Chapter 1

October, Jiangcheng.

A rainstorm came suddenly and quickly, and fine raindrops tilted down, hitting the car windows, and merged into layers of rain curtains.

Under the mist, a taxi slowly drove through the winding mountain road and stopped steadily at the door of the five-star hotel built halfway up the mountain.

Looking around, the front of the hotel was full of dazzling luxury cars, which made the taxi look even more shabby and out of place.

There were guests standing outside the revolving door in groups of three or two, and their eyes all looked here at the same time.

The car door opened, and the hotel security hurriedly went over with a black umbrella to pick up the people.

"Thank you."

It was a soft and pleasant female voice, blending in the sound of the drizzling rain, which made peoples hearts tremble slightly.

The security guard couldnt help but glance sideways and quietly looked at her.

In the late autumn season, she was wearing a one-piece black suit skirt, and a tight belt outlined her slim waist, which was very eye-catching.

The woman had black hair and snow-white skin, a pair of slender and charming fox eyes, and the tail of her eyes was slightly tilted, which was very charming. A pair of shiny pearl earrings on her white earlobes made her outfit more retro and dignified, and suppressed the rich feeling brought by her facial features.

Her neck was white and slender, and the curve when she lowered her head was like a noble white swan.

The only flaw was that her neck looked a little empty because there was no necklace.

She had just walked into the lobby on the first floor, and she attracted countless peoples attention.

A young man in a suit and leather shoes stood in the lobby. He saw her figure at a glance and immediately walked towards her.

"Ms. Jiang, Miss Ni asked me to take you in."

Chen Rui looked gentle and calm, but in fact, she couldnt help but be amazed in her heart.

She nodded and smiled, "Thank you for your trouble."

The plane was delayed for more than an hour. When Jiang Zhili arrived, the birthday party had already started, and even the banquet speech was over.

The banquet hall was magnificent, and everywhere you looked, there were people in elegant clothes and clinking glasses.

After scanning the crowd, Jiang Zhili finally saw Ni Ling surrounded by several guests.

Ni Ling was the protagonist of this birthday party and also her long-time friend.

It was also because of Ni Lings birthday that Jiang Zhili found a suitable reason to return to this long-lost city.

At this moment, Ni Ling also found Jiang Zhili in the corner, her eyes suddenly lit up, and when she was about to come over, a new young man in a suit and leather shoes came to her side.

Knowing that Ni Ling could not get away for the time being, Jiang Zhili smiled at her from a distance, and had to express sympathy with his eyes, and walked to a corner with few people to wait for her.

After not returning to Jiangcheng for a few years, no one at the banquet could recognize her as a poor daughter, but there were still many eyes looking at her and exploring her.

From time to time, well-dressed men would come over to chat with her, but she politely dismissed them one by one.

While Jiang Zhili was bored and swiping her mobile phone, she heard a whisper coming from not far away.

One of them said, "Why did you buy a special dress for Ni Lings birthday party? Why is it so grand? I didnt see you dressed like this at the cocktail party last year..."

Another girl in a red dress lowered her voice and answered, "I secretly heard my daddy talking to someone on the phone a few days ago, saying that a big shot was coming tonight."

"Big shot? Who?" Several people nearby pricked up their ears instantly.

"I pestered my daddy for a long time before he told me that it seemed to be Fu Group, Fu Beichen..."

Jiang Zhilis movements froze. The next moment, she returned to normal.

The conversation on the side continued.

Someone gasped: "Fu Beichen?"

"Yes, I heard that he had been abroad before, responsible for mergers and acquisitions in the United States, and now he suddenly came to Jiangcheng. My daddy is still worried that he will take Qi Yue to swallow up the real estate market in Jiangcheng. He has been angry about this for several days."

The girl in the red dress happily adjusted the necklace on her neck and concluded: "If I can really hook up with Fu Beichen today, it is not an exaggeration to say that I can walk sideways in Jiangcheng."

Jiang Zhili suddenly put down the champagne in his hand and lost interest in listening.

After coming out of the noisy banquet hall, Jiang Zhili found an empty balcony to stay.

The rain outside has stopped. The air still retains the moisture after the rain, and it is wrapped with a trace of cold air. Take a deep breath, and even your internal organs are cold.

The memory that keeps replaying in your mind like a video tape finally died down.

In the quiet environment, the phone suddenly rang with a message notification sound. Jiang Zhili unlocked the screen and opened WeChat.

Han Ziyu: Sorry, Lili, there is a problem with the companys report. I am afraid I cant come tonight. I will pick you up for lunch tomorrow at noon, okay?

Jiang Zhili paused, and for a moment she forgot her fiancés face.

This cant be blamed on her, after all, the two are separated, and the last time they met was half a year ago.

After replying to Han Ziyu, Jiang Zhili turned and left the balcony, ready to return to the banquet hall.

The corridor was quiet, and the carpet on the floor was expensive and soft.

