Chapter Seven

As she ran into her home, Jiang Shangbai chuckled softly behind her, saying: "Silly girl"

Gu Fenghan, whose eyes had been half-closed, seemed to finally open them at this moment, looking at Su Wan with some surprise, a faint smile appearing on his face: "Miss Su, your name is quite interesting, it happens to be the same as a friend of mine from the past."

At the end of the long corridor hangs the last oil painting, depicting the pagoda of the Five-Pointed Plum Blossom at Angkor Wat and the Golden Altar of Mount Meru. This painting, titled "The Temple of Vishnu," is a private collection that she purchased at an art exhibition in Wucheng some years ago. Hanging it in her home always felt striking, yet she feared that keeping it hidden would lead to its neglect, so she decided to display it in the long corridor of Fangyuan. Over the years, it remains obscured amidst the comings and goings of people.

On the river, the white-faced man finally revealed a smile. He suddenly felt that encountering such a girl in another life seemed to be quite an interesting thing. He reached out his hand to pat her on the back. After a long while, Su Wan finally caught her breath, looked up at him, then glanced at herself, and her face instantly turned red. She hugged the already soaked cloth bag to cover her chest and smiled shyly.

Cough... cough... Su Wan kept coughing, trying to expel the water that had gone up her nose and into her mouth. She was drenched, her white dress stained with mud, looking utterly disheveled. While coughing, she continued to speak: "So... so... cough cough... so... you can... cough cough... you can swim... cough cough..."

Su Wan stood behind him, tilting her head and observing him for a long time, without speaking or leaving. Many years later, Su Wan often wondered why her younger self had the courage to speak to those around her, even when there was no response, even when others turned away and mocked her. Many years later, she also learned to protect herself, to smile silently in front of people, poised and polite.

Jiang cast a sidelong glance at Bai and huffed, "Do you know everyone?"

That river is called You River, its waters are clear and shallow, the aquatic plants are soft and long, and the riverbed is deeply silted. If two people were to fall in, Su Wan would not be able to swim, and she would flail about in the water, swallowing quite a bit of it. Just when she thought she might sacrifice her own life to save another, Jiang pulled her up from the river by the collar.

She hurriedly uttered many polite words, then ran home with a large cloth bag in her arms. Jiang Shangbai followed her all the way until Su Wan only realized he had been following her when she was almost at her doorstep. She turned around cautiously and stared at him: "Why are you following me?"

Su Wan was taken aback for a moment, then seriously contemplated the question before responding earnestly: "Yes, I know everyone in this town"

He wore a timid expectation on his face, resembling a child waiting for adult praise. Su Wan lowered her head, unwilling to meet his hopeful gaze, knowing she would only disappoint him time and again. All she could hear was the sound of her own teeth grinding: "I'm sorry, Fei Jin."

Whenever she recalls her encounter with Jiang Shangbai, she feels that the meeting was like a magnificent dream, a dream that took place in a paradise untouched by the mundane world

Perhaps she never truly knew him at all

Mr. Gu and Mr. Meng, it is a pleasure to meet you. Your esteemed presence has truly brightened this humble place. " Fang Fei continued to laugh heartily as he led Gu Fenghan and Meng Han towards the work area divided by cubicles: "Over here are the developers from the technical center, and over there is the design team, um... and this area is..."

We happened to be dining nearby... Su Wan's steps involuntarily came to a halt, as it turned out... it turned out that Meng Han was also at that Cantonese restaurant on Huangyang Road just now! Her face instantly turned pale, and she turned her head to look at Gu Fenghan. The corner of his eye seemed to catch a glimpse of her, still that ambiguous smile, leaving her unsure whether it was mockery or something else. All she felt was a chill in her heart—he was dining with Meng Han at that Cantonese restaurant, yet he chose to mock her in this way.

Fang Feijin then remembered that since Gu Fenghan entered the room, he had not introduced the few of them. While cursing himself for his oversight, he smiled at Su Wan and said: "The renowned General Gu, I didn't have the chance to introduce you yesterday at the Jianxin Mingzhu. This is Gu's right-hand man—Meng Han, Angela Meng." He then turned to Gu Fenghan and introduced: "The chief planner of the Qincheng Zhilian program, Su Wan." As a formal addition, Fang Feijin added: "Adeline Su."

