Chapter 42

Rose 42: Like.

Ye Jiayuan stopped beside Fu Chaoying as soon as she arrived. Everyone turned to look at her.

Fu Chaoying’s heart was pounding. She tilted her head to look at her, stars seeming to shimmer in her eyes.

Ye Jiayuan’s presence was too overwhelming. Director Zhang, who had spoken so recklessly, stiffened at once. “...Ms. Ye?”

Director Qu was a seasoned hand; of course she could tell Ye Jiayuan had come to back Fu Chaoying up. She immediately smiled to smooth things over. “Not at all, Director Zhang was just joking. Xiaoying, don’t take it to heart.”

“Director Zhang, why aren’t you apologizing to Xiaoying yet? That joke went too far.”

Someone like Ye Jiayuan, who had gone from Nanyan to the international stage, was not someone half-inside, half-outside people like them could afford to offend.

After all, the sponsorship fees she donated to the art museum every year were no small sum. If they really made her unhappy, they’d all be in trouble.

Fu Chaoying listened quietly as Director Qu and Director Zhang sang in perfect harmony, trying to turn a big issue into a small one and a small one into nothing at all. She said nothing from beginning to end.

She noticed her aunt Fu Anyun’s probing gaze, as well as the relief and pride in Aunt Chu’s eyes.

Fu Chaoying’s gaze shifted. Her lashes trembled, and she tried to squeeze out a few tears, only to find that no matter how hard she tried, nothing came.

In the end, Fu Chaoying could only look at Aunt Fu Anyun with an innocent, pitiful expression, her voice so soft it sounded like it might break at any moment. “Auntie... It’s fine, really.”

The end of her sentence trembled slightly, making her look even more fragile.

Ye Jiayuan’s expression darkened. “What Director Zhang just said was hardly a joke. And some jokes shouldn’t be made lightly.”

“Old Master Fu’s contribution to the development of southern-style ink painting is there for all to see, and the Fu family has supported the growth of the Southern Art Association and the museum year after year.”

“Now that the Fu family has only one descendant left to carry out Old Master Fu’s wishes, the association and the museum, whatever the case, should not be breaking the Fu family’s heart—or Xiaoying’s.”

As Ye Jiayuan spoke, her gaze slowly swept over everyone present, lingering especially on Fu Anyun and Director Zhang.

Her words were a reminder to Fu Anyun that the Fu family had made enormous contributions to the development of southern-style ink painting and didn’t need to be overly accommodating to the association or the museum. They were also a warning to the association and the museum: they had enjoyed the Fu family’s grace for years, and now they should not treat the family’s descendant with such contempt.

When she finished, Ye Jiayuan’s gaze settled on Fu Chaoying.

Fu Chaoying was caught off guard by the look. From the calmness in her eyes, she glimpsed a trace of gentleness, and her heart began to race uncontrollably.

The sounds and looks around her seemed to fade away. Fu Chaoying was almost about to drown in Ye Jiayuan’s tender gaze.

Then she heard Director Zhang and Director Qu offer their solemn apologies, and Fu Chaoying listened in silence.

Ye Jiayuan didn’t say anything either; she only kept her eyes on Fu Chaoying. “Have you eaten breakfast?”

Fu Chaoying’s heart trembled. Then the corners of her lips lifted. “I’m a little hungry now.”

Seeing this, Fu Anyun ultimately didn’t step forward to smooth things over again.

Fu Chaoying merely gave Director Zhang a calm glance, her tone gentle but carrying an unmistakable edge of distance. “The two directors are too serious. Please excuse me.”

She naturally wouldn’t accept so-called apologies, but there was no need to push the matter any further. That near-dismissal was probably the best way to make her stance clear.

With that, Fu Chaoying turned and went inside with Ye Jiayuan. Along the way, everyone’s eyes were sharp as knives.

Fu Chaohua also quietly followed, admiration in her voice. “Jiayuan-jie, what you just said was amazing! The people at the museum and the association are just bullying people... ”

“In those years, my grandma practically gave everything she had to help them... How can they be this ungrateful!”

