Chapter 44 Chapter 44 New Chapter
It was past eleven o'clock in the evening when Shen Yanfeng came back leisurely from outside.
The villa was brightly lit, yet eerily quiet. As he walked in, he saw that even the noisy parrot had its mouth shut for once, huddled in the corner of its cage, its small, black eyes moving as he moved.
He untied his watch and threw it on the sofa, then lazily looked up at the two old men sitting in the middle of the living room.
"Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
Mr. Shen's face turned pale: "I'm just waiting for the police to call and ask me to go to the beach to identify the body!"
"Tsk," Old Lady Shen frowned and scolded, "I'm glad he's back. Stop talking!"
"For a woman," Old Master Shen pointed at Shen Yanfeng angrily, "Are you planning to drive your whole family crazy?"
Shen Yanfeng unbuttoned his collar slowly and sank into the sofa.
Crazy, he chuckled in his heart, it’s better to be a little crazy.
If someone in this family makes him unhappy, he will turn the whole family upside down and make sure no one has an easy life.
For the next few days, Guan Mi barely left the house. Li Ke helped her stock up on daily necessities, filling the refrigerator with enough food to last her a week.
It wasn't boring, though. She soon received several translation orders and spent the entire day in front of the computer.
Sometimes she would stop typing and listen quietly to the sounds of the market coming from outside the window, the hawkers' calls, the children's play, the engines of motorcycles. These ordinary bustles made her feel very comfortable.
That afternoon, she finished translating several contracts and financial statements on hand, and as she lay on the table immersed in the peace, her cell phone screen lit up.
It was a text message from Li Ke:
[He took a flight back to Beijing in the evening.]
Seeing this line of words, her tense heartstrings for days finally relaxed a little.
Shen Yanfeng left Sanya this time and probably won't come back in the short term. She will plan her time to go out during this period.
Over the past few days, an idea quietly took root in her mind. One day on the beach, she saw many beautiful shells carried ashore by the tide. How unique it would be if she could use them and make them into pendants and earrings.
The balcony is quite empty, perfect for her crafting workbench. In her spare time, she goes to the beach to collect shells, polishes them, designs them, and inlays them into unique jewelry. Whether she sells them online or at a night market stall, it's her own small business.
She planned to develop online translation as her main business. Coincidentally, a foreign-related publishing house liked her writing style after reading a trial translation of a book chapter and offered to cooperate with her.
Considering her current situation, she could only decline the invitation to go out to work on the grounds of leg and foot problems. Fortunately, the other party was still willing to outsource the book translation project to her on a long-term basis.
She certainly wouldn't limit herself to this one family; she was willing to take on any translation work within her capabilities. After all, the first item on her wish list was to buy her family an apartment in downtown Jiangcheng.
When it was getting dark, Li Ke said that Shen Yanfeng had already boarded the plane.
Guan Mi waited until it was completely dark, put on his hat and went out.
She went to the beach, walked slowly along the sand, and came back with half a bag of shells of various shapes in her pocket.
When she passed by the place where Chen Yanfeng had parked that day, she suddenly thought of Shanshan and Sister Song. Although they were just colleagues, she still missed them after spending so many years together.
She just hoped her sudden departure wouldn't cause too much trouble for the company's project team. She was already responsible for several projects, and with her departure, the follow-up work would fall to other colleagues.
She also remembered Qiao Qiuying's last phone call about her chance encounter with Wen Li on the street. He had been promoted to deputy section chief and was now living a regular nine-to-five life.
The man who had supported her through the best years of their lives finally lived the life his parents expected him to live, stable, decent, and moving forward steadily along the established track.
But she had strayed from the path. Walking on unfamiliar beaches, listening to the waves of a foreign land, she became a shadow who couldn't even use her real name.
Back in the rental house, Guan Mi turned on the light and poured the shells he had picked up onto the table covered with newspapers.
She stood under the light, looking carefully at each shell of different shapes.
Finally, she took out her notebook and wrote down the tools she needed: jewelry pliers, sandpaper, a small electric drill, and silver hardware. Looking at this list, she felt a little dazed. She used to make project schedules and budget plans, but now she had to research handmade materials.
Opening the newly downloaded shopping app, she added the tools one by one to the cart. As she clicked checkout, she suddenly felt a surge of excitement. This small investment was the first step towards a new life.
/
Shen Yanfeng has been staying in the study of the old house recently, lying on the sofa all day doing nothing.
Every time Shen Minyan came back, he'd see him slouching, with a half-bucket of ice and whiskey on the table, and he'd get so mad he couldn't stop. Once, he'd even picked up a teacup and smashed it against the sofa leg, sending shards flying everywhere. But he still couldn't get him out. In the end, he almost had someone come and throw the entire sofa out, along with Shen Yanfeng.
