CH 90

A long sound of the ship's whistle resounded across the sky, and the luxury cruise ship loaded with passengers slowly sailed across the water, splitting the white and fine waves.

The patio music is over.

"So, can we get to know each other again?" Jiang Yu asked softly.

Purely business partnership.

If she understands correctly, this sentence means that in the future, they should keep a proper distance from each other, and only have work-, related interaction, and no more intimate personal relationships. It sounds like she's been driven into a corner, but the future is changing fast, and the chance to get reacquainted holds all possibilities.

Cheng Suran pursed her lips.

The bitter taste of the coffee still lingers in her mouth, with a bit of sourness. She actually doesn't like coffee very much. She prefers sweet things to bitter ones.

Especially at this moment, her heart is full of bitterness, and she wants to eat sweet things even more.

She lowered her head, took a silver spoon and dug a small piece of cake, and put it into her mouth. The sweetness of the cream melts instantly on the taste buds, rich and creamy, covering all the sourness and bitterness.

It's really good.

She continued to eat the cake, spoonful by spoonful.

Jiang Yu watched her eat methodically, seemingly without an intention to respond, and her heart suddenly became tense.

Time passed very slowly. Finally, the cake was almost eaten and Cheng Suran put down the silver spoon, wiped hee mouth with a tissue and raised her head.

"We can."

She remained expressionless, her gaze calm.

She hoped that this time she could truly let go, no longer paying excessive attention to Jiang Yu, and no longer experiencing emotional fluctuations because of her.

Jiang Yu let out a sigh of relief, a smile appearing in her eyes. She extended her hand towards Cheng Suran, "Hello, I'm Jiang Yu, a model agent and fashion designer."

Cheng Suran quickly exchanged a handshake: "Cheng Suran."

"Can we exchange WeChat now?" Jiang Yu asked with eager anticipation.

Cheng Suran's expression momentarily froze.

Jiang Yu understood and immediately changed the topic: "Regarding work... do you have any plans for the future?"

"In a couple of years, when the company secures another round of funding and expands, I can move my household registration to Jiangcheng. It's not very practical to stay in the capital all the time since I don't live there now, and many things are inconvenient."

"Will you settle in Jiangcheng?"

"Yes," Cheng Suran nodded softly, "I've always felt that this is where I'll spend the latter part of my life."

A spark lit up in Jiang Yu's usually dim eyes, and a hint of joy appeared on her eyebrows. Both their careers were centered here, and settling in the same city would make their professional interactions much easier. The more they intersected, the stronger their connection would become.

Even God is giving her a chance to make up for her regrets.

Suddenly, she remembered something, looked at Cheng Suran with some hesitation, and said, "That model..."

"I'll return it to you after I fix it." Cheng Suran quickly interrupted.

Jiang Yu froze, a little pleasantly surprised: "I don't remember how many times I tried it in the past few years, and I made a mess every time... Later, I was afraid that the more I repaired it, the worse it would be, so I stopped trying, and kept it well."

"It's your clumsiness and lack of talent." Cheng Suran retorted, her tone sharp. She turned her head, feeling a twinge in a corner of her heart.

Feeling a dryness in her mouth, Cheng Suran picked up her cup as if to drink her coffee, but the memory of the bitter cold taste made her put it down again. She lifted her gaze to look at the scenery beyond the railing.

Jiang Yu frowned, beckoning a waiter over. As the waiter approached, she asked, "Do you have any fruit juice?"

"Yes, we do."

The waiter showed her the options on a tablet.

Jiang Yu ordered a glass of watermelon juice and another mousse cake. When the waiter left, Cheng Suran asked suspiciously, "You haven't finished your own."

"I ordered it for you." Jiang Yu glanced at the empty saucer in front of her, and the barely touched coffee.

Cheng Suran lowered her head following her gaze, and suddenly fell silent.

After a while, the fruit juice and cake were served, Cheng Suran couldn't wait to drink a few mouthfuls of watermelon juice, it was sweet, and the coldness went straight from her throat to the bottom of her heart, she bent the corners of her mouth, and continued to eat the cake.

Desserts really make people happy.

Jiang Yu looked at her, the smile at the end of her eyes deepened, she took a sip of her coffee, and slowly started to eat the cake.

"What about you?" Cheng Suran suddenly raised her eyes and asked.

"What?"

"How have you been working these past few years?"

