Translated by Eve

Edited by Kara

“Wait, that's strange. Very few people know that Yu Yan and I have dated. Where did you hear about this from?”

Song Xuanhe gave him a perfunctory answer. “I could tell that you two must have had something going on from your expression just now. Besides, everyone knows that you've been on and off with your first love. How could I not put things together?”

“Is that so….?” Zhou Nan picked up some food with his chopsticks. He ate a few bites and then suddenly turned to look at Song Xuanhe. “Do you think he'll get back together with me if I ask him?”

“Yes.”

Song Xuanhe had answered very decisively. Zhou Nan had nearly believed him. However, this thought had only lasted a second before the light in his eyes slowly dimmed. “You don't even know him. How would you know whether or not he'd agree?”

“Mn.” Song Xuanhe declined to comment and continued to eat calmly.

“You know, ever since you and Xiao Yuanmu broke up, you've become more and more like him.” Zhou Nan stared at Song Xuanhe's tranquil profile. “You're becoming more and more expressionless, saying less, and….”

“And what?”

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Zhou Nan shook his head and said, “I also think that—”

“Xuanhe.” Xiao Shenglin, who had just come back from answering a call, interrupted Zhou Nan. “Feng Tong's going to come over in a bit. He said that he has something to talk to you about. Do you want to see him?”

Song Xuanhe pondered over it and then nodded. “I'll go get him in a bit.”

Zhou Nan dropped the topic after having been interrupted by Xiao Shenglin. After lunch, Song Xuanhe received Feng Tong's call and went to wait for him in the tea room.

Two knocks sounded against the door. Song Xuanhe told the person on the other side to come in. Feng Tong was then brought in by a waiter.

Feng Tong took off his coat and smiled. “This mountain's not bad. I almost couldn't stop myself from doing a round of skiing while coming here.”

Song Xuanhe handed him a cup of brewed tea and grinned back. “You can try it out after we're done with tea unless you have any other plans this afternoon.”

“Does convincing you to work with me count?”

“Then, I guess you should just go ski.” Song Xuanhe smiled. His smile then dropped, a serious expression replacing it. “I'm really sorry, but I don't have any intention of joining any studio at present. Aside from the fact that I'm still with the Song Group, there are also a few other reasons why. I hope you can understand.”

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Feng Tong laughed. He didn't reply to his words. Instead, he said, “Do you remember Jiang Deyi, who came to my birthday get-together last time?”

Song Xuanhe raised a brow, indicating for Feng Tong to continue.

“When he had heard that I was going to open up a studio, he sent me an email. Attached was a recommendation letter from his teacher. He wants to become one of the creators for my studio.” Feng Tong could see that Song Xuanhe didn't look angry or seemed to care. He continued, “I don't resonate with his designs very much, so I had refused.”

“However, I later received an email from his teacher. His teacher stressed Jiang Deyi's current value. He outlined his worth, aside from his latent designing potential, and asked me to compromise….”

“Although I'm not someone who likes to compromise, I'm still quite a cautious person. Therefore, I had looked him up and unexpectedly made a discovery.” Feng Tong's gaze became meaningful. “His oil painting was recently bought at an auction for two hundred thousand American dollars. For a new painter, who doesn't even specialize in oil painting but rather design, this buying price is something to think about. But, what I was more interested in was the person who had bought his painting.”

Song Xuanhe frowned imperceptibly, faced with Feng Tong's hinting expression.

To tell the truth, he had no interest in who had bought the painting. Furthermore, he preferred when people got straight to the point most of the time, especially when it came to his friends. Feng Tong's attempt at keeping things suspenseful hadn't roused his interest at all. In contrast, it had even made him lose his patience a bit.

Feng Tong noticed Song Xuanhe's expression. He then directly said, “The person who had bought Jiang Deyi's oil painting was the president of an American company that has recently sprung up. He's Chinese—last name Xiao, first name Yuanmu.”

Song Xuanhe's pupils trembled slightly, but there was no change in his expression. He said in an indifferent tone, “And?”

