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In the end, Qi Zhengchen returned to London, unable to stay in Buchun. Halfway through dinner, he received a call from his mother, asking why he hadn’t come home yet.
“I’m having drinks with some friends; I’ll be back in the morning,” he replied.
“Which friends?” Qi Mu pressed. “You just happen to run into friends?”
“Jiang Sixun and Zhiyi,” he answered honestly.
As soon as his mother heard Xu Zhiyi’s name, she ordered him to return to London immediately. “You’re married now; think about Zhiyi and your wife. I’ll send a driver to pick you up.”
“Mom, it’s not like I’m having dinner alone with Zhiyi; Jiang Sixun is here too.”
“That doesn’t matter. You’re clearly still hung up on Zhiyi. Those who know you understand your generosity; those who don’t see the ambiguity in it all. Do you still not get why Zhiyi wants to keep her distance? Given how good you’ve been to her, how many homes do you think you can divide? If you marry a hundred times, you can divorce a hundred times. Send me the address; I’ll have the driver pick you up right away.”
Before he could argue, Qi Mu hung up.
Qi Zhengchen had just started to mend his relationship with his mother and didn’t want to reignite a conflict, so he sent the address without further protest.
The bill for the meal had been covered by Xu Zhiyi, and no one had argued with her about it.
An hour and ten minutes later, the driver arrived, bringing two people along to drive Qi Zhengchen’s sports car away.
Settled in the passenger seat of the sleek car, he waved goodbye, realizing that there was no need for grand farewells. They all moved in the same circles, and their paths would inevitably cross again.
As the convertible roared to life and sped away, Qi Zhengchen glanced back one last time. Xu Zhiyi stood by the roadside, watching him go, and that moment stirred memories from years past.
Every weekend afternoon, as she returned to school on the bus, she would press her face against the window, twisting her head to wave goodbye, her lips forming the words, “Big brother, call me.”
He stood on the platform, watching the school bus turn the corner until it vanished from sight.
As the tail lights of his sports car faded into two distant red dots, Xu Zhiyi finally pulled her gaze away.
She wanted to look over at Jiang Sixun, but before she could, he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly against him.
Feeling overwhelmed, Xu Zhiyi slipped her hands under his suit jacket, embracing him and burying her face in his chest. Memories of her brother flooded back, each one sharper than the last—a pain that lingered and required time to heal.
Earlier at the seafood restaurant, she had also reminisced about her past years with Jiang Sixun. Finally, all that was behind her.
Jiang Sixun lowered his gaze. “You’ve never held me like this before.”
Xu Zhiyi thought for a moment, then looked up. “I have.” She was sure of it.
“Not like this, not with this kind of intensity.”
She didn’t argue, instead tightening her grip around his waist.
The night air by the sea was chilly, and Jiang Sixun loosened his hold on her, removing his suit jacket and wrapping it around her shoulders. The warmth lingered against her skin.
He leaned down, seemingly to kiss her, but Xu Zhiyi was unaware of his intent, pressing her face back into his chest.
He only managed to kiss her hair before pulling back. “Get to bed early tonight; I’ll wake you up to watch the sunrise tomorrow.” His deep voice rumbled above her, and she responded with a soft “mm.”
Last time she was in London, she had missed the sunrise; this time, she wouldn’t let that happen.
Back in her room, she took a shower and settled into bed.
Just as she lay down, her phone rang from the next room, asking where she wanted to go after watching the sunrise.
“I want to stroll along the beach,” she replied.
“Not as nice as Hawaii’s beaches. Want to stay there a few more days? We could make it back in time for the board meeting,” Jiang Sixun suggested.
“I really don’t want to go to Hawaii,” she said.
“What’s wrong?”
A moment of silence stretched between them.
Xu Zhiyi finally replied, “It’s where you and I parted ways.”
Jiang Sixun responded, “I haven’t been back since. Every yacht party invitation I got there, I turned down.”
Her reluctance to visit Hawaii felt similar to her disinterest in playing badminton—it was a struggle to summon the energy.
“Whenever you want to go, I’ll go with you,” he offered.
“Okay,” she agreed, wishing him goodnight.
The next morning, around four, the world outside was dim and tranquil as they set off for the White Cliffs.
They drove in the deep blue sports car she had been in before, with a bodyguard at the wheel, playing her favorite jazz music.
Leaning back in her seat, Xu Zhiyi dozed off for another ten minutes.
Last time, she had come alone to watch the sunrise; even surrounded by young people, she felt like she was standing at the edge of the world.
As the night deepened, the sports car sped toward their destination.
Xu Zhiyi jumped out first while Jiang Sixun retrieved a camera from the trunk and handed it to the bodyguard.
