Su Yan found Gu Lian, and the two walked out of the hall side by side. After passing through the corridor, Gu Lian said, "The waiter said this is it." As she spoke, she lifted the down jacket and pushed open the door.
"Great, no one's here. Let's sit on the steps and talk, and keep an eye on the door to see if anyone comes." Su Yan felt exhausted and, regardless of how expensive her dress was, she sat down casually.
Gu Lian refused to sit down, saying, "It's filthy. These clothes will be unwearable after being scraped by this sand."
Su Yan sighed, "I can't care about anything else. My face is cramping from laughing all night."
Gu Lian noticed a book nearby that looked like someone had sat on it, so she picked it up, spread it out, and sat down next to Su Yan. "You can't even stand this? Wait until you become a daughter-in-law of the Chen family, and you'll have a life like this!"
"What nonsense are you talking about? You're laughing at me too!" Su Yan pushed Gu Lian away. "We're not like that."
"If it's not like that, then what is it? Don't think I don't know just because I haven't been back to the dorm for the past few days. You didn't go back last Thursday night, where did you go? Hmm?" The teasing tone made Su Yan cover her face.
"...No! Really, no, we just...I just went to a hotel with him..."
"Oh, you've already booked a room, and you're still saying you haven't! Su Yan, what's there to be ashamed of? Everyone's been through this."
Seeing that Gu Lian ignored her explanation, Su Yan didn't press the matter further. Explaining things only made things worse; only she knew the truth about her relationship with him. "By the way, where have you been these past few days? How come you suddenly appeared at the party with Zhou Zijian?"
“After you left that day, Zhou Zijian called me and said he was going on a business trip. He asked if I wanted to come along. I figured I had nothing else to do, so I went.”
"...You and him, really...did that?" Su Yan was still too embarrassed to ask.
"So what!" Gu Lian said dismissively. "I'm very open-minded. If I don't make some money while I'm young, I'll be old and faded in a few years, and no one will want me even if I want to be unconventional!"
"Gu Lian!" Su Yan wanted to persuade Gu Lian as usual, but suddenly realized that she had no grounds to do so. "So you two really agreed that it was just a game?"
"Play? Who would play with him if he didn't have money? Of course we had an agreement. This amount per month, breakup is a separate matter."
"What's the meaning?"
"Oh my, you didn't sell yourself to Young Master Chen and get nothing in return, did you?" Gu Lian exclaimed dramatically. "Don't you know this? There are rules. How much for the first month, how much for each month thereafter, and how much is the breakup fee."
"No... I don't know! I've only heard about these things. Does that mean... we can only play around with people like them? Is there really no genuine affection between us?"
"Su Yan, you're not foolish enough to give your true feelings away, are you?" Gu Lian straightened up and looked at Su Yan seriously. "Have you heard about what happened on the sixth floor?"
"The sixth floor? The directing major who accidentally fell from the building the other day?"
"Tch! You're so naive to think it was an accidental fall. Our balcony is so high, and it even has windows. How could it be an accidental fall? It's just that she went too far, developed real feelings, and now that she wants to break up, this is the amount she should give her." Gu Lian held up two fingers.
"Two hundred thousand? Why?"
"I'm speechless! Two million, okay? She cried and begged, not wanting the money, wanting to marry him. He completely ignored her, and in the end, she lost both the money and the man. In despair, she jumped off a building and committed suicide."
"No!" Su Yan stood up abruptly. "How can there be such a cold-blooded person? If he thinks like this too, I'll go ask him!"
"Who are you going to ask?" Gu Lian grabbed Su Yan. "Chen Yuanxing? Su Yan, don't be silly. At this point, all you can want are two things: fame and fortune! Think about it, today you can walk hand in hand with him, wearing gorgeous clothes to a cocktail party, but will you have such an opportunity next time? And the time after that? They are never short of beautiful women around them, you should know that!"
Su Yan seemed to remember something, a stubborn glint in her eyes. "No, you don't understand him. He's definitely not the kind of person you're describing! I understand." She finally snapped out of her initial shock and remembered that night.