Jiang Zhili was still a little absent-minded. She was not careful, and her heel stepped on something exactly. She staggered and fell to the ground.

A piercing pain came from her ankle, and she gasped in pain. Looking closely, it turned out that she stepped on a diamond earring, which should have been accidentally left by a guest.

Such a small earring was stepped on by her by chance. She was really unlucky.

After the pain passed, Jiang Zhili tried to move his ankle. Just as he stood up shakily with the help of the wall, he heard a steady and powerful footsteps coming from the corner in front.

She looked up in a daze, and a figure came into view.

Under the bright light, the man was tall and straight, with broad shoulders and narrow waist, and looked strangely familiar.

Her eyes slowly moved up, and when she saw his face clearly, Jiang Zhilis breathing suddenly stagnated.

The man was wearing a black suit, with a sharp outline, narrow and deep phoenix eyes, hooked inward and tilted outward. They should be a pair of affectionate eyes, but the black pupils were unspeakably cold. The whole person exuded a noble and abstinent aura, and it was not easy to approach.

The face that appeared in her dreams countless times gradually overlapped, strange and familiar.

Under the cover of bright yellow light, it seemed even more unreal.

She stood there in a daze, forgetting to move for a moment, and could only watch the man in front of her walking towards her.

As he got closer and closer, Jiang Zhili was so embarrassed that she didnt know where to put her hands and feet.

She had imagined the reunion countless times in her mind and prepared all kinds of lines, but at this moment, her mind was blank. She couldnt even think of a sentence, and she didnt know what to say.

She suddenly began to feel lucky that she had dressed up carefully today. Even if she almost fell just now, she should be beautiful now.

The familiar and refreshing breath penetrated into her nose, and Jiang Zhilis fingertips twisted together. In the heartbeat, she slowly raised her eyes and raised the most beautiful arc at the corner of her mouth.

"Long time no..."

She didnt even have the chance to finish the simplest four words. She saw that the mans face was distant, and his eyes didnt even stay on her for a long time. He slightly turned sideways and walked around her. A low and cold voice sounded beside her.

"Excuse me."

The tone was magnetic and cold, like the cold rain outside the window sliding down the glass window and disappearing.

The smile on Jiang Zhilis lips froze instantly.

For a moment, she even doubted whether he recognized her at all.

Unfortunately, Fu Beichen did not give her a chance to verify.

Like a stranger passing by, when Jiang Zhili came to her senses again, there was no one around the corner.

The joy that had just risen in her heart was completely shattered before it had time to bubble up.

She leaned against the cold wall, and the coolness seemed to have penetrated into her heart along her spine. She was exhausted and could no longer find a fulcrum.

It turned out that not every reunion was joyful.

—

In the lounge.

The doctor had just finished applying medicine to Jiang Zhilis ankle when Ni Ling rushed in with her skirt lifted.

"Are you okay? Is the sprain serious?"

When Chen Rui came to tell her just now, she came over without saying a word, and directly forgot about the banquet. Seeing that Jiang Zhilis ankle was indeed just a little red and swollen, and there was no bone injury, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Not serious."

Jiang Zhili lowered her eyes, and her thick eyelashes covered her bright eyes, which were a little dim for no reason.

Seeing her obvious absent-mindedness, Ni Ling paused, as if she guessed something, and asked tentatively: "Did you see him?"

Without waiting for Jiang Zhili to answer, Ni Ling hurriedly explained, with a guilty tone: "I dont know why he is here. My dad said that a big shot from the United States would come today, but who knew it was Fu Beichen..."

Yes, who would have thought that the boy who came from a poor family would now become a person that the wealthy families in Jiangcheng would greet respectfully.

Ni Ling suddenly thought of something and changed the subject, asking, "He didnt do anything to you, did he?"

After all, the young and spoiled Jiang Zhili had pulled down the altar of Gaoling Hua because of a bet, and finally left quietly, and everyone in Jiangcheng knew it.

"He didnt come back to Jiangcheng just because of you, did he?"

As soon as the voice fell, Jiang Zhilis mind popped up the neat back of the man when he left just now, and the pair of calm and indifferent black eyes, which were no different from before.

"He didnt come back specifically to take revenge on you, did he?"

Ni Lings shouting voice suddenly sounded, pulling Jiang Zhili out of her memories in an instant.

This was really shocking. Jiang Zhili was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said firmly, "Hes not that boring."

Fu Beichen had never wasted his time on useless people or things before.

It was obvious from the fact that he walked past her without looking away just now.

Thinking of this, Jiang Zhili laughed at himself: "Revenge is good too."

Its better than ignoring it.

Seeing the obvious fatigue on her face, Ni Ling sighed in her heart and quickly changed the subject: "No more talk, no more talk, you just came back today and sprained your ankle, Ill let Chen Rui take you back first. How long do you plan to stay in the hotel? The room is Have you not found a house yet?"

"Stay for a full week. Anyway, its free. If you dont stay, its a waste. Its a good opportunity to slowly choose a house."

