The incessant ringing made the phone in my hand feel like a hot potato. Deep down, I was unwilling to lie to Mi Cai, but to maintain the rare calm between us, I had no choice but to use lies to keep things steady.
Luo Ben kicked me and said, “Why don’t you answer? The ringing is giving me a headache!”
“You must be short on oxygen from smoking too much—it’s got nothing to do with my phone ringing, damn it!”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Hurry up and answer, or else hang up!”
I stared at Luo Ben, suddenly handing the phone to him and saying, “You answer it first.”
“Who is it?”
“Mi Cai.”
Luo Ben took the phone from me, turned on the speaker, and said to Mi Cai on the other end, “This is Luo Ben.”
“Oh, Brother Luo! Why are you answering the phone? Where’s Zhaoyang?”
“He’s standing right beside me!”
I almost wanted to kick Luo Ben. What was the difference between this and answering the call myself?
Mi Cai was silent for a moment before asking, “Then why didn’t he answer the phone?”
“I have something to talk to you about. Talk with me first, then you can find Zhaoyang.”
“Okay, what do you want to talk about?”
At this point in Luo Ben’s conversation with Mi Cai, I finally felt relieved. At least it no longer seemed like I was deliberately avoiding Mi Cai. Still, I grew increasingly curious about what Luo Ben was going to talk to her about.
Luo Ben lit another cigarette, took a deep drag, and said to Mi Cai, “I don’t want to keep deceiving myself anymore. I truly have no romantic feelings for CC.”
Mi Cai on the other end either hadn’t heard clearly or was angrily demanding Luo Ben repeat himself, “Say that again.”
“I have no romantic feelings for CC. I don’t want to keep deceiving myself.”
Mi Cai fell silent for a while before finally replying, “Why are you telling me this instead of telling CC?”
“I just want you, as a woman, to tell me whether I should confess to CC. I really don’t want to hurt her.”
“I don’t know if you should tell her or not. But whether you do or not, you’ve already hurt CC… Brother Luo, you really aren’t a good man!”
Luo Ben was silent…
Finally, during his silence, I grabbed the phone, turned off the speaker, and said to Mi Cai, “Hello, it’s Zhaoyang. Luo Ben has nothing more to say!”
Mi Cai was choked up on the phone, saying, “Zhaoyang, CC cares so much about him, how can he treat CC like this?”
“Yeah, he really isn’t human!” I said, but it felt more like I was cursing myself.
“Do you also act like him? Do you only see me as a girlfriend you’re forced into dating because of my age?”
“…No, I’ve never seen you as a girlfriend I’m forced into dating because of your age.”
“If that’s true, I’ll be really happy… But I really feel sorry for CC!”
“In fact… he’s also a pitiful person. His pain isn’t less than CC’s—it might even be much more!”
“I know. He can’t forget his ex-girlfriend.”
“If even you can see that, can’t CC see it too? So…”
“But if CC already knows, why is she still with him?”
“Because there’s a kind of love called ‘moths flying into the flame.’ Maybe CC already knows how this love story will end!”
Mi Cai was silent…
I stayed silent with her for a long time before finally saying, “Don’t think too much. Your focus now should be on work… and mine too!”
“Okay… Well, you rest early. I’m going to have lunch now.”
“What good food are you eating?”
“Just something random.”
I felt a pang of concern for her, “Take good care of yourself over there. With such a heavy workload, you mustn’t be careless about your meals.”
Mi Cai softly replied, “Recently, I often think about how after returning home, I’ll be able to eat the meals you cook for me. Thinking about that, I don’t feel so tired from work anymore.”
“Okay… I’ll cook all your favorite dishes.”
“This is what you said, okay?”
“I promise.”
Mi Cai finally sounded a bit happier. We talked about many other things in life before she suddenly remembered she hadn’t eaten lunch yet. Just as she was about to hang up, I called her back, “Wait.”
“Is there something else?”
For the first time, I actively asked about her career, “This time, have you already prepared for a last-ditch effort?”
Mi Cai didn’t hide anything from me, “Yes. This time, preparing for the IPO serves two purposes: raising funds for the company’s continued development and diluting my uncle’s shares in Zhuomei. I’ve already prepared the funds through other channels to acquire the portion of shares that will be diluted.”
Even though I was on the phone with Mi Cai, I instinctively nodded. Mi Cai’s move of pushing Zhuomei’s IPO directly hit Mi Zhongde’s weak spot. Because the IPO would bring huge profits to Zhuomei’s existing shareholders, Mi Zhongde wouldn’t be able to oppose it. Once the IPO happens, the dilution of original shareholders’ shares is inevitable. After this maneuver, if Mi Cai has sufficient financial backing, she can completely suppress Mi Zhongde.
“Good luck!”
“Thanks. You should also work hard. I’m looking forward to your inn becoming your first step toward success!”
“Let’s encourage each other… Go eat lunch now.”
Mi Cai solemnly replied, “Let’s encourage each other,” before hanging up the phone.
After ending the call with Mi Cai, I finally relaxed my tense nerves and found a reason to free myself. I shouldn’t be focusing too much on emotions right now—I should devote myself fully to my career. I’m sure Jian Wei would want the same for me.
…
After a quick wash-up, I lay down beside Luo Ben. After a long silence, I finally said to him, “Actually, I’ve encountered a problem similar to yours.”
“I know. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come to me. But our situations are different.”
“What’s the difference?”
“I’ve never had romantic feelings for CC at all. But you do have feelings for Mi Cai… And Mi Cai is different from CC… She’s someone you can’t afford to hurt!”
I felt a sense of melancholy. Thinking about Mi Cai’s background and her sensitivity, if I really hurt her, it might make her wish she were dead.
Seeing my silence, Luo Ben continued, “There’s another difference too.”
“What is it?”
“Jian Wei might still have lingering feelings for you… But my ex has completely disappeared. She might even be married by now.”
“So…”
“So you, damn it, are clearly more complicated than me!”
After analyzing it this way, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. I also dreaded the day when I might have to make a choice.
As if seeing through my worries, Luo Ben comforted me again, “Don’t worry. If your ex wanted you to choose, she would’ve made you choose already—she wouldn’t wait until today… You just need to focus your heart and be with Mi Cai. If you dare to hurt such a woman even slightly, you won’t even be able to forgive yourself!”
Thinking about how Mi Cai would look after being hurt by me, I felt as if pierced by countless arrows. Hurriedly, I reached into my pocket for a cigarette, only to find the pack empty.
I said to Luo Ben, “Give me a cigarette, bro.”
Luo Ben raised the cigarette he was smoking, indicating he only had this one left.
I took the cigarette from his hand, pinched off the part touched by his lips, took a deep drag, and exhaled heavily. As if in the swirling smoke, I saw the picture I had envisioned with Mi Cai—her completely taking control of Zhuomei, and me finally gaining some small reputation in the business world thanks to the success of my inn!
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