That day, Shen Minyan could no longer bear it, so he walked to the sofa and asked with a sullen face, "What do you want?"
Shen Yanfeng raised his eyes lazily: "Not much."
"Then get out and stop being an eyesore here."
"No."
The father couldn't persuade his son, but he couldn't reveal Guan Mi's whereabouts. In the end, he had to have all the important documents in the study moved to the master bedroom, locked the door, and specially arranged for someone to guard outside and not allow Shen Yanfeng to enter.
When Zhen Sui passed by Chen Yanfeng's room with something in her arms, she saw him sitting at the desk through the half-open window, lost in thought, holding a half-torn photo in his hand.
The whole person exuded an indescribable decadence.
These days, she slowly realized that Chen Yanfeng really had a lover, and it was the Secretary Guan she had met. She couldn't tell whether she was shocked or sad.
At the age of fifteen, Zhen Sui was brought to the Shen family by relatives from her hometown to work as a domestic servant. Now, she's been working for the Shen family for six years. She still remembers her first day, when she was scolded in the kitchen by the housekeeper for doing something wrong. She felt so wronged that she burst into tears and just wanted to go home and get back to her farm work. Just when she felt most helpless and vulnerable, Shen Yanfeng happened to pass by. He said nothing, just a casual glance, and the housekeeper immediately stopped scolding her.
The Shen family's old house has more than one study room, and the three siblings also have their own study rooms. Fifteen-year-old Zhen Sui came to Beijing to work after finishing junior high school because her family was poor and her parents could only afford to send her brother to school.
At that time, she was filled with a thirst for books. Every time she passed by the study of the three Shen siblings, she couldn't help but cast a longing glance at the dazzling array of books inside. Once, Shen Yanfeng caught her looking around and asked her if she wanted to read. Seeing her nod timidly, he said that the study was not locked and she could go in and read when she had free time, as long as she didn't touch the things inside.
Perhaps he had long forgotten those insignificant moments, but for the frightened girl at that time, that figure was engraved in her heart.
Even though he sometimes couldn't remember her name, the throbbing in his heart lasted for six years.
Zhen Sui began to recall Secretary Guan, whom she hadn't seen for a long time. This beautiful woman always wore a well-fitting suit and skirt. She was gentle and intellectual. She had been with Shen Yanfeng for so long, so her work ability must be excellent.
Aside from their family background, they were a perfect match. Zhen Sui couldn't understand why Secretary Guan had left. In order to break off the engagement, Chen Yanfeng would rather kneel to death than bow his head. Such a proud person, now looking at half a photo in dismay.
If she were Secretary Guan, she would definitely love this man well.
Too bad she never could be.
Love is something that some people long for, while others treat like a worn-out shoe.
/
Guan Mi's first small-budget business venture soon encountered a blow from reality.
She deliberately chose a weekend evening to set up a stall next to the square with the most people recommended by Sister Zhu. The beautiful display stands were surrounded by small strings of warm-colored lights, and on them were placed various shell jewelry that she had carefully made.
However, most of the passersby were in a hurry. Occasionally, someone would stop, pick up a piece of jewelry, examine it, and then gently put it down. Two hours later, only one shell bracelet had been sold.
This happened for two consecutive weekends.
Undeterred, she listed her products on second-hand trading platforms and local lifestyle websites. However, the online stores were even more deserted than the offline stores, with few visitors and no one even asking for the price.
When she closed her stall late at night, she looked at the jewelry boxes that were almost untouched and felt for the first time the difficulties of starting a business. This place is not a popular tourist attraction, and the locals are not interested in these exquisite but useless little items.
She wasn't too disappointed, after all, she wasn't making money by selling these things.
She walked home with her bag slung over one shoulder and a folding rack in her hand. The cool sea breeze ruffled her long hair.
The streets were quiet, most shops had already closed, and only a few still had their lights on.
Guan Mi suddenly wanted to drink a cup of hot coffee, but there was obviously no cafe on this street. She walked into the small supermarket that was still open, bought a can of coffee, paid, and drank it while walking.
When she passed by the door of a bookstore called "Yunyun Bookstore", she quickly glanced at the sublease notice posted on the door.
She had walked five or six steps when she suddenly stopped and turned back. Using the streetlight, she carefully read the handwriting on the red paper: Due to the owner's pregnancy, the price has been reduced.
She looked at it thoughtfully for a while, and finally wrote down the contact number.
/
Lu Kai had been in France for over half a year, and after returning home, he spent the entire day in his bar. He had called Chen Yanfeng over for a drink several times, but he hadn't responded. He felt like he hadn't seen Chen Yanfeng in half a lifetime, so tonight he had specially arranged to meet Liao Yihai at Qing Tao Yuan to block him off.
