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Chapter 14: A Wise Person Is Relaxed

The invitation to visit was a form of courtesy. Ji Zhen Tang tried to understand his affection beyond courtesy.

But she couldn’t get an answer, she could only barely deduce that Zhong Yu Bai didn’t have a female companion, so the seat next to him, even if she didn’t sit, was probably empty.

Secondly, she found that no matter what the occasion, he didn’t like to sit in the center to assert his status, such as at Zhong Heng’s birthday party, or his grandmother’s birthday. He actually seemed quite indifferent to worldly affairs, similar to her aunt, with a kind of indifference that hid deep achievements and fame.

It didn’t match the label of “calculating and ruthless” in the rumors.

Unlike Zhong Heng’s birthday, today’s host was someone else.

So Zhong Yu Bai was also a junior here, not his turn to host or speak, so he had some leisure time.

The Zhong family was prosperous, and Ji Zhen Tang looked around cautiously. Her gaze circulated for the third time around when she heard Zhong Yu Bai’s reassuring words, “He’s taken leave from school today, he won’t be attending.”

How did he know she was looking for Zhong Heng? Ji Zhen Tang was suddenly startled and turned to look at him, “Can you read minds?”

Zhong Yu Bai fibbed like a child, his long eyelashes drooping slightly, his gaze naturally resting on her slightly upturned nose, and he smiled gently, “I can read yours.”

His gaze was always deep, his smile hinting that his words were half true and half false.

She became even more flustered, “Ah? Then I’m done for.”

He was also curious, “How so?”

Ji Zhen Tang whispered, “Do you know that there are rumors about you being very frightening?”

Zhong Yu Bai didn’t ask what the rumors were about. He calmly sipped his tea and said, “One should not live in rumors.”

She was speechless, shocked by his response.

As the conversation fell silent, a flamboyant woman entered Zhong Yu Bai’s peripheral vision. He glanced at her, then noticed Ji Zhen Tang being drawn by the sound of high heels. Just as she was about to glance in that direction, he suddenly pressed her head down.

Zhong Yu Bai reached out, lightly covering half of her face and pressing it slightly against his shoulder. He looked in the direction of the woman, making sure she veered away from them, before slowly releasing Ji Zhen Tang.

When he glanced at the child beside him again, she looked bewildered, with a slight blush still lingering on her ears, not yet realizing what had just happened.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Zhen Tang felt a faint dizziness from his proximity, with a hint of his fresh sandalwood scent touching her nose.

Zhong Yu Bai said, “I’m afraid she might meddle.”

The bewilderment on Ji Zhen Tang’s face turned into curiosity. “Do you also experience fear?”

Zhong Yu Bai was unexpectedly surprised by her question, his expression subtly hesitating for a moment before he smiled, a hint of helplessness in the curve of his lips. “Yes, I can feel fear too.”

What was he afraid of? That word shouldn’t appear in his dictionary.

Onstage, Yue opera began to play.

Ji Zhen Tang rested her chin on her hand, watching with little interest.

An elderly lady sat in the front row. Despite her old age, she looked spirited, dressed in a peach-colored cheongsam with pearl jewelry. Unfortunately, she was too far away for Ji Zhen Tang to see her clearly, and she hadn’t had the chance to interact with her.

Zhong Yu Bai noticed her seeming drowsiness and asked, “Don’t enjoy listening?”

She smiled apologetically. “I don’t have much appreciation for the opera.”

He then asked, “What do you like listening to?”

“I like Coldplay, Taylor Swift, and Sunset Rollercoaster, and stuff like that. Their music makes me feel dreamy and relaxed, like I’m about to fall asleep the next second,” she replied.

He listened to her counting everything, remaining silent, with no obvious curvature at the corners of his mouth, possibly not smiling, but pondering or contemplating something.

Ji Zhen Tang looked at his profile, and she suddenly asked, “Is my dress beautiful?”

Zhong Yu Bai looked over, then lowered his gaze to observe her dress, a light blue chiffon dress, slightly shining in the dim light, like mint.

