SDVPP Chapter 5

Chi Han pushed Rong Xu all the way to the small garden. Even before reaching the entrance, he could smell the faint fragrance of flowers.

Passing under an arched gate made of emerald bamboo, his sight was instantly filled with delicate shades of pink.

Low-hanging peach trees bloomed in large clusters, and their vibrant petals covered the ground. Stepping on them, it felt as though one could sense the intricate textures on the flower petals.

Despite it being summer, the fact that such a vast peach forest was in full bloom was quite remarkable. One couldn’t help but praise the owner of this club for their extravagance.

Chi Han halted his steps and couldn’t help but exclaim, almost involuntarily.

Having money is truly a blessing! If he were wealthy, he’d create a garden next to his house and become a happy gardener. In his spare time, he could even play with cats and dogs.

The thought of living those days, tending to the garden, and playing with cats and dogs, brought tears of envy to Chi Han’s eyes.

This was the ultimate dream of a laborer!

Rong Xu raised his eyes to the pale pink petals falling from the sky. There was no hint of emotion in his eyes as dark as ink.

No matter how beautiful it was, in the end, it would still be trodden underfoot like dirt, becoming something no one wanted to look at. Since that was the case, he might as well set a wildfire and burn everything to ashes.

The agonizing cries and struggles of those people before they were consumed by the flames filled him with anticipation.

Rong Xu’s long, dark lashes drooped, concealing the deep-seated hatred in his eyes, resembling venomous snakes.

Chi Han didn’t know what thoughts were swirling in Rong Xu’s heart, but he keenly sensed that the other party had become even more silent.

“Rong Xu… Do you not like it here?”

The original work had a meager description of the young Rong Xu, making it impossible for Chi Han to discern what he liked or disliked at this moment. He didn’t even have a clear understanding of the reasons behind his disability.

Thinking about this, Chi Han couldn’t help but feel a bit disheartened. However, he quickly regained his composure. After all, when people are in front of him, getting to know them is only a matter of time.

And what he had in abundance was time.

Chi Han comforted himself. When he looked back at Rong Xu, the latter had returned to his usual self. The strange feeling from before had long vanished as if it had been Chi Han’s own illusion.

Chi Han: “…”

What was going on?

Rong Xu didn’t want to talk about it, and Chi Han didn’t want to press further. The main venue was filled with a lively atmosphere, and this small garden was the only place where they could have a moment of peace.

Chi Han thought for a moment, then bent down, turning his face to the side as he asked, “Rong Xu, how about I take you to the little pavilion over there to rest for a while? Everywhere else is too chaotic… or is there someplace specific you’d like to go?”

A warm breath lightly brushed against Rong Xu’s ear, causing him to instinctively move to the side. It had been a long time since someone had come so close to him and talked. He had long become accustomed to keeping a distance from people. After all, when the distance closed, his wounds would increase.

Chi Han noticed Rong Xu’s avoidance and realized how much his seemingly ordinary actions could be stimulating for him. He straightened up, apologizing, “I’m sorry, I forgot you don’t like people touching you. I’ll make sure to keep my distance next time.”

Rong Xu leaned against the armrest, his body stiff. It took a while for him to realize that his left ear felt a bit numb. He couldn’t help but raise his hand to cover it, concealing his slightly reddened earlobe.

Finally, with Rong Xu’s consent, Chi Han gently guided him into the pavilion behind the small bridge.

Though it was just a slight nod, for Chi Han, it was a huge surprise.

After all, it was their first day meeting each other.

Chi Han couldn’t contain his excitement. When he saw the fruit and snacks on the stone table in the pavilion, his joy multiplied.

Whoever designed this was a genius! It’s simply amazing!

He reached out, took an orange, peeled it, and removed the white pith, placing it in Rong Xu’s hand.

“Eat an orange, it’s definitely sweet! I guarantee it with my… uh, seventeen years of life!”

Chi Han almost bit his tongue; he came close to saying something wrong!

Luckily, Rong Xu didn’t react much, probably because he didn’t care about such things at all.

Chi Han breathed a sigh of relief.

From the moment Chi Han handed him the orange, Rong Xu was unusually stunned for a few seconds. The gesture was so natural, as though they had known each other for a long time.

But those who had known him for a long time were only there to offer blood-stained knives.

Rong Xu’s gaze slowly shifted from the orange in his hand to Chi Han, who sat beside him. He raised all his mental defenses and peered at this person through the gaps in the thick fog, unwilling to take a step forward.

The moment before Chi Han spoke, Rong Xu suddenly turned his head to look at the falling peach blossoms in the garden. His voice was low and muffled: “People, like flowers, wither once they touch the ground.”

