“Yan Xi, you’re back…”
Seeing Fang Yan Xi, dressed in a professional OL suit, enter the tea room with her junior fellow disciples Xu Ling Wei and Li Zi Hang, she glanced at the man sitting with her grandfather and nodded in acknowledgment.
“Junior Disciple Wan, why are you here?”
Li Zi Hang saw Wan Yun Ting and unceremoniously went to sit next to him. Xu Ling Wei maintained her usual indifferent expression and silently took a seat on a nearby chair.
“Of course I’m here to eat.”
Wan Yun Ting cast a glance at him and said to Xu Ling Wei, “Tomorrow I’ll arrange for someone to protect Yan Xi, so you two can return then. Prepare to go back to your Wu Liang Dao Guan.”
“Wonderful, we can finally go back.”
Upon hearing that he wouldn’t have to follow Fang Yan Xi every day, Li Zi Hang became excited.
“Wu Liang Dao Guan?”
Hearing him speak, Fang Shou Shan, Fang Guo Wen, and Fang Yan Xi were all confused.
Wan Yun Ting then turned and smiled at them, “It’s like this, the day after tomorrow I’m going back with them to Wu Liang Dao Guan, and I’ll be there for about ten days to half a month.”
“That long?”
Fang Guo Wen looked puzzled and asked again, “Where is this Wu Liang Dao Guan located?”
“At the foot of Kunlun Mountain,” Li Zi Hang replied with a smile.
“Kunlun Mountain, isn’t that in the northwest, in Tibet and those areas?” Fang Guo Wen said in surprise.
Wan Yun Ting nodded. He dared not look at women at the moment and said with a smile, “My sect is Wu Liang Dao Guan. They are holding a ceremony to honor their ancestors the day after tomorrow, so I’m going to take a look.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Fang Guo Wen and Fang Shou Shan nodded. Only Fang Yan Xi, with a displeased expression, stood up and said, “I’ll go help in the kitchen.”
Watching the woman leave with a stern face, Wan Yun Ting could only offer a helpless wry smile and vowed to appease her when he had the chance.
“Oh dear, then Xiao Wan, you won’t be able to make it back for the competition?” Fang Guo Wen suddenly remembered something and exclaimed, slapping his thigh.
“Competition?”
Wan Yun Ting’s expression faltered. Fang Guo Wen glared and said, “It’s the Calligraphy Lanting Award competition being held this year. It was originally scheduled for the end of this month, but due to some reason, the organizers have postponed it to the sixth of next month. It’s now officially announced that the Calligraphy Lanting Award competition will be held in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province.”
“Oh, I see.”
Wan Yun Ting finally remembered that Fang Guo Wen and Gu Luo Tang had both told him to participate in this Lanting Award calligraphy competition. However, he had never paid much attention to such competitions, and with so many things happening recently, he had forgotten.
“Xiao Wan, I’ve registered you. You must return before the end of the month. If that’s not possible, you can go directly to Shaoxing City. I’ll be heading there early at the end of the month. I’ll be holding this competition event with the organizers.” Fang Guo Wen represented the president of the Lingnan Region Literati Association.
As the organizer of the National Calligraphy Lanting Award competition, he was also one of the top ten judges.
“That will depend on the situation.”
Wan Yun Ting nodded and smiled, “But Uncle Fang, don’t worry. I’ll be back in ten days at the earliest, or half a month at the latest. I should be able to make it for your competition.”
“That’s good. I’m looking forward to seeing you win this year’s Lanting Award,” Fang Guo Wen said with a smile.
“Ah…”
Wan Yun Ting waved his hand with a smile and continued to accompany Fang Shou Shan and Fang Guo Wen as they drank tea and chatted. Meanwhile, Xu Ling Wei sat beside them, engrossed in an idol drama on her phone, while Li Zi Hang held fruits from the coffee table and was also constantly swiping on Douyin on his phone…
Seeing this scene, Wan Yun Ting felt a little speechless and couldn’t help but say, “Aren’t you afraid of wasting your time playing on your phones like this?”
“Junior Disciple Wan, you don’t understand.”
Li Zi Hang turned his head and glanced at him, saying, “Our sect prohibits playing on phones. My senior sister and I finally got to come down the mountain, and we’ll be going back in a couple of days, so of course, we have to play to our heart’s content.”
“Alright.”
Hearing this, Wan Yun Ting had nothing more to say. He could tell that this senior sister and junior brother must not have had the chance to play on their phones or watch idol dramas before.
Soon, Du Xiu Mei and the nanny aunt prepared a large table of dishes. Of course, Fang Yan Xi was also helping. However, during the meal, her expression was indifferent, clearly preoccupied.
Wan Yun Ting knew why she was unhappy, so after finishing his drinks and meal with Fang Shou Shan and Fang Guo Wen, he found an opportunity to pull Fang Yan Xi aside, saying, “Let’s go for a walk.”
Fang Yan Xi, who was clearing the dishes, paused. Her mother, Du Xiu Mei, couldn’t help but notice the unusual atmosphere between the young couple. She smiled and said, “Yan Xi, go with Xiao Wan. You don’t need to clean up here. Go on.”
Fang Yan Xi nodded, took off her apron, and followed the man out. Wan Yun Ting waited for her by the door. He smiled and extended his large hand. Fang Yan Xi, who had just come out, didn’t say anything and naturally extended her delicate hand to be held by the man. They then walked along the cement road of the villa area, strolling towards the small garden ahead.
They walked in silence, arriving at the small garden of the villa. Looking at the leisure chairs under a lamppost ahead, Wan Yun Ting said, “Let’s sit down.”
