Happiness belonged to others, and all that was left for her was puzzling pain.
Bai Yinyue didn't stay until the end of the banquet and left. Recently she had been preparing for her nationwide touring exhibition, and spent most of her time in the studio. But now with complicated emotions, she didn't really want to go to the studio either, so she simply packed her bags and went on a trip to distract herself.
She didn't choose a destination. When she arrived at the airport, she randomly picked an airline and asked where the next flight was headed - she heard it was to Su City. Without much hesitation she bought a ticket.
Su City was quite nice, with good scenery, suitable for distraction.
Bai Yinyue stayed in Su City for a week, until her studio assistant kept urging her to go back and discuss the touring exhibition with the organizer. Only then did Bai Yinyue tidy up her emotions and headed back.
The distraction did help - at least now when she thought of that cold-faced man, she wouldn't be heartbroken and disconsolate.
Her flight was scheduled in the morning. When Bai Yinyue slowly pushed her suitcase to check in, she was bumped by a group of people rushing by. The one who bumped into her was a young girl, wearing a glittery hairband with the word "Star" on it.
The girl quickly turned around and apologized. Bai Yinyue waved her hand to indicate it was nothing. The girl gave her an apologetic smile and hurried to catch up with her companions.
People around were chatting: "It must be fans coming to pick up some celebrity again."
"Didn't you see the signs they're holding? Zhong Ruanxing's fans."
Bai Yinyue's check-in motions paused for a moment. An image of a cold, elegant girl flashed through her mind. She had only seen Zhong Ruanxing once, at Professor Cheng Yaowen's birthday banquet, wearing a lady's suit, efficient and neat, with an icy cold temperament that left a deep impression.
Now that she thought about it, her aura was quite similar to Song Jinxing's at the annual conference.
Previously she had felt that in a relationship, opposites attract, so it made sense that the gentle Song Jinxing would like a cold girl - they seemed well-matched. But now... Bai Yinyue imagined two ice cubes coming together and shivered.
Despite repeatedly telling herself not to be curious, when she arrived at the first class security checkpoint and saw the fans gathered outside, Bai Yinyue still couldn't help but glance over to find Zhong Ruanxing.
Zhong Ruanxing was standing a few meters away, wearing a mask with her long wavy hair cascading behind her. She was waving to her fans. Her smooth forehead and pair of bright eyes curved into smiles, brimming with clarity and joy.
Those were extremely beautiful eyes, with exquisite arcs and contours, as if each frown and smile conveyed a sense of familiarity that perplexed Bai Yinyue.
There were more travelers than usual today, even the first class lane had a short queue.
Zhong Ruanxing lingered to interact with her fans, letting the passengers behind her go first. Soon it was Bai Yinyue's turn.
She smiled amiably, "Please go ahead."
As their eyes met, Bai Yinyue saw a flash of surprise in those beautiful gentle eyes, but it was only for an instant before she concealed it again.
A thought struck Bai Yinyue - she recognizes me!
But they had only met once, at the birthday banquet. They hadn't even greeted each other. If not for Professor Cheng's pestering, Bai Yinyue wouldn't have noticed her at all. Zhong Ruanxing should have been the same.
So how did she recognize Bai Yinyue? With just a glance she knew who she was?
Did Song Jinxing mention her before? Could he have shown Zhong Ruanxing her photo? No, that didn't seem like something Song Jinxing would do, whether as the gentle gentleman before or the cold-faced man now. He wouldn't show his girlfriend photos of another woman interested in him.
Bai Yinyue was certain of this.
Then why did Zhong Ruanxing recognize her?
But Zhong Ruanxing didn't give her much time to ponder. After letting Bai Yinyue through, she turned back to interact with her fans.
Bai Yinyue slowly shuffled forward and handed her ID and boarding pass to the staff. She heard Zhong Ruanxing's gentle voice bid goodbye to her fans, "Alright, I have to go in now. Please go home safely, thank you all for coming to see me off, bye bye."
Bai Yinyue felt strange.
How did this couple seem to have swapped personalities?
After clearing security, Bai Yinyue went to the lounge, feeling perplexed. Shortly after sitting down, Zhong Ruanxing entered with her assistant. Bai Yinyue was seated near the entrance. Their eyes met again as they entered, but Zhong Ruanxing looked away nonchalantly, as if they were strangers.
Bai Yinyue thought, isn't it too late to pretend not to recognize me!
The three of them sat in the inner seats. The young woman beside Zhong Ruanxing seemed to be speaking softly to her, making her laugh. Her upturned brows and cascading hair oozed an irresistible charm even with her mask on.
It was a completely different allure from their first meeting - bold and dazzling like the summer sun, bright and eye-catching. Everyone's eyes were drawn to her, Bai Yinyue saw both young and old stealing glances at Zhong Ruanxing.
With her presence, she would be the absolute center of beauty. It was the trait of a star, and her own charm.
If she was such a radiant person, then who was that cold and silent woman Bai Yinyue saw at the banquet?
Bai Yinyue couldn't describe her emotions now, only a sudden sense of eerie destiny, as if everything was prearranged.
Destiny led her to randomly buy a ticket to Su City, destiny made her decide to return today, destiny let her encounter the completely different Zhong Ruanxing here, awakening the tangled doubts in her heart.
Soon the staff came to notify them to board.
Bai Yinyue was seated at the last row beside the window. Passengers boarded one by one, and Zhong Ruanxing was the last. She carried a small suitcase less than 18 inches, and smiled at the flight attendant who welcomed her aboard.
"Ms. Zhong, let me put your luggage above for you."
Bai Yinyue saw her smile and lift up her suitcase, "No need, I'll do it myself."
This scene strangely overlapped with her first encounter with Song Jinxing on a plane.
Aside from seeing each other briefly at the bidding conference, their first real meeting was on the flight from Jing City to Shanghai. He had smiled gently, declining the flight attendant's offer to stow his luggage, and did it himself.
Bai Yinyue stared at that slender figure, a contemplative expression on her face.
As the plane rumbled and steadily ascended, she asked the flight attendant for paper and a pen. Then she went to Zhong Ruanxing's seat.
The famous actress was startled by the sudden appearance of a familiar face. Thankfully her acting skills saved her from revealing anything. She only looked at Bai Yinyue puzzledly.
Bai Yinyue smiled, "Ms. Zhong, I'm your fan, may I have your autograph please?"
What the heck, since when did Bai Yinyue become her fan???
Zhong Ruanxing muttered inwardly, but her expression remained calm. "Of course."
She took the paper and pen. Perhaps due to this special acquaintance's presence, her hand shook and she almost signed the wrong name.
Bai Yinyue watched as she wildly scribbled on the paper, crumpled it up, and threw it in the seatback pocket's trash bag. Then she wrote on a new sheet and smiled as she handed it over, "Thank you for your support."
Bai Yinyue also smiled and nodded, "Thank you, hope you shine brightly."
Afterwards the two didn't interact again.
As the plane landed, Zhong Ruanxing remembered her fan and nodded at Bai Yinyue before leaving. Bai Yinyue also smiled at her. After everyone had disembarked, she slowly got up. Under the flight attendant's puzzled gaze, she went to Zhong Ruanxing's seat and fished out the paper ball from the trash bag.
Uncrumpling it, the ink had been smeared into a black blot. She stretched the paper open and held it up to the cabin light.
Finally, the original words faintly showed through.
It was an incomplete "Song" character.