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“Mm, I’ll head to the office a bit later.”
Qin Mingyuan adjusted the Bluetooth earpiece on his right ear, his eyes focused on the road ahead.
As he stopped at a red light, he turned his head slightly, “If you can’t make a decision, just leave it for me to handle when I get back.”
Zhou Yang, on the other end of the line, said something more. Qin Mingyuan responded and then tapped his earpiece to end the call.
The light turned green just as he hung up. He placed his hands on the steering wheel, pressed the gas, and the car smoothly rolled forward.
Last night, Qin Mingyuan had received a call from his mother, reminding him that today was Qingming Festival, and to not forget to buy a bouquet of flowers for his grandparents.
Other than his parents, who were abroad, most of the Qin family wasn’t in A City. Everyone was busy, and they didn’t have the habit of visiting on specific dates. Each person made their own arrangements based on their schedules.
This year, it seemed that no one had time. His father and mother, who were overseas, could only remind their son to go pay respects to the elders.
Qin Mingyuan, caught in a moment of reverie, found himself thinking of his late grandfather. Even when he was alive, their relationship hadn’t been particularly close.
The old man in his memories always wore a stern expression, his back straight and never bending, even in death.
He had been strict, even harsh, in his upbringing of Qin Mingyuan. There had never been any warm, tender moments between them as grandfather and grandson.
Qin Mingyuan’s feelings towards his grandfather were complicated—difficult to describe. But regardless of the nature of their relationship, his grandfather had raised him, and losing him had inevitably left a trace of sorrow in his heart.
He wondered if this year, someone would still remember to place a bouquet of flowers at his grave.
As he pondered, a raindrop hit the windshield, followed by a steady stream of fine rain.
Qingming always brought rain, as if the departed were shedding tears from the heavens.
This melancholic thought made Qin Mingyuan chuckle lightly. He reached out to activate the windshield wipers, thinking to himself that it was a good thing he had brought an umbrella.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a flower shop up ahead. He signaled and smoothly changed lanes, parking his car by the roadside.
The bell above the door jingled as he entered.
“Welcome!”
The shop was small, with only a young woman in her twenties tending to the flowers. She looked up with a smile when she heard the bell ring. “What kind of flowers are you looking for, sir?”
Qin Mingyuan closed his umbrella and leaned against the door, brushing away the rain droplets from his sleeve. “A bouquet of white chrysanthemums, please.”
Today’s occasion made it obvious why he was buying flowers, so there was no need for further explanation. The woman nodded and put down what she was doing to select the flowers.
Qin Mingyuan stood quietly, not bothering to browse the shop. Instead, he turned to watch the rain falling outside through the glass door.
It had been a long time since he had personally bought flowers. Such tasks were usually handled by his assistant.
The most vivid memory he had of visiting a flower shop was on one Mother’s Day. He was still young then, and for some reason, when he saw the flower shop through the car window on his way home from school, the idea struck him.
That day, he brought home a beautifully wrapped bouquet of carnations, but when he arrived at the garden, he saw his mother playing with his little brother, who was only two or three years old at the time.
The toddler had picked a flower from somewhere and handed it to their mother, making her laugh with delight as she showered him with kisses.
Qin Mingyuan stood there for a moment before turning and leaving without approaching. He couldn’t even remember what had become of the bouquet—perhaps he threw it away, or perhaps he gave it to someone else.
“Sir, your flowers are ready.”
The woman’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to see the florist holding a neatly wrapped bouquet of white chrysanthemums.
He stepped forward to take the bouquet, asked for the price, and transferred the money to her. With a warm farewell from the florist, he left the shop.
The white chrysanthemums sat on the passenger seat as Qin Mingyuan fastened his seatbelt and started the car, driving away from the curb.
His grandparents were buried in a high-end cemetery on a hillside in the suburbs of A City, where there were caretakers responsible for the upkeep of the grounds.
Following the GPS, Qin Mingyuan drove for over an hour before reaching the base of the hill.
Although the mountain road was well-maintained, it still had several sharp turns. With the added rain and reduced visibility, he slowed down considerably.
Fortunately, the hill wasn’t very tall, and the terrain was gentle, making the journey manageable despite the rain.
After parking in the cemetery’s lot, he noticed the rain had lessened, now just a fine drizzle, with a light fog that gave the surroundings a hazy appearance.
With the umbrella in one hand and the bouquet in the other, Qin Mingyuan stepped out of the car, the faint fragrance of the white chrysanthemums clinging to him.
Though it was Qingming, there weren’t many cars in the parking lot. The few that were there were spaced far apart.
He had just taken a couple of steps when a car pulled into a spot a few spaces away. The unique model seemed familiar, and he instinctively paused.
The back door of the vehicle slid open, and a ramp lowered. The driver ran forward with an umbrella to greet the person in the electric wheelchair who descended, also holding a bouquet of pale flowers in his lap, his complexion even paler in contrast.
As if sensing someone’s gaze, the person in the wheelchair lifted his eyes. When he saw Qin Mingyuan, he paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
Qin Mingyuan, also finding the coincidence interesting, raised his eyebrows slightly before walking over, his steps unhurried. He glanced at the bouquet in the other man’s lap but didn’t bother with the typical “You’re here for a memorial too?” Instead, he simply said, “Young Master Yun.”