Fang Yan Xi nodded, and Wan Yun Ting pulled her over. They sat down naturally. Wan Yun Ting’s large hand wrapped around her back, embracing Fang Yan Xi’s left shoulder. He turned his head to look at her delicate face, which, under the hazy lamplight, was so gentle and captivating. He smiled and said, “Are you mad at me for going to Wu Liang Dao Guan again?”
“You’re not a child, what could I be mad about?”
Fang Yan Xi tilted her chin, her eyes gazing at the night sky. Although there were no stars, a half-waning silver moon hung in the dark sky, much like her current mood, with scattered moonlight.
“Alright, I was wrong.”
Wan Yun Ting shifted his position, moving closer to her. He drew his right arm, which was around her left shoulder, closer. Fang Yan Xi’s head leaned slightly against his left shoulder, her dark, soft long hair cascading onto his left chest. Wan Yun Ting gently stroked her soft long hair with his left hand and sighed, “I’m sorry, I don’t have much time to spend with you right now.”
“I understand.”
Fang Yan Xi leaned on his shoulder, her gaze fixed on his slightly dirty shoes on the ground. “No matter what, I can’t stop your journey. Besides, I don’t have much time to spend with you either.”
“How about you put down your work and come with me to Wu Liang Dao Guan?” Wan Yun Ting suddenly said.
Fang Yan Xi lifted her head and turned to look at him. Wan Yun Ting smiled, “My trip to my sect this time is just for sightseeing, no different from traveling. Bringing you along can also be a good way to relax.”
Fang Yan Xi’s eyes fixed on him, and her red lips curved into a smile, “Do you really mean that?”
“Silly girl.”
Wan Yun Ting placed his left hand on her head and gently pulled Fang Yan Xi’s head to rest in his embrace, smiling tenderly, “Then it’s settled. Arrange your work later, and come with us the day after tomorrow.”
“I wish I could.”
Fang Yan Xi, embracing the man, cast a sidelong glance at him with a hint of longing in her beautiful eyes, saying, “But the company can’t do without me. Our product is about to be launched. Also, there are a lot of things waiting for me to handle at Chaoting Group.”
“Isn’t there Old Jin? I’ll have Wen Hao’s secretary stay with Chaoting Group for a while longer. She can handle the company’s affairs. As for your Fang Group, don’t you have your grandfather?” Wan Yun Ting said, turning to look at her.
Fang Yan Xi, nestled in his embrace, shook her head slightly, saying, “Forget it, it’s not the right time now. Perhaps next time.”
“Alright.”
Seeing this, Wan Yun Ting could only feel resigned. He knew she was ambitious and that the company indeed had too many matters requiring her attention right now. But he truly wanted to take her with him to Wu Liang Dao Guan, just for a relaxing trip…
Thus, the two of them sat embracing each other on the leisure chairs under the lamppost in the small garden, in silent understanding, as if they could feel the beating of each other’s hearts…
It wasn’t until ten o’clock that night that Wan Yun Ting sent her home. Then, he called a designated driver to take him back to his home on Sheng Tang Ding Mountain. The remote control opened the courtyard gate, and Wan Yun Ting drove into the courtyard. He immediately saw Huang Gui Lan, still wearing an apron and holding a rag, clearly still doing housework.
“Mr. Wan, you’re back.”
Huang Gui Lan walked up to greet him. Wan Yun Ting looked at her and said, “Auntie, why aren’t you resting yet?”
Huang Gui Lan’s expression was a little embarrassed, and she smiled shyly, “I saw you weren’t back yet…”
“Sigh.”
Wan Yun Ting felt a pang of self-blame for not clarifying things with her beforehand. He waved his hand and said, “Alright, Auntie, you should go rest now. You need plenty of rest for your illness. Also, have you taken your medicine?”
“Yes, my daughter brought the medicine back this afternoon, and I brewed a dose to drink tonight,” Huang Gui Lan nodded and smiled, “I’m fine. I’ll finish cleaning that room soon, and then I’ll rest.”
“Don’t clean anymore, Auntie. Leave this for tomorrow. It’s almost eleven o’clock now, you need to go and rest.” Wan Yun Ting’s expression was serious, urging her to stop. He knew she must have come in the afternoon and had already been doing housework all evening.
“Alright, I’ll go tidy up and then go rest.”
Seeing this, Huang Gui Lan felt a warmth in her heart. She had never encountered such a considerate employer.
“Also, you don’t need to get up so early tomorrow. Just wake up at eight to make breakfast. I eat breakfast at half-past eight.” Wan Yun Ting walked into the villa with her, giving her instructions. He then asked, “Do you know where you’ll be staying?”
“There’s a maid’s room on the second basement level,” Huang Gui Lan asked.
“Yes, then hurry and go rest. Don’t do any more work.”
Wan Yun Ting nodded, then gestured for her to put down the rag she was holding and go rest.
“Okay, then Mr. Wan, you should also rest early.”
Huang Gui Lan nodded, then entered that room, picked up a bucket, and went down to the second basement level via the elevator.
Wan Yun Ting looked around the entire hall. Everything was spotlessly clean and neatly organized, indicating that it was the result of Huang Gui Lan’s efforts from afternoon to evening…
Wan Yun Ting returned to the second floor and walked out of the glass door of the living room onto the balcony. At that moment, his phone rang. It was the call from Mei Ying he had received in the afternoon. He answered and said, “You can come in.”
After hanging up, Wan Yun Ting took out his phone and opened the family app. He pressed a button to open the courtyard gate. Immediately, he saw Mei Ying and Tian Lang entering through the gate. Wan Yun Ting, on the second-floor balcony, waved at them and then turned to lean against the railing.
Moments later, Mei Ying and Tian Lang entered from the living room. Wan Yun Ting took out a cigarette from his pocket, handed one to Tian Lang, and then lit one himself, taking a puff and slowly exhaling the smoke. He looked at them and smiled, saying, “Sit down.”