After parting ways with Wu Tingxiu, I originally planned to head to Anyuantang. However, just as I got off the car, Bai Hanyan blocked my path.
"Xiang Fei! You need to explain yourself!" Bai Hanyan glared at me, her face full of anger.
I gave her a wry smile, "Explain what?"
"What's your relationship with that woman named Wu?" Bai Hanyan's tone was fierce, yet her eyes were glistening.
Seeing her like this, my heart ached. "What relationship do you think I could have with her?"
"How should I know? You tell me!"
"I have no relationship with her."
"Really?" She blinked in surprise and leaned closer, "You really have no relationship with her?"
"Of course, it's true. Think about who she is. She's a prominent entrepreneur in Guangling. I'm just someone who dabbles in antiques. Why would she be interested in me?"
"What's wrong with dabbling in antiques? It's her loss if she's not interested in you. What about you? Are you interested in her?"
"How is that possible? She and I are worlds apart. You know I'm only interested in antiques and know nothing else."
"So, you're saying you really have nothing with her?"
"Of course," I said with conviction. "What could I have with her?"
"Then why did she during the day..." Bai Hanyan glanced at my arm as she spoke.
I fabricated a story, "Think about it, she and your Bai family have some history. You suddenly rushed to her company to find me, so she naturally wanted to make you uncomfortable. To put it bluntly, I was just being used as a pawn..."
"Hmph! That woman named Wu is indeed quite calculating!" Bai Hanyan said indignantly.
"So, you shouldn't overthink it..."
I thought I had managed to smooth things over, but then Bai Hanyan threw another question at me: "What about me? Do you have any... feelings for me?"
"What? Feelings for what?" I feigned ignorance and asked.
"It means, do you like me..."
Looking at Bai Hanyan's affectionate gaze, I couldn't help but inwardly lament: What a mess!
Earlier this year, Fatty had asked me to go fortune-telling with him. I didn't go then, and now I regretted it. I should have gotten a reading.
It seems I'm destined for a lot of romance this year!
"You answer me..." Bai Hanyan pressed.
Someone once told me that when a woman explicitly brings up matters between men and women, she has made a great decision and mustered all her courage.
Frankly, I'm completely clueless when it comes to matters of the heart.
I never had much contact with the opposite sex since childhood, nor had I ever been in a relationship. I just muddled through life and grew up.
Thinking about it now, I can't even say what kind of woman I truly like.
However, if you ask me who has left the deepest impression on my heart, I think it's An Ying.
I still remember that afternoon when I first arrived in Guangling and was looking for a job at Hongyuan.
An Ying was sitting in the Zisha teapot shop, wearing a qipao, looking a bit lost.
That scene was like a painting etched into my mind, and I couldn't shake it.
But I also knew very well that if I were to fall in love with An Ying, it would be practically impossible for us.
She could live forever, but could I?
Even if we were together, after I grew old and died, she would continue to live in this world...
And then there's her past. She has lived for so many years, her experiences are completely beyond my comparison. Could we have anything to talk about?
Moreover, I also knew that she was probably completely uninterested in relationships. Deep down, she was always cold, maintaining an indifferent attitude towards everything in this world, never showing curiosity.
She was like a celestial being from above, while I was merely a mortal...
Although there are many ancient legends about love stories between mortals and celestial maidens, those are just stories.
How could two people from different worlds ever be together?
A celestial maiden experiencing things on Mount Tian, things mortals could never touch, would never be able to be together.
After all, people from two worlds have different pursuits. Take me, for example. If I were to find a wife, I would definitely want someone to accompany me throughout the rest of my life.
But what about An Ying? Her pursuits are completely beyond my reach. Every time I think about this, I feel a sense of powerlessness.
Seeing my silence, Bai Hanyan softened her tone, "Alright, I'm not forcing you to answer. I just feel that..."
I interrupted her, "I understand what you mean. Can you give me some time? I really haven't figured out my feelings yet."
She nodded, but a hint of disappointment appeared in her eyes.
I let out a breath and smiled, changing the subject, "By the way, is your dad at home?"
"He's at home, why?"
"I'm going to your place for dinner later, is that okay?"
"You're coming to my place for dinner?"
"I have something I need to discuss with Uncle."
"No problem, my dad was just mentioning you the other day," Bai Hanyan grinned and said, "Let's go back now."
Seeing Bai Zhujing again, I found that he hadn't changed.
Bai Hanyan led me to the study and said, "You two talk first. I'll go ask Aunt Qin to prepare dinner. I'll call you when it's ready."
With that, she winked at me and left the study.
I sat down on the rosewood armchair. Bai Zhujing smiled and poured me a cup of tea, "You're always out and about. Don't you care about the business of your Anyuantang?"
"Uncle Bai, you know I'm not cut out for business. I can't help much with the shop's operations," I replied with a smile.
"That's true. Old Hong has been in the antique business in Guangling his entire life. Having him manage the shop for you should be quite reassuring," Bai Zhujing said. "Did you come to see me this time because you investigated the matter I entrusted you with?"
I nodded, "I've mostly figured it out."
"Then tell me about it."
"The death of Old Master Bai back then probably has nothing to do with the Wu family," I said.
Hearing this, Bai Zhujing furrowed his brow and looked at me, waiting for me to continue.
"The death of Old Master Bai, as well as the deaths of Wu Tingxiu's father and grandfather, were not man-made... they were all due to the Suihou Pearl."
I didn't reveal too much, only mentioning that the Suihou Pearl contained radioactive material.
Bai Zhujing clearly had some doubts. In the end, I had no choice but to bring up my father's situation.
"Did your father also come into contact with the Suihou Pearl back then?" Bai Zhujing asked, surprised.
I nodded, "That's right... and my father's death has been confirmed to be non-man-made."
He still found it hard to accept and fell into a contemplative silence, thinking about something.
After a long while, he slowly said, "It truly fulfills the old saying, 'All is fated, nothing can be defied by man...'."