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The time spent inside was too long; Ke Yilin came knocking on the door.
“Xiao Xi?”
The tension between them eased, and Zhao Xi, distracted, said through the door, “Coming.”
Two minutes later, she returned to her seat. Ke’s mother scrutinized her for a moment, quite worried: “What’s wrong, Xi Xi? Your complexion doesn’t look good.”
Zhao Xi smiled naturally, “I’m fine, Auntie.”
As she spoke, Zhao Mingchuan also returned to his seat. Ke’s father remarked casually: “Mingchuan’s complexion doesn’t look too good either.”
Zhao Mingchuan’s jaw was clenched, showing no relief or any extra expression. He was truly cold, distant and unapproachable. Only when an elder asked did he politely reply, “I’m fine.”
The same answer, and those who were not paying attention didn’t suspect anything. Those who were in on it, however, continued their act.
Ke Yilin tightened his grip on the spoon handle, maintaining a calm demeanor, occasionally serving Zhao Xi some food.
Zhao Xi’s chopsticks pecked indifferently at the green vegetables in her bowl; she found it hard to swallow.
Zhao Mingchuan’s behavior was even more obvious. He was never a man of hidden emotions or a slow fuse; his face clearly showed his displeasure.
“I still have things at the company. You all enjoy your meal slowly. Auntie, please take care of yourself. For your follow-up next week, contact Zhou Ming; I’ll have him arrange the time.” Never one to cooperate, Zhao Mingchuan abandoned the scene and left.
Ke Yilin maintained the host’s etiquette, standing up to see him off: “Brother, take care.”
Zhao Mingchuan said nothing, his gaze simply lingering between him and Zhao Xi for a few seconds, finally lifting his chin with a defiant and arrogant look.
Those present were not foolish; they understood the unspoken tension, their thoughts lingering in speculation among the three.
Ke’s father cleared his throat, “Eat.”
Everyone composed themselves, and the lively, homely atmosphere resumed.
________________________________________
After dinner, Ke Yilin chatted enthusiastically with Zhao Xi. The two young people looked well-matched; standing together, they were a beautiful sight. Ke’s mother was also happy and said she wanted to look at photo albums with them.
At this point, things couldn’t be allowed to get out of hand.
“Have a strawberry, this is the biggest one.” Ke Yilin held out a fruit plate, carefully placing a fork on it, sitting very close to Zhao Xi.
Zhao Xi didn’t take it, saying calmly, “Yilin, I want to be clear with you.”
Ke Yilin paused, maintaining his smile: “Have a strawberry first.”
Zhao Xi said, “Let’s just be normal friends.”
Not giving him a chance to argue, “I thought clearly about what happened yesterday. I’m sorry, I don’t think I can do it.”
They were both sitting in the living room, with Ke’s mother on the long sofa. Their conversation wasn’t particularly quiet, or perhaps, Zhao Xi simply had no intention of hiding anything.
Not only Ke Yilin was silent, but Ke’s mother was also stunned.
Zhao Xi picked up her bag and said, “Then I’ll leave first.” Her gaze swept over: “Auntie, thank you for dinner. You’ve worked hard, and please take care of yourself.”
Ke Yilin reacted suddenly, standing up and saying, “Xiao Xi.”
He stammered for a long time, flustered, only managing to blurt out: “I’ll see you out.”
“No need, it’s easy to get a taxi.”
She turned, stepped, and left without looking back.
The door locked with a crisp sound. Ke Yilin slumped onto the sofa, motionless for a long time.
Ke’s mother was a discerning person. Her face was heavy, and she sighed leisurely: “She’s a straightforward girl.”
Ke Yilin took a breath, his fingers intertwined, feeling unwilling to give up.
“Mom really likes Xiao Xi, but son, feelings depend on fate. Unrequited love easily leads to a dead end and blinds one’s eyes. Xiao Xi is a well-mannered child; she doesn’t make you awkward and is kind to people. Yilin, you must distinguish this boundary. Don’t mistake her courtesy for love. Be a man, be broad-minded. If you still like her, then try harder and continue pursuing her. Just don’t do anything foolish, understand?”
Ke’s mother spoke earnestly, with the clarity of an outsider.
Ke Yilin forced a helpless, bitter smile. “Is your son that kind of person? It’s not that serious.”
Ke’s mother nodded, relieved. “Mom was worried you wouldn’t be able to get over it quickly. It’s good that you have a plan in your heart.”
________________________________________
At a certain bar.
It was peak hour, and nightlife had just begun, but Zhao Mingchuan was already heavily intoxicated. He had come straight here from the Ke family, drinking himself into a stupor, as if trying to drown his sorrows.
