Chapter 26

Cheng Li originally planned to hail a cab to the company, but just as she finished putting on her shoes, the driver called. He told her his car was parked in the basement and gave her the specific parking spot.

Only then did Cheng Li realize that Rong Qi, just like last time, had arranged for a driver in advance to pick her up.

When she found the car, she got in.

“Did you drive Rong Qi to the airport this morning?” Cheng Li asked.

The driver nodded. “Last night, Assistant He called me. I was surprised because I thought Mr. Rong wouldn’t be leaving until the weekend. I wondered why he suddenly came back last night.”

Cheng Li pressed her lips together slightly but caught her faint smile reflected in the car window as she turned to look outside.

Once she arrived at the company, she sent a WeChat message to Meng Yuange.

Cheng Li: [Ms. Ling didn’t check in on me last night, did she?]

Meng Yuange: [Don’t worry, she didn’t. Honestly, Ms. Ling probably wishes you were out on a date with a guy.]

Last night, Cheng Li hadn’t gone home and had sent Ms. Ling a WeChat message, making an excuse that it was raining too hard and she’d be staying over at Meng Yuange’s place.

It wasn’t unusual for her to stay out overnight, as she often stayed with Meng Yuange.

Meng Yuange: [But seriously, where did you go last night? Don’t tell me it’s what I’m thinking.]

Meng Yuange: [By the way, isn’t Rong Qi’s physique amazing? Honestly, when I interviewed him the other day, even though he was fully dressed, I could tell he works out. Broad shoulders, narrow waist—he even makes shirts look incredible.]

Cheng Li: “…”

Cheng Li: [Do you think it’s appropriate to say such things in front of me?]

Meng Yuange: [You’re right—best friend’s man, hands off.]

Meng Yuange: [But I still want details.]

Cheng Li: [Details? I slept alone last night in the guest room. The bed was soft and comfortable, and I had a great night’s sleep.]

Meng Yuange: [???????]

Meng Yuange: [Are you kidding me? He restrained himself???]

Meng Yuange: [A dark and stormy night—doesn’t that sound like the perfect opportunity to pounce on a little lamb?]

Cheng Li: [He’s not as desperate as you imagine.]

Meng Yuange: [Impossible. My bestie has a stunning figure, long legs, and a naturally beautiful face, and she still couldn’t take him down?]

Meng Yuange: [Are these abstinent types really that hard to deal with?]

Cheng Li: [It’s early in the morning—please restrain yourself.]

Meng Yuange: [It’s because it’s morning that I’m asking! If I’d asked last night, it would’ve interrupted you two.]

“…”

Cheng Li decided it was best to end the conversation, or it would never stop.

*

At the Peninsula Hotel in Beijing.

Jiang Zhe yawned. Last night, he’d been dragged to a bar and didn’t get back until after 2 a.m. The fact that he managed to wake up for a meeting in half an hour made him feel like a model employee.

As he raised his coffee cup, he saw Rong Qi walking over from the dining bar with a tray. Surprised, he waved.

“You just woke up too?” Jiang Zhe asked, shocked.

He knew Rong Qi wasn’t like him. Rong Qi’s schedule was incredibly disciplined, even on business trips. He would work out for half an hour every morning. Seeing him in the restaurant at this time was out of character.

“No, I just got back,” Rong Qi replied.

Jiang Zhe yawned again and asked casually, “Back from where?”

“Shanghai.”

“What?!” Jiang Zhe nearly spilled his coffee.

Rong Qi calmly moved his tray aside.

Ignoring the gesture, Jiang Zhe pressed on. “Did you just say you came back from Shanghai?”

“Yes,” Rong Qi replied without hesitation.

“You went back to Shanghai last night?”

“To be precise, I returned in the afternoon.”

Jiang Zhe glanced around nervously. “What happened? Did something urgent come up?”

He looked genuinely concerned, fearing bad news. Sometimes, no news was the best news—especially in the volatile business world.

Rong Qi looked at him coolly. “I’m a married man. Isn’t it normal to go home after being away for so long?”

Jiang Zhe stared at him, stunned, before finally blurting out, “Do you even realize what you just said?”

Jiang Zhe had thought it was some major crisis.

