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Shen Tang had only encountered such scenes in scripts. In scripts, there were lines, a clear progression of the plot, and the director explained exactly what expressions and gazes she needed to master.
However, in reality, there was nothing.
At this moment, she was stuck in an NG (no good) shot.
Xie Yucheng, amidst several curious glances, remained calm. The old flame, the lover, and he, the current partner who could barely be called a new flame after a fresh coat of paint, gathered from three different parts of the world.
The title of ‘Little Sea King’ (player), confirmed.
Xie Yucheng, with the magnanimity of a current partner, patted Shen Tang’s shoulder. Avoiding the controversial spot, he went to greet the host of tonight’s yacht party.
The yacht had four levels. Cohen was on the top deck. Seeing that his esteemed guests had arrived, he went down to greet them.
Shen Tang asked herself, why did she think of coming here?
She looked at Ning Yinchen, unable to give her attention to Jiang Chengyu. After so many years, a flood of emotions overwhelmed her. “Long time no see.”
Ning Yinchen smiled faintly, “Long time no see.”
He approached her, and Shen Tang extended her hand.
Ning Yinchen held it lightly, “It’s a pleasure to meet you here.”
Then he released her hand.
He thought of their school days. She wouldn’t let her family driver drop her off and took the school bus every day. Later, he also took the school bus, and he would always give her a hand when she boarded.
Ning Yinchen had no intention of embarrassing Shen Tang. “Let’s talk later when we have time.”
“Okay.”
He was the first to leave and headed to the second deck.
In the not-so-spacious hallway, stood the man she wasn’t sure if she had let go of, the man she would still miss intensely at certain moments.
Waves crashed against the yacht, making everything sway.
February 14th, on such a special day, they met.
Last year on this day, she was anxiously awaiting his news.
That time, Hengdian was covered in heavy snow, while now, Hawaii was scorching hot.
Shen Tang’s lips curved slightly. After more than five years in the industry, she was a master of facial expression management. “Hello, Mr. Jiang.”
“Hello.” Jiang Chengyu had prepared the words ‘long time no see’, but didn’t use them.
His sunglasses were in his left hand, his right hand empty, waiting for her to reach out. Then Shen Tang turned and walked towards the deck.
“Hi, Jiang,” Cohen called out enthusiastically.
Jiang Chengyu withdrew his gaze from Shen Tang’s back and looked at Cohen. The two conversed in English.
His company had invested in Cohen’s company, and they were currently in a cooperative relationship.
His original plan was to fly directly to London after the New Year, but he received an invitation from Cohen two days ago and rerouted to Hawaii. He had run into Ning Yinchen at the club entrance ten minutes ago.
It was just such a coincidence.
Cohen had no idea who Shen Tang was a week ago, let alone the love-hate entanglement between Jiang Chengyu and Shen Tang. “You know Xie’s girlfriend?”
“Yes. She’s a celebrity in our country, a household name.”
“Oh, right, I almost forgot, she used to be an actress.” Cohen said, “I didn’t expect her to be Xiao’s granddaughter.”
Before Xie Yucheng brought Shen Tang to the evening reception, he had educated his social circle about who Shen Tang was, specifically highlighting that Shen Tang was Chairman Xiao’s granddaughter and grew up with Chairman Xiao in London.
In this circle, being someone’s girlfriend held little weight; even marriages aren’t guaranteed not to end in divorce, let alone a girlfriend who could break up at any time.
But being someone’s granddaughter was different. Family background was the most dazzling halo.
Cohen and Jiang Chengyu went to the top deck.
The table was filled with wine. Jiang Chengyu casually took a glass and leaned against the railing, looking down at the first deck.
The first deck was spacious and the liveliest.
There was an open-air swimming pool on the deck. ‘Splash’, ‘splash’, accompanied by screams of joy, several beauties were dragged into the pool, water splashing up.
Fine wine, beautiful scenery, none were as captivating as the woman in the gradient gray long dress who was lost in thought.
“What are you thinking about?” Xie Yucheng handed her some fruit.
Shen Tang raised the wine glass filled with amber liquid, declining the fruit. She looked at the blue sea. “I’m thinking about how to conquer the stars and the ocean.”
Xie Yucheng teased, “Planning to conquer them to secure your ‘Sea King’ title?”
“...” Shen Tang drank her wine, not bothering to argue with him.
“Let’s go, time for dinner. All rare ingredients, air-shipped from around the world.” Xie Yucheng ate some fruit and headed to the dining area on the second level.
Tonight’s party had many people, so the dining was divided into two areas, on the first and second levels.
