Reunion

“The hardest to forget are always the ones we’ve let down.”

In a mansion in New York, Qi Wang sat by the fireplace reading a book when he suddenly heard his mentor murmuring this sentence softly.

He raised his head only to realize that his mentor was repeating lines from the television.

It was winter now.

Outside the window, snowflakes were falling gently. Zeng Nanyue, as an internationally renowned artist, still maintained his youthful demeanor even at nearly seventy. Although his hair was gray and his face was thin, he looked impeccable. He sat in a camel-colored soft cardigan on a rocking chair, showing no signs of aging.

Qi Wang closed the book and glanced at the TV for a few seconds before asking his mentor with a hint of amusement, “Are you reminded of a past lover?”

Zeng Nanyue turned his head to look at his prized disciple and shrugged.

“No,” he said unabashedly. “I’ve wronged too many people. Now that I’m old, I can’t remember them all. Although I resist aging, sometimes I think, I’m already in my seventies, and when I look back on the past few decades of my life, I have no regrets.”

Qi Wang smiled lightly.

As Zeng Nanyue’s closed-door disciple, he naturally knew about his mentor’s string of romantic affairs.

To be honest, as a student, he received meticulous guidance from Zeng Nanyue in painting, but their views on love were completely different.

But that didn’t stop him from respecting Zeng Nanyue.

He stood up, adjusted the blanket on Zeng Nanyue’s legs, poured him a glass of hot milk, and then sat back down by the fireplace.

The flickering flames danced on his face, casting a warm orange-gold color on his pale and thin face, tinting his features with a hint of warmth.

It should have been a cozy scene, but he remained as cold and silent as the snow outside, not fitting into the warmth of the moment.

Zeng Nanyue took a slow sip of hot milk and stared at Qi Wang for a while.

This student was personally selected by him and naturally excelled in everything. His artistic talent even surprised him, and in just three years since joining him, he had grown rapidly.

But Qi Wang was good at everything, except that he lacked a spark.

Despite his young age, he was as indifferent as a monk, his lines on paper were suppressed, yet within that suppression, there was a hint of madness, like a light unable to find an exit, only sinking into the ground.

Zeng Nanyue glanced at Qi Wang and suddenly said, “Stop reading. Come and chat with your mentor.”

Qi Wang closed the book patiently and asked, “About what?”

Zeng Nanyue leaned back in his armchair, his eyes still sharp despite his advancing age.

He spoke casually, as if having a heart-to-heart conversation. “Have you ever been in love?”

He looked at his young student, who was completely different from when he had first met him.

Steady, composed, and elegant.

No one could tell that he had once been a wild street kid.

But he was also unchanged.

Tall, handsome, with broad shoulders and narrow waist, his fingers had calluses from a rough life.

Even wrapped in a soft cashmere coat sitting by the window, he still resembled a long knife hidden in its sheath.

Snow white, sharp, and devoid of sentimentality.

Locked away by a heavy lock, burying all his emotions deep inside.

Zeng Nanyue treated Qi Wang as his own son.

He had no children in his life, but to have such a thoughtful disciple even in his old age was not a bad fate.

So, he also tried to be a father figure. His voice was gentle, as if having a heart-to-heart talk.

“When I was your age, I had at least five or six relationships. But you, living like a hermit, how boring,” he said. “You haven’t had your first love yet, have you?”

---

First love?

These few words were like nails scratching a blackboard, bringing a sharp pain.

Qi Wang’s face changed slightly, he lowered his head and looked at the book in his hand.

It was “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” and he often sat by the window reading it, having read it many times.

But only he knew that the reason he liked to read this book was because there was a photo hidden in the middle.

When Zeng Nanyue asked this question.

His fingers happened to turn to page 124 of “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” and the thin photo appeared again.

In the photo, two young men stood side by side, the one on the left tall and handsome, with a cold look but a rare smile, his arm around the boy next to him. The boy on the right was much more lively, with a mischievous smile like a cat, fair skin, and eyes as clear as water, beautiful like flowers on a tree in March.

His heart emptied for a moment.

His fingers traced over the cheek of the young man in the photo, as if by doing so, he could touch the dimple on the right side of the young man’s face.

