Extra Chapter 02

The quilt in the room was white, and Ji Zhen Tang lay in the center, as if she had sunk into a soft cloud.

She floated lightly from the cloud into the sky, drifting and swimming gently in the pink and white horizon, feeling dizzy for a while, and finally floating back into the clouds. As sunset approached, Ji Zhen Tang closed her eyes for a light rest, lying in the sunlight. Her breathing slowed, returning to calm.

Zhong Yu Bai looked down at her beautiful, deep-set eyebrows, his fingertip gently touching her full, vivid lip line, like a feather brushing her lips. In a foreign land under the scorching sun, he suddenly remembered the rain in Jiangnan that day.

They reunited in the rainy season.

That day, the awkward, helpless dinner, her lost and confused look in the grand Zhong mansion, and the apricot-colored skirt hem disappearing in the misty steam, these blurred fragments of memory pieced together a past version of her.

Zhong Yu Bai remembered it vividly.

Like an unmanaged ruin, she endured the rain alone there.

He remembered her pain and struggle; growing up was not a simple matter.

He picked up her broken pieces and slowly stitched her back together.

Even now, Zhong Yu Bai was still deeply concerned. He feared her heavy thoughts, repeating the same mistakes, feared that if she received even a little less love, she would worry about being abandoned by the world again.

All he could do was try to make her worry less.

Zhong Yu Bai was not a slow-tempered person, nor was he really in no hurry; he understood well that things take time to come to fruition.

“How was today’s meal?” he asked.

Ji Zhen Tang, still lying in the sun with her eyes closed, quickly gave him a thumbs up. “Top-notch.”

She smiled and said, “To win over a woman, you must first win over her stomach. If I were to list reasons to love you, your cooking skills would definitely be in the top three.”

He asked what the other two reasons were.

She blinked and looked at him seriously, saying, “Of course, it’s your appearance and skills.”

Zhong Yu Bai smiled, a bit gratified. As expected, it was the answer he wanted.

Sex and love are inseparable; they had delved into this deeply from the beginning.

Returning to the topic of cooking, he said, “We should let Aunt Qin try it sometime and see if I can win over your mom’s taste buds.”

Ji Zhen Tang sat up quickly and said, “That will be tough for you. My mom is an excellent cook. It will be hard to surpass her.”

He replied, “I know, I remember.”

She smiled curiously while putting on her shirt and asked him, “What else do you remember?”

Zhong Yu Bai’s gaze fell on her delicate curves, then moved up to her beautiful, bright eyes. After a brief thought, he replied, “She looks quite like you, but her features are sharper. Very beautiful, and she has a mole.”

“Where is the mole?”

He pressed her waist, making Ji Zhen Tang, who had just sat up, soften against his chest again. Then he gently touched the corner of her right eye with his warm fingertip, searching for the answer. “Here, right?”

Ji Zhen Tang responded with a hum, “A tear mole of sorrow.”

She gently held his hand, feeling a bit moved, and said, “You actually remember my mom.”

Zhong Yu Bai couldn’t say he was close to her mother, but they had spent enough time together that he might understand her better than she did.

“After you were born, she stopped dancing,” Zhong Yu Bai said in a calm voice, yet speaking of something heavy and cruel.

Ji Zhen Tang listened, her voice weakening, and her fingers loosening on the buttons. Her gaze unfocused, as if recalling past events. She didn’t answer his words, and after a long time, she said softly, “Mom’s mole is really in a bad place, causing her so much hardship.”

Zhong Yu Bai raised his hand, his warm palm covering her soft cheek, and comforted her, saying, “Everything is fate.”

Ji Zhen Tang lowered her head and quickly finished buttoning up.

Before leaving, Zhong Yu Bai, showing his deep concern for her, asked, “Do you want me to say hello to your business partner?”

Ji Zhen Tang quickly shook her head and said, “No, I want to keep you hidden.”

He looked back at her calmly, his eyes filled with confusion: Why?

“Hide you in my little universe,” she said, standing on tiptoe to kiss his face.

Zhong Yu Bai seemed helpless but indulged her whim, smiling, “Alright.”

He draped his suit jacket over his arm and walked out, saying he had a business meeting to attend today. Ji Zhen Tang had a small gathering in the evening.

