Chapter 44

In the latter half of that year, Liang Jiahao flew to Beijing a few times to visit Chu Tong. Their topics of conversation remained the same as before: academic studies, future aspirations, and so on.

Liang Jiahao volunteered to be her Cantonese tutor and taught her a great deal.

Chu Tong learned everything quickly, especially languages. Given the right environment, she could rapidly develop a linguistic sense. After a short half-year, by the end of December when she was preparing to fly to Hong Kong, her Cantonese was already fluent and authentic.

She had coordinated her plans with Su Jingwen.

Su Jingwen had received instructions from Shao Yihuai long ago and thus paid close attention to the upcoming graduate application season at the University of Hong Kong for the next fall. In November, as soon as Chu Tong submitted her online application materials, Su Jingwen reached out to confirm her schedule for heading to Hong Kong.

The written examination was scheduled for early January. Taking advantage of the New Year holiday, the two of them requested two additional days of leave and flew to Hong Kong.

Upon landing, they headed straight for their residence.

Looking at the unfamiliar neon lights outside the car window, Chu Tong felt a turbulent storm raging in her heart.

Su Jingwen said, "The apartment is on Conduit Road in the Mid-Levels, within walking distance of the HKU campus." She tilted her head and smiled at Chu Tong, adding, "Mr. Shao arranged it for you as early as the Christmas before last."

The Christmas before last?

Wasn't that right around the time they first got together? At that time, she hadn't even slept with him yet...

Chu Tong gave an ambiguous smile, her tone entirely relaxed. "He is really nice."

Not expecting this reaction from her, Su Jingwen was momentarily stunned.

Was it because of her youth that she let go so quickly? Or did she still harbor resentment, mentioning only his favor while harboring no affection?

Perhaps because she was often the older party in relationships herself, Su Jingwen could not help but sigh softly as she said, "He is so much older than you and considered everything in advance. You could say he was just being responsible."

Chu Tong withdrew her gaze from the car window and glanced at her. Meeting her eyes, Su Jingwen smiled and said, "I didn't mean to speak on Mr. Shao's behalf, oh."

"I know," Chu Tong smiled, lowering her eyes to look at her fingertips. "He has always done things this way."

Thoughtful, considerate, attentive to every need, and responsive to every request.

He had always been this good.

So good that she had nothing to say and no reason to harbor any grievances.

Su Jingwen continued, "When you study for your master's degree, you will definitely have a great deal of projects and internships, both on and off campus. Before the semester starts, I will take you to visit the on-campus professors one by one. As for off-campus media contacts, I will also introduce them to you one by one after enrollment. However, your fellow classmates on campus must be cultivated through your own efforts. If you have high ambitions, you need to pay attention yourself."

Every single word of this had been instructed by Mr. Shao.

"Mm! I will be very diligent."

Finding her expression adorable, Su Jingwen smiled again. "We all know you are smart and hardworking, so I won't give you too many redundant warnings. There is just one thing: the family relationships in Hong Kong's upper circles are very complicated. You must be careful when making connections. If you are ever unsure about anything, feel free to ask me, or ask Liang Jiahao."

"We" all know...

Without even thinking, these words were likely instructed by Shao Yihuai as well.

Chu Tong deliberately steered away from this, feigning fright. "Is it really that scary? Very complicated?"

"Don't be afraid. The Yi family will look out for you. Mr. Shao has already spoken with cousin Chengze, and they will treat you with the affection due to a younger member of the Yi family."

No wonder. No wonder so long ago, he had taken her out to dinner with Yi Chengze. It turned out to be a way for her to recognize faces so she would know whom to turn to in the future.

Following that thread, Chu Tong asked another question, "Does the Yi family in Hong Kong hold the same status as the Shao family in Beijing?"

"More or less, but the behavioral styles of the circles in the two places are vastly different. In the Beijing circle, everyone is very low-profile; the public cannot see them, and everything is tacitly understood. In Hong Kong, everything is laid out in the open. The Yi family is an exception—politically untainted and fiercely protective of their reputation, they are deeply respected in Hong Kong."

At this, Su Jingwen smiled. "The gossip media always go easy on the Yi family and aren't so mean-spirited."

"That impressive!"

