Shoutout to Alinaza for the commission!
Zhang Yue takes her mother’s surname; the qipao shop originally belonged to her mother.
Young Zhang Yue also once had a beautiful childhood, only her childhood ended abruptly when she was five.
Her mother had just taught her to memorize the qipao shop’s address and phone number when an accident happened, and she was taken in by relatives. After being shuffled through several households, she eventually ended up in a welfare home.
【No. 39 Jinxiu Alley, Lianan District, Tongcheng, Zhang Jin, 135XXXXXXX】
To this day, Zhang Yue still remembers the address she memorized back then, her mother’s name, and the phone number she had taken days to memorize.
“Do you know what a person lost at sea relies on to keep swimming forward?”
In the qipao shop, Zhang Yue lowered her head and cut a piece of cloth, asking faintly.
Jiang Se stared at the cloth in her hands, not speaking.
Zhang Yue didn’t care; with a “rip,” she cut through the fabric, “A lighthouse. This qipao shop is my lighthouse.”
Eight years ago, she returned to Tongcheng, bought No. 39 Jinxiu Alley, and hung back up the name “Zhang Xiu.”
Back then, Zhang Yue had only just turned twenty, and didn’t even think the contract she signed could have problems.
Houses in this old district were as cheap as cabbage, but once the news spread that Lianan Old District was to be demolished, everything changed.
Everyone was saying the residents here were about to get rich overnight.
The original seller then took out the deed, saying the person who signed the contract back then wasn’t qualified to sell the shop, and aggressively demanded Zhang Yue return the shop.
“How are you going to protect this shop?” Zhang Yue put down the scissors in her hand and asked softly, “Those people said the contract is invalid. If you don’t give them two million, this qipao shop has to be returned.”
“I have two million, but I won’t give it to them, even if that’s the simplest solution.” Jiang Se picked up the scissors, absently running her fingers over the sharp tip, “Back then you purchased this shop at a price higher than market value. Now that they’ve heard this place will be demolished, they come to force you to return it. Are you willing?”
Zhang Yue’s lashes trembled lightly, her molars subconsciously tightening.
Jiang Se didn’t lift her eyes; the sharp tip of the scissors reflected a pair of pitch-black pupils. “Let the lawyers handle this. Spending two million on lawyers is better than giving it to those people.”
Zhang Yue bit her lip: “Can a lawyer definitely help me keep the qipao shop?”
“Boss Zhang, you got one thing wrong.” Jiang Se lifted her eyes from the smooth metal surface of the scissors, “it’s that I can keep this shop, not the lawyer. So, today you’re going to sign an agreement with me and transfer the qipao shop to me.”
Zhang Yue froze in place: “Why transfer it to you?”
“Because only under my name can your lighthouse be kept.” Jiang Se curved her lips in a smile, “what? You dare come to me, but you don’t dare trust me? If you don’t trust me, how are we supposed to work together?”
Zhang Yue looked at Jiang Se.
The day she first appeared at the qipao shop, Little Miao had rushed over excitedly to tell her, saying a fairy-like customer had come to the shop, saying it was the first time she’d seen someone like that, someone who only needed to stand there and could make the whole Jinxiu Alley light up.
Indeed.
The girl in front of her was the most beautiful and most composed person she had ever seen.
Those things that kept people awake at night, things that caused unease and anger, once in her hands, couldn’t even make her frown.
For a moment, Zhang Yue was afraid.
Afraid that Jiang Se helped her keep one lighthouse, only to take another away.
But she had no other choice.
If she didn’t transfer it to Jiang Se, it would be taken by someone else.
Zhang Yue loosened the lip flesh she’d almost bitten to bleeding, nodded: “Okay, I’ll trust you this once.”
—
Jiang Se spent a few days transferring the qipao shop under her own name.
The process went more smoothly than she expected.
She didn’t know if Zhang Yue believed her because she had no way out, or because she was too naive.
People who still kept a bit of naivety after all kinds of deceit and suffering were often those who had someone carrying the weight for them, or someone who had done all the dirtiest things in the world for them.
