Chapter 27: A Fleeting Romance
Liang Youyun rediscovered the feeling of being in love; though she wasn’t actually in a relationship, this sensation made her feel rejuvenated, her heart constantly brimming with joy.
She couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips; everything she saw reminded her of Jiang Muhe.
The soft rain of summer nights was the overflowing tide of her affection.
The rain-soaked earth surprisingly carried the scent of lemonade.
Peeling open the warm yellow skin of a passion fruit, its sticky, abundant tiny seeds slipped across her tongue; she watched countless beads of sweat emerge from the skin behind Jiang Muhe’s ears, trace down his neck, and vanish into his sweat-drenched white shirt.
Tearing open the crispy, charred skin of the lemongrass-grilled fish, she swallowed the tender white flesh beneath the gills, each bite feeling as though she were devouring that powerful, captivating body illuminated under the spotlight.
The sago in the泡鲁达 (paoluda), the fruit pieces in the pineapple rice, the green moss in the rice balls, and one relentless downpour after another…
Oh my! Spare her! Desire is so decadent, it strips away all sense of shame.
“Sister Youyun, do you have some happy news lately? Or are you just thrilled about going back home?”
Yuxiang stood in the office adjusting her short blouse and tube skirt before the mirror; she was about to go live, so her outfit couldn’t be careless.
Normally, Secretary Liang wasn’t like this at all. She would usually furrow her brows while researching and writing on her computer, or hold phone meetings, solemnly reporting her village-stationed work to higher-level leaders.
Even while doing volunteer work, her full attention was on left-behind children and elderly people living alone; when explaining policies, she wholeheartedly tried every possible method to localize the theories.
She was always so earnest and down-to-earth that Yuxiang couldn’t help but wonder: could this grounded woman, in an office tower in Beijing, be a dynamic professional in chic, fashionable business attire, negotiating with clients in English, sipping coffee and eating salads daily, keeping up with regular workouts, beauty treatments, and manicures, perhaps even picking handsome men for dates?
Surely such a life would be sunny and bright every day?
Not one spent in the village, dusty and disheveled, eating rustic food, wearing simple clothes, and speaking the local dialect.
But later, Liang Youyun made it explicitly clear to her that nothing could be further from the truth!
“You know, I used to fantasize about that kind of life when I was younger. Have you seen the movie ‘Go Lala Go!’? I wanted to be just like the heroine there—high heels, pencil skirts, red lips, statement necklaces—the ultimate urban woman. I thought that’s the life I’d have too! But once I graduated and started working, I realized I had been overthinking it.”
“Apart from wearing business suits for formal occasions, I dress as simply as possible for daily work. At first, I wore blazers and high heels, but then I saw one of our leaders come to work in her husband’s denim shorts, yet that didn’t stop her from successfully landing a major project.”
“That’s when it suddenly clicked: the value of work often has little to do with appearance; high heels don’t necessarily lead to better performance. Of course, unless you genuinely enjoy dressing up beautifully, which is perfectly fine. I also enjoy seeing well-dressed colleagues, just as I particularly love seeing you in your tube skirt with flowers in your hair.”
“Oh, and one more thing: stop being awed by big cities.”
She added, “The coffee at Starbucks doesn’t hold a candle to Yunnan’s small-bean variety; no matter how delicious the salad, it can’t compare to a plate of sour and spicy pounded green papaya. Rafting on the Nanla River is far more thrilling than using a rowing machine or doing Pilates. And our ‘mao duoli’ from Manle Village have much more warmth and humanity than those elite handsome guys in skyscrapers!”
Hearing Youyun’s words, Yuxiang felt even more eager to visit Beijing. The largest city she had ever been to was Kunming, where she found the crowds overwhelming, the traffic chaotic, and the streets disordered. Yet the city glowed brightly at night, with shopping malls stretching one after another. Dian Lake was vast, teeming with plump seagulls that nearly nipped her fingers when she fed them.
Liang Youyun walked over and helped Yu Xiang pin a string of pale yellow Michelia flowers into her hair.
Floral headpieces must not be worn carelessly; among the Dai Le people, wearing them on the right side signifies reverence for nature and adherence to tradition.
She gazed at this string of beautiful Michelia flowers and smiled.
Whether it was Yuxiang’s unintentional choice or her own deliberate association, in Dai tradition, the Michelia flower is not only one of the “Six Flowers” within the Buddhist temple’s “Five Trees and Six Flowers,” but also symbolizes pure love between men and women.
Lovers in love would hide banana leaves inscribed with meeting places inside garlands woven from Michelia flowers, conveying their emotions through blossoms.
“Oh… I get it!” Yuxiang, seeing the smile in Youyun’s eyes reflected in the mirror, suddenly understood where her happiness came from. “You’re in love, aren’t you?”
“No, there isn’t!” Youyun denied with a smile, handing the small wooden comb back to Yuxiang.
Yuxiang took the comb and tucked it horizontally into the front side of her hair bun. “Then you must have someone you like!”
Youyun glanced at her watch. “It’s almost time for the live stream, sweetheart.”
“Is it Jiang Muhe?” Yuxiang turned around, her pupils dilating, the answer shimmering in her gaze.
Her stare made Youyun uneasy. Knowing there was no escape and unwilling to hide the truth, Youyun sighed. “Liking someone is one thing, but I don’t want to start a fleeting romance.”
“What’s that about!” Yuxiang pouted. “If you like each other, be together; if not, part ways! Why make things difficult for yourself?”
“I like him, but being together is difficult,” Youyun corrected. Recalling Jiang Muhe’s promise to come find her in Beijing, a faint glimmer of hope stirred within her again. “I don’t know what the future holds either. At my age, I can no longer afford to play games with my heart.”
