Chapter 7

Min Lang felt a tremor in his heart

Ahead lies a cliff, a chasm, a swamp; you are fully aware of all this, yet you find yourself powerless against it. You have no means to deal with the person who has taken root in your heart.

Min Lang and Xu Wan exchanged a blank stare, the sofa on which they had spent the night entwined now stood in the center of the studio, surrounded by unfamiliar strangers who were completely unaware of this.

Min Lang and Jian Chenye had not seen each other for many days, each carrying their own awkwardness. Seizing the opportunity, they quickly pushed and shoved each other to slip away to one side.

However, Min Lang, I cherish myself more

... ...

Xu Wanlai's anxious heart gradually returned to its original place, her forehead resting against Min Lang's forehead, her voice barely audible: "I miss you so much, every single day, I have not had a day without thinking of you"

He never would have imagined, no matter how hard he thought, that it would be left behind in the gift given to Ye Zhao Jue

Ye Zhao felt a daze as she stared at Jian Chenye, her expression difficult to decipher, as if it were both expected and completely unexpected

I will find a time to have a good talk with Qiao Chu," Min Lang said wearily, "It is only natural for her to hate me

"You know I am not someone with a strong sense of morality. Over the years, I have never commented much on how you play around, as a friend. But you... you..." Ye Zhao paused, lowering his voice slightly, "Min Lang, can you really live with yourself treating Qiao Chu this way?"

In this photograph, he has rummaged through his suitcase many times, exploring every nook and cranny, and has not overlooked any of the bookmarks in each book, yet it remains missing. On one or two occasions, Gu Jialuo expressed a desire to see this photograph again, but he deliberately changed the subject to discuss something else

At that time, he did not expect that the following evening, Xu Wanlai would invite him to her studio

She must seize the initiative.

The shame that Min Lang endured from Xu Wan had not yet been fully digested, and after being subjected to a fierce reprimand from Ye Zhao, the frustration in his heart instantly multiplied exponentially

He turned around and saw a scene he had never even dreamed of.

I remember that when you first went to Milan, you often cried in the videos. When Min Lang recalled these moments, a gentle feeling slowly began to grow in his heart

Is that so..." Gu Jialuo asked somewhat shyly, "If I also want to take a look, would it be convenient?

When he received that small envelope, Jian Chenye's hands were trembling

However, she remembers the name "Qiao Chu"

Taking advantage of Gu Jialuo's absence, Xu Wan quickly retracted her already stiff smile and scolded Jian Chenye, "Are you out of your mind? Why did you bring a female companion?"

From her appearance, it was clear that she had no intention of inviting him into her new world. He was completely unaware of when she hired her assistant, what the assistant's name was, or when she started keeping cats.

In those brief few minutes, the studio was divided into two parallel spaces, with them in one and all others in the other.

All along, she was fully aware of his feelings for her; she merely pretended to be oblivious.

Min Lang did not explain the reason; he lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth, changing the subject: "You really can do it, knowing that Zhao Jue would come, yet you still brought a girl along"

"Only you know how many years I have longed for the arrival of this day," she said softly

Nevertheless, Min Lang was momentarily taken aback

Beside him is Ye Zhao Jue

Just like many years ago in the attic of No. 79, on that quiet and deserted afternoon, Xu Wanlai took off her school uniform and shirt for the first time in front of Min Lang, revealing her bony body clad only in a white camisole, embracing the tearful boy and kissing his sorrowful face

During her years studying abroad, she was quite different from some of her friends who loved shopping; most of her spare time was spent visiting design museums, flea markets, and various design exhibitions

Regardless of her intentions, purposes, or the extent of her scheming, at the moment Min Lang heard these words, he had already lost all rationality

"How long has it been since we were together like this?" In a moment of surprise, Min Lang found Xu Wanlai had taken off her coat and nestled into his embrace, her arms forming a circle around his neck, her face drawing close, just a few centimeters away from his.

Ye Zhao Jue spoke without intention, while Xu Wan Lai listened with purpose; she felt that she was being mocked

And now she sits beside him, and with his gentle breath, he can smell the faint fragrance of the base notes of her perfume wafting from her. However, he clearly realizes that she is already very far from him, and in the time to come, she will only grow further away.