Jiang Yu's expression was subtle. She pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "I retired, didn't I? From being in front of the camera to working behind the scenes, my main focus now is on nurturing new talents. Clothing design is more of a hobby, and can be considered more of a side job.

Cheng Suran made a soft sound of understanding. "I just remembered, I think I've bought clothes from ETERNO before. I quite liked the design and fabric."

"Which piece?" Jiang Yu became interested. "It might be one of my creations."

Cheng Suran picked up her phone, scrolled through her photo album, and pulled up a selfie of herself wearing a black cardigan. "This one."

"The spring and summer series of the year before last, my second work."

"You really designed it?"

"I'm not lying."

A very simple black cardigan, looking quite ordinary on the surface. Cheng Suran glanced at it in the physical store, initially not planning to buy—

Thin spring and summer short-sleeved shirts priced at over three thousand yuan, this doesn't align with her consumption philosophy. There are many good choices for under a thousand yuan 

Until she reached out and touched it.

The fabric is very soft, and has a cool feeling of icy silk. She thought that this kind of fabric would be limp when worn, without any structure, and would exaggerate the roundness of her shoulders. However, when she put it on, she realized that the entire garment had a straight and upright silhouette. The shoulder design resembled that of a suit jacket, and no matter how she raised her arms, it maintained that shape.

The details are perfect, perfectly covering up the shortcomings on her shoulders.

So she just bought it.

Perhaps because she was too deeply influenced by Jiang Yu's aesthetics in the past, she really likes this kind of simple, classic and detailed clothes, and she is willing to pay for the texture and design.

"Oh." Cheng Suran replied sullenly, and lowered her head to drink watermelon juice.

Jiang Yu smiled, "Our preferences are very similar."

"Simplicity never goes out of style, and many people like it the same."

Hard-spoken.

"Ranran, if you like, I can customize one for you, something unique in the world."

"I'll let you know if I need it."

"Alright."

....

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

This translation is originally posted on

love4baihe.blogspot.com

please read it there. and check out other stories too

At about three o'clock, Cheng Suran said she still had something to do, and left first after paying the bill. Jiang Yu sat alone on the chair, finished her own coffee, and Cheng Suran's untouched cup of coffee.

She picked up the bank card and looked at it.

827930...

August twenty-seventh, nine thirty in the evening.

Jiang Yu recalled Cheng Suran's confession from five years ago.

Back then, Ranran was very brave. Despite knowing that speaking up would mean not being able to stay by her side anymore, she still chose to confess. She had never misjudged people, but it was herself... She increasingly felt unworthy of such sincerity and genuine feelings.

After sitting quietly for a while, Jiang Yu stood up and prepared to leave. She had plans to have dinner with Pei Chutong tonight and needed to head there early. As she walked towards the stairs, she dialed a number. The call was answered after a while.

"Tong..."

A burst of sobbing sounded into her ears, Jiang Yu froze for a moment, before she could speak, she heard Pei Chutong choking up and said, "Coco, I can't have dinner with you anymore, I'm in the capital now...

"Don't cry, what's going on?"

"My grandfather is gone."

Jiang Yu's heart skipped a beat.

.

Outside the ICU ward, Pei Chutong squatted on the ground, holding her knees with her hands, tears streaming from her dull eyes.

The doctor had just declared the old man in the ward brain dead a few minutes ago.

At the beginning of the month, her Grandpa's old illness relapsed and was admitted to the hospital. His condition fluctuated between better and worse, but she couldn't leave the film set. Today, the new movie wrapped up filming, and she had just returned to Jiangcheng. She intended to pack her things and rest well for the night before flying back tomorrow morning.

She called home this morning, and her Grandma happily said that Grandpa can now breathe on his own and can sit up and chat with others. Unexpectedly, by noon, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and the doctor directly issued a critical illness notice.

At that time, she had just walked out of Jiangcheng Airport.

Her parents and relatives were all discussing the funeral. Grandma was lying in the general ward because she passed out from crying. Pei Chutong just sat against the wall like a puppet without a soul.

There was a sound of hurried footsteps coming from the end of the corridor.

"Hey, Xiao Ruan is here."

"Xiao Ruan…"

Relatives and friends noticed the newcomer, their voices echoing one after another.

"Uncle Pei, where's Grandpa?"

