Chapter 3

He spoke while walking towards the door

Ye Zhaoju and Jian Chenye, having witnessed the pain each other endured due to their close proximity, became cautious and walked on eggshells, extinguishing any signs of disturbance in advance

However, this bad habit is simply impossible to change, sigh

She originally thought it was a small ticket or receipt, but when she picked it up from the ground and turned it over, at that moment, it felt as if five thunders had struck her.

She is a bit crazy

He realized that his treatment of Qiao Chu was too cruel, and now even he felt that he was not a decent person

During that time, I seemed to have become two different people. I kept thinking that perhaps I was the one hindering you, that some unknown quality within me was obstructing you. I believed it must be my fault that such a result occurred. However, when I became slightly more clear-headed, I had to comfort that extreme side of myself, saying that all of this had nothing to do with me, that our fate had simply come to an end, and I was not fortunate enough to share in your achievements and glory

His progress did not bring her the slightest comfort; instead, it created deeper and heavier disasters for her

"Hello, just say something casually." The coffee has gone completely cold, and Ye Zhao Jue finally spoke up to break the deadlock, "Surely we can't be at a loss for words like this?"

On New Year's Eve, she encountered Xu Wanlai at No. 79, and for the first time, tears streamed down her face due to her grievances. As she left, she stumbled through the alley, her shadow swaying on the wall. Yet, even in such an embarrassing moment, she remained unyielding.

Sigh, I have never been very good at speaking, and you know that all too well. Jian Chenye's face showed a hint of shame

Tonight, her indulgence and transgressions are thus forgiven

That venomous snake has begun to gnaw at his heart again; in his lifetime, he will never forget this sharp pain

Rainwater falls into rivers and lakes, streams converge into the sea, forests are bathed in sunlight, and plants unfurl their first green leaves. Her trust in him and his acceptance of her are as natural as these occurrences

Qi Tang asked once again: "What exactly do you want to do?"

He lowered his head to look at her face, which still bore a slight swelling from her tears a few hours earlier, her eyes resembling glass that had been washed by a flood, clear and transparent.

That is a photo of Jian Chenye and a girl. The two are not very close in their body language, but their expressions...

Tears streamed down her smiling face, and it seemed that she would shatter at any moment

At 4:42 AM, Ye Zhao woke up in the darkness, reaching under her pillow to retrieve her phone. "How many times have I told you to keep your phone away while sleeping?" The voice of Jin Chenye echoed in her mind.

At that moment, Ye Zhao Jue stood up and caught up, grabbing Qi Tang's hand firmly

He suddenly realized that the bridge between him and Ye Zhaoju had been completely destroyed by fate, and he was separated from her by an abyss, with no way to turn back.

In the past, if she wanted to meet someone, there was no need to resort to such lowly tactics as drawing the tiger away from its mountain.

The bottom of the photo contains black handwriting, indicating the time and location

She should indeed feel ashamed; in the face of Qi Tang's openness, when she saw the smiling faces of Jian Chenye and that girl in the photo, her rationality had completely vanished

She has not undergone any remarkable changes; whether in her attire, makeup, or facial features and hairstyle, she still looks the same as before

It was actually an unexpected opportunity; that gallery wanted to obtain the agency rights for the works of several senior artists, and my teacher wanted to support the younger generation, so I was just lucky. He deliberately spoke in a nonchalant tone

Ye Zhao Jue, who had just taken a shower, was wrapped in the hotel bathrobe. Her hair was not completely dry, and glistening droplets of water dripped silently from the ends of her hair onto the thick carpet.

Time passed second by second, and when she got up from the ground, an absurd thought emerged

She turned over, and the room once again fell into silent darkness

Once again, there was a creaking sound, and this time it was indeed Ye Zhao Jue who pushed open the door

On this day, Min Lang was originally supposed to accompany Xu Wan.

In the end, Jian Chenye was clearly angry: "Given our many years of relationship, what problem is there in you accepting it?"