His intuition told him that things might not be quite as he had anticipated

Min Lang felt that if it were anyone else in front of him, he would not let her off so easily

She just called out the name Jian Chenye, and immediately saw a strange girl standing opposite him. The expressions of the two clearly indicated that they were old acquaintances, and the atmosphere was completely different from the relaxed and casual encounter between Jian Chenye and Xu Wanlai

An unprecedented ecstasy filled his chest as he hurriedly put on his clothes while calling out Xu Wanlai's name

This is my friend, Gu Jialuo. Jin Chenye felt a bit awkward; he had not anticipated that an even greater awkwardness awaited him. This is Xu Wanlai, one of my best friends...

It is precisely because she understands all of this that, even though she is so angry with Min Lang, she still chose to be with him.

Ye Zhao Jue sniffed, she had things she wanted to say to him, but where could she possibly begin

Xu Wan's seat faced the direction of the rising sun, so she naturally put on sunglasses. Consequently, the straight-line distance of this small round table was extended beyond its actual distance.

Therefore, after so many years have passed, when Xu Wan confronts head-on the matter she has been avoiding all along, "Min Lang, you love me," for Min Lang, this is not merely a question.

Min Lang smiled and said, "You should thank me. In such an awkward situation where your new love and old flame collide, I helped you out."

"One of them? Who cares?" Xu Wanlai scoffed, then turned to Gu Jialuo, "Over there, there are cakes and desserts made by the pastry chef, and drinks are also over there. Help yourself."

He knows that she is not a good person, but in this moment, he is willing to believe everything she says

As soon as the phone notification sounded, she, as if favored by the divine, hurriedly slipped out from inside as if fleeing for her life

Only when I see my own humility clearly can we finally achieve equality between us

I love you too. She heard herself mechanically utter these words, in this vast gray space, her voice was indifferent, calm, and devoid of emotion, "Really, I truly love you"

Although they were separated by thousands of mountains and rivers at that time, she held a deep sense of dependence and trust towards him, so even though the distance was great, he still felt an intimate connection between them

Amidst a large crowd of unfamiliar faces, Ye Zhao felt both bored and restless, having already consumed four or five cups of juice, when Min Lang's signal finally arrived

Alright! Gu Jialuo squinted her eyes and smiled, resembling a child

In the coffee shop where breakfast was being served, Min Lang's vague suspicion was confirmed

At such an early hour, there were not many customers in the coffee shop. They sat on the terrace, each ordering a cup of black coffee and a sandwich. In fact, this was not Min Lang's usual eating habit; he simply ordered the same as Xu Wan: "I will have what she has."

The moment he uttered these words, Qiao Chu's image appeared before him, "What about me?"

However, what Min Lang did not say was, "For me, that is a very precious memory"

Jian Chenye was momentarily unable to think clearly, or rather, due to his linear thinking, he did not consider the intricate interpersonal relationships among that group of people

Xu Wanlai closed her eyes, as if unwilling to bring up that period of time again: "Yes, at that time I felt very lonely, but now when I think back on it, I can only find it quite laughable"

Min Lang tactfully stepped back a few paces, and Jian Chenye forced a smile, a smile that seemed as if someone was pulling at his cheeks with their hands.

Under such circumstances, he had no choice but to do so

However, there is still one more level to pass

He immediately agreed, saying: "What is inconvenient about this? Let's go together."

The two-story high glass window faced the sofa, and Xu Wanlai reached out to turn off the floor lamp. The starry sky witnessed this scene on earth, while the gods remained silent.

You have always been so careless; it would be best to keep important things properly in the future. Ye Zhao spoke lightly, but her heart ached intensely.

Everything is placed in its designated position, from large items like tables, chairs, and sofas to small ones like a magazine or a vase. Although everything appears to be casual, it has actually been meticulously adjusted by Xu Wanlai after repeated efforts.

She wanted to silence herself, and she wanted to hide, but it was too late for anything. She could only stand there in a daze, allowing Jian Chenye and that unfamiliar girl to gaze at her simultaneously

After an unknown period of time, Xu Wan finally removed her sunglasses

Xu Wan gazed deeply at Min Lang, tears streaming down in clusters, gently falling onto Min Lang's chest, yet resonating like the sound of thunder

However, none of the above were within Ye Zhao Jue's considerations. Although she was indeed hurt in her pride by that scene when she first arrived, upon calming down and reflecting, Chen Ye had his freedom of choice.

Jian Chenye was drinking water and almost choked to death: "How is that possible! I have known her for almost twenty years, and besides, my best buddy has liked her since we were kids!"

