Chapter 108 The Absent Farewell Banquet
In July, the night breeze in Beijing slightly dissipated the daytime heat. By Houhai Lake, a private restaurant without a sign was hidden deep in a hutong.
Ji Yun, Zhou Mubai, and Shen Yu arrived early and sat by the window drinking tea. The conversation always circled back to the main characters of tonight's dinner and the person who hadn't arrived yet.
"Is Yanli really not coming?" Shen Yu glanced at his watch.
Ji Yun put down his teacup: "They said there's a cross-border video conference, we'll see how it goes later." He didn't mention that when he called Huo Yanli in the afternoon, he could hear the somber and evasive tone in his voice even over the phone.
Zhou Mubai didn't speak, but silently poured more tea.
Just then, the door opened, and the waiter led Song Zhiyi in.
"Sorry, there was a traffic jam on the way." She nodded in greeting, her voice calm.
“We just arrived too,” Ji Yun said with a smile as he stood up. “The dishes have just been served, please sit down.”
Zhou Mubai and Shen Yu also stood up. The atmosphere was somewhat subtle, unlike the usual casual atmosphere among the brothers. Facing Song Zhiyi, they couldn't help but feel more solemn.
After they sat down, Ji Yun busied himself serving food and pouring drinks. He poured Song Zhiyi freshly squeezed bayberry juice, saying with a smile, "I know you're disciplined at work, so let's have juice instead of alcohol." He wanted to lighten the mood.
After a few bites of food, the subtle aroma of Shaoxing wine lingered, and the atmosphere relaxed a bit. Ji Yun recounted amusing anecdotes from their circle, while Zhou Mubai occasionally offered a calm critique, and Shen Yu listened with a smile. Song Zhiyi didn't say much, but she listened attentively, a slight curve to her lips when she heard something interesting.
After a few rounds of drinks, the smile on Ji Yun's face gradually faded. He put down his chopsticks, looked at Song Zhiyi, and rarely showed such seriousness without his usual ostentation.
“Zhiyi,” he began, his voice much calmer, “there are some things we’ve been thinking about for a long time over this meal, and we feel we should talk about them in person.”
Song Zhiyi put down the bayberry juice, looked up at him, her eyes calm.
Ji Yun glanced at Zhou Mubai and Shen Yu, both of whom nodded. He took a breath and looked directly at Song Zhiyi:
"To be honest, at the beginning, many of us, including those around Yanli, felt that Yanli was 'lowering himself'."
These words were direct, even a little harsh. The air in the private room froze for a moment.
Ji Yun didn't look away: "We thought you were too dull, too plain... and your family background wasn't like ours. We thought this marriage was forced by the old man, that Yanli was wronged, and that you were just climbing the social ladder. At that time, we looked at you with prejudice, and even... we were waiting to see you make a fool of yourself."
His voice became more solemn: "But over the past few years, we have watched with our own eyes. We have watched you, little by little, in ways that you yourself may not even care about, change the Huo family, change some of the atmosphere among our group, and even... change Yanli."
He leaned back in his chair, shook his head, and a complex smile appeared on his face—a smile of admiration, emotion, and a hint of acceptance.
“So now we all understand.” He paused, speaking clearly, “It was Huo Yanli who was lucky enough to meet you.”
Zhou Mubai and Shen Yu remained silent, but their silence itself was an affirmation, their gazes calmly fixed on Song Zhiyi.
Song Zhiyi listened quietly, her face showing neither excitement nor resentment. She glanced at the three of them with clear eyes, her voice calm:
"Ji Yun, you flatter me. We simply have different life experiences and different pursuits. Yanli has his abilities and sense of responsibility, and so do you. It has been an honor for me to get to know you all these years."
She attributed everything to "difference," and this clarity completely dispelled the last bit of unease in Ji Yun and the others' hearts.
At this moment, Zhou Mubai picked up his teacup, his gaze behind his glasses rational and focused: "Miss Song, Ji Yun has spoken his mind, and I also have something to say."
His gaze was profound: "I admire you, not just because you helped me, but because of your vision. We are taught from childhood to be successful and to control resources. When we talk about 'social responsibility,' we often do so with calculations in mind. But you are different. You see the world and the specific situations of people from different cultural backgrounds."
He raised his glass again: "This cup of tea is for you. For your vision and perspective. And for us... Perhaps because I've met you, I've finally begun to clumsily try to see that there are so many other things in this world worth investing in besides making money and so-called 'success'."
Ji Yun nodded vigorously, and Shen Yu also slowly raised his teacup.
Song Zhiyi raised her glass to the three of them: "Thank you all too. You've shown me that the power of business can also be used in more humane ways."
The glasses clinked softly, creating a deep and warm atmosphere.
Shen Yu, who had been a man of few words, took out a brown paper folder from his briefcase and pushed it in front of Song Zhiyi.
“Miss Song,” he said in a low voice, “this is my… small token of appreciation.”