Ni Ling sighed: "Your luck is really unmatched. You can win the first prize by buying a plane ticket and stay in a five-star hotel for free for a week."

This is really strange. Not long after Jiang Zhili bought the plane ticket last week, she received a text message from Junmao Hotel, telling her that she won the prize, and it was the first prize. At first, she thought it was a scam text message and ignored it. Later, she received a call from the hotel. After verifying with the airline, she didnt expect it to be true.

Its a pie in the sky. Who can miss the good thing of moving in with just a bag? It just so happens that she can use this time to look for a house and a studio.

Jiang Zhili took off her high heels and changed into the flat shoes that Ni Ling asked someone to send. She was a little absent-minded: "Its a free pie in the sky. Im afraid that things will turn against themselves when they reach the extreme. "

For example, if I sprained my ankle tonight and then met Fu Beichen, it didnt seem like a good sign.

Ni Ling cooperated by making two "Puh-Puh" sounds and started to raise her hand to drive people away: "Dont talk nonsense, wait for my bar to open in two days, come and make up for todays birthday for me. Go back quickly, Chen Rui is waiting at the door. "

Jiang Zhili burst out laughing, and before leaving, he did not forget to take out the birthday present for her from his bag.

Ni Ling happily opened the jewelry box, and inside lay a diamond bracelet quietly.

The design of the bracelet was simple and generous, but also particularly spiritual and colorful. One could tell at a glance that it was designed by Jiang Zhili.

After receiving the birthday gift, Ni Ling, who was satisfied, waved her hand and let Jiang Zhili go very generously.

Chen Ruis car had been waiting at the door for a long time. Jiang Zhili got in the car, told him the name of the hotel, and then leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes tiredly.

I dont know if its because she wore less today, or because of the wind blowing on the balcony in the evening, the late headache came in waves, as if there were millions of ants gnawing inside.

I dont know how long I slept drowsily, and when I opened my eyes again, the car had arrived at the door of the hotel.

Jiang Zhili thanked him, raised his hand to rub his aching temple, pushed the door and got out of the car.

The hotel was brightly lit and magnificent, and one could even smell a faint fragrance in the air.

After quickly checking in, Jiang Zhili took the elevator upstairs, found his room, simply packed his luggage and fell asleep.

This sleep was not peaceful. The memories that had been buried deep in his heart struggled to break out of the ground, flashing frame by frame like a movie.

The protagonists in the pictures were all Fu Beichen without exception.

It seemed that some thoughts, in the chaotic memory, quietly revived and shouted unscrupulously.

When he woke up again, thunder rolled outside the window, and there was a dark spot on the pillow, which seemed to be soaked by liquid.

Jiang Zhili raised his hand and touched his face. His cheeks were cold, and then he realized that he had cried.

In addition to the soreness of the eyes, the temperature of the forehead was even more astonishingly hot.

She reached out and touched her forehead again.

As expected, she had a fever.

Jiang Zhili sighed in her heart.

She didnt bring much luggage or cold medicine on this trip back to China. She had thought about buying some common medicines when she got back, but now she had to go.

Jiang Zhili climbed out of bed with a tired body, put on a thick coat, and went downstairs slowly to buy medicine.

There were lightning and thunder in the dark clouds, and the heavy rain almost washed the city.

I dont know which scumbag swore again.

In the strong wind, even if Jiang Zhili held a black umbrella borrowed from the hotel, she was inevitably splashed by rain. The whistling cold wind seemed to be able to penetrate the clothes directly and get into the bones.

When she passed the lobby, the receptionist who had just checked her in suddenly called her: "Ms. Jiang, please wait a moment."

Jiang Zhili looked back with a plastic bag in her hand and asked in confusion: "Is there anything wrong?"

The receptionist held a list in her hand, nervous and apologetic: "Im really sorry, Miss Jiang, I forgot to ask you to fill in this award information when I checked in just now. Can I delay you for a while?"

Even though Jiang Zhilis discomfort had reached its peak, she nodded and smiled and said: "Its okay, give it to me."

"Thank you so much!"

The receptionist took her to the sofa next to her and handed her a pen and paper gratefully.

Jiang Zhili took it and filled it out carefully.

The hair wet by the rain naturally fell by her ears, outlining a delicate and moving profile.

Under the hotel lights, her long eyelashes drooped, covering a small shadow under her eyes. Her skin was as white as jade, and even vaguely revealed some sickness.

Looking at the plastic bag beside her, the receptionist said worriedly: "Ms. Jiang, are you feeling unwell? Our hotel has a doctor, if you need one..."

"Its okay, Ill be fine after taking some medicine, thank you."

In this scene, the concern of strangers actually made her eyes wet.

Jiang Zhili smiled at her gratefully, returned the filled form to her, and just as he was about to stand up, he suddenly stopped.

In front of the lobby not far away, a couple of men and women stood in an intimate posture.

The man was thin, with a handsome and clear profile, and a gentle and elegant temperament, a very familiar face.