Chapter 2: Rivalry and Legacy

 

Wen Rou came for lunch as usual on Saturday. After eating and drinking, she reclined on the sofa with a book.

Wen Nuan sat on the floor, absorbed in her laptop and her work.

"Why didn't you go back to the office today? You were so active these past few weeks. You left right after lunch without even taking a nap?" Wen Rou inquired.

"I had just taken over and there was a lot of material to review that was too cumbersome to bring home. Now that things are on track, I can manage most of it from here. I prefer not to run around."

Wen Rou eyed her with suspicion. "Has Zhan Nanxian upset you in some way?"

Wen Nuan smiled. "What are you talking about? I'm just an errand runner now. Even if the boss tells me to stay until 5:35, I wouldn't dare leave a second earlier. How could he offend me? I should be grateful he hasn’t found any faults."

"But you still behave the same way as before. You retreat to your room when you're upset, stay silent when you're angry, and give people the cold shoulder until they’ve apologized a thousand times."

"You’ll also say that was in the past. Look, is Linlu really trying to win me over? I’ve seen him only a few times over the past couple of months."

"How are things with Zhu Linlu?"

"Same as always."

"When are you planning to get married?"

"When the time is right."

Wen Rou frowned. "You might as well say that water will erode a stone."

Wen Nuan smiled. "Rope saws through wood."

"Just do what you should. I hate waiting for things to come naturally. Really, why don’t I just dig a trench in your kitchen sink, fill it with water, and let things happen on their own?"

Wen Nuan laughed and stood up.

"What are you doing?" Wen Rou called out.

"Looking for tools to dig that trench."

Wen Rou threw her book in mock exasperation, but Wen Nuan quickly dodged, went to the kitchen to peel a mango, and then returned to her work.

Wen Rou rolled her eyes. "I've tripled the money Dad left you. Why do you still wake up early every morning to work hard for a modest salary?"

"I’d be bored if I didn’t work. Am I supposed to stay home and cook all day?"

In reality, her salary was higher than Wen Rou and Zhu Linlu realized. Her daily expenses, including clothing, were covered by the company. She was content with her life. She had no worries, so what more could she ask for?

"I really don’t know what to say to you. You keep to yourself except for Zhu Linlu, whether it’s men or women. If you really care about him, maybe you should marry him soon. Otherwise, someone else might sweep him away."

"Huh? Did you hear or see something I didn’t?"

"My eyes and ears aren't what they used to be. I didn't hear or see anything. I hope your senses are sharper. Don't focus solely on Qianyugong and neglect your boyfriend's needs."

"Thanks for the reminder, sister. Let’s not talk about me. What about you?"

Wen Rou lazily picked up the mango. "Me? What’s there to discuss? Every day I just want to make more money."

Her warm eyelashes fluttered as she smiled. "Sometimes, you should take care of yourself too."

Wen Rou held the mango in mid-air. "What do you mean?"

Wen Nuan looked up with calm eyes. "You don’t need to spend every Saturday with me. It’s okay if you have other things to do."

Wen Rou’s mouth curved into a faint smile. "Did I say something that upset you? Was it about Zhu Linlu?"

"You misunderstood me. I know you’re concerned because my life seems dull. But I’m 25 now. You should live your own life… I was never your responsibility. You don’t owe me anything."

Wen Rou was silent. She ate the mango piece by piece, then stood up. "I have other matters to attend to. Let’s talk another day."

Wen Nuan didn’t urge her to stay. She simply watched her leave quietly.

If only the world could start over, would everything be different?

Fortunately, amidst the endless days, there was still one thing that brought her solace: music.

She lay on the sofa, picked up the remote control, and turned on the record player, letting the piano’s melodies fill the room.

It was a habit from her youth. Every morning, the first thing she did upon waking was to turn on the stereo. She would then get up, dress, wash, and have breakfast while the music filled the room. She enjoyed everything from ethereal New Age compositions to the latest chart-topping hits.

