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Xiao Donghan emptied his glass and then spoke, “Then from today onwards, Mr. Yan, you’ll have to keep in shape. Please excuse me.”
He went to find Wen Changyun.
At tonight’s cocktail party, Wen Changyun was the center of attention.
Whether it was Jiang Chengyu or Guan Xiangmu, they all held him in high regard. Now even Xiao Donghan had come over.
“Chairman Wen, if you have time, please come visit my manor.”
“Definitely.”
Xiao Donghan’s last remark was overheard by Yan Heyu as he walked over. He gave Xiao Donghan a faint glance. Not even in a relationship yet, and already trying to please the elders.
Regardless of whether Wen Changyun privately approved of him or not, in a social setting, he still had to offer a toast. “Chairman Wen, thank you for your hospitality that day.”
Wen Changyun offered a perfunctory smile. “It’s nothing. Please forgive any shortcomings, Mr. Yan.”
The conversation continued. Someone nearby spoke to Yan Heyu, thanking him for inviting so many people to Jiangcheng. “Welcome, Mr. Yan, to continue investing in Jiangcheng.”
Yan Heyu said, “Absolutely. I even want to be Jiangcheng’s son-in-law.”
When there were fewer people around, Guan Xiangmu lowered his voice, “You’re just short of writing your true intentions on your forehead.”
Yan Heyu: “What can I do? Xiao Donghan almost called Chairman Wen ‘Dad’.”
“You two...” Guan Xiangmu was speechless.
“I’m going out to make a call.” Yan Heyu asked Guan Xiangmu for a cigarette, picked up a lighter, and went outside the banquet hall.
He had no call to make; he just wanted some fresh air.
The pair of glasses Wen Di was wearing tonight were identical to Xiao Donghan’s.
It couldn’t be a coincidence.
He wanted to ask Wen Di if Xiao Donghan had given her the glasses, but then he decided against it. Putting aside the fact that the glasses were the same as Xiao Donghan’s, she looked really good wearing them.
He had known her for almost five years, and tonight, when he bumped into her at the banquet hall, his heart still skipped an uncontrollable beat for a moment.
Yan Heyu smoked half a cigarette and returned to the banquet hall.
He Yan messaged him, asking where he was, as he hadn’t seen him for days.
Yan Heyu: [Jiangcheng.]
Yan Heyan: [...When are you coming back?]
Yan Heyu thought for a moment. [Tomorrow night.]
He had originally planned to stay one more day but suddenly changed his mind and decided to return a day early.
________________________________________
The next afternoon, the financial forum concluded.
Xiao Donghan also had a flight that evening; he was returning to London.
When the meeting ended, he asked Wen Di if she wanted to see him off.
Wen Di said, “I don’t like seeing people off at the airport; picking them up is fine.”
“Then you can pick me up at the airport next time.” Xiao Donghan paused. “I don’t know when I’ll be back in the country next. Are you sure you’re not seeing me off?”
Wen Di nodded, quite certain.
Xiao Donghan took the glasses off her nose. She had worn them all afternoon, and there were two shallow indentations on the bridge of her nose. “Don’t wear them all the time. When I’m not around, you don’t need to see anyone clearly.”
“... Wen Di rubbed the bridge of her nose. She had worn them for several hours, and it was indeed a bit tiring.
She put the glasses into their case and put them away.
Before parting, Xiao Donghan asked her if she had a hard copy of a script that he could read on the plane to pass the time. He didn’t like romance dramas. “Try to have as little description of love as possible.”
“I have one, a historical drama.” This drama had aired in the first half of the year and received good feedback.
Wen Di sent him an electronic version of the script and told him to print it out himself.
Before getting in the car, Xiao Donghan said, “I’ll try to come back early. The restaurants in Jiangcheng are pretty good.” He seemed to have more to say but held back.
Wen Di helped him close the car door and waved goodbye.
After seeing Xiao Donghan off, Wen Di returned to her own car.
The driver started the car. She slid down the window, rested her arm on the window frame, and watched the streetscape outside the car throughout the journey. With the summit over, the park seemed to suddenly become quiet.
As dusk fell, Wen Di received a message from Xiao Donghan. He said: [Some of the lines I don’t understand. I need to look up their meaning.]
The descriptive parts were even more difficult to read.
Wen Di: [I forgot you grew up abroad and didn’t study Chinese.]
Xiao Donghan: [I’ll hire you as my Chinese teacher. I’ll follow you seriously.]