Fu Chaoying listened and felt bad too. She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “And we even lent them Grandma’s paintings for free...”

At that, Ye Jiayuan’s gaze darkened slightly, but her voice remained calm. “If necessary, we can take them back.”

Fu Chaoying looked at the buns the aunt was arranging, picked one up on impulse, and took a bite. Only then did she feel a little better.

Fu Chaohua couldn’t help sneaking a gossipy look between Fu Chaoying and Ye Jiayuan before asking curiously, “Oh right, Jiayuan-jie, how did you suddenly have time to come back?”

Ye Jiayuan nodded slightly. “A meeting was canceled at the last minute.”

“What a coincidence!” Fu Chaohua laughed as she left the dining area.

Fu Chaoying slowly lifted her eyes, only to meet Ye Jiayuan’s gaze without warning.

Fu Chaoying blinked. “How many hours did Jiayuan-jie sleep last night?”

Amusement seemed to flicker in Ye Jiayuan’s brows, though her expression remained cool. “Six or seven hours; enough.”

That was good. Fu Chaoying quietly let out a breath.

Shen Guannan didn’t know anyone out front, so she also found her way inside and laughed, “So all this was thanks to Ms. Ye, huh.”

Ye Jiayuan gave her a slight nod.

Shen Guannan also casually picked up a bun. “Why aren’t you eating, Ms. Ye?”

When she turned back and saw that Ye Jiayuan’s gaze was fixed on Fu Chaoying, she immediately understood and wisely shut her mouth.

Fu Chaoying felt a little embarrassed under that look. She ate her bun in smaller bites, only to hear Ye Jiayuan let out a soft laugh.

“No need to be reserved.” Her tone was light.

Fu Chaoying tilted her head helplessly and smiled. “I’m not.”

Watching the two of them interact, Shen Guannan increasingly felt that something was going on.

The smile at the corners of her mouth was impossible to suppress. Shen Guannan laughed and found an excuse to slip away. “I’m going to find Xiaohua.”

There was still an aunt in the kitchen; they weren’t exactly alone.

Fu Chaoying sighed helplessly. “Jiayuan-jie, let’s go out too. We should be leaving soon.”

When Fu Anyun saw them come out, her gaze settled on Ye Jiayuan. “Thanks for earlier, Xiaoyuan.”

Ye Jiayuan nodded slightly. “Auntie, there’s no need to thank me.”

Fu Anyun smiled at her and lifted a hand to call her over. “Come on, get in the car.”

Ye Jiayuan didn’t move. Instead, she said flatly, “I get carsick on the shuttle bus.”

That excuse was reasonable enough. Fu Chaoying’s eyes curved slightly.

But Fu Anyun’s smile stiffened a little. “Oh? Then let Xiaoying and Xiaohua accompany you in the smaller car.”

Ye Jiayuan was unquestionably the most important guest today. Even though the Ye and Fu families were old friends and close to one another, Fu Anyun didn’t dare slight her in the least.

Fu Chaohua looked somewhat troubled and said she wanted to help Fu Anyun take care of the guests.

Her excuse sounded impeccable, but Fu Anyun knew perfectly well what was going on—there was only one guest Xiaohua really wanted to look after: Dong Muyu.

Fu Anyun shot her an exasperated look, then smiled and pulled Shen Guannan over. “Xiaonan and Xiaoying can ride in the smaller car together, right?”

Shen Guannan nodded and exchanged a few polite words.

Fu Chaoying saw through the arrangement instantly, and a thought flashed through her mind: was Auntie worried that she and Ye Jiayuan might develop feelings if left alone together?

Fu Chaoying gave a helpless smile and, dragging Shen Guannan with her, got into Ye Jiayuan’s car.

As one of the hosts, Fu Chaoying should naturally have taken the front passenger seat, but Shen Guannan beat her to it. “I get carsick.”

Fu Chaoying understood at once and naturally sat in the back with Ye Jiayuan.

The car started smoothly; Ye Jiayuan’s gaze remained fixed outside the window, perhaps on the forests, trees, or birds in the mountains.

