Two weeks after the incident, Shen Zhaoran ran into the woman who had brutally beaten Xue Jie again.
It happened at a shopping mall coffee shop. The other woman was the one who recognized her first.
With a bright smile, she said, “Thank you for that night. What would you like to eat? My treat.”
In the bright interior of the shop, the woman’s beauty was striking. She also gave Shen Zhaoran an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Shen Zhaoran did not stand on ceremony and ordered a slice of cake and a glass of milk.
“I am Xie Cangyue.”
“I am Shen Zhaoran.”
A hint of surprise flashed in Xie Cangyue’s eyes. “The Shen from Hengyu Group?”
Shen Zhaoran nodded and asked, “Did Xue Jie give you any trouble afterward?”
“I have not seen him since.”
Xie Cangyue was originally a department manager at Huiying. Huiying had a partnership with the Xue family, and that evening, she had received a message from Xue Jie’s assistant asking her to deliver a file.
Hearing this, Shen Zhaoran’s expression became intriguing. She pointed out, “He probably did not mean for you to just deliver a file.”
Xie Cangyue thought of the incident and was amused to the point of laughter. “I realized that as soon as I got out of the car and saw the bar. If he had not made a move first, I would not have wanted to act either.”
After all, he was the son of the president of a partner company. Xie Cangyue was not someone who liked to cause trouble, but she could not tolerate people trying to stir up trouble with her.
Shen Zhaoran held her milk glass. “Xue Jie has been acting like a fool for a long time.”
“Has he provoked you before?”
Shen Zhaoran nodded. “He did not know who I was. The moment he had a crooked idea, my brother had someone beat him up, stuffed him in a sack, and delivered him to his father. His father gave him another thrashing, and as soon as he was discharged from the hospital, he was escorted out of the country.”
Xie Cangyue said, “He deserved it.”
The two chatted for a while longer. Xie Cangyue had to rush off to meet a client, so she left first.
After Shen Zhaoran finished her cake, Ruan Yan arrived.
“Why is this place so congested?” Ruan Yan glanced at the table. “You ate all this by yourself?”
Shen Zhaoran shook her head. “I met someone very interesting.”
Until she left the coffee shop, she still could not figure out who Xie Cangyue reminded her of.
At the end of the month, Ji Yunchen’s birthday party was held at a manor near the suburbs.
The entire banquet was very Ji Yunchen. It was extravagant and luxurious.
Shen Junhuai brought Shen Zhaoran to the entrance. As soon as they arrived, they were greeted by a bear hug from Ji Yunchen. “Good brother, where is my gift?”
Shen Junhuai pushed him away with an expression of utter disgust.
Shen Zhaoran giggled and said, “Happy birthday, Brother Yunchen. My gift and my brother’s gift have been handed over to the butler.”
“Long time no see, little Zhaoran.” Ji Yunchen moved to hug her, but was nearly knocked over by Shen Junhuai.
“Old Shen, your temper is getting worse.”
Ji Yunchen pointed toward the second floor and told Shen Zhaoran, “Jiang Yu and the others are on the second floor. Go find them to play. I am taking your brother away.”
Shen Zhaoran nodded, felt around in Shen Junhuai’s pocket, and took her phone back.
Shen Junhuai instructed, “Do not run around.”
Shen Zhaoran replied, “I know.”
Ji Yunchen said dismissively, “You can rest assured in my territory. The bodyguards have surrounded this place like an iron barrel.”
Once Shen Zhaoran was out of sight, Shen Junhuai retracted his gaze and left with Ji Yunchen.
There were already quite a few people on the second floor. When Jiang Yu saw Shen Zhaoran, she waved at her and asked once she got close, “Did you come alone?”
“My brother was taken away by Brother Yunchen.”
A while later, Ruan Yan arrived. She sat down, picked up a wine glass, and gulped down the contents.
Shen Zhaoran said, “That is wine, not water.”