Shen Tang followed Xie Yucheng to the yacht’s second level. Cohen and Jiang Chengyu were already seated, talking and laughing with friends beside them.
Catching sight of her figure from the corner of his eye, Jiang Chengyu remained composed, clinking glasses with his friend.
Shen Tang took her seat, directly facing Cohen, one seat away from Jiang Chengyu.
Ning Yinchen wasn’t on this level; he had deliberately avoided her.
Some people at the table, unaware of the situation, noticed that Shen Tang, Xie Yucheng, and Jiang Chengyu were wearing watches from the same brand. This brand was famous for being handcrafted, producing only a few pieces each year.
The watch faces were distinctive, memorable at a glance.
He joked, “Did you all buy these watches in bulk?”
‘Pfft,’ the insiders in the group chuckled, covering their faces with their hands.
In their eyes, this meant the “scum woman” Shen Tang bought three watches, so she could match them as couple watches no matter who she was with. They never expected a reunion of the century today.
However, upon closer inspection, Xie Yucheng’s watch was more unique, and its price was higher than Jiang Chengyu’s.
Cohen looked puzzled. “What are you laughing at? Do you also have a watch like that?”
They avoided the sensitive topic and talked about the brand’s watches.
Jiang Chengyu had noticed earlier that Xie Yucheng’s watch was the same brand as his. The dial designs were different, but who cared about such small details?
His and Shen Tang’s watches were the real couple’s watches.
They talked from watches to the haute couture women loved.
Cohen asked who among them had a good private relationship with the chief designer of House L. His engagement with his girlfriend had been moved up, and his girlfriend loved House L’s gowns, but getting the latest spring haute couture ready in time was basically a pipe dream.
“There’s only one engagement ceremony. I don’t want her to have any regrets.”
Jiang Chengyu looked at Shen Tang and said to Cohen, “Ms. Shen seems to know her. Ms. Shen was the first to wear a new series from House L.”
Such treatment was unmatched.
The atmosphere at the table was very subtle. Those in the know in the group really wanted to advise Jiang Chengyu not to provoke her in front of her official boyfriend.
Shen Tang didn’t know Jiang Chengyu’s true intentions. He clearly knew that her private connection with House L’s chief designer couldn’t guarantee that House L would work day and night to rush a brand-new gown.
But he brazenly spoke out, and she could only follow his lead, “I’ll try. I hope L will give me face.”
Everyone knew the chief designer of House L had an eccentric personality and was accustomed to doing as she pleased. Whether she would give face depended on luck.
“Thank you very much. It doesn’t matter if it works out.” Cohen raised his glass, toasting her from afar.
After enjoying the meal, everyone found their own entertainment.
Two people from the group weren’t in a hurry to go to the first deck and specifically waited for Jiang Chengyu.
“You need to rein yourself in. Xie Yucheng is in the group now. We usually speak very carefully, afraid of accidentally mentioning you and Shen Tang. Don’t let us not slip up, only for you to sell yourself out.”
“Shen Tang’s choice is already very clear. Let go when you should.”
Jiang Chengyu explained, “Shen Tang and Xie Yucheng aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend; they’re just pretending.”
“...” They sighed. “Did Shen Tang tell you that? And you believe it?”
Love made people blind, and even Jiang Chengyu couldn’t escape it.
What magic did Shen Tang possess that even after Jiang Chengyu personally saw her out and about with a boyfriend, he still wouldn’t give up, constantly brainwashing himself?
“We’re going downstairs to drink.” They couldn’t wake up someone who was pretending to be asleep, so they helplessly patted Jiang Chengyu’s shoulder hard. “You stay here and clear your head.”
Jiang Chengyu drank two glasses of red wine in a row, a nameless fire burning in his chest.
The party didn’t break up until 4 AM. It would continue tomorrow night.
Xie Yucheng contributed two bottles of wine he had hidden for over ten years, saying it was to celebrate the grand reunion of the century.
Those two bottles of wine were worth the price of a car. Wine lovers were ecstatic, looking forward to tomorrow night’s arrival.
The wine was still in the estate’s cellar, several hours’ drive from Manhattan. Xie Yucheng had already arranged for the butler to air-ship it, and it would arrive by tomorrow evening.
Back at the hotel, it was already dawn.
Shen Tang’s mind was a mess, unable to sleep.
She took a hot bath to relieve her fatigue, changed into a new dress, and put on a sun hat to walk along the beach.
The hotel was not far from the beach. As she walked, more and more sand accumulated in her shoes.
She took off her shoes and carried them. The wind was strong, so she pressed her fingers against the brim of her hat.
“Tangtang.” A familiar voice came from ahead.
