Chapter 84: Petals Intend, Flowing Water Does Not

Their eyes met. A woman’s sixth sense is a strange thing—sometimes, though they’ve never met before, the first encounter sparks an inexplicable yet profoundly real and unforgettable feeling.

Yao Luoying was certain she had never seen this woman before, yet she suddenly felt that perhaps she would have more entanglements with this woman in the future.

The air seemed to solidify for a moment as the two women sized each other up. The receptionist sensed the tension, lowered her head, and played the ostrich, daring not to utter a word.

Yao Luoying tilted her head slightly, raised an eyebrow, and walked toward the woman, extending her hand. “I’m Yao Luoying. May I ask who you are from the provincial TV station?”

“An Ruxue.”

An Ruxue’s watery eyes regarded the woman she had seen on television.

“You’re Reporter An, right? I’m truly sorry, but whether to accept an interview is up to Director Li. We can’t decide. However, we’ll relay the provincial TV station’s request to Director Li.”

Yao Luoying spoke to An Ruxue. She wasn’t deliberately dodging her—since returning from the lawsuit in America this year, numerous media outlets and TV stations had sought to interview Li Dongling, but he had turned them all down. Dongling High-Tech operated with flair, yet Li Dongling himself was remarkably low-key.

“It’s not just the provincial station—I want to meet him,” An Ruxue said, her voice still calm as water, yet her eyes held a stubborn glint.

Yao Luoying looked at her. “I’m sorry, but who to meet is Director Li’s personal matter. I can’t decide. Perhaps we’ll meet again.”

Hearing Yao Luoying’s words, An Ruxue studied her intently, turned, walked a few steps, then suddenly looked back. “There will be an opportunity.”

Watching An Ruxue’s retreating figure, Yao Luoying propped her chin on her hand and unconsciously bit her fingertip—a habit she fell into when facing tense, tricky situations.

“An… Ruxue.”

Softly murmuring the name, Yao Luoying returned to her usual demeanor, but instead of going back upstairs to her office, she turned and walked toward the courtyard behind the office building.

In the courtyard where Li Dongling lived, Li Dongyue, resting today, watched the TV drama “The New Legend of Madam White Snake,” gently swinging her legs and occasionally eating a strawberry Yao Luoying had brought her.

With proper nutrition, Li Dongyue’s face had begun to show a touch of baby fat. After their family’s old house was demolished, the new one wasn’t finished yet, so on days off, she came to Li Dongling’s place.

“How’s the taste?” Yao Luoying handed her another strawberry, watching Li Dongyue’s eyes crinkle into crescent moons.

“Delicious!”

Having visited often, Li Dongyue was now familiar with Yao Luoying. Seeing the strawberries, ice cream, chocolate, cakes, and other treats Yao Luoying brought, she couldn’t help asking, “Sister Yao, what’s today? Why so many treats?”

“What, do I only buy you things on special days?” Yao Luoying pinched Li Dongyue’s cheek.

Li Dongyue giggled, darted into Yao Luoying’s arms, took another bite, and mumbled, “Thank you, Sister Yao!”

Yao Luoying gently stroked Li Dongyue’s hair, but her thoughts were far from the TV drama, which had aired two years ago.

“Dongyue, I have something I want to ask you—have you ever heard…?”

“I’ll go open the door—maybe my brother’s back!”

Before Yao Luoying could finish, the courtyard gate banged open. Li Dongyue flipped off the sofa and sprinted toward the door.

Inside, Yao Luoying heard an exclamation from outside and hurried out.

“Sister Xue, what are you doing here?!”

Li Dongyue opened the door and saw An Ruxue standing there. She gasped, then rushed forward and hugged her.

An Ruxue gently patted Li Dongyue’s back. “I went to your school. Your classmates said you weren’t there.”

“Sister Xue, how did you find me?!” Li Dongyue beamed at An Ruxue.

Seeing Yao Luoying emerge, An Ruxue smiled faintly. “I asked a friend in Pingyang.”

“Sister Xue, come in—I’ll introduce you. This is Sister Yao…”

“We just met.”

Yao Luoying smiled. An Ruxue nodded. Li Dongyue, watching both women smiling, felt something was off.

“Sister Yao, eat some grapes!”

“Eat the lychees I brought from the provincial capital!”

Li Dongyue’s mouth was stuffed full. She stared in alarm at the two women, each relentlessly feeding her.

But faced with their offerings, she couldn’t favor one over the other. She had no choice but to accept everything equally, gritting her teeth and swallowing.

“Sister Yao, Sister An, I… I’m full!”

After finally swallowing the food in her mouth, Li Dongyue felt her belly was about to burst and waved her hands frantically.

Seeing Li Dongyue’s swollen belly, Yao Luoying and An Ruxue both looked slightly embarrassed.

“You two sit. I just remembered—I haven’t finished my homework. I’ll go do it!”