Fu Chaoying turned her head to look at her quietly, tracing her profile with her eyes.

At some point, the window had been lowered; the chirring of cicadas surged into her ears.

Fu Chaoying listened in silence, then heard her ask abruptly, “Was the night we watched the night view on this road?”

Fu Chaoying nodded obediently. “That sunset was beautiful too; the evening wind was clear and cool.”

Ye Jiayuan gave a slight nod and said no more. Because she couldn’t say more.

Fu Chaoying’s left hand quietly reached over and hooked her pinky. The moment their fingers touched, Ye Jiayuan stiffened slightly, then turned to look at her.

Fu Chaoying blinked at her, a trace of mischief flashing in her eyes. She kept holding on to her pinky and refused to let go.

A barely perceptible smile curved Ye Jiayuan’s lips, and she intertwined their fingers.

Shen Guannan was busy with work, then closed her eyes to rest; she didn’t notice their movements.

The car slowly crossed the bridge and headed toward the small town where Grandma had been born.

Before university, when Grandma was still in good health, Fu Chaoying had accompanied her back to her hometown to rest almost every summer.

In a way, it had also been a kind of training camp, because the town had small bridges and flowing water, and the scenery was excellent.

Whenever Grandma returned to her hometown, she always found inspiration there and often took Fu Chaoying to different places to sketch.

Following along with her, Fu Chaoying often found inspiration too.

Sometimes inspiration didn’t come all at once; it came from a sensitivity honed by long observation.

Fu Chaoying stared out the window without blinking, and then the car turned onto a side road.

The Fu family ancestral hall had been reached.

The memorial ceremony began at the ancestral hall, then continued to the cemetery.

Fu Li was the most outstanding descendant the Fu family had produced in many generations, so she had her own dedicated ancestral hall.

Fu Chaoying led Ye Jiayuan and Shen Guannan to burn incense, kowtow, and pay their respects, then listened as a monk chanted sutras.

Fu Chaohua asked in a low voice beside her ear, “Do sutras really work?”

“I hope they do,” Fu Chaoying said softly.

Although chanting sutras was probably just emotional comfort for the living, Fu Chaoying hoped it would be of use to her.

Still, karma was real.

Grandma had spent her whole life doing good; perhaps she didn’t need the blessing of Buddhist scriptures at all. Good fortune would come to her naturally.

Fu Chaoying slowly let out a breath, only to see that Ye Jiayuan beside her looked solemn and focused.

Fu Chaoying instantly gathered herself, filling her heart and mind with nothing but the hope that heaven might be a little kinder to Grandma.

Once the ancestral hall ceremony was over, everyone got back into the cars and headed to the cemetery.

Fu Chaoying followed Ye Jiayuan into the car, only to see her slip something into her hand as she got in.

Fu Chaoying sat down, opened it, and found a White Rabbit milk candy.

Fu Chaoying tilted her head to look at her, blinking, only to hear her say, “I remember you liked these when you were little.”

But her mother had been afraid she’d get cavities, so she wasn’t allowed to eat too many; each time, she only got half a candy.

Warmth spread through Fu Chaoying’s chest. “Thank you, Jiayuan-jie... jie.”

Shen Guannan in front burst out laughing. “I think I’m not carsick anymore.”

Seeing her make as if to open the door and get out, Fu Chaoying also laughed. “Then, Sister Guannan, you’ll only be able to go be the lightbulb for my sister and Sister Dong.”

At that, Shen Guannan silently withdrew her hand.

Compared with that, it was still better to stay here. Even if she could only sneak a little sugar, that was still far better than being force-fed dog food.

Fu Chaoying’s mood, too, was swept clean of its earlier heaviness and grew a little lighter.

The car only drove partway up the mountain before stopping, and the group continued on foot.

Fu Chaoying knew this road very well; she had often come here to sketch before.

The scenery here was more beautiful than the old Fu residence’s surroundings, because when you looked up, there was no city nightscape—only vast stretches of farmland.

All year round, there were colorful plants to admire.

Fu Chaoying pointed at a field at the foot of the mountain and said with a smile, “When I was little, I even planted seedlings with Little Auntie One.”

