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The lights in the screening room suddenly dimmed. Yan Heyu looked at the screen, his peripheral vision scanning Wen Di’s seat.
The cinema wasn’t very warm, so he put his coat back on.
He had rushed twice today: once when she was riding a shared bicycle, and once on the way to the movie.
About ten minutes after the film began, he became engrossed.
The scent of various snacks permeated the screening room. Yan Heyu glanced at her seat again, wondering if she was eating.
Recently, Heyan had been texting him constantly: [Brother, I’m rewatching No One Compares to You:the TV series. I have a question: some of the romantic scenes in it, did you do those for Wen Di?:Just curious]
Yan Heyu: [No. I’m watching a movie.]
Heyan didn’t disturb him again.
When the lights in the screening room came back on, people around them started to get up.
Wen Di had a habit of always waiting to hear the end credits song.
Yan Heyu clearly saw her profile again. She peeled a roasted chestnut and put it in her mouth.
Their family shared that small snack platter.
Soon, Yan Heyu’s phone vibrated. Wen Di had transferred money to him.
Yan Heyu looked up again. Her family had already gotten up and were walking out. Suddenly, Wen Di turned around. She was still carrying the leftover snacks and subtly shook the platter box at him.
He understood what she meant—it was her way of thanking him.
Yan Heyu nodded slightly in response, then replied to her message: [You gave too much. I can’t accept extra money from you.]
Wen Di was certain: [I didn’t give too much. I checked the online combo price.]
Yan Heyu explained: [It was my first order, so there was a discount.]
Wen Di: “...”
Yan Heyu: [I can’t possibly make a profit off you.]
Wen Di was also straightforward: [Then refund the extra money to me.]
Yan Heyu sent her a screenshot of the order amount: [You gave me five yuan and a bit extra.]
He had initially thought the order amount was unlucky because of the first-order discount. After deducting the discount, the remaining cents were 4.8. But at the time, there was no time to buy from another store; he had to race against the clock to have the delivery person bring it before the movie started.
Now, he felt that who knew if all seemingly unlucky numbers might bring good luck in the next moment.
Yan Heyu sent a 5.20 red packet, refunding the extra money she had given him.
The cinema was already empty. He was the last to leave.
In the car, the driver told him that Jiang Zhengqian had followed them there.
Yan Heyu almost thought he misheard: “He’s in Jiangcheng?”
“He’s right here in the mall’s underground parking.”
“Drive over there.”
The driver backed up the car, heading straight for a silver car diagonally behind them.
Jiang Zhengqian slid down the back seat window, meeting Yan Heyu’s cold gaze. Yet, he smiled faintly, “Mr. Yan watching a movie alone, how amusing.”
“I recall warning you not to track my movements. I’m here today out of respect for your father.”
“You don’t need to show respect to anyone.”
Jiang Zhengqian’s words were cut off. He scoffed, “Young man, don’t be too arrogant. These past few years, you’ve ruined three of my projects and snatched two from me. Now you’re eyeing my new project. I say, enough is enough. Don’t think I can’t do anything to you.”
Yan Heyu rested his hand on the car exterior, squinting at him. “I have to get back the profits Xiao Ning stole from me. Concession is impossible for me.”
His tone shifted. “Let’s not talk about useless things. Let’s talk about you tracking my movements again tonight. How are you going to explain yourself?”
Jiang Zhengqian laughed, finding it amusing.
Yan Heyu took out his phone to call Kang Bo. Before the call connected, he said to Jiang Zhengqian, “I think you’re regressing. My temper has changed a bit, but it’s for Wen Di. Otherwise, what did you think? That I’d change for everyone? That I’m someone you can easily control?”
Three consecutive questions.
“Mr. Yan, what are your instructions?” Kang Bo’s voice came through the phone.
Yan Heyu put the call on speaker. “Investigate Jiang Zhengqian’s whereabouts. Do it now, investigate thoroughly, send it to his wife, and CC his father-in-law as well.”
After hanging up, he looked at Jiang Zhengqian: “I’m not like you. When I investigate what you’ve done, I’ll tell you in advance. You can destroy evidence, but let’s see if you can be faster than me.”
He instructed the driver, “Let’s go.”
The black sedan slowly drove out of the mall’s underground parking.
Ten minutes later, Yan Heyu received a call from Kang Bo.
