Blog

Since It’s All Out in the Open Now, Come Sit Beside Me

In Jiang City, several upscale hotels were concentrated in the center of the city. Wei Lai’s small condo was located in the heart of the city, where every inch of land is precious. With a modest area of less than 70 square meters, this condo was purchased by her dad 20 years ago when prices were low. Now over 25 years of age, her dad had renovated the condo after Wei Lai graduated from university, making it convenient for her daily commute.

Tonight’s dinner venue was less than two kilometers away from her condo, giving her plenty of time to get ready.

Half of her closet was now empty. She had dealt with all the dresses and clothes that Zhang Yanxin had gifted her. Anything that could be sold was sold, and anything that needed to be thrown away was thrown away.

Now, there wasn’t a single formal dress left in her closet, only a coffee-colored maxi dress suitable for tonight’s occasion—the one she had splurged on for Zhang Yanxin’s birthday.

After much hesitation, Wei Lai ultimately reached out and took down the maxi dress.

After changing into the dress and applying suitable makeup, she ordered a ride before leaving. For tonight’s occasion, she was certain there would be no escaping from drinking and taking a taxi was more economical than hiring a driver.

“I’m on my way. How about you?” Zhao Yihan sent a message.

Wei Lai: “Just left home. I should arrive before you.“

Tonight, Zhao Yihan was accompanying her superior to a social gathering, bringing Wei Lai along under false pretenses. She had consulted with her superior, asking if it was possible to bring an extra person along, and her superior had no objections upon hearing that it was Wei Lai.

Wei Lai was not only outstanding in appearance but also smooth in socializing. With her around, things always seemed to go more smoothly, so her superior was happy to bring along someone like her for social gatherings.

“There are quite a few people tonight,” her superior remarked as they entered the hotel elevator.

He asked again, “Why hasn’t your sister arrived yet?”

“She said she should arrive before me. Let me ask again,” Zhao Yihan messaged Wei Lai, but there was no reply from her even when Zhao Yihan stepped out of the elevator.

Superior: “Let’s go in first. Send her the private room number.”

Zhao Yihan had already given Wei Lai the specific address earlier.

As they spoke, they reached the door of the private room. The waiter opened it and led them inside.

This was the hotel’s largest private room, capable of accommodating twenty-five or six people for dining without any issue. Zhao Yihan hadn’t expected so many people to have already arrived; the large dining table was almost full.

With so many people, she couldn’t quite take it all in at once.

He Wancheng greeted her superior and gestured for them to take a seat. Their company had been collaborating with He Wancheng on a project, and they had been meeting frequently lately, so he had invited them along.

Arriving last, her superior apologized to He Wancheng and said, “There’s one more person who will be here shortly.”

He Wancheng didn’t mind and smiled gently, “No worries. I know you had a meeting this afternoon, and the project is more important. Tonight is just about getting together for dinner; it’s not about business.”

In the world of the big shots, “grabbing dinner” might truly mean just that—eating and chatting casually. But for them, it was a rare opportunity to seize, and Zhao Yihan dared not slack off even in the slightest.

She placed her purse behind her. Feeling a gaze on her, she followed her intuition and glanced over, locking eyes with that person for a moment and leaving her stunned for a few seconds.

She never expected Zhang Yanxin to be there too.

And beside him sat none other than Wei Lai’s former boss, Mu Di.

Maintaining her composure, Zhao Yihan reached for her purse and took out her phone to message Wei Lai: “Where are you? Zhang Yanxin and Mu Di are both here. Don’t come.“

Wei Lai was waiting for the elevator in the hotel lobby: “I’ll be there in a moment.“

Zhao Yihan blamed herself: “It’s my fault. I just saw them. I didn’t know before. They’re sitting together. Are you sure you still want to come?“

Wei Lai: “Does He Wancheng know that your superior brought another person along?“

Zhao Yihan answered truthfully: “Yes.“

Wei Lai: “Then there’s no problem. I’ll be there even if I have to face the music.“

Zhao Yihan had secured this opportunity for her. If she backed out at the last minute, it would reflect poorly on Zhao Yihan’s superior in front of He Wancheng. She couldn’t be so ungrateful.

Wei Lai glanced down at her dress ironically.

But now, going back to change clothes was simply out of the question. Wei Lai comforted herself, resigned to the situation.

Upon entering the private room, Wei Lai realized she was the last to arrive. Dozens of pairs of eyes turned to her simultaneously. The fact that so many people had been waiting for her, including several business tycoons, made this moment undoubtedly the most glorious in her 25 years of life.

Fortunately, she had grown accustomed to being the center of attention since childhood; otherwise, it would have been overwhelming for most people.

Zhao Yihan’s superior waved at her. “Xiao* Wei, over here. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Xiao (小) – means “small” or “little”; when placed in front of a name, it is often used to indicate affection or familiarity, similar to adding “little” or “junior” in English.

Wei Lai walked calmly toward the empty seat next to Zhao Yihan. She had seen He Wancheng once before at a party in Jiang City. He was in his 50s, dignified and noble.

Looking around the table full of people, she glanced toward the main seat, preparing to greet He Wancheng, the host of tonight’s dinner.

However, as her gaze swept across, she saw a young man with a powerful aura at the main seat. His features were sharp, and he was looking down at his phone, replying to messages.

Without dwelling on it, Wei Lai discreetly withdrew her gaze and smiled as she turned to He Wancheng, saying, “Mr. He, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I apologize for being late; I’ll make sure to punish myself with three drinks later.”

“You’re not late at all. Xiao Wei, right?” He Wancheng replied politely, “Take a seat.”

For someone like her, a minor character, the wealthy wouldn’t even bother to make things difficult for her. Wei Lai sat down confidently.

From entering the private room to taking her seat, her gaze didn’t wander around. She wasn’t curious about where Zhang Yanxin and Mu Di were seated. Thankfully, the table was large enough, and there were enough people present that she didn’t need to greet each person individually.

At this moment, the focus of the table shifted toward the main seat. Zhao Yihan leaned in and whispered, “You have a new boyfriend?”

Wei Lai looked bewildered. “Huh?”

Zhao Yihan knew rumors weren’t reliable and continued to whisper to her, “Before you entered the private room, someone asked me who your new wealthy boyfriend is.”

Wei Lai spoke in a hushed tone with Zhao Yihan, “What did that person say exactly? What were their exact words?”

The original words were too lengthy, so Zhao Yihan typed them out on her phone: “They said rumors are circulating in their social circle that you’ve hooked up with a big shot from Beijing. They’re spreading it with all the details, claiming they’ve even seen you two on dates.“

The more she heard, the more absurd it sounded.

Since resigning, Wei Lai had practically been holed up at home almost every day, only going out a few times during the period when she was selling the villa. Tonight was the first time she had dressed up so grandly for an occasion.

“Who started this rumor? I don’t even know any big shots from Beijing. I haven’t had the mood to even sell the villa, let alone…” dates.

As she spoke, she suddenly realized. Among the buyers she had met for open houses, there was one from Beijing who had investments in Jiang City Industrial Park. She had ridden in a flashy Beijing-plated car a few times.

Some busybodies had tried to dig up information, eager to gossip about who Wei Lai might have hooked up with, but unfortunately, they couldn’t uncover the true owner of the car’s license plate.

The inability to find any information only fueled the speculation, making the rumors about her dating a big shot from Beijing more intense.

Zhang Yanxin ended up believing these rumors to some extent. After being together for over two years, he still found Wei Lai’s looks pleasing to the eye. With her looks, dating a big shot from Beijing wouldn’t be difficult for her.

From the moment Wei Lai entered the private room until she took her seat, Zhang Yanxin had only glanced at her once, noting that she was wearing the same dress she had worn on his birthday. Except for Wei Lai, when he broke up with his previous girlfriends, he never felt indebted to anyone. No matter how much he tried to compensate her, he still felt he owed her.

She was the only one he had truly cared about and the only one he still thought about after the breakup.

The round of toasts began at the table, and Zhang Yanxin raised his glass to the person sitting at the main seat. “President Zhou, let’s play basketball together when you have time.”

Zhou Sujin nodded, giving him face, and downed the contents of his glass in one gulp.

Once again, Zhang Yanxin noticed the watch on Zhou Sujin’s wrist. He had found it odd when they shook hands and exchanged greetings earlier. The price of this watch didn’t match Zhou Sujin’s status.

He had heard that Zhou Sujin was fond of collecting watches, so there was no reason for him to wear a watch that lacked collectible value.

