Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Ke Yilin was an enthusiastic person, able to strike up a conversation right away: “It’s truly a pleasure to meet such a distinguished person. There was no traffic at this hour. I came from Yutan Park and it took less than half an hour.”
Then, with a gesture to the side, “Xiao Xi, sit down.”
His voice and tone were much gentler than the previous sentence.
“This is my cousin, surnamed Zhao,” Ke Yilin smoothly introduced. “This is Xiao Xi, ha, also surnamed Zhao.”
A subtle hint, giving the two an ineffable connection.
Zhao Xi, with a polite smile, said frankly and courteously, “Mr. Zhao, nice to meet you.”
Zhao Mingchuan looked at her, not blinking for several seconds. Zhao Xi, quite composed, met his gaze without flinching. Her smile was perfectly nonchalant. Finally, Zhao Xi was the first to look away, then sat casually beside Ke Yilin, leaning in and whispering a few words to him with a smile.
Her voice was low, as if it was a tacit understanding only they could share.
Ke Yilin laughed after hearing it, “No way, I usually find him quite a steady person.”
Zhao Xi also laughed, “Isn’t that right? My classmate is interesting, isn’t he?”
Zhao Mingchuan’s ears were sharp; he heard the latter half of the sentence.
Her classmate?
Ke Yilin had met her classmate?
When a woman is willing to let you into her inner circle, it’s a certain affirmation of the relationship between the two. Whether it’s love, friendship, or family, it’s hard to say, but this person is definitely special.
________________________________________
The waiter came to refill their tea. “Sir.”
“Leave it, I’ll do it myself.”
Zhao Mingchuan lowered his eyes, cool and aloof. Before the waiter could even approach, he had already stood up, his long arm reaching across the table to snatch the teapot in front of Ke Yilin. This movement was abrupt, reckless, and truly unnecessary.
But he did it anyway, maintaining a cold and disdainful expression.
The main dishes arrived: four cold appetizers, braised meats and vegetables, moderate portions, just enough for the three of them to whet their appetites. In front of Zhao Xi was a plate of pig heart, but her chopsticks remained untouched on the plate.
Ke Yilin urged her, “Eat quickly, it tastes pretty good.”
Zhao Xi smiled, drinking water instead.
Zhao Mingchuan, however, suddenly swapped his plate of braised tofu with the pig heart. The movement was not gentle, nor was it remotely gentlemanly. The bottom of the plate clanked loudly against the table.
Ke Yilin had a puzzled expression; his cousin was acting very strangely today.
Zhao Xi, meanwhile, held her chopsticks, her fingertips pressing down on them, unconsciously exerting force.
Zhao Mingchuan, however, acted as if nothing was amiss. He casually started a conversation, “How’s work?”
Ke Yilin said, “It’s going smoothly.”
“Yesterday, I had dinner with your Chairman Qiang. Is your company planning to internalize a new material project soon?”
Ke Yilin nodded. “Yes, the profit potential is considerable.” He then sighed, “So the competition is fierce; one business department is divided into five or six teams, all eyeing it greedily.”
Zhao Mingchuan said calmly, “This project will be yours next week.”
Ke Yilin was excited, “Really?! Thank you, Brother!!”
The main courses were served, the dishes exquisite, the presentation meticulous, even the vegetable hearts were plucked at their tenderest.
“Eat more of this; it tastes quite good.”
“You should try this too.”
“More rice?”
Ke Yilin was enthusiastic with Zhao Xi, attentive to every detail. He was very considerate, even flattening a napkin and handing it to her. He said softly with a smile, “Wipe the right side.”
Actually, Zhao Xi wasn’t particularly keen on these gestures. Normally, she would have subtly and politely declined. But today, distracted, she answered everything, appearing especially docile. Ke Yilin was overjoyed, feeling his life was full of promise.
Zhao Mingchuan was very silent, occasionally moving his chopsticks, barely eating anything.
After listening to a few back-and-forths, he became impatient and put down his chopsticks and spoon.
Ke Yilin asked, “Not eating anymore?”
Zhao Mingchuan said, “You guys eat, no rush.”
Ke Yilin simply said, “Oh,” then turned back, excitedly speaking to Zhao Xi, “By the way, that medicinal wine Uncle gave me last time was really effective. Every time I drink two small sips, my knee really doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Zhao Mingchuan poured tea, the water swirling gently in the cup.
Zhao Xi: “Take it easy; that wine has an alcohol content.”
“It’s fine, I know my limits. I’ll call him in a bit.”
“Why?”
“To thank him.”
They were chatting happily, only to be coolly interrupted by Zhao Mingchuan: “You’ve talked for so long, have some tea.”
He handed over a full cup.
Ke Yilin, still in the middle of his animated conversation, took the cup without looking and brought it to his lips.
