Chapter 7

Realizing once again that she was playing the lute to a cow, she said, "Forget it, people like you will never understand." After saying this, she stood up to leave, and just before exiting, she turned back and smiled at Zhou Yan

Is there really such a thing as a good parting in this world, General Gu? There is only a lingering connection despite the severance. I believe that maintaining the previous state of disconnection is beneficial for everyone.

On the way back, Song Shijia was still savoring the shock of witnessing a scene of early spring.

Fearing that Song Shijia would press further and expose her, Ruan Xuebi shouted that she was going to be late and hurriedly slipped out of the bathroom, leaving Song Shijia leaning against the doorframe, feeling secretly dejected

It is simply cheap

But now that the situation has stabilized, she understands that she should avoid any suspicion

Gu Changfeng seemed oblivious, casually sitting down on the sofa and raising his voice to ask the person upstairs who was startled and getting dressed: "Having been rejected so many times, you should be able to understand that psychological state, right? It's like, having clearly faced setbacks with the other person, when they reappear, all you want is to destroy them to regain your lost pride, yet every time you look at them a little longer, you still feel the desire to possess them. Have you ever experienced that?"

Ruan Xuebi's face turned pale, and she turned her eyes away, "I can barely manage to eat snacks to relieve my stress, where would I find the brain cells to do these things?"

Isn't the matter between men and women that simple? To put it plainly, isn't it just a mutual willingness to date and fall for each other?

Six years ago, when the higher-ups fell from power, Old Song was implicated as well. The Song family's assets were mortgaged to the bank due to a financial storm, resulting in years of hard work going down the drain. Old Song also faced charges of financial crimes and was on the verge of imprisonment.

How can a person with barriers in their heart see others

Gu Changfeng's car was hidden among the rows of vehicles beneath the building, black and inconspicuous. However, Song Shijia seemed to have a kind of telepathic connection, as she glanced over at it at once, struggling for a long time over whether to throw herself into the trap, yet her feet could not help but be controlled by her heart.

As soon as she ascended the stairs, the little flame of gossip in Ruan Xuebi's eyes began to burn brightly.

On the other hand, the lingering effects of the "Gu Changfeng Syndrome" that she contracted many years ago are indeed still present. Fortunately, the fragrance from the co-pilot seat has just unraveled all her entanglements

When Old Song was at the height of his glory, the person who took the lead would visit our home during festivals, affectionately calling out to Shijia. Now, she has sacrificed her life, yet the other party does not even blink. A typical case of offering an umbrella on a sunny day, only to take it back when it rains

Hurry up and make a run for it

I have seen it, I have seen it

Despite feeling unwell, Song Shijia still managed to tidy herself up and followed Ruan Xuebi out the door to squeeze onto the subway. She was no longer a pampered young lady; the wages she missed could all be considered as thrown into a wishing well.

Gu Changfeng gently led her, who was as still as wood, walking slowly towards the beautiful scenery of the garden, taking one step at a time, "Aren't you asking me for a reason? This is it."

Every time you make me angry, I will break a branch, and when I have destroyed all the trees, I will no longer like you.

Song Shijia believed that he was angry because of her silence, and in a flustered state, she hurriedly followed that retreating figure. Instinctively, she tugged at the corner of his clothing and tentatively called out, "Hey, it might be you who wants to rekindle the past..."

She is not bothered by Ruan Xuebi's instigation, but is contemplating Gu Changfeng's words from last night

Gu Changfeng hesitated, saying, "As for her, it might not be necessary. The last time, the person who kidnapped her was not well-intentioned."

Song Shijia pondered and inquired, "Is it possible for Sprite to accompany me? I am still haunted by the inexplicable disappearance a few days ago and feel uneasy leaving her alone at home"

The person who originally maintained a high profile suddenly felt extremely awkward and nauseated: Why, after all these years, has she not changed much at all

Upon waking, Song Shijia seemed to have transformed into a different person, not mentioning Gu Changfeng at all. She was unusually well-behaved, maturely assisting Song Ma in handling the aftermath of Old Song's downfall. However, she became agitated again when they were sealing off a certain courtyard under Old Song's name.

