Chapter 66 But feelings always fade.
That evening, the two of them video-chatted as usual.
Wen Jia glanced in his direction and saw that he was unusually not writing calligraphy, but sitting quietly in his chair.
"What's wrong? Is something on your mind?"
This was always the question he asked her.
"No." Xu Shaoting smiled nonchalantly, not mentioning a word about his suspended duties, only saying, "Xu Bozheng took me to see an elder today."
Wen Jia waited patiently for his next words.
“She is the wife of his friend,” he paused for a moment, as if considering his next words, “This aunt was also an actress in her early years.”
"In your early years?" Wen Jia stopped blowing her hair completely.
His words reminded her of Zhong Lan.
Xu Shaoting nodded slightly. "She has a whole cabinet of trophies at home, just like the one in your office. From the mainland to Hong Kong, and from Hong Kong to overseas."
Wen Jia made no attempt to hide the admiration in her eyes, "Then I still have to work harder, the office currently only has half a cabinet."
He smiled indulgently, “You and she are both excellent, but,” he hesitated for two seconds, which was uncharacteristic of him, “this aunt retired from acting after getting married and has never appeared in public again.”
How old was she when she got married?
"Maybe not even thirty."
Before she turned thirty, she had already won an international award. Wen Jia knew all too well what this trophy meant to a Chinese actress and even to Chinese cinema a decade or two ago.
She felt sorry for the women she had never met, like she did for Zhong Lan, asking, "Why did you retire from acting? Was it voluntary, or... were you asked to?"
"The latter one."
really.
"So...how was her life afterward?"
Xu Shaoting didn't answer immediately. He picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and held it suspended for a long time before saying, "Life is very peaceful now. I grow flowers, read books, my husband is considerate, and my daughter is sensible." He paused, then added, "There's a kind of... peace and tranquility."
"Is that all?" she asked softly, with a hint of barely perceptible inquiry.
"Okay, that's settled."
Xu Shaoting closed his eyes, but Xu Bozheng's words echoed in his ears:
“At first, she would sigh and lament when she saw her past. Five years later, when she looked back, she would regret it deeply. By the tenth year, she couldn’t accept that she had become like this. The psychological gap made her depressed for eight years. She even thought about suicide. She had the best medical team, but they couldn’t cure her. It was a mental illness.”
He opened his eyes again a few seconds later, meeting her gaze with a gentle look, even a hint of a relaxed smile.
He spoke so naturally, as if it were the truth.
But Wen Jia knew him too well. She could see the heaviness he was trying so hard to hide behind his smile.
He wasn't trying to convince her; he was more trying to convince himself.
She nodded, agreeing with him, "It sounds like her married life is pretty good too."
"She is very good, but when I met her, I still wondered if she would regret not pursuing what she loved."
Wen Jia spoke frankly, "Perhaps this is what she's pursuing. Every choice has its own path, doesn't it?"
“That’s true,” he said casually. “So, what matters is whether the person involved feels it’s worth it.”
Xu Shaoting lowered his eyes and wrote the four characters "慎始敬终" (be cautious from beginning to end) on the entire paper. The more he wrote, the more messy and illegible it became. He couldn't calm down, so he changed the subject. "Let's not talk about this. Yu Jianshan told me that the crew will probably wrap up filming at the end of November?"
I think it's about the same.
"Are there any days off after filming wraps up?"
"Aside from shooting magazine covers, maybe, but other things depend on Yu Jianshan's specific arrangements."
Xu Shaoting nodded, glanced at his watch, and realized it was time for her to go to bed. He didn't say anything more, only that he would pick her up from the airport. He watched her lie down on the bed before hanging up the video call.
As the screen went dark, the smile on his face gradually faded away.
He sat alone in his study, the image of Su Wenshuang's empty, lifeless eyes and her thin, frail figure in her wheelchair flashing before his eyes.
He lied.
But it wasn't out of personal motives; more so because he felt that Su Wenshuang's ending was too cruel for an actress, and he couldn't bear to let her hear it.
-
After more than a month of hard work at the film studio, Wen Jia's scenes finally wrapped up.
The production team released a set of wrap-up photos on Weibo, with a very simple caption:
#Filming wrapped before freezing#
The play is over, but life is not over.