Ruan Yan let out a long sigh. “I know. A jerk cut me off on the way here, and I actually failed to chase him down.”
Regaining her composure, Ruan Yan greeted Jiang Yu and then asked, “Has your brother found a partner yet? The housekeeper tipped me off that my parents are planning to set me up on a blind date with Jiang Qian.”
Jiang Yu replied, “He is on duty at the hospital every day, so how would he have a partner?”
Ruan Yan wanted to bow to Jiang Qian from afar. “I will find one for him. Please, I beg him to just date someone.”
Jiang Yu smiled and said, “You can try, but the difficulty level is very high.”
After worrying about her own affairs, Ruan Yan remembered a piece of big gossip. She turned to Shen Zhaoran and asked, “Is Shen Junhuai on a blind date with Xu Zijin?”
Shen Zhaoran was surprised. “You know about that?”
Ruan Yan said, “A friend of mine saw your brother and Xu Zijin eating together, so she guessed.”
Jiang Yu was the most shocked of all. Her tone betrayed a hint of nervousness. “Brother Junhuai is on a blind date?”
Shen Zhaoran had to explain, “My brother does not mean anything by it. It is just a meal.”
Ruan Yan said, “Your brother is already twenty-eight, so a blind date is normal.”
Jiang Yu could not sit still after hearing them. She stood up and said, “I suddenly remembered I left something with Jiang Qian. I am going to find him.”
Ruan Yan was about to continue speaking but had a sudden realization. She looked up at Jiang Yu, who was walking away quickly, with a thoughtful expression.
Shen Zhaoran asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Ruan Yan looked away. “Nothing.”
She felt that Jiang Yu might like Shen Junhuai. Thinking back on the past, the more she thought about it, the more convinced she was. However, considering Shen Junhuai’s attitude toward Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu likely stood no chance. She decided not to mention it to avoid embarrassing Shen Zhaoran, as they would be seeing each other often in the future.
The two ate and talked. After a while, Ruan Yan checked a message and said, “Wei Li is here.”
Shen Zhaoran did not want to deal with people, so she said, “I am going to find a place to slack off.”
Ruan Yan replied, “Go ahead.”
Shen Zhaoran found an empty lounge. She did not forget to send a message to Shen Junhuai, then propped her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the scenery outside the window until the sound of someone entering caught her attention.
She looked at the person entering and was surprised.
Song Heyan asked with a smile, “What, you do not recognize me after a few years?”
Shen Zhaoran replied, “No.”
Shen Zhaoran obediently greeted him, “Brother Heyan.”
Song Heyan found a seat opposite her and asked, “Why are you staying here alone?”
Shen Zhaoran said honestly, “I want some quiet.”
Song Heyan understood.
The look in Shen Zhaoran’s eyes practically spelled out curiosity. He said, “If you want to ask something, just ask.”
Shen Zhaoran thought for a moment before choosing her words. “Did you find her?”
Song Heyan reached out to hold the rim of his glass, swirling the wine inside. He said as if casually, “I found her.”
“And then?”
“There is no and then.”
Song Heyan looked at the liquid in his glass, thinking of the scene when he had found Song Youke in Canada.
She had lost a lot of weight, and her complexion was not good. Compared to the bleak weather, the words she said were even more painful.
“Let us not see each other again.”
“Let us pretend we never met.”
Song Youke was standing within his reach, yet the distance between them was so vast that he could not see the end of it.
He could not say anything, and he could not change anything.
Shen Zhaoran understood, so she did not press further.
Song Heyan glanced at her, thought of the increasingly silent Shen Junhuai, and suddenly put down his wine glass. “Let us play a game. Highest card wins. If you win, I will answer one question for you.”
Shen Zhaoran asked, “What?”
Shen Zhaoran said honestly, “I have nothing left to ask.”
She did not have the habit of prying into things.
Song Heyan played his trump card. “Are you not curious about who the person hidden in Shen Junhuai’s heart is?”