Chapter 23: That Night, The Atmosphere Was Thick With Emotion

“But no one will hold onto another person’s heart forever. Eventually, their hands will tire, and naturally, they’ll let go. Patience has its limits, and love has its end.”

Ji Zhen Tang didn’t cry, instead remaining quite calm. As she spoke, she pushed the handkerchief back into his hand.

Zhong Yu Bai calmly looked at the handkerchief in his hand, then heard her say, “You said there’s nothing that lasts forever. Everyone in the world is driven by self-interest, that’s also what you said. Merchants often speak insincerely, how much of what you say can I believe?”

Her eyes, reflecting the shimmering water, seemed like lonely stars drifting in the universe, and at this moment, this solitary heart was revolving around him. Seeking a place to land, yet still hesitant.

Zhong Yu Bai, illuminated by the lamplight, examined her high brow and deep-set eyes, the intricate features of her face. In the slight furrow of her brows, the confusion was evident, along with a hint of expectation.

Accompanying the confusion was a bit of hope.

Hoping for his rebuttal, waiting for him to quickly say that patience has no limits, and love has no end.

Hoping, saying, “Hurry and comfort me, deceive me a little, I need it.”

Zhong Yu Bai said, “A person has more than one social identity. Have I ever discussed business with you?”

Implicit in his words was the fact that he wasn’t a businessman in front of her. Implicitly, he still spoke with some sincerity.

Ji Zhen Tang’s confusion gradually dissipated. She raised an eyebrow playfully, “Then what identity do you have in front of me?”

He replied, “Whatever you think, I accept.”

Ji Zhen Tang’s pupils flickered.

His words were clear. Their identities, their relationship, were determined by her.

Ji Zhen Tang continued to prop up her chin, pretending to be lost in thought, twirling the bone china cup in her hand, glancing at the calm man beside her from the corner of her eye, “You came to see me so late, there must be something on your mind, right?”

Bringing the conversation back, her words urgent, she asked him what his intentions were.

She needed a reason to fill the slight tremor of fear.

So she stared straight at him.

Zhong Yu Bai smiled wryly, somewhat irked.

Half true and half false, he explained the reason for his visit, “After work, the owner of a nearby teahouse invited me for tea. I passed by Qingyun Lane and saw your aunt hurrying out, wanting to say hello, but missed the chance. Then I saw you, wandering in the wind and rain, all soaked. So I came to exchange a few words, and when I came in, I saw you lost in thought, sitting down, and started telling me about the Gangster Bathed in Blood.”

Ji Zhen Tang sat up straight, grinning, “So it’s just a coincidence.”

He smiled and nodded, “Just a coincidence.”

Then he added, “Very nice words, I like them too.”

“Which teahouse?” She brought up another topic, probing the truthfulness of his words.

He replied, “Yuyun Building.”

“I know the owner of that place, heard he’s very wealthy.” Ji Zhen Tang said casually, as if gossiping, “Although it’s very close, I’ve never been in there my whole life. Heard the expenses are high— are you still going there now?”

“It’s already closed,” he replied.

“Oh.”

Zhong Yu Bai glanced at her slightly furrowed brows and said in a gentle and indulgent tone, “Next time, I’ll take you there.”

“Thank you, boss!” She smiled happily, clasping her hands together above her head. “Just let me treat you to a meal.”

Zhong Yu Bai also smiled faintly.

“Aunt leaving you alone here, isn’t she worried about you going hungry?”

“If I get hungry, I’ll order takeout. I’m used to it.”

He thought for a moment and said, “Finding pleasure in simple things, good food can alleviate pain.”

Ji Zhen Tang listened, seeming to understand and not understand.

“Let’s go eat together.”

Ji Zhen Tang didn’t hesitate, “I want to eat wontons!”

Zhong Yu Bai stood up and said lightly, “Let’s go, let’s see where we can find wontons.”

Some people just have that kind of magic, making others willingly follow them. Ji Zhen Tang didn’t bother to close her aunt’s shop and just casually locked the door, then got into his car. Zhong Yu Bai drove, taking Ji Zhen Tang to the old wonton shop she had specified.

She scooped up the soup happily to drink, there were no extra people in the shop, and Zhong Yu Bai didn’t eat anything, just had a free cup of tea in front of him.

Ji Zhen Tang glanced at him.

