Chapter 04

She, who claimed to be immune to all tragedies, unexpectedly shed tears at the end, asking him with a sense of loss: "Why did they ultimately still miss each other? If only he had waited one more minute, looked one more time, or asked one more question, wouldn't everything have been clear?"

The lie is... I am not worthy of you, you have such good conditions, you are handsome, and your family is wealthy, you deserve better; the truth is... I do not love you, I am very grateful to you, so grateful that... it would not be an exaggeration to say that I would repay you in the next life, but I do not love you

It now seems that letting go of Fang Feijin will not be so easy. He suddenly recalled that five years ago, Fang Feijin had secretly sold a property in New York and a large amount of stocks, reportedly also for a woman

She answered so decisively and straightforwardly, leaving him no room for imagination. At that moment, Fang Fei had not yet anticipated what a grueling and extraordinary long-term battle this would be. He simply thought she was great, and even her rejection of him seemed incredibly cool and impressive to him. He had plenty of time to spend with her, and with him around, no one else dared to have any designs on her.

Fang Feijin's expression softened in an instant. No matter when or where, whenever he thought of her, there were no other words to describe it, he simply felt good. The sky was very blue, the clouds were very white, and the sunlight was just warm enough; everything was good, everything was fine. Even when she rejected him, he accepted it willingly—he had known her for three months when he eagerly confessed his feelings to her, and that was the beginning of her thousand rejections. "Why?"

While Kou Li and Fang Feijin were joking around, Ling Qianfan's mind was far from idle. He initially thought that his nominal cousin had a tough personality, which was why he came to persuade Fang Feijin. Unexpectedly, this child was stubborn and started playing the tricks of a lovesick sword, leading to a significant complication in the situation. Ling Qianfan was so frustrated that he considered buying a block of tofu to crash into as a solution

Getting out of bed, I leaned against the wall to turn on the daylight lamp. In the single room with a single bed, I moved the notebook from the table to the bed, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. It seems that my father, Fang Feijin, has even chased me all the way to Wucheng this time. It appears that he will not rest until he captures Fang Feijin and brings him back. I heard that the Gu family is willing to take over the two plots of land that the Fang family owns in Ningjiang in order to secure Fangyuan Tiandi. Is it true that Fangyuan Tiandi cannot be preserved? Su Wan rested her head on her hand and thought for a moment, probably so... It seems that this time they will not rest until they capture Fang Feijin and bring him back. I heard that the Gu family is willing to take over the two plots of land that the Fang family owns in Ningjiang in order to secure Fangyuan Tiandi. Is it true that Fangyuan Tiandi cannot be preserved? Su Wan rested her head on her hand and thought for a moment, probably so... In the business world, there are occasionally some connections that can be discussed, but they must be weighed carefully. The Fang family owes the Gu family a significant favor in this matter, and it is absolutely impossible for them to go against the Gu family regarding Fangyuan Tiandi.

Fang Fei was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure of where to begin with the many things she wanted to say. Her intuition told her that what she was about to say was not good news, yet she had to feign nonchalance and joked along with her: "You are being so verbose; why not just say that a dead pig is not afraid of boiling water?"

Furiously pounding on the keyboard, I type out my resignation letter with a flurry of sounds. Call me a coward if you will, call me weak if you must, but in any case—I cannot afford to play this game!

The screenwriter deliberately crafted an ending where they do not end up together, leaving a profound impression on a foolish girl like you. He shook his head and kissed her tears, yet she remained filled with melancholy, unable to come to terms with such an ending. After the performance concluded, she still stared blankly at the dark curtain, somewhat foolishly saying to him: "Shang Bai, I want to go to Angkor."

Fang Feijin's face瞬间 radiated infinite brilliance, and the faint anger in her eyes softened: "She is the angel I accidentally found."

Once awakened at midnight, the bright moonlight outside shone upon her. The moonlight illuminated the ground, so distant yet so clear, as if it were the gaze of someone who had once been so close, yet ultimately so far away... Did she really know such a person? Did he truly exist?

Ling Qianfan sighed inwardly, caught between his childhood friend and his junior who had partied with him during university. Why did such a difficult situation have to fall upon him? As he left home in the morning, he was still contemplating that he understood Gu Fenghan's temperament better than anyone. It would be best if he could persuade Fang Fei to sell off Fangyuan completely and obediently return home with Fang Weiming. This way, Gu Fenghan would have his wishes fulfilled, the father and son of the Fang family would not fall into discord, and his task would be considered successfully completed.

