[No Love on the Other Shore] (56-60)

Chapter 56 Better Not to Meet Than to Meet

Having finished her work, Jiang Yunuo flew to Beijing a few days early.

The ground beneath the plane was a patchwork of yellow and white, the weather looking rather inclement. The plane descended, experiencing slight turbulence as it encountered air currents. The land drew ever closer, and at one point, she felt a momentary weightlessness, causing her heart to race. Her hand unconsciously gripped the seatbelt until the plane landed smoothly. Her palms were slightly damp; she didn't understand why she was so nervous.

Perhaps it was just the fear of returning home.

Perhaps…

even after setting foot on this land, she would still be halfway across China from him, and she didn't want to, and couldn't, see him again. The distance created by blood ties could never be measured by distance. Returning home but not seeing him—wasn't that breaking her promise? Just like years ago, she had vowed never to leave him. Her actions had already branded her with the mark of broken promises, like an invisible weapon, forcibly separating her body and heart. "

Yes, that's the kind of person I am," she told herself, selfish, weak, cold-hearted, and fickle.

And she had always been this way for years.

After clearing customs, she saw Chen Zichen waiting for her outside. "Looks like we'll have to stay here for a few more days," he gently hugged her, taking her luggage. "The weather's bad, and it's the Spring Festival travel rush; tickets home are hard to get." "

It's alright, stay a few more days," she comforted him. "Have you finished your business?"

"No, I still need to find time to visit someone's factory."

"You go ahead with your work, don't worry about me." It was freezing cold; she'd rather stay in the hotel.

"The factory isn't in Beijing, so I can't go there anytime soon. Tickets to other places are quite hard to get these days," Chen Zichen smiled again. "Isn't it a coincidence that the supplier is from your hometown, and their factory is in your area?"

Jiang Yunnuo said "Oh," her expression somewhat dazed.

"Do you want to go back and see your father?" Chen Zichen asked her.

"No, I was separated from him when I was very young," she quickly replied. Besides, he wouldn't want to see his daughter anyway. "We've become strangers, and we wouldn't have anything to say to each other if we met,"

Chen Zichen shrugged indifferently, not particularly concerned about such things.

He was focused on when he could successfully sign the contract.

*** *** ***

In the office, Xu Ke casually flipped through the papers in the folder.

After a while, he pointed to a column of data on the paper, "The price of soda ash is okay, but the price of fatty alcohols is a bit low," he said, tossing the folder on the table and refusing to look at it again.

Liu Xin hurriedly said, "Yes, that guy surnamed Chen is too difficult to deal with. He keeps telling me about the reduced tax rebate on chemical raw materials, but what does that have to do with us..." He paused, seeing Xu Ke's ambiguous attitude, and tentatively said, "President Xu, we can do this order or not, why not just reject him outright?"

Xu Ke didn't say anything, but took out a cigarette from the pack and tapped it lightly on the table before saying, "Don't rush to reject him, keep him hanging on for now."

Liu Xin was very puzzled, thinking, why would a small trading company need to be treated like this? Could there be a potential big client hidden behind him? Even if there were, the domestic market is already struggling to keep up with demand, how could they possibly care about the international market? This deal makes absolutely no sense.

Xu Ke glanced at him. "Anything else?"

Liu Xin snapped out of his reverie. "Yes," he pulled a stack of receipts from his wallet. "Boss, I've been ripped off a lot lately. That guy surnamed Li really thinks he's a food critic, always finding new ways to eat. We have another meal tonight, and I'm almost at my wit's end."

Xu Ke chuckled. "You kept the receipts, didn't you? I told you to go eat something nice, and you're still nagging."

"What's the point of eating with two grown men?" Liu Xin's eyes darted around. "Boss, if we go to Heaven on Earth tonight, can we get reimbursed?"

Xu Ke frowned. "Get out there and get to work. Don't dawdle here if you have nothing else to do. You really think you're some kind of escort."

“Sigh, actually I can’t go even if I wanted to,” Liu Xin muttered as he walked out. “There are two extra women at the dinner tonight.”

Xu Ke’s heart raced, but he asked calmly, “Who?”

Liu Xin turned around. “One is Old Li’s wife, and the other is Chen Haigui’s future wife. They just came back from France the day before yesterday.”

Xu Ke broke the cigarette in his hand in two, stuffed it into the ashtray, and said, “Book a private room. I’ll be there tonight.”

Around six o’clock, he finished his work and drove to the restaurant. His hands on the steering wheel trembled slightly on the way. It was dark and the roads were slippery, and he kept stalling the car like a novice.

Just as he parked, Liu Xin called. “Mr. Xu, they just arrived and are waiting for you in the lobby.”

He slowly walked into the restaurant, passed through the porch, and gradually stopped.

Not far away, the back of a woman came into view.

And that figure looked so alluring. Psychologist Devendra Singh once claimed that the women who most captivate men have a waist-to-hip ratio of around 0.7. The man beside her had his hand on her waist, the length of his hand almost covering half of her waist.

Slightly curled hair fell over her shoulders. She wore a light beige short-sleeved knit top, revealing her fair skin below her arms, a knee-length pencil skirt, and black boots, her curves accentuated, standing gracefully. Amidst the unfamiliar allure, an undeniable sense of familiarity

lingered. His heart pounded wildly, anticipation mingling with unease.

He wondered if she had a beautiful profile.

He wondered if she had long, delicate eyebrows, bright black eyes, and pale, slightly pursed lips. He wondered

if she was really her.

At that moment, he was both afraid of seeing a completely unfamiliar face and afraid of her appearing like this.

He stood there silently until a waiter approached, interrupting his thoughts.

He replied softly, "My date has arrived."

He hesitated for several seconds before finally moving forward.

Li Laiyun was the first to spot him, greeting him with a smile, "President Xu, you're here."

He nodded slightly, "Manager Li, hello."

His voice was deep and pleasant, with a hint of vicissitude, yet still couldn't conceal his unspoken familiarity.

Jiang Yunnuo looked up in alarm. Their eyes met

for a fleeting moment, leaving her in a helpless silence.

For a moment, she couldn't breathe, her body leaning slightly backward, before someone steadied her.

Chen Zichen glanced at her, puzzled.

She became numb, unsure whether to look at him, or at anyone else.

He said, "You're back." His expression was indifferent, calm and unwavering, treating her as if she were anyone else.

She forced herself to remain calm, "Yes." What else could she say?

The other three were surprised, "What, you know each other?"

He didn't answer.

She couldn't and wouldn't answer either.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she said, "This is my younger brother." Her throat felt inexplicably dry, and she swallowed softly.

Time seemed to stand still.

Li Laiyun snapped out of his daze, clapped his hands and laughed, "The flood washed away the Dragon King's temple, it seems I can retreat now that I've accomplished my mission."

Liu Xin thought to himself, no wonder, no wonder, it turns out he was saving face for his brother-in-law, but the two siblings didn't seem very warm to each other.

Chen Zichen smiled and extended his right hand to him, "So it's family, Mr. Xu, a pleasure to meet you."

Xu Ke's right hand was in his trouser pocket, and he didn't shake hands with him, only nodding slightly and saying, "A pleasure to meet you." Then he turned to Li Laiyun, "Manager Li, it would be nice to have dinner with you."

Chen Zichen was embarrassed, then smiled slightly to cover it up.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone headed upstairs to the private room.

Xu Ke walked in front, taking off the ring on his hand and putting it in his pocket.

Jiang Yunnuo felt that the spiral staircase was long and blocked, and her heels were too high, making it quite difficult to climb. She was already feeling weak and listless, as if she had suffered a serious injury, and now she could only hold onto the handrail and climb step by step, gradually falling behind the others. Ahead, the man's figure was tall and upright. In his every move, the fresh and awkwardness of his youth had faded, replaced by maturity, composure, and a certain obscure and unclear temperament lurking behind all appearances. For a moment, she was at a loss. He was already a stranger to her. Seven years of life together, their separate paths, created an irreparable rift, a startling separation. Yet, her gaze always involuntarily followed him, especially when he couldn't see her.

During the meal, Chen Zichen sat beside her, while he sat opposite her, chatting and laughing freely. When

the conversation turned to their upcoming wedding, Chen Zichen politely said, "We originally planned to visit your father-in-law first, but unfortunately, train and plane tickets are very hard to get these days."

Xu Ke took a sip of wine and smiled, saying, "He'll be very happy that you can go back." His sincerity was impeccable.

Jiang Yunnuo lowered her head, fiddling with the vegetables in her bowl with her chopsticks, remaining silent.

Li Laiyun laughed heartily, "President Chen, you definitely need to visit your father-in-law's family, and you can also take a look at the factory while you're there."

Chen Zichen had just learned that his future father-in-law's family was well-off, and he already had the idea of winning them over. So he waved his hand and said, "This time when we come back, we'll definitely pay our respects to him for the New Year. No need to visit the factory; we trust our own family." He then glanced at Jiang Yunnuo.

Jiang Yunuo's mind was in complete turmoil, so she could only pretend to be oblivious, ignoring everything and focusing on her food.

Chen Zichen finally spoke up, "Nuonuo, how about we go back to your place first?"

As he spoke, Xu Ke picked up her wine glass, took another sip, and when she put it down, the small glass of 52-proof Wuliangye was empty.

Liu Xin watched from the side, secretly amazed, thinking that her boss was having a drinking spree today. In the past, Xu Ke would avoid drinking if possible; she was used to socializing and was already tired of fine wine and food. Today, no one was pressuring her to drink. Old Li had brought his wife along, and with someone keeping an eye on him, he didn't dare to be unruly. Chen Haigui and his wife didn't seem like heavy drinkers either, but the old man himself was pouring himself drinks and drinking quite heartily.

Liu Xin was worried that no one would drive later, so he didn't touch any alcohol, only drinking some soft drinks with the women.

Jiang Yunuo was always a woman of few words, occasionally exchanging a few words with Li Laiyun's wife, otherwise silently eating her food, or listening intently when the other person spoke. It wasn't so much that she was absent-minded, but rather that she was highly tense.

