Chapter 3, everything is an endless beginning

As Cheng Songpo mentioned his father at the press conference, Shi Jingwei speculated that this father-son relationship would likely become the focus of numerous newspapers and magazines in the coming two weeks. Therefore, he hurried back to the newsroom to review Cheng Songpo's information. In his impression, Cheng Songpo's current resume had never mentioned his parents, and indeed, after searching, Shi Jingwei found no trace of any information regarding his parents. In Cheng Songpo's high school records before going abroad, the parents' section was completely blank. Shi Jingwei visited that high school, where a teacher, based on old records, discovered that he had grown up receiving social assistance, and the benefactor had long since passed away. In his impression, Cheng Songpo's current resume had never mentioned his parents, and indeed, after searching, Shi Jingwei found no trace of any information regarding his parents. In Cheng Songpo's high school records before going abroad, the parents' section was completely blank. Shi Jingwei visited that high school, where a teacher, based on old records, discovered that he had grown up receiving social assistance, and the benefactor had long since passed away. Searching online yielded no results either; dozens of pages were filled with news and reviews of Cheng Songpo's recent art exhibitions or his previous awards in Europe. After searching with various keywords, he finally found some old news, but it was merely the sketches Cheng Songpo had submitted to newspapers during high school. Searching online yielded no results either; dozens of pages were filled with news and reviews of Cheng Songpo's recent art exhibitions or his previous awards in Europe. After searching with various keywords, he finally found some old news, but it was merely the sketches Cheng Songpo had submitted to newspapers during high school.

"Because I have always been watching you," Cheng Songpo said with a sense of melancholy, "and in your gaze, someone else has entered."

Cheng Songpo stated that his remarks about playing with her were merely a moment of impulsiveness; when he met her, he had no idea she was Ming Aihua's daughter, so how could there be any talk of manipulation? However, Ming Aihua, the biological mother that Lu Mingmei once took pride in, known as the "conscience writer" and the "rose of the battlefield," truly used the lives and families of her lovers as stepping stones, climbing to the pinnacle of her career with blood on her hands. Yet, Ming Aihua, the biological mother that Lu Mingmei once took pride in, known as the "conscience writer" and the "rose of the battlefield," truly used the lives and families of her lovers as stepping stones, climbing to the pinnacle of her career with blood on her hands

Lu Mingmei recoiled in fear: "Is this for real?"

Cheng Songpo answered without hesitation: "Yes."

Only at this moment, when he does not face her directly, does she dare to indulge herself, gazing at him with such an unreserved look

Before she could finish her words, she couldn't help but burst into tears again. Did Cheng Songpo actually think she was using herself to threaten him

Lu Mingmei's hard conditions were quite good; at the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, she was not considered excessively flawed in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Her figure and appearance were also commendable. Therefore, Shi Jingwei was always puzzled as to why Ming Aihua would go to such lengths to arrange a lifelong commitment for Lu Mingmei, as if she were selling cabbage. In fact, Shi Jingwei had also gone to the bank where Lu Mingmei worked to take her out for meals. During those few opportunities, he encountered many clients who clearly used financial consulting as a pretext to flirt and entangle her. Each of them was quite affluent, and many even continued to express their eagerness to invite her out, fully aware that Shi Jingwei was labeled as her "flower protector".

Such a grandiloquent justification is likely only believable to Ming Ai Hua. Lu Ming Mei could not help but sneer. When Ming Ai Hua saw Shi Jing Wei, it was probably akin to looking in a mirror. She believed she was always right, and naturally, she also believed that Shi Jing Wei had noble sentiments.

Time Jingwei was slightly surprised and asked, "Have you slept?"

At that time, the situation between us and the enemy was still unclear," Cheng Songpo said with a serious expression, "Now I feel a bit jealous... jealous of those men who have been by your side during the years I was not around.

With this thought in mind, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration in her gaze towards Shi Jingwei. Suddenly, Shi Jingwei smiled with satisfaction and said, "Ah, Lu Mingmei, you are truly easy to deceive!"

I haven't done the PPT that I need for tomorrow yet. I planned to finish it this afternoon, but my laptop broke. I searched several streets but couldn't find a suitable repair shop. The authorized service center said it would take a week to get it back! But I need the PPT for tomorrow. Oh, do you have anything going on? Is it urgent? If not, let's talk about it tomorrow. Right now, I'm just wandering the streets looking for a place that can fix it... By the way, do you know any places that can repair computers quickly? Price is not an issue; the key is to ensure it gets fixed properly.

Shi Jingwei rested his chin on his hand, hesitating over whether to go out for a late-night snack

After this interlude, the atmosphere in the venue became much more relaxed. The reporters began to inquire about Cheng Songpo's future plans. After several reporters asked about this issue one by one, he provided a unified response: "Currently, there are two art academies in the country that have invited me to return to teach. The specific details are already under negotiation, and I will inform everyone once there are results"

I majored in mechanical engineering during my undergraduate studies

Indeed, people often say that men are most lethal when changing light bulbs

Lu Mingmei nodded, while Shi Jingwei took out an oversized toolbox, selected a suitable screwdriver, and swiftly disassembled the laptop into a pile of components, leaving only the outer frame looking intact. Lu Mingmei chuckled twice and said, "You remember how to put it back together tomorrow, right"

The audience was somewhat silent, and after a moment, Cheng Songpo forced a smile and said: "If time could flow backward, I would choose to listen to his words, rather than being like today, where apart from painting, I possess no other skills and can do nothing for him"

His voice is clear and healthy, resonating like gold and stone, "As long as you remember me, I am immortal"

Well, if there's something you need, please hurry, I still want to sleep! Besides, you mentioned that the movie just ended not long ago. If I were to go on a date with Cheng Songpo, this would be the perfect time for a romantic evening. Isn't it a bit of a mood killer for you to call at this hour? Are you suddenly realizing that you have deep feelings for this young lady and calling just to ruin my plans?