Su Wan was taken aback and immediately reached out her hand to grab him. In this tugging and pulling, both of them fell into the river

Su Wan still nodded with a wary expression. Jiang Shangbai pointed to another house next to hers, his face breaking into an incredibly sunny smile: "My home"

May I ask if you have any business? Jiang Shangbai turned his head to ask her, his brow slightly furrowed, his long and slender eyes raised upwards. Although he did not like being disturbed, he still maintained sufficient politeness

On the riverbank, Jiang Shang Bai feigned ignorance, but then turned his head to see a girl in a plain white dress waving at him as she ran over. He was certain he did not recognize her, casting a sidelong glance before turning away again. Su Wan jogged over while waving at him, saying, "It's very dangerous over there, be careful not to fall..."

The elevator opened and closed on the seventeenth floor. Just as the doors were about to close completely, she pressed the open button with great force, managing to stop the doors just before they shut. She turned back to look at the slowly closing elevator, which then descended gently to the first floor. She seized the last moment to escape, perhaps... This was some kind of unspoken hint; this time, she was determined to survive

Su Wan murmured to herself, yet could not provide an answer. Perhaps she had always known that she was evading the truth, only unwilling to confront it. She deceived herself into believing that she had forgotten these things, but in reality, she had not. It was akin to the ancient person who covered his eyes with a leaf, thinking that if he could not see others, then others could not see him either. ... But that was not the case—others were aware of her evasion. Time and again, she anesthetized herself, claiming that she had long since let go of everything from the past, that she had already moved on ... She deceived herself into believing that she had forgotten these things, but in reality, she had not, just like that ancient person who covered his eyes with a leaf, thinking that if he could not see others, then others could not see him either. ... But that was not the case—others were aware of her evasion. Time and again, she anesthetized herself, claiming that she had long since let go of everything from the past, that she had already moved on ... That magnificent dream of encountering Bai in the Peach Blossom Land and on the river ... ...

Jiang Shangbai looked at her with a hint of surprise and a touch of impatience, not understanding why a girl of her age would be so bold as to strike up a conversation with a stranger. Suppressing his displeasure at being interrupted, he said: "Well, I just arrived in this town today; I am not from this town."

Aside from nodding in greeting to Fang Feijin, Gu Fenghan did not say another word. Throughout the journey, it was Meng Han who engaged in pleasantries with Fang Feijin: "General Manager Fang, please do not take offense. We happened to be dining nearby and passed by here. General Manager Gu has long heard that the relaxed working atmosphere at Fangyuan Tiandi is well-regarded in the industry, so he wanted to come and take a look"

This is the first day that Jiang arrived at Mengze Town, and from then on, he resided in Mengze Town. After the summer ended, he registered at the high school in Mengze Town to begin his third year of high school, sharing a class with Su Wan

Su Wan pressed her lips together, slightly retreating under his challenging gaze, yet still smiling as she pointed to the stone slab beneath his feet and said: "This bridge collapsed during the New Year, but it was repaired later. It seems a bit unstable here, so stand back a little and be careful not to fall off."

On the river, he weakly looked up at the sky and rolled his eyes, unable to comprehend how there could be so many meddlesome and serious people in this world. His last bit of patience led him to turn around and tell her that he would be careful on his own and thanked her for her concern. However, as he turned, he stepped back too far and unexpectedly lost his footing, tumbling down towards the bridge below.

Stepping into the elevator within the thirty-two glass prisms of the Reliance Tower, Su Wan felt a bit dazed. It was already past lunchtime, and the Reliance Tower was eerily quiet. From within the glass prisms, she could only see four more magnificent and towering buildings, each with its own charm, yet... none of them were to her taste.

