An hour passed. Mingzhuo pressed down on the vibrating strings and slipped quietly out of the private room.
Unexpectedly, Changxuan was waiting outside. Seeing her emerge, he stepped forward and called softly, "Little Zhuo."
He took the ancient zither from her arms, offering his own arm for her to link through, glancing back at the closed door.
He asked furtively, "How did the meeting go inside? Did they argue?"
Mingzhu: "?"
Confused, she shook her head. "I was playing the zither and didn't hear their conversation, but both sides sounded quite civil—it didn't seem like they were arguing."
Chang Xuan exhaled sharply in relief.
His brow furrowed as he glanced at Mingzhu, who followed silently with downcast eyes. Trusting her discretion, he blurted out, "Remember that lifelong enemy I mentioned before? He's in there—that smiling wolf with a heart blacker than night!"
"I only found out he was the one Dad invited when he arrived. I've never heard of any collaboration between Dad and Yueshen Group... Plus, before we entered, he gave me this meaningful look! Not sure if it's my imagination, but he felt eerily sinister—like he had murder in his eyes—"
Mingzhuo was long accustomed to his chatty nature, keeping her head down as she walked, occasionally humming in response.
Her thoughts, however, drifted for a moment.
Yueshen Group.
Shang Chi worked at that very company.
Just before they reached the lounge, the delicate bell on the private room door chimed softly—a guest was exiting.
Chang Xuan jolted upright, her speech racing: "I'll head out first. You put the qin away, Xiao Zhuo."
Ming Zhuo could only manage a quick "Okay" before hugging the heavy zither to her chest. The sound of footsteps running grew fainter and fainter beside her ear, then abruptly shifted to steady, deliberate footsteps around the corner.
She couldn't help but curve her lips into a soft smile. With one arm cradling the zither, she pushed open the lounge door with the other.
"...Xiao Zhuo!"
A cheerful voice drifted in with a wave of floral-fruity perfume. Zhao Xi, sporting a different scent today, grinned as she approached, helping Ming Zhuo set down the zither.
She was another student Chang Xuan had invited—a third-year pipa major at Jincheng Conservatory of Music.
"I knew you were here the moment I spotted your cane by the sofa. Quick, listen to this etude—there's a passage that just feels off..."
-
After helping Zhao Xi pinpoint several overlooked technical details, nearly half an hour passed before Ming Zhu finally left.
Tapping her cane as she approached the front desk, she overheard Chang Xuan muttering to himself.
"...How many laps have I gone? Why is it still here... Could it really be looking for trouble... Maybe I should go ask... Nah, what if it asks who I am? That'd be so awkward..."
"Oh, Mingzhu, you're out."
Chang Xuan leaned against the front desk, his brow furrowed as he watched the glossy black business car pass by the entrance repeatedly.
Noticing Ming Zhuo emerging from inside, he straightened up and asked, "Taking a cab home again today?"
Ming Zhuo gripped her white cane, her pale pink lips curving into a faint smile as she nodded. "Yes, a cab."
Chang Xuan hurried over in a few strides, letting her take his arm. He opened his phone while walking out.
"Let me hail one for you. Back to Boss Qi's yoga studio today?"
The phone's network was lagging.
Chang Xuan stared at the taxi app page that wouldn't load, then decided to clear the background apps and restart it.
By the time he'd done that, he'd already guided Mingzhu to the street.
Suddenly, a dark shadow whizzed past his peripheral vision. With a screech, a car slammed to a halt right in front of them.
Chang Xuan looked up in confusion: "?"
The man who had left the shop just an hour ago stepped out of the car, his tall, graceful figure silhouetted against the dappled sunlight. His thin lips curved slightly, but the gaze he cast over held no warmth.
With a lazy, perfunctory nod, he shifted his gaze to the girl beside Chang Xuan, offering a reserved, proper greeting first.
"Teacher Ming, what a coincidence. I was driving by and happened to see you here."
Ming Zhuo froze, tilting her head to face forward before hesitantly speaking, "Mr. Shang?"
Shang Chi remained utterly composed, one arm sweeping around Chang Xuan's shoulder to pull her aside while the other hand deftly caught the jade-white palm slipping down her arm.
He held it firmly in his own.
"Yes. Where are you headed, Teacher Ming? I'll give you a ride."
Ming Zhe hesitated, then heard that deep, lazy male voice add, "Boss, you have a customer in your shop."
Chang Xuan stumbled as he was pulled away, his head still foggy. He instinctively turned back and replied, "Oh, okay, I'll go..."
Huh?
The teahouse door stood wide open, completely empty.
Where was this customer?
Chang Xuan whipped his head around to see Ming Zhuo indeed looking slightly embarrassed, her tone soft and gentle. "Mr. Chang, you should go ahead. No need to hail a cab for me."
Shang Chi chimed in, "Right, my car's right here. Just hop in, Teacher Ming."
Chang Xuan: "??"
Chang Xuan: "???"
What a coincidence?
Your car's been circling the storefront who knows how many times! The tread on your tires is practically worn smooth!
What customer?
He just wants to get rid of him! Then coax Ming Zhe into the car!
Chang Xuan, rare for him, mustered some courage and glared angrily at Shang Chi—that smiling tiger who lied without batting an eye and was trying to snatch away their store's prized treasure: Shang—"
Shang Chi suddenly spoke in a calm tone: "By the way, I've passed by several times before. It seems like your shop is doing quite well, boss. Next time I have a chance, I'll come sign up for a membership."