For many years, music had been her companion, soothing her to sleep each night.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the afternoon sun bathed the sky. The April weather was mild, and the soft music evoked a sense of nostalgia. There was a trace of lingering sweetness, but it was mostly overshadowed by a pervasive bitterness.

If only everything could be different.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the sapphire Bugatti glided into the underground garage of Qianyu, pulling into its reserved space. Zhan Nanxian, observing the empty parking spot across from him, allowed a slight smile to curve his lips.

Bo Yixin, sitting in the passenger seat, noticed and asked, "What’s making you smile?"

"She didn’t come today. You won’t see her."

Bo Yixin looked disappointed. "What a coincidence. When I saw her that day, she seemed to have changed a lot."

The faint smile lingered on Zhan Nanxian’s lips as he exited the car and scanned the empty parking space. He didn't comment on her observation. Has she changed? It seemed he himself had undergone a transformation, yet some things remained constant. His temper and spirit were still as strong as ever.

Bo Yixin took his arm and headed upstairs. "You know, she used to be an unattainable ideal in my heart."

Zhan Nanxian looked at her and smiled. "Are you joking? You’ve won the Best Actress Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards for three consecutive years. In the ten years since your debut, you’ve not only won the Best Actress Award at the Asia Pacific Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival but also had two of your films nominated for Oscars. With your fame, fortune, and a great boyfriend like me, there’s no one in Asia who can rival you. And you’re still not satisfied?"

"What does Wen Nuan have? She’s just an unknown secretary with a desk, a chair, a computer, and a mountain of documents. She’s constantly adjusting to the boss's whims. Bo Yixin picked up a folder from Wen Nuan’s desk and noted how meticulously organized it was—each item clearly labeled and categorized. She closed it with a sigh.

"Have you ever felt that the more successful you become, the more you realize it’s not what you truly want? Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like there’s a void in my heart. At first, I didn’t understand it, but over time, I realized it was a deep-seated guilt."

She turned to him, "If it were up to me, I would have reached out to her two years ago."

"I did it for your own good. Reaching out to her would only cause trouble."

"Really? She greeted me that day. She didn’t keep her distance. I’m just curious—she used to be so cheerful, and now she seems like an elegant fairy. It’s hard to imagine."

Zhan Nanxian replied after a pause, "She has changed a lot. She’s very withdrawn."

Bo Yixin was surprised. "I didn’t notice that at all."

"She’s worked at Qianyu for two years and hasn’t made a single friend."

Bo Yixin’s expression dimmed slightly, and she was silent for a long moment before finally managing a bitter smile.

“It’s all because of me.”

Zhan Nanxian shook his head. “It’s not your fault. There might have been something that even I don’t know about from back then.”

“Even you don’t know?”

“Yeah, but that’s not important.” Zhan Nanxian gently embraced her. “Right now, I have only one unfinished thought. Once this matter is resolved, I will marry you.”

Bo Yixin fell silent, resting her forehead against his shoulder, her eyelashes brushing against his shirt in the shadowed light.

Facing the blue curtain of the floor-to-ceiling glass, Zhan Nanxian’s eyes took on a mysterious quality—cold and hard as stone, yet also fluid and complex, like a deep pool hiding unspoken thoughts and emotions.

Time seemed to fly by, like an arrow or a shuttle. The ancient poets, with their elegant words, managed to capture the essence of these ordinary days, evoking a sigh of nostalgia.

In this fleeting moment, Wen Nuan faced something she least wanted to encounter.

Qianyu Optical Technology, overseen personally by Zhan Nanxian, was in a fierce competition with Daizhong, both top leaders in the industry. Though this competition was not directly related to Wen Nuan, her role was to accompany Zhan Nanxian to the review meeting for the Leng Group, which meant she would encounter Zhu Linlu on the opposing team.

The large oval conference table in Leng Group’s meeting room was filled with representatives from various prominent companies. Leng Rufeng and his chief assistant, Yin Chenglie, presided over the meeting, flanked by five top global consultants.