Rong Xu didn’t know why he had suddenly said this. He realized his mistake as he pursed his lips, choosing not to speak further.

Chi Han’s hand peeling the orange paused. As he realized that Rong Xu was talking about him, the smile on his face disappeared in an instant.

Now, he finally understood why Rong Xu had reacted the way he did at the entrance to the peach garden. It was because he regarded himself as fragile as those peach blossoms!

Easily trampled upon and humiliated.

Chi Han was about to retort, but his mind kept replaying Rong Xu’s fate.

The end of twilight, the dim bathroom, the floor covered in blood.

His heart suddenly ached, and his eyes welled up.

“How can people be like flowers?” Chi Han blinked his eyes, suppressing the trembling in his voice. He gazed at Rong Xu’s profile with utmost concentration and said, “In the courtyard outside, there are thousands and thousands of peach blossoms. To my eyes, they all look the same. But you, no matter where you are, I will always recognize you at first glance.”

Each word was like an incredibly sharp blade, slicing through the impenetrable fortress around Rong Xu and creating a crack.

Rong Xu’s chest heaved uncontrollably. He gripped the wheelchair’s armrests tightly, staring fixedly at the fallen petals on the ground.

Clearly, the fallen petals on the ground were no different from a moment ago, so why did they now appear so vibrant that they seemed almost painfully bright to the eyes?

The outside peach blossoms number in the thousands, but you are different…

No matter where you are, I will always recognize you at first glance…

These words kept repeating like an enchantment in Rong Xu’s ear.

He slowly lowered his head and gave a small smile.

—

Tonight’s birthday banquet was a great opportunity for most people to socialize, but for Fang Jingluo, it felt somewhat dull.

He had already negotiated a partnership with Rong’s eldest son yesterday. However, the old man at home changed his mind at the last moment and insisted on receiving a unique emerald design draft from the market before handing over the project to him.

The problem was, the drafts designed by the people working for the Fang family had all been reviewed by the old man. It was clear that he wanted Fang Jingluo to find someone himself.

Thinking about this, Fang Jingluo couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

That old man is a real pain in the neck!

Jiang Yaoning carried two glasses of red wine and walked over to Fang Jingluo. The Jiang family, though reputable, couldn’t quite compare in status to the Fang family. So, Rong’s patriarch’s seventieth birthday banquet was quite tempting for him.

Among the people who came tonight, there would be many high-level figures not usually seen. Jiang Yaoning brought Fang Jingluo along to get him to introduce him to these people.

But this guy had come and was now playing with his phone in the VIP room on the second floor, showing no intention of going out.

“Jingluo, your youngest uncle is downstairs. Aren’t you afraid he’ll snatch your project?” Jiang Yaoning handed him a glass of red wine and persuaded with an arched eyebrow.

He had heard it all. The head of the Fang family had made it clear that whoever could provide him with a unique emerald design draft would be awarded the project.

Fang Jingluo took the wine glass and swirled it around, his expression full of stubbornness. “Snatch? Do you think he can find the person I can’t?”

Jiang Yaoning was momentarily silenced by his arrogance, but upon closer thought, he realized it was indeed the case.

The Fang family had always groomed Fang Jingluo as the rightful successor, and naturally, he had access to the best resources and connections.

Jiang Yaoning was unwilling to give up and continued to persuade. If he went downstairs by himself, he might not be able to strike up a conversation with more than ten people!

But Fang Jingluo was different.

Just as Jiang Yaoning had finally convinced Fang Jingluo to get up, his gaze caught something outside the window, and his breath suddenly stopped.

“Xu Ting…?!”

Jiang Yaoning was equally startled by this name. He quickly asked, “Where, where?” as he followed Fang Jingluo’s line of sight. In the pavilion amidst the garden of peach blossoms, a black-haired youth sat there, peeling a golden-orange with a charming smile.

Jiang Yaoning’s eyes widened, and he gasped.

Is that really Xu Ting?!

He squinted his eyes for a closer look.

Wait a minute…

Since when has Xu Ting smiled like that?

This is Chi Han!

After reaching this conclusion, Jiang Yaoning was more surprised than when he thought he had seen Xu Ting. How had Chi Han transformed so drastically in a day?!

Changing his hairstyle was one thing, but even his whole demeanor had changed!

He looked more like… Xu Ting now.

With this in mind, Jiang Yaoning discreetly glanced at Fang Jingluo, only to find him smiling but with ice-cold and piercing eyes.

“Come with me, let’s go down.”

“…Go where?” Jiang Yaoning suddenly had a bad feeling.

“To meet my little lover.”

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