Wen Di said she had no time. [I’ll recommend a knowledgeable teacher to you.]
[Who?]
[My grandpa.]
Xiao Donghan replied: [Thanks, I’ll still self-study.]
Wen Di put down her phone and focused on organizing the content from the financial summit over the past two days. Much of it gave her inspiration for business dramas.
In the following days, Xiao Donghan didn’t contact her, and she had even less time to pay attention to him.
In late October, Jiangcheng had another rain, and the temperature dropped sharply.
Wen Di put away her thin trench coat and took out her thick one.
Every day, she went to the company with her father during the day and came back at night to write her script, working for two consecutive weeks without a break.
Grandma told her to go out and stroll around. “Aren’t you uncomfortable cooped up at home?”
“I’m used to it.”
When she was in seclusion writing scripts at the resort, she was in this state every day.
There was a difference, though. Back then, she’d spend hours on the phone every day.
Wen Di put down Wen Wen. “Then I’ll go to the commercial street to shop for some winter clothes.” She hadn’t brought much luggage when she returned to Jiangcheng, and her clothes at home were still last year’s old styles.
Today was Saturday, and the streets were crowded.
Her older and younger cousins had evening self-study, so she had to go shopping alone.
Wen Di parked her car and first went to the food street to find something to eat.
Eating alone was dull, but it had one advantage: she could eat slowly, even if the food got cold, and no one would rush her.
The last few bites of food were a bit cold, so she ate them with hot water.
Shen Tang called her, asking where she was.
“Wait for me, I’ll call you back in three minutes.”
Wen Di paid the bill, left the restaurant, and called Shen Tang back.
Shen Tang told her that in mid-November, there would be an annual grand ceremony hosted by a certain platform, and the organizers had invited her.
“If you go, I’ll prepare a gown for you.”
Wen Di asked, “Is Zhou Mingqian going?”
She wanted to ask Zhou Mingqian to direct her “Behind Desire.” He was usually busy, but if he went, she could talk to him in person at the event.
“I’ll ask for you.”
Shen Tang messaged her back ten minutes later, saying the organizers had invited Zhou Mingqian.
Wen Di had already reached the commercial street. She decided to return to Beijing in mid-November.
Shen Tang discussed what gown to wear with her, [How about trying a fashionable suit?]
Wen Di thought it was a good idea. Previously, she always wore haute couture for red carpet events; this time, she’d try a different style.
After discussing with Shen Tang, she put her phone in her pocket.
The wind was strong, so Wen Di retightened her trench coat belt.
A figure flashed by her side. “Honey, wait for me!”
A particularly cheerful voice.
It was a couple, or perhaps a newlywed young couple.
The girl jumped onto the boy’s back. The boy bent down, then carried the girl for a few steps until she slid off his back. He put her down, put his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her into a hug.
Wen Di withdrew her gaze, tightened her belt with force, and walked forward with her hands in her pockets, facing the wind.
That night, she treated herself, carrying ten-plus shopping bags home, big and small, and even bought two pieces of clothing for Grandpa and Grandma.
________________________________________
On November 8th, Wen Di took an afternoon flight back to Beijing.
Qin Xing and Shen Tang both knew Wen Di was arriving early and were aware of her flight, but neither told Yan Heyu, and Yan Heyu didn’t ask either.
He learned from the event organizers that Wen Di would be attending this year’s ceremony.
Flights from Jiangcheng to Beijing were fixed, only a few services. If Wen Di came back, she would likely go to the company.
So, in the past few days, every day after work, he would specifically pass by the film and television company and sit in Qin Xing’s office.
Qin Xing would pour him a cup of warm water and find some magazines for him to read.
Yan Heyu wasn’t interested in magazines. He asked, “No books?”
Qin Xing was busy replying to messages. He pointed to the bookshelf behind him. “They’re all for show. I don’t even know what books are there. If you want to read, find them yourself.”
Yan Heyu got up and went to look for books.
Opening the bookshelf, the first thing he saw was one of Wen Di’s books, the one she had left on their bedside table in the villa and forgotten to take with her.
Months ago, he had asked Qin Xing to give it to Wen Di.
“Qin Xing!”
Qin Xing was focused on replying to messages and was startled by the sudden shout. He patted his heart. “What?”
Yan Heyu held the book upright to show him. “Didn’t I tell you to give it to Wen Di?”