Fang Feijin helplessly shrugged his shoulders, while Ling Qianfan expressed his dissatisfaction: "Let's find a time to play a couple of games of billiards, American or English, it's up to you. If you continue to be as perfunctory with me as you were today, I won't let this go!"

In the end, she suddenly realized that apart from him, she did not understand anything else; the only relative she knew was his grandfather, who had also passed away during their university years. Thus, his existence was like a phantom to her

Later, she came to understand that the meaning of the tree hole in the ancient thousand-year-old tree was to bury the past

On this side, Fang Feijin was still immersed in past memories, while on the other side, Ling Qianfan was already breaking out in goosebumps, sharply inhaling a breath of cold air. Imagine a twenty-eight-year-old man reminiscing sweetly about the past, starting with the word "angel"—if his confidante were an eighteen-year-old girl, she might gaze with starry eyes, touched by this man's tenderness and deep affection. However, for someone like Ling Qianfan, who changes girlfriends faster than he changes cars, the word "angel" in his dictionary has only one interpretation: it refers to the kind of beauty with an angelic face and a devilish figure. The other party might gaze with starry eyes, moved by this man's tenderness and deep affection. However, for someone like Ling Qianfan, who changes girlfriends faster than he changes cars, the word "angel" in his dictionary has only one interpretation: it refers to the kind of beauty with an angelic face and a devilish figure.

The enchanting voice of the jazz king resonates in the small room: Quizas, Quizas, Quizas

He remained silent from beginning to end

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps

Fang Feijin remained silent, lowering his head without uttering a word. Ling Qianfan glanced at him through the rearview mirror, and at that moment, Fang Feijin resembled the time during the university basketball league when he had fought hard to reach the finals but was forced to leave the game due to an injury. There was one part grievance, two parts unwillingness, and seven parts stubbornness.

Before her eyes, the figure that swayed was none other than the person she encountered that morning at Jianxin Mingzhu. It turned out that simply declaring to let go did not mean one could truly let go. Time and again, she reminded herself that their connection was merely a fleeting fate, and she repeatedly persuaded herself that he would find greater happiness. She had even imagined that perhaps one day they would run into each other on the street, where she might see him with his wife and children. They might pass by each other, perhaps nodding and asking, "How have you been?" and then exchanging a faint smile. Even so, she harbored a small selfish thought, wondering if there might always be a corner in his heart reserved for her. She had once again considered that perhaps one day they would meet on the street, encountering him with his wife and children, passing by each other, maybe nodding and asking, "How have you been?" and then sharing a faint smile. Even so, she harbored a small selfish thought, wondering if there might always be a corner in his heart reserved for her. Regardless, she was indeed his first love; do men not remember their first love just as women do?

Perhaps, reunion is merely a means to completely forget

Suddenly, some memories flashed through her mind—when she first took Meng Han to dinner with Jiang Shangbai, it seemed that Meng Han had said something, though she could not recall the exact details. Perhaps it was something about... saying he resembled someone very much. At that time, she wanted to ask further, but Jiang Shangbai changed the subject, and she eventually forgot about it.

As he stepped out, he fell down; she rushed to the wall and looked down, but there was no trace of him...

Just when he thought Fang Feijin would remain silent to the end, Fang Feijin suddenly let out a long sigh

Fang Feijin clasped his hands together to apologize, yet there was clearly no sincerity on his face, and he was obviously distracted. Suddenly, his phone rang again, and Fang Feijin's spirit was jolted; he quickly pulled out his phone from the coat he had just taken off: "Hello—"

Fang Feijin need not bear this burden for her, as he had no such responsibility; on the river, Bai... Oh, Gu Fenghan can achieve his desires and obtain Fangyuan Tiandi; the price Gu's company offered Fangyuan, she estimated slightly, whether it be resignation or layoffs, the amount her colleagues could receive is not insignificant, and she... can also take this opportunity to go out and relax.

The car had entered Xinhu Garden, and Ling Qianfan shivered like this, almost pressing the accelerator instead of the brake at the moment he should have slowed down. He secretly cursed Fang Fei under his breath and couldn't help but roll his eyes at him: "You might as well go back and say such cheesy words to your Miss Su. With not a pound of flesh on you, you really are quite stubborn..."

