Chapter 38

During the two months of her summer internship, Chu Tong was entirely immersed in her work.

She didn't even have time for idle chatter during office hours, and after leaving work, she occasionally had to tackle small, scattered tasks: photo editing, manuscript revisions, and the like. Combined with her diligence and eagerness to learn, she also absorbed knowledge by studying interview articles from other media accounts, which left her with a pitifully small amount of leisure time after hours.

Shao Yihuai couldn't bear to watch this. Once she finally had two days off, he took her to a mountain resort in the northern suburbs of Beijing to escape the summer heat, ordering her to turn off her phone and take a proper vacation.

The resort, named Lingyin, was nestled near a natural spring. The surrounding area was lush with dense forests and filled with the chirping of birds, making it an ideal haven to escape the world.

The entire resort championed an eco-friendly, electricity-free model. Aside from the emergency facilities strictly necessary for operation, the use of electricity was avoided as much as possible. Illumination at night was provided by candles, and facilities like air conditioning were completely banned. There was only one way to stay cool: the natural mountain breeze.

The Maybach wound its way up the mountain road. All along the way, the vegetation grew increasingly lush, the air progressively fresher, and the hustle and bustle of the city seemed to be on the other side of the world, leaving only the soul-cleansing tranquility of the mountains.

Chu Tong found it somewhat amusing. Back in her childhood, Jiangcheng's infrastructure had been far more primitive; just a kilometer or two outside the county town, such untouched natural scenery was everywhere. Over the past twenty years, she had pushed herself to the limit to climb upward, striving to establish a foothold in a bustling metropolis of towering office buildings and dazzling neon lights. Who could have imagined that this man of immense wealth and status, standing at the very pinnacle of the capital city, would bring her here to return to simplicity and nature?

Shao Yihuai was sliding his finger across a touchpad to review documents. Hearing her low chuckle, he glanced over and asked with a smile, "What's so funny?"

Chu Tong recounted her thoughts to him.

After listening, he fell silent for a moment. "...Is the natural scenery in your hometown really that nice?"

"Of course it is. Nestled against the mountains and rivers with fresh air, it's a great place to retire." She smiled, probing his expression. "...Would you like to go and see it?"

"Hmm... We can plan it for another day."

His attention remained fixed on the files. With his eyelashes half-drooped, his pupils reflected only the faint glow of the computer screen. Chu Tong had no way of knowing whether he was just offering a polite agreement or actually taking it to heart.

As if learning a lesson from past experiences, she was unwilling to leave any lingering uncertainties to cause her needless anxiety, so she decided to nail down the plan once and for all. Putting on a casual tone, she said, "There's no time like the present—how about this winter break? You can come visit me."

Shao Yihuai froze for a full two seconds.

Then he turned his head to look at her.

Chu Tong had never been able to read his gaze, habitually defining it in the past as "unfathomable." This time, however, she felt she understood—

It was as if, rather than proposing a trip to her hometown, she had invited him to leap together off a cliff.

In his eyes were scrutiny and a quiet, resolute determination, but then all of this melted away, dissolving into a trace of tenderness. He raised a hand to stroke her head and smiled softly, "...Alright."

Suppressing the trepidation in her heart, Chu Tong smiled and said, "You sound terribly reluctant! Didn't you say before that next time it would be your turn to come look for me?"

"How could that be? I want to go and see it too."

-

When they arrived at the resort, it was precisely midday. While the city would be sweltering with trapped summer heat, here it was vibrant and green.

The two of them stayed in a secluded courtyard deep within the resort.

After dropping off their luggage, Chu Tong went out to wander around.

The style here leaned somewhat toward the Japanese aesthetic. In front of the house was a shaded veranda, and before the veranda in the front courtyard was a square pond, cast in dark shadows by a sprawling banyan tree.

The surrounding vegetation was dense, blocking out the view and offering exceptional privacy.

Shao Yihuai took a shower, changed into loose, casual long sleeves and trousers, put on sunglasses, and sat down in a wicker chair by the pond in the front courtyard to rest.

Chu Tong came out after her shower, retrieved a wide-brimmed woven straw hat from her suitcase to put on, and went out to find him.

Dressed entirely in white, he half-reclined in the sunlight, his whole figure seeming to glow. Though he was right within reach, he felt as unreachable as the stars.