In the end, he didn’t answer his mentor’s question.

---

5 p.m., City A.

Qi Wang sat in the car, his brain still aching a little.

For the past few days, he hadn’t slept due to the preparations for the art exhibition. He had just managed to catch a nap in the afternoon after staying up all night, but then he had a long dream.

Everything in the dream was still vivid.

The apartment in New York, the cypress trees outside the window, and occasionally there would be squirrels jumping onto the windowsill.

His mentor asking him about his love life in a casual manner.

Qi Wang glanced down at his wrist.

On his wrist hung a cheap black bracelet that didn’t quite match his current status. Due to its age, no matter how carefully maintained, the bracelet had become rough and dull.

But over the years, no matter where he went, this bracelet had always been on his wrist.

He couldn’t remember how he had answered four years ago.

But he knew in his heart.

The answer was, yes.

He had a lover, unforgettable for life.

The memories of his youth were too heavy, making him almost breathless, so he hardly dared to mention them to anyone.

---

Outside the window, the shadows of the trees hurried past. Two hours later, Qi Wang arrived at the venue.

He was attending a charity banquet hosted by Miss Xu Yilin, the third daughter of the Dongsheng Group.

He had a good relationship with Miss Xu Yilin’s brother, Xu Yizhe. Xu Yizhe had sent him an invitation and invited him to attend, even though Qi Wang had never liked participating in such events.

There were also many celebrities from the entertainment industry at this banquet, and reporters had been squatting outside the red carpet early on.

As soon as Qi Wang got out of the car, the flashlights flooded over.

Although he had no connection to the entertainment industry, as a young artist with international acclaim, gifted and possessing a face that could rival a celebrity’s, the media was eager to chase after him, and his appearances were eye-catching enough for the headlines.

The only regret was that he hardly ever smiled in public.

No matter what questions the reporters asked or how dazzling the lights were, he always had a faint look in his eyes, neither angry nor cheerful, but also not a pleasant expression. It fit the stereotypical image of an artist being reclusive.

Avoiding the flashlights, Qi Wang went straight into the venue under the guidance of the bodyguards.

There were already many people inside.

Before the banquet started, everyone was busy chatting with each other.

When Xu Yizhe saw Qi Wang arrive, he excused himself from the person he was talking to and apologized, then walked over to Qi Wang.

“When did you arrive in the country? Why didn’t you let me pick you up?” Xu Yizhe said. “Have you finished your business in Paris?”

Qi Wang still had a hint of fatigue in his eyes.

“Not yet, but it’s almost done,” Qi Wang said. “I was supposed to come back the day before yesterday, but there was a problem with Zu’s progress, so I was delayed for another day. I went to bed as soon as I got off the plane. There was no need for anyone to pick me up.”

Apart from painting, he also had other businesses under the name. “Zu” which was an art-themed hotel he invested in in Paris.

Xu Yizhe nodded knowingly.

The two of them chatted about the project they were about to invest in together in a corner, and Xu Yizhe also showed Qi Wang pictures of the vineyard he had recently bought in France.

“I’m planning to start my own wine brand. When the time comes, I’ll have you design a logo for me, and my value will immediately go up…” Xu Yizhe joked.

Qi Wang chuckled and teased him, “You’re quite ambitious.”

As it was almost time for the banquet to begin, the last few guests arrived fashionably late.

A faint whisper could be heard at the door, indicating that a heavyweight guest had arrived.

Xu Yizhe looked up and was also somewhat surprised.

“I’ll leave for a moment,” Xu Yizhe said to Qi Wang. “This is a friend of my sister’s. His background is not small. I’ll go greet him.”

“Okay.”

Qi Wang nodded, but subconsciously turned his head to look.

But with just one glance, he was nailed to the spot, and all the blood in his body surged and rolled, finally freezing into frost.

Walking in from the door was a tall and well-proportioned young man.

He had a handsome and elegant face, fair skin as white as the first snow of early winter, and he wore a charcoal gray suit with cufflinks made of obsidian, which greatly complemented his noble and elegant temperament, dignified yet not dull.

