Ruan Yu froze for a moment, her thoughts half clear, half blocked.
She finally understood why Shan Anxin had been so hostile toward her earlier, but she couldn’t imagine who would specifically request her as host.
“Deputy Director, who is the guest?” Ruan Yu asked.
Huang Ge pushed the documents in his hand toward Ruan Yu: “The guest is a young investor who’s made a name for himself these past two years. I hear he’s quite famous in America, and has an inspiring story. He just returned to China recently. Ying Wen put in a lot of effort to get him on the show.”
Ruan Yu was even more confused after hearing this. None of her acquaintances matched the information Huang Ge described.
She flipped through the documents beside her.
The materials were all in English. At a glance, she only caught the guest’s name: Neil Teng.
“Since Ying Wen was handling all the arrangements before, I’m not very clear on the specifics. The administration just messaged to say this Mr. Neil is in the reception room. Go there immediately and communicate with him in person. Whatever needs to be addressed, report back quickly so the station can adjust arrangements accordingly.”
A mission dropped from heaven.
Ruan Yu had no time to think, she could only hurriedly follow the Deputy Director’s instructions and head toward the reception room.
Going downstairs, she encountered two young women from the administration department.
“This guest is so handsome, completely breaking my prejudice about successful people being bald with big bellies,” one said.
“Handsome yes, but unfortunately… oh, Sister Ruan.”
“Sister Ruan.”
Seeing Ruan Yu, they immediately stopped their conversation and greeted her.
Ruan Yu smiled and nodded, quickly passing through the corridor to reach the reception room door.
The door was slightly ajar. She knocked and gave the person inside a few seconds to respond before pushing it open.
The reception room’s windows were open, the morning light just reaching its peak, a gentle breeze flowing, the room’s brightness melding with the warm spring atmosphere.
The man by the window turned at the sound, the lush green of the areca palm reflected behind him, making his gaze appear vibrant and energetic, just like when they first met years ago.
Ruan Yu’s steps faltered, her entire body frozen in place.
Teng Hao pressed a button on his armrest, and his wheelchair automatically turned.
Facing her, his thin lips curved into a smile, his handsome face blooming with warmth.
“Top Scholar Miss, long time no see.”
Ruan Yu’s whole body began to tremble.
The familiar voice, the familiar address, but this was no longer the familiar Teng Hao.
The tall youth in her memories, with straight posture and graceful bearing, was now accompanied by a wheelchair.
“What? Don’t recognize me?” Teng Hao raised an eyebrow. “Top Scholar Miss, you haven’t forgotten me, have you?”
Ruan Yu shook her head desperately.
No.
How could she possibly forget him?
For six years, every time the dark wind blew rain, every time she sat up startled from dreams, it was because of him. How could she forget when she had carried such a heavy remembrance?
“Teng Hao…”
“Good that you haven’t forgotten.” Teng Hao looked at Ruan Yu, his gaze gentle. “After so many years apart, I should come to give you a hug, but in my current condition, it seems rather inconvenient.”
His slightly self-mocking tone pierced straight to the heart, just like that moment years ago when she watched him fall from the stage.
Almost instinctively, Ruan Yu dropped the documents in her hand and rushed forward, bending down to embrace him tightly.
The young man who used to practice dance until his white T-shirt was drenched in sweat was now in an impeccable suit, emanating an elegant masculine fragrance.
Six years – what had he been through? What had he endured?
Ruan Yu dared not think too deeply. She buried her face in Teng Hao’s shoulder, tears falling like rain.
Teng Hao raised his hand, gently patting her back one stroke at a time. His expression was very calm as if he had grown accustomed to people breaking down in front of him like this.
“Top Scholar Miss, you’ve changed, becoming so quick to cry. I remember before, no matter how I bullied you, you never cried.”
Yes, back then, when he deliberately made difficult questions to challenge her, when he locked her outside and wouldn’t open the door when he dumped a bucket of cold water over her head… he was so bad, bad enough to make her grit her teeth in anger, unwilling to see him again.
But now, she would rather he could stay that way forever, always full of endless mischief, forever young, forever wild and untamed, rather than like this – no longer vibrant after being tortured by fate, no longer showing ripples of emotion after being tempered by time.
Ruan Yu’s tears fell even harder.
She had imagined their reunion, but she had never imagined reuniting with a Teng Hao in a wheelchair.
What dark years must that proud youth have endured to now face himself, face her, with such calmness?