After toasting Zhou Sujin, Zhang Yanxin then raised his glass to He Wancheng. His parents were close friends with He Wancheng, so he was here to show support and didn’t need to curry favor with him. After toasting the two most important figures at the table, he set down his glass. Wei Lai’s sudden appearance had dampened his interest in everything, leaving him with no desire to socialize.

“Wei Lai, let’s have a drink together. What have you been busy with lately?” Mu Di spoke in a familiar tone, raising her glass to Wei Lai.

In this kind of setting, no one could afford to ignore a toast.

Wei Lai reciprocated by lightly touching the rim of her glass to her lips without actually making contact with the wine. She pretended to take a sip, then casually responded to Mu Di’s question, “Just busy with random things every day.”

Zhang Yanxin hadn’t expected Mu Di to toast Wei Lai. Given the relationship between the three of them, it was best to stay silent and pretend not to know each other.

At least five or six people at the table were aware of their past relationship and were eagerly waiting to see some drama unfold.

And he despised being the subject of gossip the most.

He casually picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and placed it on Mu Di’s plate. “Have some,” he said while giving her a meaningful look, signaling to end the conversation with Wei Lai.

Mu Di smiled and said nothing. She picked up the piece of meat and placed it in her mouth, but she didn’t taste anything. His concern still lay with Wei Lai, worried that she might be embarrassed publicly.

Zhang Yanxin raised his glass, now openly looking at Wei Lai. When they parted ways, he hadn’t given her any explanation, not a single word of justification, not even a face-to-face apology.

Today, he took the initiative to toast her. “I heard you’re in a relationship now. Congrats.”

His thoughts were simple; he was already engaged to Mu Di and would soon be married. Wei Lai had also gotten into a new relationship, so they could each move on with their lives.

But when these words reached Wei Lai’s ears, given their different perspectives, they took on a different meaning entirely.

Wei Lai couldn’t understand. They had already broken up, and she had already resigned. She hadn’t clung to him. Yet, one after another, they all seemed to come after her, publicly provoking her and making it difficult for her.

Why couldn’t we just treat each other as if we were dead to one another?

She seriously began to doubt her ability to judge people. How could I have been in a relationship with such a narrow-minded man for two years?

The ring on the ring finger of the hand he held his glass with caught her attention.

Before they broke up, she had been naive enough to look at wedding rings. She had thought they would get married, even considering which pair of matching rings would look best on them.

Wei Lai forcibly halted her thoughts, raising her glass with a forced smile from across the table.

“What are you all talking about?” Just as He Wancheng finished speaking with the person next to him, he heard something about “being in a relationship,” and he asked, “Who’s in a relationship?”

Zhao Yihan’s superior stepped in to help Wei Lai out. “It’s our Xiao Wei.”

He Wancheng didn’t know Wei Lai’s name. As the host of the dinner, he graciously raised his glass, saying, “Here, Xiao Wei, a toast to you. Congratulations.”

He then added politely, “Next time, bring your boyfriend along for dinner.”

“Thank you, President He.” Wei Lai then downed the entire glass of wine in one gulp.

Just when she thought the matter of her relationship had been put to rest, there were still people at the table who enjoyed stirring up trouble. One of them had just asked Zhao Yihan about Wei Lai’s new boyfriend but didn’t get any information. Driven by curiosity, he decided to ask Wei Lai directly, “Which big shot from Beijing is our beauty’s boyfriend? Many friends have asked me about it. But, how could I possibly know? I’m just asking on their behalf today.”

Wei Lai: “……”

It seemed that trouble followed her wherever she went, and there was no escaping it.

Just now, He Wancheng had toasted her, congratulating her on having a boyfriend. By not denying it, she had implicitly confirmed that she was in a relationship. Now, she couldn’t deny having a boyfriend. But if she said her boyfriend wasn’t some big shot from Beijing, people would laugh at her, mocking her for not being able to find someone better than Zhang Yanxin.

Only if she appeared to be doing better than before would they feel unsettled.

Admitting her own pride, she didn’t want to lose to Zhang Yanxin and Mu Di. At least for tonight, in front of them, she didn’t want to lose. She also wanted to stand up for herself.

But a big shot from Beijing? She didn’t know anyone like that.

Just when she didn’t know how to continue this charade, a name flashed in her mind—the person who bought her watch.

She remembered clearly that the store manager had mentioned that person was unmarried and didn’t have a girlfriend.

With no more time to weigh her options, Wei Lai smiled and, without considering the consequences, said, “It’s Zhou Sujin.”

As her words fell, the room was so silent one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone at the table, including He Wancheng, looked at the man sitting at the main seat in astonishment. Zhang Yanxin almost knocked over the glass of wine next to him in surprise, but he managed to catch it just in time, instinctively gripping it tightly.

Wei Lai was dumbfounded, her gaze following everyone else’s to the man at the main seat. She met his cold, intriguing eyes, finally seeing his face clearly. He leaned back in his chair, exuding an air of nobleness and indifference. Despite his relaxed posture, his presence was commanding, and he was looking at her with undivided attention.

The fact that He Wancheng, the host of the dinner, had relinquished the main seat to this man spoke volumes about his identity.

Tonight, all her attention had been diverted by Zhang Yanxin’s wedding ring and Mu Di’s toasts. Wei Lai hadn’t bothered to inquire about the identity of the man at the main seat—a serious social blunder, one she had just committed. She began to reflect on why she had come here in the first place.

For the opportunity Zhao Yihan had fought for her.

For networking and building connections for herself.

But what had she done?

The man continued to gaze at her, and Wei Lai had a sinking feeling. Was he Zhou Sujin’s friend? Relative? Or…

She didn’t dare to think any further.

Sitting next to her, Zhao Yihan silently took a deep breath. Tonight, things had taken a turn for the worse.

She regretted it deeply. She shouldn’t have let Wei Lai attend this dinner. Not only had she lost face in front of Zhang Yanxin, but she had also offended Zhou Sujin. Posing as someone’s girlfriend and flaunting it was a serious breach of etiquette, touching upon a major taboo.

“He’s him,” She whispered to Wei Lai, covering her mouth with her hand.

The CEO of Kunchen Group was Zhou Sujin. Wei Lai might not have noticed the mention of the Kunchen Group earlier at the table. Zhao Yihan had just noticed that Zhou Sujin was wearing the watch Wei Lai had sold. Their seats were pretty far away, so Wei Lai might not have noticed.

He Wancheng saw that Zhou Sujin didn’t deny it, and Wei Lai, who wasn’t on his guest list, suddenly appeared at the dinner, hadn’t expected her to be Zhou Sujin’s girlfriend. Everything suddenly made sense.

He congratulated with a smile, “Come on, you have to have a drink. I heard the project in Jiang City has been handed over to Lu An. I was wondering why you suddenly came to Jiang City; it turns out you’re here to see your girlfriend.”

Zhou Sujin smiled, offering no explanation.

He had come to Jiang City this time to handle matters related to the project. Although the project had been handed over to Lu An, he lacked experience and had mishandled some things, so he had to come clean up the mess.

As for coming to see his girlfriend?

He didn’t even know when he had acquired a girlfriend in Jiang City.

As He Wancheng raised his glass, Zhou Sujin clinked it lightly and took a sip of his drink, tilting his head slightly. At that moment, his gaze swept over Wei Lai.

Wei Lai had never been in such a humiliating situation before, nor had she ever done anything so absurd. For a moment, she was at a loss on how to handle herself. She had initially wanted to flaunt and vent her frustration in front of Zhang Yanxin and Mu Di, but she ended up making a fool of herself in front of the real Zhou Sujin.

She glanced at Zhou Sujin again, but his expression revealed nothing—she couldn’t discern his emotions. All she could do was wait quietly for his judgment.

Zhou Sujin turned to the person beside him and said, “Please switch seats.” Then, he looked at Wei Lai and said to her, “Since it’s all out in the open now, come sit next to me.”

Previous | Index | Next

Dinner

Inside Riverside Restaurant, Zhao Yihan picked up her white button-up from the front desk, and just as she turned to leave, someone called out to her, “Zhao Yihan?”

Zhao Yihan paused, glancing sideways. A man in a dark green T-shirt was walking toward her from the lounge area. He was handsome and tall, with a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes. His eyebrows were slender, and his smile was harmless.

She knew this man, a fellow university alum, and his name was on the tip of her tongue, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember his name, not even his last name.

Before Lu An reached her, he introduced himself, “Lu An. Do you still remember me?”

