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Cheng Mo Su woke up early and opened the window, feeling the chilly wind outside. However, her mood was exceptionally cheerful. The redwood wardrobe was filled with various Qipao, dresses, and gowns. Her delicate fingers brushed through the different fabrics before finally settling on one, which was her brother Zuo Wei's favorite.
She smiled lightly and gently picked up the elegant ink wash Qipao. Once she put it on, it made her look even more refined and pure. She lightly groomed her brows and applied a bit of makeup; her Water Eyes were clear, and her black hair flowed like a waterfall, resembling a woman stepping out of a painting or a fairy depicted in poetry. She opened the door, and outside stood the long-awaited Shaoyi. Her eyes brightened even more, and her Lip Corners were full of smiles. "Let's go wait in the hall; Brother Zuo Wei will be here soon."
Today, Cheng Mo Su looked particularly beautiful. Although Shaoyi only caught a glimpse of her, it was etched in his mind. Yet he had no time to admire her; he was just looking forward to seeing his childhood friend after such a long time. Shaoyi chuckled to himself; when did he start paying attention to these things? The two of them exchanged no words as they silently awaited the arrival of the third person.
After an unknown amount of time, the wind outside rushed in with excitement, bringing news. "Miss, Miss! Young Master Zuo Wei has arrived!"
Cheng Mo Su immediately stood up and dashed out. The tall and slender figure outside had not yet steadied himself when she embraced him tightly. Brother Zuo Wei's embrace still carried that faint scent of sunshine from before. She looked up at Xiao Zuo Wei, who greeted her with a warm smile, just like always. Taking a few steps back, she carefully observed the boy she hadn't seen for five years; his once boyish face now had distinct features, with dark eyes shining like marble. His black suit and white shirt made him appear dashing and extraordinary.
Xiao Zuo Wei quietly gazed at her; in his eyes, she looked graceful and elegant. He smiled slightly and said, "Little Su, I'm back." He turned to look at Shaoyi, who stood straight with a barely noticeable smile at the corners of his mouth. He released Cheng Mo Su and embraced Shaoyi as if they were old friends reuniting after a long time. "Shaoyi, long time no see."
Cheng Mo Su approached them with a gentle smile on her lips. "Brother Zuo Wei, thank you for recommending Shaoyi to our Cheng Family. He really is a very..." She noticed both their gazes were fixed on her and realized her words sounded strange as if they could see through her thoughts. Her face flushed slightly; since she had already started speaking, she decided to finish, "a very good person..."
Xiao Zuo Wei was momentarily taken aback, his eyes crinkling with laughter as he playfully tapped Shaoyi on the shoulder. "This is the first time I've heard someone praise him like this!" He stopped laughing and turned serious as he addressed Shaoyi. "I received the letter you asked my brother to send; I know everything now. We'll discuss it in detail later." Meanwhile, Cheng Mo Su was left confused by this conversation about details—what were they going to talk about? She had so many questions for Xiao Zuo Wei but couldn't let them continue their discussion without her.
"I think the weather is nice today; why don't we go to the park?" Cheng Mo Su suggested with a smile. Shaoyi and Xiao Zuo Wei exchanged glances before looking out at the cold wind blowing outside. Was she really sure that today’s weather was nice?
The Ford car navigated through the bustling streets filled with people enjoying their rare holiday during the New Year celebrations; there seemed to be more pedestrians than usual, creating a sense that the streets might become congested. Xiao Zuo Wei drove quietly with his hands on the steering wheel; his driving style was quite different from Shaoyi's—quick and precise compared to Xiao Zuo Wei's slow and steady approach. Cheng Mo Su wore a gentle smile as she gazed out of the window. In the end, Shaoyi found an excuse not to join them; instead of heading to the chilly park, they went to the most famous Western restaurant in the entire Concession Area.