Ye Jiayuan didn’t know who she meant, but simply looked at the curve of her lips and listened to her relaxed tone; she couldn’t help letting her own brows and eyes soften too. “Very capable.”

Fu Chaoying laughed. “Actually...”

The younger generation immediately gathered closer, and Fu Chaoying told the story in detail: she had been far too young then, only knowing how to run around and play. She didn’t even know what rice seedlings were; she thought they were grass. The moment Little Auntie One planted the seedlings, she turned around and pulled them out as if they were weeds.

Little Auntie One turned back, unsure whether to laugh or cry, and dragged her along to find Aunt Fu Li. After hearing about it, Grandma also didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and hurriedly apologized to the other party.

Fu Chaohua chuckled. “You even helped them dig sugarcane, and then you fell right into the pit yourself!”

Fu Chaoying gave a helpless smile. “I was young.”

Fu Chaohua laughed until she was nearly doubled over, then summed it up: “Mm, young; but kindhearted.”

Even Ye Jiayuan couldn’t quite suppress a laugh.

Fu Chaohua noticed and widened her eyes. “Did I hear wrong? So Jiayuan-jie, you can laugh after all!”

Ye Jiayuan shot her a sharp look; Fu Chaohua hurriedly looped her arm around Fu Chaoying. “Jiayuan-jie, I’m also a younger sister!”

Ye Jiayuan was helpless and waved a hand. “I didn’t say anything.”

Looking at the two of them with curved brows and eyes, Fu Chaoying found Ye Jiayuan increasingly adorable.

At the cemetery, Fu Chaoying, Fu Chaohua, and Fu Anyun swept the grave together.

Usually some relatives would also come by to clean, so Fu Li’s tombstone only had a light layer of dust.

Fu Chaoying wiped it carefully, her fingertips brushing over the words on the stone and that familiar face.

Her longing for Grandma peaked at this moment; the ease she had felt earlier disappeared entirely, replaced by a lingering, unbroken sadness.

Too many people were around; if she wanted to speak to her, she could only do so in her heart.

She wanted to ask Grandma whether she was doing well over there.

She wanted to tell Grandma that she was doing very well now, and hoped Grandma could be safe and well too.

Fu Chaoying took the chrysanthemums from Ye Jiayuan’s hands and placed them solemnly beside the tombstone.

The others stepped forward one by one to bow and pay their respects; the memorial ceremony was completed by noon.

Fu Anyun called everyone down the mountain for lunch.

Fu Chaoying was still immersed in her emotions, and Fu Chaohua was clearly the same. The atmosphere on the way down the mountain was anything but light.

Even Dong Muyu, who usually loved cracking jokes, remained silent.

Fu Chaoying looked at the farmland below the mountain, then lifted her eyes to the layered peaks in the distance.

It was a landscape that had moved her more than once; it was also the hometown of Grandma Fu Li.

By the time she got back into the car, Fu Chaoying still hadn’t quite come back to herself.

Ye Jiayuan coughed softly, and Fu Chaoying finally returned to the present. “Jiayuan-jie, when are you going back to Hong Kong?”

Ye Jiayuan let out a barely perceptible sigh. “My flight is at five this afternoon.”

Which meant that after returning to Nanyan and taking care of this one thing, Ye Jiayuan would have to leave.

Fu Chaoying pressed her lips together, then reached out and gently stroked the back of her hand. “The schedule’s a little tight, so let’s hurry a bit.”

Ye Jiayuan gave a soft mm, turned her hand over, and intertwined their fingers again; her thumb gently rubbed the tiger’s mouth of Fu Chaoying’s hand.

Fu Chaoying’s lips curved slightly as she remembered that the first time she and Ye Jiayuan had held hands was on a rainy night in old Singapore—initiated by her.

Somewhere along the way, Ye Jiayuan had also begun taking the initiative to hold her hand.

At the restaurant where the lunch banquet was held, the town’s most upscale place, Fu Anyun had booked the whole building.

Fu Chaoying and the others, along with a few relatives and younger family members, sat at one table separate from the one where Fu Anyun and Chu Yiyun sat.

