Chapter Thirty — Overwhelmed by Passion

"Shixi, let's have dinner together after work," Tang Dai said as she pushed open the door, her tone inviting.

"I'm sorry, I don't have time today. I have things to do after work," Xu Shixi replied, seated at his computer desk, handling documents.

"Are you going to see your girlfriend?" Tang Dai closed the door behind her and walked straight in.

Tang Dai herself was a woman of both intelligence and beauty. At twenty-nine, she had mastered the art of maintaining her youth, appearing even two years younger than Yishu. She was two years younger than Xu Shixi, but only one academic year behind him. It was rumored she was the top scorer in the national college entrance exam that year, and many renowned universities both at home and abroad had vied to recruit her. Yet, for reasons unknown, she chose to study architecture.

On the day she enrolled, she became a sensation on campus—surpassing the reigning campus belle and claiming the title herself, which she held until graduation. All the girls were fiercely jealous of her; all the boys were utterly captivated.

Among them were Xu Shixi and Qiao Siming.

Qiao Siming's affection for Tang Dai was passionate and profound, direct and honest, devoted and steadfast. Female students in the architecture department were rare, and her striking beauty made her shine all the brighter. Every boy who passed by would pause to admire her.

She loved singing, and it was at a campus singing competition that she and Qiao Siming first met. After several rounds, both made it into the top ten. As if following a predetermined script, they competed for the championship. Qiao Siming narrowly lost to Tang Dai, and from then on, the girl who had bested him was etched deeply into his memory.

As for Tang Dai and Xu Shixi, they met through the school's club. He was the club president; she signed up during the recruitment drive. In a male-dominated architecture club, the arrival of a female member was cause for celebration among the boys. Yet, for Xu Shixi, it was not her beauty that impressed him, but her insight and depth of knowledge in the field.

Thus, the three of them, unaware of each other's feelings, began a subtle dance of relationships.

Xu Shixi shifted his gaze from the computer to Tang Dai, his eyes grave. "I think, aside from work-related communication, we should keep our distance in private."

Tang Dai walked closer, her heels striking the floor with sharp clicks. "Why do you deliberately keep me at arm's length? Is it your girlfriend's idea?"

"No!" Xu Shixi retorted immediately. "It's mine. I believe, after all, men and women are different. If rumors spread, it wouldn't be good for your reputation."

Tang Dai gave a disdainful laugh. "Do you really think a woman like me, steeped in modernist thought and tempered by five years in Western countries, would have even the slightest belief in outdated gender norms?"

Xu Shixi stared at her, his mind both occupied and empty. Her explanation contained far too much information. No matter how he tried to approach it, there was no satisfactory answer.

"I have things to do. I'll go now," Xu Shixi said, glancing at the time in the corner of his screen and shutting down his computer.

"You're just leaving?" Qiao Siming blocked the doorway.

"Yes, I've been swamped lately with the Happy Town project for the two districts. It's exhausting—I should take a break," Xu Shixi said, patting his shoulder.

"So..." Qiao Siming glanced meaningfully at Tang Dai standing behind Xu Shixi.

"Take her to the nearby mall," Xu Shixi suggested.

Qiao Siming feigned annoyance, but inwardly he was delighted. The last time Tang Dai had invited him out, it was merely to use him, to annoy Su Yishu. Yet, knowing he was being used, he still accepted it gladly.

Sometimes, for love, one truly can cast aside so-called pride, dignity, and principles—becoming a humble beggar for affection.

But love obtained through such effort and calculation—does it really count as love?

"Has Yan Lu been found?" Xu Shixi asked calmly.

"Not yet," Yishu replied, weighed down by too many worries to elaborate.

"What did the police say?" Xu Shixi pressed.

"Still no news," Yishu said, shaking her head in disappointment. "Maybe they're not giving it their all—they have their own workload." Her words carried a hint of accusation and complaint.

"Has her family given up?" Xu Shixi, seeing Yishu's dispirited demeanor, felt his own spirits sink.

"I don't know about Yan Lu's mother; I haven't seen her in ages." Yishu let out a long, melancholy sigh. "Lu Xugao is searching for her day and night. From what I know of her, she should still be in Cloud City. We've grown up here, never left. The outside world is something I only know from the internet and TV." Her sadness deepened. "Don't be fooled by Yan Lu's carefree and unruly manner—she's actually quite timid." Yishu tugged at her hair thoughtfully. "I remember back in senior year, there was a really good horror movie from abroad. She wanted to watch it, but was too scared to watch alone, so she dragged me with her. We hid under the blankets, and then, somehow, the power suddenly went out—we were nearly scared to death. For a year after, I could only sleep with the lights on. Luckily we were boarding then, sharing a dorm with several classmates, so it wasn't so frightening."

"If you ever want to watch horror movies, I'll watch them with you," Xu Shixi said firmly.

Yishu couldn't help but laugh and cry. "That's not what I meant. I don't really like horror movies—I was just influenced by Yan Lu."

"No matter what kind of movie you want to watch, I'll always be with you," Xu Shixi gazed at her tenderly.

At this point, Yishu didn't steer the conversation back to Yan Lu. In truth, she was angry and upset—a lifelong friend and confidante, gone without a word.

Seeing Yishu's wistful silhouette, Xu Shixi suddenly had a bold idea. "Yishu, if I asked you to marry me right now, would you?"

Yishu was stunned, her eyes wide as coins. So sudden, so unexpected. Was he serious? But his words were hypothetical, not definitive—the word "if" revealed his uncertainty about his own feelings.

"Why do you ask out of the blue?" Yishu countered.

Xu Shixi was caught off guard. His feelings for Yishu were certain, beyond a doubt, but he had no clear plan regarding marriage. At thirty-one, he was well past the optimal age for marriage, even beyond the age for late marriage and childbirth. Perhaps, influenced by Yan Lu and Lu Xugao, he realized the need to cherish the person before him—he had missed his chance for happiness before.

"Because I like you. I love you," Xu Shixi said, holding her shoulders. "Since we love each other, we'll eventually walk down the aisle together. So thinking about it now isn't too soon."

Yishu, hearing his sincere words, felt most of her doubts dissipate.

Seeing her face soften, Xu Shixi continued, "I plan to take you to Beijing at the end of the year to meet my parents and tell them about us."

"Your parents?" Yishu was completely unprepared to meet his family, and the question caught her off guard. Would his parents like her? If they were like Yan Lu's mother, what then? Shixi was so outstanding; his parents surely had high standards. It would be a winding, difficult road.

Still, if he stayed by her side, unwavering through wind and rain, she would press forward without hesitation.

His loving gaze lingered on her face, sparkling like starlight.

She was swept away by the ambiguous atmosphere he created, utterly intoxicated. His words of affection were always so direct, so unembellished. Yet she loved his candor. Perhaps, at twenty-five, those adolescent, flirtatious words seemed out of place.

Thinking back, wasn't she drawn to his mature, steady demeanor?

This gentle touch...

Before Yishu could recover, his lips pressed firmly against hers.

At this moment, it was necessary to indulge in burgeoning desire. A kiss was the sweetest choice.

She seemed to have grown used to his kisses, even addicted to them.

The end of the year—already not so far away. Yishu couldn't help but look forward to it.