"Do you have plans with someone tonight?" She sounded a bit anxious, her voice trembling slightly

The small, sweet fruit in his palm allowed her to savor the lingering bitterness even more fully

This is the seamless code between them

He recalled her expression at that time, that kind of innocence still vivid in his memory

Just consider it an opportunity to broaden your horizons alongside Xu Wan, she thought to herself as she unconsciously stuffed a flyer she had casually picked up into her bag

On that night, Qi Tang received a call from Ye Zhao Jue quite late.

That is not the font of Jian Chenye

He thought carefully for a long time and ultimately decided to settle on daytime

What is going on? Is Ye Zhaoju crazy?

Regardless of how the opportunity arises, it is ultimately a matter worth celebrating

Perhaps one day, we will still do this, but it must be done willingly by both parties for it to be beautiful. It should not be like tonight, where you are angry at someone else and use this matter to vent your frustration as a means of revenge.

What is destined to happen will eventually occur, but not tonight

"Heartache." Qiao Chu stood up, pitifully holding his hand, "I haven't seen you for a long time, I miss you, is that alright?"

"Then, please come here to find me," Ye Zhao said an address, which was a hotel. After she finished stating the room number, she hung up the phone

Jian Chenye sat in the café, feeling anxious and conflicted

Qi Tang, still seething with anger, maintained a sullen expression and said nothing, yet ultimately came to a halt.

She did not know how long it was after returning home that she finally had the courage to unwrap the gift

To be precise, it is a different kind of good. You witnessed and participated in that young phase of my life, filled with naivety and innocence, which are irreplaceable. However, Qiao Chu has seen me at my most embarrassed and difficult moments, shared tears and drinks with me. Speaking of which, it was perhaps the loneliest time in my life, a small comfort bestowed upon me by heaven

When she spoke like this, she was not as natural as usual, but Min Lang knew that what she said was all genuine and straightforward truth

However, given the circumstances, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and persevere.

What do you want to do now? He sat down beside her, his tone much more gentle.

He knows that in the end, this sentence was intentional on her part

"You and that Qiao Chu are good friends, right?" Xu Wanlai finally mentioned the name she had been avoiding all along with a calm demeanor. She secretly felt a sense of relief; after all, she was just a pretty girl, what was there to be taboo about.

Those who have been bitten by a snake in the green grass may, after the pain has healed, find the courage to approach that patch of grass again. However, a mere bystander of the entire event will circle around that spot for a lifetime, for he cannot discern where the boundaries of danger lie

Xu Wan patted her arm gently and advised, "Now that we have met, let's have a good talk. It's been so many years, and there is nothing that cannot be clarified face to face. To be honest, Zhao Jue, I still sincerely hope that you two can reconcile.

"Then what do you say is the illness?" Min Lang was concerned about Xu Wanlai, worried that she might be deceived by those unscrupulous merchants. Although Ye Zhaoju was with her... Wait, why did Ye Zhaoju volunteer to accompany Xu Wanlai to choose furniture?

After negotiating the rent for that small building, Xu Wanlai has devoted all her time and energy to planning the renovation of the studio in recent times

In the small carriage, a pervasive atmosphere of sadness envelops, leaving one in a state of drowsy intoxication

Ye Zhao Jue used these six characters to smash six holes into Jian Chen Ye's chest

She spoke while twirling the ends of her hair with her index finger, looking every bit the little girl.

If it were not for Min Lang disregarding her objections and insisting on accompanying her in handling various matters, she might have lost even this half of her life

Qiao Chu also did not intend to confront him head-on: "It's just an illness!"

"Did you not say you were ill?" Min Lang arrived at Qiao Chu's home and immediately realized he had been deceived. "You are clearly in good health, so why are you lying?"

Since Xu Wan returned, it has become extremely difficult for anyone to arrange a meeting with Min Lang

Jian Chenye stated clearly that he has known for years that she wanted this bag. After Shao Qingyu had almost collected all the bags from top-tier brands, Ye Zhao Jue still yearned for an entry-level LV model.

Not yet.

I do not need to prove my manhood by sleeping with you. Ye Zhao Jue, if you are not prepared to explain the ins and outs to me clearly, then I have no need to waste my time.

From the moment he saw her, Jian Chenye could not help but feel a surge of sadness within him. Although Ye Zhaojue did not express any grievances or complaints, he could clearly see that she was not doing well.

