#42 (A reunion of the century...)

The day Shen Tang left Shanghai, small snowflakes began to fall.

From summer to winter, time had reached the end of January. She had ended her contract with Evergreen Entertainment, and the drama Awakening from a Great Dream had wrapped up filming a week ago.

Both in the drama and in real life, like the female lead, she was still lost after awakening from a long dream.

This time last year, she and Jiang Chengyu were in a cold war, waiting for his messages every day, until Valentine’s Day when she still hadn’t received a single word.

Time always passed so quickly. In another month, it would have been a year since she broke up with him.

She didn’t like weepy goodbyes. She didn’t let Sister Li or her assistant see her off. Only Zhao Chiyi accompanied her to the airport, saying it would be rude not to see her off after working together.

“Let’s stop here.” Shen Tang paused. The security checkpoint was just ahead.

Zhao Chiyi stood opposite her, hands in his trench coat pockets, “I’ll visit you when I have time. Then you won’t have to worry about paparazzi secretly taking photos.”

Shen Tang took his words as mere parting courtesy, “You’re always welcome. I’ll treat you then.”

“Remember what you said today, don’t back out when the time comes.” Zhao Chiyi took out a card from his pocket, a premium VIP card for Evergreen Hotel.

“There’s nothing much to give you, only this which you might need.”

Evergreen Group’s five-star hotel chain was global, with Evergreen hotels in the European and American cities she frequented.

There were only a few such cards, offering supreme hotel service.

Afraid she wouldn’t accept it, Zhao Chiyi prepared ample reasons: “You connected Wen Di with Evergreen Entertainment, which helped Evergreen immensely. Our future dramas will have a reputation guarantee. Like you, I don’t like owing favors.”

Shen Tang accepted the card, “Then I shall respectfully obey.”

She extended her other hand, “See you again.”

“Take care.” Zhao Chiyi shook her hand lightly.

They should meet again soon.

He had already applied to the board of directors to take over Evergreen Group’s global hotel business. By then, business trips to London or Manhattan would be commonplace.

He watched Shen Tang and her bodyguard enter security.

Three hours later, the news of Shen Tang’s complete retirement from the entertainment industry and her departure abroad topped the trending searches. Paparazzi released photos of Zhao Chiyi seeing her off at the airport.

Being personally seen off by the most handsome entertainment boss was quite a grand send-off.

However, netizens didn’t know that this was Zhao Chiyi’s personal wish, and had nothing to do with him being the boss of Evergreen Entertainment.

When Li Zheng saw the trending topic, she was accompanying her grandfather in the study, writing couplets. Lunar New Year’s Eve was in a few days; another year had passed. Nowadays, the New Year no longer had the strong festive atmosphere of childhood, so Grandpa said, “Then let’s write our own couplets.”

Jiang Chengyu, who rarely came home, was helping grind ink on the side.

“Just say what you want to say.”

He had long noticed his niece’s gaze circling him dozens of times.

Li Zheng glanced at her grandfather before saying, “Shen Tang’s flight departed today for abroad. The plane has already taken off.”

Jiang Chengyu’s ink-grinding motion paused. “Do your work.”

Li Zheng had a thousand words in her heart, but in the end, they only coalesced into an ‘oh’. She held her mini fan and blew at the ink on the couplets.

“Grandpa.”

Grandpa Jiang finished the last character. “Hmm, what do you want to say?”

“Why do you and Grandma like to break up lovers?” Li Zheng felt sorry for her uncle. “Look how pitiful my uncle is now, unloved and uncared for.”

Grandpa Jiang was displeased. “What do you mean I break up lovers? When I knew about Shen Tang, your uncle was already single. Do I still need to break them up?”

Li Zheng argued, “Then your and Grandma’s attitudes were a huge mountain weighing on Shen Tang’s heart, and a roadblock in Uncle’s pursuit. Who wants to marry into a family where they’re constantly scrutinized? Right?”