At this moment, Chen Zichen's extremely simple question left her speechless. As she hesitated about how to refuse, she felt that the other five people at the table were looking at her, and he seemed to be looking at her too. So she smiled apologetically and said, "My vacation isn't long. How about I go back to your home this year, and then come to ours next year?"

Li Laiyun laughed, "Mr. Chen is so lucky. Miss Jiang is so considerate. Unlike my wife, who argues with me every New Year's Eve, saying she wants to go back to her parents' home for the holiday." Before he could finish speaking, his wife lightly punched him, and everyone chuckled.

Chen Zichen, of course, didn't understand the complexities of Jiang Yunuo's thoughts, and only silently complained that she was tactless. Besides, as the saying goes, a close neighbor is better than a distant relative. Although this supplier is supposed to be her future brother-in-law, they're not close. In just half a meal, she hadn't even gotten a good feel for Xu Ke's character. What if the factory's information wasn't accurate? How would she explain it to her business partner? Furthermore, going back to see her grandfather and improving relationships would be beneficial. Even if the contract wasn't signed smoothly this time, if the Xu family's business grew further, she might be able to get a share.

Thinking this, she smiled at Jiang Yunuo and said, "How can that be? You finally managed to find time to go back to China. Let's spend the New Year at your home this year… Don't argue with me, it's settled."

Li Laiyun's wife said to her husband, "Look at them, so respectful and courteous. Unlike you."

Li Laiyun replied, "We're an old married couple, how can we compare to newlyweds on their honeymoon?"

They all just laughed it off.

Chen Zichen said, "These tickets are really hard to buy lately..."

Xu Ke turned to Liu Xin and said, "Tomorrow, take my and Secretary Zhang's train tickets to them. You can go back with them and take them to the factory for a look around."

Liu Xin nodded in agreement.

Chen Zichen hurriedly said, "How could I possibly accept that..."

Xu Ke smoked a cigarette, casually flicking off the ash, and said, "It's alright. I don't know when I'll finish my business here. You guys go back first. I can't get plane tickets for a while, only train compartments. It'll take a long time, but it won't be too tiring... You haven't been back for a long time either. Guan Ying just came back from America, and everyone said we should get together for the New Year. I didn't expect you to come back too." The last sentence was addressed to Jiang Yunnuo, without naming her or using any title.

Jiang Yunnuo's heart pounded a few times. She had no choice but to look up at him, but there was not a ripple in his eyes.

So she said, "Okay."

He stopped looking at her and looked away.

After a while, Li Laiyun's wife chatted with Jiang Yunnuo. "How many years has it been since you came back?" She found the siblings a bit strange, seeming more distant than ordinary friends, so she added, "You two haven't seen each other for a long time, have you?"

Jiang Yunnuo sighed inwardly and nodded.

The other woman persisted, "How long has it been?"

She glanced at him; he didn't speak, eating, drinking, and smoking, oblivious to everything.

At times like this, he always seemed detached.

A sudden thought struck her, so she answered, "Fourteen years." Only after the words left her mouth did she realize how absurd the answer was.

Sure enough, the woman was extremely surprised. "Separated when you were so young? More than ten years without seeing each other, and you still recognize me?"

She smiled, trying to brush it off, but the woman kept saying, "More than ten years? Children must change a lot..."

She thought to herself, she had really shot herself in the foot. She stole a glance at him, unexpectedly catching a faint smile on his lips, a smile full of mockery, whether he was laughing at her or at himself, she couldn't tell.

That smile seemed to bring back the arrogant yet unpretentious youth.

She lowered her head, unable to look any longer.

That night, Liu Xin felt her boss was a bit drunk.

Leaving the restaurant, Xu Ke tossed him the car keys, indicating he should drive, while she sat in the back. Xu Ke usually didn't show his drinking face; even when drunk, others might not tell. Liu Xin had worked for him for several years and had observed the following pattern: when Mr. Xu didn't want to talk, he was either engrossed in work or drunk.

Driving, Liu Xin glanced at Xu Ke in the rearview mirror; his eyes were closed. Liu Xin wasn't sure if he was asleep when suddenly, a murmur escaped his lips, as if he were saying, "Nono..."

The sound was so faint and low that Liu Xin even doubted she had heard correctly.

*** *** ***

Outside, snow was falling heavily.

Through the condensed glass windows, the figures of hurried pedestrians could be vaguely seen.

The wind chimes at the bar entrance tinkled a few times, and a young man pushed open the door and entered. The man was tall, with thick eyebrows and sharp eyes, and a cold expression. He looked around, his gaze settling on a certain spot, a faint smile appearing on his face. He raised his hand to greet the two people sitting in the corner, then walked over.

"So, you two haven't broken up yet?" Lu Chengyu said, sitting down opposite them.

Lei Yuan laughed and scolded, "Is that even human language?" He tossed a large red invitation card onto the table.

Lu Chengyu glanced at the name on it, raising an eyebrow in slight surprise, "You've finally made it," he opened a can of beer, clinking glasses slightly with the woman sitting next to Lei Yuan, "Guan Ying, it's not too late to regret it now."

Guan Ying smiled and took a sip of her drink. She had only returned to China two weeks prior. Over the past few years, she and Lei Yuan had broken up and gotten back together countless times, their on-again, off-again relationship a constant source of turmoil. Her sudden decision to get married was bound to surprise others.

Lei Yuan glared at Lu Chengyu, extremely annoyed, and took Guan Ying's wine glass. "Drink less, it's bad for the baby."

Lu Chengyu suddenly realized, "Pregnant?"

Guan Ying glared at Lei Yuan and said to Lu Chengyu, "He's dreaming."

Lei Yuan argued, "For the health of the next generation, we need to quit drinking and smoking beforehand, right?"

Guan Ying didn't want to listen to his nonsense and poked his lips. "You can say whatever you want now, but when Xiao Jiang comes over later, don't let yourself get carried away and bring up the most sensitive topics."

Lei Yuan grinned and leaned closer, "I'll say whatever you tell me to say, and I absolutely won't say anything I shouldn't."

Lu Chengyu couldn't stand the look on his face... Like an idiot, he said to Guan Ying, "This child is hard to take care of, you're going to have a tough time from now on."

Guan Ying pushed Lei Yuan away, "If I wasn't mentally prepared, would I dare to jump into a fire pit?"

Lei Yuan waved his hands at Lu Chengyu repeatedly, "Alright, you've got the invitation, you can get lost now, don't forget to send me a big gift."

Lu Chengyu said, "What's the rush? I'll leave when Jiang Yunnuo arrives."

Lei Yuan laughed, "What, still thinking about that sister? You already have a child, don't think about those fancy things."

Lu Chengyu looked at him for a while and couldn't help but laugh, "Are you brain-dead?" The wind chimes rang haphazardly for a while, and several people came in from outside. Lu Chengyu glanced at the group a few times, then turned to Lei Yuan and said, "Don't you fucking talk nonsense."

Lei Yuan looked at the group, thoughtfully stroking his chin, "If you're thicker-skinned, I'll say less."

Guan Ying was puzzled, "What?"

Lei Yuan smiled and said, "Lu Chengyu's wife is here."

Guan Ying found the address extremely awkward and didn't have time to think about it further. A hot woman in seven-inch stilettos stomped up to the table. The woman flicked Lu Chengyu's forehead and whispered, "You're still playing around here? No one's watching the child at home."

Lu Chengyu was furious but couldn't show it, so he pulled her aside, "Our friend is here, give him some face."

The woman then noticed Guan Ying and Lei Yuan sitting nearby, watching the scene with great interest. She smiled at them and whispered in Lu Chengyu's ear, "Be careful next time, be careful next time. Today is Tuesday. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are mine, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are yours, did you forget? Aunt Lu called..." "You went to play mahjong, your dad's been working himself to the bone at home."

Lu Chengyu glared at her. "Then why did you come out?"

The woman chewed her gum nonchalantly. "Why should I? It's not my shift today, and he's not just my son. Is his father just a freeloader? Is he crippled? Paralyzed? Or dead?"

Lu Chengyu looked at her, sighed, and nodded. "Fine, don't say anything more, I'll go back now."

The woman patted his shoulder with satisfaction, humming a little tune as she went to sit down with her friend.

Lei Yuan said, "Look, look, this is the consequence of losing control and causing someone's death."

Lu Chengyu ignored him and said to Guan Ying before leaving, "Just let me know if you need any help."

After a while, Lei Yuan hugged Guan Ying and said, "I didn't expect that among the three of us, this guy would be the first to have a child. Let's hurry up and have one too, we can't fall too far behind."

Guan Ying rolled her eyes at him, "Do you have to compare yourself to others?"

"How about we have a daughter, and she'll seduce his son, and then dump him after she gets him?"

"What if we have a son?"

"That would be even better... we'll seduce his son's wife, make his son a cuckold, and have our child."

"Shameless, why are you picking on Lu Chengyu?"

"It's because that guy had a son before me."

"..."

*** *** ***

The sky was overcast, and the heavy snow seemed to have tired of falling. During the intermission, only a few light snowflakes fluttered down to fill the scene and prevent the atmosphere from getting awkward.

Looking up at the sky, Jiang Yunuo's heart, like the sky itself, felt heavy and gloomy, yet also surging with passion, desperately seeking an outlet. Seven years of dormancy had led her to believe she could let go easily, that she could face him calmly, that she could greet him with a nonchalant "Hi, Coco, long time no see!"—but clearly, seven years was far from enough…

The moment she saw him, her heart, dormant for seven years, clenched violently. Indeed… only him… only him… could cause her such an unparalleled shock. At that moment, she only wanted to pack her bags as quickly as possible and flee back to France, waiting for her emotions to subside.

Her courage seemed unchanged from seven years ago. With a bitter smile, she wandered aimlessly along the street, secretly hoping the snow would fall heavier, ideally obliterating all her memories and feelings, so—she wouldn't be so tired.

