Jingxia Rose

Chapter 39: It Will All Pass

In contrast to the bustling noise inside the banquet hall, the outside was quite quiet.

The lights on both sides were very bright, and even from several meters away, Ji Xuan could clearly see his expression.

Nothing had changed; he remained as aloof and composed as ever, his suit and tie still impeccably tailored.

But for some reason, she seemed to have lost some weight.

Actually, this unexpected encounter was quite unexpected for her. She had prepared herself mentally for the banquet, and she had relaxed after the banquet ended.

He paused for a moment, looking slightly stunned.

Since it was an amicable parting and things didn't escalate to an unpleasant point, there's no need to pretend we didn't see each other or act like we have some deep-seated hatred.

The words "long time no see" lingered on his lips, but he changed his question to, "How's Sister Ruan Zheng doing lately? Is her leg injury alright?"

Wen Qi was taken aback, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and he replied calmly, "I've come to terms with it a bit, and my leg is slowly recovering."

"That's good." As he approached, Ji Xuan asked, "And you? How have you been lately? Busy at work?"

At first glance, this sounds like concern.

But Wen Qi could tell from her calm, watery eyes that she was just being polite.

He didn't answer how he'd been doing lately, only truthfully saying, "The company's been busy lately."

Seeing her nod slightly, he lowered his gaze and asked in a low voice, "You went to Chengkong?"

Ji Xian didn't hide it and admitted it with a smile.

"How are you doing there? Are you settling in?"

"It's not bad."

Their conversation felt as if they were still together before they broke up. Listening to it now, and reminiscing about the past, Wen Qi felt a sense of estrangement, as if a wide and long chasm separated them.

I didn't realize it before, but now the feeling is especially strong.

This intensified the restlessness and depression that had lingered in his heart for four months.

"Ji Xian".

The silence between the two was finally broken by a gentle and clear voice.

Ji Xuan looked up at the sound and was quite surprised to see Xiao Guxing. "Why are you here?"

"Knowing you didn't drive and didn't need to take Mr. Gerry back to the hotel, and that it's not easy to get a taxi around here, I came over."

Xiao Gu walked over to her side. "You didn't eat anything at the banquet, did you? I packed some fish porridge from Jiaolinjian for you. It's still warm in the car. You can have some to tide you over."

"Thank you, boss."

Ji Xian said sincerely.

Xiao Guxing clicked his tongue. "Stop making fun of me with the word 'boss'."

As he turned to the side, he met Wen Qi's sharp and fierce eyes. Even his aura changed, unlike the restraint he had shown when speaking to Ji Xian. At this moment, a hint of ferocity inexplicably burst forth.

It vanished in just a few seconds.

Xiao Guxing recognized him, and his heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Ji Xuan's normal expression and simply nodded in greeting.

It means a nodding acquaintance.

Wen Qi pursed his lips, offering no response, and shifted his gaze from Wen Qi to Ji Xian's face.

The bitterness churning in his heart instantly engulfed and corroded him.

This feeling is very subtle. I had the same feeling when Yi Xu told me that he ran into Ji Xuan and Xiao Guxing at the airport. But seeing it with my own eyes now makes it more direct.

The impact is also stronger.

During the four years he was with Ji Xian, he never thought about breaking up, let alone that one day Ji Xian would stand next to another man, laughing and talking with him.

Just like the playful way Ji Xian joked with Xiao Guxing, it was something he had never seen before.

In his memory, Ji Xian was gentle, intellectual, rational, reliable, dignified, and poised.

I suddenly remembered something Yi Xu once said: "What have you been talking about these past four years?"

He realized then that his understanding and perception of Ji Xian was far too one-sided. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't say a word.

Ji Xian looked back at him, smiled slightly, nodded in acknowledgment, and then left side by side with Xiao Guxing.

Seeing her calm departure, Wen Qi's heart tightened. He opened his mouth, wanting to call out to her, even wanting to keep her here, but for a moment he didn't know what to say, or what excuse to use to keep her here.

Ji Xuan's calmness and composure felt like blades stabbing into his heart again and again.

Within half a minute of her walking over, there was already a "river of blood".

In the car.

Ji Xian was lost in thought, holding the fish porridge that Xiao Guxing had packed for her, letting the scenery outside the window recede into her almond-shaped eyes.

"Ahem." Perhaps sensing the tense atmosphere in the car, Xiao Guxing coughed lightly at the opportune moment. "Are you alright?"

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xian turned his head slightly to look at him.

Xiao Guxing exchanged a glance with her, and seeing the understanding on her face, he covered his mouth and coughed again, "Last time we had dinner together, when he came to pick you up, I saw him, so I recognized him at a glance just now."

Ji Xian wasn't surprised and laughed, "I thought you knew this from gossip in the industry."

Well, in the months since he came back, he has indeed heard a lot of gossip about the heir of the Wen family and his girlfriend.

He's probably mentally ill, or maybe he's just being a jerk. Even though it would make him feel bad, he would always stop or listen patiently whenever it involved Ji Xian.

Even if it's painful, I can still listen to it.

"I have a feeling... this winter in Beijing will be very cold."

Ji Xian's gentle voice suddenly became melodious, as if she were sighing.

It's already late autumn, and the start of winter will be just a few days away.

This summer was exceptionally hot, and the winter was unusually cold.

But thankfully... it wasn't too difficult to get through.

It will all pass.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In November, Moscow had already experienced several snowfalls, with temperatures around -3 degrees Celsius.

"Sister Ji Xian, I've compiled the information you requested. Please take a look."

Ji Xian was buried in a pile of documents when a crisp voice made her lift her head with difficulty.

The girl standing in front of her desk was short, with fair skin, glasses perched on her nose, and her hair tied in a high ponytail.

It was her assistant, named Shen Jia.

Shen Jia started her internship at Chengkong branch in early summer last year. After Ji Xuan joined the company, she was assigned to work as Ji Xuan's assistant.

After passing the performance evaluation at the beginning of the year, I was officially hired and came to Moscow with her.

Ji Xian smiled slightly, took the stack of documents, and replied in fluent Russian, "Thank you, you've worked hard."

She was transferred to the Russian headquarters at the beginning of the year.

After joining the Beijing branch last August, the business she was responsible for expanding mainly involved English and French. It seems that Xiao Guxing realized that keeping her in the branch was a waste of her talents, so before the Chinese New Year holiday, he suggested transferring her to Moscow.

Going abroad is different from going to China.

Ji Xian did not agree immediately, but said she would consider it. Xiao Guxing also understood that suddenly transferring someone abroad would give her time to accept it.

Ji Xian went back to her hometown for the Chinese New Year and told her second uncle and aunt that she might be transferred to work abroad after the holiday.

She used to go on business trips abroad with Wen Qi, but business trips are business trips and work is work.

Uncle Ji didn't say anything, only that it was her own business and she should weigh it herself.

Aunt Ji muttered a couple of things, but Ji Xuan didn't take them to heart.

After the New Year, she stayed in Beijing for a few days, had meals with Shi Wan and Ye Xueyan, and then came to the Chengkong headquarters.

(End of this chapter)