As she drew closer, sensing her presence, he reached out a hand.

Chu Tong grasped his hand and lay down in his arms.

The surroundings were so tranquil that she drifted off to sleep almost without realizing it.

She was awakened by his kiss.

She heard his low voice murmur, "Babe, open your mouth."

Before her consciousness had fully returned, her body had already obeyed the command a step ahead.

With her eyes closed, she felt the suction of his lips, the tip of his tongue tangling with hers, kissing with a wet, sultry sound. She gripped his shirt tightly and, somehow, had already spontaneously lifted one leg, resting it against his palm at his side.

This drew a low chuckle from Shao Yihuai.

She was so obedient it made his heart itch.

This sense of mutual familiarity and total acceptance of each other was intoxicating, deeply indulgent.

Her skirt was hiked up, revealing her smooth, fair, full thighs in the unobstructed sunlight.

He picked her up and carried her back into the room.

The room was airy and transparent, designed with lattice sliding doors at both the front and back. At this moment, they were all wide open, making it practically no different from being exposed to the open sky.

Outside, the summer heat shimmered in the mid-air, while nearby green shade provided shelter, and a gentle breeze carrying the verdant scent of the mountain forest swept straight through the hall.

Chu Tong could even smell the fragrance of green leaves and the sweet freshness of the spring, while the cicadas chirped relentlessly in her ears.

Without air conditioning, Chu Tong had broken into a sweat, her entire face damp with perspiration. When Shao Yihuai offered to carry her to the bathroom, she lingered lazily, refusing to move, lying there with her eyes closed. Her thick eyelashes were tightly shut, and perhaps due to exhaustion and the summer heat, her alluring face now bore a stark, unadorned paleness.

She looked a little pitiful.

Shao Yihuai propped himself up on one knee against the headboard while the girl lay collapsed in his arms, sleeping restlessly.

He reached out toward the nightstand to feel for a cigarette, but instead touched her phone, which was vibrating.

Glancing over, the caller ID read:

"Li Jiahao"

Didn't he tell her to turn off her phone?

Disobedient.

Shao Yihuai pressed reject, powered off the phone, and then lit a cigarette.

The flame flared up, and smoke rose, reflecting in his half-drooped eyes.

Li Jiahao.

He had met him a few times a few years ago and only remembered him as a diligent and outstanding young man. Now that he had grown up, he was coming after a young woman.

Quite persistent.

-

When Chu Tong woke up, the sun was slanting westward, and brilliant fiery clouds spread across the sky. Lying in bed and looking out, it resembled a painting.

The resort's small kitchen had delivered dinner.

Beneath the grape arbor beside the pond in the front courtyard, Shao Yihuai was personally spreading the tablecloth, opening a bottle of red wine, and arranging the dishes one by one.

Chu Tong walked over wrapped in a blanket and asked first, "Did you turn off my phone?"

Shao Yihuai didn't even raise his head as he gave a faint, "Mn."

Chu Tong muttered softly, "Jiahao called several times, and I missed them all."

Shao Yihuai arranged the tableware, poured a glass of wine, and only then said, "...Was it something very important?"

His voice was his usual low and calm tone, devoid of any discernible emotion.

"I don't know."

"Call him back and ask."

"I did, but he didn't pick up."

Shao Yihuai said no more.

During dinner, a breathtaking view was visible simply by raising one's head. Chu Tong's heart melted. Meeting his gaze across the table, she saw his silhouette outlined against the light, his eyes dark and obscure, always seeming further away than the sunset on the horizon.

-

Logically speaking, the two-month internship should have concluded before the start of her junior year, but the senior editor at the daily newspaper appreciated Chu Tong's talent and specifically asked her to stay on as an intern.

After discussion, they agreed that once school started, Chu Tong would work in the office two days a week and remotely for three days, without needing to punch a clock.

Chu Tong intended to keep working here until the winter break arrived.

Having made this decision, she hadn't informed Shao Yihuai. It wasn't until two weeks into the semester that Shao Yihuai noticed she clearly had fewer classes scheduled yet was busier than before. When he asked what she was so busy with, he finally learned she was juggling both her studies and her internship this semester.

He didn't say anything either.