The square in the center of the street was deserted, almost no one lingered, everyone hurried by. She felt lost, unsure of where to go. A soft, clear sobbing sound drifted from the square, cold and mournful, making her feel a pang of sympathy.

Looking towards the source of the sound, she saw a young woman, perhaps in her early twenties, knees bent, arms wrapped around her knees, weeping oblivious to her surroundings. Snowflakes fell on her hair and shoulders, piling up in a thin layer, adding to her pitiful appearance. She wondered what had made her so heartbroken…

Every day, there are people like her, struggling and rising and falling because of the pain that befalls them. She was just one of the masses, small and insignificant, trying to struggle but to no avail, only able to blame the injustice of fate.

The girl didn't look up, so she didn't see a man in black standing quietly ten meters away, watching over her without offering comfort. He seemed oblivious to the swirling snowflakes that fell on his body and neck, chilling him to the bone, his gaze fixed intently on her as if it were the most meaningful thing in the world.

The girl, perhaps exhausted from crying, looked up, revealing a face streaked with tears, only to unexpectedly meet his focused eyes. Caught off guard, she froze, the tears she had managed to hold back bursting forth again. She didn't wipe them away, letting them flow freely, her eyes fixed on him, as if entranced…

Jiang Yunuo sighed softly, turned, and left, leaving them a private space. Everyone has their own story; outsiders cannot participate or interfere.

"Why get engaged?" the girl asked softly.

A flicker of pain crossed the silent man's eyes. "Xiaoyu, you are my—sister—" The last two words were uttered with immense difficulty, even tinged with despair.

Jiang Yunuo's steps faltered, her face suddenly turning deathly pale. That kind of despair might be unfathomable to others, but for someone who had weathered many storms over the years, it was all too familiar.

"Not blood-related? I know you were adopted because your parents had been married for five years without children. Using that as an excuse, you're pathetic." The girl was extremely agitated. "Don't think I don't know anything!"

"Xiaoyu, I am your—brother—" The man's deep, hoarse voice reached Jiang Yunuo's ears, causing her heart to ache. Her mind was filled with images of Coco—Coco's smile, Coco's tears, Coco's pleas, Coco's despair—her heart felt like it was being squeezed, the pain suffocating.

The girl froze, staring blankly at the man, as if she didn't recognize him.

“I’m Dad’s child—born outside the marriage. Back then, because the elders strongly opposed it, Dad married Mom. He didn’t even know the woman who gave birth to me already had his child—that’s me.” The man’s eyes were cold, his face expressionless, even carrying a hint of mockery.

The girl threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. “Fan Yi, this joke isn’t funny at all.” Her voice trembled, like a small flower in the snow, fragile and easily broken.

“Xiao Yu, you know I—wouldn’t lie to you, I never lie to you.” The man’s voice was filled with pity, yet unusually cold. He let her hug him tightly, but hesitated to reciprocate. In his eyes, there was a deep sorrow unseen by others.

“Lies, lies, lies, lies… You never lie to me, why are you lying to me now? You can not love me, you can abandon me, but you can’t lie to me. You can fall in love with someone else, you can get engaged to that woman, but don’t try to fob me off with this clumsy lie… I can’t bear it…” The girl sobbed, covering her ears with her hands, refusing to listen.

The man gently pulled her hand down. "Xiaoyu—can you run away forever? We're—brother and sister—"

"So what—" Xiaoyu raised her tearful eyes and screamed at him in despair.

The man stood there, stunned. What did she mean by "So what—"?

Jiang Yunnuo shuddered, turning around abruptly, his face still pale, devoid of color.

The girl's expression was filled with a flame that could burn everything, her eyes fixed on the man, her right hand clenched into a fist, striking her left chest. "Here—a man named Fan Yi lives, already rooted in my heart, connected to my bloodline. With him, my life is complete. I cry for him, I laugh for him, I am happy because he is happy, I am sad because he is sad. Without him, my life becomes nothingness, my heart is like ruins, I live a life like a walking corpse. Is this—the happiness you want to give me? Do you want me to uproot him completely?"

She pressed forward step by step, while he involuntarily retreated step by step, shaken by her determination and her unwavering resolve.

"Do you want me to uproot him completely?" she whispered, pressing him. "If you uproot my bloodline, I'll die..."

"Don't talk nonsense!" The man stopped retreating, pulling her tightly into his arms, as if he wanted to meld her into his very being. His trembling body carried the fear of losing her, and the mask of his expressionless face was completely burned away by the flames.

Jiang Yunnuo froze, her expression blank, her hands clenching tighter and tighter. The phrase "If you uproot my bloodline, I'll die..." replayed in her mind again and again, transforming into thorns, piercing her heart, becoming a knife, slowly torturing her pulse...

"Do you love me?" the girl asked softly.

The man fell silent again. How could he let love run rampant? This wasn't just a matter between two people; it involved too many issues: moral condemnation, her parents' wrath, the astonishment of relatives and friends, the lack of understanding from close friends. Living in this society meant facing far too many things, completely beyond her capacity to bear. How could he bear to see her like a monster in the eyes of the public? He had shielded her from so much potential harm; her safety and well-being were his greatest happiness. What more could he ask for?

She was still young; this pain would heal with time and eventually disappear. She was young, and hadn't even experienced hardship yet. This disillusionment would perhaps help her grow. This was the best ending for him. From then on, though they were close, they were worlds apart.

"So it was you who stopped loving me." The flame that had once made her radiant gradually died down, and her bright eyes slowly dimmed. "All my support was your love for me, all my reliance was your love for me, and now… even this one…" She couldn't continue, sobbing uncontrollably.

The only thing the man could do for her was offer her a broad, warm embrace, a silent comfort that only amplified the heartache. He couldn't refute, couldn't deny, otherwise, all his efforts would be in vain. His slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed a hint of his emotions, at least proving that he wasn't as indifferent as he appeared.

"I know you care more about your parents' opinions, your friends' opinions, even the gaze of any stranger on the street than I do… because you'd rather hurt me, ignore me, distance yourself from me than say you love me again. They've already filled your heart completely, there's no room for me…" The girl's soul seemed to have left her body; she tried to push him away, but he held her tightly.

"Xiaoyu… Xiaoyu…" the man called her urgently, but she seemed deaf… murmuring to herself, "Maybe it really will only be after I die…" The

man kissed her passionately, not wanting to hear another word from her, sealing her lips with his kiss.

No one, no one was more important than her; no one had ever stirred his emotions so deeply, no one had ever made him so afraid of losing her, so terrified that she would wither in his hands like a delicate flower.

“Xiaoyu…Xiaoyu…Don’t scare me…Xiaoyu…” The man was at a loss, only able to hold her tightly, calling her name again and again, “I promise you, I will never lie again and say I don’t love you. You can do whatever you want, it doesn’t matter that we are related by blood, we can go to a country where no one knows us…I just beg you not to scare me anymore…I can’t lose you…”

Jiang Yunnuo was stunned, tears streaming down her face. Could this…be okay? Could she be so selfish? Could she be okay with this?

The girl’s eyes met Jiang Yunnuo’s. Her previously unfocused eyes suddenly blinked at her, revealing a mischievous smile, a smile that hid a hint of cunning, a hint of triumphant smugness, and even glistening tears on her face.

Jiang Yunnuo could hardly believe her eyes, subconsciously rubbing them with her hand.

When the man kissed her cheek, the smile quickly disappeared, replaced by the original sadness, her eyes still unfocused. She simply hugged the man tightly, resting her head on his shoulder, a secret smile of satisfaction blooming on her face.

"I will never let go again in this lifetime. Even if it means going against the whole world, I will never let go"—a

smile slowly spread across Jiang Yunuo's tear-streaked face.

So this is what happiness can be like.

Chapter 57 The Value of Love

The end of the year is hard to get through; this phrase perfectly describes Jiang Yunuo's current situation.

After getting off the train, Liu Xin rented a room for them in a hotel and arranged to visit the factory together in a couple of days.

After putting down their luggage, Chen Zichen made a phone call to his business partner in France. Jiang Yunuo, having nothing to do, stood by the window watching the snow.

The snow fell like flour.

Chen Zichen put down his phone, walked over, and wrapped his arms around her from behind. Often, he couldn't see through her completely.

Her body seemed to stiffen slightly for a moment, then she struggled a little. Fortunately, he didn't use much force, letting her walk to a chair and sit down.

Chen Zichen said, "Your brother seems a bit difficult to get along with, and you two don't seem to have much in common."

She paused for a moment, "Oh, maybe it's because we're not familiar with each other."

Chen Zichen was clearly dissatisfied with this answer, "Nuonuo, we're all family. Be warm when you're with each other. You're fine with everyone else, so why are you so cold to him?"

"Really? It's alright." She got up to pack her luggage, casually asking, "Did the business deal not go well?"

She rarely inquired about these things. Chen Zichen smiled and gave a vague answer, "Let's go to the factory first."

They were staying in a suite. That night, she watched TV until dawn, then, using the excuse of not being able to sleep, took a book and spent the night on the sofa outside the bedroom. Fortunately, Chen Zichen had never forced her in this regard.

She lay awake until dawn, thinking, Jiang Yunuo, have you made a fool of yourself again? Or have you never understood anything?

Although the earth is round and things go in circles, this is just too much of a coincidence.

As dawn broke, Chen Zichen urged her to go see Xu Ruihuai together. She couldn't refuse, simply saying, "Whatever you say." Her marriage would eventually be announced to the world, a result that would be welcomed by ordinary people, and from then on, she could abandon all unrealistic fantasies.

They arrived at Xu Ruihuai's riverside residence, but no one was home, and Chen Zichen returned disappointed.

Soon after, Jiang Yunuo contacted Guan Ying and learned that her wedding was approaching, so they arranged to meet at a bar. She hesitated for a moment and didn't take Chen Zichen with her. Chen Zichen also had classmates and friends in the city, so the two temporarily went their separate ways.