A low, hoarse female voice, tinged with weariness. Pei Chutong's ears perked up, and she suddenly raised her head.

The low and hoarse female voice revealed some fatigue. Pei Chutong's ear tips moved slightly, and she raised her head abruptly.

The slender figure of a woman came into view, her long hair was tied low behind her head, she was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans, her face was thin and her outline was cold and hard, she still had that serious look.

Ah.

She finally saw her again.

"He was waiting for you all along, but you didn't arrive in time. He passed away not long ago. Go take a look," Father Pei sighed heavily, pointing towards the hospital room.

Ruan Mu rushed in, arriving at the bedside. She saw the elderly man lying peacefully, with a serene expression. His thin arms were exposed, the skin still carried a hint of color, as if he were merely sleeping.

"Grandpa..." She choked out the words.

Tears flowed endlessly down her cheeks as Ruan Mu stood up straight, slowly lifting her right hand to salute the body of the deceased old man.

Then she knelt down with a "thud".

As far as she is concerned, Grandpa Pei's kindness is as great as a mountain. Today, she came late and failed to see the old man for the last time, leaving behind a lifetime of regrets...

It would have been fine if she hadn't insisted on leaving.

After kneeling for a long time, Ruan Mu stood up shakily, wiping away her tears. At this moment, the Pei family had contacted the funeral home, and the nurse also came in. She gave the old man a reluctant look, then turned and went out.

Pei Chutong squatted in the corner and looked at her.

Their eyes met.

[Starting from tomorrow, you're free... Take care of yourself in the future.]

[I accept whatever decision you make.]

Memories surged forth, past moments drifting before their eyes like ripples in water, making them feel as if they were still the same as they were in their younger days. In an instant, they were transported back to their childhood.

Ruan Mu's lips moved: "Tongtong"

She squats down.

Pei Chutong just looked at her without saying a word, with tears in her swollen eyes.

Ruan Mu tried to reach out to touch.

But Pei Chutong's body shrank a bit. Ruan Mu's hand remained suspended in the air halfway, frozen in place, neither moving forward nor backward.

After a while, she silently pulled back her hand.

....

Grandpa Pei's body was transported to the funeral parlor. After discussions, the Pei family decided to hold the farewell ceremony the day after tomorrow in the morning.

These past two days, Ruan Mu has been staying at the Pei residence.

The difference is, the room where she used to live with Pei Chutong since childhood has now become Pei Chutong's own room. For now, she can only temporarily stay in a guest room. She is on the first floor, while Pei Chutong is on the second floor.

On the first night, neither of them looked for each other.

The two didn't have any communication.

During the day, Pei Chutong locked herself in the room, did not go out, did not see anyone, and did not get any water or rice, which made her parents anxious. One side has to arrange the funeral and comfort Grandma, while the other side has to worry about the daughter, they were so busy going around.

From night to dawn, from dawn to night.

Pei Chutong lay on the bed all day.

Her mind was completely blank, as if her soul was lost somewhere. She doesn't know if it was because of her grandfather's death, or because she saw Ruan Mu. She looked up and stared at the ceiling, feeling that she can't even breathe.

—tok tok

"Tongtong, can you open the door?" Ruan Mu's voice came from outside.

"I'm wood."

Pei Chutong took a deep breath, her body tensed up, then relaxed. She pushed herself up with her arms, stumbled over, and opened the door.

Ruan Mu stood outside holding a tray with a bowl of fragrant noodles on it.

"Tongtong..."

There was joy in her eyes.

Pei Chutong turned sideways blankly, let her in, and slammed the door again with a "bang". The sound shook Ruan Mu's arms.

She walked to the table, bent down to put down the tray, and turned around mechanically: "You haven't eaten for a day, I cooked your favorite pasta braised noodles, eat a few bites, don't let Uncle and Auntie worry..."

Before she could finish speaking, Pei Chutong rushed over to hug her, and suddenly burst into tears.

"You bastard... Where the hell did you go... Only coming back now... Grandpa wanted to see you one last time... Damn bastard... I... I wanted to see you too."

Ruan Mu's froze.

Her raised arm slowly came down, wrapping around her waist, while the other hand gently stroked the back of her head, providing comfort like in their childhood.

"I'm sorry," Ruan Mu's eyes welled up with tears, "there's something I want to confess to you."

Pei Chutong held her tightly.

"Actually, I was picked up by Grandpa."