A big gulp, a huge gulp!
It was too late when he reacted; he had swallowed it all.
His face was flushed, and he quickly tried to spit it out, hissing and gasping, looking pained: “So hot! So hot!”
Zhao Xi was startled. “What happened?”
She stood up, bent over, and touched his face with both hands. “Did you burn yourself? Let me see if there are any blisters.”
Before two seconds passed, she was pulled away by a force. Zhao Mingchuan was very rude. His other hand simultaneously pinched Ke Yilin’s chin, his grip firm, and his tone aggressive: “What’s wrong with you? Can’t you check the temperature before drinking?”
The thick porcelain cup made it impossible to tell the temperature by touch. Zhao Mingchuan’s emotions were all expressed in his actions, utterly without subtlety. Scheming and cunning, he somehow managed to make it seem like the other person’s fault.
Zhao Xi’s gaze fell on him. She knew perfectly well, when has Zhao Mingchuan ever not been a jerk?
In her heart, she disdained him and found it utterly boring.
Of course, this method was effective. Ke Yilin’s enthusiasm faded, and he no longer chatted with Zhao Xi. The meal, finally, ended quietly.
________________________________________
“Brother, my parents were thinking of you a few days ago, said they wanted you to come over for dinner,” Ke Yilin said politely when they were leaving, conveying his parents’ regards.
The three walked out. Waiters passed by occasionally, greeting politely, “Mr. Zhao.”
Zhao Mingchuan nodded, then remembered something and asked, “Is your birthday next week?”
Ke Yilin was surprised, “You remember! I was afraid you were busy, so I didn’t tell you. Brother, if you have time, please come.”
Zhao Xi followed behind them, her expression calm.
Zhao Mingchuan said blandly, “No, I’m on a business trip.”
The outcome was as expected. The Zhao family was a large and thriving clan. Although they were of the same generation and not much different in age, Zhao Mingchuan’s status was a step higher. He was a spoiled young master, naturally profligate, but also bore greater responsibilities. His devil-may-care attitude was merely a facade for social occasions; without real talent and ability, he couldn’t have reached this position.
Both righteous and wicked, these younger cousins were indeed a little afraid of Zhao Mingchuan.
Ke Yilin just said “Oh,” and wasn’t too disappointed. He put on a smile, “Brother, we’ll get going now.”
Zhao Mingchuan smiled, then suddenly spoke: “You’ve finished your meal, and you’re not going to introduce me to this Miss Zhao?”
He added, “Both surnamed Zhao, quite a coincidence, family connections.”
Before Ke Yilin could respond, Zhao Xi replied calmly, “Among the Hundred Family Surnames, Zhao ranks first. So, speaking of it, there are family connections all over the streets; it’s not much of a coincidence. Mr. Zhao, you’re too kind.”
A seemingly ordinary statement, yet it had a deeply piercing effect.
Zhao Mingchuan’s face turned cold. He walked towards his car, and the black Porsche sped away in an instant.
After getting into the car, Ke Yilin, fearing Zhao Xi might be overthinking, explained, “My brother is always like this, cool and indifferent to everyone. Don’t mind it, Xiao Xi.”
Zhao Xi didn’t say anything.
“Do you know Zhaolin Group? My brother’s position there is quite challenging. He’s the only son in my uncle’s family, and everyone spoils him. When we were kids, he used to lead us into mischief, fearing nothing,” Ke Yilin said with a smile.
“Do you admire him?” Zhao Xi turned her head.
“Just a little bit,” Ke Yilin was quite honest. “My brother is very capable, and he handles social situations with ease. I feel like after more than three years of work, I haven’t even learned a fraction of what he knows.”
Zhao Xi softly hummed, “If you really wanted to learn, a fraction would be enough.”
If you learned it down to the bone, you’d learn nothing but bad things.
Ke Yilin didn’t suspect anything and changed to a more cheerful topic: “My birthday is next week. I’ll pick you up for dinner!”
________________________________________
Zhao Xi arrived home as dusk settled.
The main gate of the complex was under construction, so she had to take a small detour to get in. Both sides of the path were lined with lucky bamboo plants. The streetlights were already dim, and with the bamboo leaves, it became even darker.
Zhao Xi walked distractedly, her arms crossed over her chest.
Actually, she had met Zhao Mingchuan’s younger sister, Chu Ning, on her second day back in the country. It was a brief encounter; they didn’t even exchange many words, just exchanged contact information and parted ways.
Speaking of Chu Ning, Zhao Xi had a good impression of her. The Zhao family was a blended family. Chu Ning was her stepmother’s daughter, and while she seemed glamorous, all her hardships were hidden within. Stepmother, baggage—could those words ever sound pleasant?