His close friends were quite worried: “Chuan, if you keep drinking like this, no one will be able to carry you.”
Zhao Mingchuan sat on a high stool, his sleeves rolled up, seemingly annoyed, and his watch was taken off and casually tossed onto the table. He gulped down wine glass after glass, frustratedly ruffling his hair. “To err is human, to change divine. Who said that?”
One person replied, “Lu Xun.”
Others scoffed, “Pfft.”
Zhao Mingchuan got angry: “It’s all nonsense! I’m willing to change, but she ignores me. What exactly did I do wrong? Why does she ignore me?”
“Are you feeling wronged now? Look at the scoundrel things you used to do.”
“Don’t bring up that word to me. Do you have the right? As if you guys never acted like scoundrels before.” Zhao Mingchuan pointed a finger in the air, singling them out one by one: “I hate armchair critics the most.”
A few laughs. There were plenty of bad ideas: “There are so many girls, why does it have to be Xiao Xi?”
“What the hell do you know?!” Zhao Mingchuan grabbed a wine bottle, about to throw it at his face: “Let me warn you, some words are fine to say in front of me, but if anyone dares to utter a single word in front of Zhao Xi, we’re no longer brothers!”
These words were quite harsh. Men are not like women; their actions can be a bit rough, and their considerations differ, so being tactless can easily ruin things.
Zhao Mingchuan ripped open his collar button, “Pour the wine.”
The DJ happened to spin a track, suddenly cutting into a high-energy song. The sound effect was enormous, and the bar server didn’t hear for a moment.
“Where’s the wine, where’s the wine!” Zhao Mingchuan rattled his glass on the table with a bang, a frustrated expression on his face.
Jokes aside, his state truly worried them:
“Stop him, otherwise, something bad will happen.”
“You stop him, I wouldn’t dare.”
“How about calling Zhao Xi? A heart disease needs a heart medicine.”
“Heh, I’m afraid if the medicine comes, Chuan will die even faster.”
The few grown men looked at each other, silent and worried.
Someone suddenly said, “How about, let’s get Chu Ning to come over?”
This idea was inspiring!
Zhao Mingchuan’s “adopted” younger sister, Chu Ning, was also a feisty character. She wasn’t afraid of trouble and, more importantly, she was intelligent and sharp. There’s always someone to tame another, and they were each other’s bane, always tricking each other.
A call was made, and Chu Ning agreed quickly. In less than half an hour, she burst into the bar.
Zhao Mingchuan was happily drunk, his worries temporarily numbed. But as soon as he saw this “ancestor,” all the bad memories came flooding back, trampling over his heart.
Upon seeing his horrified expression, Chu Ning also got angry. She said coldly, “Are you crazy? Don’t you know the media loves to lurk around here? You want to be in the papers, don’t you?”
Zhao Mingchuan said gloomily, “Why are you here?”
“To collect your corpse,” Chu Ning, a sharp-tongued and fierce character, retorted. “Are you coming or not? I’m very expensive, you know. Delay one more minute and you’ll pay overtime!”
Zhao Mingchuan cursed under his breath, “Ancestors, they’re all goddamn ancestors.”
Then he reluctantly stood up, his head spinning, his steps faltering, and he swayed forward.
Chu Ning quickly supported him, pulling and dragging, putting one of his arms over her shoulder, “What a state you’re in!”
Zhao Mingchuan was drenched in alcohol fumes, masking the faint scent of men’s cologne.
He glared coldly, but his movements were quite honest, “You can help me or not.”
But then Chu Ning suddenly shrieked, “Heavens! Zhao Mingchuan, are you even still alive?! You’re as heavy as a pig!”
His physique was hard to maintain, he couldn’t endure such an insult. Zhao Mingchuan sneered, “If I’m a pig, then what are you? A sow.”
The siblings teased each other, stumbling out of the bar.
________________________________________
After taking him back to his apartment near Jianguomen, Chu Ning was drenched in sweat. She kicked the man slumped on the sofa, “Zhao Mingchuan, can you still hold on? Do you need to go to the hospital for an IV drip?”
Zhao Mingchuan buried his head and shook it.
Chu Ning was genuinely worried. She leaned closer and poked his shoulder: “Don’t tough it out. You still have a palace to inherit.”
These were meant to be two teasing remarks, but when Zhao Mingchuan turned his head to look at her, Chu Ning was startled. If his expression could be described in one word, it would be—
utter despair.
Chu Ning sighed, sitting down on the edge of the sofa, “Is it really that serious, life and death?”