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“And, I heard that President Xiao had gifted the painting to the chairman of a company that he had acquired lately. He had said to that chairman, 'Since you don't understand how to appreciate the finer things or how to run a company, then I'll acquire this company you can't run. In return, I'll give you a painting that you're sure to enjoy. Everything shall be in its proper place.'”

Feng Tong raised a brow. “His last sentence was probably the greatest insult that could possibly be made about Jiang Deyi's art.”

Song Xuanhe pressed the slightly raised corner of his lips back down and asked in a casual tone, “What does that have to do with me?”

“Because Mr. Jiang Deyi is now pestering RE's President Xiao, he's h.e.l.l-bent on making him acknowledge his art's worth. Therefore, RE has ended up offending the person behind him, Hayden Schroder, the Schroder Family's successor. What's more important, however, is that my studio is currently looking for an appropriate partner. Unless I can find a reasonable excuse to refuse Jiang Deyi, I'll be forced to accept him.”

“I think that you can help me resolve this crisis by joining me as my business partner.”

Song Xuanhe looked up, surprised. “Business partner?”

Feng Tong raised a brow. “Didn't I already tell you? I want to start up a joint studio. I want to see if two different styles will end up developing separately or if they will be able to go hand-in-hand. As a young man, who's not even in his thirty, even if this flops, I believe that I can take it. Mr. Song, are you willing to open up new horizons with me?”

Song Xuanhe's lips pursed slightly. He took a sip of his hot tea. The fragrance of tea filled his mouth as he savoured the sweet aftertaste. He then said, “Give me two days to think it over.”

“Of course.” Feng Tong finished his own cup of tea and teased him. “I have to say, your technique in brewing tea is really mediocre.”

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Song Xuanhe smiled knowingly as he stood up. “I hope that your skill in skiing isn't like my tebrewing skills.”

Two days later.

Song Xuanhe and Feng Tong met up again and signed a detailed studio cooperation contract.

Feng Tong reached a hand out. “To our happy cooperation.”

Song Xuanhe smiled and grabbed his hand. “Likewise.”

Feng Tong had already made comprehensive preparations for the studio. After they had signed the contract, he brought Song Xuanhe over to the studio for a tour. He also introduced him to a few other designers. One of them was someone Song Xuanhe had met at Feng Tong's birthday.

“We meet again, Mr. Song. From now on, we'll be working together.”

After having exchanged pleasantries, they all went to a restaurant Feng Tong had reserved for a chance to familiarize themselves with each other before the studio's formal opening.

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Everyone present was a designer, so the topics of their conversation were naturally related to design. However, as they had been chatting, the conversation somehow led to the topic of Jiang Deyi's oil painting that had been sold at a high price. They had also talked about how, before he could even be pleased with himself for a few days, he had been publicly insulted.

Some people found it interesting, treating it as a joke and enjoying it as gossip. But, there were also people who thought that the person who had bought the painting had taken things too far. “That RE president is too arrogant. Although Jiang Deyi wasn't an oil painting major, and that painting isn't worth such a high price, an artist only holds an exhibition or puts their art up for auction to show off their work. If he hadn't liked it, he didn't have to buy it. There was no reason to buy it and then say such things. He was just humiliating him.”

“I disagree,” Someone refuted, “Jiang Deyi obviously overestimates his worth and is trying to prohibit someone else's freedom of speech. Besides, it isn't like RE's president had broadcasted this around the world or said it on some television program. He had said this in private. It's not like there's anything wrong with him purchasing it and then gifting it away. One person gets the money, and the other gets the goods. Since RE's president is the painting's official owner now, it's up to him to decide how he wants to evaluate it or what he says when he gives it away. How can this be considered humiliating him?”

“But, his words were spread around. Everyone knows about it now. Jiang Deyi's drawing is a joke in those circles now. He's also being excluded from the design world. Don't you think RE's president, who was the one to cause this to happen, should take responsibility for this?”

“Why should he take responsibility?” The designer, who had disagreed earlier, looked confused. “What, is it his fault that someone else had spread this around? Is he not even allowed to say his own opinion?”

When the other designer couldn't talk back, he pursed his lips and turned to Feng Tong. He asked, “Feng

ge

, what do you think?”

