CITM - 60

The pleasure boat wasn’t large, with a few rows of chairs inside. Ye Yun was the first to board, walking straight to the back row. After sitting down, she turned her head to look at the shimmering water at night.

After Lu Zi boarded, he stood in the aisle. Ma Jianliang started walking towards Ye Yun, but Lu Zi remained impassive, blocking the aisle. Zhou Zeyang pulled Ma Jianliang to the front row to sit.

It wasn’t until Bai Wenfu boarded the boat that Lu Zi moved aside, clearing the aisle.

The chair swayed slightly, and fabric brushed inadvertently. Ye Yun turned her gaze to the man beside her, glanced at him, said nothing, and then shifted her gaze to the distance.

The boat soon swayed on the water, to everyone’s surprise, it rocked violently.

Boss Yu shouted from the front, “Why is it shaking so much?”

The boatman turned around calmly: “Don’t worry, you won’t fall off.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the boat lurched again. Ye Yun gasped and instinctively grabbed Bai Wenfu’s arm. He turned his head to look at her, but she quickly let go and turned her head away.

Discussions had already started at the front, with people asking the boatman how many people the boat could actually hold. The boatman mumbled evasively that it was fine.

Zhou Zeyang said curtly, “Don’t tell me it’s fine now. Ask how many people on this boat can swim. If there’s really a problem, can you save everyone?”

Ye Yun craned her neck, listening to them argue. When the boat tilted towards her, the splashing water was almost level with her. She instinctively moved closer to Bai Wenfu, nervously saying, “I can’t swim.”

Bai Wenfu lowered his eyelids: “Even if I could, I wouldn’t save you.”

Ye Yun’s lips tightened, and she defiantly pulled away from him. Water from outside the boat splashed inside, and with a sudden tightening of his arm, Ye Yun was pulled back to his side by Bai Wenfu. A puddle of water had splashed onto the seat she had just occupied.

Boss Yu pointed at the boatman: “Quickly find a place to dock. You’re truly risking your life for money.”

Ye Yun stared at the puddle of water with lingering fear. At this point, even if Bai Wenfu pushed her away, she wouldn’t dare sit further.

Ye Yun leaned against him, a faint fragrance from her subtly wafting into Bai Wenfu’s nostrils. He lowered his gaze to her; she remained highly alert, clinging to life as she stared ahead.

After the boat docked, Boss Yu and his group cursed as they got off. The boatman asked for money, and Boss Yu, seething with rage, retorted, “You still have the nerve to ask for money? I haven’t even asked you for compensation.”

Everyone in front had disembarked, but Bai Wenfu remained seated. Ye Yun simply stood up herself, but a hand grasped her waist, pulling her back onto the chair. She heard Bai Wenfu tell the boatman, “Keep going forward. I’ll pay for everything later.”

The people on shore, still reeling from the shock, watched as the boat glided away again. Someone in the crowd shouted, “There are still people who haven’t gotten off!”

After saying this, everyone looked around and realized who was missing, their expressions immediately turning subtle.

Ye Yun turned her head and glanced: “Where are we going?”

“To the deepest part of the water, to throw you in.”

Ye Yun turned her head away: “Stop trying to scare me.”

Bai Wenfu looked at her ominously: “You abandoned me back then. How do you know I wouldn’t resent you?”

Ye Yun’s heart skipped a beat. She turned her head and glanced at him, opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing, quietly turning her gaze back to the water.

Bai Wenfu’s hand slowly moved up her waist, gripping the back of her neck. He leaned closer, his gaze pressing down on her: “Why insist on a guarantor’s fee? Why do you have to calculate everything so clearly with me? It was the same back then; when you left, everything was meticulously accounted for. Do you think things between us can be calculated that clearly?”

His knuckles tightened, forcing Ye Yun to crane her neck to meet his intense gaze. His familiar scent invaded her heart, reawakening a long-dormant stirring. The water rippled gently, light and shadow shifting. This close proximity felt like a dream. She looked at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

All these years, she never dared to imagine what it would be like when he returned home after she left that day, only to find an empty room.