Thanks to director Yu Jianshan for his guidance, and to the lead actors Wen Jia and Yang Muyuan, and the supporting actors Qin Jiawen and Pan Yunwen for their wonderful performances.
"We must all burn brightly before we freeze."
The wrap-up photo is consistent with Wen Jia's image in the movie: black hair, no makeup, light-colored lips, a turtleneck sweater paired with a linen long skirt, a minimalist and simple outfit, but it cannot hide her superior facial features and temperament.
She held a bouquet of flowers and smiled at the camera.
The comments section was filled with fans, moviegoers, and casual observers:
[The second round of filming went smoothly. Looking forward to Feng Yingxue and Chen Xu!]
The main characters' costumes are very evocative, but I have a bad feeling about this ending...?
I must watch all of Yu Jianshan's films.
This subject matter is definitely award-worthy. Director Yu, please lead your team well. Looking forward to another glorious chapter for Chinese cinema!
The directing team did a great job casting; Yang Muyuan's image is a better fit than the previous one. Looking forward to it!
[I've followed this film from start to finish, and I'm truly happy for everyone! I wish the film a smooth post-production process, great box office success, and numerous awards!]
Wen Jia, holding a bouquet, took photos with fans who had spontaneously organized to celebrate her wrap-up filming before leaving the set.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, the setting sun shone like gold, and the evening clouds blended together. In the afterglow outside the film studio, an incongruous Rolls-Royce was parked.
The car body was shiny black, without a speck of dust.
Wen Jia glanced at the license plate, but seeing that it wasn't a familiar number, she didn't think much of it.
She was stopped by a middle-aged man standing next to the car: "Miss Wen."
Uncle Yang, dressed in a shiny black suit vest, stood beside the car with his hands clasped together and nodded to her.
Wen Jia paused, glancing at the Rolls-Royce.
It's clearly not the same model as Xu Shaoting's car; this one is longer and more flamboyant.
"And you are?" she asked.
Yang Bo said respectfully, "Miss Wen, the chairman has something he wants to say to you."
Wen Jia paused for two seconds, her heart skipping a beat. "I'm sorry, I have other plans..."
"It won't take up too much of your time."
Her nails dug into her palms, and she swallowed instinctively, glancing through the dark car window to see Xu Bozheng's sharp profile.
He looked calm and composed, but didn't look back at her, as if he was absolutely certain that she would get into his car.
"Please get in the car, Miss Wen."
Knowing she couldn't escape, Wen Jia mentally prepared herself and stepped forward to open the car door, but Yu Kaiqing grabbed her, saying, "I'll go with you."
"It's okay, I just wanted to talk to you about something."
Uncle Yang had a kind face and spoke with concern for a younger person, "This young lady can accompany you."
The two got into the Rolls-Royce one after the other.
The car interior was spacious, and a refreshing and clean fragrance wafted through the air, but it wasn't a woody scent; instead, it carried a strange sense of oppression and unfamiliarity.
The interior leather was clean and smooth, but it felt a bit chilly in this weather, giving her goosebumps.
"Hello, Uncle." Wen Jia closed the car door and spoke softly.
She never imagined that her first formal meeting with Xu Bozheng would be in this form.
Xu Bozheng leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes to rest, one hand on the center console and the other on his knee with an air of authority.
To be fair, he was quite imposing. Although he was middle-aged, he was still tall and well-maintained, looking no different from a man in his thirties or forties. His meticulously styled hair was free of any gray hairs. Although there were fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, one could still glimpse his youthful superiority through these traces of time.
Upon hearing Wen Jia's voice, he slowly opened his clear eyes, turned his head slightly, said nothing, but nodded with great authority.
"Uncle, what do you want to tell me?"
"No rush. I've made a reservation at a restaurant that might suit your taste. Let's eat and chat?"
It was a question, but she had no choice but to reply, "Whatever you say, Uncle."
The journey was arduous, and the four of them remained silent the entire way.
Yang Bo, sitting in the front row, dared not breathe, cold sweat dripping down his face.
Yu Kaiqing clutched her canvas bag, the fabric having absorbed countless drops of her hand sweat.