Then, he gently kissed her forehead

Qi Tang was somewhat taken aback, but more so he was angry; he did not even have the time to ask another question

He was quite surprised when the phone rang, as this was not Ye Zhao Jue's usual style. She was the type of person who insisted on sending a message to confirm whether the other party was available to talk before making a call, as if she were born with shackles on, fearing that she might inadvertently cause trouble for others.

Just as she took out the bag, a piece of paper was brought out from the paper bag

I am increasingly coming to understand myself, yet at the same time, I find it harder to see you clearly

Tracing back to the origin, it is unclear at which intersection you chose to go left while I opted to go right. Subsequently, we have each traversed countless mountains and rivers, weary from the journey.

Ye Zhao Jue sat silently at the edge of the bed

On her way back, she walked while shedding tears. Fortunately, it was already dark, and the pedestrians on the road hurried by, with no one having the extra energy to pay attention to this strange girl

Ye Zhao Jue remained silent throughout

A few hours earlier, she and Jian Chenye had been at the café, locked in a stalemate over that bag for a long time

This is their second embrace, as if there is a separation of past and present lives between the two embraces

It seemed as though a decade had passed, as Jian Chenye remained motionless, gazing at the person before him

How is your art exhibition going

At that moment, Jian Chenye was just about to ask her, "What about now?"

He looked at her as if he were looking at the little dog he had raised in his childhood

Qi Tang encouraged me

After standing at the door for a long time, Qi Tang finally knocked, and the door opened immediately

"If you do not speak, then I shall speak for you," Ye Zhao said after a moment of contemplation. "The news of your trip to France was conveyed to me by Qing Yu. I did not expect that we would come to this point between us.

I wish to possess one or two items of quality, just as I aspire to lead a life of quality

But when she sat down in front of you, at that very moment, you realized that she was no longer the person you knew as well as you knew yourself

If the soul is in a state of panic and without support, one can only hope to achieve greatness through the physical body

She has hardly ever shown this side of herself

They locked eyes, and although no words were spoken, they both understood all the questions from each other's gaze

In this scenario, any detail overlooked may lead to irreparable and severe consequences

He has an impression of this piece of clothing; it is a replica of a certain luxury brand

On that night, he used his own integrity to cleanse the fury within her heart

From our initial acquaintance to the later development of a tacit understanding of ambiguity, she has been holding back a certain intensity. Are you not just worried that I do not understand the rules? Rest assured, I do understand

This is too tormenting; he almost wanted to call Ye Zhaoju to suggest rescheduling for another day

The body contact remains as pure and clean as ever, devoid of any hint of desire, even though it occurs in such an ambiguous environment. Qi Tang's hand gently pats her back, one after another, in sync with her heartbeat.

He never answers his phone, and his replies to messages are always delayed for a long time. Even when he does respond, he always says "next time"... Thinking of this, Qiao Chu couldn't help but feel a bit heartbroken. The wheel of fortune turns, and her time of pride is gone forever.

During the day, she scours various places in search of ideal materials, and at night, she stays up all night reviewing various resources and calculating costs

It had only been ten minutes when I lay down again

After thinking for half a day, he finally decided not to engage in such a futile endeavor

At this point, she paused briefly

The scent that I inhale into my lungs is all yours, your fragrance is exceptionally pleasant

At first, I was completely unable to accept it. During that period, I couldn't even manage basic things like eating and sleeping. Besides the breakup, there was another reason that I have never mentioned to anyone

It is indeed difficult to answer, but Ye Zhao Jue decided to speak the truth

At this moment, Min Lang felt as if he had been pricked at a certain acupoint, experiencing a slight discomfort and a twinge of pain in his heart

She suppressed that thought, but it was of no use; it seemed to have become even more resolute.

Indeed, seeing Xu Wanlai so open and candid, Ye Zhao felt there was no need to be evasive, "They are very good friends"

When she first bought it, it fit her perfectly. For this reason, she even cheerfully remarked: "It fits well, so I won't have to waste on return shipping fees."