She spoke very politely, maintaining a smile on her face, and there was nothing amiss.

Jian Chenye was so agitated by him that he could hardly speak clearly: "I, I really didn't know Zhao Jue would come. Even if Xiao Wan invited her, given her personality, she might not necessarily come..." At this point, it seemed he finally remembered something, "How did you end up coming with her?"

The last time the four of them appeared together, all in perfect order and without exception, was many years ago, so long that each person present felt a sense of disorientation and heartache

In fact, he knew that even if he said something to Xu Wan, it would not change her decision, and even if he said nothing, he did not believe that Xu Wan would truly understand nothing.

The soon-to-open Nightfall subtly echoes Xu Wan's name

Min Lang remained silent, merely extending his hand to grasp hers, in this gesture, he conveyed all his understanding of her

Jian Chenye wanted to explain, but could not utter a single word

One can also choose not to use words to stab or mock, but to directly ignore him, treating him as if one does not know him

At this moment, Qiao Chu did not know, nor did Min Lang know, that their relationship had undergone a fundamental change

They all wore a faint expression of sorrow on their faces, as if they could not find the right rhythm, resembling someone who constantly steps on their partner's feet while dancing

The nature of their relationship is so unclear that even they themselves cannot articulate it

For those whom one has truly loved, there always remains a sense of compassion in the heart

However, this exquisite, somewhat hypocritical Xu Wanlai, who navigates social situations with ease, makes Min Lang feel very unfamiliar. The silent and reticent girl in white, who did not fit in with the crowd, seems to have been frozen in the amber of time.

"Min Lang, Qiao Chu said nothing to me." Ye Zhao Jue originally intended to discuss with Qiao Chu whether she could help with the cash register during the initial phase of opening the store, but instead, he noticed that her mood was off. It goes without saying that it must be related to Min Lang.

Min Lang's expression darkened in an instant, as he fixed his gaze on Xu Wanlai, staring motionlessly at the black lenses on her face, attempting to see through to the true emotions hidden behind them.

Before returning to her country, she occasionally learned some news about Min Lang from her friends, knowing how charming and heartless he had become. She even thought that perhaps Min Lang had already let go of his obsession with her

I guessed that you would come today, so I brought this for you

"Is that scratch on your face... alright?" Xu Wan withdrew her hand from Min Lang's and gently traced the long red mark on his face, which had been made by Qiao Chu's nails.

If she is not Xu Wanlai

Jian Chenye and Min Lang avoided the noisy crowd inside the house and came to the courtyard

Xu Wanlai is practically driven to exasperation by his dullness: "I didn't just send you an invitation! Your ex-girlfriend received one too!"

Just as the sky began to lighten, she returned to normal

Not a word could be spoken, and he felt a deep pain in his heart, a pain a thousand times greater than the slap that Qiao Chu had given him. Yet he knew that there was no longer any need to say anything more

"It seems inappropriate to say congratulations, but still, congratulations to you." As Ye Zhao Jue began to speak, the other three individuals also returned to their natural state.

"Let the events that occurred at that time remain there," she said, lifting her coffee cup and taking a gentle sip. "We have all grown up now, and some things do not need to be taken too seriously"

She is not acting; each tear has been brewing for a long time, and she held them back for a day and a night before allowing them to flow.

If one were to say that she does not love Min Lang, even she herself would not admit it

She has long been awake, or rather, she hardly slept at all this night

At present, the environment she finds herself in is beyond his understanding, and he does not even possess the qualifications to draw closer or participate

It is unexpected that Xu Wanlai, who has only been back in the country for a mere six months, possesses such significant influence and extensive connections, indicating how long she has secretly planned for today.

"I arrived late, and it is not as you imagined." Min Lang formally explained to her, his words very sincere, "The fault lies with me, and has nothing to do with others. If you truly care about it, I can clarify things with Qiao Chu, so you need not be upset."

At the moment when he was at a loss, Xu Wan's expression, facing him, became quite subtle

Even she herself cannot discern how much of this statement is true and how much is false

In the lead-up to her studying abroad, Jian Chenye once seriously asked him: "Min Lang, Xiao Wan is about to leave, are you really prepared to not tell her anything?"

I am leaving. " Min Lang extinguished the cigarette butt in the trash can in the courtyard, lowered his head, and sent a message to Ye Zhao Jue: " Let's go. "

He could not help but sigh; he had to temporarily forget the existence of Qiao Chu

The first to regain her senses was Ye Zhao Jue, who took a step closer to Xu Wan Lai, and in that instant, the barrier was shattered.

