Chen Xi drove Professor Huang back to his hotel, then went home with Bai Yuning.

As soon as they entered, Bai Yuning hugged Chen Xi and got all clingy.

But Chen Xi wasn’t in the mood tonight. She forcibly peeled Bai Yuning off her and pushed him into the bathroom.

Soon, water could be heard rushing in the bathroom, along with Bai Yuning’s tone-deaf singing.

Chen Xi made herself a cup of coffee and carried her canvas bag containing sketchbooks and art supplies into the study.

She had almost finished modifying the third character, just missing the final details.

She carefully drew the last fold of the flowing ribbon, set down her pen, and let out a gentle sigh.

In the end, she couldn’t help but gasp in amazement at her own inspired stroke of genius.

She had covered the third character’s eyes with a black silk band, taking away his light.

Chen Xi looked at the man in her drawing.

Suddenly, she remembered that afternoon when Yang Guan sat in the courtyard reading Braille medical books.

She changed the man’s jawline to a cold, hard arc, and his slender fingers with distinct knuckles to a rough, rugged outline.

A shocking scar extended from the tiger’s mouth on his right hand into his sleeve.

Chen Xi examined him from the scar on his hand to his cold, hard jaw, sensing an untamable wild aura and heart-palpitating strength.

She had taken away his light and given him an untamable wild masculinity in return.

She wondered how many female players would go crazy and fantasize about him.

Chen Xi photographed the finished draft and sent it to Qin Lie, unexpectedly receiving his instant reply.

“Excellent.”

A moment later came another message: “Absolutely excellent.”

Chen Xi smiled and took a sip of her coffee.

Bai Yuning came out of the bathroom and followed the coffee aroma to find the study.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

He bent down and wrapped his arms around Chen Xi from behind, gently resting his chin in the hollow of her neck.

Bai Yuning’s breath still carried the strong scent of alcohol, but inside his bathrobe was the lingering fragrance of gardenia-scented body wash.

Chen Xi leaned back in her chair and reached up to touch Bai Yuning’s ear, gently tugging it.

“What good news do you have to tell me?”

But Bai Yuning wanted to be mysterious, smiling as he said, “Guess.”

Chen Xi thought for a moment, “Something related to Professor Huang? Did he agree to be your doctoral supervisor?”

Bai Yuning said dismissively, “That was settled when we met last time. I’m talking about another good thing.”

Chen Xi asked, “What good thing?”

Bai Yuning replied, “A position opened up in his lab, and he wants me to help out.”

Chen Xi didn’t quite understand, “Is his lab in Dunhuang?”

Bai Yuning laughed and kissed Chen Xi’s cheek, “Of course it’s in Beijing.”

Chen Xi turned to look at Bai Yuning. “You’re going to Beijing?”

Bai Yuning nodded.

Chen Xi asked, “For how long? What about your work here?”

Bai Yuning said with bright eyes and a beaming smile, “Professor Huang’s lab is at Peking University Third Hospital.”

“I can transfer there to work with him. I’ll work with him for half a year first, then take his doctoral exam next spring.”

Chen Xi was somewhat stunned. “You’re transferring to Beijing?”

Bai Yuning smiled and pinched her face, “Silly girl, it’s we who are going to Beijing.”

Facing Bai Yuning’s burning gaze, Chen Xi fell silent.

She had never thought about leaving Dunhuang.

Seeing Chen Xi staring blankly without speaking, the smile gradually disappeared from Bai Yuning’s face.

The trace of worry he had stubbornly refused to acknowledge finally became unavoidably present.

He crouched down, put his arms around Chen Xi’s waist, and looked up to ask her, “Honey, don’t you want to go to Beijing with me?”

Chen Xi remained silent as time passed minute by minute.

Bai Yuning’s burning gaze gradually cooled, and the two eager flames in his eyes extinguished like being doused with cold water.

Even though she hadn’t said a word yet.

But he had a panicked premonition, cold and creeping up his spine to his heart.

Deep down, Bai Yuning knew.

Chen Xi was a wild horse that no one could tame.

Despite all those nights when he conquered her body, when he held her as they fell asleep, he still felt he couldn’t completely possess her.

But thinking of their honey-sweet relationship, Bai Yuning felt confident again.

He reached out to stroke Chen Xi’s head, smiling as he laid out facts and reasoned with her.

“You’ve resigned now, so you don’t need to weigh work considerations. It’s perfect timing to go to Beijing with me.”

Seeing Chen Xi still not speaking, he continued, “I know you can’t bear to leave Grandma. After we settle down in Beijing, we can bring Grandma over.”

“Beijing’s medical conditions are so much better than small places. Don’t you want Grandma to be healthy and live a long life?”

This struck Chen Xi directly, and she finally reacted.

“Grandma won’t go.”

Her voice was flat, carrying a trace of helpless calm.

Bai Yuning frowned and asked, “Why not?”