Upon arriving at the agreed-upon location and meeting her, Lei Yuan chuckled and asked, "Where's the other one? Why are you hiding her away? What are you afraid of?"

Guan Ying kicked him under the table several times, quickly changing the subject, "Xiao Jiang, you're back just in time. I haven't found a bridesmaid yet. The girls I know are either married or have kids."

Lei Yuan chimed in, "Even if they're not married, it won't work. Those girls are too ugly. Our Yun Nuo is much better; she's becoming more and more womanly. I just wonder which toad she's snagged."

Jiang Yun Nuo laughed and said, "Yeah, I wonder which silly boy has gotten such a beauty like Guan Ying."

"She's going to have a silly little boy with that silly boy." Lei Yuan said nonchalantly. Guan

Ying pinched his arm, "Get lost! My son isn't a silly boy."

The three of them chatted and laughed for a while longer, discussing the wedding, their respective jobs, and mutual friends, but notably, they didn't mention Xu Ke.

When Lei Yuan handed the wedding invitation to Jiang Yunuo, he said, "We don't know your partner's name, and we didn't write it down. It's up to you whether you bring her or not. By the way, give two gifts for every two people who come. I'm counting on these gifts to pay the down payment on a house."

Guan Ying teased him, "You're so shameless! Is this how you ask for money?"

Lei Yuan chuckled, "That guy's a tycoon now. Maybe we should rip him off? He used to borrow money from me a lot back in school..."

Jiang Yunuo lowered her head and took a sip of her drink.

Guan Ying quietly kicked Lei Yuan. Lei Yuan smiled slightly, then said seriously, "Yingying, do you think fifty tables are too few? A colleague of mine just got married, and he had a three-day banquet. He counted so many gifts his hands cramped up..."

They chatted idly for a while longer until it got late. The three of them left the bar and went home.

Lei Yuan, driving, shook his head slightly. "Something's not right here."

Guan Ying asked, "What's wrong?"

"So many years have passed, those who should be getting married should be getting married, why don't they dare to even mention it?"

Guan Ying came to her senses. "Who would dare to talk about something like this? It's not like you're just ordinary lovers who can still be friends after breaking up."

Lei Yuan shook his head repeatedly, and after a while, he spoke, "I feel like history always repeats itself in a striking way."

Guan Ying thought for a moment and said, "I don't think it's possible. Logically speaking, the older you get, the more timid you become, and you'll at least hold back. It's unrealistic to expect things to be the same as before. It's definitely impossible."

Lei Yuan laughed, "How about we make a bet? If I win, you have to give me two children. Anyway, we're both only children, so we can have one more..."

Guan Ying smiled but didn't reply. In her heart, she wasn't entirely sure about those things either. Although she hadn't met Jiang Yunnuo in person during their years of wandering, they often kept in touch online. During the decision-making process between their studies and careers, they discussed and encouraged each other, but Jiang Yunuo never mentioned her new boyfriend, or rather, she remained silent about her love life.

Meanwhile, Guan Ying was exhausted from her long-standing on-again, off-again relationship with Lei Yuan. She viewed romantic relationships as the source of all her troubles and was unwilling to talk about them, until this time when she impulsively quit her job in North America and returned to China to get married. Life decisions sometimes don't come from long-term consideration, but from immediate needs. Aside from romantic feelings, she now longed for a stable family life, and Lei Yuan, whom she knew well and who had good qualities, was a good candidate. As she grew older, her thoughts naturally became more complex, and the simple and persistent love of her youth was merely one of the criteria for selection. Therefore, Guan Ying found it hard to believe that Jiang Yunuo hadn't considered similar things, and in her eyes, Jiang Yunuo was a more composed and decisive woman.

At least, neither of them were women willing to easily give up everything for love, unless the relationship had practical value.

That noon, Chen Zichen, along with Liu Xin and Jiang Yunuo, drove to the factory on the outskirts of the city. The sun, unusually, broke through the clouds, weakly casting its rays upon the snow-covered ground, its faint rays resembling an unadorned, artificial ornament.

Learning from Liu Xin that Xu Ke hadn't yet returned to the city, Jiang Yunuo finally felt relieved. She didn't want to see him, yet she was intensely curious about everything related to him. After those tumultuous years, when he reappeared before her, this carefully concealed curiosity was now uncontrollable. During the hour-long drive, her heart was filled with both trepidation and excitement, as if this way she could approach him without being discovered. Although this feeling made her somewhat awkward.

The snow on the suburban roads was thicker, the area open, and the north wind whistled faintly against their faces, the fragile sunlight barely visible. The three entered the factory gate, passed flowerbeds, and in the distance stood office buildings and rows of factory buildings.

As they approached the office building, they saw a group of people gathered around the factory at the bend in the road. Some were carrying hoes, others shovels, all arguing and making a racket. Just as they were wondering what was going on, a man strode down from the building. He was walking too fast and slipped on the snow. Liu Xin quickly went to help him. "Hey, Director Shen, slow down, the road is very slippery." He then pointed towards the factory and asked, "What happened?"

Director Shen was only in his early fifties, but his temples were already gray, and his old face was covered with deep and shallow lines, clearly showing that he was used to worrying. At this moment, his brows were furrowed, and his expression was quite angry. "It's all because those bastards dug up the power lines and caused the factory to stop production."

Liu Xin's heart skipped a beat. He thought that the buyer in Beijing was urging him to deliver a batch of goods, which was being rushed. He couldn't let it all be delayed. Seeing that Shen Qinghe wasn't even wearing a coat and was charging forward all by himself with a desperate air, he quickly grabbed him, "Don't get agitated. Let's call some more people, or we can call the police first."

The older Shen Qinghe got, the more stubborn he became. He cursed, "What's the use of calling the police? It's all those local tyrants who instigated this trouble. The cops are all theirs, otherwise they wouldn't dare to cause such a ruckus!" Then he asked, "Why hasn't your boss Xu returned yet?" He looked towards the gate, then suddenly pointed and said, "Xiao Liu, isn't that boss Xu's car? It looks like it..." Sure enough

, in the parking lot not far away, they saw a person step out of a car and walk towards them. A black down jacket, with faded jeans underneath, the cuffs tucked into low-cut leather boots. The boots crunched on the snow, the sound gradually becoming clearer...

Suddenly, Jiang Yunnuo felt the distant snow glare was extremely blinding. The suddenness of this moment was no less than the last time she saw him. She began to feel ashamed of her past侥幸心理 (侥幸心理 refers to a mentality of taking chances or relying on luck), and her face flushed.

He was getting closer and closer, and she could see his eyes clearly, calm and composed as always.

What followed was still nodding, shaking hands, and exchanging pleasantries.

Shen Qinghe explained the situation to Xu Ke, then said angrily, "These bastards are all unreasonable. Before the factory even collapsed, they came to dig up water and cut off the electricity, causing a huge commotion. The higher-ups couldn't do anything about it; they couldn't use force. It's a state-owned enterprise, so they had to let them use the water and electricity. Now that the factory has stopped production and sold what they could, they still come to cause trouble..."

The "bastards" Shen Qinghe was referring to were idle villagers from the surrounding area. Some were people whose parents supported them by farming and who thrived on chaos; others were former factory workers who had been laid off early due to poor factory performance and were unwilling to find other ways to make a living. Every time Shen Qinghe saw these people, he would shake his head repeatedly. "So young, instead of thinking about how to make money, all they know is how to cause trouble, hoping for a windfall!"

Xu Ke looked at the dark mass of people, seemingly unconcerned. "It's almost Chinese New Year, it would be strange if they didn't cause some trouble. It's alright, we'd run into them sooner or later."

Running a business these days isn't easy. Industry and commerce, taxation, banking, credit, judicial institutions, power and water conservancy—everywhere you look, there are powerful figures. Fortunately, they all have their own responsibilities and, to a certain extent, act impartially. As long as you cooperate actively and try to maintain good relationships, conflicts are unlikely. The most troublesome are the local thugs and a couple of greedy local bullies. They frequently instigate villagers to steal and cause damage at the factory; all they want is one thing: "money."

People say, a problem that can be solved with money isn't a problem.

Xu Ke said to Jiang Yunnuo and Chen Zichen, "Unfortunately, the workshop is shut down today. Let Xiao Liu take you to the office for a while. I'll go check on things first." As he spoke, the culprit and the security personnel at the factory were already locked in a fierce argument, and the situation was about to escalate. Xu Ke bent down and picked up a shovel discarded by the roadside, weighed it in his hand, and walked over with Shen Qinghe.

Jiang Yunnuo saw the shovel in his hand, her heart pounding, and she involuntarily uttered, "Xu Ke..."

She couldn't remember the last time she had mentioned that name; her words were slurred and awkward. She stood there, her face flushing again, feeling dazed and unable to control herself, as if in a dream.

Xu Ke paused, turned around, and saw her standing in the snow, her cheeks slightly red, a hint of twilight in her eyes.

He gazed at her, his expression unreadable.

She lowered her eyelids slightly, looking at the snowflakes on his shoes, and said with a smile, "Take it easy." She said nothing more.

He looked away, coughed lightly, and said, "It's alright," he added, "Let's go upstairs, it's cold outside."

Chapter 58

Half a year ago, this chemical company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Xu Ke bought two of its fine chemical workshops, expanding his company's original production scale. After making the decision, Xu Ruihuai patted him on the shoulder and praised, "That's more like my son. I'm not afraid you don't have the ability, I'm just afraid you don't have the courage. If you don't have enough money, sell those empty houses, just keep the one by the river for my retirement. In short, just go for it."

All along, apart from his heavy smoking habit, Xu Ke had no other bad habits, but he never imagined that doing business could be so addictive. He wasn't short of money, but he lacked something to fill the void in his life. He desperately needed another spiritual pillar, or perhaps, a stronger stimulus to numb himself. During that period, he practically sold everything he owned to fund this investment, borrowing from everyone he could. He and Xu Ruihuai had almost no properties left. After much hesitation, he couldn't bear to sell the apartment he'd lived in as a child. Located in the old city, the surrounding area was noisy and dirty; even if he sold it, it wouldn't be worth much.

