Chapter 67

Chapter 67 - 67 066 Xie Shang Folding Peach Blossoms (First Update)

Chapter 67: 066: Xie Shang Folding Peach Blossoms (First Update) Chapter 67: 066: Xie Shang Folding Peach Blossoms (First Update) Chu Guanlin had just left when He Dongzhou’s call came in.

“Why weren’t you answering your phone?”

“I lost my phone, just found it.”

“Director Zou called me this afternoon, beating around the bush, asking why you left as soon as he arrived at today’s lunch meeting?”

“He was late.”

He Dongzhou asked, “By how long?”

“Six minutes.”

He Dongzhou didn’t say anything, this had always been Xie Shang’s habit. He had a strong concept of time, always arriving early for his appointments, but he didn’t wait for anyone.

Xie Shang didn’t like waiting for people.

That evening, a sudden gale brought down an old telegraph pole on Lotus Pond Street, causing a power outage for miles around. The lights were connected to that very pole.

As dusk gradually fell, Xie Shang took an umbrella and went out.

Dessert Shop’s Boss Wang saw him standing under the eaves with an umbrella and invited him inside.

“Boss Xie, waiting for someone?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s raining. Why don’t you come in and wait?”

Xie Shang thanked him and walked into the shop, choosing a spot with a good view to sit down. Boss Wang brought over a bowl of sweet soup, which Xie Shang tasted and found it too sweet.

He occasionally glanced towards the intersection.

He sat in the shop for about forty minutes, leaving his mobile phone behind when he left.

*****

As Xie Shang had said, the next day the neighborhood was buzzing with the news about Wen Changling’s relationship with Xie Shang. Their interest shifted quickly, no longer discussing Ah Na’s matter, and they started making various assumptions about the hardships Wen Changling would face after marrying into a wealthy family.

It certainly wouldn’t be smooth sailing, there would certainly be class prejudice, they would certainly use money to force a breakup—this was how it always played out on TV dramas.

“One million, perhaps.”

Auntie Li at the mahjong table thought one million was a sky-high breakup fee already.

Auntie Li’s next player was the owner of the grocery store, Sister Seo.

“Probably more.” Sister Seo played a thirty-thousand tile. “I heard from my daughter that Boss Xie’s maternal grandmother’s family owns a bank. For such a family, even casual breakup compensation would be enough for us ordinary folks to live on for a lifetime.”

Across from Sister Seo, Boss Song, who sold fertilizer, won with the thirty-thousand tile: “That’s what you don’t know, the wealthier the person, the stingier they are. How else do they accumulate so much wealth?”

Makes sense.

Auntie Li was conservative, settling for whatever she could win rather than banking on self-drawn wins: “If it were me, I’d take the money and break up, better than ending up with nothing at all.”

Sister Seo was ambitious, not settling for a win without a big hand: “Break up what? I’d find a way to get married into that family, play my cards right and I could walk away with half the money.”

Sister Seo’s next player couldn’t believe it: “You can get that much?”

“That would depend on Xiao Wen’s skills.” Sister Seo picked up a new tile and didn’t even need to look at it to know what it was —a quick rub with her thumb was enough. A corner of her mouth curled up as she slammed down her hand, “Bam, self-drawn pair of twos, pure suit!”

Xiao Wen was very satisfied, not caring about splitting money, it was enough that people stopped talking about her brother.

On the first weekend of June, Guan Qingyu returned to the country. Guan Qingyu was the daughter of Elder Mr. Guan’s elder brother, and as usual, Gu Yihuan organized a welcome party, held at a farmhouse near Yang Lake with a party atmosphere.

She was heading out the door just as someone was coming in.

It was an old acquaintance, Xie Shang.

Guan Qingyu greeted him proactively, “Long time no see.”

Xie Shang replied, “Long time no see.”

“I’m going out to meet a friend.”

Guan Qingyu left first.

She was born in a year of drought in the south, so Elder Mr. Guan named his eldest granddaughter Qingyu to celebrate the rain.

Today was a casual gathering of acquaintances; Xie Shang found a spot to sit down at ease.

Gu Yihuan was the most boisterous among them.