“Alright, no more crying or others will think I’m bullying you.”
Just as Teng Hao finished speaking, a young woman from the administration came in carrying two cups of tea.
Seeing the scattered documents on the floor and Ruan Yu and Teng Hao embracing, she stood awkwardly, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
“Sister Ruan…”
Hearing the voice, Ruan Yu quickly released Teng Hao and turned to wipe her tears.
“Sister Ruan, so you two are a couple?” the young woman couldn’t help but ask curiously.
“No,” Ruan Yu denied. “He’s my little brother.”
The young woman had a moment of realization: “Your little brother is so handsome, like a celebrity.”
“Yes, he’s always been this handsome.” Ruan Yu looked at Teng Hao.
Teng Hao listened calmly to their praise, maintaining a polite smile. In the past, he would have certainly blushed.
He didn’t blush, but he made the young woman blush first.
“Sister Ruan, take your time chatting, I’ll head out.” The young woman set down the tea cups and, not daring to look at Teng Hao again, nodded to Ruan Yu and left the reception room.
The reception room fell quiet.
Ruan Yu composed herself and picked up the documents from the floor. When she looked up, she found Teng Hao smiling at her.
“What? Is my makeup smeared?” She quickly touched her face.
“No, I was just thinking whether Top Scholar Miss treated me as a little brother.” He pretended to be angry. “In these six years, you never contacted me once.”
Ruan Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and her voice choked up again: “It’s precisely because I treated you as a little brother that I didn’t dare contact you.”
Afraid to hear bad news about him, afraid to hear he hadn’t woken up, so she didn’t ask or inquire, comforting herself every day that no news was good news, that he must have awakened and was living vigorously and carefree on the other side of the earth.
Teng Hao lowered his eyes, his previously calm emotions suddenly showing a ripple of change.
“Sorry for worrying you all these years.” His “you all” didn’t specify who he meant.
“I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I’m fine now.” Teng Hao stroked his wheelchair armrest, murmuring, “I’m doing very well now.”
“Not just very well, you’re amazing!” Ruan Yu patted the stack of documents in her hand. “You’ve been invited to ‘They Say’! Guests invited to ‘They Say’ are all top-tier industry figures!”
“They Say” was a reality interview show that TG had invested heavily in producing. The show had ten episodes total, with famous host Ying Wen leaving the studio for the first time to explore guests’ daily lives and work up close, revealing unknown sides of these prominent figures.
Teng Hao was the seventh VIP guest. Before him had been the country’s richest man, a pop music diva, an actor with explosive talent… each one garnering immense attention.
“TG is too kind.” Teng Hao said, “I have no special abilities. Any achievements these past two years were just luck, unlike Top Scholar Miss, who has always worked steadily and diligently to become a household name.”
“No no no, you’re amazing, I’m the lucky one.”
Teng Hao smiled and casually lifted his wrist to check his watch: “Are we going to spend our time mutually praising each other?”
“Oh right, let’s discuss business. You must be very busy, I won’t waste your time.”
Ruan Yu opened the documents in her hand and briefly went over the show’s process with Teng Hao. They confirmed the recording time and location. As for the content, Teng Hao indicated he was willing to show viewers all aspects of his current life, with no off-limits topics or areas to avoid – everything could be arranged by the production team.
Teng Hao’s attitude gave Ruan Yu peace of mind. Although this was an emergency assignment, fortunately, the guest wasn’t difficult to work with, so the upcoming work should proceed smoothly.
After they finished communicating, Ruan Yu accompanied Teng Hao downstairs.
His wheelchair was fully automated and customized, very convenient to use, requiring no help from Ruan Yu at all.
Several times Ruan Yu wanted to ask when he had woken up, and when he had gotten used to the wheelchair, but the words reached her lips and were swallowed back.
She feared her questions might touch Teng Hao’s wounds.
Teng Hao’s driver was waiting downstairs. Seeing Teng Hao, the driver hurried over to help him into the car, but Teng Hao was in no rush.
“Top Scholar Miss.” He turned to look at Ruan Yu. “You have no other questions for me?”
Ruan Yu hesitated for a moment.
“Your brother… has he returned?”
Teng Hao smiled – this question was clearly within his expectations.
“Yes, he returned with me recently.”
“Oh.”
“No other questions?”
Ruan Yu licked her lips, knowing Teng Hao was being deliberate but still unable to resist asking further.
“Where… is he?” The last bit of dignity was completely thrown aside.
