Lingyue’s meeting standards had always been first-class.

The reason they required a trilingual host was because their clients were spread across the world. Many attendees were industry leaders, and this meeting would be live-streamed to global branches, which was extremely challenging.

Shang Zhitao had looked for someone in the market. Bilingual English-Chinese hosts were easy to find, but adding French made it difficult. She finally found a talented graduate from a foreign language school who was very beautiful, but she charged twenty thousand yuan, not including round-trip travel expenses and tax.

Shang Zhitao’s small business couldn’t afford to bend for this twenty thousand yuan.

She brought a black formal dress, had the makeup artist style her hair in a neat updo, wore diamond earrings (rented), and stepped onto the stage in high heels. The good posture she had cultivated since childhood helped her today, appearing with a touch of powerful momentum and intellectual elegance.

Positioning, staging, smiling—to make clients feel their money was well spent, she had practiced countless times. After practicing for so long, she sometimes had the illusion that she naturally possessed this talent.

Song Qiuhan sat next to Luan Nian and tapped his armrest, signaling him to look up instead of responding to messages. Luan Nian made a sound of acknowledgment and raised his head to see the dazzling Shang Zhitao. She was just opening with her first sentence: “Friends, good afternoon.”

The script was well-written, not falling into clichés.

She said: “The north has snow, but our hearts are warm. Lingyue thanks everyone for joining us for this rendezvous of ice and snow.”

Then came the English and French translations.

Luan Nian never knew that Shang Zhitao could speak English and French. He didn’t know that during those weekends when she disappeared from his home, she returned to her place, picked up books, and traveled across Beijing to learn languages and knowledge.

All growth happens almost silently. It requires enduring patience and restraint. Those times were lonely and painful, yet also carried warmth. Shang Zhitao remembered the evening breeze at the Back Lake, the yellow leaves of Beijing’s golden autumn, and the hurried figures in the subway. Time was cut into small segments, circled into points, scattered throughout your body, merged into your blood and bones, and ultimately reshaped you.

When Luan Nian went on stage to speak, he brushed past Shang Zhitao. Her smiling eyes held the certainty of a thirty-year-old woman.

Gone was her former apprehension.

He gave his speech while she was below the stage, their positions exchanged. But it was as if their positions hadn’t changed at all. Luan Nian had always liked her gaze, ever since the first time they participated in an event together.

During the forum, Shang Zhitao sat next to Luan Nian.

Several guests sat in sequence, discussing the future of digital advertising. When it came to Jiang Lan’s part, she spoke about the impact of associations and alliances on companies and practitioners in the industry, and Shang Zhitao’s mind stirred.

If she wanted to work in advertising, she needed to be on the inside, to become an insider. After the summit ended, Jiang Lan was chatting with Luan Nian. Seeing Shang Zhitao, she called out: “Flora, come chat for a bit.”

Shang Zhitao walked over to her.

“I didn’t know before that you speak French,” Jiang Lan complimented her. “Your accent is authentic. I can see you’ve trained diligently.”

“I learned it in my spare time a few years ago.”

“Lingyue was so busy, did you have time to study in your spare time?”

“Yes. Weekends weren’t very busy, so I found a teacher to learn.”

Luan Nian suddenly knew the answer. All those weekends when she disappeared early on weren’t entirely spent as a wedding hostess, but learning—quietly, imperceptibly, never mentioned in six years.

“Ms. Jiang,” Shang Zhitao smiled at Jiang Lan. “I’d like to ask you a question: I just heard you talk about industry alliances and associations. I want to know, if a newly established advertising agency wants to join, how much is the membership fee?”

“The fee is secondary. What’s important is having a guarantor. Do you have one?”

“What kind of person can be a guarantor?”

Jiang Lan pointed at Luan Nian: “Someone like your Mr. Luan.”

Shang Zhitao glanced at Luan Nian standing silently nearby and nodded: “I see, Ms. Jiang.”

“You can ask Mr. Luan to be your guarantor. After all, you used to work at Lingyue, and you had a superior-subordinate relationship.” Jiang Lan’s eyes showed interest, gleaming with mischief. She purely found it amusing.

Shang Zhitao didn’t want to make this request. She didn’t even have startup capital yet, so what guarantee could she offer? Her mind was filled with thoughts of money.

