Chapter 116: Looking Back

Lingmei’s conferences had always been top-tier.

The requirement for a trilingual host stemmed from their global clientele—many attendees were industry heavyweights. Moreover, this meeting was being live-streamed to all of Lingmei’s global branches, making it an exceptionally challenging event.

Shang Zhitao had scoured the market for suitable candidates. Bilingual hosts fluent in Chinese and English were easy to find, but adding French made things difficult. Eventually, she found a talented graduate from a foreign language institute—a beautiful woman who quoted 20,000 yuan, excluding travel expenses and taxes.

For Shang Zhitao, running a small business, that price was too steep to justify.

She brought her own black formal dress, styled her hair neatly with the help of a makeup artist, wore rented diamond earrings, and stepped into high heels, ready to take the stage. The poise she had cultivated since childhood served her well today. Her entrance carried both commanding authority and intellectual elegance.

Positioning, anchoring, smiling—she had practiced endlessly to ensure clients felt their money was well spent. Over time, she began to believe she had a natural talent for it.

Song Qiuhan, sitting beside Luan Nian, tapped the armrest of his chair to get him to stop texting and look up. Luan Nian hummed in acknowledgment and raised his head, only to see the radiant Shang Zhitao. She had just begun her opening line: “Friends, good afternoon.”

The script was beautifully written, free of clichés.

She continued: “In the northern lands, there is snow, but hearts burn with passion. Lingmei thanks you all for joining us on this icy rendezvous.”

Then came the English and French translations.

Luan Nian had never known Shang Zhitao spoke English or French. He didn’t know about the weekends she disappeared from his home, returning to her books and穿梭于北京城 to study languages and expand her knowledge.

All growth happens silently. It requires enduring patience and restraint. Those years were lonely and painful, yet they carried warmth. Shang Zhitao remembered the gentle breeze of Houhai at night, the golden leaves of Beijing’s autumn, and the hurried footsteps in the subway. Time was sliced into tiny fragments, scattered like dots across her body, seeping into her blood and bones, ultimately reshaping her.

When Luan Nian took the stage to deliver his speech, he passed by Shang Zhitao. Her confident smile reflected the assuredness of a thirty-year-old woman.

Gone was the former anxiety.

He spoke, and she returned to her seat below. Their positions had shifted again—or perhaps not at all. Luan Nian had always enjoyed her gaze, ever since the first event they worked on together.

During the forum, Shang Zhitao sat beside Luan Nian.

The guests took their seats in turn to discuss the future of digital advertising. When it was Jiang Lan’s turn, she spoke about the influence of associations and alliances on companies and practitioners in the field. Shang Zhitao’s thoughts stirred.

If she wanted to become an advertising agent, she needed to step into the game—to become an insider. After the summit ended, Jiang Lan was chatting with Luan Nian when she spotted Shang Zhitao and called her over: “Flora, come chat for a moment.”

Shang Zhitao approached her.

“I didn’t know before that you spoke French,” Jiang Lan praised her. “Your accent is pure—it shows you’ve trained hard.”

“I studied part-time a few years ago.”

“With Lingmei being so busy, how did you find time to study part-time?”

“There was time. Weekends weren’t too hectic, so I hired a tutor.”

Luan Nian suddenly understood. Those weekends she had disappeared in the early days weren’t all spent as a wedding escort—they were spent studying, quietly and without fanfare, something she had never mentioned over six years.

“Ms. Jiang,” Shang Zhitao smiled at Jiang Lan. “I’d like to ask you a question. You mentioned industry alliances and associations earlier. I’d like to inquire—how much are the membership fees for a newly established advertising agency to join?”

“The fees are secondary. What’s important is the guarantor. Do you have one?”

“What kind of person can serve as a guarantor?”

Jiang Lan pointed at Luan Nian. “Someone like your Mr. Luan here.”

Shang Zhitao glanced at Luan Nian, standing silently nearby, and nodded. “I understand, Ms. Jiang.”

“You could ask Mr. Luan to guarantee you. After all, you used to work at Lingmei, and you were under his supervision.” Jiang Lan’s eyes sparkled with amusement, purely entertained by the situation.

Shang Zhitao didn’t want to make such a request. She didn’t even have startup capital—what guarantee could she offer? Her mind was consumed with money.

