That night, we were in the security of relying on each other, yet we were in pain. I seemed to fall asleep before Mi Cai, and then had many dreams about the past and the future. However, there was no clear line connecting the two, so I woke up in confusion, unable to distinguish between past and future…
I tried not to make any noise, went to the bathroom, then sat on the sofa in the living room, drank the already cold tea in one go, and then watched the wall clock go around and around. Thus, dawn came, and I saw a ray of light through the balcony, landing on the flowerpot. The plants in the pot were all carefully cultivated by Mi Cai and me. Perhaps we should take all these plants back to Xuzhou and put them in our house.
Yes, we do have a house in Xuzhou, although I often neglect it. But now it will finally be useful. Perhaps before long, it will become the wedding house for Mi Cai and me.
But I know exactly where this house came from. True, I have put a lot into the company, Luku, but I gained even more. The material gains I made last year made me arrogant and confused.
I don’t know whether I would feel guilty toward Jian Wei when Mi Cai and I move into that house. Perhaps I will, because she has given me so much, and my choice was to leave her like crossing a bridge and then pulling it down behind me. I have no doubt that she will soon face unprecedented crises, and who will be there to support her?
Xiang Chen?…
Thinking of Xiang Chen, I felt furious. Mi Cai’s current situation is partly his doing. Although our relationship was not as close as the one I had with Fang Yuan, his actions made me shiver with coldness, and I questioned him deeply. Does he still have true feelings for Jian Wei? And what exactly is the relationship between him and that woman named Chu Xinrui?
I lit a cigarette, gradually calming down between looking down and up, and went through all the recent events in my mind…
At this moment, I became suspicious and sensitive again. I recalled once more the relationship between Fang Yuan and Mi Lan. Are they still maintaining an inappropriate relationship? And how much does Yan Yan actually know about his work?
I thought a lot, and outside the window, the sky had already begun to brighten. The sunlight began to spread generously. To gain some warmth, I stood at the balcony, basking in the sunlight, and saw some people, wearing thick coats, busily pushing their electric bikes out of the community. The world I saw was beginning to operate in a familiar way again. The sound of horns, the smell of breakfast, spread in the air and were received by my senses. I knew that after a night, I had to face this world again.
But I wanted to escape a bit. I was already tired of everything in Suzhou. I certainly did not want to get involved in anything here anymore. I was eager to return to Xuzhou and start a new life. Although this life, as we imagined, was very ordinary, it was exactly what I was looking forward to. I should talk to Jian Wei, and then start handing over the work at Luku.
…
That morning, while Mi Cai was still asleep, I had already driven through the city streets straight to Jian Wei’s company. On the way, I called her. She told me that since last night, she hadn’t left the company; she had spent the night there. I could just go directly to find her. It seemed she hadn’t attended the celebration banquet for Xiang Chen and Chu Xinrui’s successful investment and takeover of Zhuomei. Last night, she was only accompanied by her work.
I slowed down, no longer in a hurry to go to Jian Wei’s company. Finally, I stopped at a breakfast shop, patiently queued with others, and bought a breakfast that I remembered was her favorite. Then I drove toward her company again. But as I approached, my mood became complicated once more. My decision to let go at this critical moment would be a significant blow to her. Although she had previously suggested that I leave Luku with the “Artistic Path” project, now I was even willing to abandon the “Artistic Path”…
A moment later, I finally arrived at Jian Wei’s company. Since it was not yet time for work, the company was very quiet, with only two cleaning staff doing their cleaning. They told me that Jian Wei was washing up in the bathroom. This was already the third night she had spent at the company. It seemed like she was working, but it was more like self-torture in desperation.
I sat on the sofa in her office waiting, looking around, I saw the mess on her desk and the crumpled documents in the trash bin. All of these proved that last night, she had also experienced painful catharsis…
Suddenly, I felt a vibration on my back. Instinctively, I took Jian Wei’s phone that had been left on the sofa. I didn’t slide the screen, but the phone’s auto-display function for text messages had already shown the content of the message and the sender’s name. This message was from Xiang Chen.
“Jian Wei, I advise you to think carefully. Don’t push our relationship to a dead end, and don’t push yourself to a dead end either!”
My emotions were stirred, and I had a strong desire to explore further. I wanted to know what exactly Xiang Chen had said to Jian Wei before. Not caring about privacy anymore, I unlocked the screen and saw the complete conversation history.
Their text message conversation started late last night, initiated by Xiang Chen. He said: “Jian Wei, a person’s tolerance has its limits. You know your parents’ situation best. Although I don’t have the ability to change their outcome, I won’t hold it against you. As long as you are willing to marry me, I can protect you for a lifetime, even your company. You can still live a life that all women would envy. Otherwise, your life is just like this. That low-class man, Zhao Yang, can’t give you anything…”
“Xiang Chen, you disgust me, you know that? Just for what you’ve done to Zhao Yang and me, you’re disgusting!… I’m already like this; there’s nothing I can’t sacrifice. You’d better get out of my sight as far away as possible.”
“You will regret it!!”
Jian Wei did not reply to Xiang Chen’s message anymore, so there was this new text message just sent, which I hadn’t had time to think through the implications when I heard Jian Wei’s footsteps. Although not as strong and confident as before, I could still recognize her.
After a brief moment of shock, I hurriedly put the phone back where it was. Almost at the same time, Jian Wei walked in. She was using tissue to wipe the water from her face, her hair was clearly uncombed and very messy. Her complexion was poor, but her expression remained as calm as always. She said to me, “Good morning…”
I mechanically replied, “Good morning.”
She looked at the breakfast I had brought, smiled, and asked again, “This is my favorite, you bought it for me?”
“Yeah, eat it while it’s hot.”
Jian Wei nodded, then picked up the breakfast and started eating. After taking a bite, she said, “…The taste is pretty good. Let me finish eating first; there’s something you can talk about later.”
I responded with a nod, watching her, my heart filled with mixed feelings…
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