At that moment, Chen Yuanxing, holding Su Yan, suddenly called out something. She didn't hear clearly and vaguely asked, "What?" Chen Yuanxing's body stiffened. He turned Su Yan's face and examined her closely, seemingly for a long time, then suddenly pushed her away, stood up, and went to the bathroom. Su Yan sat anxiously on the bed, listening to the running water, until Chen Yuanxing came out. His eyes had lost their wild, burning intensity; they were clear, deep eyes, without a smile, his gaze somewhat cold, casually sweeping over her. "Go wash up and go to sleep," he said. Seeing Chen Yuanxing's restored calm, Su Yan felt a pang of disappointment. Was this all going to happen?
With a heavy heart, Su Yan took a shower. She steeled herself, left without clothes, and wrapped only in a towel before going out. To her surprise, she saw the usually clean and elegant Chen Yuanxing casually sitting on the carpet, smoking, his other hand holding his phone, now shattered into pieces. Thin cigarettes lit from his fingers, shortening as the billowing smoke and pungent smell enveloped him, seemingly both near and far. She seemed to see again the Chen Yuanxing she first met, a faint melancholy tinged with languor, though then it was fleeting, while now it was a pervasive despair.
Su Yan sat on the bed, Chen Yuanxing sat on the floor. She looked at him, he looked at his phone. They sat there silently all night until she drifted off to sleep in the morning. When she woke, the room was filled with the smell of smoke; he was nowhere to be seen. For the next few days, he didn't contact her at all. Just when she thought it was all over, he invited her to a cocktail party.
Then she took his arm, wearing a sweet smile. As everyone praised how beautiful and otherworldly Mr. Chen's girlfriend was, he smiled slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, until the woman appeared and he said, "Su Yan, my girlfriend." At that moment, Su Yan was both excited and disappointed.
At this moment, Su Yan felt she had finally figured out the doubts that had troubled her for so many days. He wasn't that kind of person; his heart hadn't been given to those so-called pleasures, but only to one woman. Having understood this, Su Yan seemed to pull herself back down, a bitter smile on her face. "What's the difference between loving one person and loving everyone?" If the one he loved wasn't you.
Gu Lian shook Su Yan, "Su Yan, what's wrong with you? Are you possessed?"
Su Yan pushed Gu Lian away, "It's not that she's possessed, it's that she's insane."
Xiao Qiqi gripped the back of the chair, feeling a sharp, piercing pain in her body and soul. Chen Yuanxing, the big boy who loved to snuggle in her arms, loved wearing bunny-ear slippers, and loved loudly proclaiming, "Xiao Qiqi, you're an idiot!", had finally become like many men of his status—keeping mistresses, toying with emotions, and living a life of pleasure. Yes, he had grown up. He had left her. He had finally broken up with her. She should be happy, right? But was she? Xiao Qiqi silently despised herself. "Xiao Qiqi, you're so selfish. Just because Chen Yuanxing broke up with you doesn't mean he can't find other women. That girl named Su Yan—she had a pure and clean aura, especially the innocence in her eyes, something no ordinary woman could possess. Didn't a girl like that deserve the love of a man as outstanding as Chen Yuanxing?"
Xiao Qiqi tried to calm her breathing and, like a true eavesdropper, sat on the other side of the terrace, listening to the two girls' private conversation. At this moment, she completely forgot about the "private space" she always prided herself on.
Su Yan and Gu Lian left, leaving behind a night of hidden injuries. Xiao Ning emerged from the shadows of the corridor, watched the two figures disappear, and then stepped onto the terrace, trying to maintain a calm tone, "Sister Xiao, I found safflower oil and gauze."
Xiao Qiqi gazed at the night sky, seemingly oblivious to the occasional flash of a light. Xiao Ning knelt down, lifted Xiao Qiqi's swollen feet, and gently massaged them. Xiao Qiqi's hands and feet were icy cold; her smooth skin felt cold to the touch, yet in Xiao Ning's warm hands, it felt like lifeless wood. "Sister Xiao, I didn't expect President Chen to be so young. His girlfriend, oh, is she a female student? Sometimes her eyes are so cold, and when she frowns, she looks just like you, Sister Xiao."
Xiao Qiqi finally reacted, "What did you say?"
“I’m saying that if President Chen likes that girl named Su Yan, it must be because of someone else.” Xiao Ning couldn’t help but tighten her grip. “Sister Xiao, you always call me stupid, but aren’t you stupid too?”