As soon as the car stopped, I saw Shen Yanfeng walking out of the building. It was already November, and this guy was still wearing only a white shirt. His cheeks were much thinner than the last time I saw him, and his jawline was so sharp that it could cut your hand.
"Not really?" Lu Kai clicked his tongue as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "Is Secretary Guan so lethal? Do you think someone like him, who was just abandoned after falling in love, would commit suicide?"
"He's not trying to commit suicide. He's been so focused on finding Guan Mi every day that he's causing quite a stir for the Shen family," Liao Yihai said with a smile. "Those two in Sanya have completely banned him from visiting. He even insisted that Shen Cunyi find Guan Mi first before he'd help bring Wen Siyi back. Aunt Shao even moved back to the Shao family last month to avoid him. Not to mention Uncle Shen, who's even annoyed Secretary Qi to the point of wanting to quit."
"Then I understand. He's a man who doesn't waste his energy. Whoever wants to make things difficult for him won't have a good time." Lu Kai smiled and pushed open the car door, grabbing Shen Yanfeng who was about to get in. "Where are you going now?"
Shen Yanfeng glanced at him sideways, "Why didn't the thunder from Nanfa kill you?"
"Wow," Lu Kai laughed so hard, "Are you so aggressive towards me?"
Liao Yihai walked over from the car door and said, "Don't go out. Go upstairs and have a couple of drinks with you. Maybe we can find a way to find Guan Mi."
Lu Kai directly interrupted: "I don't have any."
As soon as he finished speaking, Liao Yihai nudged him with his elbow. Liao Yihai snatched the car keys from Shen Yanfeng's hand and said, "Let's go. If you go out like this, you might end up in the social news tomorrow."
Shen Yanfeng stood there, his back looking particularly lonely in the night. He stared into the distance in silence, and finally let out a breath.
Over the past month, he has traveled to almost all transportation hubs in the north, and asked ticket sellers, dock workers, and long-distance drivers with Guan Mi's photo, but he has never found anything.
She had to live and work. He knew exactly what she was capable of, but he hadn't found any suspicious candidates in the employment records or part-time job lists of all related industries since October.
Even from the Guan family, there are no clues.
She was really determined to disappear from his life completely.
But so what? He refused to accept his fate.
"Why are you so well behaved today?" Lu Kai picked up Becky as he entered the room. He was surprised to find that this little orange cat, who usually resisted him, was unusually docile. He held the cat up and looked at it carefully: "Is she sick?"
"It's probably lovesickness." Liao Yihai came and stood in front of the wine cabinet to choose a bottle of wine. "This man and cat both recognized their master. Now that the master has run away, there's no point in living."
Lu Kai smiled: "It's really interesting."
After saying that, he walked to Becky's toy cabinet and took out a cat toy.
Shen Yanfeng stood at the entrance looking at Becky, and suddenly thought of something. He took out his mobile phone, opened WeChat, and edited a circle of friends.
【Missing Cat Notice】
Becky went missing from Qingtaoyuan at 6:35 pm on November 2.
A full orange shorthair cat, weighing 13.8 catties, male cat, will turn around when its name is called.
If anyone finds this cat, I'll offer a reward of 100,000 yuan. If anyone finds this cat and wants to keep it, please don't. I adopted this cat from Xinyuan Pet Hospital on Christmas Day 2010, and it means a lot to me.
Dead or alive, I will find it.
He stared at the successful message notification, a glimmer in his eyes. Guan Mi might not use the original WeChat anymore, but Guan Tang would definitely see this message. If Guan Tang could contact Guan Mi as he thought, then she would definitely see it.
Although he didn't want to admit it, the fact was that when Guan Mi left, Becky was the only one who was reluctant to let him go. He also knew how much she loved him and would get worried every time he felt a little uncomfortable.
No matter what the result is, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, he will give it a try.
/
Guan Mi received a private message from Guan Tang on Weibo when she was signing the contract with the landlord of the bookstore. She put down her pen, clicked on the screenshot, and after reading it word by word, her heart suddenly tightened.
Becky ran away?
How could this happen? He was usually so shy that even with the door open, he would just squat in the entrance and stare, never daring to take a step outside.
She instinctively clenched her phone, her mind instantly picturing Becky shivering on a strange street. How could she survive out there, being such a picky eater, only eating imported cat food? "Ms. Li, here's another document you need to sign," the landlord, Brother Chao, pointed to the end of the contract and continued counting the cash.
Guan Mi exhaled lightly and reached for the pen. The moment her fingertips touched the pen, she suddenly paused.
