Zhang Jingchan still wore a low-key black suit, light blue pinstriped white shirt, dark tie, legs crossed, sitting expansively, his expression forever cold, his eyes quiet and deeply black. Pale light fell on his face, making him appear even more fair and pristine.

Facing such a young business tycoon, the female reporter’s voice softened a few degrees. She first asked several business-related questions. Zhang Jingchan answered them one by one, concise and to the point, clear and organized. Occasionally there would be a smile, but in front of people, even his smiles were somewhat restrained.

After finishing the business questions, the female reporter changed the subject with a smile and asked: “Do you mind if I ask a personal question?”

Zhang Jingchan looked up inquiringly.

“Many people in financial circles, as well as our magazine’s readers, want to know—is Zhang Jingchan, who’s famous throughout Central China, married?”

“No.”

“Then are you still single? Please don’t give our readers a heartbreaking answer.”

Zhang Jingchan smiled nonchalantly at the camera and shook his head: “I already have a fiancée.”

“Oh my! You’re already engaged? Congratulations! May I ask, how did you and your fiancée meet?”

Zhang Jingchan, not knowing what he was thinking, had lingering laughter in his eyes: “Childhood sweethearts, destined by fate.”

“Wow, just hearing that makes one envious. What industry is your future wife in? Is she in the same line of work as Director Zhang?”

Zhang Jingchan shook his head: “She’s a very talented painter. Much more refined than me.”

“Director Zhang, has anyone told you that your eyes light up when you talk about your fiancée? When will you get married? Will there be a grand wedding of the century?”

Zhang Jingchan lowered his eyelids slightly, the laughter in his eyes light and peaceful: “Like you, I’m also the one waiting for the answer.”

……

Li Weiyi put down her phone and scoffed “tch.” When had she gotten engaged to him? What fiancée? He was best at pretending in front of people—tea ceremony champion.

Li Weiyi sat in front of her easel, continuing to complete a painting. But as she painted, she put down her brush again, turned her head to look at the broad, flowing Xiang River. After looking for quite a while, she finally had to admit that actually, she’d long since stopped wanting to wait.

Without bringing anything, not even a change of clothes, she only took her ID and phone and left home.

The earliest flight to Shanghai was only after 8 PM. Li Weiyi called Zhang Jingchan’s male assistant.

Zhang Jingchan’s schedule in Shanghai was very full. He also had social engagements in the evening, only finishing past 9 PM. Among those he was entertaining were wealthy heirs with backgrounds comparable to his. In front of everyone, one of them said he would arrange the next activity. Such activities were naturally discreet and high-end. Zhang Jingchan politely excused himself and left.

Returning to the suite on the hotel’s top floor, Zhang Jingchan removed his suit jacket and tie, leaned back wearily on the sofa, and gazed at the night view of the Huangpu River outside the window. Lights reflected, silent and quiet. He had long grown accustomed to such nights, one after another. Lonely? The first few years, yes, but he knew this was the path he was destined to walk, the life he was destined to live. If you want to pluck the jewel from the crown, you must endure loneliness and hardship that ordinary people find unbearable.

Only in this lifetime, it was different from that first life. Debt-free and carefree, parents healthy and well. The isolation and coldness that once filled his heart had dissipated like smoke. Most importantly, there was still Li Weiyi, always waiting for him where the lights dimmed.

Zhang Jingchan smiled to himself. His exhaustion seemed to lighten along with it. He got up and walked toward the bedroom, planning to wash off the smell of smoke and alcohol.

Actually, Zhang Jingchan sometimes wondered—if the Zhang family hadn’t encountered trouble back then, what would he be like? Perhaps a bit better than other wealthy second-generation heirs, not to the point of ruining the family business, but he definitely wouldn’t have lived as desperately as in this life, and his achievements would probably be limited. In male-female relationships, he might not have taken things too seriously either. Back then as a sophomore, he was arrogant and shallow enough, only choosing girlfriends from among campus beauties. If he’d really continued playing like that, perhaps his life now would be just like that wealthy heir tonight.

Instead, fate taught him to be human.

And Li Weiyi accompanied him in learning to love.

Zhang Jingchan, wearing a bathrobe, walked out of the bathroom, using a towel to dry his wet hair. He immediately thought that if Li Weiyi were here, she would definitely make him use a hairdryer. She really liked touching his hair, and also liked touching his neck. Zhang Jingchan laughed out loud.

He missed her so much.

On this most ordinary of nights, in a life of smooth sailing from now on, he still missed her so much. Missed these years of her constant companionship, missed their telepathic understanding and advancing and retreating together in the time loop. Even if he just held her in his arms without doing anything, he could smile, could feel satisfied.

Zhang Jingchan stood by the window, holding his phone, just about to make a video call when the doorbell rang with a “ding dong.”

Zhang Jingchan walked to the door and asked: “Who is it?”

Someone answered in a raised voice: “Boss, room service.”

Zhang Jingchan frowned slightly. No matter what, this level of hotel couldn’t possibly have that kind of harassment, but he still retied his bathrobe belt and opened the door.

Someone stood there with a charming smile, hand on the doorframe, her gaze sweeping him from head to toe with a rather satisfied look, saying: “Boss, the room service you ordered has arrived.”

Zhang Jingchan laughed, pulled her inside in one motion, and closed the door with a “bang.” Before they could even walk into the room, he pressed her against the door and kissed her thoroughly, his dark brows and eyes full of joy: “How did you suddenly come?”

Li Weiyi hooked both hands around his neck and said earnestly: “Zhang Jingchan, I came to give you your answer.”

Zhang Jingchan was slightly stunned, understood, lowered his head with a smile, then raised it again. A pair of eyes deeper than the stars and river stared at her: “What’s the answer?”

Li Weiyi lightly bit his ear and said: “You’ll have to find that out yourself.”

Then I won’t be polite.

I had wanted to prepare the perfect ceremony, to draw a perfect conclusion to the fullness of our relationship, to our eight years and another eight years of cycles. But you’ve dug out your heart and given it to me—if I don’t take it now, I’m a bastard.

I thought that time travel was just an instant, but you waited a full eight years.

I once thought I was the most miserable unlucky wretch in the world, but it turns out fate was never unkind to me. Love and hate dissipated in the obliterated timelines. Each person’s river of fate keeps turning. Because of your companionship, I was able to rewrite and turn things around time and again.

I finally received fate’s most beautiful reward—being able to hold your hand, walking from age nineteen to twenty-seven. All the time we missed, filling it together day by day, moment by moment. Under my feet, step by step, no longer walking on emptiness, steadily walking toward the you of 2022.

That girl crying her heart out in despair by the riverside in pouring rain.

That man holding a black umbrella, traveling alone through stars and moonlight.

My Achan.

——End of Main Story——