Xiao Qiqi suddenly understood what Xiao Ning meant, “...What nonsense are you talking about? I was just a little lost in the night view.”
"Whether I'm lying or not, Sister Xiao knows in her heart. Just now, when Sister Xiao fell, President Chen caught you, and you didn't turn around, so you knew it was him, didn't you?"
Xiao Qiqi pulled her foot back and stood up. "I'm tired, Xiao Ning, let's go home. Besides, you can't rub a twisted ankle like that."
"Huh? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Xiao Ning also stood up.
Xiao Qiqi sighed, "I forgot just now. Looks like you'll have to take me home tonight. You can drive, right?"
"It's not over yet. What a huge cake! I want to eat more," Xiao Ning suddenly said childishly.
Xiao Qiqi was taken aback. "Then you go eat, I'll wait for you."
"Hehe, just kidding. Cakes are so sweet, what's the point of a grown man eating them?"
“But some men just love sweet, cloying cakes, and nothing I say will change that,” Xiao Qiqi couldn’t help but say. “He even says it’s his characteristic.”
Xiao Ning helped Xiao Qiqi carefully down the terrace steps. "Living with someone like that must be really interesting, right?"
"Yes, it was very interesting. But... it's all in the past now."
"Don't dwell on the past, Sister Xiao. Let's just look forward."
Passing by the hall door, Xiao Qiqi saw a cake being cut inside. A familiar figure stood with their back to the door, arms crossed, watching the five-tiered cake being pushed out. Xiao Qiqi pushed Xiao Ning aside, limped inside, and stared blankly at the figure's back.
"Hehe, why are you staring so intently? Could it be that you were seduced by my brother's lecherous back view?" A pretty doll in a white princess dress appeared beside her, and her words were completely unrelated to her appearance. Xiao Qiqi turned her head in astonishment, simultaneously stunned by Xia Rui's porcelain doll-like delicacy and her roguish words. "What did you say? Xia Xuan is your older brother?"
"So you really do know my older brother!" Xia Rui looked Xiao Qiqi up and down. "Her temperament is alright, but her looks aren't outstanding. However, she's my older brother's type. Big brother, big brother, this woman says she likes you!" Xia Rui started off speaking politely, but then suddenly shouted at the crowd. Her high-pitched soprano voice immediately drew the attention of most people in the hall.
Xiao Qiqi felt like she was in a high-temperature furnace. She glared at Xia Rui resentfully, but the porcelain doll pretended to be well-behaved and ran to Chen Yuanxing's side, skillfully taking his arm. "Gorilla, this woman is so fierce! She actually dares to say she likes my big brother."
Those who had been hesitant in the hall, after hearing Xia Rui's next sentence, exchanged glances, understanding the implication. They then smiled, chatted, or continued. Those unwilling to continue were already blocked from advancing by Bruce's former secretary and the rest of the digital army with their bodies or eyes. Only a few inscrutable individuals remained: an angry Xiao Qiqi, a bewildered Xiao Ning, a smiling Xia Xuan, a gloomy Chen Yuanxing, Xia Rui pouting and playing with the gold button on Chen Yuanxing's cuff, and Su Yan, who had just been about to approach.
Xiao Qiqi smiled awkwardly and nodded, "Good evening, Mr. Xia!"
"Qiqi, I'm so touched." Xia Xuan walked over, a smile playing on her lips, her beautiful phoenix eyes holding emotions that Xiao Qiqi couldn't understand. "You actually confessed your feelings in this way."
Xiao Qiqi was speechless. She looked at Chen Yuanxing, who hadn't moved, and said, "Mr. Xia, you've misunderstood."
"Let's just consider it a beautiful misunderstanding." He continued walking closer.
Chen Yuanxing finally made a move, leaping past Xia Xuan like a cheetah. "What happened to your foot?"
Xiao Qiqi glanced at Su Yan, whose anxious face was partially visible in the distance, and felt a surge of anger. She said coldly, "It's alright, President Chen, thank you for your concern!"
After saying that, he took Xiao Ning's arm and said, "Mr. Xia, President Chen, I twisted my ankle. I'm sorry, I'll have to go first."
Xia Xuan walked past Chen Yuanxing and said, "I'll drive you there."
Xiao Qiqi glanced at Chen Yuanxing's tall and straight figure and replied, "Okay, thank you, Mr. Xia."
