Two years later, at a seaside villa in Malaysia, Gu Xichao received an international call.
“Nolan, there has been a slight problem with the trust fund you previously advised me to transfer overseas. I need you to come back and help me handle it.”
The person on the other end of the line was Shen Jizhou, a new friend Gu Xichao had met after leaving the country.
They had met by chance while vacationing on an island. Since both had their own unique views on investment, they quickly became friends.
Shen Jizhou greatly admired Gu Xichao’s talent for investing. After following his advice several times, Shen Jizhou had made a considerable amount of money. Because of that, the two had maintained a business partnership ever since.
“Can’t your secretary handle it?”
In truth, Gu Xichao did not want to return home.
“The situation is a little complicated. I don’t trust anyone else to handle it.”
Shen Jizhou continued:
“I’ll buy your plane ticket. Come to City A.”
This money would determine whether Gu Xichao could make a comeback.
Although he felt slightly uneasy, he eventually agreed.
“All right. I’ll come back and help you.”
A few days later, his flight landed at City A Airport.
Shen Jizhou came to pick Gu Xichao up in person.
The weather in City A was nowhere near as warm as autumn in Malaysia. Gu Xichao had deliberately dressed in a simple tracksuit and wore a baseball cap that perfectly concealed his deep-set eyes.
Seeing that he only had a backpack with him, Shen Jizhou teased:
“Why did you bring so little luggage? You rarely come back. Aren’t you planning to stay for a few more days? I even took time off so I could show you around.”
“You’re flattering me, President Shen. I’ve already looked into the trust fund’s situation. As long as nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to resolve it within three days.”
Gu Xichao smiled and reached out to shake his hand.
“That efficient? That’s Nolan for you.”
Shen Jizhou laughed as they walked out of the airport together.
“Voyage Fund Management is hosting a banquet tonight. The wife of the person in charge has also arranged a masquerade ball. Come with me.”
“You can meet a few people while you’re there. It’ll make the negotiations easier later.”
“All right, but I didn’t bring formalwear…”
“Let’s go. I’ve already booked an appointment with a formalwear designer. We’re just waiting for you.”
“President Shen is as thoughtful as ever.”
The two chatted and laughed as they left the airport and climbed into Shen Jizhou’s stretched Lincoln limousine.
Perhaps because it had been so long since he had returned, Gu Xichao kept looking out the window throughout the journey.
Suddenly, a massive advertising screen on a building beside the road caught his attention.
Yu Yan appeared on the screen with pale pink curls. His doe-like eyes seemed to gaze directly at Gu Xichao, while he held the product he was endorsing in one hand.
Gu Xichao found himself staring.
In the advertisement, Yu Yan smiled until his eyes curved into crescents. His features were delicate and beautiful, and his dazzling presence made it impossible to look away.
He still looked as young as he had back then, as though nothing had changed.
Yet for some reason, Gu Xichao felt that compared with the Yu Yan from two years ago, there was now a little more sharpness and exhaustion in his eyes.
Shen Jizhou did not notice anything unusual about his mood and casually explained:
“That actor’s name is Yu Yan. He’s become extremely popular over the past two years. Not only is he now one of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars, he also used his influence to buy shares in the Yu Group when the price hit rock bottom, driving the company’s stock back up to its previous high.”
“He truly gained both fame and fortune.”
“You probably haven’t heard about it because you haven’t been back in so long. His advertisements are everywhere now. You can see his face on every major street and in every little alley. Our company once hired him as a brand ambassador too.”
The car stopped in front of a high-rise building.
Shen Jizhou turned and pointed toward the enormous glasses-free 3D screen across the street.
“Nolan, look. That’s the most expensive ultra-high-definition 3D screen in City A. His advertisements are played here on rotation every day.”
“Young women love it. They often come here just to take pictures.”
“Is that so…”
Gu Xichao raised his head and looked at Yu Yan on the enormous screen across from them.
His hair was now golden blond. His strikingly handsome face looked so lifelike that he seemed ready to step straight out of the 3D display.
The camera angle shifted.
Dressed in a golden suit, Yu Yan sat inside a car and introduced the automobile brand he was endorsing.
Gu Xichao did not hear a word of the advertisement.
All that remained in his mind was that beautiful face, one so unforgettable that people would do anything to carve it into their memories.