Finally connecting the name to the face, Zhao Yihan maintained her composure and smiled. “How could I forget? Long time no see.”

Knowing Zhao Yihan’s personality, Lu An half-jokingly remarked, “I’m afraid an important person like you can’t remember everyone. Are you from Jiang City?”

“Yes.” Zhao Yihan extended her hand, and they shook hands while exchanging pleasantries. “Are you here on business?”

“En. A friend of mine is a son-in-law of Jiang City, mobilizing everyone around him to invest in Jiang City Industrial Park. He even set KPIs for us, requiring me to come to Jiang City two to three times a year.” Lu An pulled up his WeChat QR code and handed his phone over. He didn’t have Zhao Yihan’s contact information. “I heard you got married to your college boyfriend. Congrats.”

“Thank you.”

They exchanged contact information, and Zhao Yihan updated his name in her contacts.

Their conversations were always brief, and after several years apart, they struggled to find topics to discuss.

Their brief reunion after graduation ended with Lu An’s offer, “When you’re free, let me treat you to a meal.” He then returned to the lounge area to wait for his late-night takeout while Zhao Yihan left the restaurant to find Wei Lai.

During the ten minutes she was inside the restaurant, Wei Lai had been admiring the neighboring Cullinan for the same duration.

Initially, it was admiration, but as time passed, her gaze fixed on the car as her thoughts drifted to tomorrow’s work handover.

Meanwhile, Zhou Sujin turned around once more, glancing to see if Lu An had come out. Wei Lai’s gaze inadvertently met his, prompting Zhou Sujin to avert his eyes and look toward the restaurant’s entrance.

When Lu An stepped out, Wei Lai’s white car had just driven away.

“I packed a portion for you.” Lu An placed the takeout on the back seat and started the car.

Zhou Sujin: “I told you I didn’t need it.”

Lu An had intended to treat Zhou Sujin to late-night, but since he said he wasn’t hungry, Lu An didn’t dine in and instead got takeout. Feeling awkward about eating alone, Lu An ordered an extra portion but he didn’t appreciate it.

Lu An, being good-natured, said, “I’ll eat two portions by myself then.”

While waiting at the traffic light, Lu An propped his elbow on the car windowsill, absentmindedly rubbing his chin with the back of his hand, and sighed, “The world is really small, you know? Guess who I bumped into at the restaurant just now? An old college acquaintance of mine. She didn’t even remember my name.”

He chuckled awkwardly.

There was a moment of silence.

“I know she’s from Jiang City.”

Zhou Sujin couldn’t grasp his words and had no interest in gossiping. He simply stated, “I’m heading back to Beijing tomorrow morning.”

Lu An withdrew his arm from the car window, suddenly feeling uneasy. “But what about the meeting tomorrow if you leave?”

“You go.”

“I… I go… and with you, isn’t the same.”

The semiconductor materials project in Jiang City was a joint investment between him and Zhou Sujin. In the past, major decisions for the company were made by Zhou Sujin, and he was happy to handle the legwork.

Tomorrow’s meeting in Jiang City was especially important, and Lu An was afraid he wouldn’t be able to handle it alone.

“What’s the rush to go back for?”

Zhou Sujin replied, “It’s something related to my brother.”

“Oh.” Lu An didn’t press further, knowing that even if he asked, Zhou Sujin might not explain. Over the years, he had noticed that anyone who spent time with Zhou Sujin tended to develop a habit of speaking less and doing more. Even he, who used to be outspoken and straightforward, had learned to read between the lines.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of the hotel.

“You’ll be in charge of the project in Jiang City from now on,” Zhou Sujin said as he unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.

“Hey, wait a moment.” Lu An didn’t forget to grab the two portions of takeout. Zhou Sujin’s chauffeur and secretary were in the car behind, so Lu An gestured the Cullinan to the chauffeur, indicating him to park the car properly before hurriedly catching up with Zhou Sujin. “What do you mean by that?”

Zhou Sujin: “I have other projects to attend to.” He didn’t have the time to come to Jiang City frequently anymore.

The project in Jiang City was basically on track and didn’t require his constant supervision; Lu An should be able to handle it.

—

The next day, Wei Lai went to work as usual, arriving at the office around the same time. Her project team colleagues had started to arrive one by one, and they were surprised to see her again in the office, with puzzled expressions on their faces.

Their dark circles were even heavier than Wei Lai’s. They had created a new group chat last night, where they continued to roast their boss until three in the morning. If Tang Zhi hadn’t disbanded the group, they would have talked until dawn.

Tang Zhi took the initiative to take Wei Lai’s cup to the pantry and poured her some warm water. She then brewed some coffee to keep herself awake. Last night, she received a notification from their boss to arrange for Wei Lai to hand over her work to her.

“Have some water,” Tang Zhi placed Wei Lai’s cup on her desk. Staring at her eyes, there were no signs of puffiness, just a few faint lines of redness. “I was worried your eyes wouldn’t be presentable today.”

Wei Lai smiled. “My tear glands are underdeveloped.”

A man who could make her shed tears probably hasn’t been born yet.

Last night, when sending Zhao Yihan home, she asked her to wait a few minutes. She got out of the car and bought a bottle of melatonin pills from the pharmacy for her. When Wei Lai returned home, she got into bed and fell asleep in less than half an hour. She was awakened by her alarm in the morning, with no time to indulge in sadness and tears.

Tang Zhi got straight to the point, “CEO Mu asked me to take over your work. If you’re not feeling well today, we can postpone the handover to another day. No rush.”

“No need. A breakup won’t affect the handover.”

Tang Zhi sighed inwardly. Although she was discontent with their boss, she could only voice her complaints in private. The next day at work, she would continue to wag her tail as usual.

“CEO Mu also mentioned that you can rest assured, the bonus from the previous project will definitely be given to you in full,” Tang Zhi, being overly cautious, whispered to Wei Lai, “While face is important, it’s not tangible. Don’t be foolish and let go of this bonus. You earned it with your hard work, and no matter what, nothing’s worth sacrificing money over.”

While organizing the handover, Wei Lai paused and looked up, “The bonus is rightfully mine. Why wouldn’t I accept it? If the company refuses to give it to me, I will protest.”

Tang Zhi gave her a thumbs-up, trying to keep the conversation light and avoiding mentioning their boss, Mu Di. “Once you’re settled in at your new company, I’ll come join you.”

Wei Lai joked in agreement, “When I become a boss in the future, I’ll hire you with a high salary.”

She was joking, but Tang Zhi wasn’t.

Wei Lai was one of the few employees in the company who resigned without giving a month’s notice, but her handover process was swift. In just three days, she handed over all her ongoing projects.

During those three days, she didn’t catch sight of Mu Di.

Mu Di’s office was on the same floor as theirs. It was said that she was on a business trip these past few days. Privately, they speculated that Mu Di was deliberately avoiding meeting Wei Lai.

As for that bonus, Wei Lai received it a month later.

The day she received the bonus happened to be when Zhang Yanxin and Mu Di got engaged. She couldn’t help but feel that it was too much of a coincidence.

The company’s finance team knew that Mu Di’s fiance was her ex-boyfriend, yet they chose this day to send the bonus to her.

That day felt like an eternity, with each passing hour feeling longer than a week.

Unable to focus on reading, Wei Lai decided to hit the treadmill for a run.

As she was sweating profusely, a call came in. Wei Lai picked up her phone and saw it was from the real estate agent. She had listed the villa in Jiangan with the agent, and there had been occasional visits from potential buyers lately.

Answering the call, the agent asked if she was available at the moment. There was a buyer interested in her villa.

Wei Lai had plenty of time on her hands these days, too much time to know what to do with. “I’m available.”

Agent: “The buyer’s whole family is currently at the office. Could you come over?”

Wei Lai set aside her phone and went to take a shower. Since resigning from her job, she rarely bothered with makeup when going out, but she took the time to apply an exquisite layer today.

A month had passed, and from her appearance and demeanor, one couldn’t tell that she had experienced both heartbreak and unemployment.

Upon arriving at the real estate agency, the family interested in her property had been waiting for some time, accompanied by a lawyer.

The lawyer got straight to the point and proposed their offer, which was lower than Wei Lai’s expectations. However, the buyer was offering to pay the full amount upfront. All she needed to do was nod, and they could sign the contract and pay the deposit right away.

Today was Zhang Yanxin’s engagement day; such a special occasion seemed to have sealed the fate of this villa.

Wei Lai didn’t want to keep it for another day, so she agreed to the deal.

The paperwork was a bit complicated, so the transfer of ownership wasn’t completed until the next day.