Su Jingwen sighed as well. "Indeed, it's the result of generations of cultivation by the Yi family."

Chu Tong's mind raced. "Looking at it that way, Mr. Shao's parents had a marriage of convenience, didn't they?"

Su Jingwen glanced at her. "Of course they did. It was quite a sensation at the time, considered a fairy-tale match among elite families."

"His parents loved each other, then? Otherwise, they wouldn't have incorporated both family surnames into his name."

"About that, I wouldn't know," Su Jingwen said. "I only know that the members of both the Yi and Shao families dote on him greatly. He spent a few years studying in Hong Kong when he was a child and would visit during festivals, which is why his Cantonese is so good."

At this point, Chu Tong realized the conversation kept revolving around him, so she stopped responding.

The car slowed down.

They reached their destination and passed through the security gate.

Entering the elevator, Su Jingwen instructed her to change the default passcode to the apartment.

She stood there in thought for a few seconds and changed it to 0404.

Her own birthday.

She had assumed that land in Hong Kong was worth a king's ransom and that even with his resources, it would just be an ordinary apartment. Only after stepping inside did she realize it was a luxury residence.

A spacious flat with floor-to-ceiling windows, a large terrace, and an outdoor swimming pool.

Su Jingwen led her around the apartment, pointing past the large living room windows and saying, "The feng shui of this place is exceptional—backed by mountains and facing the water. Look, across the sea over there is West Kowloon."

Chu Tong half-jokingly remarked, "He really is lavish. This must cost hundreds of millions, with such a large area and such a prime view."

"More than that."

Su Jingwen glanced at her. "Considering the possibility of you working and settling down here in the future, he had to buy the best one. It wasn't just for the sake of convenience with your studies."

Chu Tong remained silent for a long time.

He considered her work and her settlement, simply failing to consider what kind of man might stand by her side in the future.

"Oh right," Su Jingwen gestured toward the back of the apartment. "Right behind us is Victoria Peak, and the Yi family estate is on the summit. It's quite close."

"I will be cautious. I shouldn't have much interaction with the Yi family anyway. Whether it's close or far doesn't matter."

Chu Tong said nonchalantly.

Looking thoroughly surprised, Su Jingwen fell silent for a few seconds before adopting a casual tone. "Oh really? You won't interact with Liang Jiahao either? Once your interaction reaches a certain point, won't you have to visit the Yi family?"

According to Mr. Shao, Chu Tong had a distinct fondness for Liang Jiahao, which was why he had tacitly permitted and even propelled all of this—wasn't that so?

Chu Tong was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "He even considered things to that extent? Truly remarkable, what a great guy. I almost want to give him an award."

Su Jingwen was somewhat at a loss for words.

She had been talking about Liang Jiahao, yet Tongtong was still talking about Mr. Shao.

The conversation was thus shelved.

The two of them mapped out their subsequent schedule.

Su Jingwen said, "I'm heading back to Beijing the day after tomorrow. You'll have to take the written exam by yourself, and fly back to Beijing on your own afterward."

"Mm, it's fine. Jiahao will accompany me," Chu Tong said.

Upon returning to Beijing, she would need to prepare for her senior year fall semester final exams. Once her studies were taken care of, and assuming she passed the written test, she would need to fly to Hong Kong once more in February for the interview before an offer would be issued.

During the following week, Su Jingwen accompanied Chu Tong to complete the property transfer procedures, formally registering the estate under her name, and then returned to Beijing first.

Fulfilling the duties of a local host, Liang Jiahao took Chu Tong to explore nearly the entirety of Hong Kong.

Still maintaining the mindset of a tourist, Chu Tong took numerous photographs, sampled a variety of local delicacies, and even recorded short video clips to send to Chu Qinghe.

In her youth, Chu Qinghe had traveled south for work and heard many female friends speak of Hong Kong's prosperity, always harboring a deep longing for the place. She would surely be delighted to see these videos.

[Chu Qinghe: Darling, you're in an unfamiliar place, so you must mind your safety. Where are you staying?]

[Chu Tong: Mr. Shao bought me an apartment, and it's already transferred to my name! Liang Jiahao, whom I mentioned to you, has been keeping me company. Everything is well-arranged, so don't worry, Mom.]