Looking at the signature on the contract, Jiang Se lowered her eyes lightly.
Locking up the contract, she glanced at the time, sent Jiang Chuan a message that she wouldn’t go over for lunch, then drove toward Tongcheng First Hospital.
The medicine she brought from Beicheng was about to run out, Jiang Se had to go to neurology and get new medication.
These medicines, whether she took them or not, couldn’t be stopped.
First Hospital was the best hospital in Tongcheng; even on a weekday it was packed with people, and the line at the pharmacy window was so long she could only see the dark mass of heads.
Jiang Se had only had a bowl of multigrain porridge in the morning; she was starving now, her front sticking to her back. After folding up the prescription slip, she squeezed through the crowd to leave, planning to buy something to fill her stomach first.
Near the hospital there was a bakery Yu Shiying recommended, saying its red bean buns were the most famous in Tongcheng.
Today the snow was heavy, and the snow on the ground had been trampled into dirty muddy slush.
She stepped into that slush, was about to pull up her scarf to block the wind, when suddenly someone behind her called: “Jiang Se!”
Jiang Se stopped and turned, smiling at the person: “Han Xiao.”
Han Xiao was wearing a mask, carrying a large bag of Chinese medicine packets, quickly walking toward her.
“You’re sick?” Han Xiao looked at her side, saying, “you came alone?”
“Mm, haven’t been sleeping well, came to get some medicine.” She looked at the Chinese medicine in his hand and said, “came to pick up medicine for Auntie Han?”
“Yes, I happen to be free, so I went to Hanshan Temple myself to bring some warmth to my aunt.”
Han Yin had someone dedicated to taking care of her health, and every week someone came to First Hospital to pick up Chinese medicine.
Usually Li Rui arranged for someone to come, but when Han Xiao thought about how his brother would return from Europe in a couple of days, to gain some goodwill points he came to run the errand himself, picking up medicine for Han Yin.
Seeing that Jiang Se’s hands were empty, Han Xiao guessed she either hadn’t seen the doctor yet or had seen the doctor but hadn’t picked up medicine yet, so he said enthusiastically: “Which doctor are you seeing? I’ll take you. There’s a flu outbreak lately, tons of people, with you alone, who knows how long you’d have to wait in line.”
“I’ve seen the doctor, just haven’t picked up the medicine.” Jiang Se smiled, “if you’re not in a hurry, help me get the medicine, I’ll go buy something to eat for lunch.”
“Sure, no problem.”
Han Xiao agreed readily, took the prescription and went back. Not long after, someone brought out the medicine.
A few bottles of pills were inside the plastic bag printed with the hospital’s name. He glanced at them; the long list of medical names he didn’t really understand. He was a bit surprised, losing sleep required this many medicines?
There were all kinds of shops around the hospital, especially ones selling flowers and fruit.
Jiang Se bought a red bean bun and headed back. Han Xiao waited where he’d met her earlier. Seeing the not-so-good-looking bun in her hand, he felt briefly relieved that she didn’t ask him if he wanted one.
He was used to being pampered; he’d never touch something like that.
“It’s almost three, how have you not eaten lunch yet? Come, I’ll take you to Junyue to eat.” He said with a cheerful smile, “that bun you can save for breakfast tomorrow, perfect.”
Jiang Se lifted her wrist to see her watch, said: “Aren’t you delivering medicine to Auntie Han? Next time. I still owe you a meal from last time; once I get through this busy period, you pick a place, we’ll go out for a meal.”
Han Xiao quickly waved his hand: “No need for a meal, just treat me to drinks, okay? Let’s go to ‘Wangchuan’!”
He paused, then smiled with narrowed eyes: “And the drinks aren’t for free you know. I’ll tell Manager Yao, from now on when you eat or stay at Junyue, everything’s on the house.”
Hearing this, Jiang Se looked at him, then lightly curved her lips, not agreeing nor refusing, only saying: “Thanks.”
The hospital entrance was crowded and noisy; it wasn’t a place to talk. After a few words, the two parted.
