Chapter 18

After a weekend, Sharon Shu suddenly noticed that the ginkgo leaves near the company had all turned yellow. The weather forecast announced that starting Wednesday, temperatures would drop, with the lowest in South City nearing freezing.

Monday morning was filled with meetings. Sharon and Joanna Dai only had time to discuss matters in the afternoon.

Joanna picked up some sketches from Sharon’s desk, flipping through them. “Is this the young master’s work?”

Sharon nodded.

Joanna praised, “The lines are good, quite solid foundation.”

Sharon replied, “I still need to practice perspective.”

Joanna smiled with satisfaction, “You're becoming more reliable.”

Thinking of Feng Kuan, who was coming shortly, Sharon sighed inwardly. She wished Tianqi Wu could be as easy to manage.

Not long after Joanna left, Tianqi Wu knocked on the door with a grin.

“Feng Kuan has arrived.”

“Bring him into the office,” Sharon said.

Tianqi led Feng Kuan inside. Feng smiled warmly at Sharon and greeted her.

“Please, have a seat,” Sharon invited.

Yuanyuan brought in coffee.

Feng glanced around, saying, “The office environment here is great. It must be nice to work here. I wonder if you’re still hiring?”

Tianqi replied, “You’d have to ask my boss about that.”

Sharon listened to their back-and-forth silently.

Previously, she had only thought of Feng as a client introduced by Tianqi, with no other thoughts.

“We only recruit interns in related fields,” Sharon said clearly, signaling rejection.

Feng persisted, “But Tianqi isn’t from a related field either.”

Once noticed by Sharon, he dropped subtlety.

Tianqi chimed in, “True, I—”

Sharon shot Tianqi a glance.

Feeling chilled, Tianqi quickly amended, “I majored in sculpture in undergrad, so it’s still relevant.”

Feng was dumbfounded.

A traitor!

Sharon had encountered many such privileged young men before, with all sorts of ways to pursue someone.

Maintaining a calm tone, Sharon said to Feng, “You can reconsider the commission.”

Feng retorted, “What do you take me for? Has Tianqi been badmouthing me?”

Tianqi replied, “I only speak well of you, don’t be ungrateful.”

Feng looked at Sharon, his voice much softer than usual. “Let’s keep business and personal aside. The commission is still on.”

They then proceeded to discuss business for about forty minutes, agreeing that Sharon would visit the site in Haicheng on Wednesday.

After the meeting, Feng still sat firmly, not showing any intention to leave.

It was a rare visit, and his first time here.

Sharon glanced at him, “I have another meeting soon.”

Only then did Feng reluctantly stand. “I’ll be off then.”

Sharon told Tianqi, “See him out.”

Feng discreetly signaled Tianqi.

Tianqi tentatively asked, “Sharon, who was the other person sending you flowers?”

Both men looked at her expectantly.

Sharon hesitated, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

On Wednesday, after settling work matters, Sharon went on a business trip to Haicheng.

Feng had wanted to come along but was tied up.

Stepping off the plane, they immediately felt the humid warmth of the air.

Tianqi remarked, “It’s much warmer here than South City.”

After lunch, Sharon had Tianqi contact the local team to survey the site.

Feng had sent detailed materials in advance.

The site was originally a golf course, later purchased. The surrounding ecology was excellent, with hills, lakes, and vast land. Fortunately, there was a sightseeing electric cart; otherwise, it would be impossible to cover on foot.

Feng planned to upgrade and rebuild it into a private club.

In addition to the golf course, there would be guest rooms, restaurants, business meeting rooms, a spa center, and so forth.

Tianqi was tasked with taking photos along the way.

He even sent some pictures to Feng.

- Tianqi: I’ll design something great for you.

- Feng: You wouldn’t know design if it hit you.

- Feng: You should go become a monk.

- Tianqi: ...

The survey took the entire afternoon.

Even with the electric cart, some areas had to be explored on foot, leaving them exhausted by day’s end.

After dinner, everyone chose to rest at the hotel.

Sharon had just finished showering when her uncle, Sheng Xue, called.

“Uncle?”

“Work been busy lately?”

“Not too bad; I’m in Haicheng today.”

“When will you be back?”

“Tomorrow. Why?”

“Ji Xi is back in the country. I plan to invite him for dinner and thought you could join since you know each other.”

He had mentioned wanting to invite Ji Xi before.

“Sure.”

“When are you free?”

“Tomorrow or the day after, either works.”

She would arrive in South City by mid-afternoon tomorrow.

“Okay, I’ll check with Ji Xi.”

Shortly after, Sheng messaged Sharon.

- Sheng: I’ve arranged dinner for tomorrow night.