Feng Tong paused while picking up food with his chopsticks. He pa.s.sed the question onto Song Xuanhe. “I'm eating. What do you think, Xuanhe?”

That designer then looked towards Song Xuanhe. Song Xuanhe faked a smile at Feng Tong and said, “I don't have any opinion about this. What someone else says or does is their own business. I can't say anything without knowing the details of what had happened.”

When he had said this, the two designers, who had been arguing, belatedly realized that it wasn't appropriate to debate this topic here. Thus, they dropped the topic. After they all had a gla.s.s of wine, they changed the subject.

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A woman in the corner, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly raised her head. “Do you guys know Xiao Baicong of the Xiao Family?”

When they had heard this name, many people turned to look at her.

“What about him?”

There were also people who were confused. One person asked, “I've never heard of him. Who's that?”

“The Xiao Family, one of the major eight financial groups!” Another person turned to face the person who had asked the question and explained, “It's rumoured that Xiao Baicong is the only successor of the Xiao Family. However, the Xiao Family has always kept a very tight lid on any information regarding the next generation. What information is available is also very fuzzy. Therefore, we don't really know what's true or not. Nevertheless, Xiao Baicong is definitely a member of the Xiao Family. He is one of the few members of the Xiao Family's main branch who have been exposed publicly.”

“Eight major financial groups?” The person who had asked the question exclaimed in wonder. He then asked, “I have heard about the eight major financial groups while studying in S Country. Some people have said that one of them resides in S Country, but I've never looked into it. Kaitlyn, didn't you go to the same school as me? Why do you know so much?”

The girl who had brought this topic up was the one named Kaitlyn. “I went to the same university as you but went to the same high school as Xiao Baicong. Back then, he was only fourteen but was already in his last year of high school. He had skipped four grades. That's why he was extremely famous amongst us. Some Caucasians would bully people of colour at the school, but despite the fact that Xiao Baicong had been the youngest of us, no one had ever dared to bully him. Therefore, we were always interested in rumours about him.”

“I just heard from one of my high school cla.s.smates that today is Xiao Baicong's coming-of-age ceremony. My cla.s.smate sent a picture to me. I could only gasp in amazement. Take a look.”

Kaitlyn's phone was pa.s.sed around the table. One after another came gasps of surprise. When the phone reached Song Xuanhe's hands, he paused. His gaze fell onto the picture.

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The first was of a tall, ancient-styled castle. Kaitlyn saying she could only gasp in amazement was very appropriate. This was because the castle was indeed difficult-to-describe. If you had to try, you could only say that it didn't seem real or that it didn't look like a structure of this era.

People who could get this far in design pretty much always came from fairly well-off families. There were even some second- or third-generations here. There were even people of notable lineages.

However, this kind of solemn, dignified structure was rarely seen even for them.

There was no lack of castles in the modern era. Regardless of whether they were open for tours, because of the proliferation of the internet, even if it was forbidden to take pictures inside, you'd still be able to see their exteriors if you looked them up. But in Song Xuanhe's memories, not even the public royal castle or manors felt as historical as this castle did. They didn't have as intense of a dignified and elegant air either.

He didn't know why, but he suddenly recalled Xiao Ranyun's repulsion for the Xiao Family's main residence and how she had described it as “stifling.” Then, he recalled how Xiao Yuanmu would spend the next ten or twenty years…or maybe even forty, fifty, or sixty years in this castle. His heart involuntarily started to feel heavy.

It was painful like he felt distressed on Xiao Yuanmu's behalf. Sadness overflowed out of Song Xuanhe's heart.

He subconsciously swiped at the screen. He quickly glanced over the next few pictures before pa.s.sing the phone over to the next person.

After everyone had looked at the photos, the person who had asked about Xiao Baicong in the beginning pensively said, “This castle looks really old. It's probably at least several hundreds of years old. But for some reason, I feel like the mountain behind it looks a bit familiar.”

Someone laughed upon hearing this. “You can differentiate between mountains?”