Han Xiao watched Jiang Se’s back, thinking of the cheap bun in her hand, still unable to understand why she refused to return to the Cen family.
After spending the night playing and returning to the hotel, he habitually sent Lu Huaiyan a fawning WeChat: 【Bro, I delivered Aunt’s medicine myself today.】
Thinking of something, he added a piece of gossip: 【Ran into Jiang Se at First Hospital while picking up medicine.】
—
—
Lu Huaiyan attended the press conference in Tongcheng last week, and the next day flew back to England.
It was eight p.m. at night in England, and Lu Huaiyan was at a banquet. He caught sight of Han Xiao’s WeChat, set down his wine glass, and walked toward a corner of the garden.
When Han Xiao sent WeChat messages to Lu Huaiyan, he basically had to send ten to get one reply.
He waited a while with no movement, thinking his cousin was going to ignore him again. Just as he was about to exit WeChat, the other directly called him, opening with: “Sick?”
Han Xiao let out an “ah?”: “I’m not sick.”
He thought a moment, and was suddenly a little touched: “Bro, don’t worry, I’m doing great. For your concern alone I won’t get sick!”
“I wasn’t asking you.” Lu Huaiyan’s voice was cold and indifferent. “I’m asking about Jiang Se. Why did she go to the hospital?”
It took Han Xiao a good while to react: “You’re asking about her? She’s not sick, just not sleeping well, so she went to get some medicine.”
Saying that, he suddenly tasted something off. “Wait, Bro, aren’t you and Jiang Se not familiar at all? Since when do you care about her this much?”
His cousin’s heart couldn’t be described with iron or stone; it had to be the world’s hardest diamond.
A diamond heart.
Han Xiao’s rebellious phase came especially early. When he was seven or eight, he’d forgotten over what trivial nonsense, he imitated someone and ran away from home, and very successfully managed to break one of his small legs.
When the pain was drilling into his bones and a stray dog was eyeing him covetously, Lu Huaiyan, who was visiting the Han family, descended like a deity.
Han Xiao cried loudly, thinking his cousin, seeing him in such a miserable state, would feel sorry for him and carry him back.
Lu Huaiyan was three years older and tall; carrying him would’ve been easy.
Who knew the man crouched down, checked his broken leg, then stood up, crossed his arms, and said cold-bloodedly: “Isn’t there still a leg that’s not broken? Jump back yourself.”
Then he walked off.
Han Xiao had snot bubbles coming out from crying, and seeing him walk away, he hurriedly hopped after him. Luckily, after only a few hops, a servant found him and carried him home.
From then on, Han Xiao completely quit the habit of running away from home, and gained a deep understanding of Lu Huaiyan’s diamond heart.
Because of this, the fact that Lu Huaiyan would call over one vague WeChat message was seriously strange, very strange.
As soon as he asked, that side calmly said: “What? Your half-baked intention of chasing her still hasn’t died down?”
Han Xiao felt a chill down the back of his neck, not sure if it was an illusion.
He indeed had the intention of chasing Jiang Se earlier, and after being struck down by Lu Huaiyan, he’d run in dissatisfaction to his mother, wanting her to arrange a blind date with Jiang Se.
He hadn’t expected the blow from his mother to be even worse.
She actually told him not to go make a fool of himself.
“How would I dare, Bro!” Han Xiao instinctively knew he should concede at this moment. “At most I only have a bit of pity and tender-hearted sympathy for Jiang Se now, nothing else!”
Lu Huaiyan’s tone was subtle: “Sympathy?”
Han Xiao animatedly talked about the bread Jiang Se bought in the afternoon, and took the chance to praise his own righteousness. “I told her, from now on when she comes to Junyue to eat or stay, I can comp everything for her. She won’t need to pay a cent. If she wants, she can live in Junyue for the rest of her life. How’s that, Bro, am I good or what?”
Hearing that, Lu Huaiyan laughed.