Acha is the nickname of Lu Mingmei. Before Cheng Songpo went abroad, he once again told her, "You do not deserve such a name." Lu Mingmei recalled that Cheng Songpo had said the same when they first met, so she went to ask her father for information. Lu's father, unsuspecting of any trickery, recounted the origin of her name: "When your mother was pregnant with you, your grandmother fell ill and wanted to hold on until you were born to see whether you were a son or a daughter. However, she could only hold on for seven months before she could no longer endure and passed away. In her final moments, she told your mother and me that if it was a son, he would be named Songpo, and if it was a daughter, she would be named Mingmei. Songpo seems to be a name of someone significant, I heard it was a great person whom your grandmother particularly revered. Since you were born, I forgot the specific meaning, but I remember that Mingmei is a type of famous tea from Jiangxi, Wuyuan Mingmei.

Lu Mingmei suddenly thought that Shi Jingwei had said something incorrect.

Such long-standing yearning, with no outlet for release, can only lead to the continuous construction of high dikes; even a casual breach may result in the destruction of the dike and loss of life

Lu Mingmei shrugged her shoulders. In fact, she could not deny that Shi Jingwei was indeed very dedicated to his work. According to his consistent way of thinking, if one plays Go, one should aim to be a national master; if one engages in IT, one should aspire to be like Turing; if one is involved in architecture, one should strive to be like I.M. Pei—if one is not at the pinnacle of the pyramid, it is considered a failure, even if one is second only to the top. By this logic, Shi Jingwei's goal should be to win a Pulitzer Prize, but based on his capabilities? Lu Mingmei disdainfully curled her lips. Considering that Shi Jingwei had recently helped her cross a bridge, she did not want to be harsh on him. She admitted that Shi Jingwei was indeed very outstanding, even excessively so. When her mother strongly recommended Shi Jingwei to her, praising him to the skies, she was quite skeptical and retorted, "If he is really as good as you say, why does he not have a girlfriend at his age?"

Cheng Songpo's body suddenly stiffened; he was gently stroking her head, and his fingers and palms felt icy as they brushed past her neck. After a moment, he smiled and said, "The car has arrived"

In a moment of helplessness, Shi Jingwei attempted to search for the name of the deceased benefactor, but the results left him quite astonished. The information that appeared on the first page was about the former chief editor of the organization, who preceded Wang Huajia, and his surname was Wang. Due to the commonality of the name, Shi Jingwei had not connected it at the time. This Chief Editor Wang had also passed away eight years ago, and the limited information available was indeed consistent... Shi Jingwei recalled that there were several competing firms vying for the hosting of this art exhibition, including a media group with superior financial backing. At that time, the CEO believed the odds of winning were slim and expressed considerable regret... This Chief Editor Wang had also passed away eight years ago, and the limited information available was indeed consistent... Shi Jingwei remembered that there were several competing firms vying for the hosting of this art exhibition, including a media group with superior financial backing. At that time, the CEO believed the odds of winning were slim and expressed considerable regret... Ultimately, Cheng Songpo was awarded the project, which surprised many colleagues in the organization... Could it be that Cheng Songpo also felt grateful for the kindness of Chief Editor Wang, who had once supported him?

Ming Ai Hua's voice was extremely calm: "I warn you to stay away from her"

Cheng Songpo smiled without answering, and Lu Mingmei, seeing that this joke was not going to work, sighed and said: "What will I do if my mother finds out?"

Lu Mingmei took a deep breath and broke into a smile, while Cheng Songpo also smiled, shaking his head and pinching her cheek. This is what makes Lu Mingmei so endearing; she always has a tough exterior, yet her heart is incredibly soft, much like a child. For instance, at this moment, she was nuzzling against his shoulder, rubbing her face into his embrace like a cat, her eyes sparkling with charm. He couldn't help but feel his heart flutter, but fortunately, he still had some self-control: "Don't fall asleep here, shall I take you home?"

My mind was blank, and all I could see was Cheng Songpo's slightly astonished and bewildered expression. What was there, and what did it all represent?

Shijinglei was taken aback: "What happened to you?"

In those years without him, the entirety of Lu Mingmei's existence seemed to be solely for the purpose of awaiting the appearance of Cheng Songpo

What Lu Mingmei found most unacceptable was that after Cheng Songpo accepted Ming Aihua's conditions, severed all ties with her, and went to the Florence Academy of Fine Arts, she gradually realized that everything Cheng Songpo had said about Ming Aihua was true

"Not right, flirtatious eyes, flirtatious eyes!"

When did the name Ming Ai Hua become a taboo between them? Those events are too distant, as if they happened in a past life. Yet, Lu Ming Mei clearly remembers her shock when she discovered that Cheng Song Po's benefactor was actually Ming Ai Hua. What hurt her even more was that Ming Ai Hua seemed to forget that she had given birth to a daughter both before and after the divorce; that piece of flesh seemed to have nothing to do with her. By the time she finally came to care for herself as a mother, it was actually because of Cheng Song Po.

When Shi Jingwei opened the door, he was dressed in loungewear, which was a stark contrast to his usual elite demeanor. Lu Mingmei took out the notebook from her bag, checked it on both sides, and smiled, saying: "It's nothing serious, the bearing is broken, just buy a new one and replace it. Are you in a hurry to use the data on the hard drive today?"

It now appears that repairing computers can also be quite lethal

Well, what else do you need

Wrong, wrong, wrong! They all say this is called sending autumn waves secretly, but is this really secret? Moreover, sending autumn waves does not mean sending knives and daggers!

Which part of your notebook is broken from the fall

Zheng Shen Si Meng You asked casually during the journey through Songpo: "Are you very familiar with him?"

Lu Mingmei's tears finally flowed down, transitioning from soft sobs to loud wails. The taxi driver was startled and slowly pulled over after passing the intersection, asking, "Miss, are you alright?"

I thought I gave you the movie ticket, you... weren't you planning to watch it with Cheng Songpo? At this time, you should have just gotten home...

Shijinglei glanced at her and said, "Why not just ask directly, will Teacher Ming see it?"

She tried to make her words sound lighter, but after so many years of repression, her feelings inevitably leaked out. Cheng Songpo was momentarily taken aback; under the streetlight, her smile was pale, and her small, round shadow seemed to tremble along with her emaciated figure. He unconsciously tightened his grip on her shoulder, his voice growing even gentler: "I am back"

Lu Mingmei asserted confidently: "Of course, I cannot send you any flirtatious glances!"