But perhaps due to his naturally aloof disposition, even when this handsome young man slightly lowered his head and politely exchanged greetings with others, there was still an aura of unapproachableness about him.

It wasn’t until Xu Yizhe walked over and said something that made the smile on his face soften slightly.

Qi Wang stared at this person.

His wine glass was almost slipping from his hand.

The bustling noise of the crowd and the lights of the party receded like waves.

The ambiguous scent of perfume in the air also solidified.

It was as if he had gone from a lively and cheerful banquet to a desolate wilderness, where everything was silent and cold, making one’s heart palpitate with fear.

It felt like a second had passed, yet also like a century.

Xu Yizhe said something again, and the young man opposite him smiled faintly and nodded slightly without expressing agreement.

Then, Xu Yizhe unexpectedly led him over to Qi Wang.

Qi Wang stared at the person who walked in front of him, with a smile that seemed to be smiling but not smiling on his face, looking up at him slightly. The soft light fell down, his eyes lazily scanning him, devoid of any emotion.

“Qi Wang, let me introduce you. This is the founder of THE ONE, Yu Nian, Mr. Yu,” Xu Yizhe enthusiastically introduced him to Qi Wang. “Mr. Yu has always liked your paintings and has collected several. When he heard that you were here, he wanted to meet you.”

Yu Nian stood facing Qi Wang, only separated by less than half a meter.

Qi Wang kept his head down.

Yu Nian’s face looked even more enticing up close, with the misty lights falling on his eyelashes and eyes like smoke.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind – he’s grown taller.

There was a time when Yu Nian only reached his shoulders, which had been a subject of teasing for quite some time, often leaving him infuriated.

Eight years had passed in a blink of an eye, and now Yu Nian was only a few centimeters shorter than him.

He no longer needed to bend down to accommodate, just a slight tilt of his head and he could meet Yu Nian’s gaze eye to eye.

He saw Yu Nian calmly extending his hand and saying, “Mr. Qi, I’ve long heard of your name.”

Qi Wang also reached out his hand, shaking hands with Yu Nian.

Although he had grown taller, Yu Nian’s hand was still slightly smaller than his, slender and thin.

“Nice to meet you for the first time, Mr. Yu,” he said, his throat feeling like it was filled with shards of glass, scraping his vocal cords bloody, but his face remained calm and unchanged.

After the pleasantries, they should have let go of each other’s hands.

But Yu Nian didn’t release his grip.

He looked at Qi Wang as if absent-mindedly, casually remarking, “I’ve always heard of your reputation, but I didn’t expect you to be so handsome in person. It seems like you might even outshine some of our fashion models.”

The words sounded frivolous indeed.

But Yu Nian still had that cold and indifferent demeanor, not even smiling, making it hard to grasp his intentions.

Even Xu Yizhe beside them showed a strange expression.

Yu Nian was known for being aloof and unapproachable, never behaving so frivolously.

Suddenly, alarm bells rang in Xu Yizhe’s mind. Could it be that this Mr. Yu has taken a liking to Qi Wang?

That wouldn’t do.

Qi Wang was also known for being proud and untamed, not someone to be trifled with.

The two shouldn’t clash on the spot, or they might ruin his sister’s banquet.

But the next moment, he heard Qi Wang whisper, “Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Yu. It’s my honor to be recognized by you.”

Xu Yizhe stared at Qi Wang as if he had seen a ghost.

Qi Wang had always detested others making a fuss over his appearance, so why was he so amiable today?

Yu Nian subtly curled his lips, a smile mixed with a hint of mockery.

He let go of Qi Wang’s hand.

With their skins no longer touching, Qi Wang distinctly heaved a sigh from the depths of his heart.

And Yu Nian no longer glanced at him, only exchanged a few more pleasantries with Xu Yizhe before leaving.

As he was leaving to greet other guests, Qi Wang stood in place, his gaze following Yu Nian.

His palm hung by his side, still feeling the warmth from Yu Nian’s hand, burning all the way to his heart.

He heard Xu Yizhe beside him ask, “You didn’t know Yu Nian before, right? Why do I feel like you two are acting strange?”

Qi Wang remained silent.

