Chapter 20: Utterly Upright, Not a Scoundrel in the Least
Liang Youyun, still shaken, sat on the sofa carefully replaying what had just happened. She had distinctly felt someone behind her—a powerful premonition so strong she could almost sense him poised to pounce at any moment. So why had nothing occurred in the end?
If not for the broken streetlight, she would have gone down to investigate immediately. Should she discover any potential danger, she must report it clearly to Village Head Yan Wenkan.
But then she thought again, perhaps it was just because she had been reading safety propaganda materials over the past couple of days, encountering so many horrifying cases that she unconsciously projected them into real life. It was like watching several highly-rated horror films; even years later, their chilling presence would still linger in her mind.
Just as Youyun was lost in thought, her phone suddenly rang. She jumped in fright; the ringtone sounded particularly jarring in the quiet room.
She picked it up and saw it was Jiang Muhe.
Her heart eased slightly.
But it’s so late; what could he be calling for?
“Hello?” Youyun answered.
“Youyun.”
When Jiang Muhe said her name, his voice was calm and gentle. “What are you doing? Still awake?”
“No, I just got home.” Youyun’s voice trembled. “Why are you calling at this hour? Is something wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong; I just wanted to know what you were up to. What is it? Your voice sounds a bit shaky,” he said with a chuckle.
“I…” Youyun exhaled deeply. A sudden urge to speak surged within her; for some reason, hearing his voice brought an overwhelming sense of reassurance.
“On my way back just now, I thought someone was following me. But when I turned around, there was nothing there! Today has been so strange—the streetlights suddenly went out, and with the darkness and strong wind, it was terrifying. Of course, in the end, it turned out I was just scaring myself. Still, the feeling was so intense; I truly sensed someone trailing behind me.”
“Young Yun,” Muhe said. “Are you feeling a bit tired lately? Don’t let your mind wander unnecessarily. The villagers here are all kind, simple-hearted, and good-natured. They know you well; as the Party Secretary, they hold you in high regard. After all this time, we’ve practically become family. So, there’s no need to worry.”
“That’s right. I’ve visited every household, and during festivals, we all share meals together. How could there possibly be any bad people among us?” Youyun sighed. “But tell me… if someone really is following me, could it be an outsider? It’s peak tourist season now; the village hotels and guesthouses are completely full of guests.”
On the other end of the phone, Jiang Muhe steadied his breathing and spoke to her in a gentle tone, “It might be that the streetlight is broken, making you afraid of the dark. But truly, there’s no need to fear. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone fix the streetlight, and you won’t feel this way anymore. I can assure you, living here is absolutely safe.”
“Tsk…” Youyun laughed. “What can you guarantee? Unless you become my bodyguard, I might feel slightly more at ease.”
“Sure!” he chuckled. “Either you move over here, or I’ll sleep on a mat on the first floor of your house.”
“Just kidding!” Youyun knew he was teasing her again. “Luckily, I brought the Dai knife you gave me today. Even if there really are bad people, I might not lose; I could very well turn the tables. Besides, it would be justifiable self-defense!”
Muhe laughed heartily twice; this woman was truly too adorable.
“Yes,” he said. “Just give Secretary Liang a Dai knife, and she’ll be unstoppable, ridding the people of harm.”
Youyun was amused by his words: “What are you saying… You’re making me embarrassed.”
A sense of joy and reassurance welled up from deep within her; it was rare for her to feel so relaxed in both body and mind.
“Youyun.”
“Hmm?”
“Can you see the moon from your window?”
“I think so. Why do you ask?”
“Take a look.”
Youyun, though puzzled, obediently turned off the lights, drew back the curtains, and lifted her gaze to the sky.
She kept holding her phone to her ear; even when Jiang Muhe remained silent, the sound of his breathing alone was enough to calm her significantly.
It was an exceptionally large and perfectly full moon. Though hanging high in the sky, it felt as if it were right before her eyes. Shimmering with a watery glow and bathed in warm yellow light, it illuminated the dark, silent heavens, turning night into day.
Just now, I was so consumed by anxiety that I failed to notice this breathtaking scenery.
