Fog Returns to the Capital

Chapter 54 Li Wu, My Girlfriend

"Lili is here too."

When Xu Xiling called out those two words, it was as natural as if he were just casually mentioning the weather.

He was dressed in simple, understated casual clothes. His aura was also different from when they first met, when he was cold and aloof.

Hear the words.

Li Wu smiled at him and greeted him politely, "Hello, Mr. Xu."

It seemed to be the first time I'd seen Zhou Jinghuai with someone by his side.

From the moment Li Wu appeared, all of them turned their gazes to her.

After all, they are all powerful figures who occupy high positions and control their own territories. Their aura and demeanor are so impressive that they are beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Perhaps she was still a little nervous.

Li Wu unconsciously leaned closer to Zhou Jinghuai. When she turned to look at him, she met his gaze as he looked down at her.

Pitch black and still.

It's no different from usual.

But something felt off.

Li Wu didn't realize it at the time, but her heart skipped a beat when she saw his gaze, and she subconsciously asked softly, "What's wrong?"

She thought it was because she hadn't performed well, but then she saw Zhou Jinghuai look away and say calmly that it was nothing.

After seated.

Zhou Jinghuai introduced her to them, "Li Wu, this is my girlfriend."

A simple sentence silenced the entire room.

If the gazes of those people just now still contained a hint of curiosity and scrutiny...

The gazes fixed on Li Wu at this moment were filled with barely concealed shock and astonishment.

Li Wu's heart also trembled slightly.

But she quickly recovered, a bright smile spreading across her fair, snow-white face as she greeted everyone politely, "Hello."

The group looked at Li Wu and responded with smiles.

He Yanting, however, glanced at Zhou Jinghuai's expression. Then his gaze passed over Zhou Jinghuai and landed on Xu Xiling, who was a few steps behind him.

The latter's face remained expressionless as always, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

……

Li Wu couldn't understand their casual conversation and couldn't join in at all.

When Zhou Jinghuai hadn't spoken yet...

Li Wu gently tugged at his sleeve, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

"..."

Zhou Jinghuai was taken aback, then chuckled. He reached out and patted her head, then asked a staff member to take her downstairs to change her clothes.

I've been thinking about it the whole way.

It's a very beautiful red riding outfit.

Wearing it, Li Wu looked even more radiant and beautiful, her beauty beyond compare.

When the staff took Li Wu to choose a horse.

Li Wu immediately took a liking to the tall, imposing black horse.

Her eyes were bright, and she looked very expectant.

Just as the staff were about to bring her the horse, they suddenly heard her excitedly say that it was her first time riding a horse.

The staff immediately stopped in their tracks.

I gently suggested to her that for her first time riding a horse, she could choose a relatively docile gelding or mare.

Followed by.

Li Wu looked in the direction the staff member pointed out.

Those horses were only about half the size of the black horse.

The expectation in Li Wu's eyes faded slightly.

She turned to the staff member, her soft voice carrying a hint of pleading, "I'll just give it a try, okay? If it doesn't work, I'll choose something else right away..."

"This……"

The staff hesitated upon hearing this.

To be honest, the girl in front of him had such a delicate and beautiful face when she spoke to him.

He simply couldn't refuse any of her requests.

But then I thought about the identities of the people who came today. The entire club had announced a temporary shutdown just to accommodate them.

What if something happens to the person in front of you?

The staff couldn't bear the responsibility at all and hurriedly explained the danger to Li Wu, "That horse is large and powerful. If you accidentally fall off, it would be very dangerous..."

……

the other side.

Zhou Jinghuai was chatting with those people.

We discussed recent market trends across various sectors, from international to domestic, from aviation to infrastructure, from infrastructure to healthcare and education, and finally some social news...

The first to notice the situation on Li Wu's side was Xu Xiling, who hadn't participated much in the chat.

His gaze lingered there for a moment before he gestured for Zhou Jinghuai to look over.

"what happened?"

Zhou Jinghuai followed his gaze.

……

"He seemed so ambitious the whole way, but he can't even ride?"