Without needing words, the bodyguard understood. Who would’ve thought his role as a bodyguard would come with photography skills?
Last night, he had prepped for how to capture the perfect sunrise shots.
Xu Zhiyi picked a spot similar to the one she had chosen before, and Jiang Sixun stood beside her, taking her phone and his, wrapping his long fingers around hers.
She didn’t pull away, allowing him to hold her hand.
More cars began to arrive at the cliffs.
Cheers erupted from a group near the dark ocean, their excitement lost to the sound of crashing waves.
As dawn broke, the horizon began to light up with a faint glow.
“Give me my phone,” Xu Zhiyi said, ready to snap some pictures.
With her left hand still in his, Jiang Sixun showed no signs of letting go. Xu Zhiyi held her phone with one hand, turning to him. “Can you press the button for me?”
Through the screen, they watched as the sky transformed—orange hues spread across the pale blue, a few seagulls fluttering by.
Without needing her to ask again, Jiang Sixun pressed the shutter.
Before long, the sky shifted to gold and soft pink, with hints of lavender and deepening blue. It was like a vast palette of colors blending together.
The reflection on the sea painted a vibrant picture across the water.
As the sky transformed, Jiang Sixun captured each moment.
The first rays of sun broke over the horizon, bathing the ocean in a brilliant crimson.
Everything welcomed a new day.
Finally, she felt free from the shackles of yesterday.
“Zhiyi,” Jiang Sixun called.
She turned to him, “Yes?”
He said, “About your confession, I didn’t respond at the time, and I’m sorry.” The regret weighed heavily on him.
“It’s all in the past,” she reassured him, feeling a pang of regret herself. “I wanted to confess that day, but I got so nervous I ended up forgetting.”
“Forget it; I’m here today,” he replied.
Xu Zhiyi’s left hand remained in his, unconsciously tracing his thumb. “Your confession in Cantonese was quite romantic. I didn’t understand everything, but it didn’t matter; just hearing the last few words was enough.”
“Were you worried that I’d ask you to add me on WeChat afterward and you wouldn’t know how to refuse?” he mused aloud, answering himself. “I wouldn’t have asked you to add me. My dad probably promised you some benefits.”
Xu Zhiyi turned away, laughing softly. “Don’t say it out loud.”
Jiang Sixun lowered his voice, “Alright, I won’t bring it up again.”
The morning light bathed her radiant face, her eyes sparkling with laughter as he gazed at her, captivated.
When she turned to meet his cool yet gentle gaze, she continued, “If it were just ordinary sweet nothings, they wouldn’t move me. What I wanted to tell you that day wasn’t really all that sentimental.”
“No sweet talk, just making up for your regrets,” Jiang Sixun replied, the words serving as his long-overdue response.
He tapped on his phone and quickly sent a message, gesturing for her to check her device.
Xu Zhiyi’s phone chimed with a friend request notification, and as she opened it, she found a temporary chat box with a simple English note: I’m waiting.
Her heart skipped a beat.
That was the very sentence she had wanted to send him on the day she confessed but had forgotten in her nervousness.
Six years ago, she had told him that phrase translated as my affection has never ceased.
She had promised herself that when she finally confessed, she would send it to him, letting him know that she had liked him for a long time without stopping.
Now, he had sent her I’m waiting.
Xu Zhiyi stared at him for a long moment, then stepped forward to embrace him. “It’s been six years, and you still remember what I said?”
“I remember,” Jiang Sixun replied.
On the edge of the cliffs by the sea, where the world felt impossibly lonely, her solitude finally found a home.
After watching the sunrise, they returned to the hotel, where Xu Zhiyi changed into a fresh outfit and shoes. Taking advantage of the early morning calm, she headed to the beach to feel the sea breeze.
Previously, she had mentioned wanting him to carry her along the beach at Brook Village, and without further ado, Jiang Sixun hoisted her onto his back.
Today, as he carried her, it felt worlds apart from the last time he had taken her home from the little tavern. Perhaps it was because the knot in her heart had finally loosened.
With her arms wrapped around his neck, her head nestled against him, she could clearly hear his steady breathing.
Jiang Sixun turned his head to speak, but as their eyes met, he momentarily forgot what he wanted to say.
Xu Zhiyi watched him for a few seconds before planting a kiss on his lips.
Their familiar scents intertwined.
Jiang Sixun relaxed his grip, and she slipped down from his back.
As her feet touched the ground, he turned and pulled her against him. Just as she lifted her head, his lips descended upon hers, capturing her mouth with his tongue.
She felt weightless, her toes barely grazing the rough sand beneath them.
As the deep kiss lingered, his phone, temporarily stashed in his pants pocket, began to ring.