- Sharon: Got it.

Just as she replied and was about to set her phone down, another message popped up.

It was from Ji Xi.

- Ji Xi: You’re in Haicheng?

Probably from what her uncle said.

Sharon answered: Yes.

- Ji Xi: The project from Tianqi’s friend?

Surprised he even knew about that.

She wondered what Tianqi usually told him.

- Sharon: Yes.

About half a minute later, her phone buzzed again.

- Ji Xi: Is he with you?

Why was he asking about Feng?

- Sharon: No.

- Ji Xi: Hmm.

- Sharon: I’ll bring you the watch tomorrow.

**

The Chunxiang firm had a project under construction in Haicheng. The next morning, Sharon went to inspect it.

It was Tianqi’s first time visiting a construction site and he found it novel. But the novelty didn’t last long.

After a morning there, he removed his hard hat, sweat pouring down his head.

“I said yesterday the temperature was nice here, but being on site is really hot.”

Not only hot but dusty too.

Sharon had sweat on her forehead as well but said nothing, appearing accustomed.

By contrast, Tianqi felt he seemed a bit delicate and quickly shut up.

He had truly thought architects just sat in offices holding meetings and drawing plans.

At noon, Sharon and company had lunch with the on-site architect.

In the afternoon, heading back, they faced air traffic control delays.

While waiting, Sharon received a message from Ji Xi, asking if the flight was delayed.

- Sharon: How did you know?

- Ji Xi: Tianqi posted on social media.

Sharon opened Tianqi’s post and saw that Feng had liked it.

Ji Xi messaged again.

- How long the delay?

Sharon replied.

- About two hours.

Yuanyuan had just checked.

- Ji Xi: Will you make it in time for dinner?

- Sharon: Should be just about.

**

She had planned to go home first but would now head straight from the airport.

- Ji Xi: Want me to pick you up?

- Ji Xi: It’s on the way.

On the way through the airport?

Sharon was pondering those words when another message arrived.

- Ji Xi: Just don’t get seen.

**

The flight was delayed an hour and a half.

They landed in South City before 5 p.m.

Stepping out, the cold of winter greeted them.

South City had begun to cool with wind since yesterday afternoon; today’s low was just 2°C, much colder than when they left.

Wearing only a sweatshirt, Tianqi gasped, “So cold! Let me put on my jacket.”

Yuanyuan sighed, “I’m starting to miss Haicheng’s warmth.”

All carried carry-on luggage, so they bypassed baggage claim and headed straight to the parking lot.

Tianqi’s car was parked at the airport; they had arrived in it.

Sharon checked her phone messages, saying, “I won’t walk with you guys.”

Yuanyuan asked, “Sharon, aren’t you going back to the city?”

“I have a dinner tonight; I called a car to pick me up.”

Tianqi offered, “Where’s the dinner? I can drive you.”

“No need, my ride’s almost here. You all go ahead.”

Tianqi nodded without further thought. “Alright, we’ll go.”

After parting ways, Sharon took another elevator to the first-floor parking garage.

Ji Xi messaged to say he was waiting on level P6.

Arriving, Sharon called him.

“Here?”

“Mm,” she replied, looking around. “Where are you?”

“See the billboard?”

Sharon walked toward the sign Ji Xi mentioned.

After a few steps, she spotted it.

“I see it.”

“I see you.”

The two messages came almost simultaneously.

Hearing he saw her, Sharon instinctively scanned the rows of cars.

She noticed a car door open and thought it was his, so she started walking that way.

Ji Xi’s voice came through the phone, “Where are you going?”

She stopped.

She realized it wasn’t his car.

“Turn back.”

Sharon turned, phone in hand.

Several cars passed through the aisle ahead, blocking her view.

Through gaps between vehicles, she spotted Ji Xi.

He was walking toward her, phone still to his ear, the glowing billboard behind him casting soft light on his relaxed features.

For a moment, the parking lot seemed a bit brighter.

Sharon hung up.

After a few cars passed, she pushed her suitcase across the aisle.

Ji Xi reached her side.

“Which car do you want to get in?”

His tone was teasing.

“I don’t even know which one’s yours.”

“Then I’ll show you.”

Sharon was silent.

Ji Xi reached to help with her suitcase.

At the moment his warm fingers brushed against the cool back of her hand, a faint tickle stirred.

She released the suitcase handle; Ji Xi pulled it over to the other side, and together they walked toward the car.

It turned out he was driving the Cullinan.

“Get in.”

Sharon opened the front passenger door and slid inside.

That rainy night, Ji Xi had sat in the back of this very Cullinan, telling her he could help Wan Leng—but only if she married him.