Zhou Jinghuai made a light, teasing remark. He then instructed a staff member to bring over the black horse that Li Wu had chosen.

Hear the words.

Li Wu felt a little embarrassed by what he said.

But as soon as Zhou Jinghuai arrived, Li Wu became noticeably happier and more at ease.

She gently tugged at his sleeve, her clear, bright eyes sparkling, "Teach me."

The girl before me was dressed in a red riding outfit, beautiful and eye-catching, breathtakingly beautiful. She exuded an indescribable vitality.

It was completely different from the alluring and pitiful beauty she displayed when she bloomed beneath him.

"Tuition fees will be charged."

Zhou Jinghuai said calmly. He reached out and gently pulled out a few strands of hair that she hadn't noticed were hidden inside her clothes.

The two are very close.

That faint, clear, and elegant scent entered my nostrils.

Li Wu's heart couldn't help but flutter.

She looked at the man's incomparably handsome face so close to hers. If she just stood on tiptoe slightly, she could kiss him.

"Yes...yes, that's fine..."

Li Wu's earlobes turned slightly red as she heard her own voice, which sounded somewhat unsteady.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jinghuai glanced at her, his elegant and gentle eyes smiling, and said calmly, "I haven't even said what the tuition is, and you're already here?"

"Anything is fine..." Li Wu's face was flushed, and her voice was so soft that it was almost a whisper, barely audible.

Zhou Jinghuai smiled, reached out and patted her, saying, "The horse you wanted is here."

"..."

Li Wu's face instantly turned red.

Zhou Jinghuai chuckled softly.

……

Zhou Jinghuai held the horse's reins and explained things to Li Wu for a long time.

From the proper posture for mounting and dismounting, to controlling balance after mounting, and how to hold the reins firmly, he also gave her many precautions, including what to do in an emergency…

But don't want to.

Zhou Jinghuai had just finished speaking, but hadn't even demonstrated yet—

Li Wu stepped on the stirrup and mounted the horse in a swift and decisive motion.

"..."

But in just two seconds, the smile on Li Wu's face hadn't even fully bloomed.

After mounting the horse, she lost her balance and was about to fall off.

In that split second.

Zhou Jinghuai caught her with lightning speed.

After gaining a firm footing.

Zhou Jinghuai put Li Wu down from his arms, checked her to make sure she wasn't injured, and then gently scolded her.

"What are you in a hurry for?"

It's like scolding a disobedient child.

"...I feel like I've understood it," Li Wu said weakly, still a little scared.

The moment her body was suddenly suspended in mid-air, she was terrified, thinking she was going to fall to the ground.

Fortunately, Zhou Jinghuai caught her.

"Is attending a meeting the same as learning how to do it?"

Zhou Jinghuai reached out his hand to her.

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Wu obediently placed her hand in his.

"Your mounting posture was correct, crisp and clean, but you need to adjust your riding posture immediately after mounting." As he spoke, Zhou Jinghuai gave Li Wu a demonstration.

He then helped her onto the horse and rode with her for two laps.

Not a moment later.

Li Wu was able to ride a horse and slowly circle around the horse farm.

Li Wu has always maintained a strong thirst for knowledge and a desire to explore new things.

She felt that as she gradually mastered the balance and skills of riding a horse, her speed also gradually increased.

Looking at it from a distance.

The young woman on horseback, dressed in red, possessed a rather dashing and heroic air.

"Your little darling is quite intelligent."

Before anyone knew it, He Yanting and his group also arrived at the horse farm.

Looking at the red figure in the seemingly endless inner field, I couldn't help but exclaim, "It hasn't been that long, and she can already ride by herself."

Zhou Jinghuai didn't look at him, his gaze still indifferently fixed on the girl in red, "You said it yourself, it's a treasure."

He Yanting, "..."

The others chuckled softly upon seeing this and couldn't help but praise the girl for being clever.

……

Xu Xiling didn't go over; he remained seated in his chair.

He slowly swirled the grayish-blue teacup in his hand. Beneath the rising steam, the clear tea gradually became cloudy.

The thunderous sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached from afar.

A young girl in a red dress rode past on horseback.