At the very end, the fundraising was still two million short. Just when he was at his wits' end, Shen Qinghe, the chemical plant's director, stepped forward and used his connections to help him borrow the funds from the city's Light Industry Bureau. Shen Qinghe had worked in the industry for over thirty years, possessing extensive experience and connections. He had been assigned to the company during a time of crisis. The company, an old factory established in the early days of the People's Republic of China, had once enjoyed a prosperous and glorious past. Now, due to unavoidable deep-seated contradictions in its economic management system and operating mechanisms, it had become a hot potato among the city's large and medium-sized enterprises, beyond saving with its original resources. Although the bureau leaders didn't trust Xu Ke, the fledgling owner of a private enterprise, they highly valued Shen Qinghe. Moreover, this hot potato seemed hopeless, so they were happy to oblige.

After receiving the funds, Shen Qinghe said to Xu Ke, "Xu Ke, your brother Shen is always straightforward. I'm not doing this for nothing; could you promise me two things?"

Xu Ke already had a plan in mind, and he agreed without hesitation. Over the past few months, he had come to understand the old factory director's character—a man of action, and remarkably incorruptible.

Shen Qinghe shook his head slightly, "You're young, and you lack experience in handling things. Don't take offense at what I'm saying. Just this one thing, you agreed without even asking, without any precautions. Aren't you afraid I'll ask for an exorbitant price?"

Xu Ke laughed, "It's rare that you think so highly of me, Brother Shen, calling me brother. I'm not entirely useless; at least I can judge people. Although we haven't known each other for long, Director Shen, you've gone to great lengths to help me. It would be unreasonable for me to be suspicious and keep people at arm's length."

Shen Qinghe laughed heartily, "Use..." "If you don't suspect someone, you don't use them; that's straightforward." Then, he added seriously, "In society, aside from the backstabbing and backstabbing, it's mostly about helping each other out when things get tough. It's better to be kind than calculating. Although I, Shen Qinghe, haven't made a name for myself in my life, I have a clear conscience. When I need something done or ask for help, people still give me some face. Making money isn't about scheming."

Xu Ke nodded in agreement, "That's right."

Shen Qinghe continued, "I have two things to discuss. One is that there are several technicians in the factory..." They're educated people, university graduates. When they first joined the factory, things were pretty good. They started families there, each with their own families to support. Now the factory's gone downhill, they haven't been paid for months. They're almost forty, unlike the farmers around here who at least have land to cultivate after being laid off, or the younger ones who can find work elsewhere. They've been stuck in this poor, remote area for most of their lives. I can't bear to see it. Do you think you could…”

Xu Ke said. “That's not difficult. I need people like that where I am too,”

Shen Qinghe quickly replied. “That's too…” "Alright. There's one more thing. I have a list here, all of them are struggling employees in the factory, both parents working, with elderly parents and young children to support, but they're all doing well in the refining workshop. Do you think we could use them for now, observe them for a while, and then replace them if we feel they're not suitable?"

Xu Ke looked at the list, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Sure, it's better to use someone you know than someone you do

n't know. It's just that there are a lot of people here, so I'll probably have to cross a few off." Shen Qinghe smiled and said, "You decide what to do. We can't just support them for nothing. You're not running a charity, and as a public servant, this is all I can do to help. Just do your best."

Perhaps due to their similar philosophies, Xu Ke and Shen Qinghe got along extremely well and formed a close friendship despite their age difference. Shen Qinghe greatly admired this young man, who was not yet thirty, praising him as intelligent, capable, and kind-hearted, possessing the qualities of a Confucian businessman. Therefore, Shen Qinghe was happy to introduce Xu Ke to friends in the railway and water transport industries. Gradually, with the expansion of his network and sales channels, Xu Ke's investment finally began to show promise, and the company's operations were thriving.

However, trouble soon followed.

At this moment, Xu Ke and Shen Qinghe were standing outside the crowd when several security guards were surrounded, pushed, and argued. Villagers shouted, "Call your boss out! Come out now..." Xu Ke threw the shovel he was holding to the ground with a loud thud, and everyone turned to look at him. Some of the workers in the crowd recognized Xu Ke and called out, "Manager Xu!"

When the villagers heard that the boss had arrived, they all gathered around, shouting and yelling, saying things like, "We've lost our jobs, we have no money for the New Year, the factory has to take responsibility." Some of them were former factory employees, while others were thugs who had come to join the fun and cause a ruckus.

Shen Qinghe was annoyed by these words and shouted, "The factory already gave us compensation, plus what Boss Xu gave us, everyone got a good amount. It's all in black and white, you all signed contracts, so why are you causing trouble now? You guys are so young, why don't you go find some connections instead of just loafing around and causing trouble..."

The people didn't want to hear any of this and jeered, "Shen Qinghe, didn't you ruin this factory? You should just step down now."

Shen Qinghe was speechless with anger. He had worked so hard for so many years, only to end up with a bad reputation. How could he not be frustrated? He could only say, "The factory's affairs had nothing to do with Boss Xu before. How can he do business with you guys like this?"

The people said again, "How can it be unrelated? When that guy Xu came, we were all laid off. How can it not be related to him?" As soon as they said this, there was another noisy commotion.

Xu Ke shouted, "With everyone arguing like this, who can hear you? Let any one of you who has the right to speak stand up and explain what the problem is! Making a scene like this won't solve anything." Hearing

him shout, everyone looked at a burly man wearing a cotton-padded coat. The man didn't refuse, slowly walking up to him and rudely looking him up and down. "Oh, Mr. Xu, you're quite young. We brothers are just looking around since it's almost New Year's. Your business is doing well, with your machines running all day and black smoke billowing from your chimney. Congratulations on your fortune!" Xu

nodded, "Thank you. But you guys dug up the factory's power lines while you were out here, that's a considerable loss."

Shen Qinghe recognized the man and said, "You, Niu Er, I knew it was you who started this. Your uncle doesn't even bother to tell you to come out and see what's going on. The people in his village just cause trouble, they don't even learn from the hard work and wealth of other villages. You little brat, you've gone too far."

Niu Er, with a roguish air, said, "Director Shen, I thought you'd forgotten about my uncle, you..." "With this factory collapsing, our village has no water for irrigation, and the land is all abandoned. My second uncle is so worried, he's been nagging at home all day." He then turned to Xu Ke and said, "Boss Xu, with you here, many people in our village have lost their jobs, and there's no land to cultivate. It's almost the New Year, what do you suggest we do?"

Xu Ke smiled, "Easy. Anyway, production has stopped now. I'll sell the factory and go somewhere else. I don't believe I can't do this business elsewhere." He pointed to a group of workers standing behind him, "Some of these people are from your village. Lay them all off, or you can all tie yourselves together and die."

Upon hearing this, the workers protested. They had originally come to watch the commotion, but now they were arguing with Liu Er and his group, saying things like, "So-and-so voluntarily took the money and quit, and now they're causing trouble, being unreasonable," and so on. Niu Er, seeing that the culprits were directed at him, felt embarrassed and, along with several burly men, pretended to rush forward to beat them up.

On the other side, Liu Xin had already called several people to follow Xu Ke and Shen Qinghe. Xu Ke laughed, "I'm outnumbered. If you've got the guts, come and beat me, your employer, to a pulp. Then the rest of the workers will be laid off. Let's see who you can complain to then!" Before he finished speaking, the workers surrounded Niu Er and blocked his way.

Niu Er's side was outnumbered and didn't dare to actually fight

. In desperation, he took out his phone and squatted in the corner, talking to someone on the phone. Shen Qinghe patted Xu Ke on the shoulder and whispered, "See? It must be their village chief, that brat's uncle, stirring things up. They just want to get some benefits."

Xu Ke sighed, "Looks like we have to pay homage to this faction. The factory's situation has just improved a bit; we can't afford their antics. Let's invite those local tyrants out for a chat. A few people's desires are easier to appease than this group's."

Shen Qinghe thought it made sense and decided to do so. Shen Qinghe had dealt with those people before. After inviting them out, Niu Er's uncle only said a few words of appeasement, and the villagers quickly dispersed. These local tyrants didn't look like farmers; they looked more like newly rich businessmen. Everyone knew this, but on the surface, they chatted amiably, as if nothing had happened.

Xu Ke and Shen Qinghe led them to the office building, where they could see two people standing downstairs from afar.

As they approached, Xu Ke asked, "Why don't you go upstairs?"

Chen Zichen smiled and said, "We heard a lot of noise upstairs, so we came down to check on you. Your sister was worried about you."

Xu Ke glanced at Jiang Yunuo and asked casually, "Really?"

Jiang Yunuo seemed momentarily taken aback, then smiled nonchalantly, "You have friends coming over, you go about your business. We'll be going now, we'll come back another day." Xu Ke

didn't answer immediately, reaching for cigarettes in his pocket—he hadn't brought any.

Liu Xin quickly took out some cigarettes and offered them to him, then distributed them to the men present.

Xu Ke slowly took a drag of his cigarette and said to Chen Zichen, "If you're not in a hurry, let's all go to town for a casual meal later, and you can go back to the hotel on the way."

Before Chen Zichen could speak, Niu Er's uncle burst into laughter, "Oh, Mr. Xu, you're too kind! Dog meat is the best food in this weather, it's so nourishing!"

Xu Ke laughed, "Eating dog meat is no fun. Let's find a good restaurant and eat venison and drink deer blood, that's much more nourishing."

"Okay, okay," Niu Er's uncle nodded repeatedly, smacking his lips, "This kind of thing is best for men."

Xu Ke raised the corners of his mouth and added, "Afterwards, let's go to a nightclub and pick a decent one."

Upon hearing the phrase "decent one," Niu Er's uncle grinned from ear to ear, only able to chuckle foolishly.