“That’s the kind of thing you actually dare to say out loud?” Jiang Zhe was indignant. Feeling that such shamelessness shouldn’t go unchallenged, he pulled out his phone.

Fang Xinyang was in his lab when he saw the call from Jiang Zhe. He deliberately found a quiet spot to answer.

“Did you know Rong Qi went back to Shanghai last night?” Jiang Zhe asked directly.

“What? He went back? Why? Did something happen?” Fang Xinyang’s response was filled with surprise and concern.

Jiang Zhe, feeling slightly vindicated, glanced at Rong Qi and repeated what he had just said.

There was a long silence on the other end.

Finally, Fang Xinyang broke it with a loud, “What the hell?!”

Jiang Zhe put the phone on speaker. Luckily, the buffet restaurant was almost empty, and their section was deserted, so he wasn’t worried about anyone overhearing the outburst from Qiyu Technology’s founder.

“He actually said that? With a straight face?” Fang Xinyang was genuinely amazed.

“See? Even a straightforward guy like Fang Xinyang is losing it,” Jiang Zhe said, shaking his head.

Rong Qi glanced at them indifferently, saying nothing, as they continued their tag-team astonishment over the phone.

“I can’t take this anymore. I need to make an appointment,” Jiang Zhe said seriously after a moment of thought.

Fang Xinyang asked, “An appointment for what?”

“To consult a doctor. Can someone develop a love-struck brain this late in life?”

Laughter echoed from the other end of the line.

Rong Qi said, “You seem to be in quite a good mood.”

Fang Xinyang replied seriously, “I really am interested in meeting your wife, the one we’ve never seen before.”

“Exactly. When are you going to arrange a meeting?” Jiang Zhe chimed in, exasperated. “Are we that unpresentable? As your closest friends, we can’t even meet your wife?”

Rong Qi, unfazed by their baiting, stuck to his usual response, “We’ll see.”

Fortunately, Fang Xinyang was busy and ended the call soon after.

Jiang Zhe looked at Rong Qi seriously. “Honestly, I’m starting to suspect you’ve been cursed or something.”

After all, just a month ago, the Rong Qi he knew was someone who only cared about code, indifferent to any romantic distractions. In the span of a few weeks, he seemed like a completely different person.

Rong Qi glanced at him. “Want to know why?”

Jiang Zhe nodded. Of course, he wanted to know.

Rong Qi smirked, his tone confident and teasing. “You’ll understand once you get married.”

Jiang Zhe: “…”

Seriously? Is this the only thing you know how to say??

When Rong Qi flew back to Shanghai over the weekend, Cheng Li had already asked him on WeChat about his plans.

His reply was brief: Dinner.

This time, however, he didn’t request home-cooked dishes but told her he had already reserved a restaurant.

Cheng Li debated whether she should make an effort and accompany the driver to pick him up at the airport. But knowing he’d likely be tired after a long trip and might want to visit his grandparents first, she decided against it.

Around 6 PM, Rong Qi sent a message asking her to come downstairs.

Cheng Li assumed he was waiting at the community entrance and hurried downstairs, only to find him standing under the same sycamore tree as always.

“Why are you waiting here?” Cheng Li asked, realizing he seemed to have a fondness for that spot, always choosing the same place.

Rong Qi replied in a low voice, “I came to pick you up for dinner.”

This timing was dangerous.

Cheng Li glanced around nervously, worried about running into neighbors. She’d lived in this area for years, and everyone, upstairs or downstairs, knew each other. If someone saw and told her parents, everything would be exposed.

“Let’s go,” Rong Qi said, amused by her cautious glances.

They managed to avoid familiar faces on the way to the car, and Cheng Li finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Rong Qi, amused by her actions, asked in a light tone, “Am I really that embarrassing to be seen with?”

Cheng Li, busy fastening her seatbelt, paused.

“Hmm?” She blinked at him, suddenly realizing what he meant. “It’s precisely because you’re too exceptional that I have to keep you carefully hidden.”

Though she was clearly trying to flatter him, Rong Qi accepted it with a soft chuckle and started the car.

The restaurant they headed to was a high-end venue in the city center—elegant, romantic, and eye-wateringly expensive.

Rong Qi had booked a private room in advance, and the staff seemed to recognize him. Without even checking his reservation details, they promptly guided them to their room.

As they sat down, the server handed over the menu.

