With each step, her distance from An Zhang grew, until they were separated by two places, becoming strangers.
Her originally steady steps became somewhat urgent after waiting in vain for the person who should have appeared, craning her neck to scan the faces entering and leaving the airport immigration hall.
As boarding time approached, An Zhang couldn’t help but take out his phone and dial, but the other party’s phone was still turned off.
He wanted to dial someone else, but he didn’t have the contact of any of Shi Xuan’s close friends. Calling home, hoping the housekeeper Aunt Man could help him find a number, he found that the home phone rang for a long time with no answer.
Without thinking too much, he decisively called his childhood friend Yin Yan.
“Hey, Yan, where are you? Can you come to my place and help me find a phone number? Yes, it’s urgent. After you get to my place, check the caller ID on the landline, the call from early this morning at six… Okay, I’ll wait.”
After about ten minutes, Yin Yan called back and gave him a phone number.
“Thanks, I have an urgent matter now, I’ll explain later.”
He quickly dialed the number.
“Hello, Xie Man-yue, I’m An Zhang. Didn’t you tell me this morning that Shi Xuan’s flight is at eleven? I’ve been waiting here for almost two hours, and she still hasn’t shown up. What’s going on? Did she cancel her flight?”
“Oh, she’s already left,” the soft voice on the other end of the phone said. “Ah, wait, did you go to the wrong terminal?”
“Impossible. You said she was on China Airlines, and I’m definitely at the first terminal.”
“You must have misheard. I said she was on EVA Air, at the second terminal.”
An Zhang’s elegant face instantly turned pale.
“What did you say? You clearly said China Airlines on the phone!” He couldn’t have misheard.
He hadn’t expected her to leave so decisively and quickly. Rushing to find her, he found her home phone disconnected and her house empty. Continuously trying to contact her phone, it remained off. He hurriedly rushed to the airport, only to find he had waited in vain for over two hours, and she was already on the plane.
Unable to accept this result, he clenched his fist and struck the nearby pillar hard.
With his roar, Xie Manyue trembled.
“Yes, is that so? Perhaps, perhaps I misspoke. Sorry, sorry about that.” Her fragile voice was filled with guilty apology.
“She left?” His cold voice asked.
“Yes, the plane took off on time. I’m sorry, I really didn’t expect this to happen, I…” Hearing a series of beeps, the call was cut off.
“Who called?” Huang Yingzhang asked his girlfriend, who had walked aside to answer the phone and then returned.
“An Zhang,” Xie Manyue replied with a soft smile.
“Why did he call?” Jiang Zhiqi said irritably.
“He said he went to the First Aviation Building.”
“What? How did he end up there?” Jiang Zhiqi was stunned. “Ah Zhang, didn’t you explain it to him clearly?”
“Manyue?” Huang Yingzhang looked at his girlfriend, as she had volunteered to call and notify An Zhang.
Xie Manyue’s beautiful face looked innocent. “I did tell him, but I don’t know if he misheard or if I misspoke. He thought I said China Airlines, so he went to the First Aviation Building.”
“Oh my, how could this happen? Looking at how disappointed Shi Xuan was, she really wanted to see An Zhang. Unexpectedly, this mix-up caused them to miss each other.” Jiang Zhiqi lamented for his friend. It was clear how heartbroken Shi Xuan was that An Zhang didn’t come to see her off.
An Zhang, standing alone at the First Aviation Building, rushed to the second floor, gazing through the entire glass window at the azure sky. The clear sky had not a single cloud, but his eyes were filled with gloom.
The feeling of regret made him taste heartache for the first time in his life. He had thought she would change her mind for him, just like countless times before, that she would surely compromise with him. But he had underestimated her determination; she had flown out of his grasp without a trace of attachment.
He should have known her personality – once she decided to do something, no one and nothing could stop her, just like how she had passionately pursued him years ago, undeterred by difficulties and harsh whispers.
For the next two months, indigestible remorse would torture him in his nightly dreams…
A month before graduating from university, An Zhang established a detective agency. To support him, his three lifelong friends – Yan Dan, Qin Luo, and Qiao Se – each contributed a quarter of the funding.
In just a few years, the Radar Detective Agency, under An Zhang’s leadership, gradually became the most prominent detective agency in Asia.
Years later, seeing that face that had made her fall in love at first sight, Shi Xuan had to admit that An Zhang was more mature and more charming than before.
His elegant and refined temperament, his calm and gentle smile, his composed and leisurely demeanor, his mature and attractive style – he exuded an intimidating male charm.
“Do you know each other?” Jin Yuanhao looked at the two of them in surprise, keenly sensing from their unusual gaze that they were more than just acquaintances.
“Yes, old friends,” Shi Xuan lowered her eyes dimly. This unexpected encounter had unveiled old memories, and what distressed her was that after all these years, she still felt her heart race for the same man, and only he could make her… heart beat faster.
“Come in and sit,” An Zhang said with a deep, unfathomable gaze, pushing open the iron-cast, intricately carved door, inviting the two inside.
“Young master, the tea is here.” Aunt Man carried out the tea, and An Zhang brought over a remote-controlled car, turning on the switch. The CEO’s attention was immediately diverted, curiously chasing the car. He handed the controller to Aunt Man. “Please help me,” he said.
“Okay, leave it to me.” Aunt Man laughed and took the remote control, skillfully maneuvering the car towards the backyard.
The CEO also followed the car.
After the disturbing noise disappeared, Jin Yuanhao looked puzzled at Shi Xuan. “Hey, Shi Xuan, I didn’t know you had such a special ability – understanding dog language?”
She shrugged confusedly, “I just discovered this today.”
Suddenly remembering something, Jin Yuanhao proactively extended his hand to An Zhang to introduce himself, “I’m Jin Yuanhao.”
“An Zhang,” he responded cordially, also extending his hand.
As the two men shook hands, they carefully assessed each other in their minds, evaluating their relationship with Shi Xuan. With the instincts of male animals, they sensed each other’s hidden intentions but said nothing.
“This place is nicely arranged, cozy and comfortable,” Jin Yuanhao withdrew his hand, wearing a bright smile, casually surveying the interior. The elegant decor matched An Zhang’s demeanor – graceful and relaxed.
“Thank you,” An Zhang’s gaze returned to Shi Xuan. “Xuan, how long do you plan to stay this time?”
After many years apart, their reunion felt somewhat distant. She didn’t immediately answer, “Not certain yet. Maybe a few weeks, possibly even months, depending on the progress of our investigation.”
Holding her tea cup, facing his focused gaze, memories of their past sweet romance swept over her, leaving her with mixed emotions.
Gulping down his tea, Jin Yuanhao nudged her elbow, reminding her –
“We have important matters to attend to. If we want to catch up, it might have to be another day.”
Suddenly feeling a cold glance from across the room, he looked over and saw An Zhang smiling warmly. He thought he might be overthinking things.
“Mm,” Shi Xuan stood to leave. “We have things to do and can’t stay long. Thanks for the tea.” “Okay, we’ll chat another time,” An Zhang saw them to the door, standing at the entrance and watching her leave his line of sight.
