Chapter 4: He's Returning to China
After a brief turmoil, everything settled into calm again. Yun Xinyu resumed her busy, itinerant life.
Every day she hustled between fashion show runways and minor acting roles, maintaining her steady routine.
But surface tranquility often precedes greater storms.
Days earlier, her best friend Ye Xue had requested her address. Having returned from overseas studies to establish herself in Beijing, Ye Xue wanted to visit her old companion.
That day finally arrived with Ye Xue's long-anticipated visit.
Ye Xue had been Yun Xinyu's closest confidante since childhood, their friendship rooted in years of neighboring intimacy.
They'd shared clothes, homes, sandy playground tumbles, and sunlit laughter.
At nine or ten years old, newly skilled with needle and thread, they'd embroidered their names on handkerchiefs - exchanging these tokens as lifelong friendship pledges.
Though Ye Xue later lost her keepsake, earning Yun Xinyu's prolonged displeasure, Yun Xinyu still cherished the handkerchief bearing Ye Xue's name.
Standing before her long-absent friend, Yun Xinyu marveled at how Ye Xue retained her youthful vivacity beneath new maturity.
Their embrace bridged ten years' separation. Ye Xue's once-short hair now cascaded down her shoulders, her childhood innocence transformed into worldly poise.
The sandbox playmate now embodied half a lifetime's companionship.
Breaking their embrace, Ye Xue pushed past Yun Xinyu without ceremony, intercepting her host's "Please come in" before it fully formed.
Yun Xinyu smiled wryly, murmuring "Same old Ye Xue" as she closed the door.
Ye Xue commandeered spare slippers, located the remote in the cluttered room, and claimed the couch with television-watching determination.
Yun Xinyu settled beside her, tidying the chaotic coffee table as news reports filled the room:
"Since inheriting leadership of Luo Group, heir Luo Fan has propelled subsidiaries to unprecedented success."
"From obscure domestic startup to global enterprise spanning capital cities worldwide in just five years - Luo Group's transformation owes everything to President Luo Fan."
"Without Mr. Luo, today's corporate empire wouldn't exist."
"Recent internal announcements confirm Luo Group's strategic pivot toward domestic operations."
"President Luo Fan himself will conclude his overseas tenure and return to China."
"We're privileged to present an exclusive interview revealing the enigmatic leader's true visage..."
Yun Xinyu froze mid-task at the name: Luo Fan?
She looked up as cameras focused on the CEO. His tailored suit accentuated a lean frame, sharp jawline visible beneath flaxen hair and concealing sunglasses.
Yet she knew - behind those lenses lingered the amber eyes from her memories.
This was her Luo Fan, yet not.
A reporter inquired: "What prompted your sudden return?"
His frown smoothed into camera-ready charm. "For someone."
Yun Xinyu recoiled as if struck, his piercing gaze transcending screens. The words detonated in her mind.
For someone? Who?
Though instinct whispered her name, no joy followed - if true, this meant reckoning, not reunion.
Yet reason argued against him retaining ancient history. Perhaps another muse? Or empty rhetoric?
As Luo Fan exited and newscasters signed off, Ye Xue muttered about familiar features before exclaiming: "That's your Luo Fan!"
Yun Xinyu choked. "My Luo Fan? We broke up years ago. Besides..." She gestured at the screen. "How could I match him now?"
"Oh right! The breakup." Ye Xue waved impatiently. "But you acted for his good! And 'match him'? Without your help-"
"Stop." Yun Xinyu's interruption carried steel. "New topic."
She'd anticipated his success, but not this magnitude. Time to extinguish lingering hopes - she believed only equals sustained love.
Cinderella won her prince through transformation, but Yun Xinyu remained ordinary stardust amidst galaxies.
He shone solar-bright; she merely orbited, temporary spectator to his radiance.
(End of Chapter)
