CHAPTER 27

The night gradually quieted down, and the tiny moon buds on the pomegranate tree disappeared. The patter of light rain hitting the leaves made a subtle sound.

Inside the pavilion, only Xiang Zhishi and Zhu Ehua were present.

"Your sister is quite cute." Zhu Ehua said, resting her chin on her hand. "But she seems a bit naive."

Her every move, her leisurely tone of speech, didn't seem like that of someone her age, she was a woman who had been favored by time.

Xiang Zhishi remembered something Zhu Ehua had said with a smile before, "At what age must one do what? Must one be a certain way? I've never paid attention to such talk."

"She's still a child." Xiang Zhishi chuckled, "She looks like an adult, but in reality..."

Zhu Ehua glanced at him, "Being an older brother isn't easy, is it?"

Xiang Zhishi: "I find joy in it."

Their interaction, like that of old friends, might seem peculiar to others like Xiaoyuan, but to them, it was nothing but natural.

"Why did you suddenly seek me out? Is there something on your mind?" Zhu Ehua took the initiative to ask.

A few raindrops flew in from outside the pavilion, and Xiang Zhishi sighed. "I didn't mean to trouble you..."

"Just tell me." Zhu E Hua smiled lightly.

"It might put you in a difficult position..."

Emerging from the backyard, Xiaoyuan felt a bit dazed. Being young and from the south, she didn't quite understand or appreciate the complex architecture of the courtyard.

The depth of the courtyard was as profound as a woman's thoughts.

Although there were many guests, the lights of the veranda were dim. She intentionally avoided the bustling crowd, wandering towards quieter spots. The courtyard was well maintained and renovated, but traces of bygone times were still visible in some places.

She walked along the corridor until she reached a quiet railing. Inside the courtyard, there were several jujube and persimmon trees, along with cascading wisteria flowers. The night breeze carried a cool mist of rain.

Suddenly, she didn't feel like moving any further, but she also feared her brother might not find her later.

What kind of relationship did Teacher Zhu Ehua have with her brother?

Originally, she was incredibly excited to meet a legendary figure in the industry, but she hadn't expected her brother to be so familiar with her, making it seem like they were more than just ordinary friends.

Although Zhu Ehua had withdrawn from the spotlight, there were still many legends about her, one of which was her rich and intriguing love life. Some said she had been married three times, others said four, and she never lacked suitors. Celebrities, tycoons, literary giants, unknown individuals—she didn't care about nationality as long as she liked them.

Xiaoyuan once saw a gossip article about her boyfriend, who was thirty years younger than her. The magazine captured photos of them vacationing on an island. The man was an unknown model from abroad, with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing only floral shorts, his tanned torso revealing eight-pack abs, cuddling with her in a swimsuit that showcased her beautiful figure.

Under the sun, the two of them shone brilliantly, harmonious, with no visible age difference.

Xiaoyuan felt a mix of emotions, her heart pounding.

Could it be that her brother...? No... surely not... right?

She shook her head vigorously, nearly losing her earrings. It couldn't be, but she couldn't quite shake off the doubt.

'Forget it, forget it, stop guessing.' She would ask for clarification later.

She was lost in thought, unconsciously walking out of the veranda, without the cover of the eaves. The drizzle fell on her hair, and a mist of water surrounded the dim light of the railing.

Xiaoyuan let out a long, deep sigh.

She couldn't continue like this, she couldn't always rely on her brother to take care of everything.

She was no longer a child, she couldn't always hide behind him, letting him handle everything for her.

Regardless of what kind of relationship Zhu Ehua and her brother had, she couldn't be indebted to anyone. But what could she do to avoid Wei Jiabao and smoothly audition for "Zui Xiaoyao"?

She was at her wits' end, looking up at the ink-blue sky, the faint mist of rain dampening her hair without her noticing.

Suddenly, she caught a whiff of a faint smell of smoke.

She turned her head to find the source.

In the opposite veranda, a woman seemed to be standing there, holding a cigarette between her fingers. The tip of the cigarette glowed, the light flickering, then raised to her lips as the woman took a drag.

Xiaoyuan held her breath, studying the woman's face, feeling slightly stunned.

How could it be her again?

