Arriving at the school gate, Cheng Buxi pressed the door handle the moment the car stopped.
"I'm heading back, brother. Take care."
She finished quickly and politely, then turned and walked away without even a sideways glance.
Lu Tingzhou didn't even have time to speak before she was several meters away, her slender back silently conveying a sense of aversion and resistance.
His temples throbbed with tension.
Xin Ji looked at the rearview mirror and hesitated before speaking: "Boss, maybe you should find a chance to explain things to Miss Cheng. These past three years, you haven't had any freedom either. Every moment you could spare, you went to see her."
Xin Ji had held back for too long and finally spoke up.
Indeed, whether it was rushing back on New Year's Eve for just one bite of the reunion dinner before leaving again, or during the sweltering summer vacation, bringing back a box of fresh Guangzhou-style cold bean cake—limited to 50 portions daily—without even meeting her face-to-face, or during late autumn when the old master celebrated his birthday, showing up in a black suit with a gift, exchanging a distant glance before hurrying off...
These three years, he seemed to have never lingered anywhere. Even the dew on the rose leaves outside the courtyard, which bloomed at dawn and withered by dusk, lasted longer than he did. So much so that now, the two of them were neither like siblings nor enemies.
Waiting at a red light, Xin Ji witnessed his boss's dejection, humiliated in front of his little sister—the one he cherished and couldn't let go of the most.
Such an imposing, unparalleled man also had relationship problems he couldn't handle. Xin Ji, loyal and devoted, couldn't bear it anymore and couldn't help but offer a good suggestion: "Those old foxes, they're ruthless. Besides, you've been so good to Miss Cheng. She must feel it."
But was that really the case?
Still feeling aggrieved, he muttered in Cantonese, 'A person's heart isn't a stone.'
A heart indeed isn't stone, but there are times when it's harder than stone.
Speaking of Xin Ji—he started his career at sixteen, first as the right-hand man of Brother Wuzhang at the Zhaoqing Building in Wan Chai District, later followed Lu Tingzhou by chance, and witnessed him go from being a puppet in an empty shell corporation with no say, to holding great power, from a prince who was dismissed by all factions as insignificant to the youngest vice chairman in history. The hardships along the way could fill three days and nights.
Of course, Xin Ji had no idea about the drunken confession three years ago that stood between the siblings, making the situation far less simple.
In his view, it was just a spoiled little sister throwing a tantrum over her brother's long absence from home.
How simple was that?
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, a cold reprimand came from the back seat: "Shut up. You've talked too much today."
Xin Ji, well-meaning but rebuffed, zipped his mouth.
Just like the saying: the eunuch is more anxious than the emperor. Xin Ji found this conflict inexplicable but had expected the scolding.
In his line of sight, the slender figure in the color of jacaranda hadn't completely disappeared yet.
Her pace was so fast it was almost a jog, with a resolve that seemed eager to sever all ties with him.
Did she really not want him back? Was being close to him really that unbearable?
Lu Tingzhou's gaze gradually darkened, like a deep, bottomless pool.
The metallic tie clip and silver watch swayed with a unique cold gleam in the night. His shoulders and spine were still taut—a preparatory move ready to break out of the car and pull her back inside.
Of course, he still had his composure. He didn't do that.
...
Only after he saw her step through the school gate did Lu Tingzhou reluctantly withdraw his gaze.
Looking at his slightly numb reflection in the rearview mirror, something seemed to be quietly changing, verging on getting out of control.
His gaze dropped, noticing a faint lipstick mark on his white shirt collar—probably from when she cried in his arms. A light coral color, like crushed camellias in the snow.
Frowning. Had she actually put on makeup for tonight? He hadn't noticed at all. A belated realization.
What kind of friend could it be? Before, when she went out, she would at most spray some perfume and rarely wore makeup—she didn't need to; her bare face was beautiful. But tonight was different. Not only was she dressed up, but she had also put on makeup. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of friend she had gone to the movies with.
Was it a man or a woman?
"Boss, where to next?"
Xin Ji was anxious but knew he couldn't overstep boundaries. For instance, he knew that Wan Yi was just an administrative secretary. Someone like her wouldn't even have gotten through the company door without the boss's mercy, let alone be a mistress. But even so, he couldn't say a word about it in front of Cheng Buxi.
After a moment of silence, "Home," Lu Tingzhou said.
"...Not going to Huadong tonight?" Xin Ji was a bit surprised.
Lu Tingzhou hummed softly in affirmation.
Without her, it was all the same everywhere.
After saying that, he looked towards the school gate again—her little turtle shell, wishing she could hide inside and be safe.
The emperor who made decisive moves in the business empire also felt lost and unable to find his way in. A profound sense of powerlessness swept over him.
Xin Ji acknowledged the order, and the car slowly pulled away.
Lu Tingzhou's tall, solitary figure gradually faded into the darkness.
Yes, without her, everywhere was the same. No difference.
...
Back in the dormitory, everyone was basically asleep at this hour. Xiao Yingying wasn't there.
Although she wasn't present, the mess she left behind was still striking: piles of cosmetics on the desk, like a battlefield, leftover takeout boxes and a torn pair of black stockings on the floor beside Cheng Buxi's chair...
She was already in a bad mood, and seeing this only fueled her anger.
The dorm group chat had been complaining since the afternoon, saying that she had skipped class, and as soon as she woke up, she started doing her makeup nonstop, probably going on a date with her rich boyfriend from the industrial park.