In the end, the intricacies were so detailed that she was taught how to convey emotions through her gaze, how to invest a certain degree of feeling, and how to mix a hint of temptation within innocence: "Come, throw me a couple of flirtatious glances for my assessment."

Before Cheng Songpo could speak, she continued, "I fear she may not have many years left. Not only has her heart been found to have issues, but there are also signs of liver function failure. I know I cannot ask you not to hate her, but..." Her voice choked, nearly unable to continue, "Can you not see that her current state is already a punishment from heaven?"

Shi Jingwei, with exceptional skill, hummed a little tune while continuing to tighten screws, and took the opportunity to clean the keyboard that had long been neglected by Lu Mingmei. Although Lu Mingmei verbally disagreed, in her heart, she had already elevated Shi Jingwei from being someone who "relies on his verbal skills to make a living" to a "must-have remedy for home travel and eliminating witnesses." After Shi Jingwei completed the assembly and conducted a thorough inspection, he pressed the POWER button and called Lu Mingmei over to check if the system was functioning properly. Lu Mingmei glanced around, and as Shi Jingwei casually glanced at her, in that fleeting moment, all the vanity and sense of achievement he had just displayed before Lu Mingmei suddenly crumbled like a dam breaking, completely dissipating.

Her distress was met with a series of exclamations from Jingwei: "Miss Lu, your innocence is unbearable! You are not young anymore, and you are quite decent-looking; you should have accumulated some experience in love by now. Don't act like a pure-hearted girl who has never been in love, just transitioning from green beans to yellow beans, still counting the petals, 'He loves me, he doesn't love me...'"

A few days ago, they spoke to her with gentle words and pleasant expressions, but now it seems as if they do not see her at all, leaving her with a series of cold footsteps and a rigid, indifferent silhouette

It is rumored that several art academies in Europe have extended invitations to him. When the reporters heard Cheng Songpo's response, they intended to elevate the topic further, steering it towards themes of returning to the motherland and giving back to society. However, Cheng Songpo did not comply with their wishes; he shook his head and smiled, saying: "The person who led me to make this decision is someone very important in my life. At one point, I lost confidence in painting... and even in life, because it has caused me too many regrets throughout my life. Now, I want to tell this person that there are many regrets I cannot make up for, but because of you, I feel... my life is not that bad after all"

Lu Mingmei unconsciously let out a sigh, and Shi Jingwei looked up and asked: "What’s wrong?"

Lu Mingmei's body went limp as she slumped at the entrance of the art room. When Ming Aihua came out, she noticed her, and Cheng Songpo also spotted her.

I do not need to cultivate a deep affection for him; I truly love him

"What I love you, I will love you forever, what holding hands and growing old together, what I love you, the weathered face surpasses... ah..." At that moment, Shi Jingwei bent down, and the heel of Lu Mingmei's high-heeled shoe left an imprint on his leather shoe. "Sister, you can't play like this! Is there anyone who would destroy the bridge after crossing it? Do you know how sought after today's tickets are? A few infatuated girls in our department almost got into a fight over them?"

Considering that Lu Mingmei rarely invites him to dinner, let us give him some face today

Lu Mingmei was slightly taken aback, and then asked: "So... is there a suggestion that is one level lower than the best, a second-best option?"

At that moment, Ji Wei was also at a loss, and surprisingly began to share his insights with Lu Mingmei: "Men are essentially a kind of cheap creature; it is best if they are visible yet intangible, desired yet ultimately unattainable"

Until her high school graduation, she and Cheng Songpo were admitted to the same university. When she was preparing to ask Cheng Songpo to go to the school to check the dormitory in advance, she overheard a quarrel between Cheng Songpo and his mother in the art room. Cheng Songpo's voice was filled with anger and resentment: "You are not wrong; I deliberately approached her, deliberately toyed with her—so what? Compared to the inhumane things you have done, this is simply insignificant"

Cheng Songpo pressed his lips into a line, remaining silent. Lu Ming raised her eyebrows and took a deep breath, asking, "How did you know?"

How is it that you still care about familial bonds? Or are you afraid that your daughter will find out that you are, in fact, a treacherous person? My father trusted you so much; how have you repaid him? You used him as a stepping stone to reach your current position! Others regard you as a great writer, a prominent journalist, an embodiment of justice, and the voice of the people, but what is the truth? The truth is that your hands are stained with blood; you owe your current status and reputation to betrayal! Your financial support for my book is merely an attempt to alleviate your inner guilt, isn't it? I tell you it is impossible; I will never forgive you, never! One day, I will expose all the vile deeds you have committed, so that everyone who admires you will know that you are a thoroughgoing traitor

Although she knew that gossip newspapers were merely sensationalist, Lu Mingmei still felt a slight sense of satisfaction in her heart, and deliberately asked: "Is this what you call your decadent and chaotic life?"

Time passed with a grinding of teeth, and it took her a long while to regain her composure after being interrupted by her. "Don't come here pretending to be a big shot. I've figured you out; you're all talk and no action! If I want to find someone for a night out, that's a matter of minutes. But you, Miss Lu, are you now keeping the lonely vigil in your empty boudoir?"

However, this feeling seems to provide him with a new stimulus; he eagerly wishes to extract a sense of achievement from it, but the result is often an increasing sense of frustration

Oh, are you also learning Italian

In such a vast population, there must be quite a number of outstanding young talents with both ability and character

Sister, can't you pretend for a moment

Cheng Songpo was just about to place the peeled shrimp into Lu Mingmei's bowl when he lifted his head and was met by her piercing gaze, like a bottomless deep lake, tempting him to sink forever into its depths. His hand froze in mid-air, a wave of heat rising from an unknown source, and he wanted to speak but found his lips, tongue, and throat all parched. He licked his lips, trying to suppress the heat that was spreading through his limbs, and before he could say anything, Lu Mingmei suddenly stood up: "Oh no, I have a meeting tonight, I'm doomed, I'm doomed, I'm doomed!"

Time Jingwei clicked his tongue twice: "So considerate?"