Xu Zhiyi pushed against his arm, signaling him to answer.
Instead of responding, he deepened the kiss.
Frustrated, she searched his pocket, her hand first brushing against the taut muscles of his thigh instead of finding the phone.
Jiang Sixun chuckled and broke the kiss. “Don’t fumble around.”
“…”
Xu Zhiyi protested, “I was just trying to get your phone.”
“It’s in the other pocket.”
“…”
No wonder she hadn’t found it.
Jiang Sixun released her, steadied his breath, and pulled out his phone to see it was his mother calling.
His mother, Jiang Yue Ru, was in London for work. In short order, she informed him that her luggage for Manhattan was ready and she was leaving that day on an evening flight.
Surprised, Jiang Sixun replied, “Didn’t you say you were going next month?”
“Since I have nothing to do at home, I figured I’d go early to check out some apartments. Finding a place is just like dating; you can’t just pick the first one you see—you have to choose carefully.”
She let him know she would be staying at his place for a while until she found something.
“…Alright,” he responded.
His father was also in New York, likely staying with him.
After hanging up with his mother, he immediately called his father.
It was 2:05 AM in New York when Lu Jianbo was jolted awake by the phone ringing.
Upon seeing the caller ID, he sat up abruptly, fearing something was wrong. “What happened?”
“Are you staying at my place?” Jiang Sixun asked.
“Otherwise, where would I be?”
“Have the housekeeper pack your things. You need to move out now.”
“…”
Lu Jianbo felt a lump in his throat, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Jiang Sixun, you’re my son. It’s the middle of the night, and you want me to move?”
Jiang Sixun glanced at his watch, having forgotten the time difference. “Go back to sleep; move tomorrow.”
Lu Jianbo couldn’t sleep anymore. “Is this because I blocked you for Zhiyi? Are you kicking me out? I’m partial to Zhiyi because I want you both to be better—don’t be confused!”
“This has nothing to do with Zhiyi. My mom is coming tomorrow, and I can’t leave her alone in the country.”
There was a brief silence on the line before Lu Jianbo replied, his voice subdued. “I’ll move tomorrow.”
“Out of respect for your past marriage, don’t disturb my mom from now on,” Jiang Sixun added.
A moment of silence passed.
“I won’t,” Lu Jianbo finally said.
After ending the call, Jiang Sixun felt wide awake.
He turned on the lights, found a jacket, and went downstairs to smoke a cigar in the yard.
Footsteps approached from behind, accompanied by a voice calling, “Mr. Lu.”
Lu Jianbo turned around to see the butler approaching with a glass of water.
The butler, older now, usually only managed four to five hours of sleep. After going to bed around nine the previous night, he was up by two in the morning.
He had just seen someone sitting in the yard from the window and nearly startled himself.
Setting the water on the table, Lu Jianbo thanked him and tossed his half-smoked cigar into the ashtray, instructing the butler, “Pack up all my things tomorrow—everything, no exceptions. I’ll take them at noon.”
It seemed like father and son were at odds again.
The butler tried to smooth things over. “Sixun is just upset with you. Give it a couple of days, and the tension will fade. If he really wanted you gone, he would have already asked me to pack your things.” Since he hadn’t done that, it couldn’t be too serious.
“…”
Lu Jianbo added, “Yue Ru is coming over.”
The butler nodded, understanding without needing more words.
“Please convey a message to my ex-wife: Ask Yue Ru if she wants to meet and discuss Sixun’s engagement and marriage plans.”
Xu Zhiyi had only spent two days in Brook Village before heading back home on the third day.
On the plane, they faced each other, working. Every time she lifted her eyes, their gazes would collide, and those fleeting moments of connection stirred feelings between them.
From a simple connection to a complex entanglement.
Jiang Sixun closed his laptop and removed his headphones.
Music couldn’t drown out the restlessness within him.
Earlier, when they boarded, he had made her coffee, and she had hugged him from behind without a word, holding him quietly for two minutes until the coffee was ready. Then she released him and returned to her emails.
The heat that had sparked in him lingered on.
Ice water was ineffective.
Little did Xu Zhiyi know that her embrace had ignited something in the man before her.
Seeing him tidy up the files, she asked, “Are you done?”
“Almost. I’ll finish up after a nap. I’m going to shower first. You should sleep early too,” Jiang Sixun replied.
There was only one comfortable bed on the plane. On the way there, she had taken the bed while he settled for the sofa in the cabin, and it would be the same for the return trip.
Xu Zhiyi focused on her work, leaving him to his own devices.
Forty minutes later, after finishing her emails, she realized she had a meeting to attend upon landing in Beijing. There was no time to adjust to the time difference, so she planned to catch up on sleep in the shower.
