Chapter 142: Reunion

He Chuan is tall and broad-shouldered. Having exercised for years, his physique rivals that of any professional athlete. Of course, his build isn't the kind gained from chugging protein shakes. Back in university, he maintained a high-intensity physical training regimen, and later, after graduation, he entered the business world. Navigating the constant drinking and socializing of the corporate scene, he knew that if he didn't keep up his fitness, his physique would deteriorate before he turned thirty. Thus, he stayed disciplined.

For a man of thirty, the greatest weapons are cigarettes and alcohol.

A foreign woman stared at him, her eyes wide, but before she could even speak, the handsome man in front of her frowned with impatience. With a clear, cold indifference, he flatly refused: "Not interested."

Even when he was single and abstinent, he wouldn't engage in casual flings. His standards were high; he wouldn't stoop to just any woman. Especially not those who delivered takeout.

He slammed the door shut. Disturbed by the encounter, He Chuan’s mood plummeted, leaving him incredibly irritated. The alcohol hadn't fully worn off, and now, with this added annoyance, he had no patience for anyone. His phone was still ringing. He glanced at the screen to see it was Wen Liang calling. He didn't answer, muted it, and tossed it aside. He didn't care what she wanted at this hour.

...

After two unanswered calls, Wen Liang knew it was pointless to keep trying. If he wanted to answer, he would have done so long ago. She had known him long enough to be familiar with his habits. With him not picking up, her mood soured, and she couldn't help but recall what Mrs. He had said.

"A friend’s daughter was hooked by He Chuan when she was just a young girl. Because of him, she fell out with her family, ran away from home, and refused to go to school."

"You know, He Chuan really knows how to play games. Out of all the girls he could have liked, he had to pick a girl a whole cycle younger than him. She was just a kid, naive, and he was just as immature to follow suit."

"You can only blame his cold heart. With so many women out there, he had to go for one with thorns. That girl’s family wasn't to be trifled with. Look at her—a perfectly fine girl, ruined by him to the point where she didn't even want her own home."

The girl eventually moved abroad, and that was when their connection finally severed.

Wen Liang had always been curious about his past relationship and had tried to probe Assistant Zhang, but the assistant was tight-lipped and revealed nothing useful. She didn't fully believe Mrs. He’s account, knowing the woman’s tendency to exaggerate, but she couldn't tell which parts were embellished. For instance, was He Chuan really that fond of the girl?

The more Wen Liang thought about it, the more suffocated she felt. She didn't know what to do. She picked up her phone again, this time sending a text message instead of calling. He Chuan rarely used WeChat, so texting was arguably more effective than messaging him there. However, the result was the same: silence.

...

Although the scandalous post had been suppressed, it still caused ripples within the company. The veteran employees who had followed He Chuan for years remained unfazed, burying themselves in their work, but the newer staff were full of gossip. With the boss away on a business trip and not expected back for at least half a month, whispers about his private life echoed in the breakrooms and restrooms.

As long as it didn't interfere with work, the assistant didn't see the need to crack down on it. Her boss was someone who had always been indifferent to outside opinions, but Wen Liang was different. On the surface, she pretended not to care, but deep down, she was deeply bothered.

She approached the assistant. "Assistant Zhang, shouldn't you do something about the people gossiping during work hours?"

The assistant looked up at her. "What they talk about is their own business. Our company culture has always been relaxed, provided the work is done. As long as it doesn't affect their duties, it doesn't matter what they say."

Besides, when those same new employees had claimed Wen Liang was the future boss's wife, why hadn't she asked the assistant to manage them then? It was a double standard, and the assistant knew it, though she didn't point it out. Adults would gossip about their boss regardless, and as long as it didn't disrupt the big picture, it was fine. The assistant had a healthy mindset, unlike Wen Liang.