Each company had ten minutes to present and then answer a series of challenging questions from Leng Group.

The first company’s presentation was interrupted by Yin Chenglie within minutes. “Just tell me, can your system alone attract a significant number of guests to our resort?”

The question stunned most of the attendees. Intelligent control is typically viewed as a service enhancement rather than a marketing tool, but Leng Group’s requirements were evidently more stringent. The presenter, caught off guard, could only close the plan and exit, as the rules dictated that anyone unable to answer within ten seconds must leave.

Wen Nuan shook her head, realizing the entire team’s months of preparation had been in vain. Business can be as ruthless as war.

Zhan Nanxian leaned in and whispered, “Check the details of the consultant to Leng Rufeng’s right.”

His breath brushed against her ear as he spoke, and when he finished, his lips almost touched her earlobe. Wen Nuan felt her face and neck flush. Despite her focus, her heart raced. She took a deep breath to steady herself and quickly accessed the handheld computer, connecting to Qianyu’s extensive database. Within a minute, she had found and organized the information Zhan Nanxian needed. She tapped the desk to signal him.

He glanced at the information and then at her. She pulled out the technical plan, turned to the system settings section, and gently pushed it toward him. He slightly curved his lips, looked at her, and then his gaze dropped to her delicate pink earrings. She was taken aback by the subtle, unreadable expression in his eyes.

Before she could ponder it further, her attention was drawn to Zhu Linlu, who was watching her intently from across the table.

Instinctively, she wanted to smile, but she realized it was inappropriate and restrained herself, offering a silent apology with her eyes. She then looked back to see Zhan Nanxian’s expression growing colder, as if warning her to remain professional. Wen Nuan nearly wiped the sweat from her brow.

“Make sure to note these changes,” Zhan Nanxian said tersely. She quickly jotted down his instructions. By the end of the morning meeting, both Qianyu and Daizhong had advanced, while four other companies had been eliminated. The final decision would be made in the afternoon.

As Wen Nuan was tidying up, Zhu Linlu approached, seemingly indifferent to the presence of Zhan Nanxian and Gao Fang. He kissed her cheek without hesitation. “Want to have lunch with me?”

Embarrassed, she pushed him away gently. “No, I have work to do.”

“Then I’ll call you.” Zhu Linlu ruffled her hair affectionately. After he left, Zhan Nanxian slowly pulled out his chair and stood up. His eyes were colder than before, hinting at his displeasure with her lack of discretion. “You’d better not make any mistakes in the revisions I mentioned.”

“Yes,” she replied quietly. He and Gao Fang departed. Given that her boyfriend was a competitor, her role was sensitive. She wasn’t sure why Zhan Nanxian trusted her so much. She quickly made the necessary revisions on the computer, printed the updated documents, and replaced the old pages.

Just as she finished, Zhu Linlu called again. “Did you miss me?”

She scoffed. “Were you trying to cause trouble earlier?”

He laughed. “You’re sharp. No wonder Zhan Nanxian relies on you.”

“Mr. Zhu, beware of karma for disrupting someone’s job.”

“I can make it up to you with a golden bowl, can’t I?”

“I don’t need it.” She was managing her current job smoothly, and she would secretly laugh if he didn’t deliberately interfere. Seeing that it was already half past one, and the meeting was about to start, Wen Nuan realized she hadn’t had lunch. “I have to go now.”

“Then give me a goodbye kiss.” Zhu Linlu’s stubbornness made her smile. As she turned around, she saw Zhan Nanxian and Gao Fang entering.

“That’s all for now,” she said hastily, ending the call. Gao Fang handed her a sandwich, but due to the morning’s stress, she had no appetite. She took a small bite and a sip of water but couldn’t eat more. It’s no wonder some say this kind of life is unbearable. If this continues, she might end up with a gastric ulcer or neurogenic gastritis.

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