Chapter 1 Wandering Around West Lake

It took quite a while to go around once. After so many years in Hangzhou, this was the first time I'd taken such care to observe the changes around West Lake. The scenery was getting more and more beautiful. The willow trees by the lake dipped vertically into the water, looking from a distance like young girls bending their slender waists, making one reluctant to leave the scenery.

It wasn't the weekend, and the location I chose was relatively secluded, so it was rare to find such peace and quiet. I parked the car and started walking along the lake. Without realizing it, I walked to the closest point to Huxinting (Mid-lake Pavilion). Although it was still quite far, I considered this the closest point in a straight line. I stopped and sat down leisurely. The lake water at my feet, the tall buildings in the distance, and the boats on West Lake all blended together to create a beautiful scene.

I lit a cigarette and quietly watched the flowing water in the lake, so clear, just like my name. I especially liked this scene; my heart seemed to quiet down instantly, so quiet that I could think about things I usually didn't want to face, including the long-estranged relationship between me and Lin Hai, and the issue of me going to work for Pei Shi Yu's company. I even thought very far ahead, hoping that I could bring motivation to them like a warrior, but of course, that was just a fantasy.

I sat for a long time until my legs started to feel numb. I stood up, and it was already three o'clock in the afternoon. I had forgotten to eat lunch. A couple walked by, looking very intimate. I had carefully chosen this spot; it was particularly hidden and quiet. I glanced at them from behind and immediately got up to leave, giving such a good environment to those who came later.

My mom's restaurant was also by West Lake, but it was diagonally opposite from here, so it was quite far. When I left, I turned on my phone and even took a photo to send to Pei Shi Yu...

Soon, I heard the WeChat notification. I opened it and saw her message: "Going on a date?"

"Yeah, dating myself, sitting here like an idiot for five hours."

"Something hit you hard?" Pei Shi Yu said jokingly.

"No, it's especially peaceful here. I just thought about a lot of things."

"If I had known you were so free, you could have taken the Americans out to look around."

"They've arrived?"

"Just arrived, they're at the company now. I haven't figured out where to eat tonight."

"Anyway, I'm free now, shall I look for a high-end Western restaurant by West Lake?"

"Are there any?"

"There should be, right? I'll call you when I find one."

"Okay, but first, tell me what you were thinking about this afternoon?"

"A lot! Things from when I was a kid, and whether or not to go to your company..."

Pei Shi Yu interrupted me and said in a roundabout way of inviting me, "Just come if you want to, what's there to be so hesitant about?"

"If you had said that this morning, I wouldn't have been sitting here for so long."

"I still have things to do. You go find a restaurant first. Send me the location if you find one."

"Okay, come early."

"I know."

While Pei Shi Yu was talking, I could hear Si Yan's voice from her end, so she hung up quickly.

I immediately got in the car and started looking around West Lake. In an equally beautiful place, I finally saw a Western restaurant. I thought it looked pretty good, so I sent the location to Pei Shi Yu.

It was still a certain distance from my mom's restaurant. Although it was still West Lake, this was my first time over here. I wrote down the street number and immediately left.

I drove to the restaurant. It was quiet when I arrived. I went straight up to the third floor. My mom saw me and asked, "Are you here to work or to eat?"

"My mind's made up, just came to take a look."

"Understood, people always strive for better." My mom replied with sudden open-mindedness.

"That's not what you said last night."

"You can leave, but don't think about taking anything with you."

"Don't worry, what's yours is yours, not mine."

As we were talking, Lin Hai called again. This time I answered quickly and asked loudly, "What's up?"

"Let's have dinner together tonight, I have something to tell you." Lin Hai's attitude was pretty good.

"I'm busy tonight, I already made plans with Pei Shi Yu."

"When are you getting married? Have you set a date?"

"Not yet, but soon. Just tell me what you want to say over the phone."

"Then another day, I'll wait until you're free."

Actually, I wasn't busy right now, I just didn't want to make time to see Lin Hai. Without a common language, there would only be disagreements and disputes.

While I was silent, Lin Hai on the other end of the phone suddenly asked, "Will you invite me to your wedding?"

I thought about it and replied, "Do you think it's appropriate?"

"It would be inappropriate if I didn't attend."

"Old Wang will take your place, and it would be awkward for my mom if you were there too."

"Let's decide on this matter when we meet."

I had already made it clear that I didn't want to meet again, but Lin Hai didn't take my words seriously at all, and hung up after saying that. If Lin Yang was still alive, he probably wouldn't have insisted on attending my wedding either.

I put my phone in my pocket. My mom looked at me and asked, "Your dad?"

"Yeah, he made me feel very uncomfortable today," I replied.

"You met him?"

"No, he called me this morning and said that Grandpa wasn't feeling well in the nursing home, and asked me to go see him. I went with Pei Shi Yu and told him we were getting married. As a result, he slapped me."

"Why did he hit you? Shouldn't he be happy?"

"Pei Shi Yu used to date Lin Yang, and he said I had no moral bottom line... He doesn't even know Lin Yang is dead."

"You let Pei Shi Yu go with you?"

"I didn't ask her, she told me herself. She meant well, but she really didn't think things through. I accepted the slap, and then Lin Hai gave me a lecture. I don't think it's necessary to meet with him anymore, let alone for him to transfer the love he had for Lin Yang onto me. It's vulgar."

My mom didn't say anything else. Maybe she didn't want to hear about the Lin Hai family anymore. I could understand that. Although they were married, they were only together for a few short years. If it weren't for my existence, they would have become strangers long ago. Besides, she and Old Wang had been together for almost thirty years. Time may pass, but feelings are more deeply rooted with long-term companionship. The conflict between her and Lin Hai was like that of enemies, not worth mentioning at all.

"Are you eating here?" My mom asked, picking a leaf off my back.

"No, I already made plans with Pei Shi Yu for tonight. I won't be coming to work tomorrow. If the restaurant is too hard, just listen to Old Wang, transfer what needs to be transferred. I'm going to Nanjing in a few days, I can go with you."

"After Nanjing, we're going to Fuzhou. Will you go too?"

"We'll see. If I have time in between, I'm willing to go with you."