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“I honestly feel like it looks familiar. It's not exactly the mountain itself that feels familiar but the surrounding vegetation. You should know, my father researches plants. Therefore, I'm pretty sensitive when it comes to them. One time, when I was skiing with my friends, we had gotten lost. We had wandered around for half a day, and I think we had ended up there. I had examined the vegetation out of habit and also because I had thought it'd help us find out a way back. That's why I feel like these plants seem familiar. Although two mountains might look the same, it's impossible for the surrounding plants to be the same….”

“Alright, alright. I don't think it's weird for two mountains to have the same kind of vegetation. I think that as long as the terrain and climate's close enough, similar plants will grow.”

“No, I'm sure. I'm really familiar with that mountain. Especially those electrical lines in the middle of the mountain's forest. Back then, I had wondered what they were for. Originally, I had thought that I had stumbled onto a military base or some secret laboratory. But looking at it now, it might have been the Xiao Family….”

“Stop!” Someone held up their hand in a “stop” gesture and interrupted him. “Where did you see it then?”

“S Country,” He said, “I had gone skiing with my friends when I had been in my second year of university.”

“As everyone knows, the Xiao Family's main residence is in America.” The person who had made the gesture refuted. “Although this has never been confirmed, it's likely right. Therefore, your guess is probably wrong.”

The person who had made the claim hesitated and then looked at the others. When they saw the other people nod in agreement, he hung his head, disappointed. “And, here I thought that I had inadvertently stumbled onto some big secret.”

“You're more likely to have won the lottery.”

After teasing each other, the topic pa.s.sed just like that.

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Song Xuanhe quietly ate his food. He didn't take the conversation just now seriously. Although other people wouldn't be able to know this, he had been a reader of the original novel. He knew that the Xiao Family's main residence was situated in America. Furthermore, Xiao Yuanmu had never gone to S Country in the book. So, this person's guess was just a guess.

Their meal ended as they chatted. Few people had actually eaten a lot during this feast. Only Song Xuanhe had earnestly tasted every dish from start to finish.

As they left, someone teasingly said, “I was so busy chatting just now, I didn't get to eat much. But, I can tell that the food here is good based on how Mr. Song's chopsticks had been constantly on the move. if I had known, I would have taken a few more bites.”

Feng Tong laughed. “If you want, I can ask them to make a few things for you to take home.”

“No need. I'll try it next time.”

Song Xuanhe smiled but remained silent.

Everyone went their separate ways after the meal had finished. Feng Tong and Song Xuanhe had come together, and their cars were parked nearby each other as well. As they made their way over, Feng Tong said, “Sorry. Ke Zhu's words just now were rather thoughtless.”

Song Xuanhe twirled the keys in his hand. His car beeped as the doors unlocked. He said, “It's fine. It's to be expected. When my work comes out, he won't be able to talk anymore.”

When he had heard this, Feng Tong smiled. “I didn't expect you to be so confident. I had thought that I'd have to comfort you a bit.”

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Song Xuanhe opened his car door and sat inside. “Nonetheless, thanks for your comfort.”

Feng Tong waved at him and opened the door to his own car. Song Xuanhe shut his door, and the world went quiet again.

He had already expected for this to happen when he had decided to cooperate with Feng Tong. Therefore, he wasn't angry at people discreetly excluding him and provoking him. Moreover, it wasn't like that person had really been provoking him. At most, it could be considered a future collaborator sounding him out a bit. He had already made preparations for this. Naturally, he was able to face this calmly.

It was just that, for some reason, he felt tired. He just wanted to go somewhere quiet, where he could be alone as quickly as possible.

Song Xuanhe reversed his car out of the garage. His gaze swept over the streets that were bustling like it was still the middle of the day. His gaze didn't stop anywhere, and he eventually refocused on the road in front of him, concentrating on driving.

He didn't play any music either. There was only silence. However, Song Xuanhe felt himself gradually relax. His slightly pursed lips hooked up slightly.

But when he heard his ringtone go off, the slightly raised lips pulled flat once again. Song Xuanhe couldn't be bothered to put on his bluetooth earpiece. Moreover, he didn't want to answer an unknown number. Therefore, he didn't pick up.

But, the person on the other end didn't give up. His phone hadn't even been quiet for a second when it started up again. The noise just kept going on and on. Song Xuanhe had even hung up a few times before he started to get annoyed. He finally had no choice but to put on his earpiece and pick up.