[Chu Qinghe: You just accepted favors from him like that?]

[Chu Tong: It'd be foolish not to take what's offered. Since he's willing to be good to me, why shouldn't I accept his goodwill and let him have his way? Consider it a breakup fee. He's wealthy, and this small sum is nothing to him.]

[Chu Tong: Don't worry, Mom, I'm completely okay.]

Chu Qinghe finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Judging by her previous demeanor, she had expected her beloved daughter to throw her life away over that Mr. Shao, and probably hold her breath and refuse any of his offerings. Who would have thought that Tongtong was truly Tongtong—broad-minded since childhood, never letting anything weigh heavily on her mind, and certainly never suppressing things to make herself miserable.

[Chu Qinghe: Good darling]

-

January 15th.

On Shao Yihuai's birthday, Chu Tong was actually right inside her dormitory building at Peking University.

That night, she and Lu Zhiyun lay on their beds chatting.

Lu Zhiyun asked her, "Today is Brother Shao's birthday, right? Did you message him?"

"No."

Chu Tong smiled. "He doesn't need my blessings."

Lu Zhiyun squinted at her deliberately. "You've changed. Your heart is so ruthless."

Chu Tong simply giggled. "This is called making progress."

If she had undergone any changes or progress, it was all taught by Shao Yihuai.

He had taught her to remain unruffled, taught her how to navigate human relations. Having followed him for nearly two years, she had inevitably picked up a few things.

"Hey, you have no idea. The very second day after you left, I ran into him by the West Gate," Lu Zhiyun said, looking as if lingering fear still gripped her. "You told me to keep it a secret from him, and acting was so exhausting. I almost broke character, purposely widening my eyes and acting super surprised as I said, 'Ah, you didn't know? Tongtong left yesterday.'"

Chu Tong instinctively wanted to ask what his expression had been like at the time, but biting her tongue, she held back.

Lu Zhiyun glanced at her complexion and, looking as though she understood everything, said, "His expression was completely normal, not a single ripple."

That figures.

Nothing could ever shake that man.

Intent on lightening the mood, Lu Zhiyun laughed and said, "Brother Shao must be a fool, thinking both Jingwen and I were his informants, only to find out we'd been subverted by you long ago, hahaha."

Actually, he was overthinking it. There was completely no need to dispatch any informants, and even less need to keep throwing money at her.

Chu Tong thought to herself.

She wouldn't hold any resentment toward him—not a single shred. She would only remember the good things he did.

Whether it could be considered good news or not, ever since she sneaked off to Hong Kong behind his back, Shao Yihuai's bi-weekly WeChat contacts had stopped.

Following that, gifts and the like ceased as well.

During this winter, she and him could truly be considered to have gone their separate ways.

If counted that way, then she and him had spent a complete two years together.

-

The Chinese Department's examination week was always chaotic and grueling, with a vast amount of content to memorize, keeping Chu Tong up to her ears in work.

Having finally cleared her academic burdens, she flew back to Hong Kong once more to attend the interview.

The interview was conducted entirely in English, testing not only knowledge reserves but also news sensitivity, impromptu reaction skills, and more. A single session was even more exhausting than the written exam.

Fortunately, the examiners' responses were positive, giving Chu Tong peace of mind—her offer was practically guaranteed.

After the interview, she packed her luggage and hailed a cab from her Conduit Road residence to the airport.

Dragging her suitcase through the airport, she gazed outside through the crystal-clear glass while waiting to board.

The plane had already arrived, the boarding bridge was in place, and boarding was about to commence.

Lost in a daze while looking at the night scenery, she unexpectedly caught her own reflection in the glass.

Meeting her own gaze so abruptly from the outside, she suddenly realized just how much she had matured.

Wearing a linen maxi dress paired with a long trench coat, Chelsea boots on her feet, and straight black hair draped over her shoulders, she truly resembled a sophisticated urban woman.

Her gaze was remarkably calm.

Shao Yihuai had never been stingy with his praise for her. Once, in front of Zhuang Wan at a dinner table, he had praised her for being both dynamic and serene—radiating spiritual brilliance when active, and possessing a kind of dignified, elegant grace reminiscent of a princess granting amnesty when calm.