Xu Wanlai was as cruel to him as he was to Qiao Chu

In a person's lifetime, there are not many things that must be stated clearly and unequivocally

Having witnessed such an awkward scene, Xu Wanlai found it inappropriate to stay any longer and left shortly thereafter

Min Lang coughed lightly, and just as he was about to say something, Xu Wanlai spoke up first

Jian Chenye's heart sank: "Are we leaving just like this?"

"I love you," she heard Min Lang murmur

Gu Jialuo picked up a white envelope from the table and waved it towards Jian Chenye, saying, "May I take a look at this invitation?"

Xu Wanlai glanced at Gu Jialuo in the distance, feeling a bit worried. She wanted to shield Jian Chenye, but Ye Zhaoju shook his head at her: "I saw it from outside the window before I came in."

To some extent, Xu Wanlai has finally been willing to face their relationship honestly and openly

However

He stammered and avoided her gaze, while she leaned in a little closer, her breath gently brushing against his neck

What she wants to hear is this sentence

"Have you started to like someone else now?" She stared at him intently, her eyes shimmering with ripples, and the tone filled with grievance was not feigned; she was genuinely asking this question

The morning sunlight streamed through the glass window, waking Min Lang from a night of deep sleep. With bleary eyes, he glanced around the surroundings and immediately realized that this was not the familiar attic. Following that, he recalled everything that had happened the previous night

What angered Xu Wan the most was the possibility that Qiao Chu might actually be able to achieve it

Jian Chenye looked bewildered, wondering what the problem was. The invitation did not specify that no plus ones were allowed.

Condemn him? How long has it been since we broke up, and you've already started dating someone new. What do those years we spent together mean?

At this moment, at the entrance of Nightfall, the four of them were as stiff as four puppets

"Hey! Are you all crazy!" Left behind at No. 79, Min Lang, although aware that it was his own fault, still couldn't help but feel a bit irritated

Oh..." Min Lang exhaled a puff of smoke towards the sky, "I brought her along with me."

While others are vibrant with colors, only these four figures are in black and white

Min Lang remembered that he chose silence at that moment; he did not know how to respond to the question posed by his best friend.

He does not want others to think that he is too serious and cannot take a joke, and Qiao Chu feels the same way

But if I don't leave now, it would be even more awkward later if I really run into Ye Zhaoju

Min Lang was completely stunned

"There are toiletries in the bathroom on the second floor, you should go quickly." She pointed to the second floor, indicating for Min Lang to attend to his personal hygiene, while she herself had already bathed early in the morning, still carrying the fragrance of the shower gel on her body. "We will go have breakfast together later."

The night before, after Qiao Chu slapped Min Lang, she picked up her bag and left without even glancing at Xu Wan.

That was at that time her only means of comforting this orphan

On the white envelope, there is only one word, Nightfall. This was sent to him by Xu Wan a few days ago. She even made a special phone call to threaten him, saying: "Dare not to come, just try it."

Or is it a veiled criticism of him? I didn't know before that you liked this type, and I have wasted so much of your time.

She gently wiped away the slight dampness at the corner of her eyes, picked up the cup of coffee that originally belonged to Min Lang, and drank it in one go

The earlier ecstasy in my chest collapsed in an instant.

Recently, she has become increasingly attentive towards Jian Chenye. After spending some time together, she no longer conceals her feelings for him

She did not continue to speak, but focused intently on drinking her coffee

He deeply loves a cold-blooded person, and Qiao Chu feels the same way

Take your time eating, I will leave first He got up and went to the counter to settle the bill

"No," Min Lang said decisively, "I have never changed towards you."

Until the moment of their reunion, when she saw the way he looked at her, she understood that everything was as it had always been

What should I do? Are you leaving just after arriving? This is quite unreasonable

It was only when I clearly realized how insignificant I am in my relationships with others that I truly understood how much you had compromised in our relationship

How could those disorganized girls possibly be compared to herself? She truly feels that she is lacking in confidence.

"This is a fashion design studio..." Gu Jialuo flipped the invitation back and forth several times, and suddenly, a light bulb went off in her mind, "Have you ever been in a relationship with her?"