To Wen Liang, this sounded like the assistant was telling her to stop meddling. Not wanting to ruin their relationship, she forced a smile. "Assistant Zhang, don't misunderstand. I'm not meddling; I'm just thinking of the company and the boss. After all, the boss is my senior, and I care about the company's image. If you feel it's unnecessary, then I'm relieved."

"Rest assured, it's fine," the assistant replied, nudging her away.

"Then I won't disturb you further. I'll get going."

"Take care, Ms. Wen."

As she turned to leave, Wen Liang remembered something and looked back. "Oh, by the way, Assistant Zhang, can you reach the boss?"

"Yes, I was reporting to him an hour ago."

"..."

Wen Liang did eventually receive a reply from He Chuan. The text she sent last night was just a gentle reminder about the weather in London—that it might rain for the next few days and he should remember to bring an umbrella. It was simple, with no hidden meaning.

He Chuan’s reply was just: "En, got it."

It was that brief, with nothing more. Wen Liang sighed, realizing that the man she had fallen for was not easy to pursue. She had truly fallen into a bottomless abyss this time. Her best friend had advised her to give up, telling her not to wait until she hit a brick wall to regret it. With no one else to confide in, she had turned to her friend, whose advice was to stop being so persistent. She told her that a man like that was either cold-blooded or was intentionally stringing her along—a heartbreaker who would never truly care for any woman.

But Wen Liang knew He Chuan wasn't that type of person. She still wanted to persist. So, she kept on hitting that brick wall. Her friend could only say so much; if she was determined to suffer, she would eventually learn her lesson.

...

He Chuan stayed in London for a few days. After finalizing the partnership, he was invited to the home of Tan Bei. His wife was a local Londoner and a teacher at a local university. She had a face that fit the aesthetic of a Chinese person, looking warm, kind, and easy to get along with. Tan Bei also had a seven-year-old daughter named Tan Xiang.

Tan Bei joked, "If you had gotten married at my age, your kids might be as big as mine."

He Chuan laughed. "I don't have the good fortune to marry a woman as wonderful as your wife."

"Don't kid me. I know you. Song Chen told me you have plenty of beauties around you, but your standards are too high. You don't look at them; you just keep them as employees."

Song Chen was only joking, likely after He Chuan had been drinking and rambling. He Chuan spent some time at the Tan residence, and Tan Xiang took a liking to him, proactively offering him fruit and snacks.

He Chuan laughed. "Mr. Tan, I’m just here for a meal. You aren't trying to set me up on a blind date, are you?"

"Don't worry about that. I'm just joking. Song Chen told me you're quite the heartbreaker, so I should be careful and keep a guard up."

It was clearly a joke, and He Chuan didn't take it to heart.

When Tan Bei’s wife finished her chores and came down to host the guest, she asked where He Chuan was from. When he said Yongcheng, she nodded thoughtfully. "What a coincidence. One of the students I teach is from Yongcheng, too."

He Chuan didn't pay much attention. "Is that so? What a coincidence."

"The university I work at isn't exactly elite, but the students are very hardworking. Especially the students from your country—they are incredibly diligent. I was surprised. When that student first arrived, her grades weren't great, and she was very solitary and didn't like to socialize. Later, I found out she was ill and struggling emotionally. Actually, students today are under more pressure than we were back then, especially those who leave their home countries for a strange environment. It's truly very hard for them."

Tan Bei’s wife spoke quickly, and He Chuan struggled slightly to follow. After he finally understood, he gave a dismissive smile; he wasn't interested in international students. The conversation moved on.

At dinner time, He Chuan stayed behind, which delighted Tan Xiang. She grabbed his arm, shyly inviting him upstairs to play games. She also had a younger brother upstairs. Tan Bei stayed to help his wife in the kitchen, while He Chuan went up to play with the children.

While playing, Tan Xiang took out a photo album and started flipping through it, scattering the photos everywhere. He Chuan helped pick them up, but when he caught a glimpse of one, he froze.

...

