Chapter 62: The Fierce and Fragile Beast

Yuwen Si left Mai Xijun behind, driving off in his flashy SUV without so much as a backward glance. Mai Xijun walked home, pausing for a moment to rest on the long bench beneath her building. Above her, the plane trees spread their lush, green branches, the occasional drifting leaf falling at her side. She picked one up, holding it between her fingers, turning it slowly.

Her mood now was as fragmented as the leaves scattered beneath the trees—broken, scattered all over the ground, impossible to gather together again. It was as if fate itself were mocking her, and she had no effective way to resist. Each step forward was a struggle; no one could help her. All she could do was grit her teeth and persevere.

As she reached the foot of the stairs, she paused for reasons she could not name, gazing at the newsstand outside the corner shop. After a moment’s hesitation, she stopped, pulled out a newspaper, and gave it a glance.

At the top of the page, bold headlines and a glaring photograph shattered the fragile calm she had just managed to restore in her heart.

She did not know how she could remain so calm at this moment, as if nothing in the world could matter to her anymore, so long as she could go to France…

But that wasn’t true.

Memories of the past clung to her like wild vines, growing unchecked in the wind, wrapping her heart in a suffocating embrace, leaving her breathless.

Shen Yanlie was too domineering, too shrewd. He controlled her with such ease, seizing on her every weakness, holding her as helpless as a fish on the cutting board, awaiting his knife…

She no longer had the confidence she once did—the confidence to banish unwelcome people and things from her life. His dominance had become something she relied on; his deep affection had seeped into her heart. Even if he were to stand before her now and say, “Erase everything you know about me from your mind. Return to that time when we were strangers, when we had never met. From now on, whatever happens, my life will have nothing to do with you… You will still be you; I will still be me…”—even if he truly said that, she could not do it. She could not let go. Now, he needed someone by his side to give him strength, to give him warmth, to comfort him with a few heartfelt words.

Yet this opportunity to go to France was too rare for her to pass up. She didn’t even know how long she’d waited for it, or how many others dreamed of such a day. All she knew was that she didn’t want to lose it. If she did, she would regret it forever.

Luo Youcong had praised her as a clever woman, but Mai Xijun felt she had been a fool. From the very start, she had chosen the wrong role, guessed Shen Yanlie’s heart all too well. And so, Shen Yanlie had easily thrown her off balance, disturbing her heart…

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The airport was awash with people. The company’s design team had gathered in the waiting lounge, some chatting idly, others checking the time to see how long until boarding.

Only Mai Xijun sat quietly, head bowed, silent.

“Everyone, don’t forget anything important. Check again to make sure you have all your documents!” Manager Zhang, in charge of this trip, stood before them, his deep voice stirring everyone’s spirits.

Mo Shaoxing entered from outside, striding confidently through the crowd. After a brief glance around, he made his way towards Mai Xijun.

As he stopped in front of her, Mai Xijun suddenly stood up from her seat.

“Mai,” Mo Shaoxing called, gripping her arm before she could step away. His expression was heavy, but the moment passed quickly. “We’re about to board. Don’t wander off.”

He spoke as always, without much drama, but his warmth was unmistakable, reminiscent of a caring older brother. After all these years, he was still the same “Little Stone” from childhood—hovering around her, telling her stories, teaching her to draw, reading to her…

But now, he was a man in a suit, confident and spirited, his striking appearance making him seem nearly flawless.

Yet the greatest change in him, as in her, was that they both understood the human heart far better than before. Standing before him, Mai Xijun felt she didn’t need to say a word. He could see through her, understand what she wanted to say, just by looking into her eyes.

“Passengers for flight CA933 to Paris, please be advised: boarding has now begun. Please have your boarding pass and personal belongings ready, and proceed to Gate 3 for boarding. We wish you a pleasant journey. Thank you.”

“Ladies and gentlemen…” The fluent English announcement continued, but Mai Xijun could barely hear it. She felt as if she were standing on the two ends of a balance scale, teetering on the brink.

“Silly girl, it’s time to board!” Mo Shaoxing smiled, reaching up to gently smooth her hair. It was as silky and soft as it had been in childhood, untouched by dyes or treatments, irresistibly smooth.

He took her suitcase and, still smiling, turned to lead the way. Mai Xijun, meanwhile, followed like a soulless doll, her spirit hollowed out.

He Jingjing, walking ahead, glanced back at her several times before turning around to walk back toward her. Placing a hand on Mai Xijun’s shoulder, her lips curled into a mocking smile. “I hear Shen Yanlie’s fiancée has returned? What’s the matter—feeling down?”

Mai Xijun snapped her head up, glaring at He Jingjing. The woman was like a persistent ghost, always appearing at the worst moments to strike a blow, as if she could only rest easy after doing so.

He Jingjing seemed unfazed by Mai Xijun’s reaction, continuing to look down on her with an air of superiority. “I forgot to mention—five years ago, Eurasia’s goods were held at customs, and later shipments kept getting stuck. If you’re smart, you’ll realize that Eurasia’s business is about more than what’s on the surface; otherwise, they wouldn’t be so powerful. Eurasia has always done export trade, and customs has always been an issue. That time, they almost got taken down for good. Can you imagine Shen Yanlie, who now dominates the business world, once being so desperate and helpless? But that’s not the point. The point is, the woman he loved most abandoned him when he needed her most. And now, she’s come back. He can’t refuse her. No matter how fierce a man is on the outside, when faced with a woman he once loved deeply, he’s always weak. He can’t say no…”

He Jingjing’s every word struck a heavy blow to the depths of Mai Xijun’s heart. For a moment, she stood there, forgetting the whole world, her mind filled with memories of his every smile and gesture—him in his Hello Kitty apron, opening the door, welcoming her home…

Seeing her stunned, Mo Shaoxing handed her luggage to someone else and walked over with steady steps and a gentle smile. “Pudding, it’s time to board~ You’ll soon meet your favorite designer~”