Christmas 2010? She clicked on the screenshot again, her eyes landing on "Xinyuan Pet Hospital"—wait, isn't this the hospital she took the little orange cat to after picking it up?
The nurse's words echoed in my ears at that time: "Student, I have good news for you. The little orange cat was adopted tonight by a kind-hearted man. He's a young man who loves cats very much and is willing to spend money on them... Oh, and he said that since he has adopted the cat, he has to return the money you paid to the hospital. Please give me your account number..."
Could it be...
An incredible look appeared in Guan Mi's eyes.
So, the little orange cat she occasionally thought of over the years was actually Becky? And the person who adopted her back then was Chen Yanfeng?
This is too much of a coincidence.
Thinking of this, and then thinking of Becky's missing cat notice, her heart ached. But she could do nothing. She couldn't go back to look for it, nor could she contact Shen Yanfeng.
She could only pray silently in her heart, hoping that Becky could return home safely.
"Okay, done. This place is yours from now on." Brother Chao put the money into his bag and asked with a smile, "Are you planning to continue running the bookstore?"
Guan Mi nodded and turned to look at the glass wall facing the sea. Sunlight refracted through the water, casting shimmering ripples in the bookstore, illuminating the entire space with brightness and warmth.
This location was simply too good to be true. She not only wanted to open a bookstore, but also planned to place a few coffee tables by the window, letting the aroma of books and coffee drift through the air. During the years she worked as Chen Yanfeng's secretary at Fengbo, her most common task was to make coffee for him, a skill she had become quite adept at.
The space against the wall can be used to display her handmade shell ornaments and cultural and creative products, so that every guest can take away a souvenir of the sea.
Buying the bookstore wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. She'd been considering it for a full week, during which time she'd continued to set up stalls at several night markets, earning a maximum of twenty yuan a night.
After much deliberation, she finally called the former owner of the bookstore.
The other party was in a hurry to sell the property and offered a transfer fee much lower than the market price, so she signed the contract readily.
Brother Chao handed over the key to the bookstore: "Here, keep the contract key. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first. If you need any help from now on, you can call me."
After seeing Chao off, Guan Mi turned around and looked around the bookshop, which was full of traces of time. The mottled bookshelves, faded posters, and old record players all retained the marks of time.
In the following days, she focused on keeping the library clean, repaired the damp walls, simply added a coffee table and jewelry display rack, bought two leather sofas from the flea market, and hung a handwritten sign of "Gossip Bookstore" on the door.
She'd been here for over a month, going in and out of the complex every day and becoming familiar with the neighbors downstairs. Hearing about the bookstore's opening, several enthusiastic aunts and uncles had gotten up early to come over and try her coffee to bring some excitement to the shop.
Looking at them holding their coffee cups and showing a "not bad" smile, Guan Mi's originally nervous mood slowly relaxed.
To her surprise, tourists gradually began to come in during the afternoon. They ordered iced coffee, selected a book from the bookshelf, and sat quietly in a window seat.
This start was much better than expected. She was originally worried that no one would be interested in her stall like before.
When Guan Mi isn't busy, he takes out his laptop and sits at the bar to work on translations. Occasionally, he looks up at the shop, where people are hunched over shell jewelry, while others are curled up on the sofa, reading and drinking coffee. It's a truly peaceful scene.
/
In Chen Yanfeng's eyes, Guan Mi, though born in a northern city, possessed the unique gentle yet strong nature of a Jiangnan woman. Consequently, he had recently searched extensively across the Jiangnan region, from the water towns of southern Jiangsu to the mountains of northern Zhejiang, and even to the alleys of Shanghai, but he couldn't find Guan Mi.
Could Guan Mi be in these places? He didn't know, but he had to look for him.
But he just couldn't find it, no matter how hard he tried.
Time passed quickly, and the first snow of this winter fell in Beijing, but there was still no news from Guan Mi. For the first time, he realized that he was not omnipotent. He couldn't even find the person he wanted most, and this realization made him feel powerless.
He looked at the snow outside the window and thought of the snow he had seen with Guan Mi, with a mixture of love and hate in his chest.
How could he not hate her? When he loved her the most, she disappeared without a trace just like that.
Becky had been visibly anxious lately, often howling in the living room. Because Guan Mi's presence in the house was fading, she could only sleep curled up in one of her favorite skirts. At this moment, with her tail drooping, she rubbed against Shen Yanfeng's legs, circling them again and again.
It took Shen Yanfeng a long time to find it. He bent down to pick it up, and gently stroked its trembling ears with his fingertips.
"She doesn't want you anymore." He said in a low voice, "She really doesn't want me anymore either."
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The author has something to say: Tomorrow will still be updated at the original 9-10 o'clock
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