She wanted to climb higher; she wanted to spread her wings and fly. He could only be the one escorting her journey—how could he possibly hinder her?

Besides, he was busy too; as the dignified president of a major conglomerate, he had a myriad of state affairs to attend to.

Autumn in Beijing was notoriously fleeting. Traces of summer heat still lingered in early October, but by late October, the temperature difference widened, and autumn winds blew past carrying fallen leaves as the Maybach came to a steady halt within the Baisen Courtyard.

Shao Yihuai walked through the foyer and headed straight for the private dining room on the second floor that he frequently used.

Inside the small private room, Ren Mingyuan was already drinking.

Looking up when he saw him enter, Ren Mingyuan deliberately peeked behind him and asked, "Where's your little girl?"

"She's been busy lately."

Ren Mingyuan scoffed, "Could she possibly be busier than you?"

Shao Yihuai took off his suit jacket, sat down on the sofa, and lit a cigarette first.

Ren Mingyuan remarked, "You've been smoking quite a lot lately. Something on your mind?"

Shao Yihuai's eyelashes drooped halfway, his gaze seemingly fixed on the flame between his fingers, half-bright and half-shadowed.

After a long while, he finally spoke, though his words were entirely unrelated: "...Do you remember how Yi Chenze adopted a son back then?"

"I remember, Li Jiahao—a pretty decent young fellow."

It was a female voice that answered.

The two men turned toward the sound as Zhuang Wan pushed the door open and arrived fashionably late.

Dressed in a dress and a long trench coat, she first walked over to the bar to pour herself a drink. Leaning her back against the edge of the bar, she took a sip of wine and asked with a smile, "What about Li Jiahao?"

Shao Yihuai exhaled a puff of smoke, his tone flat, "He's probably pursuing Tongtong."

Both Ren Mingyuan and Zhuang Wan were startled, exchanging a glance. Zhuang Wan quietly drank her wine while Ren Mingyuan said, "That shouldn't be right. Doesn't he know about you and Tongtong..."

Mid-sentence, he caught on himself. "Tongtong didn't tell him?"

Although their interactions weren't numerous, Ren Mingyuan knew that when it came to human relations, Tongtong favored a "blissful ignorance" approach. Since Li Jiahao probably hadn't explicitly declared his pursuit, she likely hadn't bothered to mention it?

The two of them looked at Shao Yihuai's expression. Shao Yihuai let out a slight, soft sigh. "That's not important."

Unlike Ren Mingyuan, Zhuang Wan didn't ask about the details and went straight to the conclusion: "...What are your plans?"

"No plans," Shao Yihuai pinched the bridge of his nose, resting his head against the back of the sofa as he let out a deep, heavy sigh, looking somewhat exhausted. "...It's just happening a bit earlier than I anticipated."

Seeing him like this, Ren Mingyuan's heart suddenly skipped a beat. *No way.* Looking at this posture, how was it that his own brother was the one unable to let go? Had the stern warning he once given Tongtong been a mistake?

"You can't be serious. You can't let go?"

Shao Yihuai let out an ambiguous chuckle. "Hardly."

"Then there you go. Call it out in the open one of these days and make a clean break—you've already done right by her."

Zhuang Wan rolled her eyes at Ren Mingyuan. "Would you shut the fuck up?"

The topic was thus brushed aside.

The three of them gathered and chatted idly as usual. Throughout the meal, Shao Yihuai was noticeably more silent than usual.

Later on, Zhuang Wan, Ren Mingyuan, and a few others reviewed this romance together. Its starting point was vague, and its endpoint was equally vague. If they counted from the time Tongtong left Beijing to stay briefly in Hong Kong, the relationship lasted for two years, but Shao Yihuai's happiness had actually lasted for less than a year.

That night, Shao Yihuai drank more than usual.

He had Uncle Zong drive him to the West Gate of Peking University.

It was already late at night, and the dormitory gates had long since been locked.

He didn't call her either; he simply lowered the car window and smoked half a cigarette while gazing at the school gates.

-

Since the starting point of the romance was vague, naturally there was no way to calculate a one-year anniversary.

Which day should they start counting from? The night he brought her back to the school from the resort in the northern suburbs? Or the night in the private room at Baisen? Or the night he returned from a business trip on the 28th, after she sent him Nabokov's manuscript, and he brought her to Manhe?

