Chapter 33
The scent that filled Shu Wan's body [Revised]
The wind whipped up by the traffic carried a cloud of dust, ruffling Cheng Sangluo's hair.
She sat dejectedly at the bus stop, watching the vehicles stop and go, watching the passengers come and go. Suddenly, a wave of sadness washed over her, and her nose stung with tears.
She wiped her nose with the back of her hand, but didn't cry; she just felt a tightness in her chest.
This feeling of wanting to cry but being unable to is the most unbearable.
Those feelings of pain, bitterness, and confusion, no matter how she tried to vent them, just lingered in her heart, mocking her life as a stinking pile of mud.
What is it like? Like sand that seeps into an oyster shell, unable to be expelled, it can only endure the pain of time and repeated polishing, not knowing when it will be polished into a pearl.
Cheng Sangluo seemed to be weighed down by all her experiences, looking down at her toes and sighing to herself, "So tired."
She was truly exhausted.
This man, who never bowed his head, lowered it, his upright posture became slightly hunched, and his usually confident tone became weary.
She forced a bitter smile and sniffed. Wasn't she the best at suppressing her emotions? So, she didn't have much time to calm down.
Go and relax.
With this thought in mind, Cheng Sangluo randomly boarded a bus whose destination was unknown.
For her, who was poor, spending two yuan meant embarking on a aimless 'trip'.
Bus route 67 has infrequent service and frequent stops, so there aren't many passengers.
Cheng Sangluo huddled in the corner of the last row, staring blankly into space.
This summer was more unbearable than ever before, but right now it's pleasant.
She rolled down the car window to let the warm wind wash over her face. The world was too cold; she needed warmth, even if it was scorching, it was better than the desolation.
Cheng Sangluo squinted her eyes, letting the wind ruffle her hair, and quickened her breathing, as if trying to draw freedom from the wind.
She felt a little bit of happiness, not expecting that the bus route followed the coastline, thus unexpectedly gaining a wide view.
The heat of midsummer is unbearable, but the sea and sky in summer have beautiful colors.
The horizon divides into two distinct shades of blue, where clouds and wind roam freely, and the shimmering waves also move freely.
The swaying of the car body wasn't too intense, but it brought on an unbearable drowsiness. Cheng Sangluo leaned her head against the window, her eyelids blinked a few times, and she gently drifted off to sleep.
In this world, everything has an end except for time. Happiness or pain, hate or love, are all just that. The end of all things is death, and the end of death is being forgotten.
Cheng Sangluo was lost in a chaotic dream, pondering these superficial truths.
In her dream, she comforted herself, saying that all the hardships she had suffered would disappear and be forgotten one day.
The terminus of bus route 67 is Quanshan Peninsula, a suburb of Zhoushan.
There is a very famous wetland park on the peninsula, but because of the hot weather, not many people are willing to go there to play under the scorching sun.
Cheng Sang got off the bus and bought a pineapple from a roadside stall. She also asked the owner if there was a beach or breakwater nearby with a view.
The owner patiently gave directions, saying that at the end of the road was a great breakwater, a paradise for anglers.
So, Cheng Sangluo began her aimless day, munching on a juicy pineapple.
The walk was about three kilometers long, and walking under the sun was quite tiring, but for Cheng Sangluo, who had suffered so much, it was more like a pleasure.
Quanshan Peninsula is under development, likely by the government to create a tourist scenic area in the suburbs, hence the numerous buildings springing up everywhere.
Cheng Sangluo walked along the coastal road. On one side was the endless sea, and on the other side was a busy construction site. The scenery was mixed with noise, which was somewhat unsightly.
......
"There's no other way. Money is hard to earn these days. Even if it's hot, I still have to come to the construction site."
Shu Wan was driving a black Aston Martin along the coastal highway, chatting idly on the phone with someone, her tone slightly helpless.
There were few cars on the coastal road of Quanshan Peninsula, and no speeding signs, so she recklessly revved the engine.
Perhaps not wanting to get to the construction site too quickly, she slowed down so she could enjoy more of the scenery.
She glanced casually at the sidewalk, where there was only one person in a black T-shirt on the long road, and couldn't help but take another curious look.
Shu Wan didn't have many feelings about it. She simply thought that the passerby was just making trouble for himself. It was the hottest part of the day, yet he was walking leisurely on the road.
As the car passed by, she glanced at the rearview mirror again.
This glance brought unexpected joy, a joy that came suddenly from fate.
"Cheng Sangluo?" Shu Wan whispered, then hastily said goodbye to the person on the phone: "I'm hanging up now."
Without even doubting whether she had misread the words, she hung up the phone, slammed on the brakes, and brought the car to a steady stop on the side of the road.
Because they were some distance apart, Shu Wan waited patiently until the person marching in formation was about to approach, at which point she rolled down the car window.
A wave of heat hit her face, and Shu Wan looked somewhat uncomfortable. She then sighed and said that Cheng Sangluo was a strange person.
She rested her chin on her hands by the car window and greeted him in the same voice as before: "Cheng Sangluo."
Cheng Sangluo had a pineapple stick stuck in her mouth, which was still sweet from the fruit and made her reluctant to throw it away.
She looked toward the sports car in front of her, and saw that the woman waving at her was wearing sunglasses, so she didn't recognize her at first.
As they got closer, they realized it was Shu Wan.
"Miss Shu?" The sports car had a low chassis, and Cheng Sangluo was quite tall, so she could only bend her knees and hunch her back when exchanging pleasantries. "What a coincidence that we could run into each other like this."