Chen Zichen naturally hoped to have more contact with Xu Ke, but Jiang Yunnuo was quite depressed during the meal, as Niu Er's uncle's eyes kept lingering on her. She thought she could go home after the dinner, but Chen Zichen dragged her to a nightclub instead.

In the private room, each single man had one or two beautiful women next to him. Only Chen Zichen didn't take any. He smiled and said to Jiang Yunnuo, "I've heard the nightlife in China is rich and vibrant, and it's certainly not just decadent, we're like country bumpkins visiting a grand garden."

Jiang Yunnuo seemed not to hear him, holding her wine glass, her gaze wandering to the other end of the sofa. Chen Zichen followed her gaze and then laughed, "Looks like you're a regular here."

She then snapped out of her reverie, feeling a tightness in her chest. She raised her wrist to check her watch, "It's past nine, let's go, it's stuffy here."

Chen Zichen looked down on these local tyrants; the situation was rather chaotic. After a while, finding it uninteresting, he and Jiang Yunnuo got up to leave. Xu Ke was busy dealing with Niu Er's uncle, nodding to Chen Zichen and his companion while taking a sip of wine from the glass handed to him by the beautiful woman next to him, too preoccupied with his own affairs.

Leaving the nightclub, Jiang Yunuo took a deep breath of the cold night air, the chill piercing her heart. Chen Zichen sighed, "Bright lights, fancy cars, beautiful women—no wonder my friends were rushing to divorce as soon as they got back to the country. Once people get into this cesspool, even the most self-disciplined person can succumb."

Jiang Yunuo smiled in agreement, unwilling to say more, hailed a taxi, and went back to the hotel. Her departure was so hurried and rushed, as if she wanted to leave that person far behind, to forget his every smile and gesture, to forget the moment he placed his hand on another woman's waist. She had already chosen someone else; how could she be so demanding of him?

Xu Ke drank, feeling utterly exhausted, a sudden emptiness filling his heart, devoid of any hope. All along, he had been busy with the factory, busy with social engagements, busy dealing with these utterly boring bastards, exhausting his energy and time, exhausting the blank images in his mind, only to find now that it was all meaningless. Like a farmer who toils all year only to find his land barren,

he sighed inwardly and instructed Liu Xin, "Stay here and keep them company, but be careful not to go too far." Niu Er's uncle, with a thick envelope tucked inside and a beautiful woman in his arms, was busy groping her, oblivious to everyone else. Seeing

his boss's displeasure, Liu Xin quickly agreed, his eyes wide with concern.

Xu Ke grabbed his coat, went downstairs to get his car, and after a moment's thought, went to a flower shop on the street to buy flowers.

"What kind of flowers do you want? How many?" the florist asked.

"Anything is fine," he said, lighting a cigarette; the flowers all looked similar.

The florist chuckled, "Oh, this isn't something you can just do casually; red roses and yellow roses are very different."

Xu Ke didn't seem to care, casually pointing to a bunch, "Just these, wrap them up for me."

Half an hour later, he returned with the flowers and knocked on the door of an apartment building.

A woman opened the door.

He shoved the bouquet into her hands and walked straight into the house, casually leaning back on the sofa.

The woman said, "Hey, I'm off work."

Chapter 59 A Farmer's Snake

Remembering that day, when Xu Ke walked into her office, Zhou Xiaoquan was somewhat stunned. She vaguely remembered seeing this person somewhere before.

Xu Ke took out a cigarette and asked her, "Is this okay?"

Zhou Xiaoquan glanced at the crystal ashtray on the table, overflowing with cigarette holders, and nodded. She was also a bit of a smoker; during her school days, besides those obscure psychology textbooks, cigarettes were her only companion.

Xu Ke lit a cigarette, her head slightly lowered, eyes half-closed, short strands of hair falling from her forehead, casting a soft shadow on her sharply defined face and striking features.

Zhou Xiaoquan suddenly remembered a summer night once, a handsome boy intently playing Counter-Strike in a noisy internet cafe, cigarette dangling from his lips. That time, they seemed to have lost badly. So she asked, "Do you play CS?"

"What?" Xu Ke paused slightly, then replied, "I played it when I was in school." His expression was slightly confused; he clearly didn't remember.

Zhou Xiaoquan laughed, "What I mean is, games like that are good ways to relieve stress. People always need an outlet."

So, he came.

His stress stemmed from himself. He loved someone, but that person left. He tried to forget her, but couldn't.

He was exhausted from work, yet struggled to sleep, or suffered from insomnia.

He smiled and said, "I never thought I'd become so dependent on someone."

She asked him, "Are you scared?"

"Yes," he answered.

Perhaps this was a good start; because of fear, he sought help.

He remained quiet, often only answering when she asked a question, sensitively avoiding topics he didn't want to discuss. Her patient guidance wasn't very effective; he continued to subtly play hide-and-seek with her. As a therapist, she seemed to be constantly nagging, and had felt deeply frustrated by it.

Such visitors were rare. Zhou Xiaoquan didn't even understand why he was at the clinic. Aside from a deeply painful yet easily lost love, he seemed to have no other burdens. Perhaps he just wanted to talk to a stranger.

He recounted his childhood, his parents and family, and the woman who had left, but remained silent about his only sister.

Once, Zhou Xiaoquan asked him, "What kind of person is your sister?"

He was silent for a moment, then said, "A very contradictory person, kind, but cold-hearted."

Zhou Xiaoquan pondered these words for a long time.

Through several encounters, Zhou Xiaoquan was certain that Xu Ke's sister had an unusual influence on his life, perhaps even more so than his parents. For some reason, in her mind, the image of this sister gradually merged with that of the departed woman.

When she pressed further, Xu Ke would usually tactfully change the subject.

Zhou Xiaoquan said, "If the client doesn't cooperate, the treatment won't be very effective."

Xu Ke smiled and said, "Thank you, my sleep has improved a lot recently."

Zhou Xiaoquan just smiled and didn't continue. When faced with someone who is too closed off and unwilling to open up, the only way is to try to gain their trust first.

Xu Ke didn't come to the counseling center often, only occasionally visiting her office every two months or so. His attitude towards treatment was also extremely casual, as if it were a pastime outside of work. Over time, the doctor-patient relationship between the two was no longer what it used to be, and they had more and more in common.

Once, Zhou Xiaoquan jokingly said to him, "I have a few friends who are single, how about I introduce you to some? You can try to shift your focus and stop thinking about the past."

Xu Ke raised the corners of his lips and suddenly asked, "Aren't you single?"

At that moment, Zhou Xiaoquan's heart pounded more fiercely than usual, and she was speechless for a moment. However, there seemed to be a hint of sarcasm in his voice. She didn't dare to think too much about it and asked him with a nonchalant expression, "Do you often say things like that to women?"

Xu Ke said, "Not often, I don't have much contact with women outside of work."

"A small circle makes it easy to overthink," Zhou Xiaoquan concluded.

Xu Ke laughed, "If you keep talking like this, I'll think I've stumbled into a matchmaking agency."

Zhou Xiaoquan said, "At your age, a romantic relationship is an essential part of life, and a suitable partner can greatly help you adjust your mindset. There are plenty of fish in the sea, Xu Ke, aren't you throwing the baby out with the bathwater?"

He remained noncommittal, "You're right, maybe I'll meet someone I like in the future. Right now... never mind, it's not the right time."

"You can't plan for relationships," Zhou Xiaoquan laughed. "So, when is the right time?"

He thought for a moment and replied, "When I can forget about him."

Zhou Xiaoquan leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, and looked him over. In her heart, she had completely extinguished certain vague thoughts.

After Xu Ke left the office, several young women from the counseling center ran up to her, their faces beaming with excitement, to ask for news. "Sister Quan, the handsome guy came again today!"

"Hmm," Zhou Xiaoquan replied, quickly clearing the documents from her desk.

"I wonder what his background is, what his family background is? I wonder if he's married? I think I saw him wearing a ring..." the girls chattered.

Zhou Xiaoquan, feeling dizzy from the noise, shook her head repeatedly. "You girls, don't even think about it. This guy isn't good."

The girls hurriedly asked, "What? What? Mental problems... Is it serious? What illness does he have? Depression? Or Oedipus complex?"

Zhou Xiaoquan said very seriously, "Although I can't talk about the patient's privacy, to prevent you from continuing your infatuation, I'll sacrifice myself and reveal a little something." As she spoke, she beckoned with her finger, and the girls huddled together. "Severe obsessive-compulsive disorder."

"Ah, the kind where you keep washing your hands?"

"It's even more serious than that," so serious that he compels himself to always love someone and can't forget them. Zhou Xiaoquan feigned difficulty, "Sisters, I can't say any more."

The girls all sighed. One of them said, "It seems God is fair in creating people. This handsome guy is outstanding in every way—looks and physique. Just look at the car he drives; you can tell he's rich. So we had to give him some flaws. What a pity."

Another said, "If someone didn't mind and offered him some warmth and care, maybe it would have worked out."

Zhou Xiaoquan glared at her, "What, trying to be a saint?" She raised her hand and gestured at her neck, "Be careful you don't die before you even get close."

"It's not that serious, is it?"

Zhou Xiaoquan scoffed, "What do you know? It's a farmer's snake." A devoted man is often like a frozen snake; once warmed, he reverts to his old ways, unable to forget his past love. Their unintentional mistakes can be fatal to the farmer.

Fortunately, Xu Ke is a very sensible person. The little bit of ambiguity and expectation in Zhou Xiaoquan's heart was probably about to dry up in the man's single-minded waiting.

It was a little past nine o'clock at night.

Xu Ke leaned back on the sofa, and Zhou Xiaoquan was spreading out the bouquet of flowers in her hand, carefully inserting them into an empty glass bottle. Her fondness for flowers seemed somewhat at odds with her carefree personality. Xu Ke was very thoughtful; whenever he needed her help, he would always bring her a bouquet of flowers.

She liked flowers, but she didn't like him doing this.