15. Huayuan
Back home, she threw herself onto the bed, trying not to think about what had happened that night, ignoring the piercing sadness. Did it still hurt? Xia Xuan, always considerate, bought medicine on the way, saying nothing more than a gentle smile. Even Xiao Ning, who had been chattering all night, fell silent. When they arrived at Xiao Qiqi's building, she refused Xia Xuan and Xiao Ning's help, took off her shoes, and went barefoot into the building by herself.
Xia Xuan and Xiao Ning, one big and one small, watched Xiao Qiqi's figure disappear, each lost in their own thoughts. Xia Xuan turned to Xiao Ning, "Mr. Ning, how about we have a drink together?" In the dim light, Xia Xuan's face was as gentle as the starry night sky, but Xiao Ning felt an invisible pressure and unpredictability hidden beneath that brilliance, and couldn't help but nod.
As "Blue and White Porcelain" played incessantly, Xiao Qiqi couldn't take it anymore and grabbed the phone, her anger rising as she blurted out, "Who is it?"
"Hmm...uh...sob sob..." There was no sound, but a man's choked sobs. Xiao Qiqi sat up abruptly and listened for a long time before asking with difficulty, "Old Zhao?"
"...Qiqi, you have to...help me persuade Jiang Yilan, she really wants to break up with me..." Hearing Lao Zhao's choked sobs, and imagining the tall, muscular man from Northeast China sobbing into the phone, Xiao Qiqi felt a chill run through her. "Qiqi, you're Lanzi's best friend, she'll definitely listen to you...tell her, I'll listen to everything she says, as long as she doesn't leave me. Uh, she...she's not even answering my calls now, she must have another man..." Zhao Xi rambled on intermittently. Xiao Qiqi was at a loss; how could she persuade Lao Zhao? Who could truly understand matters of the heart? But would Jiang Yilan continue dating Xia Xuan? She dared not ask, dared not even think about it.
Xiao Qiqi patiently comforted Old Zhao, and the conversation dragged on until well past midnight. She felt completely overwhelmed, her mind a jumbled mess, and she had no appetite. The next morning, she felt lightheaded. Her feet were still swollen despite having a medicated plaster on them. She tried to find flat shoes, but they were all too small because of the swelling. She had no choice but to make do with dragging her shoes to work.
Upon opening the door, she found a gift box. Xiao Qiqi hesitated for a moment, then opened it. Inside were a pair of soft-soled white loafers, a size too big for her, and a pale note with the familiar Qi-style handwriting: "Dancing for you." Xiao Qiqi sighed. Xia Xuan was always like this, so thoughtful it was... infuriating.
This time, Xiao Qiqi didn't push herself too hard. She wore the shoes and limped to work. She had planned to take a day off, but early in the morning, President Wei was like a death knell, urging her to go to the company. What a miser!
As soon as they arrived at the company entrance, General Manager Wei poked his head out of the Buick parked at the door. "Xiao, over here." Xiao Qiqi slowly limped over, and General Manager Wei's driver, Xiao Li, had already opened the car door. "Xiao, hurry up, we've been waiting for you."
Xiao Li, craving Xiao Qiqi's attention, sat down next to President Wei. "President Wei, why are we in such a hurry? Where are we going?"
"Huayuan".
Xiao Qiqi couldn't help but turn to look at President Wei, "Really? President Wei?"
President Wei beamed with joy. "I've already made an appointment with Secretary Yuan. He said we should bring some people over to see the blueprints today. Yanshan Renjia, aha, our company has finally seized the opportunity. Xiao Xiao, it's all thanks to you! If you hadn't fallen last night, how could Yongcheng have so easily climbed up to Huayuan?"
Xiao Qiqi had the urge to pounce on him. "President Wei, I twisted my ankle last night. You guys go ahead. I'm taking a day off."
"How can that be?" President Wei said ingratiatingly. "I know you've worked hard, but look, even though you twisted your ankle, you don't have to walk. We just need to look at the design drawings and give a quote, and you won't have to walk." Wei Chenqi smiled modestly, and Xiao Qiqi couldn't help but notice the light in his eyes, after all, they had known each other for many years.
"Mr. Wei... is there something you haven't told me yet?"