Wei Lai had returned to her normal routine this week, waking up at 6:30 in the morning, preparing a hearty breakfast, and then relaxing on the sofa with a book after eating.

Zhao Yihan sent her a message: Are you busy?

During the past month or so, she hadn’t had any contact with this sister of hers.

Putting down the collection of poems in her hand, Wei Lai replied, Not busy at the moment.

Zhao Yihan knew Wei Lai had resigned and had been resting at home for over a month. With Zhang Yanxin’s engagement two days ago, she had thought about calling Wei Lai but was worried she might not feel like talking.

Wei Lai asked, “What’s up?”

Zhao Yihan expressed concern, “Have you found a new job yet? Or are you planning to take more time off?”

Wei Lai wanted to get herself sorted out before making any decisions. “I’ll decide after my dad’s wedding. No rush.”

“Oh, by the way,” Zhao Yihan asked Wei Lai, “Does Auntie know about your breakup and resignation?”

Wei Lai hadn’t told her mom yet; she didn’t want her to worry. “The matters at the supermarket are enough to keep my mom busy.”

Zhao Yihan: “Should I tell Uncle Wei or not?” Even if they didn’t tell now, it wouldn’t stay hidden for long.

With her dad and Zhao Yihan’s mom’s wedding approaching, Wei Lai pondered for a moment before replying, “Let’s wait. I want him to be in a good mood for the wedding. After the wedding, I’ll tell them once I find a job and settle down properly.”

Zhao Yihan: “As long as you’re in the financial circle of Jiang City, you’ll inevitably have to deal with Mu Di. Have you thought about working in Su City? It’s not far from home, and a change of environment might lift your spirits.”

Wei Lai said candidly, “I don’t have any connections in Su City.”

Zhao Yihan: “I’m attending a dinner party tonight hosted by Su City’s wealthiest man, He Wancheng. He has business dealings with major corporations in Jiang City. Whether you decide to work in Su City or not, it wouldn’t hurt to make some connections.”

She knew she would just be a background figure at the dinner, unable to participate in conversations with such people. However, with Wei Lai’s social skills, turning the big shots at the dinner into potential connections shouldn’t be a problem.

“It’s a rare opportunity. You should go.”

Wei Lai appreciated Zhao Yihan’s goodwill: “Send me the address.”

Previous | Index | Next

So Close

After deciding on this watch, Zhou Sujin suddenly remembered the regional director’s unfinished sentence. He turned to him and asked, “This watch has an owner?”

He was originally just intending to wear it temporarily; if it already had an owner, he wasn’t interested in taking something from someone else.

“Not at the moment.” The regional director couldn’t lie to Zhou Sujin but chose his words carefully. “It was a custom order from one of our clients. They had waited for more than seven months, but unfortunately, there was an issue on her end right before the delivery, so she could only give it up. Unexpectedly, this watch has found its way to you.”

As for the specific issue the client faced, the regional director deliberately avoided going into details. Zhou Sujin naturally assumed it was a temporary financial difficulty, given the long wait and custom watchband, one wouldn’t easily give it up. 

Zhou Sujin nodded in acknowledgment, picking up the watch and trying it on his wrist.

Perhaps it was truly destined—the length of the watchband fit perfectly, requiring no further adjustment.

Inside the watch box was a small, rectangular golden card. Zhou Sujin fastened the watch buckle and casually picked up the card. In the center, there was a neatly written line in blue-black ink:

May all the days in the future be smooth, forever loving me.

—by The Future* 🙂

* – In Chinese, 未来 means “the future,” and Wei Lai’s name 卫莱 has the same phonetics as 未来

A blessing from the future. Zhou Sujin mistakenly thought it was a complimentary card from the brand. After reading it, he placed it back into the watch box.

Seeing Zhou Sujin reluctantly satisfied with the watch, Lu An finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time, the store manager also felt relieved. She had been worried that it would be challenging to find customers interested in such a colored watch band. Glancing at Zhou Sujin’s wrist again, it seemed that someone with an attractive hand and a powerful aura could handle any type of watch.

Exiting the flagship store, Lu An suggested grabbing late-night to ease the tension built up during the past few hours since Zhou Sujin’s watch had been damaged. 

“I know a good late-night place. Wanna go?” he asked for Zhou Sujin’s opinion.

Zhou Sujin pulled the seatbelt across without responding.

No clear rejection meant an agreement. Lu An glanced at the rearview mirror and said while reversing, “I’ve ordered a car, arriving the day after tomorrow. I won’t need to drive your car anymore. You can have someone pick it up at my place the day after tomorrow.” 

Zhou Sujin responded with an “En.” This Cullinan was his, and since Lu An didn’t buy a car in Jiang City, he would borrow a car from whoever he encountered in the city. 

After seeing off Zhou Sujin, the store manager and regional director returned inside the store. The store manager couldn’t contain her excitement and hurriedly headed to the VIP lounge on the first floor.

“It sold! It sold! I’m going to buy some lottery tickets right away. What incredible luck! Thank you, Zhou Sujin, for coming to Jiang City for business.”

Wei Lai: “Zhou Sujin?”

“Yes, that’s right, Zhou Sujin. The big shot our regional director specially flew to Jiang City to greet. He’s the one who bought your watch.” The store manager took a few sips of water and continued gossiping enthusiastically, “The Second Young Master of the Zhou family from Beijing, unmarried, no girlfriend, but whether he’s single or not is hard to say.”

In their social circle, not having a publicly acknowledged girlfriend didn’t mean they were single.

Her knowledge of gossip was limited to this; all of it came from the regional director. 

Wei Lai wasn’t interested in gossiping about strangers. With the watch issue resolved perfectly in such a short time, she thanked the store manager repeatedly, “When do you finish work? I’d like to treat you and your supervisor to late-night.”

The store manager waved her hand, setting aside her cup of water before saying, “Another day, perhaps.” She smiled and added, “If you don’t treat me, I’ll have to pester you. Unfortunately, we have an internal meeting tonight, and it’s likely to go on until midnight.”

The meeting was her impromptu excuse. Wei Lai had just gone through a breakup, and who was in the mood to eat and drink after that?

While Wei Lai wasn’t paying attention, she exchanged a meaningful glance with Zhao Yihan.

Zhao Yihan instantly understood and grabbed her purse before standing up. “Let’s hang when you’re less busy.”

Wei Lai suddenly remembered that the birthday card she had written was still in the watch box. “There’s a card in the box; I forgot to take it out. Is that okay?”

The store manager only discovered the existence of the card when Zhou Sujin picked it up. As for what was written on it, she didn’t see it clearly. She reassured Wei Lai, “Zhou Sujin looked at it and put it back. He probably thought it came with the watch.”

She asked Wei Lai, “You didn’t sign it, did you?”

Wei Lai: “I did sign it, but with homophones.”

Some memories always catch you off guard. Zhang Yanxin saved her as “Future,” and even the recipient’s name she filled in on shopping sites was “Future.” So, when she wrote the birthday card for Zhang Yanxin, she also signed it as “Future.”

At that time, she thought she and Zhang Yanxin had a future together.

After finishing the coffee in their cups, Wei Lai and Zhao Yihan bid farewell.

From the flagship store to the car, Wei Lai was contemplating what gifts to give the store manager and regional director to express her gratitude. 

Her phone in her purse kept vibrating, but she didn’t hear it.

Walking beside her, Zhao Yihan glanced at her side profile, noticing her absent-mindedness. She sighed helplessly. “Your phone.”

For a moment, Wei Lai was confused but soon realized that Zhao Yihan was reminding her to check her phone. 

She hadn’t looked at her messages all night. An hour ago, her mom asked her what time she would be home, but she didn’t reply. Worried, her mom called again.

“Mom, I’m still outside. Having late-night with Zhao Yihan.”

Cheng Minzhi seemed uncertain. “With who? Zhao Yihan?”

“En. The dress arrived, and she brought it over to me.”

“That’s great. Take your time.”

Just as Wei Lai was about to end the call, she heard the sound of a car starting from her mom’s end, and she instinctively checked the time. “Mom, it’s so late. Did you just finish work?”

Cheng Minzhi chuckled and explained why she was working until so late, “I suddenly felt like giving all the supermarket stores a unified makeover in the afternoon, tweaking our operations a little. I did some planning in the evening and finally calmed down.” She sighed, “If only I were ten years younger, I’d have the energy to mess around more.”

“Lai Lai, you chat with Yihan. Mom’s heading home now.”