He asked his boss if Jiang Zhengqian had been nearby just now.
“Hmm.”
“Then he knows. It’ll be harder to investigate.”
“If it weren’t harder, he’d still think he’s all-powerful and amazing.”
“Okay, I understand.”
Ending the call, Yan Heyu looked out the window.
The car sped through the Jiangcheng night. At 11:30 PM, the roads were quiet and empty.
The driver interjected, “Mr. Yan, there’s no car behind us. You can rest for a bit.”
Yan Heyu hummed, indicating he understood.
He disliked dealing with people like Xiao Zhengtao and Jiang Zhengqian the most; they always resorted to unscrupulous tactics. Yet, the world of power and fame was not lacking such individuals. To deal with them, one had to be even more unscrupulous, otherwise, they wouldn’t learn their lesson.
Unlike Xiao Donghan, no matter how despicable or ruthless he was, it was only in business; he wouldn’t engage in those private schemes.
Looking back now, Xiao Green Tea still had a tiny redeeming quality.
[Brother, have you finished watching the movie?] Heyan sent him another message.
Yan Heyu snapped back to attention, [Still not asleep?]
Heyan: [Soon. Just a few cents’ worth of chat before bed. I heard the Behind Desire crew rented your villa. I really want to visit the set. This is the drama I’m most looking forward to this year.]
Yan Heyu hoped this drama would achieve great success, yet he anticipated it the least, because this drama had nothing to do with him, but it was a drama where Wen Di poured all her wealth and effort.
He hoped it would be a huge hit and would follow it, but he wouldn’t watch it as intently. He might even fast-forward through scenes involving Xiao Donghan’s character.
He clicked on Wen Di’s chat box and told her: [Good night.]
________________________________________
The next day, Wen Di received a message from Assistant Kang. The contract for that house had been signed, and the transfer of ownership would follow. He said she could go arrange the house anytime.
At noon, she received a local express delivery: the keys to that house.
“Grandpa, I won’t be reading with you this afternoon. I’m going to browse the furniture market.”
Grandpa Wen: “You go do your work.” He turned a page, then suddenly remembered, “If you can’t find suitable furniture, we have some here at home. You can take it directly.”
“No need, I want to try to find them one by one.” Wen Di rubbed Wenwen’s head and put it down.
Wenwen was reluctant to get down from her arms, rubbing against her arm again and again.
“Mom’s going to earn money for your snacks and toys.”
Wen Di changed into casual clothes and flat shoes before leaving. She didn’t let the driver take her; she drove herself. Jiangcheng had both wholesale furniture markets and high-end furniture malls. She chose the wholesale market.
When she lived in the mountain city to experience life, she rented a house with a courtyard. All the furniture in the room was carefully chosen by her.
She liked to furnish a home for the female protagonists in her stories—simple, cozy, a place to rest after a long day of work and hours of commuting.
The furniture would also reflect the style their characters would like.
As if they lived in another parallel universe.
But in the past three years, she hadn’t done anything like that again.
Because she couldn’t experience the joy of furnishing a home for love.
Today, she tried starting from scratch again.
The work group chat was lively. All the crew members had arrived in Jiangcheng that morning.
Yuan Yuan asked her, [Sister Wen Di, are you coming? We’re having a dinner party tonight, eating up the Jiangcheng food street.]
Wen Di replied with a voice message while waiting at a red light: [I’ll see tonight. I’m going to the furniture wholesale market this afternoon.]
Zhou Mingqian: [Buying furniture for the movie?]
[Yes, I bought an old house with a courtyard. I’m seeing if I can find suitable furniture.]
Yin Ziyu spoke for the female protagonist in Behind Desire: [Boss Wen, that’s not fair! Our drama features rough-and-tumble villas and large flats. The house I was in before was just a small rented apartment. I want a house with a courtyard and a night market nearby too!]
Wen Di laughed: [Red light countdown, gotta go now.]
The furniture wholesale market was in the west district. It took her almost forty minutes to get there.
Before getting out of the car, Wen Di found a mask and put it on, to avoid being recognized.
The layout of the old house was in her mind. She started furnishing from the entrance. To the right was a small kitchen, and to the left, there was enough space for a small entryway, where she could place a console table. The space wasn’t wide, so the dimensions of the console table were very important.