Yet at this moment, why did she detect a hint of melancholy in her own calm eyes?

That really shouldn't be.

She adjusted her expression, gripped her shoulder bag tighter, and prepared to board the plane back to her hometown.

-

At the exact same moment, in the exact same airport.

Shao Yihuai's private jet took off, flying from Hong Kong to Beijing.

With the lunar new year approaching, he had taken a trip to Hong Kong to visit his mother and stayed for a few days.

The eldest daughter of the Yi family and Elder Shao had been separated for many years—one in Hong Kong, one in Beijing. In previous years during the New Year, Yi Jiaying would still fly to Beijing to reunite with the Shao family clan; in recent years, even that trip had been omitted.

Neither the eldest son nor the eldest daughter of the Shao family had ever made the trip, except for Shao Yihuai, who flew to Hong Kong at least three or four times a year to visit his mother.

Three hours later, the private jet landed in Beijing.

Returning to the old Shao estate, Shao Yihuai first took a shower, changed into comfortable casual clothes, and then headed to the elder's study.

The old man looked as if he had words lingering on his lips, likely wanting to ask about Yi Jiaying's condition, but swallowed them back.

Unwilling to deal with the convoluted entanglements between the couple, Shao Yihuai acted as though he hadn't noticed and sat on the sofa reading a book.

After a short while, the old man tossed a stack of photographs onto his lap. "That's all of them."

Shao Yihuai raised his gaze from his book to look at him.

The old man spread his hands. "You've met quite a few, and none of them satisfied you. These are the remaining ones I deem suitable."

Shao Yihuai asked flatly, "Among these, which one do you recommend?"

Was he really going to be this straightforward?

Suspiciously looking him up and down, the old man pulled out one of the photos and tapped it. "This one, surnamed Gu."

Shao Yihuai picked up the photograph, studied it carefully for a moment, and asked, "What is the connection?"

"Her grandfather and I were comrades-in-arms. The Gu family has always kept a low profile, guarding their reputation and avoiding trouble. Their family background is quite decent, with members working across various industries. Most importantly," the old man paused, adding, "the young lady has an older brother who has been developing quite well in recent years."

With the rise and fall of a family, every member bore a responsibility.

Shao Yihuai had accepted the reality that he would eventually have a marriage of convenience from a very early age.

Seeing that he wasn't resistant, the old man brought over a detailed profile. "Gu Peirou, 23 years old this year, just graduated."

So young.

Shao Yihuai glanced over the profile. "Is she willing?"

"Of course she is, she knows who you are." The old man recalled, "When I used to meet her grandfather, the two of you probably crossed paths too. Back then she was just a kid, so you probably don't remember."

The profile was extremely detailed, complete with a telephone number.

Shao Yihuai checked his wristwatch—it wasn't too late—and immediately picked up his phone to dial the number.

It rang for a long time before the other side picked up.

"Miss Gu? This is Shao Yihuai."

He waited quietly for the other side to finish speaking, then said, "Mm, let's meet tomorrow evening. Is that convenient?"

The arrangement was finalized just like that.

The old man was somewhat dumbfounded. After the deal was struck and the call hung up, he scrutinized Shao Yihuai's expression for a long time before tentatively saying, "I heard... that you and that young lady broke up?"

The fingertips flipping through Shao Yihuai's book paused slightly before he lifted his eyelids.

The old man caught a hint of sharpness in that gaze.

Shao Yihuai looked at him for a few seconds and replied indifferently, "Bringing that up is just asking for annoyance."

The old man immediately found a way to save face, pretending to gossip. "Alas, mainly because I heard that the young lady is currently dating Jiahao?"

The Yi family maintained an open-minded family tradition, ignoring social standing or background as long as the young lady's family was clean; no one would obstruct them.

"Jiahao doesn't know about this. It's best if you keep your mouth shut."

[...]

Shao Yihuai closed the book, stood up, and asked one final question, "Have you and Grandfather Gu discussed when you hope the wedding date will be?"

Today, the old man had merely wanted to test his attitude. Given how protective Shao Yihuai had been of Chu Tong in his words previously, he had assumed it would take him quite a while to recover, and that matchmaking wouldn't even be brought up until next year at the earliest. Never had he expected him to be so decisive.