For the company to develop, the business needed to diversify. Advertising agency was a completely new business area, and she needed to solve the issues of money and people.

While everyone was cleaning up the venue, she talked with Fu Dong. He mentioned that he had a female classmate who studied advertising, went to an agency in Ice City after graduation, and was currently an ad buyer leading a small team.

“Could I meet her?” Shang Zhitao asked him.

“Of course. I brag about you in our classmate group chat every day, and many classmates want to meet you.” Fu Dong chuckled.

“Then after we get back, find a time to invite her out. Let’s learn from her, okay?”

“Sure. And then what?”

“Then, we’ll figure out how to get money. If your classmate is willing and suitable, we’ll poach her, build a team for agency work, and add another layer of security for our company’s business.”

“Great!”

The two discussed while finishing their work. Shang Zhitao instructed Fu Dong: “Tomorrow the clients go skiing, we must ensure safety. The day after, for snow viewing, we must guarantee good food. The main events are over, don’t let any accidents happen at the last minute.”

“Got it.”

“When we get back to Ice City, let the team take a few days off. Always staying up late like this can kill people. At least it would kill me.”

Shang Zhitao had an endocrine disorder. She needed to go back and drink Chinese medicine. She could use the New Year holiday to adjust her health. This was also why she wanted to develop another business line.

Lu Mi came over and said to her: “Tonight I’m treating you. Let’s have a bite at the hotel buffet.”

“Okay.”

“Luke, Will, and Mr. Song will be there too. Mr. Song is leaving early tomorrow morning and won’t participate in the later activities. It’s like a farewell.”

“Then maybe I shouldn’t go? It’s your affair.”

“Will said to invite you.”

“Oh. Then tonight, shall I arrange for the bosses to sit at the hotel bar? The hotel bar is quite nice. I have a friend who sings here.”

It was a singer she met in Dali. He later wandered here and stayed for two years. Every time Shang Zhitao came, she would sit with him for a while, listen to him sing, and chat.

“Good. It depends on Luke. He’s become increasingly strange these past few years, don’t know if he’ll want to go.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if he didn’t go?” Shang Zhitao asked Lu Mi.

Lu Mi raised her eyebrows but didn’t speak. She could see that Shang Zhitao treated Luan Nian as if facing a formidable enemy or encountering a venomous snake. She wondered what had happened between them. Lu Mi wanted to talk with Shang Zhitao about it, but since she wouldn’t bring it up, Lu Mi didn’t feel it was right to ask.

Friendship requires a sense of boundaries. Although Lu Mi was casual and straightforward, she had a good sense of propriety.

Luan Nian came after dinner, and he also went to the bar.

Groups of Lingyue’s clients were sitting in the bar. Luan Nian looked around and asked Lu Mi: “Is anything planned for tonight?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll pay for the clients’ drinks.”

“Alright.”

Lu Mi walked to the front of the stage and took the microphone: “Mr. Luan just said he would treat all client friends here to drinks. We apologize for not taking better care of everyone and overlooking your desire to sit at the bar tonight.”

Everyone applauded.

Luan Nian stood up to toast: “Drink up.”

Lu Mi asked Shang Zhitao: “Will your company advance the payment again?”

Shang Zhitao nodded: “Yes.”

This hotel was Xing Yi’s connection; Shang Zhitao had only paid a small deposit. So she went aside to call Xing Yi: “Friend.”

“What’s up?”

“I need to add an extra sum of money again…”

“You’ll settle later, right?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. Then you owe me a drink. Later.”

Shang Zhitao turned around and saw Xing Yi sitting with several people. They were probably his government colleagues. She smiled and went over to greet them. Xing Yi put his hand on her shoulder: “Let me introduce you. These are leaders from our unit. Tomorrow they’ll have a business seminar here.”

Xing Yi introduced each person to Shang Zhitao, and she took out business cards from her pocket and presented them with both hands to each person.

After the pleasantries, she walked aside with Xing Yi, who asked her: “Everything going smoothly?”

“Smoothly.”

“That’s good. I’ll talk to their boss later and be your guarantor. Don’t worry about it.”

“Alright, I’ll treat you to a drink later.”

“Drinking is fine, but invite Shang Zhishu too.”

“…You’ve broken up, why invite her?”

