Chapter Ninety-Two

The car slowly stopped at the entrance of Bluetear Hotel.

"Yingyue, does he know you went out today?" Are you seeing someone? Xiahou Yu asked while waiting for Yuwen Xi.

"Perhaps he knows, perhaps he doesn't." Yingyue replied indifferently, as if the question held no interest for her.

Xiahou Yu opened his mouth, but said nothing, only shifting his gaze from Yingyue to the world outside the car.

Yingyue, too, looked out, though her thoughts had long wandered elsewhere.

That man—he's probably still immersed in the pleasures of gentle company, completely oblivious to whether she has gone out, where she's headed, or whom she intends to meet!

With this thought, Yingyue felt a surge of indignation. He doesn’t care about you; why do you keep thinking about him? Are you really so cheap? She shook her head, redirecting her focus to the hotel.

A man dressed entirely in white casual attire was approaching at a steady pace. His short, neat hair, straight nose, and delicate pale pink lips curved into a charming smile. His sea-blue eyes sparkled with amusement as he walked toward Yingyue. This was Yuwen Xi.

Seeing Yuwen Xi emerge, Xiahou Yu stepped out of the car, gave him a shoulder pat full of understanding, then leaned in to speak to Yingyue, who was still seated.

"Yingyue, I won’t be the million-volt light bulb getting in your way. There’s work to attend to at the company, so I’ll head off now. The driver will be here soon, just wait here for a while."

Yingyue smiled apologetically. "Are you sure you don’t want to join us?"

Xiahou Yu looked at her and gently shook his head. As he walked toward the hotel, he waved stylishly to Yingyue and Yuwen Xi behind him.

Yingyue gazed into those familiar yet somehow strange blue eyes. For a moment, a golden gleam seemed to flicker before her, but looking more closely, she realized it was merely an illusion—her own vision deceiving her. She couldn’t help but laugh at herself.

Shaking off the jumble of thoughts in her mind, she saw Yuwen Xi settle into the car.

Facing him directly, she teased, "It took endless calls to finally get you here. You really do have quite the airs!"

Yuwen Xi’s face flushed, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. He bowed his head and spoke softly, "Didn’t you say you were busy lately? I never expected..."

Yingyue’s expression stiffened at his words.

Busy? If there’s anything she has in abundance now, it’s time.

"Hehe, my friend had something come up suddenly, and it looks like she’ll be tied up for a while," she said lightly, her voice tinged with a self-mocking irony she herself hadn’t noticed.

Yuwen Xi looked up sharply at Yingyue, and seeing the faint ridicule in her lips, his bright eyes dimmed for a moment, but soon regained their light. He said to her, "Truth be told, you know this place far better than I do. Since I have a few days free, would you accompany me and show me around?"

"Of course, no problem." Yingyue agreed readily, then asked in puzzlement, "How is it that a CEO like you seems so deprived, as if you’ve never gone out sightseeing?"

"Heh, you’re right. I truly haven’t wandered much. You must have noticed—I rarely travel abroad, and even when I do, it’s strictly for business. As soon as the work is done, I return home, never lingering," Yuwen Xi’s voice lowered as he spoke, but his face remained impassive.

Yingyue looked at him, unable to suppress her curiosity. "How could that be..."

"Heh, why not? The world is vast, and there are things you simply don’t know," he replied with an easy air, but Yingyue heard the undertone of sadness.

She placed her hand atop Yuwen Xi’s, silently offering comfort.

Yuwen Xi glanced back, giving her a reassuring smile.

At that moment, the driver summoned by Xiahou Yu arrived.

"Miss, how do you do?" The driver bowed respectfully to Yingyue.

"Mm, come in," she said.

"Yes, miss." The driver entered the car, fixed his gaze ahead, and asked, "Miss, where would you like to go?"

Yingyue considered for a moment, then turned to Yuwen Xi. "Xi, where do you want to go?"

Yuwen Xi pondered, then suddenly lifted his head, his gaze steady upon Yingyue. "To the seaside."

The seaside?

Yingyue was momentarily stunned, memories flashing before her eyes.

It was the second time she had met Yuwen Xi. She had thought she would never again see the man who had made her heart race in a single instant. But fate, ever capricious, brought them together again after years apart. On that day, the two of them pledged their feelings.

Lost in reminiscence, Yingyue hardly noticed that the driver had already brought them to the nearest beach.

Looking out at the blue sky and turquoise waters ahead, she felt an inexplicable sense of being worlds apart from herself.

The sky was still so blue, the water so blue.

Only her own heart seemed no longer as restless as it once was.

Yingyue walked with Yuwen Xi to the shore, listening to the waves crashing repeatedly against the rocks, the surf coming and going again and again.