Han Xiao continued: “Isn’t the Cen family hosting a banquet at the end of this month to announce Cen Yu’s return? I almost let it slip this afternoon. Oh, Bro, do you think the Cen family invited Jiang Se? But even if they did, she wouldn’t go, right? At that kind of event, she’d only be out of place.”
Saying “out of place” was putting it politely; if Jiang Se went, it would be asking for humiliation. She’d probably become the joke of the whole venue.
Lu Huaiyan knew about the Cen family banquet, he’d received the invitation at the end of last month.
The Cen family clearly wanted to use this opportunity to formally let Cen Yu enter Beicheng’s upper social circle.
It was said Cen Yu, after entering the Cen headquarters, worked like a madwoman, producing a stunning report card in just two months, successfully securing a major North American deal.
Cen Minghong and Ji Yunyi were both very satisfied. The Cen family’s old residence would surely be filled with celebrities in half a month.
For such an occasion, Jiang Se might not go.
But she wouldn’t go not because she feared such a venue, nor because she feared being “out of place.”
Lu Huaiyan withdrew the smile on his face, and said mildly: “Han Xiao, put away your cheap sympathy.”
Tens of millions worth of vintage wine was like a toy in her hands. She said it would be stored by him, but she actually had zero interest in those bottles, not even as much interest as in a free shaker.
“Do you know what it means that she bought that bread?” Lu Huaiyan lowered his eyes slightly, gently brushing off the snowflakes on his cufflink. “It means the bread had value worth eating. Instead of wasting time sympathizing with someone because of a piece of bread, you’d better properly prepare for the demolition of the Lianan old district.”
–
Because of a piece of bread, Han Xiao’s next two weeks were miserable.
Every day he had to brave heavy snow to handle the demolition matters in Lianan old district, and he had to talk to each household one by one, until his lips were nearly rubbed raw.
On Christmas Eve, Han Xiao couldn’t take it anymore. Early in the morning, he bought a plane ticket and fled back to Beicheng.
He just wanted to peacefully be a rich second-generation who leeches off his elders, drink until he was naturally drunk, and sleep until he woke naturally.
Just let him be a handsome waste whose only purpose is to pass down the family line.
Han Xiao shut off his phone as soon as he boarded, completely unaware that a shop in Jinxiu Alley had a property rights dispute.
The people below couldn’t find him, and had no choice but to report the matter to Li Rui.
Learning that one of the people involved in the dispute was Jiang Se, Li Rui’s eyelid twitched. After thinking over and over, he still relayed the matter to Lu Huaiyan without changing a word.
Lu Huaiyan was at that time sitting on the plane from London to Tongcheng, resting his cheek on one hand, turning on the reading light and flipping through the report in his hand.
When his phone lit up, he did not even lift his brows, only swept a glance with the corner of his eye. Seeing that familiar name, his movement paused, he released the papers in his hand, unlocked the phone screen and finished reading it in one glance.
“Jinxiu Alley Number Thirty-Nine?”
His thoughts in an instant returned to that day, when he stood on the stone steps of Hanshan Temple, asking her if she dared follow him back to the hotel.
She turned her head, raised her brows and lifted her small face to look at him, answering with a smile, “why wouldn’t I dare?”
The afternoon light at that moment came trudging from behind him. Those eyes so dark were not lit by the light, instead they seemed to absorb all the brightness, and also caught his gaze.
After waiting a moment, the phone screen went dark automatically. The man gradually returned to himself from the memory.
His brain, which had been running at high speed for over ten hours, still did not lose its sharpness, and very quickly linked the old-district renovation with Jinxiu Alley Number Thirty-Nine.
Going to the hotel to look at the drawings was for the qipao shop.
Saying those inexplicable words to his mother at the bamboo house was also for the qipao shop.
Even going to find him at the hotel in the middle of the night was likewise for the qipao shop.
She was willing to take the initiative to approach him, just for this qipao shop?
“A momentary curiosity?” Lu Huaiyan tapped the table lightly with the knuckle of his finger in a backward motion. His deep and cold brows and eyes sank into a dim shadow. After a moment, he let out a low laugh, “really perfunctory.”