Grandpa Jiang now had no hope for Jiang Chengyu’s arranged marriage. Not only did Jiang Chengyu disobey the family’s arrangements, but a few days ago, Yan Heyu and Tian Qinglu broke off their engagement, causing a huge mess and completely souring relations between the two families. It was more trouble than it was worth.

He no longer forced Jiang Chengyu to marry anyone specific. He could do as he pleased.

Grandpa Jiang put down his brush and conceded, “If you want to pursue Shen Tang, go ahead. Your mother and I won’t interfere. Your sister-in-law even told us to mind our own business a few days ago.”

“I’m going out for a smoke.” Jiang Chengyu left the study.

There was a thick layer of snow in the yard. His niece didn’t allow it to be cleared, saying it had artistic appeal.

He searched through his car but couldn’t find a single pack of cigarettes.

His father didn’t smoke, so there were none at home either.

Jiang Chengyu went back inside, put on his trench coat, and went to Yan Heyu’s house to borrow a cigarette.

In the past six months, surprising things had constantly been happening. Two of his childhood friends: one broke off his engagement, and the other became his niece’s husband.

Fu Chenglin and Zhengzheng were together.

As for him and Shen Tang, they hadn’t seen each other since their last parting. He had intermittently sent her WeChat messages, but she never replied.

Such behavior, in her eyes, must have been persistent and annoying.

Later, he deleted their chat history and never sent her another message.

The snow on the compound road had been cleared to the sides, and many children were outside building snowmen.

Yan Heyu’s house was in the front row, just a few minutes’ walk away.

“Uncle Jiang!” A little girl in a red down jacket, heavily bundled, spread her arms and ran towards him.

The little girl was the daughter of Lu Zhifei’s brother. Lu Zhifei was with her in the garden, building snowmen and having snowball fights with other children.

“Uncle Jiang, let’s build a big snowman.” The little girl pulled on his trench coat, dragging him forward.

Jiang Chengyu was not in the mood. “Uncle has something to do. Let your aunt build with you.”

The little girl tilted her head, very wronged, “Auntie keeps looking at her phone.”

Lu Zhifei was looking at Shen Tang’s trending topic and didn’t pay attention to her niece until her niece called out ‘Uncle Jiang’. Only then did she put away her phone.

Today, she and her niece were wearing matching outfits, bright red down jackets, standing out strikingly against the snow and ice.

Shen Tang left the country today, and the person who saw her off was Zhao Chiyi, while Jiang Chengyu was in Beijing.

It seemed they had completely broken up.

A hint of secret joy, like weeds under thick snow, quietly revived.

“Sweetheart, come here. Uncle Jiang has something to do. Auntie will play with you.”

She walked over and picked up her niece.

“You took your vacation early this year,” Lu Zhifei said, trying to make conversation.

Jiang Chengyu: “Hmm.” He pointed his chin at the villa in the front row. “I’m going to find Yan Heyu.”

He didn’t stop, passing by Lu Zhifei.

Lu Zhifei put her niece down, squatted in front of the half-built snowman, haphazardly scooped up some snow and smeared it on the snowman, but her gaze was fixed on the direction Jiang Chengyu had left, towards Yan Heyu’s house.

Conquering such a man, entering his heart, was a very fulfilling achievement.

Just as Tian Qinglu had said, rather than marrying a man she didn’t love and who was inferior to him in every way, it was better to win him over, even without love. Of course, she wouldn’t be a second Tian Qinglu; that would be too foolish.

That tall, broad figure disappeared from sight, turning towards Yan Heyu’s house.

Yan Heyu was smoking in the courtyard; his home was a chaotic mess, unbearable to stay in.

He tossed the cigarette pack and lighter to Jiang Chengyu. “Shen Tang went abroad. You saw the news, right?”

With a “pfft,” Jiang Chengyu responded with the lighter.

He didn’t know where he had picked up the plastic lighter; it wasn’t windproof. Before he could light his cigarette, a gust of northeastern wind blew, extinguishing the flame.

“You asked me to keep an eye on who’s behind CEO Ge’s recent projects,” Yan Heyu tossed the cigarette butt from his hand. “After half a year, there’s nothing unusual, no special projects either.”

