Chapter 148 - Smile of Sorrow

The sea blue ocean was dyed orange by the sunset. 

The wind was colder than before. 

Xiong Zhi hugged herself as a cool breeze passed by.

A suit jacket dr.a.p.ed over her.

"Do you want a warm tea, young miss?" Linfeng asked who was seated beside her.

There were far away from the capital. This was the place that Linfeng recommended for Xiong Zhi to eased her mind.

She was surprised by the scenery here. It was all sand and ocean. They were nearby hotels in the area. They were shops as well. But all of them were small. It was not crowded so there was privacy whenever she looked at.

It was very simple. 

Xiong Zhi had been used to extravagant things. The luxurious mansion, big hotels, extravagant villa, and high-class restaurants.

However, being here and just looking at these shops brought her so much comfort. Like everything in her life was simple. There's no need to scheme or think about her next plan.

She just needs to eat, walk, and enjoy the breeze. Of course, it was not possible to be this relaxing without Linfeng by her side.

They just took a stroll earlier to look at the shops. They took a break and sat in one of the benches near a coconut tree. They were facing the ocean and watching the sunset.

"I drunk many teas today. There's no need." It's true. She had been running to places to meet and make deal with the investors. She loss count on how many cups of tea she had drunk.

"Besides, you just call me a young miss. Two points for me." Xiong Zhi said as she seriously collected this point.

Linfeng was stunned then he lightly laughed.

"I forgot we have this bet. It seems like I owe you two days now. Oh-" Linfeng lightly smiled and added, 

"But since you called me today and use your point, I only owe you one point now." He said it teasingly.

"Today is not counted. We did business today." Xiong Zhi would not make her two points to be deducted today. Besides, if she has to use her point, she would use the whole day, dusk to dawn.

"Then what makes it counted?" Linfeng asked. His voice was very alluring to Xiong Zhi.

Xiong Zhi could not help but move nearer to Linfeng. But she did it very discreetly. Linfeng did not notice it since he was focused on waiting at Xiong Zhi's answer.

"If I use the whole day not for business but for personal gain." Xiong Zhi answered truthfully.

'Personal gain? What she will gain from being alone with me? This is really ridiculous.'

However, Linfeng found it cute that he unconsciously smiled.

"Alright. I'll look forward to it."

Xiong Zhi smiled as well. 

She kept staring at Linfeng's smile until it slowly curved down and became tight-lipped.

'Ah, the smile is gone.' Xiong Zhi went back to watching the sunset.

Linfeng sighed in relief when the hot eyes leave him. He can't still get used to it.

The breeze passed by and the two were just silent. Silently, admiring the sunset. 

Xiong Zhi was really savoring this moment. She had watched romance movies when the two protagonists spend their time watching the sunset. If she had made her bucket list, it would be one in the list and she would happily check it with him.

It was Linfeng who break the silence first.

"I'm really amazed how you made them sign the contract. Those three investors are very known for their meticulous investing. You managed to convince them. Congratulations."

Xiong Zhi smiled. 

"I managed to do it with the help of other people. You can tell to your friend that he could make the ghost projects into the real one if he wants."

"No need. Since the investors already decided to invest in ArtWorld they would pull out in SC anytime now. They could only choose one boat, IHZHI or SC."

"I don't think so. San Chin is a sharp man. He would not let go of SC anytime. They might reduce the amount they invest in SC but I'm sure they would try to ride both. They are very meticulous. IHZHI and SC are both a growing company with a lot of potentials. They would not waste this chance even that means they will lose money for years." Xiong Zhi expressed her opinion. 

Linfeng listened and admired Xiong Zhi's analytic capability once more. 

"You are right. I will tell my friend to have some back up for the project. "

"That's good. SC is a great company. It will grow more in the future." Xiong Zi sincerely praised.

Hearing this little praise, Linfeng felt proud and happy.

"I will tell my friend your complement, he would be happy. IHZHI is a great company as well. I'm impressed with your friend. Your friend managed to get a seat in IAmFashionista. That's a great feat." Linfeng praised back as well. But he truly mean it. 