“Has he been pursuing you? Does he intend to return to Beijing with you?”
Youyun shook her head. “We’ve simply developed mutual feelings. We’re both aware of each other’s difficulties; neither of us has yet broken through that thin veil between us.”
Yuxiang smiled at her, took her hand, and said happily, “I sensed long ago that you two were destined to become entangled!”
Youyun frowned. “‘Entanglement’ is hardly a complimentary term.”
“Entangled? Oh, whatever! He’s so handsome and such a nice guy; Sister deserves a good meal!”
“Hmm… let me think,” Youyun said with a smile.
There was a knock at the door. It was Xiao Sun, coming to call Yuxiang for her live stream.
If Yuxiang is Youyun’s assistant, then Sun Guanchao is undoubtedly Yuxiang’s right hand. With him around, Yuxiang hardly needs to worry about work; he comes up with ideas and drafts complicated documents. Yet little Sun never complains about Yuxiang. He silently gets things done, handing over substantial results to Yuxiang, who only needs to look radiant.
Yuxiang would pat his shoulder, sometimes even ruffle his hair, praising him as a good “nongzai” (good younger brother).
At such moments, little Sun would blush and dare not meet Yuxiang’s eyes.
Sitting back in her chair, Youyun stared at the activity proposal for the “Strengthening Borders and Solidifying Defense” safety campaign on her computer screen. Her thoughts drifted again to that man. She wondered if he had returned to Mannuan Village yet; they hadn’t been in touch for several days. Still, the words he spoke that night occasionally echoed in her ears.
That night, they talked for a long time.
When Youyun heard him say he would come to Beijing to find her, she deliberately brought up other topics to mask the excitement swelling in her heart.
Just like that, drifting from one subject to another, the two of them unknowingly chatted until midnight.
Later, Youyun fell asleep; she slept soundly, with no nightmares.
Even after waking up the next morning, she was still savoring the moment, secretly smiling while brushing her teeth and washing her face.
She wanted to see him soon, to confirm whether he was just as happy about their future as she was.
So, she dialed Jiang Muhe’s number.
At that time, Jiang Muhe was attending an impromptu project investment meeting in Jinghong.
As tourism rebounds, demand in the catering industry, particularly in tourist cities, has surged rapidly. Yan Shi was already highly popular locally, and with its aggressive promotion on social media platforms over the past two years, it has generated substantial profits.
Jiang Muhe has no grand plans for future development; everything depends on what Aba Yan Shuai decides. As long as the business remains profitable without requiring excessive worry, that suffices. During this growth phase of the company, stability takes precedence over innovation.
However, Yan Shuai has consistently engaged in investments. His business acumen is sharp, and every project he invests in guarantees profits without any losses.
Based on this, Muhe conveyed Youyun Company’s proposal for collaboration with Banna in the health and wellness sector to him, also mentioning the village-enterprise co-construction project with Mannuan Village, leaving the final decision to him and the other shareholders.
The meeting did not go smoothly; several underlying issues remained open for discussion. Yan Shuai kept his brows furrowed, offering no clear stance, only saying they should wait a little longer.
Muhe received a phone call. Glancing at the others, who were deeply engaged in lively discussion, he apologized briefly, stood up, and stepped outside.
On the other end of the line, Liang Youyun sounded nervous. There was no personal chatter; she simply briefed him on the upcoming presentation event.
“…I hope you can do me a favor. I know you might not be too fond of this kind of event, but if it’s truly difficult for you, I won’t push you.”
“I agree.”
Jiang Muhe eased her concerns: “Just send me the time, location, theme, and any important notes.”
“You agreed so quickly?” Youyun exclaimed, surprised yet delighted. “If I’d known my request carried such weight, I wouldn’t have hesitated for so long.”
“What’s bothering you? Afraid I’ll do a poor job and embarrass you?”
“Of course not! I was just worried I wouldn’t be able to persuade you. This was actually Zhang He’s idea; back then, I didn’t think there was any chance!”
“Zhang He’s suggestion is excellent. If Mannuan Village needs me, I’m willing to go.”
“Really?” This caught Youyun by surprise. Before he could change his mind, she quickly confirmed, “Then I’ll let Zhang He know—he’ll be over the moon!”
Jiang Muhe smiled.
After the excitement faded, Youyun didn’t know what to say; a certain ambiguity crackled between them.
Muhe glanced toward the conference room. Seeing no one come out to urge him along, he asked, “I’ve been busy with company matters these past few days and haven’t contacted you. I hope everything’s been well with you?”
“Mm. Everything’s been fine.” Warmth spread through Youyun’s heart, stirring a faint tide of emotion that made her cheeks flush and her ears burn.
“On the day of the presentation, it will also be a village gathering. Everyone will prepare many delicious dishes together, and there will be performances too. Please stay to share the meal with us then, and truly experience the warmth of our Manle Village. Will you?”
“Alright,” he replied softly, a faint smile touching his lips.
Although neither spoke, the call remained connected. Youyun couldn’t help but imagine him listening patiently on the other end, until a voice suddenly broke through: “President Jiang, everyone is still waiting for you.”
So he was in a meeting.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize you were busy.”
“It’s fine.”
“Shall we meet then? This weekend, right here.”
“Okay, see you this weekend.”
Jiang Muhe hung up the phone, turned to his secretary, and asked, “How did the discussion go? What’s my father’s stance?”
The secretary frowned and shook his head.
Jiang Muhe lowered his gaze and asked no further.
The Mannuan Village project had not been approved; Yan Shuai was against it.
At this very moment, he is the obedient son; no one else and nothing else can take that place.
Originally, he had intended to give her this project as a gift.