“In fact, you could also act in spy films, you know, the kind of male protagonist who is ruthless and doesn’t say much, and only his confidants know the meaning behind his every word and action. He hides his true feelings from others, cold and aloof. Just one glance given to Jialing, and he knows who to kill, then says ‘as you command!’ Click, problem solved with one slash, blood splattering all over the place.”

She spoke, making a gesture of resolution with her hand, her gaze sharp: “Do you get that feeling? Honestly, if I didn’t study design, I would definitely consider being a screenwriter or director.”

Finishing her sentence, she then sighed sadly, “Studying art requires money, and being a director isn’t easy either, and then my dad would—”

But she was interrupted by a fit of coughing from the soup, “Cough, cough, cough!”

Zhong Yu Bai smiled without speaking, attentively handing her a tissue, waiting for her to calm down before speaking, “We can talk about this after dinner.”

“I know,” she muttered, wiping her mouth, “Silent at meals and silent at bedtime. Hmm, why do you also have to remind me of the rules?”

He said, “I’m not reminding you of the rules, it’s just for safety reasons.”

Indeed, good food could alleviate pain, secreting dopamine that made people happy, and Ji Zhen Tang felt much better.

Outside the small restaurant was a river, the sound of water flowing gently. Due to the rain, the wealthy young men who usually went yachting did not show up. Today, wherever one walked, it felt deserted.

Ji Zhen Tang looked up again and saw a dim sky.

Zhong Yu Bai stood with his back to that sky, quietly waiting for her.

“When I was young, I knew an aunt who told me that when you’re unhappy, you should count the stars. Do you know the Summer Triangle? She pointed it out to me, and I still remember the position now. The most soothing thing is the countless stars in the sky.”

Ji Zhen Tang looked up at the sky, “But unfortunately, you can’t see them on rainy days, and people tend to feel unhappy on rainy days, wanting to see the stars but unable to.”

Zhong Yu Bai’s gaze deepened slightly as he looked at her, but there wasn’t much of a ripple. After a while, he spoke, “There’s a place where you can see the stars. Would you like to go?”

Ji Zhen Tang hesitated for a moment, looking at him with a suspicious expression.

Zhong Yu Bai just smiled.

“An earnest invitation,” he said.

Half an hour later, she recalled how she had been led to this luxurious mansion by him, feeling a bit dizzy, as if she had stumbled upon the entrance to a dream. Blinking, she found herself standing under these sparkling and magnificent chandeliers. Looking up, she saw the dispersed light cast on the ceiling, the interior decoration of the house was very artistic, with the colors of the windows and lights complementing each other, elegant wooden stairs, and green plants in the corners, resembling a French residence.

“Is this your home?” she spoke softly.

With a flick of the key, returning here, he seemed relaxed and familiar with this place. Zhong Yu Bai said, “It’s not really a home, just a long-term residence.”

“Can you see the stars from your home? Are you really not kidnapping me?” Ji Zhen Tang was full of question marks, “Don’t lie to me, I’m naive.”

Saying this, her footsteps followed him upstairs.

Zhong Yu Bai walked ahead, leading the way, smiling as he glanced back at her at the corner, “You’ve already been led here. If I were you, I’d definitely check for any mysteries.”

She didn’t say anything, but she did have that intention.

Their destination was his master bedroom.

It was a very large room, with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. Outside the windows were sparse plane trees. Looking further, you could see the river. Because the mansion was built on the mountainside, the view was excellent, and you could vaguely see the riverside docks, the colorful clubs and restaurants.

Ji Zhen Tang stood at the doorway.

For some reason, she felt like she had boarded a pirate ship…

In that split second, she had thought about running away, even carefully recalling the route she had taken here. Suppressing her anxiety, she met Zhong Yu Bai’s gaze. Seeing her concerns, he reassured her, “We won’t do anything today.”

She felt a chill in her heart.

“Please come in,” the man smiled.

An old-fashioned violet lamp was placed on the bedside table, casting an orange glow. The soundproofing effect of the room was very good, and the sound of the wind and rain seemed distant. Upstairs on the terrace of the small villa, there were some tastefully arranged green plants, including banana trees.

There was a retro-style vinyl record player next to him.

Ji Zhen Tang stood by the window, looking at the brightly lit yacht club outside.

“As there are clear skies and rainy days, so too are there complete and incomplete moments in life. Human life is only a hundred years, and history changes in the blink of an eye.” Zhong Yu Bai followed her gaze, somewhat profoundly, “Over a hundred years ago, this was an English dock. No one would have thought that now it’s mine.”