“Hello, handsome. Did you come to take pictures with Yu Yan’s advertisement too?”
A young woman standing nearby suddenly approached Gu Xichao.
He immediately lowered the brim of his cap.
“Uh, I…”
“Could you help me take a picture with Yu Yan? I was supposed to come with my friend, but she suddenly stood me up…”
The young woman clasped her hands together and pleaded pitifully:
“Please help me, handsome…”
“All right. Give me your phone.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Gu Xichao took her phone, carefully adjusted the angle, and photographed her with Yu Yan’s massive advertisement in the background.
He took the task extremely seriously.
When the young woman saw the picture, she was overjoyed. In her excitement, she pushed a plush doll keychain into his hand.
“You take such amazing pictures! To thank you, I’m giving you this chibi Yu Yan plush keychain. I had to fight for ages before I managed to buy one!”
“It’s yours! We’re both fans, so there’s no need to be polite!”
“No… I really don’t need…”
Before Gu Xichao could finish refusing, the young woman had already skipped away happily.
He lowered his head and looked at the plush doll keychain in his hand.
It was rather cute.
Left with no other choice, Gu Xichao put it away for the time being.
Shen Jizhou had remained silent beside him, patiently waiting until he finished taking the picture before walking over.
“Let’s go upstairs and choose your formalwear. We don’t have much time left.”
“All right.”
Gu Xichao had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and model-perfect proportions. No matter what he wore, he always looked good.
He casually chose a modest white satin suit.
The outfit had very little decoration or jewelry. Its simple, effortless design perfectly complemented his refined, otherworldly presence.
The stylist tied a pure white silk sash around Gu Xichao’s slender waist.
He found it rather strange, but the stylist insisted that he wear it and offered an elegant explanation:
“This is one of the designer’s signature details. He places great importance on preserving the integrity of his work.”
“Besides, sir, your figure and distinguished features are exactly what this outfit needs to truly come alive.”
Since that was the case, Gu Xichao did not want to make things difficult for the stylist. He could only allow him to tie the sash around his waist.
Once he had changed, several stylists immediately gathered around him to refine his makeup, style his hair, and select the right accessories.
It was not until Gu Xichao opened his eyes that he saw how exquisitely they had transformed him in the mirror.
It had been far too long since he had attended an event that required him to socialize with so many people.
After living a simple, unpolished life for so long, he was no longer accustomed to seeing himself so carefully dressed.
Just then, Shen Jizhou finished changing and having his own styling done.
He walked over to Gu Xichao, and his eyes immediately lit up. He could not help but sigh sincerely:
“Nolan, you truly are… dazzling.”
Gu Xichao stood up.
“Please stop teasing me, President Shen. Is the ball about to begin?”
Shen Jizhou took out a gold-plated mask decorated with white feathers and handed it to him.
“Ha ha, there’s no rush.”
“I forgot to tell you that tonight is a masquerade ball. Every guest must wear a mask before entering.”
“This white one happens to suit you perfectly.”
Gu Xichao put on the mask.
“Let’s go.”
The grand doors of the banquet hall slowly opened, and the graceful music of a string orchestra immediately filled the air.
Shattered rays of light from the crystal chandeliers overhead fell across each guest’s mask, reflecting halos of brilliant, dreamlike colors.
More and more guests entered, and the atmosphere on the dance floor gradually came alive.
Masked men and women slowly turned to the rhythm of the music.
Hidden behind false faces, no one could clearly see anyone else’s true expression.
“Yu Yan, why are you sitting here drinking alone? Go find someone to dance with.”
Cheng Yan approached with a beautiful woman in his arms.
“Get lost.”
Yu Yan continued pouring wine into his glass, his eyes still filled with weary indifference.
The woman had originally intended to move closer to him, but the moment she saw his unapproachable expression, she immediately walked away.
Cheng Yan had planned to take Yu Yan over to meet the president of Voyage Fund Management.
The other party had personally invited Yu Yan tonight. As the entertainment industry’s top star and a living billboard in his own right, Yu Yan carried far more influence. Perhaps they would be willing to give them a chance out of respect for him.
“Then drink less. We still have serious business to discuss tonight.”
“Since when could you control me?”
Yu Yan ignored him and tilted his head back, draining the glass in one gulp.
