Chapter 15

The Five-Sided Mirror - Romance (2)

Soon, Saturday arrived. Luo Wei, Ding Qing, and Xiao Rong arrived at Herson Golf Course. After a moment of uneasy waiting in the lobby, they were driven by a caddy in a golf cart to a green field. From a distance, they could see He Yingze playing golf with a girl. He was wearing a black cap, a glove on his right hand, a short-sleeve shirt, and a diamond-patterned knit sweater, looking casual and sun-kissed, a stark contrast to his usual attire. He was so focused on the game that it was a time when absolute stillness was required. The caddy parked the cart by the side of the road and waited for him and the girl to finish their swings before driving over to inform him that his friends had arrived. He handed the club to the caddy and walked over with the girl.

“Luo Wei, are you guys playing?” His face, slender under the cap, had sharp features like a canyon between his brows and nose, making him quite captivating.

“I don’t know how to play,” Luo Wei honestly admitted, giving a subtle look to Ding Qing and Xiao Rong.

However, Xiao Rong’s eyes never left the girl beside He Yingze. “Who is she...?”

Actually, Luo Wei had been wanting to ask the same question. Seeing this girl for the first time, Luo Wei deeply felt that taste and elegance are two different things; true grace radiates through every movement. The girl was wearing a cherry blossom pink T-shirt, her fluffy, voluminous hair lightly pressed by a cap, covering her delicate shoulders. Her gloves, cap, knee-high cotton socks, and golf shoes were all the color of fresh snow. Her legs and waistline were clearly the product of perfect nutrition and regular exercise. She hadn’t even spoken yet, but Ding Qing and Xiao Rong had already lost their composure. And when she finally did speak, they were even more at a loss.

“Hello, I’m Ni Lei, King’s friend. You’re his friends too, right? How should I address you?”

She was so gentle, so polite, that it made people hesitant to speak too loudly around her, as if they might startle her. They introduced themselves one by one. Xiao Rong, usually so coquettish, became stiff, almost like a man, and Ding Qing, who was usually assertive, had her usual confidence drained. In their conversations with her, almost every sentence Ni Lei spoke was followed by “Really?” or “That’s impressive,” and she seemed genuinely interested, listening with respect and admiration. Luo Wei liked her a bit; she seemed emotionally intelligent and well-cultured, likely from a good family, but judging by Ding Qing and Xiao Rong’s expressions, they didn’t seem to like her very much.

“Anyone who can play can join, and those who can’t, feel free to wait here,” He Yingze said, then turned to the caddy, “Get them something to eat.”

He took Ni Lei into the grass. From the moment she turned around to smile and stand by him, to every swing she made, Ding Qing and Xiao Rong were like men watching an erotic scene in a movie, completely fixated, not willing to miss a single detail. However, they didn’t manage to find anything to criticize. Xiao Rong shrugged and said, “She must be a somewhat famous model, probably in the same industry.”

The entire afternoon passed, and the expected tension never came. Instead, Ding Qing handed her phone to Xiao Rong and Luo Wei. They saw a news article about Ni Lei on the phone’s browser, and the last remnants of tension between them disappeared silently.

They were mistaken. Ni Lei was not a model or a small-time celebrity, but the cherished daughter of the chairman of Guangming Industries. She graduated from the Royal Ballet School in the UK, was passionate about charity work, and studied Chinese painting and equestrianism. Wherever she went, she was always accompanied by a driver, servants, and bodyguards. The news about Ni Lei reflected her true nature—graceful and low-key, never competitive. Last year, she founded her own brand, Shining Lei, releasing her own designs each season and personally endorsing the brand. Her style, cute and youthful, became especially popular among young girls.

Upon learning this, Xiao Rong abandoned even the chance to admire He Yingze’s presence. Furthermore, when she entered the golf course, the sharp heels of her shoes got stuck in the grass, making it impossible for her to play properly. Ding Qing, however, was more mature. After playing a few rounds with He Yingze and Ni Lei, she politely withdrew. After a while, He Yingze walked off to a more distant spot. Ni Lei, holding a cup of red tea, stood outside the golf cart and said to the three girls, “I really have to thank you today.”

Ding Qing curiously asked, “Why?”

“Had it not been for you being here today, I wouldn’t have had the chance to be alone with King. Whenever we met before, my father was always around. Especially you, Luo Wei, thank you.” Ni Lei nodded, her demeanor dignified like a princess from a Disney animation, which startled Luo Wei, making her sit up straight. Ni Lei gently added, “When I first met King, he told me that his best friend when he was little was named Luo Wei. He really values you.”