Song Zhiyi opened the folder; inside were several neatly printed forms. She quickly scanned them, her gaze becoming focused. The forms were categorized and clearly listed:
Medical resources: Hospitals, clinics, Doctors Without Borders contact points, and even direct contact information for several war wound surgeons in major cities and conflict zones in the Middle East and North Africa.
Security and logistical support: Local branch managers of several reputable international security companies, reliable local logistics companies, and two safe house addresses that can provide temporary shelter in case of emergencies.
Information and Communications: Non-public channel codes for secure communications in high-risk areas, contact information for two veteran war correspondents, and a direct line to a regional studies expert.
Each message is followed by a brief note explaining how it was obtained, its reliability, and any precautions. It's clearly well-organized and extremely practical. It's evident that a great deal of effort and networking went into compiling it.
Song Zhiyi looked up, her eyes filled with genuine gratitude: "Mr. Shen, this is... so thoughtful. Thank you."
This gift is far more precious than any valuable item.
Shen Yu waved his hand, his face expressionless, but a complex emotion flashed deep in his eyes.
“You’re welcome.” He paused, his gaze fixed on Song Zhiyi’s face, a hint of entrustment in his voice. “Song Zhiyi, I didn’t think much about it when I packed these things. I just felt that the place you’re going to is no ordinary place, and these might come in handy.” He pushed the folder forward again. “Keep these safe. And then…”
He looked into Song Zhiyi's clear and determined eyes, and spoke slowly and sincerely, word by word:
"Do what you want to do. And... stay safe and sound."
After he finished speaking, the private room was quiet for a moment.
Ji Yun grinned, his eyes welling up with tears. Zhou Mubai nodded slightly.
Holding the rather heavy folder, Song Zhiyi nodded, her voice clear and firm: "I will. Mr. Shen, thank you."
Shen Yu paused for a moment, then revealed a genuinely relaxed smile.
By the end of the meal, the atmosphere had completely changed. Each person had delivered their sentiments to Song Zhiyi in their own way.
Time slipped away quietly, and the hands of the wall clock slid toward 10 p.m.
Huo Yanli never appeared.
During this time, Ji Yun's phone lit up several times. He went out to answer the calls and came back, his frivolous expression much more subdued, a hint of helplessness furrowing between his brows. He whispered to Zhou Mubai and Shen Yu, "They're still at the company, saying the meeting isn't over yet."
Zhou Mubai's eyes flickered behind his glasses, but he didn't speak. He simply poured out the cooled tea slowly. Shen Yu shook his head almost imperceptibly.
They all tacitly agreed not to bring it up again.
Song Zhiyi's phone lit up at that moment.
From: Huo Yanli.
The message was simple: "Sorry, I have an urgent meeting."
She stared at the words, her fingertips lingering on the edge of the phone for a moment.
The reply was equally concise: "Okay, take care and get some rest."
send.
Then the screen went dark, and nothing else happened.
There were no explanations, no follow-ups, and no promises of "next time." Both knew that "next time" might never come.
Ji Yun and the others seemed to have noticed her looking at her phone, but they all tacitly avoided mentioning Huo Yanli. Instead, they busied themselves serving fruit and desserts, steer the conversation in a more relaxed direction.
At 10:30, the farewell banquet, which lasted for nearly three hours, came to an end.
The group walked out of the alley. Ji Yun and the others insisted on taking Song Zhiyi back to her dormitory at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but she politely but firmly declined. "Really, it's not necessary. It's easy for me to call a car. You should all go back and rest early too."
Three men stood by the car, watching her. The streetlights outlined her slender, upright figure.
A white ride-hailing car slid to the entrance of the alley with its hazard lights flashing.
"Zhiyi," Ji Yun called out one last time, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet alley, "Have a safe journey. When you get there... be careful in everything, and keep in touch."
"Definitely." Her voice was clear and steady. "You too, take care."
She said nothing more, got into the car, and closed the door. The car window rolled up, separating the inside from the outside. The car started smoothly.
Ji Yun, Zhou Mubai, and Shen Yu remained standing in the same spot. The only sounds in the alley were the wind, the rustling of leaves, and the distant whispers of the city.
"Damn it..." Ji Yun muttered under his breath, scratching his head in frustration. "What on earth is he thinking?"
Zhou Mubai patted his shoulder: "Some emotions, some hurdles, no one can take your place or rush you. You have to give him his own time and space to process them. You can't rush it."
Shen Yu remained silent, watching the alleyway where the car disappeared. The night wind ruffled the hair on his forehead. After a while, he finally opened the car door and got into the driver's seat first.
The low rumble of the engine broke the silence.
Ji Yun sighed again, exchanged a glance with Zhou Mubai, and then got into their respective cars.
Three cars started up one after another, their headlights piercing the darkness of the alley, heading in different directions and blending into the vast night of Beijing.
The night grew deeper.
Someone is about to embark on a long journey, heading towards mountains, seas, and the unknown, their back view resolute.
Some people remain stuck in place, trapped in an emotional maze, hesitant to move forward.
This farewell banquet, which was missing only the male protagonist, was like a small pause, not an end, but a clear marker of the stagnation and shift in a relationship.
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