The past shadows seemed to come from the depths of time’s river.

He remembered the summer when he was nineteen, the branches of the cypress tree curled up and scorching under the sun. He looked out from the window of the restaurant and met a pair of hesitant eyes.

He pursed his lips and said softly, “I don’t know him.”

But in the next few hours, Qi Wang had no thoughts for the auction. He mechanically raised his paddle and bid for a Qing Dynasty inkstone that he had no interest in.

His gaze remained fixed on the figure in front.

Yu Nian happened to be seated in front of him, with Xu Yizhe’s sister, Miss Xu Yilin, sitting next to him.

The two were very familiar, their relationship indeed closer than others, whispering to each other from time to time.

Qi Wang rubbed the black cord on his wrist, with a silver ring hanging from it, as if reminding himself of something.

Miss Xu Yilin was much more elegant than her brother, wearing a pink dress, her hair tied up, smiling as she spoke to Yu Nian, a perfect match in everyone’s eyes.

Although he had no interaction with Yu Nian over the years, the young master of the Yu family, with his superior background, outstanding appearance, and successful career, still attracted the attention of the tabloids and media.

It was said that Yu Nian was the ideal partner for ladies.

It was said that Yu Nian’s “The One” had made it to the stage of New York Fashion Week.

It was said that Yu Nian had once said that the object of his affection should be dignified and generous, appreciating women as dignified as his sister.

…

He had heard many things about Yu Nian, but he couldn’t verify any of them.

He had long returned to City A, knowing full well that Yu Nian lived here, but like avoiding fate, they had never met.

Until today.

Qi Wang wondered, what impression had he just left on Yu Nian?

Dressed in a decent suit, pretending to be polite and shaking hands with Yu Nian, in the eyes of everyone present, he was an artist who had just won an international award, coming from a prestigious family with a promising future.

Only Yu Nian knew how dirty and unworthy he truly was.

He was like rubbish to be thrown into the recycling bin, tainted by a touch from Yu Nian, dirtying the fingertips of this young master.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but feel a bit desolate.

But this was all his own doing, he couldn’t blame others, and could only laugh at himself with self-mockery.

---

On stage, the host was introducing a pink diamond necklace.

Yu Nian’s face remained cold, even more unapproachable than usual.

Miss Xu Yilin sat beside him, looking at him with suspicion, lightly bumping his arm.

“What’s wrong with you? You were fine just now, why do you suddenly look like you’ve lost eight billion?” she asked.

Yu Nian thought, if only someone really owed him eight billion.

Then he could rightfully demand it back.

Unfortunately, he was only worth a house and some cash.

“Nothing,” Yu Nian stared ahead, using all his strength to resist turning his head, his voice nonchalant, “Just met a scumbag.”

“What?” Miss Xu Yilin looked puzzled, glancing around, “Who? What scumbag?”

But Yu Nian remained silent.

He absentmindedly rubbed his wrist, a subconscious movement, but there was only a cold watch there.

The host on stage was still introducing the auction items, the overhead lights were soft, and around were all well-dressed celebrities, but Yu Nian felt like everything was veiled by a layer of mist.

When he had just shaken hands with Qi Wang.

He touched the black cord on Qi Wang’s hand.

Eight years had passed, and they both had changed, but this thin cord still hypocritically hung on Qi Wang’s hand.

Like a mocking black humor.

Yu Nian’s stomach churned.

Loving Qi Wang at eighteen was probably the biggest calamity in his life.

A naive and foolish young master, when he ran away from home, fell in love with a handsome young man working in a restaurant.

Such a story might only have a happy ending in fairy tales.

But he didn’t believe it.

He simply refused to believe it.

In the end, it ended in a mess.

Yu Nian lowered his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking, and he remained unusually subdued until the end of the event.

As if by some impulse, he slowly turned his head and glanced back.

And Qi Wang was also looking at him.

There were only a few meters between them.

In that instant when their eyes met, the lights blurred his vision. Yu Nian squinted, suddenly unable to see Qi Wang’s current appearance clearly. What appeared in his mind was still the image of this person at the age of nineteen.

Young and arrogant, looking at him with raised eyebrows through the transparent glass window.