“He’s running a bar on Ao Sheng Road now.” Teng Hao took out his phone. “Do you want me to send you the bar’s address?”
Ruan Yu remained silent, neither saying yes nor no.
“Want it?” Teng Hao pressed.
“…”
This brat!
She’d thought he’d grown more steady, but unexpectedly, traces of his childish past still remained in his bones.
“Yes.”
“Alright, you go up first, and I’ll send it to you once you do.” He waved his phone with a smile, his black pupils like amber swaying in the wind.
Ruan Yu didn’t know what he was planning, but could only nod.
“Okay, I’ll head up first. See you on recording day.”
“Mm, see you on recording day.”
As Ruan Yu turned to go upstairs, her phone vibrated in her pocket.
She took it out to see the message Teng Hao had sent her.
It was the address of a bar on Ao Sheng Road, called “Nameless.”
–_–
After work, Ruan Yu drove to the Nameless bar.
The bar was in the center of Ao Sheng Road. The outdoor parking lot was huge but already packed with cars. She searched for a long time before finding a spot, and while backing in, her Audi nearly scraped the Mercedes next to her.
The Mercedes’ owner was a young woman who had just gotten out of her car. Seeing Ruan Yu’s mediocre parking skills, she came forward to help direct her. After much effort, they managed to squeeze the car into the spot.
“Thank you,” Ruan Yu said through her lowered window.
“You’re welcome.” The woman smiled warmly before walking away.
Watching her naturally curly hair and graceful stride, Ruan Yu felt the woman looked like she might be mixed-race.
When she had smiled earlier, her eyes had shown a slight hint of blue under the street lights.
So beautiful, both in appearance and heart.
Ruan Yu closed her window and got out with her bag.
The Nameless bar was right in front of her. Just through those doors, she could see Teng Yi – the man she had yearned for these six years, unable to forget or let go. He had finally returned.
The early spring night was cool, but Ruan Yu’s palms were sweating from nervousness.
Back then in their youth, they had thought of spending a lifetime together, of forever, but had never thought about what smile to wear if they met again after parting.
She adjusted her bangs in the rearview mirror and took three deep breaths before finding the courage to walk toward the bar.
The Nameless bar was large, with unique decor – wood from door to floor, all in one color.
In the center was the bar counter, with a wine cabinet on the left and a spiral staircase on the right leading to the second floor. Behind the counter hung a light blue fabric with simple fish designs printed on it.
The hall was furnished with small square tables paired with horn chairs, simple and casual. The lights swayed rhythmically with the music, one enticing, one soul-consuming. The windows on both sides were open, the night breeze intertwining with the scent of alcohol, carrying back and forth. Outside, late-night passersby would occasionally peer curiously through the windows, their eyes showing exhaustion mixed with envy…
It felt so comfortable.
Rarely did such an establishment of sensory pleasures maintain such cleanliness without artifice, instead giving people a sense of spiritual cleansing through a return to nature.
Upon entering, Ruan Yu immediately saw the man standing by the wine cabinet.
He wore a white shirt, tall and straight, no dreadlocks or crew cut. His short, messy hair framed his face with a touch of rugged masculinity. Head lowered, his expressionless appearance seemed inexplicably cold.
He was Teng Yi, yet so unlike Teng Yi.
Ruan Yu’s nerves alternately tensed and relaxed.
Just that distant glance made her nose sting with emotion.
Teng Yi selected a bottle from the wine cabinet and walked to the counter, where he remained focused on studying the text on the bottle’s label, head still lowered.
He hadn’t noticed her arrival, nor her fixed gaze.
Just as Ruan Yu was about to walk toward Teng Yi, she saw a curly-haired woman run behind the counter with familiar ease, dropping her bag in front of Teng Yi and raising her hand to pat his shoulder.
Teng Yi looked up.
The light flickered, and Ruan Yu couldn’t catch Teng Yi’s expression in that instant of raising his head, but she saw how the woman fearlessly tried to grab the wine bottle from his hands and how he docilely offered no resistance.
They had no ordinary relationship.
Ruan Yu’s feet froze in place as she stared at them. Suddenly, she recognized the woman as the beautiful mixed-race woman she had met in the parking lot.
All the mental preparation she had built up over the day collapsed at the final moment, her banner lowered in retreat.
She dared not approach further, dared not call his name, and especially dared not confirm their relationship.
Yes, six years.
Why had she assumed that while she waited for his return, he would return alone and unattached?