rose ashes

The white light from the camera spread everywhere, as if it wanted to burn a hole in the person before it would stop.

The aggressive microphones are like long spears, sharp swords, and they think a bloody scene is what should happen.

"Haven't you already said it? Why do you think I am so protective of my wife even though I have an ex-lover?" Ye Gu unbuttoned a button of his shirt casually and looked at the last man who spoke. His eyes were as clear as water, but they made the man tremble and sweat broke out on his back.

The invisible aura of oppression made no one continue to ask questions for a long time. Instead, Ye Guwu asked, "It's not impossible to have an exclusive, but I think you should know that I never make a loss-making deal. Whoever can give the largest space will have the exclusive."

The public was in an uproar for a while, but Ye Gu was not in a hurry. He just watched calmly. To him, he just wanted a reasonable clarification, and the rest were just minor details to add icing on the cake.

Ye Gu didn't want to waste too much time here. He was with Uncle Wu, so it would be better to end the battle quickly.
Pingcheng Huanbao narrowly won by giving out all the content on the first page.

He didn't hesitate, his dark eyes stared into the unfathomable camera, his thin lips moved: "Do you know what questions I hated the most when I was in school?"
The man just shook his head, how could he know.

"Then let me tell you, I hate multiple choice questions the most. I only like fill-in-the-blank questions. Luo Yang is the only correct answer in the fill-in-the-blank questions. For me, there is no option of choosing one out of four, not even one out of two. Do you understand?"

If they couldn't understand such an obvious clarification, then their work as reporters was in vain. After saying that, Ye Gu led Uncle Wu out of the crowd. When he turned around, he caught a glimpse of Luo Jiancheng standing at the window. His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and his pupils were dark and scary.
Ye Gu curled the corners of his mouth slightly, not trying to hide the fact that he did it on purpose.

After getting in the car, Uncle Wu felt a little uneasy in the back seat. He would ask the lady how she was doing from time to time. His worry was evident in his words. He rubbed his hands together mischievously and his lips were dry from pursing.

Ye Gu sat beside him and silently handed him a bottle of water. He put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Uncle Wu. She's waiting for you at home. Nothing will happen."
Uncle Wu actually had not met Ye Gu many times. It was only occasionally when Luo Yang came back home that Ye Gu would come with him. His knowledge of Ye Gu was limited to "son-in-law", "the young lady's childhood playmate", "the son of the lady's close friend", and "the pampered young master of the Ye family in South City". These were the only titles he held.

When he saw him today, he was shocked. He was completely different from his stereotype of a second-generation rich man. Although he knew that Ye Gu was young and promising, and that he had founded his own company without relying on his family and became a rising star in the industry on his own, he had never dealt with him, so it was difficult for him to have a full impression of Ye Gu.

Uncle Wu gradually calmed down under Ye Gu's comfort. After all, he was older and knew a lot of things very thoroughly. "Then, sir, are you not going to tell Miss about the Luo family's affairs later?"

If it were him, he would definitely not want Luo Yang to be upset by the chaos and dirty things in the Luo family. Uncle Wu naturally thought that Ye Gu was the same.

Unexpectedly, Ye Gu was silent for a moment and shook his head. "This matter is not the same as the previous one. This is a big deal. She has the right to know at least. The final choice of staying or leaving, whether good or bad, should be made by Ah He himself."
No matter what choice she makes in the end, he respects her.

Uncle Wu paused, and suddenly he understood why his wife liked the young master of the Ye family so much. At that time, he didn't understand, and always felt that no one could be better than his own young lady.

Now he seemed to understand a little bit. This young man, although he looked more chauvinistic, was willing to respect Luo Yang's decisions and choices in everything. Even if he had selfish motives, he would never answer for her.
He turned his head and looked out the window. The weather was cloudless today. Uncle Wu sighed in his heart: Madam, the young lady has found a good home, and you can finally rest assured.

Uncle Wu remained silent, but still a little curious. "Yanghu Bay has always had excellent property management. How could these reporters get in?"
Liu Min in the front row chuckled and said nothing, but his eyes fell silently on Ye Gu through the rearview mirror.

///-
"So you got this tattoo to cover your scar?"
-"No scars." The person in the picture seemed to be considering, and spoke with a serious look in his eyes.
-"Oh? So is there any story behind this tattoo?"
- "...there is no story to tell, it's just because the lady likes roses."
-"Wow, it's so simple and crude. Hahahaha. Everyone's previous guesses were so varied!"
-"Ahem, well...it's that simple."