Since they were all the younger generation, everyone was happy to be casual.

With Dong Muyu backing her up, Fu Chaohua started working hard to pry open another side of Ye Jiayuan.

But Ye Jiayuan still wore that cool, composed expression and gave very little reaction to her teasing.

Fu Chaoying only smiled without speaking, quietly met Ye Jiayuan’s eyes, and, seeing the helplessness there, subtly changed the subject.

She chatted with a few cousins about recent events.

Someone who didn’t know Fu Chaoying’s situation asked curiously, “What about Yian? Why haven’t we seen her?”

Ye Yian was the only celebrity they had access to. In previous years, they could always see her on Fu Li’s death anniversary; this year, the fifth anniversary, they didn’t see her at all, so it was only natural that people were curious.

Before Fu Chaoying could speak, one of the cousins who knew the situation stepped in to rescue her. “Oh, this steamed sea bass is delicious; Xiaoying, have some.”

Fu Chaoying smiled, but still picked up the earlier topic. “I broke up with her a long time ago.”

As she spoke, she quietly reached over and gently took Ye Jiayuan’s left hand. Feeling the warm squeeze in return, Fu Chaoying’s heart gradually settled.

Fu Chaohua was still furious over this matter. She laughed and said bluntly, “If anyone asks later, remember to help clear things up for our Xiaoying, okay? That way if someone asks again next time, it won’t be awkward.”

Being pointed out so directly, the cousin who had asked the question immediately went red.

Fu Chaoying knew she hadn’t meant any harm and didn’t want to embarrass her, so she smiled and steered the conversation elsewhere, chatting with her about trivial things until the atmosphere gradually eased.

On the way back, Fu Anyun kept reminding them, “Make sure you send your Jiayuan-jie to the airport, all right?”

The task of escorting the art museum representative somehow vanished into thin air; Fu Chaoying suppressed her smile and obediently agreed.

Shen Guannan found an excuse to take the shuttle bus, and Fu Chaoying and Ye Jiayuan once again sat in the back seat.

The car set off on the return trip, but the route gradually became more and more familiar.

Fu Chaoying turned to look at her in confusion, only to hear her ask, “Didn’t you have something you wanted to say to Grandma just now?”

Fu Chaoying’s heart skipped a beat, then started racing.

A faint curve appeared at the corners of Ye Jiayuan’s lips. “There’s still time. Go keep her company and talk to her.”

Fu Chaoying suddenly felt a sting in her nose, then quickly looked away.

Her eyes fell on the scenery outside the window, but in the privacy glass she saw Ye Jiayuan’s reflection.

Ye Jiayuan was looking at her, her gaze focused and serious.

Fu Chaoying’s thoughts stirred; she turned to look at her at once, only to crash into those gentle eyes.

It was tenderness and pity with no disguise at all.

Fu Chaoying’s brows and eyes curved; she smiled at her. “I’m not unhappy. I just miss her a lot.”

Ye Jiayuan nodded slightly, then gently stroked her hair.

Fu Chaoying suddenly thought of something and curved her lips in a smile. “I remember you used to comfort me like this when I was little.”

She had been a crybaby as a child. And while Ye Jiayuan had acted like a little adult from a young age, she had always been at a loss when it came to her tears. All she could do was awkwardly pat her head and say coolly, “Stop crying.”

Fu Chaoying was still remembering when she suddenly fell into a warm embrace.

The familiar faint scent of magnolia filled her nose; a hand at her back gently soothed her, and Fu Chaoying quietly curved her lips.

The car stopped halfway up the mountain, and Fu Chaoying and Ye Jiayuan climbed back up together.

When they reached Fu Li’s grave, Ye Jiayuan stopped some distance away.

Fu Chaoying walked toward Grandma alone. She saw all kinds of chrysanthemums placed near the tombstone.

She saw Grandma smiling as she looked toward her hometown.

Grandma’s smile was unchanged. Fu Chaoying held back the sting in her nose and walked up to her, lifting a hand to gently caress her face.

She spoke softly to her about her recent life, talked about her confusion, then answered herself out loud.

