She couldn't help but sigh. Yan Xunan was right. Linchuan had its own development model, and she still had a lot to learn in order to fully integrate into it.
Are you tired?
She shook her head, smiled gratefully, and habitually glanced at her watch.
"Have you finalized the arrangements for this afternoon?" Yi Zhengwei asked considerately, handing her a food plate.
As she picked up some food with her head down, she said softly, "No rush, it'll be ready later."
They discussed the cooperation project again, ate their meal casually, and people would occasionally come over to chat. The buffet alone took them an hour to finish.
During the day, this informal gathering always saw people coming and going in waves, with regulars arriving at the door only to be seen off again. Song Qing found this long, leisurely afternoon lunch gathering somewhat novel, and given that everyone who came today was quite important, she was happy to keep them company.
"Miss Song, you are the woman I admire most among all the women I have worked with." In the afternoon, after no one else came, Yi Zhengwei took the opportunity to praise Song Qing.
"Mr. Yi, would you like me to owe you another verbal favor?" She laughed so hard she bent over, her fluffy hair falling loosely in strands, making her look even more gentle.
He leaned slightly forward, reached out and picked up a stick, gently pushing it behind her ear.
Song Qing took two steps back, smiled rather shyly, took her long, curly hair from his hand, and tidied it up. "It seems that the stylist you recommended, Mr. Yi, still needs to improve his skills."
He chuckled softly, withdrew his hand, and sighed at her girlish demeanor, which was so convincing that no one could find a single flaw in her act. In the end, he could only lament why he had wanted to see through her so clearly.
It was a late autumn afternoon, and time flew by so quickly. The deeper the twilight, the more frequently her gaze wandered, her concentration waning. The evening light, like a banquet, slowly illuminated the scene, casting a soft glow on every corner. She approached the window and saw the road opposite Haotian; the traffic was increasingly congested, both directions congested. It was nearing rush hour, and the cars moved slowly, flashing their lights incessantly. Even without hearing horns, the noisy scene felt incredibly close. A short distance ahead was a zebra crossing, where a group of students in blue and white school uniforms were crossing the road, playing and laughing, completely oblivious to the surrounding traffic.
She looked away, drew the curtains, and as she turned around, she bumped into Yi Zhengwei's chest. A faint smell of alcohol wafted over her, carrying a hint of pressure.
She quickly put down her wine glass and gestured for a waiter to come over and replace the half-full glass of red wine in his hand with tea. She frowned; having lived in Haotian for many years, she was quite knowledgeable about wine. This was a very strong spirit, specially imported from England, and in limited quantities.
Yi Zhengwei obediently took a sip of hot tea, but seemed to have burned his tongue and shook his head.
"Mr. Yi, this wine has a very strong aftereffect. You can't drink anymore. Let me help you to the side to rest."
She looked at the drunken Yi Zhengwei slumped on the sofa and smiled to herself; she always seemed to run into drunk people everywhere.
She took the hot towel from the waiter and leaned over to wipe his forehead. Seeing how skilled she was, the waiter simply stood aside and waited to see if he needed any help.
She used to be the general manager of Haotian, and although Bill has taken over, she still keeps an eye on things to some extent since they're in Linchuan. She benefited a lot from this social event. If it weren't for him accompanying her, Yi Zhengwei would have left long ago. She knows how to be grateful, and besides, looking down at the necklace around her neck, she felt indebted to him.
Yi Zhengwei watched in a daze as Song Qing meticulously busied himself for him. He had indeed underestimated Haotian's wine, and despite the waiter's reminder, he drank several glasses in a row.
Song Qing's focused face made him reluctant to look at her, so he simply closed his eyes.
"Okay, bring me a glass of warm water." She breathed a sigh of relief, handed the towel to the waiter, and instructed him.
She sat down next to him, put her arms around his head, and brought the water to his lips. "Here, drink some water, it'll make you feel better."