Shu Wan was very polite. When talking to people, she would take off her sunglasses to reveal her face before smiling slightly and saying, "Is it fate? What are you doing here?"
Cheng Sangluo couldn't very well say, "I'm unemployed and just came out for a walk," so she made up a random excuse: "I had nothing to do today, so I came out for a stroll."
"Want to come out for a walk in the scorching sun at 2 pm?" Shu Wan asked rhetorically, but then felt she shouldn't pry into other people's privacy, so she changed the subject: "Where are you going? I'll take you there. This sun is really strong, be careful not to get sunburned."
"Um, no need, I'll just go sit on the embankment in front."
"Get on the bus. You can't refuse the same thing twice, or it will seem impolite."
Shu Wan's smile is a kind of gentle quality, which complements her clear eyes. In addition, her soft words always carry warmth, which easily gives people the strange illusion that they should not hurt her.
Cheng Sangluo was stunned. These words were familiar; they were the same ones that the crazy woman had lamented when she refused her so often.
However, her attitude was completely different; she always firmly rejected Lin Jin, so she was more lenient with Shu Wan.
“Okay.” Cheng Sangluo opened the passenger door and got in.
The sports car had a cramped interior, but it was comfortably cool and filled with the scent of Shu Wan's perfume.
It has a refreshing scent of orange and mint mixed together, unlike the subtle coolness of cedarwood. The sweetness is more pronounced, which seems more suitable for summer.
Shu Wan handed over a few tissues, "Wipe your sweat first. Do you want some bottled water? It's unopened."
"Thank you, but no need." Cheng Sangluo took the tissue while simultaneously refusing it.
Shu Wan made no further attempt to curry favor, and started the engine, heading towards her destination.
The atmosphere was still a bit awkward, since the two were not familiar with each other.
Cheng Sangluo rested her hands on her knees, gently fiddling with her trousers, trying to find a topic to talk about. After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Miss Shu, did you come to Quanshan Peninsula for work?"
"Hmm." Shu Wan nodded and naturally pointed to the long stretch of construction sites. "The government is developing this scenic area, and I took over the land to build a resort hotel."
Cheng Sangluo looked in the direction she pointed. She had noticed these houses under construction while walking on the road. She didn't expect them to all be Shu Wan's properties. She couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive. Rich people are rolling in gold coins.
On second thought, it's not surprising. Everyone who knows Lin Jin is either rich or powerful; perhaps she's just someone from outside that social class.
Shu Wan drove very slowly, and smiled as she glanced at the distracted person. "When it officially opens, you can come and visit. I'll personally entertain you then."
Cheng Sangluo scratched the back of her head sheepishly, "That would be too much trouble for you, but I'll definitely come to support you."
Someone may be saying nice things, but inside they're miserable, penniless and destitute. What can they possibly offer in support?
There was another moment of silence, but the atmosphere had improved considerably.
Cheng Sangluo looked around at the car's interior. The lack of unnecessary decorations suggested that the owner was an efficient person.
She suddenly realized that she hadn't contacted Bai Mu for quite some time, and wondered if she should send him a message to let him know that she was with Bai Yueguang.
However, Shu Wan quickly interrupted her thoughts.
"We're here." Shu Wan parked the car on the side of the road. "That's the storm break embankment. Many people like to go fishing there. You can rent fishing gear if you're interested."
Cheng Sangluo pulled on the door handle, preparing to get out of the car. Before leaving, she couldn't help but say a few polite words: "You're so busy, yet you still brought me here. Thank you."
Shu Wan tilted her head slightly and smiled gently: "If you really want to thank me, may I make a small request?"
This was her spur-of-the-moment idea, subtly carrying a little trick of not wanting to let the matter go, but it was different from Lin Jin's insidious and profound scheme.
Cheng Sangluo tilted her head in confusion as well, "Okay, I'll agree to anything within my capabilities."
Shu Wan held the steering wheel with one hand, her fingertips tapping lightly.
Cheng Sangluo had some understanding of insight; the light tapping gesture meant the other person was thinking, so she pondered what kind of small request required such hasty consideration.
Shu Wan paused for only a short while before making the request: "The oysters in Quanshan are exceptional. If Miss Cheng has no other plans, could you please join me in trying them? It's boring to eat alone, but it's more fun to eat with someone."
Cheng Sangluo's eyes widened, and she uttered a puzzled sound: "Huh?"
"I'll go take a look around the construction site first. You can enjoy the scenery on the seawall. I'll come pick you up in a bit. If it's inconvenient for you, you can refuse." Shu Wan's arrangement was natural, but it also showed respect as always.
"I'm out enjoying the scenery, what other plans could I possibly have?" Cheng Sangluo answered truthfully, then smiled a little embarrassedly, "Since I'm already here, and I've never eaten here before anyway, I'm a little craving it."
Seeing the greedy look in her eyes, Shu Wan smiled even more brightly, and simply picked up her purse and pulled out a business card: "Here, save my phone number."
Cheng Sangluo politely accepted the phone with both hands, picked up her tattered phone, and dialed a number in front of her, saying, "Then save mine too."
Shu Wan's gaze fell on the shattered screen. She had always thought that Cheng Sangluo was Lin Jin's kept mistress, but now it seemed that she had been gossiping wrong.
Her smile deepened. "Have fun, I'll call you later."
Cheng Sangluo was tongue-tied and awkwardly said goodbye before leaving: "Miss Shu, drive carefully, see you later."
[Author's Note]
Oh no, I'm starting to like Shu Wan!
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