However glitzy and glamorous the world of others might be, that night was still somewhat different to Leh Ying.
As she napped on the couch, she dreamed she was embracing a man, his body faintly tinged with the elegant aroma of tobacco. His shoulders were broad and strong, and he leaned in to whisper in her ear, "What's wrong?"
Xu Jingxi's face was blurry and indistinct.
Upon waking, she posted the work she had rushed to complete overnight to her social circle—it was a stream of moonlight shining in while a little girl leaned on the windowsill, staring at the starry night.
She later handed the painting to a driver wearing white gloves, who she said had taken care of her when she had a fever that night.
She called early, with utmost sincerity.
The driver in white gloves demurred several times before finally coming over.
"Mr. Xu doesn't have a taste for collecting art works."
She waved her hand and turned her head, her black hair loosely twisted up with an oil paintbrush halfway, "It's okay, I didn't expect Mr. Xu to like it anyway, but the gift has to be given."
And with that, she walked back to the gallery, carefree.
"He can toss it if he wants, it's worthless. I have plenty of such paintings, just practice works. Only a dummy like Liu Huaiying would spend 300,000 to buy one," she also said.
The year passed just like this, which was within Leh Ying's expectations. Who did she know? Classmates went home if they had a home, went abroad if they could, or took a trip if they desired.
It wasn't until the third day of the Lunar New Year that Xu Jingxi showed up.
To go back to the Xu family, to meet the elders.
The study in the Furong Garden behind the hill.
The lake was frozen, no flowers bloomed, and Xu Jingxi sat in a mahogany chair browsing the Ethereum blockchain address, before his attention finally returned to the paper documents on the desk.
Xiao Li carefully handed the painting to the man reviewing documents at the office desk.
"I went to see the young lady at Huajiadi and got the painting. She said it's a New Year's gift for you."
Xu Jingxi lifted his eyelids lightly, "She's in the capital." After a pause, he reached out to take one corner of the painting frame, easily holding it in hand, "She doesn't look like she's from the capital."
"She didn't go back to her hometown for the New Year. She's working part-time," Xiao Li answered.
The young girl, alone in a foreign city, spent her time in the studio painting until dawn, thus passing the day when the old year turned to the new.
With light snow falling, she was wearing a bit too little that time, standing early at Jiuxian No. 4 Gate on the side of the street, looking a bit pitiful yet utterly sincere, smiling and saying, "Sorry to trouble you to come over."
She had a face that made it hard to disregard her kindness, the innocence and naïveté of this female college student were simply irresistible.
This was the reason why Xiao Li was willing to take the painting from Huajiadi.
The painting was casually placed on the desk by Xu Jingxi, "How much does it sell for?"
Xiao Li had no expertise in art, "I'm not sure. She stayed up all night to work on it and came out of the 798 studio on the first day of the new year."
"I didn't drive for you that day, so I took the liberty of going to get it—I'm very sorry," he said.
Xu Jingxi bent down, opened a drawer, and took out several stacks of brand new banknotes, this year's latest issue.
"You go to Huajiadi."
Xiao Li nodded and placed the banknotes into his handbag.
Having lived a life of luxury buried for thousands of years, what good things had a privileged bachelor like him not seen? Rarely did he accept gifts; what he didn't have, nobody had. Who needed to give him anything beautiful?
The money wasn't heavy in his hand, not just a simple farewell present, but a compensation for the young lady, a sentiment hard to define, yet grossly sympathetic.
Xu Jingxi leaned back in his chair, silently watching the light snow outside the window. His heart seemed to drift away.
After a while, the lighter flicked with a 'click', the cigarette solemnly held between his lips, in the smoke, the world seemed insipid and tasteless.
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"She hasn't been melting gold with Liu Huaiying in the Northern Suburb these past couple of days, has she?"
Xiao Li, just stepping over the threshold, paused and turned back, "Probably not, she said you can throw away the painting any time if you don't like it."
-
Leh Ying was too lazy to cook, and the delivery men had been even busier than she was these past two days. On the fourth day, she had no choice but to go out to a restaurant for dinner.
When entering the elevator, she ran into Li Ting's boyfriend, whom she had seen several times and was familiar with.
Meng Xiuyuan had spotted her early and recognized her, asking with a somewhat somber expression, "If you're in the capital, could Tingting be here too?"
Isn't that your girlfriend? Why don't you ask her?
After a moment of silence, Leh Ying remained polite, "She went back to Sanya."
Meng Xiuyuan nodded and reached out to press the elevator button, "Do you want to join me for dinner?"
The finance student dated Li Ting for two years, with their on-and-off relationship always in Leh Ying's view. Initially, Li Ting planned to live a humble life with him, renting a small place at Huajiadi, but he was unwilling, citing the distance from his campus as an issue.
Leh Ying had no interest in delving into the ambiguity of her best friend's romantic interest, switching her bag to the other shoulder, "I just had a full meal."
Meng Xiuyuan turned his head to the side, stretching his neck a bit, "Don't get me wrong, but are you coming to my place for Valentine's Day? A buddy of mine wants to meet you."
Leh Ying was taken aback for a moment, "Is it Valentine's Day?"
The elevator doors opened, and across from her, the private lift doors also opened, revealing an elegant figure.
It was as though he was standing face to face with her when Xu Jingxi looked up and saw her, standing inside that elevator in a dark, French platinum-buttoned suit, seemingly there to discuss business.
He hadn't paid much attention to her, striding out of the elevator.
Meng Xiuyuan left the elevator before her and had long gone when Leh Ying, realizing this just as the doors were about to close again, hurriedly stepped out.
After giving his friend some low-voiced instructions, Xu Jingxi's gaze finally shifted towards her.
"Is he your little boyfriend?"
Leh Ying, with a stunned expression, looked up, knowing he was asking her.
The two walked out of the glass door.
"What do you think?" On Valentine's Day, the 36th floor was a hotel, but she didn't tell the complete truth.
"Why not go with him and instead walk by my side?"
Taken unawares by Xu Jingxi's counter-question, she spoke seriously, "He doesn't like me, why would I go with him?"
He smiled, the corners of his mouth curling up in a way that always made him seem just a bit mischievous, "So I like you?"
"…"
Leh Ying pursed her lips, and looking at him, her eyes suddenly seemed moist. She quickly turned her head away, walking swiftly ahead of Xu Jingxi as if aggrieved, with her head down and staying silent.
Xu Jingxi chuckled and got into the parked Hongqi car.
The back car door opened, and perhaps he didn't manage to close it quickly enough, Leh Ying was passing by when her wrist was suddenly grabbed, pulling her into the car with a strong force.
Before she could react, she sat firmly on Xu Jingxi's sturdy thighs, with his arms securely enveloping her, his large hand grasping her exposed slender leg, pushing it ambiguously closer to him.
Going out without wearing pants, she wore a JK schoolgirl's pleated mini skirt with white shoes, and the warmth from the man's hand made Leh Ying's delicate frame shrink.
His voice was calm and tender, "Come with me."
The white-gloved driver pressed the button to close the door and slowly pressed the gas, driving away from the porch.
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