My finger suddenly stopped scrolling through my social media feed.
The photo on the screen pierced my eyes. Lu Heng had his arm around a woman's waist, both of them smiling sweetly under a cherry blossom tree.
The photo was posted this afternoon, tagged in Tokyo.
He said he was on a business trip.
" Xinyan, are you okay?" My best friend Xiao Ya messaged me.
"Who posted the photo?"
"It was my college classmate. He happened to be on a business trip in Tokyo and ran into Lu Heng on the street."
I zoomed in on the photo. The woman was wearing a light pink dress, her features delicate, with a hint of coldness in her eyes.
She looked just like the woman in that old, yellowed photograph from Lu Heng's office.
"Xiao Ya, do you know who that woman is?"
"...That's Lin Wan, Lu Heng's first love."
My phone dropped to the ground.
I met Lu Heng three years ago on a rainy night.
At that time, he was just an ordinary employee at Lingyun Group, always impeccably dressed in a clean suit but often looking weary.
That day, he had given me the last umbrella at a convenience store.
"Are you sure you don't need it?" I asked.
"I'm used to working overtime; I can wait until the rain eases up," he smiled.
In the end, we shared an umbrella.
He carried the scent of coffee and tobacco, and he seemed to have been softened by life’s experiences.
Our later encounters felt as if they were fated.
At the fast-food restaurant downstairs, at the breakfast stall by the subway station, and at that bookstore we both loved to visit.
Ding-dong—the doorbell rang.
" Xinyan, I'm back."
Lu Heng walked in with his briefcase, his suit still impeccably tailored.
"Was there traffic on the way?" I asked.
"Yeah, I had a meeting that ran a bit late."
He gently ruffled my hair. "You must be hungry; I brought your favorite Sweet and Sour Ribs."
I watched him skillfully set the table, his movements graceful as if it were second nature.
Suddenly, I remembered Xiao Ya saying that young masters from wealthy families had to learn various etiquettes from a young age.
"Lu Heng, have you ever been to Tokyo?"
I casually asked, "Have you been on business trips recently?"
He paused for a moment, then replied, "A few times."
"The weather has been nice lately; the cherry blossoms should be blooming now," I said.
"Yes," he said, placing a piece of rib on my plate. "Once things settle down, I'll take you to see them."
Looking at his gentle smile, I suddenly felt reluctant to ask any further questions. Perhaps I was more afraid of the answers.
The truth was suffocatingly luxurious at the Lingyun Club.
Holding the documents meant for manager Zhang, I followed the waiter through a long corridor.
The redwood walls were adorned with famous calligraphy and paintings, while crystal chandeliers sparkled above.
" manager Zhang is waiting for you in VIP Room 1," the waiter gestured for me to enter.
As I reached the door, I could hear voices inside.
" manager Lu, this merger still needs your father's approval."
"I'll handle my father; you just need to ensure the share transfer goes smoothly."
It was Lu Heng's voice.
My hand trembled slightly, and the document nearly slipped from my grasp.
"By the way, when are you planning to get your marriage certificate with Miss Xu? The old man keeps mentioning he wants to hold his grandchild," someone said.
"Let’s wait a bit longer," Lu Heng replied, his voice tinged with fatigue. "Lin Wan has just returned to the country."
"Miss Lin?" manager Zhang chuckled. "No wonder you insisted on taking that project in Tokyo this time."
I leaned against the wall, feeling dizzy.
Countless fragments flashed through my mind.
He always looked sharp in his suit while working late, his refined taste in red wine, his knowledge of various cuisines, and those promotions that seemed to come so quickly...
Everything was a meticulously crafted deception.
"Miss Xu?" The waiter looked at me with concern.
I forced a smile. "I'm sorry, I just remembered I have an urgent matter to attend to. Could you please pass this document to manager Zhang for me?"
As I stepped out of Lingyun Club, rain began to pour from the sky.
It was exactly like the torrential downpour from three years ago.
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