Murong Feng parked his car by the roadside, got out, and lit a cigarette, leaning against the car as he waited. Li Xiangnan's flight wouldn't arrive for another half hour, so he wandered around idly.
Entering the departure hall, he was greeted by an exquisite and lifelike sculpture, "Ziwei Chenheng." The domestic arrivals hall displayed four large vats named "Menhai Jixiang," resembling the copper vats beside the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. On the second floor's central axis, there was a Han white jade sculpture "Jiulong Xianrui," resembling the Nine Dragon Screen. The east and west sides featured two unique rest areas named "Quyuan Fenghe" and "Gaoshan Liushui."
These architectural features, with their distinctive Chinese classical cultural elements, added a touch of China to the modern architectural style of the massive building. It was these features that made people walking through the building clearly aware that this was not Tokyo, New York, or Paris, but Beijing.
The "Colorful Roof" shaped like a dragon's spine had skylights adorned with stripes that transitioned from bright red to orange-yellow, always pointing north-south. The glass walls brought the morning sunlight into the hall, making every corner bright.
Standing by the glass wall inside the hall, Murong Feng watched the airport expressway stretch like a long snake into the distance. Without the skyscrapers of the city, there was only an endless expanse of land and trees, making him reflect on the vastness of the North China Plain. Compared to the loess plateau of the northwest with its ravines and ridges, this vast plain offered a different but equally powerful sense of awe. Unfortunately, he spent most of his time in the city, rarely having the chance to truly appreciate it.
As he strolled and paused, observing the many domestic and international travelers—some hurrying, others leisurely, some with children, their faces showing warmth, others traveling alone, their expressions stern—Murong Feng suddenly realized that the airport was indeed a great place to observe life. Life itself was like a journey, stopping somewhere to savor moments, feel touched, joyful, and sorrowful... then packing up and continuing onward.
As he was leisurely observing the various scenes at the airport and contemplating the fleeting and gathering moments of life, Murong Feng's gaze suddenly focused on a familiar figure.
Zhao Nian! The tall woman wearing a patterned wrap dress, a gold Dior jacket, and dragging a small Tumi Voyageur series coffee-colored zebra-striped wheeled suitcase passing not far from him was indeed Zhao Nian.
Murong Feng's first reaction was to look around, but he didn't see Wang Yonghui.
Looking back at Zhao Nian, he only saw her back—a typical back view of a sophisticated city woman, dressed in high-end branded clothing, exuding good taste and elegance. Not every woman could walk gracefully in high heels, but Zhao Nian was clearly one who could.
Zhao Nian's beauty and demeanor were top-notch, naturally attracting many glances. To strangers, she appeared to be a confident woman. But to Murong Feng, who knew Zhao Nian deeply, she seemed deeply melancholic and depressed at the moment. He could almost feel her inner turmoil from her slightly drooping shoulders.
Did something happen to her? Even though Murong Feng had long decided to turn the page on Zhao Nian, he couldn't help but feel a bit worried now. Then he laughed at himself. This woman no longer needed his concern.
No one understood Zhao Nian's inner strength better than Murong Feng. It was Zhao Nian's constant encouragement and persistence that helped him through his painful and sorrowful times. And after their breakup, Zhao Nian decisively moved on, erasing the past completely. Such a person was well-suited for survival in this society.
Murong Feng tucked away the lingering concern in his heart and watched as Zhao Nian disappeared around the corner.
The airport broadcast announced that flight CA1711 from Hangzhou to Beijing had arrived. Murong Feng walked to the arrival hall's reception area, deliberately putting the brief encounter with Zhao Nian out of his mind.
No matter what, her life was no longer connected to his.
The brief journey they had shared was over. Although they had once walked hand in hand, as long as one person let go, they would no longer share the same destination.