“Then keep watching.” Jiang Chengyu returned the lighter to Yan Heyu, keeping the pack of cigarettes. “I’ll go handle the follow-up coordination for the project with Xiao Ning Group.”

Yan Heyu played with the lighter. “Are you free?”

Jiang Chengyu didn’t answer but asked instead, “Don’t you have to deal with the mess between you and Tian Qinglu?”

That was true.

Jiang Chengyu slowly exhaled smoke. He had quit smoking for over half a year, occasionally smoking now, and felt a bit unaccustomed to the strong tobacco taste. He tossed that pack of cigarettes back to Yan Heyu.

“I’ll go to London after the New Year. As for Fu Chenglin, let him stay in Beijing more to accompany Zhengzheng.”

Now, he was the only idle one.

Yan Heyu kindly reminded him, “For that project, Ning Yinchen is still in charge on Xiao Ning Group’s side.”

Jiang Chengyu had already turned and was walking back.

________________________________________

As Manhattan bathed in the soft morning light, Shen Tang’s plane landed.

Today, in addition to Xie Yucheng, He Chuyao also came to pick her up. Their combined aura was eye-catching, and passing people would always spare some of their limited surprised glances for them.

He Chuyao had prepared a large bouquet of Protea flowers.

A single bouquet easily evoked memories.

He Chuyao gave Shen Tang a warm hug, “Finally, you’ve come home.”

He said with a smile, “If you hadn’t come back, you really wouldn’t have seen me. My dad has been after me lately.”

Shen Tang, holding the Protea flowers, asked, “Uncle He found out it was you who secretly took those photos and the divorce certificate for me?”

“Who else could it be?” At that time, only the He family knew about Xiao Zhen and Chen Nanjin’s affair. He Chuyao pushed one of her suitcases. “If my dad had found out a few years earlier, my legs might not have been safe.”

As Shen Tang turned her face, she noticed a ring on He Chuyao’s ring finger. “Are you wearing that for fun or...?”

Xie Yucheng answered for He Chuyao, “He plans to consistently sleep in a double bed from now on.”

“Congratulations, engagement gift to follow.” Although they were good friends, one undeniable fact was that they came from a pool of scumbags.

A sudden engagement was uncomfortable, but a reformed playboy was worth encouraging.

“What gift do you want?” she asked He Chuyao.

Xie Yucheng interrupted, “Why are you being so polite? He lacks nothing.”

He Chuyao: “...”

Just as he was about to say what he wanted, Shen Tang’s phone rang. The number she was currently using was the one she had used in London years ago. Five months ago, after her retirement statement was issued, her commonly used phone in China went dormant and had not been turned on since.

It was Director Xiao calling, right after she got off the plane. It seemed he knew her itinerary perfectly.

“Shen Tang, I truly underestimated you! You actually sold the estate I gave you, and then bought it back!” After she entered the entertainment industry and completely fell out with him, she returned everything he had given her.

Shen Tang had nothing to hide. “Otherwise, how would I have the capital to deal with you? After I retire, I have to leave myself a way out, don’t you think?”

She had sold the estate through He Chuyao. The buyer held the estate as a long-term investment.

She signed a gambling agreement with the buyer: she would buy it back after three years at double the price. If the market value of the estate more than doubled after three years, she would repurchase it at the market price.

Regardless, the buyer would only profit and not lose.

She used the money from selling the estate for venture capital with Xie Yucheng. Within three years, she not only bought back the estate but also completed her initial accumulation of wealth.

She earned her first pot of gold using Director Xiao’s money.

Director Xiao only realized today, upon seeing the estate’s transaction records from these past few years, that Shen Tang had gone all out for revenge from the day she entered the entertainment industry.

“You better not mess around! Don’t think that just because I publicly acknowledged you as my granddaughter, I’ll go easy on you. If you don’t rein it in, He Chuyao’s legs won’t be far from being broken.”

Shen Tang glanced at He Chuyao beside her. “Break them if they break. They’re not my legs anyway. It’d be good if they break; he can focus on settling down at home.”

Threatening her? No way.

