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墨書 Inktalez
Cheng Mo followed a large crowd off the train. For several days, she had not spoken a word, and she hadn't eaten properly. As she walked on the ground, she felt incredibly light, as if she were stepping on layers of cotton, soft and powerless, swaying unsteadily. The gathering crowd slowly surged forward, and she watched them embrace and weep with indifference, gradually walking past them.
She had returned to Shanghai, but where was she supposed to go?
"Miss, would you like to take a rickshaw?"
She turned to look at the rickshaw driver. The wrinkles on his face glimmered in the light. She smiled faintly, nodded, and got into the rickshaw, unsure of where to go. Her thoughts turned over, and suddenly she wanted to see the newspaper office that had published that limerick, to see the source of her destroyed happiness.
The rickshaw sped along and stopped in front of a neatly structured office building.
"Thank you." Cheng Mo tipped the driver a few coins and stood still in front of the building.
"Hey?" A familiar voice reached her ears. She turned to see a chestnut-colored figure appear before her. "Isn't this Miss Cheng? Has Miss Cheng returned to Shanghai? I'm Wu Jing; I wonder if you remember me."
Cheng Mo smiled politely but felt a chill inside. It was Wu Jing who had taken that photo, and she had always believed that he was the one who wrote that limerick. She turned to leave, but just as she was about to walk away, Wu Jing hurriedly stopped her. "Miss Cheng, it's been a long time; how have you been? I've become a full-time employee now. I want to thank you by treating you to a meal."
"No need." Cheng Mo turned her head away, a subtle fragrance wafting by.
"Hey!" Wu Jing hurriedly stepped after her, but that elegant figure only walked faster. After much effort, he finally caught up with her, both of them panting heavily.
Cheng Mo looked at him; the sunlight made her clear eyes shimmer with tiny reflections. "What do you want? I don't want to have dinner with you. You know very well what you wrote about me and Shaoyi in that photo; why can you stand in front of me smiling as if nothing happened?"
"I didn't write that limerick!" Wu Jing quickly raised his finger to swear to the heavens. "When I returned that time, I handed the photo to the editor. He received a phone call and told me to write a limerick to slander you and the Young Marshal. I refused, so he kicked me out. However, I found another job; the editor at that newspaper is very nice and took me in. If you don't believe me, you can ask him; by the way, he said he knows you!"
"Is that so?" Cheng Mo said skeptically. "What's your new editor's name?"
"His name is Xiao Zuowei."
"Brother Zuowei?" Cheng Mo lifted her snow-white neck slightly; her water-colored eyes rippled with emotion as her long eyelashes fluttered gently.
"Yes, does Miss Cheng want to meet him? I just happened to submit my manuscript today, and he invited me to dinner at the Vegetarian Restaurant."
"Then let's go together." The gentle breeze of Jiangnan brushed past her as she turned back with a smile, the fragrance swirling around her. Her elegant features were momentarily shrouded in a misty haze, creating a sense of ethereal beauty. Wu Jing was momentarily captivated, and by the time he came to his senses, Cheng Mosu had already moved far away from him.
The Vegetarian Restaurant, as its name suggests, served only vegetarian dishes. Xiao Zuowei was sitting upright by the window. From this angle, below him was a shimmering lake surface, nearby were willow branches swaying in the wind, and in the distance were misty mountains, creating a picturesque scene that whetted his appetite.
"Brother Zuwei." She called out, startling Xiao Zuowei, who was lost in thought. He turned his face and saw the familiar elegant features from his memories; her eyes still sparkled brightly and were now fixed on him with a hint of mischievous triumph.
"Xiao Su?! When did you return to Shanghai?" He quickly stood up to pull out a chair for Cheng Mosu and gestured, "Please sit."
"The editor is busy helping beautiful women with their chairs while poor me has to fend for myself," Wu Jing joked.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Xiao Zuowei scolded lightly but couldn't hide his surprise on his face. "Xiao Su, it's been a long time."
Cheng Mosu smiled slightly, her gaze drifting over his face. The last time they met was at Shaoyi's house; she hadn't forgotten Brother Zuwei's embrace that day. A hint of blush appeared on her cheeks as she replied, "It's been a long time."
"Did you come back by yourself or with Shaoyi? By the way, I remember seeing your Marriage Contract not long ago. Congratulations on becoming a couple," he said. Before he could finish, he noticed something off about Cheng Mosu's expression and felt a flicker of unease in his heart. Could that limerick in the newspaper really have caused them serious trouble?
Cheng Mosu's clear eyes clouded over with mist as she turned her gaze elsewhere. "I came back by myself and will only come back by myself in the future. Shaoyi and I... it's impossible now."
"What?!" Wu Jing exclaimed in surprise. "You broke up?! How is that possible! You two were so in love!"
"What good is love? He is someone destined for great things." Cheng Mosu said helplessly, tugging at the corner of her mouth; her smile resembled a cry. She tilted her head slightly to the right and traced patterns on the bamboo table with her fingers. "After that limerick was published, overnight everyone in the city—men, women, and children—could recite it. The public was even more fervent in opposing us being together through various means."
"And then Shaoyi separated from you?!" The usually gentle Xiao Zuowei showed signs of anger.
Cheng Mosu quickly shook her head to explain: "No, it was me who wanted to separate. Shaoyi wanted me to trust him, but I felt there was no solution or room for negotiation in this matter. I had to choose between him and the world, so I took it upon myself to leave."
Xiao Zuowei's expression softened slightly, but Wu Jing beside him seemed uneasy. "I didn't expect it would cause such serious repercussions. Why can't the newspaper report the truth?!"
Xiao Zuowei sighed and said, "Nowadays, real news hardly stirs people's interest anymore. But Xiao Jing, you must remember to ask your conscience before we report anything; we cannot sensationalize for attention..."
"Yes, yes, yes, Editor Xiao. You repeat this every day until my ears are about to develop calluses," Wu Jing hurriedly cupped his hands and interrupted Xiao Zuowei. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and became extremely excited. "However, Miss Cheng, I believe that in just a few days, Young Commander will come to pick you up."
Cheng Mosu looked at him in confusion. He continued, "First of all, I can tell he cares about you a lot. Secondly, have you seen the newspapers these past few days? He has been negotiating peace with the Southern Government and will change the flag by the end of the year. Moreover, Jiang Shanghao's Daughter has married Ruan Yu, so there are no obstacles between you two."
Cheng Mosu's heart trembled violently; it felt like a tangled mess. She looked at Wu Jing in disbelief and then turned her gaze to Xiao Zuowei. Xiao Zuowei nodded, confirming that everything was true.
She smiled weakly but felt utterly drained. Just as she had left, he had resolved everything. They had missed each other perfectly, as if it had been preordained.
"Xiao Su..." Xiao Zuowei called out worriedly.
Cheng Mosu quickly regained her composure, a faint smile on her lips indicating that she was fine. Xiao Zuowei studied her for a moment before continuing, "You just got back; have you gone home?"
Cheng Mosu paused for a moment, her tone and smile both calm. "No, my father and I have severed ties; that place is no longer my home."
Xiao Zuowei sighed. She appeared gentle and weak on the surface but was incredibly strong inside. "Xiao Su, where is there such a thing as overnight enmity between father and daughter? I advise you to go home and take a look; Uncle Cheng's condition isn't good."
"What happened to Dad?" Cheng Mosu asked anxiously, but Xiao Zuowei refused to say more and insisted that she return home.
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