“Okay. Mom, drive safely and get some rest when you get home.”

Her mom ran a chain of local supermarkets; including the newly opened one this month, totaling 15 stores. The largest store was 2,000 square meters, and the smallest one was still over 200 hundred square meters. Despite having a management team, there were still many things her mom had to take care of.

Now in its 25th year, the supermarket shared the same age and name as her and was called Wei Lai Supermarket.

After hanging up the call, Wei Lai took out her car keys from her purse and handed them to the driver.

The driver hadn’t gone wandering nearby but leaned against the car door, reading a book. When he saw Wei Lai coming out, he placed the book into his sling bag and took the car keys from her.

He wasn’t much of a talker and drove quietly after confirming the destination.

Once inside the car, Zhao Yihan slapped her forehead. “Look at my memory.”

Wei Lai: “What’s wrong?”

“I forgot my button-up at the restaurant.”

It was the expensive white button-up that Wei Lai had hung in the closet.

When they left after eating dinner, she didn’t notice the button-up, so it completely slipped her mind. Wei Lai’s mind was in a mess at that time so she couldn’t remember even more.

Zhao Yihan called the restaurant to ask them to hold the button-up for her to pick up.

The driver made a left turn at the next intersection, heading toward Riverside Restaurant.

The two sisters remained silent, exchanging glances.

Wei Lai propped her forehead with her hand, gazing at the street outside the window passing by. Her phone in her purse vibrated again, three times in a row, indicating incoming messages.

She opened WeChat, and the few group chats she had pinned but hadn’t set to “Do Not Disturb” were all work-related. She always checked messages in these groups promptly.

Her colleague, Tang Zhi, sent three messages in a row:

“!! Breaking news! Our boss is getting engaged to Zhang Yanxin!”

“Didn’t she say she wasn’t interested in marriage?”

“Tsk. As expected, marriages among the wealthy are all about matching backgrounds.”

Wei Lai’s gaze fixed on the first message. This was a private work group chat that they had created, and their boss wasn’t part of it.

The boss was a few years older than Wei Lai and the daughter of the company’s chairman.

Another colleague in the group @ Tang Zhi: “This is a work group chat, quickly unsend irrelevant messages!”

Tang Zhi didn’t unsend her messages because it was specifically sent for Wei Lai to see, letting her know that her boyfriend had decided to get engaged, and even the engagement date had been set. She didn’t want Wei Lai to be the last to know.

Her boyfriend’s fiancee was her boss, whom she worked with every day. She lost her love and job; it couldn’t get any worse. 

Wei Lai turned around to ask Zhao Yihan, “Did you know it was my boss?”

It was a random question, but Zhao Yihan understood. She nodded, “I heard it from someone, but I’m not sure.” She tried to reassure Wei Lai, “You should confirm it, maybe it’s not true.”

It seemed unlikely to be wrong. If Tang Zhai wasn’t sure about the news, she wouldn’t have openly sent it in the private work group chat. Still, Wei Lai wanted to confirm it personally, as it would determine whether she would resign immediately.

She messaged Zhang Yanxin’s secretary: “Secretary Liu, is his fiancee my boss?”

Secretary Liu replied instantly: “En, it’s a political marriage. They were acquainted before but didn’t have much interaction.”

“CEO Zhang said he’s sorry to you and owes you.”

The moment Zhang Yanxin mentioned breaking up, it didn’t hurt as much as it did now. Wei Lai didn’t reply to Secretary Liu. Instead, she wrote a message and sent it to the group chat: “No need to unsend. Thank you for the reminder. We’ve already broken up. Thanks to everyone for the care and support over the past two years. If fate allows, let’s work together again in the future.“

Tang Zhi now dared to privately message her: “I’ve been feeling terrible all night and couldn’t hold it in anymore. You’re the last one in our team to know. We didn’t mean to keep you in the dark to laugh at you. They’ve been agonizing over how to tell you.” Unable to bear seeing Wei Lai kept in the dark, she resorted to sending a message in the private group chat.

She asked a pointless question, How are you feeling?

Wei Lai: “Not good, not bad. I’m fine.”

Tang Zhi was indignant: “Are there no men left in the world? To go after her subordinate’s boyfriend? You poured your heart out to her at work!” She knew Wei Lai was celebrating Zhang Yanxin’s birthday tonight. “What about the watch you saved up for so long to buy?”

Wei Lai: “I sold the watch; didn’t lose out.”

Tang Zhi: “But, you bought an equivalent amount of items for it. Those items are definitely not gonna be wanted by others. That’s still a loss!”

Wei Lai smiled: “One learns from one’s mistakes. It’s a good lesson. You should go to bed early; you have work tomorrow.”

After bidding Tang Zhi goodnight, she straightforwardly messaged her boss: “I resign. I’ll handle the formalities tomorrow.”

At this point, there was no need to beat around the bush anymore. Boss: “Okay. Hand over all your ongoing projects in a manner convenient for you. You don’t need to come to the office. I’ll arrange for someone to meet you.”

Wei Lai: “I haven’t stolen anything or done anything wrong. There’s nothing inconvenient for me. Don’t worry, I won’t feel ashamed to face anyone. I’ll go to the company tomorrow for the handover.” She then deleted her boss’s contact information.

Looking out the window, she couldn’t tell where the car was headed.

Zhao Yihan wasn’t good at comforting people, and every minute spent in the car felt like torture.

The car stopped in front of Riverside Restaurant, but Wei Lai was still gazing out the window.

“I’ll go get my button-up,” Zhao Yihan said, opening the car door.

Wei Lai snapped out of her daze, quickly regaining her composure as if nothing had happened. “I’ll come with you.”

“No need. You stay in the car,” Zhao Yihan closed the door.

Wei Lai’s mind was a complete mess. As she glanced out the window, she caught sight of an SUV parked about two or three meters away. It was dark emerald, a color she saw for the first time in real life.

Through the layer of glass, she couldn’t see it very clearly.

She lowered the car window and admired the Cullinan, using it as a distraction from her sadness.

Inside the car, a few meters away, there was only Zhou Sujin. He turned around inadvertently, and their eyes met through the car window.

He could see her.

But she couldn’t see him.

Previous | Index | Next

Destined

Zhao Yihan and her friend agreed to meet at the store around 9 p.m. to have her friend take a look at the watch first.

As for when they could find a buyer, it would depend on luck.

“For you to get this watch sooner, you even bought an equal amount of items. It must’ve taken two years of salary without eating or drinking, right?”

Wei Lai was slightly surprised, wondering how she knew about how much she spent on items.

Zhao Yihan: “My friend is the store manager, and she saw your transactions. Let’s go see her later. I’m not sure how much she can help, but having more options gives more hope.”

Wei Lai’s phone vibrated—it was a message from Zhang Yanxin’s secretary: Miss Wei, when are you free? The CEO wants to transfer the villa in Jiangan to your name. He said he’s very sorry for what happened and regrets not living up to your feelings. Please accept the villa as a token of apology and consider it a settlement for the emotional debt he owes you.

Wei Lai suppressed the tumultuous emotions welling up inside her.

Zhao Yihan deduced from Wei Lai’s expression that the message was related to Zhang Yanxin. She grabbed her phone from her hand and placed it on the table. “Don’t use your phone when eating.” Trying to divert her attention, she continued, “My mom and Uncle Wei are getting married. What gift are you planning to give?”

Wei Luo remained somewhat silent. “I haven’t decided yet. What about you?”

Zhao Yihan’s silence lasted longer than hers. “Same.” She hadn’t decided either.

She only loved her own parents, and now that her mom was marrying someone else, she wasn’t sure what would be an appropriate gift. Similarly, Wei Lai also only loved her own parents. Despite how loving Uncle Wei and his ex-wife were before, dating from college to marriage, they eventually went their separate ways. Wei Lai probably wouldn’t want to face her dad’s wedding with someone else either.

Wei Lai suggested, “How about we chip in together and buy something more expensive? I’ll give my blessings to my dad, and you can give yours to your mom.” 

Zhao Yihan nodded. “Sure. Let’s go pick it together when we have time.”

After finishing dinner and leaving the restaurant, Wei Lai declined the chauffeur arranged by Zhang Yanxin, walking straight out of the lobby. 

Manager Lu was put in an awkward position. If he couldn’t safely escort Wei Lai home, he couldn’t report back to Zhang Yanxin. He had no choice but to advise again, “Miss Wei, you’ve had some wine…”

Wei Lai interrupted without looking at him, “I’ve called for a driver. Again, I’ve broken up with Zhang Yanxin.”