Ning Yinchen was sitting on the beach, sunglasses perched on his nose. She almost didn’t recognize him.
Last night on the yacht, he hadn’t said another word to her, drinking with friends, keeping his distance, afraid of causing her inconvenience.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” Ning Yinchen asked.
“Not sleepy, what about you?” Shen Tang sat cross-legged beside him.
“I haven’t adjusted to the time difference.” Ning Yinchen stopped staring at her, looking at the beach where the seawater had washed over. So many things he wanted to say, but in the end, he only asked one question: “Have you ever thought about playing the piano again? You have talent.”
Shen Tang shook her head. “I can’t calm down enough to play anymore. Last year, when I was a guest at a friend’s concert, I practiced a piece for several months, but I still hadn’t found the right feeling.”
Ning Yinchen’s mind was filled with countless images of him accompanying her while she practiced the piano, notes dancing on the black and white keys.
Their silence was broken by the laughter of children on the beach.
“Sorry for disturbing your peace because of my matters.” Shen Tang always felt guilty towards him. He was truly too good, so good that she couldn’t find a single flaw.
“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.” Ning Yinchen randomly drew in the sand in front of him. There was nothing to talk about regarding the past. Her present and future had nothing to do with him.
Her relationship with Xie Yucheng and Jiang Chengyu confused him. Regardless, he believed she was a good girl.
“I’m going back to my room to adjust to the time difference. You should also go back early and catch up on sleep. We don’t know how late we’ll be out tonight. Staying up two nights in a row is too much for your body.”
He supported himself to stand up.
Shen Tang smiled and waved at him.
Both of them were wearing sunglasses, so neither could clearly see the other’s eyes.
Ning Yinchen walked away, one step at a time, reluctantly and slowly.
He took out his phone and took a picture of the beach. In the crowd of people captured in the photo, only he knew which back was hers.
Shen Tang hugged her knees, resting her head on them, listening to the wind and the sea.
Her phone vibrated. It was her bodyguard’s number.
“Lu Zhifei has an appointment with Director Xiao’s secretary.”
“Okay, I know. You can come back. You don’t need to follow her anymore.”
Shen Tang hung up the phone. As she expected, Lu Zhifei went to Director Xiao to discuss cooperation.
Lu Zhifei considered it carefully and decided to collaborate with Director Xiao. Otherwise, with Shen Tang’s madness, it wasn’t impossible for her company to be ruined.
Before, with Lu Zhifei’s qualifications, Director Xiao wouldn’t have bothered. The secretary reported that Lu Zhifei mentioned Shen Tang on the phone.
He found it interesting, so he arranged for the secretary to meet Lu Zhifei.
“I have a bit of a grudge with Shen Tang.” Lu Zhifei briefly explained her conflict with Shen Tang to Director Xiao’s secretary.
The secretary nodded. “Miss Lu’s purpose for this trip?”
Lu Zhifei: “I heard Director Xiao is interested in biotechnology. I have connections to link him up, and I hope Director Xiao will protect my business here in Europe and America.”
She took out the pre-prepared documents to show her sincerity. “Please take a look.”
Half an hour later, the negotiation ended.
Lu Zhifei let out a long sigh of relief as she walked out of the Xiao Ning Group headquarters.
The rainy, foggy weather in London didn’t seem so annoying anymore.
________________________________________
Shen Tang sat on the beach for over half an hour, listening to music on her phone.
Suddenly, a dark shadow covered her. She looked up.
Jiang Chengyu half-squatted down. Due to drinking and not sleeping, his voice was hoarse. “Still can’t let him go?”
The “him” was Ning Yinchen.
Shen Tang turned her face away. “I can’t let go of you.”
Jiang Chengyu could tell she was impatiently retorting him.
Shen Tang narrowed her eyes and rested her head on her knees. “Leave me alone.”
Jiang Chengyu took off her sunglasses. “Don’t wear sunglasses when you’re sleeping.”
Shen Tang didn’t forget to reprimand him, “What were you so talkative about with Cohen regarding the early spring haute couture he wants? I might not be able to get it done.”
“Since I said it, I won’t let you be embarrassed.” Jiang Chengyu folded the sunglasses. “I’ll find connections to help you get it done. Cohen owes you a favor, and you’ll need it later.”
Shen Tang suddenly opened her eyes and looked at him. He was right in front of her, very close.
Familiar scent, familiar feeling. At this moment, even Beijing felt closer to her.
Jiang Chengyu saw several tiny red blood vessels in her eyes. She hadn’t slept all morning and came to the beach to find Ning Yinchen. How much did she miss him?
