Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 267, Page 264: Ye Zi's Probing, Du Du's Pity
Restaurant entrance.

The atmosphere changed abruptly as Chen Duling accepted Zhou Ye's invitation.

Bai Lu and the others' gossipy gazes darted back and forth between the two like searchlights, their eyes brimming with excitement.

Chen Duling and Zhou Ye paid no attention to them. After saying goodbye to the group with their assistants, they turned and left together under the silent gaze of "you have a story".

As the group stepped forward, the chill of a winter night in Hengdian, mixed with the unique hustle and bustle of the film studio, rushed towards them.

They hadn't walked far when they saw a coffee shop with warm yellow lights on the side of the road, its wooden signboard swaying gently in the night breeze.

"Is it okay here?"

Zhou Ye stopped and pointed to the glass door that was emitting heat, looking at Chen Duling with a questioning tone.

"it is good."

Chen Duling nodded slightly, her face still bearing that faint smile.

As they pushed open the door, the rich aroma of coffee beans mingled with the warm air, instantly enveloping them.

There weren't many people in the store; only a few tables of customers were chatting quietly, with soothing background music playing in the background.

The two chose a small round table for two in a corner and sat down, while their two assistants tactfully sat in a slightly further away position.

The waiter quickly came over with the menu.

Chen Duling took off her long, off-white down jacket and draped it over the back of the chair, revealing a soft turtleneck cashmere sweater underneath. She then politely asked for a cup of hot black tea.

"I'd like a latte, please."

Zhou Ye also took off her thick down jacket, revealing a light pink hooded sweatshirt underneath, which made her face look even smaller and her chin more pointed.

She hugged the down jacket to her chest, like she was holding a giant doll.

After ordering, the small space fell into a brief silence, with the hum of the coffee machine grinding beans and the soft background music sounding particularly clear at that moment.

Zhou Ye held the warm water glass in both hands, his fingertips unconsciously digging into the glass, his eyes blinking as he secretly glanced at the person opposite him several times.

Chen Duling sat quietly in her seat, looking back at her with a smile on her face. She neither urged her nor looked away, as if she was patiently waiting for a flower to bloom naturally.

Finally, as if he had made up his mind, Zhou Ye took a deep breath, gently placed the water glass back on the table, making a soft "click" sound.

"Sister Duling."

She spoke softly, her voice lower than usual, trying to make her words sound solemn.

"Actually... I've always wanted to meet you."

She paused, organizing her thoughts.

“I know you and Jiang Qing... have known each other for a long time.”

She stared into Chen Duling's eyes, her reflection shone in those clear almond-shaped eyes, revealing the earnestness she was trying so hard to maintain.

“I know… Jiang Qing liked you back then, and you…”

Zhou Ye's voice grew softer and softer, tinged with a barely perceptible ache, but he quickly straightened his back and his tone became firm.

"You like him too."

Chen Duling picked up the black tea that the waiter had just brought, the white porcelain cup making her slender fingers look even longer.

She gently blew away the rising steam and took a small sip.

The warmth of the tea slid down her throat, and she still had a slight smile on her face, her eyes fixed on Zhou Ye, indicating that she was listening.

When Zhou Ye saw that she did not deny it, his slight anxiety subsided, as if he had received some kind of confirmation.

She subtly curled her fingers on her lap, trying to make her voice sound more mature and resonant.

"but!"

She emphasized her words slightly, and her body involuntarily leaned forward, as if to stress what she was about to say.

"I think that whatever you were like in the past, that's all in the past."

She stared directly at Chen Duling, her eyes filled with a serious assertion of dominance.

“Now, Jiang Qing and I are together, so…”

She paused for a moment, seemingly considering her words, before clearly expressing her thoughts.

"I think it would be better for you and him to keep some distance. It's better for everyone."

After saying these words, Zhou Ye felt his heart beating a little fast.