It was only after arriving in Yunnan that Liang Youyun felt such a profound connection; perhaps due to the high altitude, the sun, moon, and stars seem incredibly close, as if those luminous, burning celestial bodies might visit at any moment.
In Xishuangbanna, one can truly feel the presence of nature. It bestows all its energy upon this land and the people who live here, filling them with such vitality, courage, and diligence.
Thinking of this, all the gloom instantly vanished.
“I see it; it’s truly beautiful,” Youyun sighed, then asked, “Where are you? Can you see it too?”
“I’m on my way home. Yes, I can see it.”
At that moment, Jiang Muhe stood on the small path leading home, phone in hand, gazing up at the moon in the sky.
They were sharing the same full moon, experiencing the same time and space.
Even if we cannot be by each other’s side, the distance between our hearts will never be too far.
It’s strangely romantic, Youyun thought. She had never watched the moon with anyone like this before, nor had she ever realized that nature could heal anxious city dwellers in such a way.
Can you see the moon in Beijing? Yes, but it looks too small. Can you see the stars in Beijing? Yes, but they are too dim.
Can you see Jiang Muhe in Beijing?
She didn’t know.
In late May, company executives arrived to discuss a project and stayed in Jinghong, the capital of Xishuangbanna.
Liang Youyun and Zhang He received notice to meet the executives at the InterContinental Xishuangbanna Resort, report on their work, and discuss collaborative projects with local enterprises.
The hotel, built on the former site of the Dai King’s Palace, is itself a renowned attraction. Its architecture, blending Dai ethnic elements with royal grandeur, forms the hotel’s striking façade—opulent yet grounded by the lush tropical plants flourishing in its courtyard.
Youyun knew the hotel was famous, but she had never stayed there; in fact, she rarely even visited Jinghong. Apart from accompanying Village Head Yan Wenkan on official business or being dragged shopping by Yuxiang, she spent most of her time in Mengla.
Back then, she had arrived filled with resentment, convinced that the company had simply dumped her here. With no heart for leisure, she merely wished time would pass quickly so she could endure this period of hardship.
Looking back now, she realizes how naive and childish she was then, knowing nothing at all.
Yet in just two years, she has become like a different person—filled with too many joyful days, too many delicious meals, and surrounded by too many people who love her.
The meeting was held in a modestly sized hall.
Besides Hu Zhizhen, the head of the company’s business division, and her entourage, the attendees also included local entrepreneurs and hospital leaders—all entities closely tied to the company’s projects and holding significant potential for collaboration.
Liang Youyun and Zhang He arrived early and chatted with Ms. Hu in the lounge. Of course, their casual conversation was merely a pretext to gather intelligence.
Liang Youyun’s primary concern was whether she could continue to shine in the office upon returning to Beijing; in other words, whether she could secure the position of deputy director.
Zhang He, on the other hand, was focused on when the Xishuangbanna project would see substantial progress; essentially, he wanted to know when he could become the general manager for the Yunnan region.
Hu Zhizhen is a highly decisive and efficient woman. The group dispatched her to the company specifically to streamline workplace operations and expand business horizons. Consequently, she is eager to achieve rapid results in the integrated fields of medical care and wellness tourism.
Wellness tourism, in particular, boasts a magnificent future prospect. For instance, in regions where medical service costs are high or resources are scarce, individuals often travel elsewhere to seek affordable and distinctive wellness services.
These regions each possess unique characteristics, primarily leveraging one or two natural resources—such as hot springs, forests, or air quality—as their developmental advantages. Compared to relatively single-focus recuperation centers, these destinations offer greater diversity and a more human-centric approach. This “medical care + cultural tourism” model has opened vast opportunities for many tourist cities.
Hu Zhizhen did not make her stance explicit, given the complexities involved in personnel transfers; however, she holds Liang Youyun in high regard.
“You have great vision. Many village cadres just go through the motions, aiming only to avoid mistakes; no one truly devotes energy to innovation and reform. Everyone knows that in the internet age, there are countless ways to gain prominence, but for stationed cadres, stability is paramount. I’ve reviewed your report, which outlines Manle Village’s development model and your promotional strategies. Coupled with the huge success of your live-streaming sales, this achievement is inseparable from your efforts as the First Secretary.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hu. I’ll keep up the good work.” Although being praised by leadership felt a bit unfamiliar, it was quite rewarding to see my efforts bear fruit.