Chen Xi replied, “I don’t know either, but she won’t go anywhere.”

“What about you?”

Bai Yuning looked quietly at Chen Xi, almost holding his breath as he waited for her answer.

After a long while, Chen Xi sighed softly.

“I’ve never thought about going anywhere else either.”

Bai Yuning hugged her and gently rocked her.

“Then start thinking about it now. Husband leads, wife follows – if I go to Beijing, you have to come with me.”

Chen Xi lowered her eyes and said nothing.

Bai Yuning continued, “I know having your life change so dramatically all at once requires time to adapt, but the general direction of going to Beijing is correct.”

“It’s the capital city, with major hospitals. My income and prospects there will be so much better than here.”

“Our future children will also have a better starting point. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we must seize.”

Chen Xi remained silent, then, after a while, asked quietly, “What about me?”

Bai Yuning was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, “You? You have me. Everything I earn belongs to you, belongs to our family. You can just enjoy the good life with me.”

“If you don’t want to work, stay home. If you do want to work, with your abilities, are you afraid you won’t find anything?”

The more he spoke, the more convinced he became, the more he felt these words were irrefutable.

Chen Xi looked at him quietly, and after a long time said, “I need to think about it.”

Bai Yuning smiled and nodded.

“Work transfers aren’t something that can be processed in a day or two. There’s enough time for you to figure it out.”

He suddenly remembered something and asked, “During dinner tonight, you said you had something to discuss with me. What was it?”

Chen Xi looked at Bai Yuning, her lips moved, but she didn’t speak.

“Never mind, I’ll tell you another day.”

Chen Xi didn’t stay up late modifying designs that night, but she didn’t sleep much either.

She could hear Bai Yuning’s steady breathing beside her.

The night breeze stirred the curtains, and quiet streetlight filtered through the gaps. The astragalus flowers on the windowsill were still blooming luxuriantly.

Bai Yuning’s words replayed in her mind over and over.

His words covered all bases, except for one thing he didn’t mention at all.

That was Chen Xi’s auto repair shop.

The repair shop she had been obsessing over, struggling with for half a year, finally had a chance to open.

How much effort she had put in, how much she wanted to make this happen – he wasn’t unaware of it.

…

Early the next morning, Chen Xi went to Qili Town.

She sat on the steps in front of Liu Boyang’s shop, smoking.

The small city had no morning rush hour, and the morning light was gentle and lazy.

Only two or three breakfast shops were open along the long street.

Deep among the ancient willows, someone in some courtyard was practicing vocal exercises, singing something that could have been either opera or Qin-style music.

After sitting for a while, Liu Boyang finally arrived on his motorcycle.

Chen Xi held her cigarette and smiled at Liu Boyang, then looked back at the street with its sparse pedestrians without speaking.

“Sis, Qin Zhan, and I looked at several locations these past two days. There’s a decent place in Yangguan Town – I’ll take you to see it in a bit.”

Chen Xi looked up at Liu Boyang and smiled, “No need.”

She didn’t explain anything and continued smoking silently.

Liu Boyang walked behind Chen Xi to open the two rolling doors, then crouched down beside her.

“What’s wrong, sis? Something bothering you?”

Chen Xi replied, “Nothing much, you go about your business.”

Knowing Chen Xi’s personality, Liu Boyang didn’t say more and went into the shop.

After a while, a car stopped in front of Liu Boyang’s shop.

Chen Xi looked up and saw it was Yang Shan’s car.

She threw away her cigarette butt and walked over.

Yang Shan rolled down her window and smiled at Chen Xi, “What are you doing here?”

Chen Xi replied, “Just hanging around for a bit. What brings you here?”

Yang Shan said, “Got a flat tire, came to have Boyang help patch it up.”

Chen Xi said, “Drive it in, I’ll patch it for you.”

Yang Shan rolled up her window and drove the car into the shop through the side entrance with the gentle slope.

Chen Xi followed her in, picked up a pair of gloves from the miscellaneous table, put them on, and dragged over a jack to place beside the flat tire.

Liu Boyang walked into the shop from the backyard and greeted Yang Shan, “Sister Shan, not working today?”

Yang Shan smiled at him, “Working night shifts this month.”

Yang Shan crouched nearby, watching Chen Xi skillfully remove the tire.

She asked casually, “Any progress on the repair shop?”

Chen Xi’s hand paused, and after a moment, she nodded, “The venue issue has been settled.”

Yang Shan asked, “Is it that location in Qili Town?”

Chen Xi shook her head, “No.”

She rolled the tire aside, inflated it, and checked for the leak.

Yang Shan felt Chen Xi was acting strangely.

Previously, whenever the repair shop was mentioned, Chen Xi would become a chatterbox, but today she seemed listless.

She was about to ask more when someone rushed through the entrance, carrying a bag of meat-filled flatbreads.

Qin Zhan entered the shop, and as soon as he saw Chen Xi, his expression immediately became animated.