She stared intently at Chen Duling's face, trying to catch a subtle emotional fluctuation in that beautiful countenance—was it anger? Sadness? Or…disdain?
However, the other person just looked at her quietly.

The warm yellow light fell on Zhou Ye. She was wearing a light pink sweatshirt, her hair was softly draped over her shoulders, and her cheeks were slightly flushed with nervousness and seriousness.

Those bright eyes were wide open, trying hard to appear mature and composed, but because of that natural naivety, she looked like a little kitten trying to learn to speak like an adult, which was especially endearing.

A very subtle ripple did indeed pass through Chen Duling's heart.

It wasn't anger, nor jealousy, but an emotion that was almost "unbearable."

The girl in front of me was so honest, so... straightforward in expressing her possessiveness, with an almost naive courage.

She must love Jiang Qing to the core.

Chen Duling slowly put down her teacup, the bottom of the cup making a crisp, light sound against the saucer.

She met Zhou Ye's gaze, which was filled with tension and anticipation, and the faint dimples on both sides of her lips reappeared.

"you're right."

She nodded, her tone gentle yet firm.

"The past is the past. You and Jiang Qing are together now. This is your choice and destiny."

She paused, tilted her head, and smiled faintly.

"Maintaining a proper distance is a sense of propriety that all adults should have, and I agree with your point of view."

"real?!"

Zhou Ye's eyes lit up instantly, as if stars had fallen into them.

Although she tried her best to suppress her excitement and pretend to be calm, the uncontrollable upward curve of her lips and the sudden gleam in her eyes completely betrayed her inner joy and relief.

She tried to purse her lips, wanting to appear more composed, but the barely suppressed curve of her lips and the slight sway of her toes betrayed her good mood.

He picked up the coffee and took a big gulp, trying to use the slightly bitter liquid to mask his emotions, but he almost burned himself. He quickly put the cup down, stuck out his tongue, and fanned himself with his palm.

Chen Duling took in all of her little actions, and her feelings of pity for her grew stronger.

She was beginning to understand why Jiang Qing was so fond of this girl.

This kind of slightly clumsy sincerity, like an unpolished yet dazzling gemstone, does indeed have a unique attraction, making people want to cherish it.

"Well, really."

Chen Duling's voice softened, carrying a sisterly tolerance. "Relationships are a matter between two people, and outsiders really shouldn't interfere too much."

Her words left room for interpretation.

Zhou Ye completely relaxed and leaned back in the soft sofa chair.

She felt that the legendary "campus belle" and "campus white moonlight" in front of her was incredibly easy to talk to!

She's beautiful, has great poise, and most importantly, is so understanding!

She's so much better than Zhang Jingyi, who was always staring at Jiang Qing on set and constantly talking about "destiny"!
"Sister Duling, you're such a kind person!"

Zhou Ye praised sincerely, his little face beaming with a radiant smile.

"I knew you would understand!"

Her tone became lighter, with a hint of smugness in her sharing a secret.

"Actually, I know that you visited the set of the movie 'Lighter' a while ago, right? You also went to visit Jiang Qing's company with Zhang Jingyi."

She waved her hand, appearing magnanimous and saying, "I understand."

"But it's okay! Visiting the set is normal! Touring the company is normal too! Since we can't be lovers, being friends is great, right?

She looked at Chen Duling with bright, sparkling eyes, as if seeking a sense of shared values.

Looking at her charming yet clever appearance, Chen Duling felt both amused and sorry for her.

She nodded gently in agreement with Zhou Ye's words.

"Yes, Ono, you're right."

She picked up her black tea and took another sip, speaking naturally.

"Keep clear boundaries between work and life, friends and lovers."

Zhou Ye got the response he wanted, and he was in an extremely good mood.

She started initiating conversations, chatting about fun things to do while filming in Hengdian, complaining about the crew's boxed lunches, and even sharing her recent discovery of a hidden gem of a small restaurant, like a little magpie that had opened its floodgates.