The woman wore a sheer black silk qipao top that was loose-fitting, paired with trousers, and draped in a coat. Her porcelain-like skin and deep-set eyes cast a faint gaze in her direction.

It seemed like the whole world had quieted down. The bustling noises around her seemed to fade away, and Xiaoyuan felt her heartbeat inexplicably quicken.

She felt bewildered by this sensation. The rain suddenly intensified, drumming on her hair. She raised a hand to shield herself and stepped back, feeling cold, and couldn't help but sneeze, "Achoo~"

This sneeze brought her back to reality. She regained her composure and hurriedly called out, "President Wei."

Having already offended Wei Jiabao, she couldn't afford to anger this powerful figure again.

Thoughts raced through her mind, and she sighed inwardly. In such a vast world, it was one thing to run into her in Shencheng, but how could she encounter her in Beicheng at the same time and place? She needed to make a polite exit: "President Wei, take your time smoking. I'll be on my way..."

As Xiaoyuan was contemplating her exit strategy, she heard a faint "Hmm."

She paused, then heard Wei Zhuang say, "You're here." Her tone was flat, as if she were merely stating a fact.

Blinking her eyelashes, Xiaoyuan automatically responded as if she had been asked a question, "Yes, my brother brought me here."

Wei Zhuang slowly took another drag of her cigarette, saying nothing further. Her smoking demeanor was quite captivating, her slender fingers creating subtle ripples in the air.

Oh. It seemed like the rain mist was dancing in the air.

That's how Xiaoyuan felt. It was much more beautiful than watching a man smoke, she thought. The woman seemed skilled but not particularly enthusiastic. Xiaoyuan realized she was mentally recording the woman's movements, expressions, and postures, perhaps for future acting reference...

Shaking off her thoughts, as if something had passed through her mind too quickly to grasp, Xiaoyuan turned away.

Wei Zhuang remained silent, and Xiaoyuan didn't know what to say either. When she looked up, she noticed Wei Zhuang seemed to have been watching her all along.

It was a seemingly indifferent gaze, or perhaps...

She couldn't quite discern what kind of look it was.

"President Wei," the words that had formed a perfect draft in her mind took a turn, another thought arising.

Who could control Wei Jiabao?

Who could help her avoid Wei Jiabao?

Wasn't it this woman standing in front of her?

For a moment, her heart thumped rapidly, without drafting her thoughts, they popped out like sheets of paper from a photocopier. "President Wei, what do I need to do? Wei Jiabao won't block me from getting roles, will he?"

Inside her mind, a little voice was screaming: 'Wow, what did you just say? Are you out of your mind?'

She felt guilty and her face flushed.

'You can't be guilty, keep it together.' The little voice in her mind shouted.

Xiaoyuan tightened her face, looked straight ahead, and put on her most serious and earnest expression.

'Not afraid, I'm not afraid, I'm really not afraid.'

In these one or two seconds, her mental activity reached an unprecedented intensity, but the woman opposite her, upon hearing her words, seemed to have little reaction, the red glow between her fingers did not extinguish.

Wei Zhuang's gaze was deep, difficult to fathom.

Xiaoyuan felt she might not be able to hold on much longer. She thought, count to three; if she didn't get a response, she would run without looking back.

One, two, ...

"I'll think about it."

Xiaoyuan doubted her ears, but it was true, she responded.

In a very gentle tone, although her voice was calm, it was not arrogant or pretentious.

Xiaoyuan was very surprised. She didn't expect to get this kind of response, nor did she expect Wei Zhuang to be completely different from Wei Jiabao. She had even insulted her before, which was very inappropriate.

"Thank you, President Wei." she said gratefully.

Wei Zhuang did not respond to her. She raised her hand to take a drag of her cigarette, looked up at the sky, her profile perfect as a sculpture, the rain and wind lifting her hair to reveal a bit of goose-feather-white skin.

The rain gradually intensified, making a rustling sound as it hit the leaves of the plants. Because neither of them spoke, the sound of the rain grew even more lonely.

Xiaoyuan inexplicably felt a tightness in her chest.

The night breeze was indeed a bit chilly. Her nose turned red from the cold, unable to resist another sneeze, she stamped her foot, the bricks beneath her feet wet from the rain, she stepped back again.

