Jingxia Rose

Chapter 13: An Unexpected Encounter

The man had refined and handsome features. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on his high nose bridge, and through the lenses were a pair of deep, upturned eyes that seemed to contain a thousand stars, bright and full of surprise.

Ji Xuan was stunned for a moment, her mind hadn't processed it yet, but her mouth uttered, "Senior?"

Xiao Guxing smiled and took half a step back. Seeing that she had regained her footing, he withdrew his hand from her arm. "It's good that you remembered me, otherwise I would have been so embarrassed."

Ji Xuan finally came to his senses, his eyes filled with shock and surprise. "It's been a long time, senior."

"Hmm, it's been quite a while." Xiao Guxing pondered for a moment, "Almost six years, I think."

Xiao Guxing was one of the three most handsome men in their school and a talented student in the Department of Foreign Languages. Countless girls pursued him.

Ji Xian was a year younger than him. In the second semester of her sophomore year, she was recommended by her professor to participate in a foreign language competition organized by Beijing. Coincidentally, Xiao Guxing also participated, and the two became acquainted.

After Xiao Guxing graduated from university, he went abroad, and the two lost contact.

"Yes, but senior doesn't seem to have changed much."

Xiao Guxing joked, "I'm getting older."

Ji Xian laughed and replied, "What a coincidence, me too."

Xiao Guxing's smile deepened. He glanced at his companions and asked Ji Xuan, "Are you alone? Are you leaving after you've finished eating?"

"I came with Shi Wan. She just went to buy milk tea next to the shopping mall in front."

"It's been a long time since I've seen Shi Wan. How is she?"

"That's great. She's now a beauty blogger with millions of followers."

A hint of surprise flashed across Xiao Guxing's face. "That's quite unexpected. How about we get together sometime?"

As he spoke, he took out his phone, tapped a few times, and held it out to her, saying, "Let's add each other on WeChat first."

"it is good."

Ji Xian readily agreed, scanned the QR code with her phone to add him as a friend, and Xiao Guxing accepted the request in front of her. "How's the food here?"

"Not bad, I highly recommend their pork belly."

Xiao Guxing nodded with a smile, "Then I must try it later."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two parted ways at the door.

Xiao Guxing watched her figure disappear from sight before turning his gaze away. He tightened his grip on his phone, a slight smile curving his lips, and a gentle tenderness spreading across his eyes.

I didn't expect to run into him so soon after I got back.

When Ji Xuan arrived at the entrance of the milk tea shop, Shi Wan happened to come out with two cups of milk tea. Seeing her, she handed one of them to her.

Ji Xuan took it and said calmly, "I just ran into Xiao Guxing."

"Who?"

Shi Wan didn't immediately recognize Xiao Guxing, but after taking a few steps, she suddenly realized, "Xiao Guxing? The great scholar Xiao?"

Ji Xuan poked the straw and took a sip, biting the chewy pearl.

"Where is he?" Shi Wan turned around to look.

"Have a meal."

"The barbecue restaurant?" Shi Wan saw her nod, but her expression was still somewhat dazed. "Isn't that too much of a coincidence? Why didn't you talk to him more?"

"He has companions."

"female?"

"Two men and one woman."

Shi Wan's gossip-loving heart blazed with excitement. "Did you recognize him first, or did he recognize you first?"

"he."

"How can you be so calm?" Shi Wan waved her hand, trying to evoke her emotions. "Don't you feel even a little bit excited to see your ex?" Ji Xian frowned. "What ex? Don't talk nonsense."

"Didn't you two almost get together?" Shi Wan added, "If he hadn't gone abroad back then."

Now Wen Qi is probably out of the picture.

Ji Xuan was speechless. "Those were just rumors that circulated at school back then. Why did you believe them? He and I are just friends."

Shi Wan chuckled and sighed, "Fate is truly a wonderful thing."

Ji Xian didn't reply. Wen Qi's image flashed through her mind. She pursed her red lips and, after entering the mall, put these chaotic thoughts aside and began to carefully select a gift.

On Shi Wan's recommendation, Ji Xuan finally chose a Cartier bracelet. The price was in the five figures, which was not particularly expensive, but it was still considered classy.

She wasn't a big fan of shopping, but Shi Wan was the complete opposite; she loved shopping. After picking out a gift, the two of them spent another hour or two shopping.

It was already 10:30 when I got back to Canglan Residence.

The entire villa was quiet, with a few cold white night lights shining in the courtyard, and crabapple petals were still falling, covering the entire bluestone path.

Ji Xian went inside and went straight up to the second floor. At the corner, he saw a sliver of light reflected from the study door and knew that Wen Qi was inside.

She didn't go over; she paused for a few seconds before turning back to her room.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Friday arrived in the blink of an eye.

Ruan Zheng's performance time is 6:30.

The company is almost an hour's drive from Fengling Theater. It was Friday, so there was a high risk of traffic jams. Around 4 p.m., Wen Qi and Ji Xuan set off by car.

Although I left early, there was still some traffic on the road, and I didn't arrive at the theater until 5:30.

Ruan Zheng personally came to greet them outside. Today, she was wearing an ancient-style dance costume with wide sleeves, her waist was very slender, and her temperament was dignified with a touch of fairy-like beauty.

"Happy birthday, Sister Ruan Zheng." Ji Xian was the first to hand out the gift ribbon.

"Thank you."

Ruan Zheng accepted it generously, without saying any insincere pleasantries.

Wen Qi also took out his gift and gave it to her, his voice clear and pleasant, "Happy birthday."

Upon seeing the white gift bag, Ji Xian's heart clenched instinctively.

The gift bag had the same logo as the fourth anniversary gift he brought back from the port city last time—the logo of that brand that specializes in creating high-end jewelry for women.

However, it remains unknown what kind of ornaments are inside.

I don't know if he was buying her an anniversary gift or a birthday present when he chose the gift.

Which one is the "by the way"?
Ji Xian lowered her eyelids, glancing at the white rose necklace above her collarbone. Her grip on the bag strap tightened involuntarily as she tried to suppress the bitterness rising in her heart.

Ruan Zheng smiled and accepted the gift box without hiding it from them. Inside, she opened the box and found a jade hairpin carved with white magnolia flowers.

The hairpin is made of translucent material and gleams with a faint luster in the afterglow of the setting sun, making it very beautiful.

Ruan Zheng couldn't help but be amazed. Her love for hairpins was no secret in her circle. Just like now, she had a lotus leaf hairpin tucked into her hair.

"Thank you, I'm grateful."

"I'm glad you like it," Wen Qi replied casually.

Ji Xian's gaze slowly shifted from the hairpin to his profile.

Perhaps it was because the sunset was so gentle, but at this moment, Wen Qi's gaze held not only focus, but also a tenderness and brightness that she had never seen before.

In an instant, a subtle pain crept into her heart, gradually stirring her internal organs.

Some of the things she had ruthlessly thrown into the thick fog were now vaguely showing their outlines.

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