Zhao Mingchuan’s voice was remarkably calm: “When you broke up with your first love back then, did you never think of dying?”
At the sudden mention of that, Chu Ning was speechless for a moment.
Tsk, what kind of talk is that?
“What’s there to die for? If there’s no feeling, then break up. It’s mutual consent; no one should hold back the other from getting rich.”
“Repeat the second sentence.”
“If there’s no feeling, then break up.”
In the light, Zhao Mingchuan’s eyes shone exceptionally brightly. “Then there you have it. What’s so hard for you to understand?”
Chu Ning fell silent. Isn’t that the truth? Desperation to die comes from still having feelings. Only by truly letting go can one be unburdened.
Zhao Mingchuan’s gaze lowered to her hand, and he smiled. “Did that guy propose to you?”
Chu Ning subconsciously curled her fingers.
“Don’t hide it, it’s good news.” Zhao Mingchuan was past his bout of despair. He sat up straight, shoulder to shoulder with her, glanced again, and scoffed, “That ring is really small.”
“I like this kind, simple and elegant. What do you know?” Chu Ning protected it, treasuring it greatly.
Zhao Mingchuan didn’t bother to argue, saying, “How’s that kid doing lately?”
“Quite well,” Chu Ning paused, then added, “We’ve signed a cooperation agreement with Mingyao Kexiang. He’ll continue doing what he’s interested in, and Mingyao will provide him with the greatest support and assistance.”
“Didn’t you and Tang Yao fall out before?” Zhao Mingchuan asked cautiously.
“When Guan Yu secretly pulled the company behind my back, to be fair, from our position, we were indeed unkind, and it’s normal for Tang Yao to be angry. However, mutual benefit and win-win are timeless truths.”
They casually discussed a few things, then returned to the main topic.
Chu Ning asked, “Are you really still thinking about Sister Xi?”
Zhao Mingchuan openly admitted, “Dying for her.”
Chu Ning said, “Does she really not want to see you now?”
He remained silent, tacitly agreeing.
Chu Ning ran her fingers through her hair, tilted her head, her smile bathed in soft light and shadow, uniquely alluring.
She said, “I have an idea for you.”
________________________________________
This idea wasn’t particularly kind. Chu Ning had recently gone through a major ordeal herself, a tumultuous, life-and-death experience with Ying Jing. She was healthy, but her hand was injured, and not lightly.
She was among the first people Zhao Xi contacted after returning to China. They had exchanged numbers, and given their good past relationship, contacting each other felt quite natural.
First, a few warm pleasantries, sincere greetings exchanged. Then, Chu Ning made her request, saying her injury had flared up again and she couldn’t drive, openly asking for help.
Zhao Xi was an unwavering friend, her heart true, and she immediately agreed to accompany her to the hospital.
On this Saturday, the two girls, walking together, made a beautiful sight at the hospital.
They had to queue for the follow-up appointment. Chu Ning looked down and exclaimed, “Oh, dear!”
“What’s wrong?” Zhao Xi asked.
“I left my X-rays in the car.”
“It’s fine, don’t move, I’ll go get them for you.”
“Thanks, Sister Xi, they’re in the trunk.”
Zhao Xi handed her the registration slip and medical record book, then walked towards the car.
Hospital parking spaces were always insufficient; there were too many cars and too many people. Coincidentally, the outpatient area was undergoing some construction, and the pedestrian/vehicle separation wasn’t effective, leading to noisy honking and yelling.
Zhao Xi looked around. Her car was parked right at an exit. There were many passing cars, making it very prone to scratches. Zhao Xi thought it would be better to park in the underground parking lot.
She started the car, turned the steering wheel, and moved forward about ten meters. Just as she turned the corner, she saw a black Land Rover driving steadily not far ahead. Suddenly, an electric scooter swerved in from the right rear, scraping against the Land Rover’s body directly.
Bang! Thud!
Screech—
The sound of the electric scooter falling to the ground and the Land Rover’s emergency brake followed one after another. Then came a wailing cry: “Ow! Ow! You hit someone!”
Zhao Mingchuan got out of the driver’s seat, jogging around to the side to look, and quickly asked, “Grandpa, are you alright?”
The old man lying on the ground was thin and scrawny, with shrewd eyes, and he yelled even louder: “It hurts, it hurts, my leg is broken, ow, ow! You can’t leave, you can’t leave!”
The old man’s hand grabbed Zhao Mingchuan’s pant leg with the strength of an ox.
Zhao Mingchuan immediately knew what was happening: it was a staged accident!
