Seven years later.
Haochen Group, top floor, in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the CEO’s office.
A tall and upright figure stood with his hands behind his back.
In the setting sun, the man was inexplicably cloaked in a sense of solitude and desolation.
Zhang Minghui pushed the door open and entered. When his gaze fell on the man in front of the window, a flicker of an unusual emotion appeared in his eyes. "CEO, we’ve just received news that Qingqing’s flight back to G City is at six tonight."
He thought that upon hearing this news, Mo Ziye would imdiately turn around in surprise.
However, Mo Ziye did not move.
His tall figure remained in the previous position, his gaze fixed outside the window at so unknown point.
Ever since four years ago, when Qingqing went abroad.
Mo Ziye seed to have changed into a different person. From the once sunny and handso favored son of heaven, he had beco a cold-hearted, reticent man who cherished words like gold.
In these four years, Zhang Minghui, who was with him every day, saw him smile less often than he had in three days before.
Just when Zhang Minghui thought that Mo Ziye would not speak.
His voice ca low and calm, "Is that so?"
The voice carried no discernible emotion.
The girl he once pampered now seed to have no real connection to him anymore.
Zhang Minghui took a few steps forward. Standing a few steps behind Mo Ziye, he looked at him with gentle brows, "Ziyi, aren’t you going to pick her up? Qingqing has been away for four years and is finally coming back. I can cancel the dinner appointnt tonight..."
"No need!"
His words were interrupted by Mo Ziye.
The tone was deep, with an uncompromising authority.
This was not Mo Ziye speaking as himself but as the CEO of Haochen Group.
Zhang Minghui’s mouth moved.
In the end, he dared not say anything more.
He just stood there without leaving.
Seemingly still waiting for so instructions.
After another minute.
Mo Ziye finally turned around, his features backlit with a faint, cool sharpness and sternness. The handso and chiseled face showed a maturity beyond his years.
"If you want to go pick her up, go ahead. Don’t ntion the past in front of her."
"Ziyi, you and she..."
"There’s no need for you to accompany to tonight’s dinner."
Mo Ziye didn’t give him a chance to say anything inappropriate.
Having said that, he stepped back to his desk, picked up a file, and continued to read.
Zhang Minghui watched him with hesitation for a mont, realizing that saying anything more would be useless, then turned and left the office.
——
The airport is a place for reunions and farewells.
There were people crying, people laughing; there was never a shortage of joy and sorrow.
Qin Qingqing walked out of security and imdiately saw Zhang Minghui waving at her with a sign, grinning widely, which made a flicker of astonishnt pass through her eyes.
"Brother Little Hui, why are you here?"
Wearing a limited edition dress, her features delicate and her smile gentle, even in a crowd she stood out unmistakably.
"I heard about your flight back, so naturally, I ca to greet you. I haven’t seen you in four years, Qingqing, you’ve beco even more beautiful."
"Brother Little Hui, do I need to return the complint?"
Qin Qingqing asked with a playful smile, her bright deanor giving Zhang Minghui a montary illusion.
As if everything was still like four years ago.
But the next second, Qin Qingqing’s voice shattered his illusion, "Brother Little Hui, how has everyone been these four years?"
Her voice softened and llowed.
Her beautiful apricot eyes held a faint smile, a seemingly calm question that had been tempered and settled after a storm in her heart before it gently spilled from her red lips.
Under the airport lights, Zhang Minghui studied her serene smile and calm eyes, hesitating for a mont.
He chuckled softly and said, "Everyone’s doing well. Let take the suitcase for you; you must be tired and hungry after such a long flight. Let’s go ho and talk more there."
Qin Qingqing did not refuse and said, "Thank you, Brother Little Hui."
She then released the suitcase handle.
Once in the car, Zhang Minghui turned to her in the passenger seat and asked with a smile, "Qingqing, are you back for good this ti?"
Qin Qingqing was fastening her seatbelt.
She paused slightly at Zhang Minghui’s words.
But only for a mont, then nonchalantly finished buckling up before raising her head to answer him, "Yes, my father’s health isn’t good. I’m back for good this ti."
"That’s great. You’ve been away for four years; we’ve all missed you. It’s good that you’re staying."
The "we" Zhang Minghui referred to naturally included Mo Ziye.
Qin Qingqing was taken aback for a mont.
She quickly suppressed her emotions, raised an eyebrow with a smile, and asked, "I didn’t tell anyone I was coming back this ti. How did you find out?"
"Uncle Qin didn’t know either?"
Zhang Minghui looked at her in surprise.
Qin Qingqing shook her head, "I wanted to surprise my dad, so I haven’t told him yet."
If she had, her father Qin Mu might have co to the airport early to wait for her.
And she didn’t like having soone pick her up.
So she didn’t tell anyone and ca back quietly.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Minghui found out anyway.
The car got on the road, Zhang Minghui focused on driving, and Qin Qingqing looked out the window.
After four years, everything in this city seed unfamiliar. Amid the bustling traffic, she couldn’t find any familiar shadows.
"Qingqing, do you have any plans now that you’re back? Are you joining the Group or...?"
"No, I’m used to being idle."
Qin Qingqing glanced at him, then continued looking out the window.
At this ti, the car moved slowly, and Zhang Minghui engaged in occasional chit-chat with her.
When they stopped at a green light, he waited for a long ti without hearing her answer his question.
He asked in surprise, looking at her staring out the window, "Qingqing, what are you looking at?"
Qin Qingqing turned back and said softly, "I’ve been away for four years; I can hardly recognize this city anymore."
"If you waited a few more years to co back, you might not even find your way ho,"
Zhang Minghui pointed to the bustling pedestrian street ahead. "Do you see that pedestrian street? Four years ago, it was just a street for street vendors... But now, it’s the luxury brand showcase that Haochen has newly developed. From design to construction to leasing, Ziyi personally oversaw it... Except for South Street, which Ziyi didn’t allow to be leased, all the other shops have been rented out."
Qin Qingqing’s breath montarily caught at his words.
The na slipped through her eardrums without warning, piercing through the wall she’d built for four years like a boulder, crashing suddenly onto her heart.
Amidst overwhelming pain.
A childhood whimsical statent echoed across ti in her ears, "Brother Ziyi, when I grow up, I want to turn this place into a ho for luxury brands... and gather all the top luxury brands in the world here... and then, I’ll keep this street for myself..."
--
[Darlings, last year because Ye Zi had a baby, many side stories were left unfinished... Over the past year, I’ve seen many of you saying you still want to read Ziyi and Qingqing’s side stories, as well as the side stories about characters previously unntioned in the text.
Ye Zi got inspired and decided to finish the incomplete side stories. The novel has been applied for permanent subscription, so feel free to read, darlings!
October 3, 2018]
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