Song JinXing stood in place with the same cold expression, so aloof and unfamiliar that the man across from him couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow as he took out a cigarette, asking with some surprise, "You don't remember me?"
He laughed softly, "Five years ago, when we were both studying piano with Teacher Wen, we met a few times."
The orange light of the corridor shone on the woman behind him, her black hair seeming to be shrouded in dusk, each strand distinct. But her brows and eyes held no warmth at all, beautiful yet frigid as the last light of dusk falling on a snowy peak.
Seeing her expression, he finally confirmed that she really didn't remember him. Realizing this, his gaze grew even more meaningful as he reached out to her, "Cheng Yaowen. Five years ago we were both Teacher Wen Shuyi's piano students."
Song JinXing didn't recognize the man in front of her, but she knew the name Cheng Yaowen.
Not long ago, the Song Group had partnered with Shiyong Real Estate to acquire a commercial site for building an electronics technology plaza. Cheng Yaowen was the son of Chairman Cheng of Shiyong Real Estate. A few days ago Zhong Ruanxing had even gone to dinner with them.
That night when she called, Zhong Ruanxing mentioned that Chairman Cheng had brought his son Cheng Yaowen to the dinner. Going forward, Cheng Yaowen would be responsible for the electronics technology plaza project.
But she hadn't mentioned that the two of them knew each other from before.
If she hadn't mentioned it, it meant they weren't close. Song JinXing's expression was icy as she declined to take his nicotine-stained hand, "Do you need something?"
Cheng Yaowen wasn't angry at having his handshake refused. He lazily retracted his hand, his smile growing even more profound, "In the few years since we've seen each other, little junior sister has not only grown more beautiful, but also more..."
As he spoke, he suddenly leaned in close. In that instant when the smell of nicotine washed over her, Song JinXing reacted even faster, recoiling back two steps and staring at him with an icy gaze.
Cheng Yaowen chuckled twice, "Keeping people at arm's length, I see."
Song JinXing's tone was icy enough to kill, "Get lost."
"Quite fierce," Cheng Yaowen's eyes narrowed as he took a few steps back, reining himself in under the force of her powerful pressure.
Song JinXing turned and walked away.
Watching her retreating figure, Cheng Yaowen raised his hand and stuck the cigarette back in his mouth. As the smoke drifted upward, he narrowed his eyes, the depths of his gaze now even thicker with interest, "Interesting."
After some time had passed, an assistant came down the hallway and respectfully said, "Chairman Cheng, it's time to go."
Cheng Yaowen stubbed out his cigarette and stood up, crushing the cigarette butts on the floor beneath his feet. As he passed the assistant he patted his shoulder, "Look into Zhong Ruanxing tonight."
The assistant was startled for a moment but made a note of the name, "Yes, Chairman Cheng."
Cheng Yaowen walked past him, patting his shoulder again, "I want to see that information tonight."
The assistant bowed his head even lower, "Understood."
Soon, a dossier on Zhong Ruanxing was placed on the bedside table in Cheng Yaowen's hotel suite.
It was almost midnight when the door to the presidential suite opened and two entwined figures kissed their way from the door to the bed. Cheng Yaowen pressed the alluring woman beneath him and was about to tear off her cool dress when his gaze was suddenly drawn to the stack of documents on the bedside table.
His hand that had been exploring under her dress paused and he leaned over to grab the file, flipping open the first page. Zhong Ruanxing's photo jumped out at him.
Cheng Yaowen raised an eyebrow and released the woman beneath him to sit up and start flipping through the information.
The woman whose dress was half stripped off whimpered twice and tugged at his arm, coquettishly calling out, "Chairman Cheng..."
Cheng Yaowen leaned down to kiss her red lips, his tone full of passion even as his words shocked her, "Get out of my room now. Be quiet when you close the door, understand?"
The flush on the woman's face instantly drained to white. She stared wide-eyed and gave a slight nod. Cheng Yaowen smiled and patted her cheek, "That's a good girl."
He turned back around to sit on the bed and continue looking through the file as the woman hastily put her dress back on. As she nervously crawled to her feet to leave, she couldn't help but glance at the name and photo on the paper. She silently bit her lip.
The room grew quiet except for the rustling of pages being turned.
The pages gave a clear picture of Zhong Ruanxing's life story. The first half of her life had been smooth and dazzling. Cheng Yaowen couldn't help but recall the first time he saw Zhong Ruanxing.
He had followed Teacher Wen Shuyi to learn piano since childhood and was considered Teacher Wen's closed-door disciple. The Wen family was scholarly and his family was on good terms with them. Teacher Wen Shuyi was both his teacher and elder. Although over fifty years old, Teacher Wen was still unmarried and childless. Aside from learning piano, Cheng Yaowen often visited to pay his respects.
That day, just a second after he had knocked, the pitch-black gate was pulled open from the inside.
The girl with the violin on her back shone even brighter than the sunlight. Her exquisite features were like a bud waiting to bloom. Seeing someone outside, she only looked startled for a moment before opening up, "Here to see Teacher Wen?"
Cheng Yaowen nodded and the girl moved aside to let him in, "Teacher Wen is upstairs."
Cheng Yaowen smelled a faint floral fragrance, like an alluring hibiscus. As she stepped out the gate, her slender figure seemed full of youth. Cheng Yaowen stood at the door watching her for a long time until Teacher Wen Shuyi called down from the balcony, "Yaowen."
Only then did Cheng Yaowen regretfully withdraw his gaze to meet Teacher Wen's calm eyes.
Upstairs, he immediately asked Teacher Wen about the girl from earlier.
Teacher Wen of course knew his ways and warned, "She is my student and your fellow disciple. Don't get ideas about her."
Cheng Yaowen may have been unrestrained in his ways but he still respected Teacher Wen. With the teacher's warning, he could only suppress the stirrings in his heart. But after that he visited Teacher Wen's place more often, and saw Zhong Ruanxing more times as well.
He knew she was a student at the Central Academy of Drama and dreamed of being an actress. He could also sense her faint wariness towards him.
But he was in no hurry. He liked teasing her this way.
Cheng Yaowen knew Zhong Ruanxing had only studied violin with Teacher Wen for a year. He had planned to pursue her after she "graduated" but his family unexpectedly decided to send him abroad for five years.
The enchanting world overseas captivated him even more. Of course Cheng Yaowen didn't remain chaste for a woman's sake. He quickly forgot about Zhong Ruanxing, not thinking of her even once those five years abroad.
It wasn't until this chance encounter that those long forgotten memories surfaced again.
The junior sister who had been a budding flower back then had indeed blossomed so dazzlingly. And she had gained an aloofness he had never seen in anyone else. He remembered Zhong Ruanxing avoided him but had a passionate personality, lighting up everyone who came close like radiant sunshine.
Tonight, her icy, sharp warning gave him a real scare.
But after recovering, his interest only grew stronger.
He liked fiery, passionate women, but he also liked cold, aloof women. To be able to possess both personalities at the same time...
Cheng Yaowen closed the file, a faint smile flashing through his eyes.
He liked that very, very much.