Manager Lu didn’t take those words to heart. Which couple hadn’t said they were breaking up in the heat of an argument?

“Manager Lu, no need to see us out.” Zhao Yihan, walking behind them at a steady pace, stopped Manager Lu, “My sister wasn’t celebrating his birthday today; it was a farewell dinner. He didn’t eat it, so I ate it on his behalf. Farewells have been said.”

Manager Lu visibly paused.

Zhao Yihan mocked, “I hope the next time we come to eat, we can still enjoy Manager Lu’s enthusiastic and thoughtful service as before.”

Manager Lu smiled and replied primly, “Certainly, it’s my pleasure.”

As they spoke, the driver arrived on a motorcycle.

A tall and slender young man, wearing gray sweatpants and a loose white T-shirt. 

Wei Lai could feel a youthful vibe from him, a kind of freshness that was absent in Zhang Yanxin—a seasoned businessman.

Having confirmed that he was the designated driver she called, Wei Lai handed him her car keys.

Zhao Yihan fetched a garment bag from her car. “Don’t forget your dress.”

Wei Lai took a few steps forward, receiving the bag and placing it in the trunk. Feeling apologetic for troubling this sister of hers, she said, “You should head back now. I’ll go to the flagship store and find your friend, the store manager. I’ve troubled you enough.”

“An extra hour or two won’t make much of a difference. “ Zhao Yihan opened Wei Lai’s car door and got in.

The white car left the restaurant parking lot and headed toward the flagship store of the watch brand.

With an unfamiliar driver in the front, discussing private matters wasn’t convenient, providing the perfect excuse for both to remain silent.

They had not exchanged many words during dinner tonight; each ate their own thing, immersed in their thoughts. 

The car remained quiet until the driver parked not far from the flagship store. Wei Lai turned to the driver and said, “Why don’t you walk around nearby? It might take a while.”

The driver was a man of few words and just nodded in agreement, returning the car keys to her.

The VIP guest still hadn’t arrived to choose his watch yet, so the store manager had some free time to personally attend to them.

The store manager hadn’t met Wei Lai in person before today, but she was not unfamiliar with her. Over the years, she had heard bits and pieces about Wei Lai from Zhao Yihan, giving her a general understanding of her personality. Known for her high EQ, in Zhao Yihan’s words, Wei Lai seemed non-confrontational but had eight hundred tricks up her sleeve.

She had also seen how Wei Lai looked in a family photo at Zhao Yihan’s house—a plump oval face with a soft jawline, a pair of eyes full of mirth that could melt anyone’s heart.

In the photo, her features were impeccable, almost unrealistically beautiful, and she had thought it was the result of the photographer’s Photoshop skills.

Now, with the real person standing in front of her, the store manager, a woman herself, couldn’t help but hold her breath at the sight.

Wei Lai greeted her, expressing apologies, “It’s quite late; sorry for the trouble.”

The store manager greeted them with a warm smile as they entered. “No trouble at all. Your sister’s matters are my matters; don’t stand on ceremony. You’re in luck; our regional director happens to be here tonight. I have a good relationship with him personally, and he has an extensive network. I’ll ask him for a favor.” 

The warranty card for this watch hadn’t been filled out, and it hadn’t even been tried on. There was a slim chance of reselling it close to the original price, though the probability was quite low.

Right now, Wei Lai only wanted to get rid of the watch as soon as possible. The price wasn’t her top concern at the moment.

The store manager poured two cups of coffee and invited them to sit in the VIP room on the first floor while she took the watch to find the regional director, hoping he could help find a suitable new owner for the watch.

“Skip the coffee; will you even be able to sleep after drinking it?” Zhao Yihan reminded her.

Wei Lai stirred her coffee without concealing her emotions. “Whether I drink it or not, I won’t be able to sleep.”

Soon, the store manager hurriedly descended from upstairs. In the VIP room, the two sisters sat at opposite ends of the sofa, maintaining complete silence as if they were strangers.

The store manager handed the watch back to Wei Lai. “I’ve taken the photos. Keep the watch safe.”

After a pause, she advised Wei Lai to prepare herself mentally. “The color scheme of this watch band, someone who likes it will appreciate it a lot.” The remaining half of the message was left unspoken.

Wei Lai was already mentally prepared and graciously expressed her thanks.

The store manager gestured toward the door and said to Zhao Yihan, “Our VIP guest is arriving shortly, and I won’t have time to accompany you guys. Feel free to help yourself to more coffee. If you guys are busy, you guys can head back first. We can discuss it later over the phone.” 

Zhao Yihan: “No rush, we’ll wait here.” 

The store manager, without lingering for small talk, quickly adjusted her attire and makeup in the mirror, then briskly walked out of the lounge, closing the door behind her.

Having just learned from the regional director that tonight’s VIP guest was surnamed Zhou, the second young master of the Zhou family in Beijing, and that the person who accidentally damaged his watch was Lu An from the Lu family.

The purpose of their visit was to see if the damaged watch could be repaired, and buying a new watch was just a secondary matter. 

As the store manager reached the entrance of the flagship store, two cars pulled up in succession and parked.

The leading vehicle was a striking dark emerald Cullinan. Even without being a car enthusiast, she knew this Cullinan was the epitome of an SUV.

A young man, casually dressed, stepped out from the driver’s seat. His T-shirt was even darker than the color of the SUV, exuding a carefree aura.

Following closely, the door of the passenger seat opened too. A tall man in a white shirt got out of the car. She could only catch a glimpse of his side profile. His demeanor and aura were in stark contrast to the man in the T-shirt. He possessed a natural charisma, a silent presence that simultaneously made people nervous and yet strangely comforted—a contradictory feeling.  

The regional director approached, exchanging pleasantries with the man in the white shirt. The store manager then confirmed that the man was Zhou Sujin, the second young master of the Zhou family, and the one in the T-shirt was Lu An.

The store manager followed them into the store, with the regional director leading the way. There was little for her to do.

As they ascended the stairs, Lu An engaged in conversation with the regional director, while Zhou Sujin remained calm and aloof. He was a man of few words, and from the entrance to the second-floor VIP room, he uttered only two sentences, not totaling ten words.

The damaged watch was with Zhou Sujin’s secretary. Lu An instructed the secretary to take out the watch and told the regional director, “Try to shorten the repair time.”

The regional director simply responded verbally. The watch needed to be sent to the headquarters for repairs, and the exact duration of the repair would be assessed after an inspection. It wasn’t a decision he could make.

Lu An was even more anxious than the owner of the watch, emphasizing twice that it must be restored, regardless of the repair cost, and the repair time should be shortened as much as possible.

The significance of this watch to Zhou Sujin was unparalleled. It was a gift from Zhou Sujin’s older brother for his 20th birthday, more than nine years ago. The watch appeared most frequently at significant occasions.

He blamed his own curiosity; he shouldn’t have asked Zhou Sujin to take it off and let him take a look.

At that time, they were playing cards, and he forgot how precious this watch was. Amid playful banter after losing a game, the watch accidentally fell off. It was then unintentionally kicked by him, too…

After discussing the repair of the watch, Lu An requested to see the watches in the store, instructing the store manager, “Bring out the most expensive ones.”

Zhou Sujin was engrossed in work on his phone, not bothering to look up.

He had no need to buy a watch. Various watches filled three watch safes at home, and some watches still haven’t even had the chance to be worn. It was Lu An’s way of apologizing for the incident with the watch, and he insisted on gifting Zhou Sujin one.

The store manager brought over several watches that might catch Zhou Sujin’s eye, omitting the basic models.

After arranging the watches, Lu An gestured to Zhou Sujin. “Take a look; which one do you think is okay?”

Zhou Sujin quickly glanced over all the watches. “Put them away.”

He didn’t fancy any of them.

Lu An understood Zhou Sujin well; choosing a watch for him was about personal connection rather than price. He had seen the watches in Zhou Sujin’s collection, ranging from five to eight figures.

He pointed to the damaged watch and asked the store manager, “Is there anything similar to this? The style can be different; if the color is similar, that’s fine too.” 

The store manager took another glance at the watch band and then looked at the regional director.

The regional director also found the band color familiar and suddenly remembered the watch that belonged to Wei Lai. Although its price was incomparable to the high-priced watch that Zhou Sujin needed to repair, the band color was quite similar.

The regional director explained the situation to Lu An, “We have a watch in the store that belongs to a customer…”

“Bring it here for me to see,” Lu An eagerly interrupted.

