Pleasantries were exchanged, and the conversation concluded, lest it appear too forced.
Ye Shaoting withdrew his appraising gaze and was ushered to a seat by Di Mingjue's hospitality.
Shen Lin brewed two cups of coffee, placing one before him and the other before Ye Ziyu.
"The Gu Corporation is hosting a banquet tomorrow night. Is Di Jue Group on the guest list?"
Gu Corporation?
Di Mingjue suddenly recalled an envelope Shen Lin had handed him that morning, marked as an invitation. He hadn't paid it much mind then.
He rose and walked to his desk, locating it amongst a pile of documents. He opened the envelope to find the Gu Corporation's invitation, just as Ye Shaoting had mentioned.
"Then Ziyu will be your female companion tomorrow night," Ye Shaoting inquired pointedly.
As the recently returned daughter of the Ye family, many had only heard whispers of her, but had yet to see her.
Di Mingjue understood the implication of his words and asked, "Is Big Brother bringing her?"
It made no difference to him; since both were attending, whether she was his companion or not was of little importance.
"Ziyu has only just returned, and many have yet to meet her. Various partners and others wish to use tomorrow night's banquet to see her," Ye Shaoting explained.
"I understand," Di Mingjue replied. "Ziyu will be attending the event as a member of the Ye family. Before going to the banquet, she'll be with Big Brother, and after it concludes, she'll return with me."
Ye Shaoting nodded in agreement with his arrangement. "It's good that you understand."
With that, he set aside his coffee and stood up from the sofa.
Sensing his intention to leave, Ye Ziyu immediately rose as well.
"I have other matters to attend to. We'll meet again when there's time," Ye Shaoting said, stepping away from the coffee table.
He specifically glanced back at Ye Ziyu. Seeing that she and Di Mingjue still seemed inclined to chat, he turned and asked, "I'm going to see an old friend. Will you come with me?"
Ye Ziyu hesitated.
She wasn't keen on meeting too many people, especially friends of Ye Shaoting.
However, since he had personally invited her, refusing would be quite impolite.
Reluctantly agreeing, Ye Ziyu left Di Jue Group with Ye Shaoting.
Back in the car, she finally understood why Ye Shaoting had taken out two bouquets from the flower shop earlier.
Ye Shaoting focused solely on driving the entire way, and there was no conversation between them.
As the car gradually moved away from the city and into the suburbs, Ye Ziyu's growing curiosity compelled her to ask, "Big Brother, what does your friend do?"
She couldn't imagine what activities would be found in the outskirts.
The road conditions worsened, and the car began to sway from side to side.
Ye Ziyu noticed Ye Shaoting's expression growing increasingly solemn, with no indication that he intended to answer her.
After driving for half an hour, the car finally stopped before a small hill.
Ye Shaoting, carrying the flower bouquets, began walking up the hill.
She was wearing high heels for work, and with every step, the heels of her shoes got stuck in the crevices between stones. As the distance between her and Ye Shaoting widened, she was forced to take off her shoes and walk barefoot along the uneven, pitted path.
Upon reaching the hilltop, she watched as Ye Shaoting placed the bouquets before a tombstone.
Her friend was, in fact, deceased?
Ye Ziyu stared blankly at Ye Shaoting, his face a mixture of deep emotion and loneliness.
Ye Shaoting looked back at Ye Ziyu and then lowered his head to speak to the tombstone.
From her distance, the wind at the summit was strong. Ye Ziyu could only see his lips move, but she couldn't hear what he was saying.
She continued forward, Ye Ziyu approaching the tombstone. Her gaze was immediately drawn to the photograph on the monument.
"Wen Xi."
Above the name was a photograph of a girl who, true to her name, appeared gentle and tender.
Could the girl at the base of the tombstone be Ye Shaoting's beloved?
Memories resurfaced, and Ye Ziyu suddenly recalled what Ye Chenhan had told her.
Xingxing was a child Ye Shaoting had brought back. Because he was unwilling to marry and have children, the Ye family acquiesced to his wishes, treating Xingxing as their own child.