Looking at Ye Gu in the interview, sitting upright in a crisp black suit and white shirt, his eyes much more serious than usual, Luo Yang couldn't help laughing.

After returning from Luo's house that day, Ye Gu told Luo Yang about the tattoo, just like what we talked about in today's interview.
At first Luo Yang felt a little embarrassed, but ever since Ye Gu said that, he always liked to hang around in front of her, and after so many times, Luo Yang became immune to it.

Sometimes people would laugh at him and say that he was in love, but Ye Gu would not get angry. He would nod as a matter of course and say, "Yes, I am." He paused and said with a slightly regretful expression, "What can I do? You can't return the goods."

That nasty expression really deserves a beating. Uncle Wu just came out of the kitchen and saw Luo Yang laughing freely. Ye Gu indulged him and felt relieved.

After watching the video, Luo Yang sat in the cloakroom for a long time. Finally, he rummaged through the drawers and found the white ruffled top and denim overalls that had been at the bottom of the closet.

Before leaving, Luo Yang called Uncle Wu: "Uncle Wu, come with me to see Ms. Yang later. It's time to say goodbye today."
Uncle Wu knew what she meant and said nothing. He just patted the back of her hand, his eyes blank, and nodded.

Watching Luo Yang's gradually blurred back, he knew that this decades-long farce should come to an end.

Luo House——
In the garden at the entrance, the beautiful carnations have all withered, lifeless like dead branches and leaves. Only the gentian next to it is still struggling to hold on to its last life. It seems that no one has taken care of it for a long time, and weeds are growing everywhere.

Luo Yang stood at the door for a long time with his back to the sun, looking at the garden, recalling the prosperous past, and couldn't help but sigh.
What a pity.

Inside the house, there was constant noise. Luo Yang just stood at the door and didn't go in. She didn't want to get involved in their complicated affairs, so she just waited quietly at the door.

"This is the daughter you took good care of! How could she still be wandering around without a trace after something like this happened?!" Luo Jiancheng was so angry that he blew his beard and glared.
Zhang Peilan still sat there quietly, saying nothing, allowing Luo Jiancheng to vent his anger.

The more she tried to keep her composure, the more furious Luo Jiancheng became. "How dare you lie to me! You used someone else's child and lied to me that it was my daughter! You are really capable! What's wrong? You think you can take things from me just by relying on a bastard child?! I'm telling you! Don't even think about it!"

Suddenly, Zhang Peilan sneered as if she had heard a joke. She looked up at him coldly, and her smile disappeared in an instant. "Bastard? I have lived with you for so many years, have you ever treated me equally? You always look so superior, as if we can't live without you. Luo Jiancheng, to be honest, if you hadn't met Yang Yue back then, you wouldn't have achieved what you have now! What qualifications do you have to say that about me?!"

"When you abandoned your wife because of my temptation, I knew you were the same as me. You are a man who abandoned his wife who had been with him through thick and thin, and you still dream that everything will be fine if your family is harmonious. This is the most outrageous joke I have ever heard!"

Luo Jiancheng stared at Zhang Peilan's eyes and panted, "You'd better figure out what you are talking about!"

"I know it clearly as it can be! At this point, I don't want to pretend anymore. Every day I spend with you is extremely disgusting!"
Zhang Peilan seemed to be completely free from all restraints, even her expression was a little distorted.
"Do you still remember the cooperation with Zhang Xian? Today I will tell you that Zhang Xian is my father! He was the former tycoon. At that time, you talked my father into agreeing to cooperate with you. When a large order cooperation ended up with problems and loopholes, you had no sense of contract and humanity. You took all the blame and framed my father. Overnight, my father became the target of public criticism and the object of everyone's curse. Our family was destroyed because of you!"

"Oh, you definitely don't remember it! But I do! I will never forget it in my life! The National Day in 2014! The whole country was celebrating but our family wasn't! Not long after that, my father passed away on his birthday!"

"That's right," Zhang Peilan wiped away her tears, and looked at Luo Jiancheng with red eyes, "I want you to pay the same price! I want your family to be destroyed! I have nothing to say about Yang Yue's death. I know I will go to hell, but you can't have an easy life either! When I saw Yang Yue, I knew that you were not worthy of her! All you care about is status and desire!"