Wen Di walked around one floor, visiting over ten stores, finally stopping in front of an old-looking console table that had been on display for a long time. She wondered if the female protagonist, seeing the color and style of this cabinet, would happily buy it.
The owner walked over. “This cabinet is pure solid wood, and this is the last one left. It’s from a few years ago. If you want it, I’ll give you the lowest price.”
He then pointed to the back panel of the cabinet. “There’s a flaw here, otherwise it would have sold long ago. It doesn’t affect its use at all. Lean it against the wall, and no one will see it.”
Of course, many people mind new furniture with flaws.
Wen Di asked in the Jiangcheng dialect, “How much is it?”
The owner thought for two seconds, sighed, and said reluctantly, “How about this, I’ll give it to you for thirteen hundred and fifty yuan. No more bargaining. Shipping is extra. I’m not making a penny, just wasting my time and still paying rent.”
Wen Di still thought it was a bit expensive. “Can you sell it for a thousand?”
“Can’t sell it, can’t sell it, I’d lose too much.”
“Then let’s go check another store.” Suddenly, a magnetic male voice interrupted their conversation.
Wen Di quickly turned around. Yan Heyu was standing beside her.
Her eyes were puzzled. How did he find her here?
Yan Heyu gently said, “I saw a store upstairs with some nice cabinets too. Go take a look first.”
Wen Di was very cooperative and nodded.
The two left, one after the other.
“Hey, come back, come back,” the owner said helplessly, “I’ll sell it to you for a thousand, even if I lose money.”
“Let me tell you, you won’t find a cabinet of this quality for a thousand yuan anywhere else. Look at this, it’s all real material.”
“If it weren’t the last one, I definitely wouldn’t sell it.”
Even after Wen Di paid, the owner was still chattering on.
Fortunately, she was used to hearing it.
When she used to buy furniture in the mountain city, eight out of ten owners would say the same, claiming they weren’t making money.
Wen Di paid the shipping fee as well, leaving the house address and contact information.
“How did you find this place?” Wen Di asked him after leaving the store.
“I called Qin Xing to visit the set, and he said you weren’t there, that you were at the furniture market looking for furniture.” He traced his way here.
The furniture market had five floors, and he searched from the first floor up.
“Didn’t I tell you to call me when you’re furnishing the house? Remember to call me next time.”
Wen Di: “I didn’t know if I’d be interested in choosing anything, so I came to look around first.”
Yan Heyu looked at her, saying no more.
Having mostly explored this floor, they took the escalator upstairs.
Wen Di stood by the side, maintaining a proper distance from him.
Yan Heyu stepped back a little.
Wen Di said, “I didn’t expect you to even know how to help haggle.”
Yan Heyu looked at her. “You told me before how you haggle with owners.” He still remembered it.
Back then, every time she found a piece of furniture she liked, she would call him at night and vividly describe it for half an hour, even saying it was a pity he didn’t have time and wishing he could join her in Browse the market for treasures.
Wen Di didn’t respond, as they had just reached the upper floor.
Yan Heyu changed the subject in time, asking, “What else do you need to buy?”
“A folding dining table and chairs, and see if I can find a suitable desk.”
The room was too small, so they had to look for suitable dimensions.
Entering a store, Yan Heyu and Wen Di looked separately. He wanted to know if he and Wen Di would like the same furniture.
The proprietress introduced Yan Heyu to several more expensive desks. “These styles are suitable for your wife.”
Yan Heyu neither denied nor acknowledged the term “wife.”
“They’re a bit expensive, but you get what you pay for. Once you put them in your home, the quality will be different.”
Yan Heyu said, “It depends on what she likes.”
“Let me tell you, women are reluctant to spend money on expensive things for themselves. Men should be assertive when they need to be. You should know how to cherish your wife, don’t you think?”
Yan Heyu nodded.
The proprietress thought he was softening a bit and continued to introduce more items.
But Yan Heyu’s final response was still: “I’ll listen to her. We’ll buy whichever one she thinks is good.”
The proprietress was speechless and eventually didn’t even want to talk anymore.
After looking at all the desks, Wen Di asked him, “Which one do you like?”
Yan Heyu chose a very simple model, mid-range in price. He told Wen Di, “The third one from the right.”
Coincidentally, Wen Di also wanted to buy that desk. It seemed he had studied the script thoroughly and understood the protagonist’s preferences.