She said, “This is the same style as Fang Mo’s, endorsed by her affordable brand.”

Zhong Yu Bai pondered silently, without speaking.

Ji Zhen Tang noticed his expression was calm and asked him, “Do you know Fang Mo? She played the second female lead in a very popular period drama this year.”

Zhong Yu Bai’s expression relaxed, with a shallow smile. “I’ve heard of her.”

Then he added, “She’s very beautiful.”

Ji Zhen Tang nodded. “Yes, she’s very intellectual and elegant, with a great temperament. I especially like her.”

After she finished speaking, Zhong Yu Bai slowly uttered a few words in a low and mellow voice, “I meant you.”

She hesitated, turning her face away and embarrassedly rubbing her cheeks.

“I have a lot of troubles, almost overwhelming me, sometimes I really want to hear someone compliment me to find some confidence. Ah, I really want to grow up faster.”

Zhong Yu Bai thought for a moment and told her not to rush, “Let your wings grow nicely, more beautiful.”

The man spoke neither fast nor slow, gradually sinking her mood. He looked at her with gentle eyes, “Everyone’s fate is different. There are not so many early successes, nor are there any late-blooming talents that never arrive.”

Ji Zhen Tang asked him, “Do you think I belong to the type of late bloomer?”

She leaned back in her chair, swinging her legs leisurely, looking at him expectantly.

“It’s hard to say.” Zhong Yu Bai glanced at her slender legs under the hem of her skirt and those cute shoes, then sincerely replied, “But you will have your spring.”

Her tear glands were uncontrollable, either because she was deeply moved. Ji Zhen Tang pursed her lips, trying to hold back her tears as much as possible, and whispered, “Mr. Zhong, I’m so happy to chat with you because no one usually talks to me about my worries.”

He smiled lightly, nodding in agreement, “Happiness is paramount.”

“So sometimes, thinking of you makes me happy too.” She showed a bit of sincerity even to someone tolerant enough.

Although her words had an ambiguous tone, Zhong Yu Bai didn’t prolong the atmosphere, just said, “It’s my pleasure.”

In theory, Ji Zhen Tang should have been wary of him, but she couldn’t help but want to get closer.

She suddenly understood how harmful the phrase “a needle hidden in cotton” could be.

So, successful people, huh? After killing someone, they still come to comfort someone worrying about 300 followers.

In a sense, doesn’t this also show a kind of magnanimity? She suddenly understood why a man could say so casually that he’d die under the peony flower. If Zhong Yu Bai cured her flaws and then gave her a gentle blow in the end, she probably wouldn’t complain.

People are willing to surrender to beautiful dreams.

On the way back, she sat in his luxury car, playing scene after scene in her mind.

The man beside her sat calmly, waiting for the arrival, slowly opening his eyes, showing a gentle demeanor, without any intention of giving her a blow.

Noticing Ji Zhen Tang looking at him with profound meaning, Zhong Yu Bai suddenly reached out and lightly grabbed her wrist.

She nervously lifted her hand, inexplicably looking at him.

He extended a finger and lightly tapped her palm, faintly reminding her, “Keep this card safe.”

Ji Zhen Tang looked at the confusing lines on her palm, as if there were really hidden secrets there, “Is it useful?”

Zhong Yu Bai smiled, half-jokingly, “Very useful.”

—

Throughout the entire summer vacation, Ji Zhen Tang worked at the coffee shop, earning not much money, but enough for maintaining her pink and white bike in these two months.

Even though she was tired and poor, she didn’t want to idle, afraid of losing money and being criticized for being lazy. Being idle would produce a sense of guilt, a collective anxiety ingrained in the DNA of Chinese people. 

Her mom and dad called her one after another.

Qin Meilan is abroad and rarely uses WeChat, so they don’t communicate much. Ji Zhen Tang only reports good news to her and assures her that everything is fine, promising to visit her when she has time.

After hanging up the phone, she feels a faint sense of loss. She used to be very close to her mother when she was younger.

Time can affect relationships.