Wen Jia didn't dare to look at Xu Bozheng, so she could only look out the window the whole time, rehearsing in her mind a thousand words he was going to say to her.
If Xu Shaoting were here, at least she would feel more at ease and wouldn't be so flustered.
The car drove for about half an hour before stopping in front of a Western restaurant.
A sign indicating that the store was open was hanging at the entrance, but customers who wanted to come in were ruthlessly turned away.
Yu Kaiqing was led into a private room by Uncle Yang, where she also had dinner.
She enjoys awkward conversations, regardless of whether the person is a stranger or a friend; Uncle Yang is no exception.
"What does your chairman talk to her about?" she asked innocently.
Uncle Yang smiled politely, "It's hard to say."
Has he always been such a serious person?
Uncle Yang shook his head, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.
Uncle Yang was about the same age as Xu Bozheng and had been by his side since Xu Bozheng was twenty-five, fulfilling his duties and witnessing most of his life. Therefore, Uncle Yang knew that Xu Bozheng was not like this when he was young; he was quite dissolute and not even half as composed as the young master was now.
But how could he possibly begin the conversation with such a junior he had just met?
"The chairman isn't actually serious; he's just in this position out of necessity."
Yu Kaiqing took a sip of red wine, seemingly understanding but not quite.
So even the lives of the wealthy aren't entirely their own to control. She thought to herself.
While thinking, he anxiously glanced outside the private room.
Xu Bozheng and Wen Jia sat down at a two-person table in the hall.
His very presence was oppressive. Just sitting there, saying nothing, taking a sip of tea, was enough to make Wen Jia shudder.
"Don't be nervous, Miss Wen. You should know why I'm here today to talk to you."
Wen Jia wrung her hands tightly under the table. "It's nothing more than... my feelings for him."
“Yes,” Xu Bozheng put down his teacup. “I don’t know if Shao Ting has told you? I gave him a six-month deadline. When the six months are up, you two will break up.”
The restaurant was deathly silent.
Wen Jia's heart skipped a beat for half a second before she steadied her breathing and said, "No, Uncle, he never told me that."
Xu Bozheng nodded slightly, his gaze seemingly penetrating, easily piercing through her composure. "Let me be frank with you. If you're with Shao Ting for the resources and connections the Xu family can provide, or to put it more bluntly, for what he might inherit in the future, then we can find a more efficient and mutually beneficial approach."
Hearing this, she smiled, feigning composure and neither servility nor arrogance, "Uncle, first of all, I am not interested in the more efficient methods you mentioned. My career is built through the hard work of each role and each performance. Shortcuts obtained through transactions will not take you far, nor will they allow you to stand firm."
She pinched her palms hard to keep her voice down, "Secondly, I'm with him not for the resources or connections he can give me."
"Is that so?" Xu Bozheng smiled enigmatically. "What if I told you that I've been gradually suspending him from all his positions in the group?"
After speaking, he peered into Wen Jia's eyes, scrutinizing her rather than admiring her, until he saw a hint of surprise, astonishment, and regret before he looked away with satisfaction.
She was completely transparent to him; no matter how she tried to hide it, her emotions had nowhere to hide.
"He didn't tell you about this either?"
Wen Jia's ramrod-straight back slowly relaxed, and she seemed somewhat dejected. "No..."
Did he forget to mention it? Or was he deliberately hiding it to avoid worrying her? She didn't have time to think it through, and only asked, "Is it because of me?"
Xu Bozheng neither confirmed nor denied: "Given his current condition, he is not suitable to handle group business, so it will be postponed."
He paused briefly, then said, "If this continues, I can't guarantee he won't lose more, even his right to inherit."
Wen Jia suddenly took a deep breath and looked up at him.
If it were anyone else, Wen Jia would have ignored it, but since it was Xu Bozheng, she believed he was truly capable of doing it.
She remained silent for a while, no longer interested in further maneuvering, her cleverness quite out of place: "You mean, he can only choose between me and the right of inheritance, right?"
Perhaps this is his purpose today.
What she feared most has come to pass.
Xu Bozheng didn't answer, but calmly took another sip of tea. "Besides, I know about your background. You're very hardworking and talented. It must have been very difficult for you to get to where you are today."
What are you trying to say?
"A girl like you should be pursuing a broader stage and a better future, am I right?"
