A day went by, and Cheng Yaowen still hadn't received a friend request acceptance notification. Initially a bit miffed, now he only had an even stronger sense of conquest.
With his understanding of Zhong Ruanxing, no matter her attitude towards him, he was certain she would attend Teacher Wen's birthday banquet tomorrow.
Cheng Yaowen gazed thoughtfully at the silhouette of her profile picture in WeChat for a while without calling her again. On his way home, swaying his phone, he saw that above his manor, dense high-voltage wires had been erected like a net. Many charred bird carcasses were already stuck to them, and there was a strange smell in the air.
Seeing him return, Cheng's mother greeted him joyfully, "Son, you're back! I've already had someone come measure the size of your windows. In a few days when the custom soundproof glass arrives, I'll have it installed for you. It'll guarantee you won't hear a thing while sleeping at night!"
Cheng Yaowen forced a smile, "You've worked hard, Mom."
He headed upstairs, and his mother followed, "Son, tomorrow I'll ride with you and go together. What time are you planning to leave?"
Cheng Yaowen halted his steps and turned around, "You should let the driver take you. I have to go pick someone up."
His mother asked, "Who are you picking up?"
Cheng Yaowen smiled, "A fellow student I learned the piano with at Teacher's place. Teacher Wen specifically asked me to."
His mother was immediately unhappy, "A woman? What does she do? Wen Shuyi is also ridiculous, why is she making you chauffeur for her? She's treating you like her own son to order around."
Cheng Yaowen's eyes flashed with impatience, though his face still held a smile, "Alright Mom, I'm a bit tired today, I'll head to my room first."
The next day, Cheng Yaowen got up very early. He didn't call for a driver and drove himself. Overnight, even more bird carcasses had accumulated on the manor grounds. The unpleasant smell grew stronger. Cheng Yaowen rolled up the car windows and ran over the dead birds on the road as he left the manor.
The car drove all the way to the outside of Zhong Ruanxing's neighborhood. He parked the hundred million dollar luxury car at the entrance and sized up the dilapidated old complex.
The city was gradually waking up. Many people emerged from within on electric bikes and bicycles. Cheng Yaowen lit a cigarette, rested his arm on the car window, and smoked leisurely, watching the exit.
After who knows how long, a sports car suddenly sped out from the old complex. Cheng Yaowen was also a car aficionado and recognized it as the globally limited edition sports car from before, priced no less than 30 million yuan.
To think there was actually someone who could afford such an expensive car living in this run-down complex. Beijing really had hidden dragons and crouching tigers everywhere.
Through the car window, he couldn't see clearly who was inside. After a roar, it quickly disappeared from his sight. Cheng Yaowen didn't pay it much attention and continued to wait for Zhong Ruanxing. He had investigated her, not only knowing where she lived and who her family members were, but also what car she drove.
Thinking about the information that showed she drove a pink minivan, Cheng Yaowen found it very amusing.
That such a cold and noble woman actually drove such a cute little car, this woman always gave people a sense of contrast different from ordinary folk.
Time passed bit by bit. The pile of cigarette butts on the ground grew larger and larger. Cheng Yaowen's previously confident mood became somewhat impatient. It was almost 10 o'clock now. According to plan, he should be inside the hotel welcoming guests for Teacher.
But neither Zhong Ruanxing nor her car had appeared.
Could he have thought wrong? To avoid him, was she even willing to miss Teacher's birthday banquet?
Just as he was frowning, his phone rang. It was his assistant calling, "Boss Cheng, when will you get here? Many guests have arrived already."
Cheng Yaowen impatiently said, "Have my mom greet them first."
The assistant hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to say the next words, "Boss Cheng, I just saw...Ms. Zhong has arrived too."
Cheng Yaowen was stunned, "Zhong Ruanxing is here? You didn't see wrong?"
The assistant quickly said, "No, I went up specifically to confirm. It's indeed Ms. Zhong, no mistake."
Cheng Yaowen hung up with a snap.
Still pinching an unextinguished cigarette between his fingers, his face was livid. After a long pause, he started laughing from extreme anger. He slowly crushed the cigarette butt with his fingertips, the burning pain making his eyes show a nearly crazed maliciousness.
A cleaning lady carrying a broom happened to walk by the car. Seeing the ground littered with cigarette butts next to the door, she walked over, somewhat angry as she admonished him, "Hey you, do you have any manners—"
Before she could finish, the man in the car turned his head and stared at her coldly. Meeting those frightening eyes, the cleaning lady didn't dare say another word and hastily fled.
...
Inside the five-star venue, many influential figures in Beijing had appeared at the banquet.
Even though Wen Shuyi had asked not to make a big fuss, the banquet was still inevitably grand. Firstly because it was hosted by the Cheng family, and many people wanted to give them face. Secondly because Wen Shuyi herself had great fame. She was not only an internationally renowned violinist, but the Wen family was also a scholarly family with generations of cultural refinement.
Wen Shuyi had taught many students. Knowing it was their teacher's 60th birthday, no matter how far or busy they were, they had cleared their schedules and rushed over to attend. There were also many unrelated people who hoped to use the banquet as an opportunity to make connections in the business sphere, so from 10 AM onwards, people bearing gifts and entering the venue streamed in ceaselessly.
Wen Shuyi did not have a partner or any descendants. Her parents were settled overseas. Today's banquet should have been hosted by Cheng Yaowen to welcome guests on her behalf, but for some reason that unreliable disciple still hadn't arrived. Wen Shuyi could only greet people herself at the entrance.
Although already 60 years old, thanks to not marrying or having children and keeping up self-care, she looked to be only in her forties or fifties, possessing an intellectual elegance.
Cheng's mother was also at her side, chatting with the wives of prominent families while holding a wine glass. Still not seeing her son arrive, she went to ask Wen Shuyi, "Why hasn't Yaowen gotten here yet?"
Wen Shuyi didn't really like this Mrs. Cheng. Her eyes were cold, "Don't know."
Cheng's mother also disliked this aloof violinist. Bluntly, she said, "Didn't you make Yaowen go pick up some female student of yours? Where did he go pick up people?"
Wen Shuyi frowned slightly, about to speak, when she suddenly saw a familiar figure walk through the entrance. From when she stepped onto the stairs to when she entered the doorway, nearly all the surrounding gazes fell upon her, filled with astonishment and admiration.
She wore a light-colored women's suit, her long hair casually tied behind her back with the slightly wavy ends brushing at her waist, a very simple yet refined outfit that drew all eyes to her graceful bearing.
Wen Shuyi hadn't seen this student of hers, who she was especially fond of despite only teaching for a year, for over a year now. She immediately ignored Cheng's mother and happily went over, "Ruanxing, you came."
Song JinXing looked at the elegant and refined elder before her. Her always icy face revealed a respectful faint smile, "Teacher, it's been a while. Happy birthday."
Wen Shuyi held her hand and looked her over carefully, "It's been a year, yet you've changed so much I almost can't recognize you."
It was still the same face, yet she somehow gave a completely different impression now. Wen Shuyi didn't think too much of it and attributed the change in temperament to the norms of the entertainment industry. Affectionately, she said, "Go on in first. Teacher still has to welcome guests. I'll come find you later."
Song JinXing glanced at the entrance where only an impatient middle-aged woman was standing. From Zhong Ruanxing, she knew of Wen Shuyi's circumstances. Softly, she said, "Teacher, I'll keep you company in welcoming everyone."
Wen Shuyi smiled, "That's good too."