Cheng Li glanced at it. Thanks to her food adventures with Meng Yuange, she’d been to similar places before and wasn’t shocked by the steep prices.

Dinner was enjoyable overall.

However, Rong Qi’s phone kept vibrating throughout the meal.

At one point, Cheng Li looked up and asked, “Aren’t you going to answer?”

She understood how relentless work could be. Although Rong Qi was a powerful entrepreneur, his workload wasn’t much different from that of an overworked employee.

“We’re having dinner,” Rong Qi said, glancing at her plate. “Does it suit your taste?”

Cheng Li nodded. “It’s good.”

While she usually preferred Chinese food, she didn’t mind an occasional Western-style meal.

As she used her knife to cut into the steak, she found herself reflecting on his actions. Despite his busy schedule, he still set aside time to share a meal with her, even when it was something as time-consuming as a Western dinner.

After the meal, Cheng Li excused herself to use the restroom before leaving. She’d intended to pay the bill, but the staff informed her that the room had already been paid for.

Slightly annoyed, she pouted but didn’t press the issue. She grabbed her bag and went to the restroom.

When she returned, she saw Rong Qi’s car parked at the entrance. He wasn’t driving, though—he was sitting in the driver’s seat, on a call.

As Cheng Li walked toward him, someone nearby called out her name.

“Cheng Li.”

The voice made Rong Qi look up from his call.

Both turned to see a man approaching Cheng Li.

“Frozen in shock? Don’t recognize me anymore?” the man teased as he reached out to touch her hair.

Rong Qi frowned at the overly familiar gesture, but Cheng Li dodged and replied coolly, “Who are you?”

The man stood under the entrance lights, his face fully illuminated.

Rong Qi recognized him instantly.

He was He Yunze.

“Come on,” He Yunze chuckled, leaning closer to Cheng Li. “You really don’t remember? I’m hurt. After all, you were my first love.”

Cheng Li’s expression turned cold. “If you keep saying such nonsense, I’m leaving.”

He Yunze quickly said, “Wait, wait! Why aren’t you excited to see me? We haven’t seen each other in years since I went to the U.S., right? You’ve forgotten all about the childhood bond we shared.”

Cheng Li glanced briefly toward the car.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way,” she said.

He Yunze asked directly, “Are you still using the same WeChat account?”

Cheng Li didn’t reply. He Yunze chuckled lightly, “If you won’t cooperate, I’ll just have to ask Ms. Ling for it.”

“Are you not bored of this?” Cheng Li finally showed a trace of impatience.

He Yunze, unfazed by her attitude, smiled and said, “Seeing you like this reassures me—you’re still the Cheng Li I know.”

Not wanting to engage further, Cheng Li turned and prepared to leave.

Fortunately, He Yunze had come with friends, one of whom called to him from nearby.

When Cheng Li got into the car, He Yunze waved at her and said, “See you next time, Cheng Li.”

That parting remark coincided with Cheng Li opening the car door, and the words drifted into the car where Rong Qi had been sitting the whole time.

“Who’s seeing you next time?” Cheng Li muttered under her breath in exasperation.

As she settled into the car, she explained, “Ran into an old classmate.”

“He Yunze,” Rong Qi said.

“Ah?”

Cheng Li was shocked to hear the name come out of Rong Qi’s mouth.

“You actually remember him?” she asked incredulously.

He Yunze hadn’t been in the same class as them; he was in a different one but the same grade.

Previously, when Cheng Li had introduced herself, Rong Qi had only barely remembered her.

He could recall a boy from another class?

Then it hit her, and she said with realization, “Is it because his ranking was always below yours?”

Back in high school, there were two legends at their school:

The first was Rong Qi, the prodigy who had returned from a special gifted program.

Unsurprisingly, he lived up to expectations, consistently taking first place in the grade rankings.

The second was He Yunze.

Originally, He Yunze had entered the school as the top-ranked student, the son of the previous principal. Although his father had since moved on to a position in the education bureau, He Yunze remained a focal point for the faculty.

It was expected that He Yunze would maintain his academic dominance throughout high school.

But then Rong Qi appeared.

Though they were in different classes, their rivalry was well-known.

Every exam season, the hottest topic was whether Rong Qi would retain his unshakable first place or if He Yunze would finally topple him.