The gathering was at a high-end French restaurant. There weren’t many people at the table, but they were all significant figures because Melody had mentioned that today they would be connecting with international designers to prepare for a joint jewelry brand exhibition.

For this occasion, Ji Zhen Tang specifically wore a very formal suit, but once she sat down at the table, she realized that this outfit made her look stiff and out of place. Art has no shape, like flowing clouds and floating fluff, and so are artists.

Those who are meticulous are all businessmen.

She had learned someone’s cautiousness through osmosis but couldn’t grasp that relaxed, unprejudiced attitude. A famous German designer was talking eloquently. Ji Zhen Tang’s English had deteriorated significantly, and she tried her best to understand, but in the end, she only comprehended about seventy to eighty percent.

All she needed to do was hold her glass, smile gently and politely, and raise her voice when saying her name. This was also a kind of gain.

“Maintaining a balance between art and profit is indeed difficult. To be an entrepreneur, sometimes you have to give up some pursuits.”

After it ended, Melody and Ji Zhen Tang chatted for a while at a bar by the seaside boulevard.

Ji Zhen Tang unbuttoned the top button of her shirt, relaxing her tense nerves. With a hint of tiredness in her eyes, she leaned back in the wicker chair and nodded lightly, “Maybe I’m still in a very idealistic stage and haven’t been able to balance these two points.”

Melody asked her, “Haven’t you graduated yet?”

Ji Zhen Tang said, “Soon, in three months.”

She rested her chin in her hand, looking into the distance. The night sky in Xingzhou was very clear, with golden lights embedded in the blue night.

“I used to be very confused and uneasy about life’s choices, afraid that every path I took was wrong. But I also crossed the river by feeling the stones and made it to today.” Melody asked her, “Do you plan to start your own business?”

Ji Zhen Tang had previously hinted at her thoughts. She nodded, “Yes, I still want to expand my brand here.”

Melody said, “It’s a pity our group will lose a capable designer. If you want to come back, you’re welcome. If not, I wish you success.”

She smiled gratefully and said, “Thank you.”

Just before parting, Melody suddenly added, “Say hello to Mr. Zhong for me.”

These words left Ji Zhen Tang stunned.

“How…do you know?”

The other person smiled and simply said, “Not everyone can get that sapphire.”

When Ji Zhen Tang met Qin Meilan, she didn’t bring Zhong Yu Bai along. She cautiously thought it wouldn’t be appropriate to reveal this matter to her mother too abruptly, in case something went wrong and everyone would be embarrassed.

So, she went to the banquet alone that day. After dinner, the mother and daughter strolled around Orchard Road.

Although Qin Meilan was not young anymore, she had her child early, so Qin Meilan was still very young, just over forty. With proper maintenance and a wealthy lifestyle, the mother and daughter could look like sisters. Qin Meilan had inherited Western bone structure well, looking even more Western than Ji Zhen Tang. Walking on the street, they attracted a lot of attention.

In front of a luxury boutique, Qin Meilan suggested buying her a handbag.

Now that she was financially comfortable, perhaps thinking of it as compensation, Qin Meilan wanted to treat her daughter generously. Although what she owed her was far more than a bag could repay.

At that moment, ready to make a lavish purchase, she was promptly stopped.

Ji Zhen Tang had never said she wanted her mother to buy her anything. She shook her head, indicating it wasn’t necessary.

“I already have this bag.”

Naturally, Qin Meilan asked, “Who gave it to you?”

She replied, “Can’t I have bought it myself?”

“Zhong Yu Bai gave it to you.” Her mother’s tone was serious and certain.

Hearing those three syllables from her long-lost voice, Ji Zhen Tang’s memories were truly awakened at that moment. The entanglements and grievances with this land and this family.

She was speechless for a few seconds.

Qin Meilan pulled her aside and asked, “What is your relationship now?”

“…” Ji Zhen Tang lowered her head, not speaking.

Everything became clear.

“Do you know about the Zhong family—”

She interrupted loudly, “I know, I know everything, but I love him very much, and he loves me very much too.”

This time, it was Qin Meilan who was left speechless.

After a moment of silence, neither of them spoke. Ji Zhen Tang asked, “How did you find out?”