Seeing his seriousness, Lu Mingmei decided to follow his suggestion and threw a "flirtatious glance" his way

Lu Mingmei had once heard Cheng Songpo mention the Mekong River. A person who had always been too lazy to read books specifically sought out Duras's "The Lover". It is a story set on the Mekong River, and at the end of the story, the male protagonist calls the girl. He expresses his true feelings to her, saying that he still loves her just as he did before, that he can never sever his love for her, and that he will love her until death.

Duras begins her novel "The Lover" with the words: I know you, I will always remember you. At that time, you were still young, and everyone said you were beautiful. Now I have come specifically to tell you that compared to your appearance back then, I love your face, which has been so ravaged, even more.

Oh..." Lu Mingmei tilted her head in thought and asked, "Do you have an exclusive interview with Songpo?"

Laughter immediately erupted from the audience, and Cheng Songpo slightly curled the corners of his lips: "I have been afraid of speaking in front of large crowds since I was young; I get nervous when there are more than ten people. My father was very angry about this and even used a rattan stick to beat me, forcing me to speak in public."

It is quite easy to translate the materials; I have already pieced together most of it. This evening, I will just choose a more visually appealing template when I return home

Well

Some events may not capture your attention when they occur, yet they are strangely etched in your mind, waiting for you to gradually recall the reasons for their inscription.

She dashed out of the restaurant in a hurry, ignoring the astonished gazes along the way, and rushed onto the street, raising her hand to hail a taxi, mistakenly giving her home address three times. One thought occupied her mind: what was the move that followed the "deep gaze" that the perverted old lecher Shi Jingwei had taught her?

Lu Mingmei was tormented to the point of having stiff eye muscles, yet she felt no effect at all, beginning to doubt his authority: "How is what you said any different from a tutorial on picking up a hookup in a bar?"

Yet, Lu Mingmei, feeling both troubled and hopeful, asked: "Do you have a lot of experience? Please give me some advice..."

The explanation regarding Ming Ai Hua is: "Jing Wei is such an outstanding individual; I thought that someone so remarkable would surely have been snatched up by someone else long ago! Later, I learned that he has devoted all his energy to work and often travels for business, leaving him with neither the time nor the opportunity to pursue a proper romantic relationship. Fortunately, he was promoted this year and a new department was created for him to manage a new publication. Now, he is only responsible for key news and exclusive interviews, and with some free time on his hands, he should start considering matters of lifelong commitment."

After Lu Mingmei copied the data she needed to Shi Jingwei's computer, Shi Jingwei disassembled the hard drive again. While she was busy preparing the PPT, Shi Jingwei called a familiar repairman to have them send over the compatible bearings. While Lu Mingmei was working on the PPT, Shi Jingwei was in the living room tinkering with the disassembly and assembly. Out of curiosity, Lu Mingmei occasionally leaned over to take a look, but she couldn't understand it. It was just rare to see Shi Jingwei so focused, which was surprisingly more pleasing to the eye than his usual narcissistic demeanor.

Tsk tsk, you seem quite imposing in front of me, but why is it that this afternoon when I saw you with Cheng Songpo, you acted like a little wife?

Do you have a choice? Do you think Mr. Han gives you extra tutoring in drawing fundamentals every week for no reason? Do you think you can easily win first place in the city's middle school art competition? Do you think that by submitting your work to those newspapers, you can become self-sufficient and rely solely on yourself? Countless overlooked artists come and go, and the cycle never ends. Without my help in navigating these connections, what makes you think you can stand out?

In summary, the line between truth and falsehood is blurred, making it difficult to discern when he is being accurate.

The opening tone was thus established, and the questions from the reporters were mostly mild and complimentary. However, Cheng Songpo's responses remained extremely brief, consisting merely of words like "yes," "not quite sure," and "maybe." Coupled with his solemn expression, it inevitably gave off an impression of being unapproachable. Fortunately, the organizers and sponsors were quite prominent, and Cheng Songpo was already well-known, so the reporters had no choice but to attribute this outcome to the artist's individuality, while also praising him for being prudent and cautious, without any tendency towards exaggeration.

I do not know when it started, but being with Lu Mingmei feels like riding a roller coaster, often plunging from great heights to deep valleys, without any turning points or buffer zones.

Shi Jingwei was almost choked by her strange tone: "You---"

The press conference on Sunday afternoon was a grand affair, clearly demonstrating the importance that the organizers and various sponsors placed on Cheng Songpo. From the hotel hosting the press conference to the invited media and critics from various sectors, all were of the highest caliber in the domestic arts community. Just before the press conference, another realistic oil painting titled "Hometown" was sold for over 10 million, setting a new record for Cheng Songpo's auction prices. This record did not last long; as the press conference commenced, good news arrived from Beijing. An oil painting named "Drifting," which Cheng Songpo had sold two years ago at the London trading market, was auctioned in Beijing, starting from a base price of one million and soaring to a final price of 13 million.

Time and space lamented that she was a decayed wood that could not be carved, "Dim it down a bit, dim it down a bit, send a glance to the formless, do not raise your eyebrows at me, what eyebrows to raise?"

Very strict

Lu Mingmei pouted and said, "I am on good terms with Cheng Songpo, your tricks might work on those naive young girls, but not on me"

Lu Mingmei bit her lip and chuckled twice: "So will it or not?"

When Shi Jingwei snapped his fingers, it evoked a sense of "your wooden head has finally come to its senses" mixed with tears of old age. "In fact, it is all the same; the key is to know when to stop. You raise his appetite, and then you can gently let it go, waiting for him to obediently chase after you.

"Just for fun," Lu Mingmei said nonchalantly, smiling, "Learning and stopping, stopping and learning, the grammar is so complex. Every time I stop for a few months, I forget everything, and when I want to pick it up again, I have to start from scratch. By the way, do you want to have a late-night snack? I’ll treat you."

In a world governed by time and space, as long as one can achieve their goals, the means employed are of no consequence.