“Wang Shanxi.” He had a cast on his foot and acted like an emperor, taking up two seats and bossily instructing Wang Shanxi, whom he should be calling ‘brother’ according to the family tree, “Turn the air conditioning down a bit.”

Wang Shanxi put down the documents he was reading and went to adjust the air conditioning.

Xie Shang’s phone vibrated, and he unlocked it.

Wen Changling: “The first post in Sister Tao’s Moments, give it a like for her.”

Xie Shang: “Haven’t added her as a friend.”

Wen Changling: “I’ll send you an invite.”

One minute later.

Wen Changling: “Did you add her? Did you like the post?”

Xie Shang: “Liked.”

Then, an expression for ‘goodbye’ was sent over.

Miss Wen is really something...

Guan Qingyu brought a friend back, a girl named Mingming. She introduced Mingming to her friends.

Xie Shang was the last one.

“Let’s meet my elementary school classmate, Xie Shang,” Guan Qingyu pulled Mingming to her side, “and my best friend, Mingming.”

Mingming smiled generously, “Mr. Xie Shang, I’ve long heard of your great reputation.”

Xie Shang stood up and nodded in greeting, “Hello.”

The epitome of perfection.

This was Mingming’s first impression of Xie Shang.

After the simple introductions, the two ladies headed to the bar area. It was quiet there, allowing the ladies to chat freely.

Mingming, a top architecture student, had seen her fair share of young talent, but Xie Shang still scored exceptionally high in her books. It wasn’t just because of his looks; there was a demeanor about Xie Shang that couldn’t be fostered by an ordinary family.

She joked with her friend, “Now I understand why you never had a boyfriend.”

Guan Qingyu laughed, “For the sake of studying, I love to study.”

“Yeah right,” Mingming saw through Guan Qingyu’s nonchalant mention of Xie Shang from the beginning, “If you like him, why don’t you go for it?”

Guan Qingyu gave a wry smile.

She had tried.

After graduating from high school, both Xie Shang and she chose to study abroad, him to Pulanliya and her to another school.

She didn’t plan on changing her choice of university, as she had her own dreams to chase. On the night before leaving the country, she asked Xie Shang out.

Xie Shang arrived for the meeting. Before she could speak, he politely asked about her flight, “What time is your flight tomorrow?”

“Four o’clock.”

“A going-away present.” The gift was a book, simply packaged in a paper bag without any extra decoration. Xie Shang said, “I wish you a future as bright as the prospects.”

The book was titled “Mor’s Winter” and recounted the story of a study-abroad student named Mor who fell in love with her school’s drawing teacher, Yilian.

Throughout the four years, Mor never revealed her feelings.

As graduation approached, she used her career plans as a pretext to test Yilian, “Should I go back home, or should I stay?”

Secretly, she hoped Yilian would ask her to stay.

In the story’s ending, Yilian sent Mor a recommendation letter and a handwritten note, which held only one line: I wish you a future as bright as the prospects.

The wax seal on the envelope had a bunch of dried Jinglan flowers stuck to it; the flower language for Jinglan is ‘the wrong person.’

It seemed Yilian had always known.

Some things left unsaid are a form of dignity.

“That’s not like you, Guan Qingyu,” Mingming thought she lacked determination.

Guan Qingyu glanced over at Xie Shang, having let go, “I also like the stars in the sky, can I pluck them down?”

There was a kitchen on the premises, and lunch was made by the group themselves, though mostly by Mingming, who was an excellent cook.

Over the meal, friends started to joke around.

“Qingyu, all those years abroad and you haven’t brought back a blond, blue-eyed boyfriend?”

Guan Qingyu didn’t mind her friends teasing her and redirected the joke skillfully, “No one can beat your popularity. Why don’t you teach me how to snag one?”

Back in their student days, Guan Qingyu was the platonic ideal for many—a brilliant student, beautiful, kind, with good family upbringing, seemingly without flaws. This friend had once pursued Guan Qingyu.

The reason he was rejected was somewhat amusing; Guan Qingyu had told him she preferred someone who excelled academically. Now that he was married, he was willing to help an old classmate out.

“Still single?” He jerked his chin up, pointing towards Xie Shang, “Xie Shang is also single, why don’t the two of you give it a try?”

Xie Shang, who had been silent, responded to the joke: “I’m not single.”