In order to fulfill the small and humble wish of Qiao Chu, Ye Zhao Jue had no choice but to abandon his personal principles

In an instant, Ye Zhao's face turned pale.

They may not be aware, or perhaps they are fully aware yet are desperately avoiding it; this is a very sad reality

Ye Zhao Jue turned his head to look at her, momentarily at a loss for words

What do you want to do

Qi Tang could tell that Ye Zhao was in an irrational state at this moment, and because of this, he had to remain highly vigilant

Her personal joys and sorrows are truly of no importance to this world

Once she truly entered the process, in just over ten days, she felt as though she had only half a life left.

She wishes to cleanse the spiritual shame brought by that photograph through the intimacy of skin with Qi Tang

Then, she said to herself, let's do it this way

At that moment, Ye Zhao ceased her weeping

She has lost too much weight, and the loose navy blue top drapes over her emaciated body; with the slightest movement, her shoulders and collarbones are fully exposed

His entire life has never experienced, nor will it ever again experience, such an unbearable sense of guilt that is unforgivable

Not long ago, he hired someone to clean her residence, providing her with a clean and comfortable living environment

Qi Tang turned his back and closed the door, took a deep breath, and cursed silently in his heart

This matter is not related to vanity, but rather reflects a young woman's yearning for something beyond the basic necessities of survival after entering society, an attitude towards material possessions that can only be understood at this stage of life

This question is somewhat cunning

Ye Zhao felt so ashamed that he did not dare to look at him

What kind of hurt have you suffered? Qi Tang deliberately kept his distance from her, leaning against the wall and observing her from top to bottom. Seeing her with her head down, silent and sullen, he sensitively sensed a hint of direction. "Is it a matter of feelings?"

If you have ever caused your beloved one to fall into such a dark abyss due to your own reasons, then you have no right to say that you only wished for their happiness

At that moment, her mental world completely collapsed, and it was precisely for this reason that her body craved comfort beyond the ordinary

Youth is old and distant, yet the names remain the same as before, and the people are still those few from the past. There are no wars or displacements, yet we have stubbornly drifted apart.

I may not be considered a gentleman, but I absolutely do not wish to obtain you in such circumstances. Moreover, the matter of 'obtaining' does not necessarily have to be related to the physical.

The secret deeply buried in her heart was finally revealed by her own lips, and she felt a sense of relief, yet also experienced an extreme emptiness due to the sudden unloading of this burden

When our lives intersect once again, we have already developed entirely different demands for life

Since Jian Chenye has put it this way, she had no choice but to accept it

This is the first time the two of them are alone together after his abrupt confession. He has thought about finding an opportunity to have a serious conversation with her regarding that matter, as he feels he was too presumptuous.

The little bit of glory that belonged to him not only failed to illuminate her arduous life but instead placed her in a situation even darker than darkness itself

"Can't you see what I want to do?" Ye Zhao felt suddenly enraged

Xu Wanlai took out a glasses case from her bag, took out her sunglasses and put them on. She changed to a different tone: "Let’s not talk about this, Zhao Jue, we won’t discuss this anymore... Master, please stop at the intersection ahead, we have arrived"

Xu Wanlai remained silent

Qiao Chu was waiting at home for Min Lang, it was not easy at all, finally there was an opportunity to be alone together, it was truly hard to come by

In that moment, she almost asked, "What about you? After all these years, what is it that you and Min Lang cannot lay out and clarify on the table?"

In Jian Chenye's mind, there is a tremendous roaring sound, akin to an airplane about to take off, a giant ship sounding its horn on the sea, as if ten thousand train wheels are simultaneously grinding against the tracks, with countless metal collisions violently occurring, sending fragments flying into the air

I dare not share my true thoughts with anyone, unable to speak of them, as they are too absurd and too embarrassing. Therefore, I can only slowly digest those negative emotions by myself. I exert all my strength to resist its invasion of my mind, body, and life, and now, I can no longer recall how I have spent this time

The faint glimmer that originally resided in her eyes trembled slightly, and then extinguished

"Well, I brought you a gift." Jian Chenye pushed the paper bag in front of her

She said nothing, yet in this embrace, everything was made clear.