Ji Huan talked to her on the phone about work-related matters, prompted by Ji Zhen Tang asking if he had met with Chen Ke.

He sounded frustrated, saying, “I sent him some things, but he returned them to me.”

Ji Zhen Tang also racked her brains to guess the reason for Chen Ke’s actions. Thinking of what Zhong Yu Bai said about not liking overly smooth methods, she said, “I guess he might not like things that are too artificial. Since he didn’t accept them, you shouldn’t send them. He probably doesn’t need them anyway.”

Ji Huan didn’t respond immediately. After a while, he called out to her, “Nan Nan.”

“Yeah?”

“How do you know people from Yuanlin?” He felt something was amiss in her words.

“Well,” Ji Zhen Tang inexplicably felt guilty, but then she realized that their interactions with Yuanlin were legitimate, so she earnestly explained to him, “Because a while back, someone from the Zhong family came to see Auntie, and Auntie made a cheongsam for the old lady from the Zhong family.”

But Ji Huan said, “That reason doesn’t hold up, does it?”

It turns out that such an exchange seems unequal to outsiders. Ji Zhen Tang pursed her lips and thought for a long time before saying, “Maybe because I used to date Zhong Heng, so they treat me with more respect.”

After a moment of silence, Ji Huan said, “It’s possible.”

Ji Zhen Tang continued, “By the way, Dad, even though Chen Ke is much younger than you, he still has quite a bit of influence in Yuanlin, so you shouldn’t…”

What she wanted to say was, don’t set your pride too high. At Ji Huan’s age, he should be well-versed in worldly matters. He interrupted her, saying, “I know this.”

After finishing the call, Ji Zhen Tang leaned on the counter and searched through her call history for a long time before finding Zhong Yu Bai’s number.

It was almost at the bottom.

She searched for his number on WeChat, but he had set it to not be searchable, shutting the door to her curiosity.

Time affects relationships, and this applies equally to her and the man.

When they are together, she feels that he is warm-hearted.

When they have no interaction, it seems like memory fades away quietly.

There’s a saying that coincidences make stories, and there was a bit of destiny in their previous encounters.

But the coincidence disappeared, the transaction ended. What reason is there for anyone to seek anyone else out?

Does she have to say, “I’ve run out of medicine, could you get me some more?”

Such a clever tactic.

And truly clever people have discretion. They narrow the gap in relationships out of politeness. They take care of lost children out of humility and maturity. She thought and thought, but couldn’t find a reason why the big boss would care about a speck of dust and chase after her.

He’s at Jiangbin Garden, adept at handling interpersonal relationships. She’s wearing an apron, here serving coffee to guests.

But—

If there’s no ulterior motive, why leave her the right to use a pass?

What’s the reason behind excessive kindness? Affection? Fondness? Altruism? Innate warmth? She can’t see through any of it.

Perhaps Mr. Zhong is really too busy, with no time to deal with matters of love and affection.

Looking at her palm, remembering the touch that had long disappeared from her fingertips, Ji Zhen Tang suddenly realized that she was waiting for the man to come to her.

Realizing this, she quickly put down her phone, made herself a cup of coffee, and cleared her head.

It’s almost back-to-school day, and roommates are gradually arriving.

When Lin Guixue came back, Ji Zhen Tang was browsing Zhao Siqi’s Moments—yes, it was Zhao Siqi again.

This not-so-familiar guy had become, so far, the highest level of person she could interact with in the fashion circle.

This time, it was Zhao Siqi showing off an invitation to a K-brand jewelry exhibition in his Moments.

Ji Zhen Tang looked at the lineup, excited, even though she knew Ji Huan obviously couldn’t help, she still asked her dad if she could have a ticket.

As expected, she came back disappointed.

“Xue.”

Ji Zhen Tang climbed onto Lin Guixue’s bed, hugged her, and whispered, “Can I ask? What’s the deal between you and Zhao Siqi? Didn’t he say before that he wanted you to invest in his brand? Now there’s no hope at all?”

Lin Guixue pondered and said, “Actually, there’s no contradiction. It’s just that I feel his character isn’t very good.”

