Chapter 9

In the center of the stadium, with each powerful strike, the ancient Chinese percussion instrument, the guan, produced a captivating sound. On the big screen, waves of light representing time pushed through layers of ripples. Fireworks soared into the sky, bursting in a spectrum of colors along the north-south central axis of Beijing, presenting 29 giant footprints symbolizing the 29th Olympic Games.

In an instant, the reasons compiled by Song Shijia ceased to exist. She abruptly hung up the phone, removed the battery, and then wept uncontrollably on the deserted overpass.

He should still be at the venue, the melody drifts from afar, yet it cannot mask the coldness in his tone

The shark is the form that Gu Yuan wishes him to embody

Gu Changfeng really did not pursue her; he has always had his pride and keeps his word.

I will meet you at the entrance, there is only one opportunity, come back

Two individuals arrived at a Hunan restaurant. Song Shijia, who has a penchant for spicy food, could not stop exclaiming due to the heat midway through the meal and ordered a large cup of ice water to continue. In contrast, Fang Yu appeared to be worried.

Song Shijia, I truly wish you would tell me in person the reason why you were determined to break up six years ago

In the past, this tactic was employed by her to deal with Gu Changfeng. Whenever he got too close to a certain flirtatious girl, she would torment herself mercilessly. While she could not force him to utter an apology, she could certainly make those girls around him completely disappear, akin to a nuclear weapon, possessing a terrifying effectiveness that instilled fear in others

The wife simply stopped in her tracks, glanced at her old partner with a hint of complaint, and said in a trembling voice: "You old man, you have spent your whole life picking on my faults, and you won't let it go even now."

Gu Changfeng stood entirely in the shadows without approaching, his expression changing several times. After a long pause, he said: "I have never been fond of probing into the depths, nor do I wish to acknowledge that you possess the ability to change me, but given the circumstances now—

Forcing herself to regroup, Song Shijia quickly browsed through the materials left by Fang Yu and discovered that this shopping mall called Shengguang was comparable in scale to the first Huayang in Wangcheng

She stretched her muscles and feigned relaxation: "Because your reappearance makes me feel that you are still quite captivating, and there is not entirely no possibility of rekindling our old relationship."

Fortunately, she was extremely busy, and Ruan Xuebi had no opportunity to gossip about anything until the person in charge of Shengguang arrived at the company. It was then that Song Shijia realized that Shengguang was the place they had passed by that day, which had excited her colleagues.

After work, in the parking lot, Fang Yu placed Song Shijia's luggage into the trunk, then opened the passenger door, raising his right hand to shield the girl's head. On the surface, he indeed appeared quite gentlemanly. Song Shijia thought that if she were to marry a man like this in her lifetime and live an ordinary life, it would probably be a happy thing.

Jin Qi's words struck her nerves harshly, causing Song Shijia to feel as if she had been hit on the crown of her head. She abruptly rose from her seat, her eyes wide in shock for a few seconds, and then, amidst the astonished gazes around her, she stumbled and fled towards the exit of the conference hall

Di Ka entered the office and discovered a stack of documents on the desk, carefully held down by a pen holder, along with a note left behind

In that cramped apartment, she wept like rain, but at that time, Gu Changfeng did not understand. It is only now that he realizes

I have already reported to the headquarters, and you are responsible for assisting me with the Shengguang case. This information should all be useful to you. Wishing you success in your endeavors.

After a brief moment, she finally provided an ambiguous response

After the breakup, this habit still could not be changed. Because Song Shijia discovered that when experiencing stomach pain, she could not feel heartache; even if she ended up vomiting uncontrollably, she would still prefer to drink poison to quench her thirst

But Song Shijia understood in her heart that there would be no future for her and Gu Changfeng

Song Shijia wanted to say something evasive, but upon opening her mouth, she found herself on the verge of choking up. She had no choice but to hold the receiver a bit farther away from herself, watching a pair of elderly couples with gray hair slowly approach from under the overpass.

As Song Shijia passed by, her husband was impatiently urging his wife: "Hurry up, or we really won't make it in time"

At the scene of the grand event, Song Shijia was so emotional that her eyes glistened with tears, and the surrounding audience was not much better off, with countless grown men huddled together, crying uncontrollably

Olympic Opening Ceremony

In a hurry to return to the hotel, he expected to witness a scene of indulgence, only to find the hotel eerily quiet. His nerves tightened as he forcefully pushed open the master bedroom door, only to discover Anran lying peacefully under the air conditioning blanket, taking a nap. Finally, he felt a sense of relief.

