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墨書 Inktalez
Mu Tongzi had booked a luxurious suite for her, but occupying such a large space alone made her feel empty, and the fear in her heart was magnified by the stormy night.
Without thinking much, she grabbed a pillow from the bed and rushed out of the room, quickly walking to the door of the adjacent presidential suite. Ignoring the time, she eagerly pressed the doorbell.
After a short while, the door opened with a click. Mu Tongzi stood at the door in a white bathrobe, looking at the trembling woman outside. She paused for a moment, her handsome face still showing signs of sleepiness and confusion. Even in this state, he appeared charming and reassuring to her.
"What's wrong?" He glanced at the pillow in her arms and then at her wearing pajamas in the middle of the night. Frowning slightly, he looked down the empty hallway before reaching out to pull her into the room.
"It's thundering outside, and... I'm scared to sleep alone. Can I squeeze in with you for one night..." Afraid he might refuse, she tugged at his bathrobe sleeve with a pitiful look. "I... I can sleep on the sofa!"
The figure walking ahead paused for a moment. He turned to look at her, his clear eyes reflecting a sense of pity that stirred in his heart. In the end, he said nothing and took her hand, leading her toward the bedroom.
His bedroom was even larger than hers. She nervously watched him, fearing he might regret letting her stay and kick her out. Biting her lip, she climbed onto the bed and lay down. It was only when she felt his familiar embrace from behind that she regained her sense of security amidst his refreshing herbal fragrance.
The storm continued outside as he dimmed the bedside lamp and pulled up the air conditioning blanket around her. Her body pressed against his thin bathrobe, and he could still feel her slight trembling. He squinted his eyes and gently patted her back with his other hand, placing soft kisses on her eyes and forehead. "Sleep peacefully; I'm here!"
"Mm..." She responded softly without thinking much more, closing her eyes and sinking into deep sleep while holding onto his warm body.
In the dim light from the bedside lamp, he looked down at the curled-up figure in his arms. The sleeping girl tightly clutched his shirt collar, resembling an abandoned child seeking warmth, making him unable to resist pulling her closer to comfort her.
Usually accustomed to seeing her spirited and stubborn demeanor, it was only when she was asleep that she would quietly curl up in his arms seeking warmth.
The warm feeling in his embrace seemed to gradually relax his nerves as well, and before long, he fell asleep too.
...
When he woke up the next morning, Mu Tongzi was no longer beside him. Green Qi scanned around and saw a familiar set of women's clothes on the bench at the foot of the bed. She got out of bed to take a look; it was an outfit she had brought with her. She stepped into the bathroom to change and after washing up, walked out of the bedroom. Looking around the living room but not seeing anyone, she turned towards the dining area where Mu Tongzi was sitting at the main seat reading a newspaper. Breakfast was already laid out on the table—her usual favorite Chinese dishes.
Sitting down beside him, she turned to glance at him and winked gratefully. "Thank you for taking me in last night!"
"Today I will be inspecting the Branch Office and the Construction Site, so you can find a place to have fun on your own!" He lifted his gaze from the Newspaper and handed her a travel guide. "There are many great tourist spots here; pick the ones you like to explore, and if I have time later, I'll accompany you to other places."
"Okay, got it!" She knew that this business trip was just an excuse for her to tag along. While the other employees were working, she could go out and have fun. This President was really taking advantage of his position.
Well, she might as well take this opportunity to wander around; perhaps she could find some design inspiration.
Breakfast was plentiful, featuring local snacks, most of which she liked. Glancing at his plate with the untouched sticky rice chicken, she picked up a Soup Dumpling from the steamer and offered it to him. "Try this; it's quite tasty!"
Looking up from the Newspaper, Mu Tongzi glanced at the buns on his plate and then at the eagerly waiting woman beside him. He replied calmly, "I'm not hungry."
"You have to eat even if you're not hungry. Breakfast is important, especially since you have a stomach condition. You can't skip breakfast; hurry up and eat. I'll try everything and give you some of the good stuff." Without giving him a chance to refuse, she picked up a Crystal Shrimp Dumpling for him.
Seeing her so obedient was rare; Mu Tongzi faintly smiled and unexpectedly began eating the breakfast he usually avoided.
Before heading out, he pulled a Gold Card from his wallet and handed it to her. "Buy whatever you like."
"I have my own money; why would I need yours?" She forcefully shoved the card back into his wallet and shot him an annoyed glare. "You go ahead with your work; I'm going back to my room to grab some things before heading out. If you need anything, call me. If I find something delicious, I'll treat you to a meal later!"
Watching her leave, Mu Tongzi stood frozen at the door. He looked down at the wallet in his hand, and when he looked up again, he saw Xia Yu approaching with a stack of documents. He suppressed his emotions and returned to his usual indifferent demeanor.
"President, we're ready to depart!" Xia Yu said respectfully as he stepped forward.