Every time that scene came to mind, her heart would shatter. In many midnight dreams, she questioned herself whether her decision back then was right or wrong. It was like a terrible nightmare, pulling her into the whirlpool of memories again and again.

His gaze became increasingly entangled: “Why are you crying?”

Moisture gathered in her eyes, swirling. Her nose was red, and her eyes held a fractured halo of light.

“Why are you crying?” His voice, like a heavy magnet, rippled across the water, creating circles of emotion in her heart.

“I’m sorry.” This sound was as faint as a raindrop hitting the water, yet it stirred a tumultuous storm in his heart.

How could he ever truly blame her? He merely hated himself for not being able to keep her.

She was pulled into his embrace, unfulfilled affection transforming into endless tenderness. His warm lips attacked her heart’s door. She tilted her head, receiving his embrace and kiss, their lips and teeth intertwined. His kiss was burning, scorching hot, and the long-lost intimacy made her tremble with excitement.

Ever since those people disembarked, the boat’s rocking had subsided, and the tension had completely vanished. Ye Yun even forgot she was on a boat; without further words, she melted into his embrace.

The small boat drifted along the shore. Her heart throbbed from his kisses. Her slender wrists unconsciously clasped his broad shoulders. The embers within her body ignited. Any composure a woman should have was ruthlessly crushed by his powerful and domineering presence, leaving her utterly defeated.

Unbeknownst to them, the small boat docked. The boatman didn’t call them but instead lit a cigarette at the bow.

Bai Wenfu held her for a while longer before letting her go. Ye Yun stepped ashore, and as she passed the boatman, she was too shy to look at him, quickly stepping onto the bank.

Besides paying the boatman for everyone’s boat ride, Bai Wenfu also gave him an extra tip. The boatman kept shouting, “Thank you, Boss!”

Everyone had bought some food and was waiting for them on the path they had come from. When Bai Wenfu and Ye Yun walked back, they seemed no different, except that Ye Yun’s lips were redder, like water-kissed cherries.

Upon parting, Boss Yu shook hands with Bai Wenfu, apologizing for the inadequate hospitality and expressing hope that he would grace them with his presence at another time.

Bai Wenfu’s eyes held a smile: “It was arranged quite well.”

After saying that, he looked at Ye Yun, his gaze like a hook, indicating a reluctance to let her go. Although he knew it would be improper in front of so many outsiders, he still asked, “You are...”

Ye Yun’s heart pounded. She interrupted him: “I’ll head back first. I have something urgent in the morning.”

She was deeply afraid that Bai Wenfu would say something out of line in front of so many people, especially since most of those present thought they had only recently met.

Bai Wenfu’s gaze was meaningful. He said no more and left with his people.

________________________________________

In the evening, Ma Jianliang heard movement outside and opened his door to see Ye Yun still sitting at the table. She had been busy lately, with graduation approaching, often working late.

However, when Ma Jianliang walked over to her, he saw that she wasn’t drawing, but merely staring blankly at a few sheets of draft paper. The ring that she usually wore on her hand had been taken off. With a gentle twist of her thumb and forefinger, the ring spun on the table, reflecting tiny circles of light.

Ma Jianliang poured a glass of water and asked, “Are you planning to get back together with him?”

The ring’s rotation slowed more and more, finally falling flat on the draft paper in front of her.

Ye Yun put away the original manuscript, picked up the ring, looked at it for a moment, then casually tossed it into the waste paper bin. She stood up and bid Ma Jianliang, “Goodnight.”

The next day when Ye Yun left, the valuable wristwatch was already on her wrist.

Ye Yun and Professor Chen had an appointment at 10 AM. He Jia had met with Professor Chen earlier and was still lingering near Professor Chen’s office.

Ye Yun wasn’t surprised to see He Jia. She and Ye Yun were close classmates during university. Earlier in the year, Ye Yun and He Jia had discussed each other’s design philosophies, and they often exchanged ideas, which wasn’t a big deal. Then, something strange happened a few months ago: Ye Yun had lost a draft. She was always a cautious person, so the loss was truly peculiar.