"This is how my life will end. I am disgraced and cursed by everyone, but I have no regrets. I can't let my father die unjustly! Also, my daughter, I will never allow you to say a bad word about her!"
Zhang Peilan lowered her eyes and saw Luo Yang standing at the door, then quickly retracted her gaze, "I will take all the responsibility and blame. You can't escape what happened back then. I have found all the evidence. I want you to pay back what you owe my father bit by bit!"

After saying that, he went downstairs without looking back, leaving Luo Jiancheng standing alone in the empty room in a trance.

Luo Yang was kicking pebbles at the door out of boredom. Suddenly, the door behind him opened and he saw Zhang Peilan, whose hair was disheveled and whose face was unrecognizable.

She was stunned for a moment. Zhang Peilan walked out the door and looked up at the huge Luo residence where she had lived for many years. She felt relieved.
Zhang Peilan retracted her gaze and looked at Luo Yang.

After a long while, he spoke in a hoarse voice, "I will not defend your mother. It is true that she would not have died if it were not for me. I will turn myself in for all the mistakes I made against you and your daughter. I know that saying sorry now is useless, so Luo Yang, you can hate me and never forgive me in your life. From the moment I decided to avenge my father, I have already stepped into hell. I have made your life miserable. I am sorry. I hope that there will never be someone like me in your life again. I wish you all the best."

After saying that, she took off the ring on her hand, threw it into the trash can, and walked away alone with empty hands.

Luo Yang just watched her step by step until she disappeared at the end, but her words lingered in his heart.

She walked into Luo's house and finally saw the distraught Luo Jiancheng in the empty storage room on the second floor. Seeing Luo Yang coming, Luo Jiancheng wiped his eyes, put on a calm expression and came out to greet her.
"Ah He is back. I'll go get someone to cook."

Luo Yang politely took a half step back and kept his distance, "No need, I've already eaten, Mr. Luo, I came here today just to say goodbye to you."

Luo Jiancheng was choked, his eyes trembled violently, and there was a landslide and a tsunami.

Luo Yang looked around every corner of the room, hesitating, not missing a single one, keeping them all in his sight.
"When I resolutely went abroad, I felt very sorry for leaving you without saying goodbye. I came here today because I hope that things won't be the same as before."

She looked down at her outfit and smiled faintly: "I left wearing this dress. Wearing it to say goodbye today can be considered as making up for the regret."
The pure white ruffled short-sleeved shirt is playful and cute, and paired with denim overalls, it exudes youthfulness.

Luo Jiancheng stretched his hand in the air, but failed to catch Luo Yang's hand.
After a while, Luo Yang seemed to be preparing herself mentally. She walked forward and hugged Luo Jiancheng, tears welling up in her eyes and faint dimples forming on her cheeks.

"Dad, I'm leaving now and I won't be back. This time, please be well."
The sound of "Dad" was so distant that it seemed like something he had heard in his previous life. Luo Jiancheng suddenly had tears in his eyes, which flowed across the shallow grooves on his face. He didn't know when it started, but wrinkles appeared silently.

Before Luo Jiancheng could react when he wanted to hug her back, his arms were already empty.

Luo Yang stood one meter away from Luo Jiancheng and bowed deeply for a minute.
"Dad, I'm leaving. Thank you for being my loving father. Although it was short, I have no complaints. From today on, I won't see you again. Please don't blame me. I'm sorry."

In the end, Luo Yang could no longer hear her own voice. It was as if she had escaped from a place where she couldn't breathe, and she ran out of Luo's house.

She didn't know how long she had been running away like this, her face was wet. She took out a tissue to wipe it, but the more she wiped, the more wet it became. It was no use trying to hide it.

She always knew clearly that she hated Luo Jiancheng, but she never denied that she loved her father, simply because Luo Jiancheng was her father and the closest relative to her in the world after Ms. Yang passed away.

If she told others, some people would probably say she had no principles and no future, but Luo Yang couldn't really abandon the father-daughter relationship of so many years, even though he no longer loved her later.
After today, Luo Jiancheng, whether good or bad, had nothing to do with her anymore. Her plan to take her parents on a round-the-world trip in their old age was like an unrealistic dream, and it was shattered.

The stone road was stained with drops of tears, and a meowing calico cat and a pair of white sneakers appeared in my eyes.

Luo Yang raised her eyes, her tears filled them, causing pain in one's heart.
Ye Gu half-knelt down, looked at her straight in the eyes, and stretched out his hand:
"Little cat, I'm here to take you home."

(End of this chapter)