To describe Chu Ning with an anachronistic phrase, she had the air of “emerging from the mud unblemished.” This girl, though appearing delicate, was full of resilience, managing her own career methodically. She spoke grandly, without airs or a sense of superiority.
Much more pleasing to the eye than Zhao Mingchuan.
Thinking of him, a vague sense of sorrow settled in Zhao Xi’s heart.
But it was irrelevant. It was old news, how long ago? After several years, in a vast city like Beijing, could a man like him really be expected to put on a show of undying remembrance?
Zhao Xi quickly adjusted her mindset, took a deep breath, looked up, and told herself to turn the page!
But as she looked up, she realized she couldn’t turn the page at all.
Three to five meters ahead, Zhao Mingchuan stood there, his dark trench coat and dark trousers making him seem to merge with the night. He looked at her, his gaze heavy.
Zhao Xi continued forward, her expression calm, passing him by.
At half a body’s length, Zhao Mingchuan grabbed her, all the day’s pent-up emotions condensed into this one sentence: “Are you pretending to be a stranger to me?”
Zhao Xi didn’t struggle. She turned her head and retorted, “Aren’t we?”
Zhao Mingchuan smiled, like a lone ghost. “Fine, strangers, strangers.” He mumbled to himself, his mood sinking.
Zhao Xi frowned. “Mr. Zhao, please let go.”
Zhao Mingchuan intensified his grip, pulling her closer, and said with an unyielding tone, “I won’t.”
Zhao Xi was also quite cold: “After a few years, you’re still the same as before, not changed a bit.”
Zhao Mingchuan: “Yes, I haven’t changed anywhere. What? Want to try?”
The bastardly tone in his words was too hurtful. Zhao Xi began to struggle. “Let go of me.”
“Aren’t you pretending to be a stranger to me? Huh?” That bastard Zhao grew angrier the more he thought about it: “What’s wrong, you got a new boyfriend and forgot your old love? You don’t recognize me when we meet?”
“What does that have to do with you?!”
“Of course it has to do with me! Ke Yilin, that brat, still calls me ‘Brother’ when we meet! You’re dating him, what kind of dating is it? Just for fun or serious?”
Zhao Xi was furious: “Serious!”
Zhao Mingchuan laughed, “Then why don’t you call me ‘Brother’ too? Hmm?”
In other people’s stories, long-awaited reunions involve rekindled old flames and pounding hearts. But not theirs; it was a constant battle, each wounding the other.
Zhao Xi became completely cold.
Zhao Mingchuan also felt utterly bored and let go on his own accord.
They walked past each other, stepping on the dim lights, on the shattered pieces, on the sadness of past memories that stirred their hearts. One in front, one behind. One didn’t look back again, and the other didn’t try to hold on.
________________________________________
Back home, she closed the door.
Zhao Xi sat on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling, lost in thought for a long time before picking up her phone.
Pei Jiajia answered quickly. “Xiao Xi, I was just about to call you. I saw a dress I like; I’ll send it to you, help me take a look.”
“Mm.”
“What’s wrong? Your voice sounds so low?” Pei Jiajia was observant. Their friendship had lasted from college to work; it hadn’t broken off even when Zhao Xi went abroad.
Zhao Xi said, “Jiajia, I ran into Zhao Mingchuan.”
Pei Jiajia wasn’t surprised at all. She sighed and said, “It was bound to happen eventually. Beijing isn’t small, but it’s not that big either. Xiao Xi, how do you feel?”
“I don’t know,” Zhao Xi admitted. “I feel like he’s changed, and yet he hasn’t.”
“Then do you despise him?”
The heart reveals the truth.
Zhao Xi thought for a moment and said, “Not really.”
Pei Jiajia immediately affirmed, “Xiao Xi, the fact that you can tell whether he’s changed or not in such a short time, what does that prove?”
“Hmm?”
“It proves that you remember your past with him vividly; you haven’t forgotten it at all,” Pei Jiajia stated clearly. “True letting go is amnesia, where you see this person again and can’t recall the smallest details about him.”
Zhao Xi clutched her phone, as if to prove her innocence, “I’ve already let him go.”
From the moment she decided to break up with him, she had been trying to let him go.
________________________________________
A week later, on the weekend, it was Ke Yilin’s birthday.
He worked at an advertising company, a cutting-edge industry, so the information he accessed was also forward-looking. His colleagues were young and cheerful, and Ke Yilin was well-liked. He invited all his friends, and they all came to support him.
The atmosphere was relaxed and lively, with singing, drinking, and dancing, nothing was missed.
Zhao Xi wasn’t familiar with them, and she wasn’t the type to be instantly familiar with strangers, so she sat quietly to the side, watching the lively scene as a pastime.