“When I was with him, I never thought about giving up my career. He was very supportive of me.” She paused, “Of course, I was very supportive of him too.”
"Support? Support for young people is often cheap because it doesn't require any cost. But when real choices arise, such as when the needs of the family conflict with their personal feelings, it's an unknown how much of that support will remain."
"I hope you understand that his identity is special, and your relationship is not a simple romantic one, nor is it as straightforward as 'you like me' or 'I like you.' It involves a lot of interests and sacrifices."
So you mean—
That was all he had to say. Xu Bozheng pushed back his chair, stood up, and calmly straightened the hem of his expensive suit jacket.
"I'm not forcing you to break up, I'm just reminding you that there are still many things you need to consider and weigh in your relationship."
After saying that, he left.
It was a very brief and straightforward conversation, but because it hit the nail on the head, Wen Jia sat alone at the two-person table for a very long time.
-
The flight back to Linzhou was the following day.
When they landed at 7 p.m., Xu Shaoting's car was already waiting in the underground parking lot, area A.
The news of the filming wrap-up caused a stir on Weibo. Some stalkers and paparazzi dug up Wen Jia's schedule and started staking out the airport at 5 a.m., waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Wen Jia dressed as comfortably and simply as possible: a white shirt, a camel-colored short trench coat, washed denim jeans, and a pair of ankle boots.
She wasn't wearing makeup, and was completely covered up with a mask and hat.
Despite this, I was still recognized when I entered the terminal.
Without bodyguards, Yu Kaiqing, dragging her suitcase, was stuck at the back of the crowd, unable to move an inch. More and more people surged forward, each holding a phone and snapping photos wildly, surrounding her like a wall of flesh.
The airport was immediately surrounded by a large crowd.
Finally, Lin Youzhe arrived quickly with a group of security guards, clearing a path for her to walk.
He shielded Wen Jia, whispering in her ear, "Miss Wen, Chairman Xu is waiting for you in Area A."
The rest was left to Lin Youzhe. Wen Jia led Yu Kaiqing straight to the parking lot along the cleared road and found the Maybach with the conspicuous license plate.
She looked around, walked around to his side, opened the door, and naturally knelt down in his lap, curling up in a comfortable position.
Having not seen her for over a month, he missed her terribly. He immediately hugged her, took off her hat and mask, and seeing her expression, chuckled softly, "What's wrong? Feeling down?"
"So tired... I slept the whole way, but I'm still not fully awake." She was in low spirits and spoke in a muffled voice, "And I was even photographed by sasaeng fans."
Just then, Yu Kaiqing put down her luggage and sat in the front row with Lin Youzhe, who had rushed back.
The engine started, and the partition screen silently rose, separating the back seat into a private space. Xu Shaoting then said, "Give me a kiss."
Wen Jia obediently hooked her arm around him, closed her eyes, and kissed him.
For a moment, only the soft sound of lips touching could be heard from the back row. After kissing his lips enough, she began to kiss his chin, Adam's apple, and neck with lingering affection.
Until he felt his willpower was about to be exhausted by her teasing, he lifted her up and kissed her lips again.
"Mmm..." she murmured unconsciously.
He knew her body so well, easily finding her sensitive spots, teasing them for a while, then releasing them at the right moment to straighten her clothes, asking as he did so:
Why won't you give me your tongue?
Her kiss was always brief and fleeting, merely a light touch of their lips, without any intention of exchanging breaths.
Like a gentle fire, it burns but doesn't scald.
Wenjia let out a soft "hmm" like a small animal, lowered her eyes, didn't speak, and then glanced out the window.
The car had already driven onto the bridge; the night was dazzling, with neon lights like a tapestry.
But she recognized it; it wasn't the road to Fushan Avenue.
"Aren't you going back to your home?" she asked.
“Don’t go back yet,” Xu Shaoting gazed into her eyes, “go back to my father’s first.”
Wen Jia's breathing became slightly erratic, and she asked softly, "Are you going to take me to see your father?"
"Yes, it's time for a formal meeting."
She instinctively gripped his shirt tighter. "Let's do it another day, okay?"
The tone was cautious, as if afraid of startling something. Xu Shaoting felt a lump in his throat. "Why?"