Several waiters approached with menus for Xiao Zuo Wei. He gently gestured towards Cheng Mo Su. "Ladies first." The waiter nodded awkwardly before handing the menu to Cheng Mo Su. She casually ordered a few dishes; she wasn't very hungry anyway and just wanted something light.
"No need to save money for me," Xiao Zuo Wei said with a smile.
"In the future, when it's your turn to spend money, I'm afraid this time will leave you so broke that you won't invite me again." Cheng Mo Su's eyes were filled with laughter, while Xiao Zuo wore an expression that suggested he was not that stingy. The waiter first served an appetizer soup. After Cheng Mo Su nodded slightly, she continued, "Brother Zuo, how long are you back this time? Are you not leaving again?"
"I will be leaving. After all, I am studying at a military academy in Germany, and sooner or later I will have to go to the battlefield to fight." He revealed his white teeth in a warm smile, looking nothing like a soldier graduating from a military academy; instead, he resembled an elegant scholar.
Cheng Mo Su slightly lowered her head to sip the soup, her amethyst earrings gently swaying. Seemingly casually, she asked, "So what about Shaoyi... I saw in your introduction letter that you are distant relatives. What about you two..."
"You mean Shaoyi..." He paused for a moment, looking at her light smile and faint blush, as if he understood something. He asked, "Do you care about it?"
"No." Cheng Mo Su hurriedly denied it, her face turning even redder. "I was just curious and wanted to ask. Um... Brother Zuo, tell me about your life in Germany. You must speak German very well."
"After living there for so many years, I can speak it quite well. However, compared to Shaoyi, I'm still a bit lacking." He intentionally brought up Shaoyi, making Cheng Mo Su feel even more embarrassed. As soon as she heard that name, Shaoyi's cold image surfaced in her mind, and she couldn't help but smile slightly. Seeing this reaction from her, Xiao Zuo stopped probing; instead, a barely noticeable sadness flashed in his eyes while his expression remained warm and gentle. "Xiao Su, you may not know that there are many people in this world who not only struggle to feed themselves but also suffer from war every day. I joined the army to fight because I hope for peace in the world so everyone can live well. After five years of study, I've finally returned; now is the time to put my knowledge into practice." His words left her momentarily stunned; this was somewhat different from the Xiao Zuo she remembered. Although he still exuded warmth and friendliness, he radiated an inexplicable light due to his dreams. Compared to him, she felt utterly unremarkable.
"Does Uncle Xiao agree? After all, Uncle Xiao is a banker like my father; they seem very reluctant for us to get involved in these matters."
Although Xiao Zuo's gaze was gentle, it revealed determination. "After my father was reassigned to the north, he hardly cared about me anymore; perhaps he felt he couldn't change my mind. Besides, my younger brother Xiao Yue is studying economics in England and is more suitable than I am to take over his position." The two chatted for quite a while; time seemed to revert back to their childhood—those warm and innocent days filled with naive dreams.
After dinner, Xiao Zuo did not immediately return home but stayed at the Cheng Residence for a while before heading to the library to discuss matters with Shaoyi. Initially thinking they hadn't seen each other for a long time and surely had much to talk about, Cheng Mo Su later found it strange that Xiao Zuo visited Shaoyi almost every day. Having grown up in Shanghai and knowing each other since she could remember, she couldn't recall any connection between Xiao Zuo and Shaoyi. If they were old friends catching up after many years apart, it seemed they were taking too long; it looked more like they were plotting something.
"Miss, it's late; you should rest," Feng Yin gently called out.
"Has Brother Zuo left?"
"Not yet; it seems he's discussing something with the butler Shaoyi," Feng Yin replied. Cheng Mo Su's beautiful brows furrowed tightly. She sent Feng Yin back to rest and quietly slipped outside the library by herself.
The library still glowed with dim light. She pressed her small, crystal-like ear against the cold door frame and heard the voices of two people inside, her pupils involuntarily dilating. The two people inside were speaking German; if they weren't plotting something, why would they speak a language that others couldn't understand?
Cheng Mosu's heart slowly sank.
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