Chapter Fifty-Nine: So, Was It All Just a Game?
Just at that moment, the server arrived, placing the Japanese dishes they’d ordered onto the table.
They had chosen takoyaki, croquettes, colorful quinoa sushi, corn and shrimp rolls, Japanese-style teriyaki mushroom meatboxes, pan-seared spinach rice balls, miso soup, and soba rolls.
The array of dishes made Shangguan Ranran’s appetite soar, and Ye Xin took a few symbolic bites as well. Ye Zuo’s chopsticks moved, but he didn’t actually eat a single mouthful.
He felt as though, after so many years of striving, his goal had suddenly lost its direction.
On the way back, Ye Xin snatched up the car keys to drive. Shangguan Ranran didn’t notice anything amiss.
She was sitting in the back seat, chatting with her Mr. Huangpu.
Ranran: “Did you send my photo to someone?”
Huangpu, with deep affection: “Did Ranran go out to eat at a restaurant?”
Ranran: “Yes, a Japanese place.”
Huangpu, deeply affectionate: “I was worried you’d feel uncomfortable, so I greeted them for you.”
Ranran: “Them? So, who else?”
Huangpu, with gentle patience: “Don’t worry, just a few of my private businesses—nothing worth mentioning.”
Later, Shangguan Ranran would discover just how many private businesses he had; indeed, they were too numerous to mention, but that is a story for another time.
Ranran: “Is that so? Mr. Huangpu seems to own quite a lot.”
Huangpu: “Only enough to provide for Ranran.”
Ranran: “That’s not true, I’m easy to provide for.”
Huangpu: “How easy?”
Ranran: “I think a small house and three meals a day are more than enough.”
Huangpu: “Very easy, indeed. Then I will build the most exquisite little house in the world for you, make you the world’s finest meals, and always stay by your side, never leaving you.”
Reading Huangpu’s message, Shangguan Ranran smiled, her lips curving radiantly. This, she thought, was what happiness tasted like.
Ye Zuo, watching her from the back, looked dispirited and downcast. She seemed so happy, but was it because of that man?
The man who, at first glance, had filled him with a sense of rivalry.
After Shangguan Ranran went to her room, Ye Xin knocked on Ye Zuo’s door.
“Ye Zuo, I know you’re hurting right now. I don’t know how to comfort you, but all I can offer is advice.”
“I know. Is there anything else?” Ye Zuo’s voice was low; he, too, understood all too well.
“Ye Zuo, you know we can’t…”
“We can’t have someone we like, is that it? But do you think someone’s abilities are determined by whether or not they have weaknesses?” Ye Zuo’s composure was slipping.
“But Ye Zuo, we belong to ‘Dark Night.’ The master saved us; we should serve them. How do we have the right to speak of such things?”
“I’ve heard these words thousands of times. Leave me be—I want to be alone.”
“Then… I’ll go.”
As Ye Xin left, she gently closed the door behind her.
Watching Ye Zuo in such a state, she couldn’t help but worry for him, though she also felt a pang of envy. She had never experienced the feeling of liking someone, yet she was afraid to try.
—
One autumn rain brings a chill; the weather was turning cold, and a light drizzle was falling.
Shangguan Ranran had been coming home early these past days, wanting to spend more time with Mrs. Ye.
Today was the day to see Mrs. Ye off for her trip abroad, but unfortunately, it was raining lightly and the roads were slippery.
“Mother, remember to call us when you arrive.”
“I will. You take good care of yourself too, and don’t count on your father.”
“Wife, what are you saying in front of our daughter?” Shangguan Xing protested. Why couldn’t she rely on him? He loved his precious daughter dearly too.
“Am I wrong? After what happened to Ranran last time, do you bear no responsibility?” Ye Xi’s gaze was icy as she looked at Shangguan Xing.
“All right, all right, blame me. But you have to believe—”
“That’s enough, I’m leaving—I don’t want to hear your nonsense,” Ye Xi interrupted him directly. She hugged Shangguan Ranran, her expression full of reluctance.
“Wife!” Shangguan Xing pulled Ye Xi into his arms as they parted.
Watching her parents, Ranran found her sadness lightened.
On the way back, she rode with her father to the company, parting ways in the underground parking lot.
…
Meanwhile, at Lianran Group, a large group of workers was moving an array of grand instruments and supplies. Everyone had grown numb to the sight.
On the first day, they’d been curious enough to ask Assistant Mo, “Why are we moving so many instruments? And easels? Are we opening a studio?”
“These are, of course, all for the president’s girlfriend—ways for Miss Shangguan to pass her time when she’s bored.”
Everyone…
They didn’t quite understand, but wasn’t this a bit excessive?
Steinway pianos from Y Country, Bechstein pianos, Sherman pianos, Tianyi guzhengs, the Ye family's Cao Nan rice paper, the Ye family’s blank Xuan paper…
Bush & Goltz pianos from M Country, Di family’s Zatwinkelman pianos…
Petrof pianos from G Country, Hongsheng and Dongyun guzhengs…
Helen pianos from Z Country, Schimmel pianos, Dunhuang and Dingyun guzhengs, the famous calligraphy and painting rice paper from City A…
And then, all kinds of brushes, easels, even the Four Treasures of the Study. Cellos, guitars, pipas, and countless other instruments, dazzling and varied, enough to make one’s head spin.
So, all of this was just for fun?
Mo Yi had been busy these past few days; two floors weren’t enough, so he’d opened up two more, using four in total for storage and display. He felt their company was turning into a department store, but what could he do? The president was determined to win a smile from his beloved.
Fortunately, he had passed his other work to Mo Jiu and Mo Shi.
Mo Yi looked at the endless stream of items—when would it all be finished?