“I heard about it.”

She was surprised, “The news travels fast.”

“He made an announcement in the newspaper a while ago.”

“Yes, you saw it.”

“That little fish brooch is yours.”

“…” Ji Zhen Tang then remembered the gift she had given him, which she had previously shared on social media. Zhong Yu Bai always wore it on his collar, carrying her sentiment, and it even appeared in international news. She replied awkwardly, “Yes.”

Qin Meilan took some time to digest this matter. Fortunately, she had mentally prepared herself in advance. Finally, she said, “I had someone read your fortune a while ago. They said you were destined for wealth and prosperity, and I had a premonition then.”

Ji Zhen Tang said, “Whether I’m wealthy or not doesn’t matter that much,” she muttered, “What a charlatan, only talking about money…”

Qin Meilan hit the nail on the head, “Wealth is objective, love is illusory.”

“I know you don’t believe in love. I didn’t believe in it before either. Now, I don’t know if I believe in it or not. I only know that my feelings for him go beyond wealth. As for him, there’s no need to mention it; I don’t even have wealth.”

After another long silence, Qin Meilan sighed, “It’s been many years since I’ve seen the young master of the Zhong family.”

She smiled, “He’s still as good as before.”

Qin Meilan also smiled, her expression softening. She then said earnestly, “To be honest, although I’m your mother, I no longer have the right to interfere in your life. Whether I think it’s good or bad, I can’t intervene anymore.”

Qin Meilan looked at the bag on the counter, “Now, I just hope you can be well, healthy, and happy.”

Ji Zhen Tang linked arms with her mother, turning in a different direction. She pointed to the milk tea shop outside the mall, “I don’t want a bag, I want to drink a coconut drink.”

Soon, the coconut slushie her mother bought her was in her hands. One sip brought a refreshing coolness, slowly dissipating the heat, and Ji Zhen Tang felt relaxed and comfortable.

Recently, whenever there was a high-society banquet, Zhong Yu Bai would usually take Ji Zhen Tang along. He took her to have fun, often without any specific purpose. His reason was always simple: “There are many delicious foods; I don’t want you to miss out.”

With just a few words, he would invite her over.

When socializing and networking became the goal, Ji Zhen Tang would feel nervous and uneasy. But if she treated the world as a large amusement park, she could shed many burdens. Zhong Yu Bai would always give her beautiful dresses, making sure she attended each event looking stunning.

On this day, Ji Zhen Tang wore an apricot-colored long dress, her hair styled in a princess braid, looking like a well-behaved jasmine flower. Paired with the elegant dress, she sat gracefully in the luxury car. With experience, she could now comfortably pretend to be Mrs. Zhong.

“People have noticed our relationship,” she said.

He asked who noticed.

“My boss.”

Zhong Yu Bai was not surprised, only generously saying, “Since the brand founder’s work often intersects with mine, and we are so close, it’s not surprising that some clues were noticed.”

He took everything in stride.

He also gave her a very reasonable explanation.

But he was very attentive to her subtle changes in expression. Zhong Yu Bai looked into Ji Zhen Tang’s eyes and asked thoughtfully, “Do you mind others knowing?”

She shook her head, “Of course not.”

He continued to look at her and slowly revealed the truth, “Afraid of living in my shadow.”

Ji Zhen Tang lowered her head and said, “Not really, it’s much better now.”

His broad hand gently stroked her hair, saying, “You have your own brilliance; I’m just the wind that lifts you to the clouds.”

Having a considerate and intimate lover by your side, who says a few encouraging and warm words when you are feeling lost and helpless, is the most touching image of love she could imagine. Regardless of the truth of his words, at that moment, she felt like a balloon filled with air, soaring high into the clouds.

Although Ji Zhen Tang still had her head lowered, the neon lights outside shone in, revealing a gentle curve at the corner of her mouth.

The car arrived at the circular garden of Changjue. She got out of the car with him and walked into the brightly lit hall amidst the welcoming voices. The hotel was backed by the sea, and the banquet was held on the top floor. From the floor-to-ceiling windows, one could see the yachts cutting through the white waves on the dark water.

The glamorous nightlife seemed never-ending, with every moment at its peak.