As time passed, he became increasingly restless; whenever the small wooden door of the café creaked open, his heart would leap high until he could see that the newcomer was not Ye Zhao Jue, at which point it would slowly settle back into place

She poured herself out incessantly

"Jian Chenye is back, you should know that, right?" Xu Wan asked Ye Zhao on the way to the home goods market.

"Don't make a fuss, speak properly." Min Lang chuckled, "I'm not as lewd as you think."

They lay side by side on the large bed in the hotel, with the bright moon hanging high outside the window

She sighed, touched the switch of the table lamp, and with a "click," the room was illuminated. She got up and went to the kitchen to pour herself a large glass of water to drink

It is well known that the allure of the night can evoke a latent alter ego within individuals, often leading to fragility, melancholy, and fragmented emotions of love and affection

Ye Zhao felt paralyzed as she sat on the ground; her sixth sense, her intuition, and her understanding of Jian Chenye all pointed to one conclusion.

Hmm, I see..." Ye Zhao's face was turned towards the window, responding vaguely after a moment, and after a while, he said, "We have an appointment to meet tomorrow"

Before selecting a meeting time, he was quite hesitant about whether to schedule it during the day or in the evening

Without any reason, dragging Qi Tang into this awkward situation, she also knew that this time she had truly been too rude and had overstepped her bounds

Either let it dawn immediately, or let it never dawn at all

"Are you annoying, Qi Tang? Are you even a man?" She was extremely impatient, recalling the incident when she accidentally caught him and Vivian in the office, and began to speak without thinking, "What are you pretending to be a virtuous gentleman for?"

She wishes to seize another person's warmth to fend off the chilling cold that emanates from the depths of her heart

It is unclear who has yielded a little and who has stepped forward a little; by the time Ye Zhao Jue came to her senses, she had already found herself in Qi Tang's embrace

The air conditioning is very effective, and the temperature in the room has been rising steadily. He faintly feels his back starting to sweat, yet he refuses to take off his jacket

His body, which was originally leaning forward, gradually leaned back against the chair's backrest, and his excited emotions slowly cooled down, as rationality once again took hold of his mind

He wishes to face the other party with a rational demeanor, which may be better for both sides

"Do nothing." Qiao Chu said with a smile, deliberately emphasizing the word "do".

In fact, the moment she saw Qi Tang, she regretted it. It was clearly an old grudge between her and Jian Chenye. Even with the addition of an unknown stranger, no matter what, Qi Tang was an outsider.

There is no longer a position to speculate whether we can be together again

Often, silence does not imply a lack of words, but rather that the situation is difficult to articulate

Ye Zhaoju thought for a moment and added, "I believe the same principle applies to Min Lang."

After you left, I have thought countless times, why? When we were together, you never made any breakthroughs in your career, yet as soon as you left me, things started to improve for you. Why is that... You let me finish speaking, this matter almost drove me crazy, you let me speak properly...

That is good. He knows how hypocritical his smile is at this moment

Then watch an animated film with me. Qiao Chu hugged Min Lang like a sloth clinging to a tree, burying her head in his neck. She took a deep breath, and a wave of dampness gradually spread in her heart.

Qitang's expression turned cold; he did not wish to engage in a futile argument with her

"Wait a moment." Her voice was very low, almost pleading.

They can no longer enter that patch of grass

On the other side, Qiao Chu secretly conspired with Ye Zhao Jue: "You go and entangle Xu Wanlai, and leave Min Lang to me for a day!"

Why can you accept a dress that others give you? So it is not about the gift itself, but about the person, isn't it

"Is it possible for you to be a little better than me?" Xu Wan smiled faintly

The two of them clearly were not that close ... . ... Considering this layer, and looking at Qiao Chu's pretentious demeanor in front of her, Min Lang already understood about eighty to ninety percent of the situation.

There is no problem, the issue does not lie with the package... She feels that she cannot communicate clearly with Jian Chenye at all

The love and hate in her heart, the confusion and struggle, the unacknowledged sense of defeat and the dignity she clung to with all her might, were all conveyed to him unreservedly in this embrace

Fortunately

Daytime is the optimal working time, with ample light and abundant energy, but if scheduled for the evening...