Liang Yang was unhappy again. He sent a series of voice messages, and when Cheng Hui clicked on them, she could hear the suppressed anger in his voice. He demanded to know why her phone was off, claiming it kept him from reaching her.

Cheng Hui explained, "I went out for dinner with classmates last night. I forgot to charge my phone, and it died. I came back, took a shower, plugged it in, and fell asleep. I didn't turn it off on purpose."

She had been exhausted from walking so much and had fallen asleep right after her shower. It wasn't until she woke up this morning and saw his messages that she realized he had been looking for her all night.

She tried to explain, but Liang Yang wasn't listening; he was furious. Helpless, she turned her phone off and turned to her books. Her silence only made him angrier. He called her and demanded she come to see him immediately.

Cheng Hui didn't want to fight and hoped to explain, so she agreed. She took a taxi over. When she arrived, Liang Yang’s face was dark. His first words were a barrage of questions: "Why was your phone off? If it was dead, couldn't you charge it? What century are we in? How can you let your phone die? Don't you have a power bank? Can't you carry one with you?"

His scolding left Cheng Hui stunned. It felt somewhat unreasonable, but she held her tongue. "I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next time."

"Next time? Do you have any idea how worried I was? You think a casual 'next time' makes it all better?"

Cheng Hui felt anxious and couldn't look him in the eye. "It won't happen again. Liang Yang, please don't be angry. I know you were worried. I'm sorry."

After she apologized repeatedly, Liang Yang finally relented. He pulled her into his arms, his tone shifting to one of pained concern. "I'm sorry. I was too harsh just now. I was just worried. Do you know how dangerous it is for a girl to be out alone in a foreign land? I was afraid you'd gone missing; how would I have found you then?"

What he said made sense, and Cheng Hui believed him. She felt a twinge of guilt.

"Tell me everywhere you go from now on, okay? I don't want to be unable to find you. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't be this tense."

Cheng Hui’s gaze was distant, but she hugged him back. "Liang Yang, I understand."

"Promise me, tell me everywhere you go."

"Okay, I'll tell you everywhere I go."

Hearing her promise, Liang Yang’s expression softened. He kissed her brow, and she didn't pull away. Intimacy was expected between lovers; for some, it was like dry wood meeting a flame. But Cheng Hui was cold, like a mountain of snow—no matter how hard Liang Yang tried to spark a fire, he couldn't get her to burn.

Liang Yang was becoming impatient. He wanted to win Cheng Hui over. By his calculation, he had already wasted too much time on her. Why wait? He’d do it today.

"Cheng Hui," he coaxed, "stay with me tonight. I really need you."

Cheng Hui looked into his eyes and understood. Most of the time, a woman’s assessment of a man is inaccurate, especially when filtered through the lens of love. But when a woman senses that a man "needs" her, she is often spot on. Liang Yang needed her right now. As for what kind of "need" it was, she didn't care.

...

Liang Yang booked a room at a hotel in the city center. By the time they arrived, the sky was turning dark. He used both their IDs to check in, holding her hand as they stepped into the elevator. Neither spoke. He was calculating the night ahead; she was truly at a loss for words, her mind a blank, drifting along with him. As adults, Cheng Hui understood exactly why Liang Yang had brought her to a hotel.

With a click, Liang Yang swiped the key card, pushed the door open, and stepped inside first.

...

Cheng Hui bit her lip, hesitated for a few seconds, then stepped inside.

Once she was in the room, Liang Yang glanced toward the bathroom, then back at her with a smile. "Are you nervous?"

Cheng Hui didn't answer.

Liang Yang stepped forward to take her bag. "Don't be nervous. Sit down and watch some TV. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something? I'll go buy something."

He told himself not to rush. The night was long, and Cheng Hui was already here—she wasn't going anywhere.

Cheng Hui sat on the sofa. "Whatever you want."

"Just sit for a bit and watch TV. I'll go grab some food. Be a good girl and wait for me."

