Chapter 35

He went directly to Huang Yingshi: "Pardon my forwardness, but do you have an employee named Jiang Du?"

Since he had mentioned her by name, Huang Yingshi, out of social courtesy, smiled and asked him, "President Wei, do you know Xiao Jiang?"

Xiao Jiang, Xiao Jiang, such a common form of address. In a company, there could be a Xiao Zhang, a Xiao Wang, a Xiao Li, and of course, a Xiao Jiang. But how magical this address was. Jiang Du was no longer a young girl; like him, she had been grown up for many years.

Wei Qingyue said, "I know her, we were high school classmates. I saw a figure just now that looked like her, but I wasn't quite sure."

High school classmates? Huang Yingshi was surprised; she had never heard Jiang Du mention it. Naturally, she told Wei Qingyue a little about Jiang Du's situation.

Besides the talk show, the company also had new media accounts that closely followed trending topics. There was a team dedicated to writing articles for their official account, and it was Jiang Du who was in charge of quality control for the manuscripts. They published three to four articles a week, with a high average weekly readership. In the eyes of Huang Yingshi and her colleagues, Jiang Du was shy and quiet. Apart from necessary work communication, she would avoid speaking if she could, exhibiting very typical social anxiety.

In the hotel parking lot, the driver, Old Luo, was still waiting for him. Wei Qingyue raised his wrist to look at his watch and frowned. Was his watch broken? The time wasn't moving. He wondered if today was cursed, or if the hotel's feng shui was bad, causing all time-telling devices to fail.

He called Old Luo and asked him to come up and take the watch to the shop for him. Wei Qingyue had an obsession with time; his watch was very important. Without time, he couldn't find his coordinates in the city. The time on his watch had to exist at all times.

The smog showed no signs of dissipating.

Wei Qingyue came looking for Jiang Du. In another room, a few interns were discussing this issue's cover photo and speculating about how the final cut of the video would turn out. He saw a girl with a wool-perm, her figure very slender, wearing a black dress. Her thin, fair arms were just as he remembered. She was explaining to the newest intern how to use an artificial intelligence machine system to select images—a system that was, in fact, a product developed by Wei Qingyue's Lingdong Technology.

He only saw her back, but just from her arms, he knew it was Jiang Du.

Wei Qingyue tapped his fingers, making a sound. One by one, people looked up and over at him, then said something to remind Jiang Du.

'Turn around and look at me, turn around and look at me, see me.' Wei Qingyue chanted silently in his heart, over and over again.

When Jiang Du finally turned around, a smile appeared on his handsome face, which now had the air of a young man.

He saw a flash of panic in Jiang Du's eyes. Clearly, she recognized him. It wasn't difficult at all; though the seas had turned to mulberry fields and white clouds to grey dogs, Wei Qingyue was still Wei Qingyue. All these years, he had kept the same hairstyle from his middle school days, his height had barely changed, and his figure hadn't gone out of shape in the slightest. He had tried his best to maintain his original appearance so that Jiang Du could recognize him at first glance.

Even if it was just to increase the probability that she might, upon unintentionally glimpsing a familiar figure on a bustling street, chase after him.

But there were still some changes. He was a man now, no longer a youth.

"I'm looking for Miss Jiang. Is it convenient for you to step out for a moment?" Wei Qingyue paid no mind to the others' probing gazes. When he said the words "Miss Jiang," he stressed them a little heavily.

Jiang Du's face seemed very small, almost smaller than in her girlhood. Perhaps it was because of her hair—fluffy and thick, it framed a face that was both clear and fair, with a light touch of lipstick.

She looked up at him, and for a moment, time disappeared. When she saw Wei Qingyue approaching with his unchanging, slightly long hair, all the dreams of her girlhood resurfaced with such heartache and clarity. She felt as if she had bumped into the lamp overhead, but it was the kind from her old childhood home—a dim, old lightbulb. With a single touch, all the shadows of the people in the room swayed as if stirred by the wind.

Jiang Du tried to make her expression appear calm, with the effortless grace of adults meeting again with a smile. She told the intern she was stepping out for a moment, then followed Wei Qingyue toward the emergency exit.

"Long time no see, Miss Jiang." Wei Qingyue still emphasized the form of address. He extended his hand. Jiang Du seemed unable to adjust to their sudden reunion. Her expression was more one of being at a loss, and her face flushed, her eyes misting over.

"It's been so many years, are you still going to pretend you don't know me?" Wei Qingyue looked at her and smiled. His hand, suspended in mid-air, was not withdrawn with disappointment; instead, he directly took her hanging hand and squeezed it slightly. "I'm Wei Qingyue. Don't you recognize me?"