After haggling with the owner, they bought it.
Today was quite fruitful. Before the wholesale market closed, they had bought all the dining tables and chairs and even ordered a small-sized sofa.
Yan Heyu and Wen Di had different tastes in sofas, but they ultimately chose the set Wen Di liked.
________________________________________
Leaving the furniture market, Wen Di received a call from an unfamiliar local Jiangcheng number. She answered.
It was the delivery driver for the console table, asking if anyone was home. He wanted to deliver it before dark.
Wen Di glanced at her watch and told the driver she would be home in about half an hour.
Having confirmed the time, she told Yan Heyu, “I’m going to the house. You can go ahead and do your thing.”
Yan Heyu: “I don’t have anything else to do tonight. I’ll go with you.”
He walked around the front of the car to the passenger side, waiting for Wen Di to unlock the car.
Wen Di looked at him. “Where’s your car?”
His reason was perfectly adequate: “I knew you’d definitely drive here, so I sent them back.”
Wen Di: “...”
Not wanting to argue with him, she took out her car keys and unlocked the car.
Yan Heyu got into the passenger seat, adjusted the seat back, barely having enough space to stretch his legs.
He buckled his seatbelt, unable to remember what year it was when he last sat in her car.
They were silent for half the journey.
Yan Heyu rested his elbow on the car window, helping her look at the road conditions ahead.
“How long will Behind Desire take to finish filming?” He glanced at her as he spoke.
Wen Di: “A month at most.”
The subsequent scripts were all revised, and Zhou Mingqian was quite satisfied, saying that the scenes between the male and female leads finally had tension.
“I can now free up energy to work on your movie.”
Yan Heyu suggested, “You should go play for a few days first. You’ll be busy for another seven or eight months after this.” She liked skiing, and she definitely wouldn’t have time this year, nor probably last year either.
“While it’s still cold, find a place to ski. Leave the house furnishing to me.”
“Next month. Second Aunt is busy this month.”
Wen Di and Wen Qizhen had planned to go skiing, but Wen Qizhen was too busy this month to get away.
“Is your cousin back in school? If not, let’s have a meal together.”
“He went back to school early.”
There was nothing else to talk about after that.
Yan Heyu opened his music player and found a Cantonese song to play.
He kept the volume very low, but he remembered the lyrics, so he turned off his phone screen. When it got to the chorus, he subtly hummed along, pretending it was unintentional.
Qin Xing used to say, what woman could resist Brother Yan’s voice when he sang?
Wen Di gripped the steering wheel. He used to sing to her often.
Her thoughts drifted a bit far, but she pulled them back, glancing at him. “Have you not been to karaoke in a long time?”
“How did you know?”
“You’re off-key.”
Yan Heyu was sure he wasn’t off-key; she just wanted him to stop singing.
He turned up the music volume and stopped humming along.
The car was parked in the same spot as two days ago. They walked towards the house.
The last rays of the sunset faded, and the sky darkened.
Yan Heyu walked beside her, unconsciously wondering how she would walk if they hadn’t broken up. She would definitely lean entirely on him, dragging him along, not wanting to expend any energy.
“Wen Di.”
“Hmm?”
He pointed to the skewer shop. “Want to eat some?”
“No, the crew has a dinner party tonight.”
Yan Heyu gave up.
The delivery driver was already waiting at the courtyard gate. The cabinet wasn’t heavy, so the driver carried it directly up to the second floor.
Yan Heyu offered to help lift it, but the driver said it was easier to carry it on his back than to lift it together.
The console table was placed flush against the left wall, a perfect fit.
Wen Di stood at the kitchen door, arms crossed, staring at the cabinet. If it were three or four centimeters taller, it would look more elegant, but there were no cabinets of the right height and her preferred style on the market.
“What are you looking at?” Yan Heyu turned on the living room light.
Wen Di said, “It would be even better if it were a bit taller.” This way was fine too; putting a few books on top and a vase for decoration wouldn’t affect the overall look.
Yan Heyu pondered for a moment. “I have a way.”
“What way?”
“Add retractable support legs.”
Wen Di hadn’t thought of that method just now.
“Wait for me to come back. It might take about an hour.”
Wen Di asked his retreating figure, “What are you doing?”
“Buying support legs.”
“No rush. Wait until tomorrow morning; I’ll find a handyman to install them.”