"I can't see him."
"Is it that they don't want to see each other, or that they can't see each other?"
Wen Jia lowered her eyes and said in a weak voice, "I'm willing to see you, but I can't."
A long silence spread through the carriage, and whose heartbeat and breath seemed to become heavier first?
"Why can't we meet?" Xu Shaoting adjusted his breathing, seemingly processing something. "Tell me."
The Maybach stopped at the entrance of Xu's residence as Xu Shaoting spoke. The hall was brightly lit, but there was not a single person in sight, and no one even came out to greet them.
Wen Jia glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, as if afraid he would take her inside without explanation, and hurriedly shook her head, "I can't go see your father."
"Why?" A thought inexplicably flashed through Xu Shaoting's mind, "...Did Xu Bozheng come looking for you?"
“No.” Wen Jia shook her head firmly. “He didn’t come to see me. It was my own decision.”
Xu Shaoting stared at her intently for several seconds, his brows furrowing more and more. Her acting was superb, and once again he couldn't see through her.
Inside the door, the study on the second floor was lit, and two figures stood by the window.
Yang Bo stood behind Xu Bozheng and saw him standing with his hands behind his back, staring at the car downstairs with a furrowed brow.
After the Maybach came to a stop, the headlights went out, but the doors remained closed.
Ten minutes passed, and finally, Xu Bozheng saw the headlights come on again, followed by the soft sound of the engine, as if it was about to start again.
Wen Jia ultimately did not get off the bus.
But Xu Bozheng's expression did not relax at all; instead, it became increasingly serious.
This was a result that was both reasonable and unexpected for him.
However, he did not seem satisfied or pleased.
He sighed and left the window.
Inside the car. Xu Shaoting closed his eyes weakly, then opened them again. "Drive, back to the villa."
The rear partition screen was raised again.
Xu Shaoting said calmly, "Tell me the truth."
"He hasn't come looking for me, but..." Wen Jia swallowed, a little timidly, "I've been thinking about our relationship lately..."
She didn't dare look at him, unaware that his lips and jawline were tightly clenched, and his brows were furrowed.
"What do you mean, Wenjia?"
She pursed her lips, then smiled faintly, "Chairman Xu, do you know what day it is today?"
“Today is the day you finish filming,” he answered without hesitation.
The outside world was bustling, with gold and silver light casting flickering shadows on her beautiful face. She smiled and shook her head, but there was a clear hint of detachment and dazedness in her smile.
"No, think about it again, you know that."
"I have no idea."
Wen Jia took a deep breath, inhaling to the very depths of her body, and trembled involuntarily, forcing her to blink. "At this time last year, we signed a contract, and today is its expiration date."
After she finished speaking, there was a deathly silence in the back of the car, because the two hearts were separated by a thin layer of skin, and neither could hear the other's thumping.
“That was fast,” he said.
"In other words, today is the day we terminate our contract."
Xu Shaoting seemed unwilling to listen, wanting to escape for the first time in his life. He glanced out the car window and said, "Hmm, the day of contract termination, so what? What do you want to say?"
In the long silence, Wen Jia felt a stinging sensation in her nose, followed by a burning sensation in her eyes. "Xu Shaoting, do you know? Some time ago... I met one of my seniors. She made me think a lot these past few days."
Wen Jia's voice trembled almost as she said, "She should have had a bright future... but she gave it up, got married, married a rich man, and now she can only stand by her husband's side, without her own identity, unable to show her face in public, unable to do what she loves. I... I don't want to become like her..."
Xu Shaoting's chest heaved noticeably twice, and he remained silent for a long time, looking at her with a strange expression.
He thought that everything would be fine if he hid Su Wenshuang's current situation from her, but he never imagined that she had already witnessed another kind of cruelty.
Little did he know, she was still lying to him.
What she said was not her main reason at all.
What she truly couldn't say was—she didn't want him to give up his status as heir because of her.
Xu Bozheng's words were still too intimidating. If she had to choose between the inheritance and herself, she would withdraw without hesitation.
Because she knew all too well that his childhood had no right to be willful, and his life was filled with rigorous planning. The play, emotions, and freedom that were taken from him became the foundation upon which he was built to inherit the throne. Every step he took was calm and restrained, and all his efforts and sacrifices pointed to one clear goal: to become the chosen one.