Ke Yilin was very happy today. He had drunk a bit too much, but his spirits were high. Whenever he looked at Zhao Xi, his eyes sparkled.
A few colleagues teased him quietly, their eyes glancing at Zhao Xi, accompanied by laughter, implying a clear hint of flirtation.
Ke Yilin was invigorated by their teasing. He cupped his hands and bowed, “I’ll take your good wishes. If it really happens, I’ll treat you to dinner for a week.” Then he corrected himself, “Alright! Two weeks!”
The pre-ordered cake was wheeled in—a huge, three-tiered one.
Just looking at it promised a fight.
The cake fight spectacle was timeless, and everyone was rubbing their hands in anticipation.
Zhao Xi, being astute, quietly slipped out.
As the door closed, her breathing became a little smoother. She walked along the corridor to the left, thinking of going out for some fresh air. Crystal chandeliers and polygonal mirrors adorned the walls, making it truly opulent. Zhao Xi walked and looked, passing one private room after another.
Some doors were tightly shut, others wide open. Some rooms echoed with wailing, others with off-key singing.
Zhao Xi’s steps suddenly halted. She frowned, then took three steps back, looking at the private room on the right—
Through the half-open door, familiar voices and a familiar figure.
Zhao Mingchuan stood with his broad shoulders and narrow waist turned away, his jacket off, wearing a plain black shirt underneath. His sleeves were rolled up twice, and on his wrist were a string of prayer beads and a watch, a strange but harmonious combination.
His friends were mostly drunk. A card table was set up, and they lazily leaned back in their chairs, holding cigarettes, chatting, and occasionally laughing aloud.
Their faces animated, they exuded an air of charm and recklessness.
The girls accompanying them were also chosen for their beauty, pleasing to the eye and heart, sitting there singing.
Zhao Mingchuan suddenly said, “I ran into Xiao Xi.”
His friends paused, then reacted with an explosion of sound: “She’s back in the country?!”
Zhao Mingchuan sadly nodded, “She’s back.”
Everyone was excited. “Chuanzi, what are you thinking?”
One said, “Go chase her again!”
Another chimed in, “Easy to say, Xiao Xi already doesn’t think much of him.”
This hit a nerve. Zhao Mingchuan looked up, a cigarette between his fingers, its tip facing down, tapping it against the table. “We had mutual feelings; it was just a misunderstanding that caused us to separate. What do you know?”
They’d been friends for half a lifetime, understanding each other’s unspoken meanings.
One retorted with disdain, “You’re all talk. Xiao Xi is such a lovely girl, educated, graceful, from a scholarly family, with such excellent family values. What good man can’t she find? Mutual feelings? I think you’re just lovesick.”
Zhao Mingchuan wanted to smash a wine bottle over his head. “You bastard, can’t you shut up?!”
This friend, with whom he shared a childhood friendship that defied all boundaries, was fearless and continued to debunk him: “Chuanzi, you’ve really fallen for your own kind this time.”
“What ‘own kind’?”
“Zhao Xi, both surnamed Zhao, aren’t you ‘your own kind’?”
Zhao Mingchuan’s mood immediately turned from gloomy to sunny, flattered by the term “own kind.”
Still disbelieving, one of them played along, trying to provoke him: “Chuanzi, have you and Xiao Xi ever been ‘your own kind’? I don’t think you ever have.”
Zhao Mingchuan threw a pack of cigarettes at him. “Nonsense!”
“Really?”
“Nonsense!”
“Been ‘your own kind’?”
“Nonsense!”
There was a camaraderie among the men, all friends who had grown up together causing mischief. They could support each other in everything and also confide deeply and knowingly in each other. So, when they started bantering, they didn’t have many reservations.
In a serious tone: “Chuanzi, are you capable?”
“I can beat ten of you, no problem.”
“Then how many times can you do it in one night?”
Zhao Mingchuan’s expression didn’t change. He snorted coldly, suppressed his guilt, and ‘confessed’ with genuine emotion:
“Four times.”
After he spoke, the expected laughter did not erupt.
Instead, the faces of the people sitting opposite him turned solemn, looking bewildered.
Zhao Mingchuan got annoyed. “What are you all doing, winking and grimacing? Aren’t you disgusting, you grown men?”
“Hey, hey, hey.” One person whispered, frantically winking towards the back, “Chuanzi, Chuanzi.”
Zhao Mingchuan cursed as he turned his head, “Don’t throw me those flirtatious looks, bro doesn’t fall for that...”
He turned around, saw the person, and the door crack had opened at some point, and the slender figure became increasingly clear.
Zhao Xi stood there, her face cold, her lips tightly pressed, quietly watching him.
Zhao Mingchuan’s vision went black.
Shit, what kind of situation is this?!
A capital F for FUBAR!
Google Sites
Report abuse