Wei Zhuang's gaze drifted over, landing on her. Xiaoyuan looked up, their eyes met again.

To be honest, Xiaoyuan had never seen such dark and deep, unpredictable eyes. Now, she wasn't so scared and didn't find her intimidating anymore. But it felt all too subtle and strange for them to stand there in silence, looking at each other in this misty, rainy night.

"President Wei, I won't disturb you any longer." Xiaoyuan said softly, slightly bowing to her, then turned and walked away, her movements light, her slender waist wrapped in the bean-green cheongsam swaying in the air.

She quickly turned into another corridor, disappearing into the night.

Wei Zhuang withdrew her gaze, the cigarette stub already extinguished, her fingers lightly tapping the railing.

One tap, two taps, three taps, four taps...

After a slight pause, she tapped it a fifth time.

Moments later, it seemed she made a decision. She took out her phone and dialed a number. With her slender fingers gathering her coat around her shoulders, she said to her assistant on the line, "Draft a contract."

Xiaoyuan wandered around almost getting lost, asking the waiter delivering wine for directions, and avoiding several people trying to strike up conversations, finally spotting Xiang Zhishi.

"Brother," she called out and ran towards him.

Xiang Zhishi hugged her, looking at her with her nose red from the cold, "Let's go, back to the hotel."

After getting into the car, Xiaoyuan yawned. It was already her bedtime. She leaned her head on Xiang Zhishi's shoulder, rubbed her eyes, and said, "Brother, you don't need to worry about me. If that role is meant to be mine, it won't slip away. If I can't get it, then it's simply not meant to be."

She didn't want to owe anyone any more favors. After hesitating for a moment, she still didn't ask him about his relationship with Zhu Ehua. The siblings had always had an unspoken understanding not to inquire about each other's romantic matters.

"You seem more open-minded now." Xiang Zhishi said, ruffling her hair.

"Hmm... it's because I'm tired." Xiaoyuan yawned again and closed her eyes.

In her mind echoed the words, "I'll think about it."

What was hidden in those eyes? Was that slightly lonely expression just her imagination? She didn't know how Wei Zhuang would "think about it" or if she could really handle this situation...

However, this time, she wanted to solve the problem herself.

Xiang Zhishi glanced down at her, moving a little closer so she could rest comfortably against him.

The night was cool as water, with the outside world ablaze with lights. His face was reflected in the glass.

"Xiao Shitou, I'm afraid I can't help you with this favor. I haven't seen her in many years." Zhu Ehua's voice was half-smiling, her lips slightly downturned. "Besides, she probably resents me a lot. I'd be afraid of making things worse for Xiaoyuan."

He frowned slightly and sighed, "... After all, they're mother and daughter, how could there be any hatred?"

Zhu Ehua glanced at him with a hint of amusement, her lips curling up again. "You're always so soft-hearted. Sometimes, only between a mother and daughter can real hatred arise."

Xiang Zhishi seemed to remember something, his expression changing abruptly as he turned his face away in silence.

"Besides, Wei Jiabao is her son. If she doesn't take care of him, I certainly can't either."

Zhu Ehua chuckled.

"Jiabao is just a name," Xiang Zhishi said. "Giving him that name shows that Ms. Wei has some expectations for him..."

"Ha, she didn't name him, that was Old Wei's doing."

"She hasn't taken care of him for a single day, and neither have I. Our three generations have kept to ourselves, let's not interfere with each other and live peacefully!" Zhu Ehua laughed heartily.

Xiang Zhishi remained silent, feeling an indescribable discomfort inside.

"You, Xiao Shitou, can you accompany Xiaoyuan for a lifetime?" Zhu Ehua teased, lightly tapped his cheek. "You need to learn to let go. Live your own life."

"I've walked through half my life, played through it, and understood one thing," she looked at the night sky, her voice distant, "Life is fleeting, all things, good or bad, pass in a flash, there's no need to delve too deep."

Xiang Zhishi murmured quietly, "All composed things are like a dream, a phantom, a drop of dew, a flash of lightning. That is how to meditate on them, that is how to observe them." (From the Diamond Sutra)

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