He looked into her eyes. “Do you still want to start over with me?”
Shen Tang narrowed her eyes again. “Mr. Jiang, you drank too much last night.”
Jiang Chengyu was perfectly sober. “Shen Tang, no matter how you view the past, those three years were unique to me. You have to give me some time to be with you, to give me a chance to willingly submit to you, don’t you?”
Not getting a response from her, he didn’t force it.
She wasn’t interested in dating him now; she was probably only interested in talking business.
“Miss Shen, would you like to cooperate with me?”
Shen Tang sat up straight, her eyes bright. “How do we cooperate?”
Jiang Chengyu: “...”
He hadn’t thought about how to cooperate.
But he still pretended to speak in an official tone, “My secretary will contact you then.”
He returned her sunglasses. “Let’s go back to the hotel.”
Shen Tang tossed the sunglasses onto the sand beside her, burying her face in her knees.
She wondered which was the dream.
Everything felt unreal.
________________________________________
In the new year, Shen Tang felt like she was having bad luck.
At the night’s party, Zhao Chiyi surprisingly showed up, and He Chuyao, who hadn’t made it last night, also made an appearance today.
“You insisted I come. I’d be much better off sleeping in the hotel,” Shen Tang complained.
Xie Yucheng pointed to the two bottles of wine. “Air-shipped overnight, you’re really not going to show up? Besides, if you don’t come, you’re not giving Cohen face. Attending a party like you do is the most boring.”
Shen Tang held her wine glass. “I’ll go out on the deck and enjoy the sea breeze.”
“Come back quickly.”
“Got it.”
Xie Yucheng was very generous, taking one bottle of wine and sharing it with Cohen’s other friends; he didn’t care how they distributed it. As for his bottle, only the winner would be eligible to taste it.
Cohen didn’t understand Chinese; they all spoke English.
“What game?” Cohen asked.
“Let’s play something exciting. Everyone chooses a code name, then says it once, just once.”
“Why code names?”
“During the game, if I randomly say a code name, I have to match the code name to the real name.” Xie Yucheng gave an example. “For instance, if I start this game, and you’re called Apple, and He Chuyao is called Pear, then if you say Apple, I have to reply Cohen. If you say He Chuyao, I reply Pear. We keep going, saying either the real name or the code name, and I have to reply correctly. If I don’t make a single mistake for two minutes straight, I get to drink. If I don’t match someone’s real name to their code name, I have to give that person a valuable business tip as compensation.”
Cohen understood. “Only two code names? That’s very simple.”
“All code names and names. You’re not allowed to make a single mistake.”
Cohen: “...”
With so many people and his memory, he probably wouldn’t get to drink any wine.
Xie Yucheng found paper and a pen. “First, write down the names and code names, and give them to the judge.”
He asked Ning Yinchen, “Have you thought of your code name? Just think of anything. It’s best if it’s hard for others to remember so that if they answer wrong, you’ll get a useful piece of information.”
Ning Yinchen: “Chopsticks.”
Xie Yucheng chuckled, but still wrote it down.
Back in Haitang Village when they were playing cards, they asked Shen Tang what she couldn’t pick up but couldn’t put down, and Shen Tang said it was chopsticks. Now Jiang Chengyu would surely be green with envy.
Jiang Chengyu glanced at Ning Yinchen. He had thought of his own name; he would be called Cereal Shrimp.
Xie Yucheng looked up at Zhao Chiyi, “And Mr. Zhao?”
Zhao Chiyi: “Cereal Shrimp.”
Jiang Chengyu: “...”
He glared at Zhao Chiyi.
Without Cereal Shrimp, half-baked cheesecake would have to do.
After writing Zhao Chiyi’s, Xie Yucheng wrote one for himself: “I’m Half-Baked Cheesecake.”
“...”
The only thing still somewhat related to Shen Tang was the Protea.
He Chuyao ate a skewer of grilled meat, thought for a moment, and said, “I’ll be Protea.”
Jiang Chengyu asked a waiter for a glass of red wine and drank half of it in one gulp.
Only Cohen meticulously matched their code names with their real names, afraid of getting them mixed up, memorizing them repeatedly to deepen his impression. After all, during the game, it would be a quick reaction, requiring continuous answers within two minutes.
Xie Yucheng suppressed a laugh and looked at Jiang Chengyu. “Mr. Jiang?”
Jiang Chengyu swirled his glass. “Haitang Village.”
Cohen was confused. He’d never heard of it. “What’s that?”
Xie Yucheng burst out laughing.
With that interruption, Cohen panicked. He had forgotten everything he had memorized earlier.
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