He wore a black half-mask trimmed in gold. Since no one could recognize him for the time being, Yu Yan allowed himself to become even more reckless.
He should drink a little more.
Perhaps then he would finally sleep well tonight.
Yu Yan raised his hand.
“Waiter! Bring me more wine!”
At that moment, he caught sight of a figure standing in a shadowed corner.
Yu Yan’s gaze instantly locked onto him.
Amid the hazy lights of the party, a tall, straight figure stood beside a pillar.
A half-mask concealed the man’s eyes, revealing only the sharp, cold lines of the lower half of his face.
So similar…
Far too similar…
No.
Was he hallucinating again?
“Sir, your wine.”
The waiter brought him another drink, but Yu Yan was no longer in the mood for it.
He rose to his feet and hurried after the figure.
On his way, several guests changing dance partners accidentally bumped into his shoulder. Yu Yan paid them no attention and continued pushing forward.
But in the brief moment it took him to blink, the figure had vanished.
The space beside the pillar was empty. There was no one there at all.
The hope in Yu Yan’s eyes disappeared at once.
He let out two quiet, self-mocking laughs, convinced that he really had drunk too much if he was now seeing hallucinations even while out in public.
Yu Yan entered the restroom, intending to wash his face with cold water and clear his head.
But at that moment, the familiar scent of cologne suddenly brushed past his nose.
Gu Xichao had just stepped out of the restroom. He dispensed a few drops of hand soap and carefully washed his hands.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, a man reeking of alcohol suddenly appeared behind him.
In the mirror, the face he had not seen for so long abruptly came into view.
Gu Xichao’s entire body stiffened.
The moment their eyes met, the memories he had tried so hard to bury flared back to life from the ashes, surging wildly through his mind.
The happiness, the pain, the anger, and the peaceful moments…
Every emotion came rushing back like a flood and a raging beast, crashing mercilessly into him.
Gu Xichao had nowhere left to hide.
Yu Yan suddenly seized his wrist and pinned him against the wall.
Narrowing his eyes, he leaned close to Gu Xichao’s neck and breathed in deeply. His voice was blurred by alcohol:
“What cologne are you wearing…?”
“You smell exactly like the dead man who used to be by my side.”
Gu Xichao struggled to steady his breathing before pulling his hand free without a trace of emotion.
“Mr. Yu, you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
“How do you know my surname is Yu?”
Yu Yan’s gaze instantly sharpened, like a wolf that had just caught the scent of its prey.
The next second, he suddenly lowered his head and bit down hard on Gu Xichao’s neck.
“Mr. Yu Yan is a famous star. In this country, everyone knows you and everyone recognizes you.”
“Even with half your face covered, people can still tell who you are.”
Gu Xichao did not turn to look at the man in front of him.
Yu Yan looked taller and stronger than before. Gu Xichao had to lower his head slightly to meet his eyes directly.
The explanation sounded perfectly reasonable.
“You look so much like him…”
Yu Yan raised his hand, intending to remove the mask covering the man’s eyes.
But just as his fingertips touched it, someone with sharp eyes hurried over and called out to him.
“Yu Yan! President Li finally has time to meet with us! Why are you…”
The moment Cheng Yan saw Yu Yan pinning another man against the wall, he immediately swallowed the rest of his words.
Gu Xichao seized the opportunity to break free from Yu Yan’s grip.
Before either of them could react, he hurried back into the ballroom and quickly disappeared among the elegantly dressed men and women.
The melody shifted into Johann Strauss II’s The Blue Danube.
The piano and cello intertwined as the smooth, graceful waltz slowly flowed into Gu Xichao’s ears.
He suddenly remembered many years ago, when he had held the hand of an innocent and clumsy Yu Yan and taught him this very dance.
Amid the magnificent music, an indescribable sense of unreality rose within Gu Xichao.
But reality gave him no time to lose himself in thought.
Just as Gu Xichao began to believe that Yu Yan had not followed him and was about to quietly breathe a sigh of relief, that haunting voice sounded directly behind him once again:
“Sir, I would like to ask you for a dance.”
“Would you grant me that honor?”
At that exact moment, the music reached its climax.
The entire ballroom came alive like a burst of brilliant fireworks, yet the world seemed to hold only the two of them.
Amid the soaring music, every sound around them suddenly faded into silence.
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