"Oh, damn it, I want to smash up the wine cellar."
Song Qing chuckled. Her aunt treasured her little wine cellar dearly. If she knew someone was saying such a thing, she would definitely jump up and fight him to the death.
Someone drew back the curtains, and only the last rays of sunlight remained on the horizon. She stared blankly at the darkening sky, her heart filled with turmoil. No, she shouldn't go. This was the last time. She couldn't indulge herself like this anymore. They would soon be family, and she would become the eldest sister. Between the walls, a Great Wall would be built, stretching endlessly, without end, winding and unbroken.
With that thought in mind, she didn't even notice when Yi Zhengwei slipped into her arms.
He called out her name incoherently, grabbed her hand, and gently rubbed it against his face. All of this was recorded.
He might have already left. It's so late, he must have left. He's never been patient; she's always the one waiting for him, and she has to put up with his bad temper.
But back then, she was content. She willingly squatted at the school gate, chin in hand, watching the clouds, waiting for him. If it was a cloudy day, she would draw circles on the ground alone, occasionally glancing up at the sky with a bewildered look. Back then, she never complained, nor did she know what to complain about.
Just like now, she stared blankly as the sky grew darker and darker.
"Mr. Yi, excuse me, may I borrow your car?"
She weaved through the congested traffic; Yi Zhengwei's heavy-duty van was clearly unsuitable for such agile movement. She was both expectant and calm; rushing there was simply to complete one of her tasks, and whether he was there or not was unimportant.
But she was clearly anxious. The temperature inside the car was kept at a comfortable level, but there were still beads of sweat on her forehead, and her hands gripping the steering wheel were a little slippery.
It wasn't until she entered Linyi Road, in the opposite direction, that the journey became smooth. She only encountered a few scattered students coming out of the school. She turned off onto the main road and drove along the long school wall. Not far from a corner, she saw Yan Xunan's tall figure emerge from under a large tree opposite the school gate. He looked exhausted and glanced around. She subconsciously looked down and saw him seemingly throw away his cigarette butt, stomp on it, get into his car, slam the door shut, and the car swerved roughly, eliciting a sharp screech of brakes as it sped towards her. Her heart raced. She opened her mouth, raised her hand to shield her eyes from the window, and watched him brush past her, leaving only a blurry shadow.
For no apparent reason, she felt that this missed opportunity had become eternal.
After getting off the bus, she walked slowly along the school wall, supporting herself on the somewhat aged red bricks. She had walked this path countless times; even though she hadn't returned for ten years, countless memories of this place still flooded back. Every now and then, students would give her strange looks—a woman dressed in an exquisitely tailored, high-end evening gown, walking slowly with her head down, seemingly oblivious to everything. Upon reaching the school gate, she stood there for a moment, then walked back again.
By the time she finished walking, it was completely dark, and the area around the school was suddenly silent. Faintly, she heard a bell ringing. She was a little confused and looked around. After a while, she realized that the sound was coming from inside the car.
She had just run back when she hurriedly opened the car door and, before the last sound faded, picked up the microphone.
"Miss Song, where are you?" Yi Zhengwei's voice sounded very worried. He had just woken up when he learned that Song Qing had taken his car keys and run away in a hurry.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Yi, I'll be right back. Are you still at Haotian?"
"Yes, I'm not used to riding in other cars." He sensed the dejection in her voice and said humorously.
Song Qing chuckled softly, "Okay, wait for me."
Chapter Thirty-One: External Troubles and Internal Strife
"Yes, it is difficult to maintain the country, because the people's hearts are no longer so united. There are not only external threats, but also internal troubles."
-Song Qing
Over the past few days, rumors about Song Qing and Yi Zhengwei have intensified, with intimate photos from the party occupying large sections of newspapers and magazines.
Unlike acting, Song Qing's eyes were filled with sorrow and detachment, unlike her previous cold and distant demeanor.