In the tea room tucked into the corner of the living room, the curling aroma of tea lingered in the air, carrying a faint sense of stillness. Zhou Yanze set down his purple clay teacup and looked across at Xie Shiyan, who sat in the armchair opposite him. The light traced the sharp, cool lines of Xie Shiyan’s profile. His eyes were slightly lowered, his thick lashes casting shadows that made his thoughts impossible to read.
“Shiyan, I heard Auntie Xie hasn’t been feeling well lately. How is she now?” Zhou Yanze asked gently, trying to ease the heavy silence.
Xie Shiyan lifted his gaze. His eyes were calm, without a ripple, his voice low and steady, revealing nothing. “She’s exhausted. There’s nothing serious at the moment. The doctor has seen her and said she only needs rest. It’s just…” He paused, his fingertips unconsciously brushing the warm rim of his cup, “Her mood hasn’t been good. She’s been rather down.”
Lu Jingshen and Zhou Yanze exchanged a glance, understanding passing silently between them. Down? It was not just his mother. The man sitting before them, over these past eight years, when had he ever truly been happy? There was no one by his side, no one to care for him. He had always stood alone.
At the same time, the same figure flashed through both their minds, bright and unforgettable.
If Ningning were still here… how wonderful that would have been.
“Auntie is worried about you,” Lu Jingshen said after a moment, choosing his words carefully, testing the waters, “You should also…”
As if he already knew what was coming, Xie Shiyan cut him off without hesitation. He lifted his cup and drained the now lukewarm tea in one swallow. “The meeting with Manager Wang tomorrow, has the location been finalized?” His tone was flat, the shift in topic abrupt and decisive, leaving no room for further discussion.
Zhou Yanze immediately followed his lead. “It’s been arranged. We’re meeting at the Genting Club. The environment is quiet, it suits Manager Wang’s preferences. Jingshen and I will be there on time.”
Xie Shiyan gave a small nod.
At that moment, the phone on the side table lit up, its vibration breaking the stillness of the room. Xie Shiyan glanced at the screen and saw his secretary calling. He picked up immediately, his voice turning crisp and professional. “Go ahead.”
“President Xie, apologies for disturbing you so late. The smart medical robot project team has reported unexpected fluctuations in the verification data for the core algorithm. The development team is requesting an emergency project review meeting at nine tomorrow morning. They need your decision.” The secretary’s voice was efficient and precise.
A faint crease appeared between Xie Shiyan’s brows, then vanished just as quickly. “Understood. Inform everyone involved to be in the conference room on time.” He ended the call after giving his brief instructions.
Lu Jingshen watched as he set his phone aside. That fleeting sharpness of authority faded quickly from his face. He sat quietly again, a sense of detachment and fatigue settling over him, so out of place in the warmth of the tea room.
The light stretched his tall figure into a long, solitary shadow.
Looking at his friend like this, Lu Jingshen sighed inwardly.
For eight years, Xie Shiyan had lived like a high speed, tireless machine, precise and relentless, using work to seal himself away from the world. Wealth and status came easily to him, yet the emptiness in his eyes had never truly disappeared.
…
At Genting Club
The grand hall was bathed in light from massive crystal chandeliers, as bright as day. Marble floors gleamed beneath the feet of elegantly dressed guests, reflecting their figures like a mirror. The air was filled with the mingled scents of expensive perfume, cigars, and exquisite cuisine.
Jiang Yining followed behind her family, looking like a small animal that had wandered into a dream. Her eyes darted everywhere, unable to take it all in.
“Hey, snap out of it.” Jiang Yunting reached over and pinched her arm lightly, lowering his voice. “Your eyes are about to pop out.”
Jiang Yining reluctantly dragged her gaze away from the elaborate ceiling murals. Leaning closer to her brother, she whispered in awe, “This place… how much does a meal even cost here?”
Jiang Yunting raised an eyebrow and casually named a figure that made her inhale sharply. “It starts at five figures per person, and that’s just the baseline.”
“Five… five figures?” Jiang Yining’s eyes widened instantly, her heart aching as if physically struck. Eight years ago, that amount would have covered all her living expenses for four years of university. The contrast made her feel like her soul had been launched straight into the future.
“Did Second Cousin… hit the jackpot or something?” she murmured to herself, still in disbelief.
Seeing her baffled expression, Jiang Yunting couldn’t help but explain. “Cousin Jiang Yunming, runs a fairly large logistics company. His wife is the daughter of the biggest dock owner in the city, a strong alliance. As for Eldest Cousin, Jiang Yunyan, he’s a senior manager at Yunming Logistics. His wife works at the company too. They’ve both been working hard and are doing quite well.” He paused, a hint of pride in his tone.
“As for your brother,” he continued with a small grin, “I started a construction company. It’s not huge, but life’s comfortable. Honestly…” His voice softened, carrying genuine gratitude, “it’s all thanks to Shiyan giving me a hand back then. That’s how the company got on track. Your sister in law, Mu Qing, is now the CFO. It took me three years to win her over.”
“Shiyan…” The moment she heard that name, something inside Jiang Yining tightened, as if dipped in lemon juice, sharp and bittersweet. She tried to sound casual, but there was a tension she couldn’t quite hide. “So… how is Shiyan doing now? Is he… married?”