Like a gust of wind, it didn't even leave a trace.

……

Hearing the thunderous sound of hooves, Zhou Jinghuai looked over. He couldn't even make out the person, only a blurry figure rushing past.

But next second.

Li Wu then turned around, horse and all, holding the reins.

Perhaps it was the exhilarating feeling of speeding and chasing the wind that made Li Wu so excited, her face beaming with a bright and dazzling smile.

She turned to look at Zhou Jinghuai, and called his name loudly with a smile—

"Zhou Jinghuai! Look, I can ride now!"

That was Li Wu at eighteen. That bright and stunning young girl could only see Zhou Jinghuai in her eyes.

……

When Li Wu finally changed back into her own clothes, her little face was still flushed with excitement.

She was still telling Zhou Jinghuai about her 'post-ride experience', "At the end, I was going super fast, I felt like I was flying, just like the wind!"

Zhou Jinghuai took out two tissues and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

He glanced at her small, rosy face. Her pure, clear eyes were brimming with joy and lingering happiness.

"When you learn to fly a plane in the future, will you feel like you're traveling through space?"

Zhou Jinghuai tossed the used tissue onto the tray handed to him by the waiter and said indifferently.

"what?"

Li Wu's attention was entirely focused on Zhou Jinghuai's previous statement. When she looked at him after hearing this, her eyes were filled with undisguised surprise and curiosity. "Will I be able to fly a plane in the future?"

He Yanting, who was listening to their conversation nearby, couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The girl looks quite pretty, but I didn't expect her to be such an honest person.

Upon hearing He Yanting's laughter, Li Wu belatedly realized that she had misunderstood due to her excessive excitement.

She pursed her lips and leaned closer to Zhou Jinghuai, feeling a little embarrassed.

If Zhou Jinghuai weren't sitting while she was standing, she probably would have been so embarrassed that she would have buried her head in Zhou Jinghuai's arms.

Pretend that no one can see her.

See this.

Zhou Jinghuai glanced at He Yanting indifferently.

The subordinate patted the little girl's head and said gently, "I'll teach you when I have time later."

"Yes, he got his license when he was sixteen."

He Yanting realized that the girl was shy, and comforted her with a smile, "Let him teach you."

"He can drive anything that goes up in the sky, down in the sea, or on land."

……

later.

They went to eat.

Li Wu still couldn't understand what they were talking about.

However, Zhou Jinghuai took good care of Li Wu.

While chatting and laughing with them, Zhou Jinghuai noticed that Li Wu's bowl was empty, so he used serving chopsticks to put some food in her bowl.

Those present were filled with awe.

Especially He Yanting.

You know, even Zhou Jinghuai's father didn't receive this kind of treatment from him. Zhou Jinghuai probably only ever served tea and water to his grandfather.

That meal took a long time.

Li Wu had no idea how they could talk so much. Even though she was already full, she could only hold a glass of lukewarm water and drink it.

Apart from her, it seemed that Xu Xiling was the only one at the entire dinner table who didn't say much.

After returning last time, she vaguely felt that Xu Xiling's eyebrows and brows seemed to resemble Old Master Xu, so she casually asked Zhou Jinghuai about it.

Ever since I learned that Xu Xiling was Old Xu's grandson, especially after learning about his current job...

Li Wu felt more awe and respect for him.

He noticed Li Wu's gaze.

Xu Xiling, who had been somewhat absent-minded, raised his eyelids and glanced at her indifferently.

When eyes meet.

Li Wu was suddenly taken aback.

But she quickly realized what was happening, curved her lips into a smile, and gave him a polite one.

The retro-style glass lamps overhead cast distinct layers of light, scattering a soft, warm orange glow that fell upon her.

Even Li Wu himself might not know.

That moment.

No amount of clean, pure, or beautiful words would be an exaggeration to describe her.

It's like a beautiful illusion created from light and shadow. It's the most primal and purest form of beauty.

Xu Xiling glanced at it and then looked away.

But then.

His gaze was fixed quietly on a certain spot, as if there was no focal point.