He said patiently, “Where are you hurt?”
“My bones are broken, my hand, and my hand, oh my.”
“Alright, this is a hospital. I’ll help you; let’s go get it checked out.”
Zhao Mingchuan bent down to pick him up, but was pushed away: “Don’t touch me, I can’t move, it hurts, it hurts.”
“Let go, shall I call a stretcher for you?”
“If I let go, you’ll run.”
“My car’s parked here, where would I run to? Huh?”
The old man half-lay on the ground, stubbornly refusing to move.
As they stalemated, more and more onlookers gathered. According to the script, two young men emerged from the crowd, playing the role of family members: “Dad! Dad!”
A dramatic opening, their objective clear, directly questioning Zhao Mingchuan: “How are you driving?! Is it because you’re rich that you can do whatever you want?! You hit my dad, what are you going to do about it?!”
Zhao Mingchuan was incredibly annoyed.
Every single day, what a bunch of damn nonsense.
Leaving an hour early, Beijing traffic could drive a person crazy. He had just barely made it to the hospital on time to meet Chu Ning’s schedule, and then this staged accident happened.
The family members yelled, their voices shaking the heavens: “He’s dead! My father was hit and killed by you!”
The old man on the ground was very cooperative, tilting his head as if to say, I’m dead, I’m dead.
Zhao Mingchuan pulled open his trench coat, his hands on his waist, feeling frustrated. The dash cam couldn’t capture the side and rear, so it was all about who could talk more. He wasn’t afraid of them just because they outnumbered him. In normal circumstances—
Want to die?
Fine!
He’d rev the engine, making the motor roar, and say fiercely, “I’ll give you a million yuan, just lie there. Whoever doesn’t lie there is a grandchild!”
To deal with such social scum, if you don’t give them a good scare, they might go on to harm others.
But not today!
Zhao Mingchuan had to participate in his carefully arranged “coincidence”!
He steeled his heart, choosing to settle the matter: “Speak, how much money do you want?”
The other party exchanged glances, their eyes darting cunningly. When they looked at him again, one of them shamelessly held up two fingers, saying a single word: “million.”
Zhao Mingchuan cursed under his breath, “Give me your account number.”
The triumphant joy on their faces was palpable as they quickly rattled off the numbers. Zhao Mingchuan’s hand was just about to press “confirm transfer.” Suddenly, a hand reached out and took his phone.
Zhao Xi, who had gotten out of her car at some point, stood in front of Zhao Mingchuan, her right hand holding the phone behind her back. She said calmly, “Staging an accident already violates public security regulations. Try continuing your fraud and extortion, and I’ll call the police immediately.”
The easy money had flown away; those people exploded: “He hit someone! What’s wrong with paying compensation?!”
Zhao Xi said, “You drove into yourselves. The car body is already scratched on two sides. At the 4S shop’s prices, a paint job would cost at least four thousand yuan. It’s good that we’re not asking you for compensation.”
The other party was furious: “Nonsense!”
Zhao Xi said no more, quietly tapped her phone twice, then turned the screen outwards and calmly stated, “My dash cam recorded that moment just now. I can contact the traffic police now and let them determine responsibility for the accident.”
Her car was right behind Zhao Mingchuan’s, having completely and accurately recorded the scene.
Those people, caught in the wrong, spat and walked away dejectedly.
Zhao Xi turned around, not even glancing at him, and handed him his phone. “Here you go.”
Zhao Mingchuan silently took it, his emotions complex.
There was the frustration of being witnessed in a humiliating moment by the person he loved, intertwined with the pride and joy of her actively defending him. All these emotions swirled together, enough to fry him alive.
________________________________________
They each parked their cars, side by side, getting out one after another, neither saying a word.
All the way to the outpatient clinic, Chu Ning exclaimed in surprise: “How did you two end up together?”
Zhao Mingchuan turned his head, not wanting to mention it.
Zhao Xi, however, was frank: “We just ran into each other at the entrance. Here, see if this is the X-ray.”
“Yes, yes, yes. Thanks, Sister Xi.” Chu Ning then tactfully dismissed him: “Brother, why don’t you take Sister Xi to sit outside? Hospitals have a lot of germs. Xiao Jing is already at the entrance and will be here soon.”
Zhao Mingchuan was so moved he almost cried tears of gratitude. What a good sister, what a good sister!
Zhao Xi, on the other hand, was also understanding. This coordinated act, well, she was too lazy to expose it. Further refusing would be too affected.
Zhao Mingchuan walked beside her.
He walked slowly, so she walked even slower.