If he loses something because of her, then everything he has lost or been taken away will become meaningless.
She couldn't allow herself to become the reason to negate his entire past.
We cannot take advantage of our love to bring him down from his high position.
But she couldn't say it. Saying it would only earn her another cold shoulder from him and Xu Bozheng.
“I won’t let you become like her. I will give you your freedom.” He responded calmly, without any apparent emotion.
"This is very, very difficult." Wen Jia sensibly straightened his tie, raised her lips, and tried hard not to let the tears in her eyes fall. "We will both be very tired."
"I don't care."
Wen Jia shook her head slightly. "Chairman Xu, you will get married and have children sooner or later. What you need is a wife who can support her husband and raise children. I am not the right person for you." A line of tears slid down her cheek. "I don't want to regret not continuing what I love many years later, becoming a woman trapped in a mansion, a woman without her own identity."
Although this wasn't her real reason, she spoke eloquently and grandly, but it seemed to lack a certain conviction.
"Is this your reason for not wanting to see Xu Bozheng?"
“Hmm…” Wen Jia lowered her eyes sadly, “Just because of this, I have a great career, and I also need to think about my future, don’t I?”
Let him think she's selfish.
Let him think she's cruel.
If he can't make the decision, let her do it.
It wasn't until this moment that Xu Shaoting realized just how insightful Xu Bozheng was.
With keen insight and keen observation, he foresaw that Wen Jia would not be willing to give up her future, and even more so, that he did not want to see her become someone else.
Did he foresee that the two of them would eventually reach this point because of this matter, so he took him to see Su Wenshuang?
If she had said anything else, he would never have let her go, but she gave this particular reason, which robbed him of the courage to try and keep her.
“I always knew this day would come.”
Xu Shaoting gave a self-deprecating smile. So it was she who had foreseen this.
"That's why you're so sensible and know what's good for you."
"You've always thought this way, haven't you?" Xu Shaoting stroked her cheek and gently wiped away her tears with his finger. "You've always been this clear-headed, haven't you?"
Wen Jia suppressed the urge to sob, her breath trembling, and lowered her head, "Mmm."
"That's why you said back then, 'Don't give up anything for me, it's not worth it.'"
"Mmm..." She still couldn't resist the urge to bury her face in his chest, craving his warmth. "I'm sorry... Xu Shaoting, we both deserve a better future."
She was very willing to look up to him.
For the first time in his life, Xu Shaoting couldn't understand a sentence: "Without you, how can I have a future?"
She was rational and didn't want to stay in his arms any longer. She raised her head and said, "You will have it."
The atmosphere inside the car was as enchanting as ever, but her tone was more resolute than ever before.
Did these two fireworks disappear too quickly, too fleetingly?
“Xu Shaoting,” she called to him earnestly, “just pretend we were acting in a play.”
She didn't dare say that she had this mindset when she signed the contract.
It's just acting, nothing special, she's a natural at it.
But she never imagined that she would actually fall in love with him off-screen, so deeply, so very deeply.
For the first time, she realized she was fully aware of her situation, yet consciously sinking into depravity. That's why she hesitated so much when hanging the love lock in Switzerland, why she thought he was joking when he said he wanted to marry her, and why she told him not to give up anything for her.
She was clear-headed about everything except when he mentioned making it official.
Even if it's a relationship that won't last, she wants someone to witness it; this is her small but deep selfish desire.
"Acting." Xu Shaoting repeated incredulously.
Wen Jia was almost suffocating from a suffocating pain; her eyes were closed, and her voice was as soft as a feather.
"Now, just consider this my performance over."
Xu Shaoting was stunned for a long time, those few words were so puzzling.
He suddenly smiled with relief and nodded, "You've had your fun, but what about me? Have you thought about that?"
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." she stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.
So you mean—
That's all.
The two hearts stopped for one second, two seconds, and three seconds at the same instant.
How wonderful it would be if we could stay in this moment forever? Nobody wants to face the despair of falling to the bottom in the next second.
He looked at the woman before him. He still remembered that snowy day many years ago, the way she twirled in the falling snowflakes, so innocent and adorable. In countless dreams, he had seen her look back at him, but he never imagined that that moment would haunt him for so many years.