Displeased, his voice came out cold. “Who is it?”

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“Are you in a bad mood?” The voice from the other end was cool but sounded deep and magnetic through the receiver.

Song Xuanhe paused for a moment while turning the steering wheel. He frowned at the car that grazed his own. He then refocused himself on turning onto the main road. He had yet to respond when he heard the other side say, “I'm also not in a good mood.”

“Why?”

Without thinking, he blurted this word out. Song Xuanhe himself was stunned at this.

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However, after he had come back to himself, he concentrated on Xiao Yuanmu's voice. He really did want to know why Xiao Yuanmu was unhappy.

When Xiao Yuanmu had been with him, it had been rare for his emotions to fluctuate dramatically. The most intense his emotions had ever gotten had been when the other had suffered from stomach cramps. He had heard that Xiao Yuanmu's cramps had been triggered by his emotions. But even then, Xiao Yuanmu had never mentioned whether he had been in a good mood or not. Hearing Xiao Yuanmu talk about his feelings now, Song Xuanhe really did feel curious.

“There are many reasons.”

Separated by the receiver—separated by the Pacific Ocean—Xiao Yuanmu's expression relaxed. His cool voice was low. Through the phone, Song Xuanhe could almost feel his gloomy mood.

Xiao Yuanmu didn't say anything after that. His light breath transmitted through the call. Song Xuanhe continued to drive, and his original agitation over his phone's ringtone settled down.

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Some time pa.s.sed, and Xiao Yuanmu finally spoke up again. “Why haven't you called me even once?”

Song Xuanhe's lips rose slightly. As his eyes curved into a smile, his lower eyelids plumped up slightly. “Are you unhappy because I didn't contact you?”

“It's fifty-percent the reason why.” Xiao Yuanmu seemed to be thinking about something. A second later, he said in a flat voice, “I also bought a painting a few days ago but gave it away 'cause it was so ugly.”

Song Xuanhe's smile deepened. He made a soft sound of acknowledgement but didn't reply. His silence encouraged Xiao Yuanmu to continue.

“Do you miss me?”

Song Xuanhe nearly slammed onto the brakes. After much difficulty, he steadied himself. In an unpleasant tone, he said, “No.”

Xiao Yuanmu's voice grew heavy. He reminded the other, “We haven't broken up.”

“We'll each stick with our own versions.” Song Xuanhe grinned. “Since we can't see each other anyway, let's each just act in accordance to what we think our current relations.h.i.+p status is.”

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“Would you ever date anyone but me?”

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“Who knows?”

Xiao Yuanmu chuckled quietly. His voice was low but certain. “You wouldn't.”

Song Xuanhe raised a brow but didn't deny it.

When he didn't hear Song Xuanhe refute his claim, Xiao Yuanmu's mood improved a lot. “I have a meeting at seven today. We're going to be talking about a new energy supply. Among the companies, there are three that are secretly applying pressure, wanting to monopolize it….”

It was probably because Xiao Yuanmu didn't know what to talk about, but he just calmly talked about what he had been doing lately. It was the most he had ever said in all the time Song Xuanhe had known him.

It was rare for Song Xuanhe to not feel even a hint of impatience. He quietly listened to the other. Although he had already reached his apartment's parking lot, he didn't exit his car. He simply sat there until the other had finished speaking.

Xiao Yuanmu didn't have much to say. There was only so much related to work to talk about. Even if this was the longest he had ever spoken, it had only lasted less than five minutes.

In the end, Xiao Yuanmu asked Song Xuanhe, “Are you feeling better now?”

Song Xuanhe asked, “What about you?”

All that Song Xuanhe got back in return was the sound of gentle breathing. Song Xuanhe leaned back against his chair, a hand resting on his forehead. He smiled. “Me too.”

Eve: Soft casual fluff. Honestly, their phone calls are some of my favourite parts of their relations.h.i.+p. LOL

Kara: Aww, Mumu being a pouty baby about Xuanhe not calling is cute! Hehehe, their phone call was so nice. I love that tacit understanding they have where they don't even need to verbalize everything.（*'∀'人）♥

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