Li Da came over to greet them and even gave Ji Zhen Tang a gift, a membership card to an entertainment city.

Zhong Yu Bai politely declined, smiling, “She’s still young.”

Ji Zhen Tang wanted to say that she was already 21 years old, but thinking that he must have his reasons for doing so, she looked at his expression and said nothing.

After Li Da left, Zhong Yu Bai said to her, “A wise person doesn’t leave their fate in the hands of others. I don’t touch these things, and neither should you.”

When he seriously said “don’t,” it truly meant he forbade her from getting involved.

“But you like playing mahjong,” Ji Zhen Tang retorted.

“It’s not to the extent of liking it, just an occasional pastime,” Zhong Yu Bai said. “Besides, playing cards is about the interest.”

She said, “Gambling is also about the interest.”

“There’s a difference between interest and greed. Greed can kill a person, but interest won’t destroy them.”

He spoke philosophically.

Ji Zhen Tang paused, pondering the reasoning.

Zhong Yu Bai’s eyes were gentle as he gazed at her, “Isn’t that the truth?”

“So you’re never greedy?”

He said, “What I’m greedy for might be matters of the heart, not enough to be fatal.”

She recalled her mother’s words, “Wealth is objective, love is illusory,” and couldn’t help but laugh, “When you’re well-fed and warm, you think of lust. You’re too rich.”

Ji Zhen Tang sat at the garden bar, feeling the breeze at a high altitude. She gently swung her legs, shedding all her worries, and calmly looked at the sea.

Mrs. Chen had said, “When you’re unhappy, just look at the stars.”

Someone remembered this advice, so when unhappiness collided with unhappiness in that modern and splendid city, where the night sky couldn’t be seen on rainy days, they had a star-making machine.

It was fake, but the sentiment was real. She wondered if, when Zhong Yu Bai looked up, he was also thinking of her under the same sky.

Ji Zhen Tang asked him, “Is there an aquarium below? Is it your project?”

A few days ago, when she passed by in the car, she didn’t see the specific project details clearly, but with her keen sense for his name, she vaguely caught sight of the word “Chung.” She guessed if Zhong Yu Bai was involved in the construction here.

Zhong Yu Bai replied, “It’s a government project. I just invested a part.”

He used the word “just” to downplay his involvement.

Ji Zhen Tang’s eyes still lit up with surprise.

Seeing her delight, he said, “It’s almost finished. Do you want to take a look?”

She eagerly lifted her skirt, ready to go, “Sure.”

Zhong Yu Bai held her hand and walked against the crowd into the aquarium tunnel. The underwater tunnel, not yet open to the public, was dark blue and cold, enveloping them in a serene atmosphere.

At this moment, this peaceful beauty belonged solely to them.

Walking through the tunnel, surrounded by glass, seawater, and marine life, Ji Zhen Tang looked up and saw a manta ray spreading its wings, seemingly smiling at her.

She grinned back at the fish.

Then the fish swam away proudly.

Ji Zhen Tang sighed, “It feels like we’re in a fairy tale world, doesn’t it? Like one of those animated movies. There might be a mermaid living here, maybe even a dragon palace.”

Mermaids and dragon palaces don’t seem to belong to the same dimension, but regardless—”Even though it’s very fairy-tale-like, it’s best if they don’t appear now.”

Ji Zhen Tang looked up and met Zhong Yu Bai’s playful gaze.

If a mermaid really appeared at this moment, they would probably be scared to death.

Ji Zhen Tang laughed, “Too creepy, better keep the mermaid hidden.”

She raised her hand, gently touching the smooth, clean glass, and tapped on the body of a small whale swimming by quickly.

In the depths of the sea, everything was slow and free. They felt like they had fallen into a blue dream.

Ji Zhen Tang’s imagination ran wild, “Do you think it’s possible that we’re in a dragon palace right now?”

Zhong Yu Bai said, “Then you would be the one and only mermaid princess.”

Indeed, she was one of a kind, because no one else could enter here. Even if it was just a joke, it made her smile happily. There was wind at both ends of the tunnel, and the temperature difference from outside was noticeable. Although Xingzhou was hot, there was still a thin layer of moisture in the underwater tunnel.