"Let's go!" Nodding slightly, he walked ahead while instructing, "You will attend the lunch gathering in my place."
"Understood, President!"
········································
Just as she was leaving the antique street, she received a call from Jiang Chengmu. Looking down at the small trinket she had found, she asked lightly, "What's up?"
A voice from the other end questioned, "Where are you? Why aren't you at home?"
"I told Madam Jiang that the company sent me on a business trip. Didn't she tell you? Do you have something to discuss? If it's about the divorce, let's talk when I get back!"
"..." The person on the other end fell silent for a moment and hung up the phone, seemingly not wanting to discuss the topic of divorce at all.
Jiang Chengmu's refusal to divorce was far beyond her expectations. Even if Mu Tongzi helped her reclaim that ten percent of shares, it seemed unlikely that she would be able to divorce smoothly.
With a slight sigh, she glanced at the recommended places in the brochure. One was relatively close to her current location, so she called to book a meditation room and then called Mu Tongzi. After a while, the call connected. "What's up? Is there something you need?"
"Are you done with your work? I plan to treat you to dinner. I'm at Zen Shadow Retreat right now; if you don't have any engagements, come over!"
"No engagements. Give me ten minutes; I'll be right there."
As the name suggests, Zen Shadow Retreat is designed based on the Chinese philosophy of harmony between humans and nature. Some people enjoy lively performances, while others prefer elegance; Zen Shadow Retreat was born from this duality. The entire retreat is divided into several styles: Eastern, Ancient, and Tibetan. The Eastern style mimics Japanese aesthetics, featuring natural materials like wood, shoji paper, tatami mats, ukiyo-e prints, and paper lanterns. The Tibetan meditation room is adorned with thick thangkas in vibrant colors, complemented by large ram's horns, Tibetan knives, and dzi beads. The Ancient style meditation room follows traditional Chinese design with intricately carved beams and walls adorned with paintings of beautiful women, filled with antiques.
Green Qi chose the Ancient style meditation room. After looking around, her eyes landed on an ancient guzheng placed on a stand. Unable to resist her curiosity, she walked over.
When Mu Tongzi arrived, Green Qi was trying out sounds on the guzheng while wearing tortoiseshell finger picks. She looked up just in time to see him approaching and smiled lightly; her small dimples deepened slightly against her fair face, making her look even more radiant. From a distance, he felt as if he were in a painting of beautiful women.
"You’re here! Would you like to hear a piece?"
Mu Tongzi glanced at her eager expression and replied, "Sure!"
Green Qi couldn't help but chuckle lightly. Taking a breath and raising her hands, her delicate fingers touched the strings of the guzheng. The clear tones cascaded like flowing water from high mountains—sometimes bold and sometimes subtle—evoking the imagery of sand washing down a river.
Mu Tongzi was taken aback. Mu Mother had been the head of a military art troupe when she was young and played the guzheng beautifully. Growing up around that influence made him quite knowledgeable about it as well. Her skill level was undoubtedly equivalent to years of hard practice; just watching her nimble fingers dance across the strings—lightly pressing and sliding—while listening to the elegant and soft melody that combined strength with gentleness was impressive. What was even more remarkable was how she could express emotions through music, blending feelings with melody seamlessly.
Mu Tongzi narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Green Qi as she played the guzheng. His fingers rested on a blue-and-white porcelain teacup filled with green tea that lazily swayed inside it.
He took a sip of tea, but his ears were fully alert. He knew the piece was nearing its end, and he wanted to see how she would conclude it.
Green Qi controlled the tempo well; as the melody slowed down, the final syllable gradually came to a stop, leaving a lingering feeling.
Once the piece was finished, Green Qi set down the guzheng and stood up to sit beside Mu Tongzi. She raised her gaze towards Mu Tongzi and smiled brightly, "Master Gu, what do you think of my performance?"
Mu Tongzi did not expect her to ask this. Leaning back in his high-backed chair, he casually tapped the teacup in his hand before feigning confusion and replying, "I'm not very familiar with this kind of refined music."
Green Qi blinked slightly, a glint of mischief flashing in her eyes. "It's fortunate that President can't discern good from bad; otherwise, my performance as a token of gratitude would surely make you laugh."
Hearing the playful tone in her voice, Mu Tongzi was reminded of the sweet glutinous rice dumplings he used to eat as a child—those small beige balls coated with the unique flavor of his hometown.
He nodded slightly and expressed his true feelings: "You played very well; I received your gratitude."
"Thank you for the compliment!" She smiled lightly, her face adorned with shyness and pride, like a child receiving praise from an adult.
His gaze inadvertently fell on her. The outfit she wore today was chosen by him from her room—a modified floral qipao with a unique pattern. Her long hair was styled into a braid draped over her shoulder, exposing her fair neck. Her attire blended perfectly with the surroundings, making it flawless and beyond reproach.
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