Ding Qing and Xiao Rong simultaneously turned to look at Luo Wei, both of them wide-eyed in surprise. Luo Wei, on the other hand, felt embarrassed by this remark and laughed shyly, her face turning red. “Haha, well, we do have a brotherly bond, but you’re so outstanding that any man would consider it an honor to converse with you. No matter how proud King may be, he’s still a man. His liking to hang out with you has nothing to do with me. Or rather, he probably just used me as an excuse to ask you out.”

“Thank you, but I’m really not as good as you say...”

“You are, you are,” Luo Wei nodded repeatedly.

The two of them chatted for a while, and then He Yingze hit the ball far, walking over to sit beside Luo Wei. “Ni Lei, this car only fits four people, you can take the one behind,” he said.

Hearing this, Ding Qing looked at Ni Lei with concern. Ding Qing worked in a foreign company and was used to the gentlemanly manners of modern urban white-collar men. In such situations, the men would usually say, “You girls go first, I’ll take the other car,” to show respect. To see a young lady being so ordered was a clear sign of disrespect. However, Ni Lei didn’t seem offended at all. She smiled and said, “Okay!” and jogged to the car behind.

He Yingze drove, and during the drive, he explained the rules and techniques of golf to Luo Wei. Apart from occasionally referring to “you all,” he completely ignored the other two girls in the back. When they arrived at their destination, He Yingze got out to continue playing, leaving them to figure out what to do. Luo Wei struggled to make conversation, commenting on the good air, the beautiful golf course, and the well-designed villas, but the atmosphere remained awkward. She noticed that every time He Yingze swung his club, especially when he made a good shot, he would always glance back at their direction. Other than that, there was no further communication between them.

It wasn’t until the sun began to set that He Yingze finished his game and walked over, saying, “What would you like to eat tonight? I’ll have the chef prepare something.”

Xiao Rong glanced at Ni Lei, who was wiping the sweat off He Yingze, and with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, said, “Oh, anything is fine with me.”

Ding Qing’s expression became even darker, and she could barely force a smile, “I have an early meeting tomorrow, so I won’t be joining your dinner. I’ll head home now.”

Luo Wei noticed that she seemed troubled, so she said, “I have something to do tonight too. I’ll go back with Ding Qing.”

Thus, Xiao Rong left with He Yingze and Ni Lei, while Luo Wei and Ding Qing were escorted out of the golf course by a caddie and then driven to their destination by a car arranged by He Yingze. They found a Japanese restaurant to sit down, and Ding Qing sighed deeply, “Phew, what a long day.”

“Yeah,” Luo Wei said, looking up, and after a brief moment, they both laughed.

“To be honest, I’ve met quite a few successful and high-status people in my line of work, but a guy like King, with his big macho attitude, is a first for me,” Ding Qing remarked.

Luo Wei smiled brightly and said, “So, you’ve lost your initial liking for him?”

Ding Qing waved her hand and let out a scoff before sighing again, “To be honest, I understand why King is so arrogant. Not only is he successful and wealthy, but he’s also handsome. So he can boss someone like Ni Lei around. If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t be able to handle it. Being with a man like that requires a lot of sacrifice. Honestly, I don’t care how much wealth or how handsome a man is. I’m an independent woman. How much money my partner makes—do you think that matters to me? What I want is respect.” Seeing that Luo Wei was listening to her intently, she suddenly realized who she was speaking to and quickly corrected herself, “Now I finally understand why you have such great men around you but haven’t made an effort to hold onto them. King is certainly a good friend, but he wouldn’t make a good boyfriend.”

“Smart,” Luo Wei thought. Although Ding Qing was putting on a tough front, Luo Wei found her to be very genuine.

After they ordered their food, they sat in silence for a while. Ten minutes later, Ding Qing suddenly spoke up, “I feel like I’ve never really gotten over my last relationship.” Her voice sounded weak, much gentler than usual.

Luo Wei had expected this. Typically, when someone experiences setbacks in a new relationship or doesn’t get the ideal partner they desired, they tend to over-romanticize their past relationship as a way to protect their vulnerable heart. Whether Ding Qing was consciously doing this or not, she needed to create an exit strategy for herself, and this would be a way to comfort her. Luo Wei smiled lightly, “I’ve noticed.”

“Really? You noticed?” Ding Qing’s voice sounded softer, as though she had gotten the answer she was hoping for.

“Yeah, He Yingze is a bit like your ex. They’re both cool types of guys. The slight infatuation you have for He Yingze is probably just you looking for traces of your ex in him.”