What is the truth, and what is a lie

Let everything come to an end here

I still remember the scene in Philadelphia when I rescued Meng Han from the street. Some neighborhoods in Philadelphia have poor security. One day, after getting off the subway, I found a Chinese girl being robbed by a group of addicts. Her often mocked overly kind-heartedness by Jiang Shangbai flared up, and after I took out money for her, I learned that the school she had applied to had fallen through, and she could not afford her rent, leading her to end up on the streets. In a foreign land, patriotic feelings can easily swell, so I took her back to the small apartment rented by Jiang Shangbai and let her share a room with me. After I took out money for her, I learned that the school she had applied to had fallen through, and she could not afford her rent, leading her to end up on the streets. In a foreign land, patriotic feelings can easily swell, so I took her back to the small apartment rented by Jiang Shangbai and let her share a room with me

Should I just watch Jiang Shangbai become my boss... Although... Su Wan looked at the ceiling with a bitter smile, although... there probably won't be a possibility of working together, as for Meng Han...

In the year 2001, she and he nestled together in the corner of the last row of an unknown small cinema in Philadelphia, watching the film "In the Mood for Love," which had just swept numerous awards. Time flowed slowly as Tony Leung's character, Chow Mo-wan, buried the secret belonging to him and Su Li-zhen from 1962 beneath the ancient tree of Angkor Wat in 1966.

Hearing Fang Feijin's pointed sarcasm, Ling Qianfan gave a slight smile and said, three parts dismissive and seven parts jokingly: "All flower boys were once pure-hearted young men! I don't understand? What is there for me not to understand!"

The song playing on the laptop just transitioned to Nat King Cole's "Quizas" from In the Mood for Love, with its ambiguous melody intertwined with the unique charm of the jazz king's voice, Quizas, Quizas, Quizas

There is no trace of him; sometimes she even wonders if all of this is just a dream of hers. He has disappeared without a trace, having no friends or family; from beginning to end, he was merely a lonely person. They had been together for many years; she knew he could play the piano, knew he was an exceptional player of American billiards, knew he liked to eat honeyed lotus root drenched in osmanthus syrup, knew he did not like to talk... knew he liked to glance at her with a hint of mischief in his eyes, knew he was actually very intelligent but did not like to apply himself to his studies, knew... They had been together for many years; she knew he could play the piano, knew he was an exceptional player of American billiards, knew he liked to eat honeyed lotus root drenched in osmanthus syrup, knew he did not like to talk... knew he liked to glance at her with a hint of mischief in his eyes, knew he was actually very intelligent but did not like to apply himself to his studies, knew...

In the dream that turns a thousand times, another kind of defeat strikes the heart, if I can find him... what then?

The images of those two individuals in her mind continuously overlapped, intertwined, intertwined, and overlapped again, as if mocking her, mocking her for being the "outsider". Perhaps Meng Han had long known his identity, but she was the only one who did not know!

She instantly broke free from her earlier sadness, glaring at him fiercely and asking, "Do you also have secrets that you are hiding from me?"

Su Wan, somewhat gloating—"Fang Fei couldn't help but feel a bit irritated, thinking of the old man at home, his heart feeling a chill. Although he guessed that Su Wan might have something else to discuss with him, he didn't know how to pursue the matter further at that moment. On the other side, Ling Qianfan was looking at him with a teasing expression, thinking that since tomorrow is Monday anyway, it would be better to talk about it then, so he hastily ended the call.

Perhaps this is another kind of happy ending for everyone

After several years of not playing, Fang Feijin was thoroughly defeated by Ling Qianfan, leaving him in a state of utter disarray. In just two hours, Ling Qianfan lost interest and said, "Feijin, what is going on with you? I feel embarrassed to tell others that you and I were on the same school team before"

You may not believe it when I say, she ... ...

What followed was an endless argument; to be precise, it seemed more like a monologue on her part, as he was utterly disdainful of engaging in a dispute with her. It was as if she were the only one entangled in this matter from beginning to end. In truth, all she wanted was a single word from him; as long as he was willing to say something, she would believe whatever he said

Such imaginings are always superficial, for she does not dare to continue. If she were to go on, how would she explain... ? ... how would she explain the fact that he has not contacted her again? If she were to continue, how would she explain that just a few days after her departure, his phone number was disconnected and no longer in use? If she were to continue, how would she explain that when she went back to find him, he had completely vanished? When she returned to Philadelphia, the apartment he had rented was already leased to someone else. When she went to the business school to check the name Francis Jiang, the result was astonishingly that there was no such person... ? If she were to continue, how would she explain that when she went back to find him, he had completely vanished? When she returned to Philadelphia, the apartment he had rented was already leased to someone else. When she went to the business school to check the name Francis Jiang, the result was astonishingly that there was no such person...