Gu Changfeng on this side remained in a stalemate with Gu Yuan for a long time before breaking the deadlock. He stood up nonchalantly and said, "Forget it, some things cannot be understood just by saying them."

I am indeed the kind of person who easily gets carried away, Gu Changfeng. Back then, I pursued you relentlessly without considering your feelings, and when I left, I did so without any hesitation. What special reason could there be? If I must find some excuse, would my family's bankruptcy count? Without you, I was isolated and helpless, with only Ji Xiang to rely on. Otherwise, do you think I would have fallen out with Xu Nuan? Later on, it seemed he couldn't help me much either, so I gave up.

Just as she was about to immerse herself in this familiar yet distant warmth, a face filled with menace intruded into her mind

By the way, the owner of Shengguang has already reviewed the quotes and initial design proposals from another company and has scheduled to visit our place next week. Do you have any issues with the timing?

The office is located next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, with a view filled with the rooftops of tall buildings. As dawn breaks, pedestrians can already be seen moving below, accompanied by the sounds of breakfast vendors. She bathes in the morning light, and the weight of the night is suddenly lifted.

Uncertain whether it is due to the crowd in the venue or the intense atmosphere, Song Shijia's cheeks are flushed, and her palms are sweating profusely. The sensation is even more overwhelming than the first time she held hands with Gu Changfeng; that electrifying experience of a mere brush against each other has left her with no one else since.

It is powerful, yet destined to be lonely

This is the person in charge of Shengguang, Ms. Su Jin.

As the brilliant fireworks burst forth with even greater intensity, the exhilarating melody resonated throughout the venue, colorful flags waved, and the cheers rose and fell in an unending chorus. Meanwhile, Song Shijia felt as if hands were holding her, the texture and warmth of the skin were familiar to her.

As she was about to enter, Song Shijia suddenly realized that the ticket stub, which she had carelessly misplaced, was nowhere to be found. It felt as if she had stumbled during a meticulously planned and sorrowful farewell, exposing herself to embarrassment. She was so anxious that she was on the verge of tears, almost rolling on the ground in distress

A husband should never have been contradicted, momentarily taken aback, his eyes glimmering with a fleeting softness.

Understanding Song Shijia's foolishness that day, some inexplicably feel a strong longing to return home

"Come back," he said

At 7:50 in the evening, amidst the cheerful sound of music, a dazzling halo illuminated the ancient sundial

"Changfeng, promise me, never become that kind of person."

Fang Yu certainly knew she was joking, but this was the first time Song Shijia had joked with him. Fang Yu was somewhat flattered and began to stutter, "Did, did you see the things I left for you? If we can secure this case, not only will we not have to worry about next month's rent, but we won't have to worry about rent for the next few years either"

When he is serious, he appears to be nonchalant. However, the nonchalance he displays at this moment is undoubtedly a final ultimatum to himself. Whether there will be any possibility in the future depends solely on whether she looks back.

Song Shijia did not think much about it and nodded slightly, "Sure."

While preparing to simulate the initial plan, Song Shijia felt hungry and was about to go downstairs for breakfast when she ran into Fang Yu at the elevator. Seemingly surprised that she had already returned to the office, Fang Yu's eyes lit up as he squeezed past a few people to exit the elevator, "Aren't you on leave for a week?"

A shark's life cannot cease swimming until death

As he turned to leave, he suddenly remembered that youthful girl who had once pulled him along to watch Korean dramas. When everyone in the show both revered and feared the male lead, saying he was as aggressive as a shark, only Song Shijia, while the male lead gazed at the stars in the deep of night, cried out in a mysterious and soft voice. Before Gu Changfeng could react, she had already turned back, clinging tightly to his neck, her tone a mix of warning and what seemed like a plea.

Amidst the mixed chatter of the crowd, she could not discern who Gu Changfeng was on the phone with. Shortly after, someone brought over two tags from the Olympic family. Holding the tags, Song Shijia found that the tears that had just clung to her eyelashes could not fall down anymore

During that week, Song Shijia experienced chaos and turmoil.