“What do you mean?”

Lin Guixue pulled the curtain shut, “You know, he talks behind girls’ backs. I really hate guys who gossip.”

Ji Zhen Tang asked, “Did he talk about me?”

Lin Guixue hesitated for a moment, unable to answer, her expression awkward, the answer obvious.

Ji Zhen Tang: “What did he say about me?”

“Well… don’t be upset if I tell you.”

“Go ahead, tell me.”

“He said you’re not worthy of Zhong Heng. If he were Zhong Heng, he wouldn’t marry you.”

“Ugh!”

Lin Guixue: “I cursed him the same way.”

Ji Zhen Tang was furious, “What kind of guy is he, feeling like he’s on cloud nine!”

Lin Guixue echoed, “Birds of a feather!”

Then, she leaned close to Ji Zhen Tang, speaking cautiously, “And I heard that someone saw him hanging out on Yunxiao Road several times, and each time with at least two hot chicks.”

Yunxiao Road, Ji Zhen Tang had heard of that place, a famous nightlife spot in Shanghai.

“Oh my god, he’s actually that kind of person?!” Ji Zhen Tang was so surprised her face wrinkled like a bun. After the shock wore off, she quickly pressed her temples, “I shouldn’t dwell on this, I’m going to be sick.”

“Right?” Lin Guixue finished, covering her mouth, “Hey, I heard it from others, don’t go spreading it around.”

Ji Zhen Tang nodded, “I know.”

Lin Guixue sighed and patted her, comforting her, “Forget about it, what’s the point of comparing with him when he has a big shot backing him up?”

Ji Zhen Tang pondered this for a moment, then smiled and said to her, “Then invest in mine, someday I’ll have my own brand too.”

Lin Guixue was overjoyed, “Can you make it happen quickly so I can be rich tomorrow! I can’t stand going to class another day!”

With that, both of them burst into laughter.

From below came a chilly voice, “Can you please stop talking?”

It was Su Yunli drawing on her computer, feeling disturbed.

Ji Zhen Tang peeked out, apologetically sticking out her tongue, “Sorry, won’t say anything!”

The two of them lay quietly together, switching to messaging.

Lin Guixue: Do you know if she’s been frequenting the medical department lately?

Ji Zhen Tang: Really? Is she pursuing Zhong Heng?

Lin Guixue: It probably doesn’t count as pursuing, Lizi isn’t the proactive type. Maybe she’s just going there to be seen by him, to brush up on her presence.

Ji Zhen Tang: Such a waste, what’s the point?

Lin Guixue: Love doesn’t need a reason.

Ji Zhen Tang: I hate being submissive to men.

Lin Guixue: Loving someone is inherently humble.

Ji Zhen Tang held her phone, wanting to say something, but her thoughts suddenly stopped. She didn’t type anything more because she wasn’t thinking about Su Yunli or Zhong Heng.

She was thinking about Lin Guixue’s words:

Forget about it, what’s the point of comparing with him when he has a big shot backing him up?

With her eyes closed, Zhao Siqi’s invitation letter appeared before her.

It wasn’t the first time, he always loved showing off these things in front of classmates.

In the past, if she saw it, she would envy it for a moment and then pretend nothing happened.

Because she knew deep down, those flashy things were too distant from her, so she didn’t seek them out, just like people on the ground wouldn’t covet the moon, they just looked at it from afar and thought it was beautiful.

But now it’s different, she’s seen it.

Having looked down on the bustling city, she no longer wants to be a mere grain of sand at its feet.

That night, Ji Zhen Tang tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After the dormitory lights went out, she quietly got up and got out of bed.

Ji Zhen Tang rummaged through her drawer, looking for something she had overlooked and hadn’t used again – her AirPods.

Soon enough, she found them deep inside her desk drawer.

Inside, there was only one earphone left. The other one had been “accidentally” left in Chenzhang Garden that day.

In her ears echoed her aunt’s words: “Don’t be greedy.”

But at the same time, a louder voice in her heart said: “Can’t just let it go like this.”

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