Saying this, Li Dongyue tried to bolt. She’d figured it out: today, Yao Luoying and An Ruxue were both acting strangely. If she stayed, she’d be caught in the crossfire of gods fighting.

“You only get one day off—don’t rush over a few minutes,” Yao Luoying pulled her back.

An Ruxue grabbed her other arm. “Just write here. If you don’t understand anything, ask me. Didn’t you used to do your homework like this before?”

“I…”

The atmosphere sank into silence again. Li Dongyue now understood the idiom “sitting on pins and needles.”

On TV, “The New Legend of Madam White Snake” raged with magical battles. Li Dongyue sat there, enduring burdens far beyond her years.

Looking left at Yao Luoying, then right at An Ruxue—both sat in silence—Li Dongyue wanted to speak but didn’t know where to begin.

After what felt like an eternity, just as Li Dongyue felt she couldn’t bear it anymore, the gate outside creaked open. She leapt up like a prisoner set free and dashed outside.

“Second brother, someone came today!”

Li Dongling, just entering, saw Li Dongyue sprinting out, panting and sweating. He didn’t know what was wrong, wiped her face, and asked, “Who came?”

Then he saw An Ruxue step out of the house, lips pressed tight, eyes glistening but holding back tears. He froze.

For An Ruxue, it had been months since she last saw Li Dongling—from last year to this year. For Li Dongling, it had been far too long. In his past life, they had never passed the seven-year itch; after that, they never saw each other again. Now, the face in his memory slowly merged with the woman before him.

Yao Luoying also stepped out from inside, standing at a distance, watching Li Dongling.

Seeing the two women on either side, both waiting for him to speak first, Li Dongling suddenly felt his head ache.

“Luoying, take Dongyue to eat.”

Li Dongling spoke first to Yao Luoying. Hearing him, she glanced at him, then pulled Li Dongyue out. As she passed him, she stomped her foot heavily.

Only Li Dongling and An Ruxue remained in the courtyard. An Ruxue’s eyes were fully red. She longed to ask the question she’d carried since arriving, but what came out was, “How are you?”

“Fine,” Li Dongling said, looking at An Ruxue—far younger than when they’d parted in his past life—and his heart gradually calmed. “Just busy.”

“Want to take a walk?”

An Ruxue and Li Dongling walked along Pingyang’s streets. She had walked here with him before, but never with this feeling.

“You’ve changed,” An Ruxue said, stopping suddenly.

Li Dongling turned to look at her and chuckled. “People change. Yesterday is not today.”

An Ruxue said nothing, walked a few more steps. She felt Li Dongling was both familiar and strangely alien.

“Is it because of my mother?” She tugged at her skirt hem, unable to hold back the question.

Recalling scenes from their past life, Li Dongling sighed silently. “Sometimes… maybe…”

Before he could finish, An Ruxue suddenly hugged him. He felt dampness on his shoulder. His words died in his throat.

After letting go, An Ruxue smiled brightly, as if restored to normal. “I’m now a reporter for Hanzhong Provincial TV. Can I interview you?”

“Of course.”

“It’s a deal.”

Looking at Li Dongling, An Ruxue waved, then hailed a passing taxi. As she got in, she looked through the window back at Li Dongling.

“She was your ex-girlfriend from Hanzhong University?”

“Why didn’t you stay longer? Why come back so soon?”

Back in the courtyard, Yao Luoying waited, pouting as she asked Li Dongling.

“She has other matters to handle. Tomorrow, she’ll do a special interview with Dongling High-Tech.”

Li Dongling didn’t deny it. When he sat beside the stone table, Yao Luoying leaned close, brushed the stray hairs from his face, and looked straight into his eyes.

Yao Luoying had a thousand questions for Li Dongling, but he spoke first. Looking at her, then remembering An Ruxue today, he sighed helplessly. “Sometimes, many things aren’t decided by personal will…”

Recalling his past with An Ruxue—how, after marriage, they’d drifted apart for various reasons—he sighed again.

Looking at Li Dongling now, the words on Yao Luoying’s lips softened. Since meeting him, she’d never seen him look like this. When he fought Microsoft in America, he’d been calm, confident, certain of victory. Now, his face was filled with exhaustion and helplessness.

Yao Luoying stepped forward and suddenly hugged him. As he raised his head to speak, she kissed him.

“Ah!”

“I didn’t see anything!”

Li Dongyue emerged and, seeing the couple, immediately covered her eyes, muttered to herself, and dashed back inside.

Though caught by Li Dongyue, Yao Luoying’s cheeks flushed red. She pushed away from Li Dongling, straightened her clothes, glanced at him, then walked out—she had no more desire to stay.

Li Dongling’s media interview was a major news story for Hanzhong Provincial TV and many other outlets. Hearing the rumor, numerous media agencies rushed toward Hanzhong Provincial TV.

Ps: Not a single female lead

(End of Chapter)