It was clearly a question, yet Cheng Songpo's voice, gentle as it was, carried an insistence that could not be refused to Lu Mingmei's ears, "I have a gift that I would like to give you"

The next day after work, Lu Mingmei went to find Cheng Songpo. Cheng Songpo was preparing to return to his home country for development, and his assistant had helped him find a suitable house, which he had already moved into after the art exhibition concluded. Upon entering the house, Lu Mingmei noticed several newspapers scattered on the coffee table. Picking one up, she saw that it featured a large report on the press conference from that day. Those journalists were quite skilled; since they did not know who the subject of Cheng Songpo's portrait was, they specifically created a ranking of possibilities. Almost every woman who had appeared in news related to Cheng Songpo was selected for a grand comparison. For instance, there were his female classmates from his study abroad days, wealthy women who had purchased his artworks, and various socialites who had attended Cheng Songpo's art exhibition. It was truly a dazzling and spectacular display.

Ming Ai Hua calmly replied to Cheng Song Po: "Speak of such abilities when you possess them. Everything you have now is given by me. Instead of thinking about how to toy with my daughter, you should consider how to make yourself stronger, so that in the future you will have the ability to expose my true nature"

Upon hearing the name Cheng Songpo, Lu Mingmei came to her senses. When she realized what Jingwei was asking, she responded with a few "ohs" and then chuckled dryly, saying, "I see he has been busy lately, so I suggested he rest early."

Hmm?

Ming Ai Hua偶然回到她就读的高中，在美术室里看到其他人以她为模特绘制的人像素描

Without a moment's hesitation, Shi Jingwei said, "Come over to my place; I have a computer you can borrow. We can fix it tomorrow; it's already late at night."

Lu Mingmei could hardly believe it, staring at Shi Jingwei as he examined the components up and down. The AK-47 is known as the king of sniper rifles, but Shi Jingwei's hands...? She originally did not believe it, but seeing Shi Jingwei's serious demeanor, and considering that he had just reassembled this pile of parts into a complete computer—perhaps Shi Jingwei really does have this skill

Really

The reporter asked with a smile, "Is Mr. Cheng's father very strict with his upbringing?"

That night, Lu Mingmei put her learning into practice. Shi Jingwei said to "gaze deeply and cultivate a feeling that you love him very much." Thus, halfway through the meal, Lu Mingmei slowly set down her chopsticks, propped her chin up, and began to scrutinize Cheng Songpo. Cheng Songpo was peeling shrimp for her, his expression focused, entirely concentrated on that shrimp. His long fingers skillfully extracted the shrimp meat from the shell.

Crying heavily served as a release for Lu Mingmei, who soon threw herself onto the bed, ready to bury her head under the covers and prepare to tackle these tough issues the next morning. Just as she was drifting in and out of sleep, her phone suddenly rang; it was Shi Jingwei. Glancing at the time, she noted it was still 10:30 PM. Lu Mingmei felt a bit surprised, as Shi Jingwei had mentioned that he would not call anyone after 10 PM unless there was an urgent matter, considering that people's schedules varied and many were already preparing to rest by that hour, making it unnecessary to disturb others. Lu Mingmei answered the call, yawning as she asked, "Why are you calling at this hour? Is there an emergency?"

Sometimes she would think, at that time Ming Aihua had resolutely insisted on separating her from Cheng Songpo. Apart from the unwillingness to expose past events, perhaps there was indeed a concern about her being harmed by Cheng Songpo? Or perhaps, as one approaches death, one becomes kinder? Three years ago, when Ming Aihua's heart condition worsened, she hesitated to go under the knife, fearing surgical failure, and there were some words she would never have the chance to say to her daughter. Lu Mingmei always remembered her last phone call where she said: "I was not a good mother before, but you must believe that everything I did was to prevent you from being harmed in any way." Three years ago, when Ming Aihua's heart condition worsened, she hesitated to go under the knife, fearing surgical failure, and there were some words she would never have the chance to say to her daughter. Lu Mingmei always remembered her last phone call where she said: "I was not a good mother before, but you must believe that everything I did was to prevent you from being harmed in any way."

Upon returning home, Lu Mingmei recalled that after the "intense gaze" taught by Shi Jingwei, there was the "distracted gaze." Shi Jingwei explained it this way: "Once you are discovered by the other party, you must avert your gaze, but this also depends on the situation between men and women. For instance, if I am looking at you, I can gaze without reservation for a while longer, allowing you to feel a sense of vanity from being observed and cared for; conversely, if you are looking at me, when I notice, you must quickly look away, and a hint of shyness would be even better, as it can evoke a man's sense of conquest! This is called 'the enemy advances, I retreat; the enemy retreats, I advance.' This is the strategy of guerrilla warfare; as the battle continues, he becomes lost in the vast sea of the masses and can no longer find himself!"

Lu Mingmei looked up at him, her eyes filled with timid surprise. Cheng Songpo's heart softened even more as he gently caressed her cheek with his right hand: "If I hadn't come back, would you have kept waiting?"

In fact, going out for meals with Lu Mingmei in the past felt quite pleasant, as it was clear that Lu Mingmei had no romantic intentions and did not want to be tied down. As merely a companion, Lu Mingmei was quite exceptional. At the very least, Lu Mingmei had an impressive appearance and was sufficiently candid and straightforward, making their banter evenly matched. As a diversion after a week of excessive work, it was simply perfect.

Until Friday afternoon, Cheng Songpo spoke to her about Venice, recounting the love legend of the Bridge of Sighs. It is said that couples who kiss beneath the Bridge of Sighs will attain everlasting love. Lu Mingmei felt her heart race, and just as she took a breath, before she could find an excuse, she heard Cheng Songpo sigh deeply and softly: "Acha, are you avoiding me?"

What?

BINGO

Lu Mingmei, unwilling to accept her fate, could not help but press further: "If I hadn't encountered you when I went to Europe, would you have returned as well?"

Lu Mingmei was skeptical, feeling that although Shi Jingwei's words had some merit, they did not apply to her and Cheng Songpo's situation. In Shi Jingwei's interview, it was mentioned that Cheng Songpo seemed to have intentions of returning to the country for development. Lu Mingmei could not understand whether she was merely an embellishment or a convenient option for him in his return, or something else entirely. She did not dare to hope that she could be the reason for Cheng Songpo's return, especially considering the connection with Ming Aihua. She weakly retorted, "Cheng Songpo is not as superficial as you say."