“President Qin,” Yun Pei lowered his eyes and nodded slightly.
He hadn’t expected to meet Qin Mingyuan here. Somehow, he had always thought that a cold and seemingly heartless person like him would leave the task of paying respects to his subordinates.
Since they had bumped into each other, and given they had shared a meal recently, Qin Mingyuan extended a polite invitation, “Shall we go together?”
Yun Pei didn’t refuse. He took the umbrella from his driver and indicated that the driver should wait in the car.
Previously, Yun Pei hadn’t liked Qin Mingyuan, mostly because of his connection to Yun Yuexian. But after a few interactions, he found that Qin Mingyuan wasn’t exactly how others had described him. He didn’t seem as infatuated with Yun Yuexian as people claimed.
Since that was the case, Yun Pei didn’t mind having a distant but polite connection with him.
“A few days ago, Yun Yuexian’s film wrapped up,” Yun Pei broke the silence as they made their way toward the cemetery.
Qin Mingyuan instinctively turned his head to look at him. Because of the height difference, most of Yun Pei’s face was obscured by the umbrella. Only his slender, pale hand gripping the handle was visible—hands that Qin Mingyuan had seen countless times on screen. His gaze lingered before he casually responded, “So?”
Yun Pei shifted his umbrella slightly and looked up at him from beneath its edge, “Do you remember the male lead of that film?”
“The young master of the Liang family,” Qin Mingyuan said calmly, walking alongside him. “I’ve seen him a few times at banquets. Why, are you interested in him?”
Yun Pei shook his head, his gaze still fixed on Qin Mingyuan’s face. “The Liang family is hosting a banquet in a few days, and my family received an invitation.”
Qin Mingyuan met his gaze, silently asking what he was implying.
“Given the Liang family’s status in A City, they only invite people of significance. The Yun family hardly qualifies, so the only reason I can think of is Yun Yuexian.” Yun Pei raised his eyebrows as he spoke.
Understanding Yun Pei’s implication, Qin Mingyuan’s face remained unreadable, showing no surprise.
In fact, Qin Mingyuan had also received an invitation a few days ago. The two families were on good terms, and since they operated in different industries, they had no conflicts of interest. It was only natural for him to be invited.
Technically, Qin Mingyuan should have attended, but he had a business trip planned during that time, so he had politely declined.
As for the Yun family’s invitation… he had already anticipated it. In the novel, this banquet marked a pivotal plot point in the relationship between the protagonist and the second male lead.
It was also the first time Yun Yuexian would meet Liang Zichen’s mother.
Since the scenes without the second male lead hadn’t interested Qin Mingyuan much, he had only skimmed through that part of the story.
Just as Yun Pei said, the Yun family’s presence at the Liang family’s banquet was surprising. Liang Zichen’s attentive care for Yun Yuexian would naturally draw attention. Some people who were aware of the entanglements between Yun Yuexian and Qin Mingyuan found the situation even more intriguing.
After the banquet, rumors about their love triangle would circulate among certain social circles, fueling gossip about their complicated relationship.
As for the Yun family, their notoriety in A City’s elite circles stemmed not from business prowess or exceptional talent, but from Yun Yuexian’s scandalous affairs.
Most people would find such attention embarrassing, but the Yun family seemed to revel in it. Yun Haowei, Yun Yuexian’s father, was particularly proud, viewing his son’s “charm” as a mark of success.
At the same time, Liang Zichen’s mother, Gao Qing, wasn’t particularly concerned. For wealthy families, it wasn’t uncommon for someone to have a fling with an actor. As long as her son eventually married someone suitable, she wouldn’t interfere.
Recently, Yun Yuexian hadn’t been in touch with Qin Mingyuan as much, likely because he was focusing his efforts on Liang Zichen. Yun Yuexian was likely calculating whom to prioritize—the cold and indifferent Qin Mingyuan or the warm and attentive Liang Zichen.
Letting go of Qin Mingyuan entirely wasn’t something Yun Yuexian would be willing to do just yet. After all, the power and influence Qin Mingyuan held still outweighed what Liang Zichen could offer.
Seeing that Qin Mingyuan wasn’t the least bit bothered, Yun Pei chose not to pursue the topic further, and they continued in silence for a while.
Up ahead, through the misty rain, a figure approached, dressed in black and holding a black umbrella. They were likely there to pay respects as well.
As the figure drew closer, it became clear they were a middle-aged man, slightly overweight, with slouched shoulders. His face was obscured by the umbrella, making it difficult to see.
Yun Pei barely gave him a second glance, prepared to look away, but just as the man raised his hand to adjust the umbrella, his face was momentarily revealed. Yun Pei paused.
It happened in an instant, and the next moment, the umbrella was lowered again. The middle-aged man walked past them, a faint breeze carrying the scent of grass and earth in his wake.
Yun Pei stopped his wheelchair, his eyes following the man’s retreating figure, frowning in uncertainty.
“What’s wrong?” Qin Mingyuan asked, turning to glance at the man walking away. “Do you know him?”
Watching the figure disappear into the misty rain, Yun Pei shook his head and sat back in his wheelchair, “No, I must have been mistaken.”
Qin Mingyuan had no particular interest in the matter, and seeing that Yun Pei wasn’t sure, he nodded and didn’t press further.
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Eexeee[Translator]
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