“One moment; I’ll go get it right away.” The store manager calmly left the VIP room. Upon reaching the stairs, there seemed to be wind under her feet as she dashed to find Wei Lai and Zhao Yihan. 

Entering the room, she exclaimed with relief, “Luckily, you guys didn’t leave! If we’re lucky, this watch might find a new owner tonight.”

Wei Lai was surprised, “So fast?”

“That’s why I said you’re lucky.”

With no time to explain further, the store manager took the watch and hurriedly returned upstairs.

Zhou Sujin had a penchant for collecting watches, and he could estimate the value of a watch with a glance. The watch brought by the store manager had no collectible value, and he thanked her, saying, “Thank you for your efforts.” 

Lu An understood; the watch didn’t catch his eye.

Zhou Sujin closed his phone and glanced at Lu An. “Let’s return to the hotel.”

He didn’t fancy any of the watches, so there was no need to make a purchase.

However, Lu An felt apologetic. Zhou Sujin had a business meeting tomorrow, and wearing a suit without a watch felt like something was missing. Zhou Sujin wouldn’t borrow someone else’s watch, either.

Without responding to Zhou Sujin, Lu An took the liberty to trouble the store manager again, “Are there more styles in the Shanghai store?”

Zhou Sujin didn’t have the time to accompany him on such trivial matters. It was just a watch. He interrupted Lu An. “No need to go to Shanghai.” He then gestured toward the uniquely colored watch in the store manager’s hand, saying, “This one will do.”

Previous | Index | Next

Breakup

“I feel it’s necessary to remind you that we’re getting engaged next month. It would be best for you to break up with Wei Lai in advance.”

Zhang Yanxin stared at the message for several seconds before closing his phone, not responding.

He looked toward the sofa not far away, where Wei Lai was facing away from him, bending down to retrieve something from her purse. Her cocoa-brown bodycon dress perfectly outlined her graceful figure.

Tomorrow was his birthday, and Wei Lai had booked a private room at Riverside Restaurant to celebrate in advance.

Zhang Yanxin massaged his temples, withdrawing his gaze from Wei Lai. Instead, he looked out of the window onto the river, where fishing lights twinkled on both sides of the harbor, and yachts passed by from time to time.

Wei Lai returned to her seat after fetching the item, placing her carefully prepared gift on the table. She gently pushed it toward Zhang Yanxin, who was still looking outside the window, and asked cheerfully, “What are you looking at?” Picking up her wine glass, she clinked it against his, saying, “Happy birthday, always love me.” 

Zhang Yanxin turned back with a faint smile, raising his wine glass and taking a sip of his wine.

Wei Lai leisurely sampled her wine, occasionally glancing at the birthday gift on the table.

However, Zhang Yanxin didn’t notice the new addition on the table, nor did he pick up on her subtle glances.

The brown gift box was not small. Even in the dim lighting of the surroundings, it stood out on the white tablecloth, but he remained oblivious.

Wei Lai’s gaze wandered, finally meeting Zhang Yanxin’s enigmatic gaze.

“Wei Lai,” Zhang Yanxin took another sip of red wine, swallowing with slight force, “you can set any condition with me, as long as it’s within my capabilities.”

Wei Lai smiled and refused without hesitation, “It’s me celebrating your birthday. I don’t need any gifts.”

She hadn’t grasped the meaning behind Zhang Yanxin’s words.

Putting down his wine glass, Zhang Yanxin picked up his phone and sent a message to his secretary.

She had no intention of asking for a gift. Wei Lai stood up, leaning over the table with her hands on the edge, about to kiss him when he said, “It’s not a gift. If you haven’t decided what you want, then I’ll transfer the villa at Jiangan to your name, I’ll arrange for Secretary Liu to handle it. Besides the villa, you can set another condition.”

Jiangan was a newly developed residence area in the city over the past few years, and the prices for each detached villa were staggering. The homeowners in the area were either wealthy or influential, and Wei Lai had never imagined being able to afford a villa there on her own.

Why is he suddenly giving me such an expensive villa?

A sense of unease surged within her.

Zhang Yanxin continued to type on his phone, keeping his gaze lowered. Throughout, he was instructing his secretary, deliberately avoiding looking at Wei Lai, unwilling to see the expression on her face at this moment.

After a brief pause, he added, “In the future, if you encounter any troubles you can’t handle on your own, feel free to reach out to Secretary Liu. He will help you take care of it. It’s inconvenient for me.”

Wei Lai was initially taken aback, and after realizing it, she let out a sarcastic and self-mocking chuckle.

With his words reaching this point, what else was there for her not to understand?

After sorting out the transfer of the villa with Secretary Liu, Zhang Yanxin finally put down his phone. Only then did he notice Wei Lai leaning on the table, seemingly about to kiss him. He reached out to hold her shoulder, but she suddenly leaned back, avoiding his touch, and sat down. He grasped nothing.

Their eyes met.

Wei Lai’s eyes, filled with both sorrow and restraint, scrutinized him inch by inch, from his cold gaze to his prominent nose. Despite being so familiar with him, she now felt like she was looking at a stranger.

In terms of family background and financial strength, he was the unequivocally dominant party. Therefore, breaking up could be so sudden, without any warning, without needing any reason, and with no explanation to offer her.

Perhaps he had loved her during their time together, but when it came to ending things, he was truly ruthless. Here she was, celebrating his birthday, and he chose this moment to break up, showing no concern for how devastated or hurt she might feel.

If she were in Zhang Yanxin’s shoes, she would at least wait until after celebrating the birthday before mentioning a breakup. She would also try to be as suave as possible when giving the breakup fee.

But, he was not her.

For him, this relationship was just a pastime. The only one that was serious was her.

Zhang Yanxin waited for her to explode in anger, but she ultimately did not question him.

“Within the next five years, ensure that all major clients of my dad’s law firm remain retained. Additionally, any new companies entering the Jiangcheng Industrial Park should be prioritized for introduction to my dad.” She didn’t pretend to be noble, straightforwardly laying out the conditions for the breakup, bringing an end to their two years and four months of a relationship.

Back when he first met her and pursued her, it was through sending business to her dad’s law firm.

And now, it was concluding similarly.

Zhang Yanxin agreed to her condition. “No problem.”

She didn’t raise a fuss, didn’t create a scene, and didn’t cling to him. Feeling guilty, he inexplicably wanted to compensate her more, “Is there anything else…” you want.

In the middle of his sentence, he noticed the gift box beside her. The logo on the box was all too familiar to him—it was the brand of watches he often wore.

Her entire year’s salary would barely be enough to afford one.

“For me?” His voice became hoarse.

Wei Lai maintained a carefree expression, smiling. “For someone worth gifting to.” She grabbed the box and walked toward the sofa.

With her back to Zhang Yanxin, she took a deep breath, calming herself against the unexpected breakup.

Despite constantly telling herself there was no need to be sad over a man like him, it proved futile. How could she not feel sad after being together for over two years?

She put away the watch and pressed the bell to summon the waiter.

The restaurant manager entered, accompanied by two waiters.

She didn’t have such a grand presence to warrant the manager’s service; it was to give face to the other person in the private room.

The manager stood at the door and asked Zhang Yanxin with a smile, “Mr. Zhang, can we start serving the dishes?”

Zhang Yanxin remained silent and waved his hand to indicate for them to leave.

Wei Lai spoke up, “Manager Lu, please see my guest out. Thank you.”

There were only two people in the private room tonight, and she was the host tonight. The only guest referred to was Zhang Yanxin.

Manager Lu could only let out an awkward laugh. Even if he were given more courage, he wouldn’t dare to “escort” Zhang Yanxin out, unless he wanted to lose his job at the restaurant.

In preparation for tonight’s birthday dinner, Wei Lai had reserved this riverside private room two weeks in advance. After a busy afternoon arranging the room and ordering the cake, with even the appetizers yet to be served, she unexpectedly asked the birthday boy to leave. Manager Lu couldn’t comprehend her actions. Even if they were arguing, they shouldn’t be at such a moment.

Just as the manager struggled with the situation, Zhang Yanxin stood up, grabbed his suit jacket hanging in the closet, and put it on. His gaze never left Wei Lai throughout the entirety.

Wei Lai was busy tidying her purse with her back to him, so he couldn’t see her expression.

Zhang Yanxin wanted to say something but hesitated to do so. In the end, he decisively walked toward the doorway.

With a click, the door closed.

Wei Lai no longer needed to maintain a facade. She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, arms crossed, for an unknown duration. The manager and the waiters didn’t disturb her. 