Her company needed to grow, and her business needed diversification. Entering the advertising agency field was an entirely new venture. She needed to solve the issues of funding and personnel.

While everyone was tidying up the venue, she spoke with Fu Dong. He mentioned that a female classmate of his, who studied advertising, had joined an agency in Ice City after graduation and was now managing ad placements and leading a small team.

“Can I meet her?” Shang Zhitao asked.

“Of course. I brag about you in our class group every day—lots of classmates want to meet you.” Fu Dong chuckled.

“Then arrange a time after we return. Let’s meet up and learn how to proceed.”

“Alright. And then?”

“Then, figure out how to secure funds. If your classmate is willing and fits the role, we’ll recruit her, build a team, and start offering agency services to add another layer of security to our company’s operations.”

“Got it!”

As they discussed, they finished the tasks at hand. Shang Zhitao reminded Fu Dong: “Tomorrow, the clients are skiing. Ensure their safety. The day after, for the snow-viewing event, make sure the catering is flawless. The main events are over—don’t let any mishaps occur at the last minute.”

“Understood.”

“When we return to Ice City, give the team a few days off. Constant late nights will kill people, especially me.”

Shang Zhitao’s hormones were out of balance. She needed to drink traditional Chinese medicine. This would be a good opportunity to recover during the Lunar New Year break. It was also one reason she wanted to develop a new business line.

Lumi walked over and said to her: “Tonight, I’m treating you. Let’s grab dinner at the hotel buffet.”

“Sure.”

“Luke, Will, and Mr. Song will join us. Mr. Song is leaving early tomorrow morning and won’t attend the rest of the itinerary. Consider it a farewell dinner.”

“Then maybe I shouldn’t go—it’s your private affair.”

“Will insisted on inviting you.”

“Oh. Then should I arrange for the bosses to visit the bar in the evening? The hotel’s bar is decent enough. I have a friend who sings here.”

It was the singer she had met in Dali. He later wandered here and stayed for two years. Whenever Shang Zhitao came, she would sit with him for a while, listen to him sing, and chat.

“Alright. It depends on Luke. His personality has become increasingly strange these years—I’m not sure if he’ll agree to go.”

“Isn’t it better if he doesn’t go?” Shang Zhitao countered, questioning Lumi.

Lumi raised her eyebrows but said nothing. She could see that Shang Zhitao treated Luan Nian as if he were a formidable enemy or venomous snake. She didn’t know what had happened between them. Lumi wanted to talk to Shang Zhitao about it, but since Shang Zhitao didn’t bring it up, she refrained from asking.

Friendship required tact. Though Lumi seemed brash, she knew where to draw the line.

When dinner ended, Luan Nian arrived. When they went to the bar, he joined them as well.

The bar was dotted with small groups of Lingmei’s clients. Luan Nian glanced around and asked Lumi, “Do we have any plans for tonight?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll cover the tab for the clients.”

“Alright.”

Lumi walked to the front, took the microphone, and announced: “Mr. Luan has just said that he will treat all our client friends to drinks tonight. We apologize for not considering your desire to visit the bar earlier.”

Everyone applauded.

Luan Nian stood up and raised his glass: “Drink freely.”

Lumi turned to Shang Zhitao and whispered: “Will you still be covering the costs upfront?”

Shang Zhitao nodded: “Yes.”

This hotel was arranged through Xing Yi’s connections, so Shang Zhitao had only paid a small deposit. She stepped aside and called Xing Yi: “Friend.”

“What’s up?”

“I need to cover an additional expense…”

“You’ll settle it later, right?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. Then treat me to a drink when you have time.”

Shang Zhitao turned around and saw Xing Yi sitting with several people—likely colleagues from the government. She smiled and walked over to greet them. Xing Yi placed his hand on her shoulder: “Let me introduce you. These are our unit’s leaders. Tomorrow, we’re holding a business seminar here.”

Xing Yi introduced each person one by one, and Shang Zhitao pulled out her business cards, presenting them respectfully with both hands.

After exchanging pleasantries, she stepped aside with Xing Yi and asked: “Is everything going smoothly?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good. Later, I’ll find their boss and vouch for you. Don’t stress too much.”

“Alright. I’ll treat you to a drink later.”

“Drinking sounds good. Invite Shang Zhishu too.”

“…You broke up with her—why call her now?”