One can only blame oneself for lacking skill, having lost this round

Ming Ai Hua's composure is astonishing; even when faced with such direct insults, she maintains sufficient rationality and calmness, responding in a measured manner, "I have already arranged your admission procedures for the Academy of Fine Arts, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Haven't you always yearned to be there?"

"I don't want to go back," Lu Mingmei said, wrapping her arm around his and starting to act cute. "It's so boring to go back alone."

Shi Jingwei was quite depressed; in his impression, Lu Mingmei had rarely given him a good face. The few times she did, it was either to coax him into dealing with Ming Aihua or concerning Cheng Songpo. He unceremoniously berated Lu Mingmei, and after she had exhausted her compliments, he had her accompany him for a couple of rounds around the small bridges and flowing water of Zhujiajiao. Only then did he leisurely lean against the riverside beauty and methodically explain to Lu Mingmei the various despicable psychologies of men. He taught Lu Mingmei to treat heavy matters lightly, to strategically disdain men while tactically valuing them, and how to keep a man's appetite high before gently letting it down.

So do you wish to achieve nothing on your own, making your father feel worse than death?

Aren't you going to make the PPT?

A joke, how is that possible? Ten years ago, he had already made her understand that no one and nothing could threaten him

Lu Mingmei truly believes that she and Cheng Songpo are destined to meet, just as Ming Aihua was destined to encounter Cheng Songpo's father. It is a fateful encounter, an irrevocable decree of heaven

After watching "The Lover," Lu Mingmei asked Cheng Songpo whether the Mekong River was truly as beautiful as described, with the afterglow shimmering and the clear waves gently rippling. At that time, Cheng Songpo was still unaware that she was the daughter of Ming Aihua. He firmly told her that one day he would take her to see the Mekong River: "I hope that when we go to the Mekong River, it will be a true spring there"

Secret delivery, secret delivery

She took the initiative to invite him to dinner, hoping to gain some insights along the way. When Shi Jingwei mentioned that he would be going to Zhujiajiao the next day to focus on ancient residences, he further challenged her by insisting that they have this mentor-student meal at a local specialty restaurant in Zhujiajiao. In a state of desperation, Lu Mingmei surprisingly agreed. The next day, she spent several hours accompanying him to interview the owners of several ancient residences. Once he finished collecting materials and recording, she respectfully asked Shi Jingwei to impart his knowledge and clarify her doubts.

Her voice was extremely soft, almost inaudible, yet Wei Jingwei still heard it. Suddenly, her voice fell silent, leaving him at a loss for words.

Lu Mingmei fell silent, and even the late-night snack was consumed in silence. Shi Jingwei attempted several times to inquire further, but just as the words were on the tip of his tongue, he swallowed them back.

I am fine, you need not concern yourself with me

In the following days, Cheng Songpo kept calling incessantly. If it weren't for the matters at the art exhibition keeping her busy, he would have probably come to the bank to confront her long ago. Each time they spoke on the phone, her heart would become unsettled within three minutes. In truth, they didn't discuss anything of great importance; it was merely about who came to buy paintings today and what they had for lunch. On several occasions, Cheng Songpo even brought up trivial matters from Italy, one after another, and only after Lu Mingmei made an excuse about having VIP clients coming over would he finally agree to hang up.

Lu Mingmei remained silent for a long time, then gently nodded her head. She buried her head in Cheng Songpo's embrace and whispered, "Cheng Songpo, you asked me if I would be willing to try once more, and I have something I would like to ask you."

It is evident that this is some form of emotional confession, and the sounds of various digital SLR cameras immediately filled the air. Cheng Songpo took out a large box from under the table, and an assistant quickly came forward to help him retrieve the oil painting inside. Once unfolded, he presented it to the audience. The reporters initially expected the painting to depict a graceful woman or some other commemoration of eternal vows, but to their surprise, only the right half of the painting was completed, leaving the left side blank. The painting depicted an elderly woman, with white hair and wrinkled skin, leaving the crowd momentarily stunned. Cheng Songpo's gaze lingered in the corner of the auditorium: "I have accumulated many words I want to say to you, but when I stand before you, I find myself unable to say anything... Fifty years from now, your appearance will also age, yet my feelings will remain unchanged."

What should be done after being discovered by the other party

Lu Mingmei pouted; it was not that she was blocked by Shi Jingwei, but rather that the relationship between her and Cheng Songpo was too complicated, and it also concerned the reputation of Ming Aihua, making it inconvenient for Shi Jingwei to know too much.

Lu Mingmei had no time to pay attention to him

Cheng Songpo turned around this time, and within his clear gaze lay a hidden whirlpool of turbulent currents, just as he had described the Mekong River to her countless times: "I did it on purpose"

I will no longer accept your charity

Cheng Songpo remained silent for a while, then sighed and said: "No, he can no longer see it."

It should be the bracket, the thing that connects the screen and the keyboard. It fell from a height, directly severed in half, but both the screen and the keyboard are intact

Upon hearing this question, Cheng Songpo appeared somewhat melancholic, "No, my father does not approve of my painting. He often scolds me, saying... that indulging in such pursuits leads to a loss of ambition. Every time he sees me painting, he immediately resorts to the rattan stick without a word, and I can only paint in secret."

He turned around and took out a portable hard drive from the drawer of his desk, unscrewed a few screws, removed the 2.5-inch hard drive inside, replaced it with Lu Mingmei's notebook hard drive, and connected it to his computer for testing. Indeed, all the data was read normally. Lu Mingmei could occasionally reinstall the system herself, which made her one of the more technically skilled colleagues. Seeing Shi Jingwei resolve the current major issue so swiftly and efficiently, she was immediately in awe, thinking that if this were a woman, she would have rushed over to give her a couple of kisses to show her gratitude.

Mr. Cheng entered the Florence Academy of Fine Arts at a very young age. Is his solid foundation also due to his family's scholarly background?

"Where is there..." Lu Mingmei weakly argued, "Where is the sneaking around? There is no one..."

All information regarding the parents is a blank slate, as if Cheng Songpo emerged from a crevice in a rock

Aren't you the same?

She was stunned and speechless. Cheng Songpo asked again, "Will you come over on the last day of the art exhibition on Sunday?"