In that instant, Jiang Du felt as if her entire soul had been grasped.

The two of them remained in an awkward handshake-like posture. Jiang Du pressed her lips together, the mist in her eyes growing thicker. She stared at his face without blinking. Wei Qingyue didn't speak, nor did he avoid her gaze, patiently waiting for her to recognize him. His eyebrows were still so dark, his nose still so straight. His contours had changed a little, becoming sharper. Time was sculpting this face.

The world became very quiet.

Finally, Jiang Du slowly revealed a tiny hint of a smile, like a faint hope blooming at the corners of her mouth. She nodded lightly. "I recognize you." As she spoke, she pulled her hand back, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"Good that you recognize me. Are you free tonight? Want to have dinner together?" Wei Qingyue's tone was questioning, but his attitude carried an assertive air that brooked no refusal.

Jiang Du's heart ached at an incredible speed. She looked at him, speechless, as if trying to discern whether she was bordering a dream or if this was the real world.

If it was a dream, then let her wake up quickly. She couldn't help but want to look outside, to see if the tall buildings were still there, if the sky was still there, if she could see the bustling traffic and the lit-up traffic lights.

"I have time." Jiang Du's chest heaved slightly. Dream or not, she had to agree to him first.

"Good. What time do you get off work? I'll come pick you up," Wei Qingyue decided unilaterally. He took out his phone. "Let's exchange contact information."

He didn't care if this approach was too abrupt, trying to rapidly pick up a relationship that had been broken for twelve years within a minute.

As he entered the number, his fingers twitched imperceptibly. He raised his eyes and met Jiang Du's dark, deep, and beautiful pupils.

She really seemed not to know what to say to him, even more silent than before. Wei Qingyue really wanted to get angry at her, to ask her, 'What on earth have you been doing? Why couldn't I find you all these years? Why were you never willing to contact me even once?'

But upon seeing Jiang Du, all those years of pent-up frustration magically dissipated. It was a matter of a single second.

He had a launch ceremony to attend in the afternoon, initiated by the T University Intelligent Industry Research Institute and co-hosted by several corporate giants and well-known car manufacturers—an artificial intelligence training camp.

"Talk to you later." As Wei Qingyue spoke, his phone started ringing. He said, "Sorry," and answered the call in front of her. Jiang Du, wanting to give him privacy, gestured to him slightly, indicating she would leave first.

Wei Qingyue answered the phone with one hand and grabbed her with the other, his eyes clearly saying, 'Don't go.'

This kind of behavior showed a lack of boundaries. He wasn't afraid of antagonizing a girl he hadn't seen in over ten years.

Jiang Du had no choice but to stay put. She didn't speak, like she was standing in the depths of the sea. She didn't actually hear a single word of what he said; there was only his voice. She was merely listening to that sound.

While talking on the phone, Wei Qingyue's eyes were fixed on her, his gaze not wavering one bit.

This was completely different from his original plan. To hell with taking it step-by-step or playing hard to get. He felt that the countless post-reunion scenarios he had imagined before were all stupid. He was 28 years old; a third of his life was almost over. What was there to dawdle for? Life was short. Both he and she were approaching thirty. Standing on the wreckage of their youth, they should speak up for what they wanted and immediately do what they wanted to do. Not another second of life should be wasted.

The phone was finally moved away from his ear. Wei Qingyue said, "I have to go, but I'll be on time to pick you up."

Jiang Du's heart pounded. She tried to keep up with his pace. "Do you know where my company is?"

"I know," Wei Qingyue was smiling. "Wait for me. I'll definitely come."

Jiang Du nodded lightly again. She was a woman of few words. "I'll wait for you then."

The reunion seemed so abrupt, yet so natural.

At the launch ceremony in the afternoon, the committee members of the Economic and Technological Development Zone, professors from the research institute, and chief researchers were all present. Wei Qingyue had brought their R&D general manager. Centered on the chosen topic, he shared the company's technical approach with everyone and presented a specific 3D model.

The three car companies that came were all partners of Wei Qingyue's company, Lingdong Technology. It had already been confirmed that a Level 4 autonomous driving vehicle would be launched in 2025.

He eventually condensed the entire process into ten minutes, turning it into a more accessible and easy-to-understand popular science piece to be posted online.

When Wei Qingyue came to find Jiang Du, it was actually already past her quitting time. He was driving his modified Mustang and called Jiang Du from the underground parking garage.