"Ah, no, no, it really was arranged by Secretary Yuan last night." President Wei looked out the window and chuckled. As a businessman who had been in the business for many years, he naturally knew how to seize every opportunity. He understood Secretary Yuan's hint last night. It seemed that he had really underestimated Xiao Qiqi. Did she know President Chen all along but keep it a secret from him? In any case, this was an opportunity.
They waited for a while on the tenth floor of Huayuan, and then Secretary Yuan arrived with a set of blueprints. She then opened a slideshow: "What a beautiful place!" Xiao Qiqi exclaimed. The images on the projector showed a manor-style villa area. Jingrun Shijia was built at the foot of the scenic Yanshan Xiugu Peak in the western suburbs, encompassing the entire small mountain range. A clear stream flowed from the mountainside, winding through the villa complex. Green lawns, clear blue skies, and an elegant environment—the villas, designed in contrasting blue and red hues, were like flower buds scattered throughout. Everyone admired the view.
The former secretary stood up and said in a serious tone, "Miss Xiao, which part of this manor do you think is the best?"
Xiao Qiqi was still in shock. Chen Yuanxing had indeed done it. He had once said he would build the most beautiful and comfortable house in the city. Wasn't this his dream? "Hmm, not bad at all." Xiao Qiqi didn't pay attention to the strangeness in the former secretary's words.
"Well, what do you think of this place, Miss Xiao? It's backed by Xiugu Peak, with a large maple forest behind it. It's cool and pleasant in summer and the autumn leaves are falling. Xiugu Creek is right in front of it, forming a heart-shaped lake. It's the perfect place for fishing in spring and enjoying the snow in winter."
Xiao Qiqi smiled and said, "It really is the best location in the manor. Ah, after your description, I'm starting to wonder if I'm here to buy a house instead of doing renovations."
The secretary, amused by Xiao Qiqi, even broke into a smile on his usually serious face. He casually circled the villa he had just seen on the estate map with his pen. "This one will do. Now, on behalf of President Chen, I'm handing over the entire renovation of this villa to your Yongcheng Company. As for the design and decoration, it's up to you. As long as Miss Xiao is happy with it, there's no need to ask us."
"What? Yanshan Renjia only tendered for basic renovations, so why did you give us a whole villa to do? And it even includes design, isn't that a fully furnished one?" Mr. Wei interrupted, sensing something was wrong.
"Yes, fully furnished! This is what our CEO Chen wants. You will be responsible for everything, including the design, layout, materials, and furniture. The renovation budget will be at least 20 million."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiqi's expression changed, and she said coldly, "Mr. Yuan, I'm sorry, Yongcheng is a small company. We're quite successful at simple renovations, but as for such exquisite interior design as yours, I don't think we can handle it." She then stood up to grab her bag. "President Wei, one should be honest. If we can't do it, we won't trouble Mr. Yuan, right?"
Wei Chenqi remained seated and laughed, "Oh dear, Xiao Xiao, why are you talking like that? Didn't our company recently take on the design and renovation of the X People's Art Museum? It was a huge project worth 80 million, and we did a great job, didn't we? Everything has a beginning, right? Perhaps this is a good start for Yongcheng and Huayuan as well, isn't it, Mr. Yuan?"
The former secretary reverted to her old-fashioned demeanor, but her eyes remained fixed on Xiao Qiqi. "Yes, it's a good start, and even more so, a good opportunity. I hope Miss Xiao will reconsider."
"I..." Xiao Qiqi was about to refuse when Wei Chenqi interrupted, "Mr. Yuan, then it's decided. Yongcheng will take on the renovation of this villa first. If it's done well, we hope your company can give us more opportunities."
"It's a pleasure to work with you!" Secretary Yuan extended his hand, and Wei Chenqi also happily extended his hand.
Looking at President Wei's smug face, Xiao Qiqi really wanted to punch him. As soon as the secretary left, Xiao Qiqi said coldly, "President Wei, I will be stationed at the People's Art Theatre construction site to supervise during this period. Since you took on this business, you should take charge of it personally."
"Oh, Xiao, young man, don't be so impulsive! Look how good Huayuan's start is, why are you pushing it away so easily? They said it would be a one-time payment for the project, all we need to do is show the design drawings to their General Manager Chen, and they'll take care of the rest of the layout. It's that easy."