When Ji Zhen Tang came out, her bare shoulders were covered with his suit jacket. After walking through the not-too-long tunnel, Ding Jialing’s car was already waiting at the other end.

“Where are we going next?” She asked, sensing that there was another surprise waiting for her.

Zhong Yu Bai gave Ding Jialing directions but didn’t answer Ji Zhen Tang.

He kept it a secret.

They arrived at a street with Chinese characteristics. After getting out of the car and standing at the end of the street in the dark, looking at the crescent-shaped old building in front of her, Ji Zhen Tang looked at him, half-understanding.

“This gift is for your mother.”

Zhong Yu Bai said calmly, then led her forward.

The so-called gift was a dance hall. The high signboard had a few words made of colorful wires: Dance by the Bay.

It was a two-story building, not very large, with a vintage decoration. She remembered that her parents had met in a dance hall. She also vaguely realized that the sign seemed unchanged.

“Help me figure out if she’ll like it?” Zhong Yu Bai asked her as he stood under the colorful lights, waiting for Ji Zhen Tang to finish her tour.

Ji Zhen Tang was dazzled by the dance floor illuminated by colorful lights in front of her. After a moment of surprise, she slowly smiled, “I don’t know if she’ll like it, but I certainly do.”

She said, “My parents seemed to have met here. Is the meaning of this gift related to them?”

“They met here, which sounds beautiful. But now, looking back, it’s like the old dance floor; the beauty has turned into ruins.”

Zhong Yu Bai spoke calmly, “For your mother, this place is more important because she danced here when she was young. Later, for a living and for you, she had to do many hard jobs. By the time she could stand on her own again, time had already passed.”

He looked up at the “Dance by the Bay” sign and continued, “This place has been abandoned for many years. I happened to pass by recently, bought it on a whim, and arranged for someone to manage it. It will reopen soon and become lively again.”

He said, “There are many places to set up a dance hall, but none are as good as rebuilding from ruins.”

If ruins can be rebuilt here, youth can also be rekindled here.

Ji Zhen Tang toured the place with mixed feelings. She went upstairs, and he followed her. Finally, they returned to the dance floor. She joked, “I see, you only know how to win over women this way.”

He smiled faintly, his eyes seeming to see through everything, “Who says women don’t like it?”

She asked, “Is this considered bribery?”

Zhong Yu Bai said, “Sincerity and bribery are both necessary.”

Ji Zhen Tang laughed, “You really know how to cater to people’s preferences.”

Zhong Yu Bai added, “Appreciating flowers, playing music, dancing, these are elegant activities. It’s not just women who like them.”

She agreed, nodding lightly.

“I understand your point. Women should know that youth is not just an age but a belief,” Ji Zhen Tang said. “Life is not just about running around, working hard, raising children, giving birth, working, and earning money.”

She gently placed her hand in his gentlemanly outstretched palm and said with a smile, “There can also be waltzes.”

Music started playing in the quiet night.

The long-lost waltz, the spinning dance steps, made the world feel vast, not confined to the small dance floor but stepping into poetry and the distance. The neon lights were fragmented, the sea waves surged, everything seemed both near and far, stimulating every sense.

She was held by Zhong Yu Bai, maintaining the dance posture, her face gently resting on his shoulder. Ji Zhen Tang said softly, “Thank you for being so thoughtful. It wasn’t necessary to go this far.”

Zhong Yu Bai shared some of his thoughts, “Regardless of the reason, I hope she can still care about you. Saying ‘love’ might be extravagant, but at least care is necessary.”

He admitted, “I want someone else besides me to care about you.”

At this point, it almost became a helpless result, a way to seek care through winning over. Just so that someone in this world could still care about her.

Ji Zhen Tang looked up, her eyes gentle and moist, and she said firmly, “She will like it.”

Zhong Yu Bai also smiled, “Then my efforts were not in vain.”

“I mean she’ll like you.”

The lanterns in front of the beams emitted a dazzling light, cut by the beaded curtains fluttering in the wind, falling on them, leaving only the residual warmth with weakened intensity.

Zhong Yu Bai leaned down to kiss her, and they became damp together with the sea breeze.

Ji Zhen Tang liked the word “rebuild” very much. Ruins and the past are not for reminiscing but for letting go.

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