It was strange that he said this, but there was no hint of pride. Perhaps in his words, there was too much insight, and when one sees through everything, there is less emotion in one’s eyes.

Surprised to learn that the riverside, with its wealthy and extravagant lifestyle, belonged to him, she was astonished, but not so astonished. There was nothing worth asking, just grasping the information in his words, she said, “But you didn’t exist a hundred years ago.”

He said, “A hundred years from now, I won’t exist either.”

Zhong Yu Bai reclined lazily on the European-style sofa by the bed.

She asked, “Live as a monk one day, ring the bell one day?”

Zhong Yu Bai nodded, not wanting to chat more, and said, “Lie down on the bed.”

“…?” She was stunned, “Huh?”

He smiled, “I said we won’t do anything, so relax.”

“….” She averted her gaze, hiding her flushed face and bitten lips.

Only someone with ulterior motives would misunderstand his words.

This “doing” was not the same as that “doing”! What was she thinking? Ji Zhen Tang reflected on why these strange thoughts were popping up in her mind.

She obediently took off the chain purse on her body and lay down on the bed.

The comfortable large bed was occupied by her in a “大” character shape.

The man reached out and turned off the switch. With his movements, the orange light from the lamp at the head of the bed disappeared, and the room fell into darkness.

Immediately afterward, the image of the Milky Way slowly flowed on the ceiling.

It was like a technological painting unfolding before her—

Ji Zhen Tang widened her eyes in disbelief, looking at the starry sky on the ceiling, which had become a 3D holographic projection screen.

The flowing light and shadow carried her swimming in the starry sky. Stars fell like rain, seeming real yet illusory, and she suddenly felt overwhelmed.

As far as her eyes could see, her vision was engulfed by the deep blue of the sea. The entire scene seemed to envelop her, as if she wasn’t just using her eyes to see, but her whole being had merged into the reflection of the starry sky. At this moment, she felt as if she had truly become a star in the universe.

The rain outside, seemingly distant yet close, provided a perfectly fitting accompaniment to the current scene, like the subtle movements of stars passing by, creating a deep hue and swift flow that made her feel both suffocated and exhilarated.

Ji Zhen Tang couldn’t help but smile, a hint of moisture in the corners of her eyes.

Zhong Yu Bai sat calmly on the sofa, crossing his legs leisurely, not joining her to look outside.

His long fingers lightly hooked and brushed over the tonearm of the record player beside him, then gently placed it on the vinyl record.

The crackling sound of electricity began, and after a few seconds, the melody of an old song softly played, elegant and soothing, accompanied by the piano, a tune quite suitable for the night, “Moon River.”

Moon river, wider than a mile

I’m crossing you in style some day

Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker

Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way

Ji Zhen Tang raised her hand, counting the stars, one by one, as if they were guiding her back to her childhood.

“This is the Cowherd Star, this is the Weaver Star, and that one is the Altair.”

“It’s the Big Dipper! Oh my, it’s been so long since I last saw it…”

Zhong Yu Bai sat in the dimness, watching her, listening to her clear laughter, a natural and refined smile on his face.

“Do you also love stargazing?” Ji Zhen Tang tilted her head, meeting his gaze.

Zhong Yu Bai pondered for a moment, then said deeply, “When I was young, there was also someone who taught me to recognize the stars.”

His voice was very low and gentle, not drowned out by the song.

The record player slowly rotated, as if, on this night, in this thick atmosphere, time was being slowed down by an invisible hand.

Two drifters, off to see the world

There’s such a lot of world to see

We’re after the same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend

My huckleberry friend, Moon River, and me

A few minutes later, the melody ended, and the wind lamp was lit again. The Milky Way gradually receded, and Ji Zhen Tang looked somewhat disappointedly at the calm ceiling.

After a while, she sat up, somewhat reluctantly, facing him at the edge of the bed.

Zhong Yu Bai said, “Do you like it? It was designed by the architects from the city’s planetarium.”

Ji Zhen Tang paused subtly.

She thought, would it have been more appropriate if he had said, “Is it nice?” or “What do you think?”

Like or dislike seemed almost as if it was specifically prepared for her.

There was a sense of catering to her preferences, which was dangerous; perhaps accidental coincidence would be more reassuring.

Ji Zhen Tang looked at the man whose lazy demeanor revealed no expression, she didn’t answer directly but instead asked, “Do you know about withdrawal symptoms?”