He was really amazed by IHZHI. If given a chance he wanted to know more about IHZHI. Especially now, that it was Xiong Zhi's friend who owned the company.

It never occur to him that IHZHI was created by Xiong Zhi. 

"Comparing to SC, I think IHZHI is still lacking.." Xiong Zhi then stopped. She hasn't told Linfeng that she owned IHZHI. Should she tell him now?

She was about to tell him so she looked at him. But she got entranced by the sunset's glow on his face.

Facing the sunset, his hair becomes orange and his eyes were light brown. His beautiful face that wasn't fully matured was illuminated by the orange glow. His face was calm and his eyes show how matured he was. Xiong Zhi just then realized how unbefitting it was on his young face. 

He was clearly only a seventeen-year-old boy. However, Xiong Zhi taught of him as an a.d.u.l.t man. He never showed his childishness and always act matured. Xiong Zhi forgot that she was the only one who was truly an a.d.u.l.t inside. Linfeng was only a boy. In and outside. 

Now looking at his youthful face and seeing that maturity in his eyes makes Xiong Zhi's heart ache. She wondered, when she was in his age in her past lifetime what she was doing? She was probably wasting away in the mansion. Watching time passed without thinking of her future. But this man in front of her was always thinking of everything ahead of time. Not only for himself but also for her. 

'It must be really tiring.'

Those times must have tiring for Linfeng. Now that Xiong Zhi was scheming left and right, securing the deals she has, convincing the investors, and just being very occupied this week make her exhausted by both body and mind. She had only been doing it for a year. And she felt how tough it was.

But Linfeng was doing it in his whole life. And his later years were more exhausting because of her. 

Those three years that they got separated was hell.

Remembering how Linfeng looked old in just three years made her heart painful.

How much has he suffered?

"Zhi'er?" Linfeng was facing Xiong Zhi now. 

Xiong Zhi's expression wasn't right. Even though she still had an expressionless face, he could somehow manage to see the subtle emotion in her eyes. For him, she looked like she was about to tear up.

"What's wrong?" He asked. He hold her hand. He remembered how much Xiong Zhi scratched her hands before. He was afraid he would do it again. 

Even Linfeng could not understand why Xiong Zhi change her emotion from time to time, he understands one thing. It was that Xiong Zhi felt like she was about to break any moment. 

She might look cold and expressionless. But that's not how she is. She has a big wall she made around her so that her overflowing emotion would not come out. And there was only one person whom she let go pass the wall. Even though he did not understand why, he knew it was him.

This realization made him truly happy. That his young miss trusted him. He too wanted to know and explore the inside of the wall.

Linfeng was slightly bitter though, he knew he was slowly letting Xiong Zhi in his heart. He was opening the gate slowly and unintentionally. He knew it. But he doesn't want to organize this thought. Or do something about it. For now, he wanted to fight this feeling if he could. He wanted his rationality to kick in. He wanted to distance himself from her. He wanted to do his work with no feelings attached. Because he knew, as he got attached to her, it would be harder for him to leave her in the future. She was not part of his plans.

But how could he do it?

When Xiong Zhi was acting strange from time to time? Like now. When he hold her hand, her emotion increased. Her eyes that were bathed with orange glow was so soft and gentle. She gripped his hand too. Not letting go.

This small gesture that she kept doing not just once, but before as well brought turmoil in Linfeng's heart. Making his gate opened wider than before.

Linfeng closed his eyes. He doesn't want to admit defeat to his feelings. There were so many things to do. Things that this feeling wasn't needed. If he accepts his feelings and entertained them, things will be more complicated. 

And both of them would be hurt in the future.

He knew it. 

Xiong Zhi just tightly holds his hands. 

"I'm just happy." It was Xiong Zhi's answer to his worried question earlier.

He opened his eyes and looked at her. 

She was smiling. But that smile has sorrow on it.

He too smiled. But that smile has sorrow on it as well.

The two stayed together as the sunset ends.