"This year? There's an auspicious date in the autumn."

Without saying anything further, Shao Yihuai turned and left.

-

They met at Fook Kee.

Inside the private dining room, on either side of a long huanghuali wood table, two sofa chairs were placed opposite each other. The chandelier cast a soft glow, and ink-wash paintings of bamboo after rain hung on the walls, creating a fresh and elegant atmosphere.

It was entirely appropriate for a blind date.

The waiter pulled out the chairs for the two of them and then departed.

Shao Yihuai sat with his legs crossed, leaning casually against the backrest. He flipped the menu over one page, pushed it across to the opposite side, and said courteously, "These are the dishes for today. I'm not sure if they suit your tastes."

Extremely nervous, Gu Peirou took the menu and said, "I'm not a picky eater; everything tastes good to me."

It was a very ordinary sentence, yet she noticed the man opposite her pause slightly and lower his eyelashes.

Not a picky eater.

For a moment, silence hung in the air.

Seeking a topic of conversation, Gu Peirou asked, "Are you busy with work?"

"I'm on leave."

"Oh right," she smiled, trying to ease her nerves. "Then what do you do during your vacation?"

...

No response came.

She felt as though the man opposite her was somewhat distracted.

"Mr. Shao?"

Shao Yihuai snapped back to his attention. "Apologies, I'm a bit tired."

"It's fine. During the New Year holiday, you must have a lot on your plate. I understand."

After chatting for a while about each other's work, and then moving on to trivial domestic matters, as the food was served, the conversation shifted to the main topic.

Gu Peirou tentatively asked, "After marriage, where would you like to live? My working hours are quite flexible, so I can find a place close to your group's headquarters for your convenience."

Still, no immediate answer came.

The man opposite her wore a semi-high-neck black sweater that outlined his physique without clinging tightly to his skin; his broad shoulders filled out the sweater attractively, and the shape of his chest muscles was faintly visible beneath the fabric. His face was strikingly handsome, possessing just the right amount of masculine charm.

His long eyelashes drooped halfway, masking any aggressiveness and leaving only a refined and noble aura.

He was flawless—from whatever angle one looked at him, he was a man with an immaculate exterior.

Perhaps due to his advancing years, he possessed even more charisma than the fleeting glimpse she had caught of him in her childhood.

After she had stared at him for a good while, Shao Yihuai finally raised his eyes to look at her and repeated indifferently, "After marriage?"

Gu Peirou nodded.

She could sense that although he was looking at her, the focal point of his gaze was not actually landing on her.

Shao Yihuai lowered his gaze once again.

He was going to become someone's husband.

What kind of wife would Tongtong make?

She would probably remain just as she had always been. Marriage shouldn't smooth away her edges either; she should always remain her true self.

Always glowing and shining.

Always brilliant and dazzling.

Only, she wouldn't belong to him.

The meal concluded with some final discussions regarding post-marriage arrangements, marking some progress at least.

The two of them left the dining area and arrived at the parking lot in front of Fook Kee.

Gu Peirou said, "My father didn't assign a car to me. Mr. Shao, could you drop me back?"

That was hardly a difficult request.

A gentlemanly gesture, requiring minimal effort.

Uncle Zong drove the Maybach forward and opened the rear door.

Just as Gu Peirou was about to get in, the door was pressed shut.

Shao Yihuai smiled faintly. "I just remembered, I smoked inside the car. Let me have the staff call a cab to take you home."

Gu Peirou wanted to say she didn't mind the smell of smoke, but despite the polite phrasing of the man before her, his actions left no room for debate.

Finding herself unable to push the matter further, she said nothing more.

Fook Kee's staff quickly hailed a private hire car for her.

Displaying gentlemanly manners, Shao Yihuai personally opened the car door for her and bade her farewell.

The car drove away.

Shao Yihuai walked back to the rear door of his Maybach and lit a cigarette while standing there.

At that exact moment, he found himself unable to accept it.

He could not bear the thought that the backseat of this car, where he and Tongtong had shared such intimate moments, would now carry another woman destined to become his fiancée.

He felt sick to his stomach.