You have survived a catastrophe, while I am determined to risk everything for a chance at rebirth, Su Wan muttered to herself, still smiling as she handed over the white envelope. Fang Feijin's smile immediately froze on his face; resignation letters are usually formulaic, with the exception of a few that are intentionally meant to embarrass the boss. The rest typically state something like, "Due to personal reasons, I no longer feel suited for this position." Fang Feijin lowered his head to look at the square characters on the white paper, and after a long while, he secretly raised his eyes to glance at her: "Su Wan... could it be that my sincerity has finally moved you, and you have decided to accompany me back to face the dangers together?"

Once, she secretly prayed to the heavens for a chance to see Jiang one more time—she had silently told herself that just one glance would suffice, as long as she could see him happy. Just one glance, and from then on, she would willingly bear everything.

When she ran up to him, Su Wan was slightly taken aback: "Who are you, and why don't I recognize you?"

Fang Feijin hurriedly laughed and said, if he could secure a reliable position for her in the Gu family, it would be the last bit of effort he could contribute for her. However, Gu Fenghan's next words immediately extinguished the atmosphere that had just become so relaxed: "There is no honor in that, my friend... has been dead for several years now"

The vengeful spirits linger on, and Su Wan is filled with resentment, her teeth itching with anger. It has only been a few minutes since they last met, and in the blink of an eye... Mr. Gu and Mr. Meng, a hint of mocking laughter appears. After all, the resignation letter has already been written; I won't play with you anymore! She raises her head, just as she has done many times before while accompanying Fang Feijin to various banquets, linking her arm with Fang Feijin's, wearing a bright and generous smile—she has done nothing wrong to him, so why should she be afraid to see them?

What one sees outwardly is the ever-changing testament of this city, while inwardly, one observes the urban dwellers in the office buildings diligently working at their desks. Su Wan, holding onto the handrail in the elevator, is compelled to seriously contemplate her future

He is not Jiang Shangbai... He is not the Jiang Shangbai who gently kissed away her tears when she felt wronged; he is not the Jiang Shangbai who took a half-hour detour on a winding path in winter just to buy her a bag of candied chestnuts; he is not the Jiang Shangbai who ran all over Philadelphia's Chinatown just to find an old artist to teach him how to make a coin ring...

Jiang Shang looked at her running direction with a relaxed expression, pointing at a house that appeared to be somewhat old: "Is that your home?"

She is truly willing to endure all of this, albeit in a different manner. Dreaming and yearning a thousand times is merely an illusion; the harsh reality lies before her. She sees him again, and he is very happy, effortlessly navigating through this society rife with fame and fortune, commanding the winds and calling the rain. Everything that the world envies, he has already attained: a successful career, a fulfilling love, and happiness beyond measure. However, this happiness does not include her. Everything that the world envies, he has already attained: a successful career, a fulfilling love, and happiness beyond measure. However, this happiness does not include her.

She silently said to the oil painting: Angkor Wat, please wait for me

Fang Feijin then raised his head, wearing a nonchalant smile, teasingly probing: "Do you blame me for not being able to protect the world around us?"

But the fact is, if time were to forever stand still at that moment in the boundless wilderness, it would be such a beautiful and eternal scene

Jiang Shangbai once pointed to the title of the romance novel she rented from town and asked her, "Do you feel particularly moved by this title?" At that time, Su Wan was reading "By the Water's Edge" and shot him a fierce glare upon hearing this; just as when Su Wan was infatuated with Zhang Ailing, Jiang Shangbai cast a sidelong glance at her and mockingly teased her childishness in a strange tone: "Neither too early nor too late, just happened to catch up..."

Perhaps it was yesterday's reunion that compelled her to confront everything—those past events have truly become the past

Where should she go

How could he have become like this

From then on, they went to school and returned home together, reviewed their lessons together, relaxed on the rooftop together, and so on

Two individuals covered in sand and mud stood in front of two ancient houses, exchanging smiles. Jiang Shangbai was the first to introduce himself: "My name is Jiang Shangbai, and you?"

What exactly did she do to offend him? She thought it over from beginning to end, but could not come up with anything—if an apology must be made, then it should be him apologizing to her. What about all those vows and promises? What about the changes of the world? Now he appears before her with Meng Han; what does this even mean?