He raised an eyebrow, “I’m all ears.”

She explained, “If I were to wake up from my dreams and find that all the happiness was just an illusion, and that pain and torment were the reality, it would break my heart.”

Zhong Yu Bai said, “I’ve said it before, don’t wake up, I won’t let you wake up. I’ve said I’ll hold your heart, I won’t let it fall.”

His speech was steady, devoid of dialect, clear in articulation, coupled with a rich tone, making it particularly resonant.

Each syllable was uttered with solemnity, sounding almost like a vow.

“By saying that,” Ji Zhen Tang reluctantly smiled, speaking in a seemingly casual manner but actually weighing each word based on his reaction, “I said it’s just that I’m singing the theme song, but why does it seem like… I’ve become the big boss’s lady?”

Zhong Yu Bai rested his chin on his hand, not looking at her, his gaze loosely falling on the treetops outside the window, yet she observed a faint smile on his face.

“You… you’re not thinking of keeping me, are you?”

As she said these words, Ji Zhen Tang’s heart raced as if it were ill, and her breathing became erratic.

He chuckled softly.

Was it because he found her words naive? Or was he resigned to the purpose behind them, with no other choice?

Zhong Yu Bai remained noncommittal, slightly easing the gravity in his demeanor, holding a wine glass in his hand, he asked her in return, “Are you willing?”

Ji Zhen Tang guessed he wouldn’t reveal his true feelings, and her tone became somewhat languid.

After a moment, she said, “To be honest, sometimes I do think about it, who wouldn’t pick up a windfall from the sky? But sometimes, I have some pride too, I want to provide for myself. I’m quite conflicted, only those who aren’t conflicted wouldn’t ponder back and forth.”

Zhong Yu Bai simply responded, “People are all conflicted.”

Ji Zhen Tang quietly assessed him, revealing a look of “I’m just a small fry,” nervously saying, “Honestly, Mr. Zhong, I, I’m quite afraid of you.”

Using the word “afraid” to sum up her feelings towards him seemed rather thin.

In a deeper sense, she was both eager and afraid.

Eager for the things that attracted her about him.

Afraid because aside from those attractions, he was a mystery.

“In what way?” he asked.

“In every way.”

Zhong Yu Bai glanced over, clearly expressionless, but she knew he was asking: How so?

After spending a long time together, gradually, she was becoming one of the few who could decipher his gaze, so she answered, “Because many people are warning me to stay away from you.”

In the silence, Zhong Yu Bai lightly rubbed the rim of his glass with his thumb a few times, and within that silence, he retrieved a name.

“Zhong Heng.”

Ji Zhen Tang pursed her lips, turned her face away, and said somewhat irritably, “He hates you the most, gritting his teeth, like waiting to collect a corpse.”

A few seconds later, Zhong Yu Bai chuckled softly, cold and indifferent, making it hard to discern any definite emotion.

Following that, he asked, “What am I like in the rumors?”

She replied, “There are plenty of rumors, saying all sorts of things.”

“Which one do you believe?” He glanced over at her.

She was bold and daring, willing to say anything, “Cold-hearted, ruthless.”

He chuckled, his tone casual, “Whoever spreads such rumors deserves severe punishment.”

As he lightly swirled the drink in his cup with his fingers, there was indeed a hint of calculated cunning in his demeanor.

“Oh my, you really are! I must escape.” Ji Zhen Tang pretended to jump off the bed, clutching the bundle tightly to her chest.

Zhong Yu Bai remained composed, giving a slight smile, gentlemanly in demeanor, “You can come anytime you want to see the stars.”

“…”

“As long as you’re willing.”

The expression of the “as long as you’re willing” at the end made her appreciate both the explicit and hidden meaning. And the profound gaze of Zhong Yu Bai made her feel like she hadn’t misunderstood.

With no real intention to escape, how should this play be concluded? Ji Zhen Tang stood still in place for a long time, without moving.

So the man stood up.

He strode forward, his long legs bringing him closer with each step, his shoes, damp from the rain outside, mercilessly treading on the priceless carpet, the heavy footsteps approaching her.

Ji Zhen Tang didn’t retreat, watching his shadow looming over her.

“With such heavy rain, it doesn’t seem convenient to leave.” Zhong Yu Bai reached her, taking the chain bag from her weak hand, which she had already given up struggling with, and gently placing it aside.

He said, “Stay, and I’ll make breakfast for you tomorrow.”

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