Gu Changfeng no longer spoke, steadily turned a corner, and the car entered another road

In the midsummer evening sun, the fiery clouds burn brightly, a girl's hair is gently lifted by a wisp of cool breeze, her eyes reflecting the entire world's shades of purple and yellow, rendered speechless

You have already taken so many things, so what does it matter if you take this one too

On the other side of the city, it seems that there are also those who are particularly unsettled about their own performance, which is why Zhou Yan's residence was forcibly entered half an hour later

Although the sudden embrace made this reunion enchanting, the tender memories reminiscent of the past did not actually occur

You have not yet had the opportunity to be rejected by the same person multiple times

Song Shijia blinked, the fragrance lingering in her nose, and immediately replied: "You can certainly decide when, but I have no reason to cooperate"

Song Shijia was still hesitant. On one hand, she feared that any further entanglement between the two would indeed lead to the catastrophe as Ji Xiang had mentioned.

In fact, over the past two months, Ruan Xuebi has occasionally left behind only a few words before disappearing, and after a few days, she would spontaneously return home, saying that she had taken a trip around the nearby small towns due to feeling unwell. However, this is the first time she has come to visit so openly.

The man, who was ten steps away from her, intended to say something but received an urgent telegram and planned to return to the city

The apartment building has a high floor, and coincidentally, Song Shijia and Gu Changfeng are standing right in the line of sight. Ruan Xuebi originally intended to open the window to see why she had not returned for so long, but happened to catch a glimpse of the eight o'clock drama scene of her old lovers embracing.

Then... you can arrange it.

In fact, Ruan Xuebi is well aware that what Song Shijia truly cannot bear to part with is not the house itself, but the garden in front of it, filled with bougainvillea and forsythia.

When Zhou Yan heard these three words, he was already dressed in his pajamas. It took him a while to realize what had been said in front of him, and then he angrily clung to the metal railing and shouted downstairs: "You have been dumped many times! You will be dumped by the same person many times!"

How annoying

Haven't you heard? When you need someone, it's like a survivor of a plane crash needing a parachute. If you are not by my side when I need you the most, then you might as well never be there at all

If you can install it yourself, you must finish it even while kneeling, so I can only maintain a composed expression and divert the conversation: "There is an urgent agreement that needs to be handled"

Half an hour later, Song Shijia removed his helmet and armor

On the day of receiving the house, Ruan Xuebi, feeling uneasy, came to observe from a distance. Under the clear blue sky, she saw that arrogant and frail girl weeping profusely, yet unable to make a sound

This lush spring, is it enough to exchange for a favorable ending

In contrast, Song Shijia had yet to recover from her shock; she hadn't even changed her shoes. After knocking on the door several times, it finally opened, and she walked toward the bedroom in a half-dreamy state, not to mention how eager Ruan Xuebi was to inquire about the news

He straightforwardly told her in her ear, "To be frank, before I met you, I had thought of many ways to make your life worse than death. But after meeting you, the only thing I could think of was to bid a proper farewell."

On Christmas Eve, on the sparsely populated Changqing Street, she threw her phone, which had a sticker of the two of them, into the storm drain and clutched a Sprite, wailing like a ghost. Her voice was so hoarse that it made the onlookers feel a chill in their bones. Later, she fell seriously ill, and it was the pile of tears from Song Ma that finally brought her back to consciousness

Song Shijia first realized that without the title of the Song family's precious daughter, she was as insignificant as dust

The bougainvillea was planted by Song Shijia during the summer vacation after graduating from elementary school, because the Chinese teacher mentioned in class that bougainvillea symbolizes a harmonious family and is cold-resistant. Later, after being with Gu Changfeng, she planted a patch of forsythia, small and yellow, which from a distance resembled wintersweet, with the flower language signifying love that lasts forever

Song Shijia is not a fool; she is aware that Fang Yu's feelings for her are not merely those of a colleague. However, when he first began his pursuit, she had only recently joined the company. Given that Fang Yu is her superior, if she wishes to maintain her position in the company for a longer time, she must learn to be pragmatic and occasionally accept his invitations

Gu Changfeng rarely refrained from retorting, murmuring: "Perhaps it is merely the innate desire for conquest that men possess? The more one resists, the more one wishes for her submission."

Song Shijia, bearing a series of heartbroken gazes, anxiously packed up her belongings after work, not expecting that someone would indeed be waiting downstairs

Zhou Yan coughed up a mouthful of blood, the instigator had already departed gracefully

In the six years since, Song Shijia has not come here again

That phone call was made by Ruan Xuebi accompanying Song Shijia

The person gripping the steering wheel did not anticipate it, and their hand nearly slipped. They steadied themselves and said, "Let's go a couple of days early; I'll introduce you to a few people."