Qin Xing said helplessly, “I did, but she didn’t take it.”
At that time, he handed it to Wen Di, who placed the book on the coffee table. Later, she played with a rose from his teacup and never looked at the book again.
When she was leaving, he reminded her not to forget to take it.
She said she had already forgotten.
“I wanted to give it back to you, but I was afraid you’d feel choked up.” Qin Xing said, “If you don’t want to take it home, leave it with me. I’ll keep it safe for you, don’t worry, it won’t get lost.”
Yan Heyu: “I’ll keep it myself.”
She didn’t want it anymore.
He couldn’t abandon it too.
Sitting back on the sofa, Yan Heyu opened the book and began reading from the first page, but he found it hard to calm down and immerse himself. He read two pages and didn’t know what he was reading.
Yan Heyu glanced at his watch. It was almost seven o’clock.
“I’m leaving. You should go home early.”
Qin Xing offered to see him off, but he declined, leaving with the book in hand.
The elevator stopped on the first floor. Yan Heyu stepped out of the elevator, and the elevator door of the adjacent elevator was just slowly closing.
Wen Di pressed the button for the company’s floor, watching the red numbers flicker.
Qin Xing was still waiting for her in the office. Hearing footsteps, he suddenly looked up. “I thought it was Brother Yan.”
Wen Di was puzzled: “Huh?”
Qin Xing pointed to the water glass on the coffee table. “He just left. You didn’t run into him?”
“No.”
“I didn’t tell him you were coming back today, nor did I tell him you were coming to the company.” Similarly, he didn’t tell Wen Di beforehand that Yan Heyu was with him.
Whether they met or not sometimes really depended on fate.
If Brother Yan had left two minutes later, they might have met.
Qin Xing personally brewed coffee for her. He leaned against the bar counter. “Do we have some kind of relationship now?”
Wen Di leaned back in the sofa, looking at him. “Just say what’s on your mind.”
Qin Xing hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Wen Di, can you give me a straight answer? Is there still a chance between you and Brother Yan? I promise, I’ll keep it a secret.”
Wen Di said, “Once you’re completely heartbroken, even eating a meal or going for a stroll will leave you with after-effects. Then you won’t ask me this question.”
“I promise I won’t ask again in the future.” Qin Xing sighed silently. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I know you mean well and want to help Yan Heyu.” Wen Di looked at the coffee table. Today, there was a stem of lisianthus in the teacup, a flower she liked.
Qin Xing poured her a cup of coffee, and then they started talking about work.
“I forgot to tell you, the investment promotion conference for ‘Awakening from a Grand Dream’ two days ago, the advertising sponsorship exceeded all your previous dramas, setting a new high.”
This transitional work had been affirmed.
Few people knew about Wen Di’s state when she created this drama.
They chatted until nine o’clock, then Wen Di and Qin Xing parted ways.
On the way home, feeling bored, she opened her phone to browse her WeChat Moments and unexpectedly saw a post from Xiao Donghan.
It was just a number: [22]
Shen Tang commented, asking him: [What does that mean?]
Xiao Donghan didn’t reply.
Xiao Donghan sent a private message to Wen Di: [Aren’t you going to ask me what it means?]
Wen Di: [No, I’m afraid of knowing business secrets I shouldn’t know and being silenced.]
Xiao Donghan: [If you don’t ask, I’ll tell you anyway. I’ve been back for 22 days. If you want me to go to Jiangcheng, book me a plane ticket.]
Soon, he transferred money over and then said: [Also book one for Secretary Lu.]
Immediately after, he sent his ID.
Wen Di: “...”
[I’m not in Jiangcheng. I have work recently.]
Xiao Donghan said: [Then help me book a ticket from Beijing to Jiangcheng for a week from now, two tickets. I’ll go to Beijing for a few days first to handle some things.]
Wen Di refused: [I won’t book it.]
Xiao Donghan: [I’ll have Secretary Lu book it for you.]
After going in a circle, he still ended up booking the tickets himself.
The conversation seemed like idle chatter, but Wen Di now knew all his travel plans.
________________________________________
In Xiao Donghan’s WeChat Moments, all comments were: What does that mean?
Only Yan Heyu knew it meant 22 days since leaving Jiangcheng.
Because he, too, had been counting how long it had been since he last saw Wen Di.
Today marked exactly 22 days.
Yan Heyu was about to exit his Moments when he realized he had absentmindedly liked Xiao Donghan’s post. He then unliked it.