“Does breaking up mean we can’t meet? Let’s invite her, and I’ll talk with her.”

“What can you possibly work out? You want to get back together, right?”

Xing Yi smiled: “I’ve already finished decorating the wedding home.”

The two stood to the side, chatting warmly. Song Qiuhan watched Luan Nian’s expression and found it emotionless. He wrote in the group chat: “There’s something I don’t understand.”

“What?”

“Does Luan really like his little peach or not?” He threw a photo of Luan Nian into the group chat. As friends do, they teased each other happily: “I can’t tell if he’s heartbroken or just numb.”

“To be honest, I feel like I’ve seen this girl somewhere before,” Tan Mian said.

“You should have seen her, she used to be with Lingyue,” Song Qiuhan had figured out the situation between Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao over the past two days.

“?”

“Missed the chance to meet Luan’s former blank contact?” Chen Kuannian laughed at them. “You guys are hopeless. Let me go investigate.”

The group was chatting and laughing, but Luan Nian didn’t check his phone, focusing on listening to the music.

Shang Zhitao returned, and the others had only left one side of the double sofa where Luan Nian was sitting. She didn’t hesitate and sat beside him. As she sat down, the sofa sank a little, and Shang Zhitao shifted to the side, creating distance between herself and Luan Nian.

“I still remember years ago when Luke sang at the annual party! So handsome! I said then I’d never seen such a handsome man! Come on, sing one for us tonight to liven things up!” Lu Mi stirred things up, but Luan Nian didn’t move, pretending not to hear.

“I feel like I haven’t sung in a long time either. Come on,” Song Qiuhan stood up. “Let’s do one together,” he invited Luan Nian.

“No.” Luan Nian didn’t want to move. The annual party performance was being forced, and now he wasn’t in the mood.

Song Qiuhan made a pleading gesture. Only their few friends dared to treat Luan Nian this way. Just now, Chen Kuannian had created a separate group chat, saying he wanted to coach Luan Nian to turn a blank contact into a frequently used one. He gave Song Qiuhan a task to cooperate with Luan Nian in showcasing his charm.

Tan Mian said: “For someone like Luan Nian, if his equipment goes unused for too long, it might rust.”

Luan Nian went on stage and took a guitar. Song Qiuhan picked up another one. The friends often played together and had practiced many songs.

“What should we sing?” Song Qiuhan asked him.

“Whatever.”

“‘You’re Beautiful’?”

“Fine.”

“Dedicated to all our client friends here,” Luan Nian said.

“I saw your face in a crowded place~” When singing this line, Luan Nian’s gaze met Shang Zhitao’s watchful eyes, just for a moment before she looked away.

In the past few years, when Luan Nian felt particularly bad, he would fly to Ice City. Sometimes he would just sit at a street corner, then fly back. He didn’t consider himself a deeply emotional person, but those years with Shang Zhitao, though not particularly intense, had feelings that seeped in slowly. By the time he felt that his body and mind belonged to Shang Zhitao, she had withdrawn and left.

Luan Nian felt that he had hurt her, and she had hurt him too.

It was the next evening when they were staying in Snow Village. Snow Village, where snow was everywhere—clean, cold, and biting. He sent Shang Zhitao a message: “Come out. I’m waiting for you on the small path ahead.”

Shang Zhitao saw the text message but hesitated to move. She knew this encounter was inevitable and that with Luan Nian’s personality, he would want to talk to her. He would be confused about why she sold the gifts he gave her and angry about her leaving without saying goodbye.

Shang Zhitao knew clearly that during those six years, Luan Nian had also given his heart. She remembered the fights he had gotten into for her, their spontaneous trip together, and how well he had treated Luke.

But relationships are like this—even with such brief sweetness, most of the time, they weren’t happy. During those years, Shang Zhitao was constantly in a fog, hesitant and indecisive about her feelings, both full of expectations and constantly dampening them. She never wanted to return to those times of being constantly pulled apart.

Through the window, she could see the end of the small path where Luan Nian stood under a lantern. Snow Village was already very cold, and his posture was even colder.

Shang Zhitao sighed, finally got dressed, and went out.

Her feet crunched on the snow with each step. The cold of Snow Village was so intense that one could barely open their mouth. There were no birds or sounds around. It was too cold—the cold had frozen everything.

Including all those memories of the past.