Fang Feijin retorted with considerable indignation: "A person like you, who has seen countless people, will never understand this feeling!"

Looking back now, could it be that they knew each other before

He revealed a slight smile, deliberately keeping the suspense: "I will tell you when we arrive at Angkor Wat"

He slammed the door, leaving her alone on the sofa, crying so hard that she could hardly catch her breath. Gone was the tenderness of the past that used to kiss away her tears, leaving only a cold expanse of moonlight.

Good intentions do not always yield good returns. She had once stumbled but remained unperturbed; however, the subsequent developments gradually went awry.

Do you also have secrets to bury in the tree hole

There is an important presentation for a course that she worked on day and night for several days before returning to the place she rented by the river. However, she unexpectedly encountered Meng Han, who was taking a bedsheet to wash. Upon seeing her, Meng Han's eyes flickered...

Facing the cold moonlight spread across the ground, she smiled until tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Five years of self-deception, five years of living like an ostrich, should it all come to an end now

Gu Fenghan and Meng Han will appear together in Wucheng, enough to shatter her last remaining delusion of self-deception

"Playing tennis? I bought a pair of Wilson's 'Excalibur' last month. Should I give them a try?"

Now that I think about it, it really resembles a melodramatic TVB series, where a friend falls in love with her own boyfriend. This seems to be a classic love triangle scenario. While watching the drama, she could still mumble and mock the script and plot, but only when it happens to her does she realize how awkward the situation truly is

The phone was tossed aside, the room was unlit, and Su Wan lay with her eyes open, yet it felt as if she were dreaming

On the other end of the phone, Su Wan lay dejectedly on the bed, while next door, Bei Fei was joyfully playing the newly purchased single-player RPG game. The melodious tune came through the door, making her voice sound even more powerless and hollow: "Fei Jin, I have something to tell you."

She hesitated and nodded slightly, he reached out and slowly embraced her, a flicker seeming to pass through his eyes: "Alright, I will take you to Angkor Wat. However, our secrets should be disclosed to each other, rather than buried in a hollow tree."

He will remember this for the rest of his life. She gazed at him quietly, without a hint of joy or panic: "Do you want the truth or a lie?"

Perhaps

She once woke up from a nightmare, in which she and Jiang Shangbai were still in Mengze Town. They were lying on their respective rooftops on bamboo mats, enjoying the coolness of the summer night, with gentle breezes blowing and the distant croaking of frogs. There was also that slender-eyed youth, pretending to leap over the gap of more than one meter between their houses to jump onto her rooftop. She exclaimed in horror: "Shangbai, don't jump, it's dangerous"

Now that your grandmother is ill, I do not wish to argue with you at this time. Let us discuss this matter again when you have thought it through, when you understand what you are saying and what you are doing. By heaven and earth, since the day I met you, there has never been another woman in my heart. I just do not understand, why is my explanation so important to you

As for what Meng Han and Fang Fei mentioned earlier about being interested in the production team of "A Love to Remember"—Su Wan has not yet deluded herself into thinking that the acquisition cannot proceed without her; the world would continue to turn just the same without anyone.

Upon waking from such a dream, she incessantly questioned herself whether that boy who had stealthily climbed to her rooftop on a summer night, suddenly startling her as she lay in a half-awake state, was truly real... or was he merely another figment of her imagination?

The scars etched in stone, under the relentless ebb and flow of the tides, are striking and deepen with the passage of time

Su Wan couldn't help but let out a snort. Fang Feijin's efforts to avoid making things difficult for her only made her feel more embarrassed, and the resignation letter she had just prepared was swallowed back down. After a long silence, Fang Feijin called out a few times before she finally reacted, deciding it would be better to discuss this matter face-to-face with him tomorrow, on Monday: "It's nothing, I was just about to ask if you were beaten up by your father and whether you need me to bring you some black jade ointment tomorrow to help with the treatment..."

She paused for a moment, completely unaware of her own low and hoarse voice: "I don't know how to start a conversation with you," she suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, "I find myself in a situation where I have so many lice that they no longer itch and so much debt that I no longer worry."