An empty car came to a stop, and Lu Mingmei looked at Cheng Songpo with a pleading gaze. However, even after Cheng Songpo instructed the driver on the destination, he did not say another word to her

Cheng Songpo frowned, as if coaxing a child: "You still have to go to work tomorrow."

On this day, Lu Mingmei witnessed another side of her mother, Ming Aihua, beyond her usual workaholic nature and the recent awakening of her maternal instincts

Shi Jingwei smiled proudly and said: "Are you impressed?"

As usual, they headed to the stew shop that Shi Jingwei had previously introduced to Lu Mingmei. Shi Jingwei drove, and the journey was very quiet. Unable to contain herself, Lu Mingmei asked, "Why are you so quiet today?"

Cheng Songpo's gaze swept over this corner once again: "I don't think of myself as old yet, but there are always reporters asking me how I view the artistic value of my works. I often find it difficult to answer such questions. Because, in my opinion, the extent of one's achievements and whether one will be remembered in the annals of art history is not that important."

Lu Mingmei shot him a direct glare

At first, she was overly delighted, believing that the name frequently seen in the news was indeed too busy with work to visit her. Now, she has finally awaited the arrival of this genuine maternal love.

Whether from a rational or emotional standpoint, Lu Mingmei clearly understands that Ming Aihua's mother is highly inadequate; she cannot even be considered a qualified person. However, perhaps due to the passage of time and the increase in years, that bond of blood ties binds people ever more tightly.

Shi Jingwei nearly spat out a mouthful of sour water; clearly, it was a picturesque scene and a fine moment, yet here she was discussing emotional issues with such an eccentric woman, and for free at that. What was she thinking! On the way back to the city, Lu Mingmei wore a proud expression, as if to say "her love with Cheng Songpo is sacred and inviolable," but deep down, she was constantly pondering whether Shi Jingwei's suggestions were truly feasible. Logically speaking, Shi Jingwei seemed to be a master in the realm of romance, adept at employing such teasing and seductive little tricks. Of course, she herself looked down upon such underhanded methods, yet... On the way back to the city, Lu Mingmei wore a proud expression, as if to say "her love with Cheng Songpo is sacred and inviolable," but deep down, she was constantly pondering whether Shi Jingwei's suggestions were truly feasible. Logically speaking, Shi Jingwei seemed to be a master in the realm of romance, adept at employing such teasing and seductive little tricks. Of course, she herself looked down upon such underhanded methods, yet... Lu Mingmei quickly found a justification for herself: the effectiveness of techniques depends on who wields them and what the purpose of their use is. She merely wanted to clarify her feelings with Cheng Songpo sooner rather than later, and perhaps testing him with a few little tricks wasn't so bad after all.

Lu Mingmei was full of confidence, while Shi Jingwei leisurely whistled twice. Her fervor then diminished, "I also want to boss him around and have him cater to my every whim, but..." She complained with a hint of grievance, "But I don't know how to do it! I'm afraid that if I come on too strong, he will be scared off, what should I do? Sometimes, being too proactive as a woman is not good. Don't be fooled by the fact that he is an artist; in reality, he is quite traditional and has a strong sense of male superiority..."

Lu Mingmei leaned over the makeup mirror, gazing at the woman in the reflection, her face flushed and her eyes sparkling with emotion. Is this truly the self that fell into Cheng Songpo's gaze just moments ago? Amidst her embarrassment, she felt an overwhelming sense of regret: you have indeed retreated, but have you retreated too far? You have gone straight back home!

However, all the materials I found are in my notebook

Because of overwhelming joy, I forgot that the person who painted her portrait that day was Cheng Songpo

"No..." Lu Mingmei shook her head and sighed, "I think you are quite capable. How did you come to this?"

He is, of course, a normal man, so it is entirely reasonable and lawful for him to be jealous of Cheng Songpo, without any special significance

Truly deserving of being a proud disciple nurtured by Mother Ming Aihua

Unfortunately, searching for the names of Cheng Songpo and Editor Wang together yields no useful information. Shi Jingwei pondered that he would need to find a few informed individuals to inquire further, but Editor Wang had passed away many years ago, and aside from a few senior members in the organization, few had worked with him. Given the unclear situation, it would not be appropriate to disturb the leaders directly, so Shi Jingwei asked his assistant, Xiao Zhao, to compile all the materials related to Editor Wang from the organization for him, intending to catch up over the weekend at home. However, after two days of effort, he still found nothing. In his desperation, he thought of Lu Mingmei. As soon as he dialed her number, he heard Lu Mingmei's sorrowful voice saying, "This person is dead; if you have matters to discuss, please burn paper offerings."

I am willing

Lu Mingmei stood up reluctantly, finished inspecting with Cheng Songpo one by one, said goodbye to the security guard, and went out to hail a taxi on the main road. Cheng Songpo suddenly smiled and said, "Speaking of which, your friend with the surname Shi can be considered one of the outstanding journalists."

It's fine, come over here, and I will extract the data for you

Shi Jingwei believes that all normal men in the world should be envious of Cheng Songpo

Lu Mingmei's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and this trick of Shi Jingwei's was not the first time he had played it. He often joked when you were being serious, and then suddenly became serious when you were joking.

A few minutes later, she received a text message from Cheng Songpo: Is this your condition for the exchange

Lu Mingmei remained silent for a long time before reluctantly saying: "Just this once."

The waves of memories surged in, causing Lu Ming's nose to tingle. Next to her, Shi Jingwei awkwardly handed her a tissue and asked, "Do you need one?"

Cheng Songpo spoke with a somewhat serious demeanor, leaving Lu Mingmei astonished and unsure whether he was joking. Logically, Cheng Songpo would not joke around, especially given his solemn expression; however, these words... truly did not resemble what the past Cheng Songpo would say. Regaining her composure, she self-deprecatingly laughed and said: "I was originally waiting for you to come back and drive them away, but since you never returned, I had no choice but to take matters into my own hands and chase them off myself"

Ms. Lu, do you know that you almost became the entertainment headline of newspapers and magazines

Where is Cheng Songpo? Aren't you with him?