Sure enough, he said, "Just got back from Beijing, came specifically to thank you."

Zhou Xiaoquan understood, and casually said, "What's there to thank me for? It's just helping you find someone, nothing more." She always had a wide circle of friends; in college, some of her close classmates went to study in Europe, two of whom stayed in France. Once, while chatting with Xu Ke, the topic of the university her classmates in France attended came up, and Xu Ke momentarily lost in thought. Zhou Xiaoquan pressed her for details and learned that the girl had also studied at the same university, but according to the timeline, she had already graduated. At the time, Zhou Xiaoquan had also said, "How big can the Chinese community in this city be? You probably know everyone. I'll ask someone to help you find out. What's her

name?" "Jiang Yunnuo," he said casually, neither refusing nor showing any eagerness. Unexpectedly, this inquiry not only revealed her whereabouts but also led to the discovery of another man's name: Chen Zichen.

He should have known this would happen, yet he still clung to a sliver of hope. He forgot how he felt at the time; all that remained was a laughable self-mockery. Like everyone else, he preferred to live a life of feigned happiness within the lies he wove.

Not long after, through a friend in Beijing, a small French trading company contacted his company, hoping for a collaboration. He intended to politely decline, but then he heard that man's name again.

The world is so small; despite her desperate attempts to escape, she eventually found herself back in his sights.

"You saw her? Is it really her?" Zhou Xiaoquan said, picking up the purple clay teapot and slowly pouring green tea into a cup, leisurely and relaxed. She was clearly a free-spirited and somewhat rough-around-the-edges person, yet she had developed a fondness for delicate things, like work, like this moment.

Xu Ke didn't speak, only nodded.

This immediately piqued Zhou Xiaoquan's curiosity. She put down the teapot, not paying attention to the weight, and it made a crisp sound between the purple clay teapot and the glass tea table. "So? What did you feel when you met her?"

Xu Ke took a sip of tea, perhaps a little hot, and frowned slightly. "What else could it be? Just like that?"

Zhou Xiaoquan suppressed a laugh and asked again, "More hate? Or more love?"

"Is it that funny?" Xu Ke glanced at her. "This isn't a TV drama, there aren't that many love and hate dramas."

"So you didn't feel anything?"

Xu Ke laughed. "Zhou Xiaoquan, you weren't this gossipy in the office."

"Well, it's after work now, I won't charge you, just tell me."

Xu Ke picked up the teacup and downed the rest of the tea in one gulp. "I've drunk the tea, given the flowers, I should go now."

Zhou Xiaoquan saw him to the door, leaning against the doorframe and watching him.

Xu Ke went out and pressed the elevator button.

"Hey," Zhou Xiaoquan suddenly said to him, "I've changed my mind. If you don't feel anything for her anymore, just tell me." Xu Ke raised an

eyebrow, puzzled.

Zhou Xiaoquan chuckled, "You asked me last time if I was single. Now I'll tell you, I'm still unmarried."

Xu Ke smiled lightly, remaining silent for a moment before saying, "I was just thinking about how to reject a woman without making her feel awkward."

"Go to hell." Zhou Xiaoquan glared at him fiercely and slammed the door shut.

Xu Ke drove slowly. He didn't want to go home, nor did he know where to go. Questions lingered in his mind, refusing to dissipate. He was frustrated, unable to grasp any answers. Some things, despite his efforts, seemed hopeless.

His earlier visit to Zhou Xiaoquan's house, ostensibly to thank her, was just a pretext. Zhou Xiaoquan was a wonderful woman—beautiful, cheerful, thoughtful, and adept at feigning ignorance. Being with her was easy and stress-free. He understood why he went there; it wasn't simply to chat. He was trying to accept another woman, trying to compromise with reality.

But...

how could he love someone else while missing her?

He pondered for a long time, but found no answer.

He simply pulled the car over to the side of the road and stopped.

Leaning back in his seat, he lit a cigarette and suddenly felt that everything was so ridiculous.

So, he actually laughed out loud.

Chapter 60 Very Good and Powerful

Although Jiang Yunnuo had been cooped up in the hotel for several days, her mind was full, so she didn't feel bored. Most of the time, Chen Zichen was hunched over the computer surfing the internet, while she was curled up on the sofa reading, each doing their own thing. When she was hungry, she would pick up the phone to order food; when she was tired, she would close her eyes and lie down for a while. Compared to the busyness of work, she was very leisurely now.

Because she had met Xu Ke at the factory before and was told that Xu Ruihuai had gone on a trip to Malaysia, Chen Zichen no longer nagged her about going to visit his future father-in-law. During the day, Chen Zichen would occasionally go out, sometimes returning very late. Jiang Yunuo found it strange and couldn't help but ask him, "Do you have many friends here?"

Chen Zichen replied, "Yes, two college classmates and a few business associates."

Jiang Yunuo nodded and lowered her head to continue reading.

Before she knew it, it was the weekend again, and Jiang Yunuo received a call from Guan Ying. Guan Ying said, "Lei Yuan and I moved into our new house and wanted to invite you to dinner. Xiao Lu will be coming over later too. Let's get together again since we missed each other last time."

Jiang Yunuo casually asked, "Just the few of us?"

Guan Ying misunderstood for a moment and quickly said, "Yes, there's no one else. Bring your partner over to meet us; we haven't met them yet." She didn't say it directly, but Jiang Yunuo understood her meaning and couldn't refuse, so she called Chen Zichen to come along.

Meanwhile, Guan Ying had just put down her phone when Lei Yuan asked her, "Who were you talking to? I told Xu Ke last night to come over for dinner today."

Guan Ying immediately pinched him anxiously, "Are you doing this on purpose? Are you deliberately stirring up trouble? We agreed to invite them separately—Jiang Yunuo first, Xu Ke tomorrow..."

"Honestly, this really has nothing to do with me," Lei Yuan sighed, pushing his notebook in front of her. "Look for yourself; the dates, names, and even the menu are all written by you."

Guan Ying looked at it and was dumbfounded. "Oh dear, I misremembered. This is really going to be interesting."

“You made a mistake, you deserve a beating.” Lei Yuan patted her face and comforted her, “It’s better if we invite them all at once, to save trouble. Besides, you’re almost thirty, you won’t be as awkward as before, you know what you’re doing.”

After Jiang Yunuo brought Chen Zichen over and they introduced themselves, Guan Ying quietly pulled Jiang Yunuo into the kitchen and said somewhat awkwardly, “Xu Ke will also be coming later. I didn’t know before, Lei Yuan invited him.”

Jiang Yunuo said calmly, “That’s fine, it’s more lively with more people.” Guan

Ying looked at her for a while and asked, “Is that all?”

Jiang Yunuo smiled and said, “What can I do? We’ve met before, we all have our own lives now, and those who were meant to break up have already broken up. Don’t worry, it’s okay.”

As she spoke, the doorbell rang. Lei Yuan went to open the door, and Lu Chengyu and Xu Ke were standing outside. The two greeted the people inside and said, “We happened to meet downstairs.” Lu Chengyu walked in first, and Xu Ke turned slightly to the side, and everyone then saw that there was another person standing behind them, a beautiful woman.

Xu Ke introduced, "Zhou Xiaoquan, a friend of mine, is a freeloader."

Zhou Xiaoquan patted Xu Ke on the shoulder and laughed, "He's got no other skills, all he does is embarrass me."

Guan Ying and Lei Yuan, seeing this, were already wondering where this Zhou Xiaoquan had come from. This was really going to be lively.

Xu Ke then pointed to the group of people in the room and said to Zhou Xiaoquan, "We're all family, so eat as much as you want. Nobody will laugh at you. Just treat yourself like you're at home, do whatever you want, don't be shy."

Lei Yuan laughed, "Do you need to say that? Don't get all flustered just because you see a pretty girl." Then he looked at Zhou Xiaoquan, "Don't be shy, just treat yourself like you're at home."

Zhou Xiaoquan couldn't stop laughing and said repeatedly, "Xu Ke is shameless, don't mind him."

Lu Chengyu waved his hand, "I don't mind, I'm used to it."

Guan Ying was in the kitchen preparing to serve the dishes, and Jiang Yunnuo went over to help, thinking that she seemed to have seen Zhou Xiaoquan somewhere before, but she just couldn't remember. To Guan Ying's surprise, her absent-minded appearance was the best proof of her being distracted, causing onlookers to sigh inwardly.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Zhou Xiaoquan walked in, startling the two women in the kitchen who were preoccupied with their own thoughts.

"No need, it'll be ready soon," Guan Ying said with a smile. "It's just us women working here. In this world, men are all freeloaders."

"Exactly, Lei Yuan finally has some taste, marrying a woman who can cook and be presentable. Just wait and see," Jiang Yunnuo said, chopping onions. The spiciness was so strong that her eyes were almost unable to open.

Zhou Xiaoquan handed her a tissue, saying, "Let me do it. I don't mind the smell."

"Thank you," Jiang Yunnuo put down the knife and stood aside wiping her eyes, but accidentally got onion juice from her hands into her eyes, making it even more uncomfortable. So she thought she would go to the bathroom to wash her hands first.

She lowered her head, turned around and walked to the kitchen door, bumping into someone.

The person did not move aside.

As if to confirm her intuition, she finally looked up at him, her eyes blurry with tears. She breathed softly, seemingly able to smell the faint scent of his cologne, and fell silent. She hadn't expected him to use such things; yes, someone with a girlfriend would naturally pay attention to these things.

The brief eye contact felt like an eternity. His face betrayed no emotion—happiness, sadness, liking, or disdain. Jiang Yunuo felt a pang of disappointment creep into her heart. Just as she was about to say something, he slightly turned aside, letting her pass.

His voice came from behind her, "Zhou Xiaoquan, are you chopping vegetables or firewood?"

Twenty-year-old Xu Ke asked, "Jiang Yunuo, are you cutting potato shreds?" "You're chopping firewood,"

he said. "Even with a large piece of wood in between, I can chop faster and better than you."