He Chuyao guessed they were talking about his legs and tapped her head. “Ungrateful wretch.”

Back in the city, Xie Yucheng hosted a welcome dinner for her, treating her to a grand meal. He Chuyao had something to do at noon and didn’t join them.

An unfamiliar city, unfamiliar faces, everything was new. She suddenly missed Beijing.

“What are your plans next?” Xie Yucheng asked her.

Shen Tang didn’t have much of an appetite and put down her knife and fork. “Eat, drink, and be merry, then deal with Lu Zhifei.”

“Lu Zhifei?” Xie Yucheng looked puzzled.

“Mm. Her investments are all in the fashion industry, and I’m quite interested.” Shen Tang lightly wiped her lips with a napkin. “I need to have capital to challenge Director Xiao. It’ll only make him uncomfortable. To really hurt him, it’ll take at least decades. He’s not as easy to deal with as Chen Nanjin and Fan Yu.”

After almost wearing out his tongue over the years, Xie Yucheng stopped trying to persuade her and let her do as she pleased.

After lunch, Xie Yucheng drove her back to her apartment.

This apartment was under Xie Yucheng’s name, only a few minutes’ drive from where he lived.

Chinese New Year was in a few days, and he asked her, “Will you come to my grandma’s house then?”

Shen Tang shook her head. On a day for family reunions, what would she be doing there?

“I don’t want to go anywhere. I’ll just sleep in the apartment, maybe watch the Spring Festival Gala.”

The apartment’s location was excellent, offering panoramic views of Manhattan’s bustling cityscape.

After two days, she was still unaccustomed to such a luxurious, cold, and impersonal apartment. When Shen Tang woke up in bed, she still felt disoriented about where she was.

She lightly touched the bedside button, and the floor-to-ceiling curtains slowly drew open.

Today was Lunar New Year’s Eve in China. In the morning, Wen Di, Sister Li, the assistant, Zhao Chiyi, He Chuyao, and Xie Yucheng all sent her New Year greetings.

Not many people knew the number she was currently using.

Shen Tang got out of bed. In the spacious bedroom, only her footsteps accompanied her.

So, this was what a New Year alone felt like.

She didn’t dare to think about her grandfather, so she had to find something to do.

Shen Tang turned on the indoor music, Xie Yucheng’s favorite jazz, “Beautiful Night.” It was fitting, as it was evening in China, a time for family reunions.

With the music playing, she turned on her phone, which had been off for five months.

Besides charging, she had never taken it out.

After turning it on, the phone vibrated non-stop. So many messages piled in, overflowing, all without exception being mass New Year greetings received over the past two days.

By some strange impulse, she tapped on Jiang Chengyu’s chat box.

The messages were still from when her grandfather passed away half a year ago.

Shen Tang cleared the other mass messages and exited WeChat.

Staring at her phone screen in a daze for a while, she opened Weibo DMs to pass the time.

Even though she had retired, some people still remembered her and sent her New Year blessings.

Among so many IDs, Shen Tang recognized ‘Candy is my sister’ at a glance. She had sent a long paragraph.

[Hi, Mei Tang. I don’t know if you’ll see this private message, or if I’m disturbing you. I’ve wanted to message you for a long time, but I didn’t know what to say. Even though you’ve left this industry, in my heart, you’ll always be my goddess. I’ll always look up to you. Every year on my birthday, I’ll still make wishes for you. Happy New Year, may every day be a little happier than the last.]

Shen Tang screenshotted this private message and saved it.

She scrolled through hundreds of private messages, and the jazz music looped several times, but she still missed her grandfather.

Shen Tang planned to boil some dumplings to eat. Yesterday, Xie Yucheng had brought her many dumplings from home, with all sorts of fillings.

Just as she pressed the power-off button, a WeChat message came in, too fast to see, and the phone screen went black.

She saw a familiar profile picture and turned the phone on again.

Jiang Chengyu: [Happy New Year. I hope someone is with you at this time.]

________________________________________

The solitary New Year finally passed, and the following week brought Valentine’s Day.