Lu Mingmei covered her face and glared at him, yet he remained oblivious, saying, "You women are easily moved by such superficial appearances, always fond of hearing sweet words!"

When Shi Jingwei was suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water, after all, he occasionally wrote a couple of emotional columns. Who could outplay him in the games of push and pull, desire and restraint between urban men and women? If he were interested, he could have opened a class to teach it by now, and he wouldn't even charge tuition. After toiling for half a day, pouring out his saliva, he was labeled as "shallow" by Lu Mingmei. This irritation rose within him, and his words immediately turned sharp: "Then please tell me, how did your touching, noble, and elegant love story with the great painter Cheng unfold in such a winding and intricate manner?"

A reporter gently comforted, saying that if Mr. Cheng were aware from the afterlife, he would surely be pleased to see Mr. Cheng's achievements today

Do not even move your eyelids

This time it was Lu Mingmei's turn to get angry. There was a box of toothpicks on the bedside table, and she wished she could take two and poke a few pimples on Shi Jingwei's face, making it so that he could never flaunt that deceptively attractive appearance again. How would he show off then? Fortunately, Shi Jingwei was perceptive and knew she was in a bad mood. As soon as he gained the upper hand, he raised a white flag: "Alright, I won't make fun of you anymore. Editor-in-Chief Shi is here to passionately answer all your emotional dilemmas. Such an opportunity is rare; my column fees are quite high, so you should cherish this chance."

Shijinglei leaned over mysteriously and asked, "I can still make an AK-47, do you believe it?"

Lu Mingmei felt secretly pleased, seeing that Shi Jingwei was so frustrated that he couldn't find a retort for the moment, which made her even happier: "What? Can't you find anyone in the whole world to spend the night with? Everyone else is paired up and enjoying each other's company, and you're the only one left alone in your spring chamber, Editor-in-Chief Shi? Aren't you a veteran of the nightlife? Just go to a bar and mingle a bit; is it that no one is willing to give you the time of day today?"

For several consecutive days, Lu Mingmei avoided meeting Cheng Songpo, feeling increasingly embarrassed when she reflected on her poor performance that day, convinced that Cheng Songpo had seen through her. This was reinforced by the fact that Cheng Songpo had called her that evening, asking if she had finished the meeting, whether she was tired from work, and reminding her to go to bed early to rest—his voice was so gentle and caring that it made her think Cheng Songpo was possessed.

I have mentioned to you before that the design blueprints for the AK-47 are fully public. Anyone in the world can create one themselves if they wish to do so

Walking three blocks, my legs feel like they are about to break

Various reporters extended their congratulations, yet Cheng Songpo maintained a calm demeanor, showing no signs of surprise, his lips pressed tightly together without uttering a word. When pressed by reporters to the point of no escape, Cheng Songpo reluctantly spoke: "I personally do not endorse this kind of blind speculation driven purely by investment motives"

Such a response was somewhat unexpected for the journalists, leading to a brief silence in the audience, after which someone asked: "So... Mr. Cheng, you have already proven through your actions that your choice was the right one?"

"Had I known you were this kind of person, I would have let you die in the full star pile back then," Cheng Songpo was completely enraged by her, his tone suddenly rising, "My father saved you, and what about you? You have caused him to suffer a fate worse than death now!"

Hearing such words, Cheng Songpo unexpectedly brought the microphone closer, cleared his throat, and softly said: "In fact, I feel a bit nervous facing so many people"

In any case, he is not as superficial as you are

She has always known that in the face of Cheng Songpo's unabashed hatred for Ming Aihua, their so-called love is insignificant and hardly worth mentioning

Ming Ai Hua did not go to school to look for her; the person she actually wanted to visit was Cheng Song Po

Cheng Songpo remained silent, a hint of disappointment flashing in his deep, dark eyes. Lu Mingmei hurriedly explained, "I have nothing to do with Shi Jingwei; he is just using me as a pretext to fool his parents, just like I am!"

I did it on purpose. Why are you sneaking around with me? Why do some people, knowing clearly about our relationship, keep hinting at it time and again?

"I don't read newspapers," Lu Mingmei said indifferently. After a moment, she realized something and hurriedly asked, "Newspapers?"

She became completely alert: "So do you think this news will make it to any international cultural section?"

The folder opened by Lu Mingmei is titled "Collection of Italian Language Textbooks"

Lu Mingmei was half-convinced, wondering if someone who made a living by talking could also handle a computer. Then she recalled that Shi Jingwei had been secretly referred to as "Mr. Know-it-all" by his colleagues at the bank; no matter what needed to be checked, a single email sent his way would elicit a complete set of procedures in response within half an hour. Such efficiency was truly remarkable. Lu Mingmei decided to trust Shi Jingwei this time, clutching her nearly torn notebook as she hurried to his home. Disturbing someone so late, even if it was Shi Jingwei, still made Lu Mingmei feel quite embarrassed.

In fact, Lu Mingmei could not be more clear that Shi Jingwei is the least willing person to be bound by marriage. Those reasons related to time and space are merely excuses to appease the elders. She has thus secretly ridiculed Shi Jingwei, saying that he is trying to please the elders in a roundabout way. However, Shi Jingwei feels that this situation is quite a win-win. He said that since telling a harmless little lie can make everyone happy and save them both trouble, why not do it?

It turns out that Lu Mingmei has only been in love once from the beginning until now! ... How can there be such ... ! ... foolish women in this world!

Lu Mingmei felt a moment of guilt as her mother made efforts to bring her together with Shi Jingwei, and with Shi Jingwei helping her cover up these matters in front of her mother... What would Cheng Songpo think if he knew? She found it difficult to grasp Cheng Songpo's current thoughts, and even considered using these matters to provoke him, to see if he would feel jealous... But she was also afraid that these issues would push Cheng Songpo further away from her mother. She smiled and asked Cheng Songpo, "Jealous? You clearly acted as if nothing was wrong that day." But she was also afraid that these issues would push Cheng Songpo further away from her mother. She smiled and asked Cheng Songpo, "Jealous? You clearly acted as if nothing was wrong that day."

When it comes to Shi Jingwei, if you say a few less words, no one will consider you a mute

The amount of information you provided is too limited; how am I supposed to respond