He continued to slow down, and she silently followed suit.
After a few times, Zhao Mingchuan himself started to laugh. When he laughed, Zhao Xi couldn’t maintain her composure either, and the corners of her mouth turned slightly upward.
“We’re old enough to be a laughing stock,” Zhao Mingchuan self-mockingly said.
Zhao Xi also agreed, “But most of the laughter is directed at you.”
There was an opening line, eyes that met, and gazes filled with emotion.
The atmosphere naturally loosened.
Each held lingering thoughts, separated only by some unshakeable obsessions, thus creating barriers, tormenting, and competing.
Now, at this moment of truce, they intuitively understood each other, reaching the same realization.
In fact, those calculations suddenly seemed utterly meaningless.
They walked out of the hospital, retrieved the car, and got in.
The car door closed, and silence enveloped them.
The smaller the space, the more it can force out the true feelings deep within a person.
Zhao Mingchuan was accustomed to being straightforward, accustomed to being a scoundrel. His thoughts had long been laid bare and exposed to the light. Zhao Xi was different; she thought her indifference and her refusal to think about it meant she had let go.
Now, she clearly perceived the voice within her: I’m nervous.
Zhao Mingchuan spoke calmly, as if making small talk: “Do you want to go back to the outpatient clinic?”
“Hmm?”
“Chu Ning’s boyfriend, do you want to see what he looks like?”
Zhao Xi asked, “Do you have a picture?”
He thought for a moment, “I actually do.”
Zhao Mingchuan took out his phone, swiped twice, then enlarged the image with his fingers and held it close for her to see: “The one in the middle, holding the trophy.”
Zhao Xi exclaimed in surprise: “World Aviation Competition?”
“Yes, first place, quite impressive.”
Zhao Xi looked more closely. “I saw a few trending topics about him on Weibo, close-up snapshots from the event. His profile, his eyes were incredibly bright, his eyelashes very long, and there was an injury on his cheek, with the national flag behind him. It was captioned with a line of text.”
Zhao Mingchuan listened intently. “What was it?”
“If the youth are strong, then the nation is strong,” Zhao Xi found it amazing. “He’s actually Chu Ning’s boyfriend.”
Zhao Mingchuan smiled, “Strictly speaking, he’s her fiancé now. He just proposed.”
Talking about happy things naturally lightened the atmosphere.
The conversation expanded, and after a few more minutes, Zhao Mingchuan turned the steering wheel, “Let’s go, let’s have lunch together.”
Zhao Xi pursed her lips; she didn’t agree, but she didn’t object either.
The car drove onto a smooth road, encountering only green lights, unhindered.
They ascended the overpass. The sunlight was abundant, streaming through the glass into the car, gently bathing them both.
The street scenes were retreating, the trees were retreating, and memories were retreating.
Zhao Xi turned her head, quietly observing the man beside her.
After years apart, Zhao Mingchuan seemed to have not changed at all. His eyes were his most striking feature, very masculine, sharp, astute in reading people, and capable of hiding things. Like a deep, dark pool, every glance made her feel irresistibly drawn in.
Her gaze moved down two inches, to the man’s prominent Adam’s apple, which subtly bobbed, his most sensual curve.
The sunlight kissed him, like a luminous body.
Zhao Xi turned her face away, lowering her head, her eyes feeling warm.
Her fingers intertwined, crossed on her lap, unconsciously tugging.
Zhao Mingchuan’s hand silently reached over, gently covering the back of her hand—a tentative touch, careful, restrained, a wild longing.
Zhao Xi did not resist.
He seized the opportunity, gripping her hand tightly.
Only when he parked the car did he reluctantly let go. From then on, both remained silent.
Today, Beijing was as splendid as midsummer, the sky a mirror-like blue, and large white clouds adorned it beautifully.
Getting out of the car, Zhao Xi followed his steps, slowly trailing behind.
Zhao Mingchuan pressed the car lock, giving her no chance to hesitate, and once again took her hand.
Their proximity grew, so close that their body temperatures seemed to intertwine.
Zhao Mingchuan suddenly asked, “Are you cold?”
Zhao Xi didn’t hear clearly, “Hmm?”
He answered his own question, “It’s quite cold.”
Then he opened one side of his trench coat, spread his arm, and with a forceful pull, brought Zhao Xi into his embrace.
Half of his trench coat wrapped around her, encompassing both of them, encompassing two hearts.
Thump, thump.
Zhao Mingchuan whispered into her ear, his voice deep: “Xi’er, I want to have a heart-to-heart with you.”
“Give me another chance, please.”
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