Chu Tong was far too busy to remember anything about a one-year anniversary. Shao Yihuai had thought about it, but let it slide as well.

It wasn't until December, right before Christmas, on a weekend evening when the two of them were having dinner together, that Chu Tong thought of the upcoming Christmas Eve and asked jokingly, "Are you taking me to see the Victoria Harbour fireworks this year?"

Shao Yihuai's fingers paused as he lifted his gaze to look at her. "...Do you want to go?"

"Of course I want to go, I really want to go with you," Chu Tong took out her phone to flip through the daily newspaper's shift schedule, then checked her own daily task list. "...But I might not have the time, oh."

"I'll arrange things first, and we'll see about your schedule then."

Shao Yihuai took out his phone and gave instructions, arranging flights and booking a hotel.

Chu Tong looked at him with a grin, "I've already prepared your birthday gift!"

The Lunar New Year fell late this year, placing his birthday right before the new year, before her winter break had even started.

Chu Tong had deliberately saved some money from her personal little stash to book a resort hotel, intending to accompany him for his birthday and present her gift along the way: a pair of matching couple's rings.

They were just little trinkets bought by the roadside, not worth much, but having this physical object seemed to help retain a shred of his reality, while also constantly reminding her that he was still bearing a great deal of pressure and that she needed to grow up quickly so that these rings could be worn openly and proudly.

That was right—she feared no pressure whatsoever, as long as he stood by her side and didn't separate from her.

However, neither the promised Victoria Harbour fireworks nor the birthday trip pledged to him ever materialized, because the newspaper office assigned her a business trip. Unwilling to give up such a wonderful opportunity, Chu Tong had no choice but to stand Shao Yihuai up.

Standing each other up once meant they were even.

Upon returning from the business trip, she was immediately consumed by final exams, and as soon as they ended, winter break began.

Chu Tong hurriedly packed her luggage and returned to her hometown.

On the third day after her return, Shao Yihuai appeared in Jiangcheng.

It was a rainy night. When Chu Tong received the phone call and looked down from her family's third-floor balcony, beneath the yellowish street lamps and misty drizzle, a man dressed in a tailored suit and overcoat stood holding an umbrella.

She stared breathlessly for a long while, then turned back to say to Chu Qinghe, "Mom, I'm going downstairs to take out the trash."

She ran straight downstairs, stopped a few meters away, and came to a halt.

Shao Yihuai walked over with a smile, "Why the daze?"

His voice was low and melodious, carrying his customary gentleness. Chu Tong unexpectedly felt her eyes sting with tears; she had been far too busy these past six months, reducing their time together significantly. When they did meet, she wanted to share intimate moments with him yet longed to talk more, always feeling that time was never enough.

Chu Tong hugged him tightly, murmuring muffledly, "Why did you come?"

"Didn't you tell me to come?"

Oh, so that was it.

Her joy instantly halved.

"It's cold outside. Come stay with me at the hotel for a bit?"

Chu Tong murmured an assent. Thinking it over, she instinctively glanced back up toward her family's balcony. With the illusion of having seen a shadow flash past, Chu Qinghe probably wouldn't look for her right away, and if worst came to worst, she could just make a phone call saying she went out to buy snacks.

The best hotel in Jiangcheng was a four-star establishment located in the new district. Even in the new district, the appearance of a Beijing-plated limited-edition Maybach still drew sideways glances from passersby.

Shao Yihuai's arrival had been too sudden; the hotel suite had just been vacated and was still being cleaned, so they didn't go upstairs yet, opting instead to find a sofa in the lounge not far from the front desk.

Before they could exchange many words, Chu Tong's phone rang.

It was a call from Chu Qinghe, asking why she hadn't returned yet when she had only gone to take out the trash.

Chu Tong pulled out the excuse she had already concocted in her mind, "I suddenly wanted a drink, so I came over to buy some at the newly opened supermarket in the new district."

Chu Qinghe didn't ask any further, merely instructing her to return home within an hour.

Shao Yihuai glanced at his watch and said with a helpless resignation, "Let's go, I'll go with you."

Chu Tong froze in surprise, "That was just a lie."

Shao Yihuai looked at her as if she were a fool, "You have to follow through on the lie."

True enough.