But Rong Qi was Rong Qi—he always won.

“No,” Rong Qi denied.

Hearing his response, Cheng Li nodded. “True, people only remember the first; who bothers with second place?”

During high school, Cheng Li had been quite content with Rong Qi outshining He Yunze.

It saved her from having to endure Ms. Ling’s constant praise of He Yunze’s accomplishments.

“Were you two close?” Rong Qi asked.

“Not at all,” Cheng Li replied firmly.

With his hand resting on the steering wheel, Rong Qi suddenly said, “Then why did you take him to the school clinic when he got injured during the sports meet?”

“What?” Cheng Li was momentarily dumbfounded, staring at him blankly.

She genuinely couldn’t recall ever escorting an injured He Yunze to the school clinic.

How could she, the person involved, not remember such a thing?

But Rong Qi’s words were like a key, unlocking a memory long buried.

Soon, she remembered when it had happened.

It must have been their second year of high school.

Cheng Li looked at Rong Qi, still sitting in the driver’s seat, and suddenly asked, “Was that the year you signed up for the 3,000-meter race?”

“You still remember?” Rong Qi’s voice was calm.

“Of course,” Cheng Li said. “You were my lifesaver back then.”

At the time, she was the class monitor, tasked with gathering participants for the school’s sports meet.

Although the students at their school excelled academically, their enthusiasm for physical activities left much to be desired.

Convincing anyone to sign up was a struggle, especially for events like the 3,000-meter race for boys and the 1,500-meter race for girls.

Despite her efforts, no one volunteered.

Then, just before the registration deadline, Rong Qi approached her and said he’d run the 3,000 meters.

Cheng Li had been so touched that she nearly cried.

Though they weren’t close at the time and had barely spoken, she immediately promised, “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take care of everything for you—hydration, snacks, whatever you need. Just let me know.”

“No need,” Rong Qi replied, maintaining his cool, aloof demeanor.

Cheng Li insisted, “Seriously, just tell me. Whatever you need, I’ll make it happen. So, is there anything else I can do for you?”

Perhaps tired of her persistence, Rong Qi said, “Just wait for me at the finish line and personally hand me a drink.”

“Deal,” Cheng Li agreed without hesitation.

The hum of the engine pulled Cheng Li out of her memories.

Rong Qi had started the car, cutting short the conversation.

As they drove off, Cheng Li asked, “Are we heading home now?”

“Where else?” Rong Qi glanced at her.

Cheng Li hesitated briefly before suggesting, “Want to catch a movie?”

Rong Qi appeared to consider the idea, then nodded. “Sure.”

Was watching a movie with a pretty girl such a reluctant task?

They went to a nearby mall, where Cheng Li had already booked tickets online. Upon arrival, they went straight to pick them up.

Luckily, there were only ten minutes before the movie started.

“What do you want to drink?” Cheng Li asked proactively.

Rong Qi glanced at the options, seemingly uninterested.

Cheng Li said, “How about I buy this combo?”

As she spoke, she prepared to scan the QR code with her phone. Nowadays, everything was so convenient, even snacks at the cinema could be purchased this way.

“You go ahead and buy it. I’ll wait here,” Rong Qi suddenly said.

Cheng Li looked at him in surprise but nodded. “Alright.”

Rong Qi watched as she walked over to join the queue. Amid the surrounding clamor, his thoughts began to drift into the past.

Although everyone looked forward to the sports festival—it meant two days without classes—it didn’t mean they were eager to participate in the events.

Long-distance running, in particular, was something no one wanted to touch.

As class president, Cheng Li usually had strong influence in the class, but back then, no matter how much she begged or reasoned, no one was willing to sign up.

That was the case until the day before the registration deadline.

Rong Qi had overheard Cheng Li talking to Meng Yuange in the hallway.

Meng Yuange said, “You’re really going to run the 1,500 meters? Isn’t that overdoing it?”

Cheng Li sighed. “But the class advisor said we at least need one boy for the 3,000 meters and one girl for the 1,500. If I can’t get anyone else, I’ll have to do it myself.”

“Li Mi, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. You know me—800 meters would already kill me.”

“I know, I know,” Cheng Li replied, “so I’ll just sign myself up.”