The friends’ group chat was buzzing, with 99+ messages in less than a few minutes.
He opened it and scrolled up to read. The day after tomorrow, there would be a small gathering at Jiang Chengyu’s house—seafood barbecue.
Qin Xing @ him: [Brother Yan, are you coming?]
Yan Heyu: [We’ll see.]
He called his driver to prepare the car; he was going back to the old mansion.
He had been busy lately and hadn’t been home for almost two weeks.
Back home, only his mother was there.
The first thing Ye Minqiong said when she saw him was, “Did you go to Jiangcheng again?”
“No.” Yan Heyu took off his overcoat and casually draped it over the back of the sofa.
He Yan wasn’t home today. He Minqiong turned off the TV. “Have you eaten?”
Yan Heyu said, “Not hungry.”
He sat down opposite his mother. Ye Minqiong brought her son some pastries and warmed him a cup of milk.
She no longer scolded her son for his outrageous behavior; her lips were almost numb from speaking.
“Have something to eat.”
Ye Minqiong asked her son, “Is there something you want to tell me?”
Yan Heyu nodded and asked, “Mom, you know I’m pursuing Wen Di, right?”
“How could I not? You almost settled down there.”
“Jiangcheng has nice scenery. I’ll take you for a stroll sometime.”
Ye Minqiong waved her hand. “I’m not going. Anyway, I have no face to see Wen Di’s parents. If someone treated my daughter like that, I’d kick him out directly. Wen Di’s parents didn’t kick you out; they gave you face.”
“Mom, I have a premonition recently that Wen Di might be starting a new relationship again.”
Ye Minqiong said, “That should be right. People’s feelings are often wrong when good, but right when bad.”
The next second, she handed her son the milk. “Drink some. Mom isn’t trying to upset you; I’m telling the truth. If she starts a relationship, you’ll just have to wait for her to break up again. What else can you do?”
Yan Heyu held the glass, and after a long moment, said, “I don’t know what to do either. When the New Year comes, and I’m not busy, I’ll take you to Jiangcheng to see my villa. If I don’t get a chance to bring Wen Di back, I’ll take you to see the place where she grew up.”
Ye Minqiong finally said, “Alright.”
________________________________________
Soon, the day of the annual grand ceremony arrived.
Wen Di put on her custom-tailored suit. Compared to the one Shen Tang bought her, this suit incorporated more fashionable elements, making it more suitable for the spotlight.
Shen Tang said there was a backup gown available for her to change into after the red carpet.
Wen Di found it troublesome. “No need.” Perhaps it was related to her writing “Behind Desire”; she now felt a certain connection when wearing a suit.
Shen Tang felt something was missing, but suits were difficult to pair with exaggerated jewelry. Overly flashy would look tacky, and nothing at all would be a bit monotonous.
While the stylist was doing Wen Di’s makeup, Shen Tang stood by, arms crossed, pondering what would be a suitable accessory.
Wen Di said, “I have glasses.”
“Hm?”
“Thin-rimmed glasses.”
The second-hand glasses she bought from Xiao Donghan would come in handy today.
After she put them on, Shen Tang said it was the perfect finishing touch.
These gold-rimmed glasses ensured she wasn’t overshadowed during the dazzling red-carpet segment.
Inside the ceremony venue, Wen Di saw Director Zhou Mingqian.
She went over to greet him and borrowed a seat next to him for a temporary rest.
Zhou Mingqian was very familiar with her, even skipping the polite small talk. “Haven’t seen you in a while. Have you been busy with ‘Behind Desire’ recently?”
“Yeah, I’ve been in my hometown.”
Wen Di didn’t expect even Zhou Mingqian to know about this script. “Did Qin Xing mention it to you?”
“Not him. The industry is bidding for it, didn’t you know?”
Wen Di hadn’t been following, as she had no intention of selling the rights anyway.
She told Zhou Mingqian, “I’m investing in it myself.”
Zhou Mingqian nodded, speaking directly, “And you plan to have me direct it? Otherwise, you wouldn’t just sit next to me. You’re just like Shen Tang, always waiting for others to come chat with you.”
Wen Di smiled, “I wonder if you’re interested.”
“Let me see the script when it’s ready.”
The first draft of the script wouldn’t be finished until after the New Year. Wen Di said she would contact him then.
Discussing cooperation with Zhou Mingqian was straightforward and efficient; no need for useless chatter. If he thought the script was good, they would directly discuss profit-sharing.