She stood in front of a group of bank employees, for the first time losing her composure and not knowing what to do. In desperation, she had no choice but to use a dagger to cut her wrist as a means of coercion and intimidation, but unfortunately, this moment was different from the past.

In the end, Song Ma snatched the dagger from Song Shijia's hand. Her makeup remained exquisite, yet she seemed to have aged overnight, with her eye sockets deeply sunken, completely devoid of the enviable nobility that others admired.

The person on the sofa thinks, "No."

The eyes blink repeatedly

The so-called proper farewell refers to fulfilling that verbal agreement, welcoming the opening of the Olympics together, and then saying goodbye properly, after which we will part ways and live our lives separately, no longer having any connection.

My boyfriend is here to pick me up

She is afraid, afraid of seeing a disfigured face or a ground covered in ashes. Even if it is necessary for work, she would rather take a detour. Yet, despite having imagined it countless times, she never expected that the small western-style house would still stand intact, and that the bougainvillea and forsythia would bloom even more beautifully than when she was there

In a state of confusion, as the workday came to an end, Director Fang Yu sent a message inquiring whether Song Shijia was available to have dinner together

Song Shijia appeared with disheveled hair and deep blue circles under her eyes, looking weak and listless. She startled Ruan Xuebi, who was brushing her teeth, causing her to almost spray mouthwash all over her face. However, Song Shijia just stared at her intently

Fang drove along the wide asphalt road, and he had already inquired about the results

Seeing him in such a state of confusion, Zhou Yan came downstairs, feeling so good that he almost wanted to send a banner to Song Shijia that very night, thanking her for always allowing him to witness such a version of Young Master Gu.

It seemed to be a year of many troubles, and Gu Changfeng's mother unexpectedly passed away in a car accident. After returning from the military to attend the funeral, he had not been back in the unit for long when Song Shijia called him to break up, her tone resolute as if not even ten oxen could pull her back.

As I opened the passenger door to sit inside, I faintly caught a whiff of a woman's fragrance, which was not overpowering and somewhat pleasant, although Song Shijia was reluctant to admit it

In the early morning, in front of the mirror

A few concise words drove Fang Yu's mind into a dead end

The apartment is a small two-story unit. Upon entering, one is greeted by a chaotic array of clothing scattered about. As soon as the lively girl upstairs hears any noise, she wraps herself completely in her blanket

Therefore, as foolish as Ruan Xuebi is, she has never believed that Song Shijia could let go of Gu Changfeng, especially after discovering those two Olympic tickets, she became even more certain. Otherwise, given Song Shijia's character and appearance, she would not lack suitors, yet she has never been moved by any of them

However, since Gu Changfeng has said this, it indicates that he is completely confident.

She took a step back to advance, but Gu Changfeng countered every move, "The best outcome of being uncontactable is certainly ideal, but when to become uncontactable should be up to me to decide, even if it means waiting in line."

At that moment, she was not only a fallen noblewoman but also a mother. She had already personally bid farewell to her husband and could not tolerate losing her only daughter again

"Honestly confess, did you deliberately place the ticket I had in my sketchbook on the table to draw his attention?"

His words aroused suspicion in Song Shijia

When the two had their first argument, Song Shijia said in a fit of anger. Little did she expect her words to come true; the first thing that would happen after the house was taken away would likely be the leveling of the yard, making way for other buyers to build their love nests

Have you thought it through

She paused for a moment in her sitting posture, suddenly closed the passenger door, and sat in the back seat. Gu Changfeng remained silent, observing through the rearview mirror the person whose cheeks slightly puffed up in anger, and suddenly felt the fatigue from the day of meetings dissipate.

Song Shijia was enveloped in layers of blooming branches and flowers, only coming to her senses when the last ray of light in the distance disappeared

Of course, Song Shijia did not dare to tell Ruan Xuebi these things; otherwise, given her eagerness for a reconciliation with Gu Changfeng and her rich imagination, it was uncertain what peculiar actions she might take.

It is simply adding insult to injury

The speaker paused

She leaned against the rear window, watching the streetlights flash by quickly. After a long contemplation, she took the initiative to ask, "When do we set off? I need to request leave."