“Luo Wei, you really are my old friend. You noticed even the smallest detail,” Ding Qing let out a bitter laugh, took a sip of her drink, and her voice grew even more dispirited. “I’ve said it before, my man doesn’t have to be outstanding or rich, as long as he’s like my ex. But before we broke up, he always blamed me for becoming materialistic, worldly, and practical after entering society, using that as an excuse to cheat... Heh, do you think I put too much pressure on him?”

Luo Wei spoke gently, “It’s not your fault. You’re just too excellent and so beautiful. Even if you didn’t do anything, you’d still put a lot of pressure on men. He really loved you and felt unworthy of you, which is why he made such a huge mistake.”

Ding Qing sniffled, trying hard to hide the tears in her voice. She lowered her head, letting her hair cover her red eyes. “Yeah, yeah, it’s all because we weren’t meant to be. I really loved him. If I had the chance, I wish everything could start over...”

And so, Luo Wei spent the rest of the evening surrounded by Ding Qing’s repeated lamentations of “Did I do something wrong?” “Why am I so useless?” “I’ll never find true love again.” She knew Ding Qing was upset and emotionally unstable, but that after this night, she would return to normal. However, being forced to absorb so much negative energy herself made Luo Wei feel a little down too.

The trigger for all of Ding Qing’s negative emotions was He Yingze’s disrespect. Deep down, Ding Qing probably knew why Ni Lei could tolerate He Yingze’s bad temper, while she couldn’t—no matter how much she improved her own temperament, she could never get close to him. Ni Lei had the opportunity, so she was infinitely gentle. With no hope left, Ding Qing chose to protect the dignity of her independent career woman persona.

After leaving school, Luo Wei realized just how big the gap between people could be. She knew that if it weren’t for their childhood friendship, she wouldn’t have had the chance to have a direct conversation with He Yingze. Thinking about this made her feel depressed, and dragging her exhausted body, she went to take a shower, put on a face mask, and completed her bedtime routine. As she lay in bed, tossing and turning, she just couldn’t fall asleep. She leaned over the bed and reached for her phone that was charging, opened WeChat, and first checked He Yingze’s unchanged Moments. Then, she scrolled through the Moments. Ding Qing had shared a sad love song again. This time it was Zhang Liangying’s “After I Leave.”

She clicked to listen to a few verses:

Every night the dream repeats, repeating a road

The one we walked was so hard

You thank me for my efforts

And thank me even more for stepping away

Saying she needs more care

I heard you’re happier than before

I can only feel content

What other ambitions could I have?

At the time, you were lost

And chose my footsteps

Wasn’t that a bit abrupt?

In the noisy crowd

Strange faces hurriedly passed by

It feels like every face is a reflection of yours...

The song was too emotional, and she felt a little sad while listening to it. She liked the post and shared the song to her own Moments with the caption “Such great singing skills,” adding a starry-eyed emoji. But after two minutes, she quickly deleted the share, turned off the music, and lay flat on her back in bed, staring at the pitch-black night above. What’s the difference between adults and children? It’s that adults can’t afford to be melodramatic, can’t let emotions control them, or it would waste precious time.

However, no matter how hard she tried, she still couldn’t fall asleep. Holding her phone, she buried her head in the blanket and took deep breaths, but then her phone vibrated. She picked it up, and the name on the screen made her freeze—”Xiao Ying.”

What was going on? It was almost midnight...

She held her breath, pressed the green answer button, and, like a student caught in trouble in the principal’s office, she dared not speak.

“Hello.”

The moment she heard He Yingze’s voice, her eyes blinked rapidly, her heart raced, but the voice that came out was still calm and gentle. “What’s up?”

-Rose Theater-

Luo Wei: “Poor Shanshan, after being called Shanshan so many times, it seems everyone has forgotten her pen name is actually four characters... Remember when ‘Mirror Rose’ was published? The publisher asked her to do a signing event for the new book, and the editor said, ‘How about signing ten thousand copies this time? ^_^’ She immediately logged off.”

Chang Feng: “The signature of a writer isn’t worth much. It’s common to sign thousands or even tens of thousands. Look at our Sixth Brother, his one character is worth millions.”

Shanshan: “I’m signing for my fans, do you understand the burden of being an idol? Oh wait, Chang Feng, do you even have fans? Heh.”

Xie Xinqi: “I have Princess Xie, oh hehe.”

Xie Xiucheng: “That’s not a fan, it’s a patient with Princess Syndrome.”

Chang Feng: “Does our Sixth Brother not have fans? Hahaha.”

He Yingze: “Heh.”

Luo Wei: “Why does someone like me, a normal person, have to appear on the same channel with this group of self-righteous people = =...”