Finally, when the conversation turned to something else, someone next to him called out to him, and Xu Xiling came back to his senses.

……

By the time it was all over, almost everyone had left.

Xu Xiling suddenly called out to Li Wu, reached into his pocket, pulled something out, and tossed it to her, saying, "Catch."

He just threw it without any warning, seemingly not caring whether Li Wu could catch it or not.

Li Wu's heart skipped a beat, and she caught it with lightning speed.

When Li Wu saw clearly what was in her hand, she looked at Xu Xiling in surprise.

When Li Wu looked over.

Xu Xiling said calmly, "It's to make up for the last meeting gift."

It is a white jade pendant carved from a piece of mutton fat jade into the shape of a string of locust flowers.

It was as big as Li Wu's entire palm.

The jade pendant is of the highest quality. It is pure white and flawless, with a warm and lustrous texture.

When Li Wu held the jade pendant in her hand, she could still feel the warmth emanating from it.

It was clearly a valuable item, but Xu Xiling tossed it to Li Wu as if it were some worthless trinket.

There was no packaging whatsoever. They weren't worried that she might miss it and drop it on the ground.

Zhou Jinghuai glanced at what Li Wu was holding, then looked up at her.

Perhaps because what just happened happened too quickly, Zhou Jinghuai still had a faint smile on his lips, the same one he had when chatting with someone.

The faint smile on his lips hadn't faded when he looked at Li Wu.

Whether it was Li Wu's imagination or not, that faint smile seemed to have deepened.

But a sudden chill ran through Li Wu's heart. She even tightened her grip on the jade pendant.

"What are you standing there for? Aren't you going to say thank you?" Zhou Jinghuai suddenly spoke up.

The entire venue fell silent for a moment for no apparent reason.

For some reason, Li Wu's mind went completely blank at that moment.

Upon hearing Zhou Jinghuai's words, she instinctively wanted to stand up and thank Xu Xiling.

only.

Before Li Wu could make a move, Xu Xiling's deep, clear, and calm voice rang out—

"No need, it's just a little gadget."

……

After the dinner party ended.

Zhou Jinghuai left first with Li Wu.

There were only two people left in the private room.

Xu Xiling's face remained as cool and dignified as ever, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

He Yanting took out a cigarette from the cigarette case. With a click, the metal struck the cigarette, producing a crisp sound, and a blue flame instantly shot out from the lighter.

A bluish-white mist swirled around.

He Yanting slowly exhaled a beautiful smoke ring before kicking the man beside him, "Hey—"

"Speak your mind," Xu Xiling said coldly.

He Yanting smiled.

This person received intense training from a young age. He has top-notch mental fortitude, and coupled with his incredibly powerful and unshakeable background, there's almost nothing that can bother him.

"You know his personality, why make such a fuss?" He Yanting took a drag of his cigarette, chuckling softly through the bluish-white smoke.

“He’s always had that personality since he was a child, like an emperor, he’s been spoiled.”

Upon hearing this, He Yanting chuckled softly, almost choking on his own.

It quieted down.

Through the rising, hazy smoke, one could vaguely make out the man's increasingly solemn and profound features. He Yanting asked, "What do you mean?"

"What do you mean?"

Xu Xiling remained expressionless, his voice low and detached, "Didn't I already say it was a belated gift for our last meeting? Didn't you give one too?"

"So I deliberately carved it into the shape of a locust flower?"

If he remembered correctly, the two first met under a blooming white locust tree.

Tsk.

"This is the first time he has brought people to us."

After slowly exhaling a smoke ring, He Yanting glanced at the cold and deep-set man, his deep voice tinged with amusement, "Don't be like that, there aren't many women around."

"How about I send you a hundred or two tomorrow?"

He Yanting is actually quite a rare find.

The two have been inseparable since childhood, and this has never happened before.

"I don't do anything that's illegal, and I suggest you don't either."

Xu Xiling didn't even glance at him, picked up her coat, and prepared to leave.

"Old Xu."

When Xu Xiling reached the door.

He Yanting suddenly called out to him again, his voice deep, "Old Xu, a brother of over twenty years."

(End of this chapter)