On the eve of Valentine’s Day, a luxury brand hosted a grand banquet.

Lu Zhifei received an invitation. In the banquet hall, where wine glasses clinked, she hadn’t been there long when she saw that familiar figure.

Now accompanied by Xie Yucheng, Shen Tang was still the center of attention, surrounded by many people eager to chat with her.

As if sensing something, Shen Tang looked straight over and clinked glasses with her from a distance.

Lu Zhifei smiled faintly and took a sip of wine.

They met again half an hour later.

“What a coincidence,” Lu Zhifei said politely, making small talk.

It was too noisy there, so they moved to the terrace.

Shen Tang didn’t like beating around the bush. “When you exposed Xie Yucheng and Ning Yinchen back then, did you think this day would come?”

“Are you threatening me?” Lu Zhifei scoffed.

Shen Tang looked at the dazzling, blurry building advertisements across the way. “Miss Lu, I couldn’t touch you in Beijing, but this is Manhattan. Your connections can’t reach this far. Everything you have now will one day be mine.”

She drank the last of the red wine in her glass and turned to go back inside to find Xie Yucheng.

Inside, Xie Yucheng had been looking for her for a while. He had just chatted with a friend for a few moments, and when he turned around, she was gone.

“Why are you wandering off?”

Shen Tang put down her empty glass and took a new glass of red wine. “I chatted with Lu Zhifei for a bit and went outside to clear my head from the alcohol. Are you done talking?”

“Mm.” Xie Yucheng told her, “There’s a yacht party in Hawaii on Valentine’s Day night. Are you going? They’re all from the capital circle; getting to know more people won’t hurt you. Don’t lock yourself away in your own little world.”

Then he smiled, “You have to go anyway. Everyone knows you’re my girlfriend now.”

Although Shen Tang disliked social events, this was different from the entertainment industry; it wasn’t just about playing her part well.

The next day, they set off for Hawaii.

Shen Tang had adapted to the time difference here. The matters and people of Beijing were getting further and further away from her.

Being with Xie Yucheng was suitable for healing. Besides making money, he also knew how to have fun.

They traveled far and wide, never resting a day, so tired that she didn’t know what sadness felt like.

The party was on Xie Yucheng’s friend’s yacht. After landing, they drove to the beach.

Shen Tang rested her elbow on the sports car door, staring blankly at the passing scenery.

“Do you want to come work at M.K? As my assistant?” Xie Yucheng turned his head to look at her.

Shen Tang withdrew her gaze and turned to face him. “I don’t understand anything, how can I be an assistant?” After acting for five years, everything she learned in university had long been forgotten.

“I’m only suitable to be a boss, ordering others around.”

“...” Xie Yucheng was choked by her words, unable to speak. How could a person say such a thing?

“I’m not trying to annoy you on purpose; I really don’t understand anything right now.” Shen Tang didn’t dislike him. “How about you mentor me? I should pick things up quickly.”

Xie Yucheng mimicked her: “Like you, I don’t know anything, only how to order people around, surviving by showing my face.”

Shen Tang smiled, “I could even be the M.K director, like you.”

The two chatted idly all the way until the sports car stopped in front of the club.

Shen Tang tidied her hair, put on her sunglasses, and got out of the car. “Is there anyone I know or am familiar with?”

Xie Yucheng handed the car over to the club staff and walked towards the beach with Shen Tang. “Besides He Chuyao, you probably don’t know anyone else.”

The evening party on the yacht had already begun, filled with continuous laughter.

As Shen Tang and Xie Yucheng boarded the yacht, before they even had a chance to greet the host of the party, “Tangtang?” a distant, uncertain voice came from behind them.

Shen Tang’s steps faltered, and she suddenly turned around.

After six years apart, Ning Yinchen had matured a lot, but his eyes still held the warmth of his youth.

And standing beside him was the Second Young Master of the Jiang family.

Several people on the deck were in the group chat and knew about Jiang Chengyu and Shen Tang.

In their eyes, Shen Tang arrived tonight with her current partner, for a reunion of the century with her former first love and her three-year secret lover.