“Does breaking up mean we can’t invite her? I’ll call her out and have a chat.”

“What kind of chat? Are you trying to reconcile?”

Xing Yi laughed: “I’ve already finished renovating the marital home.”

The two stood to the side, chatting animatedly. Song Qiuhan observed Luan Nian’s expression from afar and noticed his lack of reaction. He then posted in their group chat: “There’s something I don’t understand.”

“What?”

“Does Mr. Luan actually like his little Tao Tao?” He sent a photo of Luan Nian into the group. Friends teased each other mercilessly, laughing heartily: “Is he lovesick or numb?”

“Honestly, I feel like I’ve seen this girl somewhere before,” Tan Mian remarked.

“You probably have—she used to work at Lingmei.” Song Qiuhan had pieced together Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao’s story over the past couple of days.

“?”

“Did you miss the chance to meet Mr. Luan’s ‘ex’?” Chen Kuannian teased them. “None of you guys are helpful. Let me investigate.”

The group burst into laughter. Meanwhile, Luan Nian ignored his phone, fully focused on listening to the music.

Shang Zhitao returned and sat down. Others had deliberately left only the side of the two-seater sofa next to Luan Nian for her. Without hesitation, she sat beside him. As she settled in, the sofa sank slightly, and Shang Zhitao shifted to create some distance between herself and Luan Nian.

“I remember Mr. Luke singing at the annual party many years ago! So handsome! I said back then I’d never seen such a charming man! How about another performance tonight to entertain everyone?” Lumi egged him on, but Luan Nian remained motionless, pretending not to hear.

“I think it’s been a long time since I sang too. Let’s do it.” Song Qiuhan stood up: “Let’s perform together.” He invited Luan Nian.

“No.” Luan Nian refused. Performing at the annual party had been forced upon him, and now he simply wasn’t in the mood.

Song Qiuhan gestured politely. Only a few close friends dared to push Luan Nian this way. Earlier, Chen Kuannian had created a separate group chat, suggesting they help Luan Nian turn his “ex” into a regular contact. Song Qiuhan’s task was to support Luan Nian in showcasing his charm.

Tan Mian added: “A man like Luan Nian—what if his feelings rust from disuse?”

Reluctantly, Luan Nian picked up a guitar, while Song Qiuhan grabbed another. They often practiced songs together as friends.

“What shall we sing?” Song Qiuhan asked.

“Anything.”

“How about You’re Beautiful ?”

“Fine.”

“Dedicated to all our client friends here tonight,” Luan Nian said.

As he sang the line, I saw your face in a crowded place, Luan Nian’s gaze met Shang Zhitao’s eyes. Just for a moment, she quickly looked away.

Over the years, whenever Luan Nian felt particularly troubled, he would fly to Ice City. Sometimes, he would sit quietly at a random street corner before flying back. He didn’t consider himself a deeply sentimental person, but during those years with Shang Zhitao, though their relationship wasn’t intensely passionate, it slowly seeped into his being. By the time he felt that his heart and soul belonged to her, she had already walked away.

Luan Nian believed he had hurt her, and she had hurt him in return.

That night, they stayed in Snow Village—a place covered entirely in pristine, cold, biting snow. He sent her a text: “Come out. I’ll wait for you on the path ahead.”

Shang Zhitao read the message but hesitated to move. She knew this encounter was inevitable, and given Luan Nian’s personality, he would definitely seek her out to talk. He would question why she sold the gifts he gave her, and he would be upset about her abrupt departure.

Shang Zhitao clearly remembered that over those six years, Luan Nian had genuinely invested himself. She recalled the fights he had fought for her, their spontaneous trip, and how kindly he treated Luke.

But relationships were like that—even with those fleeting moments of sweetness, most of their time together hadn’t been happy. During those years, Shang Zhitao had been lost in a fog, hesitant and indecisive about love, torn between hope and self-doubt. She no longer wished to return to those turbulent times.

Through the window, she saw Luan Nian standing under the lantern at the end of the path. Snow Village was already bitterly cold, but his demeanor was even colder.

Shang Zhitao sighed deeply, finally putting on her coat and stepping outside.

Her footsteps crunched in the snow. The biting cold of Snow Village made it hard to even open one’s mouth. There were no birds or sounds around—it was too cold, freezing everything in place.

Including the past.