It was precisely because of the loss of the draft that Ye Yun, after being sad for a while, decided to change her approach to her graduation project. Her entire design concept underwent an unprecedented subversion and breakthrough.

But just yesterday, when submitting her work, Ye Yun inadvertently discovered that the assignment He Jia submitted had striking similarities to her lost draft, even the design concept was highly consistent.

He Jia dared to do this, surely having prepared for the truth to come out. She came from a solid background, and to graduate smoothly, she could use Ye Yun as a stepping stone without blinking an eye. If Ye Yun hadn’t changed her design concept at the last minute, yesterday she might not only have been expelled, but if the matter escalated, her reputation would be damaged, and Yemao might also be implicated.

After leaving school, waves of lingering fear washed over Ye Yun. If she hadn’t had to rush to Boss Yu’s factory, perhaps impulsively, she might have confronted He Jia or argued with Professor Chen to seek justice for herself.

However, after a night, her world entered a new chapter. Meeting He Jia again, she had a bit more confidence.

Passing by He Jia, Ye Yun walked straight past her, carrying a transparent file cover, without even glancing sideways. Despite this, He Jia still vaguely saw the familiar draft under the plastic cover. At that moment, He Jia’s face drastically changed.

Ye Yun did have a habit: she would clip all versions of the same series of drafts into one folder for easy access. He Jia was very aware of this habit, and she naturally assumed that the folder she took contained Ye Yun’s most original draft. However, she didn’t know that Ye Yun had drawn a version of that work years ago, and she had even shown it to Professor Chen. Professor Chen had written annotations and a date next to that sketch, and the creation date on Ye Yun’s draft paper was the same year.

This original draft was the leverage in Ye Yun’s hand, but bringing it out carried too much risk, and Professor Chen would inevitably be implicated. He Jia’s family, if they wanted to protect her, would undoubtedly pressure Professor Chen, ultimately forcing him into an impossible position, compelling him to choose between self-interest and justice.

As a teacher and student, Professor Chen and Xie Yushu had treated Ye Yun well. With graduation approaching, she didn’t want Professor Chen to be negatively affected and hinder his future work.

When Ye Yun stepped into Professor Chen’s office, the transparent file cover had been turned over, and the original drawing was tucked inside.

The conversation didn’t take long. Ye Yun stood up, intending to leave the office, but Professor Chen looked at her and spoke: “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Ye Yun paused, silent for a moment, then looked up directly at him: “I want to know if Professor Chen will help me, or help her?”

Chen Yi pushed up his glasses and said unhurriedly, “Truth does not lose its value because others question it.”

Ye Yun smiled sweetly: “I have nothing else.”

Chen Yi raised his eyebrows, meaningfully: “Yesterday afternoon, your face looked very upset. After a night, you’re a completely different person. It seems you’ve received guidance from an expert?”

Ye Yun pursed her lips, smiling but not answering.

Chen Yi slowly opened his drawer: “You’re someone I’ve guided all this way. As a teacher, my abilities are limited, but I won’t let you suffer a loss for nothing.”

He handed an invitation from the drawer to Ye Yun: “Yushu said you always wanted to find an opportunity to meet Editor-in-Chief Tao. This is an invitation to their inaugural anniversary event. Just introduce yourself there, and Editor-in-Chief Tao will give you a chance to interact. As for whether things can be accomplished, you need to prepare thoroughly beforehand.”

Ye Yun took the invitation with both hands, too excited to speak.

He Jia still hadn’t left. As soon as Ye Yun exited the office, she went back in.

On the plane-tree-lined avenue leading out of the school, He Jia called out to Ye Yun.

From a long distance, Ye Yun turned her head. He Jia looked at her with a complex expression: “Why?”

The blazing sun, like a hot golden ball, hung high above, illuminating the broad road ahead. Ye Yun’s eyes reflected a dazzling brilliance, and she smiled: “I wish you a smooth trip abroad. Farewell.”

Turning around, the dreams of her youth were drawing to a perfect close. Her life officially entered a new phase.