Soon, a figure walked out of the elevator. Jiang Du looked around as she walked. Wei Qingyue got out of the car and snapped his fingers.

The way she walked, so quietly. Wei Qingyue felt that everything was so familiar. That sense of familiarity carried a heart-wrenching warmth.

What hadn't changed about him was that natural air of casual composure. He had come for the interview wearing sneakers, only changing into a white shirt and long trousers for the launch ceremony. He stood there, ramrod straight, and greeted Jiang Du:

"Sorry, I'm a little late."

Jiang Du tucked her hair behind her ear. The shell of her ear was fair and dazzling. She gave him that familiar, shy smile. "It's okay, I worked a little overtime."

He gallantly ran over to open the car door for her. With his long arms and legs, the muscles on his arm bulged with a masculine strength as he pulled the door open.

"What would you like to eat?" Wei Qingyue naturally brought up the topic of food. Hearing Jiang Du say, "Anything is fine with me," he replied, "Then I'll decide."

"Okay." Jiang Du silently fastened her seatbelt. Her posture was good, but she was tense.

"We haven't seen each other in so many years, are you still this nervous seeing me?" Wei Qingyue started joking with her, glancing at her. Her hands were placed properly on her lap. He really wanted to touch that hand, to hold it in his palm.

Jiang Du gave a restrained smile, nodded, then shook her head, feeling bewildered by her own muddled expression.

"I'm very happy that I got to see you today. What about you?" He cleared his throat lightly. The car slowly drove out of the parking lot, immediately rushing into the surging neon lights of the city.

So direct. It completely defied the conventional steps of emotional development between a man and a woman.

Just as he expected, Jiang Du felt embarrassed. What was this situation? Wei Qingyue was deliberately ignoring the dozen-year gap between them, as if he and she could talk like this right from the start.

"Happy." Her voice was very soft, all her emotions suppressed behind her heart. Her eyes started to wander, as if she were curious about his car, taking small glances at its interior.

Wei Qingyue caught the movement of her gaze, his voice tinged with a smile:

"I modified this car myself. Originally, it was a used, old car."

Jiang Du looked at him in surprise. Wei Qingyue actually drove a second-hand car? The price didn't quite fit his status as a new tech mogul. Not only did he buy a beat-up car, but he also modified it himself?

But then again, it wasn't hard to understand. He had always been this individualistic.

Without her having to ask, Wei Qingyue continued to explain, "It's nothing, really. It's not like abroad. Regulations here are stricter. This time, I just added some comfort features, unlike abroad, where you can reprogram every single program."

"Can you do it yourself?" Upon hearing about the novel technology, Jiang Du didn't show a surprised expression. She was more concerned about the fact that it was Wei Qingyue who had done it.

"Yes," Wei Qingyue told her. "I like to tinker around."

The soft light inside the car illuminated his handsome profile, like a dream.

The strong sense of being in a dream suddenly made it hard for Jiang Du to breathe. She wanted to grab his arm but knew it would be too abrupt. She could only let out a soft sigh. "You're still so smart."

"I'm happy when you praise me," Wei Qingyue had become particularly expressive about his current feelings. Something about him had clearly changed. "Should I praise you in return and say you've become even more beautiful?"

Jiang Du finally smiled. She turned her head shyly to look out the window.

Outside the window were the rapidly receding tall buildings and beautiful lights. The city was like a colorful planet.

She was on the verge of tears: 'You came looking for me, Wei Qingyue. So, what's next?'

"Let's go to Longfeng Pavilion. We'll have lobster soup with rice. By the way, you're not allergic to seafood, are you?" Wei Qingyue's voice once again drifted by her ear. She turned to see his incredibly serious face.

Jiang Du shook her head. She sat up straight again, looking forward.

"Want to listen to some music?" Wei Qingyue said. "But there are only two songs."

Jiang Du immediately turned her face to look at him.

The familiar, lingering intro of "Half a Heart" soon filled the car. Jiang Du's vision quickly blurred. The melody from years past was like a lake of deadly gentle water, enveloping them in the present moment.

They didn't speak again. After listening to "Half a Heart," they listened to "Cold Rainy Night." The songs looped, one after the other, like a circle they could never escape, until the car stopped near the restaurant. Wei Qingyue grabbed a jacket from the back seat, draped it over his arm, and went inside with Jiang Du to order.

Jiang Du still had that anything-goes personality. She said, "You order." Wei Qingyue didn't go back and forth with her on the matter and decisively ordered a bunch of things.

