The neon lights at night were beautiful, adding brilliance to this city that had been lonely in the severe winter for so long. Chang Shengnan received Yi Zhuo's call and drove over to pick up Chang Xuyu.
A cigarette dangled between the woman's fingers. In the darkness, the scattered chill was mixed with a hint of melancholy. Under the streetlight, faint light seemed to cast on the opposite side of her, projecting two tall figures.
The sound of high heels slowly approached. Seeing them, the woman threw the half-smoked cigarette on the ground and narrowed her eyes.
Yi Zhuo carried Chang Xuyu into the car, then bent down to take one last deep look at her. A faint glimmer of starlight flickered in his eyes.
"The Awakening of Insects is coming. I thought, it's better for her to stay with you."
Yi Zhuo said flatly, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Chang Xuyu. His Adam's apple moved.
Chang Shengnan took a deep breath, watching the white mist rise slowly before her eyes. Suddenly she laughed, and patted the man on the shoulder with one hand. "Thank you, Yi Zhuo. Xuyu..."
She hesitated, lowering her eyes. After a moment of thought, she still couldn't bring herself to say anything.
Because no matter what she said, it would seem like she was forcing Yi Zhuo to understand or forgive Chang Xuyu. But in this world, no one had to unconditionally accommodate another.
In Chang Shengnan's eyes, Yi Zhuo was just a pitiable child.
Fate works like this—sometimes close, sometimes distant. Meeting at a corner, they might part at the next. One heading for a dreamy paradise, the other rushing toward the noisy marketplace.
The light in Yi Zhuo's eyes was exceptionally dim. He said slowly, "I know. You don't have to worry about this. It was my decision."
He had a business partnership with Chang Shengnan. Chang Shengnan frowned, looked at him, and sincerely asked if he would be willing to cooperate on another deal, with the lion's share of the profits going to him.
This was also the best negotiating method between businessmen could think of, and the most genuine—the only way she could comfort him now.
Yi Zhuo steadied himself.
"President Chang, you really don't need to feel burdened about this. I have benefited from your goodwill before, and I should have thanked you properly. Now, this is Xuyu's choice. You know me, no matter what she wants, I have no objection." He lowered his eyes and suddenly laughed in the wind. "But this time, I might not be able to stay by her side anytime."
Some time ago, he had received an exceptionally unfamiliar call, as if it had found him from another timeline.
It was from his father, who could no longer be called "father" after all these years.
Yi Jianye's voice had noticeably aged. On the other end of the line, he suppressed his anger. He had never thought he'd reconnect with this son, with whom he had long severed ties. After all, when his business had failed years ago, he had managed to pursue and marry the daughter of a certain business tycoon. The family's condition was that he sever all ties with the son from his previous marriage. But over the years, tycoons had come and gone. As times changed, especially in the last two years, the once booming business had shifted direction. Yi Jianye's business had grown bigger and more prominent.
But his current wife was in poor health. After an earlier setback, she could no longer conceive. As a result, the newly risen business tycoon had no children to this day.
Thus, Yi Zhuo became his sole heir.
Blood ties could not be severed. Yi Jianye no longer needed to consider others' opinions to rebuild this relationship. But he was old now, with graying temples, and had staked everything on this. In the business world, it was often necessary for two well-matched families to unite and work together. But without children, how could he accomplish this?
Without helpers and partners, his fate was usually to be slowly swallowed up.
So he urgently needed Yi Zhuo to return and marry a daughter of some wealthy family.
Yi Zhuo narrowed his eyes. His throat was dry, and he craved a cigarette.
He took a mint candy from his hoodie pocket, popped it into his mouth, and let out a breath.
Chang Shengnan couldn't quite understand. After thinking carefully, she guessed he probably meant that there would be no more future between him and Xuyu.
"Ah, Yi Zhuo, you're young and successful. There's still a long way to go. It's getting late. I'll take Xuyu back first."
The woman waved her hand. She genuinely thought this young man was good. Even if he had no fate with Xuyu, that wouldn't stop them both from having bright futures. Fortunately, Yi Zhuo wasn't such a small-minded person; he was a mature man.
She had originally thought that Xuyu and Yi Zhuo could live well together, with fireworks and a bright future.
Yi Zhuo smiled and nodded.
But only he knew that perhaps he and Chang Xuyu could never return to any time in the past.
"I will. Thank you," he said, relieved.
*
This sleep was not good. Chang Xuyu had several nightmares in a row. Struggling to escape, she woke up to find herself at her aunt's house.
Her head was dizzy. Many scattered memories could not be connected. She only remembered that Yi Zhuo had fought with Jian Jiayue, and she had quit her job.
The cozy room had walls painted light pink, decorated with nice wallpaper—flowers, plants, scenery, and laughing children.
By the floor-to-ceiling window, a paint box was neatly arranged. On an easel stood a half-opened wooden drawing board. A 2B, 8B, and 14B pencil lay in an open pencil case. A few pieces of eraser were scattered on the floor.
Chang Xuyu put on her shoes and went downstairs to see. On the drawing board was a half-finished sketch of a portrait. It was a full-factor sketch. The light-dark boundaries and the three values—black, gray, and white—were already laid down. Part of it had been blended, but the rest remained. Stumps and blending tools were casually placed on the easel. It was clear that the creator had been interrupted by something urgent and left in a hurry.
Then a long time had passed before returning, because the tape and paper had come loose, bubbling up in places, and the paper had yellowed under the bright winter-spring sun.
Chang Xuyu was dazed. She reached out and touched the drawing. Her fingertips felt a strange sensation. After such a long time, the drawing was covered with dust.
She remembered: before she got married, she had always lived at her aunt's place. Then after she got the marriage certificate with Yi Zhuo, she packed up and left this room one day. Once the door closed, it was as if she would never need to come back. Inside was the former her; outside was a new world.
Thinking carefully, she really hadn't been back for a long time.
The memories in her mind were layered and chaotic. She didn't want to think about anything now, only wanted to do one thing—
Chang Xuyu ran out of the room and found Chang Shengnan. Chang Shengnan had just taken a shower and was applying a face mask in front of the mirror. Chang Xuyu gently hugged her from behind, rested her head on her shoulder, nuzzled her like a little cat, and closed her eyes. "Aunt..."
Chang Shengnan paused, turned her head slightly, and smiled warmly in response.
Chang Xuyu asked why she was here. She turned and saw several suitcases—her suitcases.
She frowned.
"It's almost the Awakening of Insects, Xuyu. Yi Zhuo had some business, so I brought you back. Don't you remember?" Chang Shengnan said without changing expression.
Chang Xuyu was a bit confused and shook her head. She had no memory.