From the moment they left the car, Yuwen Xi had held Yingyue’s hand tightly, never letting go. Seeing her dazed expression now, his grip unconsciously tightened.

Yingyue’s palm began to ache, snapping her back to reality. She looked at Yuwen Xi, her face calm.

Yuwen Xi saw her gaze but said nothing for a long moment, his expression tranquil, almost somber. Anxious, he finally spoke, "Yingyue, do you dislike it here? If you don’t, we can leave."

Yingyue remained silent, and Yuwen Xi began to pull her back toward the car.

A pang seized Yingyue’s heart.

This man, once so lofty and admirable, had become so humble, so cautious—since when?

She stood motionless, holding Yuwen Xi’s hand tight.

He turned, seeing her smiling up at him, unsure how to respond.

"Yingyue, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing. It’s beautiful here. Let’s go sit by the rocks," she said, leading a still bewildered Yuwen Xi toward the rocky outcrop, adding as they walked, "I haven’t been to the seaside in ages. Today, you must keep me company!" She glanced back, her smile dazzling Yuwen Xi, who could only reply in a daze, "Alright."

"Come on!"

Yingyue suddenly let go of Yuwen Xi’s arm and darted ahead, running without restraint, turning back every so often to look at him. Her slender arms spread wide, like a bird about to take flight.

Yuwen Xi watched her joyful smile, his heart filling up.

Whether she loved him or not, whether she had forsaken him or ever cared for him at all—it mattered little now. As long as she smiled like this, even if she smiled in the arms of another, it wouldn’t matter!

A smile spread across Yuwen Xi's face. Even if love was humble, love was love.

Bathed in sunlight, Yingyue was surrounded by a halo, like a beautiful angel descending to earth, so unreal in her beauty. Yuwen Xi reached out, wanting to seize her, but caught only air. His smile faltered, then brightened again.

Yingyue didn’t miss the fleeting melancholy on Yuwen Xi’s face, and her heart twinged with pain, though her smile remained radiant. She ran toward him, and before he could react, grabbed his hand, lightly pulling him toward the rocks.

Yuwen Xi looked at her hand in his, hesitated, then let go of his worries.

So be it. Since there was a chance to be together, why not indulge in a moment of ease? As long as she wished it!

"Huff, huff..." Yingyue reached the rocks, bent over, catching her breath. Turning back, she saw Yuwen Xi still standing straight, showing no sign of fatigue, and felt both embarrassed and annoyed, grumbling, "Hey, I’m exhausted, how are you not tired at all?"

Yuwen Xi found her amusing and teased, "You neglected exercise, so your stamina is poor—how can you blame me? Am I wrong for keeping fit?"

"Yes, it’s your fault! Why bother being so healthy for no reason?" Yingyue retorted, still out of breath.

Yuwen Xi smiled helplessly. "Alright, alright, it’s my fault. I won’t exercise anymore. From now on, I’ll just eat and sleep, and sleep and eat, okay?"

"Are you mocking me?" Yingyue shot him a sidelong glance, her little face stern.

"No, no, I wouldn’t dare!" Yuwen Xi feigned innocence, pretending to be frightened.

"Good. That’s how it should be," Yingyue declared, head held high in queenly satisfaction.

Yuwen Xi shook his head, smiling indulgently at her airs.

Meanwhile, Xiahou Yu had just gotten out, watching as Yingyue and Yuwen Xi’s car drove off. His phone rang. Seeing the name flashing on the screen, his eyes flickered and he smiled meaningfully.

"Hello?" Xiahou Yu answered as he walked into the hotel.

Passing staff bowed and greeted him, and he nodded in reply.

Only after entering the exclusive elevator for the president did Xiahou Yu speak, "What is it?"

"Where is she?" came a low, hypnotic voice from the receiver.

"I don’t know." In the elevator, the gleaming metal panels reflected Xiahou Yu’s figure. He shrugged helplessly and smiled mischievously.

"You don’t know?" came a tone of confusion, followed by anger. "You’re not together?" It was phrased as a question, but the voice was certain.

"That’s right. Otherwise, how would I not know where she is?" Xiahou Yu replied with his usual infuriating tone.

After he finished speaking, there was silence on the other end, then a calm voice asked, "Who’s with her?"

"Guess," Xiahou Yu replied, and as he did, he seemed to hear a grinding noise from the receiver. He pulled the phone away from his ear, looked at it fondly, and stroked it twice—thank goodness, thank goodness, the soon-to-be furious person wasn’t holding his phone.

Feeling reassured by the phone’s intact state, Xiahou Yu placed the receiver back against his ear.

"Beep beep—"

As expected, the line disconnected abruptly.

Xiahou Yu laughed as he hung up, and with the call ended, his smile disappeared as well.