"I have a lot of questions I want to ask you," Wei Qingyue smiled. "I don't know where to start. Have you been well all these years?"

Jiang Du's face seemed somewhat unreal to him. Perhaps it was because a long-awaited hope had finally come true, creating this strange feeling.

As he spoke, his gaze slowly swept over every inch of her face: her messy bangs, her eyebrows, her eyes, her nose, her rose-like lips.

"Pretty good." Jiang Du didn't want to talk about hardships. She also asked him, "And you?"

"Just tinkering around," he smiled slyly. "The show invited me, so I don't need to talk about my resume from these past years, right? It's all official stuff. I hope it didn't make you think I'm pretentious. How about we talk about something personal?"

His tone suddenly became a bit more intimate. Jiang Du demurely lowered her head to eat a shrimp ball. She hummed in agreement, her mind filled with the word "personal."

"I don't know if you'll want to hear it or not." Wei Qingyue looked at her deeply. He could feel that Jiang Du was intentionally or unintentionally avoiding him. Was it because they had been apart for too long? Or was it just like before?

He was a little disappointed. Or perhaps his overly direct attitude had breached her social distance. How could he be so sure that Jiang Du had some feelings for him?

A moment of silence.

Jiang Du slowly raised her head, her tone very cautious. "Are you... still going to say it?"

"For a moment, I didn't know what to say," Wei Qingyue said frankly, smiling.

"I'd love to hear whatever you have to say. It's just that if you talk about Lingdong Technology's business, I might not understand much. I'm very old-fashioned. When it comes to cutting-edge technology, I've only heard the terms." After speaking, a faint blush appeared on Jiang Du's face, hidden by the light.

Wei Qingyue seemed to have caught something. He asked with great interest, "What do you mean, old-fashioned? How are you old-fashioned?"

Jiang Du's tone was mild. "I rarely order takeout, and I rarely buy things online. I don't like chatting with people on the internet. Besides work, my WeChat history has almost nothing else in it. If something comes up, I like to call my grandparents to let them know; I don't like sending WeChat messages. I don't like using my phone much either. I feel like I'm out of touch with the times, full of the air of twilight. I don't know if that's the right word to describe it."

"No," Wei Qingyue gave her a gentle smile. "What does being out of touch with the times mean? No one ever decreed that you have to like what everyone else likes."

"Thank you for understanding." Jiang Du's demeanor had the politeness of a distant observer.

Wei Qingyue stared at her, his gaze always carrying a hint of inquiry. Jiang Du gradually became uncomfortable under his watch. He chuckled and asked her, "Are your grandparents well? Are they here or...?"

"They are both in good health. They're both here. But we can't afford a house. The place we rent is close to my company, but it's a bit small, not as big as our old home." When Jiang Du spoke of not being able to afford a house, she was quite frank, as if she didn't think it was a big deal.

Wei Qingyue nodded. He said, "I remember your grandfather's cooking was delicious." His fingers unconsciously tapped the table. "Some other day, could I pay a visit? To see your grandparents."

Jiang Du was taken aback. She had an expression of someone completely unable to figure out what Wei Qingyue was thinking. Her beautiful eyes, when looking at people, always seemed to carry a hint of vigilance and a smoke-like sorrow.

"Is that too forward?" Wei Qingyue asked. "If you feel it's inappropriate, just pretend I didn't bring up such a presumptuous topic."

"Do you really want to go?" The look Jiang Du gave him was a little timid. "I don't know if you're just being polite or what. I'm afraid I might misunderstand."

"I'm not just being polite with you. Everything I say is what I'm really thinking," Wei Qingyue corrected her. "Let's eat. Try this fish maw and shredded chicken soup. It's quite good."

"Wei Qingyue," Jiang Du suddenly called his name. But when he actually looked at her, her gaze darted away. She seemed to focus on arranging the food in front of her. "You came looking for me today... do you still see me as a good friend? Like we were in high school?"

Wei Qingyue's chewing slowed. He took a sip of clear tea and said, "No. I don't see you as a good friend, and I have no plans to."

Jiang Du immediately stopped what she was doing, her brows furrowing slightly, her lips pressed tightly together. She thought, 'Then what did you come looking for me for?'

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Wei Qingyue asked her in a deep voice.

The question was too sudden. Jiang Du was abruptly flustered. She shook her head.

"What a coincidence, I don't have a girlfriend either. Look, what do you think of me? Would it be okay for me to be your boyfriend?" Wei Qingyue said it bluntly. He was reserved yet bold, his burning gaze like a dense net cast over Jiang Du.