I truly did not expect that Xiao Wan is quite impressive. " Jian Chenye still used the childhood nickname for Xu Wan, and he patted Min Lang's shoulder, "Why are you so downcast?"

From the moment she first heard it, she sensed something unusual; this was a significant threat, especially after meeting Qiao Chu in person. She became even more certain in her heart that this girl was not an ordinary opponent. She had made up her mind to compete with me for Min Lang.

It now appears that that time was not wasted after all

Oh, that was sent to me by a childhood friend, take a look.

He stared blankly at the distant Gu Jialuo, his face nearly turning green

"Here she comes." Xu Wanlai approached them with a white cat in her arms, her face beaming with a smile. Upon seeing Gu Jialuo, she was slightly taken aback, but quickly composed herself and continued to greet them with a smile, saying, "Who is this?"

With just a few words, Min Lang has already been sentenced to death

In the end, she added, "I have known it for a long time."

"Zhao Jue, will you go with me tomorrow? We can just meet briefly and then leave, alright?" Min Lang made this request to Ye Zhao Jue before hanging up the phone

They embraced tightly on the sofa, kissing each other

Xu Wanlai leaned back on the sofa, surveying the entire studio with great satisfaction. Her posture was languid, yet her demeanor was proud, much like her friends' descriptions of her, resembling a cat imbued with an otherworldly aura

After the joy, she was enveloped in a profound emptiness. What a tormenting night it was, with her thoughts in disarray, pulling herself in different directions, at times to the left and at times to the right, tumbling and turning amidst the tumultuous waves of the heavens and the seas, she indeed experienced several moments of disorientation.

Time rewound to the previous day, Min Lang received a call from Ye Zhao Jue, during which she berated him mercilessly.

Ye Zhao Jue's voice was both deep and hoarse, thus the effect of this statement was entirely different from usual: "Do not take advantage of others too much"

At this moment, Jian Chenye found himself caught in a dilemma between meeting Ye Zhaojue's gaze and looking towards Gu Jialuo.

He knows that she is unwilling to discuss this topic. For Xu Wanlai today, the days of crying due to loneliness, solitude, and the inability to adapt to a new environment are truly too shameful and not worth reminiscing about

Min Lang suddenly understood the reason why Qiao Chu slipped away from him like a fish time and again, only to return to his side repeatedly with the flow of the water

Min Lang merely shook his head and did not speak

However

Over the years, she has advanced cautiously, one step at a time, and one could also say that she has burned her boats. For her pursuits, she has already devoted all the effort she is capable of giving

At this moment, Min Lang is standing at the door, but he did not come alone

Indeed, no one understands better than him the ideals and dreams that are deeply rooted in the passage of time

Waking up in the middle of the night, she pulled a blanket from beside the sofa to wrap around her exposed body and walked to the kitchen to pour herself a drink of water

Not only did Gu Jialuo not speak, but even Jian Chenye was secretly somewhat surprised

Xu Wanlai felt a twinge of guilt: "They are just friends..." Her words were left unfinished when Ye Zhaoque decisively interrupted her: "I am not that fragile, nor am I unreasonable. Since we have broken up, we are both free. I will not, and cannot, demand that he continue to love me."

At this moment, Gu Jialuo emerged

She took out a small white envelope from her bag, inside of which was the Polaroid photo that Jian Chenye had inadvertently left behind

Even he himself was extremely surprised that he actually blushed: "It has been a long time..."

Her gaze shifted slightly downward, and with that slight movement, she understood everything

He always believed that he had lost this photograph while he was in Paris

It was not until this moment that Jian Chenye finally understood how foolish a thing he had done

The small flame deep within her heart was extinguished by her own hands

When Jian Chenye and Gu Jialuo arrived, Nightfall was already bustling with guests. Gu Jialuo glanced over the crowd and quickly recognized several familiar faces that frequently appeared in various media.

Returning to the sofa, Min Lang, in a state between half-dreaming and half-awake, embraced her waist

When you are far away, I am very close to you; when you are nearby, you seem to be very far from me. This is the theory of relativity between Xu Wanlai and Min Lang

She smiled unnaturally, then turned to a small circle of media friends, leaving Ye Zhaoju alone.

From the courtyard, one can see the fragrance of clothes and the shadows of hair filling the room. Xu Wanlai's smile is as radiant as a flower. The spring breeze brings swift hooves of success, and she has ultimately achieved her goals

Some people will certainly express themselves fully, while others would rather not express even a fraction of their thoughts