That night, the trending topics were almost entirely dominated by the ceremony’s red carpet.
Wen Di didn’t have her own trending hashtag, but she appeared in many people’s Weibo group photos.
Guan Xiangmu followed several of the main actors from “Human World Is Not as Good as You.” They had a group photo with Wen Di backstage tonight, and he casually liked it.
The car drove into Jiang Chengyu’s compound. He arrived quite late; others were already drinking.
There were two or three tables set up in the yard. Some were playing cards, some were drinking, and others were barbecuing. It was quite lively.
Around this time last year, he wasn’t familiar with Jiang Chengyu’s inner circle, just on nodding terms. His tragic romantic experiences helped him smoothly enter this circle.
When they gathered, they usually invited him.
Of course, eight out of ten times, it was at Yan Heyu’s suggestion. With him there, Yan Heyu seemed relatively happier by comparison.
Guan Xiangmu greeted Jiang Chengyu and sat down at Yan Heyu’s table.
Yan Heyu handed him a glass of red wine. He had just brought it from the wine cellar. Wen Di loved this wine, so he had someone buy more. Not long after he bought it, they broke up.
Guan Xiangmu asked him when he would go to Jiangcheng next.
Yan Heyu glanced at him. “If you want to go, go yourself. You don’t have to drag me along.” He was busy this month and couldn’t spare the time to go.
Guan Xiangmu said, “I want to see what your villa is like. If the layout is good, I’ll consider buying one.”
Yan Heyu bluntly exposed him: “Just say you want to buy one, that’s enough.”
He pushed Fan Zhisen’s contact information to him, telling him to contact Fan Zhisen himself.
“What about yours? Is it being renovated?”
“It’s almost done. I can move in during the New Year.”
Guan Xiangmu nodded and added Fan Zhisen.
Yan Heyu twirled his stemware. The lights of the courtyard reflected in the glass, dazzling and ethereal. Wen Di loved to stare at such small details and used to pull him along to look at them together.
He came back to his senses and asked Guan Xiangmu, “Have you contacted Second Aunt?”
“I contacted her once.”
When Guan Xiangmu was in Jiangcheng, he went to find Wen Qizhen. He drove alone to the industrial park to meet her that day.
When she saw him, Wen Qizhen’s eyes narrowed as she stared at him, remaining silent for a long time.
He asked her if she was free that evening to have dinner together.
She said: “What a coincidence, you didn’t come earlier. I have an appointment with the children’s father tonight to discuss their studies. Would you like to join us?”
That stab was fierce and deep.
Even now, remembering it made his heart ache a little.
Guan Xiangmu changed the subject. “This wine is good.”
After praising it, he took a sip.
As Guan Xiangmu turned his head inadvertently, he saw Xiao Donghan walking out of Jiang Chengyu’s villa. It wasn’t strange for Xiao Donghan to be here; Shen Tang was his cousin, and Shen Tang and Jiang Chengyu had already registered their marriage. Xiao Donghan was now also Jiang Chengyu’s cousin, so they were legitimate relatives. He and Yan Heyu were outsiders.
This was the first time the three of them had met since Jiangcheng.
“Mr. Guan, long time no see.”
Xiao Donghan sat down in an empty seat nearby, opposite Yan Heyu.
He casually placed his phone on the table; the screen was lit, still on the trending topics page.
“The ‘Human World Is Not as Good as You’ movie, isn’t that your investment?”
Guan Xiangmu: “No, someone else’s funds came in earlier than mine.” He didn’t know who it was; he hadn’t found the source.
Yan Heyu silently drank his wine, not participating in their conversation.
Guan Xiangmu casually asked, “Does CEO Xiao also follow entertainment trending topics?”
“Rarely,” Xiao Donghan mentioned the red carpet event tonight. “Secretary Lu said that Wen Di was the only one not wearing haute couture, so I checked the trending topics.”
Guan Xiangmu chimed in, “Wen Di stands out even without haute couture. She has an innate elegance that comes from her knowledge and cultivation.”
Xiao Donghan smiled and clinked glasses with Guan Xiangmu. “Mr. Guan really knows how to praise people. My cultural background isn’t that profound.”
At this point, Yan Heyu interjected, saying, “Indeed not profound, it’s quite evident.”
Xiao Donghan: “...”
Stung by Yan Heyu’s retort, he suddenly forgot the well-known praising phrase he had finally remembered.
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