What am I avoiding

After a moment of confusion, she realized that over the past five years, rather than saying that she and Fang Feijin had worked tirelessly to lay the foundation of Fangyuan Tiandi, it would be more accurate to say that Fangyuan Tiandi had provided her with a shell to shield her from the wind and rain. Without this shell, she felt as if she were exposed to the elements, with the wind bringing one kind of pain and the rain another. It seemed she had always been evading something, while Fang Feijin had given her the best refuge—Fangyuan Tiandi.

Su Wan still held onto the large cloth bag, her face adorned with a rosy smile, her eyes sparkling: "You are... Jiang Laoshi's grandson? I... I am Su Wan." Jiang Shangbai hesitated and nodded, a gentle smile rippling in his slender phoenix eyes. Su Wan lowered her head again, the blush on her face spreading all the way to her ears: "Nice to meet you, I will go in and change clothes now, goodbye"

Su Wan suddenly trembled, tightly gripping the edge of the table. Fang Fei let out a sound and stood up, smiling at her: "You’re already here to inspect before it’s even in hand?" He pouted and pulled Su Wan out with him: "I know it’s just a matter of time, but no matter how I think about it, I just can’t swallow this anger. You should take a look at the new employer before making a decision. This obsessive person is a bit annoying, but... your capability is evident, so he shouldn’t make things difficult for you because of my relationship with Senior Brother Ling."

On the frosted glass window of Fangyuan Tiandi, framed oil paintings are hung, showcasing the main areas of Fangyuan Tiandi while creating a relaxed working atmosphere. From the Louvre in Paris to the pyramids of Egypt, from the vast waves at the ends of the earth to the picturesque scenery of Cangshan and Erhai, Su Wan reaches out, her fingertips gliding over the textures of the oil paintings, traversing the passage of time.

Su Wan smiled and said: "I know you have tried your best. When it comes to what the Gu family values, it is only a matter of time before it is secured, whether sooner or later."

Looking back, she had no idea where he came from; he had never told her, and she had never asked. However, Meng Han graciously and appropriately stayed by his side, whether he was Jiang Shangbai or Gu Fenghan.

In seven years, all she obtained was a vague illusion

Fang Fei was momentarily taken aback; this was almost the most substantial thing Gu Fenghan had said since he arrived. Before he could interject, Su Wan smiled gracefully and said, "It is truly an honor to share the same name as Mr. Gu's friend."

Jiang Shangbai was completely soaked, with his short sleeves and long pants covered in accumulated mud and sand, yet he did not appear as disheveled as Su Wan. The white dress clung to Su Wan's body, revealing the curves of a girl at that age who had just begun to develop. She held a large cloth bag, lowered her head, and thanked him: "Thank you, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you could swim. I need to go home and change clothes, goodbye, thank you..."

Fang Feijin let out a sigh of relief, carefully observing Su Wan's expression, yet still putting on a nonchalant demeanor, as if he were not very disappointed. Just as he was about to ask her about her next plans, the internal phone suddenly rang: "President Fang, General Manager Gu Lingli and General Manager Meng are downstairs. They said they were passing by Fangyuan Tiandi and would like to come up to pay a visit to you."

Having prepared the resignation letter and neatly placed it in a white envelope, I pushed open the frosted glass door at the end of the corridor. Fang Fei was lounging leisurely, her legs propped up on the desk. Upon seeing me enter, she broke into an exaggerated smile: "I just escaped from my old man’s clutches at home. I wonder if we should celebrate my narrow escape from disaster?"

"Why doesn't Mr. Fang introduce this capable aide beside him?" In an instant, Fang Fei had already finished introducing the various VPs and directors with different titles in the company today. Gu Fenghan tilted his chin towards Su Wan and gently inquired.

On the river, Bai stood on a small bridge over the flowing water. His slightly emaciated figure was isolated on the stone slab bridge without railings, appearing particularly desolate and lonely. Su Wan, with a large cloth bag slung over her shoulder, was returning from the other end of the bridge. Upon seeing a nearly gaunt young man standing on a protruding stone slab of the bridge, Su Wan waved her hand at him while running over: "Hey—"