“I’ll install them myself.”
Yan Heyu grabbed his keys and hurried downstairs.
Wen Di locked the door behind him and wandered around the house, imagining what to add where.
Her phone rang. It was Qin Xing calling, asking her what time she would arrive.
Wen Di glanced at the time. “You guys eat first, don’t wait for me. I don’t know when I’ll be done here. The console table needs a slight modification.”
“Are you at the old house?”
“Hmm.”
“Then I’ll pack a portion and send it over to you.”
Qin Xing hung up the phone without waiting for her reply.
Wen Di sent him a message: [No need to pack it and send it. I’ll eat at home.]
Qin Xing: [Got it.]
________________________________________
One hour and ten minutes later, Yan Heyu returned.
He tried to open the door with the key, but it didn’t open.
“Wen Di.” He knocked on the door. “It’s me. Open up.”
Wen Di was momentarily dazed; this scene felt very familiar.
She strode over and opened the door. “Where did you buy these?”
“I don’t know. I asked the landlord to help me get there.” Besides the support legs, he also bought a set of tools.
He had left in a hurry earlier, so Wen Di didn’t get to ask, “You know how to do this?”
“It doesn’t require much skill. I’ve watched videos, it’s very simple. Others buy support legs online and install them themselves at home.” Yan Heyu put down the toolbox, spread a cardboard sheet on the living room floor, and asked Wen Di to help him lift the console table. “Flip the cabinet over.”
After placing the cabinet, Yan Heyu took off his coat and then his watch. “Help me hold this.”
Wen Di took them. He then removed his cufflinks and gave them to her, before rolling up his shirt sleeves to his forearms.
The living room was too small, so Wen Di stepped back a few paces to give him space to work.
She leaned against the bedroom doorframe, watching him intently attach the support legs to the console table.
The soft yellow light of the living room illuminated him, casting a warm glow over his usually cold demeanor.
For some reason, the phrase “shedding all worldly adornments” came to her mind.
She wasn’t sure if she felt time was passing too quickly, or if it was inherently this short, but it seemed to take no time at all for him to attach four legs to the console table.
Yan Heyu meticulously measured each leg with a tape measure to ensure they were all the same height. Once confirmed, he set the tape measure aside. “Another favor.”
Wen Di handed him his watch. After he put it on, they worked together to lift the console table back to its original position.
Yan Heyu asked, “How is it now? Is it how you wanted it?”
Wen Di looked at it and said, “It’s even more elegant than I imagined.”
“That’s good then.”
Yan Heyu went to put away the tools.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. “Hello, food delivery. Mr. Qin ordered hotpot delivery for you.”
Wen Di quickly opened the door. Two delivery drivers had brought it, along with an electric hotpot and two sets of tableware, even hand towels.
Qin Xing had been thoughtful, also buying an extra-long extension cord.
The house had simple tables and chairs. After setting down the delivery, they explained everything clearly before leaving.
Yan Heyu used one of the towels to wipe the tables and chairs and said, “I was just thinking of having hotpot.”
Wen Di said nothing, plugged in the clean pot, started boiling the soup base, and then opened the various dishes.
Yan Heyu helped pour out the dipping sauces. It had been a very long time since the two of them had a meal together.
The house was very quiet, with only the rustling sound of the takeout bags.
They sat facing each other. Yan Heyu poured two half-glasses of drinks.
The soup base boiled, and Wen Di was putting beef into the pot.
He picked up his drink glass and lightly tapped it against the glass in front of her. “I never thought I’d be able to eat with you again, and even more, I never thought we’d circle back and meet again. Wen Di, I used to be able to give you surprises and romance, and in the future, I can also live a simple life with you.”
He added, “And the surprises won’t be any less than before.”
He poured the drink from her glass into his own glass, and then finished the entire glass himself.
Wen Di remained silent. The beef was quickly cooked. She picked it all out into two bowls, giving him the fuller one.
Yan Heyu quietly ate the beef she had cooked for him, the taste welling up in his heart making dipping sauce unnecessary.
The house was too quiet, so he opened his phone and found a song.
It wasn’t the Cantonese song from the evening; it was a different one she used to like.
A beautiful melody echoed in the empty living room.
“Dear traveler, no path is without wind and waves. There will be loneliness, there will be sorrow, and there will also be endless hope.”
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