He ran over and shouted at Chen Xi, “Sister Xi, I just found out that the VR arcade belongs to my brother.”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? He listens to everything I say.”

“If I’d known earlier that he rented that place, I could have gotten you half the space in minutes. Why did it have to take so long?”

Chen Xi smiled without saying anything.

Liu Boyang asked in surprise, “The VR arcade belongs to Brother Qin Lie?”

Qin Zhan nodded and looked at Chen Xi with a smile.

“Last night my brother told me he’s splitting the venue with you fifty-fifty – he puts up six hundred thousand, you put up four hundred thousand.”

“Plus, there’s a hundred thousand for equipment dismantling and installation, right?”

Chen Xi nodded and continued working silently.

Qin Zhan enthusiastically helped Chen Xi calculate the costs.

“Plus renovation costs, it’ll be at least six hundred thousand total. You only have two hundred thousand on hand – that’s quite a shortfall.”

Chen Xi got up and rolled the tire away.

Qin Zhan continued chattering, “My brother has plenty of money. Have him advance twenty thousand for rent first – since you’re drawing for him anyway, consider it an advance payment.”

“Boyang and I can help you scrape together the rest. No matter what, we need to secure that venue first.”

Yang Shan looked thoughtfully at Chen Xi’s retreating figure, thinking no wonder she seemed so deflated – she was facing difficulties.

After Chen Xi finished fixing Yang Shan’s car, she went home and fell asleep.

In the evening, Yang Shan called.

Chen Xi groggily answered the phone.

“It’s dinner time, and you’re still sleeping? You’re not even replying to my messages.”

Chen Xi closed her eyes and rolled over, mumbling, “What’s up?”

Yang Shan said, “Susu is back from her performance. We’re giving her a welcome-back dinner tonight – Japanese food.”

Han Susu was a good friend of Chen Xi and Yang Shan since middle school.

Han Susu had learned dance since childhood. After graduating high school, she joined the Silk Road Dance Troupe and was now one of their star performers.

Chen Xi wasn’t in the mood to eat and said drowsily, “You two go ahead, I’m not going.”

Yang Shan replied, “I already made reservations. You have to come. Get up quickly – I’ll be at your door in ten minutes.”

Chen Xi reluctantly got up and went to the courtyard to splash cold water on her face.

She sat under the grape arbor playing with San Huang for a while until Yang Shan’s car arrived.

This Japanese restaurant opened just last year.

Downstairs was booth seating, upstairs were exquisite, small private rooms with tatami-style decor and furniture.

Yang Shan brought Chen Xi upstairs, and they took off their shoes to enter the private room.

Han Susu arrived shortly after, her graceful figure brightening the entire room as she appeared.

“Oh my! Susu, did you lose weight again?”

Yang Shan exclaimed with wide eyes.

Han Susu walked over and sat down on the floor cushion.

“Don’t even mention it – dancing every night for half a month, I’m exhausted. It’d be strange if I didn’t lose weight.”

Yang Shan touched her post-pregnancy belly that never returned to its original size and said gloomily, “You two eat, I’ll just watch tonight.”

Chen Xi asked Han Susu, “Do people in the capital like Dunhuang dance?”

Han Susu raised her eyebrows proudly, “Need you ask? Once our Silk Road Dance Troupe’s name goes up, every show is sold out.”

“After each performance, we have to do encores, and people wanting photos with us form lines to Tiananmen Square.”

Her boasting was so outrageous that Chen Xi and Yang Shan both burst out laughing.

Han Susu took out her phone to show them photos from her half-month in Beijing.

There were performance shots, rehearsal photos, and pictures of dining and entertainment.

Chen Xi looked quietly for a while.

She suddenly looked up at Han Susu and asked out of nowhere, “Is Beijing good?”

Han Susu answered without thinking, “Of course it’s good.”

“Good, how?”

Chen Xi asked quietly.

Han Susu blurted out, “Good in every way. You can get whatever you want, as long as you have money, you can buy anything.”

Chen Xi asked, “If given the chance, would you go to Beijing?”

Han Susu looked at Chen Xi with confusion.

“Go? I want to perform in Beijing again next year. This time I didn’t get to visit the Forbidden City or Universal Studios – such a pity.”

Chen Xi’s gaze was heavy as she said quietly, “I mean, move to Beijing to live.”

Han Susu was stunned, then shook her head.

“I’m doing fine in Dunhuang, why would I want to live in Beijing?”

Chen Xi looked at her speechlessly, “Didn’t you say Beijing has everything you could want?”

Han Susu replied, “But my home isn’t there, you guys aren’t there. Who would I hang out with? How could I dance the Flying Apsara there?”

Chen Xi silently looked out the window.

Night had unknowingly fallen, and familiar streets were lit with scattered lights.

Every beam of light in her view, and the laughter beside her ears, became so hard to give up.

Chen Xi said, “Who’s drinking with me tonight?”