't seem like he was angry because of him.
Overwhelmed with resentment, Lin Suxing typed another line in a fit of pique: [If you feel I'm bothering you, I won't come again.]
"...No disturbance."
Lin Suxing: ?
A system notification popped up: [Affection level increased to lv45, voice dialogue function now enabled!]
[Then why are you ignoring me?] Lin Suxing continued typing, pressing for an answer.
The little man fell silent again.
[I don't even want to see you this week! You gave me the silent treatment the other day, you're a bad guy!] Lin Suxing got angrier and angrier as she spoke.
The pixelated little figure spun around twice in the same spot, seemingly a bit anxious.
Lin Suxing heard him say, "...I'm not ignoring you, I'm just tired and want to rest."
"You!" Lin Suxing snapped, immediately opening the voice chat. "What do you mean?! I've been busy with your affairs for ages! If I did something wrong, couldn't you just tell me directly? Why are you keeping quiet like this?!"
"...I don't want to talk about it," the man on the other end of the line said in a magnetic and pleasant voice, but at this moment he seemed to have an unspeakable sense of grievance. "Good night."
The gentle voice in his ear at this moment seemed to overlap with the voice of the tall man who stood in front of him last night to say goodbye.
That sound...
He held his breath, and his heart suddenly began to pound uncontrollably.
This can't possibly be just a coincidence.
Even the subtle pauses and the varying degrees of intensity in their breathing were exactly the same!
-----------------------
Author's Note: The end of the previous chapter has been revised. I want to reiterate that Nian Nian's mother is not a villain and will not harm the young couple! [pleading emoji]
Okay, before it was about chasing stars every year, now it's stars chasing stars every year—the tables have turned! [Let me see][Starry eyes]
Remember this tung flower branch; it'll be on the test later. [Knocks on the blackboard][Praises]
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