He still remembered the day she tried on clothes at his house, looking up as she tied her tie. At that moment, he thought they would have countless moments like that, like any ordinary couple.
He still remembered the scene of their first meal together after they met. The candlelight was so dazzling and dim, yet he could see her face clearly and said in his heart that he wanted to protect her for the rest of his life.
He still remembered the night she lay in his arms looking at the photos. It seemed he had so many photos he hadn't shown her, but the chance was gone.
Was his way of loving her wrong?
Xu Shaoting couldn't figure it out no matter what.
At that moment, the two of them thought of the same thing, but only she chose to say it aloud: "Neither of us is wrong. The problem lies with reality and our identities."
Xu Shaoting was overwhelmed by a devastating heartache and had no time to analyze what she meant by 'identity'.
Seeing that he remained silent, Wen Jia took a deep breath, tears streaming down her face, but she still smiled at him, "Chairman Xu, will you marry someone else the day after we break up?"
The car drove into the villa area. It was very dark, so she didn't see that Xu Shaoting had turned his head slightly, and two lines of tears had silently slid down his cheeks, falling somewhere unknown.
"No." His voice remained calm and steady, giving her a sense of security.
But feelings always fade.
The car finally came to a slow stop, just like it had countless times before.
"Can you...promise me?"
She still harbored some selfish motives after all.
"I promise you, I won't." He said this with a tightness in his throat, his voice low and hoarse.
Wen Jia closed her eyes and nodded, letting the tears flow. "That's good. Thank you."
"Do you only care about this one day?"
“That’s enough, that’s enough…” Wen Jia’s throat tightened and she felt sore. “I don’t ask for so much… You’re going to get married and have children eventually, aren’t you? It would be nice if you could stay for me for just one day.”
He said slowly, "In all the scenarios I've imagined of marriage and having children, there's only you, no other woman."
"I can't hold you back."
She meant it sincerely, but it wasn't because he thought she was abandoning him for her career; rather, she believed he shouldn't give up his status for her.
Xu Shaoting's heart was already in excruciating pain, and he had no time to analyze her words. He simply nodded in agreement.
He wanted the best for her and didn't want to see her wither and fall apart.
Faced with identity and reality, no one is powerless.
The front row was also quiet. Yu Kaiqing seemed to have a premonition and, unusually, didn't make a fuss. She glanced at Lin Youzhe and said, "Secretary Lin, thank you for your trouble."
Lin Youzhe paused in his action of pulling the handbrake, and returned a polite smile as always, "You're welcome."
The back door of the car was opened after a long time, and the two of them got out one after the other. He stopped in front of the fence of the yard and saw the pansies in full bloom when he first took her home.
"Is there anything else you want to say to me?" he asked, standing behind her.
"I'm already content with being loved by you, you have to forget me." Her tear-stained face was sticky and uncomfortable. Wen Jia didn't say anything else, but repeated once again, "I told you, just consider this my performance as finished."
Wen Jia didn't dare look at his expression, she just left him with those words and turned to leave.
She spoke more calmly and easily than I had imagined.
Someone has to make the decision, so let's let her, who is always indecisive, do it this time.
"Fine, I'll grant your wish."
He knew this was an unavoidable problem for them, and this was the first time he had compromised so helplessly.
"Wen Jia," he called out to her reluctantly, "Will we ever see each other again?"
There was no wind at night, but Xu Shaoting felt like he was about to lose his footing, and he clenched his fists to barely steady himself.
"Maybe it will, maybe it won't."
He nodded, took three steps forward in two, and hugged her one last time. "If you need anything, you can come to me."
His embrace was always open to her, but she no longer wanted to enter.
Feeling the woman in his arms nod, he resisted the urge to kiss her forehead, stroked her hair one last time, and released her.
"I wish you happiness," she said first.
Xu Shaoting turned around abruptly, closed his eyes, and a second tear slid down his dejected and bewildered face, falling onto the stone pavement.
He did not answer her question.
He couldn't understand how he could be happy without her.
-----------------------
Author's Note:
She couldn't understand it either.
(Xu Bozheng's motivation will be explained later)
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