He lifted his eyelids, his dark pupils lazily glancing at Chang Xuan. His thin lips moved slightly, uttering the words lightly.
"Top up."
"..." Chang Xuan swallowed his rebuke with a gulp. His eyes darted around before cautiously asking, "Xiao Zhuo, do you know him?"
Ming Zhuo pressed her lips together slightly and nodded. "Friend."
Upon confirming they knew each other, Chang Xuan immediately flashed a bright smile, took two quick steps back, and made a gesture of farewell.
"Alright, have a safe trip."
"Don't forget to sign up for membership next time~"
Watching the car door slam shut, Chang Xuan silently straightened up and glanced at the middle-aged man beside him.
Ah, that was the driver from the merchant's car who'd been kicked out of the driver's seat after the vehicle came to a stop.
He scratched his head, staring at the slowly departing car, and sucked in a sharp breath.
Strange.
How did that heartless bastard Shang Chi get involved with their shop's innocent little qin player?
-
Ming Zhuo noticed this car was different from the last one. The front seat felt more spacious, with a faint scent of car air freshener.
She stretched her legs forward, her fingertips rubbing the tip of her white cane. Just as she was thinking of a topic to bring up,
A deep male voice came from beside her.
It sounded like a casual question.
"Was that your new blind date?"
Mingzhu froze, letting out an instinctive "Ah!" before awkwardly replying, "No... I work part-time at that shop."
Shang Chi's lips curved upward. "I see. My apologies, I misunderstood."
Mingzhu murmured softly that it was fine.
The car fell silent.
She lowered her head, rubbing her fingertips, lost in thought about how she and Chang Xuan could be mistaken for a blind date.
Suddenly, the vehicle pulled over to the curb.
A soft rustling sound followed by a candy dropping into the palm of her hand, which had been resting on her lap.
Accompanied by Shang Chi's seemingly casual words.
"Teacher Ming agreed to the blind date—does that mean you have marriage plans?"
Ming Zhuo instinctively closed her palm, pressing the candy into her hand.
Doubting her own ears, she murmured, "Hm?"
Shang Chi gazed intently at her, his lowered voice deep and magnetic, creating a faint illusion of seduction.
"If Teacher Ming has marriage plans, what do you think of me?"
He had prepared countless reasons.
Like submitting a research proposal, each point meticulously framed to maximize benefits, designed to sway the reader into approving extra funding.
But when Ming Zhu turned to him in flustered confusion—
those almond-shaped eyes, rounded and luminous as a clear spring, her unfocused gaze darting aimlessly like a startled sparrow flapping its wings—
Shang Chi's lips twitched. Against his will, his words changed.
"Do you dislike me?"
"If you don't, it happens my family is pressing me..."
Recalling her decisive rejection during that arranged meeting, Shang Chi cleared his throat, feeling an unusual discomfort.
"I think Teacher Ming would make an excellent marriage partner."
Shang Chi realized he must harbor some affection for Ming Yue.
Whether it counted as liking her, he wasn't sure.
But the moment he saw her walking beside Chang Xuan, his body acted before his mind could catch up. His first instinct was to pull her close.
What Shang Chi wanted, he would have.
He hadn't been in such a hurry before.
But seeing He Yin's WeChat post, seeing Ming Zhe draped over Chang Xuan's arm—that's when Shang Chi realized his patience was pitifully thin.
"..."
The faint sound of hurried breathing filled the car.
It took Mingzhu a long moment to speak, her voice trembling slightly at the end. "Mr. Shang, as you can see, I can't see."
"I know," Shang Chi replied, his lowered voice carrying a hint of reassurance. "I've always known. It's not a problem."
"Actually, I recently volunteered for a while."
Shang Chi paused briefly, confirming Ming Zhe's attention was on him before suppressing a soft chuckle. "A friend mentioned Jincheng Special Academy needed volunteers. Since I had nothing else on my plate, I dropped by a few times."
Mingzhu froze, listening blankly.
Shang Chi apologized first.
"Sorry for the delayed reply—volunteering doesn't allow phones."
"What I mean is, Mingzhe," the man's voice pronounced her name slowly and deliberately, his tone gentle, "if you're willing, I'm ready."
He asked, "The only question is, Teacher Ming, would you consider me?"
Shang Chi had always been sharp and decisive. The moment he realized his growing, uncontrollable attention toward Mingzhe, he began preparing.
Having never interacted with the visually impaired before, he enrolled at Jincheng Special Education College.
The roughly two-week volunteer experience served as a test for himself.
If he felt even the slightest wavering, Shang Chi would have cleanly withdrawn, never approaching Ming Zhu again, never allowing himself the chance to indulge and hurt her.
But... he didn't.
After learning more, Shang Chi only felt a subtle pang of bitterness.
Like heartache.
"..."
Silence fell once more.
Shang Chi gave her ample time to think.
He noticed Ming Zhe's clasped hands were clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Shang Chi's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "Teacher Ming, you don't have to give me an answer right away..."
His words had unintended consequences. Ming Yue's chest visibly heaved, as if she'd made up her mind.
"Alright."
Her heart pounded like a drum, as if countless unforgettable voices were exploding in her ears, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.
Ming Yue's eyelashes trembled, yet her tone remained utterly composed.
"When should we get the marriage certificate?"
"Today?"
In the dark world of solitary wandering, every action and thought was forced to slow down to avoid crashing headfirst into bloodied wounds and scars.
For over a decade, Ming Zhe had been slow and quiet.
Suddenly.
She wanted to run wild for herself just once.
She wanted to... grasp that ray of light.