When the conversation turned to Ye Jiayuan, Fu Chaoying subconsciously looked back at her. Ye Jiayuan was still standing where she had been.

She was still as cool and composed as ever, but the afternoon sunlight seemed to have added a little warmth to her.

Fu Chaoying gave her a radiant smile, then turned back to Grandma and said softly, “Jiayuan-jie is very good.”

She paused, then said with a smile, “I don’t even know whether my taste has improved yet, but for now... aside from being a little busy, there doesn’t seem to be anything to criticize about her.”

Fu Chaoying was silent for a moment, then said softly, “I think I’m starting to...”

Fu Chaoying smiled. “I’ll wait for her to say she likes me first.”

With that, she stood up and turned to walk toward Ye Jiayuan.

Ye Jiayuan also came toward her, lifting a hand slightly to take hers.

Fu Chaoying laughed softly and swung their joined hands as they walked down the mountain together.

Seeing her relax, Ye Jiayuan’s lips also curved faintly. “Feeling better?”

“Mm!” Fu Chaoying nodded vigorously, then bounced in front of her to block her path.

“This mountain was opened by me, and this tree was planted by me; if you want to pass this road, leave the toll.” [1]

Ye Jiayuan lifted a hand and lightly flicked the tip of her nose. “How much?”

Fu Chaoying thought about it, then tiptoed to kiss her lips lightly, brushing past in a flash.

“One kiss from the beauty is enough!”

Ye Jiayuan couldn’t help laughing, gently squeezing the center of her palm.

The two of them went down the mountain and got back into the car.

Just as Fu Chaoying was about to say something, she saw Ye Jiayuan lower the partition.

Then, with startling speed, Ye Jiayuan kissed her.

The kiss was tender and lingering, as if it wanted to melt Fu Chaoying’s heart completely.

Fu Chaoying responded instinctively, only to hear her laugh softly. “Is that enough now?”

“Not enough yet—” Fu Chaoying lightly licked her lips. “I’m going to Hong Kong tomorrow to sign the contract.”

Which meant that after only a single night apart, they would see each other again.

Ye Jiayuan drew her into her arms and whispered in her ear, “Wait for my little wife to come home.”

Fu Chaoying couldn’t help laughing. Pretending to be annoyed, she asked back, “Then who’s your big wife?”

Ye Jiayuan smiled helplessly. “I only have one wife, Fu Chaoying.”

Only then did Fu Chaoying lift her head in satisfaction and kiss her chin. “That’s more like it.”

As soon as they arrived at the airport, Fu Chaoying immediately received a call from Auntie: “Did you send Xiaoyuan to the airport?”

Fu Chaoying answered obediently, “We just got here.”

Fu Anyun then told Fu Chaoying to hand the phone to Ye Jiayuan, exchanged a few pleasantries with her, and only then hung up.

Fu Chaoying escorted Ye Jiayuan through security, only to receive another message from Auntie: [After you send her off, come back to the old house.]

Fu Chaoying’s brow twitched. She said goodbye to Ye Jiayuan, didn’t ride in her car, and took a taxi back to the old house.

But along the way, she received a voice message from Shen Guannan: “Hey, let me tell you, the girl who looks like you and I are way too fated to be together... how did I even run into her in Nanyan?”

Fu Chaoying’s mind filled with confusion. There were just too many coincidences...

Her phone vibrated again. Fu Chaoying lowered her eyes instinctively, only to see a photo sent by Shen Guannan.

Fu Chaoying recognized at once that it was a café in the CBD.

Driven by curiosity, Fu Chaoying tapped open the larger image. When she clearly saw the two people in the photo, her heart suddenly jolted.

Both of them looked familiar.

One of them was probably the girl Shen Guannan had said looked like her.

As for the other, if she wasn’t mistaken, it should be Ye Jiayuan’s assistant, Liu Xin.

The scene of Ye Jiayuan comforting her just now was still vivid in her mind. Fu Chaoying stared at the photo for a long time, unable to come back to herself.

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[1] Quoted from *The Romance of Sui and Tang*.