“But don’t you have appendicitis? Won’t it affect you?” Meng Yuange asked.

“It should be fine. I’ll just run slower and take last place,” Cheng Li said.

That afternoon, Rong Qi had gone to Cheng Li’s desk and said, “I’ll sign up for the 3,000 meters.”

Cheng Li, who had already resigned herself to failure, was so stunned that her face lit up. She asked in disbelief, “The 3,000 meters?”

“Yes, the 3,000 meters,” Rong Qi confirmed.

When she asked if he needed her to do anything, Rong Qi couldn’t suppress his selfish desire. He wanted her to be there waiting for him at the finish line when he completed the race.

That year, on the sports field, the bleachers were packed with cheering students. Cheng Li stood by the rubber track, dressed in a light blue tracksuit.

As Rong Qi looked up, a gust of wind blew, lifting her ponytail into the air.

“Rong Qi, you can do it!”

It was the first time in his memory that she had called out his name so loudly.

But in the end, she wasn’t waiting for him at the finish line.

After the race, a boy from their class handed him a glucose drink. Gasping for breath and drenched in sweat, Rong Qi asked quietly, “Where’s Cheng Li?”

Someone answered, “Cheng Li took He Yunze to the medical office. He injured his foot during the high jump.”

In that moment, the surrounding noise seemed to fade into the distance.

All Rong Qi could hear was his own heartbeat, slowing down until it felt like it had stopped altogether.

*

While waiting in line at the cinema, Cheng Li glanced up at the screen displaying the snack prices.

But then, an old memory unexpectedly struck her.

She finally remembered the incident with He Yunze and the medical office. Back then, she had promised to wait for Rong Qi at the finish line, but halfway through, He Yunze, who was competing in the high jump, twisted his ankle.

It had nothing to do with her initially.

But when He Yunze spotted her on the field, he insisted that she take him to the medical office.

Cheng Li didn’t want to pay him any attention.

After all, Rong Qi was still competing.

However, the grade supervisor—who had a close relationship with He Yunze’s father—was nearby. He Yunze called him “Uncle” in private, and the supervisor chimed in, saying, “Cheng Li, why don’t you help Yunze get to the medical office?”

Everyone around them joined in, making it seem like Cheng Li would be heartless if she didn’t help.

This was what Cheng Li disliked most about He Yunze—how he always knew how to leverage his status to get what he wanted, refusing to give up until he achieved his goal.

Knowing that any further delay would only waste more time, Cheng Li ultimately had no choice but to help him to the medical office.

But she returned to the field as soon as she could, only to find that Rong Qi’s race was already over.

He had come in second place.

Considering he was competing against sports students, it was an impressive achievement.

When Cheng Li saw him standing alone in a corner, she ran over and cheerfully said, “Congratulations on getting second place!”

Rong Qi had merely looked at her in silence before turning and walking away.

Not understanding what had happened, she quickly asked one of the boys, “Did you give Rong Qi the glucose drink after the race?”

“I did,” he replied. “Everyone saw me give it to him.”

Cheng Li frowned as she watched Rong Qi’s figure grow distant.

At the time, she hadn’t thought much of it, figuring that as long as he had the drink, it was fine.

Now, years later, 28-year-old Cheng Li stood in the cinema, suddenly recalling that lonely, retreating figure.

*

Cheng Li returned with the snacks, walking slowly.

For some reason, she felt a pang of sadness.

Rong Qi glanced at her and checked his watch. “If you walk any slower, the movie will be over.”

It was his way of saying she moved at a snail’s pace.

“I got you a Coke,” Cheng Li said, handing him the drink in its cup holder.

Rong Qi reached out to take it.

“This time, I’m giving it to you personally,” Cheng Li said quietly.

Rong Qi’s hand paused mid-air before he nonchalantly took the drink. After a long moment, he responded, “Oh.”

Cheng Li sighed silently in her heart.

She wasn’t sure if he could understand what she meant.

Just as she turned to walk forward, Rong Qi suddenly said, “Your hand seems very cold.”

“Maybe it’s because I was holding a soda just now, and it had ice in it.”

Before she could finish speaking, the hand hanging at her side was gently held by him.

Her slightly cold palm was enveloped in his warm grasp. Then, one by one, his fingers threaded through hers, turning the hold into an interlocking of fingers.