Cheng Hui agreed.

Liang Yang swiped his key card to leave. He stood at the corner of the hallway for a long time, staring at the door. After ten minutes, seeing that Cheng Hui hadn't come out, he felt reassured and went to buy food. He had seen a McDonald’s nearby on the way over; fast food would do.

Cheng Hui couldn't focus on the TV. She didn't know what she was thinking. Her mind was blank.

...

When Liang Yang returned, he saw Cheng Hui still there. "Did you wait long?"

She paused, her consciousness returning. "No."

Liang Yang had also bought a bottle of red wine, hoping to set a romantic mood. Cheng Hui had tasted red wine before, and from the packaging and origin, she could tell this was the cheapest, lowest-quality kind, likely filled with sugar. But it was Liang Yang’s gesture.

He poured half a glass and handed it to her. "Try it."

"I'm going to the restroom," Cheng Hui said.

While she was in the restroom, Liang Yang poured a powder he had prepared into her glass, stirred it until it dissolved, and quickly cleaned up the evidence. It was seamless.

When Cheng Hui emerged, Liang Yang had everything set up. She stared at the wine, distracted, reminded of some unpleasant memories. Cautious, she bit her lip and didn't touch the glass. She ate the other food instead.

Liang Yang pretended not to notice, drinking his own wine. "What's wrong? Won't you try the wine?"

"I'll pass. I don't like wine," she replied instinctively.

"You don't like it?" Liang Yang said patiently. "That's fine, you don't have to drink it."

Cheng Hui observed his expression, and seeing that he didn't seem upset, she exhaled in relief. She didn't have much of an appetite and soon said she was full after a sip of cola.

Liang Yang cleared away the trash and went to take a shower. When he came out, Cheng Hui had fallen asleep.

"Cheng Hui, why are you sleeping? Wake up," he said, walking over.

Cheng Hui felt uncomfortable being shaken awake. Her vision was blurred; she couldn't see Liang Yang’s face clearly, only hearing someone calling her name. She tried to focus, but the harder she looked, the blurrier it became. It was as if she were covered in a layer of mist.

Within minutes, she felt an abnormal sensation in her body—a feverish, restless heat.

"Cheng Hui, how do you feel?" Liang Yang asked.

She shook her head. "I don't feel well."

"How do you feel? En?" Liang Yang leaned in, pressing against her ear. "Tell me, how are you? En?"

Cheng Hui pushed him away and stumbled to her feet. "I want to leave."

"Leave? Where to? Did you forget what you promised? Stay with me tonight."

Cheng Hui shook her head, saying "no." Liang Yang pressed closer. Though she was disoriented, she managed to push him away again. Leaving her bag behind, she opened the door and stepped out.

Her legs were weak, and she couldn't stand steadily. She vaguely saw a man walking by—a familiar silhouette. It was so familiar it made her panic. She forgot where she was, her will eroded by the strange sensation, and she stumbled toward the man, bumping into him.

"He Chuan," she murmured.

She thought she was dreaming. He Chuan had appeared in her dream. If it weren't a dream, how could he possibly be here? She smiled foolishly, her cheeks flushed with an abnormal red, her hair disheveled. She struggled to see the person in front of her, her words slurred.

"Is it you? Is it really you?"

Liang Yang followed her out and saw Cheng Hui in another man's arms. He was furious. "Sorry, this is my girlfriend. She's had too much to drink."

He reached out to pull her back, but the man stared at him coldly, tightening his grip on Cheng Hui’s waist. The man’s aura was chillingly cold as he repeated, "Your girlfriend?"

"Yes, sir."

Seeing that they were both East Asians with black hair, Liang Yang spoke in Mandarin.

"Are you sure?"

Liang Yang’s mouth twitched with annoyance. "Do I need to prove that my girlfriend is mine to you?"

The man gave a sharp, mocking laugh. "She never asked for my permission to find a boyfriend."