Her phone on the table suddenly rang.

“Where are you? The dress has arrived. Do you want it sent to you, or will you come pick it up?” The voice on the other end was cold and flat.

The caller was Wei Lai’s stepsister, Zhao Yihan. Her dad and Zhao Yihan’s mom had recently obtained their marriage certificate, ending their ten years of dating. They planned to have a simple wedding scheduled for two months later. 

Her stepmom had bought each of them a maxi dress for the occasion, to be worn on the day of the wedding banquet.

Over the years, Wei Lai had maintained a distant relationship with this stepsister of hers, who shared no blood ties with her, each minding their own business. They saw each other two to three times a year and rarely had conflicts but were not particularly close either.

When her dad and stepmom first met, Wei Lai had just begun middle school. Afraid it might affect her studies, her dad had refrained from remarrying, just dating only. Her stepmom, in consideration of her own daughter, waited until Zhao Yihan’s career and personal life were steady before considering her own marital future.

Wei Lai spoke into her phone, “Send it to my condo or my mom’s office; either is fine.”

“Okay, I’ll send it to your condo.” Zhao Yihan was about to end the call but couldn’t resist adding, “By the way, I heard Zhang Yanxin has a fiancee. Make sure you’re not the third party.”

“I broke up with him. Just today.”

Originally, Zhao Yihan didn’t want to get involved in this distant sister’s affairs. Perhaps out of boredom, she asked, “Where are you? If it’s on the way, I can drop the dress off for you.”

Wei Lai: “At Riverside Restaurant, getting ready to enjoy a free feast.”

She asked, “Are you free? If you don’t mind, wanna join me?”

Zhao Yihan wasn’t naive. Tables at Riverside Restaurant needed to be booked well in advance, so there was no such thing as a free meal. “You’re so generous.”

“It’s not me who’s generous; I’m just lucky, a stroke of luck.”

“……”

—

Zhang Yihan was near Riverside Restaurant, and she arrived in about ten minutes.

The person who escorted her to the private room was Manager Lu.

Manager Lu had just escorted Zhang Yanxin to the restaurant’s entrance. Zhang Yanxin had instructed him before getting into the car that Wei Lai had drunk wine and couldn’t drive, so he wanted him to take care of her and ensure that she safely reached home.

Manager Lu, being entrusted with this responsibility, faithfully carried out the task and escorted Zhao Yihan to the private room.

He was unaware that Wei Lai and Zhang Yanxin had completely broken up. He thought it was just another lover’s quarrel, as had happened before. Wei Lai and Zhang Yanxin were regulars at the restaurant, and within these two years, he had witnessed Zhang Yanxin coaxing Wei Lai on numerous occasions, not fewer than the number of times he had seen them argue. 

The difficulty tonight lay in the fact that the meal tonight had been meticulously prepared according to Wei Lai’s specifications. Now, with the two of them parting ways without even sharing a meal, he was concerned about what discount to offer Wei Lai when settling the bill later. 

Considering this, Manager Lu looked at Zhao Yihan and said, “Your sister has a strong temper. Today is Mr. Zhang’s birthday after all; they shouldn’t be having a falling out. Please talk to her and try to resolve the situation.”

Zhao Yihan, displeased, unconsciously defended Wei Lai. Without much concern, she retorted, “I’m not like Manager Lu; I don’t like meddling in others’ affairs.”

Manager Lu choked. This was an overt implication that he was too nosy.

He had met with Zhao Yihan a few times before, and she was stern every time; her words were always sharp. Tonight was no exception.

As the elevator reached the 42nd floor, Zhao Yihan strode out decisively. 

Inside the private room, Wei Lai sat at the dining table, absentmindedly swaying the red wine glass in her hand, constantly glancing at the men’s watch on the table.

After Zhang Yanxin left, she took the gift box out of her purse again, contemplating how to deal with the unworn watch.

As the door to the private room opened from the outside, Wei Lai turned around to look.

“So fast?” Saying this, she brought the wine glass to her lips, casually tasting the wine, subconsciously masking her distraction from a moment ago.

Zhao Yihan entered. “It’s rare to have a feast. I didn’t want to miss out.”

Manager Lu, standing at the door, instantly understood and promptly instructed the kitchen to prepare the dishes.

Due to their infrequent meetings and lack of common interests, a brief silence enveloped the room after Manager Lu closed the door and left.

“You just broke up, and you can still eat?” Zhao Yihan broke the silence, speaking straightforwardly.

Wei Lai, seemingly indifferent, replied, “The dishes here are expensive. It would be a waste not to eat them.”

Zhao Yihan had no words in response. She hadn’t expected that this sister of hers had been dumped while celebrating someone else’s birthday. She placed her purse on the sofa and took off her white button-up. Taking a glance at the closet and estimating it to be five or six meters from the sofa, she decided against hanging the button-up. Instead, she casually draped it over the back of the sofa.

Wei Lai noticed that her sister was someone who saved herself from trouble if she could. She would rather let her button-up wrinkle than walk a few extra steps to hang it up.

Yet, she specially came to bring the dress for her. 

Putting down her wine glass, Wei Lai stood up just as Zhao Yihan walked over to the table. She glanced at Zhao Yihan’s shoes—light-colored flats. Zhao Yihan had always been slender and tall, consistently about four or five centimeters taller than her. It seemed she had grown even taller now, at least more than five centimeters taller now.

“You seem to have grown taller,” Wei Lai said, searching for a topic.

Zhao Yihan replied with an “En” as she pulled out a chair and sat down. She had indeed grown taller by two centimeters. During a recent health check-up, she measured her height to be 174.5 cm. At 27, she was surprised to find herself still growing taller.

Pouring herself a glass of red wine, Zhao Yihan turned around to find Wei Lai holding a clothes hanger and hung her expensive white button-up in the closet.

If it was in the past, whether it was her personally bringing the dress to Wei Lai or Wei Lai hanging up her clothes, such things would never have happened.

For a moment, Zhao Yihan found it hard to determine who had truly matured.

She couldn’t bring herself to say sentimental words, and expressing gratitude seemed unnecessary. Turning around, she took a sip of wine. The watch box on the table caught her eye. The box was opened, and she looked at the expensive watch inside and asked uncertainly, “Bought it for Zhang Yanxin?”

Wei Lai nodded.

The watch strap of this watch had been custom-made, incurring additional costs. Wei Lai’s annual salary wouldn’t be enough to buy this watch. Zhao Yihan clicked her tongue, saying, “So generous.”

Adding, “Affectionate.”

“He usually spends even more on me, and in the past two years, he has brought in a lot of business for my dad.” Wei Lai didn’t elaborate on other details.

Zhao Yihan gestured her chin at the watch. “Now that you’ve broken up, how do you plan to deal with it?”

Wei Lai had been considering this problem. There was no need to keep such an expensive watch, and there wasn’t a suitable person to give it to. “When I’m free, I’ll ask around in the industry to see how much I can sell it for.” Even if it hasn’t been worn, opening the box has already resulted in a significant loss.

Without responding, Zhao Yihan sent a message to a friend. This friend was the manager of the flagship store of this watch brand in Jiang City and was well-versed in the market. 

She briefly explained Wei Lai’s situation and asked her friend, “Will there be a considerable loss in value?”

The store manager found information about the order for this watch. “Wei Lai went through a lot of trouble for this watch, queued for over seven months, and even had to buy an equal amount of items to finally get it. Now she wants to return it? Did her boyfriend find the watch too cheap and not want it?”

Zhao Yihan: “They broke up, and the watch wasn’t given.”

The store manager expressed regret, not just for the separation of an ideal couple but also for the watch that Wei Lai had put so much effort into but hadn’t had the chance to give away.

Zhao Yihan: “See if there’s any way to help her minimize the loss.”

Store Manager: “Aren’t you indifferent to this fake sister of yours? What’s gotten into you today?”

Zhao Yihan didn’t disclose to outsiders that it was because Wei Lai had hung her button-up in the closet.

She dodged the question. “Are you working tomorrow? We’ll come see you after work.”

Store Manager: “I’m here now.”

Zhao Yihan inquired further: “Aren’t you supposed to be off today?”

Store Manager: “Sudden change. We have a VVIP customer coming to the store tonight to choose a watch. It seems he’s here for a conference. His watch accidentally got scratched and damaged when a friend dropped it on the floor. He needs a watch to wear for the time being. I don’t even know which big shot it is, but it’s surprising enough to have the regional manager fly over. How could I take a day off?”

Index | Next