Chen Duling listened quietly the whole time, occasionally responding with a word or two, a gentle smile always on her lips.

Watching Zhou Ye's animated expression, seeing her adorable smile that made her eyes crinkle over the smallest things, and seeing her trying so hard to appear mature yet still retaining a childlike innocence, a complex mix of emotions lingered in her heart.

She admired Zhou Ye's purity and passion, and understood why Jiang Qing was attracted to her.

However, this appreciation and understanding does not conflict with the feelings she has for Jiang Qing that took root and cannot be severed five years ago.

She knew perfectly well that Zhou Ye's happiness and peace of mind at this moment were based on her original understanding of Jiang Qingyuan.

She thought Jiang Qing was still the gentle, focused, and special "poverty alleviation target" in Peach Blossom Village who only cared about her.

In reality, compared to Jiang Qing five years ago, and compared to his time in Peach Blossom Village, he is no longer the same person he was back then.

He became more charismatic, more complex, and more...dangerous.

Judging from the situation, the girl in front of me probably doesn't know yet.

This thought flashed through Chen Duling's mind, bringing with it an indescribable heaviness.

Looking at the girl's carefree smile across from her, she suddenly felt a pang of pity.

It's like seeing a naive little animal happily running towards a jungle where it is unaware of the danger.

The soft music in the coffee shop flowed gently, and time slipped away unnoticed amidst Zhou Ye's lighthearted chatter.

The night outside the window grew deeper, and the streetlights cast long shadows on the ground.

Zhou Ye glanced at his phone and reacted with some surprise.

"Oh dear, it's so late! We should call it a night."

She looked at Chen Duling, her face showing a hint of lingering satisfaction, but more so a sense of relief and joy at having achieved her goal.

"Sister Duling, thank you for understanding me."

She stood up and picked up her down jacket.

"You're welcome."

Chen Duling also stood up gracefully and put on her coat with a smile.

"I had a great chat, thank you for sharing so many interesting things."

The two walked out of the warm coffee shop side by side, and the cool night breeze immediately enveloped them.

Seeing this, the two assistants also got up from their seats and followed.

"Well... goodbye, Sister Duling! Let's chat again next time, we live very close by."

Zhou Ye stood by the roadside, wrapped tightly in his down jacket. His face was flushed from the wind, but his smile remained bright as he waved vigorously at Chen Duling.

The look of elation on his face clearly showed that he had finally let go of a huge psychological burden.

Goodbye, Ono, take care on your journey.

Chen Duling stood under the warm light at the store entrance and waved gently to her with a sweet smile.

Zhou Ye turned around with a grin and walked briskly towards her hotel. She was so happy that she couldn't help but hop a few times after a few steps, and the hood of her sweatshirt swayed gently with her movements.

Even from a distance, you could tell from her silhouette that she must be very happy.

Chen Duling stood there watching the leaping pink figure gradually blend into the colorful lights of Hengdian in the late night until it could no longer be seen.

The assistant leaned forward and asked in a low voice.

"Sis, shall we go back to the hotel too?"

Chen Duling then slowly withdrew her gaze.

The smile on her face had long since faded, leaving only a deep calm in her eyes.

The light from the streetlamp cast a soft shadow on her cool profile, reflecting the complex, indescribable emotions in her eyes.

She gently pulled her clothes tighter to ward off the chill of the night wind, her voice muffled.

"Well, go back."

The night breeze ruffled the hair on her forehead as she turned and walked in the opposite direction from Zhou Ye, her boots striking a clear and steady rhythm on the quiet street.

His figure remained composed, but in the darkness of the night, there seemed to be an added, almost imperceptible, solemnity.

She felt sorry for Zhou Ye's naivety and innocence, but that didn't stop her from knowing clearly what she wanted.

Some people and things cannot be retreated from.

Ono... I hope one day you won't blame me.

(End of this chapter)