As she headed back to the rest area, she passed the sofa where Jiang Sixun was sleeping. He had showered and was now dressed in black lounge-wear, his hair slightly damp as he leaned back on the sofa, lost in thought while gazing out at the inky blue night sky.
Stars dotted the sky; perhaps he wasn’t lost in thought but simply enjoying the view.
Xu Zhiyi paused, “What are you looking at?”
He turned to her, realization dawning. “Nothing much.”
“Then what are you thinking about?” she asked, stepping closer to the sofa, intending to sit.
“Thinking about when to get our marriage certificate and whether the child will look like you or me,” he said, his tone dead serious.
“…” Xu Zhiyi had been about to sit down but suddenly stood upright. “You keep thinking, then.”
Jiang Sixun smiled faintly. In the past, he would have pulled her back into his arms, refusing to let her leave. But the restlessness simmering within him hadn’t fully subsided after his shower, so he kept his distance.
“Get some sleep,” he called after her retreating figure.
Without turning back, Xu Zhiyi gave him an “OK” gesture. “Goodnight.”
The plane’s bathroom was cramped, and as she pushed the door open, the refreshing scent of his shower gel wafted towards her in the damp air.
After shutting the door, she stood in front of the narrow sink where they had once shared an intimate moment.
Xu Zhiyi shook off her wandering thoughts and turned on the shower.
Warm water cascaded down, soaking every inch of her skin.
Drenched in the crisp scent of his shower gel, she slipped into a silk camisole. Earlier, while squeezing out the gel, she had accidentally used his bottle.
Now, she carried his fragrance.
The cool scent filled her senses, making it hard to feel tired.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she opened WeChat and checked her new friend requests. Among the several, the first profile was Jiang Sixun’s. Seeing the note I’m waiting made her heart race.
No longer hesitating, she accepted his friend request.
Instantly, I’m waiting appeared in their chat.
Not two minutes later, a knock came at the door. “Zhiyi.”
Knowing why he was there, Xu Zhiyi called out, “It’s not locked!”
He pushed the door open and closed it behind him.
“Why did you add me? Did you decide to reject the benefits my dad offered?” Jiang Sixun glanced at their regained chat and then back at her on the bed.
“I didn’t want to let regrets repeat themselves,” Xu Zhiyi replied.
If she let the request expire, she would regret not acting sooner.
“Even if I add you back today, Uncle Lu would still give me the shares. He’s already sent a betrothal gift on your behalf,” Jiang Sixun countered, moving to the bed and wrapping her in his arms. “Thank you.”
Xu Zhiyi tossed her phone aside and hugged him back. “No need to thank me. Didn’t we agree to cherish the present?”
Suddenly, the lights in the rest area went out.
Warmth enveloped her as he kissed her, one hand cradling the back of her head while the other pushed the window shade up.
In the dimly lit rest area, the atmosphere grew warmer.
Xu Zhiyi arched her back and tilted her head to kiss him, but the strain on her neck became almost unbearable.
Just as she thought she couldn’t hold on any longer, he gripped her shoulders, gently guiding her down onto the bed.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she finally lay back, their lips never parting throughout the transition.
During that time in Hong Kong, he had intended to kiss her but had only used his hands, giving her time to adjust. Tonight, he had no intention of holding back.
The silk of her nightgown felt cool and smooth against her skin, cascading down her waist.
He lowered his head, kissing the soft fabric where it pooled at her sides.
His short hair was still damp, and when his leg brushed against hers, it sent a shiver through her.
Desperate to grasp something, she found the smooth, ash-gray sheets entirely unwrinkled, leaving her with nothing to hold onto but her phone.
As soon as she managed to grip her phone, his warm lips descended upon her.
Soft, inviting.
He teased her with gentle kisses, drawing her in.
A jolt of electricity coursed through her, igniting sensations low in her belly.
He held her legs, rendering her immobile.
A wave of tingling pleasure spread from where his tongue had touched her, flowing through to the tips of her fingers clutching the phone.
Xu Zhiyi was overwhelmed, unable to see him as he buried his head, and unable to pull him close. All she could do was gaze out the window at the star-studded sky. In the quiet room, only the sounds of his swallowing and her soft whimpers filled the air.
As she reached the peak of ecstasy, the myriad stars blurred in her vision.
Jiang Sixun finally lifted his head, wrapping her tightly in his embrace.
Xu Zhiyi clung to him, feeling the intensity of his hold, yet she trembled lightly, genuinely fearful of the heat enveloping her as her nightgown became drenched.
“I don’t have any clean sleepwear left,” she admitted.
Jiang Sixun kissed her ear softly, whispering, “Wear my clothes.”