Jiang Yunuo turned on the cold water to wash her hands; it was icy cold.

Chen Zichen walked over. "I just got a call. A friend has something to do, I have to go."

Jiang Yunnuo pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped her eyes in front of the mirror. "You're quite busy."

Chen Zichen grinned. "I can't refuse. It'll be late later, you can have them give you a ride."

Seeing him turn to leave, she quickly called out, "Zichen."

"What's wrong?"

She was silent for a moment, then sighed inwardly and said, "Nothing, go ahead."

Then, she stood there alone, looking at her face in the mirror, feeling a sudden disgust. "Sick," she muttered under her breath.

A short while later, Guan Ying set out a table full of dishes and said to the two men watching All-Star on TV, "Dinner's ready, gentlemen. Please make your way to the dining room."

Lei Yuan waved the remote control in his hand, "Coming, coming, almost done."

Guan Ying muttered, "Men are just like children, even after marriage."

Zhou Xiaoquan teased her, "Hurry up and have one. They say men only begin to mature after becoming fathers."

Jiang Yunuo shook her head, "Hard to say. Men are still children even in their seventies or eighties. They need to be properly trained."

Lei Yuan ran over to help with the dishes, "What are you saying? Three women make a drama. You all complain about men. How will you women live without men?"

Zhou Xiaoquan laughed, "How will you live? Half-dead, half-alive, right? Does that answer sound good?"

"Good, good," Lei Yuan nodded repeatedly, "I just don't know if our young master Xu will fall for this." Guan Ying

was holding dishes and couldn't pinch him.

Zhou Xiaoquan smiled faintly, "I really don't know. Let's try it sometime."

Xu Ke didn't speak, but picked up a corkscrew and focused on opening a bottle of red wine.

Lu Chengyu smiled slightly, patted the chair next to him, and gestured to Jiang Yunnuo, "Come here, sit here." Jiang Yunnuo sat down next to him as instructed.

Lei Yuan said, "What's going on here? Her husband just left, and you're already trying to curry favor," then winked at Guan Ying, the implication being, "You see, there are plenty of people who thrive on chaos.

" Lu Chengyu took a sip of his drink and said casually, "What husband? We're not even married."

Lei Yuan laughed, "I understand, someone's got ulterior motives."

Zhou Xiaoquan chuckled, glancing at this person, then at that person, and finally at Xu Ke, who was engrossed in eating, thinking to himself that this situation was far from complicated.

Jiang Yunnuo felt annoyed, but also somewhat embarrassed by Xu Ke's presence, so she said to Guan Ying, "Take your child home and educate him. He doesn't speak properly; he hasn't improved at all over the years."

Lei Yuan had already been kicked several times under the table by Guan Ying, and he remained silent.

Zhou Xiaoquan, on the other hand, was a lively person. At first glance, she seemed a bit aloof, but after spending some time with her, she easily became friends with everyone. She had a lot to talk about, an excellent memory, and could chat about everything from entertainment gossip to international affairs. Even someone as reserved as Lu Chengyu could have a few words with her.

When Lu Chengyu heard that she worked as a psychological counselor, he said, "When I was in school, I almost chose clinical psychiatry."

Lei Yuan said, "No wonder! You were always engrossed in Freud's books, like you were crazy. I knew it! That old genius's books are dry, exaggerated, and incredibly bizarre. Before reading them, you're a normal person, but after finishing them, your mind is clouded with gloom. Everything feels wrong, everything seems strange."

Zhou Xiaoquan nodded, "Some of his books are just for reading, don't take them too seriously. Some of his views, statistically proven, are not correct now, but the domestic education system has always blindly promoted him."

Lu Chengyu said, "Many of his ideas..." "He's certainly been heavily criticized now, but he's still the founder of psychoanalysis and the pioneer of modern psychology. Let's take the essence and discard the dross,"

Lei Yuan said. "I remember he mentioned the idea that human nature is inherently evil, which I can't quite accept."

Zhou Xiaoquan laughed, "And that Oedipus complex is simply a fallacy." She became even more enthusiastic when talking about professional issues, and various theories came out of her mouth in a rapid-fire stream. "He believed that humans generally have an Oedipus complex, so in order to suppress the sexual desires that naturally arise among family members, a moral concept of incest taboo arose."

Guan Ying couldn't help but cough lightly.

Zhou Xiaoquan was completely unaware and continued, "I do agree with Westermarck's theory of natural selection. The incest taboo is a hereditary phenomenon. Families eliminate sexual desires because of familiarity, which is the result of natural selection. Incest greatly increases the probability of offspring having recessive genetic diseases..."

Lei Yuan finally managed to pick up a piece of braised pork rib and bring it to his mouth, and his attention returned to Zhou Xiaoquan's long-winded explanation. With a flick of his wrist, the ribs fell into the bowl. He thought to himself, "Very good, very powerful. "

Zhou Xiaoquan, also adept at reading people, suddenly sensed an unusually strange atmosphere at the table. Before she could finish speaking, her voice grew softer and softer.

Lei Yuan picked up a rib and said to Guan Ying, "Look, it's still bloody here, it's not cooked through."

Guan Ying looked at it, "Oh, it really isn't cooked through. I'll go reheat it."

Lei Yuan smiled at everyone, "Please forgive me, my wife is new to the job, her cooking skills are a bit lacking."

Lu Chengyu said, "The other dishes are quite good, excellent in color, aroma, and taste. We should encourage newcomers, otherwise we won't have anywhere to freeload in the future."

Guan Ying put the ribs in the microwave and microwaved them, thinking, "What kind of mess is this? Braised into stir-fried!"

Zhou Xiaoquan's gaze swept around the table, and suddenly a flash of inspiration struck her. Even though she had encountered similar cases at work, she still felt a jolt in her heart, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on her face. She glanced at Xu Ke, but he didn't even flinch, continuing to eat and drink heartily. She then glanced at Jiang Yunnuo, who remained equally unmoved.

Zhou Xiaoquan thought to herself, "Goodness, the expressions on their faces are exactly the same." Perhaps she was overthinking it? Though she tried to reassure herself, she dared not say anything rashly, afraid of accidentally stepping on a landmine, so the atmosphere at the table became somewhat quiet. Fortunately, Lei Yuan occasionally brought up unrelated topics to make everyone laugh.

After a few rounds of drinks and dishes, several men couldn't sit still at the table and went to watch the football game on TV, each with a bottle of beer, watching and cursing. This finally made things a little less awkward.

After the game, Lu Chengyu, thinking about his child at home, suggested leaving first, so he asked Jiang Yunnuo, "Wait for your boyfriend to pick you up, or should I take you home?"

"Give me a ride, he can't come because of something," Jiang Yunnuo had already called Chen Zichen, but no one answered. Although Zhou Xiaoquan's words were unintentional, Jiang Yunnuo felt a tightness in her chest and just wanted to leave the two of them as soon as possible. She couldn't help but sigh, "Xu Ke, you always find a way to provoke me." Then she mocked herself, "What's done is done, why should I be afraid of what people say? How ridiculous."

Lu Chengyu slapped his forehead, "I forgot, I didn't even drive here today," he said, his face slightly flushed from drinking quite a bit.

Xu Ke stood up, clutching his car keys, "You can't drive like this, I'll take you home."

Guan Ying took Jiang Yunnuo's arm and said, "Why don't you stay here tonight? We can chat."

"Putting me in as a third wheel, a super-powerful one at that, I'm afraid someone will extinguish it." Jiang Yunnuo knew that Guan Ying was worried that she would feel uncomfortable in front of Xu Ke and Zhou Xiaoquan because of what had happened earlier. Although she was grateful, she was too embarrassed to bother the young couple.

Lei Yuan quickly said, "It's okay, I'll be the third wheel and make room for you two."

Guan Ying laughed, "What, worried Chen Zichen will be upset that you didn't come home last night?"

Jiang Yunnuo didn't mince words, "Yeah, he's petty and likes to meddle in everything."

While they were joking, Xu Ke and Zhou Xiaoquan had already left the room, and a faint smell of tobacco wafted from the hallway. Jiang Yunnuo glanced at them and thought to herself, "So smoking addiction is directly proportional to age.

" Zhou Xiaoquan held out his hand to Xu Ke, "I'll have one too."

Jiang Yunnuo shook her head slightly; those two were really something, smoking together.

The four of them got into the car, with Jiang Yunnuo and Lu Chengyu sitting in the back seat. Lu Chengyu took out his phone to show her a picture of his son. The child had rosy lips and white teeth, and Jiang Yunnuo praised, "The child's mother must be a beauty."

Lu Chengyu scoffed, "He looks like me."

Jiang Yunnuo smiled and took out her phone, "What's there to be so proud of? I have one too."

"What? A child?" Lu Chengyu was surprised and quickly looked at the photos saved on Jiang Yunnuo's phone, only to find a blond, blue-eyed foreign child. He glanced at the driver's seat and smiled, "Not bad, he looks quite like you."

Jiang Yunnuo didn't understand and said to herself, "The neighbor's little guy, only a little over a year old."

Lu Chengyu smiled and didn't say anything, and sure enough, he noticed the driver looking over in the rearview mirror.

The order of dropping people off was arranged very reasonably. Lu Chengyu and Zhou Xiaoquan didn't need to cross the river to get home, but Jiang Yunnuo's hotel was on the other side of the Yangtze River. For a moment, only the two of them were left in the car. When the car was moving slowly, she could almost hear the sound of large snowflakes falling on the glass window. Jiang Yunnuo secretly wondered if it would be too pretentious of her to say now that she didn't need to bother and could take a ride home herself. She fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, thinking to herself, "Is this crazy? Is it really necessary?

" Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard Xu Ke say, "There's a traffic jam on the bridge."

Jiang Yunnuo took a deep breath, thinking, "I can't just ignore him, can I?" So she opened her mouth and uttered a single word, "Oh."

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[No Love on the Other Shore] (56-60)

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