“Mr. Hu,” Zhang He interjected, “We also aim to learn from Manle Village, but we haven’t attracted any investors yet. Could you perhaps consider our company’s key initiative in health and wellness tourism? Might we designate the entire Mengla region as a pilot project?”
“That is still under evaluation; there’s no need to rush.” Hu Zhizhen smiled slightly, aware of Zhang He’s eagerness for quick results. “If you really no longer wish to remain in the village, you can return to headquarters. The business division greatly needs dedicated veteran employees like yourself!”
Zhang He opened his mouth, then swallowed the words he’d been about to say. Compared to the chaotic business division, this place was far more comfortable.
“Alright, let’s stop chatting. Anyway, thank you all for your hard work; the future looks promising!” Hu Zhizhen stood up first. “The guests should be arriving soon; let’s go over there!”
Zhang He followed behind, sighing repeatedly. Youyun tugged at him and shot him a warning glance. With their leader ahead, it was best not to make too many subtle gestures.
Zhang He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I’ll wait one more year; if things still don’t work out, I’ll resign.”
Youyun whispered back softly, “If you resign, your only option will be to start your own business. Jobs are so hard to find these days. We’re getting older, and employers aren’t exactly eager to hire us.”
Zhang He felt even more dejected.
Guests began to arrive at the conference room one after another. The local contact person in Xishuangbanna introduced each visitor to Mr. Hu: “This is President So-and-So, that is President Such-and-Such.” Mr. Hu warmly shook hands with each of them in turn.
Liang Youyun noticed that Yunshui Cultural Tourism, the company cooperating with Manle Village, had also sent a representative. She went over to greet them.
Just as they were chatting, she heard someone behind her say, “Hello, Mr. Hu. This is Mr. Jiang from Yanshi.”
Youyun’s ears rang. Yan Shi, President Jiang—Jiang Muhe?
She quickly turned to look, and sure enough, there stood Jiang Muhe in a sharp black suit, shaking hands with Hu Zhizhen.
It was almost unbelievable. According to Zhang He, Yan Shi was now primarily managed by Yan En’s father and professional executives. Although the enterprise was substantial, it rarely participated in collaborative projects outside its region, let alone summoning the driving force behind its expansion into a chain and near-monopoly.
This was precisely why Zhang He considered Jiang Muhe exceptionally cold: impossible to reason with, impervious to flattery, and unapproachable.
So Liang Youyun naturally assumed that Jiang Muhe was the type to retire after achieving success; seeing him here today came as a genuine shock!
Jiang Muhe glanced her way, offered her a gentle smile, then took a few steps closer. Addressing her puzzled expression, he said, “I’m not here to offer opinions, just to listen in on the meeting. It was a last-minute decision, which is why I didn’t tell you.”
Youyun nodded, momentarily stunned. After all, he had no obligation to report his itinerary to her; they weren’t anything to each other.
But since he had said so, she could only respond politely.
“It’s fine. I only came because I got last-minute notice. And…”
She looked him up and down; he looked so handsome in his suit. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen you so impeccably dressed.”
Her voice was soft; Muhe lowered his head, leaning in to listen, and her words made him smile.
“How does it feel?” he asked softly, tilting his head slightly.
Youyun leaned in again, whispering, “Very proper, not at all like a refined scoundrel.”
“Alright then.”
Muhe suppressed a smile, clearly pleased with her assessment. He bent down once more and spoke in an even softer voice, “From now on, talk to me in that tone.”
“Why?”
Muhe straightened up and said no more.
The meeting was about to begin, and he needed to take his seat. With a row of speaking officials between them, he silently glanced at Liang Youyun.
Why?
Because the deeper the friendship, the more likely friends are to tease each other. He hoped Liang Youyun would feel even more at ease in his presence—more relaxed and natural than she was even with Zhang He.
If possible, even if they were not together, even if separated by thousands of miles, he would still be her friend—her dearest, closest friend.