Gu Changfeng's temperament is well understood by Song Shijia

Song Shijia was almost moved by this small warmth, and she sat quietly for a long time, long enough for the light of dawn to gradually become clear

The streets were half empty, and even the taxi drivers had gone to nearby shops to watch live broadcasts. Song Shijia rushed out of the venue, finally daring to take a deep breath. In this unfamiliar city, she had nowhere to go, aimlessly walking on the sparsely populated pedestrian bridge, when she received a call from Gu Changfeng

His performance was too aggressive, and there were already gazes directed towards him from the surroundings. In order to leave the scene quickly, Song Shijia gritted her teeth and answered well.

If I remember correctly, it was a gift bought by Gu Changfeng for his beloved. This beloved, Song Shijia, has also been seen by Ji Xiang; she bumped into the other party at Ji Xiang's wedding

In fact, a design draft does not take much time, but Shengguang's order is something she wants to fully support the design studio in winning. In terms of friendships, she struggles to manage her relationships well. Regarding emotions, the issues remain unresolved, and her own value can only be reflected in her work.

After a long while, the man's lips moved, and when he spoke, there was a hint of gentle concession: "Song Shijia, I am sorry"

A sudden pang in the heart, and the eyes unexpectedly grew warm; the door had closed once more.

It is not good for girls to drink too much cold water

A move of retreating to advance, though it sounds quite unpleasant, is indeed reasonable, leaving Gu Changfeng with no room to interject

The person in front of her was clearly in his early thirties, yet he exuded a sense of simplicity and honesty. Song Shijia suddenly felt herself to be despicable. When she first joined the company, she had subjectively categorized him as a leader attempting to exploit female employees, only to realize that she had underestimated his character.

Following Gu Changfeng, Wei Wei and Nuo Nuo entered the exclusive passage, found their seats as indicated on the ticket, and after Song Shijia settled down, her mood was as tumultuous as the surrounding voices

Gu Changfeng used one hand to shield her from the throngs of tourists and with the other hand made a phone call

"When you needed it the most, it could not serve as a parachute"

Miss Song, I am also considering your well-being. After all, one day, when he realizes that the suffering he has endured is all due to you, the one who will drive you away will certainly not be me

Regardless of the field in which one resides, one should strive to instill fear in others merely by the mention of one's name. However, Song Shijia does not wish for this to be the case for him. This is because there is another striking note in that encyclopedia of the ocean.

But some things can never be returned to how they once were

However, consuming spicy food and drinking cold water is almost an unbreakable bad habit for Song Shijia

Restaurant

Song Shijia was awakened by the noise, half-sitting up and rubbing her eyes, she asked with a hint of annoyance: "What time is it?"

There is a large smiley face at the back, written in Fang Yu's handwriting

As the plane landed in Wangcheng, the tear stains on Song Shijia's face had already dried

Ah?

This year you are eighty-two, I am eighty-five, and this may be the last significant event we witness together in this lifetime

Do you miss me, or are you living a life that has nothing to do with me? It turns out that in the face of the trivialities of life, it is insignificant. No matter how good the past was, it cannot be returned to. The sun will always rise. The barracks are made of iron, but the soldiers are like flowing water. Only by striving for the future can one be truly authentic

Strangely, after leaving the confinement and standing on familiar ground, Song Shijia still felt a sense of uncertainty about where to go. Returning home would disturb Ruan Xuebi, who would undoubtedly chatter excitedly around the topic of Gu Changfeng. Clearly, this was not the right time for such discussions, so she had no choice but to take a taxi to the company to work overtime

At least it is not like being beside that person, amidst the bloody winds and rains.

Song Shijia awkwardly touched her ear and said, "I received a call from the landlord and realized that if I don't work overtime, I will have to sleep on the streets next month, so I had no choice but to rush back without stopping."

He hesitated slightly and asked, "What is the reason for you agreeing to come to Beijing?"

Song Shijia appeared bewildered, her dazed expression evoking sympathy in me, yet Gu Changfeng remained unmoved. Today, he vowed to extract the truth behind it all.

This year she is twenty-six, and Gu Changfeng is twenty-eight; they both still have a long fifty or sixty years ahead of them

Song Shijia, lowering her guard, smiled and said "Thank you," casually uttering a polite remark about inviting him to dinner when she had the time. Unexpectedly, Fang Yu immediately responded, "I have time today!"

Song Shijia stood in place, holding her phone and remaining speechless for a long time, while the person on the other end casually repeated what they had just said.